Shabby Miss Jenn

Friday 29 August 2008

The weekend's here...WOOHOO!!!!

I am so grateful the weekend is finally here. I was just saying to hubby this morning that there is just so much I want and need to do but if only I had another 12 hours in my day or just think if we didn't need to sleep what we could accomplish. I have to admit that life for the Turnbull family still has not slowed down and I don't think that's going to change anytime soon but we just manage the best way we can and I think that's all that matters because unless I had a clone (although one of me's enough) or a maid I simply can't do the impossible and I'm no superwoman!

So least see....hummmm what's new since last time I blogged?

Lance is slowly settling into NETschool and although I expect once the honeymoon phase is over for him things may be a little different and that's ok cause just like every other thing.....we will deal with it. We have an appointment on Monday to meet with his mentor and discuss some matters I felt needed addressing for peace of mind because when the transfer was made unfortunately not a whole lot of Lance's personal details went with it so I asked if we could meet to discuss all those things parents need to discuss with those that need to know.....ahhhh clear as mud yeh I thought so....lol!

Grace went to Melbourne today as part of her Indonesian Class activities and went to an Indonesian Festival although 2 hours later they were all bored and so with teacher in tow managed lunch at Macca's, shopping in the Bourke St Mall and more shopping at DFO....man why didn't they ever have school excursions like that in my day. :)

Stephanie is busy tonight at the Zone Entertainment Centre here in town laser tagging with her mates. She has also been fairly busy with her school sewing class creating an outfit for a fashion parade next week. Very exciting because while she finished the dress which looks awesome she also asked me to buy t-shirt material so she could make a top in class.
I will admit one thing, all my kids have a real creative side and I think it's awesome, ahhhh must be the mum genes me thinks......lol!!!!

Maddi is not up too anything much at all.....lol except playing Runescape on the pc and that's about it. He seems to be settling into semester 2 a little easier then the start of the year but I tell ya......high school and primary school are just so far apart from one another with getting a handle on things that I think once he fully settles down and to be honest that won't be till next year he will be fine. He loves his hands on subjects such as woodwork, metalwork, electronics and all that jazz but as for the "typical" subjects forget it and not that I blame him as this kid loves to keep his hands busy. 2 things he has always said for as long as I can remember is...mum I want to join the army and I want to be a plumber. I hope those dreams of his come true and his knowledge of all things WW1 and 2 are pretty impressive I tell ya and he's only 12.

Tim has had a bit of a difficult week but we are managing and there is just so much going on that I am not surprised he has taken a step or 2 backwards but you know I've been there and done that so many times myself and as I said to him he only had to look at all we are dealing with on a daily basis and realise that we are doing it pretty darn tough and all on our own!

I threw my back out last Saturday and that's why I feel like I've been invisible. Yep another disc hernia...same place and although Tim wanted me to go to hospital to seek help I knew what it was because I have had so many of them for years that I simply said no. I just spent a day or 2 in bed because I couldn't move too well. Today has been my best day although still very painful but then I also have osteo arthritis in the spine which doesnt help and although I have needed bed rest and a walking stick I am doing kinda ok. But it sure takes everything out of you and it is very crippling. I just cannot do anything when it is like that and even when it settles I still live with chronic back pain and have to be careful with it all.

No scrapping to show off this time. I have managed to finish a few LO's but can't show them off because they are for September's issue of BSM and Tara Dunstan gorgeous new goodies not yet released.....lol and apart from that I have not managed anything else. But on the plus side of things I have been wanting to get my hands dirty again with a little paper/hybrid scrapping and have been busy purchasing a few bits and pieces to create a few bits and pieces. Can't wait to get started and now just to find a little time to work on a few little projects in time for xmas. Woohoo!!!!

Ok well I think that's about it from me tonight guys except to say here it is Friday night already and my weekend has started so I hope wherever you are and whatever you are doing.....have a great one.....weekend that is!!! Till next blogging stay safe and take care. Hugs Chris xoxo

Saturday 23 August 2008

New look and all that jazz!

