Katies Health : Pushing Your Limits

Auntie & Niece Selfie

On 14th September I went to Essex to stay with Bethany for a week but that week turned into two weeks which I had the most amazing time but I pushed my limits in terms of my health. I didn't plan to go for two weeks so I only took enough tablets for a week with an extra few days of spare meds but I thought I would be okay without a few meds for few days but how wrong was I. Looking back I should of went to a walk in centre/hospital in Essex to get my medication but I didn't really think and was in a little bubble. When you have a chronic illness you try so hard for it not to rule your life but it does without you even realising and it is so out of your control.

I came home on 25th September and the train journey home was a nightmare and totally made me panic which I didn't have any medication for my panic attacks so I was literally alone trying to calm down with the help of texting Beth. I have no idea what I was sending to Beth or if it made any sense to be honest but she was doing her best in calming me down via imessage. Once I got some food and drink and got onto the train to Windsor I felt abit calm but the panic didn't really go. I was in pain with back, stomach cramps and as I am in a bad flare up at the moment I was constantly worrying how I was going to go to the toilet with all my bags and suitcase I had. I felt so alone, empty and scared. Alone that I didn't have any medication with me and that when it kicked in that my illnesses are controlling my life and I cannot do much about it at the moment.

With the constant toilet trips with diarrhoea, mucus and blood it makes me so exhausted, the lack of sleep due to back pains and then depression making everyday stuff feel worse than it probably is. My day to day routine is I get up early take my medication have breakfast and get ready like every other person but difference is after than I am exhausted I have no energy left and I don't really feel awake. The first week in Essex I was totally okay, I was eating the foods I am meant to be and I was sleeping good. Yes I was on toilet lots and in ALOT of pain but I was coping good with it but the second week totally knocked me for six. Beth and Tommy asked if I would like to stay for another week and I instantly said yes as I love being with my brother, Bethany and nieces. I hardly slept much in the second week, I was going from Ava's bed to the sofa to Beth parents bed (her parents were away on holiday, I was relying a lot on hot water bottles, gel for my back and what I had left of my medication but nothing was touching the pain. Two days with no medication apart from cocodamol which were the lowest dose literally broken me. When I got back home on Friday afternoon I went and took tramadol ASAP, laid in bed and took my usual meds and I felt abit better.

Basically these past two weeks was a massive learning curve. To never EVER go without my medications and ALWAYS take the box of meds instead of in the pill box. I think people just think Colitis symptoms are just belly related but its the fatigue and pain that make this illness so hard to do normal day to day stuff. Let alone the side effects from the medication I take which constantly leaves me feeling sick and lightheaded ect.

Apart from all that above, I did literally have the best time with Bethany and my Nieces. We all spent lovely quality time together. We baked cakes at 7am, took and picked up Ava from school, watched Celebrity Big Brother together, became obsessed with Desperate Housewives box set on sky, Costa/Tesco trips and much more fun. We all get on so much and constantly are laughing. The next time we get to spend together is in an months time when it is Bethany's Birthday and we are off to Harry Potter Tour woooo.

Has anyone with a Chronic Illness or Colitis got any tips on how to cope when you're away from home? Let me know :)

Love Katie x

Bella: 9 Month Update

Bella 9 Month Update

 

 

 

 

9 months old! Can you believe that she is 9 whole months! Its gone so quick it feels like just yesterday I could feel her moving around sticking her feet in my bladder. She is growing so much day by day and changing repeatedly. When she was born she was the image of her dad .... and she still is. I didn't think I was possible for her to get more like him  ha ha!

 

 

GUESS WHAT!!! we have a third word, BOT BOT. She can now say a total of three words, its madness. I have had to invest  in a playpen as she is like a rocket when she crawls. Its been a godsend especially when I need to get things around the house.

 

We are now trying to introduce finger foods which for all mums can be a worrying time as in the back of your mind you know the choking risk. I have this fear but I am telling myself over and over she has got to learn. I am trying her on milk free bread bought from Tesco and houmous and a range of fruit such as grapes strawberries banana and blueberries so I'll let you know how its gone on the next update. For now though I am pleased to say she has started eating savoury! She is also eating big bowls of breakfast every morning, she gets rather grumpy until she's had it! I haven't had her weighed for a few weeks I'm having her weighed in a few days time but last time I had her weighed though she is still small her weight was coming on nicely.

