Photo Entry Woohoo

My lovely husband has discovered Instagram and has been playing with some fairly recent pictures.

 Liam at Legoland

 Matthew on the beach on our camping trip

James stuck in a sandy hole.

I have also been having a play with Instagram:

 

I had heard of Instagram a while back but never really took much interest and wasn't really that impressed of first looks. However, now I play with it myself and more and more people use it, the more I like it.  It's a good way to do things you can't normally do well with photos on a general computer programme without paying a lot of money.

Forgetting Instagram, I have also been taking photos of Liam. I think we have a mild case of chicken pox.

We know it's been doing the rounds and for the past 3 or 4 days Liam has been sporting a few suspicious looking spots on his torso, bottom, back, backs of legs and face. However, chicken pox is normally associated with scabby and blistery spots. We've been waiting for them to change to this but if anything, they appear to be getting lighter. There are a couple more each day but they do not look as evident as when I took the photos the other evening. He is well in himself. He doesn't have any itching or anything but they look like early chicken pox spots. It just seems strange that whilst it looked like it at first, it's looking less likely.

Matthew isn't too well today so he has the day off school. He's really not himself.

Not well but he can still turn on the smile.

New Week, New Things To Try. Now To Think About Making A Decision

As much as I love my hubby and kids, it's always nice and relaxing that first morning they are back to work and school after some time off. Hubby was only off the weekend but the kids have been off 9 days. So now mornings should be back to just me and Liam, that will soon have me feeling a little bit more "normal".

I DO miss routine. I love them all to bits but I don't seem to get anything done when the house is full. We tend to go out alot too when hubby is off work and it's always enjoyable. We went back to Stratford yesterday as it will soon be closing the car parks for the olympic games. We don't really feel like taking the kids on the trains around that time as London will be seeing an estimated 4 MILLION EXTRA people on it's train networks in the coming weeks. That is just mental!!!! So it's not going to be on our agenda. The car parks for Stratfords Westfield shopping centre hold 5000 cars and this will be closed from 18th June to the end of the Olympics in August for security reasons as you have to drive through the olympic village.

This time the kids got to meet some of the Olympic mascots. Well, their statues at least.

 

Every inch the sportsman in the family, Matthew enjoyed this much more than the other two. Matthew realises what a huge sporting oppertunity this is for England.

Yesterday was the first day back at school and rather uneventful. 

Today however has been chaos with a capital "C".

It all started so well, I was able to get an early appointment with the nurse for myself this morning directly after the school drop (More on that soon) and was just in the surgery to have another mum calling to me. It seems I should have sent in Matthews swimming gear today. They need it for 10.30 so could I get it to them before then. Ok, so I see nurse, rush home, pack his towel and swimshorts. Label them both. Pack them both and rush back to the school. As I have said many times, it's 20 minutes each way to the school. So by 10.10am I had arrived at the school a second time this morning.  I get there having rushed to be on time, hot and sweaty, my feet barely touched the ground to discover that within the last 5 minutes they had decided to call off todays swimming as the chemicals in the pool were not at a level they were happy with. 

T.y.p.i.c.a.l

Liam was not happy at being in the buggy so long as mummy rushed about. I let him out to walk to discover his nappy has come undone and he has a nice wet patch at the top of the back of his legs. 

W.o.n.d.e.r.f.u.l!

We then have to do a little shopping in the village. I need a few things from different places. The shops are busy. My patience is short. It's already been a long tough day and I had almost an hour to kill before collecting James. Somehow the different shops did tend to help time go by and Liam got the final 20 minutes in the park so I was able to relax for a little bit and unwind watching him on the slides.

He then kicks off major tantrum when we have to leave to collect James. He then cries all the way home. My brain is ready to explode. I have had a whining, crying angry 2 year old ALL morning and I had had enough.

So we finally get home, I make the boys lunch and no sooner than I've changed the said nappy and trousers and made Liam a ham sandwich then I go into the living room to find him sound asleep.

S.i.l.e.n.c.e.

