Le Weekend

Weekend was lovely. St Hilda's fete - girls played up a storm on the rides. Cas did rock climbing, the twins went on the cobra (SCARY!), Granny spoilt them and Tone & I visited the Champagne & Oyster Bar!

Tara wore her brand new pink & silver runners/takkies (from Queensland Events). And WOW - they made her wanna fly - so "light and bouncy" she said (great ad for asics!). Like magic shoes. We went to Aus Fair and she SPRINTED up and down the aisles. And when we got home she dragged Tony out to run fast around the block. Her little lungs were aching - in that fab healthy way - another first for her! And it was such great timing to then watch the Paralympic girls on 60 Minutes - really inspiring for Tara - that dream of one day being able to represent Australia. Now she wants to be "an artist and a paralympian".

Also had a sporty morning yesterday (Sunday) with the Patons - playing mini-Olympics on the beach....including a hopping race. This all probably sounds so bland - but such a breakthrough for Tara who used to have to be a spectactor instead of a very excited participant! Very inspiring. It was cute tho' when we were walking to the beach - LouLou kept coming undone and she said "how do you think you would like it if your leg kept falling off and nobody would stop for you to put it back on" (said like it's the most normal thing).

So we can't wait for the 15th - to start the process of getting her next James Bond-ish leg that'll be a lot more secure and she can run without worrying it'll disappear from beneath her!

Biggest difference so far since Tara's amputation is the absolute FREEDOM the rest of us now have to enjoy ourselves around Tara. Before, her leg was so fragile that you were too scared to bump her and hurt her (or have her killer brace hurt you) - whereas now she can wrestle with Tone like a pitbull & LOVES it - and there's no worries that her leg's gonna get hurt! YAY!

Oh dear. I forgot to publish this post - so it's now a whole week later. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAM CAM! And SPEEDY SPEEDY RECOVERY beautiful Gela! And big thoughts to Paul and my dad this last week. The girls wrote Paul the loveliest notes on full moon night & we went out for the most divine ice-creams (coz there aren't any crepes in Tedder Ave).

The 15th went fab! Rehab all happy with Tara's progress and we can now move on to the next leg. We also don't have to bandage her stump every night anymore - but after over 6 months of whingeing about it, can you believe we're now a little heartsore to let go of the tradition?! Tara even let Tony do it this week for the first time ever.

Great news - Jadie's been elected Form Captain for next term! She's soooo excited. All 3 got Effort 1 ratings for all their subjects this term - they really, really worked hard so they felt so good & said it was their best term ever. Cas got a certificate for her Shakespeare speech and although the twins didn't make it into the finals, Tara says that "Shakespeare is my FAVOURITE language!"

Queensland Health and St Hilda's have continued being amazing - they arranged to walk around the school with Tara to check on the level of safety (and all 3 girls - who are blind to the fact that Tara's in any way disadvantaged - asked why Tara specifically had been chosen to do this and not one of them!).

A HUGE thank you to Ginette, Hugh, Lucy and Jessica - WOW guys! We were blown away. Like we've said before to every kind soul who has taken part in Tara's journey - it's not just what you've physically now given Tara, but how much your care and generosity of spirit has been such a support to the whole family and helped fill up that reservoir of love that Tara will draw on for the rest of her life.

HOLIDAYS now...so we can sleep in for the next couple of weeks! Yay! Happy Weekend Everyone!!!