 

That's all to report this month! until next time...

 

 

LotsOfLove

Beth...xxx

Happy Hair

Happy Hair

I have a bad habit of getting bored of my hair. I used to change the colour like there was no tomorrow since the age of 16, it weren't till I trained as a hairdresser and could tell the damage it was doing that I stopped. However, I still got bored so my only option to change is the length. I have extensions pixie cuts ect.

For the past year and a half I have got used to having a short graduation, I have fell into the habit of letting it grown out then having it cut back in. Its a change and keeps me satisfied without feeling like I need to drastically change the colour.

The last time I had my hair cut was February this year when Bella was just under 2 months old. So it had been 7 months since I last had a hair cut which honestly is not good I had a lot of dead ends and it was really thick. I am doing everyone else's hair and running around after my babies all day I just forget about my hair forget I need it cut or to be honest I would just rather give my children the money. But my hair had got really bad and I decided it needed  to be done, today.

I started looking at local salons last and messaged one through social media, they told me I had to ring the salon to book which is confusing as I thought why cant she just book me in via message. So I got in touch with another local salon via another social media site and they got back to me really quickly and booked me in via inbox message which I found really good, efficient, helpful convenient and modern. This salon is called Hair by Sassy.  

I went into the salon today, I was greeted by a stylist (I hadn't got her name) who was friendly as soon as I entered and made me feel comfortable. There was no waiting around and she cracked on. She was quick working and had had the right amount of chat about her and was very polite and friendly when chatting to me. She even dealt with a touchy Ava running around the place in the right manor she didn't let her distract her. I was impressed with the keenness to help and ensure that I walked out of the salon happy.

I hate walking into salons and feeling uncomfortable and getting that really bitchy feeling. I am impressed with this salon as I didn't get this feeling at this salon, the reason why I think and is something I quite like is because there are only two stylists working there. Unlike most salons I actually got a really relaxed feeling when having my hair done. I can't believe how long this salon has been round the corner and  how long I have just passed it. Safe to say I will not be just passing it any more.

LotsOfLove
Beth...xxx

Therapy & Bestfriends

image from pinterest

 

 

Sometimes we all get caught up in our own lives and don't realise what we all need is just a chat or hug with our close ones. With my depression I see my GP every few weeks and I take my antidepressants medications each day without fail and hopefully starting CBT soon and I have the best support around me who is Bethany.

 

If I wake up feeling down, depression, not wanting to get out of my bedroom and speak to anyone I will always text Beth each morning and tell her and just by telling her how I feel helps so much. When I am at hers and feeling down, she always asks me how I am or if there is anything she can do for me and I think people forget that is mostly all we need to make us feel abit better. Just a simple text asking how you are means literally so much. Most of my family are constantly putting me down, not believing depression and never ask the simplest of all questions " How are you". Last week I was in Essex at Beth's and my Depression was not good but it was the most happiest I've felt in ages. Beth does the little things but I don't think she realises how big those little things means. For example making me toast and tea in the morning to make sure I do not have my morning medication on an empty stomach, texts me once we are all in bed to make sure I am okay, asking me throughout the day how I am and always asking if I need anything. The other night face to face Beth said to me " How is your depression going at the moment and how do you feel" and literally I was so shocked it was someone close to me asking me that and not someone in the NHS. By Beth saying that it really made me think how lucky I am that not only have I have an amazing sister in law but also how I have a best friend out of her and my brother relationship. If my Brother didn't meet Beth then I wouldn't have a best friend right now helping me and supporting me.

 

Last week with Beth we didn't do much like activity wise but we chilled, watched Celebrity Big Brother, Had chats and a cuppa, got ready and done make up together and went through lots of Desperate Housewives Box Set on sky and literally I had the best time. To me that was like a therapy session that lasted for 7 days. I think we all need to look close to home and realise we need to be asking the simplest of questions to our close ones. Do we really know how our love ones really are? I've hid depression for years and years with hardly anyone knowing or even noticing so that just proves people can be hiding so much. When I go to the doctors it is nice to be ask how you are. The GP generally wants to know how you are, how your moods are and if you feel any better and I do feel a lot better after coming out of the doctors. When you know people generally are looking out for you, have your best interests in their heart, supports you and never judges that does make whatever your going through a little bit easier. I am so thankful for Beth and I don't think she realises. If anyone close to you simply asks a simple question then maybe ask them it back or tell them how much they mean to you and how much they are helping you.

