Free From the food stuff

So the last few years I have been battling with my intolerance to lactose, the sugars in milk. Now if you read the labels on the things you buy you would realise EVERYTHING has some form of milk in.  After getting used to living on alternatives my intolerances got worse I became wheat and Gluten intolerant too :( suddenly food was my enemy once again, a battle I once thought I had won. My Doctor added to that by putting me on what's called a FODMAP Diet (google it - its harsh) meaning not only could I not have the good every day foods I was now limited to what fruit and vegetables I could eat and I still had to balance what I could eat because my stomach just couldn't handle it. Knowing I had once managed to combat my bad relationship with food ( the baddest was looking at food and thinking I'm not eating because i get sick and skipping every meal), i decided it was time to think positive. I spent a day crying at what I could no longer eat and then picked myself up and decided to look at what I CAN eat.  Its so important to keep positive, if you don't depression and despair will follow (I have been there and it is a dark place), its also important to eat the right foods, the saying "you are what you eat" isn't far from the truth and I have also learnt not eating the right food and the things my body can't tolerate also leads me into "the dark place" quite quickly!!

I'm not saying every day is easy because well its not and there are times you will end up eating the wrong thing (and you will know you will pay the price later) just don't give up hope, its just time to learn to cook again. Starting from fresh lists are so very important.

I must admit I have been lucky to have not one but two parents who can cook as well as older siblings and grandparents, all that where willing to teach me as I was growing up so I already had the advantage of cooking skills and plenty of recipes.

However you can't be Delia smith every day, especially in this house with 3 mouselings growing up fast and having a better social life than I ever did, not every recipe is quick enough!! This means I tend to bake " simple" and its time to share the ups downs and recipes (it may even get me blogging more, I mean look I've blogged more than last year already lol)

For now I just can't stress enough don't give up hope and stay positive food allergies are often very misunderstood and people don't realise how it effects your every day way of living, also the best thing is you do have start eating healthier and your trouser waistline certainly benefits ;)

Another year gone...

So the last time I blogged was this time last year,maybe my new resolution should be to blog more lol

Truth is this year has escaped me and gone super fast, we have had the greatest wedding, Squishes from gorgeous babies, news of babies to be, laugh,laughter and tears, more hospital and a move, basic stuff for us really.

My new resolution was going to be try and send even less time in hospital with my beautiful family but then realised its a tradition to break your resolutions so I'm changing it to do more exercise or have a show room house with 3 children in it.. Yeah never going to happen so perfect.

Fact is despite the huge up and downs we have had this year we got through it. We are lucky to have such amazing and supportive family and friends so nothing really scares us anymore we just deal with it. Although we have struggles at the moment I'm happy where we are because quite simply we are together!!!

I just want to wish everyone a wonderful new year and hope no matter how your year turns out you have great people around you to make you smile and laugh.  Always Remember the good, learn from the bad and stay strong. Cheers to another year of memories I shall never forget in my life's journey!

Peace and Love xxx

First post of the year..

Hoping everyone has had a good start to 2014. We have managed to stay away from a&e so I'm taking that as a fantastic start lol

Feeling a little sad tonight as my big brother and family flies home back to Australia Sunday morning :( it will be quiet without him. Glad I have been able to hug them for real instead of virtually and create some great memories for us to share.

We celebrated our first day of the year bowling. I haven't done this since I was a teenager. I feel old in thinking this was a place to find a guy/on a date. We used to bowl and then share a pool table... When kids were sociable eh? LOL was so much fun I forgot 1)how rubbish I am at bowling 2)how much fun it is and 3) how competitive my family can be ;) But laughter has certainly been the best start of 2014 no matter what it may have to come.

Now its time to think about back to work and school. Also hoping now I've rested my back I can start getting back into some proper exercise!! I may go insane if I can't!!!

Goodbye 2013...Welcome 2014

So today is the last day of 2013.

My instant reaction is thank f*** for that as to be honest there have been many lows!!!

