Girls Day Out...a Seriously Awesome Surprise

This week I was given an amazing opportunity by one incredibly cool chick...The Veggie Mama.  She writes an awesome blog (one I was reading before I even knew what a blog was) and Big W contacted her with a gift of some vouchers to share with a couple of friends to use at the Baby and Toddler Sale, plus some extra cash to treat ourselves to lunch.  I was so excited, this was definitely going to be the highlight of my week! 

Well,  what a day out we had! Stacey generously invited me and another Caitlin (who is just the loveliest gal!) from over here at Mother Down Under to meet at Big W for a shop-till-we-drop (or get hungry), trolley-filling experience.  I'll tell you what.  When three mammas get toddler shopping...they get down to business.  There was no frolicking through the isles, chitter-chattering over clothing racks or baby-bragging by the nappy boxes.  Nuh-ah.  There would be plenty of time for that later.  It was all list checking, colour comparing, size-finding and...ok...also some oo-ing and ahh-ing over the totally cute goodies on sale.  

Check out my haul!

I can honestly say I was pretty stoked with how much bang I got for my buck.  With sweet little printed long sleeve shirts for less than $5, what should I have expected?  I can't wait to see how cute BoyWonder looks in the green stripy elephant shirt.  And I KNOW he is going to LOVE the shirt with the digger.  He is all about trucks and machines and things that go 'beep...beep...beep...' at the moment.

I am completely addicted to Bonds Baby, and Big W had a huge range of gorgeous prints and baby-soft fabrics for me to drool over.  Colourful singlets are a must have for chillin' out in summer, and avoiding the chill in winter.  Can never have too many singlets.  And anyway...my mum always told me, 'respectable men wear singlets'.  Nothing like creating a habit nice and early! 

We are that joyous stage of toddler-hood where some toileting essentials could not have come at a better time.  Training pants, and a toilet-seat with with steps (only $30!!!).  Don't forget some bath-time gear- another (unfortunate) but essential follow on to the toilet-training.  Yes...you know what I'm talking about! 

Could not resist a little bed-time bounty.  I seriously cannot wait for snuggly cuddles with BoyWonder in these adorable Bonds PJs, fresh bed sheets and a bed-time story (more things that go 'beep...beep...'.)  I can't decide which I love more.  Night-time cuddles and goodnight whispers and kisses before bed, or morning-time smiles and jibber-jabber stories about dreams and toys in the crib.  

To top the day off, Big W shouted us to lunch and we chose to take a visit to The Velo Project at Moolooaba.  I can pretty much sum this place up in a few words.

Funky. Tasty. That little personal touch. 

 I loved it! The food was fresh and just plain yum yum yum.  I am still dreaming about my next Bananarama Smoothie.  My iPhone photos do not do this artsy, folksy place justice, so please check out Stacey's post here for the real deal.  She has a real camera. And takes proper photos. And writes good. She is the best!  Stacey also is giving you the chance to win a $100 Big W voucher of your own, and $10 to spend at Big W online for everyone.  So go there! Now!

So what can I say? I am one very lucky lady!  Thanks VeggieMama, and thanks Big W! 

Oswald the Ex ...A Cyclone Scorned

This week has been a busy one (when is it not?) getting back into work and back into the routine of the school term - with a couple of exceptions to the norm.  One being that TechnoHusband is officially on his well-deserved long service leave (yay!!) and two, that we got back into routine around the wake of ex-cyclone Oswald.  As one of my friends on Facebook cleverly put it, 'Oswald is not very happy about being an 'ex'.'  We were very lucky here and didn't suffer any major damage, just a damp ceiling and two freaked out doggies.  Many others were not so lucky, and are still waiting for flood waters to drop,  fallen trees and debris to be removed, power to be restored, and homes, businesses and infrastructure to be re-built.  We have quite a few very special friends in Bundaberg who were hit severely, and I can only imagine how difficult the situation has been, and is yet to be that they must face.  

This is a link to a video someone has created and shared on YouTube about the Queensland floods, and the Bundaberg 'story'. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23RW3SnYoPc

So these holidays we have seen it all - scorching heat waves, devastating bush fires, tornadoes and cyclones, and damaging floods. Yet from what I have witnessed, people have continued to rally together to help those in need and have not been held down by one disaster after another. 

