We’ve had croup and as a consequence, asthma for almost a week in this house

and I am not coping well at all.

Two little people with croup, who are up most nights trying to draw breath

and who are tired and fragile in the day time

is insane.

I’m insane

and exhausted.

Dave and I have slept upright, sharing our bed and our chests with Ivy and Noah for six nights straight.

Some have been with the boy only but most have included the little girl.

Trying to decide what is right for them, without paediatric doctor input bites hard.

(We tried, oh how we tried, my friends but the best we got was a message through the receptionist).

I am hoping that we have reached hump day though

and tomorrow will be bright and shiny and new.

I need them to better

now.

“The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of the final moment but it is no less a magnificent mixture of triumph and tragedy” - John F Kennedy

The theme at I heart faces this week is dramatic black and white.

While we were in the hospital,

Lily quietly auditioned and was awarded a role in her first professional play;

Roald Dahl’s “The Witches”.

This girl is mega talented

and okay, yes, I am a little biased

but you should watch out for her name in the future.

Of all  of the people who auditioned,

my girl is now one of 27 cast members in the production.

She’s not told a soul at school, not breathed a word

she has just silently  made her mark

but

I am not as reserved as she is,

my middle girl,

with the shy smile

so I am going to shout it out loud!

I am proud!

You know  you have something really special when you ask for help and you get everything you need and then some.

Yesterday afternoon I posted about my want to  raise much needed funding for the medical ward, that Ivy stayed in on a regular basis.

24 hours later we are just $410 from reaching the halfway mark to the goal I set.

That is SO amazing.

YOU are amazing

and I want you all to know that I am so thankful for everyone who reached out, who donated, who linked us up.

I would be grateful if you kept on doing what you’re doing.

I have a few things to show you, things you can take, if you want;

to help me keep things moving.

The gorgeous Vanessa has made two wonderful blog buttons for sidebars.

Aren’t they wonderful?

The code for the pink Team Ivy is:

<a href=”http://everydayhero.com.au/team_ivy” rel=”nofollow”></a>

I would love it if you would put it up on your blog.

The amazing Liz made this:

which is going to take pride of place anywhere I can think to put it.

You can have it too, if you want it.

The code for this is: <a href=”http://www.everydayhero.com.au/team_ivy“><img src=”http://www.jarodandliz.com/tempstuff/helping-those.jpg” alt=”Team Ivy” /></a>

Thank you girls!

I am humbled by you both.

A very special thank you to  Laura who donated an amazing photo shoot for the first local person who donated over $120.

It was won very early on!

Congratulations to Mel!

The fundraising is set to end in September.

I am trying to organise some events and more photography shoots, the big kids’ high school came on board this afternoon, with a mufty day next term and they are also going to be selling Team Ivy wrist bands (which I’ll order soon).

Until then,

all I can say is thank you.

I admire all of you,

I love you as a community

and I appreciate every single thing that you have done for us and the little medical ward.