We can do this!

No.... Honestly really. We can.  We really can do this.


Its 7.45 and weare ready for the school run.  Mummy, daddy, 6 (nearly 7) year old and two 5 month old babies are fed, bathed, dressed and ready to rock for the day.  Mornings are actually the bit I find easiest.  Whether that is because Daddy is at home to TRULY take half of the role or whether it's just because we have brilliant kiddies I don't know but I guess both! either way we are ready for whatever the day has to throw at us.  First port of call this morning will be somewhere that nappies on special offer seeing as I have just realised there is ONE left which isn't good with ONE baby let alone TWO. 

'broken' families

People go on about broken families and what it does to children and how they are 'scarred for life'.  Of course the people that say these things are usually from a solid family where the parents are still together and they have had no problems in their lives (in no way am I saying that this is a bad thing).  But, well I say that maybe some 'broken' families are better than 'perfect' families.

I consider myself extremely lucky to benefit from all of the people that I consider to be family around me.  Without those terrible breaks that feel so bad at the time of them happening the people that are in my life now wouldn't be around.  I guess that's what life is about.

My parents split up before I was born but without that happening I wouldnt have 'Nanny Purple' in my life or my brother.

My fiance Tim died 5 months after my son Jacob was born.... this of course was THE most difficult thing for me to deal with and, well, maybe you dont deal with these things but I have learnt to cope and it has been these family and extended families that have helped me get through all of that.  And the person I am today is because of these people around me. 

Tim's parents also were seperated and so again there was a mother, father and step-mother along with his sister, brother and since he died sister in law and nephew.  All of these people have played a massive role in our lives.  See, love doesnt have to be shared, you just seem to acquire more room for more people and if you make the room for them then they have usually made room for you somewhere too.  I have tried to explain this to Jacob on a number of occasions and I think he understands where Im coming from now.

Then, of course I was incredibly lucky to have met Richard.... Richard has made me happier than I ever could have imagined feeling after everything that we went through when we lost Tim.  I believed I had had my happiness and that I would live the rest of my life alone.  Richard has made me see life in a whole new light again.  He has made me a stronger, happier, more confident woman and I cannot imagine now how I ever thought Id get through the rest of my life without him being part of it. 

With Richard I obviously also gained two more 'in-laws', although none of these 'in-laws' are official.  ...Maybe thats a good thing because i definitely dont have that traditional (oh god its the bloody in-laws) relationship with any of them, (Richard's or Tim's parents).  All of this extended family I have now, they are all just lovely people that I am truly happy to consider my family.

Of course this post appears to miss out my REAL family... you know BLOOD relatives but they are the people that have to put up with me no matter what (sorry guys).  They are no less appreciated than these marvellous additions. 

So, I guess what Im trying to say is I consider my three children to be very lucky to be part of this 'broken' family.  More people to love, more people to care and of course more people to babysit :)

So..... I am now a mummy of 3.  Part of a family of 5.  Cannot actually believe it but no one NO ONE has bought us a 'baby book' to mark all those important milestones.... does anyone actually fill those bloody things in?  So, because we have no book I have taken it upon myself to use a blog instead.  Maybe I'll keep it up to date, maybe I wont but even if I only post occasionally Im sure it will be more than if I were to fill in a book.  I wish I'd done this with Jacob but hopefully I can maybe go back and add some Jacob memories at some point from when he came along.

Gwen Amelia and Amberley Elsa were born 15th April 2012, 7lb 3oz and 7lb 1oz respectively.  They didnt have an easy journey with Gwen coming naturally and Amberley being the wrong way round and having to come via a c-section.  Jacob or 'Cob' was born 10 November 2005, 7lb 2.5oz and will feature just as much in this blog as the girls. 

This is a blog that I am really doing for my own benefit so that I can remember or be reminded of all the things that we are going to experience on this journey of parentdom.  We are doing ok so far, the girls are 12 days old today.  Already we are in a routine and seem to be settling into family of 5 life quite nicely.  Who knows what I will do when Richard goes back to work?  Two girls screaming for a clean bum and food at the same time with Jacob wanting to watch his new favourite cartoons is going to be a challenge,  BUT we can do it.  Bloody hope we can anyway.

Jacob, minutes after he was born 10 November 2005.