716, 717 + 612, 613 Weeks

Yes, it appears that I am only writing the blog every two weeks at this point...time seems to be speeding up, because every time it comes to Thursday, my blog-writing day, it feels like I have nothing to say because it was just yesterday that I wrote the last post! I have also been a little concerned about the kids' privacy, but I had a chat with Carmie and she has actually requested that I keep going until she is 18 so that she has her entire childhood recorded.  LOL. No small task, but I've been doing it for almost 14 years - what's another four?

Carmie has dropped another group this week!  She is now only attending two D&D groups, which really frees up her time.  She has been joining Arley on his outings with Clint, and she has now asked for her own separate outings with Clint each week too.  I don't know what we would do without that man!  On Tuesday he took Arley to the Military Museum in Maroochydore, which Arley really enjoyed, and then the next day he picked up both kids and took them to the aquarium.  Saved my sanity, is what he really did.  Haha.

Carmie rocked her physio session yesterday, and Arley had OT on Monday.  He and his OTs baked ginger cookies.  They are working to get his sensory avoidance under control.  It would be really great if he could start making his own snacks and small meals, but at this point he can't due to sensory issues and anxiety.  It would really take the pressure off me!

On Friday Jeff and I took the kids to a place called Holy Moly where we played indoor mini-golf.  It was kind of an experiment in a family outing, as usually it's a bit of a disaster.  This time it wasn't!  We had a few small hiccups, but nothing like it used to be.  This gives me high hopes for doing more together in the future.  The main problem for us and going out is trying to feed the kids.  It is near impossible and I think will be a hurdle for a long time to come.

The kids and I have started going up to Mum and Geoff's for dinner on Monday nights while Jeffrey is at work.  I am loving our dinners.  It feels like a night off for me, and it's good to sit down as a family and have a meal.  Afterwards Carmie and I have been playing Uno with Mum.  It feels like we are building memories, which is really nice.

I don't have much else to say.  We have a few days of torrential rain head of us, which I'm quite looking forward to!  I love having an excuse to stay home!

I found this online when I put Carmie's name into Google search.  There was once another Carmie Willbanks!  We can't believe it!

715 + 611 Weeks

Well, the cyclone that we were prepped and waiting for last week dissipated before it hit us!  We were waiting for it for days, watching it slowly move south, then east, then west, then north west...until it hit Moreton Bay (about 45 minutes south of us) and downgraded to a tropical storm.  I have to say, we got very lucky.  There were 300,000 people without power, but we escaped that torture.  We did have a couple of days of torrential rain and a rather large thunderstorm, but that was it.  Our behaviour therapist had to cancel her appointment with us because she was flooded in.  But that was the only disruption to our lives due to Cyclone Alfred.

My brother Jay and his girlfriend Erica have been in town.  Clearly they haven't had the best of weather, but that worked out a little better for the kids, I think.  It meant that Jay and Erica came to our house to spend time with the kids, which is always better as the kids are more comfortable here.  The kids got to play board games and Xbox with their uncle for two afternoons in a row, and they were very happy indeed.

Carmie has dropped down to only one social group at the Nest in Caloundra, and two groups at Social Studio.  She's down to only three group in total a week, from seven.  I am loving having her home more.  I think she burnt herself out with all the groups she was going to.  Instead we have been hanging out a lot more, and it's really nice.  She can still be a grumpy teenager, but for the most part, it's so nice to have her home.  Yesterday I took her to physio, and she had a great session.  On Tuesday she joined Arley in his outing with Clint.  They went to the aquarium, which might just be Arley's favourite place here.  Both kids had OT on Monday and that went well too.  Arley's OT is going to specifically start trying to help with Arley's aversion to touching wet and cold things.  If we can crack that, things will be a lot easier in our household!

I don't have much else to add.  It's been a good week, despite the trepidation we dealt with due to the non-cyclone!

713, 714 + 609, 610 Weeks

So, I didn't post last week as there were no photos and not much to say... and now I'm posting a day early because we might lose power tomorrow, as we are going to be getting hammered by Cyclone Alfred.  We've never experienced a cyclone before and it's a little daunting.  The only thing I'm really worried about is the loss of power and internet!  How do we feed the kids (particularly Carmie who hates gluten free bread which means no sandwiches), and how to do entertain them?  Our lovely survivalist support worker Clint dropped off a camping stove for us yesterday, which will definitely save the day as far as food goes,  But how to entertain the kids in the house with no power and not able to go outside?  Potentially for a few days?  Ugh, dreading it!  I'm quite excited for a bit of action though.  Right now it's the calm before the storm, which feels kind of eerie.

My kid brother Jay and his girlfriend Erica flew in yesterday for a vacation.  They left Bali a week ago and have been in Sydney, and are now doing their Susnhine Coast leg of the trip, right in time for the cyclone.  Such bad timing!  However, I am very glad Jay is with Lolo and Dida in case anything goes wrong.

We've had a good week so far.  On the weekends we have been spending more time with the kids, mostly playing Xbox with them, which brings on a lot of laughs.  I'm fairly terrible at all the games they choose though.  Jeff and I ran out on Sunday and surprised the kids by buying a new tv.  Our old tv was ten years old, and we did not realise that we were such dinosaurs!  The new tv is 65 inches and voice activated and a hundred times better than our last one.  Arley's neighbourhood buddies are happy too.  LOL.

Arley had a checkup at the dentist this week.  He is still right on track but they won't do any more work on his teeth until all of his adult teeth come through, which will be a couple of years.  They have expanded his palate to give the teeth room, and it hasn't moved back and things look good.

I don't have much more to add.  Wish us luck surviving the next few days!!

A semi-cooperative Arley from when Clint took him bowling this week:

We have just discovered that Arley is smiling for photos again (it's been years!!) so we are making the most of it :)