A More Regular Blog!

I studied our website statistics today.  We were astonished by the number of visitors.  We haven't checked this information for a while and can only conclude that the Breakfast With Biggins road show has resulted in a significant increase in the number of visitors to our site which are already twice the number of a normal month - nearly 3000. We are also seeing evidence of repeat visitors to the site and many of you are visiting the Forum page (far more than are willing to post comments sadly) and also my blog. For this reason I am going to try and blog more often! 

The Biggins Breakfast was a huge success with lots of people pledging support as we travelled.  My inbox has been inundated since with offers of support and the cash keeps coming in too.  In terms of awareness this concept really works and we will be doing it again - Biggins willing of course!

Only the Edinburgh Marathon is left for us this month and we have 35 runners wearing our vests.  I am so, so jealous of you all. I can't run this year (in fact I can barely walk!) further to a severed anterior cruciate ligament in my knee whilst skiing in January. I had the reconstructive surgery 3 months ago but the rehab takes 9 months.  No marathons for me this year I am afraid but I will be with you all in spirit at least!!! 

Good Luck to you all.  Hot weather is predicted so drink plenty. We will be there at the finish line waving our red poms poms so look out for us please and do join us in the Rockaven bar for the usual MMT hospitality - a wee glass of bubbly in celebration!

The invitation to buy tickets for our Champagne Afternoon Tea Party (nick named the "pussycat tea" by the MMT girls) at the Balmoral Hotel on 10th September went out this week and they are selling like hot cakes.  If you have received an invite and want to attend this very special event you better get your request for tickets in quickly. Numbers are limited! Email ann-marie at ann-marie.nelson@muirmaxwelltrust.com to reserve.

And on the home front things are good too. Muir managed four nights in the Donaldson's Lodge this week - his first full week.  It is half term for his brothers and so we went to visit him on Tuesday night.  It was a delight to watch him playing football in the garden as we arrived.  He was full of mischief and laughter as he kicked the ball out of bounds, sending  Caroline, one of the staff, far and wide to retrieve the ball. He was thrilled to see his brothers but not in a home sick way as I was expecting, just new and obviously very familiar playmates for a hour or so.

Muir took Connor and Rory to see his bedroom and we opened up some new toys that Muir had not played with before.  This has not been an easy transition for any of us.  We have missed Muir and there is no doubt he has missed us too. But he is embracing his new residency with a maturity I had not expected.  He is thriving and stimulated all the way.  There are occasional teenage tantrums which are to be expected but for the most part, despite my endless sleepless nights worrying about him, I think it is working for all of us.

In September Muir goes to senior school. In fact, it's the same school just a slightly different part of the building and different teachers, as well as a few more subjects.  The teachers are addressing the transition issue right now and parents attended a coffee morning at school today and enjoyed a tour of the senior school.  The facilities are absolutely outstanding, although I think it will be a long time before Muir can do woodwork, if ever!

Then we collected him from his classroom to take him home early. In those ten minutes in the classroom he astonished me.  Eager for his turn on the computer he shook the chair until Warren fell off! Then he waited patiently for his chosen software to be uploaded having carefully selected the game he wanted to play.  Muir was achieving things before my very eyes that I had never seen before.  He seemed so aware, calm and in control of himself. He played on the computer, a simple game with farm animals, loving every movement and sound that they made.

I cannot find the words to explain what I witnessed today. He evidenced a level of ability I didn't know he had. He left the classroom without a fuss, looked for his coat and bag on the peg, took his school bag from his brother Rory and carried it himself, taking Rory's hand as they walked together out to the car.  It sounds very normal but its not, for us it's so new, a new level of independence and self management and awareness. It is progress and it is massive. We were quite overwhelmed.

And the rest of the day was spent kicking the ball in beautiful sunshine in the garden at home.  Lots of cuddles from older brother Connor when he arrived home, a "quick fix" with his favourite TV programme Takeshi's Castle, a small tantrum over lunch when most of it landed on the floor but all is well in the Maxwell household this weekend.

Best wishes,

Ann Maxwell
(Muir's Mum)