WikiMum - User contributions [en-gb]

User:AtoZ

2013-05-11T11:36:41Z

AtoZ:

[[file:AtoZ.jpg|450px|left|AtoZ]]

Before entering the world of motherhood, my life involved pretty clothes & shoes and jetting off to the Little White Isle of Ibiza. Days spent flipping through fashion magazines wondering how to afford the lastest Jimmy Choos and nights spent clubbing ... bliss! Then I became a Mum. Now dont get me wrong, my kids are amazing and I love them more than I could possibly put into words, but I am more than a Mum. It took me a long time to remember that fact. It took a long time to realise that although being a Mum is my main job, I also moonlight in many other roles!

== My second role, 'The Wife' ==
I am married to the love of my life. I sometimes look over at him sat on couch of an evening when the monsters, I mean children, have gone to bed and remember our lives before these little people moved in and took over. We were carefree and absolutley crackers! Ibiza was our summer. We went every year & spent the rest of the year recovering. Weekends spent partying and lazy days chilling together watching something other than Disney Junior and Peppa Pig. Nowadays its date night once a month & decisions such as 'what should we go and watch in bed'. I still love him as much as I did the day I met him. More so. He makes me happy and I couldnt have asked for a better Daddy to my babies. He's older (not so much wiser) and we argue about stupid stuff as everyone does but I love this second job. I can hand on heart say it is a job I will do till the day I die.

== Role 3 'The Career Girl' ==
I work full time and I love it. I have worked for the same place for 10 years and I can honestly say I love my job and would never leave (well not voluntarily anyway!)

== Role 4 'The weekend party girl' ==
My friends are ace and I love them all to bits. There is nothing better than after a week of being screamed and moaned at, pooed on and dinner thrown at you, and with the ringing of 'mummy mummy mummy mummy' in your ear getting together with your mates. What goes hand in hand with this is my other close friend. Alcohol. You dont realise how good a friend alcohol is until you arent allowed to play with that friend for 9 months. I am the lush of wikimum and have hangover and twins down to a fine art. I can roll in at 3am and be up with the monkey's at 7am and not even throw up at the first poo nappy of the day. Its taken lots of practice but I am a master now.

== Role 5 'The Shopper' ==
Remember when your wages were your own and you could treat yourself to the lastest LV bag? no me neither! I love fashion, Victoria Beckham and anything with a 4 inch heel. Of course, with 2 extra mouths to feed I am more New Look than Marc Jabobs these days but I allow myself one splash out a year. I am currently saving for some beautiful nude Chritian Louboutins. I justify this by saying my daughter can have them when i am old and grey. In reality she will have to do something pretty impressive in life for me to depart with them and give them her!

User:AtoZ

2013-05-11T11:32:45Z

AtoZ:

[[file:AtoZ.jpg|450px|left|AtoZ]]

Before entering the world of motherhood, my life involved pretty clothes & shoes and jetting off to the Little White Isle of Ibiza. Days spent flipping through fashion magazines wondering how to afford the lastest Jimmy Choos and nights spent clubbing ... bliss! Then I became a Mum. Now dont get me wrong, my kids are amazing and I love them more than I could possibly put into words, but I am more than a Mum. It took me a long time to remember that fact. It took a long time to realise that although being a Mum is my main job, I also moonlight in many other roles!

My second role, 'The Wife'. I am married to the love of my life. I sometimes look over at him sat on couch of an evening when the monsters, I mean children, have gone to bed and remember our lives before these little people moved in and took over. We were carefree and absolutley crackers! Ibiza was our summer. We went every year & spent the rest of the year recovering. Weekends spent partying and lazy days chilling together watching something other than Disney Junior and Peppa Pig. Nowadays its date night once a month & decisions such as 'what should we go and watch in bed'. I still love him as much as I did the day I met him. More so. He makes me happy and I couldnt have asked for a better Daddy to my babies. He's older (not so much wiser) and we argue about stupid stuff as everyone does but I love this second job. I can hand on heart say it is a job I will do till the day I die.

Role 3 'The Career Girl'. I work full time and I love it. I have worked for the same place for 10 years and I can honestly say I love my job and would never leave (well not voluntarily anyway!)

