We have another van....

A few weeks ago, we picked up our new, second hand van from Sydney. We got a VW transporter 09 Diesel LWB with mid roof, this should provide us with the base requirements, that will enable us to to convert it to our needs.
Thankfully the way it is set-up currently it's useable, with a cargo barrier behind the bench seat and using our portable ramp we have been able to transport around the kids and the powerchair.
Later this week, we are taking it to ATS www.accessibletransit.com in Sydney for it's conversion, hopefully only taking two weeks to make it just the way we want it.
So as I soon head back to taking the truck everywhere I will be counting down the days until the VW is ready.

The 2nd Swimming Carnival

Excitement builds quickly when the kids return to school to find out the swimming carnival is on in the second week. Lots of chit chat goes on amongst kids about what races they are going in, and it's no different for Missy.
Missy blog readers may remember the post about her 1st swimming carnival and her participate in the backstroke race. Well this year she promptly told me that she was going in two races, the freestyle and backstroke.
Missy seems to have little regard to how she will actually stay afloat and propel herself along, that is just something that she thinks someone else will work out, while she tries her heart out, has a go alongside her mates, gains points for her house and shares in the excitement and adrenaline of waiting for the gun to go off.

Our wonderful Aide Miss H went in the water with Missy, who competed in the freestyle race in a wetsuit and then did the backstroke with her neck float on. Missy wasn't happy to start at the 15metres to the finish, like last year and insisted on starting up at the blocks. Missy had only just started her race and the whole school was chanting her name.
Missy has advised me that next year she is going to be in three races... there is no end to the height,she sets the bar for herself.

Little Sister H-Ho starts school

Missy was excited about her little sister starting school with her this year and was upset the first day, as H-Ho had to stay with the kindy kids for their first lunch and Missy expected she would sit her.

H-Ho cruised into school full of excitement with next to no worries. She has asked could she go on Saturday and loves her teachers.
H-Ho runs to Missy's classroom every afternoon to meet her.

Still Van Hunting

Since the news from our insurance company that they wish to write our MB Vito Van off, we have been researching far and wide for a new vehicle. We are unable to get one like we had and have decided to try some new things while the unfortunate opportunities arise.
We haven't been able to find anything suitable that is already setup with wheelchair accessibility, so we heading towards a VW transporter LWB with a mid roof height this time, and looking to have the conversion done to our preferences. We think we may have found a suitable second hand vehicle and the converters will have to line the interior, put windows in, wheelchair grade flooring and tie downs, 4 single seats,some air in the back and a hoist or fold down ramp. Waiting on quotes for the conversion, but I'm guessing about 20K.
Hopefully we can get back to something with similar practicability to our Vito.

Leonid's - The Optimism Advantage

Leonid Blyum the ABR founder posted some inspiring notes in his New Years Greeting that I would like to share with visitors to Missy's Blog. The Optimism Advantage can apply to all walks of life and particularly to parents.
Here is the link to his blog, I have just grabbed snippets from it, it makes for some interest reading.
http://blyum.typepad.com/on_abr_and_beyond/2011/01/2011-new-year-greetings-the-optimism-advantage-.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OnAbrAndBeyond+%28On+ABR+and+beyond...%29
I’d dare to encourage you to make an effort and even when it feels difficult to keep your optimistic stance – still to keep trying and keeping your internal ‘reality perception’ filters switched into the “Positive” mode.

I know it’s not easy. Sometimes the pressures of juggling all the challenges of bringing up a child with special needs and physical impairments mount up to such extremes that it appears impossible to keep looking at ‘the bright side of life’…
I understand it very well.

At the end of the day, I am Russian, right?

And by and large we are one of the most if not the most pessimistic nation on the face of the planet.
So when a Russian encourages you to take an optimism stance – it’s worth giving it a thought… :-)

The basis of my judgment is plain and simple – optimism pays-off; and I am not simply generalizing – I am talking about the ability of special parents to bring the maximum contribution towards the developmental advancement of the kids with Cerebral Palsy.

