Soccer & Visiting

We had soccer in Morwell on Saturday. The poor kids had to play in such freezing weather! The temperature only got to about 13C (55F) but the wind brought it down to about 8C (48F). The rain pelted down a few times too. I felt sorry for the kids but considering how it was they still managed to be upbeat about it all. Even after their loss.

While the boys & I were at soccer Mark went to visit his brother. He's in hospital at the moment. He had a bit of a breakdown and needed his meds adjusting. He went in on Wednesday. Not too sure when he gets to come home though. We're visiting him later today so we might find out then.

My Little Dragon

My little Dragon before today's game!
They lost 0-6 but they tried their best.

Not a Good Start to the Week

Our poor little man had an accident at school this morning. I got a phone call at around 9:30 am. Angus had tripped over a trolley in the sports shed when he was putting something away. As he fell he banged his arm on a metal rake (not sure what it was doing in a sports shed but that's another matter I guess). Anyway to cut a long story short he has broken his arm!! We spent a few hours down at the hospital this morning getting x-rays, etc done. It was lunchtime by the time we finally got home.

Angus, the poor little man, has not had a good few days. It all started when he got a phone call last Friday night from his soccer coach saying that due to the number of kids in the team (we have 18 kids and only 16 can be named for the team each week) he will not be playing in the game on Saturday (our first finals game). Now Angus & I knew why he wasn't chosen and it was NOT for the reason the coach gave us. In fact there were several parents at the Game on Saturday who knew why as well. You see Angus isn't one of the strongest players on the team. He has trouble running sometimes and it's been that way ever since his leg was broken when he was little. Anyway he and another boy were 'given' the week off from playing. Something that happened a lot during the season when we played a stronger team. Not that it mattered as the team lost anyway. And there were a few kids who didn't get play either even though they were on the bench and listed as playing the game on the day. These kids on the interchange bench never got a go.

I was so angry and still am. How could the coach put the game before these kids. They are part of the team and deserved to play just as much and the more stronger and more skilled kids. Angus worked his little butt of during practise in the hope that he would be given the opportunity to play. The coach said that those who practised the hardest during the week would be playing. Oh Gosh even just typing about this makes me so angry and so tearful. It was just so unfair! I am seriously thinking of writing a letter of complaint. I know one of the other parents is going to. It is just wrong to get the kids hopes up in the hope of playing and letting them sit there on the bench for the WHOLE game!

So the season is now over - the team lost 2 - 0. The 'weaker' kids could've played anyway as we were losing. There would've been no harm done and maybe the fresh legs would've made all the difference in the score. The ground was horrible and soggy. The other kids were tired after playing it such hard conditions. The interchange kids were ready and more than willing to play in the mud and rain. It may have made a difference. Now we will never know.

I think it's time I get off my soap box! I am getting way to worked up over this soccer game!

Before I forget. Even with all the pain that Angus was in today with his broken arm he was so thoughtful. You see he had been helping me crochet beanies and blankets for the knit 4 charities group I am in. He said to me and he looked quite upset as he said it. "Mum, I can't crochet!" What a sweetheart to think of others when he could've easily have put himself first and not even thought about the charities we could help.

Pioneer Trek & Mansfield Autistic Centre

Brodie will be going on the Pioneer Hand Cart Trek organised by our stake. It will be at Creswick Regional Park, which is about a two hour drive from home. If you go to Google Maps and do a search you can go to street view and you will be able to see what the place looks like. I must admit that the pictures look like they were taken during summer so it looks rather brown and uninviting.

I can't wait for Brodie to go on the trek. It will do him the world of good to find out how hard the Pioneers had it. I know that he will learn a lot from it. He can't wait either. Brodie said he is looking forward to it.

I think Angus is excited too as he knows he will be getting a much needed break from Brodie! Not that we really want to get rid of him its just that Brodie can take up a lot of our resources I guess you could say.

We also had a phone call recently from Mansfield Autistic Centre. Mansfield is a short term placement residential school situated two hours from Melbourne. Mansfield also runs a Travelling Teacher program providing support to rural families. Anyway we got a phone call from them the other week and last week one of the travelling teachers came out to interview us. We had been on the waiting list since Brodie was officially diagnosed two years ago. So YAY we are now off the waiting list. We just need to wait to be assigned a travelling teacher who will work with us & the school. I did let the teacher know during our interview that I really would like the High School to have some sessions with her so that they can become more Asperger friendly. They really don't seem to be very Autism aware at that school. Not like I want them to be.
Mark said that I have taught them a lot since Brodie has been there but I am not sure that I have really.

I'm not sure how long we need to wait for a travelling teacher to be assigned to us but hopefully it wont be too long.

One of the programs that the Autistic centre runs is a residential program. Its where the kids can spend a whole school term there. They focus on areas like Communications skills, Social skills, Behaviour Management, Independent Living skills & Self help, Health & Well Being, Leisure and Recreation. There are no more than 12 children (it could be less) staying there for the term. I am not sure how many staff there are during the day but I know that there are two that sleep there at night to supervise the kids. It's awful expensive (around $1,000 for the term) but I would love for Brodie to attend for a term. It would give us all a much needed break and Brodie would hopefully learn so many things.

There are home weekends were he will be able to stay for about 4 days before heading back to the school. This happens every 3 weeks or so. I mentioned that I would like him to still attend Church meetings on Sundays. I don't know if I would need to organise for someone to come and collect him but I do remember being told that a staff member would most likely accompany Brodie on these outings.

