Christmas is coming...

It's on its way! Our first year in Highlands Ranch and the decorations are going up all around us. I am excited to see how nuts everyone goes, and yes, of course, the community association have a decorating competition in the neighborhood. The photos of each home, along with a map showing their locations will be available online so I will share some of the photos with you all to have a smile at!

We haven't put the decorations up yet, first weekend in December for us but I am excited too! The Christmas Cake is made and soaking in Brandy and of course, Mum is coming over! We haven't told Ethan so it will be a surprise for him. We also have a little treat planned for Mum while she's here.

Thanksgiving flew by last week, we had some time off and ate, hiked, visited with friends and ate again. Now veggies are on the menu until Christmas when we will yet again, over indulge!

Ethan has finally agreed to try a team sport and is signed up for Baseball in the New Year, that could be thoroughly entertaining...

The weather has changed now and most days have a really chill to the air, the snow jackets are out and wooly hats ready to go. We have also had our first dump of snow, last week and the week prior. Nothing to go crazy about, only an inch or so but preparation for the winter.

Oh and we had Christmas Cards made this year- yep, American style family photo and everything ha ha ha!

BFN xoxo

The Beginners Horse

I remember Jules telling me years ago, that kids didn't really ride ponies in the US, they went straight onto horses. I always found it an extremely odd concept and was interested to see how it works out here and if the height is a problem to the kids.

The long and short of it, is that generally the horses the kids get put on here, seem a lot more forgiving than the British ponies I knew. They seem happy that their life is now gamboling about with a little one on top and have much easier paces to sit to (or rise too) than some of the fast, choppy ponies.

Of course, there are some truly fantastic ponies in England, the pony club wouldn't be the same without them and most of the games played there need smaller ponies that kids can leap on or off.

The height here doesn't seem to bother the kids at all. Last week Ethan rode Buddy, he's about 16.2hh and has fairly big movement (relatively) but Ethan adored him. The size didn't bother him and he liked Buddys movement for learning to sit or post! Buddy of course loved it, no working on the bit, no nagging, just trotting around the arena or on the lunge with a little one bobbing around.

Of course, I am sure it has a lot to do with the lack of Native smalls here. I still love a good pony and adore riding them. I am super interested to see the progression of a very smart Buckskin dressage pony that has recently rocked up to PY (Posh Yard), that definitely isn't a kids pony, more a competition type.

I have had a great week of riding. I've had the chance to play on some truly amazing horses and am so thankful to their lovely owners for allowing me to do this. Their support honestly makes all the difference to me. (You know who you are)! I still have a long way to go, but the chance to ride such a variety of horses really helps me progress.

Politics

There are a few things I steer clear of on here which are bound to offend or upset someone, one is politics. I haven't posted much about the election on here for that very reason.

So, I'm not going to start now. I will just leave you with this poem.

When the spent sun throws up its rays on cloud 

And goes down burning into the gulf below, 

No voice in nature is heard to cry aloud 

At what has happened. Birds, at least must know 

It is the change to darkness in the sky. 

Murmuring something quiet in her breast, 

One bird begins to close a faded eye; 

Or overtaken too far from his nest, 

Hurrying low above the grove, some waif 

Swoops just in time to his remembered tree. 

At most he thinks or twitters softly, 'Safe! 

Now let the night be dark for all of me. 

Let the night bee too dark for me to see 

Into the future. Let what will be, be.'

by Robert Frost

Healthcare

I thought a post about healthcare here would be apt as I realized that yesterday when I posted about Ethan, that I didn't really touch on it.

So, for you UK buddies this is how it all worked...

We have private medical insurance here in the UK. We have Dental, Optical and Medical.

With our medical insurance we have a number we can call if we have questions, much like NHS Live. So, while worrying about Ethan we call this number, of course its never simple. We need to give across our insurance card details, then all our personal details, then employee details etc. After which we still pay $10 before the doctor will call us. An hour later we get a call and basically they advise us to go to Urgent Care.

