Out come the stitches!

LAZING AROUND THE POOL
OUR BEAUTIFUL GIFTS FROM GOD

THE BIRTHDAY BOY WITH HIS BOY
MOM AND ME

LOGAN AND BEV

LOGAN AND ME!

ALL BLACK SUPPORTERS DAD AND DEQLAN

DEQLAN TAKING MAMA FOR A WALK

THE MOST DIVINE BIRTHDAY CAKE!

HAPPY TO BE BACK IN SAND!

ALL OF THE KIDS

KEATON THE BUILDER

NANNA KEATON MEGGIE

IM WALKING SO BEAUTIFULLY NOW!

Hello Everyone!

How was the weekend? We had a lovely weekend and have enjoyed the sunshine again after so much rain last week!

Friday night was just relaxed at home enjoying some telly!

Saturday morning Dad went to fetch Logan and Deqlan and I hit the shops to get some food for the weekend. Deqlan was very tired and when a lady bent down to say hi to him, of course Deqlan ignored her, because a) he was tired and b) he didnt know who she was and kids on the autism spectrum tend to do that - eye contact is way to intense for them especially with strangers. " is he sick ' She asked " no, he is just tired" i didnt have an hour to explain the journey my brave boy had already been on and continues to travel.

Deqlan fell asleep in the car on the way home - always good, as he struggles to get to sleep on the weekends as he is so used to his routine at Nannas house. Logs and I had some time to catch up and i thoroughly enjoyed a dvd she brought with of her Ouma's schools year end concert. She wasnt in this particular one, but i got very chocked up watching the kids in their gowns and caps, getting their certificates and being promoted to start Grade 1. To see them in their cute little outfits, dancing and singing was to precious - i cant wait for moments like this with Deqlan and Logan and Keaton....If this is how i reacted with complete strangers , cant imagine how i am going to be watching Deqlan sing and dance in the nativity play or get an award for being the best jumper in the class! Please Dear Lord i pray and believe i will get to see these things and many many more.

Saturday afternoon we headed off to Conrad and Meggie and Keaton to celebrate his Birthday. We had a delicous braai and thoroughly enjoyed playing with the kids. We let Deqlan play in sand and water and rice and just whatever he wanted to as his wound has healed so nicely - he had an absolute ball and had a smile from ear to ear! Shame poor Nanna was not feeling well....

Nanna got stung by a bee in the week - but it was definitely not an ordirnary bee - the reaction that followed the sting was c for serious. Nannas arm immediately start to swell and over the days that followed her entire arm was swollen and it just looked worse and worse - eventually we persuaded her to go to the doctor who put her on 4 antibiotics a day!!!! If she wasnt better by Saturday she would be admitted to drain the poison. Nanna is better but still feeling the effects of this monster bee!!!

Sunday, Mark went to play golf - he was still enjoying the thought of closest to the pin on the first and second nine, and third place overall, from a gold day he supported during the week. He had another great round with Kevin i believe!

So i took Logs and Deqlan to church with me - i didnt manage to sit inside as our monkey doesnt sit still, but at least i could try and hear a bit of the service through the windows and doors. Nanna helped me and held Deqlan for his blessing, as i hopped along behind her - my shoe broke!! Deqlan tried so hard to make friends with another 6 year old little boy who was also playing outside.was so great to watch him initiating the play and actually pulling little Desmond to chase hime, shame, Desmond was a little shy but did co operate in the end!

On the way home we stopped at the chemist do fill Logans nose spray script to help with her sinuses and the lady took a little longer then usual. Of course Deqlan started moaning ," shame is he sick' , she asked. 'No, he is just tired'. I again a) didnt have the time to explain the journey Deqlan has been on and still travelling and b) that kids ont he spectrum dont do waiting very well at all.

Logs has a little bit of a sinus infection so there was no swimming for her this weekend, but she gladly helped Dad clean all the stones out the pool but taking them from him and putting them down in the garden again - I think Deqlan made his record this time, there were hundred of stones that he happily threw and watched fall into the pool. He loves throwing , as you all know, and he loves , watching them fall into the water - this is considered a stim and helps regulate Deqlan.

Meggie and Keaton came to visit and we had a great time watching Keaton who has become so independant and darn cute! Thanks for the visit and cake Meggie and Keaton!

Logan has gotten so clever - she was asking me what the president actually does and i tried really hard to explain what a great president is supposed to do and that we have an election coming up and how important it is to choose the right person who 'doesnt lie' in Logans words! To clever, but a pleasure to be with her!

Speech and OT this morning was great GREAT GREAT! Deqlan ran into the house to find 'his' room and find his 'girls' ! He was very disapointed when i had to take him out and try and occupy him while we waited! a ha! We found a book with a picture of a train and Deqlan immediately calmed down and kept it with him the entire session. This is another modulating and regulating tool. Deqlan even ventured into the little 'chill' house , which is dark and has pillows in, and played peek a boo with us. He has never liked it before and always cried to get out! The girls suggest we get a tent with some pillows and he can go and retreat there when he feels the need to. We spoke alot about what we can do to help Deqlan in his craving from proprioception ( feedback ) in his mouth. Just as Deqlan stomps and marches and bangs his feet against things to get the feedback, so he does this with things in his mouth - so i am going to try and electric toothbrush for the vibration it will give him and give him that movement and texture that he craves..so we going to try some new things. But he was basically so relaxed and so willing to co operate with everything and lead the girls to what he wanted to do.

When we got back home, Nanna ( an ex nursing sister to name only 1 of her many many talents) attempted to to remove the stitches from our sleeping soldier. She managed to get one out beautifully but the second one was very very tough and Deqlan awoke with the many attempts we had to make to get it out. Deqlan wouldnt go back to sleep !! We tried 1 more time before coming home, but this upset Deqlan terribly to be held down. On the way home today Deqlan fell asleep - we got home , i put him on the bed, and just said Please Dear Lord let me get this out. After a few tries i eventually did! Hooray, all by myself - i didnt think i had the co ordination to hold a tweezer and a scissors and manouver them to cut them properly. Our little guy is still sleeping , its 2030, so its going to be a late night for us, but thank You Lord we can put this in the book of memories as Deqlans first stitches from just being a little boy!

We back on the Diflican - anti candida treatment - we actually started 5 days earlier then we were supposed to because Deqlan had such loose nappies, Dr L thought it could be a candida flare up or vitamin c sensitivity - but Deqlans rash also came back and some red flags, like spinning and looking at his hands for some time also joined - so we assume its the candida again!

Anyway, hope you all have a great week ahead, please please continue the prayer for Deqlan to remain NED always and for all of our friends around the world that are NED or fighting nb or are angels with Our Lord and for all the familiy and friends to get the love and support and prayers they need

God Bless , lots and lots of love

Mark Samm Deqlan Logan

'FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU', DECLARES THE LORD.'PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE' JEREMIAH 29;11