define('DISABLE_WP_CRON', true); _sh1ft.org
Jun
18
2019

2019

And just like that, it’s 3 years later and I haven’t updated the blog. LOL. Tale as old as time…

Just a quick update, I figure that I have been keeping this blog since 2001 (that’s freaking 18 years!) that I would love to keep it going for our family history sake.. I mean, how many 18 year old blogs do you know of??

Granted, I haven’t blogged in 3 years but sssh, we’ll just say I was in a blog coma and now I’m coming around .

Jovie
Jovie turned 10 this year! OMG. We are so proud of her in so many ways — she’s still having daily drop seizures but is recovering well. Over the last few years she’s had a terrible time with her epilepsy (that comes with her Rett Syndrome diagnosis), there were many emergency trips to the hospitals, lots of different medications to help manage them — we had a wonderful 11 month period where the seizures were well controlled but they always tend to creep back in. She’s just chopped off 14 inches of hair to donate to Hair With Heart – she’s growing up and we are just happy to be where we are right now.

Jasper
Jasper is going to high school next year!! He’s done alot of growing up over the last year aswell. Regan took him back to the States for a month, to visit his family and vacation with his Grandma Sharon and Uncle Rian. Jasper also went on his first school camp — I’m really proud of him taking more responsibility and it’s been so awesome to see his bond with Jovie (and Miles of course) grow. He’s 12 this year and is obsessed with Nike and Fortnite.

Miles
Miles just turned 6 and started kindergarten this year. Big changes for our little boy but he’s adjusted so well, loves school and wants to give things a go. I love seeing him learn how to read more fluently – it’s exciting for him too! He still is obsessed with Godzilla and still is able to entertain himself for hours with his toys. He’s a funny little guy, with a big heart.

Regan and Tracey
Regan and I celebrated 15 years of marriage this year (January!) and are still going strong 🙂 He’s working in Dental at the moment but is looking for a career change so who knows what will happen in the next year! Me, I’m getting back into photography slowly – I am still Jovie’s carer and (on days like today) am the one who stays home with the kids when they’re too sick to go to school (darn winter germs!). But I’m excited to meet more people through photography again – if you’ve read back through my blog, photography is always something I return to as a creative outlet.

I have also been a licensed Wellness Coach for the last 2 years, which has been amazing. I love extending my knowledge and advice to others about navigating anxiety and also additional needs parenting and just LIFE in general.

I’m also a podcaster now – This Quote Changed My Life – a podcast about inspired action. I have been creating IGTV videos (instagram TV) but I felt like just audio would be fine LOL, so creating a podcast has been amazing and fun.

On a very personal note, without TMI, I have discovered this year that I am already perimenopausal. Maybe it’s the stress but it’s just my plan to go through it early (I’ve only just turned 38, and have been experiencing symptoms for 2 years). I am happy to have some tools to manage my symptoms (have seen a gyno and haemotologist – oh, I also have Von Willebrand Disease! lol. So much as happened!). Today, I am happy with where I am and I can actually start planning life and work and fun again.

Rett Syndrome is always going to be something that I am talking about because it’s forever a part of our family now. If you have found me via a Google search for Rett Syndrome, reach out – I am more than happy to support you. Maybe leave me a message via my Instagram @traceytakesphotos because the spam on this blog is CRAZY. I am so glad that I wrote down everything I could about the early years with Rett Syndrome and Jovie, because it seems so far away now. If you can get something out of my experience, it’s all worth keeping this blog going for as long as I can.

So that’s just so far in 2019.
I hope you’re doing awesome too x

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May
02
2016

35

me

It’s been a huge year. One of the best, though.

I remember last year, where I felt a bit beaten down (health and mental health wise) but I decided I had enough and just started to do a few things – cut out gluten and yeast again (last time was for a few years before I fell pregnant with Jasper), cut out the refined sugars, stop eating so much processed foods, talk to a fantastic psychologist. I drink warm water with fresh lemon & ginger first thing every morning. I still eat as much chocolate as I can handle. I started studying to be a wellness coach, and I’m almost done and loving it. I’m a big believer in every day mindfulness.

I think after having gone through so much in the last 5 years, then not dealing with it properly and just learning along the way, and then actually settling in and addressing my personal issues with anxiety and panic attacks and boredom and being a carer and trying to find out who I am inbetween all of this stuff — I think I’ve come out a bit stronger and I like it.

I’m not perfect, life’s not perfect. But who wants perfect? You don’t get everything handed to you on a silver platter. You’re given what you’re given, and it’s your attitude towards it can either add or subtract to your experience.

So 35 feels good, and I hope that the road to 36 is just as positive and adventurous.

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Mar
21
2016

which way is up?

look here, only a month between blog posts 😉

i’ve set aside a goal for me this year – well, the first half of the year – to figure out what my passion is and commit to it. something that i will do longer for a year. something that i can see myself doing for the next 5 years. something that i can talk and talk about without tiring, and without being embarassed.

i know, everyone wants this too. and lucky me, i get to figure this out!

elizabeth gilbert‘s book, Big Magic, has been a crazy bestseller and yes i managed to read it while waiting at school pickup over 8 weeks last year. a miracle in itself, but it was like she’s talking to me directly, while also talking to you and everyone else that needs a kick up the pants.

i think my problem is that i want to be THE BEST at whatever i’m doing. and if there’s a likelyhood that someone else is better, younger, smarter, cooler… then i shy away from it. how silly is that? what would i tell my kids? don’t bother? no way.

(freaky fact – as I’m typing this, the ladies on The View have JUST said what i said above about not bothering! weird. see everyone is talking about this! it’s not just me).

i was in website development for over 10 years before i wanted/needed to stop working full time to take care of Jovie. i know for sure that i can’t go back to that career, nor can i ‘just’ take care of Jovie forever. being a carer and a mum is always going to be with me, but i know there’s a part of Tracey that is yet to be fully discovered.

BE THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF. BE THE BEST AT WHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT NATURALLY.

so off i go today, Monday. what a great day to figure out what makes me happy 🙂 onwards & upwards!

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