My Precious Baby-Doll

Once again the universe has thrown us a curve-ball. Little Miss Chief was taken for diagnosos at the Disability Servises Unit and, while the stopped short of giving us a definate diagnosis yet pending further testing, it looks like she might fall into the autism spectrum.
At the start of the assesment I was asked what I hoped to get out of it. While I would have loved to say "I want you to tell me I have a normal child" I gave my true answer: "I want you to tell me the truth. I want to know what the future holds for her." At the end of the assesment I got my answer. By the time she reaches adulthood, her intellectual abilities will be that of a 11 or 12 year old girl.
I really thought I was prepared for the worst but I guess we never really are. I guess we all push our doubts to the back of our minds and keep hope at the forefront. As parents we truly want to believe anything is possible for our children. I'm not sure I will ever lose hope but I have to accept that she will never be "normal".
She has another, more autism-focased, assesment in a couple of weeks but I think that's just to confirm what already know now and I'm not getting my hopes up for a better prognosis.
I used to joke that she was my baby and she's not allowed to grow up, she'll always be my baby doll. What can I say? Be careful what you wish for!

Back To Routine

Sometimes it seems too politically incorrect to say this but I'm going to go ahead and say it anyway - I'm so glad the school holidays are over! Now don't get me wrong, I love my kiddies to bits, and Little Miss Chief isn't even going to primary school yet (but she has increased to three days of preschool this year), but this family is one that thrives on routine. One thing school holidays lack is routine.
Things were compounded somewhat by Rascal Boy spending the last three weeks of the holidays with both legs plastered up to the knee. After years of toe walking (a common symptom of Asperger's/Autism) his leg muscles had tightened up to the point that he could no longer keep his heels on the ground even if he wanted to (which he didn't). He got one day every week to be cast-free which we used to reward him for his bravery. Naturally he chose to visit aquariums. That's right folks - Rascal Boy has a new "special interest" (read: obsession) - sea life.
It started when, in the last term of last year, his teacher decided to theme all the school work on sea life. The classroom was made to look like under the sea (shades of the school dance in Back To The Future), she kept goldfish on her desk and based all the class work - art, maths, reading, you name it - on sea life. It flicked a switch in Rascal Boy's brain and now he is a walking, talking encyclopedia on all things ocean related. A marine biologist at age 7.
As for me, I hope to fit a few more things in to my schedule now school is back and I have an extra day up my sleeve with Little Miss spending three days a week in preschool.
First is to go back to ballet classes. I miss it and was just unable to get there for all of 2009. I just hope I can still fit into my leotard!
Secondly is to go for a 30 minute walk and do resistance training for each of my "days off" - NO EXCUSES!! Scheduled in like an unbreakable appointment. I'm feeling the effects of yesterday's session as I type this. This should also make it easier to squeeze into the aforementioned leotard.
Thirdly (is that a word?) is to partake in as much of this as possible -



Last year's LSBS challenge required one layout (or other project) a week. Needless to say, I didn't make it! This is 40 challenges for the whole year, leaving breaks for school holidays. Certainly more doable, but I'm not going to pressure myself. I still have hope of finishing the 52 from last year at some stage too!
And lastly, I need to keep up with the housework. Impossible when there is kids in the house, but I find the state of my house reflects the state of my mind. When it's messy, my mind is foggy and I can't seem to get it together. When the house is tidy my mind is clear and I feel like I can breath again. And with three days a week with no kids to mess it up again all day, I should be able to achieve all the other stuff listed above.
Well that is the plan....

A Quickie!

First post for the year and it's just a quickie to announce this starting tonight

Post Christmas Post

It just flew by didn't it? Do we say that every year?

I thought I might do a bit of showing off, so here is my pressie haul for 2009 -

First we have a USB turntable to convert my vinyl collection into MP3s for my 'Pod. Pity Santa couldn't have also provided more memory for it all to fit! When are Apple gonna come up with a memory upgrade invention, like you can do with digital cameras?


Next we have things of which I don't know the name of (and have thrown out the packaging so can't check), but they are yet more 'Pod accessories.
One is for charging it no matter where I am (as long as there is a power point nearby!) People who were hasselled by me on this year's LSBS Retreat will be thankful I now have one of these.
The other is to plug into the loungeroom stereo so I can play all my songs through the main household speakers. Very important for the songs I have that only exist in MP3 form.


And the last one is technically NOT a present but as it was purchased using some Christmas money (which covered about three quarters of the total price) Ima gonna let it slide. We'll just call this one a present from myself to myself.


Now I'm the first to admit I know nothing about sewing machines and Spotlight on the day after Boxing Day is not exactly buzzing with workers ready to have an in-depth discussion and help you pick out the right machine for you, so, you know what? I just picked the CUTEST one they had (in my budget of course!)

Happy New Year blog surfers! See you in 2010!

I Almost Forgot!

Can't go through Christmas without one of these!

It's That Time Of The Year Again, Folks!

Yep, the time of the year when people freak me out with THIS -

You know what I'm talking about...

And making it black and white doesn't improve the situation AT ALL!

I Really, REALLY Want...

...to have time to participate in this this weekend