The Tovington Post

Blog: Adelaide - Conductive Education

As of the 28th of November 2013 we are booked in and confirmed!!!

Tova will attend the intensive Conductive Ed program during the entire month of January 2014. 7 Hours a day 5 days a week!

Again we will leave the boys at home. At least this time they are much closer and a $40-$60 plane ride if we need them.

When we got back from Canada I found a Conductive Ed program in South Aus. Actually I found a few all around Australia, but the one in SA was just about to start up an intensive therapy program, similar to the one in Canada.
I contacted the owners and had a chat or two. It just so happens that the lady that runs the one here in Adelaide, went to uni and even shared an apartment with the lady that runs the program in Canada. Small World.

2014-01-26

My alarm woke me at 6am on Saturday. I still had some packing to do, not much, but the trips down to the car and back were annoying. There is only so much I can carry at one time and the distance between the car and the room is quite big, including a flight of stairs and narrow pathways. I got the car all sorted and woke Tova up at about 7.30am.

She got up ate and we left. We got out of Adelaide at about 8am Adelaide time. I was planning on 7am, so 8am is quite reasonable.

We drove, and drove, and drove. It was boring. Very boring.

We drove more, then drove more.

Tova watched DVDs for about 7 - 8 hours of the day. We stopped a few times, ate, stretched our legs and all that. But unlike the drive to Adelaide I rushed our breaks a bit. I wanted to get home in one day.

Once we did eventually get home at about 7pm I decided that if and when we do that again, staying overnight somewhere makes it so much easier. It really is a boring drive. My legs kept hurting from doing nothing. I felt motion for hours after getting out of the car too.

But, it was nice to be home already.

I beeped the car horn when we got home and our boys came out to greet us, including my wonderful Bosun. He leaped over a fence and came bounding towards me. I picked him up, he is so cute, patted him and tried to put him down. He didn't let me.. and dug his claws in when I tried.. Funny cat. I love him. He has been my best friend since something like 2001. He is such a dude.

Tova is so happy to be home. She is now very good at signing MELBOURNE with a big smile. I love it. She is so focused now. I know it is a combination of things, but Future Footprints has alot to take credit for. And the independent play the have brought out in her is outstanding..

The bathroom is almost completed, completed enough to give the kids a bath in there. It is so very much better than the mouldy disgusting bathroom that was there before. And huge now. Thank god.

It is very nice to be home. I'm still unpacking and imagine I will be doing that for a while as it seem so overwhelming.

The kids start school on Thursday. Tova Grade One. And my little Man, well, he starts Prep. His first year of school. I put his uniform on him today to make sure of the sizes before I put his name on everything. Wowzers he is swimming in it. He looks very cute. He is very at peace with starting school. I hope he loves it.

Adelaide was amazing. Even though heaps of it we were sick, the actual reason we were there, the conductive ed was brilliant. Future Footprints is brilliant. I would be tempted to live there for a year if they offered full days 5 days a week. It is probably a good thing they don't. They do have programs 4 days a week and 3 hours a day all year (not in school holidays). But i'm not convinced that is the right thing for us at this stage. Things change all the time though.

We will go back next year I imagine. Now to start saving! Time to win the lotto. I did win $25 the other day.

The photo is of Tova playing with Yuval's shoes this morning when she woke up in her own house! 

2014-01-25

Ok. I forgot to write yesterday and today. 

Yesterday I woke up much better. Of course just in time for going home.

Tova had a great day and there isn't much else to say. 

Today was the last day. Tova was super excited about that. She kept telling me about Melbourne and the boys and School finished, with the biggest smile ever.

The team at Future Footprints were fantastic. They do run throughout the year but only 4 days a week for 3 hour sessions a day. So it is a big decision to come here and miss school for that. But we'll see. 

Tova slept quietly the entire night. Thank goodness.

I woke up with one eye all crusty! NICE.. However, they aren't hurting as much... HOWEVER, they aren't great. A very clever friend suggested going to the eye dr, so I have an appointment with one tomorrow morning. (Thanks K).

I haven't taken panadol at all today, so it must mean I am getting better.

But I haven't really moved at all for 3 weeks. I wonder how unfit and chubby I am now.. great.... Oh well.. It has been a break, perhaps not the best break, but nice to be lazy for a while. I just hope my gym clothes fit me when I get back. I may have to hide in the back dark corner of the room for the first few weeks..

