October 22, 2002 - Sports carnival at school. Let's hope he comes home with some ribbons!

July 10, 2002 - Samuel is on holidays right now, visiting the zoo and just having a great time.

June 9, 2002 - Little Samuel has a bit of chest cold, making it hard to keep down his food. He rarely gets sicks. Pray for him.

June 1, 2002 -Samuel helps dad celebrate his birthday. Happy Birthday dad.

May 9 , 2002 - Happy 6th Birthday Samuel! You are so special! Say Happy Birthday here!!

March 25, 2002 - Pop! The button has popped out again so it looks like day surgery. Samuel was having a holiday on the weekend when it happened. He has had high temperatures as well but they have abated. Thank goodness. The joy of disabilities.

January 30, 2002 - Samuel is back at school for year number two. Just mention the word and he gets excited. Cool!

December 30, 2001 - Samuel has just returned from a wonderful holiday with family in Canberra Australia. He has also finished his first year from school where he received an achievement award. Next year he will have some more tests on his bones to determine the extent of the osteoporosis. As result of the overnight feeds using the Kangaroo Pump he has put on 2.5 kilos.

October 22, 2001 - Samuel has a his first sports day. We all attended and had some great fun! Samuel got a first place in the wheel chair race as well. All else is well.

September 14, 2001 - Samuel's day operation went just fine to reinsert his button. His stomach was a little tender but he is great. It seems that the seizure may have been helped along by the weight that he has put on recently. Consequently the medication for the seizures was increased by the doctor.

September 12, 2001 - It aches me to write this but yesterday Samuel had another serious seizure in the morning. He was very drained but seems OK. Karla will visit doctors today for possible increase in medication. It just breaks your heart.

September 3, 2001 - Samuel has a weekend holiday at school and has a great time. We missed him though.

August 24, 2001 - Samuel is fine and will soon have his catheter replaced with the button. We can not wait as it will be so much easier! Samuel has put on 2 kilos! His face has filled out and his legs have more meat on them. The overnight feeds seem to be working.

July 26, 2001 - Samuel's catheter comes out again and Karla spends hours at the hospital. Samuel is back to school and loves it as normal.

July 21, 2001 - What a great holiday he had. Holding koalas, four wheel driving in the bush, out on the river for an adventure and Samuel saw Dr Doolittle. Great life but someone has got to do it!

July 11, 2001 - Samuel has seen the surgeon and the temporary tube will remain in for another six weeks. He will then stay overnight to have the button re-inserted. This time will allow all the wounds to heal more fully before undergoing the procedure.

July 2, 2001 - Samuel is back at school and loving it! He is on a new medication for seizures. He has appointment next week for his stomach button. We are so thankful that he is ok.

June 26, 2001 - Our little boy was admitted to hospital for a severe seizure lasting up to 4 hours. He was staying at a respite hospital for two days when it occurred.

He is ok at the moment. Karla is waiting for tests to be done. He may have to commence medication to reduce the seizure activity in his brain. We await doctors advise.

They may also address his button. He has a temporary one in at the moment which seems to work fine. It is just not as convenient.

June 24, 2001 - Samuel's button popped out by accident last Thursday and he was rushed to hospital by ambulance. He is fine and had a temporary one put in. He has an appointment in two weeks.

Fortunately his parents were more traumatised than he was. We were totally freaked out to see hole in our boy's belly. All is ok now however! It's just not the way you think a quiet Thursday night should go.

On a good note, the neurologist got the previously lost test results and feels that the seizure levels detected are not at a dangerous level. Bit of a relief.

June 19, 2001 - Samuel's "button" operation has gone well. He came home on Thursday night. He receives a formula through a tube connected to his stomach at night via a pump. It is additional thing however and greater burden for Karla however the benefits outweigh the extra time needed to administer feeds. The big advantage is drinking. We can give drinks of water and medicine direct to his stomach.

Previously this has been a major problem for Samuel. He is still in discomfort and has woken up crying at night. (more like screaming in pain) We are keeping a close eye on this. It may take a few weeks for his body to adjust. As a result he is off school for a little while until this settles.

Karla is contacting the nurse who consults in this field today. We are confident however that he will get through it. We are a little tired at the moment. Five years is a long time to do with out regular sleep. People have much worse though.