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!)

CPEC Annual Auction Dinner

The Cerebral Palsy Education Centre (CPEC) holds an auction dinner every year and Craig and I were lucky enough to have the support of our families to be able to have two tables. We were a bit short on 'Kennon's' but Mum & Dad and Rob made up for it in their purchases! CPEC managed to make $86,000.00 - what an awesome effort!!!

This is Garry Prigg who is the CEO and Chairman of CPEC and he auctioned 50 items, which took him 2 and a half hours! Our tables were quite active in the bidding although poor Bruce and Craig missed out on a couple, one in particular being a morning in the booth of the breakfast show with Ross & John on 3AW. The lady bidding against them looked like she had an endless pit of cash so they had to fold at $2,250. We also bidded on a St Kilda jumper signed by the 2009 team and framed .... although Craig was even bidding on a Richmond jumper towards the end of the night, think the excitement of it all got him in the bidding mood a little too much! Lucky we didn't win!

And lastly, my friend and mum of Toby who is in Jack's group, Paula who just had to have this silent auction pack with this stunning piece of bling in it! She was like a bull terrier around the table and her Dad was lingering to make sure she got it - rightly so too!

Sunday mornings are playground time

Sunday mornings in the Mullan household means a walk up the street for a play on the playground, some donuts from the bakery and some good old fashioned fresh air. Lucy is getting more and more confident on the equipment while Jack has started going down the slide and he loves it! Only it takes one of us to hold him at the top and the other to catch him at the bottom, meaning no opportunity for photo's. Toffee has also started to go down the slide...!

Lucy's cheer squad enjoying a cuddle

Judy's triple choc brownie birthday cake

Judy (my sister) recently had her birthday and me being the domesticated one decided I was going to make her a cake but something different. Ended up making a triple choc brownie, enough to give you an instantly blocked artery but delicious all the same! But of course, when your sister is taking a nap, you get to clean up after Mum's cooking. And Jack did a brilliant job!!

Not bad for a kid that doesn't have much of a sweet tooth!!

Jack's day surgery...

Here's a happy snap of the three of us, bright and early on a Wednesday morning in the pre surgery lounge of the Royal Children's Hospital. Jack had to have an orchidopexy which is a procedure to have his testicles dropped. It's a very common problem among boys but particularly in boys with Cerebral Palsy so unfortunately, Jack's number was up!

And here he is, trying to wake up in recovery with a cuddle from Dad. He was a bit sore and sorry for a week or so but has fully recovered and glad that's it's over!

Melbourne Marathon - here comes 'Team Jack'!!

On October 11, we have our next fundraising activity on the calendar which is the Melbourne Marathon. The Cerebral Palsy Education Centre (CPEC) which Jack now attends, is the major charity. (See http://www.cpec.com.au/ for further info)

CPEC is acknowledged as a world leader in providing specialist education programs for children with cerebral palsy. The CPEC professional staff who work at the Centre in Glen Waverley are renowned internationally as the best in their field. It costs around $13,000 per child per year to receive eight hours of service per week for 40 weeks. They receive nearly $5,000 per child from the State Government. The $8,000 shortfall is offset by the families who pay fees, do fundraising and seek donations.
I cannot begin to tell you how glad we are that Jack is now attending CPEC as he is coming along in leaps and bounds and we as a family are getting brilliant support from them. It's not hard to see why they're the leaders in their field and their passion, dedication and commitment to these kids is truly inspiring.
The Melbourne Marathon is the biggest fundraiser for CPEC and as you can tell by the shortfall in funding, every bit makes a difference. So if anyone would kindly be interested in sponsoring me to walk the 5kms with Jack and Lucy in tow or Craig who is running the 10kms, we would be so grateful!
Just go to http://www.everydayhero.com.au/across_the_line_in_09 and push the 'donate now' key, and find me (or Craig) as the team member.

A huge thank you!!

Our family would love to say a big thank you to everyone who has sponsored us already in the Melbourne Marathon, your generosity in incredible and we're so grateful. I can assure you your donation is going to a wonderful cause and seeing the results and support we're getting from the Cerebral Palsy Education Centre (CPEC) with Jack makes us passionate about raising the funds. So two thumbs up from us!!
(Photo courtesy of Wong Photography!)

Some history on 'Team Jack'...

Here's a picture of Craig and Jack doing the 'Run for the Kids' back in March last year. You can see how much Jack loves it, even with his horrible hip brace on! Lucy and I walked the 5kms but this one was snapped by a professional photographer and it was so lovely we had to buy it.

Introducing the newly formed 'Team Jack' in March this year with our first Run for the Kids as a team. Here is our lovely friend Sam Couper and her boy Hamish with us at the start line. Sam (very patiently) ran the 5.75kms with me and Lucy while Craig and Jack did the 14kms. I didn't do much training so I was thrilled that I was able to run about two thirds of it and didn't have to ask Sam to stop quite as often as I thought I might! Sam will be running the 10kms on the Melbourne Marathon with Craig and our friend Erica, possibly others as our team continues to grow. We'll all have CPEC t-shirts on and hoping to personalise them with 'Team Jack'!

The t-shirts say www.cocoonpeople.com up the top (being Craig's company) and 'Running for Jack' down the bottom.

Here's Jack and his lovely Dad after running the 14kms. Craig bettered his time by 15 seconds, even after stopping to be a good Samaritan by changing the tyre on a couple's pram!! What a guy!

Jack and one of his favourites...

Jack's Granny (my Mum) had her birthday on Sunday and Jack gave her a special birthday cuddle - these two adore each other!

Jack and Toffee snuggling...

Just had to get this on camera, Jack came into our bed after waking early and I left him with Toffee while I had a shower. Toffee loves going outside in the morning to do her business and then snuggling in bed. She laid across his tummy to sleep and then when I came out, moved across to lay between his arms. He loved it! You could never have imagined that this would have been the case a couple of months ago!

I'm also keen to encourage a close relationship between these two because I'm hoping Toffee might be able to alert me if Jack has a seizure. He's had 7 in the last 12 months and unfortunately they mostly happen when he's asleep which makes it difficult for us to know when it's happening (and a little scary too!). Nearly every time it's happened, I've discovered him by chance. My Dad (the dog man) tells me that apparently whilst there are some assistance dogs that can sense when an epileptic seizure is coming on, there's nothing trainers can do to teach them to sense this - it either happens or it doesn't. I'm not fussed about this so much but if I can encourage her to understand that a seizure is not a good thing, then hopefully I'll have a little helper on my hands!

Baby Cameron Farrell turns 1!

Jack & Lucy's cousin (my sister Robyn's son) Cameron has just turned one and we celebrated with him a couple of weeks ago. How time flies, feels like yesterday she was just pregnant! He's starting to really remember Jack, Lucy and I so he recognises us and even gives up the serious face for some lovely smiles and a bit of a chat. Lucy is a lovely big cousin to him as you can see!

Jaz at her Year 12 Formal

Lucy & Jack's cousin Jazmyn went to her Year 12 formal a couple of weeks ago, Jaz and I went shopping together to find her dress and shoes (you could almost call me her personal stylist, just kidding, it was all her...!) and here is the finished product. Lucy told Jaz that she looked beautiful and like a princess!