dream, laugh, love, smile, create......

This is my new home...........

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Pop by and say hello!!

Well, Cam is slowly recovering although there is an infection but its making its way out of the scar site which up til Saturday night had been healing wonderfully. We were going to bed and all of a sudden Cam noticed liquid was coming out of the scar. A telephone call to NHS Direct (the nurses there are fab) and then a visit to Primary Care on Sunday sorted Cam out with some antibiotics which should hopefully sort him out and keep him out of hospital. He is quite bright in himself and recovering slowly, day by day, bless him.

I am trying hard to get on top of things buts its hard cos when I think I am getting their more stuff surfaces and adds itself to the list! Thats life though I guess. I really would like the feeling of being on top of everything though. Forgotten what that feels like!

We were due to go to Looe last Friday but obviously couldn't go as Cam isn't well enough yet. We are hoping for a holiday later in the year though so we aren't going to miss out completely and anyway it might be a good idea when its not so busy. Especially busy in Cornwall this year apparently due to the appearance of some Great White Sharks. Yikes!! Imagine that! When we go to Looe we always go out as far as we can into the sea and I can imagine how horrifying it would be to see a fin swimming close by. Blimey. I would have some serious laundry to do if that were to happen!!

I have managed a couple of crafty things this past week - just a couple of ticks off my crafty list........

The BF July ATC - theme of Initials. I had to do BF, didn't I !! These will be winging their way to Rosie when she is back of her hols - sorry for the delay folks......

and I managed a CJ entry for the Retailers UKS. This is for Julie and her theme was 'If I knew then what I know now....'.

I'm buggered if I can remember exactly what was on the little card inside the envelope! But it was something like:

If I knew then what I know now.......I would have lived harder and faster and taken more risks.

That old saying is so true: 'youth is wasted on the young'.

Last Wednesday morning Cameron, my youngest son (age 9), woke me up at about 3am to say he had been sick. So the last three days of his school year were spent with Cam being sick and poorly. He complained of a stomach ache on the Friday which I attributed to the constant wretching of being sick. He still hadn't improved on the Saturday and had an awful grey/yellow tinge to his face and his breathing was very fast and shallow.

Firstly I rang NHS Direct and they told me to ring my doctor which I did. They told me to go straight to Primary Care at the hospital. My Dad took us both there as Darren was at work and was subsequently stuck in the floods until Monday evening! Upon further investigation the doctor thought it was his appendix. We were taken up to the childrens ward where Cam was prodded and poked by several more doctors through the course of Saturday afternoon. They all came to the same conclusion - Appendicitis.

Apparently they can't tell for sure until they do surgery and open up, but the symptoms were consistent with that of Appendicitis even though Cam was strangely absent of the huge pain associated with this! He was due for surgery at about 10pm Sat night and I was told that it would take about half an hour and some time in recovery. So I thought about an hour would do it.

They had warned me that the worse possible scenario was a perforated appendix and that this was very nasty and I knew is was potentially fatal too.

Two and a half hours later Cam was allowed back on the ward! Can you imagine what I was thinking during all this time - an whole hour and half over and above what they were all expecting. Apparently it had perforated and was very nasty indeed. They had to remove the appendix and totally clean out his insides to get rid of the pus......bleugh.....gag.

So, my poor baby has spent the past five days in hospital recovering from this. In all that time he hasn't once moaned about the pain. I am sure he must have a high pain thresh-hold because most people would be screaming in agony, spesh with a perforated one! Bless him. They were keeping a close eye on him as his temperature was quite high and there is always a risk of infection. I spent every day with him and he had lots of visitors which was great for us both!

Anyways, he is home now and resting in the front room. He has eaten well today, the most he has had for a whole week. We are having to keep an eye on his temperature though and if it shoots up we have to take him straight back into hospital.

I am so glad my baby boy is home.........

Darren's Mum had her gall bladder removal op last week and even though it was considered very dangerous due to all the other ops she has had, she has come through a real trooper. She was in lots of pain when we visited her in hospital but she is now home and recovering.

Darren has decided that this new job is not for him. There are no children in the home yet nor likely to be for several months, and he has decided to return to his old job. Luckily they still want him! Whatever makes him happy is fine by me. I have got a taste of having the car again though so I am looking out for a car of my own . Have spotted a few I like but no rush just yet. I will wait for the perfect one, with my name on it!

