Too Peas In A Podcast Mandy Hose and Kate Mulholland toopeasinapodcast

Mandy and Kate talk to Sonja, a self proclaimed Norwegian princess and introduces us to her gorgeous daughter Emmy who lives with Patau Syndrome or Trisomy 13. Emmy was born 7 weeks prematurely, in a dramatic entrance which has paved the way for Emmy's life so far. Sonja shares the story of Emmys birth, her time in SCN and the genetic testing and diagnosis of Patau Syndrome and the mosaic nature of the results. This time was gut wrenching whilst Emmy was in hospital and they couldn't be together.
She came home at 6.5 weeks and was healthy and growing beautifully. Sonja began the journey of hip dysplasia and microcephaly initially and had a hip brace and avoided a head brace. Emmy then got her nickname as baby Elton John with her first pair of glasses.
Sonja grew up in America, and lives in Melbourne, so her family came to Australia with their family heirloom gown for Emmy to wear at her christening. It was a very special time.
Sonja was told to google Patau Syndrome/Trisomy 13 by her Doctor and she found it affects one in 4000 - 20,000 people. Emmy's geneticist told Sonja that her results had not been found in anyone else in the world and now that Emmy is older, they have met another little boy from QLD.
Emmy has had some significant respiratory illness in her life and at age 3, she was extremely unwell and had a cardiac arrest in the ambulance on the way to RCH and thankfully was resuscitated and recovered. She had many respiratory admissions to hospital for many years.
Emmy began schooling in mainstream, and then moved to a specialist school in grade one which coincided by covid 2020. Emmy enjoys school and is now in grade 6.
Emmy is dramatic, friendly, be anyones best friend, she is a storyteller with a terrific memory. She is a Special Olympics athlete and loves being a part of it. She is now heading into the secondary school with a new diagnosis of Autism and Intellectual Disability and the tours for the schools have began.
Sonja is a florist and loves using the creative part of her brain. She is pausing her florist business at the moment, but follow her for when she returns.
Thank you for sharing your story Sonja.
You can find and follow Sonja on Instagram @sonjabarrettgibbons and @sonjagibbonsfloraldesign
Plus:  
Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of Us!Leave us a speakpipe Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us!Melbourne forecast for Thursday April 25  - Shower or two,  16 degrees 



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Mandy and Kate chat to mother and daughter dynamic pea duo Vicki and Rachel from Newcastle. Vicki is a mum of five kids and wife to her husband Neil, who has an acquired brain injury due to a stroke. One of her children also has neurofibromatosis, ADHD and learning disabilities. Her daughter Rachel was a young carer for her siblings and her stroke-affected stepdad, and recently became a mum to 2-year-old Amelia, who is a gorgeous little SWAN girl. 
Rachel talks about Amelia’s birth and early few weeks spent in NICU. Amelia had a challenging start and needed approximately 25 emergency department visits in her first year for tube reinsertions and tape allergies. Rachel talks about the search for a diagnosis, which after many genetic tests, has still yet to be determined, and living with the uncertainty that this brings.
Vicki also talks about supporting her girl Rachel and the joys and challenges of being a mum and grandma to such a diverse family. Thank you Vicki and Rachel for sharing your story with us!

Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of Us!Leave us a speakpipe Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us!Melbourne forecast for Thursday April 18  - Showers increasing, 17 degrees 

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Kate and Mandy talk to Bec, a mad Carlton (boo) supporter and Pea partner and mum to a husband and two boys with disabilities. Her husband Luke has a a congenital deformity of his left hand, plus lived with an undiagnosed dislocated elbow for decades. Her eight-year-old boy Henry has autism and ADHD and is also gifted. Her younger son Kieran is profoundly deaf in one ear and has developmental coordination disorder, formerly known as dyspraxia. 
Bec talks about the diagnosis journey for her boys, their experiences at school, particularly the Auslan program for Kieran, and the challenges of keeping a gifted child engaged in learning. Bec also chats about Luke's experience with the NDIS as an adult, and the success they had in getting their local MP involved to help with getting plans approved. She also talks about the things her boys love to do - Henry’s an accomplished Irish dancer who enjoys the routine and order of learning the dance steps, and Kieran loves singing, dancing, acting and being an extroverted entertainer.
Thanks for sharing your family’s story with us Bec!
Plus:  
Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of UsLeave us a speakpipe Melbourne forecast for Thursday April 11  - Showers easing,  18 degrees 

