Look who's getting good at standing up!

Since our young man Jack has had his big hip surgery, he's getting much better at putting weight through his legs and is feeling more and more confident about it.  Here he is in his standing frame, lifting his head up and all!!

 And this wonderful gain means that he and Lucy can actually play together, as a container of water with some dishes in it keeps them entertained for ages!  And this is great for Jack's legs to get stronger too.  It also means he can do things at kinder while standing up - he even stood up at kinder one day for 45 mins which is amazing for Jack!!  It's interesting what a bit of distraction from other kids can do.....

And here he is with his proud little sister...



Our little ballerina...

Miss Lucy has decided that she'd like to try her hand at dancing this year so she has been going since September and is doing really great!  She's having so much fun and it's so cute to watch!



The New Mullan Mobile!!

Well after the purchase of the wheelchair for Jack, it became very apparent that we had to get moving on the wheelchair car.  The wheelchair is incredibly heavy and I have been pulling it apart and putting it in the back of our station wagon since June but it got to the point where I couldn't (and really shouldn't) be lifting it on my own which restricted me a lot, unless I asked perfect strangers to help me lift it in and out!!  So we'd done some research and decided on a Volkswagen Caddy Maxi and agreed that we'd get Advance Disability Vehicles to do the conversion for us and they have done an awesome job.  I even managed to get a manual car which I prefer and I just love it!

 I will have to take more photo's but here it is in the workshop when it's about half way done.  Essentially the main bits are done in this photo and you can see the plate on the floor which is a docking station that the bottom of Jack's wheelchair actually locks into, to save me doing up the belts.  I figured with my height, it was going to be a pain to have to bob down and sort out belts and I've decided the extra money was worth every cent!! 

We've only had it back for a week but it has truly changed my world - makes transporting Jack so much easier and he likes it and so does Lucy!  Huge thanks must go to my wonderful husband for working so hard in order for us to try and afford it - you've saved my back and my sanity honey!!

Melbourne Marathon

The Melbourne Marathon was back at the start of October and was a great day!  We had some new members in 'Team Jack' this year and it was wonderful to have them involved.  See below some of the team, namely Jack's kinder teacher, Belinda, kinder assistant Coral, his aide Susan, Lucy's kinder teacher Shar and my two lovely kinder mum friends Shannyn & Kristy and their kids (and Jack's kinder friends) Ellie, Kyla and Cameron.  We also had my best friend Melissa, and the old veterans (!) Eri (who ran the half marathon in 1hr 55 mins or something ridiculous like that!!  You're a bloody star Eri!!), Nicole (blitzing the 10kms!) and Sam. 

Here we are at the start line - CPEC team everywhere!

 And here we are entering the 'G' (Melbourne Cricket Ground), one of the best parts!!  This year I was lucky enough to be joined by Sam's husband Andrew and the kids Hamish & Bella on the walk.  Normally Drew is part of the support team, carrying bags and cheering us along but I dragged him into it this year.  And he was awesome considering he was the only bloke other than Craig!!!

And here is the legend herself in Sam!  This gun of a woman ran the half marathon this year and raised well over $2,000 for CPEC by requesting donations from family and friends as well as baking treats to sell at work!!  We think you deserve the BOG/MVP award Sam ... Jack is very proud of you and so are we!!

 Thank you to everyone who sponsored us and made a donation to CPEC.  We're truly grateful for your support, as is CPEC - Jack has really made great gains from going there and it's wonderful that we can support them in order to continue receiving their wonderful services.
Awesome awesome job Team Jack!!!