That's about it for now I guess.

Oops almost forgot. Angus is so excited his soccer team made it into the finals. The first finals game is this weekend! Woohoo!!

Dragon Quilt

Guess what I won!! A Dragon Quilt! I entered a raffle for Angus's soccer club. I bought the ticket months ago when Angus played his first game. I had totally forgotten about it actually. I got a phone call the other week from the lady in charge of fund-raising to say that I had won the quilt. I've never won a raffle before and to be honest it never even entered my mind that I would win this one. But I did. I was thinking that it would look good as a wall hanging.

My Little Dragon!

Golly I feel awful that I haven't blogged much lately. It's not that I haven't wanted to share anything. I have. It's just that I haven't been motivated to share all that much. I am still busy being a soccer Mum and doing my knitting & crocheting. So I really haven't had all that much time at the computer. No where near as much as I used to and to be honest that is not a bad thing at all.

Anyway. I finally managed to take some photos with my digital camera of Angus in his Soccer uniform and not on my phone where I have a photo of his very first game. I just had to share them. He looks too darned cute! He wasn't too impressed with me taking a photo with the sun behind me as it got in his eyes too much. As you can tell lol he has his eyes closed.

He has been improving so much. The coach, and me of course, are so proud of his effort today. He got out there and attacked the ball even taking it away from his opponent! Yay Angus!! If he keeps this up he may even get to play longer. It can be frustrating that the stronger kids get more playing time but I can see why the coach does that and to be fair Angus did at least get to play in each half.

The First "Offical" Soccer Game

Angus got to play his first 'official' game of soccer today. He only got to play for about 5 minutes in the first half but he did really well. He was constantly trying to get to the ball and when he did he did a great job!

I was a little bit disappointed that he only got to play for such a short time. I know that there are lots of kids on his team but it would've been nice if he could've played a little longer. Perhaps next time will be longer.

And for the record the score was 4 - 4.

The First Game

Angus had his first game of soccer today. He looked so cute in his uniform. He had so much fun even though he didn't get to play much but that is to be expected as there are so many players on his team. Angus was so excited this morning and extremely happy after the game because his team won 5 - 1.

I actually remembered to take a photo of Angus in his uniform but there is one small problem .. the picture is on my phone and I have no way of transferring it to my computer at the moment. We even tried to send it to Mark's phone, via blue tooth, so he could transfer it to computer but it wouldn't work. So I guess I will have to wait until I get a memory card for the phone and transfer it then.

Before I forget there is also another Angus on his team. He's a little bit younger but get this he has the same eye problems as my boy. It's amazing. He is the second boy I have met called Angus. The first one is much older and was in High School at the time.

This Past Week .. .. ..

It's been an interesting week to say the least.

On Monday Mark's Opa and his girlfriend visited. They live in Western Australia & they drove over. It was a fairly quick visit but that was okay I am just glad that Mark got to see his Opa again. He is such a fun person & his girlfriend was lovely too.

Brodie had his paediatrician visit Monday morning. His blood pressure is still way too high for a kid. It rivals mine. It was around 150/90 and 140/90. Michael checked both arms and the right one was much higher than the left. That has been about the 'norm' for him. Still it is awfully high for a 14 year old. He's not too sure as to what to do with him yet not at least until he has seen the kidney specialist (our appointment is on the 11th of this month).

I took Mark to the doctors Monday afternoon. We told his doctor about the hospital trip the week before and how they said he needed an epi-pen. We were given a referral to an allergist. I phoned them up on Tuesday only to get a message that they weren't in the office today. I finally got around to phoning them on Thursday morning. I was told that we needed to pay $250 for the first visit. To which I told them that Mark is on a disability pension. She then said it didn't matter that we were it was the same price for everyone. I will need to get back to them eventually. We just cannot afford that.

On Tuesday Angus had his first training session for soccer. He was totally exhausted when he got home. He had been on an excursion to Healesville Sanctuary with school all day and then had training once we got home. Of course I had to run out and get him some shin guards so that he could train. They don't let the kids train or play without them. We were a little late for practise but that was okay.

Brodie had his school photos on Wednesday. I'm looking forward to getting them. It should be interesting to see if he actually looked nice by the time the pics were taken.
Angus has his photos done this week on Thursday. I just wish that both schools had given us some more time to get the money together than just a few days before the photos are taken. I guess they don't think of it that way.

I'm a Soccer Mum!!

I cannot believe it. I am a "Soccer Mum!!" On Saturday I took Angus to the local soccer club to sign him up. He is so excited about finally being able to play sport and he hasn't even started training yet. This was just a sign up to fill in all the paperwork that you can and for the club to get an idea on how many people will be playing so that they can work out teams, training, etc.

From what we were told his training may start on Feb 28th (a Thursday) which thankfully wont interfere with Young Men's and Young Achievers, not to mention my applique. Not that the boys have been going yet due to the head gasket being gone on the car. I just don't feel comfortable in taking the boys all the way to the Chapel when the car isn't working well. What would I do if something goes wrong & Mark isn't with me?

The first game isn't until April 12th. Let's hope that I will be able to get all the necessary sports uniform for Angus by then. He's meant to have shin guards, boots, shorts and club strips (or some such thing which the club supplies).

We need to supply a copy of Angus's birth certificate and a photo for his ID card. So I will need to take Angus to the chemist and get some passport photos done. At least they are cheap enough to get. Then I suppose that we should look into getting his sports gear. Between that and his camp, which I am paying off, he's an expensive kid!!