November didn't start off too great. My brain condition (IIH) flared up which resulted in headaches and just not feeling too great. One of the symptoms of IIH is numbness and tingling, my arms and legs went very numb for a while but as the month went on, I have got a bit better. Thankfully. I've also felt rather anxious on and off but enough of that now, onto the good stuff!


 During November I went to Ellie's parents evening, I enjoy parents evening and hearing about her progress and looking at all her lovely work. She's getting on very, very well at school. I am super proud of her.

Charlie really knuckled down and has settled into year 7 now. He's also got use to the homework, he still struggles sometimes but overall, he's much more settled. It helps having his big brother there too!

Harry's also getting on well and has been enjoying lots of sports and what not. I'm really proud of them both!
I'm not really sure we actually got very much of our bucket list ticked off this month but that's ok! I'm sure I'll do better in December.

The last weekend of November. Ellie and I were both poorly. It's to be expected this time of year though. Still sucks though. Thankfully, the boys haven't caught it. Touch wood. 


We've had some lovely things to review, lots of lovely festive arts and crafts items and we love the BB-8 and Thunderbird inflatable remote controls, they're super fun!

Other things I've loved this month include, The Walking Dead, reading (You can read my monthly reading wrap up here) I think my favourite book last month was Behind Closed Doors by B.A Paris. I've also started working out towards the end of the month! In hope to loose a few pounds before Christmas - Wish me luck!

I've also been organising for Christmas and planning. I still have A LOT of presents to buy but I am getting there slowly. We have lots of exciting things coming up in December. Ellie has a nativity play (although I don't think she's got any lines to say or anything) and a school carol service, school trips and Christmas jumper days. I think the boys have there school Christmas activities, too! And of course Christmas! We are super excited! I can't wait to put the tree up, hehe.

How was November for you?

Sarah xXx

I haven't blogged for ten days!! That's a long time for me to go without blogging.
You see, I've not been very well. I suffer with a rare brain disease called intracranial idiopathic hypertension. It's where the pressure/fluid around my brain builds up and causes horrendous, chronic headaches and pain in my head and eyes. My vision goes all blurry when it flares up and makes very, very sick. The left side of my body goes numb and I suffer horrendously with pins and needles, right up my arms and legs. That could be a side effect from the meds though. It also effects my ears, like my ears feel blocked when the IIH flares up. The symptoms are similar to those of a brain tumor. In fact, when I first started suffering with headaches, that is what the doctors thought it was. Thankfully it isn't a brain tumor and I am SO grateful for that. (See it could be so much worse!) When the IIH flares up, I literally can not do anything. It's horrible. It is so hard to put into words how poorly I was, it's hard to explain. There is no cure. I know that I need another lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to drain the extra fluid from around my brain, I need my doctor to contact the neurologist and refer me. Again. I've suffered with this since 2010, which is when I was diagnosed. I don't want to go on about it but I knew I needed to mention it because I haven't been blogging for the above reason.
My head isn't as bad now, although I always have a constant headache and dull ache behind my eyes, it has calmed down compared to what it was like. It can flare up at anytime without warning which makes it hard to plan things. Anxiety has been pretty bad too. But that's a whole other story and I don't want to go into it now. Thinking about it makes me even more anxious!


I'd like to be able to say we had a good half term. Except, I was ill for 85% of it. The kids had fun though, we just hung out at home, playing board games, watching movies and netflix and what not. They did go to the park with there friends and played out the front on there scooters and bikes. My family visisted and they had a fab Easter and got soooo many Easter eggs! We had a couple of afternoons with lovely warm weather which we spent in the garden (When my headache wasn't too bad). They've now all settled back into the school routine and my head is slowly getting better. I'm glad we managed to make the most of the weather and get out before I was poorly. We enjoyed a really lovely spring walk on Good Friday.


