After we returned from Norma's funeral we decided that it would be a good idea to take the boys in to the 24 hour surgery in Dunedin. Luca was running a temperature and Oscar looked like someone had socked him in the eye, although we knew this wasn't exactly the case unless he had done it to himself during his sleep. Jo was more concerned with Luca's temperature and I with Oscar's eye.

Turned out Luca was on the tail end of a viral infection and there was nothing to be done. Poor little Oscar was pushed off to the emergency department at the hospital in the buggy. After quite a few hours of rigmarole and predictable bureaucracy he eventually saw the doctor that needed to see him an he was admitted for IV antibiotics. He had a periorbital cellulitis infection. This is an infection of the soft tissue surrounding the eye socket, but can go in to the eye or back along the nervous tissue to the brain apparently.

After being poked and prodded by quite a number of people, all the poor little thing wanted was his mummy and to sleep. He was not happy when they put the IV shunt in his arm (neither was his squeamish daddy) and his big brother and mummy were quite disturbed by it all too. All the same, he was a stoic little man and after spending 2 nights in the ward with mummy was allowed to come home and sleep in his own cot! By this time he had visited everyone in the ward a few times at least, whether they were happy to have him or not, and was getting to almost climb the walls from boredom.

He has made a great recovery and is right back to his normal self now.

Note the eye and the splint on his arm in the first photo. The splint was an attempt at keeping his arm straight with the shunt in it.

Luca was happy to see his brother and play with the hospital toys; as well as celebrating a decent team winning the rugby world cup!
Daddy was very happy to be able to take him away from the dastardly place.

Last weekend, labour weekend in New Zealand, we went up to Timaru for Jo's aunt Norma's funeral. We decided to spend the night up there after the funeral instead of doing a day trip. Good thing too, as we had some quality time with Keith and the Crawford boys after the funeral. The next day, Saturday, we all went to where Jo's mum was staying and had a great breakfast. All the Campbell siblings were there, the first time we've all been together since the latest addition, Emma, has arrived. This naturally necessitated the obligatory photos of grandchildren all together. I also managed to get a couple of our boys playing in the garden.

Hello there folks. Well, now that we have some photographic evidence and the prescribed period has elapsed, it is time for us to let you all know that the Dixon family will be getting another addition sometime in April. Current due date is Oscar's birthday - 11 April - but the first couple were early so we are predicting that this one may follow suite. We're going to stick with tradition and not find out the sex before it comes in to the world; Jo says the anticipation is a good way to help her cope with the whole birth thing.

It's going to be a very cool little thing anyway, it's already given us the thumbs up in the first picture!

Today we decided to get out about, despite Jo and I feeling decidedly miserable with colds and other ailments. Jo's headache let up long enough for us to head off on the 15 minute drive to Shag Point with a bit of a picnic lunch. Unfortunately when we got there and started walking around the wind caused her a bit of earache. At least there was a transference of pain, although not that far. 

Oscar is getting quite keen on this going for a walk lark and dons his wellies enthusiastically before waddling off on slightly unsteady feet. Having said that though, over the last few days his stability on uneven ground has improved markedly, although he still finds it a good idea to hold on to someones hand.

After the not so short walk we settled in to the back of the car for a picnic, as the rain started falling a little more heavily. Ah the pleasure of having a large enough vehicle to do this. It was great to be able to get out and still not get cold. We'd all started getting a bit of cabin fever after a couple of days here feeling sick, so a walk on the coast was just what the doctor ordered. Luca is probably feeling doubly frustrated because he got over being sick over a week ago but has been restrained by mum and dad.

At least summer has sort of arrived, and today daylight saving started as well. This year some politicians in Wellington have decided that we need 3 weeks extra daylight savings for some reason. But I won't go in to that here!

I have managed to get out on the bike a bit over the last couple of weeks, mainly commuting to work, but that is a great ride anyway; a road many bikers would kill to have as a commute. For those of you who have not yet seen a photo of my latest bike, voila! 

Well, the boys have eventually had haircuts so they can now see without hinderance, except when the sun is in their eyes of course.

It also means the Oscar is able to see more things to get up to mischief in. Mum had just planted this pot plant, much to his amusement.

Well, spring has arrived and it is definitely warmer. The boys are outside more and I am able to get back on the motorbike again. So much nicer to be able to ride to work and arrive with a big grin instead of an undignified yawn after a bus ride! I also get some extra time in bed as the bike is faster than the bus going up the hill.

