Looking good for Dallas

Wow what a nail biting weekend of competition. Two days of robots battling it out. Fifty teams of dedicated students competing. Some amazing games . It came down to Kristin having both teams in the final. It was almost too tense to watch.It looked like we were going to take it but lost due to a bit of bad luck in the decider. However NZ runners-up is pretty good with such stiff competition. Amazing driving by one of the team has secured us generous $6000 funding which will be a big help.

This means we now have two robots going to Dallas so it is going to be very frenetic.

Have spent a happy few days trying to find a hotel in Anaheim for us as we do the Disneyland thing. Think I have it sorted. Starting to wish we were getting to California earlier as there is so much I would like to do. Funnily enough the boys aren't that keen on checking out Rodeo Drive but I am going to make sure we do (and Hollywood Boulevarde of course).

Favourite time of the year on its way

I have a confession to make. In a country that celebrates its glorious summers - the beaches, the chorus of cicadas, slowly melting ice creams, heading off to the bach - I am the opposite. Don't get me wrong, I like summer, but I love winter and the autumn months drifting into it. This amazingly crisp time of the year signals the beginning of cold clear mornings,reading books by the fire,hearty dense food, rich red wine, interesting layers of clothes and acccessories, and of course the first ski report. I think I am definitely a creature of the colder months.

This year I have jars of jam and preserved apple sitting like little jewels in the pantry.I feel like a happy squirrel. I am already plotting stews and casseroles, and delicious soups, of which our family can never get enough.

the mystery continues

After a week of tests, from bloods to ECG we still don't have a definitive diagnosis for Christian. He is a lot better, although still has the visual snow. Now we have the dilemma of whether or not to give him the high-powered drugs he has been prescribed. Prophylactic treatment of migraine symptoms involves medications that have big side effects and I'm not sure if that is better than the original symptoms. Will ring the paediatrician today to see what he thinks. Have also taken him off artificial sweeteners,MSG, any caffeine etc - all the obvious triggers.

It has been frustrating dealing with the hospital. They don't like it if you have got yourself informed via the dreaded internet before you talk to them. I also need to ask why the drug on the prescription is not the one we talked about. (Completely different family of medications).

On a lighter note -- Robotic Nationals loom this week - it will be a fun week-end of geeky mayhem

One of those seasons

I have noticed that things do come in seasons and we are in one of those interesting ones at the moment. Haven't had one for a while. Can't say I want one now.The Bosco adventure has faded into the distance as we deal with an epic migraine attack in Christian. No respite from drowsiness, vagueness, and the weirdest vision stuff since Saturday. For a teenager who has thought processes at the speed of light and a mind keenly honed, this is appalling. We are waiting on the results of the MRI, which should confirm that it is nothing more sinister. He's coping really well, even though I know it is really upsetting and frustrating him. He commented that it makes him feel like he has ADD as he can't concentrate on anything.

We are praying and internet researching. As a family of migraine sufferes we already know a lot. Now I know some more. Some doctors we have spoke to know very little. Christian has realised for the first time that they are just people too who don't know everything. We had to override a GP to get a referral to a specialist - never had to actually say to a doctor before 'I'm not happy with your treatment plan.' Feel vaguely naughty. Was the right decision though as we got an MRI.

Feeling quite powerless as there is no magic wand we can wave over this situation. Just have to sit tight and trust God.

Miracle dog

Wow you think life is ticking along pretty well... been making jam (plum perfect, apricot maybe burnt);... dealing with having bronchitis and feeling pretty bad but doing ok;... planning the trip to Dallas as a major nerd...then wham (and this is from an unexpected quarter). Our daughter was taking dog #2 (only one year old) out for a run on the beach when we get a phone call "I've lost him, he was there and then he was gone". Frantic searching from all of us, calling, retracing steps, recriminations from me about some of her decsions about letting a puppy off the leash by a 50ft cliff.

Devastated, we go home. I look up the Council website to register him missing and see that a dog that sounds like him has been found. Yes it is he!! Two kilometres from where he was lost, traumatised and in shock. We pick him up from the wonderful people who found him and cared for him. He is limping. Emergency vet says he has been hit by a car. At the moment he is at the vet on a drip and having Xrays. Vet is pretty sure he is a miracle dog and will be OK. Thank you God!!

The people who found him spent half an hour chasing him on a busy road, marvelling at how the cars missed him. It is a miracle - do dogs have angels??

I can't believe how much I love this animal. We have another dog (and have had another previously) but there is something about this little black maniac that I have competely fallen in love with. I felt as though one of my children were missing. He is the one who follows me everywhere and thinks I am #1. and I am so glad that he has been found. (OK I know I need therapy)

Nerds and proud of it

Saturday was a big day in our family. Our boys were part of a winning team at the Regional Robotics Championships which means we are heading off to Dallas Texas in April. We're especially proud of our youngest as he was one of the two boys who wrote the winning programme. Everyone else on the team is a Yr 13 and he is a Yr9 so that's a pretty big achievement. For a family that has never flown further than Fiji, this is very exciting. I've managed to sneak in as the team "Mum' (read general go-fer) and cannot wait.

Eeek - here it goes

Have been thinking for a while that I'd like to blog - on what in particular I'm not sure. I've read lots of blogs, and I know what I won't be blogging about (even if its things I enjoy reading about).
I don't have much to offer on
* being in the haze of early motherhood. Our children range from 25 down to 13. Might have some things to say about parenting teenagers however (and maybe sometime soon grandchildren)
*self-sufficiency and the simple life - something we are very erratic at, veering between the Good Life and Mad Max. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't
*lovely craft abilities - admire them, but I don't think I should take up any new hobbies (apart from blogging) or even revisit old ones.

So I think this will be more of a record of my new phase of life - children who are growing/grown up;opportunities to travel properly(ie not Australia or Fiji) for the first time, definitely food ideas, friendship... I don't know, I've never done this before