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Simplified Mum Life

Nina A Spencer – Motherhood Mentor – Simplifying the every day for busy overwhelmed mums -Mum Of Twins Twice! Placenta Accreta Survivor, Mental Health Champion, On my own simple living Journey filled with adventure and travel . Embracing The Imperfectly, Chaotic moments of motherhood.
Adventures

Travels with Twins – Forest Holiday’s

This past week we were given the opportunity to spend a couple of days at one of the Forest Holiday Parks in Norfolk. Thorpe Forest is close to the little town of Thetford where we stopped off at the 24 Hour Tesco’s for BBQ food – Yes I said BBQ I think it may be a record for us for the first BBQ of the year!

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There is a shop on site and they do sell BBQ packs however it being January there isn’t as much choice.

The kids were very excited to be going to the log cabin especially when we told them they could go in the Hot Tub!

We pulled up to the cabin and had a look around.

This particular cabin had three bedrooms but there are cabins up to 4 bedrooms.

There is no need to take bedding and towels as they are provided.

The best thing about staying in these woodland retreats at this time of year is the log fires. It great to have a walk in the forest then come back to a roaring log fire.

There are logs for sale on site, however they can be expensive.

If you don’t want to light the fire the heating is quite adequate to keep you warm.

The first thing we do when we arrive as usual is flick the kettle on, the kids unpack and put their swimming costumes on.

Once we’ve had a soak in the hot tub, we take a shower and start preparing food for our BBQ.  No need to lay the table as it was already set out for us on our arrival.

This kind of getaway really allows time for us to reset. I turned off my phone. The kids spent time playing catch and looking for wildlife. There was a deer that came to visit in the morning but my dad’s dog chased it off.  There was also a squirrel that came right up on the balcony jumped onto the lid of the hot tub then scooted along the fence and up the tree.

In the evening Hubby went in the hot tub with the kids again while I sat and read my magazine with a cuppa, and some snacks.

The woodland Cabins really are very cosy at this time of year with lamps and low lighting and lovely autumn colours.

About 10pm we gave the babies one last feed and put them in bed. We tried to get the big two to sleep and you would think with all the fresh air from the forest they would have been tired but they were just too excited.

The next morning we woke to the kids asking if they could go in the hot tub again!

Once the babies had been fed the kids and I had a little soak while my dad prepared late breakfast.

It was almost lunchtime by the time we had all come in and had showers.

Time doesn’t really matter when you are on a break like this. there are no set rules, no worries, Its great.

When you are ready to take off your jammers and get dressed you can head over to the bar /Cafe for a meal, or just a drink. There are activities that the kids and yourself can get involved in from geocaching to pottery painting which is what we did.

We only had one night at Thorpe forest but has totally wet our appetite for another forest holiday. We would normally spend our holidays in Lanzarote however now with two kids and two babies in tow I’m not sure that we will be going as often so little breaks in the UK will probably be amongst our adventures this year.

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Nina x

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Health & Fitness

Word Of The Month – January

Last year I set my self some goals to be healthier, declutter and make my blogging my job. An income stream. Then I found out I was pregnant. With not one but two more babies and everything went on hold. This year I’ve not set any New Years resolutions or recalled planned my goals out. Instead, I will plan my goals monthly. Taking each month as it comes. I can’t really plan much due to waiting for my gallstone op. I know it’s not going to put me out for a long time but I am going to need time to rest afterward.

Anyway, that said I have decided to give each month a title. What I will focus on each month.

January – Fit

January is all about becoming fit for my operation. Trying to get my body and mind ready so that complications are limited and recovery is quicker.

Here is what I plan to do to get fit for my op.

  • Swimming 3 times a week. I have joined the spa and my aim is to attend at least 3 times a week. I don’t pressure myself into lap times or amount of laps. I just swim. It keeps me moving and helps to clear my mind.
  • Hitting my 10,000 steps. I’m sure I already do this but sometimes I don’t put my watch on until halfway through the morning. By this time I’ve already hit a lot of my steps.
  • 30 mins workout. I want to try and get into a habit of doing a 30 min workout at least 3 times a week. Movement is so important for your body and mind. When you work your heart and lungs by exercising it strengthens them Helping your organs be as fit as they can when you go to surgery.
  • Yoga. Yoga helps me focus. It helps me to breath and it stretches my body.
  • Mindfulness. I really need to prepare my mind as well as my body. Mindfulness can really help me remember to breathe, to live more in the moment and to focus on what’s important.
  • Vitamins. I’m not sure I get enough of what I need from my diet, so taking a multivitamin with added vitamin D is important. At this time of the year especially there is not much vitamin D to be had from the light we get from the sun here in the UK.
  • Diet. The reason for the operation is my gallstones. So I’ve had no choice but to cut out a lot of fat and grease from my diet. Not unless I want to end up in severe pain and then ultimately in a&e as I just can’t cope with the pain.