I also had my twelve month house check (because this house was a new build when I moved in, the builders had to come back to check all was well) which went perfectly, I can finally start decorating and hang pictures and put shelves up! I am SO excited about that! I need to start saving. I invested in a steam mop and oh my goodness, how did I ever cope without one? It's the best thing ever, haha.

Charlie got into the high school, I had to appeal but thankfully a space become available so I no longer need to appeal! That's a HUGE relief. He is super excited! Not so excited for the SATS exams that are coming up though... I know he'll do his absolute best and I'm already very proud!
The boys both have new, smart hair cuts, there hair grows SO fast! It'll need cutting again in a couple of weeks. Thankfully we have a barbers bear by who are very, very good! Just as well because I can not cut hair, haha.


Ellie has signed up for choir which I am certain she will enjoy. I received a letter about Ellie's dental referral, I need to schedule that appointment tomorrow.

Harry is doing great at school. There's not much to report really. Harry has some kind of something wrong with his finger and finger nail so I need to make him an appointment for that. It looks quite painful. No idea what he's done, he doesn't know either. Personally I think it's where he's been biting his nails! I tell him not to but it's a habit that is hard to break. We're working on that. If anyone has any tips on how to stop biting nails, I'm all ears :) 

Well, this is a pretty good summary of what's been going on. I am hoping I can catch up on blogging this week, depending on how I feel.

What have you been up to lately? I hope you're all well and had a great Easter!

Sarah xXx

I''ve had a headache pretty much all weekend. Actually since Friday morning. It's driving me crazy. Although, I think I do deal with the headaches a lot better than I did a year ago. I don't think people realise how hard it is to sometimes "just get on with it", at least not when the headache is REALLY bad! At least it hasn't been *that* bad, thankfully *touch wood*. It is a bearable dull ache behind my eyes (it's hard to explain), just annoying more than anything. Especially when I feel constantly sick with it sometimes, ugh. I have an appointment next month with the eye consultant. I wonder if the pressure behind my eyes has built up again? I really hope not. Especially right on top of Christmas. know a lot of it is because I find it hard to sleep at night. I suffer with insomnia I guess. I'll be mentioning all of this to my GP when I see him next. Am lucky to have a really good G.P. I also need to start eating better again. Last time I quit eating junk food for a few weeks, I felt SO much better in myself! It's amazing that changing something as small as that can really make a difference.

Speaking of Christmas, I am really hoping to start my Christmas shopping this week.. just a few small presents for the kids maybe. I'm going to sit down and write a list tomorrow. A list of what I need to get. Which is basically everything. I am so unorganised and money has been really tight. However, I am budgeting better now. And I have been entering competitions like a crazy woman lol, you know, to help out with Xmas. Anything I win would be a bonus! :-)

I am really looking forward to Ellie's parents evening this week at some point. I can't wait to hear about her progress. I know she's made A LOT of progress because she's always writing short stories and her spelling has really improved. The boys parents evening was a few weeks ago and both boys are doing great! I am very proud of them. All the kids got a certificate last term for 100% attendance! Yay! Harry got a certificate for being helpful and Charlie got one for working really hard! Ellie also got one for working hard, too! I am ever so proud of them all.I love them so, so much.

Well this was a bit of a random update, lol.

Sarah xXx

I know I'm late posting my R2BC this week.. Yesterday was a bit of a blah day for me. Won't go into details, I just didn't feel like blogging at all. 
I'll try and think of three reasons to be cheerful but I've had a headache the past two days and I had an neurologist appt yesterday, she wants to wait and see what the eye consultant at my next appointment which is in a few weeks. I'll just have to bare this stupid headache, although it is not as bad as yesterday so that is at least something.

1) The weather has been SO nice (apart from today - rain!) and we have really been enjoying the sunshine! It's been like summer, I've even caught the sun a little and gone brown. The sunshine really cheers me up. It also saves me money because I don't have to put the heating on. Yay! 
2) The kids are doing wonderfully at school! They're really enjoying the summer term so far..  I did write a post a few days ago here. 
3) It's finally Friday! Yay! Hoping for a relaxing weekend... 

