CPEC Mum's Night Out

The last Sunday in November saw the CPEC Mum's frocked up and out on the town for a bit of fine dining at The Press Club in Melbourne. It's so lovely to be able to have a night out with the girls when normally we're trying to have a conversation over feeding kids and talking funding, communication books and all other 'kids stuff' at CPEC. I absolutely adore these girls and have thoroughly enjoyed building such wonderful friendships with them this year. They have certainly helped me get through a year of trying to 'tame the lion' in Jack!!

Daddy turns 36!

November brings around a birthday for the big fella and this year we celebrated it with the Kennon's at the local Chinese restaurant which was really yum. My brother Russell (yes, believe it - I DO have a brother!!) and his wife Michelle came down for the occasion and as you can see, Uncle Russy enjoyed licking the beaters of the cake with Lucy.

You may also be happy to know too that the goatee on Craig's face has gone.... yay!!!!

Jaz's Valedictory Dinner

My little (!) niece Jazmyn has just finished year 12 and I was very lucky to attend her valedictory dinner. Can't believe she's nearly 18 already, was a great night out to hang with the Wray girls!

Lucy the Baker

The Mum's in Group 2 at CPEC are famous for their baking and it's one of the reasons the therapists like working with our group! But seriously, it does make it really great to enjoy something with a coffee after the blood, sweat and tears of working with Jack after a session of therapy!!! So Lucy was happy to oblige when Mummy found this recipe of Strawberry Jelly Biscuits which looked right up her alley. I couldn't guarantee anyone the jelly beans hadn't been licked already but they were delicious and she loved helping.

More Holiday Pictures...

October Holiday

After all the excitement of the Melbourne Marathon and a big year for our family with Jack starting at CPEC and Craig working as CEO, it was well and truly time for us to have a well earned holiday. It started with a stay at the Pinnacle Valley Resort in Mansfield thanks to Craig's sister Helen. This place is beautiful and we loved every minute. There were kangaroos everywhere, even coming right up to chalet late in the afternoon. We had a trip up Mt Buller where there was a late covering of snow. Craig hired a toboggan to have a go with Lucy but after a couple of turns down the hill, Lucy had had enough she said! We weren't really equipped for the snow as we weren't expecting it so with boots full of frozen toes, she was finished! We also went to Jamieson, a couple of trips into Mansfield and just relaxed. Then we hooked up our campervan again and headed for Nagambie where we stayed in a caravan park which was really nice. Relatively new and right on the lake, we stayed there for 5 days. Jack absolutely loves camping, not sure if it's the fresh air or that he had his Dad around the entire time but he really enjoys it. Was really great to have a break together, and for Craig to have his b$%&dy Blackberry turned off for once!!!!

Absolute final fundraising tally for TEAM JACK!

OK! So I've just done the final tally on the Everyday Hero website for the Melbourne Marathon and added up all the fundraising done by our gang and we've managed to raise $10,482.45 for CPEC!!! I cannot thank everyone enough - we are forever grateful for your generosity!!
Thank you also to Porter Davis Homes for matching some fundraising done by Sam & Andrew there with Sam's marvellous baking. Looking forward to next year team!!

Final fundraising total for "Team Jack"

As of this afternoon, the total raised by all of our team members adds up to $9,099.45!!!!

To all those who donated, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! Imagine this big hug is around you too!!

THE MELBOURNE MARATHON!

Well at long last, the Melbourne Marathon finally came around and we did it yesterday. It was such a huge day for "Team Jack". We had 11 members of the team and will begin recruiting for more next year very soon! Craig along with friends Shaun Coppard, Belinda Maslen, Erica Frazer, and Sam Couper all ran the 10kms which started at 7.30am. Jennie Bakker, Nicole Street and Kate Rae all ran the 5kms. Jerome Higgins with daughters Maisy and Cami, Robyn Farrell (my sister) with baby Cameron and I along with Jack and Lucy all walked the 5kms.

