They were sitting at the table behind me and were discussing health matters between them and their families.
One thing that one man said really made me think.
He said, “Women don’t take heart attacks seriously”
I was very close to turning around and joining the conversation, but I didn’t. If you know me, this was hard to do as I had a lot to say but I didn’t. Yes, I was very good.
Symptoms of a heart attack in women are different than men. As a busy woman, mother and person to everyone it is so difficult to keep a check on your health too.
Unexplained fatigue can be a symptom of a heart attack. Might be hard to figure out if you are constantly fatigued as a sleep deprived mum.
I really wanted to tell these men that women generally overlook symptoms as something else. Women are busy and try to power on, and therefore end up having a heart attack when they had no idea.
It’s not that women don’t take heart attacks seriously its the fact that they believe they are too young, it will not happen, they have other symptoms and therefore think that there is no way it could be a heart attack.
Suddenly feeling sick and dizzy you might assume that you are getting the flu, need more sugar, should have drunk more water or not skipped lunch. Experiencing a heart attack if you were suddenly nauseous and dizzy would not be something I would entertain, but these are real symptoms.
In fact, more women die of heart attacks than men.
Some symptoms from WebMD that women having a heart attack can experience:
Yes looking after your health to care for others is super important, actually hugely important. However, mums are usually the last on the list.
Lately, I’ve noticed a few things that I was getting worried about. I made sure to see the doctor, get bloods done, and other things checked.
If you notice anything different please get it checked.
Skin, boobs, lack of vitamins (Being low on vitamin D can make you upset and depressed), diet, oh and get your poo checked to ensure all is good if you notice any difference in your bowel movements.
My tests have come back okay, well the bloods did.
Keep well and look after you.
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This week has been manic, well actually manic or constant chaos seems to be my new form of normal.
I did have a few weeks basically free to rest and to just be, I only had a few days full of things to do with the kids and then suddenly they have all been eaten up with plans, with so much busyness that means that rest, work and actual items that need to be done are not getting done at all.
With the racing here and racing there to keep kids entertained, cooking dinner seems to be an afterthought and very much forgotten.
Yep, insert terrible mother comments here.
I have been simply so tired and annoyed that I get to the end of the day and the darkness has filled the sky and I still have no idea what to do for dinner.
Lamb Shank Red Wine & Rosemary and Lamb Shank Traditional Mint Gravy from Chef Direct.
Bad planning I hear you say, probably….. but I have a fabulous solution or if you were Baldrick on Blackadder, a Cunning Plan.
The amazing team at Marathon Foods sent me the following meals:
Lamb Shank Red Wine Rosemary
Lamb Shank Traditional Mint Gravy
Beef Meatballs Tomato & Basil Sauce 1.2kg
Mild Chilli Beef & Bean 1.2kg
Do you find that you run out of time to think of a yummy, healthy and a quick dinner for the family?
If you work or just wish to have a break from thinking of what to cook Chef Direct’s prepackaged meals are an awesome choice.
DID YOU KNOW…
“Marathon Chef Direct creations are made fresh and kept that way by use of clever technology and packaging without the need for refrigeration or freezing. Our delicious creations are free from artificial flavours, colours or preservatives and there is no added MSG.”
Storing the packs in the pantry due to no refrigeration is perfect as it frees up much-needed space in the fridge.
Marathon Chef Direct creations are shelf stable meals for the busy kitchen
Free from artificial flavours, colours or preservatives
Lamb Shank & Red Wine Rosemary
This was the first meal that we tried and I must say we were so impressed.
The super yummy Lamb Shank & Red Wine Rosemary from Chef Direct by Marathon
The meat just melted in your mouth and fell off the bone and the red wine and rosemary sauce was super tasty and a fab accompaniment to the meal.
I added mash: Potato, red onion, brown onion, corn from fresh corn that I boiled and then removed the kernels, & carrots.
For some extra greens I cooked up some beans in olive oil and a little soy sauce.
The lamb Shank was warmed up in the microwave for 6 mins. This is my type of cooking, 6 mintues for a fab meal to be ready…. oh and a little bit extra for the mash, but not by much.
I would say I probably only cooked for about 30mins and used the microwave or 12 mintues (6 minutes for each Lamb Shank)
This meal was stress-free, easy to make and delicious!
Beef Meatballs Tomato & Basil Sauce 1.2kg
Beef Meatballs Tomato & Basil Sauce 1.2kg from Chef Direct by Marathon.
This pack is a huge size and I decided that it was wise to half it and put the rest into a container to store in the fridge. I ended up using the remainder for the kid’s dinners the next night.
Beef Meatballs with Tomato and Basil Sauce from Chef Direct ..and yes I added broccoli.
To heat up the meatballs and sauce, just boil some water in a pot and heat in the bag for 35 minutes (Making sure that the pot is off the heat when the bag is in it). You can also heat in an ovenproof dish, reheat in the oven for 30 minutes at 180°C (Heating in the oven make sure to remove contents from bag and place in the dish to reheat).
Cooking vegetables, reheating the meatballs and sauce and cooking the spaghetti. Talk about multitasking.
You cannot have meatballs without spaghetti, and I also added some vegetables. It got topped off with some grated mature cheese and then it got eaten!
The verdict was that it was another yummy, filling and easy to make the meal.
Mild Chilli Beef & Bean 1.2kg
Chilli Beef & Beans by Chef Direct is so tasty and super convenient for busy mums.
Hubby and I love a chilli meal and this really was tasty. It is not that spicy and has a good taste for those that don’t like it too hot. If you do want to increase the heat, you can always add some more chilli flakes to your meal. This way you can make it just the way you like it.
I boiled water in a saucepan and then took the pot off the heat. I added the Beef and Beans so that it could heat up and be ready for us to eat.
Reheating only took 30mins and gave me some time to get the vegetables organised.
Rice was added and I used the easy prepackaged and super quick Sunrise Rice and Quinoa Brown Rice, which only takes 90 seconds to be ready. I did say it was super quick!
I do love my greens, so added broccoli, bok choy and some capsicum for colour.
The vegetables for the Chilli Beef & Beans from Chef Direct by Marathon.
Now for the finished yummy looking meal of Chilli Beef & Beans with Rice and Vegetables.
The finished meal of Chilli Beef & Beans from Chef Direct by Marathon. Looks so good, doesn’t it?
If you wish to make your life a bit simpler you can get the Chef Direct range at IGA and have a break or at least make dinner time so much easier.
The Chef Direct range is also perfect for camping and travelling. No need to refrigerate and can be easily packed. Use for your next camping holiday with the family.
As a busy mum to 3 kids and a hubby, it would be nice to have someone make me a meal for a change.
The yummy Lamb Shank Red Wine and Rosemary Sauce meals from Chef Direct by Marathon.
The meals from Chef Direct are so easy to prepare I just might be able to put my feet up and take a break.
All you need to do is to add the mash, spaghetti or rice and a few things to the meal. Other than heat up the packet from Chef Direct and then enjoy!
A HUGE thank you to Marathon Foodsfor sending us such tasty, amazing and easy to prepare meals.
I’ve been telling other mums about what a great time saver these meals have been for me.
I would strongly recommend that you give the Chef Direct range a go, you will be so happy you did.
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Would you love to learn from the best in the business?
Cannot afford the classes? Or the airfare to get you to where these amazing people live?
If you sign up to Masterclassyou can get classes with the best of the best in writing, filmmaking, television, comedy and more.
I found out about Masterclass via an advertisement on Facebook.
I love making films, videos and writing scripts. I have so many ideas and stories in my head it is hard to figure out which idea to start next.
The advertisement for Masterclass showcasing Shonda Rhimes Teaches Writing for Television. As a massive fan of Shonda and her work, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice and also Scandal.
I had to take the class.
I had to find out how to make my ideas into a television series. Yep…soon there will be a wonderful series that was created by me.
Being in Australia and having online delivery made signing up a no-brainer. I paid and had my seat in the online class even before it opened… I was that keen.
Due to the standard of teaching and the array of things that you can learn, I signed up as an affiliate of Masterclass. I've loved every minute of learning with Masterclass and wanted to share this great resource with my lovely readers.
Being a mum means that I have restrictions on my time. My time is spent looking after everyone if you are too busy mum or dad you wish to have time for yourself.
Time to learn and to do something you are super interested in. Meet new friends from around the world and spend time working on something that isn't related to kids.
Having the ability to be in these classes from my own home or anywhere I am as long as I have my laptop or iPhone is brilliant.
Another amazing offer is if you get the MasterClass All-Access Pass you can do any of the classes. You pay $280 AUD to access all classes for a year. That means you can do any class from any teacher!
You don't have to learn from Shonda, you can learn from the following:
R.L. Stine Teaches Writing for Young Audiences (The writer of The Goosebumps Books) In R.L. Stine's MasterClass, the Goosebumps author takes the fear out of writing and teaches your audience how to generate ideas, outline a plot, and hook young readers from the first page.
Spike Lee Teaches Filmmaking You will learn about writing, self-producing, working with actors, and making movies that break down barriers.
