Gratitude Sunday

It's been a while since I did one of these, but I do have so much to be grateful for this week:

Last weekend Dave was "blue lighted" to hospital with all the signs of a heart attack, needless to say it has been a very worrying time.  The medics are still baffled as to what really happened but as a result of all the numerous blood tests, they were able to detect inflammation in his blood and for the first time ever he was offered a three day steroid infusion to dampen down any possible MS relapse.  Hooray for Dr Seth and the team on the acute medical ward!

Whilst waiting for the paramedics to arrive, Benedict was also having a crashing hypo, I was so grateful that Sara was around, she took charge of Benedict whilst I stayed on the phone to ambulance control.

Our gardener turned up Monday and did battle with the lawn.  Whilst chatting to him it became apparent that, his partner was in fact the named nurse caring for Dave on acute medical ... small world.

Having lost several hours sleep on the weekend, I slept on Tuesday whilst the world carried on without me.

On Wednesday I collected Pip from forest school and we made our way to the garden centre in the village.  I've part cheated this year and aswell as Sara and the kids growing from seed, I also bought some ready established seedlings to bolster our sparse crop of veggies.  Sara, Pip and I spent some time in the garden after tea, it was cold but lovely.

We had a visit from my parents, Kath and Gracie.  Kath had an appointment in town and I was on Grandma duty, yay!!  There was a whole lot of snuggling going on, she is the sweetest baby I know.

On Friday we made a visit to my friend in St Helen's, it's been quite a while since we've had a chance to meet.  She is currently struggling with major health problems, so we decided last minute to stop over and help her sort out some practical issues.  Benedict and Pip had a great time rambling around the house and cuddling Simba the Lionhead rabbit.

Today, I have just crashed!  I finally had a full night's sleep last night and also slept for several hours this afternoon.

Despite being in pain with the fibromyalgia and totally exhausted I've managed to cope with more than my ususal share of chaos at this end!  I know for sure that my faith has sustained me as well as the prayers from family and close friends and for that I am truly grateful.

Art

Pip has had some fun these past few weeks during her Friday art time with Erika:

Making Charlie Caterpillar, using pre-cut circular shapes and cardboard tubes.

 

 

 

 

3-D effect hands ~ Pip had to draw around her hands, use a rule to draw the straight lines and also colour in each individual band.  She did have a tiny amount of help from Erika, but in the main most of the work was her own.  She worked solidly for an hour and a half.

 

 

 

Well done Pip!



Clitheroe Castle

We took our learning out of the four walls last week and visited Clitheroe Castle last Tuesday.  The kids had a great time, Pip especially enjoyed the museum trail and the obligatory cafe stop was very reasonably priced and coped well with our whacky dietary needs:

Tomato and Basil Soup, Chunky Chips and a Toddler Platter for Pip.

 

 

 

 

Following the trail, brass rubbing, dressing up area and reading corner.

 

 

The museum housed a geology section, a victorian study complete with a variety of collector exhibits, a local history section as well as the story of the infamous Pendle Witches.  After a good look round, Benedict, Pip and I made our way to the Castle Keep:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They then had a good run around in the play area at the bottom of the hill and I then attempted to complete the labyrinth; true to form like all areas in my life it was completed at break neck speed whilst keeping one eye on the kids!!  I think God was having a laugh with me that day!!

 

I'm determined to visit this place again, only next time I'll leave the sproggles with Dad in the cafe! 

Visiting

Kath and Gracie came to stay this week and a whole heap of fun was had by all:

Snuggle time.

 

 

 

Two sister out for tea and Mum and Dad Gracie sitting!

 

 

Filling out nicely!

 

 

Gracie - wearing.

 

 

It was also my Mum's birthday toward the end of the visit, so we organised a bit of a surprise party:

 

 

 

L-R Mum, Colin my brother, Me, Gracie and Kath.

 

 

 

 

Pip, Gracie and Heather my sister -in - law.

 

 

My Dad and Sara are missing from these photos as they were on washing up duty in the kitchen!

 





Meet Mary - Grace

On Thursday 11th April 2013 I accompanied our daughter Kathryn to hospital and we were shown into this room:

Kind of apt don't you think!

 

 

Taking a sneaky peek at her hospital notes!

 

 

Last bump shot.

 

 

It was a rather tense time to say the least but a few hours later and this precious bundle made an appearance:

 

 

Snug as a bug in a rug.

 

 

" Oh Dear! It can't be that bad surely?!

 

 

Boo time with mummy...

 

 

 

 

Peace at last.

 

 

There was a lot of backwards and forwards travelling between  our house and Kathryn's prior to and after the birth so it has been a very tiring few weeks!  Benedict and Pip love the newest addition to the family:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kath has been a real trooper throughout and breasfeeding is going really well, both of them are complete naturals.  Thankfully she wasn't innundated with visitors and has managed to catch up on some much needed sleep this past week:

 

 

 

One lovely mummy and a totally scrummy grandaughter!

 

 

 

Playing games.

 

 

Before leaving we managed a trip out to a lovely restaurant in town, I think Kath was pleased to escape the same four walls and ...

 

 

... Gracie slept through the whole event!