I hope you all have a good weekend. 

Sarah xXx 

Gosh, I can never think of witty titles so today I'm using a favourite quote of mine. 
This might be a little bit of a random post. It just feels like ages since I have really updated on us. I really want to get back into blogging about my family and every day life. Sometimes I get so caught up in the every day things that I don't get a chance to write the things I want and should write about. I know I join in the blog hops when I can but it's not the same as blogging about family life - our every day life! 

Things here are going great! The kids and I have settled back into routine after the Easter holidays. We had a fab time over the Easter hols. I was a little worried it'd take forever to get back into routine but it hasn't, thankfully. 
Charlie wants to do an after school club but can't decide which one. He did football last year but I think he wants to try something different, he's leaning towards arts and crafts which is also homework club, too. Harry wants to get back into football club, he's my sporty child, anything to do with sport and he's well away. Bless him. Both the boys are doing great at school. Both have had certificates lately for maths/attendance and what not. Need to laminate, I might do those before I go to bed. I love to keep all there certificates which they have worked really hard to achieve. I'll display them on the fridge for a while and then put them in folders when they receive new ones, hehe. 
Ellie is doing fab, too! She's really settled back into school well after the Easter hols. She LOVES school. She's like a sponge, she absorbs everything and learns SO fast! She's started getting 'homework' from school now, bless her. She gets so excited and feels ever so grown up that she has to do homework. Wish my boys had her enthusiasm, lol. 

We planted some seeds last week! Some are starting to come out! Yay! Although my tomatoes really haven't done much =/ At least the marigolds (Ellies choice!) are growing well (I think the kiddos dropped too many seeds into the pot LOL, that's ok though easy sorted). I'll be re potting them they get a little bigger. The kiddos were chuffed when they saw that they were growing. Yay! Can't wait to plant them in the garden. I'm got some more seeds to plant this week, too! Im sure the kids will love to get digging into those, maybe tomorrow after school? We'll see. 


Lots of things to do before the summer holidays house wise. I really NEED to get this house in order. I've started saving up for my laminate flooring for the front room. I've seen the curtains I would like (that reminds me, must measure the window!) I also need to go thru and sort out some junk in the under the stairs cupboard, it seems to be my new hoarding space. Please tell me I am not the only one who has a 'junk cupboard' lol. I've also decided to put all my DVDs into a folder, the bookcase that holds all my books and DVDs takes up a lot of space and makes the front room look dark. I love my books and DVDs but I just.. I need the space! It's a shame to throw the cases away/put them on freecycle but am all about saving space as this house isn't very big. The books can go on a bookcase in my room (a smaller one) and some can go up in the loft, I can not bare to part with my books under any circumstances, lol.  There's a lot more that needs to be done but honestly, I'll be here all night telling you all.. and I'm sure you're bored already =p 

I've got an Neurologist appointment this week. Guess we'll find out if the pressure/fluid has built up around my brain again. I have been experiencing headaches but they could be (and have been in the past) worse. I really hope and pray I don't have to have another lumbar puncture, again. Not a nice experience at all. 

Anyway I have a few things to do before bed. Oh and I need to check instagram, haha, I am so addicted, lol.
 TTFN 

Sarah xXx 

 I hope this makes sense, it's diffcult to explain and put into words.

