Worrying Sunday in A&E

What started off as a lovely, relaxing Sunday ended in a worrying afternoon sat in A&E with hubby!
We were busying around as we usually do on a Sunday. I usually bake while hubby gets some gardening done and yesterday started off just like that.
Hubby's job yesterday was to trim the hedge in the garden. To reach the top of the hedge he was using my Dad's step ladders.
All of a sudden I could hear Joseph scream and cry so I rushed to the door expecting to see Joseph with a bump or a graze.
But no. It was hubby!
He had his t-shirt held up to his eye and I could see that it was covered in blood! He rushed past me and went straight up to the bathroom. I ran after him asking him what he had done.
I followed him into the bathroom as he was starting to wash his eye and there was blood everywhere. When he finally let me have a look I saw that he had a huge, deep gash under his eye. After quizzing him what had happened, I discovered that the platform had given way and he fell through. Joseph was upset because he had seen him fall and had seen him bleeding. Bless him, he was so upset and worried.
Part of me breathed a sigh of relief as I had immediately thought the worse, I thought that he had got something actually his eye. I could see that it was deep so I told him that we would should take a ride to A&E as he'd need a stitch in it. As soon as I had said that hubby blew his nose to get rid of some blood and as he did his eye blew up like a balloon!
Arrrrr!
What caused that!
Normally I am not good with blood and my tummy turns circles. Yesterday I just went into auto pilot. Got the kids sorted to go to my Mums, calmed Joseph down and got ready to go.
We arrived at A&E, got booked in and the wait began.
In total we were there for nearly 6 hours!
Checked by the triage nurse, sent to wait.
Checked by the doctor, sent to wait.
Went for an x-ray, sent back to wait.
After what seemed like an eternity of waiting the doctor came to see us and we were told that hubby had fractured his cheek bone and had an open fracture. The swelling that occurred after he had blown his nose was in fact blood which had caused a haematoma under his eye. This haematoma had also cause blood to accumulate on his eye ball, which as hubby says "looks freaky!". We now had to wait to see if the specialist in another hospital was happy for him to come home with antibiotics and pain killers or if he wanted him to be transferred to the other hospital which is a good 45 minutes away. So back to waiting it was!
Thankfully the reply that we got was what we were praying for. Hubby could come home with medication.
When we got home the children were so tired as it was way past their bedtime but they were doing so well. We got them both to bed and then gave Joseph plenty of love and reassured him that his Dad was going to be ok.
We need to go back for a check up on Tuesday which should hopefully be a straight forward appointment.
This week I am not only Mum and housewife, but I am also adding nurse to my repertoire!
Hubby has woken up this morning with more swelling around his face as the bruising is coming out. He also has various bruises down his side. He is also trying to cope seeing with the one eye as he is unable to see properly due to the swelling and haematoma. As he is struggling to chew food I have made a yummy smelling "make you feel better" soup.
This is going to be a busy week so hopefully after all of my hard work I will be rewarded with a much deserved lie in at the weekend!
Hint, hint!!!

Silent Sunday

Great Bloggers Bake Off - Week 3 Yummy Berry Trifle

This weeks Great Bloggers Bake Off is based on desserts!
Yummy!
Following on from Great British Bake Off the options this week were:

*Trifles
*Floating Islands
*Petits Fours

This was an easy decision for me.
I really did not like the look or sound of the Floating Islands (sorry) and I was not confident that I would have the time to create fantastic petits fours. So that has left me with trifle!
I love a good trifle but I have never made one, so this would be a great challenge for me, which I love!
I trawled through my cook books looking for some inspiration and little bit of direction as this is a completely new dish for me.
In the end I have combined a couple of recipes and added a twist of my own along the way.
Here, is the end result.

Yummy Berry Trifle

Sponge Fingers

3 medium eggs at room temperature, separated
75g caster sugar
1/4 tspn vanilla paste
75g plain flour
Icing sugar for dusting

Heat oven to 180C, gas mark 4, 350F
1: Whisk up the egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff, I do hold the bowl upside down to be sure but do it gradually just in case they are not quite stiff enough!
2: Gradually add half of the caster sugar and whisk until stiff and glossy, again hold the bowl upside down to be sure. Set to one side
3: Put the egg yolks into another bowl, add the rest of the caster sugar and the vanilla paste. Whisk with an electric mixer until light and mousse like
4: Sift in the flour and gently mix with a metal spoon
5: Gently fold in half of the egg whites, try to do this using the fewest movements as possible, continue to add the rest of the whites, trying to keep the mixture stiff
6: Spoon the mixture into a large piping bag and pipe fingers onto a baking tray lined with grease proof paper. I needed to use two baking trays
7: Bake for approximately 10 - 15 minutes or until lightly browned
8: Leave to cool
9: I made these the day before and stored overnight in an air tight container

