Family times

When I nipped to the Post Office yesterday, I asked them if they would be interested in stocking some handmade cards. They said they would! So I am now trying to find inspiration to make up some samples to take up there to see if they will sell.

Here is my first effort.

It's in Sahara Sand, Daffodil Delight and Regal Rose, with the Confetti background stamp set and the sentiment from So Happy For You SAB set.

Yesterday, we went out for a walk as a family, not always easy as we like to tramp around in fields, and you just can't do that with a special needs buggy in tow. However, yesterday we went to Brean Down Fort, somewhere we haven't all been to together before.

Tabitha found the tiniest of hills, and decided she couldn't walk down it, so she had to scoot on her bottom. Nicely stained trousers were the result!

And here is Ellie and Piper, with Brean Down Fort in the background.

Day of Fun

Today, Tabitha spent the day with a lovely lady who she has known for a long time. This lady was her carer at the Special Needs Playgroup (before the Council made the unbelievable decision to close this valuable resource down...don't get me started on that one!!), and since leaving there, she has become a part time respite carer, and we are lucky enough to have her services. Leaving a child who is non-verbal and has medical needs with anyone is extremely difficult, and I count myself very lucky to have Jo that I can call on. Anyway, today was one of our respite days, so Tabitha got picked up this morning, and Ellie and I had the day to ourselves.

Usually, we do things together at these times, that we can't do with Tabitha around. We have visited the local caves and climbed the hills before, and we have gone ice-skating, things you just can't do with a large and heavy special needs buggy. But today, funds are a little short (that's the school holidays for you!), so we didn't make big plans. I took Ellie for her morning swimming lesson (she's going every morning this week), then came home, and got the face paints out. I was pleased with the rabbit I painted on Ellie's face. She drew a butterfly on mine. I know I am going to regret this, but here we are, all painted up.

After this, we ate lunch, then went to a family fun swimming session, with another child that my Mum fosters and who Ellie just loves to pieces. It was great fun, jumping about, chasing them around and tipping them off floats. Then we came home, and Ellie made a card for the person who has been running the morning swimming lessons for years. This week is his final course, and she is sorry he is leaving. Ellie has been going to these week long courses now for 4 years, and was a total non-swimmer when she started (at 3!). Now she is an extremely accomplished swimmer for her age, and she still loves it. We have a lot to thank him for.

Tabitha displayed great understanding this evening. She was using her switches on the computer, and constantly demanding the program was reset when it had finished. I went to do it one more time, but told her (and signed) that this was the last time, and then it was finished. When the program got to the end, she jumped down off the chair, and headed up the corridor to bed!!! She can demonstrate such great understanding at times, it makes things all the more frustrating when she's being stubborn and digging her heels in. Even her speech therapist once said the thing that holds her back the most, is her own personality. If only we could get her to understand that....

Injury

Poor Tabitha. She doesn't get a break. Today, she was just milling around, doing what she does, and Ellie managed to trap her fingers in a door. I was very worried that she had broken something, but after giving her some time, she is using the finger without too much trouble, not complaining of pain, and can tolerate it being softly squeezed, so I think it's just badly bruised. Here's a picture of her poorly finger.

Poor Ellie was devastated she'd done this. She was just as upset as Tabitha. I know she wouldn't have done it on purpose for the world, so I just hope that now she will learn to keep her eyes open when she is closing doors. I've warned her so many times, but sometimes practical experience is the the only solution.

I am hoping to have a play with some crafting gear tonight, but I may not, it kind of depends what time I get Ellie to bed, and if there is anything I fancy on tv ;-)