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

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.....

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......

What a day (3 months) I have had! (part 1)

As you know I am currently 'camping out' at Mum's place until I find a house for us. We have the usual tension that a 27 year old with 4 children would have with her Mother (and totally doting Nanny) when you are living with them 24/7. Things are very strained at the moment. I'm in desperate need of a place of our own.....I'm stick of living out of boxes and suitcases! Anyway, this is were it gets worse.....

I have been 'trying' to put an application in for a Government House - just the word Government should have told me that it wouldn't be a straight forward thing. I also was trying to gain Priority status to make things a little easier. The main reason for applying for a government house (apart from not really being able to afford the $480 - $600 a week in rent!) is the ability to do modifications to the house to make Zachary's life easier as he grows that we will not be able to do in a private rental. The main reason for trying to get Priority status is the fact that they will help me out with the cost of Private rental until a house becomes available. Government houses around here are VERY few and far between so I would definitely have to go into the private market for a considerable amount of time.

OK, moving on.....to sum it up, its has been HELL trying to apply for a house. I have been in the process since early July and every time I would head down to the offices to put forms in they would give me another list of things they needed. In total I think I filled out 4 booklet style forms, had to get 4 medical form filled out, needed to get 3 written letters of supports, had to 'prove' that I was applying for houses on my own (which I have not been as I have not been able to find ANY suitable houses in my price range), I've had 4 appointments with them and many phone calls. I also had to get a letter from my Mum stating why I couldn't stay long term with her in a 3 bedroom townhouse (there are 6 of us - 7 if my brother who actually lives here but is staying with friends so I can stay here is here) that has no yard and very little living space. I tell you, letters to state the obvious is a real waste of time! It has taking MONTHS. The last straw that nearly sent me into a crying mess was the phone call this morning to say that after all that they were not sure that I 'proved' that I was in desperate need of house! I very nearly cried. The only thing stopping me was that I was just about to walk out the door to take Ashlee to the OT - yes, I said Ashlee. More on that later. I spent most of the day stressing about how I was going to make things work and decided to give them another call after we got home from all our appointments. This is the best part - I was told on this phone call that THEY APPROVED ME! Did you feel that weight being lifted off my shoulders?! They approved me! Now, they don't actually have a house for me but I can now go searching for a house that is suitable for Zachary regardless of the cost and we can finally have a place of our own. Thank you God! My storage shed runs out at the end of the month and I was not looking forward to paying another $180 for another month. Was that all just ramble? Did you get all that? I'm very happy with the out come and VERY relieved - finally!

* * * * * * * * * *

So we move onto other matters.........in part 2......

An afternoon at The Spastic Centre

Yesterday we had our first appointment at The Spastic Centre. It was actually for an appointment with Stuart Kerr to have casts made of Zach's legs. Zach was brilliant! Just sat on my lap, cuddled Elmo and watched. Probably thinking 'What the hell are you doing and when do these come off!'. We are having Bilateral Dynamic AFO's made and should have them in about 4 weeks.

Similar to the middle one in this picture

He is walking (and sometimes trying to run!) well with is walker but toes walks on his left foot and his right foot drags. The hinged AFO will still give him some movement but prevent the toe walking and foot dragging. I'm looking forward to getting them for him but at the same time I'm not. How will he feel about them? Is it going to be a daily struggle to get them on him or keep them on him? But I guess all we are doing is trying to help him and by all accounts at the moment he is doing really well. Apparently for a 2 year old to be walking in a walker is brilliant. I am very happy about that and it really gives me hope for the future - his future. Zach is a very determined little boy and if anybody is going to 'beat this' - he will.

We are looking into staying here in Canberra and using The Spastic Centre's services. I was planning on trying to get a house in Cooma to try and stay near Zach's current therapy but I don't think that is going to be possible. There are just no houses available at the moment. Houses in Canberra cost a small fortune but what other option do I have?!

Ashlee needs to go back to school. I still haven't organised anything. That is what today is all about. Wish me luck in finding a decent school for her. I'm actually looking at Trinity Christian School (where I went from K-7). She likes the idea - thankfully.

OK, that's it for now. House work this morning and maybe some washing if this rain lets up!

Its been so long!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. As you may have guessed it is a bit busy around here at the moment. I spend most of time at the moment running around filling in forms, see different people and of course spending some lovely stress-free time with my children.....

It is getting a bit.....tense here sometimes. I guess that's what you get when you put a daughter that hasn't lived at home since she was 16 and now has 4 (delightfully energy filled) children of her own back in the same house with her (ever patient) Mum that is totally not used to having said children in her life 24/7! We try and give Mum/Nanny her own space but at times it does get really chaotic here!

We do our bit around her and of course pass on money to help out with the bills (that I'm sure are going to be 10 times the last ones!). The kids are going a bit nuts as there is no yard here for them to just run outside but thankfully there is a park just across the road with plenty of room for running and bike riding and such. We do spend a bit of time there.

Now I guess I will give you a little run down on all the kids.....what's happening now and what's the plan for the future.....

Ashlee:

Currently on school holidays and will (sadly) start at a new school in the new term. Hopefully meet up with some more wonderful friends that she can move onto high school with.

She is enjoying some time here at Nan's but will have to come back down to earth very soon I think!