Steve Martin's MasterClass (I am a massive fan of Steve Martin's comedy and skills, it would be so amazing to learn from him)
Judy Blume (I loved all of Judy Blume's books when I was a kid, learning with Judy would be awesome!)
This is not a complete list but you get the idea, there are many different experts to learn from.
You can even be in your pj's and be learning from Martin Scorsese or James Patterson.
The courses are so informative, Shonda Rhimes' course is set up with so much info:
Video Lessons
Resources - You can download PDF Class workbook and any scripts that help with the video lessons.
Hub to talk to fellow students
Students can upload a video question and Shonda Rhimes replies in a video response on the class page.
If you need any help you can always email and the team at Masterclass will get back to you.
Grab a coffee or hot cup of tea and get learning today!
Being a parent does mean you are always on the go. It is nice to be able to do something for you for a change.
I hope learning more about Masterclassgives you some great ideas of what to learn about next.
Maybe your next dinner party can be from all the fab skills you picked up at Gordon Ramsay's online class?
Disclaimer: I was so impressed by how great Masterclasswas I had to share, and have also signed up as an affiliate for any Masterclass course. If you do click one of the links and sign up for a class I will get some money for sharing.
The reason for letting you all know was not to make heaps of money (Yes being richer would be nice too) but to showcase what an amazing resource this is for people who wish to expand their brains, and find that online courses are the way to go.
To actually get classes with these awesome people would be near to impossible, and if you do sign up for a class you have them in your house, via video and teaching you your favourite subject.
Also as a mum, I am all about keeping costs low and this fits perfectly in with my idea of expanding my brain and not spending a fortune. The courses are well-priced and of great value.
I hope you love it as much as I have and still do. I cannot wait to do more classes.
If you have someone's birthday coming up soon, you can Give the Gift of MasterClassand they will have so much fun learning.
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Will there ever be a time that I feel fully refreshed?
DID YOU KNOW?
“Adults should have between 7-9 hours of sleep each night, however 40% of Australian adults still get inadequate sleep.” Sleep Health Foundation.
I thought that I had a goods night last night.
I slept. I actually passed out.
Finally, the pillows felt comfortable and the sheets were soft and just right. Perfect really.
However, I do have an issue. When the baby wakes, I finally wake up and although super comfy I am awake, but yet still very tired.
Maybe my body was not in sync with my need to rest? My body decided that it was this time to make a visit to the bathroom. This could be the reason why I was more awake but still sleepy. I didn’t want to move but decided it was best to go to then allow me to go back to sleep.
I think from memory it was about 2 am.
I do try not to pay attention to the time as then my brain focuses on the time rather than getting back to sleep.
If I don’t know the time, I don’t worry about how much longer I have left to sleep.
Most of the time my sleep is interrupted by my little boy Alexander. He is either hungry, upset, or sick. Last week he wasn’t well and as you might have guessed I was up helping him feel better.
It is so nice when you can finally be in your room without having to get up every hour or more. To be able to rest and have a good nights sleep.
Why is it when you can finally sleep through your body wakes up and you struggle to get back to sleep?
Not fair at all!!!!!!
Is it due to your body being used to being up at odd hours for days on end? Maybe it is? I wish my body would get the message that this is not normal.
All this missed sleep and feeling like a zombie made me think…
“The good news is that, like all debt, with some work, sleep debt can be repaid—though it won’t happen in one extended snooze marathon. Tacking on an extra hour or two of sleep a night is the way to catch up. For the chronically sleep deprived, take it easy for a few months to get back into a natural sleep pattern, says Lawrence J. Epstein, medical director of the Harvard-affiliated Sleep HealthCenters.”
The 16th of March is World Sleep Day
Preserve your rhythms to enjoy life is the slogan for World Sleep Day.
Your rhythms are:
Daily patterns of alertness
Sleep-wake cycle
Mood
Hormones
Digestion
Heart rate
Body temperature
Performance
And also lung function
Changes to light and also to sleep-wake cycles have consequences to your sleep.
“Maintaining stable circadian rhythms is key to good health: If we continually disrupt our rhythms, for example through shift work or burning the midnight oil, then we increase the risk of sleep disorders, mental health disorders and chronic health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and even some cancers, which can leave us struggling to enjoy life.”
There are 3 elements of good quality sleep:
Duration: The length of sleep should be sufficient for the sleeper to be rested and alert the following day.
Continuity: Sleep periods should be seamless without fragmentation.
Depth: Sleep should be deep enough to be restorative.
Getting up during the night for kids is not helpful for sleep.
I don’t function very well if I don’t get enough sleep and therefore need to catch up on my rest.
In fact, I’m a shit parent if I don’t enough sleep. Being sleep deprived, having to look after kids, do school drop off, after-school activities and play with everyone takes it out of you when you have had less than an hour or two of sleep.
No sleep also makes me make mistakes, and have accidents (By accidents, I mean bumping into furniture, dropping things, not thinking and being forgetful).
Me very tired and not wanting to get out of bed. It is so comfortable and I really don’t want to leave. Pity I had to take kids to school and other things.
I am not sure if I am able to do the 3 elements of good sleep on a regular basis but I’m getting there.
What about you? Do you get deep sleep that is not interrupted?
Lately, I have found that I just lie awake at some point and struggle to get back to sleep. Sometimes I find the bed super comfortable and drift off to the best sleep ever… I just wish I could do of this on a regular basis.
It could be just down to having kids and now I am on call at all times. Any noise means that I’m wide awake. I used to be such a deep sleeper.
If this is a biological thing that affects women I think it is just another annoyance that us women have to live with and try and manage.
No wonder I end up wide awake at different times during the night or early morning. Any cry from a baby makes my brain become immediately alert.
Alexnder seems to cry out a few times in the night and still be asleep. This has made me wake up and struggle to get back to sleep.
Not only are we faced with periods, childbirth, sleepless nights with young children, then not sleeping and then to top it off menopause. Cmon and let us have some rest, please!
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The baby is finally not sick and is in care, and mummy is able to take some time to just be. To sit and have quiet time.
The school holidays were crazy. Well, not all crazy, but some of it was just chaotic.
There were some nice moments of sleeping in, not having to be anywhere and staying at home, plus spending some nice time with the kids was good.
There always seemed to be something happening. One kid fighting, one kid hurt or hurting the other and then the arguments. Oh my gosh! As the mum of three kids, it seemed that no matter what was going on it was hard to keep up. I was constantly exhausted.
Do you find this? Trying to entertain kids at all times is difficult. Once you think everyone is happy and playing it then all changes and you are back to sorting out a disaster.
A disaster could just be someone throwing out a drawing or not playing the game they want to play. Simple things but huge dramas to a little kid.
During the holidays the twins flew to Coffs Harbour to see their grandparents. The girls were unaccompanied minors and they got on a plane all by themselves. This was a huge step and a great thing to foster their independence.
This was one of the weeks that I was really looking forward to. While the kids were away I thought that the baby would be in care, and I would get so much done.
Fast forward to the actual week that the twins flew to visit the grandparents and of course Alexander was ill. Yes, this was the week that my little boy was very sick.
No child care, he had to have mummy and now the week that I so desperately was excited about was not great. My time alone was non-existent.
I did feel like it was a horrible conspiracy. No, you can’t have time to yourself….. ever! Yes, I know that the baby did not plan to be sick and these things just happen.
However, why do they happen on the week that the older kids were not going to be home? Why couldn’t this have happened the weeks before the girls flew to visit their grandparents?
How did you fare during the school holidays? Did you have fun? Did you get driven crazy by the kids?
Now that school is finally back I hope that you are having a well-deserved rest.
If you are busy at work you might need to wait for that rest, but I’m sure work is a change from looking after kids during the school holidays.
I’m happy about school going back but I miss sleeping in, and not having to be anywhere important was nice while it lasted.
Doing your own thing was good, and I must say that I’m not really in back to school mode just yet.
How are you doing now that school has gone back?
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I find that I have to go to the toilet when the baby was previously getting up for a bottle. I am not sure why I still do this? Maybe it is due to too much water? Or is it my body being in a rhythm and due to doing this for a while now it is hard to break?
When I do get up at 2 or 3 am in the morning I try to be super quiet. I tiptoe. I also make sure that I try not to walk on the floorboards that might make a noise. You should see me it is a funny sight. I would go to any length to keep the baby sleeping for longer.
Super cute Alexander sleeping. I love watching him sleep.
Normally I just hear snoring and people sleeping. Sometimes I hear the baby talk or cry a little, however, this is shortlived and he goes back to sleep.
However, on the odd occasion, the baby wakes. This is rather annoying after all my extra care to be so quiet and not make a sound.
Why would he wake up? Is he on a timer too? Did he hear me? Does he sense when my head leaves the pillow and I walk away?
Do other mums face the same issue? Or is this just happening to me?
While sitting with Alexander at 3.30am this morning I was thinking about all these things and much more. Yes, I was solving all the problems and maybe I should have written my grand ideas down. I do remember a few of them.