 

 

We are now back home and I'm slowly catching up on household chores and washing.  I literally cannot remember the last time Benedict and I sat down to do some productive work, it has been a very long time!  It's amazing how sickness and a new baby can mash the best laid plans, still I would not have swapped these past few weeks for all the tea in China!  It was an amazing priviledge to see her being born and to hold her shortly afterwards, it is a moment permanently etched on my memory and in my heart.











Out of the mouths of babes

Pip:  " Sh, mum we are having a hideout"

Me:  " Why is that then?"

Pip:  " 'cos we don't want dad to bath us!"

Me:  " Well you had better go on and hide then!!"

I think it is safe to say that Little Miss PJ is slowly on the mend!

Art :: Easter Preparations :: Sickness

Benedict and Pip enjoyed their art lesson on Friday:

 

 

 

 

Benedict's Shield.

 

 

Sir Philippa.

 

 

On Saturday, Benedict and I made a start on the Easter Gardens.  I've been wanting to make one of these for the past few years but I've always left it too late.  Thanks to my lovely friend Eva, I managed to glean the necessary information and armed with a picture from my pinterest board, we made a start:

 

 



Preparing the base.

 

 

Adding the wheat kernels.

 

 

 

Waiting to germinate ~ we still need to make the three crosses to stand at the back and to hopefully make a quick trip to the beach, for our stone at the front of the tomb.  I'm not sure if there'll be any grasses come Easter Sunday, but since Eastertide spans a whole forty days until Penetecost, I'm hopeful something will appear in that time!

 

 

Dave was extra busy in the workshop last week making this lovely gift for Pip and Ben (made using a side from one of the packing cases used to deliver workshop machinery!):

 

 

 

 

 



His drawing of the Baltic which is an engine he is working on using a CAD design package.  He takes the computer to the coffee shop near Pip's pre-school and works there when she is in her sessions.

 

 

 

They have had enormous fun.  Benedict has invented new designs and Pip has been busy writing her name and other letters.

 

 

 

Dave and I had an interesting date night on Thursday, we braved high winds and a severe weather warning to travel fifty minutes to this place:

 

 

 



 

 

 

Cheerful flower display.

 

 

We went to see this nice guy who effectively told us there was no treatment available, neuro protective drugs are not a big money spinner it seems!  We have yet to receive our bill, gulp!!  On the way home we stopped off at a motorway services and treated ourselves to this:

 

 

 



Two decaff lattes and a chelsea bun for Dave.

 

 

Still Smiling...

 

 

... just!

 

 

 

Pip became unwell late on Friday evening ~ high temperature, headache, flu aching and vomiting.  Homeopathic Belladonna dealt with the temperature and hallucinations and Nux Vomica finally sorted the sickness, late last night.  All we have to deal with now is the  conjuctivitis and loss of appetite!  Despite feeling so unwell she was desperate to make her Easter Garden, so in a five minute spell of being able to sit upright, she made a start:

 

 

 



 

 

 

I also made her a play tray with some of the left over wheat kernels and it provided a suitable distraction for ten minutes:

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So here we are at the beginning of Holy Week, today is a much needed cleaning day, there are a few craft based activities I'm hoping we'll manage during the week  and of course the beautiful services at church.  The sun is currently shining and there are howling winds, a good drying day for sure!

 

 

 

Be Blessed x 

 

 

 

 

 



From Theory To Practise

This past week Benedict has been working on the human body as part of his science topic; he has looked at the internal workings as well as the foodstuffs needed for healthy growth.  He enjoyed designing his own food pyramid containing some of his favourite foods and thankfully it was a well balanced display, all those "lectures" on healthy eating seem to have paid off!

He was so inspired by last week's study that off his own bat, he worked on a menu plan of some of his favourite meals.  He announced that he would be using some of them when Kathryn has her baby, since he has designs on commandeering her kitchen!  I was then able to use this work as a platform for yesterday's study, which was grading the food groups within each recipe and decide was it a really a healthy choice.

Today he answered the following questions:

1. Name two types of nutrients that we eat that can give us energy.

2. Explain why we need to eat foods containing proteins.

3. Give two reasons why it is important to eat some foods containing fat.

4. Give two reasons why it is important not to eat too much fat.

5. We are often told to eat five helpings of fruits and vegetables each day.   Explain why these foods are necessary. 

He then had responsibility for choosing the lunch menu and making any necessary adaptations to ensure it was a healthier choice so:

Chicken, Leek and Asparagus Pie served with Julienne Carrots, followed by  Peanut Butter Booster Bars were on the menu.

The pie recipe called for a flaky pastry which is high in fat, so we traded this for a simple shortcrust using olive oil based margarine; it also recommended a cream based sauce so we used flour and chicken stock to make our tasty base.

The booster bars contained gluten free oats, cornflakes, mixed fruit, honey, sugar, butter and peanut butter.  The sugar and honey content was reduced and we did keep the butter, figuring that only a small amount would be eaten in one sitting!  The recipe made 18 bars, so there is plenty to share in the next day or so.

Without further ado her is the (young)man of the moment:

Chopping.

 

 

 

 

Ready for the pan.

 

 

 

 

Pie Filling.

 

 

 

Rolling.

 

 

 

 

Waiting for the topping.

 

 

 

 

Mixing the booster bar mix.

 

 

 

 

Smiley Pie!

 

 

 

 

Waiting for the oven.

 

 

 

 

"Quit snapping Mum, I'm hungry!"

 

 

WELL DONE BENEDICT, LOVE MUM XX