Idiopathic Intacranial Hypertension (IIH) also known as, Benign Intacranial Hypertension or Pseudotumor. Is a rare brain disease, every 1 or 2 people in 100,000 people suffer form this rare disease. I am one of those people. The pressure around the brain builds up and causes headaches, nausea/vomiting, tingling/pins and needles, pulsatile tinnitus (buzzing in the ears, which happens constantly to me!), vision loss/double vision or blurred vision. The left side of my body also goes numb sometimes and feels weak. Neck ache is another symptom. Click here for more info on Idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

(Can I just say, usually when I am poorly, I just get on with it, I don't go to the doctors unless I HAVE to! I've never suffered with headaches or any other serious illness prior to this. So please bare this in mind) 

I started to suffer extremely intense headaches in 2010, I was twenty five years old. I kept going to my doctor and the out of hours surgery/emergency doctor but they put it down to diet/stress/lack of sleep and just generally feeling run down. I KNEW it was more than that but no one would listen. In September 2010, about two months after the headaches started (maybe even a little longer) I started suffering with blurred vision, I went to A&E only to be told "This is not a doctor surgery, you can not come here with a headache" I knew it was much, much more than "just a headache". That happened twice. At this point I was vomiting and constantly had a very bad headache (I can't even explain the pain. It was worse than childbirth). In October I went to the opticians as I needed someone to see that there was indeed something wrong, I knew I didn't need glasses. I was in there a long time. I couldn't complete the field test, imagine seeing double the amount of dots, along with black dots! It made me feel sick and ill. Eventually he looked in my eyes with all different lenses, ummed and ahhed.. A LOT. He then proceeded to tell me that there was something very wrong because he couldn't see behind my eyes. He couldn't see anything except everything was really swollen. He gave me a referral letter to my GP. I didn't have an appointment. I went straight there, I couldn't see a darn thing, good job it was only five mins walk! I handed the letter to reception and my GP called me straight thru. He took one look at me and knew I was very ill. I explained thru my tears that I was really scared, I couldn't see properly, I felt incredibly sick like I was going to pass out. He told me to read the wall chart. I couldn't read it. I couldn't even look up because hte pain in my head was SO bad. He had me lay down and gave me an injection to stop me puking (it didn't work!) He then said I needed to go to the hospital right there and then, I told him I'd wait for my mum to collect me from the surgery as it wasn't as simple as that. I had to collect my kids from school! My daughter was asleep in her stroller (thank fully ASLEEP!) I called my best friend who was there within five mins. I vomited  thank fully in one of those sick bowls (they look like hats, lol!) and couldn't stop. 

 My doctor had diagnosed me with Papilledema (eye condition), I asked what the chances of a brain tumor, I knew I had most symptoms of one. He didn't want to tell me but I could tell by the look in his face. I was so frightened. Eventually my mum came and we went and collected the kids and off to the hospital we went. With me puking some more. My mums partner looked after the kids. After a lot of waiting around, tests (blood tests, eye tests etc) I was eventually admitted to hospital. I had a CAT scan, that came back all clear. They gave me pain killers, nothing worked. Eventually I had oramorph (morphine in medicine form). That worked! Oh my goodness, did that stuff work! I was pain free for a while for the first time in MONTHS. I still felt poorly though. All the blood tests came back fine. I still couldn't see properly.. my vision loss/blurred and double vision lasted weeks. After a couple of weeks of being in hospital and all tests kept coming back fine. Finally a neurologist came and saw me up on the ward, she told me I needed an MRI scan. The results of that were clear of tumors, thank goodness! However, I had a hemorrhage on my brain which had caused all my optic nerves and everything swell. They realised then that I had  this rare brain disease called Idiopathic intracranial hypertension. It wasn't very well explained to me, just that it was rare and not many people suffered from it. They gave me medication Acetazolamide/diamox (I hate the side affects from these tablets!) to control the pressure on my brain and I had to have a Lumbar Puncture/Spinal tap (If you don't know what that it, I'll let  you google it as some images can be quite graphic) to drain the pressure/fluid form around my brain. They explained that there isn't any cure and they couldn't figure out the reason why it had happened to me because it usually happens to people who are pregnant (usually first trimester , on the contraceptive pill or who are overweight/obese. I didn't fit ANY of those categories. Although my neurologist told me to lose weight, even though I weighed around 8.5 stone (at the most!) When they did the LP they couldn't measure how much pressure was around my brain because the amount there was well over 100 - off the scale! The LP was not the best experience.. In fact it was awful! I was sent home after a day or so. I felt a bit better. The headache wasn't as bad. They sent me home with my medication as well as Co codamol. The doctors thought that it was a one off occurrence and unlikely to happen again because I don't fit any of the "causes" that cause IIH. 

