Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Happy Birthday Dave
Today would have been the 40th birthday of our very dear friend Dave, who was tragically killed at work in August last year. We are going to Christchurch this weekend for his headstone unveiling and to celebrate his 40th birthday with his family and friends. Yes, his wonderful wife Teri is honouring him and throwing him a 40th birthday because she knows that Dave, the ultimate party man, would be gutted to have missed out on his own 40th birthday. I think she is one awesome lady. Happy Birthday Dave - we all miss you and love you xxx.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Mid year report
Its that time of year again - mid year - when my 2 primary school kids get their mid year reports. Both Corbins and Miss Livees were awesome again. It is with a note of extreme proudness (and a touch of modesty) that I thank God that 2 of the 3 children appear to have taken after their mother when it comes to academic ability!!!
Corbin, who is not 7 until late September, is reading at a 8.5 year old level, spelling at a 9 year old level and above average in his maths as well. I am so delighted, at least he has intelligence on his side.
And this is his teachers comment (and by the way his teacher is a very honest, straight-up person who isn't flowery and full of praise unless it is deserved):
"Corbin is a delight to have in class. He is a kind and caring class member who is popular with his peers and adults. He takes responsibility for his classroom and willingly does any job asked of him. Corbin shows perserverance when things are difficult for him physically and academically. He is making excellent progress."
Corbin, who is not 7 until late September, is reading at a 8.5 year old level, spelling at a 9 year old level and above average in his maths as well. I am so delighted, at least he has intelligence on his side.
And this is his teachers comment (and by the way his teacher is a very honest, straight-up person who isn't flowery and full of praise unless it is deserved):
"Corbin is a delight to have in class. He is a kind and caring class member who is popular with his peers and adults. He takes responsibility for his classroom and willingly does any job asked of him. Corbin shows perserverance when things are difficult for him physically and academically. He is making excellent progress."
Monday, June 21, 2010
The toothless grin from ear to ear...
I have to tell you about the size of Corbins toothless grin on Friday. It was huge, from ear to ear, and the grin stayed there for a whole 10 minute bus trip.
And now I'll tell you why. Ever since Corbin started school he has desperately wanted to go on the school bus that comes past our house just like his brother and sister did before him. Well on Friday I gave him his wish - he was a bus kid for the first time ever. Pete, the bus driver, is a lovely kind hearted man and he made a big fuss of Corbin, telling the parents that were waiting at the various stops that he had a special guest on the bus that morning and Corbin just thought he was the bees knees. It was gorgeous. Of course I had to go with him to get him off the bus at the other end and then I walked the 5.1 kms home to our house. Even though it was very cold I almost bounced home because I knew how much the little bus trip had meant to Corbin...
Unfortunately Corbins days as a "bus kid" will be short lived because the ministry of education in NZ are withdrawing our part of the school bus run meaning the bus will not be coming past our house as of the next school term. So it will be back to travelling by car. I intend to take him on the bus as much as I can over the next 2 weeks, so fingers crossed that the weather holds out so I can make it home without getting drenched!!!
And now I'll tell you why. Ever since Corbin started school he has desperately wanted to go on the school bus that comes past our house just like his brother and sister did before him. Well on Friday I gave him his wish - he was a bus kid for the first time ever. Pete, the bus driver, is a lovely kind hearted man and he made a big fuss of Corbin, telling the parents that were waiting at the various stops that he had a special guest on the bus that morning and Corbin just thought he was the bees knees. It was gorgeous. Of course I had to go with him to get him off the bus at the other end and then I walked the 5.1 kms home to our house. Even though it was very cold I almost bounced home because I knew how much the little bus trip had meant to Corbin...
Unfortunately Corbins days as a "bus kid" will be short lived because the ministry of education in NZ are withdrawing our part of the school bus run meaning the bus will not be coming past our house as of the next school term. So it will be back to travelling by car. I intend to take him on the bus as much as I can over the next 2 weeks, so fingers crossed that the weather holds out so I can make it home without getting drenched!!!
Monday, June 14, 2010
How can I stop the knees wearing out???
This is a 2-fold question. How do I stop the knees of Corbins trousers wearing out so quickly and how do I stop his little knees themselves from "wearing" out, ie how do I protect them? Our knees weren't designed to be crawled on all our lives, its our feet that have the thick skin to protect them not our knees.
I double knee (ie sew in a 2nd layer of fabric) all his trousers before he wears them - this gives him an extra couple of weeks out of them, but on average he goes through the knee of a pair of trousers about once every 3-4 weeks. This is about the same time span as he goes through a pair of shoes!!!
