RAWR The Podcast

RAWR with Adelyn & James: Big sibling love

We sat down with our eldest darlings, Adelyn and James, and asked them about the ups and downs of life as big siblings and how they feel about Riley and Jack's disabilities and medical needs. Basically a whole bunch of cuteness that the world needs to hear! Enjoy! 
And you heard our little legends - please leave us a review, give us 5 stars, and share us with your friends!
Mentioned in this episode:Rosalyn & RaeAlee Disability Support Services

RAWR with Tori: Sharing the world of NICU from a nurse’s perspective

Introducing a VERY special guest to RAWR The Podcast, Tori Meskin aka Nurse Tori!
Tori is an absolute powerhouse, she is a registered nurse with 10 years experience specialising in neonatal and paediatric intensive care, as well as a blogger, content creator, keynote speaker AND podcaster. She is a natural born leader and a positive and inspiring role model who is passionate about presenting a fun and relatable side of the healthcare world full of education, health, wellness and motivational topics. Amy sat down with Tori (unfortunately Grecian was in hospital at the time with Riley) to gain an insight into NICU life from a nurse’s perspective, including the highs and lows of being a NICU nurse, her tips for both nurses and families who experience NICU, the realities of caring for the tiniest of babies and their families, and we also asker her your listener questions!
This episode is sponsored by Smoo Mini Smoothie Cups : helping parents navigate fussy eating, encouraging healthier habits using a positive and playful approach.
Don’t forget to enter our GIVEAWAY with Smoo over on Instagram on either (or all) of these pages:@smoo.com.au | @rawr.thepodcast | @growing_our_tribe | @miraclemumma
Mentioned in this episode: Tori’s Instagram: @nurse.tori_Tori’s Website: Tips from ToriTori’s Podcast: The Cellfie Show PodcastMarch of DimesPerfectly PreemieMiracle MummaEvery Tiny Thing

Advocating for your sick child: how it’s not always as simple as it seems

This week we talk about advocating and fighting for your child (we've all been there), the many different factors that come into play, and how it's not always as simple and easy as it seems. Alongside our own experiences, we break down the six main 'negative' themes identified in the blog titled 'The how to advocate for your child one' by Penny from Sick Happens that parents have encountered when in hospital with their sick child. 
Disclaimer: the purpose of this episode is not to 'bag out' healthcare professionals or systems, but to give families a voice and shine a light on some of the ways that we struggle to advocate and feel heard when our child is unwell. 
Mentioned in this episode:- Sick Happens https://www.sickhappens.com.au/blog/the-how-to-advocate-for-your-child-one- Hospital Paediatrics 2020 Study 

All things NDIS with our girl Hayley!

We invited Hayley from Alee Disability Support Services onto the pod to discuss all things NDIS - plan reviews, gaining access, therapist reports, providing evidence, support coordination, ‘parental responsibility’, and so much more! We also answer some of the most frequent listener questions in this space and provide recommendations for support. This episode is extremely informative. We hope it will help many of you who are navigating the NDIS and feeling overwhelmed AF. 
Mentioned in this episode:
- Alee Disability Support ServicesEmail: hayley@aleedisability.com- NDIS Gaining Access- NDIS Know-how Podcast- The Special Book by Melanie Dimmitt- Twenty One Gifts- Grecian's Reco: Germanica 7.7L Airfryer- Amy's Reco: Koala Mattress & Bed Base- Amy's Reco: Firefly Lane on Netflix

BONUS Episode: Christmas in Hospital

A sneaky bonus ep to catch us all up to date....basically sit in our Friday night therapy sesh where we chat through Grecian's Christmas in hospital with Riley. Nothing fancy, just the RAWR truths of being a medical mama. 
Happy New Year x

RAWR Real Talk: All the usual bits, plus the loneliness of a hospital admission

It's been a little hectic, so we've dropped another Life Update on Jack and Riley...from Jack's recent psychologist appointment to Riley's ENT surgery and extended hospital stay. We discuss the usual bits - sleep, poop, and emotions - as well as the heart-wrenching juggle of hospital and home life, and a brief sneak peek into NDIS leading into the next episode. We share your Mum Brain Moments and also introduce our new segment: 'RAWR Recommendations'. It's jam-packed, and we hope you love it! 
Mentioned in this episode:- Subo The Food Bottle- Ikea Battery Milk Frother- Kmart USB Blender- Tubie Fun Reusable Pouches- 'The Poo in You' Educational Video- 'Everyone Poops' by Taro Gomi Read Aloud- 'Toilet Time' Adelaide OT- 'The Feeling Series' Books by Trace Moroney- Alee Disability Support Services- Kidzshack (Cubby)- Nurse Tori (Instagram: @nurse.tori_)
 

RAWR Real Talk: Life Update

We're back! It’s been a hot minute, so we’ve kept it very simple this week and just talked shit (at times literally) for the whole ep. Just your typical A & G life update, including:- The very real ups and downs of our recent family getaways – holidaying is just parenting in another place, right? - Riley update – ENT surgery and a well-deserved equipment grant! - Jack update – Therapies, progress, and sleep…should we bunk the boys together? ...with so many inappropriate laughs in between - I mean, is it even a RAWR Real Talk episode if we don’t talk about bodily fluids and orifices?!
Enjoy, we’ve missed you!
Mentioned in this episode:- Spotify Wrapped- Running for Premature Babies- Variety Charities- Lively Eaters

RAWR with Elle: The overwhelming joy of surrogacy following baby loss, cervical incompetence, infertility and premature birth

This week we chat with Elle, a mama of 2 boys up in the sky and 1 boy here on earth, with another little guy on the way via surrogate. Ellie’s story is another difficult one, but is also filled with hope, acceptance and gratitude. We discuss the loss of Elle's boys Taj & Lenny at 20 and 21 weeks of pregnancy, her battle with unexplained infertility followed by multiple unsuccessful IVF attempts and an endometriosis diagnosis, a NICU journey with 25-weeker Sonny, and her current experience with surrogacy – Elle is currently filled to the brim with love as she awaits the arrival of her next little boy with her amazingly kind-hearted surrogate Sarah.
Elle tackles her challenges with such grace and transparency, and opens up about how she’s learnt to surrender and trust the universe, as well as the inward work she’s done to accept her journey, to find peace and hope and to welcome the path she was given.  
We think she's an absolutely remarkable woman and we know you will too!
Mentioned in this episode: - Elle's Instagram: @elle__turner- Elle's Blog: Hey Little Miracle

RAWR Real Talk (Pt 2): Medical anxiety in all its shitty glory!

In Part 2 of this ‘Real Talk’ episode we give a life update before jumping into how and why we downplay our OWN shit to protect ourselves and others. We then get vulnerable by exposing some of the darker complexities of medical anxiety, including the ways we worry when our child improves medically. We then have a LOL (with you, not at you!) as we share some of your very best medical mama fails. 
We hope you love it RAWR-ers!
Mentioned in this episode:- Australian Podcast Awards- The Rare Life (Episode #64 - ‘Improvement-triggered grief’)

RAWR Real Talk (Pt 1): Sit with the shit!

In Part 1 of this ‘Real Talk’ episode we talk about toxic positivity, also known as bright-siding, also known as the opposite of what we need as parents of children with medical and special needs! This topic comes up every single week, so we think it deserves its very own episode. We break down how toxic positivity is displayed, how it downplays and invalidates the emotions of others, the damage it can cause, and how we can manage or escape it. 
We have a good chuckle in this one, we hope you do too! 
Mentioned in this episode:- New Moon Support Services- Life Uncut Podcast (Ep 29:Gas Lit City Baby)