Wonderful weekends

My children can be a little odd sometimes.

Or maybe it's just ultra cute.

Look what they set up on the FIRST DAY OF THE HOLIDAYS!!!!!

A classroom :-)

Dad had plans to build a fence which of course must start with digging post holes.

Gorgeous Phoebe

Mark and I then spent night in the city of Christchurch. Only 25 minutes away but we were able to go child free (Thanks Nana Sandy).

We wandered around the beautiful Botanic Gardens. A spectacle of the 'garden city'.

What Christchurch does extremely well. Autumn colours.

Love this tram stop. (Although it always looked better without the cordon fences behind)

The Garden city is now the city of cranes. This view used to be quite special, with the Cathedral gracing the end of this street. No more sadly.

So many of these USAR messages to be seen.

Buildings without walls :-(

But in middle of the city, Cashel Mall metamorphed into a brightly coloured 'beating heart' (as a friend of mine described it). I love this description. The rest of the city seems dead, dusty, ghostlike. In fact, behind the bubbling and chattering in the foreground you can hear the hum of diggers and destruction in the background. This mall is a sign of new beginnings.

ChCH has come back with shops and coffee shops made from containers.

Not quite the traditional architecture of Canterbury, but a happy new beginning.

Unfortunately Cashel mall is also a memorial for many lost lives. And the fences are used to share memories and debate what the public would like to happen with the Cathedral ruins.

Not allowed in. I remember walking through here every day when I worked in the city.

Here's a novel idea instead of a billboard. A display car in a container. Only in Christchurch!!!

I avoided taking photos of the ruined churches in the city. Too many and too sad. Lovely old buildings.

But unsafe buildings are still being pulled sown. Even over a year later.

We had mixed feeling visiting the city. It's certainly not the same, but we can feel the excitement and anticipation of what is to come.

Watch this space!!!

Easter Sunday. The birth of the fence.

Sunday afternoon was spent at the river. Introducing Rosie to WATER!!

Making dams.

Sunday was concluded with a family movies night. Dogs invited. Doesn't her face just say" where's my popcorn"?

Easter weekend was spent sharing time together. Just what we love to do. Even building a fence became a group effort with the kids joining in and my brother lending us a helpful hand.

What could have been a chore actually became quite satisfying. But that's another blog entry really.

Hope your weekend was fun and relaxing too.

Jaz xx

Turning a corner!

Yes it is possible and I think I have done it. I'm proud that I've done it.

Those of you who follow this blog regularly will understand, after the events of 2011, a corner just had to be turned.

I spent much of last year frightened of the future. What could happen, might happen but hadn't yet happened. That is the corner I'm talking about. About living in the NOW.

Living in the now is something I have talked about on this blog a few times. When I was struggling as a stay at home mum and when I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. I have been thinking about this a lot recently as I struggled to adapt to and accept the changes with my eyesight. Part of me refused to accept the poor vision because I felt I might be giving up, giving in.

I don't see it like that at all now.

I see it as living in the NOW.

In fact, I didn't even realise we had a book on our shelves at home titled "The Power of Now" (Ekhart Tolle). Cool. Somebody's already done much of the thinking for me!!!

I can't read it very well, My eye muscles struggle to read for very long but I enjoy skimming and finding enlightening quotes for myself

In the past I have catastrophized and turned my fears into big ugly mountains in front of me. But I've been thinking about that. Fears aren't real. Sure they can be based on some startling true facts eg I HAVE A BRAIN TUMOUR, but essentially our fears are our imaginations going for a walk.

So I've stopped walking my fears so often and taking myself out for fresh air instead. Lately I seem to be able to enjoy today and not worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will come and then it will be today. I've got no control over it, just how I perceive and receive it.

I'm strangely calm about my MRI I just had. I'm still awaiting results and I refuse to waste precious time on irrational fears. If they tell me I'm dying, then I'll scream and cry, but not today, not NOW.

On that note. Have a lovely day and weekend. If you need to worry about something, allocate a time and focus on it for a little while. Problem solve, but don't let it become you or your life. I've been there, we probably all have at some time of our lives. But I'm learning a tough lesson. There's a lot of living out there to be done. Join me and live it in the NOW!!!

Happy Easter to all of you.

Jaz xx

Puppy antics

What does this sweet, adorable puppy.........

And this sweet, (mostly) adorable little girl..............

EQUAL???????????

One barely recognisable toothbrush this morning.

Adorable much?

Undecided

Jaz xx

ps See other toothbrush post here

Thankful Thursday: Well...a quiet week can still bring a few loves.

So many things to enjoy.

As at many preschools children are often asked to sneeze or cough into their sleeves to avoid the spread of germs

Phoebe enjoyed sharing her 'elephant sneezing' routine. It's how her teachers obviously make germ control fun!!!

I love how sharing these things also makes her giggle. We love Pheeb's giggle.

Oh and the amount of artwork that ends up on the bench!!

