Well where does one start after watching "Dancing with the stars (Australia)".

Gerrard you are a true "star" and go getter.

As the grandparent of a VI child you have given both myself and my husband a great boost as to what our darling Caitlyn will be able to achieve in her life time.

I wish that we could be there when you do meet Caitlyn in the near future, but unfortunately that will not be possible, as we no longer live close by.

We will be following your adventure of ball room dancing with both admiration and anticipation and wish you well.

With regards to Caitlyn I believe that she is a little girl with a spirit of adventure. With the ongoing love and support of her Mum, Dad, big sister and her 2 brothers and all members of her family she will also meet all challenges, with the same results as Gerrard.
We should see Caitlyn again in a couple of weeks and I know that she will have advanced in leaps and bounds since our last contact with her.

Cheers to all, and especially, Caitlyn her loving parents, brothers and sister.

Mooty and Poppy

I am now located away from the immediate area of where Caitlyn lives, so therefore don't have the same amount of contact with her. However, I was so pleased when seeing her last weekend that she only took a short time to be comfortable with me.
The photo of her on the swing was taken then and she certainly enjoyed the swinging motion, as you can see by the smile.
Big brother took her down the slide also but not to sure of that.

Well the festive season is over and Caitlyn certainly faired well. Everything from books, touch mat, musical mobile phone etc. I was concerned that being able to purchase a gift for a VI child would be very hard. Yes it is to a degree but one only has to think a little harder and go searching. Caitlyn took all the excitment in her stride and to cap it off I was speaking (on the phone) to her dad on December 28th and heard the explaination - "She stood up by herself" Yes our little darling had stood up unaided, all be in for only a moment but yes she has done it and will obviously be progressing further over the next few months.
Christmas certainly didn't supress her appetite either, with her enjoying everything that was placed on her high chair tray.
I look forward to 2009 with anticipation of the challenges and goals that Caitlyn will achieve.
To all who are following her progress via her website - Happy New Year and let us all enjoy each and every day.
Cheers for now
Mooty

Its hard to believe that Caitlyn is one year old. I saw her at one hour old and my she has grown.
With the love of her parents, sister and 2 brothers she is advancing in leaps and bounds.
On average I have seen her every 2 weeks and to see the loving care and devotion that she gets at home I am truly proud.
The support from each organization associated with Caitlyn is overwelming to say the least.
I have 2 nicknames for Caitlyn, these being Miss C and scampie. She truly lives up to the second one with the way she smiles and giggles and her character is beginning to show.

Guide Dog open day - it was wonderful to see the support for this wonderful organization. To be able to attend and learn first hand how these wonderful people and dogs work together to be able to attain the standard that enables "Guide Dogs" to give mobility to the V.I. person was truely incredable.
We were amazed at the number in attendance. The whole place was a buzz with not only puppies and dogs in training but also many people attended with their working dogs along with retired and breeding dogs.

I would like to also add my special "thank you" to Anne and Mick, Scott and all staff involved in the Variety Club day at McDonalds Cooparoo.

As a Grandparent it was a very moving day for me personally when the presentation of the Braille machines was made to the 4 recipients. It brought tears to my eyes to think that this wonderful organization was helping not only my darling Grand-daughter Caitlyn but 3 other beautiful children. With these Braille machines these children now have the opportunity to expand their learning ability and in turn "write" their own thoughts and ideas as they grow older, and commence their schooling and education.

I myself (at the ripe old age of 59) am going to do my best to learn Braille and in turn be able to sit down in the future with Caitlyn and read to her, and her read to me at a later age.

"Thank you" are only two simple words to express our appreciation to the above mentioned people but they are said with much gratitude.

Well what a day I had as I went along for Caitlyns second day at “school”.
The staff are so understanding of the “students”, parents and even the grandma’s that go along to also learn what they can do to assist in the development of their adored grandchildren.
I personally had the opportunity to chat with another grandparent regarding “how we felt” when we learned of our grandchild’s blindness. To be able to express my feelings and have somebody else understand, helped us both immensely.