B.l.i.s.s.

The nap didn't last too long but he's back to being a good little boy as always now. I guess the running about this morning was stressful for us both.

So............ my trip to the nurse.

It's because I want to come off the depo provera injection.

I wanted some advice as I have been thinking about getting the "contraceptive implant" fitted. (Sorry if you were getting excited then thinking that we had decided to have number 4 after all we're definitely over that idea - 3 is wonderful and enough for us.)

Since I don't want my next injection which is due this week I am temporarily on the pill until I decide whether to go for the implant as originally planned or give the IUS or IUD a try as they are all suitable for bigger women and are long term working. 

For my needs, I may actually be better with an IUD since it is NOT chemical/hormone based. Part of the reason I am changing my contraceptive is because of the weight gain it brings. It's hard enough shifting pounds without your contraceptive making it worse so this is a good option but I have to go to a specialist clinic to have it fitted. Another perk is that once fitted it works for 8 years. WOW. Downside, AF returns. Well, you can never have it all so I am now left with some bedtime reading to see what could be better. I had never really considered the IUD but it does seem an attractive alternative at the moment.

 

To Be Precise....

Never under-estimate a 3 year old.

This morning Liam dug out some old toys hubby and I had stored in our bedroom. It is the same set as this:

"Dine-sorrrrr" Liam shouted excitedly.
"Is he right James?? Is that a dinosaur?" I casually asked,
"No!" he responded matter of factly "It's a tyrannasaurus rex!!"

Well..... that told me!

2012 A Great Year For A Great Reign And For Great Britain.

You would have to be living on another planet to have missed the fact that this year has been and will continue to be a real big one for The UK.

The news this weekend has been dominated by the Queens Diamond Jubilee. Sixty amazing years as monarch. Queen Elizabeth has seen it all. The progression of technology worldwide, the space landings, wars, the progression of cars. In personal matters, she's been a wife, borne 4 children, has 8 grandchildren and if I believe correctly the second Great Grandchild is due in the summer.

I am far from what I would describe as "A Royalist" but as with the wedding of William and Kate last year, this country has done Royalty proud. The jubilee concert was amazing. There has been a real sense of Britishness around the countries. The kids have been really into it. And I am not too proud to admit that I still get tears in my eyes when I hear the National Anthem (God Save The Queen)  and a little video montage covering the last 60 years of her life had me full of tears too. I am a big soppy Brit girl.

So around the country, we have all been celebrating. The kids had parties at school, there were a couple of street parties around the village and Britain celebrated like this:

 Many streets across Britain were adorned by festive bunting.

 Huge crowds gathered in The Mall. The Approach Road to Buckingham Palace. On the average day there was a celebration of sorts at the Palace, this crowd was estimated at 1.3million plus.

 The Big Concert was held on the stage in front of Buckingham Palace. Some of the biggest stars over the past 60 years performed for The Royal Family. All were there except The Queens 94 year old husband Prince Philip who had been hospitalised due to a bladder infection. He is recovering well.

 The Street Parties of 2012 were in full swing over the bank holiday weekend. 4 days of celebrations were held Saturday through to Tuesday.

This weeks street parties echoed those of the 1952 Coronation.

 Some pretty patriotic nails.

 The Queen on stage at the Jubilee Concert with Prince Charles, his wife Camilla and some of the worlds  hugest stars. Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, Stevie Wonder, Robbie Williams, Will I Am,  Elton John, Jessie J, Kylie Minogue. The Queen was escorted on stage by the man who planned it all and wrote the Official Commonwealth Song "Sing" - Mr Gary Barlow (he of the band Take That)

 On the final day, The Red Arrows did an amazing fly past accompanied by a range of historical warplanes. Britain does it well when they put their mind to such matters.

 The beginning of the celebrations had a Royal show regatta when the River Thames was returned to it's glory days and used as a working River. 1.6million people lined the streets and bridges to watch the spectacle.

And of course.... No British Bank Holiday weekend is complete without RAIN.

