Switch into overdrive!

So much to do today....its amazing what we can do when we put our minds to it, focus and not waste a minute.
On my agenda for the day. Jenny Craig at 8, work at 9 until 10, do the groceries, clean up the house, take the cashbox to rainbow club, take Stef to swimming, have a party for 6 little boys (Steve is taking them to the movies.. thanks steve), clean up the house again, prepare for family bbq tomorrow, pick up birthday cakes, talk to brent about homework, fill out forms for school holiday programs and hopefully meet with a nanny for the kids....the list goes on and on. Oh for a simple life!!
I try to look back to a time when life was simple...must be a very long time ago because I simply cant remember a time when I had nothing to do. I relish my time between 5 and 6am every morning...its a time when the house is quiet, its a time that I can purely devote to me, its a time when I have a chance to take a breath, meditate and work on my own self. It keeps me sane. I know that when I don't do it, I rush around all day and it becomes overwhelming. I move from thing to thing with no plan and no focus, miss doing important things and am terribly forgetful. By doing a plan for the day, I know that I am much better, get a lot more done andcan focus on the task at hand much better, knowing that I have set aside time for the next task. Yes sometimes the plan is thrown out the window, but at least this way I have a plan lol.
Tomorrow I am going to meet a prospective nanny..it will be so good to have a consistent carer for the kids after school. The one I am meeting is a qualified school teacher and sounds keen to learn as much as she can to help Stef along her way. Hoping that she is a lovely person like she sounds and that she can cope with all that our kids bring. I looked into getting care from an organisation...ouch $38 an hour minimum and that they would need two carers....and I would have to apply for funding from one of the charities. It does not take 2 people to care for these kids. OMG, my 78 year old mother looks after them, and so does Marie who is 75. My kids are hardly monsters!
Stef was funny yesterday, PJ day at school. As we were walking down the driveway, she was getting more and more upset. I guess because she couldnt see anyone else wearing the Pjs.....when she got to the classroom though...everyone had theirs on. You could see her sigh in relief. The other kids were excited that she had her pjs on too. Inclusion in mainstream has been so awesome for Stef. Her classmates are just terrific. Its such a joy to see how well this really works for her. I'm not saying that inclusion is right for everyone, but I would love Victoria to have a similar model to West Australia. They have attached special school classes within Mainstream schools. It means these kids don't become as isolated in thier own communities. In geelong, all the special needs kids go to special school...away from their own areas. They almost become invisible, know no kids in their own areas. Its hard to find any kid at Lara Primary who doesnt know Stef....and whenever we go shopping, there are always kids who come up to say hello to her or to give her a hug. Sometimes it brings tears to my eyes to watch just how great these kids are and how well they accept her. I know our attitude has had a part in that. I always give a talk to her classmates about autism at the start of the year. I explain why she does the strange things she does, and how difficult it really is for her. It takes every bit of fear away....the simple knowing why. The kids see it as a privelage to be able to help Stef in the classroom and I cant help but feel they are all much better people for having had the opportunity to love and accept a child like Stef. Its just a pity it all stops at the end of this year. They will always remember her and hopefully will continue to say hello, even when she is an adult. I live in hope that she remains a part of the community....and isnt isolated.
Onward to a new busy day...