The One Where I Think I Can Knit ( and I fret a bit too😂!)

Well, that was another week and a half! Lots of cooking and baking, lots of dog walking, a scan so my daughter and son in law could find out what flavour babies they are expecting and a flat move for my son and his girlfriend. Hubby was away for 3 nights and I missed him. He's not normally away for that long and it was a week when I needed him to talk to!  Talking on the phone isn't quite the same as a face to face chat and a cuddle when you need it.

So, to start with, here a a few of my baking/cooking efforts....all Hairy Bikers recipes. I have made it my mission to cook every recipe in the book so be prepared for more photos in coming weeks.

The main focus of the week, undoubtably, was the previously mentioned scan that my daughter went for on Wednesday. It was a big day for her and one that she was excited and anxious about in equal measure. She had used the 20 week marker as the date that everything started to become real. The babies she is expecting would become 'real' as the sexes of them were revealed. Well, brilliantly and happily, she is expecting one of each. How brilliant is that? The babies appear to be growing well and we are keeping everything crossed that all continues to go as well as possible.

As a mum it is incredibly exciting and scary in equal measures when you find out that your daughter is having a baby. It is something that I have been incredibly fortunate to have experienced 4 times before and I never get over the miracle of each and every pregnancy and birth.

This time there is more anxiety because it's a twin pregnancy and my daughter's first pregnancy too. She has also been very sick and had a pretty rough time so we are all hoping that the next few months will settle down.

For me it's a strange time. Fear, excitement, and everything in between. I'm sure all prospective grandmothers feel the same. However, add in to the mix the fact that there is a genetic condition  to add to the equation and it's no wonder that my brain is in overdrive.

With each of the pregnancies of my daughters I have been so worried that one of their babies will have inherited the condition known as Stickler Syndrome, especially as there is a 50/50 chance of any baby inheriting the condition and carrying it on.

When I had my first child I had no idea of what was ahead of me for my girls and I had never heard of the condition. My pregnancy was normal and I loved every minute of it. The trauma that followed the birth of my daughter was life changing for me and my husband at the time. It really did change our lives forever.

I always vowed that my daughters would have as much information as they could get before they decided to try for their own families and that is what I have always tried to give them. Once they have been given all of the details they could then go ahead and make their choice. I always felt that there is no such thing as too much information in such circumstances and so I also spoke with the partners too just so they were as aware as they could be.

While my girls are old enough to make up their own minds, whenever one of them tells me that they are pregnant my heart races and my tummy churns because I am so thrilled for them but also because I am so worried.

Stickler Syndrome is not a life limiting condition but it does make certain things more difficult. I remember how much of a struggle I found things at times and I remember the hospital visits and the  doctors appointments that the girls endured, the operations and the drama. I remember what we were told by the consultants .....all the things that our children might not be able to do and achieve. Then I look at my girls and I am amazed at their resilience and their inner strength. I am reminded every day of the goodness and kindness that lives in them. Stickler Syndrome has not defined them. In many ways it has brought out the very best in them.

Whatever happens with this latest pregnancy, Stickler or no Stickler, these babies will be welcomed into the world with love and joy and happiness just as our other grandchildren have been. It's a very exciting time - despite the fretting Mum/ Nanny driving herself and everyone else mad!!

So exciting, in fact, that I have started knitting....which is ridiculous because I really am not a natural! However, I am determined to give it a good go and have started knitting a hat. Simple I have no doubt but not so for me. I have already had to unravel my work and start again as I messed it up and I've no idea how😂😂😂

So, there we are. I have fretted about this update. I am always so worried that anything I write will upset or offend someone and updates like these about something so personal are always tricky. However, but this blog is ultimately for me and about me and my feelings. Having said that, if anyone reads this and is upset in anyway please do let me know. I can take the page down very easily.

Until next time. 

Xxxxx