On a more interesting note:

I was telling Tova that we are going to Melbourne in about 2 or 3 days and she signed Aba and Nissim! Omg, she is so focused these days.

The Conductor showed me a video of Tova from today. They have mentioned to me that they noticed Tova doesn't play independently very much and gets adults to do things for her and play with her or she will pretty much do nothing. The said that it must be very hard for me and Yuval.. "Yep, you hit the nail in it's head" I said...

So the video they showed me was of tova, not one adult near her, and her playing with two hands stacking shapes on a stick, and other stuff with the shapes like putting them in one bowl then another.. by her self! OUTSTANDING! We would love Tova to play by herself. Nissim is very good at it... most children are. But not Tova, she kinda shuts down if no one is interacting with her. We use the TV to help with this, but try to limit it.

Ok.. here is to an easy night..

No hospital before we leave!

2014-01-21

I'm on edge a bit. Worried that Tova will get sick in the last days. She was very drooly today apparently. Last week when that happened she ended up being all sick and having to stay home for 4 days. 

My eyes are still from hell. If I wake up crap tomorrow I am going back to the DR. They joys.

I am so glad this didn't happen in Canada.

Well, apparently she was cheeky again today. They again said she is now 100% comfortable with them, so she is now testing the boundaries, which is GREAT.

She is so excited when I pick her up it makes everyone happy, she almost jumps out of her skin! Then in the morning the first thing she asks me is "School?" (Auslan), and shakes her head. But when we get there she is happy to be there. 

Nissim got his school uniform today with Savta and Aba. How cute. He is swimming in it apparently, as is Tova in hers. The uniforms always look so massive on these little people. Two school children starting next week. Craaazy!

I hope Tova and I wake up in the morning fit, healthy and happy! please! please! Please!

No photos as I can't really go anywhere looking the way I do. I did take some photos of my eyes, but I can't bring myself to post them for public viewing - even though only 3  people read this! haha. mum, dad and me! kidding..

I woke up this morning still feeling sick so made the decision that I should take ME to the doctor today. I took some voltaran (MAGIC stuff) and got Tova ready. She looked so beautiful today in her new top/dress that Aba got her yesterday. 

I dropped her off and went to the medical centre where I had taken Tova the other day. I waited for about an hour (which is less time than when I was waiting for Tova) and got given some antibiotics and eye drops. My eyes are on fire. He says probably from the public pool or beach.. great.. My vote is the revolting public pool. I hate public pools and avoid them usually. 

Tova had a good day at her therapy. They said that she was very cheeky today. As if now she is completely at home there and ready to show them her true personality. I imagine she was doing mostly the opposite of what they were asking her to do and laughing. She is so funny. 

I am loving the cool 28-30 degree days now. Glad the 40+ days are over. It is hard to do anything in such heat. 

It isn't as bad today without the boys. Last night was horrible. Today kinda just went back to normal. I'm comfort eating too, which is fun!

Tova is eating back to normal, which means, she is eating heaps happily. She is on day 7 of her antibiotics. Only 3 more to go. She is 100% recovered now. Thank god.

Only 4 more days of this amazing program left for Tova. I'm so looking forward to coming back to do it again, and again, and again as much as Tova needs. 

The boys just left.

It, I, Feel very empty.

They were great to have here.

5-6 more days and Tova and I go home.

This hotel room/apartment is so quite tonight. soooooooooooooo quiet......

So here is what we got up to since I last wrote on Thursday.

Friday- We dropped Tova off at Future Footprints, we stayed for an hour and spied on what Tova was getting up to. Nissim was a good boy and did a drawing and chatted with us and therapists. Tova knew we were there but still did her 'work'.

After that we went to the beach in Semaphore, it was stunning. The day was heating up to be a 47 degrees day, so we didn't stay for too long.

We had lunch at a very average sushi shop, I don't think they use sushi rice, so it was a bit unusual and crumbly. I don't remember much else of the day but pretty sure Yuval picked Tova up and brought her home because it was seriously way too hot to go outside.

Saturday, we were all together. It was really nice. We took Tova on the ferris wheel that was like being inside the pontipines carriage on the ninki nonk according to Nissim and Tova. That was nice and relaxing.

The boys went on dodgem boats and Tova and I went on the carrousel. Again, I don't remember exactly what else we did, but we did it together and it was nice.

