Thank you to everyone who has supported Maxwell and Me this year. Special thanks goes to Cherie, for being the kindest person I know. Max and I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas.
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Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Merry Christmas Everybody
(yep, feeling lazy again so the pictures will do the talking)
Thank you to everyone who has supported Maxwell and Me this year. Special thanks goes to Cherie, for being the kindest person I know. Max and I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thank you to everyone who has supported Maxwell and Me this year. Special thanks goes to Cherie, for being the kindest person I know. Max and I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
When 'Thank you' isn't enough- A Christmas Tribute to my Family
This year, I'm looking forward to Max's first Christmas. However, if you've known me for awhile, them you'll know that under normal circumstances I hate Christmas. I hate people banging on about Christmas spirit and then abusing each other on the roads. I hate the wanky Christmas movies that get repeated ad nauseum every single year. Most of all though, I hate Christmas shopping. You know those people who buy the most thoughtful and perfect gifts? That's not me. I totally suck at buying gifts. I really do try to find awesome gifts for my family but somewhere amongst the mayhem of Christmas crowds, Christmas parking and (the most annoying) Christmas Carols, I end up buying total crap. In recent years, I've resorted to buying gift vouchers, so that my family can buy their own crap. But this year I'm stuck because gift vouchers are such an impersonal thing to give my family, after everything they've done for us. So, I'm calling for suggestions for Christmas gifts ASAP. I haven't got any crafty genes in my body (they were distributed elsewhere), so if it's a homemade gift you suggest, then best keep it simple. For now though, I'm going to try my best to find the right words that say to my family, thank you.
Thank you to my sister Kylie who dropped everything that day, to be with us in hospital. Thank you for the food, clean clothes and deoderant. Thank you for sharing this blog. Thank you for being at the other end of my text messages, when I've been having a bad day. Thank you for the work you've done on Max's birthday party. Thank you to my brother-in-law Simon, for all the work you did in the mammoth task of getting my parents back from their overseas cruise. Thank you to my two nieces Shevaun and Kate, for making Max and I laugh (and Shevaun- I'm sorry I missed your birthday party). Thank you Kylie for everything else you've done for us, that I haven't mentioned. I'm really sorry that you were so stressed that your retina detached. I'm sorry that this required emergency surgery. I'm sorry that you had to share a room with 5 old women, who complained all night.
Thank you to my sister Tara who also dropped everything to be with us. Thank you for visiting almost every day, with toys for Max, food for us, clothes and toiletries. Thank you for staying with Max during the times that I needed a break. Thank you for always coming up with brilliant, creative ideas for Max's therapy. Thank you for bringing photos to the hospital and making our room more homely. I know that as soon as I've posted this blog, I'll think of so many other things. So, for all those things that I'll remember once it's too late- thank you.
My Mum and Dad left on a cruise, the day before Max got sick. They had been saving and planning it for years, it was their 40th Wedding Anniversary present to themselves. We stalled on making a decision to contact them. Given that they were in the middle of the Pacific Ocean at the time, they couldn't have done anything until they reached land anyway. They raced back to Melbourne as soon as they got the news (thanks again to Simon for organizing everything). My parents spent, most of their 'holiday' in the hospital with us. How on earth can I find the words to say thank you for that?
Then there's the washing they did for us, the food they bought in and the continual insisting on minding Max so I could rest. Do you have any idea how nice it is when someone insists that you sleep? To my Mum and Dad, I say thank you, even though it will never be enough. Thank you for helping us get services for Max, thank you for letting me catch up on sleep, thank you for sharing this blog and thank you for everything else that I don't have the space to write about.
There's no way, I would've survived this year without the support of my family. Thank you isn't enough, but it's a start.
