5 Years out of Treatment

well we are now in 2015 and miss Alex has hit the magic 5 years out from treatment so we can officially say REMISSION :)
she is now seeing a renal specialist due to above normal creatinine levels and they have fluctuated up and back to the above normal levels so we now are being monitored for her kidney functions ( about time as we hit the 5 years with out a renal visit) Alex also suffers from Neuropathy and her calf muscles are causing issues that may lead us to casts on her legs to stretch them and at 10 she is growing so that shortens them even more but at this point is stretching exercises that we hope can help and maybe skip the casts
she also now suffers migraines so we will see a neurologist about controlling them and keeping her comfortable,
but all in all she is growing into a beautiful Young Lady at now 10 1/2 she is smart and a true advocate for Childhood Cancer
below  are some photos from our fun day with Camp Quality this month just before Alex's little sisters 8th  birthday at Bounce Australia

Camp Quality Puppets Kylie and Dean

type-rope walker

we have scans in March and should see us go onto yearly scans and oncology visits, even with renal every 3-6 months plus ortho and neuro  its getting better
will post some more photos soon and update after march next lot of scans and appointments

update

we are all well
Alex had her last set of scans in October and still can see shrinkage in the remaining mass ( almost 5 year ago she ended treatment so good to see)
we have not done much at this point but Alex had Middle camp with Camp Quality in April

we got to meet some of the characters from StarWars with butts on bikes for prems and also Jimmy from Jimmy's Walk for Cancer,

we had a lovely week down at Bradley's Place in Victor Harbor thanks to CCA in July also, girls enjoyed time with family and seeing Kangaroos in the crisp morning air so relaxing and serene ♥

Girls school did the hairlarious day raising funds for CCA

Alex turned 10 (15th July) and 5 years ago we had been told that no treatment she would not have seen her 5th Birthday so special to know we are still a family standing tall against Childhood Cancer

After October scans and bloods have been told kidney function is lower than it should be so we got a referral to renal specialist Alex has slight damage to her kidney from treatment, at this point be are now in at renal every 3 months for bloods and scans just to monitor and if anything comes up act to slow down any more damage,  March 2015 we go onto 12 monthly scans for oncology though 😊

we also had family camp with Camp Quality this month a nice weekend away at Douglas scrub, fun but raw with the high emotions as we all spoke to Red Kite about our journey, which bought up more then we tell most about and hearing others stories even long term ones over 5 year gap

this is our year all out in one post but other news is we had Robyn diagnosed with Dyslexia a reading issue she is clever but can not decode words so now working on how best to help her learn her own way🔠
I am struggling with studies and looking for cord bit hard but will keep moving forward
hubby plodding along as men do with added stress

but it's nearing Christmas so positive and fun ahead even with bloods et,
want to take girls to see the magic cave and Santa yes my 10 yr old still believes in Santa 💖🎄🎅

Will post photos soon in another post with Xmas events added too

Camp Quality Events March 2014

the month of march is a hard one for us as we look back 5 years this month to the time when Alexandria was diagnosed with cancer, but she is doing so well and we have had a great month of fun, adventure.  Alex had her first 6 monthly scan and doctors visit and that was great as we found out her remaining Mass is still slowly Decreasing in size ( I do Happy Dance with the family Here)♥♥♥

some photos of Alex in 2009 to now

2009 and early 2010

2012

 Now 

March the 9th we had an fun day with Camp Quality, we spent the day learning Archery and the girls had a ball it was interesting how much fun was had by us all and thanks Camp Quality for the chance to try this.

Alexandria and Robyn's school also got a visit from the Camp Quality Puppets, they do such a great show and the girls went into different sessions and I think everyone at the school loved them.

March the 16th we had a Mannum river cruise day again with Camp Quality and I got to show the girls some of where I grew up as a child, must say it has changed a lot but still a lot the same as I remember, Mannum is a small town with 2 ferry's that transport cars across the river. we had a short cruise up the river on the Proud mary and both Girls got to steer the river boat, after we had a BBQ lunch and got to check out the CFS fire trucks and local police paddy wagon as well as a nice drive around Mannum in a modle T ford Limo
(all photos in slide show )

was also hard as the last time I was up that was was in 2009 just after my Father had drowned in that same river ♥

Christmas and new year fun days 2013

this post is big but not long as it has both CCA and Camp Quality Christmas things we have done over November and December so as not to post many small posts I wanted to do one
 we are doing well so this blog is becoming just the fun things we do as a family as we enjoy what we have and make wonderful memories, Alexandria's appointments etc will also be posted as we get to them
may we see a cure soon for Childhood Cancers and no child have to endure what we have seen many families go through ♥

on the 24th November the girls had their Camp Quality Christmas Party here in SA we went down to Glenelg and met families we have met on Family camp :)
the girls had 2 hours at the beach house ( this is where the old Magic Mountain was when I was a kid lol) then BBQ and face-painting and tattoos on the park with a visit from Santa


on Monday the 25th of November we went up to the west end brewery for a photo at the Christmas display I was disappointed in the story as it only told Alexandria's story the other young girl has Type 1 Diabeties and this is also something that should be addressed and awareness spread ♥


