Our Last Week in Longreach

Well, the week is upon us, once again. This Thursday we leave for our new home in Highfields Toowoomba. The truck is coming on Tuesday to pack us up, with all of our household goods leaving on Wednesday.  Our family is going to camp in our house, with our sleeping bags and esky. We are saying goodbyes, enjoying our last times with our new friends, who we hope will continue to be old friends.  We are not done in Longreach, there is just so much to see and do in this place in the surrounding areas.  We know we will be back to visit someday in the future.

There is much to look forward to in the coming weeks. Our trip to Toowoomba will be via Bundaberg, and The Sunshine Coast, to visit with both of our families. Don will continue on to Toowoomba and leave the rest of us at the coast for a few days. We move into our new home on the 24th May. Don will be staying in a motel in Toowoomba for the first week of work, provided by Boeing.  We truly are blessed by all of the help they have given us in relocating. We will be visiting the school with Jack on the 23rd and he will commence at Highfields State School on the 27th May. The local Avon Sales Manager is excited to have me moving to the area, and will recommence business once we settle in a little.

Sam is looking forward to going back to Kindy, as he has now had a good break after his surgery and is doing better than he ever has before. Both the boys have a cold at the moment, but I have noticed a marked difference in Sam's ability to fend off the sickness, and his recovery is now about the same time as Jack. Once Sam begins Kindy I will look at doing some teaching supply work once a week in the local area.

We are really looking forward to seeing old friends and new ones too.

When God spoke to us in Melbourne about bringing us back home and pouring out his blessing, we would never had imagined it would look like this. This last year we have waited and are just so thankful for all he has done.

Jack enjoyed celebrating his 7th birthday this week.

The lounge has been sold and camping in our house is fun....for now.

Time to Celebrate Jack

Tomorrow my son Jack will be seven. I am so honoured to have him as my son. While Sam is often the centre of attention both good and bad, for reasons outside of his control, Jack is his constant companion. He is never bitter, always full of love, compassion and feels deeply. He is observant and kind and likes to laugh. He thinks deeply and reasons with the thoughts in his head and the feelings in his heart. He is tall and strong and likes to move fast, taking risks and keeps striving even after failure. His room is often declared disaster zone, as he must have everything where he can see it and his collections fill the shelves of his room. Rocks, bones, models, shells, bugs, coins and stamps all find their pride of place in Jack's domain. One minute he is joking about farting in the bath and the next he is telling me all about his aspirations for the future and what Jesus has told him lately.
It has hurt me often lately that people look past Jack to see Sam. I know it hurts him at times also, yet not once have I seen him angry because of it. And so we have always made a conscious effort to lavish love upon them both equally, because I can honestly tell you that they both make my heart sing immeasurably. Both of my boys have a zest for life that is insatiable, finding joy on the darkest of days.
And so tomorrow is for Jack, to celebrate all that he is and all he is growing to be. Happy birthday my little mate. A little mate who now reaches my chest in height and wears my socks. He is my first born son and holds a very special place in my heart.

Jack, 5 months old.



Jack, 1 year old, riding Bruno.

Jack, 2 year old, when Sam was born.

Jack at 3 years old, growing his own vegetables.

Jack at 4 years old, with Tweety.

Jack at 5 years old with his best mate Sam.

Jack at 6 years old. He loves lizards.

Jack, almost 7, with so much love to offer the world all wrapped up in the whirlwind that he is.

I can run!

I am just bursting with mummy pride and joy this morning. Jack's school is practising for cross country, so this morning Jack, Sam and I all participated in the practice. Jack was all enthusiasm as he joined in with his school. Sam did all of the warm ups, running across the oval with the PE teacher, stretching, bouncing with so much enthusiasm, I thought he was going to jump out of his skin. Then we started to run (me walking beside Sam quickly) as he ran the first side of the oval and then walked, puffing and telling me his legs were hard. So we kept walking and breathing. He walked and ran alternately for a whole lap and a half!

'Just keep walking mate. You can do it. your legs are not used to this exercise and they just need to practise and get stronger. Soon they will be strong and not hurt so much. One days your legs will be strong and take you far.'

After 15 minutes of persisting, and finishing with the other kids.

'I did it Mum! I did it! You were right Mum, when I walk the puff goes away. My legs feel good! After my heart surgery, I can run.'

 

My cup runs over.

 

You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings. (Psalm 23:5)

Living Longreach Style

Sam fossicks for rocks in the dry creek bed.

Sam's x-ray was clear. After it being sent through to his cardiologost we were able to drop back Sam's Lasix to only one dose a day, which means no more wet beds at night time.  We are all happy about this, none more so than Sam. It is so amazing to watch him go and go and go. This weekend we went rock collecting and instead of him being worn out and needing to rest, because of being out of breath, we had to rest because his legs were sore from walking and standing.  This is new to us, as he was always tired the other way first  Now he just needs to build up strength in his legs.

Jack helps open the gates on our adventures.

We are making the most of our last few weekends in Longreach, enjoying the mild 30C days and doing things that Toowoomba won't offer so freely. We have so much to be thankful for.



Our move to Toowoomba is falling into place like clockwork. Now we just have to find the right place to live. We have applied a few times and missed out. The right place must be coming,  we just need to be patient. We have trusted in God for things much more important than this.

