1000 page views this month so far!!

I was just checking on my blog stats, as you do, and I noticed that this month has not only beaten my all time high for page views but has already surpassed 1000 views since the beginning of April!! Thank you to all my readers, I'm not sure why you keep coming back but I do appreciate your loyalty and am hoping I inspire some of you. 

For those that have been following my story with HG and my pregnancy I wanted to give you an update and, at last, it's a fairly positive one! 

Last week I ended up seeing the GP as I was really beginning to struggle emotionally with the nausea and being stuck inside. She was really good and set a few things in motion. One of which was that I was to go to the hospital and have some checks. The GP really wanted me to get some fluids so I could be hydrated again. After a REALLY long wait in the hospital I finally got seen by a very good doctor. Whilst she didn't give me fluids (apparently no vomiting means no fluids) she didn't want me to leave without a plan of action. So she gave me some new drugs to try and booked me in with the consultant for follow up work. 

The new drugs are great, they work really well in addition to what I'm currently taking and for the first time in 8 months I feel hungry and thirsty!! I was able to get up and do bits and pieces on Saturday and I feel so much better. I have to be very careful not to over do it as I have very little energy and reserves but at least I don't feel nauseous all the time now. Fortunately the consultant today has extended these drugs and allowed me to stay on them with the strict instructions that I'm to build myself up over the next 2 weeks and drink lots of fluids. In a few weeks I'll meet him again and we'll discuss how to take things further, I may be induced closer to my due date if everything is favourable. 

So I feel a lot better, not sure if I'm up to much baking yet but I have started up the knitting again and my brain is once again feeling more active. I now just need to focus on getting through the next weeks. I'm going to focus on getting to the next consultants appointment and take it from there. In 3 weeks I'll be very close at 38+4 weeks!! 

Thank you for all your support, the thing that has helped me the most in these days has been the messages of love and concern I received from people. My birthday couldn't have come at a better time because the cards I received really helped lift me, knowing so many people bothered to remember me. I  hope that you'll all get a chance to meet Mia when she's here, we're currently busy arranging a big get together for all friends and family so if you're interested, just let me know. 

I wasn't really sure what picture to put on this post but Cali wanted to say hi!! 

How am I now?

I wanted to further update you on news about me and how I'm feeling. As you should already know, I'm 20 weeks pregnant with our first child, due 20th May. 

Last time I wrote about me it was before even the 12 weeks scan and I had been very ill, in and out of hospital a couple of times. Since then I've managed to stay out of hospital and have been feeling a little better, however, not well enough to be able to function normally. I still feel nauseous all the time but have managed not to vomit for a week now, hoping I can keep that up!! I spend most of my time around the flat, tends to be in bed, but try and potter around doing little bits and pieces. I have been able to get out a few times and enjoy some social life but this tends to be a maximum of once a week and needs a preparation and recovery period around it. 

On a positive note the 12 weeks scan was great and showed everything was fine and now we've had the 20 week scan. We now know that we're having a little girl, Amelia Katie, and that she is a perfectly average size. A relief as after being so sick I thought she might be suffering but it would appear not. I've made some new friends who are helping pull me through and I'm now counting down as I've reached the halfway mark. It's unlikely that I'll be well enough to work before I take maternity leave but hopefully I'll improve a little and at least be able to potter around the flat a little more. Amelia is very active and kicks me frequently to remind me she's still there and we're enjoying purchasing lots of girlie bits and pieces for her now. 

It was a delight to meet her at the scan and we now can't wait to meet her in real life. I also can't wait to feel less sick and get baking again for real. I've managed a few bits and pieces with help but not enough and I miss it. Mia and I will be baking from when she's born!! start them early ;-). 

Amelia Katie Manley

So there's the quick update, I hope to manage a few posts over the coming months to keep this blog going but it really depends on what I can manage, but this time next year I expect to be enjoying my crafty Christmas presents and making wonderful creations!! 

Changing Bag

I recently completed, finally, my changing bag for our due baby. I started this with my mum months ago and have struggled to complete it due to sickness. Last week I finally got it out and sewed up the last few sections to complete it. 

