Mountain Biking in the Forest of Dean!

Today is a day dedicated to fun! Jared is taking me out for the day, as it was my birthday earlier this week. We got up early, packed the kids bags, dropped them off at Peter and Pauline's before heading out to the Forest of Dean. Pauline took a shot of us just before we headed out;

It was a little stressful getting there as the route wasn't as easy to find. We did get there in the end! It was £20 for three hours, per bike. I'd never, ever done mountain biking before, so i did feel quite nervous, especially as i'd watched some of the videos on youtube. We were all ready to head out on our bikes;

We did a trail called the 'blue trail' that was meant to be the easiest one. It was so much fun. It took about an hour and a half to do the trail, with ups and downs all the way. I struggled to get up on some of the hills towards the end, and my bum was killing me! I'd forgotten how hard it is to ride a bike! The gears were a little confusing too, but i think i got there in the end. I didn't take the down hill parts as fast of Jared and the brakes weren't always so kind to me either, making my back tyres snake all over the place. On the first major down hill part, Jared confused the easier and harder track, telling me they were the other way round! I started snaking all over the place on the way down, and i am sure i was about to come off the bike just as i was able to get off it! I had to drag it down one of the dips as i just couldn't do it. Overall, it was class and i seriously hope we can do it again. Jared wanted to do the family trail, but i just wasn't up for it. My butt was killing, my legs were like jelly and i had no energy! I took my bike back and got the camera to get some shots of Jared;

 He loves it!;
 

 The mud goes right up your back and bum. It was so much fun!;

 

We had some dinner at the cute little cafe before heading back home;

We stopped back in at Peter and Pauline's to pick up the kids. Jared didn't reserve anything for dinner, even though we planned to go out for food that night, so me calling around to see if there was any room for dinner was in vain. Boo! I had a sleep too as i was exhausted! I shouldn't have slept so long as getting ready for dinner was a massive rush. We put the kids to bed, Peter and Pauline came over to babysit and Jared and I went to Cafe Rouge for dinner. It has to be on the top ten lists of eating out. They do a dish of Crispy duck, plum sauce and dauphinoise potatoes. Delicious!! It was such a nice night out!

It was a class day out, and when my head hit the pillow at the end of it, i was out like a light.

Lily's Eye Op

I was back down at the Glamorgan hospital today at the crack of dawn, ready for Lily's eye operation. I got up at 6.00am, and got ready as quickly as i could to leave. Typically, Lily decided to wake up at 6am too, looking for milk which i couldn't give her. I'd pre-packed everything ready, so i just grabbed the change bag and left. 

I love driving on a road when it's quiet. It was so nice and quiet, I'd miss the rush-hour completely! I arrived at the children's unit for 7.10am, which i was chuffed at. I am a bit rubbish at getting to places on time, and they had asked me to be there for 7.30am. Mind you, i did wake up 5 times last night in a panic that I'd missed the alarm. They did Lily's obs, before taking me to the ward to get comfortable. Her surgery was due at 9am (I was a little shocked at as i thought they would do it at 8am!) so i entertained her in the play room to keep her mind off the hunger. The anesthetist came to go thorough a few things, like procedure and what will happen. I think they expected me to be more worried, but i have really learnt that there are much worse things that can happen.The consultant i saw yesterday came to mark her forehead so they knew which eye had the foreign body;

It wasn't long before they lead me up to theatre and into the room where they knock you out! I sat on a stool with Lily in my arms while the anesthetist placed the mask over her face to send her to sleep. She didn't like it at all, and as i held her tight to me, she thrashed and cried! It broke my heart a little! She slowly got less fractious and more still, till eventually she went completely still. I had to lift her on to a giant bed, kiss her and leave the room. That was a hard bit. Leaving my little baby girl. 

I was taken back down to the ward and read a book, although i didn't really take much of it in. I got the call to go back up an hour later, so thankfully i didn't have to wait too long. When we arrived back, i was put in the waiting room while they went into the recovery bay to get her. Well, i could hear her before i even saw her. She was SCREAMING! She caught a glimpse of me thorugh the doors and it set her off even more. The anesthetist came and told me to go in to get her, so i did. One of the nurses in there started to freak out, to get me to leave. She told off the nurse that was with me! I was told i could go in?! What a freak. Anyway, i grabbed her and got the hell out of there. The nurse told me not to worry about the other woman. Stupid woman. 

We headed back to the ward where Lily was so groggy from the anesthetic. Poor baby. She just cuddled into me, and i breast fed her. She was so tired, she fed both sides before falling to sleep. It took a few attempts to put her down, and she eventually did;

They had to do four obs checks on her to make sure she wasn't reacting to anything, before i was allowed to go home. Only the children get food for free, so parents who stay with the kids have to cater for them selves. The cook who was taking orders saw me breastfeed, and said i could have some dinner too! Whoop! Another plus to breastfeeding. I love it! So Lily and i got to munch some chicken pie, potato and veggies. 
 