Despite the rainfall Britain put on a fantastic show of unity. The rule Great Britain had over the world at various points in history may have diminished as more and more countries have got their independence over the years but it was still a fabulous weekend to experience. It truly was a once in a lifetime occurrance, I sincerely hope that in 5 and 10 years time we get to experience it all over again.

 Sixty Years Ago

Celebrating those Sixty Years upon the Royal barge on The River Thames.

And just to end my patriot journey, here is the official song being performed on the night. Introduced by Gary Barlow the song is performed by some singers from the Commonwealth and the female choir are Britains "Military Wives". Gary Barlow plays piano and looks so proud to be doing it!!! (And so he should be, Mr Barlow should be getting a knighthood for services to music and the efforts he made for his country,)



With all this in one weekend - I never thought I would hear myself say it but........

Bring on The Olympics!!!
 

To The Point

1. Smear test results back and normal. That's that done til next year.
2. Hubby had to have his drivers license reviewed due to his diabetes. All fine for next 3 years,
3. There's a lot of chicken pox going around the kids of Melford, my boys have still not got it.
4. Speaking of Melford, we moved here 2 years ago last week. Where has that time gone?
5. We have been having great weather.
6. We have been having a lot of fun embracing the social lives of toddlers. I have got to know a few mums much better this week and the kids have developed new friends.
7. A couple of weeks ago it was my mums birthday.
8. Yesterday my nan turned 79 years old.
9. On Sunday I will have them both and my dad round for dinner.
10. What on earth do I cook?
11. My family aren't big on spice, I'm not big on bland!!!!!!
12. We spent the weekend camping. 
13. We had a great time: We set up base right near the toilets and shower block and the adjoining park for the kids.
14. We did as much as we could on our 1 night stay and spent the days swimming, playing in the park and on the second day.....
15. ....We went to the beach. James just wanted to dig the sand. 
16. Liam is just happy doing anything.
17. Matthew loved that extra little bit of freedom. He feels so grown up now.  
18. To finish, here's some pictures of our splendid week.

 Our tent

 My grown up looking boys.

The Three Lads playing together in the sand.  

 James preders the walk to school holding Matthews hand.

List:

1. I love my new driving instructor. She rocks. I no longer feel completely incapable of driving a car. 
2. I am going to join Slimming World with a friend this week. I've given in too easy for too long, time to do something that has more impact and a friends encouragement can work wonders!
3. This Saturday night we are going to be living in the great outdoors, We're off on our first ever night camping. I look forward to it though it could be a challenge.
4. Liam is fine after his op. He a little quiet upon returning home on Friday evening but back to his normal self . All he has to show for his time in hospital is a little red mark below his belly button and a little yellowy bruise around the area. He has done SO SO well.
5. Yesterday I went on a crazy cleaning spree. Kids rooms, changed my bed, hoovered the whole house, cleaned things that were bothering me, did 1 load of kids bedding.
6. Today it continued, the rest of the bedding (ie the stuff the kids were asleep on last night when I was going on a cleaning frenzy) and I've done a fair bit of gardening.
7. I'm ready for spring to finally spring, but spring hasn't got the right directions to England. I'm sure of it.
8. My nails are growing great - The gardening has not been good for them and I have chipped a nail but I may paint them pretty again tonight.
9. James got his first ever school portrait order form today. Needless to say I WILL be buying it.
10. Hubby has been asked to join a sort of panel for work where he can do his normal job but a few times a year has to attend BIG management meetings with area managers, department managers, directors and so on. He would be an Essex representative and this is stage 1 of promotion. Money will rise. He was put forward for the job from the boss he worked with the other week who thinks he's ready to start making progress in the company.
11. We've lived in our home 2 years this week. Where has that time gone?
12. Smear test last week - done and dusted.
13. May have to repeat said Smear test as nurse struggled to get cells for testing. Grrrrr. Hopefully though there was enough and that will be it until next year.
14. 2 of James best friends have been off nursery with chicken pox. They are now back at school. No sign of any spots on James just yet. Could we have averted it AGAIN????
15. Liam walks back from school every morning now. He's doing just fabulous.
16. On my reading challenge for the year I am on track. 38 books read - 62 to go to reach my 100 goal.