They couldn't have been more wrong. 

Every six months until Feb 2012 I had a Lumbar puncture as the pressure had built up. The last LP did me more harm than good. I ended up being rushed to hospital a few days after because the pain in my head was so bad. That was apparently a LOW pressure headache! EEK! I was only in there just under 48 hours, I was prescribed stronger pain killers "Naproxen" and I also have Nortriptyline. (and currently trying Gabapentin. They help a little. (And FYI: I did take my neurologist's advice and lose weight.. despite the fact I didn't need to. And no, it didn't make any difference. Although, it DOES affect everyone differently. You should always take your doctors/specialist's advice! Always.) I've also tried other medication such as topiramate. I still suffer with bad vision and headaches - I find it hard to judge the distance between two objects. I find it hard crossing the road because I can;t tell how far away the car is that's coming towards me and sometimes I can't even tell if it's moving or parked there! I can't see indicators until they are right on top of me! Good job I have a good support system and people to help me, otherwise I don't know what I would do. I lose my balance a lot - I fall up the kerb or the stairs (some would say clumsy!) Sometimes I bang into door frames or I'll put a glass down on the side and completely miss. Some days though, I'm fine. 

 Just lately though I have really been suffering bad headaches daily, the numbness in the left side of my body is worse than it was a couple of months ago, the tingling/pins and needles is worse than ever and the ringing in my ears is constant! I know that the time is coming where I need another lumbar puncture, I can feel the pressure building up... I can't explain it in words exactly but if you suffer from this then you may understand what I mean. My vision isn't THAT bad but it's been a lot better! I know that I'll need another lumbar puncture in the very near future, I do know it'll help but I am petrified of ending up being admitted to hospital like this time last year.. I know though no matter what, a lumbar puncture in the long run is the only option for me. I also have to have regular blood tests to check my potassium level. 
I've always suffered with bad anxiety (and depression in the past) but now I have IIH it seems the anxiety is even worse. I think the IIH makes me anxious because I never know how I am going to feel. I'm not allowed to take any medication for anxiety, they can make IIH worse. 
I have regular eye tests and see eye specialists, my eyes have to be monitored very closely as if my brain hemorrhages to that extent again I may lose my vision completely. 

I felt totally on my own until I discovered the IIH foundation. It's helped knowing I am not alone and there are people out there who DO understand what I suffer with on (mostly) a daily basis.

Some people may have a shunt instead of regular Lumbar Punctures. I don't know if I'll ever have a shunt or not. 
Medication does help control it. I'm thankful for the NHS otherwise it'd cost me a fortune for all the medication and treatments I need. I'm also grateful for G.P and Neurologist, they are both very supportive and of course I am so, so thankful for all my family and friends that help me when I need it. I do have a really good support system, I'm really lucky for that! 
I find that laying totally flat in a dark room, with something cold on more forehead helps. 

Some people have asked me in the past, that if I was diagnosed sooner would I still suffer with IIH? The answer is more than likely, yes. If the doctors and nurses that told me it was just stress/diet/run down had of listened to me, then no I may not have suffered as much but at the end of the day, it's a rare disease, honestly they wern't to know. I don't hold any grudges as such but I do wish they had of listened to me sooner. I know my body better than anyone. 

(Lots of handy links now)

I haven't wrote this post for attention or sympathy, I've wrote it because it's rare disease day (Please click! see how you can get involved!) on the 28th February. It's also Brain Awareness Week 11th-17th March. 
 I've wrote about my experience to raise awareness for IIH, If you would like to support/donate or if you suffer with IIH and need support, please click  here. You can also follow IIH Fdn on Twitter and Facebook. 