Custard

4 egg yolks
1 heaped tbspn caster sugar
1 tbspn corn flour
350ml full fat milk
1 vanilla pod, cut in half and seeded

1: Mix the egg yolks, caster sugar and corn flour together until smooth
2: Put the milk into a saucepan, cut the vanilla pod in half, lengthwise, scrape the seeds into the milk and place the vanilla pod in the milk
3: Heat gently until just below boiling point and then remove from the heat
4: Take out the vanilla pod
5: Gradually add the egg yolk mix and then return to the heat

 

 

6 Heat on a low - medium heat continuously stirring until thickened. Do not boil!
7: Pour into a bowl and cover with cling film and leave to completely cool



 

Fruit Filling

250g blueberries

150g Blackberries or Brambles

300g Strawberries, halved

3 tbspn caster sugar

1: Mix all of the berries together and split between two bowls

2: In one bowl sprinkle the caster sugar and lightly mash

3: Cover until ready to use

 



 

Cream Topping

220g mascarpone

220mls double cream

 

1: Whip the two creams together until thick

 

Making the Trifle

 

25mls Elderflower cordial

125mls White wine

 

1: Place the sponge fingers into a glass bowl

 

 

2: Mix the elderflower cordial and white wine together and pour over the sponge fingers and leave to soak in

3: Mix the whole fruit and the mashed fruit together and place on top of the sponge fingers

4: Next spoon on the custard, followed by the cream and mascarpone

5: Sprinkle over some chopped hazel nuts and decorate with strawberries

6: Place in the fridge until ready to serve

 

 

Enjoy x

 



 

This is my recipe for Great Bloggers Bake Off week 3 hosted by

 



http://www.thecrazykitchen.co.uk/p/the-great-bloggers-bake-off.html

http://www.mummymishaps.co.uk/category/gbbo

 

 



Arrr!! Boys!!

What is it with boys and mess?
Having to rant at Joseph is not my idea of a great start to the weekend. Last week I spent what felt like an eternity cleaning up Joseph's room. I threw away all the tut that he hoards and gave it a good thorough clear out.
Yesterday, he got sent home from school sick so he spent the day in his room resting, or so I thought.
This morning I went into his room and it looked like a whirl wind had whipped through his room scattering everything everywhere!
There were toys strewn on the floor, his bin was on its side, an empty smoothy carton was on the floor, it was a disaster zone!
Then we saw the bathroom mirror, it had loads of little white finger marks running down it, doors left open, towels on the floor, the whirl wind that is Joseph had also struck the bathroom.
Then I lost it!
I shouted him upstairs and demanded to know what had happened. All I got was a shrug and "I don't know"
Arrr!!!! Is he becoming a teenage early? All that was missing was the Kevin style "its so unfair!!!!'
How can he not know what happened?
He created this trail of destruction.
After my out burst he did tidy up his bedroom. I sorted the bathroom and he is under instructions to clear away all his toys that are outside too!
To try and combat this we are going back to the reward chart strategy. This has always worked a treat with Joseph!
We put on what his jobs are for the week and then every evening before bed, we check if they have  been done and if they are he gets a tick if not, its a cross. He then needs to have earned a certain number of ticks to get his pocket money. So fingers crossed we will have a lovely tidy room this week.
This is probably all of my fault for always running around after him. But before the twins arrived I had more time to and he was younger. I now feel that Joseph is at an age that he needs to have more responsibility and being responsible for the upkeep of his room is not too much to ask.
Boys will be boys and I am sure that today will not be the last time that we go over this. It is all part of growing up and I have to admit that my baby certainly is growing up!

Gumigem's New Bubba Bag - Review

When I first heard about Gumigem's new idea I thought
"What a great idea!".
When we were asked to give it a test run I was more than excited! Being a huge Gumigem fan this was a dream to test and review!
The latest teething item from Gumigem is the Bubba Bag!
The Bubba Bag is a washable, neoprene bag containing a purse, mobile phone, credit card and car keys. All of the teething toys are made from the same non toxic silicone that is used to make the Gumigem teething jewellery.

