Some "not so new" photos and a quick Alison update

Okay so these photos were taken of Aimee and Lucy enjoying some time feeding the fish in the pond at home. Must admit we were very sceptical when plans for The Pond were announced but it has turned out really well and proves to be a nice little walk away from home. Before the weather really started heating up, the girls would ask to walk to the pond and feed the fish. These photos were taken during one of Mom's breaks while putting together the school yearbook.



Okay along with the pond photos, this is us at Lucy's Preschool Graduation.
AND Andre got to meet a few more international rugby players when he reffed or ran touch (I honestly can't remember sorry my love) at an international day at Bahrain Rugby Club. Seen here with my man are Colin Charvis and Dan van Zyl although his photo with 7's legend Waisale Serevi at the Dubai 7's a year or so ago (when he ran touch in the final, along with reffing etc.) was a HUGE thing - if I can find the photo I'll post it :)


News on Alison :
She is coming on so well. We had a good weekend at home this last one - of course Alison getting very frustrated with all of us as we tried to ensure she didn't fall. (She is not 100% on her right leg and still catches her toes occassionally as she walks). Back to Entebeni Rehab on Monday morning and we started doing stair work to get Alison into bending her right knee so that would enable her to walk straight not swing her leg out to move around. It was hard work and after a few times up and down the flight, we were both glad therapy was over for the morning. Her speech is also improving daily and over the weekend she even managed to tell me I was getting fat and developing a bit of a double chin, I should be doing all the situps; bumlifts, leglifts and squats with her ! Sorry to say - NO ! Andre you'll just have to live with the fat, I have no energy to do any exercise :)
Taken a break from therapy today as Alison seems to have a little bug and needs to rest. God is so good and His hand is really on her as she gets well again, Thankyou to everyone who continues to pray for her.

My darling - I miss you and can't wait to have you here with us soon xxxxx

Take a look at this fabulous lady !

Okay, so I arrived in South Africa on Friday morning (JHB) and finally touched down in Durban at 2pm. Straight to the hospital to a wonderful surprise of Alison walking out of one of the offices. Happy Birthday Steven :)
Isn't she just amazing - less than a month after her stroke !
Hit the ground running and it was off to therapy with her Saturday morning. To which we were told "No more walking stick !" now that she had me along at therapy it was her chance to make use of a personal 'trainer' hehehe and get her really walking.
We had a picnic lunch there on Sunday - the photos ....
Happy Birthday Aunty Mary & Val !

Alison and I work everyday from 9-12, in the gym (sittups. leg ups, walking etc.), at speech and even spent some time in the pool on Tuesday. (Thanks Mommy for watching the girls during this time xoxox)
She is now walking everywhere and first it was no cane, someone walking to steady and support her, now she can pretty much walk ahead/next to and I have minimal concern of her falling. Her speech is coming along, we have our moments still when I can't understand but we have a good laugh anyway.
I can honestly say I have an amazing sister !!!

WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO !!

Okay so I am very much delayed in updating but it just shows how absolutely chaotic the last few weeks have been.
This is seriously a woooohoooo posting for several reasons, tell you what, let me explain ...
So we'll start with the biggest - Alison ! Truly great stuff, end of May, just over 10 days after her stroke (yes the angiogram confirmed she'd had an acute stroke), she has some feeling in her right side ! Since this she has progressed to being able to leave Umhlanga hospital and move to Entebeni for rehab. She is busy on a daily basis doing mouth and tongue exercises which is helping her speech. Working in the gym and pool getting her right leg and arm used to working again is surely hard work.
She is on the mend and proves again why we are soooooo proud of her !
I arrive in South Africa tomorrow (Friday) and am seriously ready to take off my teacher hat and do my bit at the rehab thing hehehehe so hope you're ready big sister ! Please continue to pray for her as we need her to have the strength to become whole again.

Lucy's whole class
Dhahran Elementary Middle School Preschool Class of 2006 Graduates

Next wooohooooo - Lucy had her graduation ceremony from PreSchool a few weeks ago and as of yesterday, Aimee is offically a grade two student and Lucy will be moving on to Kindergarten in August - WOW ! Lucy continues to have her little anxiety attacks, definitely not constant as they were but still enough to make life a little difficult. Just got to be thankful we know it will pass.

Aimee's First Grade class.

Next wooooohoooo -
I finally managed to finish our school yearbook, report cards, website and online school updating and the other million things to do around here. We ask ourselves every year "why is year end sooooo busy and can't we do some of this at another quieter time". But alas no, things to do at the the end cannot be done any other time AND when is there a quiet time in a school year, seriously ?! Well at least not at our school hehehe There really are not enough hours in the day and I think Andre has been very happy in the last two that I haven't literally walked in the door - after staying 2 hours later at work already - and gone immediately to start working again until late.
Okay and now for a little booohoooo -
Our planned student study trip to SA October 2006 may at the very least be postponed. We needed parents to leave a deposit to secure our accommodation before the end of the school year - needed $1400. Only got $800. So it looks like I won't be bringing students to Jhb, Swaziland & CT over our Eid break as planned, booohooo.
Last one - this one also needs your prayers, so split them between Alison and Bruce please :) My principal is not very well, has been in and out of hospital several times this year. He has been sooo supportive of me not just professionally but also in the recent few weeks in dealing with being so far away from family and Alison especially. He is a great guy and needs all the prayers possible for the improvement of his health !

Well its early hours of the morning here - never thought I could survive on just a few hours each night but these past few weeks have seen very disturbed sleeping patterns and I have survived so ... just hope the girls crash on the planes so I can get some rest there maybe, yeah right :)

Will post again soon and once I have my life a little sorted I will post all rest of the photos from the last few weeks.
Have a good one everybody, love, laughter, happiness and friendship, God Bless xxx