A Photo A Day For July Day 15 – Finger #photoadayjuly

You can’t beat a shortbread finger …………or 2

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A Photo A Day For July – On The Floor #photoadayjuly

So many possibilities for today’s photo………………… Firstly there’s the collection of toys sprawled all over the floor in just about every room in the house…………….Yes every room!  Or maybe I could have showed off our gardening skills by photographing the floor outside, (the strawberries are looking yum!). Or maybe I could have posted a photo of us enjoying floortime play with J’s Mario figures…………………

In the end I thought I’d keep it simple……………………

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Photo A Day For July – A Self Portrait #photoadayjuly

Chantelle over at Fat Mum Slim has set a challenge for July. (You can read more about it by clicking the link and maybe join in the fun too)

Basically the challenge is to post a photo a day, sounds like fun so I thought I’d give it a go.

So today’s challenge was to post a self portrait. I had a little difficulty with this one, I don’t like to have my picture taken and I’m really not good at art, so was pretty stuck. Not knowing what to post for day one of the challenge was not a good start! After putting my thinking cap on I decided to cheat a little……………………………..

Ok so I know it’s cheating a little but I’ve taken a photo of a picture that J drew of me. He’s summed up who I am in one word…………….Mum. As I took this photo of me, I’m classing that as a self-portrait   …………………… Oh and yes I’m loving that I finally have long, skinny legs LOL

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Gadgets I Can’t Live Without

I was recently tagged in a Meme by my wonderful friend Supersinglemum.

As the title of this post suggests the idea is to list the gadgets I couldn’t live with out. I’m a big fan of gadgets, yes I’m a big kid but I love gadgets! So here’s a few that I can’t live without……..

1. My computer, do I really need to explain? Although I haven’t updated my blog too much over the past couple of weeks due to some huge things happening here at the moment, blogging has been a great release for me. I also use my computer to stay up to date with some friends and family members, living in a different timezone  is made much easier with the help of my computer. Skype is another thing that has proved invaluable, again using my computer to chat with a couple of close friends………… I even get to see and play peek a boo the Godson that I’ve never physically met with the help of my computer.

2. Ok I know it’s all about technology these days but seriously I don’t think I could live without J’s Ipad! He loves it and along with his Ipod Touch they help to entertain a very bored and sensory overloaded little boy on journeys, whether they be long or short! We also added lots of social apps, communication apps and ofcourse the usual educational apps. With J’s love of all things computer related the apps have really helped to encourage his development in some of the areas that he is lacking. He hates writing and has low muscle tone but is quite happy to spell and read words and even short stories on the Ipad for example, so both are very welcome additions to our family.

3. Finally the only other “gadget” that gets used lots in our house is my slow cooker. I love being able to just plop everything into one pot and leave it cooking whilst I busy myself with other “jobs” that need to get done and ofcourse it frees up alot of spare time which means I can give J my undivided attention and play!

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I’ve Been Tagged – Questions and Answers

I was tagged a few weeks ago by the lovely Mummy Matters in a questions and answers meme. I’ve been so busy over the past couple of months that I’ve only just gotten around to doing it (sorry).  Basically all I have to do is answer the following questions as truthfully as possible:

Which living person do you most admire, and why?

My son! The more I learn about Aspergers and Autism the more amazed I am by J and his ability to get through each and everyday. Starting school, moving countries, dealing with a bully, seeing lots of new people (therapists/doctors etc) and even just going shopping are hard enough for anyone …………….. but for a 5 year old……………. with Aspergers…………. WOW I’m in total awe of you little man. xxx

When were you happiest?

If I think of the past I was always happiest listening to my beloved Nan talk about days of old, her life and things that she had done. Right now I’m always happiest when I am with my Husband and Son. I love watching them play together, it always puts a smile on my face and makes me feel warm inside.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

There’s far too many of them to choose just one!

Aside from property, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought?

My car!

What is your most treasured possession?

My Son! Although he’s not really a possession. My photographs are probably my most treasured possession, especially those of my family and close friends.

Where would you like to live?

If I could choose anywhere in the world it would have to be Florida, it’s warm, the people are friendly, there’s lots to do and it’s not too long a flight away from family and friends

What’s your favourite smell?

I have no idea!  I love the smell of babies, my son, freshly washed sheets when you bring them in off the line, fresh bread, a sunday roast…………………

Who would play you in the film of your life? 

Not to steal Mummy Matters’s actress but I think I would also choose Sandra Bullock.

What is your favourite book?