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Hello lovely Peas, pop us in your ears today and hear our announcement. We have loved sharing our lives with you over the last 5 years, but as they say, all pea things must come to an end. So on Mothers Day this year we are hanging up our headphones and turning the mics off, 5 years after we started. We still love each other very much and are so happy to be even better friends than we were 5 years ago, and now we have so many new friends too.
You can stay connected with us below
https://www.instagram.com/podbarkate/
https://www.instagram.com/mandyhosesheknows/
Look out for Kate's new Podcast Honestly I'm Lonely it will be out real soon and Mandy is having a little break before she releases her new podcast.

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Mandy and Kate chat to Maya, founder and CEO of Rare Wear - adaptive fashion for kids with disabilities - and Pea mum to six-year-old Lloyd, who has a rare genetic condition called Iqsec2 Associated Disorder and lives with developmental, medical and mobility issues. 
Maya chats all about Lloyd’s birth when she was just eighteen years old, and the long journey towards diagnosis when he was 2 and a half years old. Lloyd is a full-time wheelchair user and is peg-fed, and is a chill and happy little peashoot who adores cars and 80s rock music, and is a good big brother to his little sister Elsie. 
Maya started Rare Wear as she was finding it hard to buy clothes for Lloyd that were easy and comfortable - pants should not be hard! Rare Wear offers adaptive tops, bottoms, accessories and swimwear that make life easier for kids and carers.
In her spare time, Maya has also worked full time at Supercheap Auto sharing her mad car skills taught to her by her dad, is doing her honours year in health sciences at uni with a view to doing a PhD next year, and also undertakes community advisory roles with a range of organisations, including SWAN Australia.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Maya!
Check out the Rare Wear website and socials, including TikTok, and Lloyd's Instagram.

Plus:  
Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of Us!Leave us a speakpipe Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us!Melbourne forecast for Thursday April 4  - Partly cloudy, 19 degrees 

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Kate and Mandy chat to Alex, a registered music therapea from Devonport, Tasmania. Alex talks all about her journey through the almost magical profession of music therapy.  Growing up in a musical family, Alex was interested in music and singing, but felt a strong sense that there was more to it than just performing or entertaining people. 
Spotting a music therapy conference happening in her hometown of Brisbane, she decided to head along to explore it. Little did she know that she was about to experience a sliding doors moment, when on hearing a speech about music therapy practice in the RCH NICU, she realised, “This is what I’m going to do with the rest of my life!”
Alex started studying at the University of Queensland, and then following a move to Tasmania, began her music therapy practice, mostly with young children and older people. She shares some beautiful client stories that will make you cry (Mandy sure does!) and delves into the research behind why this particular form of therapy is so powerful - particularly the ‘memory bump’ that occurs between the ages of 10-30, where all the songs you love during this age stay with you and become enduring and resonant memories throughout your life.  
Alex also discusses how to access music therapy through NDIS,  why she thinks every Pea should be in a choir, and why you should intentionally use your memory bump music to get you through the hardest parts of your day. 
Thank you Alex for sharing your absolutely beautiful stories (and your voice!) with us.
Check out her business Creative Therapies on Facebook and Instagram and some music therapy resources here. Also, search for ‘Alex Morse -music therapist’ on Spotify 
Plus:  
Listen to our Spotify playlist –Too Peas: Songs Our Guest Peas LoveJoin our Facebook HangoutFind us on YouTubeBuy our book The Invisible Life Of Us!Leave us a speakpipe Help spread the love for Too Peas by rating and reviewing us!Melbourne forecast for Thursday March 28  - Cloudy,  20 degrees 

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