 

As all parents will know, babies and toddlers are constantly putting things on their mouths. My twins particularly like my mobile telephone, keys and remote control. So when I heard that Gumigem were making teething toys designed around some of these everyday items I knew that they would be a success.
As soon as I gave the twins the bags they grabbed them and toddled off to explore its contents.

 

 

This lovely, soft, neat little bag sits open when placed on the floor which makes exploring its contents simple. Isabella loves walking around carrying the bag and placing toys in and out of it. Both twins will sit and gently place the toys in and out of the bag, stopping for a good nag on them, then continuing! The Bubba Bag is a multi functional toy. It not only holds the teething toys but is also a great toy accessory. Isabella has even found that she can wear it as a hat!

 

Having two teething toddlers means that they are always wanting to chew items. They have found that the car keys are ideal to get to those hard to reach molars that are coming through. The purse has lovely little bobbly bit on the top which they are always nibbling on. The credit card and mobile phone are nice and slim and we have found that they are perfect for Isabella to chew on where she has got a canine tooth trying to cut through.

 

The mobile telephone is not only a great toy to chew on but has also provides make believe play for the twins. Isabella has had full blown telephone conversations with her grandparents! While Taylor is just happy to chew and sooth is sore gums.

 

All of the toys have a little slit which can be used to attach onto a dummy holder to prevent them being lost when out and about.

I'm sure that these bags are going to be a firm favourite way beyond teething.

Priced at £19.99 plus delivery this makes the Bubba Bag an excellent value for money toy.

The majority of the teething toys that we have bought in the past have become too "babyish" and the twins have quickly snubbed them. However these are so much more than your regular teething toys.

The Gumigem Bubba Bag will grow with your child. It is great for small babies when they start to teeth as the toys are light weight and easy to hold. As your child grows and develops the toys go from being just teething toys to being toys that encourage imaginative play, hand and eye co-ordination and develop fine motor skills.

All toys carry the CE mark and everything is suitable from 0 months except the keys which are from 10 months.

These toys get a huge thumbs up from all of us and I am intrigued and excited to see what Gumigem think of next!

Chewy remote controls?

Chewy cars?

Chewy dolls?

The possibilities are endless!

 

Visit http://www.gumigem.co.uk/ourshop/ for the Bubba Bag and their fantastic range of teething jewellery.

 

Disclaimer: The views in this post are my honest opinions. Gumigem have not had any influence on this post. We did recieve a Bubba Bag for each of the twins to test.

 

Also posted on:

 

 

http://www.crazywithtwins.com/pr-advertising-reviews/family-product-of-the-week/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.crazywithtwins.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/FPOTW.jpg" alt="Family Product of The Week" style="border:none;" />

 





Rollercoaster of Emotions

I am quickly discovering that grief is a rollercoaster of emotions.
Yesterday, I had a good day, today I have crashed back down again.
Since Joseph has returned to school I have thrown myself back into our routine. This has really helped to distract my mind from what is going on. Yesterday I kept myself busy around the house and in the garden so I didn't have time to sit and dwell.
I went to bed last night feeling that it may be getting easier.
Then this morning I came crashing down with a bang.
The notification was in the local paper. Reading it broke my heart and the tears returned and stayed for the day. I think that reading it in print made me realise that it has actually happened.
We have lost him.
We have this huge gap in our family that will not be filled.
At the moment my emotions are going up and down at such a rate the only way to describe them is as a rollercoaster. It is a ride that I am on, I wish that I was not on it, but I am and I am stuck on it until I deal with my grief. I honestly don't think that I will begin to recover until we have said our final goodbyes. This is a day that fills me with dread. It is going to be such a hard day and I do not know how I am going to cope. I do know that I will be a mess and I will rely on my hubby to give me the strength to walk in and give him the send off that he would have wanted us to. I will struggle because I am not ready to say that final goodbye.
I am selfish.
I wanted more time, wanted to make more memories, wanted to have one more special family Christmas together and I feel cheated that we won't get that. No matter how much I want that, it is the one thing we will never have and that is something I need to learn to accept.
My grandad would not want me to feel like this, he would wag his finger at me and tell me to look at my family and live our lives to the full, be happy, smile, laugh, and create happy memories for the children.
Grandad, I promise you I will do this and I will continue to make you proud.