Wow. Can't believe how time flies. So much has happened since last blog entry.Father Daughter Day at school was gorgeous. Tone couldn't believe how many fathers turned up. Good on the dads! While Tone was in Cassie's class, the twins were 'adopted' by friends' fathers; and coincidentally Tara's adopted dad has actually had an Illizarov Frame himself - he needed it from racing motorbikes - and is very good friends with Tara's surgeon. Small world.
And a lovely lady phoned us from north Queensland - because her daughter had seen the photo of Tara in the New Idea and said "look Mummy, she's my friend - she'd understand me"...because her daughter also has pseudoarthrosis and has had ops and different kinds of braces since she was a child. When we told Tara she just BEAMED - she knows exactly what the little girl means about "she'd understand me". We're hoping Tara can meet her in Brisbane next time they're at the hospital. She's 10 now and has been advised not to jump or exercise for fear of breaking her bones again. So Tara's very lucky with her newfound freedom!
Altho'...the new deluxe leg has not been as smooth sailing as we hoped. We've been back and forth for appointments, trying to get it fitted correctly. It pinches her, gives her sores etc. We've had to ditch the silicon in favour of another material because her skin didn't react well to it, but I think we're almost, almost there. She cried momentarily yesterday because she was frustrated with part of it that won't stretch properly - and you know when she cries, that it must be bad coz she always tries sooooo hard to be positive. In fact one of the mums at school was saying that we always go on about how supportive everyone's been - but that we forget that it's Tara who made it so easy for people to be supportive because she never played victim or whinged.On Friday Tone and Tara went to Brisbane to have the leg spray-painted (like a car!) to match her other leg as closely as possible. That also helps with waterproofing it - but we've decided we don't want her swimming with the same leg - it may just deteriorate too quickly...so we're going to get her old LouLou transformed into SplashyLou instead! Can't wait. We just can't watch her battling to hop in the ocean and not being able to play on the shore with her sisters and friends anymore - so yesterday we actually let her go in the sea with old Loulou - and it was fabulous! She body-surfed, ducked under and over waves and had a BLAST!
So funny - remember the charity - Montrose - who called to reject us? Well they called again to reject us again - they forgot they'd already done the deed! Tony also spoke to Dr Slaughter at Royal Children's - and he's given the all-clear that Tara does not have the pin stuck near her heart. Whew! Thanks for those prayers!And (Queensland Premier) Anna Bligh sent Tara a little doll called Kelly, whose legs are amputated, similar to the doll she received in hospital. The Premier also sent such a lovely note - isn't that divine that she thought of Tara straight away! And Tara - after much begging from Jadie - is letting Jadie share Kelly with her.
School's finished - won't bore you with details but the girls got lots of certificates for great effort and Jadie got a medal for her academic achievement, plus she's been promoted into the mini swim squad.
Their nativity plays were gorgeous - Cassie played a Granny soooooo well - and it seemed to make her wiser - she came home with great observations on life - including that our bodies are on loan to us like DVDs from God's video shop, so we have to look after them especially well.Janet arrived from London just in time to watch the twins' performance. And brought with her the most exquisite lavender from Christine's garden in Antibes. Merci beaucoup! And then my mum whisked her off to Noosa and Lady Elliot Island where they've been watching turtles laying eggs.
YiaYia and Bapou have also arrived from South Africa for a couple of months - so the girls have had HEAPS of fun playing with them everyday and forcing Bapou to swim with them. Plus there've been movie premiers (High School Musical 3), Christmas parties, ice-skating and all the usual stuff. (And the unusual - like looking at the smiley crescent moon with Venus & Jupiter sparkling nearby every evening last week.)
Altho' this blog has been going for less than a year - so much has happened in the lives of those of you who've supported Tara in her journey. Lizzie lost her friend, Pierre lost his dad, Zigs and Christian got married, Jason & Lisa had a baby, Annie got breast cancer, Sian started a new practice, Craig lost his brother, Tia moved to a new country, Jaspar got a fantastic new machine that lets him communicate, Ted wrote a new book...and Nick and Staci's little Toni - the cutest 4-year-old you could ever meet - has just been diagnosed with Wilm's Tumour. The good news is it's contained in one kidney and after some chemo, his kidney will be removed and he'll get to live a totally normal fantastic life. But for now - we know how difficult their journey must seem - and so we're all praying for a speedy recovery and for lots of strength for Nick and Stace as they hold their little son's hand while he goes through this new chapter in his life that we know will be filled with lots and lots of love.Lots of love to everyone! And enjoy, enjoy the holidays.
