Well done Nat!!

Well the little party wasn't so little. We had almost 80 people through the house during the day which was great. After about 1/2 hour it became obvious that we were no going to be able to cope alone so people started making their own drink, washing up, serving each other. It was a really good time.

And now of course we are the proud parents of a 1 year old, and nearly a toddler. Summer has this last week started to do a sort of crawl. If properly motivated for the plug mainly) she can now get about the living room enough to put the fire place strictly out of bounds and for us to fear for the CD tray. We don't mind of course as we remember a time no so long ago when we thought she may never be able to move around. What an answer to our prayers that is and who knows where it will end; will she ever stand or walk? watch this space...

That feeds nicely to our extremely mobile friend Nat who completed the Edinburgh Marathon in a better time than expected (less the 4h30m) and thoroughly beat the sweeper. She also managed to raise a large amount of money for ASBAH (Association of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus) and also for Summer and any special things she is going need as she grows up.

Thank you Nat for Doing this for my family You are a very good friend of ours.

We had a lovely time in Edinburgh following her around the course although it was really quite exhausting watching all those people. We needed plenty of tea beaks to keep our energy levels up!

One unexpected highlight of the trip was surprisingly on the train back. Summer was loving being the centre of attention in the carriage with those around us and the 2 girls who were encouraging her to blow raspberry's and shout at the top of her voice. It was such a happy time seeing our daughter just lighting up the train with her personality and seemingly drawing people to her. I found my self wanting to tell everyone one what had happened to us and Summer and to let them know that she has gone through so much and is here now as a beautiful girl.

This wasn't to say look at us and feel sorry for us, not at all. But to say look what God can do, see how things can change and be so much better then at first they appear. We pray that God will use Summers story to demonstrate to other family's like ours just what he can do and how he can turn situations in directions we never thought possible. I cant imagine what I'll be writing here in a years time, maybe summer will be typing with me, although probably not at 21.40; she will be in bed by then.

Full Production

We got back from Toulouse after having a really good weekend. It was so nice to catch up with our old friends there and go back to the church we were at. Seeing people who we have never met ourselves recognise Summer from the blog was just amazing. Her story and this blog continue to surprise me on just how its touched people. I must write more!

Summer has really progressed well this last few weeks. Shes mumbling near words, recognising things eating lots and has expanding her circle of influence. I wouldn't say this was through crawling but more an excited wiggle in a single direction. Tonight she was even able to support her weight for a few seconds through her legs while leaning and having mummy there for stability only. This is all really encouraging of course as we had no idea she would even be able to sit let alone crawl and maybe stand.

Kathy had her fist day back at work yesterday. It was a trail day to get her back in the swing of things. As an indicator to how good she is with Summer this one morning i have to get her ready and off to nursery (another thing she has started doing recently to prepare for Kathy working) she reached a little to far off the edge of the bed and got a bruise on her forehead. I'm told I'm not the first parent to let this happen so I'm not being too hard on myself but i did feel very guilty about it.

We have a busy weekend ahead, Its Summer's first birthday on Friday so we will be having a little party at the farm park to see the ducks etc and then on Sunday she is having her Dedication at the Church followed by another party for our Church and Friends back at ours. It should be a good weekend.

We have had some really good news last week. The city council are willing to fund equipment (at least one piece) to be kept at nursery in addition to what we get at home. We have been transporting Summers standing frame in the car for the last few times ad its not easy. The seats need to come down and its really too heavy to be moving like that. We didn't think this was going to happen as bureaucracy really hits hard on the city/county boundaries but apparently the guy making the decision was new in his post and applied a bit of common sense. We do live only 5m from the boundary after all! Summers Nursery is in the same building as our church, it has great accessibility, OFSTED reports and we know a lot of the staff/children/parents there. If this hadn't worked out we may have been forced to move her to somewhere else which would have been very hard.

Today was a rather momentous day. We finally got up to full production with 3 eggs. If they keep going like this they will pay for them selves in about 80years. I will have to use them for a big birthday cake tomorrow.

Toulouse, Nurseries and Frustrating systems

We are off to toulouse for the weekend tomorrow. We are leaving gatwick at 6.30am, so we will be getting up at about 3am to get there, hopefully Summer will go back to sleep in the car and we will pray that who ever is driving (probably Nic) wil not fall asleep.