I don’t really have a favourite book but I love reading. I’m a huge fan of the Twilight series, Harry Potter and Danielle Steel books.  I have also recently started to build a big collection of books about Autism and Aspergers, I’m currently reading The Autism Experience.

What is your most unappealing habit?

mmmmm probably biting my nails, I know very unappealing but I only do it when I’m feeling a little stressed!

What would be your fancy dress costume of choice?

I guess that it would be something from the 50′s/60′s era or maybe a hippy from the 70′s, all eras that I love.

What is your earliest memory?

Singing Humpty Dumpty with my Uncle

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Ice cream, I love it!

What do you owe your parents?

Thanks for bringing me into the world, thanks to my Mum for bring me up and thanks to my Dad for not turning me away. Most of who I am I owe to my Nan, it is her that I owe everything to, so Thankyou Nan x

To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why?

My Nan,  I’m sorry I was the one to hurt you so badly by telling you that Granddad was gone and most of all I’m sorry that we had to say goodbye to the both of you.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My son is and always will be the greatest love of my life.

What does love feel like?

As Mummy Matters says there are different types of love and they all feel different, the love I have for my son is indescribable, it’s a feeling you have for someone or something that you would literally do anything for, it’s a feeling that can make you feel on top of the world and yet at other times break your heart in two, it’s a feeling that I never want to lose!

What was the best kiss of your life?

The one my son gave me this morning when he said “morning Mum, I love you”

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Probably Oh My God!  - J has started saying quite often too, mmmmm think he may have picked it up from me!   I can often be heard telling J “Use your words”, which is probably a little overused.

What is the worst job you’ve done?

mmmmm I’ve had a few, probably McDonalds!

If you could edit your past, what would you change?

Nothing, everything in life happens for a reason.

What is the closest you’ve come to death?

I’m not sure, probably with one of my miscarriages, I lost quite alot of blood or maybe one time with my Asthma.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Becoming a Mum!

When did you last cry, and why?

I don’t know probably a few days ago out of frustration and tiredness, it’s hard work dealing with meltdowns, a school that doesn’t listen and a child begging you not to send him!

How do you relax?

Listening to music, watching my favourite programs on TV, going for a walk, reading a book or just watching J sleep.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?

Right now good health for all my family would be very welcome. Other than that a large sum of money would be great and enable us to buy a house here in Oz, pay for a specialist tutor for J, a variety of therapies when the funding runs out, a specialist to sort Hubby’s back out and of course to simply provide financial security not just for us but for J.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

Don’t waste a moment, make the most of everyday, always remember to tell those that matter how you feel about them because you may never get another chance.

Now its my turn to do the tagging:

 

 Wonderfully Wired  

Growing my Family Tree

My Little Drummer Boys

 

 

 

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Me Stylish? Why Thankyou Me ‘N My Monkeys :)

Oh my goodness, I’ve been given a Stylish Blogger Award by Jane over at Me ‘n My Monkeys. Huge THANKYOU I’ve never thought of myself as stylish before but hey if you say I am then I guess I must be  (hahaha)

So in order to accept this award I have to tell you seven things about myself………

1. I love taking photographs, I think I take new ones just about everyday.
2. Cabbage is my favourite veggie, I could eat it all day, (just so long as it’s not soup!).
3. I’m completely addicted to Ebay, I buy and sell on there all the time……… it’s good to have a clearout once in a while
4. I’ve become a coffee addict, I used to drink only water, (very healthy), but over the past couple of months I’ve drunk an unbelievable amount of caffeine!
5. I love shopping ……. gift shopping is my favourite, I like to think about each person’s reaction when they open their gift, if that thought makes me smile then I usually buy the gift.
6. I love poetry, I like the way the words can make you feel.
7. I keep a list of places I’d like to visit one day tucked away in my diary. There’s a big wide world out there and the list is very long, who knows maybe I’ll make a shortlist

Now I have to pass this award onto 15 other fabulous bloggers

1. Mummy Matters
2. Supersinglemum
3. Crystal Jigsaw
4. Growing My Family Tree
5. Mocha Beanie Mummy
6. Soft Thistle
7. Hear Mum Roar
8. Carrie Mum of 2 with ASD
9. Seven Cherubs
10. Be A Fun Mum
11. Leechbabe
12. BbsMum
13. The Moiderer
14. Childhood101
15. A Dose of Dannie

 

and of course let them know they have this award………….. all done

Please feel free to click on some of the bloggers above, all are fab reading I’m sure that you’ll enjoy

 

 

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Things That Bother and Annoy Me………

I’ve been tagged by my lovely friend Mummy Matters to write a post about things that bother and annoy me.  Well I had a good think about this one because whilst there are things that bother and annoy me at different times in my life there are some things that always bother and annoy me.

