Friends joke that I should get a discount in the coffee shop. The nurses know my name. Only today one of Erin’s favourite health care assistants asked Dylan if he wanted lunch and looked to me, then said in a surprised tone, this is the third child! How is Erin?

It leaves me exasperated, what is it about my kids? My friends seem to avoid hospital stays and yet all three of mine are currently regular visitors. 

Dylan has allergies, as a baby he had bad eczema and had a dairy free diet which controlled it. Now he eats what he wants and hayfever is the only allergy he has. April is usually Dylan’s worst month, the tree pollen and first grass cuts are his nemesis.  Wednesday morning he awoke with tiny little bumps under his eye.  I know what these mean, I know the course they run.  After school I took Dyl to the surgery, we had no appointment but they also know that this has hospitalised Dyl twice already.  I thought we had caught it quick enough.  Yet Thursday saw no signs of improvement and by Friday the blisters were becoming infected.  I took him back to the surgery hedging my bets as to where we would end up next.  I was right and not surprised when the GP said Dylan needed to be seen by the paeds team.  Knowing the drill we went prepared we nipped home grabbed the iPad, DS, snacks and magazines before heading back.  I dropped Erin with a friend and headed to hospital. Initially the GP was concerned that the blisters looked viral more than bacterial, he suspected shingles.  As I said Dylan only gets this at this time of year but the doctors and peads don’t have a textbook answer that links this infection with hayfever.  Dyl has been on IV antibiotics for four days now and we are starting to see signs of improvement.  However no one is entirely sure what causes this.  It has been suggested that it is due to the MRSA he had as toddler (that was never actually confirmed as MRSA as they couldn’t admit that  – as he had just had an operation in the hospital – rather they have always called it a staphylococcal infection).  As this has reoccured he will now being a specialist – hopefully an eye specialist tomorrow. 

In the meantime I am yet again drinking hospital coffee and watching the clock.  This week will yet again be busy and dominated with appointments.  Erin is seeing the rheumatologist on Wednesday and we shall see what the consultant says for Dyl tomorrow.

We really should celebrate our wedding anniversary but we are quite lazy really – and circumstances have made it very difficult. Last year should have been one to celebrate, a decade of marriage. However Erin was in spica having recently had her big salters operation. We couldn’t very well swan off which is how I would have liked to celebrate.  This year neither of us have mentioned it so I guess we are doing anything!  This fun quiz though is set to see how much we agree about things like ‘what is our favourite experience together?’  I challenge you to ake the quiz with either your other half or the best friend!  See who you know the best!!

Disclosure: I have been entered into a competition to win a night away for posting the app. I need a weekend away and it really is almost my wedding anniversary!

I have shared and learnt so much online during the past three years but there is still always more to learn. Last Saturday was no exception. The first thing I learnt was that it really is a good idea to take your camera if you plan on going to a practical camera workshop! However I snapped away with my iPhone and actually won a prize so I obvously picked up a few tips!

I later went to a totally inspirational session on writing a book. The panel included Tamsin from ParentDish, Becky from Baby Budgeting whose book I read every night in the bath when expecting Erin (again this was before I blogged) and finally Rachel from tales from the village who has written fiction that is immensely successful.  This session gave some much needed advice about getting an publishing deal, getting a book cover and editor, tips on submitting to online publications and generally about believing in yourself and never giving up.

The top tips I gleamed were:

1. If you are wanting to get noticed for an online publication, send your pitch in during the afternoon – more chance of it being read.  Avoid Monday mornings – its a bit like ringing for a doctor I guess!  That is the busiest time!

2. Do link to other pieces of your writing.

3. Do look for a good angle – if the post could be written by one of their ‘established’ writers that is where they would go.

4. If writing  a book – a good cover is worth the investment.

5. Get an editor.

6. Use the Writers and Artists handbook to find out who specialises in your written area.

7. Rejection is not personal – Becky had 40 rejections before her deal and Rachel pointed out that when you write your second book the publishers will be falling over themselves and you can  reject those who rejected you – Karma!

8. Believe in your book. 

This advice was all realistic yet at the same time inspirational.  I have an idea and hopefully one day it will be realised as I certainly believe in it.

The final session was a really impressive talk by Andy Cope, some will know him as the author of popular childrens books – notably the Spy Dog series, however he spoke to us about being happy.  Infact he is studying what it means to be happy and how to be happy.  In a nutshell the answer is that you need to live in the now and celebrate what you have.  Being happy is a state of mind and so is being a mood hoover.  Only 2% of people are in the perfect place of being happy.  It made so much sense what he was saying.  As a sociologist, teacher and parent it really resonated with me.  I have sat through inset on happy schools and I want to raise happy children. 

