Friday, January 11, 2013

Christmas Holidays

Dear all, we have just spent two weeks down the south coast and had a great holiday and are all well rested and brown.
We escaped some of the heat but again it is warming up out west. We reckon its been just this hot before tho' (and hotter) when we lived further out west at Cobar and Nyngan.
It was really good to see some of our family at Christmas time.

Georgie handled the trip down quite well and was very settled for the whole time we were down the coast just like she was last year. We think the climate and sea air agree with her. It is much more conducive to get her outside and take her for walks etc than at Dubbo where it is often too hot, too windy or too cold. The main problem is her chest which is sensitive to low grade infections which then cause her some distress.
Georgie has also slowly developed contractures in her hands, feet and hips which may need addressing. It is a common complication of being immobile and the body growing. There are still many things which break our hearts for her.
Yesterday cleaning up I found the clinical notes from the first few days of her admission to ICU in 2007 and reading over them saw just how unprepared for what happened the hospital was. It was just such a freak thing. They were all thinking that within 24 hrs or so she would settle and improve.

The CMRI fund raising has been going very well. They reported that over $100k has been raised so far to go towards childrens severe epilepsy research. Thankyou to all who have contributed.
Some of you would remember Tom Barrett at Dubbo the retired drover who did a charity fund raiser in Dubbo to buy Georgie a wheel chair. He was battling cancer - multiple myloma and passed away in September.

Down the coast we also went to Milton Ulladulla Baptist as well where we caught up with some old friends.

Just before Christmas we went out to the Carols at Mendooran where Ange, James and Greg helped with the music and carols.
Greg spoke at the carols giving a brief testimony and encouraging people to come back to Jesus, explaining the gospel and how to come to salvation.

This year is our 20th year now out in the Central/Far west and we've made lots of friends around the region here.
Greg's work is still uncertain with the only certainty that he and 300 others will finish at the end of June. He has had quite a few job offers.

Em is home for holidays. James is working and finally finished his big bird cage and moved some of his parrots into it. James starts his yr 12 HSC this year.
Ange will pick up some casual teaching again.

Well all the best for the year ahead.
I'll post some pictures when I can.