Role 4 'The weekend party girl'. My friends are ace and I love them all to bits. There is nothing better than after a week of being screamed and moaned at, pooed on and dinner thrown at you, and with the ringing of 'mummy mummy mummy mummy' in your ear getting together with your mates. What goes hand in hand with this is my other close friend. Alcohol. You dont realise how good a friend alcohol is until you arent allowed to play with that friend for 9 months. I am the lush of wikimum and have hangover and twins down to a fine art. I can roll in at 3am and be up with the monkey's at 7am and not even throw up at the first poo nappy of the day. Its taken lots of practice but I am a master now.

Role 5 'The Shopper'. Remember when your wages were your own and you could treat yourself to the lastest LV bag? no me neither! I love fashion, Victoria Beckham and anything with a 4 inch heel. Of course, with 2 extra mouths to feed I am more New Look than MarC Jabobs these days but I allow myself one splash out a year. I am currently saving for some beautiful nude Chritian Louboutins. I justify this by saying my daughter can have them when i am old and grey. In reality she will have to do something pretty impressive in life for me to depart with them and give them her!

Places to Eat with children

2013-05-03T10:58:09Z

AtoZ: /* Chapleford Farm Pub - Warrington */

== Chapleford Farm Pub - Warrington ==
[http://www.chaplefordfarmpub.co.uk]

Just next to the Marks & Spencer Gemini and IKEA superstores.

Ok, this is my new favourite place in the world! It isnt a famous world class chef restaurant but thats not why we go ... we go because you can do something that you havent been able to do since the day you became a parent. You get to eat in peace!

The food is good, typical pub grub. They have a lovely carvery and it is reasonably priced. We have a main meal each and the kids have a kids meal each. We have a round of drinks and a cake to take home (i'll come back to this!) and we spend about £30.

The kids area is fantastic! Everything from a slide, to Peppa Pigs car. Lots of touch screen games to keep the occupied and the best bit is you eat watching them. No more panic stricken 15 minutes waiting for food to come and praying to the toddler gods that they wont throw a fit in the meantime!

The second best bot about this place is the 'cake-away' stand. All home made cakes that you take home with you to enjoy after 7pm in peace when the little darlings have gone to bed! Now, these arent just your regular cakes. They are HUGE! I would recommend the Vanilla slice (by slice I mean enough to feed a football team) and the 'Marz Attacks'

[[File:desserts.jpg]]
--[[User:AtoZ|AtoZ]] ([[User talk:AtoZ|talk]]) 10:58, 3 May 2013 (UTC)

Places to Eat with children

2013-05-03T10:56:28Z

AtoZ: /* Chapleford Farm Pub - Warrington */

File:Desserts.jpg

2013-05-03T10:54:49Z

AtoZ:

Places to Eat with children

2013-05-03T10:54:04Z

AtoZ: Created page with " == Chapleford Farm Pub - Warrington == Ok, this is my new favourite place in the world! It isnt a famous world class chef restaurant but thats not why we go ... we go becaus..."

== Chapleford Farm Pub - Warrington ==

Ok, this is my new favourite place in the world! It isnt a famous world class chef restaurant but thats not why we go ... we go because you can do something that you havent been able to do since the day you became a parent. You get to eat in peace!

The food is good, typical pub grub. They have a lovely carvery and it is reasonably priced. We have a main meal each and the kids have a kids meal each. We have a round of drinks and a cake to take home (i'll come back to this!) and we spend about £30.

The kids area is fantastic! Everything from a slide, to Peppa Pigs car. Lots of touch screen games to keep the occupied and the best bit is you eat watching them. No more panic stricken 15 minutes waiting for food to come and praying to the toddler gods that they wont throw a fit in the meantime!

The second best bot about this place is the 'cake-away' stand. All home made cakes that you take home with you to enjoy after 7pm in peace when the little darlings have gone to bed! Now, these arent just your regular cakes. They are HUGE! I would recommend the Vanilla slice (by slice I mean enough to feed a football team) and the 'Marz Attacks'
[[File:Example.jpg]]

AtoZ's story

2013-04-27T17:29:29Z

AtoZ:

== AtoZ's Story ==

I guess I always knew I wouldnt get pregnant the natural way. I always feel grateful for the fact that when i had THAT conversation with the doctor the news of IVF didnt hit me like a bolt out of the blue. I always for so much sorrow for people who think they are going to try for a baby and have one, only to be told there is something wrong. I shouldnt really because we are all in the same god awful boat together!