Sunday, Today. We went to the city to see the city market, which was closed. So we went to the mall, it was also closed.. BUT opened at 11am. Tova made us stop at every busker, as she always does. She LOVES music. Today was a reasonable temperature too, even with a cool breeze.. which is a very nice change to the 40+ that we have been having.

I have been sick over the past few days too. I have had aching muscles. No idea what that is all about. I took some voltaran today, MAGIC stuff. I feel quite fine now.. but my eyes look like red balls of pain. I tried really hard to not kill the weekend with my stupid let-me-down body, but on Saturday at some stage when we went home for a rest I fell asleep for a few hours, which I never do in the day.

Tova and I took the boys to the airport this evening and watched them board their plane. They are back in Melbourne now. It is so close by plane.

Next year, if and when we come back (I hope we do) I think I will get them to come at the end and drive back with me, because it is such a strange empty feeling here now.

Today was good. Tova well again and eating mostly. .. Not quite back to normal, but again it is 47 degrees.. 

The boys and I dropped Tova off at therapy. She was happy enough to go. 

We then went to a public pool (yuk, I didn't go in, the boys did). 

When we left there was a Koala in the tree down the bottom as he probably thought it was just a touch too hot up the top. Someone had given him a bucket of water too. Poor little dude. 

Then the boys and I had a look at the Adelaide Museum.. not much to see, but air conditioned. 

We picked Tova up in the arvo and pretty much did nothing as it is seriously too hot outside.

The boys are here!

Tova is back at therapy.

The day was an improvement for sure!

And yes, even though I promised myself that there would be no way at all that I would cry when the boys arrived, I had no control. Bloody hell. How embarrassing. Nissim must think I am nuts. 

Tova didn't eat much today. It is 46 degrees, so that could be a contributing factor. I kinda wish it would stop me eating a little.

I love seeing the boys. Nissim is such a dude and Yuval is wonderful.. 

There is someone for me to talk to now, the hotel manager will be please about that as I bug her a bit with my words about things. :-)

We took the kids to the beach after therapy today. Tova loved it. Nissim loved it. I loved it. Yuval loved it!

Little Tova went to sleep so quickly last night and stayed that way with only a few wake ups during the night (that were quite short lived). She then slept until MID DAY! 

I think she slept the remainder of the sickness off. She is good to go today. 

It is 42 degrees today, so we didn't do much. At one stage in the early evening we went for a walk, but I was worried I would boil her, so we went home. 

THE BOYS ARRIVE TOMORROW MORNING! I am so excited. Tova is also excited and knows that once she does her day at Future Footprints there will be an Aba and a Nissim here! woohoo!

So, I will set my alarm and take this young lady back to her conductive ed therapy! OMG this has been quite frustrating. 

I'm not sure what to do with the boys tomorrow as it will be 42 again. Perhaps right to the beach quickly. Or perhaps we will go to the beach with Tova after therapy.. OR BOTH!

Tova didn't eat too well today, but MUCH better than her pickings yesterday. 

Not much else to say. 

It is hot, I love it. Tova is getting better, I love it. 

So the tour of Australian Hospitals continues.

Tova had a very restless night filled with pred, ventolin, neurophen and a cool wet face washer to cool her down. Great... 

When we woke up she was hot and shivering.. Great...

I drugged her up some more and took her to the Children's hospital. I needed to talk to a paediatrician not some random GP. 

After confirming with a family that were getting into their car that they were leaving, I waited for their parking spot. They drove out and a car sped out of the car park next to me and took the spot.. It was unbelievable. I was shaking from shock. He totally knew, there is no way he couldn't, people in the park were shaking their heads. Security came out to see why I was beeping, I shouted at him to rot in hell and then I found a better spot! He was such a jerk "I was here first" he said.. hahahhaha, there was no car on the road but mine. It was a quite side street.. whatever. boring. 

So, we got to emergency spoke to someone right away, talked to a nurse right a way and then were whisked away by a doctor right away. And talked to by him right away! For ages! He had all the time in the world for us. It was outstanding! Brilliant. 

I know Tova looked reasonable. I know her fever had gone from the panadol, I know that her breathing was ok from the breathing drugs, I know I looked like a crazy person. They didn't' mind. I know they don't mind. My biggest hope was that they tell me to go home and not to worry. But he looked at every inch of Tova, even her skin to see if she had any rash, or insect bite.. or anything in the world. He looked in her ears 'A bit red'. He listened to her chest and did everything doctory. ... 