Despite the craziness of the past week/s, I have settled back into work and feel more prepared for the term ahead than I have in a long time.  Last year I returned to work in a PMLBF (post-maternity-leave-baby-fog) and felt lucky if I woke up knowing what day it was.  This year I feel prepared and super-excited about my cool-kid classes, and keeping up some music teaching from home.  I must admit, I am DEFINITELY taking advantage of having TechnoHusband at home.  His support (and current lack of work commitments) has made the re-entry into the school year much smoother than it could have been.  

Since Cyclone Oswald has finished his almighty temper-tantrum, we have really enjoyed some outside time down at the beach in the early evenings.  The sand-walking is great therapy for BoyWonder, and the fresh air, and relaxing family time is great for all of us.  Here are some pics.

Have Shoes...Will Walk

BoyWonder and I had a trip to the 'Big Smoke' this week to meet up with Grandma (my Mum) and purchase some WALKING shoes.  It was very exciting.  Firstly, can I just say that I would highly recommend the store 'Shoes and Sox' at Chermside Shopping Center for anyone who needs to have little feet fitted.  The staff were wonderful, and they know how to properly measure feet and choose shoes to accommodate and support growing twinkle toes.  They also have a really informative website - and an information freak like me finds this very reassuring.

BoyWonder presents with a catalogue of foot-related issues (including ankle-spasticity, curling toes, turning out and rolling in) and a most unfortunate genetic pre-disposition to outrageously wide and fat feet (inherited from his mother, and otherwise known as 'Nagel feet', or... 'the family curse' as I like to call it).  But does this phase the shoe-shop lady?  Not a chance foot-fearers!  She manages to find a sandal and a sneaker, both stylish and supportive - and one pair at HALF PRICE!  BoyWonder couldn't wait to wear his new 'shooshs', and had to be chased down by Grandma before he could run out the door and send me to the lock-up for petty-theft. 

After a mid-morning coffee and cake stop (for Grandma and I) and a ceremonial Vegemite smearing (for BoyWonder) he could no longer contain the urge to show off his clogs and started a stroll down the middle of the shopping center.  After five or so minutes of insisting, unsuccessfully, that he hold my hand and walk in an appropriate direction (ie. straight), Grandma said, 'Oh, just let him go.  It's his first time walking at the shops, he's so proud of himself to be able go where he wants and in his new shoes.'  So I did.  I let him go.  And we followed a short distance behind as he toddled against, around and into the flow of pedestrian traffic, casually but confidently waving to his fellow upright beings, and beaming with pride.  As he swaggered and teeter-totted around, an amazing thing happened.  People stopped. Not just because if they didn't, they'd trip over him.  People smiled.  They smiled big smiles.  People stopped what they were doing, smiled big smiles and made kind comments, asked questions, and even wanted to share stories about their own children or grandchildren.  This little fellow in his little walking shoes was somehow able to bring a little bit of cheer, and some special memories to many people.  And I don't think it was purely because of his 'cute factor', I think he was truly radiating joy - and it was rubbing off on those around him. 

Back on Track

Ok.  It has been a LONG time since I've made a post...and after a number of people dropping 'hints' that it's been a while, I'm finally getting back into it.   My main excuse is simply that we have been SO busy lately.  And then the longer it got, the more I had to write about and report on...and then it all became way too overwhelming!  So I'm going to take the easy way out and make a dot point review of the past 5 weeks- the ups and the downs. 

Week 1

- had a weekend visit from my childhood friend.  We shopped, cooked, and drank lots of coffee.

- got Tonsilitis...again

- my gorgeous cousin came to stay for 5 days.  We did all the things 12 yr old girls like to do.  Can't wait to have her back! 

- farewelled an amazing woman and friend - my mentor, Lorraine.  She lost her fight to cancer,  but her passion and joy for life will live on in the hundreds (if not thousands) of people she touched throughout her life. 

