I must be doing something right!

Today I had 2 compliments:

1. From a workmate who said she saw the cleaner talking to someone this morning but didn't know who it was and then after closer inspection realised it was me!! She said she couldn't believe how much I'd changed shape especially from the back.

2. A friend I went to school with didn't recognise me in the supermarket! (I only saw her about 3 weeks ago) - she did the double take and was astounded as to how different I look!

Wow - what a great feeling that is. I've never had this happen before and am so looking forward to the next 6 months or so to see what difference there will be between now and then.

I also had a bit of really fantastic news yesterday. We receive respite for Jess (usually once a month we get a couple of days/nights) and we also receive a bit of money from another organisation to spend on respite. This money doesnt go far as respite costs about $40-$45/hr so to go out for a night from 6pm till midnight is at least $240 out of our package for just one night out! So as you can imagine it doesn't go far and is easy to spend especially if we are to have any sort of social life. It has got to the point where people don't even ask us out anymore and I have a feeling it is because it has been too hard in the past for us to get away. So if you are reading this and you want to invite us out don't think I'll say no!!!

Anyway - I found out we've been given a bit more money and have to spend it before the end of the financial year. So if we can get care for Jess we are going to take Caitlin to the Cook Islands to a resort for 5 nights in September! I'm so excited as I've always wanted to go to somewhere (anywhere) tropical and we have never taken Caitlin on hols without the restriction (bad word I know but that is the best way to describe it) of having Jess with us. The last holiday we went on we went to Qld it took 2 days to get there, 2 days for Jess to recover and then we took her to Dreamworld and it took Jess 3 days to get over it! I just can't believe it's going to happen - this is like winning lotto to us!! It has taken us a long time to get used to leaving her with other people and have faith in their ability to look after her as well as we would expect but now we take advantage of it when we can - we have to get used to it for her sake and for ours. She needs to get used to being looked after by other people and we have to stop being martyrs and let it happen. Eventually she will go into care as we are not getting any younger and we need to have the knowledge that she is happy and well cared for before we die.

Anyway enough of the D & M - I'm going on holidays!!!! Hooray, hooray.