This is my plan however with a set of school-age twins and a set of baby twins I’m aware that this may seem like a lot. However, if I want to be fit and ready for my op I think I need to at least try.

What word would you give to January? Have you made any goals or resolutions? Leave in the comments how else you think I could get ready for my op!

I’ll update at the beginning of February how I get on and what my word of the month will be for February.

Nina x

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Monthly Roundup!

2017 A Round Up

What a year this has been. I’ve got to the end through the skin of my teeth!

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I was panicking that I wanted to start the new year, healthy, with a tidy decluttered house but in reality, there is stuff everywhere. 2017 was meant to be about decluttering and living more simply, minimal. Instead, I ended up filling our house even more with two extra people!

Why do we do this, why do we strive to start the new year as we mean to go on, when really we should start each day as we mean to go on.

Each day is a blessing! Each day we should make it a day worth living.

2017 has certainly shown me how fragile life can be and what is truly important in my own life.

Here is my year in review.

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Oh and what adventures we’ve had!!! 

January

Our family started the year as we have for the past 3 years on “our paradise isle” Lanzarote.

We spent it with some friends of ours and for the first time since me & hubby have been together we actually went out for new year.

We danced, ate and the kids had pony rides at one of our favourite places for a day out Texas Rancho Park.

When we got back to England, I was able to help out for a couple of days at the theatre, where it was panto time. My favourite time of the year.

After panto had finished I realised I was late for my period and took a test!

The test was positive!

I soon became sick with my pregnancy and me and hubby decided we should have an early scan. To make sure this time there was only one baby.

SHIT! There’s two AGAIN!

Spent a good part of 3 months crying, and asking everyone close if we were doing the right thing, and would we be ok?

We also took geocaching back up this month and went I to see Grease the musical.

February

Sold my beloved Delilah. She had been with us for 3 years. She was part of the family. I know she had her quirks about her. Like sometimes having to bang the breaks off with a hammer, the muscle toning steering and her kitchen that when you turned a corner everything fell out. But she was mine!

We also took another trip to Lanzarote in February. This time, knowing I was pregnant with another set of twins we joked that we should make the most of this trip and visit places we had never visited as it may be our last trip for a while! We certainly did visit places we had never been before. Like A&E for my mum who trapped her finger in a car seat, and the doctor’s surgery for not just me and my pregnancy sickness but at the end of the week after suffering on hubby decided enough was enough his throat was so swollen and painful he couldn’t hack it anymore.

March

Well, March was a busy month, it saw a school trip to a windmill, the dreaded class bear, nits and A trip to London for the day with the girls, to see The Girls, musical.

April

April was another trip to London this time with my kids. Where I took them to daddy’s office, a trip on a boat, a walk to the zoo, a trip on the underground and a stroll by the Thames.

May

May was all about redecorating the house ready for the new arrivals, we also redesigned the garden, making an amazing bbq area for our family and friends to gather. We also this month got out the paddling pool, went to the splash park and made the most of the spring sunshine.

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Splash

June.

While June was a down month for me pregnancy wise, I’d hit the struggling to move point of it and was feeling bad for letting the other twins down by not being able to do as much for them. We tried hard to soak up all the sunshine each day and me and hubby became godparents to our friends baby.

Too Cute

July.

A busy month again.

I waddled down to London for Tesco’s Christmas in July event! While I was there I was fussed over by all the team. I’m really glad I did the trip even though it took it out of me for a day or two. I went to Friendsfest, with a couple of girlfriends. It was great seeing all the costumes, and scenery. I even had a Ross,/ Monica, “my sandwich” sandwich. Which I have to say was very tasty.

It was also my birthday this month so obviously, we had to have a BBQ party.

And the start of the summer holidays

August

This month I tried had to parent our first set of twins as well as grow the second set. Life was becoming increasingly difficult. Little did I know at the beginning of the month just how difficult it was about to be.

Halfway through August, I had a scan that said my placenta was low, after this and a few back niggles I was admitted to hospital, sent for other scans, blood tests, and MRI. All which confirmed that I had something called placenta percreta. Something that now is a common word for me, but back then something that I’d never heard of before and was apparently very rare.