I was so impressed with the timings of the nurses - i was able to leave the hospital by 1.30pm. I'd told Jared i would be back by 4pm. Royal Glamorgan knock spots off Prince Charles. Everything was cleaner, friendlier, more professional and organised. By the time I'd left the ward, it was full. There was one mum i really liked who i had a good chat to her about biting. It was nice to know that you're not the only one to experience it. Another mum opposite me was a classic Welsh person, asking everyone what they were in for. Nosy as heck!

I got home about 2.30pm to an empty house and put Lilsie down for a sleepy. Jared rung to tell me that 15 minutes after dropping Ethan off at school, he had come off a bike in the playground and hit his head. It really was quite a bruise! 

As i didn't know what time i would be home, Jared rung his mum and asked if she would make some tea for us. She is so good to us. She even went shopping to get some food in to cook for us when she was going out for a main meal with Peter. I got the impression it hasn't been a good day for her. To see the suffering relived, i would do anything. Anything to see that pained look go and that longing to see Philly again. What a test this life is.

When we got home, it was a race to get the kids to bed. Etan is so active and lively, by 6pm we are both so desperate for him to go to bed! He of course will object, and after many tears from both of them, all falls silent. Ethan will come into me while I'm typing to give me stickers, and tell me, 'it's a surprise for you.' Cute. Lily is still chuntering away in her cot, half talking and half crying. I just know she wants me to pick her up!

After a quick bath, i typed up today's events (i felt i should document this day!). Now i must get dressed, clean up the house, pack the kids bags and pack my stuff ready for tomorrow. AND fit in a church study, if i can. Jared is taking me to the Forest of Dean tomorrow to do some biking for my birthday, and Peter and Pauline are having the kids. Good luck to them, i know i am going to enjoy my day!

Rain!

Just an average day again today. Ethan, Lills and i walked to the Castle Park park to play, but didn't stay long as it's just a minging park! I don't know why the council haven't cleaned it up. It's rusty, dirty and impractical.

I put a film on for Ethan so i could get some jobs done. I find that if i leave a day of washing, it comes back on me two fold! So i had 3 loads to get through and onto the line before it rained. We had lunch together before going to school. He loves it there, running ahead of everyone to get inside. I don't get a kiss at the door or anything!

Lills always has a good nap during school, so i got to finish off my chores, get some photo's onto the computer and study the scriptures. I want to form some good habits again and increase my spirituality, then increasing my patience.

I picked Ethan up from school, before making a visit to Matalan to get him some sandals. He suffers with hot feet, like me. :)

Jared came home a little earlier, which is always a nice surprise. We served dinner up before getting them ready for bed. I sorted through the mass of washing (putting away..etc) while Jared got Ethan in his jammies. The European Championships is on at the moment, so there is a few matches each night. That meant FHE was put off until another night..hmmm. Hahaha.

I did waste my evening; i got sucked into YouTube rubbish, watching gross videos of popping spots, emptying ears..etc and doing a bit of surfing. Total waste of an evening! I was meant to work out too, but didn't. I NEED TO DO IT! Tomorrow night Jared is at a meeting, so i will do it then! Seriously, the window of getting really trim before starting my course in the Autumn is getting smaller....

Start all over again...!

Try, try again! Blogger has changed too?! I've realised that i just have to leave a day if i don't have time to write. It's more important to get a few days down than non at all!

So today i attended 'Stake Sister's day'. Jared needed to compile his portfolio for the end of his masters, so Peter offered to have him. I of course, had to take Lily with me. We were all meeting at the chapel to car pool and even when i think of it now, i still cringe - i was reversing back and didn't see another car there (Stupid blind spot!) and it happened to be Ann Davies' car. Thank goodness i saw it just in time. I was inches away! I cringe, feel a flush and mass embarrassment when i think of it right now! I rode along with Sian Jenkins, Rebecca Pulman, Leah Foster and Victoria and Kerry Madden. It was a fun journey! :-)

Sister's day opened with a talk from one of the R.S. Presidency on perfectionism. It was good, altohugh i didn't get to listen to most of it as Lily was shouting so loud! Haha. We then went on to do either Zumba or an Latin American dance. I opted for the latter, as there was more space. That was good too. For lunch, people had made some of their own dishes to feed everyone. It was lovely, but i couldn't eat any of it. I need to lose weight! So Julie and I went to Tesco to get some more appropriate food. After lunch, we had a swap shop and a class on origami. It looked like fun, but as Lily decided to skip her nap, she was desperate to sleep, so i spent most of my time walking her round.