- finished up another great year at school with the coolest kids in town.  They sang their little hearts out for their parents.  I didn't even mind that I couldn't convince one cool kid that the lyrics were, '...six white boomers, snow white boomers'  NOT, '...six white boobies, snow white boobies'. If you are not an Australian reader and have no idea what I am talking about - just google it.  Rolf Harris, Six White Boomers.  You'll love it! 

Week 2

- Off to Woodgate! Time to eat, drink and be merry with family and friends.  We stayed in the same awesome cabin at the caravan park as we did in September, and enjoyed lots of swims, walks and family time.  BoyWonder picked up on 'cheers'-ing at happy hour - and I now fear he will start cheers-ing all his buddies with milk bottles when he goes back to daycare.

Theodolite Creek

A tough day...out fishing with Dad and Grandad!  BoyWonder caught a toadfish. Gross.

Week 3

- Breakfast with the 'cousins' - a yearly catch up with some very special loved ones

- Clean up in isles 3.  BoyWonder managed to cut his finger-tip inTarget, it was a total blood bath.  He, TechnoHusband and I all looked like we'd had a date with a vampire...and received more than a few disapproving (and some concerned) looks from fellow Christmas shoppers.  Needless to say, the Santa photo did not take place this year.  

- Christmas!! We had such a great day! It started with a relaxing breaky at home before meandering down to see TechnoHusband's family for nibbles and an incredibly delicious roast dinner.  BoyWonder (and us!) had a fab time with his gloriously gorgeous cousins, aunties, uncles, grandparents and great-grandparents.  A relaxing dip in the pool just topped the whole day off.  My side of the family were all visiting other parts of their family all over the place, so we had Christmas later (stay tuned!)

- Boxing Day...came down with chest infection, spent remainder of the week resting.

Presents!!

Week 4

- Happy New Year!  Watched the fireworks in bed, trying not to cough up a lung! 

- Spent lots of time with my side of the family who came and holidayed close by for the week.  

- Had a fantastic belated Christmas with my parents, siblings and completely adorable nephew...AND....NEWS OF THE YEAR....

- BoyWonder started walking!!!!! Still can't describe how happy we are, or how cool it is that this wonderful day will be forever etched in our memories. My message to friends and families went something like this, 'We are the happiest parents in the world! Our son has taken his first steps!! It's been a long road...but we made it! So very happy and proud of our little guy who has worked SO hard to get here.' 

He is 20 months old, and has a 'unique' little waddle, but has already shown that he is determined and able to overcome any challenge that cerebral palsy might throw his way. Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and positive vibes! 

Just off to get milk and the paper Mum, back soon!

Week 5

- Catching up with LOTS of friends.  Many of whom I don't get to see often, but when I do I am incredibly blessed and inspired by their positivity and loving natures.  

- Hot hot hot! Have the air-con cranking, and trying to catch a breeze by the beach wherever possible.  Following the bush fires on the news, and praying for the people who have lost loved-ones, homes and livestock in this heat wave.

- Physio for BoyWonder- therapist very impressed with his walking, got some more activities to work on.  Mainly continuing to work on strengthening his right leg (which he is getting rather clever at avoiding).  Need to become a bit more cunning, he is onto us! 

- My first trip to the Farmer's Markets.  Love the fresh and spray-free  produce, will be back on a weekly basis. 

- More friend and family catch ups- a constant wave of visitors and visiting - which have all been cherished.

Cooling off in the heat-wave.

 

 

Fun at Physio

I am now into 'week 6', and a busy week ahead.  Beginning to get my head (and home) back into 'work' space as the holidays draw to an end, and looking forward to a great evening on Saturday for our annual United Field and Retrieving Club awards night.  

So here I am, back on track and ready to keep recording those moments that make up 'life'. 

Tell me, what have I missed? What was the highlight of your Christmas/holidays? 

Crisis Averted

TechnoHusband takes his X-BOXing very seriously.   

The other night I was reading in the bedroom, when I heard a great fuss coming from the lounge room.  I'm talking like heart-racing, blood-draining, nail-biting 'fuss'.  There was panic in TechnoHusband's voice, and a general sense of urgency, fear, and absolute imminent danger.

