Update...

Hi,

Its been awhile so I thought I better give you an update..

Health wise I am A OK!!! I do have a cardio check up next week, but it is nothing to worry about.. Crohn's wise I am still going great, fingers crossed I am lucky enough to stay this way for a bit longer. 

Swimming finished awhile ago and we had presentation last night. I am still playing tennis twice week and loving it.

We have had a new addition to our family.. TJ a nearly 2yr old Border Collie. He has settled in nicely and is now a solid member of the Power family.

I am still working at local chemist and putting thought into what to do next year... School isn't one of my passions in life!! Sony, well that another story... Life was a bit tough when the Sony network went down for nearly a month... I did even find myself doing school work... not good!

Mum & I are flying up to Kingscliff in  few weeks for 4 nights, I am going to give paddle boarding a go, so I am looking forward to that.. plus seeing Bob & Poo, AB's boxer dogs.

So thats a quick update.. nothing to much happening...

till next time

Benny Boy...

TJ

He loves to play fetch..

TJ, Finnegan & Me..

Yes I still love Finnegan...

Mucking around at Kurnell...

Canterbury Boys High School...

GRADUATE teacher Polly Dunning has only been in the job for three months but yesterday her admiration for Oprah Winfrey produced a $1 million windfall for her school.


The self-confessed "Oprah tragic" wrote to the queen of talk suggesting her students were more interesting to visit than Australia's most famous tourist spots.

And Canterbury Boys High School hit the jackpot when Oprah, at her Opera House extravaganza yesterday, promised every student and teacher at the school a laptop computer.

Ms Dunning's inspirational letter to the Oprah show also secured a surprise visit to the school by rap superstar Jay-Z, who urged the boys - including several refugee students - to believe in themselves and grab life's opportunities.

Yesterday up to 400 students and teachers from the school attended the Oprah show and went wild when she announced the computer gift for the school. "I said it would be great for Jay-Z to see a multicultural school. I wanted to show him Canterbury Boys High School," said Ms Dunning, 22. "I didn't think anything would happen and then I received a voicemail message from the [Oprah] show producers."

As the school celebrated one of its biggest days, principal Leslee Mitton said everyone was "gobsmacked" by the gift.

"It's like dropping a pebble into a stream. The ripples will be felt for quite some time," she said.

"It will hit home when the computers arrive in January."

Winfrey joked: "Now there's no excuse not to do your homework."

Footage from Jay-Z's visit was shown on big screens.

"It was great," he told Winfrey. "I see myself in their eyes, people from difficult circumstances. I believe in opportunities."


This is from the Sydney Daily Telegrapgh Wednesday 15th Dec 2010...

Ben has just completed Year 9 at CBHS, he though wasn't there for the big announcement, he preferred to stay at home enjoying a jarmy day...

It is great news for the school and the boys have been buzzing ever since Jay-Z payed them a visit...

Swimming

Swim club resumed last Saturday and boy oh boy Ben is swimming fantastic times.

Considering he doesn't train he really has imporved on his times.

So with his tennis and bike riding job these 2 things have really helped him out.

He has set himself out his own program of events to swim each week and is really focused.

Kate wont make it back to swim club until next Saturday, dance has got in the way.

Last week I took Ben and froze my butt off, Matt goes this morning and it is a beautiful sunny warm morning....

So till next time take care

Jo

PS don't forget to have a look at http://currelluk2011.blogspot.com/

Clinic Visit

Today saw Ben visit the IBD clinic...

Doctor very happy with his progress and don't want to see him for 6 months...

He gained 5kgs and grew 5cm in height...

The only new thing to his drug cocktail is calcium tablets..

He is having a few skin issues due to the Imuran and will have to make an appointment for a Dermatologist.

He is enjoying his school holidays, even more now as he brought himself a head piece to chat on line with his Sony...

Looking forward to next Thursday for the Crohns & Colitis Support group meeting at Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL, I haven't been able to make for the past few months, so can't wait to see how the other members are going.

Till next time
Jo

September Update.

Wow...where is the year going?

Everyone here is well.... Ben is doing great. Working hard every afternoon still at the chemist. He and Katelyn are looking forward to swimming starting up again soon.

He doesn't have a clinic visit till the end of the month, so will be interested in viewing his weight & height gain. Oh...he did give us a little scare last Monday..thought he may have been at the start of a flare.. but thank god he was just a bit off and bounced back quickly...

Kate has a busy couple of months coming up with dancing. And Brett has only 2 weeks of school left... after the holidays he will just have hie HSC exams.. he just celebrated his 18th birthday. we had a medium sized luncheon here at home.

Matt & I are still working as hard as ever, still no staff... no one wants to work...say the word cleaner and they turn their noses up...but it is us that has the good life style... Being rich doesn't make you a nice person...you have to be nice in the first place....

till next time, take care...

