akashapeace

January

Hello friends!  I'm just checking in quickly today to let you know that I will be taking a little blog break... until January.  It's a perfect time to re-focus my energy on time spent with my son, cooking, decorating, writing, reading and photography.  There's been some really interesting developments mentally lately in regards to my personal life journey which I just cannot articulate well enough at the moment.  So I'm going to take a step back and reflect upon these valuable changes and hopefully share them at a later date.

I hope that you all have a fantastic Christmas period and thank you for sharing my journey so far via this blog.  I will still be on Twitter and I'll still be checking in on my favourite blogs every few days.  See you all in January, 2010.

Peace & Love

Carol

Drama

The past 24 hours have been a little stressful what with Dylan developing an ear infection which has affected both ears only 4 days before he's due to have his ear operation.  There were many tears last night as he buried his head on my shoulder while struggling with the pain.  After a visit to the GP today he's now on antibiotics and we're hoping for the best for his operation on Monday.

As a little treat we headed towards an unmentionable fast food place after collecting the medicine from the chemist, something which I have regretted ever since. I'm feeling very bloated and lethargic as a consequence of that Big M**, but damn it was yummy.  (And the milkshake, ice-cream and large fries, yes that's LARGE)

If Dylan does have his operation on Monday, I may well be absent for the majority of next week.  But I will try to get in one final post before then...

Be well

Carol

Progression

A little earlier than I'd anticipated, but I've missed this space over the past few days.  And what a busy week it's been so far.  Work, (work) training and some much needed DIY around the house.  Earlier this morning I lifted the carpet in my bedroom to make way for a new one in January.  A little early to be lifting it, but mentally I just couldn't cope with that 'cream' carpet anymore.  Note to self:  Never have cream carpets again.  I'm presently driving myself up the wall trying out different colours on the walls to see which colour I like the best.  This is ongoing it appears.  I make the decision and then find myself umming and ahhhing about it the next day.  I'm waiting for that 'YES' moment!

Monday night I practiced yoga for the first time in a looong time.  More about that another time.  I'm focusing upon eating healthy at the moment, but that's so very difficult when you encounter recipes like that. 

Peace & Love

Carol

Sunday morning reflections

There's no doubt about it, this obsession with polaroid is costing me a fortune.  So to justify the cost, I might just try limiting my blog posting to one or two posts per week.  Or try to use my Holga and Olympus more than I am doing.  Dylan's brother had never witnessed a polaroid camera before and his little face as he watched the photograph of himself and Dylan develop was magical.  But that's what makes polaroid so special.

So this 'might' just be my last post until Thursday friends.  Which might be a good thing considering I have a busy week of DIY ahead.  It's always good to take a step back to focus upon other areas that need attention.  Whether it be vaxing a carpet or finally unrolling that yoga mat that is sitting under my bed at present.

I felt content and peaceful last night and it was a wonderful feeling.  Work has been the cause of much stress lately and taking that much needed time to actually enjoy life was a welcome relief for me.   I felt grateful for the autumn sunlight, the warmth of my home, for being surrounded by two laughing children, and for the gentle laughter that I shared with Dylan's Dad.

Peace & Love

Carol

Feeling the love

Loving the light today and also loving this.  Polaroid of Dylan with his older brother Kai. 

I wanted to update this post this evening because while I am feeling dog tired tonight, it's that kind of tired you feel when you've spent a day filled with fun, laughter and feelings of love.  Steve and I arranged some weeks ago for the boys to spend this particular Saturday here to enable them to play with all of the toys  that are based here and to watch a firework display in the back garden.  It's been a day of train tracks laid in the living room (first time in 10 months), pizza, ice-cream, marshmellows and hot chocolate.  I've seriously had carb overdose today.  I just love the brotherly connection that exists between Dylan and his brother and many, many times today I sat quietly observing the moments that are accumulating for them both, moments that I hope that they will look back upon as they grow up and remember them with joy and love.

I hope you too have a fantastic weekend friends.

