Fundraising whilst running

Enjoying a free snack bar whilst watchig the big screen

A reward from the Golden M on the way home!

Jamie did his run and shaved off over 2 minutes from his time from last year. He did it in 57.15 mins and really enjoyed it too! He has raised over £500 including gift aid for The Charnwood Trust and is really excited with what they can do with this money. Thank you to all of you who have contributed.

It's been a while

Life has been busy. I also feel that I have had nothing to write.

We have just returned from a fab 8 days on the Costa Blanca. Emily and Joel wore sunhats and sun screen instead of woolly hats and waterproofs!

Jamie starts his new role at school on Monday. Head of Maths... we hope that goes well for him and his peers.

Emily was refused a place at our local Church of England School. We are 4 streets out of catchment but really want her to have the foundation of a faith based school. We are now in the process of the Appeals process. Apparently only 28% of appeals are successful! We will find out next Wednesday where we are on the waiting list of 31 children! ( that is more than another class!) Then the appeals panel meet in June, however some of the dates are when I am in Belfast to hopefully meet my new niece! I kinda feel that this situation is a bit of a pain in the neck!

Joel is well, he has officially finished Infatrini now and is just on cows milk. His medicine continues until our next cardio appointment. He is walking and running with the added ability of stopping! His love of all things bouncy and spherical continues. He is learning to say sorry as he likes to blow raspberries and hit out when he cannot have or do something. Thankfully we are not at the stage of reins but the naughty step is used frequently!

As for me... busy reading a wierd kids book called Tunnels, packed away our Easter Tree today and planted the potatoes in the veggie patch. As I said not a lot to say!

We are well, enjoying the last few days before the busy summer term packed with exams and transition.

Jamie is running the Manchester 10KM to raise funds for Emily's Nursery and Joel's Opportunity Group. If you would like to help, check out... www.justgiving.com/jamiemcculloch.

Technology. Bleurgh!

Sorry folks, I have no idea why videos no longer work. Will have to look into it but it won't be for a while as my class are my priority until after SATs in May.

Hello

Hello, ground control to Joel. His favourite word at the momnet is Hello. All is well with us, we are on a half term break.

We have been enjoying the spring weather, the crocuses and daffodils are up in the garden with the crocuses blooming already. The weather is great and so our spirits are great - its fab to be in the sun.

Frankenstein is on the loose.

How cool is this?

Thanks be to God...

...and to all who have been praying and thinking about us for the past 15 months.

Today Joel had his cardio appointment. We have always gone to each one wondering when we would hear the news that he is 'really' improving and not just maintaining. We usually wait holding our breath whilst the doctor measures and clicks, makes the machine make funny whirring noises as well as humms and haas. Eventually, when we feel we can we usually ask, "Well how is it thins time?" (again waiting for the magic sentence... "it's better."

Well today we kind of heard that sentence. The hole no longer impacts on the rest of his heart, it is still there but it is small, the flow back and forth is restricted and she has , "no plans for surgery". Yes... we heard the words.... no longer are we wondering when it is going to be, Joel will not need surgery. Whoop, Whoop!

Joel continues to be a work of God, and God is 'fixing' him. (along with the help of some amazing people from the NHS).

We are so, so grateful and overwhelmed by the journey you have gone on with us. It is not over yet, but we were assured today that the worst over and that in our cardiologist's words, " you need to go, get on with your lives, make plans and not worry."

Thank you for your prayers, notes, texts, thoughts, visits, gestures, patience and kindness not only to us as a four, but to our parents, siblings and wider family as you have cared for us all.

We are blessed with Joel in our lives, we are blessed with friends and family and we are truly blessed by God's presence with us each and every day.

Thanks be to Him.

Snow Day.. the first one in our 10 year teaching careers!

This one needs a few more burgers! (not Jamie!)

Bits and bobs

Just a few from the past month, Christmas to follow, but for now.. off to Belfast to celebrate my sister's 30th Birthday.

Nativity

It was Emily's Nativity Play today at Nursery. We couldn't take pictures but this is her singing one opf the songs with her signing too! Every mum feels proud, but wow, she was so so so cute!

Only one more day to go then it is my holidays. Emily has Nursery parties, birthday parties and lots of social engagements,so not rest for us but a great time to look forward to.

Joel and Papa were Shepherds on Sunday. It has been a busy weekend of Nativity plays.

Walking with a walker. Woo Hoo!