I was diagnosed with PCOS and to be honest it didnt mean that too much to me. I was quite happy only having a couple of periods a year! Then met the love of my life and one night after him joking 'you're not pregnant are you' had to sit and tell him that was most unlikely and why. I just hoped he wouldnt leave me for some girl who functioned. Of course, he didnt. He shrugged and said 'we'll adopt then' (could I have loved him more at that point, I doubt it!) So, we got married and had a fabulous lifestyle for a couple of years and then decided to start a family. At this point, everyman and his wife was falling pregnant. Anyone else notice that? As soon as you want (and cant have) a baby EVERYONE else does! It was on the television, my friends, every other person in the street seemed to have a bump, prams ramming into you, almost taunting you in the shops (you calling the mother under your breath for daring to bring a pram out on a Saturday!)

After a couple of years trying and nothing happening (they put me on various levels of clomid) we started IVF at Liverpool Womens Hospital. Everything went well with my treatment and at the end of it I had a perfect 8 cell embryo put back. I prayed it would work. Didnt believe it, but prayed nontheless! On the morning of the test i did it, climbed back in bed and said 'it wont have worked' ... it did. I couldnt believe it. However, at 6 weeks it went away. As did our hopes and dreams. I became very bitter, I suddenly couldnt bare anyone talking babies. I hated the fact people had started walking on eggshells round me. I had images of myself turning into crazy cat woman who had 500 cats and children would walk past my house and point at scary cat lady. I didnt have a shred of happiness to offer anyone falling pregant. All the time my over positive husband kept telling me 'it will be our turn soon'. He just believed it.

We started our second round of IVF, but this time I had to do something. I had to take away that awful feeling of hopelessness and what will be will be. I am a control freak and I think this is what bothered me so much about the whole thing. I couldnt do anything to make it work. So, this time I took every supplement know to help and I had accupuncture every week. I drank gallons of milk to get good eggs and warmed my tummy with a hot water bottle before they were put back in. We went for egg collection and I had 19. We got the phone call that there were 2 looking good but not brillant and after 3 days I had them put back. I instantly thought they werent 'perfect 8 cellers' and just thought, it wont work. I started a five year plan of how we would keep funding IVF until it worked. Talk about negativity!

It did work. That moment of seeing a positive line getting darker as the days go on was a feeling of total joy that it had worked and total horror that it could all go away again. At 7 weeks we went for the scan and we casually told 'they're both fine' TWINS! Panic and joy still mixed in with the horror of them going sent me into a complete meltdown! That along with horrible morning sickness! I couldnt bare waiting till 12 weeks and paid for a scan at 9 weeks, 11 weeks and then the magical 12 weeks scan came and went.

I swear, I spent every day up to and including the 30 week mark (that was my 'safe' point in my mind) worrying! Will they be ok, will I loose one of them/both of them. I googled every possible outcome and analysed every twinge. Looking back now, I dont know how my other half didnt section me. Why did I feel like this? Simple, I couldnt believe out of all the women going through IVF, I was one of the lucky ones. Thats all it is, luck and I was convinced at some point mine was going to run out.

It didnt though! My beautiful boy and girl were born naturally at 37 weeks. They are my world. They have aged us, drove me to drink (every saturday night) and have pushed stress buttons I didnt know I had but god are they worth it! They make me laugh every day and show me how the world should be looked at. You dont know life until you see it through the eyes of 2 year old toddlers!

AtoZ's story

2013-04-27T17:26:23Z

AtoZ:

== AtoZ's Story ==

I guess I always knew I wouldnt get pregnant the natural way. I always feel grateful for the fact that when i had THAT conversation with the doctor the news of IVF didnt hit me like a bolt out of the blue. I always for so much sorrow for people who think they are going to try for a baby and have one, only to be told there is something wrong. I shouldnt really because we are all in the same god awful boat together!

