Must blog more!

I really must post more often! Since my last post I had another week or two off work and am now back. It's not been easy going back and I found it a lot harder than I thought I would. I've been so tired and the nausea and sickness got a little worse. Hopefully now though I'm starting to get back into things and I'm also trying to wean myself off the medication.

I have done 3 layouts with some of my scan pictures. I haven't done the journalling for them yet but will post photos soon.

Back sometime this week hopefully with photos of new stash as well as the layout photos.

Happy Birthday to me

Well another year older today. It's going to be a bit of a strange birthday with everything that's going on. No meal out or birthday cake but will be fun opening cards and presents. Ethan is very excited and I have had to get some cake for him and John as Ethan expects cake when it's someones birthday. I won't be having any, my diet doesn't strange beyond weetabix, crumpets and yogurt at the moment!

Any John and Ethan got me a lovely present - a CRICUT. I'm can't wait to have a play with it and need to get another cartridge or two for it. Also got some money, jewellery, scrapbooking goodies, flowers etc.

I've got some friends coming round later which will be nice as I haven't really seen anyone for a while with being in hospital and the resting at home.

I'm hoping that I will be able to go to the Hobby Horse crop at the weekend even if just for a few hours. I'll have to see how I feel nearer the time but it would be great to see everyone and do some scrapping. I'm going to get my scan photos printed along with a few other photos so that I can scrap those if I go. If I order from Photobox today they should be here in the next couple of days.

Lastest scan pictures

Scan at 11 weeks 4 days

These 2 scan pictures are just normal scans. Unfortunately they didn't scan too well and baby was jumping around - great to see.

These scan pictures are 3D and it was amazing to see all the detail. My favourite is the 4th one down (the 5th is the same but cropped), I just love how the babies hand is positioned.

It was clear from the scan that this baby has big feet :) Ethan had quite big feet when he was born I just hope this isn't a sihn of things to come as Ethan was 10lb when he was born

I'm very tempted now to have a 4D scan further on in the pregnancy, the detail is just amazing in these 3D/4D scans.

Apart from the scan it has not been a great day. It was very strange to leave the house after being house bound for so long. I thought I was ready to be a bit more mobile but I was very sick and dizzy. The rest of the day I've felt very nauseous and not managed as much food as I have been. I just hope tomorrow is a better day and I'm able to eat a little more - I really want to avoid another stay in hospital.

John took Ethan to Wollaton Park today whilst I slept for a few hours and he had a great time. It's been great John being off work this week as Ethan has been able to be at home rather than with family. Although John has been working on the house (will update at a later date), Ethan has been able to help, play in the garden whilst John has been out there and John has always done something with him in the afternoon/evening.

I'm pregnant.....

.....that is my news and the reason I've been away so long. After almost 3 years of trying and weeks away from starting fertility treatment, I am now 11 weeks pregnant. Unfortunately I have suffered morning sickness almost since finding out I was pregnant and it gradually got worse. A few weeks ago it got really bad and I was unable to keep any food or fluids down, not even licks of ice lollies. I was admitted to hospital with severe dehydration and morning sickness (Hyperemesis Gravidarum) and spent 5 days there on IV fluids and anti sickness medication. Thankfully I am now home and managing to keep small amounts of food and fluids down and getting plenty of rest. Not that I have any choice, I am not able to sit or stand without feeling dizzy and I'm still very week. I've been signed off work till next week so we'll see how things go.

I've got quite a few scan photos which I've posted below. I had a bleed early in the pregnancy and have had a few scans since then. Luckily my friend works with the Dr I saw in the fertility clinic whilst we were trying and when he heard he got me in for a scan within the hour. He does private work as well as working for the NHS so has his own scanner and the quality of the scans are amazing.

Scan at 7 weeks 4 days

Scan at 8 weeks 4 days

Scan at 9 weeks 4 days

NHS scan at 9 weeks 5 days (look at the difference between this one and the ones above, there is only 1 day between them!)

I've got another scan on Friday so will post those pictures when they're scanned in.

Bedroom update

We finished the room weeks ago but I just never got round to posting any photos (I'll explain in my next post).