Isn't the new look for my blog awesome?! I have been wanting to change it's appearance for sometime but mainly time stood in the way. I have also spent many times over at the fabulous Shabby Miss Jenn shop looking at all her gorgeous goodies for months and finally decided it was time to take the plunge and invest in a little blog wear. Thanks to Tara Dunstan for paving the way because she lost her blog and had to start a new one which I must say looks rockin' and is also using blog wear from the fabulous SMJ. Anyway I fell in love with French Attic and so thanks to Tara as well for fiddling about on my blog (behind the scenes) cause she needed too and I didn't have the time we have popped a little colour in and alot of love. Thanks girl it looks amazing and you've done an awesome job. Hugs xo

I will be putting a photo on the header but trying to take one of all the kids together might be a tad tricky and I think I will seriously have to bribe them....oh I mean reward them....lol so we can all work together with it so the header although looking good is not finished. So if you like the new look leave me some love and if you don't then love some loving anyway....lol!

Anyway it's Saturday here and I have been busy pottering about the place. Cleaned the pc desk and Tim and I are looking for a new one next week as well as a book shelf or two for all those bits and pieces that need to be away but not out of sight. May even take the plunge and buy me a new monitor. I have a Phillips 19 inch monitor and love it. It cost us a fortune about 5 years ago when we got our first ever home pc and that was the biggest you could get then. I am needing me a bigger one and my DD has a 22 inch and I wouldn't mind one that's 24 inch.....lol not greedy much hey.

Well that's it for today and to all you guys who visit thanks because it means so much and to all those keeping up with the family issues as I blog about them thanks for taking the time as well. Hugs Chris xoxo

Thursday 21 August 2008

I've been busy scrapping!!!!

Aha yep yep yep I have been scrapping a little this week. Funny thing is that I have had appointments everyday this week and yet I've still somehow managed to scrap 3 LO's in all the busyness of another week. The sad news is I can't show you any of them *sigh* because they are all for my CT requirements and even Tara's are a secret. The good news is you'll see them soon enough.....just have to be patient YAY and I know you can do that. :)

After alot of thought and decision making and Lance getting to a desperate time with school, not too mention every day life, Tim and I decided it was time to make a huge change in Lance's life to help him get through schooling. A decision not taken lightly because of the incredible difficulties this would bring about for Lance but one we felt would benefit him enormously in the long term and once things settled down again which we knew could take months not too mention the meltdowns that would come with it.

When Lance was first diagnosed with autism it was highly recommended that he attend NETschool. Still a part of the school he attends but not on the same campus, not with another 1800 students and not with the same overwhelming difficulties he has had to deal with all year in fact for most of his schooling life and in particular the past 4.5 years of high school. Unfortunately no matter how much his paediatrician, case manager or his assessor thought this move would be the best for him Lance was not so willing and something we could all understand. Better the devil you know then the one you don't no matter the fact that it is just so hard then having to undergo yet another huge change in your life and not managing because of it. Lance hates change and any small change in routine or daily life means a meltdown and a lot of time recovering from that. The impact is huge not just on Lance but the entire family.

Yes the school he attends was going to get funding for him for an integration aide as well as support aides (yet no visual cues because they said it was impossible)....but what good would that do as the integration aide would not be an expert or a specialist in autism so we realised that in itself would do more harm then good. His teachers have no understanding of autism and nor do they have time to learn after all we are dealing with a senior high school not junior and after another big meltdown and recovery time (2 weeks) and medication increases it was time to act before our Lance couldn't function at all anymore.

Anyway we made an appointment to visit on Monday, prepared Lance (very simply but well) for a few days before and let him know that we felt that we no longer had a choice but to try this. We helped him to understand the outcomes of every part of his schooling via visual cues on his whiteboard we use everyday so he could see for himself and hoped that by doing so he could somehow understand what we had to do and how it would either help or not help Lance. Monday came and so did the appointment and without going into any detail (no need to bore you here) Lance made the decision himself that he needed to try this and although the change would be difficult he knew this was was needed.
The facilitator asked him one question at the start of the meeting and that was simply "what seems to be going wrong for you at school". His reply was only one word but it implied so much "everything"!
I was so proud that Lance not only spoke even if it was just single words but knew what he meant in that one very simple word. He had finally realised that "everything" was going wrong and he was not in a good place within himself because of it. WOW!

