Summer holidays and stuff

Caitlin and I building our magnificent castle
Nathan in 2008 wearing his fab Next swimming suit which as you can see from below has lasted him through to this year. Alas, we will need a new one for him soon, but we have definitely got our money's worth out of this one.

My boys engaging in a very macho game of rugby/football...handball ref!

The building continues!

The summer holidays went far too fast and now the new school term had begun, and Esaias has started full time school. While I do miss him, it is also nice to have the whole day free to spend with Nathan. And I don't miss the midday school run one little bit! Esaias has coped very well with moving up to full time school, which I think is very much due to the school's constant involvement with him from a very early age. Of course we have always been going up the school because of Caitlin being there, but the teachers have always spoken to Esaias and Nathan, as well as having the stay and play activities for the younger children. Once Esaias was three he started going there 2 mornings a week from 9am to 11:45am, this gradually went up to 5 mornings a week and the time got extended to 9am -1pm, so by the time it cam round to September he had no worries about staying at school for a couple of extra hours. He already has friends there and it is such a small school that all of the children are very close. I read a magazine article today about common anxieties for children starting full time, and realised that I have had none of those issues with either Caitlin or Esaias, and felt very lucky! I don't think us Brits realise that we have one of the best education systems in the world and are only surpassed really by the Scandanavian countries.

Caitlin is enjoying being in year 2 and feels very important! We continue the battle with the hospital to have something done about her ears, and I am just waiting for the next appointment with her consultant so that I can refuse to leave the hospital until they say they will do something for her. The poor mite can hardly hear at all some days, and her nose is blocked most days and I really think it is unfair that they just continue to let it go because "she will grow out of it", well I sure didn't and I know how it feels to not be able to hear people properly so I am going to be a bit stubborn about this! (What's new says Lewis!)

Nathan has begun speech therapy this week. We are already doing most of the things that they would suggest. Mostly the speech therapist told us not to be too worried and not to feel pressurised by other parents (easier said than done, sometimes I have been reduced to tears by the insensitive comments of other mothers). When we were on our fostering course we read a story about a couple preparing to go on a trip to Italy, they had anxiously awaited the day of departure and put much energy into learning some of the language and researching places to visit. However, when they boarded the plane they were taken to Holland. They felt disappointed, but once they got over that they realised what a beautiful place Holland is and enjoyed their trip. The meaning of the story is that you anxiously await the arrival of your child, and sometimes they have difficulties and things are not as you hoped for, but if you get over that you can see the many blessings in having a child with difficulties. I really feel like this with Nathan. Even though he can't communicate with words he is a beautiful healthy boy, who has a magical language all of his own. He can communicate his needs to those who choose to make the effort to understand him and I feel very lucky to be one of those people.

Lewis and I are doing very well to. Lewis has been given the opportunity to go on a coaching course after going through an application process which he passed with flying colours. He has also passed a course which enables him to drive one of the Police vans. We are very proud of him!

As for me, well I just potter on trying to keep all of the above well and happy! But I am rather excited that Lewis has bought me a bike and I think we have a bike trailer to go on it so Nathan and I can go off cycling and perhaps I can shift a bit of weight. Here's hoping!