Simple pleasures

This week has had many happy moments, starting with a lovely weekend in the New Forest with my hubby. We walked, talked, had many a hot chocolate and cake in Costas, had lovely meals out,(a superb Chinese, a lovely pub steak, and a Prezzo's) and relaxed. Lovely!! It was nice to explore a new area of this lovely country, and see just what is on our doorstep. To take the time to just be us, and have no distractions.

On return, I visited Ozzys pups, 10 little black soft bundles, what a clever pair of dogs. Its amazing that in such a short time a dog can produce 10 perfect little puppies.


Thursday morning was different, I went to do some post natal work, and we took a stroll into Newbury. On approaching the Robin hood roundabout, all hell was breaking loose, due to a young swan walking round the roundabout!! It made us smile, and the rest of the morning passed without event, but with cuddles of a beautiful baby boy.

Friday was a Bella day..and it had snowed. So, Nana and Bella made two snowmen in the garden, complete with hats and scarves. Huge fun ! I have to say little Bella is on really great form at the moment, greatly down to the fact that her mummy is happy and relaxed again. So big thumbs up to Tania and Jonny for that...not forgetting the lovely Shelley as well.All a mum wants is for her children to be happy, and it is hard when they are not.

This morning I paid a visit to Anna and Sams...always hilarious to visit them, their banter amuses me no end. My two beautiful grandchildren were on fine form, Evie showing her tip top reading skills, and Lucas smiling his head off as usual

And here is Evies picture that she drew for Philip Schofield, or 'cube man' as she calls him!!!!! Bless her heart.

So.all in all a good week, lets  hope for another this week!!!!!!! xx

Recent high's!!!!

Well, since I was here last, a few things have made me smile. Last Friday I was extremely honoured to be allowed into the Caesarean section of a client. Its not usual for a Doula to go in alongside the husband/partner, but this was a special situation, as my client and her husband are visually impaired, so I was their 'eyes'. It was amazing, I was able to see most of the procedure in a well positioned window reflection, and was overwhelmed when a tiny 10 week early baby boy was pulled into the world.
I was able to describe each step, and then describe the little man himself as he was being looked after by the paediatricians.
But the best bit was when he was brought to him mummy and daddy, and the two of them examined him in great detail with their fingers, counting each finger and toe ,tracing the shape of his tiny ears, nose and mouth, and delighting in what they found. Huge lump in my throat for that I can tell you!!
He continues to do incrdiby well, and is now off his Oxygen therapy and feeding well through his tube. Lovely stuff!

The week before that, I drove myself, Katy, Bella and Shelley up to Castleford to the wedding of Brummi and Mark. It was a wonderful day, relaxed, happy and fun, and they are the loveliest couple, I wish them all the happiness in the world

So, what else...aaah yes, had Lucas to stay for the day on Saturday. He was soooo delicious...bit naughty about sleeping, but his chocolate brown eyes make me melt. He laughed, had big cuddles with Uncle Joe and Grandad, and had a visit across the road, where he was lugged about by Abigail and Dominic, and loved it!! He was a bit of a pickle in the evening, didnt want to go to sleep, but eventually he dropped off on my lap, and so I sat there with him until he went home, all snuggled up, my precious boy

games from the past!!!

Got one of these today...for  a tenner, from the Community Furniture project in Newbury. So exciting, because it takes me back to my childhood, and the many happy hours spent playing it at my Nana's house, and at dear Aunty Ritas. We got very competitive back in those days, trying hard to get one of the shiny silver  balls in the '150' pocket...no easy task I can tell you!!!! Anyway, Bella is hooked already and has the idea very quickly, so hopefully Evie will enjoy it too........no cables, no computers? We shall see

We played all sorts of games in those days, Pick up Sticks,Jack Straws,  Mousie Mousie, Pit(very noisy), Monopoly for hours, French skipping, ordinary skipping, 'twosie balls' Hurry Scurry( a particular favourite at Aunty and Uncles house!) We roller skated down the road, hopscotch on the pavement.