He then said that he wanted to look in her mouth. I said he was about to be very unpopular. So I told him to sing and she would be a little more willing. He sang Chim chim from Mary Poppins.. haha. So funny. So wonderful. Tova 'let him' look in her mouth. That was the AHAAA moment. He found it, he found what was wrong.. Her tonsils have puss (GROSS). I almost cried, actually I had one tear fall down my cheek, from relief of finding the cause. It can be treated now. I knew it was strange she had a fever, I knew it was strange that she wasn't eating. Such relief and such sad too. I feel so bad for her. I should have taken her there on Friday. Who cares if they think I am a crazy person. 

So today she has stayed home all day. Most of the morning was in the ER, the rest she went to bed with the ipad. Now TV to shake it up a bit. I would like her to eat something, but she doesn't want to. 

I have never been in a hospital that is just for kids. It was very nice, very kids... Monash isn't like that. 

It is so hot outside. It would be nice to be at the beach, but we are inside keeping cool. 

So much for getting work done. Tomorrow perhaps?

The boys arrive in two sleeps. They will get here and Tova will be 100% like nothing happened. Typical, be perfect for the daddy! :-) I am very excited about them coming here. We are going to have FUN! As if we were on a holiday (where I have to work to make up the days I just lost)!

Future Footprints is such good therapy for Tova, I hope Tova doesn't have to miss anymore days! It is such a shame. 

Last night was horrible. 

Tova woke many times, spent the night breathing badly and crying from time to time as if she was in some terrible pain. 

It wasn't her ears. I don't know what it was, maybe her tummy from all the drugs I have been giving her - Panadol, Ventolin, Pred, Antibiotics. She hadn't really eaten very much during the day either. My poor little one. 

At something horrible like 4am (which thinking about it is really quite reasonable, it means I had about 3 solid hours sleep before she woke me, which means she probably did too), Tova woke me up by tapping me. Her breathing was horrendous, she was so hot I could barley touch her and she was gasping for air between croup coughs. Croup coughs sound like a seal barking and are quite scary. I had set up all the drugs before I went to bed so that they were all close and I knew where everything was. I hate searching around in the dark half asleep in a panic trying to find life saving tools.

So. I grabbed everything I needed, including my phone to call 000. But there was no time to call 000, yet. I had to give her some potential relief first. So I started with Ventolin, then pred, then panadol then a drink. The Ventolin actually worked, I have never noticed it work before. She calmed down heaps, which doesn't mean much considering how bad she got. But it was calmer. I would have liked to give her an oxygen mask just for half an hour. That is something I don't have. I wanted to wait for at least half an hour to see what the pred did before I called the ambos. She didn't get worse as I watched her second by second. 

Eventually the pred must have kicked in because she calmed down just a touch more. The panadol helped too I am sure. Her fever was horrible. It was all horrible. 

We fell asleep. I kept waking thinking I heard worse breathing. She was the same. 

We woke at something like 9.30am. 

She cried when she woke up. I was sure it was going to be a hospital day. But I touched her face and it wasn't on fire. Wowzers. 

She ate breakfast too, which was a good sign.

We pottered around for an hour or so and then went out for some fresh air. We drove to the beach touched the water sat on the steps leading down to the beach, drank iced coffee and ate avo + banana. She coped. I think the air was good for us. But it was getting very hot and I wanted to keep her cool, so we went to the shopping centre and bought some neurophen, walked around a bit and went home. She has kept the fever off today. Her cough is fair and she seems happier. Not as floppy as yesterday. 

I never know If I am doing the right thing. I hope I did the right thing last night. I really didn't want to go to the hospital. It is really hard to know what to do. I do know that if she had got worse or she hadn't calmed down at all I would have taken her for sure. 

If she is crappy again tonight I will take her. It is getting a bit silly now. 

I don't know what they can do for her though. They do what I do, but in a noisy, bright and yucky place. At least here is quiet, dark and 'home'. It is really hard. 

She didn't have much dinner, but it is hot and she in recovery (hopefully). I'm not worried about the eating. I love that I can say that! 

3 sleeps till the boys get here. I told them to wear bathers on the plane as we are going straight to the beach.. 

I hope Tova is well enough for her therapy tomorrow. PLEAASEE!

