21 years

That's what it is.

21 years since our first date.

Mike and I.

Me and Mike.

Us.

Yes, I was only four. (Teen).

We met at school.

We haven't changed a bit.

Of course.

Some of you won't believe me.

Some of you who know us will back me up.

Of course, some of you make convincing liars.

But that's ok by us.

We were together for two years, then split, then got back together again.

It hasn't been an easy road at all sometimes.

And we've been through some tough things.

In 21 years, what couple hasn't?

But we're here.

And the tough times, though they really hurt, and really were horrid, made us what and who we are now.

And I just want to say...

I love you.

More than you'll ever know.

And more than I can ever say.

And one more thing...

I'm really glad...

... that you've almost finished decorating the downstairs shower room and lobby.

Because they really looked awful.

And they are looking much nicer and cleaner now.

But...

... the kitchen now looks horrid.  Because it links onto the nice, freshly decorated lobby. 

Just thought I'd mention it.

Because let's face it. 

21 years later.

Our lives aren't what they were then.

Decisions have been replaced from what film to go and see to what wallpaper we prefer and (sometimes) which bill takes priority.

Wonder where we'll be in another 21 years?

Love you always,




Just a reminder that if you haven't already entered, the giveaway to win a £50 (UK) or $50 (US) gift certificate is over here.  You've got until August 1st to enter!

Win a £50/$50 gift certificate with CSN Stores!

Like to shop? Love to shop? Or just need to shop?

Want to win a £50/$50 gift certificate to shop with? Spend it on anything you like from ceiling lights to cookware.

Click on over to Larger Family Life's Reviews and Giveaways page and I'll tell you how!

Heads-up! A giveaway is coming!

If you are a Larger Family Life Facebook "liker" (because you're not fans any more, but it's ok, I like that you like us), you'll have already seen the heads-up about an upcoming giveaway.

If not, this is the first you'll have heard about it. See what you're missing when you're not a Facebook "Liker"?

Anyway, for your chance to win a $50/£50 gift certificate check back tomorrow!

And breeeeeeath....

Oliver was finally taken into theatre at 3.30 yesterday afternoon. He hadn't eaten since the evening before and hadn't had any water to drink since 11am, despite the warmth of the day. He must have been so hungry, thirsty and wondering what on earth was going on.

I think it may have possibly been the longest day ever waiting to hear from Mike. And that was with the others to keep me busy. The day must have seemed far longer for poor hubby. Although it was hard being away from my baby, I definitely got the easy side of the deal.

We finally got a text from Mike at around 6.30pm to say that Oliver was out of theatre and recovery and on the ward, albeit rather groggy. Hopefully he'll manage to stay awake long enough to eat or, more importantly, drink something soon before sleeping the rest of the anaesthetic off.

It's never a nice thing to see your children going through something like this. All day I've turned my thoughts to those parents for whom operations and appointments and medication is a regular thing to watch their child deal with.

We're very lucky. We've been blessed with healthy children and, thankfully, no real problems or emergencies to deal with. Today, my thoughts and prayers are with those who aren't so lucky.

4am

It wasn't so much the 4am start that bothered me this morning as the reason for it.

Oliver's op.

He was happy and smiling this morning while I was getting him ready to leave for the drive into London with Daddy.

He was unaware that he'd be starved of food or drink until he'd undergone a procedure that was going to make him hurt.

Bad Mummy.

Bad, bad Mummy.

I'm suffering a big mixture of mummy-guilt and mummy-worry.

A great combination at the best of times.

I don't think.

So I'm going to be keeping myself busy busier today. All the while carrying both the house and mobile phones with me.

And as well as the usual, everyday, mummy/house/children stuff I'll be doing some sorting out of clothes drawers.  You know, putting away the stuff that doesn't fit.  Passing down the good stuff that can be kept and throwing out the stuff that can't.  Hopefully I'll be able to close the drawers after I'm done.

And then I'll be finishing off a new quilt pattern I've been working on which is double the fun and double the value.

And then I'll be playing with this...

Just to keep busy, you know?

Editing to say:

On my travels I came across Quilts for Kids, a charity through which voluntary quilters create quilts from discontinued or unwanted fabrics which are then given to children which are fighting serious, life-threatening illnesses or those who have suffered abuse. 

Quilts for Kids will send out kits free of charge comprising all the fabric you need to put a quilt together.  Return it to them within 4-6 weeks so it can be donated to a child in need and, so that more children can benefit, they ask you donate a quilt of your own too. 

This is something I'd have loved to have helped out with this but unfortunately it's for those of you in the USA only.  If anyone knows of anything similar here in the UK or the rest of Europe please let me know and I'll link up to it.

In the meantime, if there are any quilters out there in the USA who decide to help out Quilts for Kids please let me know.  I'd love to see what you create!

As I was saying

Seems to be that the curse of bad luck continued after my last post. After I'd returned the Husqvarna quilting machine to the dealer I bought it from I received an email to say that it had arrived damaged and despite sending it back in its original box and hard case the courier wouldn't accept responsibility for the damage and that it would cost me £250 to have it repaired. I'm left wondering how the machine has been damaged when neither the casing that houses it nor even the box has the slightest bit of damage to it. I don't have the money to pay for repairs at the moment so it'll have to wait. It never rains...

Today, as I approach my thirtieth week of pregnancy, I am trying not to go into hormonal pregnant mother meltdown at the thought of my baby going to hospital for an operation tomorrow. Really, I know that I need perspective. I know that there are parents in the world that have to watch their children suffer day after day after day. This is a minor op, but still I dread the thought of my baby boy going under a general anaesthetic. You know, I have always believed that I don't have much of an imagination but boy, do I surprise myself at the scenarios I can come up with in times of worry! So while the rational side tells me to keep things in perspective I'm not doing too well at keeping the (over)emotional side in check.

On the up side...

... because we like good news here. I've just noticed that the Larger Family Life Facebook page has hit the big 100! It may not seem much to you but it's a big number to me and made me very happy to see. Thank you! If you haven't joined up already you can do so by clicking right here.

Until tomorrow...

Warning: You are under attack!

Ever felt that way?

You know? Like nothing is going right?

Like everything is going wrong?

Everything.

I signed off the last post telling you how the dishwasher and minibus needed replacing and how the dryer had broken down too.

This week we had rain, rain, rain resulting in mounting piles of laundry which I couldn't wash because we couldn't dry it. This ended up in running out of clothes and children wearing shorts and t-shirts in bed because pj's weren't ready in time. The lone airer we were using to try to dry stuff literally couldn't take the strain and snapped its legs in its refusal to bear any more burden. You could almost hear it begging for mercy.

Then the exhaust fell off Mike's car. Another lot of money later and it's fixed... for now.

Then my brand new quilting machine, not yet four months old, threw a wobbly and refused to work properly. That's going off to the engineer today. On the up-side, the back up machine is due to arrive today. I have a feeling this Bernina back-up is going to take preference over the Husqvarna and the Husq will take up back-up status. At least the four jobs that are waiting won't be held up though. Yes?

Serves it right.

Then, this morning, Mike went out to feed and water the chickens before work and one is dead. On the ground. (I suppose it wouldn't be dead on the perch, would it?). Spent the last couple of days losing feathers and now... gone.

I don't think this is just bad luck. Nobody could be this unlucky could they? What is going on for goodness sakes?

I'll tell you something, though. It doesn't reassure me that so much is going wrong when my baby is due to go in for an operation next week. Thoughts and prayers on that would be very much appreciated. As well as a change of luck as our finances REALLY cannot take any more. But the op, that's the beast hanging over me at the moment. If you've only one prayer in you, make that the one. Please?!