The year started with a close friend deciding to end his life living an instant hole in mine and so many lives.. an empty chair will always be at the table.  Then after finally getting the job of my dreams I had to let it go after going through hell with my back....my boss who was a gentle giant and was there from the beginning with Laurens health issues and has supported my lil family in more ways he will have ever known passed away leaving behind a beautiful family who have showed their strength in such a sad and dark time , he would have been proud of them all.
With my back I got to the point I couldn't move, I couldn't get upstairs of my house and I wouldn't allow anyone to touch me. It got to the point where I couldn't even use the bathroom and so ended up in a&e and the very next day was in theatre having major surgery. As much as I'm still recovering, I am almost at least mended, although it still also hurts I had to give up my place in the London marathon because of it too...but hey dreams don't get cancelled just moved on a bit. After thinking that was it just a mere 2 weeks later after my emergency operation nothing prepared us to see our middle daughter Lauren suddenly become so ill, so quickly!! She spent 2 weeks in hospital and nothing prepared us at seeing her almost slip away from us I'm so thank full for her doctors and their quick reactions which got her well enough to come home. Although she still gets tired she is almost back to full health and even managed to get her next grading in her karate as well as get on her school girls football team. Then more tragedy hit when another wonderful angel finally slipped away after loosing her battle with cancer. Sam was a mere 32 years old and was a light that brighten every room. She will so sadly be missed. Then if that wasn't enough my oldest daughter Katelyn 1 week before Christmas broke 3 fingers after falling out of her friends wardrobe!! At least and after reading the above I'm sure you will understand when I say we can all laugh at that one!!

So you can see it would be pretty easy for me to right off 2013 completely however I don't want to as there have been ups too and they have been amazing!!

This year I got to take my oldest girls to their first proper concerts, I took Katelyn to the Capital summer time ball as well as Jessie J and I took Lauren to see Jessie J too, I got to see Robbie and Olly at Wembley with the hubby which was brilliant! We have had laughs along the way with fantastic friends and family, my best friend had a baby who is gorgeous and I'm about to be a god mother again, to top the good news another best friend got engaged to his dream girl (well she's my dream girl)!! We also had a fantastic holiday in Cyprus and got to live life and just appreciate living!! Seeing my big brother this year and being able to hug him his lovely wife and children have been wonderful and magical too...certainly made our Christmas :)

Not only that I am so proud of my 3 girls more than words  can ever say.

Despite the year we have had, katelyn joined the netball team despite not being sporty and has learnt there is a sport for her, she has worked hard at school and helped her grandparents out when they were dumped there after mummy and sister were in hospital, she supported Emily and hid her own worries and feelings to be strong for her. She did all of this while having to choose her secondary school, which meant choosing the school her closest friends didn't as well as going through the changes from a girl to a young lady...not an easy time in your life.

Lauren has managed despite being so ill keep up with her school work and even managed to up her grades a little. She never once complained at all with the needles poked in her or at the many blood test and other tests taken. She never once grumbled when she wasn't allowed to eat in hospital because she had to have a 'sleep'. She smiled the whole time and even helped staff at the hospital make banners for their charity!! She has focused and worked hard in everything she does and has done well in her karate gradings and football.

Emily took full time school hard and didn't settle very well however this year she seems to have just got it and works so hard that her teacher thinks she is amazing, and of course we do too. Emily was a hard child to deal with as she suffered major temper tantrums but this year she has managed to over come this. She has never grumbled at being away from mummy and daddy when they had to be at the hospital and has been quite grown up for a 6year old and coped with everything so maturely!!!

This year has really humbled me, I had it installed in me from those no longer in our lives that I was a bad mother but now I realise how could i be? They are what i got right!! I have a wonderful family and we are all so very close. I love them with all my heart and soul. My girls and hubby have been a rock to me, we have laughed and cried together and shared a mixture of emotions, but we have come out stronger together.

I'm also humbled at the people who are in my life, I have amazing family and amazing friends who have helped us as a family grow this year and helped support us through the bad and made us smile to make it good. For that I hold you all so dear to my heart and please  know I love you so much!!!

Now 2014 there are some hard times yet to come I know but I'm prepared to laugh through it with the amazing people I have around me and I'm quite looking forward to it. I wanted to have a new years resolution and I have many...just ones I won't stick too so I decided to just say

Happy New year to you all!!
May your wishes come true and your dreams are there to work for.
May the hard times be spent with a good friend by your side,
and may every day bring you at least one smile!!
Most all may your year be filled with love.

