Friday, December 24, 2010

CHRISTMAS EVE

18th to 24th December 2010

Christmas Eve is here, I hope that everyone has been nice so that Santa will bring you a special treat, it is also a time to reflect about the birth of a very precious baby, the baby Jesus.  I have my stocking ready to put out, fresh carrots for the reindeer and a delicious treat for Santa.

This week has been a busy one it began with me using my rollator at the AIS while Jarrett was doing track work and I was able to walk from the two hundred metre start to the water steeple jump, a distance of about forty metres and then back. 

In the afternoon I had a splendiferous game of Upwords with Gloria and Rosy, they had never played it before and we had a fabulous time playing it, it really is a fantastic game.  I wonder if any of you will get it in your Christmas Stockings.

I have been dedicatedly working on my physiotherapy circuit of exercises that Rhiannon gave me to do and feel a little stronger every single day, that puts a humungous smile on my face and makes me feel so proud of myself.

On Monday I saw my Paediatrician and he was so impressed with my progress with my mobility, he has taken me off the phosphate supplements as my blood test showed an improvement in my levels, he is organising my MRI to be done prior to an oncology review and lumbar puncture in Sydney on 1st February.  An issue that has to be watched is my height as I have not grown as I should be and that is a side effect of the high doses of radiotherapy that I had to have during my treatment, my paediatrician will continue to monitor this.

We have had quite a few visitors this week which reminds you that Christmas time is a time when people take the time to see those that they care about. I also sang some Christmas Carols as a gift to my family and Jarrett was my supporting act with his terrific version of We Wish You a Merry Christmas. 

Nalani's knee is looking much better than it first did and she is working hard on her physiotherapy exercises hoping that in the New Year she will be able to bend her knee rather than having it straight all the time and so limited in what she can do.

Nana and Pop arrived from Queensland, Canberra is going to be much drier than Queensland for Christmas so I am so glad that they made it here safely.  Today we spent the day cooking lots of scrumptious treats for Christmas.  We made Coconut Ice, Vanilla Kisses, Mini Chocolate Biscuit Puddings, Dips, Chocolate Cake Pops, Apple Turnovers and my masterpiece was a Christmas Tree Meringue Tower which I have put a photograph of on this entry.  I was exhausted by the end of our cooking day, but I had so much fun whilst doing it, everyone joined in and helped.  Now all that is left is to eat it all over the next few days, I can hardly wait to taste it all.

Well, Christmas Eve is here and I have had such a huge day, it is now time for me to head off to bed, I hope you all have a very joyous and blessed Christmas. 




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10 comments:

Lyn said...

Happy Christmas Dainere! I have been reading your blog for the past few months which unfortunately, for you, coincided with your recent struggles that I am so glad to hear have for now passed.

You write so beautifully and share your journey with the world with such grace. Your words strengthen and encourage me in my own life each time I read one of your entries.

I am so impressed by your Christmas Tree Meringue Tower! It is just beautiful! Meringues are my very favourite sweet. And it was great to see you looking so joyous and vibrant in your photograph.

My little boy, Felix (almost three) is asleep now, waiting for Santa, and I am doing all I can to make it a magical Christmas for him.

I hope that you too have a magical, happy Christmas with your amazing family. They are a very lucky family too, getting to share all those scrumptious treats with you!

Merry Christmas Dainere!

Lyn & Felix
x

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas Dainere and to all of your family too. So glad Nan & Pop are there, I'm trying to get my boys into bed!! It's very late and they keep finding excuses to stay up!

Anyhow, your cooking expedition sounds grand not to mention your tower. That's a score of 10 out of 10. You should email that picture to those Masterchefs, you've put them to shame.

Sleep tight, ENJOY your Christmas day,
Love Fran xo

Anonymous said...

Hi Dainere,

Your meringue tower looks lovely...enjoy eating it, I'm sure it will be yummy.

Happy Christmas to you and all your family - it is lovely that your Nan and Pop are there to spend it with you too. Hope you have a wonderful day!!!

Lots of love,
Steph D and family xxx

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas Dainere, have a wonderful day with your beautiful family, hope santa brings you something very special, I am so jealous of your meringue tower I don't think I could make one like that, well done.
Luv Susan xx

Anonymous said...

i wish u a very merry christmas dainere,
i hope u got somthing speciel from santa i got a motorbike which i lernt to ride in half an hour.
ur meringue tower is beautiful i wish i could make somthing like that i do cook the best choc chip cookies tho.
god bless u dainere as i continue 2 follow ur blog.
love emily abela xxxooo

Anonymous said...

Hi Dainere , Mery Christmas to you and your family,we hope you had a great Christmas day.
You are so right Dainere , Christmas is such a very special time isnt it .

I was speaking with my neice on Christmas day , (UK Christmas ) and she was telling me how excited when her daughter , Amey aged 4 she saw Santas foot steps out side the front door when she went to see if the carrot had gone. Which it had

We hope you recd lots of nice things.

Well done Dainere at the AIS , oh goodness me you have done so well , what a great distance for you , keep it up , also great news about your circuit exercises that Rhianon gave you to do , oh you are doing so well , , I feel that 2011 is going to be such a good year for you my friend . We look foirward to hearing how your MRI progresses and reading your updates on this.

Yes Christmas is lovely isnt it , I read this quote a few adays ago Dainere , and am sure you will like it : "The best of gifts around any Christmas Tree is the presence of a Happy Family all wrapped up in each other ",Burton Hillis , isnt that nice.
Please give our best wishes to Nalani , she is doing well , keep it up Nalani.

OH my gosh , all those yummy yummy things you made Dainere , you are making my mouth water , and the Christmas Tree Meringue Tower looks simply stunning , you are such a clever girl, it is perfect in every way , its shape and colour , and im sure the taste was fantastic.

Well we hope you had a splendiferous Christams aday and all the celelbrations , and especially being at home with your lovely family , makes it even more special.
Lots of love , hugs and kisses from Stuart and meryl xxxxxxxx

Anonymous said...

Hello Dainere, I love the photo of you with the Christmas Tree Meringue Tower. It is sensational!
So happy to read you've had a fun and exciting lead up to Christmas, and congratulations on improving your mobility so much. You have put in so much hard work and dedication to do this and you should be very proud of yourself.
Hope your Christmas weekend has been wonderful and best wishes for a very happy 2011 for all your family.
Love from Lynda xx
P.S. I'm reading your book. Thank you for all the inspiration and movitation you are giving so many people.

Anonymous said...

heyy Dainere,
Sian here!
Merry christmas and i wish that you had a merry one!
I miss you alot!
I would love to see you more often but, we all cant do what other people want.
But, i hope that you are feeling better and i am so happy that you are getting better with your mobility!
I hope that Nalanis knee starts to feel better soon!
I really do mish you Dainere!
Best wishes to you and your family Dainere!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
See you next year at school!

Hope you are feeling your best and dont forget keep that smile on your dial!

Love from Sianxxx'


P.S. I loved your book i suggest that u keep writing!

Love from Sianxxxx

Hannah Jane said...

You are a great inspiration!!

Rhiannon said...

Happy Christmas and soon to be New Year!! Your photo looks great and the tower is extremely impressive!! Thanks so much for the lovely earrings - I'm wearing them at the moment. Looking forward to seeing you and the rest of the Anthoney gang in 2011. Rhi xx