ANZAC DAY-One month post Fontan

Today we remember the men and women who so valiantly have served and are serving our country in the military, protecting all that we have and hold dear and we are also celebrating that it has been a month to the day since Sam had his Fontan surgery.

We savoured the ANZAC parade in Longreach this morning, our first and last in this outback town.  A town that is proud of it's heritage and the resilience of it's people. The harsh climate and isolation build a strong sense of community.  Today Jack marched with his school in the parade, while the rest of us cheered them on.  Sam cheering the loudest of all, the excitement was intense for him. We could hear the comments of others remarking at his enthusiasm.

 And then we all gathered in Edkins Park for the memorial service, the air filled with a cacophony of Corella's screeching, happy jacks chattering, dogs baking and the road trains on the highway crawling past. Somehow we heard most of the words, prayers, songs and sentiment. It will be a day we remember for a long time to come.

Jack is in the centre, waving with his hand over his face.

And now as the Summer weather has breathed it's last, the vast strong winds of Winter have arrived

today, bringing with it the sense of a change in season. And our season here in Longreach is drawing to a close.  Our house here in Longreach has been re-let, meaning we are now free to move as a family.  At this stage we are looking at leaving Longreach on the 17th May.  We are in the midst of finding a home to rent in Longreach and have many people helping us with that. 

Sam has had his x-ray and we are waiting to hear the results to make sure there are no fluid problems near his lungs from after his surgery.  We are looking forward to stopping the Lasix for him when the doctor's say. Night times are no longer dry for Sam and he finds this quite upsetting. He does not like mess and is a big boy who has not worn nappies for years. Otherwise he is doing very well.  His little hands and feet are warm and pink.  His lips are pink most of the time and he is now walking/running further than he ever has before.

I am so thankful that we live in Australia, where health care is excellent and much is provided for us.  I know that so many have fought and died to make this country what it is today. When I saw Sam waving today and cheering at the parade, it brought tears to my eyes to know that because of the brave ones who have fallen, Sam was given the freedom to live. God bless our service men and women.

A Bittersweet Change

We are home in Longreach!  How wonderful it was to be reunited in our family home again after such a long time away.

Sam is still powering away in his recovery.  His scars are healing really well and he does not seem to have any side affects in regard to fluid retention. He will have an x-ray in Longreach in the next week to rule this out.

I have been offline mostly for the last week, due to some big news that has come very suddenly, news I was unable to share until today.

On Monday Don received an offer of work back at Boeing at Oakey, an offer which we have accepted.  They were very keen to have him back on the team and so we are relocating back to the Toowoomba area.  At first we were hesitant, we love our community in Longreach, the church, the school, the Kindy and everyone in them. However the lure of being closer to family and old friends, medical care for Sam and the superb offer from Boeing, brought us to pray, consider and accept the offer. Boeing is even paying for the relocation of all of our belongings and transport costs as well as providing accommodation for up to a month for Don, if he needs to come down before us.

Don begins his new position with the Blackhawk team at Oakey on the 20th May, meaning we have a month left here at Longreach.  In that time we need to find a replacement to fulfil the lease we have here on the house in Longreach.  Please pray that a suitable tenant is found so we may move together as a family. If not, I will have to remain here with the boys until a tenant is found.

I am looking for someone to take over my Avon business here in Longreach if anyone is keen, let me know.  I have about 40 customers who look forward to receiving the service.

Obviously we have been caught off guard with this move.  We were looking to stay in Longreach for quite some time, but we cannot ignore the doors that have been opened for us in the last week.  It is hard to leave Don's work here and all of the friends who have been so kind and supportive to us, especially over the last month during Sam's surgery.  To say no would be foolish.  We have literally seen God open his hand this week and pour out blessing over our family, in such a refreshing contrast to what we have just endured. 

So we hope that you will celebrate with us, though the news be bittersweet. We are excited and look forward to all that God has in store for us in the future to come.

Given the All Clear

We presented for Sam's x-ray this morning at 9am and were taken straight in to have it.  Five minutes later we were back in the ward to get the results and because the doctors were on their rounds we saw them right at that moment.  The x-ray was great with no complications.  Sam has the suture removed from his final drain wound and we were on our way.  Good-bye Mater Hospital! Dr Anderson one of Sam's doctors is just amazed at his recovery.

'He is just remarkable isn't he?', he grinned as Sam smiled and laughed and ran down the hall to see him.  I think what really stumps everyone the most is just the abundance of Sam's joy and his complete inability to hold a grudge even five minutes after they have to hurt him in some way.

We are now at the Sunshine Coast with my family, spending quality time with Granny and Grandad for a week or so before we head back to Longreach. Sam will have an x-ray back in Longreach in a fortnight's time and then we will not need to head back to Brisbane for review until the 28th June.

In the next week, I need to come to term with fact that we are on the other side of this surgery that Sam loves to eat, and what our life will look like now that this weight has been lifted. It has not yet been three weeks since his surgery and I still can't wipe the smile from my face.

To say that we have felt so loved by you all would be a complete understatement.  We have received words of love, cards and gifts from the world over.  It is going to take me a year to thank you all personally but I have kept all of the envelopes with return addresses to do just that.

I think Sam summed it up all quite well in his prayers last night.

'Fank you Desus, for making me better. Fank you for my family and my good fwiends. I wove you.'