During my time cuddling my baby boy I wondered the following:
How many other mums are sitting at this precise moment doing the same thing? What are they thinking?
Are they trying not to fall asleep, while wishing they were back in bed?
Do other mums end up coming up with amazing solutions while sitting with the baby? I think next time I’m up late I need to make sure a notepad and pen are next to me.
Not only do I have to go to the bathroom at odd times, I find that I wake up at these times too. I think I have been re-programmed by Alexander to be on alert in case needed.
My cells must be aware of this need to be constantly ready, and to get up at a moments notice and have decided to not rest either. They are constantly on the go.
This, in turn, has led to constant exhaustion and not much else getting done. Housework is my annoyance at the moment, and a housekeeper or cleaner each week would be a godsend.
However, this is not to be and therefore I need to soldier on and to get it all done in my sleep-deprived state.
Do you ponder this types of questions? What have you concluded?
Let us know if you do the same as I have been doing. Do you ponder some great thoughts and come up with wonderful solutions while being up late or early with the baby?
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Woofy Whoops is a dog who desperately needs to go to the toilet.
Each player takes turns spinning Woofy around and whoever he lands on has to pat him according to how many times he barks. You might need to pat him once, twice or maybe more.
You need to be careful as the last pat might mean you are the one that gets wee’d on. Thank goodness it is really only water (just pretend)
How to play Woofy Whoops.
I was not sure about the idea of a game that has a dog wee on you but thought we would give it a go. The twins love the game and so did their mates that came over during the school holidays.
All the kids were giggling and wondering when or if they would be the one to get wee’d on…. yes it was funny to watch.
Isn’t it always the way… kids like something that is naughty.
Woofy Whopps looks innocent, but he might wee on you so be careful!
You need to download the Woofy Whoops App
The game works with an iPhone or Android phones. Plug in for the kids to hear the sound.
With the app, you are able to record and save video of when Woofy Whoops does actually pee on a player. The faces are priceless when this happens.
When the game replays a video of a player it is called a “wee play.”
Includes fire hydrant water tank, spinning Woofy and free Woofy Whoops app
App determines at random who will get sprayed and features funny animation
App records the moment you get ‘peed’ on in hilarious slow motion
iPhone and Android compatible – requires operating software iOS 9 or later for Apple devices and 4.3 or above for devices for Android.
Multiplayer
3 x AA batteries required
Watch Lillian and Julia have fun playing Woofy Whoops
Personally I was not sure about the game. I was worried that the kids might see that dogs weeing on them is a good thing. They both know that this is just pretending and of course would not want this to happen in real life.
I was willing to test this game out and have realised that the kids actually enjoy it and love playing it with friends.
Having warmer weather is a help with this game as well since you get wet in the process.
Woofy Whoops can be played indoors and outside as well. Due to space constraints at my house and making sure there was no water everywhere we set it up in the garden. (Music is over the video of the girls due to so many cicadas chirping and making it hard to hear anything)
If you wish to get the kids something different for Christmas this game is something to think about.
Thanks to Childsmart, Australia’s leading distributors of quality kid’s toys, nursery and lifestyle products for sending me Woofy Whoops by Worlds Apart to test out. The kids had a blast and cannot wait to test out other toys.
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And if it does it is older people that have this happen.
Wrong.
“46% of women affected by incontinence are under 50”
In fact incontinenceand bladder leakage effects 1 in 3 women and 1 in 10 men. These numbers show that there are a lot of people in Australia dealing with this issue.
TENA has created infographics to help simplify your understanding of incontinence and prepare yourself for it.
What is incontinence?
Although there are thousands or possibly millions of people affected, no one seems to discuss this issue.
The idea of bladder leakage seems a taboo subject.
I like others have not liked to discuss it, however it happens. It is real, it is an outcome of life, and an outcome of being a mother.
Pregnancy can weaken your pelvic floor muscles. Don’t worry exercise can make it all better.
Incontinence is not all the same, there are different reasons for why it happens.
Below are the main reasons that people would have any form of incontinence.
Stress Incontinence – When you sneeze, cough, jump or laugh and end up having a leak. This is due to having a weakened pelvic floor muscle. Due to the weak pelvic floor muscle the urine cannot be contained and creates a downward pressure. This is mainly an issue for women and the reasons for the weak pelvic floor is pregnancy, childbirth, being overweight could be an issue, if you smoke that could not help and if you have constipation or had issues trying to go to the toilet.
Overflow Incontinence – This is when you have an overwhelming need to urinate and it cannot wait. Sometimes getting the toilet in time is not possible, and must be very upsetting. This could also be a sign of infection and it is best to seek advice from your doctor about this issue. Other causes could be fizzy drinks, caffeine, and alcohol.
Overflow Incontinence – Although this can be experienced by anyone it is mainly men that have this issue. Check with your doctor and see if there are any issues with prostrate or maybe a blockage. Once all fixed everything should return to normal.
Functional Incontinence – Physical injury or other health issues might affect a person’s ability to get to the bathroom on time. It might also be neurological, including Alzheimer’s, stroke and head injury, where the messages between brain and bladder aren’t getting through.
Bowel or Faecal Incontinence – Causes of Bowel or faecal incontinence can be a weak pelvic floor due to constipation, poor bowel habits, diarrhoea or maybe bowel surgery. Diseases such as Coeliac and Chrohn’s can impact control over your bowel.
Incontinence is an outcome that I don’t like.
Not only do you carry a baby for nine months or close to it if you have babies early.
Your body changes, you are also dealing with extra weight due to putting it on for the pregnancy and then have limited time to exercise to lose the weight.
Although it is an annoying outcome, it is something that can be fixed or made much better.
Yes you read that right, there are treatments that can help you!
You need to understand what is causing the issue first. Once you know why you are having bladder leakage then you can start to treat the issue.
Pelvic Floor Exercises – This addresses the weakened pelvic floor mostly due to childbirth. One option is to consult a continence physiotherapist who can develop an individually tailored program as well as assist in monitoring progress.
Bladder Retraining– This is done under the supervision of your GP, Gynaecologist, Urologist or Continence Physiotherapist. You retrain your bladder to have longer intervals to the toilet.
Surgery – This is an option if all the other treatments have not worked. Only when your doctor has recommended it is a solution that will correct the issue.
Medication– Before medication is considered doctors try a change to lifestyle, such as reducing coffee, soft drinks and alcohol. A doctor will advise if this is needed and how it can help.
Have you been slack on thekegel exercises? I am, and it is really not hard to fit them in.
TIP to help you exercise
MAKE A TIME EACH DAY WHILE DOING A CHORE: One tip that helps me is to make one time a day or maybe two to do the kegel exercises.
It could be when you are hanging out the clothes, picking kids up from school or driving in the car.
Shhhh….Don’t tell anyone, I like to do them when I am driving back and forth from school. This way they get done in the morning and afternoon.
Having a chore to do with your kegel exercises means that every time you do this chore you will think to do your kegel exercises. A win all round.
Perfecting your kegels
Pelvic Floor Exercises for Women – Continence Foundation of Australia
Now armed with some great techniques, my pelvic floor muscles will be like steel.
Yep, not abs of steel, pelvic floor of steel! Maybe this is a bad visual for you my dear readers.
I have been wanting to get toned, fit and drop some weight, maybe soon I will be a woman of steel! It could happen….given enough time? A personal trainer would help….oh how I wish.
It is best to have more water to reduce the concentration of urine, if you don’t have enough water you can irritate your bladder and aggravate urge incontinence.
Making sure that you look after yourself now, is going to pay off when you get older. Strong muscles will mean that when you are older you can control any leaks and not have accidents.
This helps with quality of life and also confidence. If you are not worried about the possibility of incontinence you can do more and be more active.
While you are exercising and working towards stronger pelvic floor muscles it is advisable to wear protection to allow you go confidently go about your everyday tasks without worry.
TENA is offering customers free samplesto help find the right product for their needs. Fill out the form and get some free samples sent to you, all in discreet packaging. (I’ve signed up for my free samples. Have you??)
Get Free TENA Samples to find out what works best for you.
While you are busy getting pelvic muscles of steel make sure to protect yourself with TENA. It will allow you to have confidence to exercise and enjoying life.
Life is short and it is best to get on with it and participate. If bladder leakage or incontinence is holding you back, get it checked at the doctors, do the exercises and be key to improving your quality of life.
MAKE YOU A PRIORITY!
Disclaimer: This post is in collaboration with TENA. I was approached to help the awareness of the different causes and treatments for incontinence. It is a fixable issue and one that you should not live with if it is bothering you. Make an appointment with your doctor and get it fixed so that you can start enjoying all the fun things you wish to do again.
I hope this helps you know more about this issue.
Note:I am going to be doing more follow up articles on this issue, so stay tuned.
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I was at a function on Wednesday. I went to hear some great women speak at the Mums Society talks this past Wednesday.
There were many tables to sit at and I chose one that had two other mums to twins.
Yes, I must have known.
Maybe there was something in the air or the universe told me to sit at that exact table.