And to all of you out there, that suffer with IIH (and other rare diseases!). I am sorry for your pain :( You are not alone. I understand, along with everyone else who suffers with IIH. Just because some things work for me, doesn't mean they'll work for you. Always take your professionals (doctors/neurologist/specialist etc) advice! 
Feel free to contact me if you would like to share your experience or just need to have a chat I'm a fab listener and I will always support you. You can contact me here. 

Thank you if you read all of this. 

Love,
Sarah xoxox 

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Just a quick post from me. 
You can now follow me via networked blogs, the widget can be found over on the left side bar, if you would like to follow me >> 
I also created a Facebook page for my blog which can be found here. 

This weekend has been very chilled and relaxed, I've caught up on a lot of blogging and edited my blog a little/added pages etc. Also finished my seventh book for the #50books2013 book challenge, you can read my review here. 
I've got quite a busy week this week. Today I am going to blitz upstairs. Tuesday is grocery shopping day. I really want to make a start on decorating my front room, too. Maybe Wednesday? We'll see. And then the rest of the week will be filled with decorating if I do manage to start it that is! It really just depends on my headache and how I feel. I really hate this stupid rare brain disease (I'm going to try and write a post about it later!). Especially when I have so much I want to do. Anyway.. 
The kids break up on Friday for half term. Half term already?! I can't believe how fast time is going this year!! I'm looking forward to half term. I'm not sure what we're going to do yet, nothing is set in stone but ideally I would like to take the kids out, it's been ages since we've been out and done anything fun. Role on spring and summer. I can't wait for the warm weather. Winter is depressing, it's currently trying to snow, the ground is wet though so it shouldn't settle, I hope! 
Right, need to get the kiddies to school
TTFN
Sarah xx 

I'm still ill, ugh. I have a rotten cold but at least the sore throat has gone! Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow! I woke up last night at 2am with a terrible headache, seriously it wasn't good. I don't know whether it's because I'm ill or because the pressure around my brain is building up again (I suffer with idiopathic intercranial hypertension) and that I need another lumbar puncture but gosh, the pain was really bad! It's not really a pain I can describe. Thankfully the headache has stayed away all day *touch wood* & I am praying it'll stay that way. I suffer daily in one way or another (whether it be pain in my head, tingling or numbness, bad vision) and I constantly have a dull ache behind my eyes. My vision hasn't really improved but it hasn't got worse either (although I do have bad moments where it goes a bit blurry/I see white or black dots) *again, knock on wood* I'm lucky to have such great support, especially my best friend. She helps me a lot. And my fella when he is here. (Long distance relationships suck) And of course my family when I need them. And my GP is brilliant doctor and very understanding, which really helps.
Maybe one day I'll be able to go back to work!

 I am really hoping I feel better this week as I need to give my daughters bedroom a second coat of paint and get that finished. It;s SO frustrating, there's so much I want and need to go but I just haven't got the energy. If I don't update my blog, it's because I feel blah! I'm trying so hard to update to update on a regular basis. I really enjoy blogging. I wish this cold/flu thing would just go away. It's making me miserable.

I'm really sticking to my goals for this year... Re decorating and organising my home. I've thrown away and donated quite a bit of stuff so far this year. Baby toys, toys the kids don't want any more, same with clothes. Just need to sort my bedroom out. I'm really quite pleased with myself! It doesn't cost anything to organise and de-clutter! And even to give a room a lick of paint is under £15!
I've started saving up for the paint and wall paper for my front room. It won't cost a lot because I'm only wall papering the chimney breast wall so I'll only need two rolls, well probably only one but I'd like one as a spare and the paint isn't expensive, I really like the 'colours by B&Q' brand. I've seen the curtains I like and they aren't that expensive either. Wish I had a sewing machine, I could make my own!! One day I WILL own a sewing machine. I already have the gloss for the skirting boards/door frames (thanks to my granddad who had a tin he didn't need!) and I have plenty of white paint that my granddad also gave me! Gotta love my granddad, hehe.