Today was his first day there and although it will take time and he reckons it's "boring", both Tim and I feel we have made the right decision for now. What happens in a month or 2 or next year really does not matter just now because Lance can only deal with one day at a time and even that can be simply too difficult but that's fine by us because sometimes in order to move forward in our lives we must take a few steps backwards and I'm pretty sure there will be many steps backwards for Lance and us as a family but I know if it means Lance can move forward in positive ways then we have achieved what we set out to do and that is everything we can for him.

DD Grace is starting the transition from year 10 to 11 and so it is a busy time for her in choosing her VCE subjects and all that goes with it and even though we went through it all with Lance, this time it is different and although overwhelming so much easier as well. So far we have been to an Information Evening, Open Day last Sunday, counselling appointment today to finalise subjects and courses and get all the "official" paperwork sorted out. Education these days is incredibly overwhelming with a certain amount of TMI (too much information) overload. Not at all like in my days...rofl! Anyway she is looking at nursing (loves health) and more so specialising in paediatric nursing so she is preparing her subjects and courses for next year.

Stephanie is right in the middle of making a dress in sewing at school. Mostly done and we went and grabbed just a few little trimmings so she can finish it off tomorrow in class (oh and make a t-shirt) and then some of the students including herself are showing their skills off in a fashion parade soon.

Ever had a child who is right into Star Wars? That would be my almost 13 yr old son Maddi. He has the full series of Star Wars movies that my sister gave to him recently and he watches them over and over and over and over and over and over again....lol you get the gist. He loves them and wants to see the new animation one The Clone Wars and has also started collecting Star Wars Lego. Maddi is quite the collector and loves every piece he collects. Mind you the Lego pieces are put together in one hit like within an hour or two after they have been bought and then he expects a new one straight away.....lol but then that's just Maddi.

Anyway I have waffled on and on and it was not my intention to do so at all. I was coming in here for a quick post to tell you the positive news with Lance and here I am still waffling. So it's with that I say goodnight and with the weekend coming up (Friday tomorrow here) take care and stay safe. Till next blogging hugs Chris xoxo

Friday 15 August 2008

Who's happy it's Friday?

Oooh now that would be me....rofl! It has been another full on and busy week and I am tired but the good news is I've just finished a LO I started earlier this evening and it's the weekend finally.

I had the most gorgeous gift given to me yesterday when I was RAK'ed by Hollie (Holliewood Studios) a very talented designer over at Oscraps. It really meant the world to me and so today as you can see I created the LO (under the preview) using She's So Trashy Vol.1 even though it's a masculine LO. That's how versatile this kit is and a must have in any digi stash so thankyou so much Hollie!

Does the pain in your heart ever stop hurting? Nope it doesn't but perhaps it just lessens over time or every now and again. I have to be the first to admit that I really am struggling with my son's diagnosis. As much as it has been a huge relief to all of us I am just finding it difficult to deal with it myself. The emotions are quite overwhelming and we are in the hardest and most difficult time, as we have been for years, with it all and just at the moment dealing with the crisis we have been for most of the year. Talking to his assessor this week on the phone made me realise a little more the impact of Lance's own journey and how hard it would be. Sometimes I really wonder if I am built for this kind of stuff, if I have it in me and I seriously don't think any of us can possibly imagine being in those shoes until we have to deal with it ourselves. As much as I want to yell and scream at the world and tell them how unfair this is, I remain quiet and fight the battle internally and I just thank God for the peace and comfort he gives me when I need it so desperately and at the moment I need it constantly.
I often wonder if I am doing the right thing when it comes to blogging about our family and some of the issues we deal with on a daily basis, in particular my son Lance's diagnosis of Autism. For me blogging is my memory, a place I can be myself and put my thoughts into words, a place others can come and share in those thoughts and where those I know who read my blog and like to keep up with the latest news.....can! Yep it sure is out there for all the world to view and as much as I am fully aware of that, I hope that by blogging about our journey as we know it now will in some way be a positive tool for others in difficulty as well and that by telling our story we can be there for others in their time of need and that they too will manage to hang in there knowing that others are going through similar situations. There is light at the end of the tunnel although at times it appears to be further away then others and sometimes we need to take many steps backwards in order to move forward but knowing what we have been through, what we are going through and what is before us can make all the difference in how we manage from one moment to the next and if that's all we can do.....then it's doable!
I wish everyone a great weekend and whatever you plan to do, do it well! Take care, stay safe, tell a loved one how much they mean to you and spend some time resting and relaxing. Hugs Chris xoxo