One mum had twelve-year-old twins and a two-year-old.
The other mum had a five-year-old and soon to be two-year-old twins.
Introductions were made and we all got to know each other.
The mum of the nearly two-year-old twins, I think her name was Sam asked me the following….”How do I manage to fit everything in”.
“How do I find time to blog with three kids and everything else that needs to be managed???”
Getting stuff done while I am kid free. Maximising my time for me!
Well, if this lady ever saw my house she would be in shock. It is a mess. Sometimes it is tidier than before but that tidy never lasts long.
I do get sick of it and have days that I go mad cleaning and sorting things out. On these days I don’t get a break and never get around to doing anything for me. I use the time for myself to try and sort the house out.
Once complete and the house looks at least like a whirlwind has not been inside recently and that finally, people care about the place that they live in. My happiness at the calm, the space that has been created by removing junk and finding places for things does not last. It never does!
In a blink of an eye or even quicker the mess finds a way back to my tidy rooms. The floor that you could walk on without checking what you stepped on are soon filled with toys, mess, clothes and anything really that does not get picked up (even after a million times that mummy asks and tells kids to pick these items up!).
I know prioritise my time without kids to do something for me. Yes, the house comes second. I do wish while I was off being me and not a housekeeper or mummy that I had a cleaner or helper making sure the house was spotless. Where for art though cleaning fairy? I need some help.
So due to not having a house cleaning fairy, I do what I can. I pick the major rooms to tidy, kitchen, bathroom, and living room. They might not be 100% but they are okay for now. I do give them a big clean every now and then but I do what I can when I can.
You cannot do everything you wish to do.
However, if you manage to do something that you are wanting to do, you will be a happier person.
A less stressed mummy, a calmer version of you. Not getting to do anything that makes you happy creates frustration and anger.
You end up resenting things, people and you start yelling and being an upset individual.
Timeout for you is essential.
So answering the question of how I fit it all in. I do the following:
While kids are at school and the baby is at childcare I blog. Before I sit down to my computer I put a load in the dishwasher and the washing machine. I clean a bit of the kitchen and then while the clothes are getting washed as are the dishes I write a blog post.
I try and ignore the mess and get work done. It does annoy me and I wish it was all neat and tidy but if I did that I would have no time to do work while alone.
I get back to emails in the evening or on my time alone without kids.
Once I do a few things I then put the clothes on the line and do a quick tidy around the living room. I also if I have time tidy around the kid’s room (although now I have decided it is the twins responsibility… they need to tidy their own room).
When the twins were babies I completed my postgraduate study in Project Management. This was all done via online delivery and I did one subject at a time to maximise success and to not overwhelm myself. I did well but it was a lot of late nights reading and doing assignments.
I am now trying not to watch too much television. Once the kids are in bed, hubby and I watch one show and then I am doing a few hours on my blog.
If I had the money I would have a housekeeper or nanny. This would free up my time to do more and be a massive help. Maybe when I get rich or my book is a best seller (yes world domination awaits me!)
In the holidays I put the twins into vacation care or they visit relatives for a mini holiday. This means that I have more time to concentrate on the blog, things for me, spending time with Alexander and organising the house without interruption.
If you have the cash getting a cleaner would be ideal. Help to sort out things that you never get around to, like floors, walls, windows and countertops are a huge help. Someone to tidy up and to sort so that you can work on other things or not feel like things are getting on top of you.
I do know what it is like having too many ideas and not enough time. It is annoying or the idea that if you could only not be interrupted all the time you could be amazing. I know …… it is hard.
Choose one thing that you wish to do and give it a go. You can do some things but not everything!
Start by putting in systems to ensure that you can get a few things done for you.
Tell your partner that you cannot be interrupted between these times. If the baby cries it is their job to help out.
If you are starting something start small. If it is a blog, maybe aim to do 1 post that is wonderful each week. This way it will not freak you out that there is too much to do and causes you to panic.
To the mums that have younger twins a schedule helped me. I had them up at a certain time. Fed, and then I took them out to exhaust them. Yes park, pool, playgroup and more. If we played at home I engaged with them and did as much as I could to stimulate them to make them tired.
If they did not sleep I set up what I called quiet time in the living room. I made the floor a bed with pillows and blankets. Then I put on a movie and told them to lie down and rest. At first, they wanted me to stay with them, but I told them that mummy had to get a few things done and once done will come and be with them.
Enforcing quiet time allowed me to tidy up the kitchen or sort out the mess somewhere else or write a blog post.
In response to getting it all done, I am not doing everything I wish to do but I am trying to do a few things on my list.
I hope this helps you out if you are struggling to do something for you.
Note: I have written this in a cafe while having an ice cold orange juice. The twins are at school for their last day of term and the baby is at childcare. I’m squeezing in some work and me time while I am kid free!
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It is hard to believe it has been nine years already.
Nine years sounds like a long time, well it actually is.
However, it only feels like yesterday that my twin girls were babies. Only yesterday when I had them and they were so tiny that they had to be in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit).
Everyone said that having twins would be hard. It has had its challenges and also has not been as hard as I thought it was going to be.
I think the birth and hospital stay was the worst really for me. The twins got treated very nicely in the NICU but during birth and before it was not great for me.
About the birth of the twins
Firstly my water broke at 33 weeks and a few days. It was Father’s Day of 2008 when this happened, and it occurred at 4am at home. I did my constant pilgrimage to the toilet and then realsied that it had happened, game on by membranes rupturing naturally. We went off to the local hospital to then be told that I had to be ambulanced to Nepean due to being very early and of course pregnant with twins. Katoomba hospital does not have the facilities for intensive care of babies this little.
Now for one of the weirdest things that happened, the ambos were concerned that I might go into labour on the drive to Nepean. To get to this hospital there is only one road there and one road back home. So if there was a delay, accident or if I did indeed go into labour and have the babies it would have been a road side birth in the back of the ambulance.
The doctor thought it was best to check me out to confirm that a roadside delivery with twins was not immediate and this was done with the aid of a dolphin torch and a doctor who still had his beanie on. It was confirmed that labour and babies was ages away and it was safe to transport me to the other hospital and made the ambos happy knowing that there would be no emergency birthing issue roadside.
I was finally at the hospital and then had to be placed in a delivery suite until a room was made available. I stayed there for most of the day and night and then at some point Sunday evening went to my room in antenantal.
During my stay I had nurses thinking I had the babies, thinking that I was only having one baby, and after I had them trying to give me medicine that I did not need.
One medicine that I was given was meant to stop contractions and make labour not happen. This drug was a very tiny pill and the side effects made me dizzy and my skin all red hot and bothered. Yes I had the sweats… just perfect and what every woman wants while they wait to give birth.
I stopped taking this pill Wednesday night and at 2.30am Thursday morning it all started. I found I wanted to go to the toliet and more importantly felt the need to poo, but nothing happened. I wanted to push. My legs at this stage were like jelly and I was finding it very hard to walk. I was in a lot of pain and in tears.
Since I kept on having the urge to go to the toilet I decided to go and stay there. There was an emergency buzzer in there so I buzzed it for help. No help came for over 30 mins. Finally a nurse came and I told her in between tears and pain what has been happening and how painful it was. Mind you it was not in my belly and all in my lower back.
This nurse said that they had a few emergencies so were very busy and someone will be back soon. She also told me that it sounded like I was constipated and that she can help me if this is the case with equipment. Equipment? Really I don’t think so! I’m having the babies. Mind you by this stage I had been in hospital for five days waiting to have the twins and my water broke days ago, so they were ready to come.
Pregnant with the twins. It was only a few weeks later that they were born.
When someone finally came back they told me they could not give me painkillers, which sucked big time.
I asked if they could check to see how far along I was and they didn’t. Instead they hooked me up to a machine to see if I was having a contraction or not. They then asked me and I said I didn’t know and told them I had intense to horrific pelvic and lower back pain. It was like my pelvis would crack open and be in two different parts. It was horrible. They only seemed interested about any pains on my belly. I kept on telling them that I did not have them, just extreme bad pelvic and back pain.
After being on this machine for most of the day and night I finally got someone to look at me. It was estimated that I was about 3cms dilated and that I would need to be moved to the delivery suite downstairs. By this time it was after 8pm at night. I rang hubby so he could come to the hospital as he was home at the time.
I started at the delivery suite Thursday the 11th of September at about 8 pm, then I had the worst midwife.
She did not believe me when I told her that I still felt like I had to push and needed to go to the bathroom. She kept on asking about contractions on my belly and told her that it was all in back. She got annoyed that I was not presenting like a text book case and gave me Pethidine and left hubby and I.
During me being out of it on Pethidine I still went back and forth to the bathroom and was very upset. Hubby was in and out of sleep on a mattress on the floor. Typical that hubby manged to get some sleep.
Shift changed for the nurses and Friday morning we had a lovely midwife and trainee midwife as well. I told them what had been happening and she was upset that no one had checked me. I told her that the other lady said that if she checks to many times I might get an infection. Well she never checked me during the whole shift at all.