Thank you to my sister Kylie who dropped everything that day, to be with us in hospital. Thank you for the food, clean clothes and deoderant. Thank you for sharing this blog. Thank you for being at the other end of my text messages, when I've been having a bad day. Thank you for the work you've done on Max's birthday party. Thank you to my brother-in-law Simon, for all the work you did in the mammoth task of getting my parents back from their overseas cruise. Thank you to my two nieces Shevaun and Kate, for making Max and I laugh (and Shevaun- I'm sorry I missed your birthday party). Thank you Kylie for everything else you've done for us, that I haven't mentioned. I'm really sorry that you were so stressed that your retina detached. I'm sorry that this required emergency surgery. I'm sorry that you had to share a room with 5 old women, who complained all night.
Thank you to my sister Tara who also dropped everything to be with us. Thank you for visiting almost every day, with toys for Max, food for us, clothes and toiletries. Thank you for staying with Max during the times that I needed a break. Thank you for always coming up with brilliant, creative ideas for Max's therapy. Thank you for bringing photos to the hospital and making our room more homely. I know that as soon as I've posted this blog, I'll think of so many other things. So, for all those things that I'll remember once it's too late- thank you.
My Mum and Dad left on a cruise, the day before Max got sick. They had been saving and planning it for years, it was their 40th Wedding Anniversary present to themselves. We stalled on making a decision to contact them. Given that they were in the middle of the Pacific Ocean at the time, they couldn't have done anything until they reached land anyway. They raced back to Melbourne as soon as they got the news (thanks again to Simon for organizing everything). My parents spent, most of their 'holiday' in the hospital with us. How on earth can I find the words to say thank you for that?
Then there's the washing they did for us, the food they bought in and the continual insisting on minding Max so I could rest. Do you have any idea how nice it is when someone insists that you sleep? To my Mum and Dad, I say thank you, even though it will never be enough. Thank you for helping us get services for Max, thank you for letting me catch up on sleep, thank you for sharing this blog and thank you for everything else that I don't have the space to write about.
There's no way, I would've survived this year without the support of my family. Thank you isn't enough, but it's a start.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Brand Spankin' New- Royal Children's Hospital
Max and I had our first appointments at the brand new hospital today. I'm so tired tonight and feeling lazy, so here's another 'picture post'. I don't really have the words to describe it anyway.....
Underground car park that tells you where the parking spaces actually are. I'm in love already.
Fancy signs
Fancy lifts! (if you are familiar with the old hospital, you'll know how fancy this is by comparison)
Allied Health Entrance. Oooh. Fancy.
Until you get to the reception area and realize that someone was taking the piss outta Allied Health. Hmmm Orange.
Wow. Science. The OT commented on how awesome it was. I asked her what it was and what it did.....she had no idea. Mmmmm. Science.
OT/physio rooms with outdoor play area
Max is being filmed by his OT for her PhD. Basically, he got to play with cool stuff for awhile. She is researching about how 'hemi-kids' use their arms/hands.
Since he is sprouting a new tooth, almost every day, everything went into his mouth. I'm not sure how helpful his participation in the study will be.
Sucking on the rubber lizard.
He was eventually banned from picking anything up fully.
So he cracked it and tried to storm off.
View of the outdoor play area. We didn't have time to play today. Devastated :(
This is the brand new foyer. Ministry of Magic Much?
Big, flapping butterfly. Wow art. Fancy art.
2 story aquarium!! (Note: Max with Mr Squiddy, from last weeks trip to the 'real' aquarium)
Fancy convenient store. With fancy 'not so convenient' prices.
Yep. It's an actual movie cinema.
Meercat enclosure. Yes, the rumors were true. There are Meerkats.
Waiting room, with Meerkat views.
Other part of waiting room with mini-golf garden.
He was totally stuffed by the end of the morning (and so was I).
I could say something about the use government money on extravagancies like aquariums, cinemas and meerkat enclosures, when our public health system is failing quite badly. But I won't right now. Because, I'm kinda in love with it. It is the closing of one chapter and beginning of another.
Nothing, however can top my favourite photo from the old hospital. It's our first morning waking up on the ward. I held Max in my arms, though I wasn't meant too because he was still attached to loads of machines. Together, we watched the sunrise from our room on the 8th floor. It was one of the happiest moments of my life. We would spend another 5 weeks on that ward and it's the one thing I never got sick of.
