Tramp, glasses, art and reading

Sunday 20th: Asher got onto the new trap this afternoon (5:30pm) and ended up having a short seizure. It only lasted for about 10 seconds and she didn't sleep afterwards. It's been 6 weeks since her last seizure though, so we are thrilled. The last one was on the day of the pool party - and amazingly she didn't have a seizure while at the pools. I wondered about her not having any protein at lunch that day, so have made a real effort with that since then. She is also on a higher dose of her newer medication and also has a higher concentration of Hemp Oil (the proper Charlotte's web oil from the Stanley brothers in America). So one or all of these things may be helping. We will just keep up with them all.
Monday 21st: Back onto the trap this afternoon - a bit earlier though (just after 3pm). Wonderfully no seizure and just a wonderful time of safe fun.
On the other tramp I just never felt safe with her as she is very unstable. I kept worrying she would fall over and fall off. Anastasia would also run so quickly and I didn't like the idea of her falling off either. So with the new tramp and it's net and hidden springs, I feel much more comfortable having these two out.

Anastasia loves the tramp just as much as Asher. She often stands at the window and watches the older children jumping. She will often bounce on the spot as she watches them. So I'm thrilled to be able to take her out for her own safe jumping sessions too now.
Asher did really well in following my instructions to jump on the circle (so handy having that mark). Later she started trotting around it.

Ruth headed off to an art course today for the next 3 days. As her best friend, Jess, is also doing the course, she was invited to just spend the two nights with them. So what a nice treat for her. Especially with Jess heading off to boarding school this year.
Brooke has been coming over often in the holidays. I was glad she came today as I would not have been able to take these two out on my own. After the time on the tramp they both enjoyed a swing. Interestingly, after Anastasia watched Asher this day, she now wants to go on that swing too. :-)

9:45pm moon rising was just beautiful.

Wednesday 23rd: Asher's new glasses arrived today. Everyone agrees they make her look older. Her previous glasses look like baby's glasses (and were baby pink). I think the lady gave great advice in helping me with choosing these.
Thankfully Asher qualifies for a "higher spectacle subsidy" and so we were able to get transition lenses again (so that they are automatically sun glasses when outside) at no cost to us. I had thought we would have to pay for this extra (as we did with her first pair), so were very pleased when we didn't have to.
You can also clearly see that the 2nd bottom tooth is out. It came out on Friday afternoon when she was at the carer.

Ok - so this is so super cute - but also SO dangerous. So after saying "clever girl for climbing on" I had to insist that she not do it again. We need to find a nice safe step for her to practice her climbing.
Just look how proud she is of her accomplishment. She is really enjoying climbing onto things at the moment, so we need to keep an eye on her.
Ruth brought this creation home as one of her pieces from the last 3 days. It's leaning over a bit - it's on wood. Both Anastasia and Asher both love this girl and keep going over to look at her. It was so funny to watch Asher look at her face and then look behind her - to try and work it out.
The other project shown below.

Thursday 24th: Anastasia enjoying a train ride by Hezekiah.
Saturday 26th: Hannah and Hezekiah had their Summer Reading party this afternoon. Ruth left early to help HYP with the set up. They ran the afternoon with loads of games for the children and then a lovely afternoon tea followed the prize giving.
Hezekiah doing a egg and spoon race. It was a bit tricky as they had lollies that they were balancing, and some were bigger than others which made it almost impossible for some of them. Loads of fun though.
Hezekiah sorted his outfit himself. He did a great job of creating an excellent Zoro.
Ruth helped Hannah dress as Mary Poppins. It was handy having the hat and skirt from her ballet concert.

Hannah ended up winning a prize for one of the 4 best dressed. Well done to both of you.

They allowed all the children who had not received a prize, to choose a book. Hezekiah didn't want to get one, but I suggested he look for one for Anastasia. He found a perfect one for her - a board book with dinosaurs. She has a really big one that she loves (but is a bit difficult with it being extra large). She was thrilled to have him read the book to her this evening.
Such a great brother. He let Asher sit and dance on him this evening too. :-) She does love this Christmas Wiggles DVD and knows all the dances off by heart. She often starts with the moves before they even start.


Ruth loves getting Asher and Anastasia doing things together. She is just so good with little children. This evening she decided to get both of them on her lap. Such fun. :-)

Eyes, hair, music and movie

Tuesday 8th: Asher had an eye appointment this afternoon. We waited SO long and it was quite a challenge keeping her there. She went through her whole bag of toys and thankfully was happy to just keep playing with the iPad and Dora cards. It was a challenging afternoon for us both. Asher's eyes have not changed since the last appointment, but with some of the things we have noticed, he decided it was a good idea to get a new prescription that is more accurate. Although he could see a change last time, he didn't feel she would benefit as much from a change then. So new glasses will happen soon.
A lovely happy face to help after a stressful afternoon.
Wednesday 9th: Anastasia loves Ruth's speaker. We have downloaded some nursery rhyme albums and she is just loving them.
Ruth also let Anastasia use her older brush. She just loves brushing her hair with it.

Thursday 10th: Ruth loves doing things in Anastasia's hair. She can't wait for it to be long enough to get tied up and "played" with.
Such a happy little girl with such beautiful smiles. I often just reflect on how far she has come with her eating over the last couple of months and I am so grateful.