We followed a changing bag pattern, which unfortunately I don't have the details of but mum might be able to help us with that. First step was to choose the fabric, we went to a fantastic shop called Thread Bear, which is by far my favourite crafty shop around. They have an amazing range of craft fabrics and I'm always spoilt for choice. I really wanted something bright and cheerful as bright colours are much more appealing to babies, so we decided to go for a lovely yellow spotty fabric contrasted by a deeper plainer blue. It took us ages to decide but I'm really happy with the combination we've now got. The bag also had a filling, like a quilt, to pad it out a little so this gives it a lovely thickness to it. It also has a solid plastic base which gives it shape and structure. 

Outside view

2 of the pockets plus the solid base

When choosing the pattern I wanted to go for a bag that had plenty of pockets and was also a good size. The one we went for in the end has 3 inner pockets and 4 outer pockets, 2 handles and also a shoulder strap. I wanted it to shut with a zip also so everything was secure inside. 

The other side, elasticated pocket

Outside end pockets

We followed all the details on the pattern and it seemed fairly easy for my mum to understand, she basically told me what to do and I sewed!! Sometimes it seems like what you're doing is really strange but it all comes together beautifully in the end. All the edges are nicely covered by binding and everything is tucked away. 

I'm really pleased with the end product and have already started packing it, I hope you agree that it's lovely and bright and cheerful. It should be useful as well but that remains to be found out once we have the baby!! 

Final overall view!!

Where have I Been?

I just wanted to write a quick post to explain my lack of baking and posting recently. I'm afraid I've been very unwell the last few weeks and into hospital twice. However, the reason is positive. 

I'm 11 weeks pregnant, I know it's early to be announcing it!! and I have a condition called Hyperemesis Gravidarum. For those that don't know this is where you are basically throwing up constantly, severe morning sickness, but certainly not just in the mornings. I've got to the stage where I'm unable to carry out a usual daily life as the more I move and get tired the more I throw up. Twice in the last few weeks I've been so bad that I've got very dehydrated and been sent into hospital for fluids. Last time was just last week and they made me stay overnight this time to get extra fluids into me and to ensure that I could keep food down when I left. I'm on anti-sickness drugs, which are helping, but still feel pretty unable to do anything. I haven't been able to work for over 3 weeks now and the Dr has signed me off till 5/12, being self-employed, this is proving to be quite an issue. 

IV in the hand being given fluids and anti-sickness drugs

Due to the HG I haven't been able to think about food let alone have the energy to bake anything, I've avoided the kitchen and fridge and am just trying to keep anything down at the moment. I'm hoping to get back to baking really soon and with a bit more variety. 

However, the positives, I've had an early scan last week to check that it wasn't twins so now I've seen the baby and its heartbeat:

Little m&m, only one, nice heartbeat and happily fidgeting around!!

All was healthy and dated the same kind of time, so it's due around the 19th May 2013. We'll get another scan next week which is our official 12 week scan and they do many more developmental checks then when the baby is a bit bigger and better formed. 

I have a mini Manley now, so the blog title makes a little more sense and I have a target to aim for, by May 2014 I need to be able to make a 1st birthday cake!! 

I've had lots of support from friends and family, lots of contact and lots of love sent my way. I'm very lucky in this manner and we were certainly glad we had announced it so whilst in hospital last week I received many text messages and well wishes. My mum has lots of kind friends who are frequently asking after me as well. It's lovely to know that so many people care. 

I'm able to work through books, dvds and tv series that I've wanted to watch. I've kept our little cat company even though the sound of me throwing up really freaks her out. 

And my husband, as always, has been incredible, doing way too much and looking after me as much as he can. We've had such understanding from his work, he's only been there 3 months!, and this has meant he could be there for me when I really needed him. 

Hopefully I'll get back to baking soon, I have borrowed a book from my mum to try and add some more variety to my books section so watch this space! and I have a birthday cake to make for my mum, not sure when she'll get it yet though!!