Looking better

This is Ashlee's lip - post incident day 1 (so about 24 hours later)

Outside - a little swelling, not looking so bad

Inside - not so great.....

She is feeling a little better but still quite sore and I guess losing weight because she can't eat much at all. Even drinking is hard!

Here we have Zachary in his Theratogs

From the front....

And from the back....AFO's and all.

This was the initial try-on. These are normally worn under the clothes. Our Physio suggested taking these photos for reference as it can get a little confusing in the beginning apparently. Wearing these 4 hours a day is like doing 50 hours a week of hands on therapy. Zach is still tolerating them at the moment, he is pretty good with most things.

Not much else going here. A little grocery shopping today, I have also been doing a few 'photo shoots' for people too. All free of course and all to get up some more practice. Live near me and want to get a free shoot with a CD of all the photos to help me get up more practice? Email me.

Here a few from my shoot with my gorgeous little nephew Caleb....

He was such a darling little boy but eventually it had to come to an end....

I also did a small Christmas photo shoot for another friend of her two sweet little boys, making them into a holiday card for her.

A close friend of mine had a stunning little 6lb baby girl on the 26th and one of my gifts to them is a newborn shoot. Lots of fun playing around and of course snuggling with sweet little newborns!

That's all for now, here a few photos of my clan to finish with.....

(Favourites of the 'out takes')

Just a quickie...

because I'm stuffed and because I haven't been around for a while.

Returned from the hospital tonight, Ashlee split her lip WIDE open. 5 stitches on the inside and 2 on the outside. It really didn't look that bad if it wasn't for the swelling but once we got to hospital and they looked on the inside of her lip I was shocked! A huge gash about 7-8cm long and about 1cm deep! My poor little girl was (and still is!) in so much pain! It brought me to tears watching her get stitched up while she squeezed my hand for dear life. This was even after a cannula, some heavy drugs and a lot of anesthetic. Thankfully the cut to the outside of her lip is only about 1cm long and is right in the middle, cosmetically the doctor thinks it will be fine. She was sent home on panadine forte and also told nothing but liquids for a week. That didn't go down to well as she was already starving by the time we left the hospital. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she heals. No school for her tomorrow.

As for Zachary, we had him at the hospital recently after he took a header head first off a retainer wall on to concrete. Thankfully he is OK but with some bruising and cuts.

Today we started his trial with the new (well about 10 years old but relatively new to Australia) Theratogs! (Also some more info here) Firstly I will say after just one day I am VERY impressed and would highly recommend them! Zach has Diplegia so is mainly effected from his waist down with some involvement of the right arm but he is definitely more effected in the right leg than the left. He toe walks, drags and turns in his right leg a lot more than his left. These theratogs had him walking in his frame quite straight minutes after having it on.

I'll go into everything more next and I have photos of him in it too. Going to check on Ashlee and head to bed for now......

Hmmm.....

I haven't totally fallen off the face of the planet - I'm still around but things have been pretty hectic here. So, what have we been up to...??

In general:

As most people know, moving house is usually a pretty big thing. And time consuming! Who out there was still unpacking boxes 3 weeks later? Moving with 2 x 2 year olds and a 5 year old that just wants to be helpful is very tiring but thankfully with a bit of help we got here and we are loving it. The house is pretty much set up, I'm now down to adding our own touches. Pictures on the wall, rugs etc. Than all that's left is sorting out some boxes still in the garage into chuck, donate and sell piles - not really looking forward to that. Really tempted to just chuck but I really can't see things that are perfectly good go to the dump! Hoarder much...??

Now down to us:

Ashlee.....has been sick, a lot, lately. I really don't know whats up with that. Monday she had her high school orientation day but by the time she got home she was like death warmed up and has been home from school ever since. She will stay home again tomorrow just to be sure and hopefully is right for Monday. Her finger is finally de-splinted and tomorrow morning we are heading back to the OT for a final check up. All should be good as she hasn't any pain lately, a good sign that after over 5 months it is finally healed! Other than all that it is all about decorating her new room and getting ready for high school next year.

Mitchell.....is starting school in January. I can't believe my little boy is that grown up! Last Thursday and today we had his Kinder Orientation. He enjoyed it and I think he will be fine next year. Compared to the other kids he is HUGE! People do comment on his size and are surprised when I tell them that he is only 5 but never thought anything of it until I saw him with these other children. He is considerably taller than them and taking after his Dad he is pretty solid too. By solid I mean solid not fat by any means.

