We have been in our home for nearly seven years and the time has come to update our kitchen.  We decided to change the wall colour from green to white and I want to have pops of mid century modern and yellow.

The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in our house and in addition to being used for all the cooking we also use it to eat breakfast, craft and do homework too.  It is a happy room, but has it’s issues including the futility area!

I have never ever compared myself with Angelina Jolie before, but I am now proud to actually say that both of us have undergone prophylactic double mastectomies due to a faulty gene.

You can not have missed the announcement from Angelena about her choice and surgery, which I believe she did with such dignity and pose, but if you did it can be found in The New York Times.

It is four years since I had my operation and it was what actually spurred me on to blog.  So let me tell you my story.

Me with Maxi after the mastectomy, I came home with drains in

There is and was a lot of cancer on my maternal side of the family.  But we never actually contemplated any genetic link at all, even when my mum’s younger sister was diagnosed with a rare form of primary peritoneal cancer we just thought that we were unlucky and concentrated on getting her through the treatment.  During this time she was offered a test as part of a trial to check for certain genetic “spelling mistakes”.  A number of months passed and we just all got on with our lives and didn’t give the test a second thought.

After what seems like a long time, my Aunty was called in to see a genetic counsellor and was informed that she carried a spelling mistake in the BRCA2 gene.  At this point the testing was opened up to immediate family members and also to the children of her siblings who had already died of cancer.  My Mum decided to have the test and went to pretest counselling and joked with us that she would outlive anyone and that cancer would not get her.  So it was such a shock to her when the results came back and she too carried the faulty gene.

At this point Mini, my second child was around one I was offered the test too.  MadDad and myself went along to meet the pretest councillor and discussed all the implications of having a positive test.  We left those meetings really feeling as though I needed to have the test and I need to be aware of what my risk would be.  Do I had the test and two weeks later we went back for the results, only to be told that I too carried the faulty gene too.

We went home reeling, especially as I had been told that my lifetime risk of breast cancer was over 80% and my lifetime risk of ovarian cancer was in excess of 60%.  However, we decided to look up on this as a positive thing and do the only thing I felt able to do which was to gather as much information as possible about treatment and screening.  I had a mammogram and an MRI on my breasts, but both were really hard to interpret due to my age (the younger you are the more dense the breast tissue is) and also the fact I had large breasts.

It was around this time that we made the hard decision that we were not going to have anymore children and that I needed to be well for the two I had and to have my ovaries and fallopian tubes removed.  I did this first as there is some studies that shown the risk of ovarian cancer increases at 35 and also it is a silent killer and there was no screening I could have at the time.

Me and Mini, you can see the strap from the bag which contained my drains

Four months later we made the informed decision to have a double mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with implants.  We made the decision to have implants due to MIni being under a year old and the recovery would be quicker. So I went in for my operation on 28 February.  Unfortunately for me things were not straightforward and I had issues with the implants and subsequently spent a lot of time in hospital with sepsis and had to have the implants removed and another operation to remove some more tissue sue to the pathology of the previously removed breasts.

It was a hard and very emotional time for me and my family.  I was in hospital for over six weeks over a two month period.  But I reduced my risk of breast cancer to less than 5%.  I still have not had a reconstruction, but when the boys are more self sufficient I will.

When  my boys are eighteen, they will both be eligible for a genetic rest to see if they carry the same faulty gene that I do.  When I was eighteen we didn’t even know what DNA was let alone be able to isolate and locate faulty genes, so it is my hope that by the time they are older not only will they be able to be tested, but if they test positive that they will be able to be cured.

We were recently sent a selection of post-it notes and a canvass to get our craft on with.  Being the total non-conformist I am we decided to have a go at installation art in addition to  making a picture on the canvass (this also had something to do with the fact that we couldn’t get the post-it notes top stick on the canvass so the creeper we made fell apart!  I should have added glue to the canvass like The Boy and Me did!

The boys really enjoyed being allowed to stick the post-it notes to the wall and I felt safe in the knowledge knowing that they would not mark the paintwork or stick permanently.

