Going north

Welcome back to our blog. When our camera stopped working at the end of last year and the usual array of end-of-year events took over I put the blog into temporary hibernation. However, now with a nifty new camera and 400 pics of our fabulous month in NZ, I thought it would be good to get back to it. While the blog started as a good way to keep our close family and friends in touch with Rosie's medical situation, it has become just as satisfying for us to have a family diary especially since I can't remember much of what happens otherwise! Peter started the blog in the third person and I (Wilma) took it over in that style but I've decided to start the new year with a change and go first person. So here goes 2006.

After a fantastic Christmas catchup in Christchurch with all the Watt family and a couple of my rellies too, some of us, (Jenny, Nat, Coco, Peter, Wilma, Jessye, Rosie and Sophie) caught the train and the ferry north to Wellington. Chris, Grant and David did the early morning duty at the railway station.

The kids settled in and explored the front open observation carriage.

Going through tunnels was a thrill.

There is always something engaging to look at out the window, such a diversity of landscape. We were lucky enough to see cavorting dolphins, seals and penguins too.

After six hours we were in Picton ready to board the new interislander ferry. We had a beautiful day for the crossing.

We arrived in Wellington at 4:30 pm and were met by Nigel and Alex. Alex performed a miracle of packing the car and we (the Watt household) spent two nights with him and Jane soaking up the familiar Wellington ambience.

Since this is the Rosie blog I should fill you in on the latest on her brain. At some point in early January I noticed that Rosie was tripping up more than usual and stubbing her right toe. In fact when I think back she stubbed her toe way back in Christchurch too. Around the 5th or so I noticed an slight limp. It was clear her right leg was not working properly with her right foot dragging a bit. Naturally I assumed this meant there was some swelling in her brain and I rang Greg Wheeler, our man at Peter Mac. He consulted with the head stereotactician there (who had been on maternity leave when Rosie was treated) and she confirmed that it was almost certainly a classic delayed reaction to the radiotherapy she had in June last year. From 6 - 18 months after treatment it is apparently quite usual to have some flareups of symptoms. This was reassuring and since Rosie was not suffering any headaches or deteriorating drastically and felt normal we proceeded with our trip. I kept a close eye on her and observed that the limp was somethimes worse than other times but basically didn't change much. We arrived back in Melbourne without further incident (medically) and Rosie is booked in for an MRI on Feb 3rd. She continued to have a ball as did we all and I'll keep you posted on the MRI feedback. Watch this space for the next installment: Wellington and beyond.