After iron infusions, being monitored constantly and being scared half to death by my surgeon. I finally met my new babies on August 30th. After about 5 hours of surgery, a hysterectomy and 10 litres of blood transfusion.

September.

I was still in hospital as I became quite poorly after the twins were born, sepsis followed by a twisted bowel which meant a week after my cesarían hysterectomy I had to go back to sleep and be cut open through the wound that had split to untwist my bowel.

I managed after a whole month of being in hospital to finally get home.

Recovery was to start.

But not until I’d been hit by gallstone pain. The worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life. Ment I ended up in A&se twice and being admitted back into hospital.

October

Now my recovery can start and my new healthy lifestyle that I’ve been forced into due to my gallstones.

I managed to spend some time with the big kids over the October holidays while Nanny Sue took charge of the babies.

It almost killed me pumpkin picking but I’m glad I could catch up with my biggest two.

I was discharged from Jessops after my follow up appointment.

October also saw me picking up my laptop again to document my birth story and other things less dramatic.

November

Blogging, soaking up my new babies, recovery, spending time as a family of 7, lunches with hubby, a trip to the cinema, seeing the Coca-Cola Christmas truck, a school trip to the railway lots of midnight feeds and picking my Christmas tree. Oh and another trip to A&E.

December

The end of the year in sight but first it’s Christmas. Our favourite time of the year. The tree is up, well two trees. One real one artificial. The elves were out and about up to mischief. There was more wrapping paper than a small forest can sustain being flung around and all the sellotape. The big twins turned 6 this month. Time really does go by so quickly.

My hair really decided to disappear this month and is the thinnest it’s ever been and still going.

We’ve seen Santa on a boat, on a train at the local club twice.

We got through a lot of my cranberry cupcakes.

It was the WI Christmas meeting where we take in nibbles. I had to think of new low-fat buffet options. I’m getting quite into eating healthier. Though I have managed a Baileys coffee or two, and a couple of cakes. But I’ve cut down tremendously and I feel a lot better for doing so.

I cooked Xmas dinner for 13 and we all had amazing Christmas.

If you’ve been with me from the start of 2017 or joined me through the year Thank you for all for your support I couldn’t have got through it without all of you.

What a year.

If you are just joining us I can’t promise that 2018 will be filled with as much drama. In fact, I’m hoping and praying it won’t be. I can but hope for more adventures with my family and my friends and some adventures just for me.

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I wonder!!!! 

Happy New Year to everyone.

May 2018 bring you everything you desire and be filled with magic, adventure and love.

Nina x

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Review

Bath Time With Twins, Twice!

When I was pregnant with my first set of twins, I worried about everything.

How would I feed two at once?  How would I cope when one ran one way and one ran the other?  What would I do at bath time?

Well I have to say I was lucky that most of the time I had help from either my mum or  Hubby

Now I have two sets and bath time can be a bit of a chore.

Again most of the time I have help but I thought I would share with you how I get through Bath night when I’m running solo.

In our house bath time starts around 6pm,

I start by making sure the room temperature is good – Somewhere around 21o

Take the babies upstairs one at a time and put them in their cot in their own room

Run the main bath.

While the main bath is running I fill the babies bath and get things ready for afterwards

including:

  • Bottles
  • Towels
  • Vest
  • Nappies
  • SleepSuits
  • Bedtime Book
  • Wash Mitt
  • Nail scissors
  • Baby Massage oil

Both baths are filled. Little Miss M gets into the bath first and while she is playing and having a wash I bath Little Miss J.

At the moment I’m using Good Bubble, super bubbly bubble bath the smell is amazing and it so kind on delicate skin.

The bath mitt is from a gift set containing the bubble bath and bath mitt.

Little miss J loves it, as I use it like a puppet before I wash her with it.

Once Little Miss J is done I dry her, put her a clean nappy on and dress her in her vest. Then wrap her in a blanket and put her back down in the cot while I bath Little Mr M,

Little Mr M is not a fan of bath time, however using the mitt as a puppet has made him smile a little more.

Once both babies are bathed and in vests I put them in their cot in my room while I wash Little Miss Ms hair. Once this is done I shout little Mr J, who is in his room playing to come and have his bath. I don’t know what it is about boys in this house but Mr J is not thrilled its bath time either.

Miss M then gets dry with a little help from me and goes off to read in her room.

While Mr J is having his bath I go into my room and give the babies a quick massage using the Good Buble organic coconut oil, Its smells delicious (good enough to eat) I do this one at a time in laying in my bed. Then I dress them into their sleepsuits.

Once I’ve done this I go and get Mr J’s hair washed.

