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Thankful Thursday: Parents

Posted on November 17th, 2011 by Tracey

With risk of boring you to death with my reports on just how sick we are over here, we have been under the weather this week and it’s been terrible. 2 nights in a row, Jovie was waking every 2 hours which means I was up all night on my own trying to get her back to sleep. I calculated that I must of walked around our dining room table for at least 14 hours in those 48 hours (because walking in the pram was the only thing that stopped her from screaming). And I only managed about 3 hours sleep on top of that. (Don’t worry, I know this is what I signed up for ..).

Anyway, I ended up taking Jasper, Jo and myself to the doctor and yep, Jovie has a throat infection which is why she’s been so upset. Jasper will be fine. So with prescription in belly, Jo’s sleeping MUCH BETTER which means I don’t resemble a swamp monster anymore but I am still battling my own cold. So, in order to ‘get well soon’ I’ve relied on my mum and dad to help out a little bit more than usual, and as always they were there.

For Thankful Thursday today, I am so grateful for my parents. Without them, I wouldn’t of been able to sneak in a 3 hour nap yesterday that saved my sanity. There wouldn’t of been warm, comforting noodle soup and congee (the mother of all get well soon foods). And there wouldn’t of been someone to tell me to slow down.

Aren’t parents awesome?

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I Don’t Know How She Does It

Posted on November 4th, 2011 by Tracey

Are you following me on Twitter or Instagram (traceytakesphotos)? Did you follow the craziness that was nut-free, egg-free, wheat-free, choc-free, taste-free cupcake baking last night? Well it all started like this –

And then continued late that night ..

And ended this morning …

As I dropped in the cupcake carrier into Jasper’s preschool this morning, I almost ran it back to the car proclaiming it was a cat carrier and no such cupcakes existed. But I bit my lip and presented it to the preschool cook anyway. I’ll find out later if any of the kids was carted off to hospital due to my dodgy baking, but I did it and the world continues to turn. Fancy that.

—-

Later in the morning, Jovie and I are at our regular supported playgroup where kids with additional needs attend.

I’ve tried my best to dress nice but appropriate for the amount of running around I do to make sure Jovie doesn’t run off somewhere or fall off something, and to make sure she’s joining in and active within the group. Ballet flats are a must-have and pants you can sit in without giving anyone a peep show is strongly recommended. What I don’t recommend is running out of the house without looking in the mirror.

Hi Tracey, have weetbix for breakfast I see?

Yes, I am the mother who wears breakfast in her hair to playgroup. And then group starts.

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I Don’t Know How She Does It

If I could tell any new mum any piece of advice right now, it would be to forget that statement. Completely. Don’t worry about it, don’t even think it.

Chances are, whoever you’re looking at as inspiration has their own crappy cupcake story or has cheetos smeared down their pants at one stage. Nobody is perfect and life is so much better when you’re not chasing perfection.

I don’t know how many times I’ve beat myself up because I’m not as smart as the next mum, as skinny as another or that I didn’t bake PERFECT cupcakes like others have done before. But I’ve learnt that everyone of us has their own journey, and comparisons can be toxic.

Chase your dreams, create memories and strive to be who you want to be.

Do your best and the best will follow.

Cupcakes turned out a little funky but the kids will love celebrating a birthday at school today. I’ve got cereal in my hair but Jovie took her first turn at choosing the group song day. Life is amazing when you don’t let things get you down. Live it.

Do you have any funny mummy moments to share? Ever baked a crappy cupcake? What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given about parenting?

the next step forward

Posted on September 9th, 2011 by Tracey

firstly, thank you for all the emails, messages, tweets and calls over the past few days. i know it’s a bit odd – what do you say? but just reaching out to us has been enough to keep me going. support, they say, is something we’re going to need especially in these early stages.

this week so far as been filled with endless amounts of paperwork, much needed family time and the first seeds of ‘what do we do next?’. i am considering taking another month off from work (i’m supposed to be back in about 3 weeks time) to spend more time taking Jovie to more appointments and getting her into a schedule of therapy and support groups.. but i’ll have to get back to work eventually which makes me sad.

Jovie had a great time at Gymbaroo this morning, her best session yet! it’s been really great to spend that time with her and i can’t wait to get stuck into her OT (occupational therapy) sessions with her soon. (though we’re on waiting lists that are already 3 months long).

i like to keep busy, so even all of this is one crazy ride, i’m still thinking of ways that I can be a champion for Jovie and maybe do more with my life and not just sit on my butt and wallow in it.