Happy happy times, and not a computer to be seen.

Cant wait for a bagatelle tournament later!!!!

Family love

Just had a lovely dinner at Anna and Sams. Its such a treat for me to eat something that someone else has cooked...and it was delicious into the bargain. Lovely chicken stew, and wonderful chocolate fondants.Perfect.
Made only more perfect with play and cuddles with Evie and Lucas.  Laying on the floor, playing princesses and castles with Evie. A quick game of  'Guess Who''  Watching Lucas bouncing in his door bouncer, and hearing him chatting away...in his own fashion!!! So lovely
We are so lucky to have such a lovely family, and its just amazing how it keeps expanding.
Love you all loads. Mum/Nana xxx

Well thats that then!!!

So Christmas came and went, it was lovely, crazy, busy, noisy, carbo full. But I am glad its over. Yes I know...misery!!!! but its not that I dont enjoy it, its just the feeling of relief, that I got everyone reasonable presents, the food was ok, and that no-one got ill.
I was ready early for Christmas this year as I had two births booked, so I didnt get the mad last minute rush that I usually get, and then as it happens, one was cancelled, so I had some free time to enjoy the build up.

So as I speak, I am laying on Lucas's bean bag( very comfy), with him asleep in his chair, sucking noisily on his dummy, with Norah Jones singing to him to keep him ssleep....dont think he like it when his mummy isnt here!!! but how lucky am I?? Oh..and to cap it all..I spy a large box of choccies over there...............................

Scent of a woman(bitch)???!!!

After a traumatic night...no sleep for me, as the muppet dog had run away, hours wandering the fields in the pitch black, looking for him, we have a phone call this morning from the lovely people at Dogs Trust in Hamstead Marshall, to say that Ozzy was in residence.
It had taken many phone calls, texts, networking messages etc, before we got to the happy reunion. A whole family from Thatcham, friends of Annas, drove over to help look  for him.
I trod in a huge pile of his excrement, in my slippers, while standing in the garden whistling...delightful. Many drives round the local roads, calls to neighbours........no use.
Now, two weeks ago, young Ozzy had his first taste of 'pleasures of the flesh', with a young lady from down the road, Holly. Planned I hasten to add...he's not 'that' sort of dog!!( or maybe he is)
It took him two tries, to get it right, the first day was a disaster...he kept getting on the wrong end. Holly was not impressed. Anyway, the next two days were a success, so we wait with bated breath, to see if he managed to become a daddy! and so we thought that was that.

It appears not, as Ozzy decided to go wanderabout last night, and was gone all night...leaving us all worrying. Whether he got a taste for the wilder side of life I dont know, but all I can say is....whatever he got up to last night, has left him exhausted! He has hardly moved all day, is off his food, and looks sad/guilty!
Anyway.....naughty though he was, I love him, was devastated when he was missing, and was thrilled to get him back. I hope Holly has loads of lovely puppies, but Ozzy will be going very soon, to see our lovely vet, and coming home short of a couple of appendages, because my nerves cant take the strain!!!!

I'm Back!!!!!!

Sorry folks, been very lazy about this for a while, just been busy, you know how it is?!!! Bit like the proverbial, in the photo. Anyway all is good, and this weekend I have ploughed on with the Christmas preperations.wrapped all the presents that I have already got, made the Christmas cake, and put 4 dozen mince pies in the freezer.
sickeningly organised? not really, I just know that December could be busy, as I have two births booked and I didnt want to leave too much to do.
I also caught up on my paper work, which was all behind, so, I feel content that I have got stuff done. Now have a busy week coming up, little miss Bella is having a sleepover tomorrow...lush morning cuddles for me on Tuesday. I have some postnatal work to do, and meetings with both birth clients. All good fun!!!!

And, at the moment,I should be asleep, as its quarter past midnight, but having gone to bed at ten, and tossed and turned for 90 minutes, I decided to get up and do something positive with the time. So the Blog gets it! Now shall retry the sleep thing. Night night all xx