Had good school reports from all three kids. They are all so bright and doing so well, I am proud of them. Abi is constantly getting awards and headteacher commendations and merits and is very consistent. Always does her best. Jake needs to be pushed and reminded from time to time, bless him. He has had lots of merits too but on the flip side he has had points too. These are like de-merits and given out when things aren't up to scratch or when they have been 'naughty'. Jake isn't naughty as such, and his points have been given for things like chewing in class, forgetting his pens and pencils (!), shirt untucked, not taking his diary planner; little things like that. So its not as though he is naughty, just absent minded I think. Bless.

Mind you this came back to haunt him because last Friday a trip had been planned for all Year 7 students who had three points or less. It was a trip to Alton Towers, so a great fun day. Jake has eight points though and was unable to go. Shame. I did feel for him because all his mates were excited about the trip and Jake had to go to school. Hope he will learn a lesson. I doubt it though as his points were given for things he will find hard to change because its part of him. Abi has been at the school for three years and never got one single point. Jake has now been there a year and gained eight points. Its just as well he is very bright and working hard in class otherwise I would be on his back as well as the school. He does need to be pushed though otherwise he would be sloppy with school work too. Is it a boy thing?!

I do wonder this because Cam is very bright too (he may even be the cleverest of the three) but again he needs to be reminded and pushed. Computer restrictions seem to work though - the threat of computer banning or time restrictions seem to make them think twice. Take my boys computers away from them and they would be two very unhappy boyses..........

Isn't this weather a bummer?! I am desperately feeling the need for a bit of sun. A bit of Vit E to make you feel a little better and perk you up a bit. Fingers crossed for August and a sunny Looe........

Thought I would leave you with this little piccy of Abi holding her dwarf hamster. These are quick little fellas and once you have hold you have to grip tight. Remember the incident a couple of months back where one got away and we had to take part of the kitchen ceiling down to get her?!?! Not sure if this is the one of the three, but they are soooo cute.............

Gosh, seems ages since I last posted and haven't even gone blog hopping to catch up on all my faves either......must get and do that.

I feel lots better even though this cough still catches me now and again. Jake went back to school last week and its still lingering with him. Mind you, because he suffers from asthma, every cough takes a while to shift.

I am so looking forward to our holiday in August. Back down to Looe for a week. I started planning my shoppie two years ago this month and have had one weeks holiday in all that time. I soooo need a break. Its nigh on impossible to switch off when you work from home and a week away is more than due. There will be no craft related anything going with me! Just a few clothes and some books. Oh, and hubbie, kids and the dog of course....... Fingers crossed that the weather improves by then!

Darren started a new job this week which is much nearer to home. It also means I can drop him off and have the car. Its not bothered me, not having the car, because we live quite central and I can walk to wherever I need to go, hence the decision to just have one car. But now that I have the car I am beginning to appreciate that extra freedom that having one gives you. Soooo another car might be on the horizon as I think Darren will have to have one for work, but I don't want to go back to not having one. We'll see.

Was busy with CJ's and other bits and crafty pieces over the weekend, so will leave you with a couple of pics.......

for a notebook swap on BF - who is going to be lucky enough to get this one then??

Cult Kids TV Prog CJ on UKS - nearing the end now, only a couple left to do I think!

This was one for DiW on BF, had to do Pink, didn't I!!

Well its Jake's 12th birthday today and he is still home from school. Still with a really poorly cough. Had an x-ray today so hopefully that will shed some light on the matter and let us know what is going on.

We are planning a birthday weekend for him as Darren is home so we can all celebrate properly then. Depends on the weather too as to what we do but will see at the weekend, not sure what the forecast is but at the very least we can go to the cinema, that always goes down well.

I don't know where this month has gone - summer's here but where is the sun? I reckon we had our summer in April when it was really hot for a couple of weeks!

I'm not feeling 100% myself at the mo - have a rotten cough. Not quite like Jake's but bad enough for me to feel sorry for myself.

Bought myself some Cherry Liquer, so I am gonna have a tipple or two to see if it will make me feel a bit better , I'm sure it will.........

Well, June is whizzing by and for me, so far, its been a month of sorting out and tidying up. Not finished but certainly better than a month ago. I hate clutter and mess and the whole house needed a good seeing to, for want of better words........