ABR is a coaching program for parents. The ABR works through you –- the progress of Cerebral Palsy kids depends on the skill and the ability of a parent to deliver consistent day-in day-out work of high technical quality.

Leonid goes on talk about the key elements that come into play that ensures Optimism pays off. Motivation - more aware of the signs of progress. Higher Energy Level - being optimism doesn't tax you like hesitance, indecisiveness and anxiety . Seeing opportunities rather than obstacles - this is really a point I'm endeavouring to take on board, as we search for a new vehicle, having our wonderful van written off last week. I'm hoping that a new van will provide different opportunities for us, once we jump over the pile of decisions and choices.

Leonid writes: I’d be happy if this little post with the praise for optimism is going to help you in improving your ‘inner game’ even just a little extra bit.
Consider it done, Leonid

Luck has got to change

HI All
Happy New Year to everyone and hope it will be a fantastic one.
Our recent week hasn't been so good, starting Christmas Eve with Missy's Powerchair charger blowing up, followed by 4 inches of rain on our hay, Christmas night due to be baled on Boxing Day. Boxing Day bought some localised flooding and our wheelchair accessible van got water damage to the engine and is now off the road. All this happens when everything is shutdown. Following this Missy's and H-Ho favourite pet chook died.

Anyway we are hoping for brighter start to the new year then the end of 2010.

I'll be back soon with some wonderful words from the ABR founder of Leonid Blyum - The Optimism Advantage

Class 3/4 S - Top Ten

In Missy's class during the last week of school, the teacher gave the kids a survey, they were asked to write down the top ten things learnt this year. All the results were collated together and out come the top ten, I wasn't really surprised to hear that learning sign language rated in the top ten.
So a group of 8-10yr girls and boys think that learning sign language was pretty cool, an excellent example of how willing kids are to learn from others, and most importantly learn there is more than one way to communicate.
You never know but some of these kids might go on to be sign language teachers, translators or just give the next person they meet with communication difficulties, the respect they deserve.
Pictures show Missy's sign for "Oh-No" and "girl", these signs form part of a chart that hangs in each classroom, so kids/tachers can refer to it.

Santas coming to town...

The above photo is taken at a work party where a Santa visits the kids to throw lollies and hand out presents. This Santa has seen Missy over the years, crying and basically being terrified of him with just a little improvement each year. We were asked my a good friend of Santas, that Santa wanted a photo taken with Missy this year. We asked Missy and with some reservations she agreed.
H-Ho was also very excited and shortly after Santa got off the Fire engine truck we were lucky to have the our local paper's photographer on hand to take this happy snap.
By the end of the event, Missy was driving off to the fire truck wildly waving goodbye.
At last, she has been keen to see Santa at every occasion since then including Missy & H-Ho talking about sleeping on the lounge Christmas eve to catch a glimpse of Santa.

School Gossip

The end of the school year brings lots of exciting events, high on Missy's priority is the school disco.
We rush home from school, grab a bite to eat and race back to school for the start. Missy cruises in her powerchair to spot her friends, not that it takes long, they come running, checking out each others outfits... she quickly signs for the walker, strapped in, she is off dancing with her mates, usually in the loudest spot available. Missy dances all night in her walker, with no regard for sore feet, tired legs and perspiration.
Ever since she went to her first school disco in Kindergarten, she was the last one standing at the end of the disco.
Her love for loud music and dancing with her mates has never waived over the years.
Recently Missy's school grounds was swamped by heavy rain and the entrance to her classroom had a significant flow of water going past the entrance, so Missy's friends decided to take their shoes and socks off to walk thru to get to their classroom. Of course Missy will be a part of everything and she proceeded to take her shoes and socks off with some help. If I could paint the picture, Missy is in her powerchair with no shoes and socks ready to cross the water with her friends and off she drives thru the water, her feet nowhere near the water but hey...it could have splashed. That's Missy just being one of the kids.