Busy, Busy, Busy!

Holidays are supposed to be a time of excitement and relaxing. We have the first bit under control, the excitement is building in our household until we are all nearly at bursting point!!!!

Our family arrive from the eastern states on Wednesday. My house will be transformed into the party house as we attempt to squeeze 18 of us into it. The shower roster might be an interesting one, either that or we all just put lots of extra deodorant on.

The relaxing part is far from coming. The last few days have been spent with party preparations for Leg's 40th and getting the house ready for the hordes. I will relax when the holidays are over I think!

While all of this is going on, I also have to remember that there is an ABR clinic just around the corner and I am responsible for organising it. Luckily for me, I got most of it done straight after the last clinic, knowing that this was going to be a mad time for me but as always, there are little bits that just have to be done at the last minute.

We did Caitlin's video tonight. I'm unsure how I am feeling about it. I know there have been changes and so many of them in the past, but I'm just not sure I can see much. Have we hit the wall and got as much out of ABR as we are going to get?????
I hope not but as she is getting bigger and stronger and harder to handle, it is hard to see the positives. But then I have to remind myself that the surgeon was really happy with her and doesn't want to see her for another 2 years - most families I know that see the surgeon, walk away with a date for surgery. ABR has to be partially responsible, if not completely responsible for this.

I guess I will have a better idea after I get to talk to Sarah and Jenson and tell them how I'm feeling. Maybe it's just because it is such a long slow process and I'm getting a bit sick of it all. Time for a break maybe???

Can't wait till I write my next post as the family will be here and I will be on cloud nine ( and probably very stinky ). Until then.........

Caitlin and her Catherine Centre Teacher Mrs Burton

Many people have come into our lives with Caitlin but not many of them are as inmportant, compassionate and dedicated to our princess as her teachers. This is Caitlin at her First Holy Communion with her teacher Mrs Burton. Mrs Burton is not only an amazing teacher, she is someone I would call a friend who not only cares for Caitlin, but for me as well. She is there to fight the fight with me and to share in all the little milestones that are so huge in our lives.

Caitlin loves Mrs Burton and therefore, loves going to school every day. How blessed are we!!!!

Catilin did so well at Communion and she really enjoyed the whole process. She was so excited in the lead up to it that I think when the big day finally arrived, she was exhausted.

We are so very proud of you Caitlin, you are a star and we love you dearly.

Happy Holy Communion to you my girl!!!!!!

EXCITED!!!!!

This week is turning out to be one of the best we've had since Tom was born.........

To start with, my Mother and Father in Law are arriving from the East tomorrow. They are coming over to help us celebrate Caitlin's First Holy Communion and then Leg's birthday.

Caitlin makes her First Holy Communion this Sunday and she is very excited about it. We have the dress and the shoes all ready to go and she looks beautiful in them - so grown up!!! She is carrying one of the gifts to the alter. She will be carrying the flowers on her lap while one of the girls from her class pushes her. Her Dad is going to take her up for Communion and help Father get the timing right with placing the Host in her mouth, otherwise he could lose a finger or two. What a spectacle that would be.

Grace is entering in her first Australian Qualifying Swim meet session this Friday night. She is a long way off getting her Australian qualifying time but that is what she is working towards and doing a bloody good job at it if you ask me. I couldn't even do 1 metre of butterfly, let alone 50!!!! We are very proud of her and hoping she does well and enjoys the whole experience.

But the best news we have had this week came yesterday after a trip to Princess Margaret Hospital. We were there to see the Neurologist - an appointment for years I hated going to because it was always bad news. Yesterday, however, we got the news that her last EEG was all normal and because she has been seizure free for 3 years, we can start the process of getting her off her medication. For years all we heard was bad news so it is so exciting and refreshing to get some positive things coming our way!!! We think she is a real rock star and we are so proud of her.

We also saw the orthopaedic surgeon last week and he is super happy with all of her bone structure and doesn't want to see us for 2 years unless something goes pear shaped in the mean time. Way to go ABR I say!!!! Thank God we found it and thank God I have the most amazing husband that is willing to put in the hundreds of hours to get these results!! We are a great team and we are reaping the benefits of it.

The good times don't stop there because after Kath and BJ arrive, we then have the rest of Paul's family arriving to party with us for Leg's 40th. It is all too exciting for us......... and we are loving it!!!