Oscar started walking a few weeks ago and has now progressed to attempts at running. He gets it right most of the time though. Another thing he is getting pretty determined at is kicking balloons or balls. He even dribbles them on occasion, something his grandad will be very pleased with.

Our week away skiing was wonderful and Luca really enjoyed going to the creche while we were on the slopes. Oscar was less impressed with being away from mum & dad, but did enjoy the rides on the toboggan. 

A couple of weekends ago we had a house full of family to visit as there was a funeral in Dunedin. All very philosophical and it was great to see everyone, especially wee Benjamin who is only a couple of months old. Last time we saw Caroline he was just a large bump. Oscar had to have it explained to him why Ben could not be ridden, but only after he had given it a go.

The sun is shining and I am the only one awake here, so best I get back everyone else in the brood and rouse them from slumber before the sun is no longer shining. Will endeavour to update this on a more regular basis.

Some photos of the boys at playcentre.

So much has happened in the last 3 months since I updated this for you. It seems an like an eternity since I was in Christchurch; ironically though, that is where Jo & the boys are right now.

As they do, the boys are growing up quite rapidly. Oscar is doing new things every day that we take for granted because Luca has been doing them for ages. We almost can't remember when he started doing them, it all seems to fly by so quickly. We must be getting old.

Luca had a little birthday party, well 2 actually, for his 3rd birthday. The first one was at home and a few of his little mates came round and they all played very nicely, although Luca wanted George to blow the candles out. Then, the next day he had another party at playgroup with some other little people to play with. All very cute and so good to see them having so much fun, although I was at work and had to rely on the photographic evidence.

Oscar has recently attempted his first steps, which is a major thing for any parent. He was successful before falling over, but he got straight back up again and gave it another bash, about 8 times. We decided he might need wrist guards if he carries on like that.

Been a bit slack in keeping this going I suppose. Anyhow, last week we had a family trip up to Christchurch for Oscar's christening and birthday party combination. I had been on call, so worked the previous weekend, which gives me a long weekend afterwards. A good thing that enables us to get away for more than just a night.

We arrived on the Friday and were staying in a cottage/house just on the outskirts of the CBD. A pretty good location really, close to the park if the weather was good. Justin, Kath & Emma were staying with us as well and we were all looking forward to seeing them.

The christening and birthday party were on Saturday and there had been lots of preparations for quite some time. Jo had made 2 delicious cakes and iced them and everything was going to plan. In all it went very smoothly and despite the wet weather everyone seemed to have a good time. The little people certainly did. The only drawback was that we weren't able to spend as much time with people as we would have liked. Part of the problem of visiting another city and wanting to catch up with people as well as have the party.

Sunday was Nana Vere's birthday and turned into a beautifully warm day with bright sunshine; so we went to a beach restaurant in Sumner. It was all quite enchanting and the little people behaved themselves impeccably!

We then had a pleasant drive back down to home on Monday, although the weather deteriorated all along the trip. But that did not detract from the fact that we had a great weekend away and we both think that Christchurch is a nice place to visit but we don't miss living there at all.

Oscar's growing up!

We're all bumbling along nicely here, although the weather has been keeping us indoors over the last week. The boys have generally been pretty good about it, but 'cabin fever' has struck on more than one occasion. I had snow up at work last week; that was a little bit of a shock I have to admit, particularly in April!

Today after I got home from work I was sitting on the floor playing with the boys and their little toy saxophone, when Oscar decided to simply stand up and stay standing. Jo came over after he had fallen down the first time to have a look and he obligingly stood up again a number of times. Each time he stood for about 5 seconds with his hands stretched out to the sides and only fell over when we started making a fuss. It's one of those 'parent' moments I suppose.

Well, we now have the technology and the ability to do this blog thing, so decided it will be the most effective way of keeping in touch with people around the world and letting you all see how we are getting along.

This photo of us from December is the most recent of the four of us, so will have to do for the purposes of here.

Most of you that know us will know that have moved to East Otago, down the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand, and that Andrew is back in the mining thing after a few years away. What you may not know is that we have purchased some land and a house. Conveniently it is the place we are living in at the moment, so no need for another massive move like when we came down from Christchurch.

We will endeavour to update this as much as possible, but all of you with little people in your families will no doubt appreciate the constraints on time these little creatures create.

Hi everybody, well, this is just to let you know that we are going to start one of these blog things. Although you'll have to come back for anything interesting.