Toilet Training

Its become a very difficult process trying to get Evie toilet trained. Although she`ll be six in May, she shows no inclination to use the toilet, seeming quite happy to just go in her training pants. No worries that way is there? I`ve had the continence nurse come out to see us again and she has advised us to get some special steps that lead up to the toilet and are fitted to a small seat that fits over the toilet seat. And also an egg timer type thing to time her when she`s on the toilet. We must make her sit on it for one minute and the two minutes etc........
Tracking down a seat like this was more difficult than I thought. I tried Mothercare first and few other shops and have just managed to find one on Ebay. What would we do without Ebay?
So its just a case of waiting for it to come now and see how we get on.
We`ve run out of training pants again though. The ones they give us are meant to last three months, but I`m luckily to get a month out of them. There is a service where you`re meant to ring when you get down to the last pack, but when I ring they just say - "Oh, you`re not due for anymore nappies for another two months so you cant have any yet." Whats the point of that then? Last month I just waited for them to come and when they never arrived I phoned them and they said, "Oh, we never sent you any because you never phoned so we thought you didn't need any."Its just so frustrating and its quite difficult and expensive to buy training pants for a five year old. The ones in the shops are usually too small as they`re mainly designed for two to three year-olds. Hhmmmmm!

Photoshop

Good news. My photoshop class is back on as from Monday. Combined with my Photography on Location class today, I look forward to being able to take and process better photographs. Photoshop is such a good programme, but difficult to use without instruction. I look forward to learning all I can. It is good to learn something new.

The most depressing day of the year

Yesterday was supposed to be officially the most depressing day of the year. I don't know why. Probably because christmas is over and everyones waiting for the next pay packet as we`re all skint in January.
I cant wait for spring now and the light nights though. Roll on the warm weather......................
Today I noticed an estate agents board outside our neighbours house. This lady has had the trauma of her lovely husband committing suicide last year - and the shock of finding his body. And now her and her soon are being targeted by yobs for some reason - eggs thrown at the house, car windscreen smashed and goodness knows what else. Its a shame to be driven out of your own neighbourhood by such behaviour, but it comes to a point where moving is better than living in misery. It seems that law abiding citizens have no real protection against the yob culture and the police can`t protect us anymore. The problem is too vast. Time for some drastic new legislation, I think!
So now we`ll have two new neighbours living oppersite. Besides this lovely family, the lady who lived next door to them died over the christmas period so that will be another set of new neighbours. Oh my goodness. Perhaps it really is the most depressing day of the year.

A Trip To Skipton

We had a trip to visit Tony`s son who lives near Skipton yesterday. Its such a lovely part of the country. Beautiful scenery - Skipton itself is a lovely old English market town.
Anyway, we stopped off for lunch at a country pub - having thought to book a table for 8. After lunch we went to boundary mills which is an outlet shopping village and had a good look round. I didn't buy anything for a change. after this it was back to Karl`s - who had been minding the kids for us, and coffee and biscuits - before heading back about 6.30.
I would like to live in a more rural area - but don't know if I could go somewhere that quiet. Nice to visit though!

Paranoia

Oh my gosh! I do get worried. Call it paranoia if you like, but in this climate of underlying menace on the streets, I cant help worrying about my teenage son. He doesn't go out alone of a night unless he is driven there and back - I feel the streets aren't safe for a teenager - even a sensible, untroublsome one. But today, he went into town with some friends for a look round, a meal and a visit to the cinema. All pretty harmless stuff! But when it got to 7.30 and no sign of him and nothing but an answerphone message from his Mobile, I started to get the stirrings of unease in my stomach. Various horrible scenarios from the newspapers started popping into my head. Murders - attacks - muggings - Oh my God! Anything could happen. Finally, I phoned his friends dad, who told me his son had rung ten minutes ago to say they were getting on the train and should be home soon. Phew!!!!! Relief.
But I wasn't properly relieved until he set foot the house. apparently, he entered the wrong PIN into his mobile and it shut his phone down so he couldn't ring.
Hmmmm. Payphones????? But I`m just so glad he`s home and safe. I dread to think what I`ll be like when the twins are teenagers

Poetry spoken online

I came across this website were classic poets perform historic readings of their poetry - you can hear voices of poets dating back to 1889 - making poetry accessible to a wider audience. The address of this website is www.poetryarchive.