I was diagnosed with PCOS and to be honest it didnt mean that too much to me. I was quite happy only having a couple of periods a year! Then met the love of my life and one night after him joking 'you're not pregnant are you' had to sit and tell him that was most unlikely and why. I just hoped he wouldnt leave me for some girl who functioned. Of course, he didnt. He scrugged and said 'we'll adopt then' (could I have loved him more at that point, I dount it!) So, we got married and had a fabulous lifestyle for a couple of years and then decided to start a family. At this point, everyman and his wife was falling pregnant. Anyone else notice that? As soon as you want (and cant have) a baby EVERYONE else does! It was on the television, my friends, every other person in the street seemed to have a bump, prams ramming into you, almost taunting you in the shops (you calling the mother under your breath for daring to bring a pram out on a Saturday!)

After a couple of years trying and nothing happening (they put me on various levels of clomid) we started IVF at Liverpool Womens Hospital. Everything went well with my treatment and at the end of it I had a perfect 8 cell embryo put back. I prayed it would work. Didnt believe it, but prayed nontheless! On the morning of the test i did it, climbed back in bed and said 'it wont have worked' ... it did. I couldnt believe it. However, at 6 weeks it went away. As did our hopes and dreams. I became very bitter, I suddenly couldnt bare anyone talking babies. I hated the fact people had started walking on eggshells round me. I had images of myself turning into crazy cat woman who had 500 cats and children would walk past my house. I didnt have a shred of happiness to offer anyone falling pregant. All the time my over positive husband kept telling me 'it will be our turn soon'. He just believed it.

We started our second round of IVF, but this time I had to do something. I had to take away that awful feeling of hopelessness and what will be will be. I am a control freak and I think this is what bothered me so much about the whole thing. I couldnt do anything to make it work. So, this time I took every supplement know to help and I had accupuncture every week. I drank gallons of milk to get good eggs and warmed my tummy with a hot water bottle before they were put back in. We went for egg collection and I had 19. We got the phone call that there were 2 looking good but not brillant and after 3 days I had them put back. I instantly thought they werent 'perfect 8 cellers' and just thought, it wont work.

It did. That moment of seeing a positive line getting darker as the days go on was a feeling of total joy that it had worked and total horror that it could all go away again. At 7 weeks we went for the scan and we casually told 'they're both fine' TWINS! Panic and joy still mixed in with the horror of them going sent me into a complete meltdown! That along with horrible morning sickness! I couldnt bare waiting till 12 weeks and paid for a scan at 9 weeks, 11 weeks and then the magical 12 weeks scan came and went.

I swear, I spent every day up to and including the 30 week mark (that was my 'safe' point in my mind) worrying! Will they be ok, will I loose one of them/both of them. I googled every possible outcome and analysed every twinge. Looking back now, I dont know how my other half didnt section me. Why did I feel like this? Simple, I couldnt believe out of all the women going through IVF, I was one of the lucky ones. Thats all it is, luck and I was convinced at some point mine was going to run out.

It didnt though! My beautiful boy and girl were born naturally at 37 weeks. They are my world. They have aged us, drove me to drink (every saturday night) and have pushed stress buttons I didnt know I had but god are they worth it! They make me laugh every day and show me how the world should be looked at. You dont know life until you see it through the eyes of 2 year old toddlers!

AtoZ's story

2013-04-27T17:25:15Z

AtoZ:

== AtoZ's Story ==

I guess I always knew I wouldnt get pregnant the natural way. I always feel grateful for the fact that when i had THAT conversation with the doctor the news of IVF didnt hit me like a bolt out of the blue. I always for so much sorrow for people who think they are going to try for a baby and have one, only to be told there is something wrong. I shouldnt really because we are all in the same god awful boat together!

I met the love of my life and one night after him joking 'you're not pregnant are you' had to sit and tell him that was most unlikely and why. I just hoped he wouldnt leave me for some girl who functioned. Of course, he didnt. He scrugged and said 'we'll adopt then' (could I have loved him more at that point, I dount it!) So, we got married and had a fabulous lifestyle for a couple of years and then decided to start a family. At this point, everyman and his wife was falling pregnant. Anyone else notice that? As soon as you want (and cant have) a baby EVERYONE else does! It was on the television, my friends, every other person in the street seemed to have a bump, prams ramming into you, almost taunting you in the shops (you calling the mother under your breath for daring to bring a pram out on a Saturday!)