Katelyn has news :-)

Katelyn received a very exciting phone call last night. She has been accepted to represent Australia for the 2011 RSL Youth Club reciprocal tour to New Zealand.

Katelyn dances for the Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Youth Club, it isn't just about dance she also participates in community activities. For example, door knocking for the Red Shield Appeal (Salvation Army), Red Cross calling and donates regularly to the Exodus foundation helping the the disadvantaged in the local area. Also shows her respect to the fallen and serving diggers by marching in the Commemoration Sunday March and the Sydney ANZAC Day march.

With all this and her dedication the Youth Club has allowed her to apply for this tour. She was knocked back at the first round of interviews but was highly liked by all she has accomplished in her time with the club. And lucky for her there was a place left for to attend the second round interviews On Sunday just past.

So last night we had a very happy girl after hanging up the phone. April next year will see her head over to New Zealand for 2 action packed weeks. The main highlight is marching in the Auckland ANZAC Day March. This will certainly be a trip of a life time.

Well that is our bit of good news following a very sad week with the sudden passing of Aunty Jan on the 1st August. Jan will be sadly missed by all her family and many many friends. R.I.P. <3

Ben is grea,t working 5 days a week at local chemist and loving putting his $$$ away. Oh he did ask his English teacher today "why do we bother learning poetry" he totally thinks it is a big waste of time.

Brett is studing hard for his HSC trials and even applied to Uni yesterday, industrial design..

Till next time take care...

The Power House
xoxox

Update...

Hope this finds everyone well???

We are all groovy :-)

Not much has been happening in our part of the world, Ben's health is still great!!

Ben has been busy with his part time job at the local chemist as their delivery boy. At the moment he is doing 5 afternoons a week. He is still enjoying his tennis 2 days a week. He has grown a quite a bit over the past few months and has taken over me, not that, that is any mean feat...

The rest of the family is well, Brett has had his final check up after his plunging ranula was removed, doctor happy with him and doesn't need to see him again.

Katelyn busy as ever with her dancing, she did really well in her solo eisteddfod at the beginning of July, no preparing for one at the end of September. School dancing if busy too with extra rehearsals 3 afternoons a week leading up to the "Bring It On" competition in 2 weeks time at Homebush.

Brett, Matt & Jamie are loving playing soccer together and to date are undefeated, I am about to head off soon to watch.

Big Chris is down for the weekend to go see the Motorex car show out at the showground, I have just dropped BC & Ben out there and will pick up to go watch soccer.

I have enjoyed playing soccer this season, the girls are great and we have lots of fun, the only thing that has been hard is playing against under 18 teams... I can't keep up!!

Nothing much else to report.. so till next time enjoy everyday..

Love

Jo

Busy Busy Busy

I hope everyone is well??

Ben & Brett are a little blocked up at the moment but nothing that slows them down!!

We have been so busy that we haven't had time to scratch!!

Once we arrived home form holidays we hosted 2 great kids form NZ as part of the NSW RSL Youth Club Reciprocal tour fro 3 nights. It was fabulous!!! With them over their 2 week stay we attended our Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Commemoration Sunday Ceremony and luncheon, Welcome concert, Anzac Day March in Sydney, Luna Park and their Farewell concert.

With the help of Facebook we get to keep in touch.

Justin Beiber Mania was in our house with me escorting 4 girls into Circular Quay for the planned concert which was later cancelled!!! A good thing too as it was like nothing I have ever witnessed before, total mayhem!!

Soccer is in full swing for 4 of us, Ben has been promoted up to the Advanced tennis squad on Saturdays, so he is pretty pleased with himself. Kate is busy as ever dancing, between the YC and school she doesn't seem to have much time free. Kate is also in the middle of putting her resume together for her application to be accepted to go to NZ next April, fingers crossed!!!

Till next time, be good :)

A Word From Kate O'Reilly... A real inspiration

I will be running the SMH Half Marathon with Kel on the 16th May. I'm inviting you to make a donation to Crohn's Colitis Australia to help raise funds for their research into finding a cure for these diseases.

Many of you know how debilitating the disease can be and many of you have supported me through some pretty rough times.

If you are able, please go to the following link if you can help raise money for this good cause

www.everydayhero.com.au/kate_oreilly

With thanks

Kate x

I know Kate through the CCA Support Group held on the first Thursday of the month at Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club. Kate is one of the two fantastic women who are the facilitators of this group. Kate's story is one of inspiration and admiration!!! I know I look up to her as what she has been through has been a hard battle but she has come out the other side willing to share her experiences with others to help them get through this debilitating disease!

Jo

Ben Check Up

Ben had a clinic check up yesterday and everything is fine. Bloods are all good and doesn't have to go back for 4 months. All his med's stay the same so we just have to keep going along as we are.... Ben is one of the lucky ones :)