Scouse Mum - Joke

ChristmasYorkshire Terrier

Our Yorkie Sandy, Christmas 2005

Google Adsense

I thought I`d try a new template for a new start for the New Year. I do like it, but stuff keeps getting squashed up. I`m not too sure why yet, but I`ll keep looking.
Anyway, Google Adsense. I`m trying my best to get to grips with it. But how on earth does anyone make money from it? 

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The Finale to Lost - Series one

What a great end to series one. Who are those men who took Walt off in the boat? Where were they taking him? Back to the Island? And what was that wisp of smoke thing that tried to drag John Locke away?
The best bit though was the joke were the non-essential character starting questioning why the main characters were the only ones who seemed to matter? And why hasn't Hurley lost any weight? And then he blew himself up with dynamite - LOL! He was questioning the basic flaws in the plot in the way we all do, and he got his reward. Cant wait for the next series of LOST which is coming to the UK in the Spring.

Evie breaks her arm

After having the cardiac catheters last week, Evie went back to school yesterday - Monday. But I cant believe what has happened now. This evening after their dinner, the twins went upstairs in my Mum`s house to watch CBeebies on the little television which she has in her bedroom, sitting on her bed. The next thing, Evie comes down crying and holding her arm funny. When she wouldn't stop crying, we decided we`d better get her to the children`s hospital to get checked out in A and E.

 And Yes! She`s broken her arm. I really cant believe it. They`ve let her come home with a sling on, but I`ve got to go back at half ten to get a plaster cast fitted. It's unbelievable. Poor Evie!!

We`re home again after Evie's latest admission for cardiac catheters. I must say, although the outcome was good - Eve`s pulmonary artery was in a better state than the cardiologists suspected - Eve was terrible while she was in hospital. She screamed, fought and kicked during every procedure. She refused to have an ECG and chest Xray and other vital tests. She was frankly terrified at everything which made this admission so much more stressful. She used too be such a compliant little girl, never flinching while getting poked and prodded, but something has changed. I think its after having a bad time when she some teeth out a few months ago. I think its put her off hospitals and doctors for life.
But, in spite of everything, she`s back to normal now - fighting with Ellie as usual. Some things never change.

Evie has cardiac catheters

Poor Evie. Back in hospital yet again. This time its for cardiac catheters - one of her arteries has become blocked again - or so they thought. When they got her in theatre, it wasn't as bad as the medics thought and they didn't need to use the balloons to unblock.
Evie has been terrified during this hospital admission. During all the numerous admissions for various illness and procedures - including three huge heart operations, palate surgery, two bouts of meningitis, pneumonia etc. - she has always been so brave. But this time she`s screamed and kicked at every little intervention and has totally refused and ECG and chest Xray. I think this is due to the bad experience she had a few months ago when she went into hospital for two teeth out. After the extractions, she cried for about two hours - probably due to a lighter than usual anaesthetic. Its a shame, but I think a precedent has been set now. I hope she`s not always going to be scared of hospitals and doctors!

My twins beautiful pictures

Evies Picture of our family - aged 5 - 3/1/06










Ellies picture - aged 5 - 3/1/06

Walking man

Joy Journals

It seems that happiness researchers in the US are promoting the use of happiness journals. These are diaries where we note down little things that make us feel good, things we find funny - or just events that make us glad to be alive. It seems that happiness is infectious - writing all these positive things down can make us more optimistic - and can inspire us to exercise more, achieve more of our goals, and can even help us enjoy better health. (This is verified by trials carried out at the university of Calfifornia, by a leading gratitude researcher, Dr.Robert Emmons) Never heard of a gratitude researcher before!) But, Its certainly worth a try.
To make a start, try making a list of 10 things that make you smile.

Happy New Year

Wishing you the Best Year ever
Heres to 2006
xxx