I'm so pleased with the finished room and love the colour (warm beige) on the walls. I thought it would be lighter than that and I had chosen a deep red for the chimney breast. Once the warm beige went on the walls I thought the red wouldn't look right so we stuck with the one colour.

The TV is John's "thing" and the only thing he wanted in the room. I'm not too keen on it, I don't think it looks quite right with the fireplace. Maybe at a later date I can talk him into having it downstairs in the back room and get a smaller one for the bedroom!

Here are the photos, they are not great as it doesn't show all of the room and we have photos on the wall now too:

Will be back in the next day or so with lots to tell :)

It really has been a long time.....

I will come back and update properly soon as there is lots to tell and reasons why I have been away so long!

We have finished our bedroom and I'll get some photos uploaded asap.

Back soon.

Its been a while

Progress is being made in our bedroom and it won't be long now till we're back in there. Tomorrow we are having a new window fitted then John will paint the room. We then just need the radiator putting back on (the guy who does it is on holiday for the next week!) and the carpet fitting. We finally got round to choosing the carpet and it's really nice but then it should be for what we paid!

Here are some updated photos of the room from the last few weeks:

Here are a few photos of Ethan whilst helping John! As you can see in the background the plaster has dried and the coving is up.

I went to the Hobby Horse crop on Friday and Saturday and had a great time. I manged to complete about 6 layouts so quite a productive weekend. My Big Picture Scrapbooking class is also going well and I'm still really enjoying it. I need to catch up on a few of the things but I have plenty of time and I've printed everything off. Over the last week I've done a few layouts, some Rolodex cards, decorated tag, card and a few other things. Today's task is to do a mini book which I'm really looking forward to doing. There is a free class on Big Picture Scrapbooking at the moment called Kid Perspective by Deanna Lambson so it's worth going and accessing it. I think there are a few others too if you look under classes then give it a try.

It's half term this week so I'm having Wednesday off. I was going to have the whole week off but Ethan wanted to go to his Grandparents so he's having a day at each. We'll then have the rest of the week to chill out, catch up with friends etc.

Ethan hasn't been very well over the weekend. He is full of cold and has had a cough and high temperature. I think it'll be a trip to the doctors and a day off work tomorrow if he is no better. I don't think he has ever suffered like he is at the moment with a cold. He has a constant runny nose, streaming red puffy dry eyes, high temperature, achy etc

Progress

Huge progress has been made with our bedroom over the weekend and last couple of days. It has now all been plastered and should be dry ready for the weekend. John will then get the coving up and hopefully have time to paint it as well - really must get to B&Q and choose some paint!!!

Here are a few photos before plastering (I'll take some photos tomorrow in the daylight of after it was plastered and post them):

I have also signed up for the 28 Day class at Big Picture Scrapbooking. I signed up a few days into it so am still catching up! So far I'm really enjoying it and have completed most of the daily tasks and photos.

Here is the journal I decorated:

Here are a few of the photos - My fridge and something you use everyday (my mobile!)

I was getting a bit fed up with my old ribbon storage so I've now got all my ribbons in these glass vases a got a while ago. Once I have my scrapping area up and running I think they'll look quite good :)

Changes

Well I've finally got round to updating to the new blogger and it seems to have gone well. I've also managed to put some links up which I could never figure out how to do before. I'll add some more as soon as I get the chance.

It's been a busy few weeks especially with the house. John is making good progress on our room and hopefully it will be finished by the end of the month. We have the plasterer coming in next week to plaster the whole room - walls and ceiling. Then the following week we are hoping to get a new window and radiator fitted. That then leaves coving, skirting, painting, fire surround etc to be fitted before we have the carpet fitted. In the mean time I need to get a move on and get curtains, duvet cover, photos/pictures for the walls, storage basket and boxes and other things to finish the room. We will then need to move everything back in and put up the few new pieces of furniture we've got - and not forgetting the 32" LCD HD ready TV John has got, the main reason John is working so hard to get the room done as quick as possible! Here are a few photos of the bedroom before we started (well John had done a mornings work).