Tova is sick. Last night was hard. She was breathing badly and restless all night. I gave her Panadol at various stages. She slept in, but once she was up we went to the chemist spent a million dollars on Ventolin and went to the doctor. There was one next door to the chemist, so I went in. There was simply only the receptionist in the waiting area. Not one single person waiting, yet, she wouldn't let Tova see the doctor without an appointment, and I could only get one NEXT WEEK! ummmm. Nice work lady!

I seriously want to avoid going to hospital. We drove down the road to a medical centre, waited close to 2 hours and eventually spoke to a doctor. 

I'm not convinced about his approach, but Tova is sick in a different way to usual, so I don't know what to do.

She has a fever. I don't know her temp because I don't have a thermometer and neither did the doctor.. (wtf). 

But she is HOT! So hot to touch. She also keeps telling me she is cold and has goose bumps.. gawd. 

The doctor gave me antibiotics. So I will give her that because I am scared. I am also giving her ventolin because she doesn't' seem croupy (no stridor) but she possibly sounds wheezy. 

She has spent much of this afternoon in bed laying down with the ipad. She asked for a bath and then went to bed and fell asleep. There hasn't been much eating today. I think she ate a few bits of banana and almost half an avocado. So unusual for my massive eating T.

Katrina, husband and daughters visited today. It was really nice to meet the girls and hubby. They all seem lovely. I finally can see a small resemblance in one of the daughters to my other sister when she was at a similar age. 

It is quite exciting and bizarre to know them all now. I am happy about knowing them. 

I hope Tova gets better quickly. 

I hope we don’t have to go to hospital. 

I wonder how she got sick. I feel crappy for not protecting her from getting sick. We were supposed to be at the beach having too much fun today. I was going to upload heaps of summer images of us playing in the water and building sandcastles and on the ferris wheel. 

This is not how I imagined our first beautiful weekend of summer at all! 

Poor Tova, she is really sick, really hot and really flat. She is totally lethargic.  

The night was a bit tough. But Tova made it with no hospital nor pred. I possibly could have given her pred during the night, but she was sleeping through her noisy breathing. I didn't want to wake her.

In the morning I watched her for a while and it was obvious that she needed Pred. I gave her some.

She went as white as a ghost (it always does that to her), and her breathing improved.

We went to the shoe shop that sells Piedro Shoes and got Tova some Sandals. I wanted black, they only had pink.. so I got her pink.

We had lunch on Melbourne Street, which is a very beautiful street. The cafe pureed Tova's eggs on toast with no questions asked. Tova was still breathing a little bit silly and not quite herself. 

We spent the rest of the day doing not much.

It is starting to feel like summer! 

There are pigeons outside our room that have just had babies, which is very cute. The babies are mostly quite all day but then they get hungry and ask their parents for food. And then, wow when the parents do come home with food - the babies let the world know how excited they are. 

This morning Tova woke up with slightly noisy breathing, but nothing that really worried me. It of course made me hope to heck that it does’t turn into anything worse. 

I took her to Future Footprints, she was happy to show me all the things she likes to play with, but VERY unhappy when I said I had to go. She cried and broke my heart into a billion pieces. 

I was assured that for the rest of the day she is not sad like that. 

The people that work there, and run that place are lovely. Lovely like the Graz team - genuine. I felt better for hearing that she doesn’t cry all day (which of course I know, but it is nice to hear). 

I went and got us some supplies for the weekend as who knows what shops are actually open in this big little town. 

When I picked Tova up she was walking using canes (and a human helping her). They put weights on the canes to help stabilise them. Good idea. 

While waiting for Tova to come out of the class room I was chatting to some other parents. Some of their stories are just so unbelievable. The horrible things these kiddies have had to go through already in life, just to be alive is amazing. 

Tova was over the moon to see me. Nice!

I was listening to her breathing in the car and when we got home. Not perfect. Not great. 

As I have no idea where I am or where anything is I rang the ‘home visiting doctor’. They came out here a few hours later and gave me a bottle of Pred! I couldn’t believe that I didn’t have to schlep Tova out and try and find a late night chemist. I had to fight back tears. Thank you Dr Hans. 

So now I have that if Tova needs it. I hope not. 

If Tova does need it hopefully it will be enough to avoid going to hospital and having Adrenaline or anything worse!

I’m pretty over this. It would be nice to just relax each night and not have to worry all night about calling 000 and everything that goes with that. 

Here is hoping for a VERY boring night and another day of therapy tomorrow, followed by a weekend at the beach with my lovely Tova. 

