As I sit here an write this blog, I thank God for the fact that I have three perfectly healthy, vibrant, active, children. I cannot complain that they have any disabilities, or significant problems. I cannot say they were premature. I cannot say they may not survive the first few weeks of life.
I have friends that cannot say all that. A couple of days ago, the wife of a friend of mine, delivered their first child. They are now the proud parents of a little boy, weighing in at only 660grams. This child was born at only 23 weeks and 6 days- almost a world record (but not one that anyone really wants!)
With a long journey ahead, I can not even imagine what it is going to be like for these people. Four months- at least -of living (effectively) at the hospital. Four months of travelling every day. All that time wondering if the little one will survive. Dreading the thought of infection, or illness. Knowing that any little ailment could spell the end of their child's life. It is not a position I would wish upon my worst enemy.
As a parent of 3 perfectly healthy children, it is easy to take for granted the health and welfare of my own, but when something like this happens to someone in your own circle of acquaintance, it brings to life the real possibilities of what can happen. We are just thankful that all is well at this time.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Fireman Sam
There are times when I wish I had never heard of Television. There are times I wish I had never heard of fast food. There are times I wish I had never heard of anything that may contrive to entice any person into a sedentary, fat, lifestyle!
I have joined the local Volunteer Fire Brigade, and boy do I wish fitness had been my best subject at school! I am not yet qualified to actually go out and fight fire, but the training along the road to doing this can be pretty intense. Imagine yourself with hot, fire-retardant coveralls, an air tank on your back, breathing through the face mask- blind folded.
After imagining all that, place yourself in an old-fashioned (read dangerous by today's Health and Safety standards) primary school playground, crawling around the smallest gaps the instructors could find, up chain-link ladders (and down again), through Bannister rails the height and size of a five-year-old, following only a rope (remember, this is all with an air tank and blind fold on) through all this!
As intense as this all has felt, I know that it is as yet nothing compared to the week long basic training I will be doing in January. As tough as it is, I absolutely love it. I should have joined up years ago, and if I could afford the drop in pay, I'd join up full-time. There is something about riding the fire truck that just brings out the little boy in me!
I have joined the local Volunteer Fire Brigade, and boy do I wish fitness had been my best subject at school! I am not yet qualified to actually go out and fight fire, but the training along the road to doing this can be pretty intense. Imagine yourself with hot, fire-retardant coveralls, an air tank on your back, breathing through the face mask- blind folded.
After imagining all that, place yourself in an old-fashioned (read dangerous by today's Health and Safety standards) primary school playground, crawling around the smallest gaps the instructors could find, up chain-link ladders (and down again), through Bannister rails the height and size of a five-year-old, following only a rope (remember, this is all with an air tank and blind fold on) through all this!
As intense as this all has felt, I know that it is as yet nothing compared to the week long basic training I will be doing in January. As tough as it is, I absolutely love it. I should have joined up years ago, and if I could afford the drop in pay, I'd join up full-time. There is something about riding the fire truck that just brings out the little boy in me!
The fire truck in the photo is the truck the volunteers use at my station. Its specialty is as a hose laying truck, meaning we carry about three times the amount of hose as an ordinary truck. We have everything else too, just less of it all!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
To do, or Not To Do...
At different times in our lives, we must make decisions that will affect the rest of our lives. Now, usually when we have such a major decision to make, we have a group of people with whom we confer to receive counsel, or for help with seeing "the big picture."
What happens then, when those to whom you would ordinarily turn to, are the very cause of the situation which brought about the need of the decision? Frustrating, right?
Every day. Every moment of every day, we make small decisions that gently mold us into who we are- what to eat, what to buy, when to go to bed, what car to drive... But then, on a much less frequent scale, we are faced with a decision that may potentially dump our world upon its head.
It is this type of decision I am faced with- but the answer I choose holds a great deal of consequence- not only for me, but for at least five other lives. I could just say "be damned! I'm going to do this...." but then I could really screw something up!
Once you get married, or enter a relationship of similar status, once you have children, life gains an enormous complexity that is just did not have previously. Do I do this? Do I do that? Until the right choice becomes clear, I guess I must muse upon the choices and pray I make the right one.
When the time comes to finalise my decision, I will let you know. Until then, I am just going to wait.
What happens then, when those to whom you would ordinarily turn to, are the very cause of the situation which brought about the need of the decision? Frustrating, right?
Every day. Every moment of every day, we make small decisions that gently mold us into who we are- what to eat, what to buy, when to go to bed, what car to drive... But then, on a much less frequent scale, we are faced with a decision that may potentially dump our world upon its head.
It is this type of decision I am faced with- but the answer I choose holds a great deal of consequence- not only for me, but for at least five other lives. I could just say "be damned! I'm going to do this...." but then I could really screw something up!
Once you get married, or enter a relationship of similar status, once you have children, life gains an enormous complexity that is just did not have previously. Do I do this? Do I do that? Until the right choice becomes clear, I guess I must muse upon the choices and pray I make the right one.
When the time comes to finalise my decision, I will let you know. Until then, I am just going to wait.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Spills, Thrills, and Fireworks!
Last night Baypark Speedway held its annual Guy Fawkes fireworks night, so I thought it would make a great night out for the family. The youngest we left with Grandma and Grandpa (somehow I didn't think a one year old would appreciate the noise of the cars, the very late night, and the lights of the fireworks- maybe next year for him), and my wife and I headed on over just as soon as I finished work.
I always do enjoy the racing, even videoed some of it last night. I was able to take some neat footage of a couple of races, but then Murphy's Law set in. You better believe it- a two year old and a three year old can only "hold on" for so long before disaster approaches! And with my wife being nine months pregnant, it was up to yours truly to facilitate toilet runs. You wouldn't believe it, as soon as the camcorder was off, a big pile up of saloon cars happened right in front of us- eh!
Venturing into the men's room with my little girl was an interesting experience. She was more interested in finding out what the urinal was than my three year old son! I received a few strange looks as I explained to her that this was how boys went wee wees when they are not at home. Hopefully her experience will not give her nightmares for life.
The second night of the Speedway season for 2009/2010 was much more successful from a spectators point of view than the first- meaning there were a few more spectacular crashes, fires, and general mayhem than the first week. One driver being taken away in an ambulance. In all seriousness, I trust the driver of that car is ok, and that it was just a precaution. If I find out otherwise, I will mention it here.
All in all, I was glad to have my family with me for an evening of great fun. Perhaps one day, if I can procure the right sponsorship, I may even be able to race a stock car of my own- a nice thought anyway!
I always do enjoy the racing, even videoed some of it last night. I was able to take some neat footage of a couple of races, but then Murphy's Law set in. You better believe it- a two year old and a three year old can only "hold on" for so long before disaster approaches! And with my wife being nine months pregnant, it was up to yours truly to facilitate toilet runs. You wouldn't believe it, as soon as the camcorder was off, a big pile up of saloon cars happened right in front of us- eh!
Venturing into the men's room with my little girl was an interesting experience. She was more interested in finding out what the urinal was than my three year old son! I received a few strange looks as I explained to her that this was how boys went wee wees when they are not at home. Hopefully her experience will not give her nightmares for life.
The second night of the Speedway season for 2009/2010 was much more successful from a spectators point of view than the first- meaning there were a few more spectacular crashes, fires, and general mayhem than the first week. One driver being taken away in an ambulance. In all seriousness, I trust the driver of that car is ok, and that it was just a precaution. If I find out otherwise, I will mention it here.
All in all, I was glad to have my family with me for an evening of great fun. Perhaps one day, if I can procure the right sponsorship, I may even be able to race a stock car of my own- a nice thought anyway!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)