About time for a new post ….. sorry, the last few weeks have been crazy and I am not allowed to post over the top of Mike! He ‘reckons it takes him about two weeks to write a post so it has to stay up there for at least a week!

Now that Mike is out from early Friday until Monday lunchtime most weeks it is chaos and madness at our place. We love having him at home but not a lot else gets done – including posts! Lots and lots of good things happening with heaps of friends dropping in on weekends – we seriously drop Mike back at Talbot so he (and we) can have a rest! But don’t stop dropping in …. we wouldn’t change the chaos for anything!

When we are home we try to make sure that Mike reads Ash a couple of books and puts her to bed but this little routine has shown us that her big eyes actually take in lots that goes on around her …. the other night she was being a bit cheeky and wouldn’t lie down for him so he used his only real threat – “If you don’t lie down and shut your eyes I am going to go out” – this was not what she wanted but it only took a moment for those eyes to gleam with the idea of her own cleverness …. she leaned forward, flicked the switch to turn off Mike’s chair and then popped back on the bed with a big cheesy grin on her face! Mike didn’t find it that amusing but I confess to having a chuckle!

Another Ashley and Mike story …. as part of Mike’s rehab he is making a breadboard. He has asked them to think of things that he and Ash can do together and this was one. Anyway, off they trot on their secret mission with big plans to ‘not tell mum’. Anyway, it was very cute, Ash came and got me and told me that ‘she was the gluer and daddy was the sticker but next time they would swap because that was good sharing’. I of course told her that was wonderful and she said ‘it is for your surprise board mummy that we are making – do you want to come and help’? Not sure that she really gets the whole secret thing yet but it was very sweet. Was very cute watching them working together.

Finally before I get on to the dates stuff …. a gentle warning – stay away from the general Kew area on Tuesday’s from 6-6:30. Someone has decided that singing for the quads is a good idea – which I am sure it is. Due to the decreased lung capacity b/c they don’t have all breathing muscles the high-level quads now have singing on Tuesday nights. I know that singing is proven to increase their lung capacity and voice projection rah, rah, rah but come on: a) do I really want him to be able to scream at me across the house? I might want to ignore him?? b) is it really fair to everyone else? I think not! c) does the teacher have any idea what she has got herself in to? I doubt it or it would be permanently cancelled! d) what are they going to sing? We tried pointing out to them that Mike already sings to Ash and that this is very, very bad and should not be inflicted on other people. Anyway, a couple of them wagged singing last week so they have to go this week! I think they have decided that the Johny Cash “Ring of Fire” might be a good choice. I suggested a Christmas nativity type thing but I think that got voted out!

We are really looking forward to seeing those of you that can make it this Saturday to the track cycling – should be a great fun night. We have been assured that Mike can definitely get in so hopefully this is correct!

A couple of other things are also coming up so some dates for your diary:

- a “night out with Mike”. Final details are still being confirmed but pencil in Thursday 11th December. Just a short drinks and nibbles night with some awesome guest speakers. Promises to be a great night. Final details to be confirmed in the next day or two and invite will be put up on the website. There will be some games, auctions and raffles so come along to have a chat to Mike before the Christmas madness kicks in!
- a ‘kids in the kitchen’ tupperware christmas do at the blue house. The kids are going to cook us afternoon tea on Saturday Dec 6th. Promises to be lots of fun for the kids – good luck Jacquie!! Anyway, come along, grab some snacks, say hi to Forbesy, let the kids have a play and maybe even get some of your Christmas shopping done! I’m pretty sure it will end up rolling in to snags on the BBQ for an early dinner for anyone who wants to hang around.

Finally, can’t finish off the post without a massive (and ongoing) thankyou to so many people – the wonderul Harri for her calmness, reflexology and massages; Cam and Michelle for just stuff; Jacquie for trying to keep me organised; and our neighbous Jack and Daina who probably want to move! They help us out in so many ways every weekend and during the week – grabbing Ash, helping out with massage and stretching for Mike, shopping, giving me a break! I even got in a stealth ride on Saturday when Jack went with Mike and took the girls to fairy ballet.