Comfort Doll Generosity

Tonight I became the Guardian of the most wonderful gifts that will in due course go to children, who will gasp with joy at the sight of them. As I did when I opened the box tonight. Enjoy

Thank you Beth from Indianapolis.

I've got the Music in Me

I can not believe that we are moving into Wednesday when the weekend feels like yesterday. A wonderful weekend with the Goddess visiting from CT enabling us to do some Art Is...You prep work.

We had dinner with our wonderful friends Doris and Gwen who are phenomenal doll artists and who have equally wonderful souls. Maxamillion sat at the head of the table and showed his delight in having everyone surrounding him.

We made a very successful purchase - the good old portable CD player. Max knows how to stop, start, FF, RWD and even change the CD!

The first time he put the earphones on and listened the look in his eyes can only be described as sparkling with delight and amazement. He changes the songs he doesn't like and then bops to the ones he does. Here he is listening to the Wiggles singing "Rockabye your bear"...bears now asleep - shh shh shh!

We are hoping that when it comes to sitting on an aeroplane for 20 hours in December, that he will enjoy 20 hours of headphones!!

Of course he was also delighted that Papa sent him a Wiggles DVD (thank you Sunday Telegraph) to preview on the Engineer's laptop - thanks Papa.

Wish us luck tomorrow. We always wear our lucky Bonds Singlet when we visit Dr Shanske. I have managed to gather a bundle of board books from friends to drop in the shelves in the sparse waiting room and I look forward to connecting with the lovely staff who care so much about our boy.

Postscript: Granny has her bags packed already!

You Say Ice Cream - I say I-ream

Picture this...the two year old has learnt a new word - I-ream (Ice Cream). He discovered the ice cream cones in the cupboard and brought them to me. So I jumped up repeated the word and offered to get him one.

Little did I know that the Engineer had finished it off and hidden the container in the bin (who does that?!!)...so I found the top off his plastic ice cream and put it on the cone. "No, No, No" was the response.

So I did what I thought I would never do....we picked up the keys and off in the car we went, to get I-ream. He would not let go of the cone, so we walked through the shops at peak after work time giving many people a giggle.

Found the Edy's (almost as good as Blue Ribbon) and it was on special (one fo the Engineer and one for everyone else). Came back home and with much lip smacking sounds and "mmmmmm" sounds we put i-ream in the cone, took one lick and said "licious"! and his mother agreed!

This month is check up month for Maxamillion - ENT, OPTHO..., Urologist, Cranial, Allergist, E.I. (early intervention) and so on. I go with my heart pumping that "they" are going to find "something". It is exhausting. Maxamillion doesn't enjoy it and has become an expert at pointing out the EXIT signs, walking in the other direction when someone in a white coat comes towards him and even a bribe of candy does not convince him that somebody sticking something in his ear, is ok.

Our last check up is next week with the head of the Cranial Disorders Unit at Monte. We love our Dr Shanske and many could take a leaf out of his book. He has seen "it all" and is a man in demand, yet he makes you feel like you are his only patient.

When I go down to the hospital it always makes me thankful for the struggles that we have, when I sit beside a parent with a child who has obvious cranial issues. Sometimes I chat but mostly we communicate through smiles as many of his patients are hispanic with gorgeous big brown eyes and wide wonderful smiles - many repaired smiles like Max's. I wish I could speak spanish.

I am planning to spend a morning down there after Art Is...You and just sit and create art and encourage the children waiting to participate. I need to give back. I have been taken down this road for a reason. Trusting this, is a journey in itself.

17 Years ago we did this!

1 Couple, 3 bridesmaids, 3 groomsmen, 6 blond haired flower girls with six matching dolly's, parents, grandparents, and 200 friends!

Saturday 14 September, 1991 was a day when the church had their mini fete in the morning, so Nanny was able to shop for her marmalade and lemon butter before getting the best seat in the house. We arrived by bus to be greeted by the shoppers at the fete who were extra thrilled to get "a wedding to watch"!

It was a church service with 3 cameras (I was working at a video production house) which happily filmed Big Kel when she was little Kel, sticking her head through the puplit carvings whilst her father did the reading. Then who can forget little Julie (still in nappies) who had to be carried down the aisle.

It was a day when one of our best friends, Rob, married us and a day when my best friend and housemate had wished he had listened to his mother when she said get a new suit for the wedding - because when he was called up to witness this day with us, he couldn't do his jacket up!

We came came down the aisle to this piece of music and bobbed back up the aisle to Hooked on Marching!!

Then afternoon tea for everyone, juke box dancing and a cake shaped like a hat. A wild afternoon that left everyone happy and loving life. For they do say a wedding is not for the bride and groom but for those around them - reminding them for just a moment how wonderful life and love is.

I think back to that very wild and wonderful day and I think of all the people who are no longer with us and some who are now stepping out and having a huge, wonderful impact on this world (Big Kel and Jules) but mostly I think about Aunty Helen Blom who never married who told me that on this day every year I must remember why I did this and remember the feelings I had at that moment because she said, they will take you through to your next year.....

Happy Anniversary to the boy who just "gets me" - always has and always will. Now can you go put the coffee on and change Maxamillion's nappy?

You can always rely on Nanny and Granny

Well the Engineer had given up all hope of receiving anything (other than a nice dinner) for his birthday. As his lip drooped low this morning, the postman just happened to knock on the door and deliver a lovely big parcel and some letters ...




First a lovely card and letter from my Nanny with some spending money for Christmas time!

Then it was time for some help to open the package from Granny or TUB as the Engineer calls her!

This was a lovely way to start our day. Maxamillion was happy with his car and the Engineer was just plain happy with his chocolate and new BONDS singlets! It truly is the simple things in life that make us happy.

Our day has ended with some great news. Max can now draw circles ....

on bathroom cabinets...
and he can now colour in between the lines....

on tiled floors...
Excellent!

Oh...and TUB? Well...I am TB (The Boss) but mum is TUB (The Ultimate Boss)!

Girlfriends

I love my girlfriends. My aussie girlfriends, my yanky girlfriends, my expat girlfriends and my online girlfriends. They keep me sane, give great advice, love wine (a pre-requisite), love art and love life.


On Tuesday I spent the day with girlfriends Ellen and Pamela at our home away from home BRIMFIELD! We met up with girlfriend Jeanette and enjoyed lunch together whilst swapping stories on our finds and what we hoped to find. We came home with our hands full of treasures and hearts full with joy. Spending time with your girlfriends is better than any medicine any doctor could give you.

Today I recall my post that I made marvelling at how hands truly create miracles. For today my dear girlfriend in Australia is on a roller coaster of emotions as her beautiful teenage daughter recovers from an eight hour transplant operation where she received two new lungs. This is a day of great joy. The "Queen of puzzles" has a new chance with life starting today. Yet somewhere another family will remember this day with sorrow with the loss of their own loved one. It is hard to comprehend this roller coaster of emotions.

The gift of giving brings the gift of life and for that I give thanks.

Happy Birthday to the Engineer

This photo was taken in 2003 as we were embarking on our time here in the US. Buzz is the Engineer's favorite character and longs to have his own Buzz Lightyear Suit. Tonight he will be on the receiving end of a homemade hamburger ...with the lot and bread pudding - yes that is what he ordered from the chef.

Happy Birthday to the boy from the girl who has loved him for 22 years.