Some May Snow

They predicted the snow and it certainly came in last night, we awoke to a blanket of snow, it has been a number of years since we have had snow in May.
H-Ho was so excited about the snow, she soon grabbed the nearest coat (being mine) a beanie and headed outside to explore and make some snowmen.
Missy who is battle a cough at the moment I let sleep in and with the road being pretty ordinary I keep the kids at home today. Missy was happy just to look at what snow was left when she got up at 10am.

The Van - nearly all done

Well, I have been blogging about it for a while now but we finally have our replacement van up and going.
Not without a few problems and us having to take it back again to Sydney to get the seats refitted. We still have a few auto electrical problems that we will be getting fixed soon.
VW Diesel is certainly more ecomocial than the Petrol Mercedes not to mention the considerable more torque is also has.
Its been a real busy time lately (whats new) our family has had 40th Birthday celebration. I did three trips to Sydney in 9 days and the coming month will continue to be jam packed.
The photo also shown above is at our local dam, where we've seen a 60% increase in it's water level which has allowed Sailability to get back on the water briefly before the end of the season.

Autumn Colours

We have had the best Easter weather, cool nights but beautiful days.
While the school holidays have been busy and sometimes exhausting, today I stopped to appreciate the wonderful Autumn colours in the garden.

Anzac Day

A very special day in Australian History today, it marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.
For international visitors to Missys Blog ANZACS stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The 25th of April was officially named ANZAC Day in 1916. During the 1920s ANZAC Day became established as a national day of commemoration for the 60,000Australians who had died during the war. In subsequent years the meaning of the day has been further broadened to include Australians killed in all the military operations in which Australia has been involved.

Missy's school always takes on an active and proud role in the ANZAC day March in the early hours of the morning. Both H-HO and Missy were very excited to be part of the remebrance ceremonies, many school kids attended with their rosemary attached, various marching styles and chests out proud behind a rousing pipe band performance. At the ceremony, after the wreaths were laid, the school kids sang a song "One more Parade". Our schools presentation and involvement in Anzac Day is a real credit to them.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. Lest we forget.

Show season continues

Well it's been a busy end to the school term with Athletics carnivals and Easter hat Parades happening, closely followed by the Sydney Royal Easter Show, which we had 10 chooks entered into. We all travelled done and enjoyed a very long day at the show 9am to 8pm, the chooks went well, the kids had lots of fun and we didn't see everything, so the girls and I went back again the next day. The girls enjoyed the Giant Slide again this year and picked out showbags along with some crazy colourful wigs, we caught up with lots of people at the show. Missy spent quite some time studying the photgraphy and artwork (both painting and drawing)sections, choosing her favourites and expressing her desire to enter something in the kids section next year. She recently told me she was going to University to study Art.
we all got home safely from the show but the chooks are still at the show until the end, they are feed,watered and vet checked each day by show officials.

Some wins at our local show

Our Local show was held under sunny skies but was very wet under foot, that didn't deter our numerous entries.
We took two Murray Grey Bulls and ten chooks to the show along with the kids lolly necklaces (1st & 2nd), fruit & vegetables, flowers, Creature made from fruit (Won Champion kids exhibit)Missy's photography ( she won the 12yrs & under section- see photo titled "Gran's Rose").
Wow what a day.

The New powerchair

The major project of getting Missy a new set of wheels continues.... after months of trials, the application was submitted just before Christmas and to our surprise we recently received notice that approval had been given for the chair and it can be ordered. This is really great news and we appreciate the assistance. But....ENABLE rejected to fund 3 options on the powerchair which we of course thought were important.
I was keen to appeal the decision and along with the wonderful help of our OT at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, I supplied extra background examples of why these options were important to Missy's safety and social independance and we have just heard that they will now fund 2 out of the 3 options previously rejected. Unless these government department get appeals and we emphasis we don't just ask for extra accessories for the hell of it but they have a real purpose and are necessary.
Of course the one option - Vertical Lift- was the most expensive about 3K they won't fund, looks like not being able to see over people, always having to look upto people, can't reach items off benches, can't the reach the door/book from a shelf, can't assist in daily chores is just fine for a 9 year old.
Grrr.... we will find a way and she will get vertical lift on her new chair.

5000 hits

Hi
I am amazed to see today Missy's Blog has now had 5000 hits, that 2000 in the last four months. Originally encouraged by the ABR Therapy group to tell our story, it's become so much broader than that. Missy's life is jammed packed not to mention the rest of us.

It's great to share information with others locally and across the world to assist us ensure our kids reach their full potential.

Busy school life

This School Term has been a busy one. Missy has settled in nicely to her class and her new teacher is jumping on board with Missy's technology and is keen to expand her writing skills.
Recently the school disco was held, always a highlight with Missy, this year her little sister H-Ho could stay the whole night, not just grab a dance at the start. When it was time to pick them up, they were both exhausted, Missy was glowing red from dancing in her walker.
Missy decided to join the School Girls cricket team, along with her best friends. While all facets of the game are challenging for Missy, not to mention some are dangerous, when protective reflexes aren't working so well. Anyway challenging has never stopped her from having a go. The School team played and won their first game last week, with Missy having a go at fielding and being the photographer. Later Missy told me on her Dynavox that the best part was hanging with her friends while the team was batting. It was a wonderful experience for her, to be part of a school sports team, that travelled away . This week will see the team play their second game at home... Good Luck girls.
Another event to squeeze into this term, will be the Athletics Carnival, hope the battery on her powerchair will hold up.