I think we feel like we are a bit back on track after a flat-out week.

The first couple of weeks after coming back were a bit of a downer for Mike with having nothing arranged by way of a program, people were busy and we were a bit distracted by the upcoming story. I am pleased to report that we seem to be back to the usual complete madness at the blue house with people dropping in all the time. I know how much it lifts Mike’s spirits so thankyou to everyone who has popped in to say hi in the last couple of weeks.

Despite still having a dreadful cough, Mike seems to be pretty much mended from whatever lurgy he had when we first returned and has set himself up a full program to keep himself and his carers busy! He has been checking out gym’s but managed to sort out a membership with MSAC during the week (they have been absolutely fantastic and are keen to support him which is great!). He has been for a session to check out the equipment and starts in earnest with the trainer next week. This is on top of the 4 physio/hydro sessions that he is entitled to and also the extra physio and feldenkrais that we have organised. He has also found a brilliant hand therapist so lets all think good thoughts for those useless hands! And, as always, the wonderul Harri is making time for a couple of massages a week – so he is busy, busy, busy! We are also trying to incorporate a bit of stick “walking” in to his daily routine to make sure he spends time upright and gets balance practice and a bit of strength in those skinny little legs.

It has been really good getting Mike back in to a good early wake-up routine as I think we just all function better that way. Also, last weekend he purchased himself a michellan man jacket which he is now officially in love with – he is now busily lining up footy games that he can keep himself warm at! He was up in time and dressed warmly enough to drop Ash at kinder early this week as a practice run for when i am back at work – the kinder was great, making sure that he could get in to the centre and to Ash’s room – although I am not entirely convinced that Ash will actually sign herself in!

It has also been a great week with lots of kids around – it was starting to feel a bit tragically quiet here so we are glad to have lots of kids dropping in again, although …. I am thinking it is a bit easier (and quieter) in summer when they can blow of steam on the tramp and play outside rather than getting every single toy off every shelf in the play room!!

A big thankyou to all the people who have been in touch since the Project Walk story aired last Sunday night. I will endeavour to reply to your e-mails over the next week. We were very worried about the story – not being huge fans of sensational tv and being very wary of journalists – but congratulations to Channel 7 – particularly Niki and Rhaini. Whilst, if we had a say, the story would have included a lot more footage of Mike using the equipment at Project Walk – we were really happy that it was a positive story about Project Walk and of trying to make the most of what you have. I guess we had also hoped that there would be more emphasis on the benefits of exercise in general, not such a focus on walking. Obviously being able to walk 20m with your hands strapped to sticks is not highly functional and doesn’t change all the other dreadful aspects of quadraplegia (or paraplegia) but being able to do some form of exercise (which was really out of the question for Mike with such limited use of his hands and arms) and strength training is as good for the mind as it is for the body.

Hopefully a couple of nice days this weekend so he can get some time on the bike as I believe he has grand plans of doing a team duathlon before the end of the season — boy I hope some arrangement can be made so he can do the ‘transition’ from his bike without the 20 mins it takes us to get him off and that Sammy is running fast so that they still make it in in the time limit!! And go the Wallabies – hopefully we can stay awake long enough tonight to watch the game (particularly as we don’t have Foxtel so will be at a friends place!).