"Oh the places you will go"… A reflection of the past and excited about the future

As 2013 comes to an end, and we look forward to Ellie starting school in 2014, it has made me reflect on the last 5 years.

I still cannot believe that Ellie is going to be a school kid, a little prep kid.

Its not that I ever doubted her, or that I thought it wouldn't happen…

Its just that when you look back at the first few years of Ellies life, we had a lot of downs compared to ups… & when we had those downs it was very hard to look into the future, to imagine what Ellie would do, to imagine what she would become, and to imagine what she would achieve.

Upon reflecting back on Ellies 5 years, I went back to old photos, and put this video together. This shows how far our little fragile baby has come.

She has become a strong, determined, resilient, beautiful, young girl… I am very excited to see what 2014 brings for Ellie and for Ellie to show us all that she can achieve.

Enjoy the video, it is a long one, as I had to many favourite photos.

Your off to great places, Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting, So… Get on your way

This free picture slideshow generated with Smilebox

5.. How did we get here??

There are times that I feel like Ellie has been here forever and I cant remember my life before her.
Times when I think back and realise how far she has come.

Then there are times when I feel like it was only yesterday that Ellie came into our lives.... and I can still feel those raw emotions of fear and joy.

Fear of what was to come?
Fear of what Ellie's life would be like?
Fear of what our life as a family would be like and how our life would change?
Fear of the unknown?

Joy at the arrival of our precious little girl.
Joy at our family of 2 becoming a family of 3.
Joy at this little thing that was going to amaze me..!!!

These are days like August 22. Ellie's birthday. This year she turned 5.

5..!!! Where did that come from??? What I have a 5 year old.

Over the last 5 years, there are still occasions where I go back to those fears I had when Ellie was born. There will always be some sort of fear of the unknown with Ellie. That just comes with having a child who has a disability.

However that is only short lived. When I look at our girl, and she reminds me that she is a strong, determined, resilient and funny girl, that has so much love to give.

It amazes me that we are here at 5, planning school next year for Ellie.
It makes me beam with pride how well she has fitted into kinder, and melts my hear that she has made her own kinder friends.
It makes me SMILE and helps subsides those fears...!!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful Ellie. You bring us so much joy...!!!