Sweet Sixteen

[llywela]

My Not So Small Sis turned 16 on Monday. It's hard to believe. It seems like only yesterday Barnardos asked my Mum to look after this new little baby from one of their Mother and Baby units for a few days a week. That was all it was meant to be: five afternoons a week for six weeks because the baby had a cleft palate and the parents were struggling to cope. Mum had provided respite childcare for a whole string of Barnardos babies already, this was just one more in a long line. Whoever would have dreamt, that first day when we were introduced to this teeny little week old baby, that she'd eventually end up being ours for keeps? The last 16 years have not been easy. Watching her parents destroy themselves with drugs and alcohol was not easy. The decision to adopt was not easy. The adoption process was not easy. And raising a child both physically and emotionally damaged by the actions of her parents has not been easy. As well as the cleft palate, now repaired, Chel has hearing loss, asthma, a deviated septum, learning difficulties, a speech and language disorder, and is on the autistic spectrum. She can be extremely hard work - more often than not, in fact. She is classed as highly vulnerable and will likely need a lot of support all her life. But despite all her problems and disadvantages, she has grown into a vivacious, vibrant young woman brimming with life and passion. She left school this week, and is now looking forward to a still uncertain future with trepidation but also with hope and enthusiasm. I am proud to call her my sister.



Sweet 16


We spent Chel's 16th birthday at Manor House Wildlife Park near St Florence, Pembrokeshire, as Chel was shadowing a zookeeper for the day (well, for about 2 hours, anyway) as her birthday present. While the rest of us were wandering around being normal visitors, Chel was behind the scenes having a private tour with one of the keepers, learning about the animals and going into the enclosures to feed and groom some of them. She had an absolute blast - well worth the price!

Chel in with the tapirs before she disappeared into the hut to groom them, hand-feeding a nursing wallaby, and getting ready to feed the lemurs


A lot of the wallabies seemed to have nursing infants in their pouches - some sprawled in the most uncomfortable looking positions, others jumping in and out!


Is this a chicken or an animated feather duster?!


Brother Mine, the goat whisperer


Feeding time in the lemur run


It's that time of year when all the randy peacocks like to shake those tail feathers!


This crow really wanted to share Chel's lunch! So we gave him a few chips - but he threw one of them back at us!


Then to round the day off, the birthday girl had a ride on a dragon...

Comments

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday Chelsea - and wow! Looks like a fun day at the wildlife park too - I love the dragon! *g*

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

This wildlife park is owned by Anna Ryder Richardson, the former Changing Rooms presenter - she bought it with her husband a few years ago and there've been a few TV series' now on ITV Wales following their progress as they learn how to run a zoo. I've only caught a few episodes, but one of the ones I watched was the one where they had that dragon delivered - and had the palava of trying to get it installed in just the right position and orientation, with a crane...

So it's quite nice to see it in situ, now!

[bowtrunckle.livejournal.com]

Happy b-day to your sister! Cheers to the next 16 years. :)

And, ha, that chicken! LOL!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

The chicken was amazing - and full of attitude, too. Which, I can't really blame it. I think I'd be a bit feisty, too, if I had to walk around looking as fluffy as all that!

[karenmiller.livejournal.com]

There is some serious stuff bonding you guys. It's an amazing story. Looks like she had a faboo day!

Hippy bippy burfleday!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

You know, some of the stuff that went on during that whole process was seriously unbelievable - if someone filmed it and put it on TV, no one would believe it could be real. I often say that I feel like I'm living in a live action soap opera at times, but it's true!

Chelsea certainly changed all of our lives. But we wouldn't be without her now. :)

[femsc.livejournal.com]

Hang on though, how the merry thump has she turned 16? She only left primary school a couple of years ago! It can't be that long... can it?

Bewildered, of Rhondda.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

I know, right! Have we really been lurking around LJ as long as that?

[femsc.livejournal.com]

Um, yes. Anyone got a spare life they're not using? It seems I could probably do with one... ;)

[catsdownunder.livejournal.com]

I'm singing 16 candles now.

Happy Birthday Chelsea.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Cheers!

[synaptikchaos.livejournal.com]

That chicken is incredible! :p

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

The fluffiest chicken in the world!

[rosie55.livejournal.com]

Looks a grand day - Happy Birthday, Chelsea!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

And it even stayed dry for us!

[justwolf.livejournal.com]

The wildlife park looks amazing. What a great present!

It's good to see Chelsea growing up and becoming her own person. Nice pictures! I hope leaving school is a good move for her and she'll be happier in a less academically oriented environment.

I love the wildlife pictures. That crow is also very cute!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

That crow was awesome, it got so close! There were loads of crows all around and they were all pretty friendly, but that one was the friendliest!

Edit - although it did throw a chip at us, so maybe not quite so friendly as all that...unless it decided we looked hungry enough to need the chip more than it did!

[justwolf.livejournal.com]

I like crows! They're often so friendly. I gave one with a limp some oat bar today, it seemed to enjoy it. I'm surprised yours didn't want to eat a chip though, I've seen them devouring them very keenly at the beach!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

In fairness to the crow, I don't think it really intended to throw the chip back at us - it was pinning them down with its foot to pull bits off, so I suspect it just pulled a bit too hard and the chip went flying! It was very funny, though.

[agentxpndble.livejournal.com]

I can't believe how time has flown the past 7 years I've known you - And through it all, I've been so proud to call you my friend. You have been more of a parent to her than a sister and I know I never could have shown the skill and dedication to raising her that you have - I'm just not built that way. I'm in awe and you should be proud of yourself for the part you've played in her life - It was no "small" thing. :::HUGS:::

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Aww, thanks. ♥

In all honesty, I don't think I'd have the patience to deal with Chel full time - my mother has the patience of a saint! But I try to do my best to support them both. I can't see me having kids of my own, so I've always said I use up my maternal instincts on Chel and then hand her back!

...she's coming round for her tea tonight, as it happens, because I made the mistake of telling her I've got a beef casserole in the slow cooker and she loves my casserole...

[kelzies.livejournal.com]

Time sure does fly, doesn't it? Happy belated birthday to Small :D Awesome photos, glad you had good times at the animal park!