I finished the day by heading for dinner and drinks with some epic bloggers I know and it was a great way to finish off the day!  The last thing I learnt though was to check your wine glass doesn’t have a leak mine clearly did as it kept emptying itself.  Luckily I found a new friend in Donna who was happy to prop up the bar with me and neither of us missed our train home – result!

The never ending hospital appointments do take their toll and Erin recalled this on Sunday. When in sunday school she was asked what scares her and her reply was the doctor and his gas mask. That is hard to hear from a child that has already been under a general aneasthtic seven times.

In order to see the consultant next week she needs some blood tests first and this is something else that Erin does like anymore. She is never easy to take blood from or get a cannula in as her hands are chunky and the veins like to hide!  But they want to rule out some other things as part of the eventual diagnosis.

In additional to Erin, Chloe also has physio this week.  Her ankle seems to be getting stronger but she regularly over does it and spends the next day limping but it is so hard for her to avoid the sports she loves so much!  My way of coping with all this is typically shopping and I now have found another favourite shop no 21 which has a gorgeous tweed skirt I need in my life!

Hospital visits have become so routine for us but the anxiety and nerves still eat me up.  I don’t really know what I want the rheumatologist to say next week as I don’t want the diagnosis yet I want Erin to start receiving the treatment she needs.  She has a year until she is preparing to start school and I want her to start with everything in place. 

I had been pricing up the Little Tikes slides as I knew they are sturdy.  I am a bit of a fair weather Ebay fan these days as it seems the fees and postage costs have made it less profitable when selling and so I don’t use it as much as a few years ago.  However I took a peek to see if there were any slides going local.  There was and I patiently had to sit out the auction but was desperate to buy it!

Thankfully I was the highest bidder and paid just £30 for the little tikes giant slide which costs just over £100 brand new.  When we collected it ( I say we, obviously I sent the husband on the errand complete with sat nav as it was in the middle of the sticks!) we could see that it was in fab condition.  There is no sun fade on the slide and no scuffed bits.  Erin is over the moon with her new slide and already she is climbing more than she does in the local parks.

In addition to slides great post spica and ddh activities include using a scooter.  Also buying at this price means when I sell it on in a year or so I will probabaly get most of my money back..  Now that is my kind of bargain!

I have linked this post up to Magpie Monday.

1 x Soreen Choc sliced,

670g jar morello cherries drained,

30g butter,

1 tblsp castor sugar,

1 tblsp plain flour,

1 egg,

vanilla essence,

95g almonds,

160g cherry jam.

Method

Pre heat the oven to 180c/350f/Gas 4.

Combine the butter and sugar and beat until creamy. Add the egg yolk

and a splash of vanilla essence, then stir in the almonds and flour. Chill.

Place the Fruity Five Slices on a greased baking sheet. Cook for 10 mins in oven.

Place a spoonful of almond mixture onto the slices, then press 3-4 cherries onto the top.

Bake for another 10 mins or until golden. Cool slightly, then dust with icing sugar.

Serve with cream or ice cream.

However the children’s favourite was simply Choc Soreen warmed up and served with yummy ice cream.

She wasn’t an easy baby and was strong willed from the start. I clearly remember her aged about three and half having a tearful rage about something or other. In desperation she picked up a (thankfully cheap) porcelain fairy that was launched across the room with such pent up anger and frustration. As it smashed around her the wild sobs subsided and were replaced by her shocked face. I feel that a decade later those emotions are bubbling away again.

She is a swirling mass of mixed moods. I get shouted at and there are times nothing I say or do is right and then five minutes later I am being told I’m loved and the the best mum ever. Growing up is not always easy and I think in many ways today’s children and teenagers are exposed to more than I ever was. I remember the age so well, it was only yesteryear. I remember knowing best and wanting more freedom. I remember how if I didn’t get my own way I was sure that I was being unfairly treated. Yet I didn’t have instant messaging at the touch of my fingertips that was constantly comparing my everyday activities with those of my peers. Making their lives seem much more fun, more exciting than my own. The pressure that today’s youth feel are not the same. Exam pressure is a constant source throughout secondary Education

Chloe is growing up and spreading her wings. She is meeting friends further afield and in many ways she needs me more than she ever has. I might not have to watch her cross the road anymore but some of the biggest crossroads are straight ahead. Making choices about which subjects to take GCSE’s in, which friendships to invest in and how to spend her time. Already she is taller than me, she is stunningly beautiful and I look forward to watching her make her decisions. Her image is important and she experiments with style and make-up. Only the other week she asked if she could have her belly pierced, obviously I said yes knowing that she hasn’t ‘quite’ got the bravery to do it just yet! Another similarity we have is shopping this week it was for blazers and  denim jackets as she experiments and finds her style. 