We used Super Sticky fully adhesive Post-it notes which are in fab vibrant colours.  3M have just launched Post-It Notes Colour Cubes which have many more bright and lovely colours.  Why not check out Post-It UK Facebook Page for more information on the new range of Post-It Notes and see other peoples pictures too.

Pin It]]> http://www.muminthemadhouse.com/2013/05/14/crafting-with-post-it-notes/feed/ 3 http://www.muminthemadhouse.com/2013/05/13/win-a-forestry-commission-discovery-pass/ http://www.muminthemadhouse.com/2013/05/13/win-a-forestry-commission-discovery-pass/#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 13:05:36 +0000 Jen Walshaw http://www.muminthemadhouse.com/?p=6760

I am a huge advocate of free range parenting and natural play.  One of the ways I encourage this is by taking the boys to our local woods and also to Dalby Forest, which we are ambassadors for.

I want them to learn that they can climb trees, roll in leaves and use natures playgroup.  I want them to learn all about unstructured play. I want to encourage them to build dens and look out for nature.  In short I want them to have balance in their lives, I want them to have a natural childhood along with the technology that pervades their lives.

I am sure that I am not the only parent that feels this way.  If so then this giveaway is perfect for you.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Discovery Pass is valid for a specific location, and the winner will need to stipulate which venue they want.  Details here: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pass

The prize will be fulfilled by The Forestry Commission and the winner must be willing to provide full contact details

The Pass is valid for 12 months and gives free parking for one car at the designated location.

There are additional benefits to the pass including

• A seasonal e-newsletter, with forest news and events.
• Generous discount vouchers for shops and activities on and off site.  Benefits differ from site to site.

Everyday I get up and I wash my face and I turn that frown upside down, for my smile is the mask I wear every day.

I am a pretty quiet and private person in real life (I know you would never have guessed from this blog), I do not share my feelings or troubles freely.  I find it hard to connect with real people, hard to give myself freely to friendships   Partly this is down to having MadDad in my life, he was my best friend before he was my husband and I love him dearly, but also part of it is down to being let down and disappointed by someone in the past.

When we moved back to the North East six years ago, I hoped that by immersing myself in to toddler groups etc that I would meet people and make friends.  But we moved to a small village and people here grew up with each other and a lot of those childhood friendships continue to this day.  I chat to people in the playground, I try to make an effort, but feel pretty excluded.   I know I have to put myself out there to be accepted, but gosh it is really hard.

In the past I have struggled with depression and I still have numerous health issues, but I do not want these to define me.  I worked hard to overcome my depression and it is not something that I often dwell on.  Most of the time I am a pretty positive person.

Recently I made an error and I fear that I have lost one of the people that I used to call a good friend.  This fills me with deep sadness and I do not know how to make things better, in fact I do not think there is anything I can do to make it better.  Hopefully time will heal things , either that or I will just have to let go and mourn the loss of a good friend from my own stupidity.

I am at my happiest when I am with my family.  When I am surrounded with MadDad and the boys on a weekend.  I love having them around and I love doing things together with them.  I am putting myself out a little bit more and have been enjoying my weekly sewing class, even if I am the youngest by two generations!

I am currently trying to pluck up the courage to go to the local WI group tonight, but worry that I will be the only one under 50!  I have left four messages for them, but they have not got back to me, so wondering if I should just go.

Sometimes I just wonder if it is me that feels this way or if I am just feeling a little down in the dumps?

A super bank holiday was had by all the Mad family this week.

There has been Dangerous Den building, mending and making too, plotting and planting, the first BBQ of the season,a new to us bureaux (ripe to a makeover)  a trip to Durham, baking and just being together as a family.

I hope you have had a great weekend too.

As part of the Tefal innovation panel I was asked if I would take the fresh week pledge to commit to giving up processed food from Monday 13 May – Sunday 19 May 2013 in favour of fresh, unprocessed food.  For me this is a bit of a no brainer as I cook from scratch most days.

Since getting cancer I have been wary of processed foods.  I know that not everything processed is bad, but I make the effort to give myself and my family the best food I can and for me this means cooking from scratch.