The midwife who I think was called Janet finally looked at me and said I was about 5 cms and like it or not I was having the babies. I asked if my chance to have drugs to help was over? I was worried I might have missed the window. She said no and got the person who did the Epidural. However I did not know at the time they did it that it would not work. It must have been put in the wrong position and I felt everything and it was horrible! It was like someone was killing me and I could not move.
Julia and Lilian on last day of school for term 1 at Pre-School. The girls were 3 years old here.
The epidural ended up parlising my legs and allowed me to feel the pain. Really not the point of it. However I never realised why the doctors were looking so concerned until after the birth of my third baby. During the birth of Alexander I had an epidural where I felt no pain for a long while, I even managed to fall asleep and I could move my legs.
Thinking back to the birth of the twins I think they thought they paralized me. I am so grateful this did not happen, but it was annoying as they kept on asking me to move my legs and I kept on telling them I couldn’t.
On the Friday night I had two doctors come and do rounds. I had never seen these doctors before. They then told me that if I could just hold off until I was 36-38 weeks that would be great.
I asked them who they were. They told me that they were doctors. I then said that I don’t think you are. My water broke nearly a week ago, I am in a delivery suite and very clearly in labour with twins. I also told them that I was over 5cm dilated so stopping this birth is not an option, so telling me to just wait till I am further along was bullshit.
During the birth I had a full room of what looked like 30-50 people. There were two doctors for the babies, two humdicribs, nurses, support staff and a whole lot of trainee doctors just observing. It was packed. Hubby ended up in the corner of the room behind a machine (I don’t know if this was the machine that goes bing) but it was a packed room. The doctor had to yell for the husband and finally people moved out of his way so he could be next to me.
Finally on Saturday the 13th of September after over 30 hours of labour and nonsense from the doctors and staff the girls were born.
Julia (Twin A) – 2:55am, weighed in at 2.1kgs, just over 4 pounds.
Lillian (Twin B) – 3:07am, weight in at 1938 grams, just over 4 pounds.
When the girls were babies I got them into a routine early on and that helped immensely. I woke the sleeping baby up so that they both could feed at the same time. I know waking a sleeping baby is not a good thing but you don’t want to be feeding babies all day and night either. Having them feeding and sleeping at the same time meant that I could go out and do things, like playgroup, shopping and have some downtime for me.
When the girls were older
I did not think the two’s were troubling but found when the girls turn three to be even harder. They had an opinion about the clothes they would wear and everything really. Things took longer to do due to the girls deciding that they preferred the pink one or the purple one and god help us if we could not get those colours when they were younger.
The girls about 3 years of age at Stanwell Tops with daddy.
The girls were always on the smaller scale for their weight and maybe height. More so their weight. They were only 8kgs at one years of age and during the years of being two and three gained and constantly lost weight too. I think in a whole year they only gained a kilo. From memory at about 3 years they were about 10kgs or just a little bit over. So they were tiny.
The girls were and still are very active. Running, jumping, swimming and exploring the outdoors.
I have found that the girls are very stubborn and headstrong. These are great traits to have but does annoy me as a parent when they don’t do as they are told. They have always thought they know best and still do.
Twin Connection
When the girls were babies about 4-5 months old. One kid was screaming and crying but never woke up. I then checked her sister and she was wet and cold. Her sister was telling me something was wrong and I had to come and change her nappy and clothes and then bedding.
The girls seem to be able to sense each other. When Lillian was 18 months old she had to be hospitalised for a bad UTI(Urinary Tract Infection). When Julia and hubby came to visit Lillian could sense they were near and said to me Julia is here and so is daddy. They are coming to visit now mummy. I knew they were coming but had no idea of the time. Then seconds after she said they were here I heard them come down the corridor of the hospital. She just knew.
The girls seem to have to hurt themselves in the same spot. One could hurt their knee falling down stairs and then the other does it somewhere else but manages to do the same injury to the same knee. This has happened to the girls with hurting other body parts but it could be minutes or hours apart but it will happen.
They need to be together. Both kids want to still sleep in the same bed.
Even though they want to be different they still like dressing the same.
The girls are very competitive and get upset when one does something better or before the other. I know this happens with siblings but it is more intense with the girls.
They need to do everything at the same time and like the other. If they were sisters who were 2 years apart then this might be upsetting but maybe not with such hysterical meltdowns and angst.
The girls and I experiencing snow in October of 2012.
Being Nine
I have found the last few years to be rather hectic. It is due to the frenetic activity, headstrong attitudes and surging independence.
The twins really want to do more on their own and I am trying to accommodate these requests. The girls like to take the bus home some afternoons, and walk to school when I park further away. When they do walk to school they really love crossing the road at the zebra crossing outside the school on their own as they feel like big girls when they do.
Lately there have been many meltdowns. I have found that they are trivial and just reactions to things that really don’t matter in the long run. However, they are super important to the twins. If they cannot listen to music of their choice, watch videos on YouTube or on the iPad or even on the television they are very grumpy and rude individuals. In fact when things don’t go their way and they cannot listen to what mummy or daddy is saying they are just plain horrible really.
I have been told it is the age. Many parents of kids that are 9 or 10 are saying the same thing.
Trying to get them to have more responsibility around the home and looking after their things is a challenge too.
I’m getting told by the girls when I ask them to pick up their rubbish or clothes, “It’s not mine!” so they leave it and promptly fall over it.
My response then is it’s not mine either and most of the things in this house that get taken care of and put away are not mine as well. Maybe I should just leave it all as it is not mine!
It is like they are grumpy teenagers all ready.
I have been told that this is the precursor to pre-teen years. Yep, hormones changing, bodies growing. Annoyed and more grumpy people to come.
Jeez I hope it gets better. However I think it won’t. Maybe they will slowly understand that having a clean room might be a good idea.
The girls being silly. This was in 2013, so they would have been about 5 years here.
Being a Twin Mum
I never thought that I would have twins and thought that I was having one baby so it was a huge surprise.
Having twins that are now 9 is a shock as I think that they are so grown up at times and at others still babies that are learning.
It is hard as I think that the kids are in between being little and being so grown up, I do struggle with what to purchase them now. I don’t want them to be babied but I would not want them to be fast tracked into being a teenager and an adult as well.
For their birthday I did a mix of toys and some more grown up items that will grow with them, oh and also a pair of shoes that are awesome (well I think so, I just hope the kids love them too).
Having twins as my first children has made me feel that I can do anything, but now I just need the time to do them.
Doing two kids at once was really hard and difficult with no sleep when they were babies but it was doable. I find that others cannot understand how you can cope, but you just deal with what you are faced with and are used to. For me this was two babies as my first children.
Sometimes it is hard when you find that you make appointments or do things and they only make one appointment or they think it is one gift for one child. I find that I am constantly explaining why my kids have the same birthday and for some people it doesn’t occur to them first off that they are twins.
Twins first has made me stronger, and able to take on more in life. I’m the primary caregiver for the girls so therefore I take them everywhere, school, activities, when little daycare, preschool, parks, outings, swimming, play-dates, parties and more. It is a huge responsibility and one that I managed mostly on my own. Hubby is with me during the evenings and weekends and helps then, but if something has to happen during the week or if he is working it is all up to me.
I’m sure that this is not unlike other families with kids and something that you just deal with and manage.
However I do drool over having a nanny and some help. Maybe a housekeeper???
Now I am not only a twin mum I am a mum to a little boy, three kids keep me very busy and help would not go astray.
I do love being a mum to my twin girls and watching all their development milestones. It was great to see them walk, talk, and much more. Hubby and I once took the kids to their 6 month check up, but happened at 9 months due to the doctor being on holiday. During this check up the twins were having a conversation in their own language and laughing and having a great time. The doctor was in awe as he had never witnessed this before. We told them that the girls did this regularly and sometimes one ended up crying and yelling at the the other one and then sometimes they laughed at supposedly and inside joke. Once the kids got the real words for things they substituted and lost their made up language.
The girls at about 8-9 months of age.
Are you a twin mum?
What have you noticed about yourself that has made you stronger since being a mum to twins?
How have your twins changed since babies?
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Australian scientists at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute have discovered that if women have Vitamin B3 during pregnancy it can prevent miscarriages and birth defects.
“Every year 7.9 million babies are born with a birth defect worldwide and one in four pregnant women suffer a miscarriage in Australia.”
The study found that a “deficiency in a vital molecule, known as NAD, prevents a baby’s organs from developing correctly in the womb.”
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is one of the most important molecules in all our cells. It is essential for energy production, cell communication and DNA repair.
Vitamin B3 is required and essential to make NAD. This is found in meats and leafy green vegetables, oh and Vegemite.
It is essential to have a good supply of vitamin B3 in the first trimester as this is the critical time for organ development.
New Born Baby
The Victor Chang institute found that at least a third of pregnant women have low levels of vitamin B3 in the first trimester and that is with taking vitamins, also in the third trimester 60% of pregnant women needed more of vitamin B3 as their levels were low also. This would mean that pregnant women would need to boost their intake of this vitamin.