I've tried numerous things to protect his knees and his trousers including skateboard knee pads (but these hindered his crawling), leather patches & padded patches. What other options are there???
I double knee (ie sew in a 2nd layer of fabric) all his trousers before he wears them - this gives him an extra couple of weeks out of them, but on average he goes through the knee of a pair of trousers about once every 3-4 weeks. This is about the same time span as he goes through a pair of shoes!!!
I've tried numerous things to protect his knees and his trousers including skateboard knee pads (but these hindered his crawling), leather patches & padded patches. What other options are there???
Monday, June 7, 2010
Before the new teeth come in....
Corbin lost both front teeth 2 weeks ago and I've been meaning to post a photo of the huge gap that remains, but given I've been a bit slow, one of the new ones has started to grow.
Corbin has developed a few speaking impediments due to the lack of front teeth. Its classic. The 2 older children only lost one tooth at a time so this is a novel experience for me.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
I offficially have a teenager
Today is Master Jays 13th birthday.
As always his birthday is tinged with bittersweet memories of the horror of his birth and first few months of his life. It is so hard to believe that the tiny little 1080gram baby I gave birth to 13 years ago, and whos survival in those early days is nothing short of a miracle, is now a teenager, on his way to becoming a man. I am incredibly proud of him. Despite the fact he has a tendancy to view the glass as half empty sometimes (hey but don't we all sometimes), as a result of the "obstacles" he has faced in his life he has become an overcomer. He has learnt not to give up, and he finds another way of doing things, his way.
He is a polite and decent young man and hopefully we have installed enough good values in him to see him safely through his adolescent years.
Happy Birthday my beautiful boy. I love you, xxx Mum.
As always his birthday is tinged with bittersweet memories of the horror of his birth and first few months of his life. It is so hard to believe that the tiny little 1080gram baby I gave birth to 13 years ago, and whos survival in those early days is nothing short of a miracle, is now a teenager, on his way to becoming a man. I am incredibly proud of him. Despite the fact he has a tendancy to view the glass as half empty sometimes (hey but don't we all sometimes), as a result of the "obstacles" he has faced in his life he has become an overcomer. He has learnt not to give up, and he finds another way of doing things, his way.
He is a polite and decent young man and hopefully we have installed enough good values in him to see him safely through his adolescent years.
Happy Birthday my beautiful boy. I love you, xxx Mum.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Rain has its benefits!
Oops I'm a bit late with my weekly blogging.
The past couple of weeks have been great for Corbin at school on a social level because its been rather wet here in Invercargill which means inside play at morning tea and lunch time for everyone. This is great for Corbin because he is actually on a par with his classmates in the classroom, ie he can interact with them because there is no running around as 6 year olds do outside, and they sit and play games and build friendships. And he doesnt have to cope with kids fighting over who is going to push him in his wheelchair next. And more importantly because he isn't as exhausted he had his first full week at school ever last week!!! Yeah!!!
So as the title says - rain does have its advantages, for Corbin anyway.
This week its frosts, very heavy and very cold frosts. I like frosts because you at least get some sunshine later in the day but I am yet to find the silver lining for Corbin. We are back to outside play at school which means, unlike other children, because Corbin is not active he gets extremely cold and has inevitably developed yet another cold. He has come home soaking wet and filthy 2 days in a row from doing "fitness" outside on the wet ground and from water and mud off his wheels. Hold on - I know - the silver lining must be at least there is sun to get all the extra washing dry!!!!!!!!!!!
The past couple of weeks have been great for Corbin at school on a social level because its been rather wet here in Invercargill which means inside play at morning tea and lunch time for everyone. This is great for Corbin because he is actually on a par with his classmates in the classroom, ie he can interact with them because there is no running around as 6 year olds do outside, and they sit and play games and build friendships. And he doesnt have to cope with kids fighting over who is going to push him in his wheelchair next. And more importantly because he isn't as exhausted he had his first full week at school ever last week!!! Yeah!!!
So as the title says - rain does have its advantages, for Corbin anyway.
This week its frosts, very heavy and very cold frosts. I like frosts because you at least get some sunshine later in the day but I am yet to find the silver lining for Corbin. We are back to outside play at school which means, unlike other children, because Corbin is not active he gets extremely cold and has inevitably developed yet another cold. He has come home soaking wet and filthy 2 days in a row from doing "fitness" outside on the wet ground and from water and mud off his wheels. Hold on - I know - the silver lining must be at least there is sun to get all the extra washing dry!!!!!!!!!!!
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