The Results Are In...

Just had the email with my exam results...

I PASSED!

I'm so happy, and pleased with myself!

I got a Grade 2 pass.

Although I was shaking clicking through the website ;-)

Reasons to be Cheerful

For more information on what Reasons to Be Cheerful (#R2BC) is all about please check out this post from Michelle at Mummy from the Heart for a full description.

This week's Reasons to be Cheerful: 

1. My exam (and therefore my course) is over! I'm glad to see the back of it. I really struggled with it as there was a lot of information to take in and remember, not good when Anti D's and mental health problems mess with my motivation, concentration, and memory! 
2. My new course started last Saturday, I'm yet to start properly as I need to just let my head stop feeling like it is going to explode, but it's creative writing, so something I enjoy.
3. After the really stressful day on Tuesday my exam (I'm confident with one question! :-0 but its worth 30%), Little Lady gave me a proud mummy moment and walked all the way across the room. She has been standing and taking 2 or 3 steps for a few weeks so it has been coming for a while, but it was like she new I needed it! Aren't kiddos amazing?
4. I had a break from the revision to link up with Wendy at Handmade Harbour for her Midweek Papercraft Party, I did a very basic Halloween card / invite, but it was a great distraction from the stress. I'm hoping to join up with this week's theme of Men and boys. 
5. Speaking of Halloween, have you seen the Alex and Alexa Blogger competition? I have blogged details here. 
6. Because of my exam and revision, Daddy had booked a week off. I like to say we had some lovely family time, but we didn't really, I was too busy. Little Lady has enjoyed spending lots of time with him though. Hopefully, we will do something as a family, or even just as a couple, soon.
7. I am planning a few Christmas posts at the moment, mainly crafty and gift inspired.
8. I put on a LOT of weight this week. I know that isn't a reason to be cheerful and I certainly wasn't. I expected a bit of a gain due to Daddy cooking and me snacking on sandwiches etc. due to lack of time. But it did mean I had a bottle of Rioja and some chocolate! lol Onwards and upwards, I'm back to eating normally again.

So over to you, what are your reasons to be cheerful?

Reasons to be Cheerful

For more information on what Reasons to Be Cheerful (#R2BC) is all about please check out this post from Michelle at Mummy from the Heart for a full description.

This week's Reasons to be Cheerful: 

1. Little Lady is settling in well with the childminder. I really like the childminder too, instantly made me feel at ease.
2. I have made a start on revision for my OU exam, which is good as I only have 11 days left!
3. I lost another 3lb at Slimming World. So I have now lost my first stone, well actually 16lbs so far :) Only another 8lbs to my 10% loss goal.
4. On Friday, I attended a Introduction to Group work meeting at Leeds Mind. I was so anxious the night before and felt so sick, and did my usual trick of babbling away ******** to cover my nerves! But I survived. I think it helps that everyone understands and shares mental health issues. I started the group meetings on Tuesday, and again fought through the anxiety to get there, but felt it helped once there.
5. Both me and Kiki have had cold this week; for Little Lady this meant she struggled to sleep as she couldn't breathe well; for me, I just feel shocking, tired, aching, etc. I have ended up with painful ribs too, I suspect through coughing. I fought through the urge to just stuff my face with chocolate. I did mention I'm a comfort eater, right? So I'm feeling proud of myself for that.
6. Even with my cold crappiness, I have managed to keep exercising. Not as much, I have had two days off though.
7. I gave my friend her weight loss tracker to keep her motivated at Slimming World and she loved it. 
8. I'm still trying to organise my crafty corner, and have started scanning all my patterns and 'how to's'.

 So over to you, what have you been up to this week? What are your reasons to be cheerful? Do let me know.

Reasons To Be Cheerful

For more information on what Reasons to Be Cheerful (#R2BC) is all about please check out this post from Michelle at Mummy from the Heart for a full description.

This week's Reasons to be Cheerful: 

1. I lost another 3.5 lbs, so the weight I'd put on last week plus another two pounds.
2. My friends are amazing!
3. Daddy is happier about childcare.
4. I got crafty, I'll post soon.
5. I'm trying to organise my crafty corner, which means scanning all my patterns and 'how to's' to digital.
6. I'm doing quite well with Christmas presents. We are on holiday this year, so I want to get sorted soon, so we have money to spend! 
7. I finished my last uni assignment for this OU module, I had to pull an all nighter to get it done. Now just need to get ready for the exam. 
8. I was also featured on Michelle's blog as R2BC blogger of the week last week :-) Thank you Mich x

So over to you, what are your reasons to be cheerful this week?

Blogging Every Day in August: How are you today? (Day 10)

Sarah at Yummy Mummy In Training has set herself a challenge of blogging every day in August and has listed her prompts. As my blogging is a bit hit and miss at the moment, I will be using her prompts to generate some ideas too.

Today's prompt is: How are you today?

To be honest, I feel like crap. I've had a rough, stressful week, filled with tantrums and tears. 

My O.U. assignment was due last Friday, but I needed to get an extension as I wasn't getting anywhere with it. I have no motivation because of my depression, and very low self esteem, so if I don't understand, it just makes me feel worse.

My concentration is rubbish, I end up having to read every thing several times, but it still doesn't sink in. I'm really struggling with my course. I'm very good (or rather used to be) at things that require a definite answer, so this course was completely new and different. 

Part of me is regretting taking it. I'm doing well (scores wise) but I am not enjoying it. It is very hard going, this isn't my first O.U. course so I knew what to expect. The course is harder work than some Level 3 courses.

