Thanksgiving From England

Just because we don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in the UK, who says I can't do a Thanksgiving post?

There is so much in my life I am grateful for.

A friend actually posted this to Facebook yesterday and I couldn't agree more!

A lot of lessons in life can be hard at times but that's where we need to be thankful and appreciate the better things in life.

So, My thankful list?

1. Quite obviously my sweet amazing husband. Last week was the anniversary of when we met and not a day goes by that I do not appreciate that day and feel lucky for our paths crossing as they did. We may have done so much of life in our own funny route, getting together in November 2007, him moving in after 6 weeks around Christmas time, falling pregnant around Valentines day, having a baby a little before our year anniversary on November 1st 2008, falling pregnant AGAIN around christmas 2008,  getting engaged in July 2009 to have another baby 2 months later. Finally we moved house in May 2010 to marry in August 2010. So whilst our "love story" is a little off the traditional expectations, it's my story and what makes it all so special. I wouldn't change a thing for the world and it's worked out brilliantly for us.

2. My Three Wonderful Sons

James, Liam and Matthew

I am so lucky to have these little guys. I said I would share the portrait when I had it and here it is. Liam looks older than James in this picture! With only 10.5 months between them these two are SO like having twins at times. Polar opposites in some respects too. Last night they had Chicken, chips and beans for tea. James ate all his beans but left his chips and chicken. Liam ate his chicken and chips and left his beans! They do make me laugh.

This month I've been reading of a few pregnancy scares amongst some blogs I follow as the journey to Motherhood is proving to be anything but easy!

First pregnancies especially are full of fears and worries for the baby, for the future for what sort of mother you will prove to be. Health scares only add to any fears a mother has.

In my case, the first pregnancy was the most straightforward and text book. The only fly in the ointment with Matthews pregnancy was being married to a bullying control freak. I was happy with the pregnancy, all went well but I hated the situation we (me and my unborn baby) were in. My ex was occassionally violent and once when I was pregnant. It was hard to forget as it was the day after christmas day (ex's birthday) and he'd been drinking alot. He had some friends and cousins round. I was transformed into waitress for the day and trying hard to be the perfect wife. He however got a fly in his bonnet over something and kicked a door as I was walking through it with scalding hot tea. It spilt all down my stomach and I went into a panic attack. One of his cousins and  a couple of  friends had a major go at him whilst 2 of his cousins and another friend were incredibly concerned about me and sat with me whilst I sobbed, went rather crazy yelling at him that if he killed or hurt my baby I would kill him.  I sat and cried for a long time as I  feared if and how it would affect my baby. That is certainly something you don't want 37 weeks into your pregnancy when there is enough worries on your mind. I'm grateful that man is out of my life.

With James, all was plain sailing in the beginning. I had a feeling this one was a girl because the pregnancy was very different from Matthews (It was far more relaxed to say the least) and all went very well. Until 30 weeks. This may be a little TMI but I was in a supermarket and desperate for the toilet. I went in and did my business. Upon wiping the tissue was BRIGHT red, as was the toilet bowl. I sorted myself out and went straight back to hubby in a panic. We abandoned our shopping and walking to the car I thought I felt the start of contractions. The hospital was only a short trip away but in that time I was a complete mess. The car radio was playing "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Fergie and that made me hold it all together (I still can't listen to that song - if it comes on tv or the radio I have to turn it off). Waiting in A&E baby was very active and the contractions were still occurring. As I held my stomach and patted each little wiggle, I remained optimistic. The worst that could happen would be that this would be the day I was going to have my second child. I went through to the ante-natal department where they questioned me on anything out of the ordinary, hooked me up to a contractions monitor and confirmed I was having strong braxton hicks and my blood pressure was up. I joked with the nurse that they would be too if they had just had the shock I did! All with baby looked fine though. Over time, the bleeding stopped as did the contractions. The hospital could not offer any reason why they thought I had bled like that other than a possible blood vessel bursting. I spent the night in hospital and never had another problem. James was born quickly and all was well.

Liam was a completely different kettle of fish. I measured big, so I was tested for Gestational Diabetes. I had to have extra scans to check his growth. I was told a C Section was likely. I had a scare for Pre-Eclampsia because he looked to be big and my blood pressure was in the questionable range. I dreaded reaching 30 weeks because of what happened with James. All that and he was born perfect.

There is very rarely such a thing as a perfect pregnancy and whilst these things happened to me, it doesn't mean they will to other moms to be and sometimes, as proven with James, some things happen with no explanation, no warning and no lasting effects. So ladies, try to relax and enjoy having a baby on board.

It's when they are born things really take on a new slant!

3. My remaining family and in laws.

I am especially thankful for the arrival of baby Nelson this month. I am sure his US mom will certainly be celebrating his first Thanksgiving this year after the years of trying to conceive they endured.

Also I am especially thankful for having my grandad in my life for over 30 years. 9 months on, not a day goes past I don't think of him or miss him but I know I was lucky to have him around and that my kids all got to meet him. Sadly I don't think James and Liam will remember him but Matthew certainly will. I'm thankful he didn't suffer and that my nan is coping well.

4. I am thankful for my health and the health of those around me. Liam has a hospital appointment coming up and hubbys diabetes is well under control. My weight loss is having it's benefits and even my eczema is looking better since I cut right down on wheat. For only having to have 2 fillings on my visit to the dentist last week when I haven't been to a dentist for over 7 years.

5. I am thankful for music. Some songs have great memories, some songs have great meanings, some remind me of my kids, some my kids love to participate along to, others remind me of troublesome times and less than good memories. But overall, music is a great pick me up.

And here's just a general list of things I find simple that we take for granted.

Living in a free country where democracy rules *even if we disagree with the powers that be*
Being free of famine, malnutrition and war
Summer and Autumn
Long Hot Baths
Gerbera daisies especially pink and orange ones
Living in the country
Scented Candles
Indian Cooking
Nature
Holidays and weekends away
Christmas

Happy Thanksgiving one and all. x