Zachary.....is advancing nicely. He no longer gives wearing his AFO's a second thought and they are just a normal thing for him now. Zach has decided that getting around at home is much nicer when he is pushing a little ride on 4 wheel bike with a handle than his walker so we now keep his walker for going out. His physio is really happy with this as he was getting to 'good' with his walker and not really stepping properly just dragging and sliding and relying on the walker to hold him up. With the bike he has to work a little more to stay up right and has to slow down and step properly. We are finding that he tripping on his feet a lot more now as his right foot turns further and further in. We are really trying to work on his leg with physio at the moment but we are also looking forward to botox and hoping that after December 14th and some intensive therapy for a few months following things might just be a little better for him. A wheelchair is on order at the moment but really long term we are hoping we know he won't need it. Especially with his determination and great rehab therapist Damien. He has CP himself and really gives us hope!


Anna.....well Anna as of yesterday has been officially diagnosed by our Paed with Asthma. We now carry Ventolin and a spacer EVERYWHERE as he feels she is not in the best shape at the moment but he has also put her on Singulair to take daily as a preventor. My little girl has been constantly unwell since she was admitted to hospital with pneumonia last month and is still not back to her normal self. We are going back to the see Dr Rosier again in a month for a follow up check up and take it from there. At the moment she is a bit of a mystery. Anna is also sporting a cut knee after falling twice on the same knee and also a cut and bruised cheek after a run in with the window sill in the play room. I think both of things can be put down to her vision as every time she refuses to wear her glasses we end up with some kind of fall. We see the Eye clinic again in March to reassess her for surgery.

Me.....I'm going well, a little tired from all the running around to appointments and late nights but getting there. I'm sick of these heat though! Its way to hot! Carting the kids around in this heat everyday is just making everyone tired and cranky.

Next year I will be returning to study - more on that later......

I'm going to call it a night now, its nearly 10pm and I need to be up and out the door before 8am for Ashlee's OT appointment in Belconnen. I really need some catch up sleep!

But lastly just because I can.....sweet little blue baby!

Baby Caleb

Isn't he just the cutest!

Caleb ~ 5 hours old

Welcome to the world....

Caleb Daniel

Saturday October 31st
7:11am

6lb 15oz - 48cm

My brand new little nephew was born this morning! And he is soooo darn cute! Poor little bugger has a badly bruised head from a forceps delivery though. Melissa is coping well after unfortunately a very bad birth experience, in pain and very tired but she did it and he is here!

Almost 49 hours passed from the first contraction until little Caleb's arrival. Please keep Melissa, my brother Daniel and brand new little Caleb in your thought and prayers as they recover and bond.

I'm an Auntie!

Its ON!

And I am very excited!!

My dear sweet SIL is headed to the hospital! Contractions are 2 minutes apart. Sweet little baby boy will soon be here! I'm going to be an AUNTY!

In other news....(hehehe)

* We finally have the net back on!

* We moved on Saturday
* We are LOVING it here!
* I'm HATING unpacking boxes
* ....but I'm LOVING all the space!
* And I am loving putting things away - neatly and orderly
* I'm loving decorating
* The kids are loving their new rooms - ESPECIALLY Ashlee

Things are pretty great - I even won a second prize in the Great Down Under Nappy Hunt! Second time running - last hunt I won Grand Prize. Tonight I went to the Parent Information Evening at Mitchell's soon to be school. Jerrabomberra is such a great school!

Signing off now, its late.....

More Layouts

Just a couple of recent layouts.....new post below with updates and some GREAT NEWS!



{Credits to come}

{Credits to come}

It feels like Christmas!!

After having such a horrible time over the last few weeks I think our luck has finally turned! I pick up the keys on our new house (rented.....) tomorrow! We are moving in over the weekend! I'm like a little girl on Christmas morning....really!

I-CAN'T-WAIT......

...to have my own space
...to have more space
...to have my children in there own rooms again
...to play in the back yard on a warm sunny day
...to sleeping in my own bed - by myself
...to see Ashlee so happy to have her things ago

I could go on......

I will miss......