I got my order through the post yesterday from A Million Little Things which I had been waiting for so I could finish a layout. I was so pleased it came so quickly and I added some of the American Crafts foam letters to finish off my Rain Forest Cafe layout. I have done 6 more layouts from our holiday since I last posted so will try and upload a couple of those soon. Here are the things I got from A Million Little Things - American Crafts foam letters and cardstock stickers, KI Memories Epoxy Stickers, Heidi Swapp stickers (a bargain at 18p) and Imaginisce Goin Places ribbon slide.

Here are a couple of recent photos of Ethan, taken at Olivia's party a few weeks ago - he is dancing!

Layouts as promised

Here are some of the layouts I've done of our trip to America in Dec 06/Jan 07. The quality of the photos isn't great, I never seem to get the right light etc. Will upload more as I get them done, have so far done 14 layouts of our trip.




This layout is one half of a double layout. The helicopter we went on over New York and Ethan sat at the front and ready to do. Used paper and cardstock that my Auntie got me for Christmas, $2 stamps from Walmart, photo anchors and brads from a Sweetwater kit and Autumn Leaves clear stamps (below). I have left the right side of it so you can see the Statue of Liberty on the paper.




This layout is of me and Ethan ice skating in Bryant Park New York. Used Sweetwater paper, Bazzill cardstock from December Jenni Bowlin kit and title cut on Katy's Cricut which she very kindly let me use at the last crop :)




This is Ethan on the giant piano and outside FAO Schwartz. Used Sweetwater papers and tag, Pressed Petals letters and letter stickers and buttons.




This layout is of Ethan in Central Park New York. Used Bazzill cardstock, Catslife diamond stamp, Jenni Bowlin lined paper, Sweetwater paper. Title is cut using Katy's Cricut.




This layout is Ethan in front of the Christmas tree on Christmas morning wearing his new Spongebob pj's! Used Sweetwater papers, letter stickers, tags, journaling tab and Bazzill cardstock.














This layout is of me, John and Ethan at Maymont Park in the Japanese water gardens. I got the paper from a scrapbook shop in America, also used Bazzill cardstock, Prima flowers, Jenni Bowlin note card and title cut using Katy's Cricut.














This layout is of Ethan candle dipping at Yankee Candle. He loved doing this and made lots of gifts for friends and family. Used Sweetwater papers, letter stickers, Bazzill cardstock and flower and ric rak from December Jenni Bowlin kit.















I ordered these Autumn Leaves stamps by Tia Bennett whilst I was in America but they arrived a few hours after we left. Fortunately my Auntie sent them onto me and they arrived 4 days later! They are great and I've used them loads on the layouts I've done since. On some layouts I've just inked part of the stamp, ie. the lines and used them.

We're back!

Here are the photos promised in my last post:



These were taken at Maymont Park, the first is of me, John and Ethan in the gardens and the second is of Maymont house. It's a great place with lots of different things to see and do. The park is 100 acres and has a Japanese garden, Italian garden, children's farm, Maymont house, nature centre and lots more. We had a lovely walk around and did a guided tour of the house which was really interesting.



On the way back from Maymont Park we went to Pony Pastures. This is a photo of Ethan at Pony Pastures with the James River in the background. In the summer when there hasn't been as much rain, there are huge rocks that you can walk on in the river and some people even sun bath on them.



Ethan enjoying his meal at TGI Fridays, he loved the carrots with ranch dip.



Ethan at Yankee Candle - he dipped loads as presents for everyone and loved it. He really got the hang of it in the end and did some lovely rainbow candles.



These photos were taken in Colonial Williamsburg and it was a fantastic place. Unfortunately we didn't have chance to go in the museums but enjoyed walking around. Next time we visit we'll spend a day or two there, Jamestown and Yorktown and get the pass to go in all the museums.

The flight home was pretty good and even landed early. Ethan was great on the plane and even managed to get some sleep. The photo is of him on the plane with his new BA teddy before going to sleep - he looks so tired on this photo.



I have been to the Hobby Horse crop today and also went last night. I managed to get 5 layouts done with photos from our trip to America that I got developed at Costco yesterday. Katy very kindly let me use her Cricut and I loved it, may need to start saving! Will upload some of the layouts tomorrow.

I'm still getting over the jet lag and just hope I'm ok for Monday when I start back at work. John and Ethan seem to be doing ok but I'm just not tired. Last night I didn't go to bed till around 2:30am and it's 12:30am now!