 Friday the 29th we went back for the brewery lights and a tour etc Santa visited again

sunday the 1st dec we had our Childhood cancer association Family Christmas party and wow that was wonderful, the biggest event we have been to so much to do and so much fun had by the girls , I love seeing them both have a great time

our last event was zoo passes from united way thanks to Camp Quality for passing them onto us, we had a great day at the Adelaide Zoo

here is a slide show with many photos from all of the events

we didn't do much in the new year went to the beach, movies etc , got reaby for school going back and cheer-leading for the girls 

Miss Robyn turned 7 and we are planing a party soon for her 

other than that all is great with us all healthy, happy and enjoying what we have together

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and new year and every moment with Family is special even those small ones  memories make your life story how ever long you get to spend with your loved ones ♥

City to Bay 2013

yesterday we walked with a good Family Friend the 3km in Adelaide's "City to Bay"
we walked with Giggles and the kids had a Ball even though tired,
giggles met some new friends on the way with the lion from Heart Kids and Ronald MacDonald as well as many little people wanting a wave or high five ♥

ready for the City to Bay 2013

making new friends

even girls making friends

and more new friends

girls too

and giggles handy work as he shaved my hair to no.3 

so far raised $244.10 and open til october for anyone wanting to support a great cause

Mazz & Family city to bay


we also got to go to the Adelaide show this year was not on our to do list but Camp Quality gave us the tickets for a wonderful family day out, the girls had a ball

miniture horse 

;)

girls being silly 

snakes

Miss R holding snake

Miss R holding blue tongue 

Miss A with the dragon

horror house Miss A said No Way

fun house Miss A having fun :)

giggles head taking up back seat lol on way home

Dutch tall ships & school excursion

29th august, that afternoon we had a great afternoon and got to have a look through 2 of the 3 dutch tall ships that are in Adelaide for the tall ship Festival of maritime trade, and this is the first time in 100 years these ships have been to Australia 
http://maritime.historysa.com.au/events/2013/tall-ships-visit-adelaide
http://www.dutchtallships.com/
oosterschielde is one of the 2 we got to have a private tour over, these ships and almost 100 years old and restored to former glory, but with some modern added luxuries,
this day was thanks to Childhood Cancer Association...
we also shared our story with the local paper and they took our photo, alex was scared but she did well in the end 
the story was slightly wrong though as it said all children were still going through treatment but they were all 2+ years off treatment!

Port messenger story

photo from story

on Monday 2nd September,  I got to go with both girls with their school excursion, it was also part of my studies to finish cert 3 educational support, no job prospects as most is volunteer work but a start :)

we went by train then to the university of SA and the planetarium was a great day but very long,

now I can relax as finished my studies and can look at other things with my beautiful Family

Remember to wear GOLD for Childhood Cancer Awareness this month ♥

Remember we are doing the 3km walk in the City to Bay this weekend (15th September) for Camp Quality and will be walking with mr Giggles himself (hubby).

we have raised a little ($91. ) but its a start and even that is something towards a great cause :)

City to Bay here we come

today we as a family signed up to walk the 3km and we also had hubby volunteer to wear Giggles costume for the walk so please share our link and help us raise funds for Camp Quality and awareness about our beautiful warriors out there

Thomas Family's Fundraising page

this is in September this year

below is a link to Camp Quality so you can see what they do to help families but also read posts on this blog as we have had many days of laughter with Camp Quality
Camp Quality

Birthdays

Miss A  turned 9 this week and we did go out for lunch with her god mother and the family,
she got 4 monster high dolls she has been upset this last 6 months as every girl in her class as well as her own sister all had a monster high doll so I had been told she wanted that for her birthday
we are doing a Birthday parts soon for here but as school only went back today I have not sorted it out yet and will be in a couple of weeks

she will have a proper cake at the party too

school holiday fun

we had two weeks of school holidays with Miss Alex having her 9th Birthday in the middle ( my Birthday was too) Alex and Robyn met some of the Australian Ballet company Dancers with CCA (Childhood Cancer Association) Robyn missed out on her sibs day due to everyone getting gastro and I did not want to put any other family that may be going through treatment still at risk so we had a day in bed watching Harry Potter the girls had a ball ♥
we went to the movies two times we got to see Epic with My cousin and aunt, and we got to see Despicable me 2 with my good friend and her son♥
as July is winter in Australia we had a very wet last week of these holidays and did most stuff inside,

My Computer is now the hubbies I get a small laptop to play with and use this ONY when needed lol

super moon 

last day at school awards Alex  got

Robyns award last day of term

 Australian Ballet Company dancers meet some CCA families

elmo trying to get me to pay for Photos 

first day back at school and we have a rainbow ♥

every day we have together is a blessing, this morning I went to the gym as I want to get healthy so I can help my girls stay healthy 

I have also looked at signing up for the City to Bay this year in Adelaide so will be needing training to get through the 3 or 6 km walk there too