For the big kid’s hair, I’m using Good Bubble Shampoo and conditioner again the smell is amazing. It leaves their hair really soft too!

When everyone is bathed We read the big kids’ school books in my bed while I feed the babies, either one at a time or I prop Little Miss J on a pillow and feed together.

When feeding is over The big kids go to bed and I put the babies in their sleeping bags and into the cot while I go off and tidy up after the bath time carnage.

The products featured were gifted to me to feature in this post.

I have enjoyed using them over the past week or so the fragrance of the products smells so fresh and natural.

I’ve particularly liked using the coconut oil not just for baby massage but also I heard it was good for cradle cap and dry skin.

Little Miss J has cradle cap in her hair and also above her eyebrows although I think its too early to tell whether its working or not in her hair the bits around her eyebrows have definitely calmed down.

Its also helped clear up Little Mr M’s dry feet.

I will definitely be looking out for this brand again

Nina x

Good Bubble featured on dragons den can be purchased from Sainsbury’s stores nationwide.

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Blogging

Highs & Lows of 2017 – Blogger Tag!

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This year has been a really big year for our family. A bit of an emotional rollercoaster.

Sometimes it’s good to reflect on the year before you turn the page to start the next.

I came across this post by Katie On Thin Ice and thought I would join in with the tag.

1. What was your happiest event? It was the day I looked at my baby twins and thought you know what. You’ve actually saved me. They are making me a better person.

2. What was the saddest thing to happen? Being told I had placenta percreta and I had to have a huge operation to get my babies out and save my life.

3. What was the most unlikely thing to happen that actually went ahead and did?. We got pregnant. Well technically we got pregnant at the end of 2016, however, found out in January then found out it was another set of twins!!

4. Who let you down? I don’t think anyone really, some of the sonographers missed my low placenta , however had I been diagnosed with my placenta issues earlier I’d have spent most of the pregnancy worrying.

5. Who supported you? First and foremost my husband who stayed with me Day and night at the hospital while I was going through my op and the before & after of the op. Also my children for being so strong and cuddling me when I feel down cheering me up and drawing pictures and writing little notes for me, Ruth my amazing anaesthetist. The rest of my family and of course my very supportive friends.

6. Tell us what you learned. That I am strong, I can do difficult things, and some things in life are more important than others!

7. Tell us what made you laugh My children. Some days they have made me cry with laughter.

8. Tell us the things that made you cry. Pregnancy, finding out I was having another set of twins, the pending operation, then a second op, tiredness, gallstone pain.

9. Tell us three things your child or children did to make you feel proud. Please miss this question out if you are not a parent. (Not really three things) My big Girl has made me proud most of the year by her strength she has had during my pregnancy & while I was in hospital. My boy has made me proud with how he has come on in his school work.

10. Tell us the things that made you proud of yourself. Getting through one of the toughest births.

11. Tell us the challenges you overcame. Again it’s all about my the birth of the twins. And for years I’ve need to eat more healthy. Well this year after the birth of the twins I developed gallstones. This has made me eat more healthy. I think it’s now going to be part of my lifestyle to eat better.

12. Tell us the things you would like to change about your life in 2018. I just want to be more present in the day to day. Enjoy all of my children and my husband. And make 2018 one of adventures.

1. What was your happiest event?

2. What was the saddest thing to happen?

3. What was the most unlikely thing to happen that actually went ahead and did?.

4. Who let you down?

5. Who supported you?

6. Tell us what you learned.

7. Tell us what made you laugh

8. Tell us the things that made you cry

9. Tell us three things your child or children did to make you feel proud. Please miss this question out if you are not a parent.

10. Tell us the things that made you proud of yourself.

11. Tell us the challenges you overcame

12. Tell us the things you would like to change about your life in 2018

Now it’s over to you, If you are a blogger feel free to copy the questions,  please remember to tag myself and Katie on Thin Ice

I’m tagging fellow bloggers 

Mummy and The Mexicans 

The Unnatural Mother

Mummy To Dex 

Readaraptor Hatchling 

The Smallest of Things

All About Mummy

The Queen Of Collage

Wishes and Wellies 

A Beautiful Space 

The Mamma Fairy 

Love, Maise 

New Mummy Blog

Tippy Tups 

How to take part in the tag and the rules.

Copy and paste the questions below and answer them on your blog linking back to this post, please.

Rules

1 Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog and https://kateonthinice.com

2 Answer the questions

3 Tag to take part 5 or more bloggers asking them to take part and let them know on social media

4 Post the questions without your answers at the bottom of your post so that they are easy to copy and paste for the people you tag

Nina x

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Where to next?