...having Mum to help out
...having an adult to talk to at night in peace and quiet
...our little pussy cat - he can't come but will live with Mum until he can join us again

Ahhhh! I'm so excited! And it is a beautiful house too....

Update on us:

Anna - still not 100%. She bearly eats and has lost so much weight. Still having some diarrhea and sleeping A LOT. She is grumpy, moody and easily upset. Not her normal self. She waking up at night again and usually heading back to bed with me. We are pretty much home bound as she doesn't want to go anywhere and would rather lay on the couch all day. Please keep her in your prayers.

Zach - he is going well now. Physio today that went great. New sitting wedge to challenge his balance. AFO's are great and helping him heaps, he even has got to point where it is normal and he doesn't complain at all.

Mitchell - he did get sick but thankfully picked up after a day or so. He spent the weekend with his Dad and had a ball - you know quad bike and all.

Ashlee - she was also sick, very sick. She is such a trooper though and held out until I was home from the hospital to help Nan out. Back at school today after the holidays, I think it is a welcomed break for her. Hoping to get her splint off this week, we have an O/T appointment Friday.

Me - I'm now having physio for my coccyx, second one was today and it seems to be doing good. I'm happy I can now sit for more than 2 seconds and not be in agony! I'm tired and still not 100% (I've been fighting a head cold for nearly 3 weeks now!) but feeling a little better. I was lucky enough not to get the virus though - looks like the OCD hand washing and antibacterial hand rub paid off, even if I do need to use a whole tub of moisturiser to get them back to normal. Packing things up and getting ready to move now.

Mum is also well again. I went over the house over the weekend with Glen 20 and disinfectant. Light switches, door handles, surfaces. Even pulled the reverse cycle apart and cleaned it all thoroughly too. Toy boxes where emptied out and every Dora, Thomas, track and Lego piece was cleaned. Sheets and towels were washed with an added extra too - Canesten Antibacterial Laundry Rinse. No bugs here!

Better run, after two appointments already today I have one more to go......

It never rains, it pours part 2!

Just a quick one......

Just discharged from the hospital again after 4 days. Anna has the NoroVirus - what next?! Initially went to hospital at 2am because of croup that had left her struggling to breath. After a dose of steroids she picked up but she started vomitting before we left. The diarrhoea started soon after and we were admitted with a drip to Paediatric Isolation. Her stool sample came back positive for the NoroVirus. The Norovirus is highly contagious - worse than the Rota virus. Thankfully we picked it up very early. She still not great but doing well enough to come off the drip and return home. Zachary unfortunately picked it up to but was able to remain home thankfully! Both Ashlee and Mitchell are well for now - fingers crossed but Mum has it too.

We will be in hiding for the next few days to weeks. I'm OVER hospitals (and Anna well and truly is over being poked and prodded!) and want to give her a chance to recover fully before we venture out in public again. That means all appointments cancelled and lots of rest.

It never rains

it pours!

Last week we had Anna in hospital with Pneumonia. Oxygen Sat's sitting around 88, temperature of 39 and sleeping ALL the time is how she was when we arrived at the ER. Drip in (she was so sick that she actually fell asleep while they were putting this in!), chest x-ray, bloods taken as well as a 'snot suction' hehehe.....IV antibiotics and fluids, obs done hourly.....that is how it has been here. Thankfully we were able to pick it up early and she is on the mend. We were sent home on oral antibiotics for 5 days and Ventolin - 6 puffs every 3 hours. We have just been for a follow up visit with our GP and she is still not 100%. She now has another script to continue antibiotics for another week and is to stay on the Ventolin, same dose, until further notice. Back to GP for another check up on Monday. Please keep her in your prayers.

Zachary, he stayed with Mum for the time we were in hospital. The first time he has spent a night away from me! He did OK, Ashlee is brilliant with them and really turned into a second mother. What would I do without her?!

Also some great news! Zachary STOOD-ALL-BY-HIMSELF! He had is AFO's on and although it was only briefly he still did it! I'm so proud of him!

Ashlee has been sent home sick from a young carers camp - she was bound to get it, everyone else has. She did really enjoy her limited time there though.

Mitchell is home again from his Dad's....I missed him.....

Yesterday, we went to Thomas & Friends Live on Stage! and also The World Festival of Magic. Both were great, more on that later.....