Last Saturday I took a whole day for myself. I gleefully skipped onto a train at 8.30am heading to Birmingham to spend a day with fellow Tots100 bloggers at The Studio. Arriving at the New Street Station I was greeted by friends old and new, a gaggle of women set free from home for the day! When I started blogging three years ago I had no idea where Emmaand3 would lead. I jumped in without really thinking of a name or what I would blog about. Little did I know how important and life changing blogging would become. I was yet to meet bloggers that I now call friends. I was yet to have heard of DDH, yet to understand the implications. I was yet to realise how much writing would become an outlet for me as Erin’s treatment dominated our family life. Tots is important to me and whilst some bloggers say that the rankings mean little to them – I am too competitive to say that! The past couple of months have seen me in the top 100 blogs in the Tots rankings out of over 5000. I am seriously proud of this and hope that I am raising of awareness of DDH and also entertaining others with life stories of parenting a toddler, tween and teen.

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 hospital appointments are once again stacking up making me feel nervous and twitchy.  Erin seems to be doing well at the moment,  she is enjoying the little bit of sunshine we have had and loves playing on her new Ebay bargain. In two months time we will have the next set of Xrays that tell us whether we are continuing to beat DDH. I am fearful that there will be another set back.  I don’t think I’ll ever get over the deep knot of fear I have about her mobility and hip.  I am not happy about how she stands and distinguishing between DDH and the hypermobility issues is very difficult. Next week Erin has blood tests and an appointment with a pead rheumatologist about her joint pain and general tiredness. It is all part of the diagnosis process we are going through. The physio has said that Erin has joint hypermobility syndrome the syndrome is different to hypermobility. It becomes the syndrome when the lax joints cause pain and such forth. Most children are hypermobile to an extent and it is a long drawn out process to get a full diagnosis even when symptomatic. Jenny a fellow blogger has written an excellent post describing and explaining the syndrome, I would encourage you to read it here and just see what we are likely to be facing although Jenny’s brave children have atypical EDS.

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 do love a bargain as I have shared in previous posts and this past week I have found a great one!  Due to DDH, Erin’s mobility is behind her peers and one area we are working on is building the strength in her legs. She is still very weak but loves the slides in the local parks. However the steps to the slide are often to thin for her confidence, she needs to use her arms to support her and so needs good rails and a queue behind you never helps the nervousness!

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.

My three always want pudding after dinner and this week we have tried different recipes using soreen.  The best place to start is Soreen’s own website where they give some fab recipe ideas.  I liked the sound of Cherry Galettes on fruity slices, but I did mine of the choc soreen.  The recipe was really simple but yummy.

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.