Tova is ready for the weekend. She likes her days of therapy, but keeps asking for TV and a bit of a break! Fair enough.

I have noticed a few changes in Tova. Little things that are huge for us! For example: This morning I was getting ready, so I had the TV on for Tova on ABC for Kids. Giggle and Hoot asked the kids watching to roar like some character they were talking about or to.. and Tova did! It was great!

Driving home today Tova noticed an unusual building and pointed at it asking me to tell her what it was and talk about it. Also very cool!

The bed shuffling is also very interesting as she takes baby with her. 

These little behaviours are new and great!

The physical side. Well she refuses to let me pick her up. She wants to walk EVERYWHERE!

We miss our boys! 6 more days and they will be here!

I did the body attack in my room today. It was fun! I warned the hotel manager that I would be jumping around and if the people in the room below me had a problem to let me know. She laughed. 

This hotel is OLD, so the floors and walls are double brick and built well, I don't think anyone heard anything. It is a great room. 

We arrived early to Future Footprints today. I give myself time to get caught up in peak hour traffic. Well, it is a different concept here in Adelaide. Peak hour in Melbourne is horrible, here not so much.

Something I have noticed about Adelaide (the 3 streets of it I have seen), there are heaps of Vets! An unusual amount. I love a city that loves animals so much!

Apparently Tova had a good day today. She was so excited to see me when I picked her up. I love it!

It is nice to talk to the other parents while waiting for the kids to get out of class. Everyone knows so much useful info.

This morning I found a gym that had a BodyAttack class so, I asked for a free pass, got one and did the class. It was only half an hour, but that is ok, they chopped out the tracks that I find 'boring' anyway.

After I got Tova we drove down the road to the beach. Glenalg (sp?). It is out of this world. What a massive beach and a crazy indoor lunapark/water world place that has a ferris wheel out the front.

Tova wants so much to go on the wheel. She cried when I said no. Not sure why I said no, but I didn't feel like it. Perhaps on the weekend. She was unimpressed!

She did make me walk to the water and take our shoes off so we could walk in the water. She wants to go swimming. I think the weekend will be hot, so maybe then.

The boys arrive in a week!!!!

Tova has not played musical beds this evening. I think she is tired.

I love this apartment, it has such a good feel to it. We are happy!

Tova seems heaps more focused in only the past few days. This therapy is very impressive. I am a very big fan of Conductive Education!

The staff at Future Footprints are still outstanding! I love how they treat Tova. I'm not sure where they get all their energy from to do what they do all day, but they are all happy and inspiring when I get Tova at the end of the day. 

Tova was a bit hesitant about going to class today. But happy enough. I told her I was going and she made sure that I told her I was  coming back to get her. I think some times she is worried that she will have to stay places for ever! 

I chatted to some dads who were dropping off kids on the way to work and then went on my way back to the hotel to work too. I wish I had stopped at a gym, but nope, I sat for the entire day working.

Tomorrow morning I am either going to a gym or doing the Attack on the usb. 

When I picked Tova up I chatted with the other mums, they all seem lovely. Their kids are so cute. All the kids seem around the same age ish. 

I think Tova had a good day. Her face lights up so much when she sees me. It is the happiest face I have ever seen!

I drove to pick Tova up with no GPS and the same on the way home. I feel like a local, as long as I stay on the three roads I know. 

Katrina and Jack visited Tova and I this evening. Katrina is my biological Sister, which makes Jack my nephew. He is remarkable, I'm pretty proud to call him my nephew! Tova's cousin! It was great to catch up with them (and their friend also named Jack). Tova was watching the sound of music and made it quite clear that she didn't want to be disturbed by anyone. hehe.

Jack is keen to catch up with Nissim and Yuval when they are here too. 

Adelaide has a nice feel to it. 

Tomorrow we do it all again. 

I am very impressed with Future Footprints, I highly recommend it. They run programs all through out the year, not  only intensive programs like this one.

After dinner I gave Tova a bath, read her books (in one of the single beds pushed together), went out of the room to let her fall asleep. I did tell her to stay in the single bed that is pushed up against the wall so that she doesn't fall out. She nodded. I went back in later to find her in the double bed with baby, baby all tucked in next to her. She is so cute. I am pretty sure she does this for my amusement because I talk about it to her in the morning when we wake up. She laughs. 

We left early just in case. There is no need. We are CLOSE! 