Ashlee also competed at the Athletics Carnival in Cooma recently.......out of 5 events she got 2 firsts, 2 seconds and a third! She also got third overall senior girls! {Round of Applause!} We are waiting to see if she made it to the next level now.

Mitchell:

Mitchell.....well, he's not up to much. He is taking the split in his stride but I know it is hard on him. He spent some time down with his Dad recently and although it was a nice break I missed him terribly! Even by day 2 I was yearning for my little man.....he's home now and making me smile everyday.

Mitchell loves to spend his time over at the park riding his bike and playing with the twins. They all got new balls recently and that has been a great pass time.

I am currently looking into schools for him. Can you believe he starts 'big school' next year!

Zachary:

Our sweet little Zachary......Zach is going great. As you may have guessed from previous pictures, Zachary got his walker! And its gold! He loves it and is really going well with it. Almost running around with it and kicking balls too! Unfortunately he sometimes has to fight Anna for it. I am trying to get her to understand that his walker is not a toy and he needs it to get around.

In other news, our quotes for Zach's AFO's have finally come through and we are now on the way to getting the funding - finally! We are seeing the Spastic Centre in Canberra while we are here which includes attending the orthotics clinic on the 22nd. Great, means we don't have to drive to Sydney for that! One less thing to worry about. Zach sees Dr L again in August.

Another thing the kids have all been loving is colouring in and play dough. We have discovered that Zach is left handed. This may just be or because he is affected in his right arm.

Anna:

Lastly, our little clean freak. I tell you I've NEVER seen a 2 year old like her! She loves to clean, help out and pack up. Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining! It's great! Anna is a very helpful, bright and beautiful little girl. Zach's body guard too......don't look at him wrong or Anna will let you know about it.

Something new she has been doing is climbing into Zachary's cot usually when they go down for their afternoon sleep. It's cute, yes, but then they just don't sleep!

Anna can now dress herself (somewhat), put on her own shoes (usually on the right feet) but hates having anything in her hair - sadly.

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Alright, this post has taken me the better part of the night to get finished so I'm going to leave it there and (hopefully) see you all again soon!

Take Care!

Its done

Just a short post to let you all know that I've done it.....

Things came to a head, I had to get out, so I packed up my life and my children and we are now camping at Mum's until we sort things out....

We are all ok, very tired but ok....

Oh what a day!

Today we had 'the' court appearance. (D)ExP - and I can assure you that the D doesn't stand for darling! - is trying to get an AVO on me, yes that's right - ME! The judge basically laughed at him but 'has to go through due course and hear the matter out'. So we are back again in August. A REAL waste of time on every bodies behalf.

Right now I have so much support around me, it really feels great. Even having my bloggy friends leave words of support feels great. Finally I have reached out and asked for help with the local agencies and we are getting somewhere. There are also quite a few people, locals, that have come out of the woodwork with offers of help. Considering this is (D)ExP's home town, that says a lot!

I will admit I am scared. Not scared of our soon to be new life, that I am really looking to, but scared of how things will pan out with all this mess. What fight do I have ahead of me?! Is a fight even going to be needed?! Who knows. (D)ExP is so unpredictable.

Tomorrow I have absolutely no plans, and that feels great. I am looking forward to spending the day tidying up and just going nowhere. Just spending the day with the kids.

Tonight - well I'm going to get these children dinner, a bath and tuck them in bed safe and sound for tomorrow is another day. I am going to do the dishes and fold the washing that I did get hung out. I also need to start sorting things out and begin thinking about packing things up! A daunting task.

So thank you to everyone for their support. Back to life now....

Welcome to our new blog

I felt it was time for a change.

I am no longer able to find time to craft.

Although I am definitely NOT saying I never will! I would love to find the time again and hopefully in the future I will but at this point in time it is just not an option.

With Zach's cerebral palsy and a few issues we are having with Anna's eyes I feel a blog that could be better put to use as more of our day to day journal of where we have been and where we are going.

Life at the moment is just so hectic.

For example; on Monday we travelled 2 hours to Bega, Tuesday we travelled 1.5 hours to Cooma, today I had a meeting at the preschool that took 4 hours and tomorrow I need to be in Bombala. I REALLY hoping that Friday I-CAN-STAY-HOME!!

My house is feeling unloved and really if I don't get to it, it will be unclean too! Ahhhhh!

Being totally open and honest, this is where we stand today:

Washing has piled up and today I nearly had a nervous break down. I'm telling you I really felt like that! By the time I got the three little ones into bed I just wanted to curl up in a corner and cry - I didn't actually do it but I'm sure it would have been VERY beneficial!

Tonight my children had sandwiches for dinner and went to bed without a bath - again Ahhhh!

I did not do the dishes tonight and don't plan to - they won't go anywhere and will still be there in the morning.

I have a load of washing that I put on to wash before I went out this morning that is still in the machine and will not get hung out until the morning - its so cold out there!!

Lastly tonight, I am soon to be - well really I am already! - a single mummy to 4. Over the next few days I will be moving. Out on my own, mixed emotions but it is definitely the best move for the children and myself.

So that's it in short for now. I hope my old readers will join me over here but would happily welcome anyone new!

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P.S Please bear with me as I style my blog too! ; ) I am also organising an update post and also a bit of history thrown in there too.