]I have a post still in draft about the kids progress but I shall post that in the week or the weekend maybe.

Well I'll end this here as I really need to go to bed as it's past midnight! Eek! I had a nap today because I felt so rough. I'm starting to feel tired now though.

Sarah xXx

Wow, I just gave my blog a makeover, thanks to my friend Mama Owl for the banner etc and I finally have my own button. I can not thank Julie enough!! I still need to add a view things, links & sort the background out. One of my goals this year is to blog more, I also would love to do more reviews, I really enjoy writing reviews.

While we're on the subject of goals, with it being a new year here are my goals for this year:

• Blog more. I love blogging, sometimes though, I get lazy and think that I have nothing to really "say", although there is always something I could blog about! 
• I really want to redecorate the front room and sort the kids rooms out. I need to this in order to help me with my next goal (more on this in a moment). I know that money is always tight but I have so many cheaper ideas (thanks pinterest!) that it really IS doable. 
• To be more organised - Yes. I am very unorganised  If I can get this house re decorated and some more storage space (mainly the kids rooms), then I know I *can* and *will* be more organised! 
• To budget better. I did this for most of the year last year (up until around September, when I started the Christmas shopping) I did really well with budgeting, I really want to get back into the swing of things. 
• To lose a little weight/tone up + Eat more healthy I was doing well with this too. I lost around 8lbs before Christmas... then the holiday season kicked in and I put the weight back on. Not saying I'm fat because I'm not... I am quite a small person, probably around 9ish stone but I look 4 months pregnant. (Too many chocolates and yummy deserts over the festive season) So perhaps just lose a few lbs and tone up! Cutting out the fizzy drinks again would really help! I'd feel much more confident in myself and i'd fit perfectly back into size 8 again! Which is about right for my frame and height. I'm going to get back into making all my own meals again. I slacked a little on this last year, I did have rather a lot going on though. Got a recipe you'd like to share with me? Let me know. =] 
• Read more! I love to read, I really want to participate in the 50 books challenge. (book suggestions are welcome!) I will be writing a post on this and linking up sometime next week, I need to decide which books I'd like to read :) 
• Be more positive. I am WAY more positive than I was this time last year! Sometimes my anxiety gets the better of me, I need to beat that! 
• MOTIVATION - Stay motivated! 
• Take more photos (Because I got a new Nikon camera for Christmas, omdz! I love it!)

So those are my goals for this year. I know they might seem a bit high and a bit much but I know I can achieve them all if I put my mind to it! It's just a case of staying motivated to be honest. I can do it though! Also hoping to see some improvement with my brain condition (Idiopathic intracranial hypertension). Although my headaches haven't been as bad the past month or so, sometimes I do end up having to lay down. Also have bad days with my eyes, where the light hurts my eyes or my vision goes a little blurred/out of focus. I'm going to keep a proper log of that this year, too.
I have a few ideas on day trips for the kids, low cost, too. I really need to start planning those. I live right by the seaside, 2 mins on a bus... We need to go to the beach more this summer. And swimming, family tickets are cheap on certain days! I also live right by the park where they have AstroTurf and basketball courts, the kids love those! And a nature trail track.. I really slacked last year but this year is going to be different.

What are your goals for 2013?
I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Sarah xXx

Just a quick post to say I am still here & I haven't forgotten about my blog. It's been one busy week this week!

I've been really tired this week, I'm sure it's something to do with my brain condition, although this cold weather probably doesn't help. I have SO much to do. Seriously. I am going to do some housework tonight when all the kids are tucked up in the land of nod. Two down and one to go, LOL.
The boys don't have school tomorrow as it's closed for some reason. My little girl has school though because she goes to an infant school. Friday the kids all have Pyjama day for Children In Need. They're SO excited about going to school in there PJ's, dressing gowns and taking in there teddy bears, aww.  What are you or/and your children doing for children in need? I'd love to hear what you're doing (if you're taking part). Children in need is such a good cause and it's fun to join in and raise money, too.

