The Holmes Gang: What's happening??

Hi all

Well I have been pretty slack with the updates, though the first ‘almost’ two weeks of school has flown by.

Kody has settled into school with ease, though in the last week the homework has upped the ante and as you can imagine he is not that impressed with this occurring. Kody has the same teachers, same class room and majority of the same kids. So instead of having to settle in again with new teachers, classrooms or students, it’s like they just had an extended weekend (of approx 10 weeks lol). He is also back on the bike after the accident, and riding to school every day.

He is also back to keyboard lessons, swimming lessons (with my awesome friend “taskmaster” Dana), Scouts and a very cool Art class on Saturday mornings (organised by Granma). Last week we received paperwork, stating that Kods had been selected to play a school instrument...he was picked to play the trumpet. Apparently they had testing done last year, and Kody obviously passed the rhythm test (must get that from me lol). Kody has grown up so much in the last year, and continues to amaze us with his humour and passion for life.

Immie has been settling into school like the star she is. Mrs Barker is amazed daily, by what she has picked up since last year. Immie also has the same teachers, classroom and majority of the same kids in her class (talk about making it easy for me to remember names and class numbers!!). She loves going to school, and is still only doing half days at least till the end of this week.
I would probably say her only difficulty is her lack of sometimes hearing and the kids in her class (not from last year) staring quizzically at her very short hair cut. Though this does bother Immie one bit, she continues on in her very happy and giggly life.

Imogen got castings taken for her hearing aids and had another (long 40 minute) hearing test at Hearing Australia on Tuesday last week. She was very good. Her appt to be fitted with the aids is on the 27th of February, as this was as soon as they could get her in.

Yesterday we went to the resort for Immies GFR (kidney function test), arriving at 8.30am to get the drip installed to allow to provide access for the GFR injection and the hourly blood collection. Imogen decided she did not want emaula (the numbing cream), as she hates the bandaids that are used to keep it on for the time needed. Immie lay so still while they put her drip in and jiggled around her veins finding the right way to insert the canula (Immie veins are all very crappy after so much treatment : ( ). Then off to nuclear meds to receive the injection, and then it was with a pray and a lot of hope for the unstable cannula to last the 3 – 4 hours needed. Thankfully it did, and after many visits from beautiful hospital people, we were off. Immie was given another week off Accutane as her feet have still not fully recovered. We had a wait of about an hour and half for the booked echo (cardio test); we filled the time by going to Megazone, the park and keeping the hospital canteen with a constant money supply.

The echo ran on time and we will get the results for these next week, though they are all routine tests. Next Wednesday Immie will have a CAT scan, then clinic to ensure she is ready to begin her third dose of Accutane. The following Wednesday is the big test, the MIBG the most accurate test to tell us the full story of all the treatment Immie has gone through since September 2008. We have an appt on the 4th of March for results. The waiting is horrid and extremely hard.

Fortunately the week before this, I begin Uni so that will be somewhat of a distraction. What else??, oh Kods and me were involved in another car accident on Saturday, a young guy ran in the back of our Daewoo, so more quotes and fixing needed. I had to go to the doctors and get checked out as I am still under a Motor vehicle claim for the Sept 07 accident. I was deemed all ok and was very happy about that.

Well life marches on we are trying to find a normal balance, a little more difficult than from the first time we were out on good behaviour bond for nine months. Tho we believe (or hope) that it will continue to get easier over time. We still believe we are so very lucky especially as we watch the news surrounding the Victorian Fires and Queensland Floods.

Please keep Immie in your thoughts as we undergo the tests in the next month, sending all you can muster for positive beautiful clear scans,

Love to all and a special pray and strength sent to all scarred by the Victorian Fires and Queensland Floods,

Love the Holmes Gang