Get a load of this folks. Thanks to the radiotherapy, I officially have short and curlys behind my ears. The new hair is soft and forming baby type ringlets. Awwwwwwww.

Yeah, it'd be cute if the rest of my hair wasn't straight!!! LOL

I love this old world rambling rose in my new garden.

I may sound a bit sad but I love it when my linen cupboard looks like this

(at least once a year). Actually I think I'm just really pleased to have the energy to achieve this now!!!

I REALLY love covering the garden with pea-straw, ready for autumn and winter

It always reminds me of a winter duvet pulled out of the cupboard and the garden all snuggled up for a new season.

Love Mark's attempt to keep the cats off the new young vege plants. Blooming puss-cats!!

Loving the patience of this lovely puppy.

Phoebe has started to draw people. Wonderful additions like limbs and nostrils are now included. Mark and I aren't just 'heads' anymore.

I was scheduled for an MRI this afternoon, but the technician went home ill. I'm guessing I'll now be photographed next week. Positive thoughts and love our way please. We of course are hoping for either no growth or even some die off of the tumour. We'd be happy with either.

My eldest girl turns 12 on Sat. Golly. Twelve years of parenting.

I'm looking forward to the next twelve.

Take care and have a great weekend.

Jaz xx

Catch up from the Treacys!!

Well hello to you all. Despite how much I miss blogging, I still never quite find the energy or brain focus to write very much in one sitting. I am feeling better overall, I just need to get used to this new eyesight and to build up my stamina. I was told recently that it can take many months just to get over anesthetic etc. So still, the baby steps are being taken.

I thought it might be fun to update those of you in particular who are reading from elsewhere in New Zealand or the world of how our last few months have panned out. I enjoyed revisiting the photos myself. It is nice reminder of what has been an eventful journey. Late January and early Feb wasn't really documented as I was going through MAJOR steroid withdrawal and certainly wasn't much use behind the camera. BUT............that seems to have passed and each week is getting gradually better. I hope it is onwards and upwards from here.

I have an MRI at the end of this month. No more to say about that. Fingers and toes crossed until I get briefed on the result.

Enjoy our photo journey!

December 12 Molly turned 7and I finally made a rainbow cake that I have admired on a few other mummy blogs that I love!!!

Gorgeous Molly

Christmas morning, Phoebe enjoys her new 'balance bike'.

Lucy, our only pet remaining in December admiring herself in Caitlin's new mirror.

January in Whangaparaoa meant saying goodbye to friends and plenty of swimming before leaving for Christchurch.

Our new Southland neighbour :-)

A lovely part of our new backyard.

Our beautiful lemon roses that remind us of Gran and Grandad Lewis.

Late February, the bath smells a bit doggy.

I don't know how many times I have told her NOT to get up on there. Good thing I love her so much.

End of the financial year means stocktake for Mark so he is really busy, but learning lots about the new business. I am looking forward to Easter. A weekend to all mooch around together.

Have a lovely weekend folks.

Jaz xx

Thursday....again??

Yes. It is Thursday again and I have plenty to be thankful for . Let's see how my head and eyes go at telling you all about it.

Firstly. I met the Neurosurgical team here in Christchurch yesterday. Just a catch up and opportunity to discuss my next MRI. Good news is... the MRIs are now six monthly (as long as nothing nasty is seen). One day it might be yearly. Oh ...something to look forward to!!

I caught up with a regstrar who had been present for my first surgery last year. She was over joyed to see me looking so well, walking, moving, talking etc. Of course, Mark reminds me often of how far I have come, but seeing her reaction was very cool. I often feel a bit trapped still and that recovery from all of last year's happenings just won't happen. But it is happening, gradually, but surely!!

Aside from eyes and brains I try to focus on other things in my life.

Please let me introduce you to our new 5 month old puppy, Rosie.

True love!!

Rosie and Lucy taking a little longer!!! (And yes, that is my bed, and I'm meant to fit in there somewhere!!!!!)

She is not really meant to do this..shhh

I LOVE this!! Every morning when the girls are picked up by a friend for school she watches them go. " Bye Caitlin and Molly"

I just need to teach her how to wave :-)

Last but not least. I am once again thankful for how hard my hubby Mark is working. I am so proud of you Mark.

Jaz xx

Thankful Thursday: a pleasant surprise!

Well would you look at that. 77 of you gorgeous people are still following my blog....despite my disabled eyes and the lack posting.

I am very thankful.

I've worked out...(drumroll)........that with a patch over one eye I can write on here for a few minutes at each sitting. So what do you think. A few words every few days??

I miss posting and still have so much to say LOL.

I'm going to try and move forward with what I've been left with. It feels good to still be waking each day. I'm slowly getting used to being a slightly new version of Jaz. Getting there.

One thing I do know for sure. I miss you all. I miss this. I miss just gas-bagging about "stuff".

So BIG thanks to you.

Nice to be back .........(blowing you a kiss).......

Jaz xx