Wednesday 13 August 2008

Live Life Loud Charity Collab Kit for Mitchell House


Credits

Tragedy strikes when you least expect it and for one unfortunate family in Tasmania this is so. Tara along with a fairly extensive list of incredibly talented designers came together and created this absolutely huge charity kit to help the House family when their 18 yr old son Mitchell was seriously injured in a car accident recently and is still critical. As you read the description below be aware that these are Tara's words and not my own and if you haven't purchased this kit already please do so. It is huge so be warned and it is for an incredibly worthy cause. I have already purchased it and scrapped with it already and the above LO is just the first using this stunning kit.
Read on..................
I have come together with some pretty AMAZING and TALENTED designers to bring you all this MASSIVE Charity Collab Kit, Live Life Loud for some dear friends of my Husband and I. On Thursday the 26th of June our friends Michelle and Rodney House's 18 year old son, Mitchell was on his way to work around 2.00am in the middle of the night, pitch black, raining and gale force winds when he drove straight into a herd of black Angus cows on the road. The cows had been spooked by the storms that had been going on throughout the night and had wandered out onto the highway where poor Mitch struck them. Mitch received very severe injuries in the accident and if you go to the following link you will see the write up in The Advocate newspaper that was released the day after the accident: CLICK HERE to see the article.
He has a very very long healing process to go through and not only him but his parent's will be there each step of the way. As traumatizing and emotionally draining as it is and will continue to be for some time.
I suggested that I could try and help out in some way and as scrapping is my love I thought I would try and get a fundraising/charity kit together with some awesome designers and I have got 30 gorgeous girls who have stepped in to help me raise as much as we can to help Michelle and Rodney stay by Mitchell's side.
My heart is breaking for them and if you could add Mitchell into your prayers and/or thoughts I know they will help so very much. Thank You!
A special heartfelt thank you goes out to all the amazing designers who participated and helped me out and also a big thank you to Annette Farrelly, the owner of Pickleberrypop for allowing me to host this massive kit here. Thank you all so very much girls. To view this kit please click on the image above or CLICK HERE.
Thank you so much for any help you can give towards the House Family.
Just a quick post tonight and I hope you can help the House family too.
Remember to tell a loved one how much you love them and please take care and stay safe. Hugs Chris xoxo

Friday 1 August 2008

What's in a bag you ask?

Well if it's a Tara Dunstan Lolly Bag to help celebrate Pickleberrypop's 2nd birthday then expect it jam packed full of the most awesome and lolaticious designs and all for just $3 which is a real bargain. Wanna see what's inside it......hummm I thought so but I'm not going to show you everything just going to tease a little and show you some....lol!!!!!


Now aren't those gorgeous goodies? So pop on over to PBP and grab Tara's Lolly Bag before our celebrations are over and you miss out.

Of course I also want to wish Pickleberrypop huge birthday wishes as we are turning two. I can't believe it has already been that long since PBP first opened it's online doors to the public and so

Happy Birthday Pickleberrypop!

Well that's it for now guys so till next blogging, take care, stay safe and hugs galore Chris xoxo