TOMS BIRTHDAY

July 10th... Tom turns 11..And we get a day out of the hospital, plus Tom gets to sleep at home, now I know what prisoners feel like when they are released!

As Tom had little to no neutrophils we could not do anything that would expose him to a potential infection (no busy places etc), and nothing that would use too much physical energy or potentially harm him in any way, so the go-carting and bungi jumping were out the window.

Tom wasn't too keen to leave the hospital, as he's never really been too sick with the medication he's got quite used to sitting playing games, watching TV, hanging out with Beth and his nurses (He gets on extremely well with the nurses, luckily they have a sense of humor, which they will need if they are to keep up with him :) ), so he's quite happy there, weird kid, I'd be out of there in a flash.

We decided to go to a TGI Fridays which was just a few miles away to give him that American environment, actually it was his choice, we arranged the visit with management there and they were very accomodating giving us a section to ourselves, we ate there and they all came and sang Happy Birthday to him which was real funny.

Beth, her mum, Amy and her mum came with us. It was a great break.

We then went home and he had a few visitors and we opened some presents and he messed around with his chemistry set (which he really enjoyed)

Not the most exciting birthday party we've had, as some of you may now through experience, we like to do something a little extreme like the stretch limo/Pizza Hut/Movie thing we did last year, we made the best of the situation and it worked out just fine, we're going to have to start thinking of something for next year to make up, something really crazy =:-) .. Feel free to post ideas into the guest book

Check out the photo's and video below, don't miss the special birthday cake, hey..couldn't resist when I saw it. (We also had 2 other cakes just as a backup incase it didn't go down well)

VIDEO CLIPS
Video 1 - (216KB) Tom messing with the 'musical candle'
Video 2 - (280KB) Birthday cake, plus Mark annoying Tom (and getting a kick for it LOL) + 'Special Birthday Cake'
Video 3 - (960KB) Chemistry time, Tom searchs for a cure for Leukemia with his cousin Jack
Video 4 - (424KB) This boy could be dangerous with the right combinations of chemicals :)

PHOTOGRAPHS
- TGI Fridays - Tom, Amy, Beth, Little Amy

- Another shot of everybody including Nicola (Ha.. got you on the 'net)

- OK, I got Nic on the 'Net so I guess it's my turn. And yes that is cream over my face from the hot chocolate, anything for a cheap laugh :)

- Opening presents (Note the little chocolate machine, it had one of these years ago and always wanted to get another - can't believe it actually charged me for a chocolate =;-) )

- Tom having Happy Birthday sang to him at TGI, hope he does not fall off the chair!

- Cake #1, the 'special cake'

- Spitting.. I mean, blowing out the candles

- Mad scientists! Dr. Tom and Dr. Jack getting ready to blow up the house!

- Should we trust these two crazies with naked flames!!!

- Tom and the hospital play leader building his lego robot

- The Robot is complete!