 

So thank you to my sister in law for being my therapist last week and it is only a few weeks till I see her again... for my next therapy appointment ha!!

 

Love Katie x  

Young and pregnant, follow your heart

I fell pregnant young, I know what its like the stares the sniggers the evils. People will judge and people will think they know best infact they will be pretty convinced they know best they may even convince you young pregnant person that they know better for your future than you do!

The whole negativity that comes from some people when they see this young person showing off her bump buying the babies first booties baby grows and outfits fill the area in which they are in. They can actually make this young  mum  to be feel very uncomfortable they choose to reschedule their shopping trip. While I think that getting it from the public is bad it is much worse coming off family and friends. You get family members who tend to tut at the way your destiny is going, they tut like they have never put a foot wrong. From personal experience it gave a family member a reason to get very nosy and once they had all the info they needed decided they no longer wanted to talk to me. Nice. Oh and a member of  the same family actually deleted me off of social media for it. These people where blood related to me. They treated me like, well I cant say with using bad language but you get the point. Now while I have sort of built bridges with one the other I have not and do not wish too. This woman is means nothing to me anymore. I must say that what they did seem subtle to the next thing I am about to mention. It happened to me when I was pregnant I don't know if it has happened to any of my fellow young mums. The trump card, "I think abortion would be best" This had me riled when it was said to me. This lady was telling me from her experience apparently but how dare she? I was 17 years old young and pregnant confused and hormonal but no I was not stupid and I knew that I loved my unborn baby more than anything and one thing was for sure I was keeping my baby so how dare she say that to me? 

I must say this is a big issue with people trying to manipulate  young minds. But what I cannot stand also is parents saying "I wanted the best or better for her" like what the hell! how naïve just because you have a baby does not mean its the end. Your child can still have a career ect everything they originally set out to do except they will have a little companion in tow. Look at me, yes I didn't set my stakes high but I accomplished my dream of becoming a hairdresser.  Having a baby does not mean its the end you can still achieve your dreams and that would be my advice to other young mums. Yes it may be a shock but don't make any harsh decisions think for a while and don't let anyone make a decision for you this is your life your future your baby YOUR choice.

LotsOfLove
Beth...xxx

  

End of bread- quick post

Crusts of bread a feature of every loaf  but not a popular part of the bread and lets be honest it more often than no ends up at the bottom of the bin being thrown  out in the rubbish. It seems such a shame to waste it surely its better to put it to some use if you can. I have one thing I like to do with the crust.

Shepards/Cottage is one of my favourite things to cook, you can produce lots of flavour and the family loves it, its so good to see  them tucking in and going up for seconds. I have a lot I do with it but one thing is the topping. I use the ends of the bread. I use a grater on the side with the small little holes, then add a bit of cheese to it and the sprinkle on the top of your shepards or cottage pie and put in the oven  at a gas mark 5 or 6 for 20-25 mins to warm through and let the topping crust over. This adds flavour and texture to the dish and is a family favourite. You also get the most out of your loaf!

LotsOfLove
Beth...xxx

Don't know, Don't Judge

As many of you may have experienced when having a child many of your friends may not talk to you as much, you spend your time knee high deep in nappies, playing comedian to your gorgeous little bundle taking snapshots of every wide eyed cheeky smile and taking on the whole new language of baby talk in order to engage in full length conversations with your gorgeous little person. So while doing all this you tend to forget that you ever had a social life. When you do eventually remember, your friends have moved on and to be honest speaking from my experience the drinking evenings well any evenings out past 11pm is just not your scene anymore partly because your simply just too tired and well  you don't want to leave your precious baby for too long. So it goes without saying you find a new sense of social life one in which you can spend with your child and be home way before 11pm. The answer? Baby groups.