After a couple of years trying and nothing happening (they put me on various levels of clomid) we started IVF at Liverpool Womens Hospital. Everything went well with my treatment and at the end of it I had a perfect 8 cell embryo put back. I prayed it would work. Didnt believe it, but prayed nontheless! On the morning of the test i did it, climbed back in bed and said 'it wont have worked' ... it did. I couldnt believe it. However, at 6 weeks it went away. As did our hopes and dreams. I became very bitter, I suddenly couldnt bare anyone talking babies. I hated the fact people had started walking on eggshells round me. I had images of myself turning into crazy cat woman who had 500 cats and children would walk past my house. I didnt have a shred of happiness to offer anyone falling pregant. All the time my over positive husband kept telling me 'it will be our turn soon'. He just believed it.

We started our second round of IVF, but this time I had to do something. I had to take away that awful feeling of hopelessness and what will be will be. I am a control freak and I think this is what bothered me so much about the whole thing. I couldnt do anything to make it work. So, this time I took every supplement know to help and I had accupuncture every week. I drank gallons of milk to get good eggs and warmed my tummy with a hot water bottle before they were put back in. We went for egg collection and I had 19. We got the phone call that there were 2 looking good but not brillant and after 3 days I had them put back. I instantly thought they werent 'perfect 8 cellers' and just thought, it wont work.

It did. That moment of seeing a positive line getting darker as the days go on was a feeling of total joy that it had worked and total horror that it could all go away again. At 7 weeks we went for the scan and we casually told 'they're both fine' TWINS! Panic and joy still mixed in with the horror of them going sent me into a complete meltdown! That along with horrible morning sickness! I couldnt bare waiting till 12 weeks and paid for a scan at 9 weeks, 11 weeks and then the magical 12 weeks scan came and went.

I swear, I spent every day up to and including the 30 week mark (that was my 'safe' point in my mind) worrying! Will they be ok, will I loose one of them/both of them. I googled every possible outcome and analysed every twinge. Looking back now, I dont know how my other half didnt section me. Why did I feel like this? Simple, I couldnt believe out of all the women going through IVF, I was one of the lucky ones. Thats all it is, luck and I was convinced at some point mine was going to run out.

It didnt though! My beautiful boy and girl were born naturally at 37 weeks. They are my world. They have aged us, drove me to drink (every saturday night) and have pushed stress buttons I didnt know I had but god are they worth it! They make me laugh every day and show me how the world should be looked at. You dont know life until you see it through the eyes of 2 year old toddlers!

AtoZ's story

2013-04-27T17:24:33Z

AtoZ: Created page with " == AtoZ's Story == I guess I always knew I wouldnt get pregnant the natural way. I always feel grateful for the fact that when i had THAT conversation with the doctor the ne..."

== AtoZ's Story ==

I guess I always knew I wouldnt get pregnant the natural way. I always feel grateful for the fact that when i had THAT conversation with the doctor the news of IVF didnt hit me like a bolt out of the blue. I always for so much sorrow for people who think they are going to try for a baby and have one, only to be told there is something wrong. I shouldnt really because we are all in the same god awful boat together!

I met the love of my life and one night after him joking 'you're not pregnant are you' had to sit and tell him that was most unlikely and why. I just hoped he wouldnt leave me for some girl who functioned. Of course, he didnt. He scrugged and said 'we'll adopt then' (could I have loved him more at that point, I dount it!) So, we got married and had a fabulous lifestyle for a couple of years and then decided to start a family. At this point, everyman and his wife was falling pregnant. Anyone else notice that? As soon as you want (and cant have) a baby EVERYONE else does! It was on the television, my friends, every other person in the street seemed to have a bump, prams ramming into you, almost taunting you in the shops (you calling the mother under your breath for daring to bring a pram out on a Saturday!)

After a couple of years trying and nothing happening (they put me on various levels of clomid) we started IVF at Liverpool Womens Hospital. Everything went well with my treatment and at the end of it I had a perfect 8 cell embryo put back. I prayed it would work. Didnt believe it, but prayed nontheless! On the morning of the test i did it, climbed back in bed and said 'it wont have worked' ... it did. I couldnt believe it. However, at 6 weeks it went away. As did our hopes and dreams. I became very bitter, I suddenly couldnt bare anyone talking babies. I hated the fact people had started walking on eggshells round me. I had images of myself turning into crazy cat woman who had 500 cats and children would walk past my house. I didnt have a shred of happiness to offer anyone falling pregant. All the time my over positive husband kept telling me 'it will be our turn soon'. He just believed it.