What on earth was going on? In a matter of seconds the following thoughts/theories all crossed my mind:

1.  That someone had crashed their car on the street outside; or worse, into our house.  But I had heard no crash, and felt no thud.

2. That TechnoHusband had injured himself severely and required an ambulance.  But I knew he was sitting on the couch, so this couldn't be be case.

3.  That a house fire had started while we were both distracted, and we were seconds away from losing everything.  But I could smell no smoke.

What was going on out their?  The frantic sounds and mild profanities continued as I leaped off the bed, flung open the door and screamed...

'What's wrong?! What happened?! Are you ok?!' 

I was met with an equally distraught reply... 

'No! The battery in the controller died! Right in the middle of my game!!!!'

Of course!  How had this extremely threatening crisis not crossed my mind?  Never underestimate the necessity of a fully charged battery when 'saving the world', one thumb-squeeze at a time.  

Duracell and Energizer, I'd be happy to negotiate the use of this scenario for your advertising purposes...to the highest bidder of course.  ;-) 

CP. Cerebral Palsy? Cutie Pie? I'll show you both!

Well.  It's been quite a while coming, but (in a nut-shell) after delays reaching motor milestones, funny things happening with his feet and legs, and general muscle weakness and instability, our gorgeous little BoyWonder has been diagnosed at 18 months old with mild Cerebral Palsy.  We are so blessed that it is only mild, and that he will be able to walk, run and do whatever he sets his mind to.  He'll just need a bit more work, effort and determination to get there.  It mainly affects his right leg and foot, and core/trunk muscles.  As I said, we are so grateful for our little guy, and that he was not more severely affected.  He is happy and healthy - and what more could a parent ask for?

Basically CP is caused by damage to the brain, which affects the control of the central nervous system, which affects the control of muscle tone, which affects the ability to move muscles and limbs in certain ways/or to control the movement that does occur.  The way one of the therapists described it to me was that we have nerve pathways that excite our muscles, and nerve pathways that depress our muscles.  In the type of CP BoyWonder has, these pathways get mixed up and are activated at the wrong times because of damage that has occurred in the brain.  In the not too distant future he will have an MRI to locate exactly where the damage occurred, and to possibly find out  if it happened before he was born, or during his birth. 

He is having physical therapy to help him with his strength, balance and muscle control.  At today's session we worked on standing, crouching and stepping behind the push walker.  He is not yet able to stand without support or without leaning on something, but is getting soooo very close!  He gets tired very quickly from having to exert more effort to get around, but he is so determined and will be up and running before we know it. He loves physio- he has the therapist all to himself and totally thrives on the attention and 'play'. 

So the last little while has been rather busy with appointments, therapy, paperwork and processing all this as a family.  And it will continue to be busy for a while to come, but we have information now, and support, and goals; and these three things are crucial to making this journey SO much smoother,  way less daunting, and not so overwhelming. 

Ok, now to the soppy stuff.  You know I can't help it.  I just want to say that I truly believe this little guy will grow to be a better person; a better man for the little challenges he will face.  My prayer is that he will have an inner strength, and an understanding and compassion for others who are in need.  Now the last thing I want to do is 'bible bash', but I do want to remember these verses which have jumped out at me over the past week. Romans 4:18 talks about a guy called Abraham.  It says something along the lines of when Abraham was feeling hopeless, like there was 'no way, fat chance' of something happening that was supposed to, that

                  '...he believed anyway, deciding to live his life not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do, but on what God said he would do.' 

I love that!  I love that it says he 'decided'.  It was a choice about how he would live. We are not defined by what we can or cannot do, our abilities or disabilities.  We are all made exactly the way we were meant to be, and we are defined by what is in our heart.  

Ok ok ...please just one more?!  1 Thess 5:18 says,

 ''In everything give thanks'. 

Oh yeah, I am so thankful.  Thankful that after experiencing trauma to his brain, it could have been SO much worse, but it wasn't. Thankful for a little dude who won't let a single person pass him in the grocery isle without saying 'hi'.  Thankful that he loves to act like a clown and make people laugh.  Thankful that he is so determined to be independent that he 'wears' his breakfast every morning.  Thankful for his wet sloppy kisses and ambush raspberries.  Thankful for the wonderfully kind and caring people around us who we can share both our burdens and celebrations with.  Thankful for where we have been, and for where we will go. 