Well I got the chance to join said baby group, I didn't honestly think I would get the confidence to hit it off with any other mums because well quite frankly engaging in full length conversations with people I barely know talking about intimate details like child birth sparing no details was not a strong point. Quite honestly my shyness sucked. I wouldn't mind but it only shows itself sometimes. Needless to say I did engage and too my surprise it was not that scary and I found myself enjoying the detailed stories of child birth and being able to compare experiences. I completely enjoyed going every week and having mums to relate to and having baby friends for my little Bella. It was refreshing something new. I never did any baby groups with Ava, I still had a close friend to go on shopping trips with and be social with ect but that's for another post! As you can imagine I was quite sad when the group came to  an end. delightfully myself and the other ladies exchanged numbers and agreed to meet up, this is a perk to baby groups.

I bet you wonder why on earth I am rambling and want me to get to the point of the title well don't worry I am ...

We met up we had a fab time seeing everyone in another setting (a certain coffee shop beginning with a C) we had in depth convos about parenting shared advice and got to know each other very well.  We all got on perfectly so much so we arranged another meeting. This second meeting is when I started seeing a certain person in a whole new light. We discussed our ages after revealing mine a certain member of the group started to act funny with me, didn't seem to want to  smile at me talk directly to me or quite frankly listen to me. To be honest at first I thought I was being paranoid, but after another meeting she was still the same.

Now why would you judge a person on age? Just because I am younger than the rest of the group does not mean I know nothing. For a start I have 2 children to her 1 I have tons of advice more I could give as I have been done that before. Yes no baby is the same and even I am still learning. These people who judge on matters such as age seriously don't know the person. I have been through some dark times in my nearly 22 years which I have not opened up about to the blog world yet. These are things most people do not go through in their entire life time.

Tonight as I am writing this post asking why? Why does age have to make some one change toward you? Yeah some younger people can be immature but not all, saying that she was fine with me before she found out, had conversations with me listened ect. So literally because of my age that makes the  difference. How does that change the person that I am?

I have thought this over time and time again in my head thinking this is my fault something I have done when the other day I stopped and thought no Bethany you have not done anything wrong your age is not your fault you cant help the year in which you were born and your a mature great person. No, this is small mindedness of small minded people. I would say to people who judge simply don't. You don't know anyone back story you don't know their experiences. In your mind your thinking you look better but you don't. Stop think and get to know. You will look better to people and feel better.

REMEMBER ... Don't judge a book by its cover.

LotsOfLove
Beth...xxx
 

Auntie Buys: White Cardigan From Asda George

The other day in Asda I spotted this cute white cardigan with a crocheted design which I thought made a normal white cardigan really pretty and different. This was only £5 which I thought was good considering it is more than just a plain cardi. The material feels lovely quality and with it having long sleeves it is totally ideal for the weather now.

I got size 3 to 6 months for Bella Mai as she is a petite baby who is nearly 9 months old so I hope this fits her now and last over the autumn time. I think a basic cardigan is so essential for any ages to be honest and I am a massive lover of a black cardigan haha!! I shall get a picture of Bella in this cardigan and upload on our Instagram - essextowindsor :)

I do like clothes from George in Asda but they don't do matching clothes in size for Ava and Bella so I tend to not look in there lately but I did a lot of clothes for Bella from Asda when she was in Beth's Belly as their baby clothes are adorable and good price. Have any of you mummy bloggers got this cardi? Let me know :)

Love Katie xx

Katies Health: Being On Steroids

For the past few weeks I was on Steroids for my Colitis which I have written about HERE. In March when I was diagnosed with Colitis, I never thought I would be on steroids any time soon let alone this year. I always knew about Steroids but didn't really know the side effects or that there was different ways of using them. I just thought it was a tablet but the one I was prescribed is something totally different.

So the steroid my consultant prescribed me was called Predfoam Enema which you can read about HERE if you want to understand more about what theses one do but without going into too much information, I had to basically place into my rectum!!! It wasn't a nice experience and it took be a few days to get the idea of it and still don't feel comfortable doing it. The first week of being on these I was in Essex so it took my mind being on this to be honest. I was told to do it the same time each day but I just done it whenever I could. I was only given a few weeks worth of the steroids and then got to go back to my Gastro consultant  to see what the next step of my treatment is. So far I haven't noticed any difference and my symptoms have got worse. The past two weeks I haven't been out of the house much apart from going to the Doctors as I feel so anxious about flaring up in public. I have now been put on a low residue diet which I have only been following for the past week and it has helped a little bit already so I will continue to follow it and will do a blog post in a few weeks to see if it has made any difference.