More Moana fun. Anastasia dancing with them. 

Above: We got a carer for the younger two today and I took the others up to visit friends in their new home (which they have been in for ages but it's been that long since our last visit). I just LOVE the view they have.

 Friday 11th: Ruth enjoyed building the hydraulic claw that arrived this week. I got a special on these kits so we ordered 3. They are great fun, but just a bit too pricey - so we won't be ordering more.

Sunday 13th: 3rd time lucky with the movies and we got to watch one with Dad. We dropped the little two off at friends after church and it was so nice to be able to have the time together with the older children. What a treat.

Monday 14th: Ruth loves putting Anastasia on Asher's lap. We always have to watch carefully though, as if Asher is in a mood - she will just push her right off. Today was a good one.

Wednesday 16th: Hannah and Hezekiah enjoyed going to an art class today.
Some lovely creations.

They have also been busy with the School holiday reading programme. Hezekiah was pleased to get his finished up today. They did it really differently this year and it was a lot of fun. They will get invited to a end of holiday party to celebrate all those children who have put the effort in to read through the holidays. What a great help to keep encouraging them.
The Christmas tree is down but the table is still in the lounge. Anastasia thinks it's great fun.


She knows she is not allowed on this drum (the right way around) so she worked out a way to keep mum happy but still get to sit on it. :-)


And just to confirm - she does know how to use the drums and does love playing them.

We got some shopping done on Sunday too, which included a new tramp for the younger two specifically - so that I can feel they are both a bit more safe. Asher just has no concept of not going to close to the edge, so this will help reduce some stress and allow them to have a bit more fun. The girls helped put it together this evening and so got to enjoy the first jump.

Ruth enjoyed some shopping too. Don't you just love her solar flamingo lights?

11 months and full licence

Wednesday 17th: I was just too tired to get these photo done before today. 11 months old already.
She has 4 more teeth busy coming through. Loves pulling herself up into a standing position. Is still full of lovely smiles and now enjoys wrinkling her nose up and watching people copy her. :-)
She only put 100g on over the last month, so still a real light weight. She is developing in other ways though, so have to try ignore the scales a bit.

Such a cutie.





A note for Tuesday 16th. Asher had a seizure at school today just after midday. Thankfully a short one again.

Rachel booked to do her full licence as soon as she was able and got the first appointment that she could. That was for this afternoon and we were all thrilled to hear that she passed first time. Well done Rachel. 17 1/2 years old. The youngest you can get your full licence (which includes passing a defensive driving course).
NOTE: This photo was taken the following Wednesday when the actual licence arrived in the post. Nice photo Rachel. :-)

While Rachel was doing her driving test, Brendon was at home with the youngest 3 as I took Hannah to pick up her new glasses. She went for much thinner frames this time and they look really smart. Nice choice Hannah.
Ruth also came with so that she could open a bank account. She is going on a school trip at the end of November and the recommendation is to rather have their spending money on a card as apposed to everyone bringing cash with. So she was excited about getting her first bank card. She is working at saving up as much as she can for spending money, so it's a nice way to also keep the money separate and save up.
I can't remember when this photo was taken (as Ruth took the photo and sent it to me on WhatsApp - so it does not have a date on it).
We were given 6 chooks. So we are thrilled to be collecting eggs again.

Friday 19th: Now that Rachel has her full license, she can take the other children out whenever she wants. So she decided she would start taking them to the tea rooms. Hezekiah got to go first today and she treated him to an ice cream.

Saturday 20th: Ruth has a good idea for a group Christmas present this year - a table tennis table. The only problem is that there is too much stuff in the garage. So we said that if the garage can be cleaned out - then we will have space for one. So she got started today and got a little bit of help from Hannah and Hezekiah. Unfortunately Ruth struggles from hayfever and the dusk was really getting to her. She did manage to sort out quite a bit though.
It always amazes me when I see Asher on a 2 wheel scooter. She does really well for a child who often looks unstable just walking and running.
Monday 22nd: Labour day today, so a nice day at home for everyone. Ruth was thrilled to be able to give Anastasia a bottle today.

Asher spent the day with Rachiel and so it allowed us to get a lot done around the house today, as well as rest.
The children were thrilled to light the fire - but just disappointed that the shop was closed and they couldn't go buy some marshmallows to roast.
Branches are piled up here over the months, and when the weather is good, it all gets burnt. It's good to get it done now before the fire bans come in for summer.

Hannah thrilled to be able to give Anastasia some milk today too. She is not actually drinking all that much yet, as we are still working out the best teat. She is still learning to drink from a bottle, so lots of extra time to practice has been good. This bottle eventually was not used anymore as she was just not getting much milk through it at all.
Tuesday 23rd: Asher had a seizure this afternoon. I think she was running around to get to me and didn't make it. She fell right onto the corner of the bookshelf. It bruised very quickly above her right eye, but can't really be seen on the photo that well. I should have taken a photo a couple of days later - when it was really discoloured. Poor girl. She has had a seizure on Tuesday for 3 weeks in a row now. (NOTE: This was the last one for the month though - so only 3 for the entire month - which is brilliant.)