Photo's !!!!

 

After writing my latest update yesterday, I forgot to include all of the photo's I had chosen !!!!

 

The first one is of Scott and I, sitting in a taxi, on our way our for a "grown ups" dinner and drinks.

For the first time in approximately 4 years, Scott and I stayed in the city and the kids stayed with Nana and Poppy.
Here we are having breakfast !

As part of the "huge overhaul" of our house, Scott and I were working hard outside cleaning up the backyard.
This is how the kids entertained themselves !!!!!!

This beautiful, happy face (and laughter) is a regular occurance now.
Reminds us how very special every single second with this child is......

This is Amelia and Nutter ......(sorry Honey !).
She is much bigger than this now!
She was originally bought as a companion for Amelia, but I would say in the last 2 months she is definately a best friend for Tom.
Their energy levels, personalities and love of life are perfectly matched.
Every night after school, Tom cannot wait to go outside and play with her.

Our beautiful Amelia after the gorgeous Jade did her hair.

Amelia has decided to "create" an area outside.
Here she is at the design process (something she learnt at special school).
It already has butterflies hanging and now we need to purchase comfortable chairs and a table.
The area is under a gorgeous tree.

And here is Amelia's new electric wheelchair.
The fantastic "license plates" are courtesy of Nikki and Belinda.

Thank you for all the extremely kind messages about the blog written below.
I enjoy sharing the highs and the lows with you all.

xxx

Hello !

Hello.
Where do I possibly begin?
It has been 5 weeks since my last confession ....... sorry, blog ...... and so much has happened.

I will begin with beautiful Amelia.
She has changed.
Like really, really changed.
Since she has settled "full time" into the special school, she is so happy now.
Like really, really happy.
She declines ALL days off school.
And she laughs uncontrollably ALL the time.
Quite often we look at her like she has "lost the plot" and this only makes her laugh more!
The transformation has been MASSIVE.
Amelia can still be grumpy, moody and sad but breaks out of it a lot quicker than in the last 2 years.
We have also changed the way we handle these situations.
She has been told to "move on" on numerous occasions.
No more wrapping her in cotton wool.

But the laughing, the wicked sense of humour and the discussions (from her) about happy times years ago has been mind blowing.
She is also appreciating happy times NOW.

And Tom.........
Well he astounds us everyday with his vocabulary, reading, writing and number capability.
He loves all of the above and enthusiastically "practices" it all constantly.
His social skills and general behaviour have improved beyond belief.
Tom has matured greatly and for someone who is only 6 years old we are so very proud.
He still has his "moments", but they are nothing compared to what they used to be.

Scott is really good.
He has lost a massive amount of weight, has SO much more energy and is definately appreciating every minute of every day.

And finally ...... ME.
A lot of soul searching in the last few months.
Why defining all of the positives and negatives in MY life, I have discovered so very much.
Instead of constantly complaining about my weight, I decided to do something about it.
In the last 6 weeks, I have lost a total of 12 kgs.
I participate in personal training, eat healthy and have changed many of my attitudes to "life".
Because of these changes it means I sleep better, wake up easier, have no more headaches and never feel "sluggish".
It was a massive commitment though.
I only eat salad, vegies and 100gm of meat/seafood.
NO caffeine, carbs or sugar.
There have been times when I "caved" but once I feel the after affects, I return immediately.
I plan to lose a lot more weight.

My soul searching has recently meant that I have also lost some friendships.

I am not ashamed to admit that I hit "rock bottom" emotionally when it happened.
I have never lost friends, especially never in a nasty way.
It is an episode that will stay with me forever and I will always still hold those people close to my heart.
But as the poem goes, maybe those friends came into my life for a reason or a season.......

Overall, we are happy.
Our house has been given a mass overhall.
I will be starting a new job soon.
Amelia is extremely content.
Tom is very well adjusted.
Scott is appreciating life.
And I am grateful.
I am grateful for grandparents, siblings, friends and for all the people that surround us and make every minute of every single day special.

Promise to write more often from now on.

xxx