One exciting thing that happened in 2008 was on December the 19th! Alan and I had our 10th year wedding anniversary! Yep, 10 years!!! I was 20 when I got married and Alan was 21. I am very proud of our 10 years. Not many people make it to 10 years these days........and we are no normal couple with the stresses of FA at our door step all the time. I commend Alan and am very grateful to him for sticking around throughout the hard times with FA. It should come naturally to any spouse but sadly, it doesn't and many people don't hang around. Well my guy is extra special. He takes care of me all the time and stands by me when FA gets tough. I love Alan with all my heart and I want to thank him for 10 wonderful years. I would never want to be married to anyone else. I want to grow old with him. We have had many challenges together like Isaac, our little boy, being born 13 weeks early. We spent 3 months along side Isaac's humidy cot while he was in hospital "cooking" some more so he could come home. That was a tough period but worth while! We have gone through many bone marrow biopsies together and scary results. We have endured the diagnosis of a small, serious, head tumor that was cancerous and had it removed. Alan stood by me in 2007 when I was seriously sick and hospitalised with pneumonia.......as you can see we have had plenty happen. We have had wonderful things happen as well though. Alan is my best friend. I have enjoyed all the laughs that we have had.....and will continue to have. I have enjoyed going to the movies together and having romantic evenings! I have enjoyed our family holidays and outings. I am proud of what we have achieved as a couple with Fanconi Anaemia Australia. Alan has put a lot of time and energy into FA Australia to get it to where it is.....our first camp last year was a real milestone. Overall, I have enjoyed being married to Alan and look forward to more crazy and exciting moments with him.....hehe....Thanks Al!
So I actually planned a surprise gathering for him in his honour on the night of our anniversary. My cover was that we were going out for a romantic dinner together. Then we were going to walk by the river and come home for a nice night together. Meanwhile, he did not realise that I was planning a surprise party. I contacted all his friends and my friends.....people who are significant since we got married. Once Alan and I left for dinner, I told both parents and they came over to set up for the party. I had ordered a cake and had made a "photo board" of our journey together as a couple. They set it up for me. Alan and I actually did go out for a romantic dinner and a walk by the river but I had to get him home by 8pm for the surprise party. It was difficult....hehehe.....because I didn't want him to know. One of our friends, hehe.......even rang Alan's phone and asked if they were supposed to be at our house for some anniversary thing! Haha.......if you are reading, you know who you are.....hahahahahaha!!! Alan thought he was pulling a prank! Hahahahaha! I managed to get Alan home at 8.30pm and he got a BIG surprise! Haha! He said it was his first surprise party! Haha! I haven't got the photos from the actual party yet. I need to get them off of mum. However, Alan and I took some photos of ourselves while walking down at the river where Alan presented me with a beautiful bracelet with some diamonds in it :-) See our photos below!
In case you have not noticed.....I rather like wearing this dress :-)
This is the photo board that I made for Alan. The journey begins. It is hard to see but the first number of photos are of Alan and I at my 19th. We were just courting then. We went to see the Phantom of the Opera......then our engagement, my bridal shower, the wedding, the honey moon, our first Christmas on our honey moon, our African holiday, with child, Isaac born and now.......
I took a photo of this photo on the photo board.....haha! I am 19 here, Alan 20....we were going to the Phantom of the Opera together!
You can't see this very well.....another photo of a photo because I couldn't be bothered scanning :-) This is us kissing at our engagement.
The picture of me holding the cat is one of my only pictures while I was pregnant! The others messed up! What a shame! Also you can see one of Isaac when he was born. He was only 27 weeks gestation when born.....so tiny!
We were on our honeymoon when we had our first Christmas. In the Flinder's Ranges here in Australia!
My 30th birthday party down on the right.....in our formal wear!
The board again....
Ok, I never got to post our Christmas Eve and Day photos. Here is the cubby we got Isaac all "wrapped up"....hehe. He loves it!
Christmas Eve......the cat's Christmas Tree, their presents and Santa's milk, cookies (eaten) and carrot....hehe
Isaac sleeping! I did move the snuggly from his neck. It wasn't wrapped around. He was VERY asleep!
Our stockings hung up! Isaac's is very full! We just had lollies....that's all we needed :-)
Christmas Eve......Isaac goes to bed...no presents.....he wakes up in the morning......presents!!! I used to love that about Christmas morning and still do!!!
Christmas Day photos are out of order. This is Alan's Aunty's house. His family was there for Christmas Day. We went there for Christmas tea or dinner. It was a warm day and Isaac and Alan went in the pool with Alan's cousins
Me....in that dress again.....at Alan's family's house
Uncle Darren.....Alan's brother....I think this is a sweet shot....he was being silly though..hehe
Aunty Angela......Darren's fiancee...nice shot :-)
The Fam!
Me with my Christmas present.....a video camera!
Over the last year or so, Nanna (Denise) and a whole lot of other family members have been knitting Isaac a big blanket . Nanna gave it to Isaac this Christmas because it is finished! It looks great!
Alan's mum (Denise/nanna), myself and Alan
Now this is my parents' house. We were here for Christmas Lunch. They also have a pool. Isaac got a radio controlled boat for Christmas from my mum and dad. I was having a go at "driving" it! Yes, yes, I promise that Isaac drove it the most!
Christmas Lunch! Doesn't it look yummy! Seafood!
Isaac and his radio controlled boat!
Isaac having his lunch!
Isaac and Eliana (cousin, my niece) laughing and shouting something like, "Presents, presents" Haha!
Alan and I by my parents' Christmas Tree!
Isaac posing. He is cute.
Now this is at the beginning of Christmas Day. At our house. Alan in his PJ's .....hehe......he got a GPS for Christmas from me :-)
Isaac setting up a bigger and better track with him new Thomas accessories that he got for Christmas!
Isaac and his Thomas accessories that he got from Alan and I and Santa for Christmas....haha There is Rollercoaster Moutain, a railway crossing for cars and extension tracks.....
Opening presents
Transformers! Thanks Aunty Jacqui!
This is the railway crossing that Santa got for Isaac. For weeks and weeks up to Christmas Isaac didn't know what he wanted and he said, "you decide". So I did. Then we went to see Santa a week or two before Christmas and Isaac asked him for a railway crossing where cars can cross over to add to his Thomas Track. Ever since he asked that day he kept mentioning it every day. He would say, "I hope I get that crossing for Christmas..." Well we looked everywhere for one! Ha! We couldn't find one. We went on the net and everything was in the USA or UK and would not ship to Australia. Then we went to e-bay and guess what......?????? There is was!!!! New and not used and right around the corner from our house....kind of! Haha! God was kind to us and answered our prayers.....so Isaac got what he asked for! Haha!
Well, I hope you enjoyed the photos....they were backwards. That closes Christmas for last year (how weird is it saying that????)Happy Anniversary for another year.....11 years at the end of this year.
We did go on holidays to the river for a couple of days. I have some photos of that too.......so more posts to come!
Medically, I have infusion coming up this Friday and my infusa port surgery the next!!!
Love you all,
Charisse
