Finlay continues to make good progress. We are so encouraged by this. He has an ever increasing amount of words which he does put together very slowly into stilted sentences. He has loads of fun at nursery and has adjusted well to the physio session just before nursery in a Thursday, getting a lot out of it.

There are moments though when we watch him struggling to balance or express himself or manipulate something with his hands and there are big lumps in our throats. He had his swine flu injection last week a further reminder that he requires additional care. We can't help but remember before and the things our little boy could do so easily back those few months ago.

His sense of humour and determination often help us as we battle through those moments. We are so grateful to see how after watching Peter Pan with Jed, they both got up to great high jinks playing pirates. He is so full of life and we do not take that for granted.

We are in such a blessed position too, surrounded by many that care for us. Looking at our diaries this week we had realised yet again that both parents were busy with work late Tuesday afternoon and all the kids were due to be here there and every where for clubs and appointments. Grandparents to the rescue and they made dinner for us all.

Finlay has an appointment with the orthopedic consultant and physio team on Thursday. This appointment will look again at all the options to keep him progressing, botox, stookies, splints will all be on the agenda. Next week he gets his new splints and Mum had better get finding the Fireman Sam stickers.

This weekend it was Murray's turn to go off to SU camp. We were able to take Hannah shopping for a jacket in peace as Finlay helpfully fell asleep in the car, transferred to the buggy and did not wake up until after the choice was made. Fraser and a pal headed off on the bus to Perth by themselves to go to the cinema. Our kids must be growing up!!

Last weekend did not leave anytime for blogging in the Lockhart household. Bruce was running an SU weekend away so he was away early getting all that set up. Fraser was at a scout cycle and hike camp, complete with a new helmet that needed to be bought at the last minute. In the middle of all that Hannah had to be taken to the SU camp she was going to, which her dad was leading. Sunday we enjoyed catching up with Grandma and Grandad.

Tuesday this week with both Kirsty and Bruce working and the kids needing to be here, there and everywhere, we were grateful to Tricia who calmly volunteered to take the helm of the Lockhart ship and got everyone to the right place on time and back again.

Finlay took the physio to meet his childminder this week, which was good, so she could get up to speed with some of the things he could be doing. The physio had also commented this week on how pleased they are with the positioning of his right hand. He is holding it quite open at times and it is showing reaction to what the rest of his body is doing. We continue to pray for progress with this.

He has been measured for a new splint his week. Mum unfortunately mentioned to him that Jack, a wee pal with two splints, had fire engines and trucks on his. It would appear that different health authorities have different patterns and Finlay is not at all impressed that his will not have trucks!! He has been promised that maybe next time. He is the proud owner of a new pair of boots though which he is much more impressed about as wee boys need boots to be able to do what wee boys like to do very much, jump in puddles. They were given a most successful first outing to the fireworks.

The charity Riding for the Disabled has been mentioned to us. They have a big centre in Dundee and this is something we will definitely explore. Bumping up and down on a horse would appear to be good for his over all muscle tone.

His speech is continuing to improve. We are coming to realise that some of his phrases are learned phrases and as such are just the same as single words in the way he recalls and produces them. For example "Stay there. Be back in a minute." is a regular Lockhart phrase and he is able to use that. This is a good thing. More encouraging is when he is able to put words together to express something that he is thinking that he cannot use a routine expression for. At these times you can see the thinking that is having to happen and it can be slower for him to find and produce the correct words. He is working hard at these. After nursery... "playing-in-house-Jed" and at the fireworks "Hannah-got-Daddy-hat."

We have been looking into reports which have researched recovery after a major stroke like Finlay has had. They talk about intra-hemisphere recovery where the brain finds paths in the same side of the brain to bring recovery or inter-hemisphere where the brain transfers functions to the other side. Interesting things to consider.