Here's the 5kms walkers heading for the finish line in the MCG which was pretty awesome!!

The whole reason we were there - the cheeky and special Jack Mullan. He was such a dream all day and never complained at all the stop starting or for being in his pram for so long. I think he thoroughly enjoyed it!

One of our top fundraisers and the very first member of Team Jack is Sam Couper - she's been awesome in not only looking for fundraising from her friends and family but baking treats to sell at Porter Davis where her husband Andrew works to make some extra money. You're a legend Sam!

Craig did the 10kms in 1 hour and 55 seconds which is a pretty awesome feat!

We had the team decked out for the occasion in our CPEC hats and t-shirts and made them a bit more personal in having 'Team Jack' and his photo printed on them. Was really cool to have them on the back and so many people commented on it!

Unfortunately I couldn't find my camera yesterday which is such a disappointment but luckily Sam was able to take these on her phone. I would have loved to get a picture of 'Team Jack' together however it was not to be.

Craig and I are forever grateful to everyone who had so kindly and generously dipped into their pockets to support CPEC and in turn Jack and our family. And that's not only our friends and family but the friends of friends etc - we had people sponsor us that we have never even met and you can't imagine how wonderful and overwhelming that really is. It just means so much!

And to Shaun, Belinda, Sam, Erica, Jennie, Kate, Nicole, Rob and Jez - THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! It has been so awesome to have you guys on 'Team Jack', thanks for your enthusiasm, your commitment and hard work and your support of us from the bottom of our hearts. We're so lucky to have such wonderful friends!!!

An adventure to see Daddy at work!

Jack and Lucy and I decided that for the school holidays we might catch the train in to see Daddy in his new office building. So we caught the train from Upper Ferntree Gully station and went into the City


Jack absolutely loves the train ride and it's hard to keep him from squealing at the top of his lungs in excitement! So many people just about jump out of their seats when he does it!




We had a nice lunch and then wandered down to Dad's new coffee shop to have a latte and a couple of baby cino's. Other than nearly killing myself on the escalators with Jack in his pram, it was a really nice day!

CPEC Mum's Weekend Away

In September, us Mum's from Jack's group at CPEC organised another weekend away staying at Redhill in Nat's Aunty & Uncle's holiday home (which is just beautiful!). This time we met earlier and some of the girls went and had a spa and others were pampered with a delicious lunch at a winery in between. I had a massage which was really good for my poor old back!! We had such a wonderful time and it really is therapy for us as we've all had a bit of rough time with our kids and we all understand what it's like to be a Mum of a child with Cerebral Palsy. I almost can't decide if I've gotten more out of CPEC by bonding with these awesome mum's or Jack's therapy!! They're on an even keel - put it that way! We really let our hair down and just get to be girls on a girls weekend away which is just what we need!

A new bike for Jack??

We've had mid term visits this week at CPEC which means no normal groups and the therapists come to you for a visit. But they also had Body Cycles Australia come and see some kids about getting a special bike. Jack had a turn on the bike which is kind of like a tricycle, and has very supportive seating, adjustable handle bars and then his feet go into the pedals with toe clips and as you push the bike, it makes his legs go up and down as if he were pushing the pedals himself. (See pictures below) And he actually has the ability to push them, only he has to want to do it! Anyhow, he of course screamed blue murder as the lovely man pushed him around. It looks really great! And would suit Jack seeing as he loves being outside so much. When we got him off and he stopped crying, Lyn (the head physio) was trying to ask him with his communication book what he thought of the bike. He was saying an 'I want' category but couldn't seem to get his message out (perhaps distracted by the sound of his sister munching on tiny teddies??). I modelled with the book that I liked the bike, it looks like fun to which Jack shook his head NO and then Lyn asked him, 'Don't you want a bike Jack?' to which he shook he head again, NO!! He did however tell Dad later that night that yes, he would like a bike. Cheeky boy!! (keep watering that money tree Dad!)