Firstly like Mummy Matters children with snotty noses really annoys me, as she said, tissues aren’t expensive please parents just give it a wipe before it becomes all green and crusty, something that bothers me even more than the actual snotty nose!

If any of you have read my post Stop and Think before you Stare will probably already know that people who stare or make negative comments when they see J having a “moment”, a tantrum or at times a complete meltdown really annoy me, especially when it’s a parent!  Come on people, surely you don’t have a child who never, ever, not even once, has a tantrum?

Another thing that annoys me is when people tell me that J is being naughty or attention seeking or that I’m over reacting or that his behaviour is down to my parenting skills. Wake up people, he has ASD, he’s not a naughty child and I’m a good parent, we’re all doing our best!

Bad manners also annoys and bothers me. There’s really no need for it, my Nan always taught me that manners cost nothing but are worth alot.  How hard is it to say hello, hold a door open for someone, remember to say please, thankyou, excuse me…………   lady in the queue at the post office last week it would have been so much nicer if you could have said excuse me instead of pushing past me, I’m just glad that J wasn’t with me, (we may have had a meltdown and then she would have regretted pushing!).

Ok one last thing that always annoys me is speeding motorists. Speed limits are there for a reason, like the ones outside schools that some motorists just completely ignore. To the driver that hangs on my bumper and beeps their horn at me because I’m doing the speed limit and they’re in a rush……. tough your action will not make me go any faster.  To the drivers who speed and then moan about being caught,  here’s a thought……… don’t speed!  Please remember speed kills!

Now it’s over to you, here’s my tags

Growing My Family Tree

Hear Mum Roar

Sleepless Nights

Bad Mummy

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Kreativ Blogger Award Meme- Seven Thing About Me

I’ve been tagged by Gemma over at Growing My Family Tree for this Kreativ Blogger meme.  It’s an easy one, all I have to do is share with you seven things about me.

So here goes ………..

1: I collect mugs/cups, strange thing to collect I know but I love them. I’ve got over a hundred of them, all shapes and sizes and from all over. I seem to always find a need to buy a new one every time we visit somewhere new. I’ve also received them as gifts from others and I tend to buy myself and hubby the Easter egg that comes with a mug every year, just so I can have the mug!

2: My favourite drink is milk. I like it hot, cold, flavoured and plain, I’m a big fan of the white stuff.

3: I’m addicted to crime tv. I love watching tv programmes like A Touch Of Frost, (David Jason, one of the greatest actors ever!), Criminal Minds,  Lewis, (although I have to admit I preferred Morse and the great John Thaw), all of the CSI’s and so on.

4: I’m a huge……. really huge Elvis fan! I love the music, the dancing, the movies, the Vegas thing, the man and well ….. everything!

5: Adverts drive me crazy, even though there are some really good ones out there.  I hate it when you’re watching a good movie on tv, it gets to a critical part of the movie, suspense is just starting to kick in, you can’t take yourself away from the screen………… STOP advert break!!!   ruins the whole movie for me, so I try not to watch too many on tv, (no ads with a dvd!!!)

6: Dolphins are my favourite animal, they’re really smart and so cute.  When I swam with them at Discovery Cove it was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had and it’s something I’d love to do with J one day.
7: Orlando, Florida is my favourite place in the whole world. We’ve had a few really good holidays there and I love it.  I’m an America fan and for me there is no place on earth like Orlando. The theme parks are fantastic, the people are friendly, the houses are lush, the nearby beaches are gorgeous, the weather fab, it’s a shopper’s paradise…………….. the list goes on and on.

Now I have to tag seven bloggers, spread a little blogging love

The rules are as follows:

Copy the award to your blog

Insert a link to the person who nominated you

Share seven things about yourself that you haven’t told us before

Nominate other bloggers for the award – share the love

Link to their blogs

Tell the nominees about their award

My tags, (and some great blogs)

Kathryn at Crystal Jigsaw

Supersinglemum

DeepinMummymatters

Megan at Writing Out Loud

Save Mum’s Sanity

Brenda at Mummy-time

Sharon at Hearmumroar

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What couldn’t you Live without?

I was watching J play with his “Special Doggy” (SD) yesterday and started wondering how he copes at daycare without his SD. He goes twice a week and doesn’t take it in because the other children might touch SD, instead he leaves it in the car so that it’s waiting for him when I pick him up. Other than his time at daycare he always has SD with him, he even sits it on the floor at the door to the toilet when he goes!  It’s the one thing he can’t live without!