The Big Day - Edited!!!!

Today, this beautiful little fella is in the hands of the medics.

This post will be updated at varying times of the day so I can record the way the day is going.

Well.... so far.

5.30: My alarm goes off, I get myself and little Liam up. Dress him and give him 2 slices of toast. We got a call last night to say he is 5th in line for surgery today and should be going down about 1.30pm. This means we don't have to starve him all morning like last time but he can eat up until 7.30am and have fluids until 10.30am.

Liam doesn't eat that early so daddy takes the changing bag with half a pack of biscuits in.

Our biggest pre-op fears are here. Liam has caught James's cough and cold. He's coughing like a good un. Give him some cough medicine and daddy takes bottle with him.

6.10: I kiss my little boy bye bye and watch the car leave as they depart for the hospital.

James is now up. I sit him in front of the tv with a drink and head off for a quick bath.

7.00: James and I sit together at the kitchen table eating breakfast together. We rarely have time together like this.

8.10: Receive text from hubby. Liam has seen everyone he needs to and the op is ON!!!!!!

My guess is that last time they cancelled it was because he sounded chesty when he coughed which made the anaesthetist (excuse my poor spelling if I got that wrong) listen to his chest and it wasn't great. This time it's more of a bark/empty cough so it's all looking good for surgery as planned.

8.50: Boys get to school. Feel a little lost departing the nursery as no buggy outside.

James goes into school fine then runs to the nursery door to give Liam a kiss bye bye like he always does and realises he isn't there. This is the first time today James has realised that Liam went out with Daddy very early.

9.30: Home from school alone with a coffee, the pc and some luxury biscuits.

10.18: Off to make another coffee, Biscuits all gone. Feeling fat...... But there were only 8 in a pack so it could have been MUCH worse........What am I going to do for the rest of the day???

11.56: Receive text to say Liam won't be going for surgery until 2pm at earliest. Take James into town, we have lunch visit library, visit toy shop and sit in the park for a while.

13.30: Now 3pm surgery is looking more likely.

14.11: Another text, Liam is number 5 on the operating list. Number 2 has just come out.

14.45 A meeting with Matthews school teacher to see how he is getting on and discuss further help in and out of school for him.

15.30: Text to say he should be going in at 4.30. Fingers crossed this time is right.

16.30: Text to say he's gone in and hubby is off for some long awaited food. This HAS worried me since he's diabetic! But they are both ok.

Got a little emotional with the memories of the first time he had his operation. I was fine until in the anaesthetic room. I held him in my arms at 9 weeks old as they put a needle and something in his hand which I assume were some sort of drugs then they placed a little mask over his face and I watched him fall asleep. I was fine with this until I had to lay him on the massive bed and they wheeled him into theater. Things like that you never forget.

I just hope that it is the hernia and nothing more serious. Days like this make a mummy over-think and if it's not a hernia then why the swelling at various random times?

17.37:  A little over 12 hours after our day began I get the final text that may have been causing worry:

"Liam is out. Doing well. They found nothing. Will call later."

Awashed with relief I begin to relax for the first time today.

I am a little frustrated they didn't find anything but happy they looked, happy it's done and now I can stop worrying. I'd much rather he be perfectly healthy and not have health worries. It's all done and a whole LOAD off my mind let me tell you!

A short while after hubby phoned. Liam is doing good, having a few bits to eat, a drink and watching tv. He's a little sleepy and didn't want to talk to me on the phone. Liam NEVER talks to anyone on the phone so that wasn't a surprise and it was good to hear him sounding like his normal self. :o)

He'll be kept under observation for a couple of hours at least so he could be coming home in an hour or at latest he should be on his way back about 9.30 tonight.