I've got a headache, this was a bit of a random post lol.

Sarah xXx

We've had a fair bit of rain the past few days, not as much as some places though.

ARGH! I don't know WHAT has gotten into my kids tonight! Actually, I do KNOW... lack of sleep. Up at 5:30am. They're all grumpy and whingey. Roll on bedtime lol.
My eldest has been playing out the front with his friends, just in the front garden playing football but he keeps in and out, every 2 seconds :/ KIDS!!!!
Anyhoo, things here have been pretty boring the same as always, nothing overly exciting going on. I am thinking about Christmas and really want to make start. The kids all want new bikes for Xmas so I have been pricing those up. I've also been busy doing the usual housework and laundry, nothing new or exciting lol.

My eldest boy has a school trip this Friday. He's so excited. I won't say where he's going just yet though, lol. Charlie is doing wonderfully at school although he needs a bit of extra help with his reading. Ellie is going great, too! Her first school photo next week!! YAY! I am going to have one of the kids all taken together.. We have to be at the school for 8am though. Hmm, that should be an adventure lol.

I've been having some really nasty headaches again and I know I need to see the neurologist, I will be speaking to my GP this week to see if he can hurry a neuro appointment along a bit faster than if I call. The weight time is around three months, I need an appt sooner than that but I understand there are people more priority to me. I have an eye consultant appointment at the end of the month, too. I guess the consultant will want to measure the pressure behind my eyes. We'll see. I am trying to stay positive about not needing another lumbar puncture. I have also been resting a lot while the kids have been at school, rest helps. It's nice to have some *me* time but gosh, I do really miss the kids when they are at school.

Yup, it's taken me two hours to get this far because I keep getting interrupted  I should really blog when the kids are at school or in bed, lol. The two little ones have just gone up to bed, they are exhausted. I think they'll be asleep within seconds. I think I may have a nice hot bubble bath and an early night *yawns* ahuh, early night sounds A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

Sarah xXx

P.s Almost forgot.. go checkout This page HERE apparently you can win an iPhone 5, follow the steps on the RaffleCopter =]

Thanks to everyone who wished Ellie happy birthday! She had a fab weekend. On Saturday we tok her out to Colchester castle (in north Essex!) We went on the train to Colchester Castle, looked around inside, which is now a museum... lots of fascinating things, got a chippy lunch and ate in the park! Ellie went on the playground for a bit, she LOVED it. We had a fab day and Ellie really enjoyed it. There were so many squirrels, so cute! The gardens in the castle park are beautiful.. and the pond/lake.. the trees are changing colour too. Such a beautiful time of year. Such fun. (I'll write about this in more detail sometime during the week when I am less sleepy lol)



Sunday was her actual birthday, she got soooo many presents. A new dolls pram, a Moshi monster scooter, Moshi monster moshling figures, Moshi monster notepad, pen and stationary set, colouring and activity books, playdough, chalk for outside (OoOo excited to draw a hop scotch and teach Ellie how to play, hehe), money, sweets, glowing tinkerbell, some clothes, my little ponies... and I think that's it.. although probably, missing a few lol. We had a small tea party in the afternoon, lots of balloons and food and birthday cake of course :D It was really lovely. Ellie was shattered by the end of the day, lol. The boys really enjoyed her tea party too!! (I will be sharing pics soon so please look out for those)

I am soooo sleepy tonight. I've had a headache for two days.. darn IIH. I have an appointment Thursday, my GP will probably refer me back to the neurologist, again. *sigh*.  Right I'm going to go, I am sooooooo very sleepy tonight.

Sarah xXx