I imagine there will be bumps along the road of the teenage years.  I must remember to look back at this post and remind myself that she very like me of yesteryear.  My own mum and dad laugh when I comment and they say it is my just desserts!

Two weeks ago I posted about proposed changes to the school day which was stripping children of their right to play and grow up too fast. Now our children are being treated as criminal and having anti social behaviour if they draw and play the age old game of hopscotch.  Hopscotch – I could understand it if they were using spray cans to draw there grid, but no it was simply chalk!  My children love chalking it encourages creativity they are not confined to one piece of paper.  There drawing can be as big or small as it chooses.

Lets just clarify a few points, this game is free to play, this game is active, this game is innocent. In a society that charges quite a bit for after school activities, has rising obesity levels and children that are subjected to adult story lines in TV programmes and images on many computer games (call of duty anyone?) they decide to pick on the simple game of hopscotch!

My best friend is a police officer and I know that she would walk past this type of game without batting an eyelid and these officers may have been a little over zealous but where has common sense gone? We live in a postmodern media saturated age and whilst lots of the technology I embrace (Erin is a whizz on the iPad and it is great for hospital visits) I long for a traditional childhood. You cannot beat children playing outside, it is the summer and I want to see children playing traditional games. Children have lost the art of skipping and entertaining themselves. They are often so used to being entertained both in the classroom and outside of it that they can’t entertain themselves. I am glad that I don’t overfill my children’s school evenings – they have always been encouraged to play – they all go to park several times a week, Dylan and his friends enjoy playing in the trees after school and Chloe with her friends play rounders behind the house or tennis in the free court five minutes away from our house.

So come on people, think a bit. Drawing hopscotch in chalk is not a crime – it never has been and I hope it never is. It maybe a little noisy outside your house in the summer as children play outside more and whoop it up a little. BUT that is better than being indoors on computers.   Children should be children and they should play.

 The original text can be read in todays Telegraph. I have linked this post to Mummy Barrow’s Ranty Friday linky.

Walkers have a new flavour in the bag!  This week we received a lovely treat from Walkers, as you can see Erin dived right into the box! 

Inside the box was the cute monkey that hasn’t left Erin’s side since.  It has been with her morning until night.  It has travelled to nursery and to her bed!

However onto the new crisps!  Hoops and Crosses are available in three flavours they are all suitable for vegetarians prawn cocktail, roast beef, salt and vinegar.

They are different as they are wholegrain so they appear to be a little healthier, equally they are 85 calories a pack.  All my three love crisps so it is nice to give them a slightly healthier alternative. 

Erin was described by the GP as substantial last week – it caught in my throat a bit as yes she is big but she has spent a year unable to move freely.  Six months spent in spica and more months learning again how to walk.  Therefore she is bigger than her peers.  She is still less active than her peers and so is heavier.  I therefore need to give her healthier option where possible.  Crisps are a treat but these seem a good half way house for her.

Pretty prints seem to be everywhere and children’s clothes are following the trend too.  It is a really summery look.

The T shirt has a symmetrical print of poppy’s, butterflies and other flowers.  The back of the t shirt is blue with a white contrast trim on both the sleeves and the side panel.  It is such a pretty top and goes really well with her leggings also from Next.  The leggings were part of a three pack.  Although I prefer Erin in skirts and dresses, leggings are practical for nursery, especially on Wednesdays as she has yoga and obviously needs clothes that stretch with her.  The T Shirt is a good fit and I like that it hangs a little longer.  This suits Erin’s shape.  The leggings are a good length on Erin although they are a little tight around the waist and seem to give her a builders bum!  Erin is ‘substantial’ as the GP put it last week but she is less active than many of her peers and also she wasnt walking until 2 and 9months.  I think doctors forget this when they look at her size. 

Again I would love to see what you have been buying or reviewing this week. Do grab the badge from the sidebar if wish and link up to this weeks linky.