I am still on Asacol which isn't helping much but my consultant wants me to carry on with them until my next check up which should be soon. Hopefully will get my gastro appointment letter through soon as I just want my symptoms to settle down abit.

Anyone else with IBD reading this been on the same steroids? What is your thoughts on them? Let me know :)

Love Katie x

Girly Week In Essex

 

 

A few weeks back I went to Essex for a week and we had lots of girlie fun. Of course we went to Lakeside for the day and had the best time. Taco Bell feast, Primark spend up and of course Disney Store for the girls which is becoming an tradition for us now haha.

The picture about is of the girls wearing matching from Next and I brought them a few more matching items from Next as they actually do both of their sizes. The Leggings which Bella's were £2.50 and £3.50 for Ava, T Shirts were £6 each or 2 for £10 and Socks for 2 pairs were £3.00 for Bella and £3.50 for Ava. So all in total for two outfits came to £22.50 which I thought was bloody good value as the quality of clothes are amazing and Beth tells me Next clothes washes well. Since then I have been back to Next and got another colour of Leggings and different T shirt which I shall give to the girls Next week and I'm sure they both will look beautiful matching :)  



The two picture above are from when I looked after the girls for the day as Beth had a family funeral so it was Beth's first time without Bella. I might get Beth to write a blog post about it as she was really panicking but I thought she done well :) I still stuck to the girls routine that day i.e. Their lunch & dinner, Bella's nap and their bedtime but I also added in Play dough for Ava till lunch time then colour paper stamps in the afternoon and both of the girls are little angels. 

This picture is us four doing a selfie in a taxi haha. Beth had dentist then we went to Tesco for lunch and Costa then done some shopping and as we brought too much than expected we had to get a taxi home as we had too many bags to carry haha. As you can see the girls know how to pose like their mummy and auntie haha.

I travelled home on the Saturday morning so I had a good whole week spent with these perfect girls and next week I am going back to Essex to spend another week which I am so excited about as I cannot wait to take and pick Ava up from Pre School and watching Bella grow up each day and making me proud. Also love being around Beth as she is a mummy she kind of 'mummys' me if that makes sense without sounding weird haha. She cares and worries about me which just proves how much she loves me which is nice as she is my sister in law also my best friend. Just this weekend to get through then Essex on Monday :)

Love Katie xx

Life/Health/General Update//Katie

For a few weeks now I haven't written an post, turned on my laptop, looked on bloglovin or even logged into blogger. The first week I was preparing for Essex and I had a hospital appointment to do with my Colitis so I didn't have time to use my laptop and then the 2nd week I was in Essex and although there is Wi-Fi there I like to spend family time and make the most of my time there. 3rd week so last week wasn't a good week in terms of my chronic illnesses so I thought I would just start blogging again on a Monday with a fresh mind and hopefully am back on track and into a routine again.


I've been on Steroids for the past two weeks for my Colitis and the side effects are bloody awful. I go back to the Gastro to see if I will carry on with the Steroids or another type of treatment. I will update and speak about this more in another post. Last week I visited the Dietician and gotten loads of information and have totally changed my diet so might do a post about that as its been hard and interesting. I had the best time in Essex the other week and it was so good to just free my mind, clear my mind and come back to Windsor with a fresh mind-set.

When I came back from Essex I felt motivated and although I had a bad train journey home with illnesses but I felt good but then when Sunday came I totally lost that motivation. It was a mixture of depression, anxiety, colitis, Ankylosing spondylitis, family being dicks and general being pissed off so I thought I am not in the right mind frame to blog or basically be human and socialise. Next Monday I am back to Essex for a week again and now that the kids are back to school I am going to let Beth do lots of blogging while I look after Bella for her... I haven't told her this but I'm sure she will be okay with it haha.

So this week I have to get my shit together! I have a doctors appointment on Wednesday, collect my monthly prescription, pack for Essex and try and blog as much as I can. Saying that it all depends on how my Colitis and back are. This post is just to explain where I have been and that I am back with a fresh mind :)

Love Katie