We started our second round of IVF, but this time I had to do something. I had to take away that awful feeling of hopelessness and what will be will be. I am a control freak and I think this is what bothered me so much about the whole thing. I couldnt do anything to make it work. So, this time I took every supplement know to help and I had accupuncture every week. I drank gallons of milk to get good eggs and warmed my tummy with a hot water bottle before they were put back in. We went for egg collection and I had 19. We got the phone call that there were 2 looking good but not brillant and after 3 days I had them put back. I instantly thought they werent 'perfect 8 cellers' and just thought, it wont work.

It did. That moment of seeing a positive line getting darker as the days go on was a feeling of total joy that it had worked and total horror that it could all go away again. At 7 weeks we went for the scan and we casually told 'they're both fine' TWINS! Panic and joy still mixed in with the horror of them going sent me into a complete meltdown! That along with horrible morning sickness! I couldnt bare waiting till 12 weeks and paid for a scan at 9 weeks, 11 weeks and then the magical 12 weeks scan came and went.

I swear, I spent every day up to and including the 30 week mark (that was my 'safe' point in my mind) worrying! Will they be ok, will I loose one of them/both of them. I googled every possible outcome and analysed every twinge. Looking back now, I dont know how my other half didnt section me. Why did I feel like this? Simple, I couldnt believe out of all the women going through IVF, I was one of the lucky ones. Thats all it is, luck and I was convinced at some point mine was going to run out.

It didnt though! My beautiful boy and girl were born naturally at 37 weeks. They are my world. They have aged us, drove me to drink (every saturday night) and have pushed stress buttons I didnt know I had but god are they worth it! They make me laugh every day and show me how the world should be looked at. You dont know life until you see it through the eyes of 2 year old toddlers!

IVF Stories

2013-04-27T16:46:55Z

AtoZ:

[[Mad Margaret's Story]]

[[Kerry's Story]]

[[Pinky's story]]

[[Sarah's story]]

[[Teresal's Story]]

[[AtoZ's story]]

Banana & Oat Biscuits

2013-04-27T12:48:46Z

AtoZ:

== Banana & Oat Biscuits - great for kids, no sugar! ==

'''Ingrediants:'''

* 3 bananas
* 200g Rolled Oats
* 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
* 3fl oz vegetable oil

#Mash the banana in a bowl and add the rolled oats
#Stir in the vanilla essence and vegetable oil
#leave for 20 minutes for the mixture to absorb
#Preheat the over to 180c and line a baking tray
#Using a spoon, scoop the misxture on to the tray and push down into a biscuit shape. Note - they dont spread when cooking so the shape you do here is how they will come out.
#Bake for 15-20 minutes

Banana & Oat Biscuits

2013-04-27T12:47:04Z

AtoZ: Created page with " == Banana & Oat Biscuits - great for kids, no sugar! == Ingrediants: * 3 bananas * 200g Rolled Oats * 1 teaspoon vanilla essence * 3fl oz vegetable oil 1. Mash the banana ..."

== Banana & Oat Biscuits - great for kids, no sugar! ==

Ingrediants:

* 3 bananas
* 200g Rolled Oats
* 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
* 3fl oz vegetable oil

1. Mash the banana in a bowl and add the rolled oats
2. Stir in the vanilla essence and vegetable oil
3. leave for 20 minutes for the mixture to absorb
4. Preheat the over to 180c and line a baking tray
5. Using a spoon, scoop the misxture on to the tray and push down into a biscuit shape. Note - they dont spread when cooking so the shape you do here is how they will come out.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes

Recipes

2013-04-27T12:32:38Z

AtoZ:

[[Brooklyn Blackout Chocolate Cake]]

[[Red Velvet Cupcakes]]

[[Homemade Playdough]]

[[All in one Delicious Choc or Madeira Cake]]

[[Banana & Oat Biscuits]]