Alright...sop over.  Can I just mention that one of the first things I 'googled' after hearing the diagnoses was not medical websites and definitions and scientific info (although I did hit up Dr. Google before long!).  I looked for blogs, written by mums, about their child with CP.  I wanted to know about their story.  So if you happen to have come across this post, searching for someone who is/has been in a similar situation, and you want to have a 'chat' please feel free to email me, I'd love to hear your story.

***News just in...BoyWonder just did his first pee in the potty!  He even told us he needed to do it!  'What a maverlously advanced child that BoyWonder must be' I hear you all say ;-) Sounding like a proud parent much? 

Some pics to finish off...

(BoyWonder's photos all remind me of the hi-de-ho neighbour Wilson W. Wilson from Home Improvement.  Sorry, but his face is just too gorgeous to unleash on the world.)

We purchased this great vinyl 'blackboard' on ebay to encourage his standing.  It's starting to lose its stick a little, but lots of fun all the same!

  

Backwards is the new forwards, didn't you hear?

Action shot - for all the speed demons out there.  He gets that from his father.

 

 Does anyone else wonder, if you surrounded him by mirrors, if his hair might be able to illuminate the entire room?  No?  Maybe just me.

I'd Like to Introduce You...

...to the newest member of our white goods family.  Our new old dishwasher.  We have a few new old white goods.  TechnoHusband's Dad has this amazing ability to acquire electrical appliances that no longer work.  He collects them, and hoards saves them until TechnoHusband mentions that we might just need a dishwasher, then TechnoGrandad says, 'I've got a couple in the shed.  You just need to get a new hose/tweak a screw/replace the washers' etc etc.  It's awesome! Saves us so much money, and brings an adventure story along with every new old appliance.  So far TechnoHusband's Dad has re-homed a washing machine, a clothes dryer, an oven, and now a dishwasher with us.  We are so grateful. It has saved us thousands of dollars over the years. And 'new old' items are so much more interesting than 'new new' don't you think?  They all have their own special characteristics and qualities.  For example, the washing machine.  It loved to keep me on my toes (and the old towel pile stocked) with rare but random incontinence.  The clothes dryer works fantastically; but it sounds like a two-stroke lawn mower until you give it a good whack, which has to be in a certain place to work.  We call it the 'sweet spot'. Great anger-management tool though!  The oven.  Ah, the oven makes me smile.  It is very cheeky.  The hot plates do not match the twisty knobs.  But we are one up on the oven.  We made a map, and Nikko-penned it on to the twisty knobs.  It still catches me out occasionally when I realise the steak has been cooking for 30 minutes yet is still raw, but I just smile and say, 'cheeky oven you!'.  

This brings us to the dishwasher.  We are yet to discover its endearing personality traits, but so far (between the two TechnoGrandad gave us for a test and tune) the laundry was only  flooded twice, and the household power only lost six times. (Just our house, not the entire street....this time). 

I must say, I am rather in awe of TechnoHusband's ability to locate the problems in these appliances, and work out how to fix them;  in addition to being able to single handedly re-design the kitchen cabinets, structures and plumbing - all in a day's work.  This guy can use a jigsaw, hammer and head-lamp like nobody's business. 

Both TechnoHusband and TechnoGrandad are great recyclers in a world of disposability.  There are many times when I grit my teeth and think, 'Why do we still have this?', but on a day like today, he has revived a discarded dishwasher, replaced my rotting chipboard kitchen shelf with second-hand ply, and repaired the hole in the Lino with the scraps he had saved in the garden shed.  When he had to cut off some of the kitchen bench-top, he asked if he should hold on to the scraps in case he needed them for something later. This time I said yes, and I meant it.

The newest member...yay!!  My first ever dishwasher! You have no idea how excited I am about this.

Little ears must be protected from noisy power tools.

Like Father, Like Son

What have you and yours 'recycled' lately?  I'd love to hear all about it!