Christmas shopping and a cup of Mocha

This morning I awoke at 4.30am and climbed out bed at 5am consumed with the idea that I had things to do.  So here I sat with my morning cup of tea working out finances and then heading downstairs to pack a P.E kit, put a school lunch together, iron school clothes and just generally allow the morning silence to take me with the flow.  My intention was to also head into the city to buy a few DIY items which would pave the way to repainting my bedroom.  And before you knew it, I had bought Dylan's major Christmas gift.  Oh yeah, and a cool little square frame from John Lewis that is perfect, absolutely perfect for my favourite Halloween polaroid of Dylan.  Oh and a hat, scarf and glove set for the both of us.  It was damn cold this morning.  Overwhelmed with just how much money I had managed to spend in such a short time, I then headed to a cafe to consume a lovely Mocha...

Liz & Richard, the above polaroid of a very quiet Leicester city centre taken this morning might just ring a few bells with you.  It is now our new High Street.  The Shires shopping centre was extended into the Highcross section and they decided to completely pave the High Street as a consequence, thus eliminating those nasty rush hour traffic jams when all of the buses would get clogged along there.  As you can see, they've already started putting up those Christmas decorations.  Tick, tock, tick, tock!

And there you have it.  My morning.  I won't bore you with the chaos of the afternoon after I'd collected Dylan from school and was surrounded by 10 screaming children on the bus.  Now THAT was fun.  Not!

Peace & Love

Carol

A moment of quiet

Don't we just love Grandmothers?  This morning I was afforded the opportunity to rest and sleep in bed a little longer due to Nana offering to take Dylan to school for me because she was heading into the city this morning anyway.  Bless her heart.  Since having my son I consider extra sleep to be when I've slept until 7am, but this morning I slept until 9am.  A rarity indeed.  Thank you Nana!  So now I sit here eating my toast smothered in cream cheese and enjoying my first cup of tea of the day.

On the subject of Dylan and school, I recieved Dylan's proofs back yesterday from his school photograph taken over a week ago.  Last year I didn't buy any because I was disappointed with the quality.  This year Dylan's photograph caused me to laugh out loud and I simply must buy them.  He has pulled a scary monster face for the camera.  Yes, my son pulled a scary monster face for his official school photograph.  That's ma' boy!

Well that's my morning ramble out of the way.  For those of you who love film photography, it's Polaroid Week and you'll be sure to encounter some fantastic photos over on flickr.  Check them out here.  I am not participating because I consider my polaroid film to be like gold dust at the moment, too precious to use!  Hahaha.

Peace & Love

Carol

Back to normal

Unfortunately Halloween didn't end so well.  Dylan developed a stomach bug which resulted in plenty of back rubs, hugs, scrubbing carpets and washing pillows.  When he awoke again at 4.30am and immediately headed to the tiolet, I didn't hold out much hope that he was going to have a good Sunday.  Fortunately, that would be the last time that he was physically ill and we consequently spent Sunday curled up on the sofa together resting.

This morning he went to school full of energy and it's hard to believe that this is the same boy from Saturday night.

On the subject of Saturday night, before he fell ill Dylan had a wonderful time handing out candy to all of the trick or treaters at the door.  In typical ladies man style he handed out more candy to the girls and only handed out one piece to the boys.  Dylan likes the girls!

Peace & Love

Carol

Happy Halloween

My son amazed me that he actually slept until 8am this morning.  His body clock usually compels him to wake up around 6am every morning.  But no sooner was he awake and the costume was on and he was sitting on the kitchen counter drawing the eyes, nose and mouth onto the pumpkin.  He's very happy today!

Have a great Halloween friends!

This morning

This morning Dylan and I attended the hospital for his pre-surgery evaluation.  The nurse who talked Dylan and I through the procedure was fantastic and explained in very easy terminology to make it easier for Dylan to comprehend and to ease any fears that he may be experiencing.  He's having a small operation on his ears in November which will improve his hearing and will hopefully also improve his ability to pronounce his words more articulately.  Although I will admit it's kind of cute to hear him pronounce 'hospital' as 'hos-bib-ul'.

I am also consumed with thoughts of Christmas today, is it really that close again?  The really good news is that I am not working Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, so we can relax and enjoy the occasion together.  But putting aside Christmas for a moment, I simply must remember to buy a pumpkin today!

Peace & Love

Carol