Coffee Date Friday ::

Happy Friday !!

This is the first week in a long while that has dragged ... maybe it has something to do with the fact that my days at the moment are pretty much the same, whilst I recover from my operation ..

I am two weeks post-op and finally feeling more like my usual self. After a few set backs, a reaction to medication, more anti-biotic's and a leaky scar :( ..

If we were meeting for coffee/tea today i would be excited to see you and glad of some company ..

I would share with you that I am ready to kick start a more healthy lifestyle and exercise!! 

I am loving blogging at the moment and I am really grateful to have some really good blogging friends that have helped me out guest posting for those days where opening up the laptop was really unappealing..

I would also share with you how I am feeling a little lost at the moment , with regards to career and what to do with myself :( 

So how about you  ? What would you share with me ?

Claire xo

Linking up with the lovely Alissa 

Coffee Date Friday

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Another week that seems to have flown by .. although there hasn't been as much bed-hopping going on this week , I generally have felt more rested this week, apart from last night which consisted of lots of tossing and turning and a restless mind ..

If we were meeting for coffee/tea, I would probably need a little reassurance for my operation this afternoon.  I think the hardest part of the whole thing is leaving the girls, but I am so ready to start living my life again ..

I would also be sharing with you that I am so grateful for some great blogging friends that are helping me out by guest posting over the next couple of weeks, for those days where I just need to rest..

I am looking forward to getting back creating, I have so many ideas for simple DIYs to share with you all..

I have packed a blank notebook and this really cute kikki.k diary as well as "The Happiness Project" and Oprah's Biography .. 

What would you share with me ??

Have a great weekend.

Claire xo

No More Baby's after 30 .....

I have stopped and started this post more times than I care to mention.... Sometimes I seem to write the perfect post in my head but when it comes to writing it down it never seems to be the same.

I didn't know where to start, so I am starting from the beginning....

I am so blessed to have 4 beautiful daughters. I had my first daughter aged 19, my second at 21 and 3rd at 25.. These pregnancies where beautiful I loved being pregnant and my labours were really good.

To say it was a shock when I found out I was pregnant again when my 3rd child was 4 months old, was an understatement !! However I loved the thought of having another child so close together.. however a month into the pregnancy I started bleeding, this bleeding persisted and ended up clotting in my womb it almost looked as though I was having twins.. the clot grew and at times was double the size of this tiny baby .. 
I knew that this pregnancy was 50/50 , that was tough I needed rest but with 3 young children it was hard.. I spent a lot of time in hospital , we did find out that this tiny baby was a boy :) we couldn't be happier..
My joy soon to despair and heartbreak as i went into premature labour at 26 weeks my baby boy was stillborn , perfect in every way weighing 1lb.. 

The months after loosing my son were a blur and I am not sure how I got through it,  but I knew I had to my girls needed me and I needed them .

In 2010 almost 2 years after my tragic loss, I conceived again, this time though there was no joy only possibilities of the unknown , how could i love another little being growing inside of me not knowing what the outcome could be ?? 
The bleeding started not long into the pregnancy, only this time it was worse, I was devastated, scans showed that i had once again clotting in my womb, I was giving the option of aborting the pregnancy .. I refused, deep inside I knew that this would be the last time..
Somehow I managed to get to 30weeks, and then 34 weeks, my water broke I was admitted to hospital I had steroid injections to help this tiny baby just before 35 weeks my contractions started, I ended up having an emergency c-section .... 
My tiny baby girl was born healthy at 4lbs, we celebrated her 3rd birthday last Friday.


Something happened to  my body during these last 2 pregnancies, my periods became heavy, longer and painful.. I made the decision to be sterilized, knowing i would never want to go through another pregnancy, I just couldn't cope with the mental torture of the uncertainty..

I also had another procedure, Endometrial ablation to help with the heavy bleeding, which was successful but after the bleeding stopped I developed constant pain, almost like "after birth" pains almost everyday..