The study found that before the introduction of vitamin B3 into the mothers diet, embryos were lost due to miscarriage and babies were born with a range of severe birth defects. After adding the vitamin to the mothers diet miscarriages and birth defects were prevented and babies were born healthy.
This is a massive breakthrough that will help so many people. It is just like the discovery of of adding folic acid to prevent spina bifida and other neural tube defects in babies. Mothers worldwide are all told to take folic acid to help their pregnancy. Adding folate to the food supply and making sure women have a more of this vitamin during pregnancy has led to a 70% decrease in the number of babies born with neural tube defects. The same will now happen with the understanding of Vitamin B3, and in turn lead to less miscarriages and birth defects.
If you are pregnant or want to be soon make sure you get your vitamin B3 to ensure all will be well.
I know things sometimes are not planned when you end up pregnant, but sometimes they are. My pregnancies were all planned and I made sure that I took vitamins well before I conceived and also had a good diet of fresh vegetables, meats, fruit and also exercised.
And sometimes baby number 2 or 3 is a surprise, or you were trying but thought it might take a while and it didn’t so time-frames might not work for all.
If you know you are planning for a baby, my tip is to make sure you focus on your inner health, vitamins and stay well. Having a baby is a huge job for you and your body. Carrying twins or more also puts another strain on vitamin stores. When pregnant with the twins I had to take more vitamins due to extra of an additional baby and their need for more vitamins.
One thing to do is if you are worried about your levels you can always go to a doctor and get them checked. Then you will know what you need to take, plus you can always get the vitamins from food too.
Isn’t it interesting that vitamins play such an essential role in our lives.
I hope this has helped you know more about this new discovery and if you are pregnant or want to be make sure to have a Vegemite sandwich or toast more often. (I love Vegemite and can live off it)
7.9 million babies are born with a serious birth defect worldwide every year
3.3 million children under five die from serious birth defects annually
Congenital heart disease is the most common form of birth defect, affecting 1 in 100 babies
42 babies are born with a heart defect in Australia every week
30 babies will undergo heart surgery in Australia every week
Heart defects account for 30% of deaths in children under five
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Ladies do you find that you come last for everything? I do… and this has to stop. We women need to put our health first!
I like other women find that I look after everyone before I look after myself.
This has not been intentional but due to kids and racing everywhere mummy seems to come last on the list for everything. Sad but true.
The last few months I have felt extremely exhausted. I’ve been so tired that I have fallen asleep in my chair watching a show, fallen asleep with the baby and just felt low.
I thought maybe it was vitamins. Maybe it was exercise or maybe there was something really wrong.
Part of me did think that if I could just have a true break and some good sleep it might all be fine. A break has not happened yet and still waiting on having uninterrupted sleep…. I can only dream about this.
I took myself off to get some sunshine and a walk. I found it so tiring and found it all so hard. Gee I am not that old! I know I might not be that fit but feeling this zapped of energy is not good.
The other day I took myself off to the doctors to get to the bottom of why I am so tired and not feeling good. Blood tests were done and I left with two sore arms as the nurse found it difficult to get a vein… normally this is not an issue. I don’t think I drank much that morning so that might explain the vein issue.
Yesterday the blood had the answers I was after. All good expect a few things. Low on vitamin d mainly and this would explain why I was so tired. I have purchased some vitamin d tablets and will make sure to get more sunshine. Although getting sunshine at the moment is a bit hard due to freezing temperatures and gale force winds, oh and a sick baby does not help.
I can make some changes and get my blood tested in another three months to see how it is all going.
This current issue with my health got me thinking.
As a mum to three young kids and the primary carer I need to look after me. If something happened to me things would be a disaster. I know you cannot future proof everything but you can try and look after your health and be well for you and the family.
Sign Up to Women’s Health Week.
The two barriers that women face are:
Time
Health not being a priority
If you look after you, you can look after the ones you love as well. It all starts with you being well and healthy.
I’ve signed up for Women’s Health Week and I urge you to do so as well.
Get fit in style with this gorgeous slim pink, 22k gold plated smart fitness watch built with revolutionary features including PurePulse® heart rate, connected GPS, on-screen workouts and more.
I’ve signed up to Women’s Health Week. Have you?
So what is Women’s Health Week About?
In 2013 Jean Hailes for Women’s Health ran the first national Women’s Health Week.
Thousands signed up from all over Australia to take part. The event consisted of online activities, resources, information, videos and more.
This event is now in its fifth year and it is “time to put yourself first and get talking about women’s health.”
You can also host an eventfor your friends, workplace or community. If you register before the 31st of July 2017 you get a free elephant stress ball in every gift bag.
NOTE: I was approached by the team at Women’s Health Week to help promote this great initiative for women. As a busy mum I know how easy it is to let things for you slip or get forgotten about altogether. As you know from the first part of this post I am dealing with feeling super tired and was proactive to go to the doctors to get to the bottom of why. I must say I knew that it might be a vitamin d issue before I went but wanted to triple check that there were no underlying issues that I need to be aware of.
Women, and mums out there need to put their health first. Be selfish and care for you so that you can help and care for others as well.
If you take care of your health not only will you feel good you will be more active as well.
You don’t need to just have a family to want to be healthy, feeling well helps you do more and feel better as well.
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I know that this kid is much younger than the girls and is not the twins. I just wanted a picture that conveys annoyance, being angry and upset. Sometimes the kids are like this regardless of their age.
Note: I wrote this yesterday in order to post today. Today the twins have been extremely good and I have hardly raised my voice. Not sure why they are being so good or what they want but I am just accepting the nice behaviour as lately it is a rare occurrence (Maybe they knew that I was writing this and are being good). One kid cleaned the living room, folded the clothes and put them away. She also wrote me a note saying that she loved me and had a glass of water waiting for me to drink. Very nice indeed.
Now to more of what has been the norm around here and to see if it is happening to you as well.
I know that this kid is much younger than the girls and is not the twins. I just wanted a picture that conveys annoyance, being angry and upset. Sometimes the kids are like this regardless of their age.
What is it with the twins lately?
Any time I open my mouth to ask them to do something or see what is going on and I get attitude!
Yep I kid you not.
I get told the following and it does not matter from which kid:
“Leave us alone!”
“You don’t need to know”
“It is none of your business”
Mind you this is all said to me with the grumpiest of voices and faces, plus it gets yelled at me or screamed like a banshee is yelling, not my children.
Could it be the age?
The twins are nearly nine and lately been wanting more independence. I like to walk them to school after I park the car but the girls have been asking me to park further away and let them walk the rest of the way. One kid said she wanted to “look like a big girl”.
The girls can do a lot of things on their own and some that I wish they would do is help put things away in the house, tidy their room and help when asked. However it seems like it is a fight to get them to do anything or listen at all.
One kid helped Daddy on our land putting up a silt fence. She worked so hard and even got blisters on her hands from putting up the fencing. She did a good days work. However if you ask her to pick something that she left on the floor up, this will be completely ignored.
Is Mummy Invisible?
I could be right next to one kid and ask them to pick something up or put something away and they will not hear me. Most likely ignoring me to see if I will forget about it. (Not likely!)
The same could be when either child wants to pick up things to take to the kitchen. I ask them to wait and tell them to take more than one item to the kitchen. (This makes sense doesn’t it. Why take one item to the kitchen and have to do several trips rather than one trip). While I am asking this child to wait they are already walking away from me. I have to repeat about four to five times to get them to come back and do the job correctly.)
Why is it that as soon as I organise some wonderful treat for the kids they turn into little nightmares. I pay and get tickets for fun events and the kids act horribly towards me during and after the event. Maybe I should not bother! Why does this happen? It is very annoying and stressful to have this constantly occur.
This happened last Monday when I took the twins, baby and myself off to see Despicable Me 3. They were good to a point and then turned into rude and horrible little people. Yelling at me to give them money for the arcade. Telling me that we were staying when I had already told them we were going home. I ended up going home and the kids ended up in their room until it was clean. Once the room was clean and they were behaving themselves they got lunch and could come out of their room.
Does this happen to you? You organise some fabulous outings for the kids for them to just be annoying and horrible about the whole thing. I have told my kids that if their silly behaviour continues they will be spending more and more time in their room. Geez lets hope it gets tidy if this happens.
It is frustrating when you are constantly repeating yourself, and feel like everything is a fight to get even a small thing done. After getting something achieved I feel exhausted as it has taken a lot of energy.
I feel like I need a drink and then a lie down. Maybe a G & T would be perfect after this type of carry on.
This is me, pretending the silly behaviour is not happening. I am also trying to get some quiet and alone time with no noise.
My Techniques to Help
I have explained to the kids that I am the only one that organises all the fun things for them due to the fact that I am the primary care giver. If the kids muck up they will not have fun and instead be watching the paint on the wall in their room.
One of my techniques to help the twins understand is to put it into context for them.
I asked if the girls would want to be friends with someone that once you did something nice for them ignored you? They said no.
I then asked if they would be happy if they got tickets to a fabulous event and then their friend complained every second they were at this event. Would they be happy about this? They said no.
