An Unexpected Gift

Today I received an unexpected gift that gave me great joy.

I received a phone call from Max's wonderful doctor, Dr. Alan L. Shanske. The last time we saw Dr. Shanske was in September last year and we had hoped to see him this April at our 6 month check up but alas he had taken some leave.

His team were slightly perplexed when, with tears running down my face, I asked when he would return. They were unable to answer me. When they asked what was wrong, I could not find the words.

On March 24, 2006 at approximately 7.00am whilst lying in the ICU, I met Dr Shanske for the first time. I was not in the best of shape but he came to me and said "Sallianne I have been down to say hello to Max, he is well, he is beautiful and there is nothing wrong with him". "We have to fix his lip and mouth but that is it".

I wonder if he realized at the time that I would hold those words in my hand like they were gold.

Our check ups with Dr. Shanske were never any different. The instant he saw Max he would swoop him up in his arms and tickle him. We would then show Dr. Shanske how clever we were on our numbers, body parts, alphabet and singing.

Whilst Dr. Shanske was attempting to write up his comments, Max would show him how to lower and raise the examination table, turn lights off and on, and how to move the Mouse to get the computer to go on.

Through it all, this lovely man just said what a marvel he was, how he was "on track", that his voice was fabulous and to keep doing everything that we are doing!

Dr. Shanske called today to thank me for my card but also to inquire how Max was doing. He listened intently as I detailed the progress Max has made, his operation this past Tuesday and the upcoming visit to a developmental paediatrician. He also had some magic words - "stop worrying", "these things take time", and "he will be absolutely fine".

He is a magic man. All who come into contact with him sense it. I for one am a better person for knowing him and our Max has been blessed to be under the care of this wonderful Doctor.

Thank you Dr. Shanske for truly making my day.

I can hear I can hear!

One would think he might be looking up to heaven and saying his prayers but no...he left that to his mother, while he caught up on the latest Bob the Builder!

Today we got our third set of tubes. With a confidence that astounds me, he walked into the operating theatre, seeing the nurses he announced "hi girls" and was ready and waiting to be sat up on the table.

Three hours later we are home again, having our milk, watching Oobi (thank you to the inventor of DVR's) and requesting ice cream. He is a dear little man who continues to show me a strength and a resolve that takes my breath away.

Thank you Dr. Parikh and the wonderful team at Montefiore Children's Hospital.

Old MacDonald had a Duck

A beautiful sunny day in New York and all my photos were deleted by fingers too young to know but oh so interested in the mechanics of the camera! I managed to save this video from this morning.

A girlz Saturday

This past weekend my girlfriend Ellen and I drove to Rhode Island to participate in a Self Portrait class being run by the gorgeous Tracy and Allison Stilwell. Opening their home to the participants, they gave us a day of play, a lunch of magnificent proportions (who got the last scone?) and an opportunity to share, laugh, drink tea and forget about the washing.

The Venue -

The girlz have friends like these scattered amongst the ponds, daffodils and bees.

These cookies come mighty close to Karenne's anzacs.

and did I mention the scones?

The day of course was all about self expression....who are you really? Oh boy did I really want to go there? So I found a photo that I felt expressed the real me...it just happens to (in my opinion express the real Ellen too)....

Then with a little magic and a lot of "does that look good?"... "are you telling the truth?" ... "Is my nose wonky?".... I created....

In the preparation and lead up to this class it truly got me thinking a lot about myself and the complex character yet simple in nature (no family comments allowed) person that I am. So I decided to be simple in my description.

and the Goddess? Well as usual she just created with a heart and soul that I have come to know, love and admire. She just pulled fabric scraps from the basket. Mind you the fabric scrap basket at the artgirlz studio is certainly a scrap basket we would all love...I even included a big scrap at the bottom of my work - one because I loved it and two because I know that it had been made with very very clever hands and if I rub it enough perhaps some of the magic will rub off onto my hands...yes?

Good things come in Green Packages

On a rainy afternoon, when we have exhausted all our usual activities and we were starting to request "horsy"... which means mother on hands and knees and mighty max riding on her back (yes it is a sight)... the mail man came to the rescue.

With a suitable "Wowwwww" (he has perfected it), Max opened his little box from Papa.

Was it deliberate to send the surprise in an old Pears box? Whenever I see a cake of Pears soap, I think of one person...GG or "the original" Granny Crow who loved this brand as soap as much as she loved baking walnuts into everything she made.

Can I drive it on my chest? Moments after this photo was taken, we drove it in our hair, resulting in a tangled mess of 4WD toy wheels wrapped in snowy blonde curls combined with an almighty scream that makes me wonder whether he really is a red head underneath it all!

Treehouse Begins

In the next eight weeks, Elmo and I will have the privilege to listen to the voices and hearts of a group of 8-10 year olds who have experienced the recent death of a family member.

Does anyone remember the show The Wonder Years? Kevin Arnold (played by Fred Savage) was one of the first (of many to come) narrators of his life and many of his narrations are remembered and recalled today...

Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.

In this brief window of time, I hope in some small way, I will help these children hold on to their memories.

Smurfs and Donkey Kong - Who knew?

Life certainly comes full circle.

Two things that were the light of my brother's life 25+ years ago are now finding new life with his nephew! This is a new smurf but somewhere I know (are they at Granny's), my brother has a "vintage" collection in his little drawstring bag (he was a bit of a bag man) of smurfs collected.

and this is the original 1982 Donkey Kong that continues to entertain little boys in the car back seat while waiting for big sisters to finish softball practice! Unfortunately we have to wait in the car because when Max gets to Rose's school, he just thinks he is one of the girls and wants to be with them all wherever they may be. Bit tricky with lacrosse sticks and softballs flying everywhere.

Easter Joy

Sound of Music - we should all start our day this way!

Before I provide a round up of Easter Weekend, I wanted to share an amazing way to start your day!

I am Coming

Just three words on my email....but at 5am on Easter Sunday, I couldn't have asked for a nicer Easter Gift. Of course you could buy a lot of chocolate instead but I would rather have my mum!

Thanks Papa!!

How to Ring your Sister

Ok Bails I hear you struggle with the time difference so here is a little schedule now that Daylight Saving is over:

• 3pm NYC = 5am SYD (I guess I would be talking to P or EE at this time)


• 4pm NYC = 6am SYD (still EE and P although Gran might grab the phone)


• 5pm NYC = 7am SYD (somebody? anybody?)


• 6pm NYC = 8am SYD (assuming that we want to be on time for school, no calls will be made in this hour)


• 8pm NYC = 10am SYD (you have collected your coffee from french patisserie and are home enjoying the peace...good time to call) and so it is for the next 3 hours then...


• 11pm NYC = 1pm SYD (no chance talking to Sal....only chance is talking to Neil...if he is home)


• 5am NYC = 7pm SYD (no chance of talking to Neil. High chance of Max picking up the phone and having a chat)


• 10am NYC = 12am SYD (every chance of Gran talking to Sal because she is up sending Jackie Lawson cards to anyone who has given her an email address)

Failing all of this - look to the left....see those two clocks?

I put those there just for you!

Love you

Sal

Family

It is humbling yet at the same time comforting to know that in the midst of life's hectic schedule, one can be reminded that family appears around corners that you forget are there.

With my recent experiences navigating the lumpy path of mammos...I was reminded that whilst my immediate family is back in Australia, I have a large and wonderful family here in the US who we have come to love like our own. Not forgetting the wonderful family of online friends - some of whom I have met and some I have not, yet we are all bound by the bonds of humanity.

Call it a Clan. Call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one!

Papa

My dad celebrated another birthday this week.

I miss him terribly.

He is my mate. The one who has understood me (and that takes an extra amount of brain power and patience) from the day I was born. Perhaps it was because I remind him of mum? Perhaps it was because I was the poor forgotten middle child?!!!! Perhaps it was because I had freckles on my face....something as a child I hated so much that I remember sitting on his lap and he would get the eraser out of his desk drawer and rub them out! Whatever it was...is....he and I have had a connection that I love.

He has taught me a great deal in life .... Do it once - do it well; Always have clean shoes; always clean the pool in your underwear; always have a clean car; always trim a tree when there is a trampoline underneath you; eat your honey out of a sherry flagon; live in a two storey house so you can thump the floor when the tea is ready; eat violet crumble bars; be thankful for orthodontists; that the best tasting fish is that which has been caught on your own line (or brought home from the fishmarkets, in a backpack on the back of the bike); be a friend; be kind; drink red wine out of a highheel shoe...and I could go on....

I think of him when I eat mushrooms. I think of him when I smell fish. I think of him when I clean Rose's softball boots. I think of him when I tuck Mighty Max into bed and surround him with his toys. I think of him when I am not understood. I think of him everyday. I am glad he is my dad.

Love you Papa.

It's Sunday and it was the first day of Elephant Trunk!

The sky was a midnight blue, the coffee was in the thermos, the Engineer, MightyMax & flossy were sound asleep. Bliss. But my state of bliss was because my flea market pal and I were off to celebrate the commencement of spring with Day 1 of Elephant Trunk.






We have been looking forward to this day for months. We quivered with glee at the sign of vans and tents lined up as far as the eye could see - It was a BIG one! With the smells of mini cinnamon donuts, fried dough and hot coffee permeating the air, we wandered with a purpose. Everyone was laughing, welcoming each other and soaking in the thought that this was the first of so many wonderful mornings to be enjoyed. There were bargains to be had and there were also sellers with huge tags on their stuff - obvious they had the first day bug....they will soon learn....





There were things for Pam, dominoes for Janette, bottles for Jo, there were helmets for Neil...they didn't come home!!


What did come home?

and for the old boy?...this fabo baseball scoreboard

Do you not just love this face?

If I could have found a perfectly good reason to spend $125 on one of these heads I would have. Gorgeous!