While Mummy was away.

When I was away for the weekend in Melbourne Niwa had a little accident.  He jammed his finger in the door at church and had to go to Starship and have his finger nail sewn back on.  He had to have a General and the operation was about 45mins.  He then stayed the night in Starship.  No one told me about this.  On my way home for the Airport on Monday Nikki called me and she said,  "How is Niwa?"  I said "What?" Then she said,  "OH neva mind!"  I was thinking what the heck someone tell me what is going on.  Then she said, "Oh he just hurt himself" and then left it at that.  I was dying by now, wanting to know more but she wouldn't tell me anymore I had to wait until I got home,  only to find my little boy with this plaster cast on his arm.  Uncle Donovan called it his 'Sausage hand' and so everyone was calling it that.  Anyway he has been a 'box of birds'  you would not even know there was anything wrong with him.  These holidays he has gone to the beach, the park, lollie Pops Playland, he has zoomed down Mt Vic on cardboard boxes,  gone to Kiwi Valley Farm and the list goes on.  He is such a brave little guy and has not complained once!  He has since had the plaster off and has a new dressing.  My funny little man,  this time last year it was a broken elbow!

The Funny thing about this was that he was in exactly the same ward as Arama was in and so Keith knew most of the staff there.  When I went back there this week to get it checked,  they were all saying to me,  "I know you from somewhere",  it kinda felt like I was back home.  NOT  hopefully this is the last we see of ward 24A at Starship this year!

This photo below cracks me up as it is just like Arama's sign above his bed,  

the same Surgeon's name and everything.  

What we did when Arama was in surgery.....

When Arama went into Surgery last Wednesday at 8am,  the Surgeon told us leave the hospital and get some head space or we would go nuts!  He told us not to come back to the hospital until 4pm.  So we reluctantly left!  First Keith went and got a hair cut then we went to Takapuna and had some breakfast and then we walked along Takapuna beach.  It was a funny day the sun was wanting to make the most of it and it really came out to brighten our day as we walked along the beach,  it almost seemed like T.Shirt weather,  it was amazing.  The photos below are of our beach experience that day.  It looks like a romantic day or something but believe me we were both in Kinda LA LA land and couldn't think much past Arama.  We then left the beach and headed to 'Little and Friday as I have always wanted to take Keith there for a look (and a kai  lol).  So I can now tick that one off my 'want to do with Keith' list.  I love that place and the food always makes me happy and satisfied beyond my greatest dreams,  ha ha only a 'Fatty Foodie'  would speak like this aye!

Here are some photos below of our time on the beach with the i phone and our  attempts to photograph ourselves while holding it.  

Our funny faces below.....

CRAZY PEOPLE!!!

At about 2pm   I said to Keith,  "I feel we need to head back to the hospital now",  Keith said stop stressing the surgeon said 4pm we have heaps of time.  I said no this is a prompting and I have to listen to it.  So we started heading back.  We literally drove into the car park and my phone rang,  It was the Surgeon saying everything had gone very smoothly, that they had finished sooner than predicted, no blood transfusions needed etc and that we needed to head back as he was heading from recovery back to the ward.   We rushed from the car park to the lifts and just as our lift door was closing, we say Arama coming around the corner in his bed on his way back to the ward.  Wow! It was only 3 pm and it was one of those experiences yet again that testified to me that Heavenly Father is so aware of my individual needs and is whispering  guidance and direction to me and all of us very frequently!

ARAMA'S SPINAL SURGERY

Arama has a rare Syndrome called Sticklers Syndrome with that comes many health challenges for my special little man.  He has had a tough year loosing his most special buddy in the whole world,  his Poppa.  Now his spinal surgery along with a few other challenges too.  But we wished that his Poppa had been here for this one.    We had a lovely Family Home Evening Last Monday which many of his cousins and friends came to and then we arrived at hospital last Tuesday at 2pm.  His surgery was scheduled for the Wed morning.  Arama had decided that he wanted 'Carls Jnr' for dinner the evening before his op.  I had said no its too expensive!  Anyway on our way up to the ward,  Arama and I were walking along a corridor and there was no one to be seen,  then I saw $20 on the ground and I picked it up and said there you go Arama there is your Carls JNR.  I texted Keith and this is the reply i got from him.