As a perk of being a Tefal Innovator they sent me a Fresh Express and a riverford food box this week, so kick starting my menu planning for next week.  So I am going to share with you my menu for this week and see if you would be willing to take the pledge.  If you do there is a chance that you too could win a Fresh Express and a Vegetable Box.

Bank holiday Monday

Homemade pancakes and fruit

Salad Sandwiches with homemade bread

BBQ with Fish, fennel, salad and homemade flatbreads

Tuesday

Scrambled egg with chopped tomato

The boys are back at school so school lunch for them.

Lentil bolognese (diced peppers, onions, passata, herbs)

Wednesday

Dippy eggs

Spelt pizza bases with lentil sauce topping and vegetables, served with salad

Thursday

Banana Muffins

Chickpea curry and homemade naan bread

Friday

Fruit and yogurt

Boys are at a party, but me and MadDad will be having homemade fish and chips

Saturday

Pancakes with fruit and yogurt

Poached eggs with smoked haddock

Sunday

Breakfast Muffins

Roast Chicken with yorkshire puddings and vegetables

Homemade roast vegetables soup and homemade bread

Each night as I tuck them in, the words of love are uttered.

“I love you” I say

“I love you too” Maxi replys

“I love you to the moon and back” I say

“I love you three million, twenty two thousand and ninety eight miles” Maxi responds

Then I move on to Mini’s room…………………..

“I love you” I say

“I love you more” he responds

“I love you MORE” I reply

“I love you the MOST” he says with such conviction it makes my heart ache

Not possible I think to myself, not possible.

Spring finally sprung in North Yorkshire this past weekend and we decided to take advantage of the National Trusts free weekend and visit Fountains Abbey.

There is something wonderful in just getting outdoors and having fun as a family.  We packed a picnic and set off for an adventure.

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is a great place to walk, explore, learn and have fun as a family.  It is a world heritage centre and the boys love being able to run and just generally have fun whilst I amble along at my own pace taking lots of photographs.

I love spring days out as a family.  Exploring places and enjoying each others company.  Over the Spring and summer we try to ensure that we spend one day at the weekend out as a family.  The thing is that the boys love being out and about as much as me and MadDad do and we spent Sunday pottering in the garden and the weekend was pretty screen free for all of us.

You can see more of our photos from Fountains Abbey on our facebook page 

We are really focussing on trying to encourage our boys to move away from the electronic and take up more tactile pursuits!  I gave you some ideas for encouraging writing earlier in the week, but I wanted to concentrate on recording holiday memories this time.  When I was younger one of the most exciting aspects of any family holiday was receiving the developed film back from the chemist  and putting together an album of the photographs and writing the name of the holiday in the inside page.

In todays digital world I find that my images stay on my PC, phone and on the digital photo frame we have and that made me sad, so I decided to encourage Maxi to make a scrapbook of our recent Orlando visit.  This was made even easier as we were gifted a whole host of Papermainia scrapbooking things in the All Aboard travel theme from Docrafts.com

Whilst we were in Orlando Maxi made sure that he took maps, leaflets and keep all his tickets in to the theme parks, so in addition to any pictures I printed out he could also keep all this memorabilia and have a wonderful physical memory of our holiday.

Firstly we sat at the PC and decided which images to print.  In future I think that I would send them off to an online provider to print, that way we could have a better quality print.

Then we cut all the photographs out using the guillotine and then I let Maxi lose with the glue and a pen!

As much as I wanted everything to be neat and in a certain way, I knew that it was best that I just stayed on the sideline and let him fill the scrapbook in how he wanted it to be.  Afterall this is his holiday memories we are recording.

The best thing is that whilst Maxi was busy doing this, Mini decided that he needed a scrapbook too and starting sticking in receipts and maps from visits to London in.  I hope that I have started something and that the boys start collecting mementos on holidays and trips and they keep on making scrapbooks.

Recently our friends went on a holiday in the Norfolk Broads, which is somewhere we haven’t visited at all and both the boys have decided that they want to  go on a Richardson’s Boating Holiday.  They both love the idea of all the things they could record and keep in their new scrapbooks!