Urgent Care is kind of like the West Berks A&E. Don't go there its life and death, it isn't open all hours but generally less of a wait than A&E. It is also cheaper! So regardless of the fact that we have medical insurance, we still pay (co-pay) a part of the fee. We arrived at opening time 9am on the dot to Urgent Care. Now don't get me wrong, it was lovely there, leather seats, coffee machine, kids play room, TVs, fireplace etc but you pay! Luckily as we were about the second people there, we didn't wait long, we went from the waiting area to a private triage room where a lovely nurse checked Ethans vitals and took some notes. From there, we went to a private treatment room. They put the TV on for Ethan and  the doctor came and retook all vitals, went over what was wrong etc. They took a sample for testing for the suspected Strep throat and gave him a Ice Lolly (Popsicle) to sooth his throat. The test took five minutes to come back and the diagnosis was swift. Ethans prescription was emailed straight through to the nearest pharmacy where we would pick it up! The staff were amazing and so friendly and we payed a $50 copay for the wonderful services! After all this we swung to Walgreens pharmacy for Ethans antibiotics, again we have insurance for this but still paid $5 more.

So all in all, Ethans Strep (Pharyngitis) cost us $65 and thats with a good insurance plan. It makes you realise why so many people here don't seek medical help when they need it. We are lucky that we can afford a good healthcare plan and the extra fees associated with the medical issues but many can't. The cost for Urgent Care without the insurance would have been $228 without the tests and treatments.

The NHS may not be perfect, but when you add up medical costs in the UK, it really becomes something to be proud of.

Crazy Weekend

This weekend has been a very odd and emotional one.

Saturday we woke with excitement as Ethan had Taekwondo, then we were taking his friends with their Mum to have their first ever horse ride (& lesson) with Sara, after which we would let the kids play in the hot tub and have wine and dinner.

Ethan started complaining of a sore neck in the morning but as he had been on his iPad I assumed it was just from that and didn't think more about it. Everything started well and when we got to the barn, Ethans friend rode first, he was a little pale as he got off but seemed ok. Next thing I knew his Asthma had totally kicked off and he was turning blue and couldn't breathe. Leaving Ethan and the little boys sister at the barn riding we left. We started to rush to A&E but then got through to 911 and found out that the Ambulance was going to the fire station which was in the other direction. We swung around and by the time we got there he was in an awful state, hardly getting in any air. The firemen got him on Oxygen whilst the Ambulance arrived. They rushed him to A&E in time and he was stable quite quickly. He had gone into Anaphylactic shock just minutes after getting off. It was really scary and we were so pleased that he was ok. The boys face timed each other that evening as Ethan was so worried about him.

That evening Ethans neck pain got worse and his temperature spiked. I stayed with him and monitored him over night and his temp dropped, he slept fitfully but ok. The next morning he was still complaining of a sore neck, we know this can be signs of meningitis so took him to Urgent Care first thing Sunday morning. Urgent Care here is great, toys in the waiting room, refreshments, private treatment rooms with TVs which keeps the kids happy. After an examination and some tests we found out that he just has Strep throat which is much better. He has antibiotics and pain medication so  should be fine soon.

Sunday afternoon is about rest and care for our boy and hopefully all will be fine again soon!

Urgent Care Waiting Room

Fireworks Relief

So, poor UK, its that time of year when Fireworks are ridiculous. Our dogs used to get pretty scared and at times it sounded like a Nuclear war was going on.

Guy Fawkes however, hasn't caused that craziness over here. Each evening is peaceful as ever and bar the 4th July, the sky stays naturally lit.

I love fireworks, I have hugely find memories of going to organized displays with Mum and Dad when I was young (preceded by Sparklers at home). But, I don't miss the madness in the UK. I can't believe, after all the attacks, accidents and fireworks abuse, that the British Government hasn't banned the things for private sale/ use.

On the other edge of the coin, heres my little US rant...

So, its voting time. No I am not going to start a political post. This is about local ballot boxes.

On the way home from Ethans school is a park where I like to take the dogs after drop off. The car park has a one way system and a ballot box on the corner of one of the turns. Every morning I go there, people are dropping off ballot. BUT, of course, they can't park in an actual SPACE and walk to the ballot box. Oh No, instead they stop the car, blocking all traffic right next to the box to drop in their ballot paper. Really people, its a car park! Park and use your freaking legs! Gaaaaaaaaa!