I can't wait to see my little man, give him a gentle hug and tons of kisses and I can't wait to hear this beautiful little laugh again:

Please excuse me for filming this virtually sideways, and for those wondering, the thing that evokes that giggle is a toy spider going down a slide on tv! This was when the giggles were decreasing as it was about the 6th time in a row he watched the same scene. The comedy in small things for a 2 year old.

I Was Born In September, Therefor I Am Impatient

This week is a busy ending to the week, the start, well, alot of hanging about waiting for the end of the week and raising my stress levels as the week goes on.

Today I have James at home, he had a bit of a cough this morning but seems ok now. He was not really poorly enough to be kept off nursery but he was quiet and seemed tired this morning so I kept him home. The cough worried me, the last thing I want is for Liam to develop a cough before the weekend. Op day Friday means I need a healthy little man on that ONE day.

One of James' favourite kids at nursery has chicken pox. My kids have never had it, so maybe James not being quite himself could be the start of that. I hope so in a way so we can have it over and done with and IF it is starting now, the incubation period between being unwell and the spots is 10-14 days so it's not a worry with Liam at the moment. Just avoid that cough young man!

So op day Friday. Yes, I am nervous about it, he's still my baby even if he is going to be 3 in September. Mummies can't turn off worry and stress when it comes to their kids, whether they are in the uterus, newborn, crawling, learning to walk. I swear the older they get, the worry doesn't go away at all. It just changes to the next phase.

Thurday is Mummy's health day. Somehow that time of year has crept upon me for the annual smear test. Here in the UK, it's normally every 3-5 years but for those who didn't know, I had a bad smear test result around this time 2 years ago which resulted in me having to have some abnormal cells removed from my cervix. This will be my 4th smear test since. I had 2 in the first year following treatment, now I am to be tested annually as an extra precaution against cervical cancer. If bad cells are caught at an early stage, then the risk lessens immensely. I know many people who don't have their tests when they get a letter from the hospitals but I have had first hand experience of what could be. With my kids, it's not a risk I am willing to take and if I had to go through it every month, then it's worth it for them.

The weekend we just had was fantastic. Certainly one of  nicest in some time. My first driving with my new instructor went BRILLIANTLY. She agreed with me that I was being held back before. I did a few things I hadn't done before and maneouvers that I hadn't done since August last year (and this man I had before wanted to put me forward for my test - Yeah right!) So I am very happy with her from first impressions. I have another lesson this Saturday and I am truly looking forward to it. I feel like it's challenging again. I am not bored of it and I am not having my confidence knocked - not yet at least.

We then went on a little trip to a retail outlet centre and had a look around a couple of shops. This gave the kids some much needed fresh air and burned off a little energy. Liam loves walking everywhere now. After that we drove to a friends in the village and had a big barbecue. It's the first one we've been invited to this year and Sam is fast becoming my best friend. We do have a laugh and though her kids are a little older than mine (her Liam is 12 and Sophie 9) all the kids get on great. Her hubby and mine also seem to get on well. So with the food and beer flowing we left the car parked at theirs and walked home when we decided to leave. We had got there at 4pm and got home with 3 tired young men a little after 11pm but they all loved it. Even Liam and James kept awake the whole evening and stayed awake until they were in their own little beds. I had a few beers but don't like to drink too much in the presence of children.

The next day we picked up the car around noon and went to my mother in laws for dinner. It was a lovely big roast and it was lovely to be able to chill and be looked after for the weekend. I love entertaining and having people over, but it's also nice when others do it for you.

This weekend won't be quite so hectic. I have another driving lesson Saturday afternoon and hubby wants to take me out in the evening. Assuming Liam is ok to be left with nanny, it will be a good time to relax and put this week behind me. I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't a little worried and stressed about the health related topics above but once they are all done I can let my hair down a bit.

I hope all US and Canadian moms had a lovely weekend with it being Mothers Day and all. From what I've read today alot had lovely days, especially those celebrating that all important First Mothers Day and those celebrating that they will have their own little ones by the time it rolls round next year.