Peace and love to all

Xxxx

Winter is on its way.

Today has been a rare day when everything runs smoothly. Well I say everything apart from my alarm not going off and we got up late.

Still managed to get the girls up,washed,fed and dress and to school on time so that was a rush this morning. After that everything was smooth lol

Today was a rare day me and rob had some time to ourselves so we decided to have a walk down the river with a warm hot chocolate and chat and be silly. He then had to go to work so I turned the music up loud and cleaned all of downstairs before grabbing the girls from school.

After dinner we curled up with hot drinks and our hot water bottles and discussed our day which was lovely.

Days like this make it hard to decide what my favourite season is as I quite like winter for the warm snuggles however I do miss the sun of summer. For now I just can't wait for Christmas :D

October

October is gone and November has arrived. We are on the home stretch to the end of the year!! Can't believe we are almost into 2014 and that I will be able to hug my big brother, sister in-law and niece and nephew at the end of this month!! Excited is not the word ;)

So This week has been half term and i have to admit i have enjoyed this weeks half term and actually a little sad my babies are going back to school!!

We have had so much fun. We took the girls to their first time at Santa pod to see the monster trucks, drag racing and stunt drivers and happy to say the girls loved it. They loved the smell of the fuel, the noise of the engines and amazed at the speed of the rocket car..yeah they are true petrol heads lol We even got to ride in a monster truck and ride over cars....fantastic and still makes me buzz thinking about it!! I tick of my bucket list for sure!!

Then I had some mum time with my oldest 2 as I took then to see Jessie J at the 02. It was fantastic!! They are massive fans but for me and my oldest katelyn it was just nice seeing Laurens face as she took the hugeness of it all in as it was her first concert. So nice to see a smile on her face after being so ill.  The youngest didn't miss out as daddy decided to have some quality time and took her to the London aquarium. At the age of 6 she has already said she wants to be a marine biologist, she loves ocean life big and small, animals and plants/coral...so this was a real treat for her. I have never heard her talk so much seeing her afterwards lol

I also got a rare opportunity to have some time with Katelyn and we went to see Joseph at Wimbledon Theatre. Have to say I was a bit put off by reviews and the fact H from steps was playing Joseph but I have to say no it wasn't the west end version or had that kind of budget but it was fantastic all the same and katelyn is slowly understanding my love for theatre.

It hasn't all been days out we have had fun drawing pictures on rainy days and snuggled up under a duvet watching films when it was cold, even the cats curled up with us on those days ;)

I'm very lucky to have my beautiful lil family. No matter how bad or grey the day is somewhere in that day I will have smiled and laughed because of them!!  3> 3> 3> 3>

Getting old

At the young age of 30 something, i never feel like a day over 16 and often act like it especially around my nearest and dearest as they haven't quite grown up either ;)

However this year has seriously aged me. I know this for the following reasons:

1) I'm far to accepting of my quirkiness, I used to hide this and kept a lot of me hidden. These days I really do have the attitude of I don't care what the world thinks I am me and I quite like me :)

2) I have started to write a bucket list!! It mainly consists of just seeing the world as its the only real thing I haven't done yet, plus a few crazy stunts I think everyone should do.

3) I'm starting to frown upon fizzy drinks in aid to drink tea and more tea

4) My fancy dress outfits are now looked upon as how well they hold up against the elements as I don't like the cold instead of how sexy I wish I looked when wearing it.

5) I'm starting to enjoy being curled up on the sofa with my blanket wrapped round me and my cats curled up wither on me or next me... Yes I may be having the start of crazy cat lady syndrome!!

All said and done I am not completely ready for my zimmer frame yet, my bucket list can vouch for that but it has scared me how much I suddenly feel aged. Maybe its because so much has happened and maybe I don't feel aged just grown as a person. I certainly feel stronger and wiser...well for 5min at least ;p Definitely a bizzare year and I certainly feel blessed to have my beautiful family and friends to enjoy the good parts and to hold my hand and cry with me at the bad :)