" Say cheese, Joel."

Laughs and smiles at our house.

(Practising 'cheeeeeeese')

Show us your groovy moves............. then freeze!

A Healthy House

For the first time in 6 weeks we can report that we are illness free. ( I know that this is famous last words but we celebrate the possibility of normality.)

We are all back at work, nursery and our childminder... life goes on with the usual rhythm. Only 4 weeks until the Christmas holidays. The Christmas lights are now switched on in Stockport town centre. As Jamie and the kids were driving through it on the way home today Emily announced that they should go home and put up our lights and stockings ready for Christmas.

"Which stockings?"Jamie asked.

"My green one which is very special."

Jamie asked, "why is the green one special?"

"It is special because Jesus gave it to me." replied Emily

"Did he?" Jamie asked.

"Yes, Daddy, He sent it down from heaven."

Out of the mouths of children. Does she have dodgy theology or just cute ideas?

Illness

We have been fighting sickness for over a month. I have had a chest and throat infection, Emily has had high temps, runny noses and coughs. Joel has had coughs, colds, new teeth and runny noses. He and Emily have both been vomiting but this week has been the worst!

Joel has confirmed swine flu and rsv which has really floored him and us. It is too late for tami flu as he has had the flu for too long and the antibiotic only works for the first 48 hours. The rsv has left a really nasty cough which has prevented sleep, but we hope that we are on the last run of it and that next week will be better. It would also be good to see friends, go to church, keep appointments and meet ups with people as well as go to work without feeling guilty or stay at home without feeling guilty! On a more positive note Joel has managed to fight these horrible infections quite well so maybe his heart is stronger that we think!

Thanks for your love and prayers; there are lots of things going on at our house but we know that the world does not revolve around us, we have just been swamped and due to this have been rubbish at keeping up with you all. Hopefully this season is done and we can move on without sick, snot and illness.

Thanks for the balloons... Ellie-May, Lilah and Sam.

Happy Bonfire Night

Enjoy our Bonfire Song.

Catch Up!

It's a long walk when you have to hold on to daddy.

Incy wincy all ready for the pumpkin party.

A carousel on her own, she must be growing up!

Camber Sands in October!

Yes.. a real Thomas Train.

Hastings beach or cobbles!

The ballet clothes finally arrived complete with shoes.

Thanksgiving Turkey - art from Auntie Sara and Uncle Greg.

update

Well, life has been busy over the past few weeks.
September is always manic as we try to adjust to new routines and the tug between work, childcare and life outside these two!

We have had lots of fun things going on in the house now that I am back at work and we have my income. We finally got our oak floor in the dining room and new carpet in the lounge, stairs and landing. This is probably not very exciting to other people but it puts an end to the filthy and stained carpets that were left behind from the previous owner. We also got our toilet attached to the bathroom floor- another one of the strange inheritances in our home. The house feels better and if it is dirty - it is our dirt!

Veggies from our patch

Oh Emily... smile! (Kat and Joseph's wedding)

Enjoying the one sunny day of late August

Joel can now pull himself up and seems to like the piano

Now that October is here it is the season for coughs and sneezes. We have all had our first Winter colds... hopefully the last one too!

A great day at Nursery

Emily was the VIP today. She came home so proud. She also made a wish at bedtime for her special friend (Hannah, the one with flowers on her shoes, not glasses) to come for tea as they are twins! It looks like she is settling well, it's amazing how quickly loyalty comes and how much of a sheep our daughter is. She came home to announce that sausages, mash and gravy are her favourite. This is a girl who has always told us that she doesn't like sausages or potatoes and when I have tried her with gravy (once calling it chocolate sauce) she still wouldn't try it! But Hannah likes sausages, mash and gravy so now does Emily. Let's hope she doesn't always go with the crowd!
The school day stories have begun. One pic of Joel... he found the water on top of the sand pit whilst I was hanging up the washing! Needless to say I needed to do more washing after this escapade.

8th Sept

Emily started Nursery School on Tuesday. She had a great time. Little does she know that she now will be in some sort of school until she is 18! She has been back since and still likes it, so all seems positive. It is very strange to be on the other side of school, working round timetables and structures, trying to get there on time to pick her up, labelling clothes, reading letters and getting involved.

On another note, Jamie celebrated his birthday on Tuesday complete with peanut butter pie for a cake! Yum. Happy Birthday J.