Ricky Ponting asks" Why are you standing on your tippy toes?"

Boxing Day.. Look at the smile

"I am trying to get my head on television..." said Owen, smiling from ear to ear admiring his face on the big MCG screen. A huge exciting event, standing with Australia's Cricket Captain at the Boxing Day test..
Lately, writing O-man's Blog has been easy.. Documenting the improving health of Owen. Celebrating life...

This post is proving to be much harder as it starts tapping into emotions which are usually controlled. I research into the Ponting Foundation and realise the impotance it has in our lives... Ricky and his wife Rianna are deeply involved with Children's cancers in many, many, ways, including RedKite, a support charity that handed us the beautifully made and distinct RedKite support bag, in the early days when we were struggling. This large bag is full of toiletries, pens. puzzle books and "Lachlan the Bear", Owen's 1st Hospital soft toy and constant companion. 

Owen was given a hand written invite to meet Ricky Ponting and stand with him during the National Anthem ceremony at the Boxing Day test. I struggled holding back emotions as I watched Owen on the field lapping up the ceremony. The experience is as much ours, as his. Then we sat in the best seats and watched our 1st genuine cricket game. We loved it... (We followed the rest of the test on TV and radio religiously.. Never, ever have done that before.. Now we are fans....)

Lee, Joel and Owen met Ricky 4 days earlier at the MCG. When the rest of the team went to the nets, Ricky came over and spent some time with the boys. I was always curious how a top order sportsman would connect with Owen, a casual observer of sport. Easy...!  He was genuine... despite cameras, media and television crews, he chatted, taught and then played an inpromtu game with O, Joel, Jess and Soph, and they had a ball. I was amazed at the enthusiasm and excitement in Owen as he and Joel told me about their day.

Ricky may be struggling at the moment, but we back strugglers anyway.... Always have...

Thank you to James, Jo and Ricky. This experience has had a huge positive impact on our family, especially Owen...

(There are 3 links on this page that can be clicked on to see more stuff)

Check out the boots

Just what he wanted for Christmas.....
Steel capped boots and Explorer socks (Could have done with some nicer PJ's....)
Also scored some Hard Yakka work shorts..

Merry Christmas to all

The Cheesy family Xmas photo with a non-compliant Luke..

We get there.... A normal crazy Christmas. It was very different this year. Last year we were controlled by appointments and the hospital and we got through. This year, it almost seemed harder as we did not have the structure there, keeping us in order and focussed... Strange....  This year is much better.... much, much better..

Pre - Xmas update. Owen is still bouncing along beautifully

Rockclimbing at the Challenge Family Day.
3000 people at a Carnival day with rides and activities
and all for free. Put on by the "Challenge"
Supporter of Children with Cancer. We had a ball.... 

We have been busy, busy, busy.... too busy. Foolishly decided to fill our lives with landscaping and major works around the house so almost forgot Christmas....

Owen has slowly been getting colour back into his skin and is getting stronger everyday. You really start forgetting everything that he has been through.

Last year he co-captained the Grade 3-4 dance group through out his chemo treatment and they danced publicly recently, and raised $126.70 for The Leukaemia Foundation. The boys were proud as punch....

We hear little snippets of his year at school, and the Physical Education was the one thing that we were not going to push this year. However, we have found out that his teachers would find him inspirational.... He would always participate.... despite his sickness. Pale and sickly, yet they would watch him join in without protest, and always try his hardest. The little things that we never knew about..