After going to the movies and being told that there is only a certain flavour of chips available, and not accepting any alternatives. The actions of this child is screaming and crying. I then asked if they were taking their friend to the movies and this happened would they be happy about it. The kids said no.
When we go out and end up at a restaurant and the kids don’t like the food options. The reactions are hysterical meltdowns that are just crazy and horrible. I told the kids that we cannot control what the restaurant serves and they need to be more adventurous and try new foods. They agree but then don’t. I asked if this happened to them how would they feel? Both girls told me that they would be unhappy and upset.
It seems that they understand how their behaviour is making me feel and that it is not nice. The twins acknowledge that they don’t want to be treated like this.
I then said then, “Why is it okay to treat mummy like this?”
Then I get the all encompassing answer, “I don’t know!”
Well I know they are being naughty and not nice and mostly to me and to me alone.
I told them that I don’t like being treated like this either. I don’t like doing nice things for kids who are not nice back.
So unless they can be nice, no fun things will happen.
I have also tried their silly answer to everything back at them. If they ask when dinner is happening I say, “I don’t know”, if I get asked if they can watch TV, I say, “I don’t know”, if I get asked what are we doing today, I then say, “I don’t know”.
I think you get the message. I know sometimes you don’t know and that is fine but this cannot be the answer to everything… maybe it is the other answer to life, the universe and everything?
The Twins Seem to be Better When Separated
Hubby and I noticed the other day that each child is much better behaved when they are on their own. Once they are together the silliness takes over and more naughty vibrations travel between them and they become extremely naughty. Would it be the twin connection? Have you experienced this?
It is a pity that there are not a lot of opportunity to have more one on one time with each child. We are planning to do more of this on the weekends but it is harder during the week when I am the only care giver and therefore the kids are with me.
Let us know what is working for you?
Have you found it is the age that your children are at?
The twins are seeking more independence and I suppose due to the fact the girls are identical, they are making themselves different from their sister.
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They make me feel good and put a smile on my face.
If I want to cheer myself up I buy a bunch of flowers. It would be nice to be given one but I don’t wait for this to happen.
When I was working in the city I used to bring a nice bunch of flowers from my garden to put on my desk. If I could not get ample flowers to take to the office, I would stop by the florist on the way to work and grab a bunch of whatever is in season.
My lovely bunch of Dahlias and Alstroemeria that I purchased from Pam and Debbie at Fine Flowers. These look so pretty and put a big smile on my face.
The flowers were lovely smelling and cheered me up. Normally I would pick a bunch of Gerberas or the lovely smelling Jonquils.
I did the same thing when I was at home. I purchased flowers from the local florist and decorated the house with pretty and fragrant flowers.
My favourite local florist is Fine Flowers in Katoomba, I have been visiting them for over ten years now.
Fine Flowers in Katoomba.
Pam and Debbie are the lovely ladies at Fine Flowers. Pam has owned the business for ten and half years and worked in the business for another fifteen years previously. So this is over 25 years of floristry experience.
I love coming in and having a chat and finding out what is in season and maybe what might look great to brighten up my desk and house.
What is in season currently?
Tulips and dahlias.
The pretty Tulips on sale.
What has changed?
I asked Pam what have customers been asking for lately?
Normally Pam said that customers would order a bunch of flowers and have a bunch styled and designed by herself or Debbie. However she has noticed that customers are liking the idea of picking their own designs and choosing what flowers go with other flowers.
It is more of free form design.
Posies with roses that were tiny and cute were very popular for weddings. Now the trend is to have larger flowers not so styled and have them look like you have just picked them from the garden.
Customers like the brown paper and natural wrapping for bunches of flowers.
The lovely ladies at Fine Flowers Katoomba. Debbie on left and Pam on the right.
I even did a free form design. I combined two different flowers to make a big pretty bunch.
Popular Celebrations for Flowers
Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Christmas, Birthdays and New Babies are huge.
I asked Debbie and Pam if Easter was a busy time as well. They said it was, and that a lot of people come and purchase daisies for the Easter period. It is up to the individual which bloom takes their fancy but it is interesting that Easter is still a busy time. I suppose daisies make me think of rabbits, the Easter Bunny and nice roaming hills and lush lawn.
Brightly coloured flowers.
With Mother’s Day soon approaching I was keen to know what flowers or items were in demand at Fine Flowers?
I thought that red roses might be the flower of choice. However I was surprised by the answer.
For Mother’s Day all pastel/light coloured flowers were extremely popular and not just roses. Anything that might be pale pink, creams, pale everything. It does not even matter the age of the mother here, it could be for a new mum pale blooms will be purchased more so than brightly coloured ones.
Interesting don’t you think? Mums get the dainty, pretty and pale pastel coloured flowers.
I do love them and they do look pretty but I fall in the other percentage that love some bright blooms. I love colour and some nice bright Gerberas or maybe some vibrant purple Irises with some yellow Tulips or Daffodils.
So pretty and textural, the bright yellow Chrysanthemum Disbud (Spider).
The ladies at Fine Flowers said that bright coloured flowers are still purchased but not in the same quantities as the pale or pastel shades.
Do you love bright flowers like I do? Or prefer the pastel shades? Let us know what your favourites are.
My nice bunch of Dahlias and Alstroemeria on the hall stand at home. It the first thing you see when you come home and walk anywhere in the house. A perfect place for pretty flowers.
I loved my in season bunch of flowers that I purchased from my local florist. I am now keen to go back and get another bunch. This time I think tulips will be in order. They were so pretty and colourful. A good flower to brighten up a space and lift your mood this autumn.
Do you love flowers as much as I do?
I really like the fact that you can get such a great variety of flowers. This variety allows me to change the look of a room easily and helps lifts my spirits as well.
What is your favourite bunch to get from your florist?
Do you have some of your favourites in your garden? Let us know.
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She Said inspiration from Home Depot. Picture from http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/
I like watching the Lifestyle Channel and seeing all the DIY and Home repair shows. I love seeing what they do with run down houses and how they fix them up. It is great inspiration for our new house and fixing up our current one. The home shows also have another effect, the kids find them boring so they leave me alone to watch them. It ends up being more me time, although sometimes minding the baby at the same time.
One show called, “House Hunters” shows couples in the process of buying a new house. The show gives each couple about four houses to choose from and then they pick the one that is best for them. During the house hunt the man regardless of whether they are old or young or even the husband or the boyfriend really needs and demands a man cave.
Why is a “man cave” so important on the house hunt? I have not heard women ask for their “She-Shed” as well. Yes, it is a thing too! A “She-Shed” can also be called a woman cave.
She-Shed inspiration from Home Depot. Picture from http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/
Maybe it should be a requirement for all houses; A man shed and a she-shed must be in all houses. Would council mandate it to ensure this happens? It would be nice wouldn’t it.
Why is it that the man needs a space to get away from everyone? I would like that too? Why can’t the mother or woman in the house have her own cave to do what she wants to do, have things not touched by kids or maybe sip her wine and watch her favourite shows or she could read a book without being interrupted.
With all the shows that I have watched it is rare that the woman in the relationship questions the man cave or demand to have a room for them, and only them. It could be a craft room, office, or if you have the space a basement area.
I just think that it is rather sexist to think that the man is the only one that needs some time out.
The main argument that I have found for why men need and want a “man cave” is that the woman in their life decorates the house. This in turn creates the need for the man to have his own area for his own decorations, furniture and allow him to have some time for him.
Having a space to recharge your batteries would be lovely. I would be able to have quiet time, not be pestered, not hear, “Mummy, mummy, mama!” all the time, do something for me, finally be able to concentrate on something I want to do without be constantly in the middle of five different things. (dinner, craft, reading a book, getting snacks, and more!)
Everyone needs to have their own space, and downtime.
If you are like me you go crazy with the kids all the time and no time for you. Allowing everyone to have some me time is ultra-important for everyone’s happiness.
Women have created “She-Sheds” as their version of the “Man Shed”. Some women have decided to take their sheds to the garden and some are just stunning. The “She-Sheds” can be whatever you wish them to be, reading room, office, craft or maybe a yoga studio. It is up to you, it is your space.
Do you have a cave to retreat to? Do you have one for hubby and you as well? Let us know.
I know just announcing that I want to be different is a huge statement.
I know I can’t magically be Angelina Jolie or maybe Drew Barrymore. However, it would be nice to be able to magic up some things like a new house, more money or say kids that do as they are told? I can dream can’t I?
This is what I want to do more of this year. Relaxing in my garden or under a tree.
By different I mean do things differently, pare back, simplify, and take some time to just be.
In 2016 I was racing around like a mad person. I had a new baby and kids at school that required me taking them to many after school activities. This year I want to stop many of the after-school activities aside from two that the girls love and that is about it.
Now it is 2017 I would love to be a calmer and more productive year for all, more so for me as a mummy. I was the one dealing with carting people back and forth and trying to keep an annoyed and tired baby entertained while the kids had their time at guitar practice or other activity.
