Against the odds…he/she baby almost made it through!

Wow! That's all I can say as I’ve just suffered an ectopic pregnancy!!!  How - with a coil fitted???  Seems “soldiers” and “eggies” have been working overtime!  I thought we'd done our bit for the human race (4 children) and now this!?

I was having severe abdominal pain and, following a positive pregnancy test which GP insisted on (I was adamant I wasn’t pregnant), I was immediately transferred to hospital for suspected ectopic pregnancy.  Another test in hospital and YES, definitely pregnant.  A shot out of the blue, I tell ya!

The coil was duly removed and the pain has subsided.  I’m being monitored with blood works and scans before being treated with either an injection or surgery (or neither, if results show that the pregnancy aborted spontaneously).

Much as we did not plan this (and I was quite annoyed by the positive results) it feels very hurtful to lose a pregnancy.  It’s a feeling I can’t explain.  I will find solace in the fact that I have four lovely children and God has given me all He wants for me – all that I need.

I'd like to acknowledge the wonderful NHS staff that looked after me: the out-of-hours GP that night, the ambulance crew (2 of them), the staff in the hospital, including the Gynaecologist and all the nurses in the Gynaecology Department.  I was lucky and blessed to meet such professional and compassionate people throughout my journey and I thank God.

In the words of Elton John “…And I've got all that I'm allowed.  It'll do for me, I'm thankful now…And I'm thankful, … …So thankful… I've got all that I'm allowed”.

Update, 24^th January
Test results showed that the pregnancy was developing, albeit abnormally, so I’ve had a Laparoscopy and a Salpingectomy to terminate the pregnancy and remove the fallopian tube in which the baby was growing.  My husband and I both have mixed emotions; gratitude that I’m alive and sadness at the loss of our poor baby.

Time and prayers will, no doubt, heal this hurt.
 

What a difference the great outdoors makes

We decided to play outside today, which we don’t really do in the Winter.  Out we went, toddlers (complete with their Bike ride-ons - will do a separate review on these ride-ons), while the rest of us just played round them. We had so much fun; we connected, we laughed, we played, we ran around (this means I EXERCISED…hehehe).  Additionally, my children made a new friend - a decent looking girl who attends the same school as them. It certainly beat thinking of where to take the children/what to do (usually indoor soft play centres) so I’ll be advocating some good old fashioned fun for children/family: playing outside, going to the park or going for walks.  Certainly better than spending too long watching television or in front of the computer/tablet/phone screens.

Off to bed, this tired mum goes.

P/s, our prayers are with Mikaeel Kular’s family.

Back to school for you know who...

Who would have thought that several years after a Masters Degree, I'd be going back to "study"...wait for it... wait for it... wait for it…Primary school Year 1 Maths?!

 

Well, I have!  Needless to say that I struggled with a couple of questions aimed at year 1s.  Ha ha!

 

Ok seriously, this is a course designed for parents of children in Key Stage 1 (Years 1 & 2) and it's appropriately called "Keeping up with children's Numeracy" (there is also a "Literacy" course).

 

It's true that children are taught differently now - who knew there were so many ways to say "add" "subtract" "divide" and "multiply"?!  Admittedly, teaching is now more interesting and practical, rather than the abstract Maths lessons I had in my day.  If only I studied now, I would have been much better at Maths (she says).

 

Even the way the children learn to read is different; focusing on the sounds.  My children's school uses a programme called "jolly phonics", where sounds are associated with actions.  It's quite funny to watch (fun for them, so if those actions don't help them remember sounds, nothing else will)!  They’re now at the stage of putting the sounds together so fingers crossed, my children will soon know how to read.

 

Back to me and my course… I’m excitedly making a number fan (banana shape) and I have to find out what a "number line" is.  Yes, I've learnt a few new words that are being used in KS1 Numeracy and I'll be putting together a glossary so watch this space.  I'll let you know how I'm getting on – assuming I survive the 10 weeks duration of this course.

7 seaters with big boot space - too much for a family to ask…?

…YES, as we’re now finding out!  We need a seven-seater that has a reasonably sized boot, when all seven seats up.  We’ve shortlisted a few but on inspection, the boot sizes haven’t been that great and certainly not big enough for a weekend break for a family of six!

 

I didn’t realise how important this subject is, especially among mums, until we recently started searching.  Who would imagine that four little people (with car seats) could take up so much space in a car!

 

We’ve shortlisted the Crystler Grand Voyager, the Ford Galaxy and the SEAT Alhambra - some are more cost effective to run that others.

 

We're leaning towards the Galaxy or the Alhambra either these two...or we move to America with their more suitably sized trucks!

 

What say you?