We got home about 4.30pm. It had just rained all day. Stupid British weather! When i got home, Jared was desperate for food and a break from Ethan. Ha! Being with the kids all day is hard sometimes! I whipped up some dinner before nipping out to pay the rent and finish off some of the finishing touches for Father's Day tomorrow. It's exciting!

I had to finish off my talk for tomorrow too, which i am nervous as heck about. I don't like public speaking! Ethan and Jared played out in the rain, Jared on Ethan's scooter and Ethan on his bike, riding down the lane. He loved it! Jared is such a good dad. I tried to facetime Thomas too to wish him Happy Birthday but he's not answering. Anyway, time for bed. I am so ready for sleep!

Today is WAY BETTER!

Well today has shaped up a lot. I got up early with the kids while Jared attempted to sleep in. It just doesn't work. Ethan is so loud and Lily wants attention, it's just not going to happen! After getting them up and dressed, fed and wrapped up warm we drove to Treads to pick up our car. We are going to follow a lead from a guy that was recommended to us from Dave Wilkins.

When we got there, our car was still in the garage, boxed in behind another car. When they say '10 minutes' to move a car, it means an hour. So we took Ethan to Peter and Pauline's, took out the rent money, attempted to pay it (they weren't in) and then back to the garage. The car still hadn't been moved! We eventually got it back, and the spare tyre and hood and drove it to this guys garage. He was awesome. He told us to put antifreeze in the radiator and wait to see if the heating works. If not, then it will cost a max of £80 to sort. Not £270. So i picked up some antifreeze for Jared and fed it into the radiator...it worked! Huzzah! We haven't lost our second car!

After that, we drove back over to Peter and Pauline's and went for dinner at Trefil, by Tredegar for food. It was really nice. The snow was coming hard now. We spent the rest of the day back at P&P's, talking and doing a bit of family history. We got the call from Nanny that Hilary Wilcox had passed away. She had been battling cancer for a few years now, and lost the battle today. I feel a little envious of her, knowing that she is will Philippa now.


The snow had really fallen now, so we took it easy in getting back home. Ethan played outside in the snow with Jared while i put little Lilsie to bed. I spent the rest of the evening washing the floor where Ethan puked yesterday, get on with the washing, hoovering and cleaning before going to bed.

Pull my hair out!

Today has been one of those days where i could pull my hair out, hide in a hole and not come out!

I was up early with the kids, got them dressed, fed and ready to go for about 9am. I have a feeling i have conjunctivitis again so i booked myself into the doctors to get it checked out, just in case.

I took the Citroen to a garage next to the church - Treads is now off the cards!- and booked it in for tomorrow morning. There is a problem with one of the springs under the wheel arch. It's practically touching the wheel. Jared comes in from work later to tell me that the Peugeot's heating isn't working! ARRRGG! So that's two cars in the garage and another few days of walking everywhere in this freezing cold!

I did my trip to the docs, got some drops, got petrol and did a run to adventure land with Ethan and Lills. Emma Jane was meant to come too, but didn't. I had another good chat with Tanya too.

I took Ethan to school and had to speak to the head about a problem with Ethan. Well, i felt sick when i found out what had happened. When i got in the house, i couldn't focus on anything. Jared came in from work and i spoke to him about what had happened. He put my mind at ease a bit.

I spent the evening ebaying to get some money. I hope that i can have a good clear out!

Busy!

Today has been fun, and a little stressful at the end. I started the day by packing the kid's bags to go swimming. I picked up Pauline and we went to the main Merthyr pool. It's freezing in there! And when we got into the pool, they were filling it with cold water. Pauline bought Ethan some armbands before we went in and i was so surprised when he was willing to put them on. When we were in the pool, he was so willing to take his feet off the floor and attempt to swim! I'm definitely getting him into swimming lessons when we can afford it. We walked over to Subway for lunch before taking Ethan to school. He did his usual 'no school!' then running into the front of the queue and getting in the classroom first!


The house is a mess, I'm trying to sort through both Lily's and Ethan's clothes. It took ages! Lily did sleep the whole time, missing lunch. I hope that doesn't mean that I'm not getting a good night sleep?! After picking Ethan up and getting home, i attempted to continue the job, but didn't get far. By the time Jared walked through the door, Lily was screaming as she was so tired, Ethan was being a tinker and the house was so messy! Once i put the kids to bed, i cracked on with cleaning, dropped off some bits at Sarah Murphy house (baby due on Monday!), cleaned up, worked out and went to bed. Busy busy!