This year it would be a lovely change to go home and to just be. The only fight I see on the horizon for after school is getting kids to do their homework. Other than that, maybe tidying their room and helping around the house but that is a standard annoyance.
One other major annoyance I have had is the stress that goes along with getting kids to listen and do as they are told. I do try and keep calm but my voice gets raised and then I end up yelling after the millionth time of telling and asking for someone to do a simple task! Yes, frustrating to say the least.
So, this year I would like to yell less or maybe not at all. I know that I’m not perfect and being a real mum means that things don’t happen like the movies or the magazines, but it would be nice to have things go a little more smoothly this year.
Another major milestone is about to happen soon, our little boy Alexander is going to start day-care. I know some might not think day-care is a good idea but I feel that it will help his socialisation with others and especially kids his own age.
He will explore and learn new things and it will all help his development. I am rather anxious about this day but also to excited. The anxious part is Alexander is still very clingy to me and frets when I leave the room, I hope that he will love the place and forget about me when we are there. We are scheduled for an orientation day so that he can get used to the space and people, and I hope this helps him feel more secure at the day-care centre.
On the days that he goes to care I am hoping to get more done with the blog and the house. The alone time will also allow me to do things that I cannot do with kids, maybe get my hair done, go to the movies by myself, go to the gym or maybe do some laps in the pool, or how about finally go for a walk on my own without a pram. Oh, how I am looking forward to this.
I do hope that Alexander will love childcare, he is such a busy little person that I’m sure he will keep everyone on their toes and enjoy all the new experiences.
The twins started childcare a day a week once they turned one. It did them a world of good and especially me, due to no family nearby. I am on my own looking after the kids. Hubby works late so if something needs to be done I do it.
It was nice when I had that one day per week for just me. I could either plan to do something for me or whiz through the house and do a huge tidy up. It is so much easier to tidy without kids seeing what you are doing… and terrible if they see you chuck out their artwork or prized creations. (cue the screaming and tears!)
I am prepared that I will be upset for a few weeks until Alexander settles in and I hope that he likes it as much as I think he will. We will see.
This is me… well not really but I am pretending. I am spending some much needed time in the pool.
Lately I’ve been thinking of all the things that I would love to achieve this year. Some are huge and others are not. Many align to my calmer and simpler idea for 2017:
Cut down on after school activities
Less television time
More time with the kids
Less or no yelling
Be calmer
Do more exercise
Be happier
De-clutter the house to feel better
Days for just me (Mummy). I could be blogging away on my new laptop or just at the pool doing laps, or maybe seeing a film no else wishes to see and I finally can. It could even be a day at the spa????? A Pamper day for me…what a delightful thought.
A tidier and more organised home that makes everyone happier and calmer.
Do you have goals for 2017? Are they to just do less like mine? I know I have a full list of other things but if I’m not racing around to get to the other activities I have time to prioritise on the real tasks I wish to focus on.
I suppose I’m looking at what is important to me and my family. What are your priorities for 2017?
Maybe another way to look at new year goals is what annoyed you last year that you don’t wish to do ever again, this way you can simplify your year and make you happier at the same time.
I for one hated the fact that the kids and I only had one day per week to be at home after school. The rest was filled with activities I had to race to, and all the while keep a baby happy and sometimes this was not possible and I had a screaming baby.
Let me know what you have decided to not do in 2017 that will put a smile on your face. Send in your comments.
I have been thinking back to this time last year. This time last year I was very pregnant and over it. Anytime after 34 weeks was overdue for me. Yes sounds crazy but when you have twins at 34 weeks and 2 days you start to think that anything over is just horrible. Who would have known that I would have gone full term and had my third child exactly on the 40 week mark.
So what have I been thinking about?
During our pregnancy we did not find out the sex of our baby. We like the surprise. I found myself while at the twins school during home reading wondering if I had a boy will they be like this little boy or the other little boy. Will he be particular about certain things? Will he want to tell me about his favourite thing to do like some of these kids do? What will the child look like if it is a boy?
If the child was going to be girl, would it be like the twins with looks? The twins are blonde, although I was hoping that at some point we might have a red head (my mum has red hair..maybe the third child will be a red head?)
Our little boy actually seems to be getting auburn hair or at least that is what it sometimes looks like. Some days it looks like it is going red or lighter and some days it just looks like brown hair.
My cute little boy asleep… I just love his cute pouty lips and kissable cheeks.
I had all sorts of thoughts about how the baby will look, will it be a boy/girl, what will this new little person be like and I hope that the girls love their new sibling too. I suppose these are valid concerns while pregnant.
While at the school yesterday and again this morning I caught myself thinking the same type of thoughts about what our little boy Alexander might like when he gets older. I read with the girls classes so each day I take a different group of kids. One kid has long lanky legs with knobbly knees, just like my little girls. I am sure our little boy will look similar but hard to see it when he is getting more plump due to being a cute and cuddly baby.
I even time traveled a bit seeing what my little boy might be like at Kindy. He would be wearing shorts although they would be too big and look more like pants. His hat would also be too big so it would need to be made tighter to accommodate a little head, and his school bag would look enormous next to a small little boy. I would be doing the same for him as I did with the twins, helping him learn to read and also volunteer in his classroom to hear him and other kids read.
School for Alexander will not start until the year 2021 if I have calculated right. By this stage the twins will be in high school. At least when the twins are in high school they can make their own way home (I can hope).
Have you caught yourself daydreaming about what your child would be like? Did you do it when pregnant and now when they are a baby?
I catch myself all the time thinking about the future:
What will they be like when older?
What type of jobs will they be doing?
Will they travel?
Will they be happy?
Will they find lovely partners that they are happy with?
Will they have children?
Will they be successful regardless of what type of job they do… as long as they are happy that is the most important thing.
So as you can see I think about a lot of things when I daydream about the kids. Do you do this as well? Send me a comment to make me feel that I am not the only one.
What a start to the school holidays we have had. Baby was sick, one of the girls was sick, I was sick and finally hubby was sick. Only one kid escaped the germs due to her getting it a week before and starting this whole mess. Yes, I am blaming her, well if it was not her it is possibly something we picked up from school or who knows where. So maybe I shouldn’t blame anyone really.
We have been hit with the horrible gastro bug. I am pleased to state that I am much better and happier than I was a few days ago. If you did see me I am sure you would claim that I looked like the undead and although afflicted with the need to throw up and not leave the bathroom I had to care for kids as well. Not a great mix if you ask me.
This horrible germ that made all our life hell for days has been vanished! No more. You are not welcome in my house!
At one point I finally put the baby to bed and then was able to go to bed myself for a little rest. However, this rest was interrupted by one of the girls who was very ill herself and she made a mess in the bathroom and needed help. I must say that this one part that I loathe, helping clean up mess when others have been ill…It just makes me sick also. I took a while to gather myself and then finally tided up the bathroom and as you can imagine my time with a baby sleeping had ended so I had to get him up and sort him out too.
I am not sure what type of bug we picked up but it was not good. It made all my joints hurt and have headaches for days. I have been washing, scrubbing and making sure we don’t spread the germs. Yes, as you might imagine I have like everyone in the house is constantly washing their hands to just make sure; to the extent that I have realised that some of the soap that I have been using is irritating my skin.
I got better, then my little girl got better, the baby got a little better, and then the one person who did not get the bug was struck down. Hubby finally got ill. It was terrible as he was very sick and sad to say that he now has a full appreciation of how bad this germ really was. I do think he knew it was not good, but once you have had it you have a different understanding.
Do you end up really ill with sick kids and have to mind them? I did this and it was not fun. Sad situation is that being a mum means that when you are sick no one comes to help you out.
No sick days, no days off, and rarely any help. I was lucky that I got some help but in the peak of the storm (Yes I am comparing it to a storm due to the fact that I was harassed by three children, I was ill, the baby was ill, and one kid was also ill. I was not able to just go and have a sleep and let someone else help. Or have baby be minded. If I needed to be sick I had to do that while the baby screamed. I needed to try and sort myself out before I tended to him or else it might have been even messier) I had no help. Hubby had arranged to do some work for a mate and he was in the middle of it when I needed him to come home.
You don’t plan to be sick. You don’t know where you are going to be when you might need to come home and help a loved one. It might be that easy to suddenly leave work. I do understand that. However, I got annoyed. Why was I so annoyed? Well it seems that every time I am really ill, I have to soldier on. I have to go it alone and that means that I have to care for kids while being unwell.
I was grateful that hubby came home as quickly as he could but it got me thinking…. if I was at work or a function and the same happened to him, would he be annoyed at me if I delayed my return? Would he accept the fact it is work or would he just want the support and help in his time of need?
When the twins were babies they got really sick. I was in the same predicament. I got ill caring for the kids and then all three of us were throwing up, and I was the only one caring and cleaning up for all of us. It was tough. What I wouldn’t have given for someone to just come and look after us all. I just wanted to go to bed and to sleep.
Have you been in this situation? Sick kids, then you are ill and you have to manage to care for it all? Do you have family or friends that lend a hand? Or are they frightened to enter the house of germs?