The moment we arrived someone greeted us and showed us the way in. Future Footprints - the people doing the Conductive Ed program, have just moved to a new building, there is no obvious signage. We were greeted by the most lovely husband (covered in paint) of the owner/organiser. He helped me with all Tova's stuff.

Once in Tova looked around quietly, not clinging to me, which was nice. She was curious but cautious. However a few moments later she was whisked away and didn't look back. She felt comfortable from the word go. Lately Tova has been a bit clingy and sooky at new places. But not here. I think she really liked seeing the other kids and also the staff are lovely. Everyone was lovely to her. She did a puzzle and got comfortable.

I asked what was expected of me and pretty much told that I can leave (or stay if I want), I left after a quick intro in to Tova and her eating etc. 

I went food shopping. 

And then Internet Shopping. 

We now have food and internet (but now no money). 

I love this hotel! It is so big and bright and clean. It is a bit lonely, not like Canada where we all lived in the same building. 

I met a mum today, she seems very nice. Local. I told her about Lively Eaters. 

My boys are on my mind. It would be nice to have them around. They are visiting in a week or so. 

Tova had a great day. I hope she has a great day tomorrow.

When I picked her up today she was so beautiful that I almost cried. I had to fight back tears. I think because she was so happy and we came such a long way and it is a success from the word go! 

We shall see what the weeks bring. I have a good feeling, why not!

Tomorrow I start work as we are now all set up. 

Tova has been playing musical beds, tonight she and her fav toy 'Baby' are in the single bed. I think I will push the double up against the single and have one massive bed. 

It is cute to find her in a different bed each night. 

I'm feeling a little horrible, I have pretty much lived off junk food for the last few days and haven't been to the gym for too long. Maybe tomorrow I will jump around to the body attack video I have (given to me by someone very kind). Or perhaps I will just keep eating! Only tomorrow knows. Nighty night. 

2014-01-05

Tova and I set off on Saturday morning at 10.30ish.

I packed everything. I pretty much just took every single item of clothing from our cupboards and shoved them into two suite cases, then went around the house grabbing 'stuff'. It was GREAT because usually we go by plane and can't take much. So much thought goes into packing. I didn't think much on Saturday morning, I just packed.

So with a full car we set off. Tova watched movies pretty much the entire way. We did stop every few hours, sometimes to eat, sometimes to play. There was a park somewhere like Horsham that we spent some time in. We met some other kids driving from Melbs to Adelaide, they were cute and fun to talk to.

It started getting late so we stayed the night at a motel in Kaniva. It was fine. Tova slept in her own bed. I let her decided which bed she would sleep in or even if we would sleep together. She decided to sleep in the single bed and she actually stayed in it all night, covered even. So that is something new.

In the morning we slept in a bit and took ages to get it together, we left Kaniva at about 10ish. Again we drove for a couple of hours, stopped, ate, played, drove and so on. Finally we got to Adelaide. In the morning Yuval had told me about a self contained hotel room that was sort of affordable (Still expensive) so I decided to check it out before heading to the Mother of the guy I met on the plane to Canada's house. Josh (guy from plane) is from Adelaide and his mother has a spare room and VERY generously offered for Tova and I to stay with her. I have been quite worried about staying so far from the therapy place (40mins drive each way for therapy each day). So I first went to one hotel room that I had found. I didn't think much of it. It would have done, but still a bit far (20 min drive each way to therapy). I then went to the one Yuval found. It is about 10 mins drive each way. It is GREAT. BIG, and clean and the owners are so lovely. It is a shame to be spending so much money on somewhere to stay, but it is going to be nice.

There is no net here. So I will have to sort that out tomorrow. Not sure how I would survive with no net.

I spoke to little Nissim on the phone today. It will be nice when he and Yuval come to visit Tova and I in about 10 days.

In the bed room here there is a double bed and two single beds. I pushed the singles together for Tova, but just went to check her and she is in 'my' double bed. So I guess that is her bed now.

I went to go buy groceries, but all the supermarkets shut at 5pm.. However, get this... they open again at 12am.. yep midnight. How strange. So, we don't have anything fresh to eat. I got Tova some noodles and veggies from the noodle/wok box take away. Yuk. But it is food and not so unhealthy.

Tomorrow it all starts.. Again. I hope Tova has a great day tomorrow. I hope I get a chance to go find the internet/dongle. Just like Austria.

Therapy, therapy, therapy.

Hello Adelaide. I wonder what it is like here.