Fast forward to today, tomorrow I am having an Hysterectomy, as I am left with no other option.. My Consultant thinks I am a little young to be having this procedure, but the pain is too much. I am so lucky to have my girls especially the youngest , for me my family is complete as it can be.. Always in my heart I will know that I should have a 5 year old boy running round but he will forever be in my heart.. 

The next 6-7 weeks are going to be hard as I recovery from my operation, but for my own health and quality of life I know that I am making the right decision. 

I hope that my story will help other mommys, who may be going through a similar situation ..

If you have any comments or questions please ask or email me ..

Thank you for reading 

Claire xo

Coffee Date Friday

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If I thought last week went by quickly, this week went by like a flash !! So glad that the weekend is here though !! 

The school routine has been easier this week, but midnight bed-hopping has made me one tired mommy .

If we were meeting for coffee/tea today, we would be celebrating my baby girls 3 birthday, there would be Minnie Mouse cake and home-made cupcakes .. 

I would be Thanking you (all) for your support and kind words last week, I was glad I opened up about my upcoming surgery (next Friday).

I would share with you that I went for my Pre-Op appointment  yesterday, which went well and I had a lot of my questions answered.. 

I would be excited to tell you that I my No Sew Fabric Bow Tutorial , was accepted onto CraftGawker which has made my week !! Working on my photos is something that I hope to improve on this year too !!

This week I will be focusing on getting organised for next weekend.. 

Today though is a day of celebration, Minnie Mouse style !! Its hard to believe that she is already 3.. After a traumatic birth (emergency c-section ) at 34 weeks, she weighed only 4lbs .She has such a lovely nature, full of smiles..

What would you share with me ??

Joining Alissa @ Rags to Stitches for Coffee Date Friday

Claire xo

Coffee Date Friday ...

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This week has flown by, so glad it is the weekend though. getting back into the routine has been tougher than i thought.  I am tired, looking forward to a small lay-in tomorrow and a movie with my girlie's. 

If we were having coffee (or tea) in my case, I would tell you that writing this post is part of my goals for my blog, being more intentional and personal about my content. 

I have been busy planing my baby girls 3rd birthday and even though I am having her party in a "play area" I am still going to decorate our home and bake a few goodies :)

I also received a letter from the hospital that confirmed my surgery  for the 24th of this month, I am both thankful and scared at the same time .. Not only am I worried about the surgery, the recovery, (6 weeks) , the 4 nights stay i am worried how my girls will cope , especially the youngest.. 

I would also tell you that I am loving blogging at the moment and feel that I am chasing my dreams at the moment ...

What would you share with me ?? 

Linking up with Alissa @ Rags to Stitches 

Change ...

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If you have been a reader of my blog for a while, you will have noticed that over the weekend I made a huge change to my blog. The name, design and over-all feel .

So today's post is to share with you why i made the changes..

Why ?

Blogging for me has always been a reflection of myself, what I love, hobbies, colours and inspiration .. So, as in real life sometimes you need to change things in order to be happy, this goes for my blog too.

I have been blogging for over 3 years now, on different platforms under different blog names, I feel I have learnt a lot, but the one thing that I do know is I need to follow my heart and go with what makes me happy ..

Lemon Paper Designs (my blogs previous name) was a really big part of my life last year, I started LPD as a way to showcase my esty shop and share my love of paper.. I was lucky enough that my shop was successful and for a while i was content, but then came a point were I wasn't enjoying it any-more and i decided to put my shop on vacation mode.. I was still left with the blog LPD and for a while it was nice just to have one focus on the blog, paper.. 

After months debating about making a change or possibly not blogging any-more I talked to this friend her encouragement and support help me make, what I hope will be my last change to the blog. 

What will Change ?

Mostly content, I want to share with you more projects, recipes, inspiration, favourite and just everyday life.. I have also decided to open up some Ad swap spaces.. 

What will Stay ??

Craft, Create & Inspire linky party will stay!!!  I will also continue to share my scrapbook layouts and project life spreads..

I would love to hear your thoughts..

Claire