That got me thinking, what 5 “things” could I not live without, even for a few days.

The first and most important “thing” that I couldn’t live without is J.  Ok, I know he’s not a thing, but he’s first on my list because I couldn’t live without him.  What would I do with myself?  Where else would I get such amazing love from?  and the smiles, well, isn’t that just about the most beautiful smile you’ve ever seen ?

I couldn’t live without my Photographs, I have pictures everywhere and I take new ones everyday, (usually of J).  J and I quite often sit and look through old pictures of family and friends. Before we left the UK my lovely mummy friends made a beautiful scrapbook for us with lots of pictures from our time at the children’s centre, (and a few from rare nights out). It was just about the most perfect thing that they could have given me, J and I look through it at least once a week. Also precious to me are the pictures of my Nan. I only have pictures and memories now and the pictures help me to tell J stories about his Special Nanny.

Baby wipes are another thing that I couldn’t live without! J has an obsession with being clean, he uses them several times a day to clean his hands, face, feet and so on, we also use them to wipe things that he wants needs to touch, but won’t because whatever it is, is dirty in his eyes.  We are currently getting through almost 2 packs a week, I keep them in the car, in the house and even have a small pack in my handbag. (we’re hoping the dirty “thing” will ease a little soon)

I couldn’t live without music, what I listen to depends on my mood, (and usually whether J is willing to listen to it!). I have varying tastes in music, everything from 50s and 60s rock and roll to rap. (I’m listening to Otis Reading as I’m writing ……  fabulous!)

Last of all I couldn’t live without my computer, using the public ones in the local shopping centre was a nightmare and I really missed my pc. I use the internet everyday, I use it to talk with friends and family, I use it for research, I use it to shop……….. and so on.

So what couldn’t you live without?

Here’s my tags

Supersinglemum

MummyMatters

Mummy-time

Seven Cherubs

The things I’d tell you

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What Would You Change?

A friend recently asked me if I could turn back time would I still return to England, just to return to Australia 18 months later. It’s a good question and it got me thinking, if I could go back in time, just once, to change something, anything at all, would I?                                      

Would I go back and tell someone about the bullying at home?  I’m very surprised to say no because it highlighted to me how much my Nan cared about me and believed in me and I’m an emotionally strong person because of it.  Although I have always told J that if anyone ever hurts him or makes him sad he should always tell Mummy or Daddy and that grownups hurting kids is wrong.

Would I go back and not get pregnant at such a young age (18) ? Well despite everything we went through when I miscarried I wouldn’t change this either because I now feel luckier than ever to have J and I see him as extra special.

Would I have still gotten married so young? This is an easy one, yes. We’re still happily married now so it was obviously a good choice.

Would I have gone into a different line of work? Nope, wouldn’t change this either. Childcare isn’t the best paid career but working with children makes everyday different….. and it’s fun!

Would I change some of the silly fall outs I’ve had with some friends and family members? This one took some thinking about, I do regret some of the arguments and it makes me sad to think about how sour some of the relationships have gone. However we all have a right to our own opinion and so what will be, will be.

Would I still meet my Dad and family?  This is another easy one. I’ve loved getting to know my Dad and brothers and my Step-Mum, (she’ll hate me for calling her that, Sorry T!) is fantastic, as is her Mum. J feels very lucky too because he has 4 Nannies and of course Special Nanny. So no I definitely wouldn’t change this.

There are lots of things that I could change and some people think I probably should have done differently or not at all. That takes me back to the original question, Would I still go back to England? I have some regrets that we went back to the UK, just to return here 18 months later, financially it hurt, it did put a strain on us as a family, but we got through it and all the change has had an effect on J and his behaviour. However if we hadn’t gone back I wouldn’t have met my wonderful friends Supersinglemum , Mummy Matters, D and K. I wouldn’t have learnt what I did on the courses run by my local Children’s Centre. I wouldn’t have learnt what I did about myself and some others. I wouldn’t have met my nephew and I wouldn’t know where I wanted us all to be. Therefore I wouldn’t change that.

I think there’s various things that I could make minor adjustments to but really I guess I wouldn’t change anything. Everything happens for a reason and I am who I am today because of the things that have happened in my life and the choices that I’ve made.

 What about you, if you could go back in time just once to change something would you?

I was going to tag some people in this but I’m going to leave it open to everyone, go on have a think about it.

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