I have got rid of loads of stuff. I am a bookaholic, but I was realistic and got rid of ones I knew I wasn't going to read or wasn't interested in anymore. Its almost sacrilege to get rid of books, but combined with the boys library that they had in their room we have got rid of over one hundred, and thats not including the fifty odd I got rid of a couple of months ago.

Sorted lots of household paperwork too. This had piled up to ridiculous proportions but its all now contained in a metal box. Ooooh, it don't have make you feel better when your house feels lighter and in turn so does your mind. Still more to do but its getting there!

Jake has been poorly since half term with an awful cough and he sometimes coughs til he is sick. I thought it was getting a little better but I was sat here last night at about 10.15pm when Jake shot past me with his hands cupped to his mouth. There was a trail from the bathroom (which is downstairs), through the kitchen, through the dining room, up the stairs across the landing and into the boys bedroom of lovely orange coloured sick.

Now you are going to think I am mean cos I really moaned at him. Not for being sick though, cos he couldn't help that, but for two other reasons. One, when the kids are ill they have a sick bowl. These are plastic pudding bowls which we then can just throw away and we have a supply of them for just this reason.........well you have to don't you when you have kids. Despite constant nagging, Jake didn't have one with him. Second, if you are going to be sick I think its best to stay where you are and perhaps be sick on something that can be washed, if nothing more convenient is nearer, instead of leaving a trail across every bit of carpet we have in the house.

I am not the worlds best sick clear-uperer as I end up gagging myself and usually Darren is the sick cleaner, but he was at work. So it was left to me. It does seem however much you clean, scrub and disinfect, carpet smells of sick for ages. I am soooo tempted to just rip it up and throw away. We don't have carpet downstairs just up the stairs and in the bedrooms, but I can smell it and I hate it. Yuk......bleugh......gag.......

Anyways, now that I have put you off your brekkie, I have to get these kids moving and sorted for school........

It was our friend, Pete's birthday last Sunday so we had arranged to go and see John Shuttleworth at the Bromsgrove Artrix.

John Shuttleworth, aka Graham Fellows, is very original and funny, in small doses. Darren thinks he is fab, I think he is OK. He sang Jilted John in the late seventies - you might remember him for that, if you are as old as me.........

Anyway, as John Shuttleworth, he sits with his organ (ahem, musical organ) and sings little ditties inbetween banter about all sorts ranging from his friend Ken to his wife Mary. He is very good but I have to say two hours is plenty for me.............

We did have a lovely Indian meal afterwards though. Its amazing that this one was open til midnight on a Sunday. Saying that though we were the only ones in there! Food was gorgeous though. So in all a good evening and I would love to go to the theatre or go to shows a bit more often. Defo an age thing isn't it. The theatre never used to appeal but it does now..............

Watched The Secret last night and can honestly say that of you can apply The Secret to your everyday thinking it could really change your life. I have the book too and must admit to thinking a little differently now and trying to apply it. In some ways I did anyway, but I think I will up it a gear and get what I really want out of life. For those of you who don't know what The Secret is then I am not going to tell you - cos its a secret.

In a nutshell, The Secret is the Law of Attraction. Whatever your predominant thought is, that is what you attract into your life. So, positive thinking is the key and focussing on what you have to be grateful for, so that you get more of it.

I love this quote and its so true:

'Whether you think you can or think you can't, either way you are right.'
Henry Ford,(1863-1947)

In other words, if you go into something thinking you can do it, you can get it, you can become it - then you will. Go into things saying I can't - then you won't. I truly believe this and positive thinking is the way I think anyway. I really believe positive vibes attracts more positive and likewise with negative.

So now I am going to have a few daily mantras - yet to be finalised and put into a short sentence. But if I can focus on these on a daily basis and not just read words but truly believe and visualise, then I really am on the way to having the life I want and deserve.

This applies to us all - so go get the book and I defy you not to be inspired..........