I managed to get the assignment in last night, but I'm not at all confident. I don't feel like I'm actually understanding or getting any of it though.

Now we wait.

Oh and I've to finish a double weighted assignment before my exam in 7 weeks!
Wish me luck! 

Reasons to be Cheerful

How is everyone today?

I hope you have had a great week.

For more information on what Reasons to Be Cheerful (#R2BC) is all about please check out this post from Michelle at Mummy from the Heart for a full description.

My reasons this week are:

1. I survived the weddings and (whisper it) had fun. Although I knew I would pay for it, and still haven't left the house since. Both myself and Little Lady received lots of compliments. She enjoyed the attention, especially by a certain young boy, who did look gorgeous in his cream three piece suit. 
2. I managed to make a phone call this week. Granted it turned out to be a big bloody mistake, I got so stressed out, and had to email about the thing I wanted, plus two other problems they threw up, but I did it!
3. I am struggling so much with my current O.U. course. I usually avoid the online forums as I get overwhelmed and negative. This is usually because someone is saying how easy / simple the materials and assignments are, but this week I had to go into them to find some information, and there are several pages that state how difficult and laborious the course and materials are, and how unmotivated people are. I know that sounds horrible, and I don't relish other people's misery, on the contrary in fact, but it made me realise I'm not the only one that is finding it difficult. 

Have a great week girls and boys.

P.S. Do let me know if I do miss visiting your blog. 

Blogging Every Day in August: Get Crafty (Day 8)

Sarah at Yummy Mummy In Training has set herself a challenge of blogging every day in August and has listed her prompts. As my blogging is a bit hit and miss at the moment, I will be using her prompts to generate some ideas too.

Today's prompt is: Get Crafty

I have a variety of crafty things on the go at the moment, but due to depression lack of motivation is killing them all. My current O.U. course is Design and Designing, which involves lots of drawing and sketching, but the course is really draining and I'm struggling.

I have also got some plastic bottles to make the sensory bottles / bags with. I just need the contents now.

I'm sharing a couple of sketches from a recent assignment, please remember, I'm not an artist by any stretch of the imagination!

I'd also like to share a blog hop with you, I'm not a member as I cannot find the time or motivation, but I enjoy reading them.


Handmade Monday over at Handmade Harbour:



And also Wendy's new website:

 

I look forward to trying out some of the ideas on Handmade Monday eventually, and playing with digistamps, something new and exciting. 

Do stop by.

Busy

I'm sorry that I haven't had time to blog recently.

I have a lot on at the moment, but I'm remembering to enjoy the rainbows whilst working towards my pot of gold.

Unfortunately, I had to visit the LGI last Friday evening due to having reduced movements, all was fine but as it was my second episode of reduced fetal movement I was booked in for a scan. On Monday, I had the scan, the baby and amniotic fluid were measured. Again all was as should be, but the sonographers need to see the baby move twice during the scan. 

And she just refused, lazy bugger (mummy's girl). 

I ended up stood up, jiggling my stomach and telling her to move. I'm sure it would have looked rather strange to anyone watching. She did as was told. Eventually!

So although I have an OU assignment and an OU EMA (which is worth 50% of my course) that are both due before my daughter. Plus a couple of WIPs that I want to finish for various reasons; financial and exposure mainly, I'm not stressing.

I was also lucky enough to get a place on the So You Want To Be A... Writer at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. An amazing opportunity, I hope to make the best of. The showcase of this is the day before my baby's due date.

I am in the final six weeks of my pregnancy now and am lucky that I'm not at the 'I just want it all to be over' stage. Obviously, I'm looking forward to her arrival, but I'm really hoping that she follows my time keeping and makes a late appearance.

She is due on Saturday 2nd June, which is Jubilee Weekend, also England face Belgium at Wembley that day for the last Friendly before the Euro 2012 starts days later.

Hospital appointments, antenatal groups, final baby checklists, and life are taking up the rest of my time. I promise I haven't neglected you, well I have, but hopefully not for much longer.

Reasons to be Cheerful

I'm struggling a lot lately, be it depression, pregnancy, hormones, whatever, I want to call it I guess. I am trying to be kind to myself, but it is always so much easier to blame myself.

But damn it! I will not be beaten, so here are this week's reasons to be cheerful.

Photography

My old camera, a digital compact Canon PowerShot A470, died recently and I was lost without it. I bought a cheap camera as a replacement, but it was never going to be a long relationship. I enjoy photography too much to put up with bad quality images! So this week I (along with my trusty Google) managed to repair it. However, I also used the opportunity of a broken camera to read up on reviews for Digital SLRs. I have wanted one for a while, but couldn't afford or justify it, especially not with a baby on the way. 

And then it happened...

I saw a second hand shop selling three Digital SLR kits within my budget. As with most things I buy, I have my usual go to sites for reviews and tech stuff, I am a blatant out and proud geek. 

I did it. I actually only went and bought it! Eeek! 

Now looking forward to figuring out all the extra features *grins*.

Open University

Registration for Open University courses for October opened. I have registered for a new module, just waiting for confirmation of financial support. I don't need the points, but I do need the experience for the next level. I have also requested places on two short courses in between my current course ending and this one starting. I am not sure I will get either of these as I need financial support, and it seems quite complicated because I am not a new student, but I have applied, so just have to wait and see *crosses fingers*.

Pregnancy Massages

I continue to have pregnancy massages, which are beneficial to me, physically and mentally, and also to baby.