Carnivals and a Governess

Phew. Been a hectic couple of weeks. I think it's like that for everyone - the planets or something. Spent a few days in rehab in Brisbane last week - while Cassie and Jadie were taking part in the school sports carnival. Tara's physio Mandy was just divine - she turned rehab into a mini-carnival for Tara - with high jump, basketball and all kinds of games - so she wouldn't feel like she was missing out. It's really gorgeous how they make the whole learning process be so exciting and filled with all these 'games' for Tara to play. And thank goodness they do - coz the reality is that learning to walk - when you've never actually walked properly in your life - is EXTREMELY difficult. With the brace, Tara never put any weight on her left leg - so she's having to totally learn how to trust that leg and lean on Lou Lou when walking.

This week we're back in rehab in Brisbane for 3 days - doing a couple of walking sessions every day. I'm here with the girls (Tony's coming tonight) - so Tara's had a blast challenging her sisters to basketball and darts matches. Today the other 2 are actually in the hospital school - because the governess of Australia is visiting today so I thought it would be pretty fab and inspiring for them to meet her - the first female governor of Aus. Kind of like our equivalent of the Queen coming to visit. (Actually I've just seen the girls - and apparently the governess put Jadie on her lap and had a long chat, & told Cassie that her and the Queen talk about the same thing that all Grannies talk about - their grandchildren.)

Was a little heartbreaking last night - Tara's phantom tickles were so strong she couldn't sleep - started sobbing and saying she wishes she'd never had an amputation. But today she's all smiles and happy again. Actually her smile today is totally lighting up every room she's in - this morning we met with her surgeon and she surprised him by walking in, as promised...and she deliberately wore leggings so he wouldn't know which was her fake leg! And then she laughed and laughed coz he (so sweetly) guessed the wrong leg.


Granny's back from her travels & Tara celebrated over the weekend by embarking on her first outdoors stroll ever - to our favourite Thai restaurant around the corner (Lemongrass, Lizzie Loo!). Talking restaurants - last week, by mistake, we landed up in a Brissie restaurant that was having a trivia night - and Tone shone! Very smart on the trivia! He's doing fab - doctor's really impressed by how much he's reduced his cholesterol on his own with diet and exercise (including lots of surfing). Now he just needs to focus a little on meditating and getting enough sleep! I've been freaking out a little coz it's already the 24th of June - and I haven't yet had 2 consecutive hours totally on my own. Just need to rejuvenate every now and then!!!

Cas did FANTASTICALLY in the French speaking finals - she came tie first; and we discovered that the extra long speech she was invited to present is usually in a section reserved for children of French parents only - so that was quite an honour (and makes all those trips to France worth it!). The head of junior school said they've decided to make Cassie a 'native French speaker'. THANKS CHRISTINE!!!

Quite sweet actually - coz Jadie and Cassie won quite a few certificates at final assembly on Friday for being great 'citizens' and for all the effort 1's they've achieved in class...which was just divine, especially for Jadie Marmaladie - to be recognised for how fabalicious she is! Tara didn't get a great 'citizen' award - but then she's provided the opportunity for so many other girls in her class to shine and help her. Now we have a 3-week holiday, packed with many Baxter birthdays and a disco party that Tara's looking forward to dancing at this weekend...on two legs! If she can handle that - then we may just attempt a mini-marathon in 2 weeks' time!