Whats going on in our world....

it feels like ages since we have updated anyone with our starship visit etc -we feel mentally drained but ready for our next step - remember our mission statement - NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP!!!!!!!!

Well it was a very looooonnnnnnggggg 3 weeks in Auckland, but we have come away with more structure for Blayke on a 'when he gets sick' stage, and alot of 'bad' conditions have been ruled out, which is awesome for us - but ..... still no diagnosis as his symptoms dont fit into any 1 condition at this stage, but the doctors are very aware there is something going on inside his body that they need to keep ontop of, but at this stage his body is 'coping' (which we disagree with but via test results his body is still fighting!)- but we are happy that we still have some more results to come back and also have some other specialists to see in the next couple of weeks.  We arent sitting still as we have found that the only way we will get blayke on the improve is to fight and do everything we can - and im guessing everyone out there with kiddies would do the exact same thing.

Blayke still has his delayed swallow and by the report it hasnt improved since 2009, (it was 1 of Blaykes highlights of his hospital stay to watch himself eat on a video screen and see the food go down into his tummy!) which in turn is causing aspiration, but they dont know why he has a delayed swallow as all the structures etc are fine, but we are working on this one .......

The specialists cant figure out why Blayke had blood in his airways and stomach during his testing in November - but we now have a plan and signs to watch for with this - still frigin scary thou!

We are no closer to the cause of Blaykes thirst, distended stomach etc etc etc - but that is on our new plan ........

His coughing/choaking etc was monitored and witnessed but there is still some test results to come back that might help us with this - fingers crossed

Thanks everyone for your kind words and amazing support, we couldnt of done it without you and we appreciate your help and support in the future ........

(also a massive hug and thankyou to Joan and Ivan (Johns Mum and Dad) these 2 amazing people came and stayed in their caravan for the whole 3 weeks to help look after Caden while we were in hospital - they did an amazing job and we honestly cant thank them enough xxxxx) - and if you saw the LUCKYBREAK magazine 2 weeks ago there was a big thank you to them on the back page.

Was originally going to be a few days, then 10, then two weeks and now a third! I'm sorry for the lack of updates, some of that has to do with how full on its been and some to do with not really being able to front it, has been a rough journey.

We are no closer to a diagnosis after all of this as yet, there has been a bunch of bad stuff ruled out which is awesome but the bulk of the questions we want answered and are worried about are still there, we were due to be going home today after meetings with the docs on Friday, but we still felt there was more to do and had another meeting today so we are staying a while longer! they are reviewing everything and possibly doing more so all good, maybe this time!

The staff have been great to us, the nursing staff on ward 26b have been exceptional, Amy, Jessy, Ellen,Laura and Catherine have made it so easy for us and have bent over backwards! Blayke has taken a shine to them in a big way, soooo cute!

We have been discharged from the ward so are now back at Ronald McDonald House, have extended the stay, re booked the grandparents and re-newed the rental car so we are staying put!

Ronald McDonald House has been amazing, incredible asset to this country! we have done a bunch of trips, to the Zoo, Butterfly Creek, Sky Tower, Kelly Tarltons and heaps of others, most of these have been provided to us C/O RMH! this has been great, making the trip more enjotable for all of us.

Its been really hard in general, especially not getting closer to a fix but we kind of expected that and are happy to keep fighting, but it comes at a price, not just finacially but more on the emotional side of it, but its worth it and we wouldn't have it any other way!

Will try to update more as we go, have put a bunch of photos on Facebook so take a look there!

Thanks again.

The Woodwards

Hey all, just a quick update from Starship Childrens Hospital.

Blayke has had just about every test possible in the last week! and there are more and more to come, he is an absolute trooper and is taking it all in his stride but its just starting to get the better of him now I think. Had a bunch of finger prick blood tests and they must be really hurting him because he starts screaming when he hears the trolley coming down the ward, brings a tear to our eye!

Tomorrow he is getting a tube in his nose to his stomach to measure acid levels etc from his system, not sure what it called but we have to try and keep it in the little @#$% for 24hrs!

Our overnight in the ward then doing day trips has turned into a week and we have no idea when we will be out but its all for a good cause, we need to find answers and this is the place to do it, the specialists and nurses have been awesome, have only had one "run in" so considering how complicated it all is I think thats ok.....

Got out for a couple hours this avo, he has been staring at the Eifel Tower (Sky Tower) for the last week and wanted to go have a look so we did, hes awesome, fearless, walked on the clear floor 200mtrs up, leaned on the windows, no problem!!!!

Caden is being the awesome big brother, loves his Gran and Grandad so is having a blast.

I managed to get my first "hi" while out running so was pretty happy with that, well done Auckland! haha,

Thanks again for checking in, will update when we can.

Take care.

What a week at Starship! we have seen a Specialist from every field I think, plus Dentists, all kinds of therapists and people, so many in fact that we have actually forgotten exactly how many and who we have seen and who we have got left to go!

Blayke is handling it like the true trooper he is, he has had enough of blood tests though, had so many yesterday that he just broke on the last one and that was hard!

We had a few hours off this avo and Ronald MacDonald House had its 1st birthday party so that was aawesome and a great relief, I know now what parents mean when they say that that kind of thing is a great distraction, you end up forgetting what you are really here for, then come back to reality pretty quick when you go back to Hospital! bought a tear to our eye though when we were walking down the corrider towards Starship, Blayke playing games and just being himself thinking nothing of it, he's just awesome.

Caden has been the best big brother ever! he has speant some quality time with Gran and Grandad and loving it, is just being a grown up for a few days, that is a challenge to as we want to make sure he doesn't take on too much and gets a chance to be a kid himself!

We had a surprise visit yesterday from Di's old (and by that I mean past) principal from Puketapu School, Alan Smith, it was awesome for me to meet him and great for Di to catch up with him, he is a great guy and Di has the utmost respect for him and I can see why! I was trying to get some good old stories but there "apparently" wasn't any???

Back into it in the morning, more specialist meetings, and hopefully get to take Blayke out for the days to do some cool stuff with the family!

We are surrounded by some very humbling and inspiring stories here, really amazing kids and equally amazing parents!

Thanks for all the texts and well wishes, they really help out!