"There you go,  his Poppa would have bought him CARLS JNR, in fact he did buy him CARLS JNR today.  Nice doing business with you!"  

When Dad would drop him at school in the Mornings he would give Arama money and say to him "Nice doing business with you".  So I thought that text from Keith was just perfect.

Here is a photo below of Keith and Arama on the bed before they escaped the hospital the night before his op to get their Carls Jnr,  courtesy of Poppa!  We love you POPPA 4eva!

Below:  Arama and I just before he got wheeled away to surgery.

Just after Arama's operation.

Arama sitting in his chair for the first time about 3 days after his op below.

Arama's whopping great cut on his back below 

Terina giving Arama a Batman comic book that they bought for him.  My poor girl is missing Arama and mummy and the usual routine,  I can't wait to get home for her sake!

Arama's friends coming in to visit him from school Carl and Joel,  the nicest kids with lovely parents who bought them!

Arama's other friend Eamon below,  funny guys.

Here is a litte shot of one of Arama's 'Diary of a Whimpy' kid books.  I have been reading them to Arama in hospital and think I have become addicted too.  They are so funny.  The little Jar with the Yellow lid on top of the book is a sample off cut of the titanium that the surgeons put into Arama's spine.

                                        BEFORE                                 and                              AFTER

YOU CAN SEE THE SCREWS IN HIS SPINE IN THIS XRAY ABOVE TOO.

Below is Arama today  which is 5 days after his surgery.  

Arama is making amazing progress and has been walking today and I gave him a shower etc so that has boosted his confidence somewhat.   He even sat in a wheel chair and I wheeled him to Auckland hospital for a change of Scenery.  The girl who we have shared our room with all week, Phillipa, went home today,  she was 2 days ahead of Arama after having the same surgery as him.  I think if we are lucky, he may go home tomorrow we will just have to wait patiently and see.

He is getting more cheeky too that is how I know he is getting better.

King Arama sitting up watching TV eating his Salt and Vinegar Pringles,  make the most of it buddy 

soon your siblings will be annoying you again!  LOL! 

The night before we came into hospital during our Family night,  we got everyone to write little messages to Arama and we decorated his wall.  All of the doctors and nurses have said it is by far the coolest wall they have seen!  He surely is well loved!

So many people have come to see Arama in hospital and have all bought him treats.  This whole cupboard plus the top draw which you cant even see in this photo, is full with sugar etc.  He can't even eat much let alone junk so I must confess I have been helping to reduce the amount we need to take home and have probably put on a good 4 kg or something since I have been here.  Oh well back to normal soon hopefully!  Yeah right,  I am on a junk food roll now I think.  ARGHH!

Above:  Arama and Phillipa who he shared his room with all week.  She is the same age as Arama and they both had the same proceedure done.  We will miss them as we got quite close to them over the week.  I am so bummed as I was not there at the hospital when they left and I really wanted to get their contact details so we could hook up again sometime and discuss progress etc.  

Another girl has just come into our room and we asked if she was going to have spinal surgery too.  She replied no I have cancer and I am having my leg amputated tomorrow!  Flip  just when you think your lot is hard you get a reality check!  We are so blessed that Arama is okay and that he is making a speedy recovery.  We also believe in prayer and the beautiful blessing that his Dad and Uncles gave him last week before his surgery.  We believe in God and that he can work miracles.  We know Arama still has many challenges to face relating to his health  and that will probably include many more surgeries but he is loved by so many and his special personality will yet touch many lives!  I am so proud of you my son for your strength, bravery and faith.

This little movie above is one his class made and emailed to him this afternoon. 

The staff at MBI have been amazing.  Some of the teachers have even visited him 

in hospital,  I think that is going the extra mile and am very humbled by the love that I have felt from them all.