Hi Everyone,


We've just had a wonderful couple of days as we were able to take Sean home
to Ronald McDonald House for a couple of nights. Took him out to the
movies, the Skytower, and today we went to the Zoo. Was great for all of
us, but especially the boys, as they now have more ideas for 'ZooTycoon'. I
haven't been able to use my laptop much since I received it, as it has been
in great demand for Zoo Games!!



We knew we were in Auckland today as it is only mid-September and in between
very light showers we were wandering around the zoo in t-shirts! An
essential piece of equipment I've discovered is a very small foldup umbrella
in your handbag.



Sean and I are back in Starship tonight in the dreaded 4 bed room. Dreaded
because you never know who you will be sleeping with. Tonight the bed next
to Sean is empty so I will grab that. In the other beds a baby (crying on
and off), with her snoring Dad, and a teenage girl who is lovely but
accompanied by her snoring Dad!! You only get a single room when their
white cell count goes really low (if there's one available), or if they're
very ill like Sean has been and has something that may be infectious to
other patients. Basically the ward is just not big enough to cope with the
numbers of cancer kids.



We're back in because Sean starts his second round of chemo tomorrow, and is
back in theatre again on Monday for his other chemo. Hopefully the side
effects won't be so bad this time as he is a lot stronger. Still only able
to take a few steps at a time, so gets to use a kids wheelchair which he
thinks is pretty cool - and Cameron does too - he likes to have a turn and
see how fast he can go - of course!!



On Friday afternoon, Cameron, Sean and I went to the art session at Ronald
McDonald House, it was very therapeutic, just pottering and chatting to the
other couple of parents that were there. Sean and I made a Dinosaur Diorama
(probably not the correct spelling, but the snoring is putting me off!!).
We spent a good couple of hours doing that. Cameron seems to know all the
kids - or all the kids seem to know Cameron. We've even had one visiting
our room regularly the last couple of days - a very nice boy called Jake.
He's 12 and has just had a new pacemaker put in. Showed us his very
impressive scar. Met a Grandad here in the kitchen yesterday who is here
because his one week old granddaughter has just had major heart surgery and
is lying in intensive care with her chest open, and just a plastic cover
over it, so they can get in quickly and not do too much damage!! Just
incredible the stories we are hearing. You are never the worst one off.



Anyway I suppose I should try and grab some sleep, maybe I should invest in
some ear muffs!



Take care everyone, enjoy the Spring,



Catherine