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my iPhone
Underground car park that tells you where the parking spaces actually are. I'm in love already.
Fancy signs
Fancy lifts! (if you are familiar with the old hospital, you'll know how fancy this is by comparison)
Allied Health Entrance. Oooh. Fancy.
Until you get to the reception area and realize that someone was taking the piss outta Allied Health. Hmmm Orange.
Wow. Science. The OT commented on how awesome it was. I asked her what it was and what it did.....she had no idea. Mmmmm. Science.
OT/physio rooms with outdoor play area
Max is being filmed by his OT for her PhD. Basically, he got to play with cool stuff for awhile. She is researching about how 'hemi-kids' use their arms/hands.
Since he is sprouting a new tooth, almost every day, everything went into his mouth. I'm not sure how helpful his participation in the study will be.
Sucking on the rubber lizard.
He was eventually banned from picking anything up fully.
So he cracked it and tried to storm off.
View of the outdoor play area. We didn't have time to play today. Devastated :(
This is the brand new foyer. Ministry of Magic Much?
Big, flapping butterfly. Wow art. Fancy art.
2 story aquarium!! (Note: Max with Mr Squiddy, from last weeks trip to the 'real' aquarium)
Fancy convenient store. With fancy 'not so convenient' prices.
Yep. It's an actual movie cinema.
Meercat enclosure. Yes, the rumors were true. There are Meerkats.
Waiting room, with Meerkat views.
Other part of waiting room with mini-golf garden.
He was totally stuffed by the end of the morning (and so was I).
I could say something about the use government money on extravagancies like aquariums, cinemas and meerkat enclosures, when our public health system is failing quite badly. But I won't right now. Because, I'm kinda in love with it. It is the closing of one chapter and beginning of another.
Nothing, however can top my favourite photo from the old hospital. It's our first morning waking up on the ward. I held Max in my arms, though I wasn't meant too because he was still attached to loads of machines. Together, we watched the sunrise from our room on the 8th floor. It was one of the happiest moments of my life. We would spend another 5 weeks on that ward and it's the one thing I never got sick of.
Posted using BlogPress from
my iPhone
Monday, 5 December 2011
Max's First Trip to the Aquarium
The other day, Max and I went to the Aquarium with Aunty Tara. I'm not sure who had more fun, him or me? I'll let the pictures do the talking.....
Waiting to get in. Such a spunk
Whoa, Emperor Penguins!
Hanging out with the sharks. Actually, he was more interested in playing with his feet
Crocodile Hunter
A good place to stop for morning tea
And then came along a school excursion and ruined the serenity, ;-)
Jelly Fish and the Glowing dummy
P Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney
Don't look at me! Look at the sharks
My iPhone is apparently more interesting than sharks and sting rays
A mummy nearby was struggling to get her 3 kids in one photo. They were all in mine
Ooooh big sting ray
Sting Ray 'hat' in the gift shop, pmsl
Not too impressed with Mr Squiddy hat
Fast asleep with Mr Squiddy and Smog the penguin. Bless
The highlight of my day was the touch tanks, where Max tried to steal the sea sponges, hehe
Ta Da!!
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Waiting to get in. Such a spunk
Whoa, Emperor Penguins!
Hanging out with the sharks. Actually, he was more interested in playing with his feet
Crocodile Hunter
A good place to stop for morning tea
And then came along a school excursion and ruined the serenity, ;-)
Jelly Fish and the Glowing dummy
P Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney
Don't look at me! Look at the sharks
My iPhone is apparently more interesting than sharks and sting rays
A mummy nearby was struggling to get her 3 kids in one photo. They were all in mine
Ooooh big sting ray
Sting Ray 'hat' in the gift shop, pmsl
Not too impressed with Mr Squiddy hat
Fast asleep with Mr Squiddy and Smog the penguin. Bless
The highlight of my day was the touch tanks, where Max tried to steal the sea sponges, hehe
Ta Da!!
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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