We are off to visit friends that we made whilst living out there. we are staying with some American missionaries who lead a french church over there and have been praying for Summer loads and my friend and her new baby girl. Its Summers first trip abroad so should be fun. I have forgotten all my french except how to order wine and steak...the important things in life!

When we get back Summer is starting a few days at nursery ready for me to go back to work. I am so not ready to leave her for a while day, at least I know she will love it.
She is going to the nursery which uses our church building, we loved it because we know the place, the staff seem great and most importantly it has a huge hall and is completely accessable, so Summer could be in a wheelchair if she needed to be. we really think this is the right place for her, but we have problems with funding for equipment as we live in the city boundry (just) and the nursery is in the county, its SO frustrating, but I am trying to give it back to God knowing that if it is right things will work out. It may be that some of the money Nat raises could go towards the equipment. The only thing we can do is pray.

"Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding"

Prov 3v5

Edinbrugh Marathon 2008

Our Fantastic (and possibly sightly crazy) friend Nat is running the Edinburgh marathon on Sunday 25th May. She is doing this to raise money for Summer and ASBHA the Spina Bifida charity. She really wanted to run it just for Summer, but we felt it would be good if some of the money raised could go to ASBHA as well.

I do feel slightly strange writing this and asking people to sponsor her, because it feels a little cheeky what with Summer being our daughter, but it is for a good cause and I think we will be using ASBHA lots in the future for support.

I personally think that anyone prepared to run 26 miles by choice is worth sponsoring.


You can find our more about how to give on Nat's page at http://www.justgiving.com/marathon4summer


All three of us are going up by train to cheer her on and provide chocolate cake at the finish line!

Third time lucky

Yes its my third attempt to finally write something on the blog, the potatoes are ready to mash and the sausages are done, but they and my stomach will have to wait.

We have had, what feels like a crazy couple of weeks. Loads of DIY, visitors and appointments.
The appointments have actually been getting to me this week. In the last two weeks I have had 12 appointments for Summer, quite often two on one day and I just find that it feels like I have no life, Summer in general does not seem to mind to much, although she is sick of her car seat and now crys as soon as the engine starts.

We have been trying to sort out her nursery as I go back to work next month. We found one we thought was brilliant, it has loads of space, a fantastic OFSTED review, reasonable location and the staff seem really good, it is actually in the building used by our church. I discover this week that because it is in the County and we live in the city getting funding for any extra help or equipment that Summer might need is going to be difficult. I am SO frustrated with the system at present. she is going to start at this nursery and see how we get on, any prayers over this matter would be greatfully received.

Enough of the complaining. Summer is doing great, she has just had both sets of grandparents visiting which both she and they enjoyed very much. Our bathrooms getting there, we have new windows and most importantly three new additions to the family, but I will keep you guessing as they are Nic's little project.

Ok, enough, ..... I must write about my friend doing a marathon to raise money for Summer and ASBHA, the Spina bifida charity but it will have to wait as my potatoes are soggy and my sausages are burnt.

Celeriac and Smoked Salmon

Summer and I have escaped Leicester for the weekend as Nic and his brother are replacing the bathroom and we thought that the less people around the better. So we are in Newcastle with my friend Nat. Those of you who have been following the blog for ages may remember we came up to stay with her the weekend after the 20 week scan.

Summer and I have had a lovely time. Nat has a dog called Poppy and Summer thinks she is very funny. |I have never seen her giggle as much.

 Summer and I have been very cultured over the weekend. We had lunch at the cafe royal in Newcastle where Summer experienced celeriac soup and smoked salmon, both of which she enjoyed, she was not very lady like about it, but we are working on that! 

We return tomorrow to see what the bathroom looks like and to attend Summers Physio session. She can now get herself from lying to sitting which is great...except when trying to change nappies!

Oops, a late update

I just remembered that I haven't let you know how the orthopedics appointment went. Good is the answer. He confirmed again that Summer has a good ball and socket which is the complicated bit of the hip. The problem looks like its with the femur being twisted. Anyway hes happy as things are so we have at least another 3 months before any intervention.

He did say that Summer's hips are weird......but in a good way. Well take that as a compliment!