Oh blimey, its been two weeks since I last posted. Have been busy though. Started bumper bargains on the shop and they have been selling well although it took ages to sort out and there are still more to come. Some days just packing orders has literally taken me all day and its left little time for anything else! Not complaining though........ I also spent last weekend sorting out some paperwork and whilst that it sooo much better, its still not finished and completely up to date. I will be so glad when I am on top of that, its such a boring job but gotta be done! *yawn*

This past week saw the release of our second kit. Such a lot of preparation goes into this, not just me but for Di too. Even though I put more kits together this month, they still were sold out within 24 hours. How fab is that! They have been very well received too, so its great that other people think they are great too! And to those of you who buy the BF Kits - you are going to love next months too. Di, bless her, is ahead of herself which, in turn, should mean that I am too provided I don't leave the sorting out til the last minute! Its amazing what Di can do with some cardstock and paper.....

Whilst typing this I am scoffing some brekkie. I am addicted to this particular breakkie cereal at the moment. Its Tesco Maple and Pecan Crisp. I add a sprinkling of Pecan nuts too and the whole taste is just scrumyum. Maple Syrup and Pecan nuts soooo go together. I can also kid myself that is a healthy way to start the day cos I have added more nuts........but in reality its quite high in fat for a cereal - prob the maple syrup......

Oh dear, Darren has just took Sam for a walk and its just started to rain - shame. Darn it, I wanted to get some washing dry today and I think Darren wanted to potter in the garden. He has taken on the role of gardener with gusto this year. He has always hated doing anything in the garden, and other than the hard manual work, the gardening was left to me. That all kinda went out the window when I started the shop and last year the garden was badly neglected cos I just didn't have time. Its a huge garden too - about 225 feet long so it takes a bit of work. This year though Darren has transformed the garden and he is actually enjoying doing it. He is a tidy freak too so the garden is very neat at the moment.

That does have its drawbacks though - he went out the front of the house to trim a climbing plant that goes up the front of the house. It has grown all of a sudden and was threatening to pull the BT cable off the front of the house, so I suggested it could do with a trim. Well this 'trim' developed into a full blown cull. I had some mature heathers and ivy growing on the little wall along the driveway and as this climbing plant had entangled itself into all of that as well as climbing up the house, when Darren 'trimmed' the whole driveway ended up being trimmed. Well I say trimmed - its gone from a lovely mature pathway border to a bare nothing border. He got rid of the lot. I should have guessed really, when he goes outside with his cutty tool thingie he ends up hacking away at anything and everything. My butterfly bush ended up becoming a stub.

Anyways, at least it means I don't have to do the garden. When I have time I enjoy it but when I don't its a burden, so I am glad he is enjoying his little self.

We popped to the garden centre yesterday just to pick up a hanging basket to the give the front of the house a lift cos it now looks so bare *grrr*, and managed to find a lovely one that should see us through the summer.......

and look at these little pansy faces.......

Darren just laughed at me 'why are you putting a pic of a hanging basket on your blog?'
'Cos its nice', I said
'well whose going to want to see that' he laughed
'shut up' I said.

Humph, I thinks its lubberly and its a small replacement for all the plants he butchered..........

Oooooh, I've been busy this week. Decided mid-week to change Bubbly Funk a little bit. Instead of being a general craft store I am going to specialise in Chipboard and associated items - like paint, ink, embellies, etc. So still stocking loads but mainly chipboard. And thats cos I love it and I always like to be a little different to everyone else.

So I am busy with a Sale on BF at the mo. Lots of bundles of stock and more to come. Then I can focus. Quite happy with the decision that has been swimming around in my head for a while. Fingers crossed for me..........

Last week we had a little baby birdie fly into the kitchen. Darren picked him up and he wasn't making any attempt to fly away. Could see his little leg was a bit funny, so wasn't sure if he had been hurt. We popped him onto the roof of the sumerhouse with some soaked bread and after about 10 minutes he did fly off, bless him. Managed to get a couple of good photos of him though. My Dad says he thinks its a Grey Tit.

So pleased with how these photos turned out. The close up is really sharp and the one of the bird in the tree was taken so quickly, before he flew away, that I am suprised its in focus at all.

Joined an online photography course this past week, which is over ten weeks and in that time I am hoping to be able to make better use of my camera. A year on and I am still only using Auto and Macro. Shameful.

We had to take a portrait pic of ourselves as part of the intro and I hate pics of me. Don't do photos of me at all. Hundred photos later and there was just one that was passable. I'll show you here now and you prob won't see another pic of me for a long time - aren't you glad.........