I never thought my life could change so much as it has, overnight my life completely changed. I woke up to find I couldn’t move my right arm, it lay limp and dead next to me. What was going on?. What has happened to cause this change – I have had 2 strokes The first question that came into my mind was Surely, I’m too young aren’t I , to have a stroke?

Its like a monster has invaded my body and taken all my abilities, self confidence, my thoughts away. Do you know I can’t even pick my little boy Zak up at times because my right side is that weak I can’t hold him. I struggle at times to even know what day is it, let alone trying to do something complex. I switch the kettle on to make a cuppa and forget that I had even switched it on in the first place. My stroke has robbed me of my confidence, I was in floods of tears as we nipped into to Tesco’s, as it all got too much. I can’t even walk down the road as just the thought of it terrifies me. I have difficulty trying to concentrate on anything for too long, it makes me so tired.

I suffer terrible mood swings and some days feel so down. I can’t cope when the kids all want my attention at the same time. I have 4 children, 3 who have autism and other complex needs.

I just want to shout leave me alone

This monster has robbed me of looking after my family, I am unable to be left alone as I get very scared and anxious. I now have to endure lots of tests, regular physiotherapy sessions, Occupational therapy sessions to help me achieve the simplest tasks, this monster has robbed me of all this

For Mr Savvy life has been really difficult, he has had to give up work to look after me. Enduring sleepless nights, stress and worry. He gets upset when he is watching me do my physio exercises as I try to do the simplest of tasks yet fail dismally. He watches me get distressed as I can’t pick Zak up for a hug, or can’t bend down to pick something off the floor without falling over.

The stroke monster has robbed us as life as we knew it, now it is making us learn again from scratch. Oh by the way I am not old, I am a mum to 4 young children. Surely, I am too young for all this …………I know it going to take a long time, hard work and effort to get my life back on track

This last month I have to say has been one of the worst month’s of my life. Having at least 2 strokes over the Easter holidays has really taken a toll on us as a family. It has affected every part of our family life and life certainly hasn’t been fun. Numerous appointments, CT scans, ECG’s, Heart sonogram all to come. Just resting has been a struggle as I hate leaving everything to Mr Savvy who as been an absolute angel looking after me, ferrying me to hospital, putting up with me fast asleep beside him, worrying over me etc. As well as trying to run the house and look after 4 children, 3 of whom have autism and complex needs. Not much fun at all and certainly not easy.

With all this going on you can imagine my shock/surprise when I saw a tweet saying

Congratulations on becoming a finalist in the Mad Blog Awards

What? me? NO!!!!!.

Then I started to receive congratulation messages. I was in the final of the Mad Blog Awards for most Inspirational Blog.

So a massive thank you for all the people that nominated me, this means the world to me.

I am hoping to be back to blogging very soon once I feel a bit better, just want to say thank you for all the messages of support and get well wishes.

If you have 5 minutes to spare and you would like to vote for my blog Savette Gazette as the most Inspirational blog please feel free the vote if you click underneath the MADS badge on the side bar of the blog it will take you straight to the voting page.

Thank you for your support.

This week has been awful but its nothing to do with meltdowns or not coping although that has been part of the problem. The problem has been me. For the last few months I have been suffering some quite intense headaches and thought I had them under control until this week when they came back with a vengeance.

I have never felt pain like it,its the sort of pain that makes you STOP !!!!! what ever your doing . Then unusual things started to happen. The other day I woke up from a sleep ( I sleep when I’m not well ) and my right arm was completely dead, I picked it up with my other hand and it just flopped. I had lost all feeling in my arm. A weird sensation, the feeling returned after 10 minutes or so.

For last couple of days I have been unable to look after the kids, Mr Savvy has been an absolute angel and taken time off work to look after me and the kids. I am having problems concentrating and my memory at the moment is appalling . This has had a massive impact on the family and especially Zak has picked up on the fact that there is something wrong with mummy.

I have now got an appointment to see the neurologist but I am going back to the doctor as the headaches are getting worse and more intense.

UPDATE

Since writing this post I have actually had 2 mini strokes I know I am extremely lucky but these are obviously a warning something is not right. I have lost all strength in my right arm and my whole right side is weaker, I have problems concentrating. I have now got to undergo numerous tests, scans etc so they can determine what exactly is going on.My right arm going dead was the first of the mini strokes.

With all this in mind I am going to have a break from blogging and just take sometime to rest. Thank you for all your support and messages the last couple of days. I will say good bye for now and be back as soon BYE xxxxx

The feature picture is my favourite picture I took of the Red Arrows.

I am very pleased to say that Savette Gazette has been nominated in 3 categories for this year’s MADS 2012. I am truly shocked that I have been nominated so thank you.

I have been nominated in the following categories

Most Inspiring Blog

Blog post of the year

Blog of the year

If you have 5 minutes to spare and you would like to nominate for my blog please free the nominations are here MADS 2012 my blog URL is http://www.savette.com

Thank you for your support

Why is it as parents of special needs children do we have to fight for EVERYTHING and yes I mean everything. We have to fight to get them the right medical intervention and support. It doesn’t just stop there we also have to fight for their educational well being , making sure they are in the correct school environment with the appropriate help.

Despite all this we carry on helping our children as much as possible. Now imagine if you could wish for any thing for the children what would you wish, what would your wish list be?

For me if there were the funds avaliable, I would love a dream holiday for 2 weeks in Disney world, to see the kids faces as they met Mickey and Minnie would be amazing.
A better pram for Zak preferably a rear facing one. So I could reassure him as we do the school run and stop him head banging and the meltdowns as he can’t cope with all the noise/crowds.

The one thing and my dearest wish that no money can buy. Is for the kids to be accepted for who there are. No prejudice, no ignorance. They could lead a perfectly happy life without no worries of what people will say, react to them. I want them to lead a “normal” life as possible, not to get upset and scream when the world around them becomes too much and they feel over powered. For people to be more understanding and not Always think the kids are naughty when in fact they aren’t, unfortunately they can’t help the way they act. I wish people would be more understanding.

What Is Specialsaturday

The idea behind this is to use Saturdays to spread awareness of the needs, feelings and accomplishments of children and adults with additional needs or autism. Members of Twitter are asked to make awareness posts on Saturdays using the tag #specialsaturday.

Bloggers are asked to write about their experiences of achievement by people who have additional needs or autism on Saturdays. Members of Facebook are asked to write status updates that help spread awareness on Saturdays.

Members of both Facebook and Twitter are asked to use the Twibbon that’s designed to spread awareness of the Special Saturday can be found specialsaturday twibbon to add to your profile pictures. Please add your friends and help us spread awareness. People with additional needs have struggled for too long to be accepted as equal members of society and this MUST change.

Please read what is specialsaturday and why I started it

As the school holidays are progressing it should be fun and I should be enjoying the children being home but our family are different. I have children with autism who don’t like being off school, they love the routine of going to school. So this week has been full of meltdowns, and general stress.

On top of all this we are waiting for an important letter for me to see the neurologist about my crippling headaches. I have never felt pain like it, its like someone is putting a hot poker in my head and just continually pulling it in and out of my head, then hitting me with a ton weight I am on strong tablets to try and combat the pain but they are just not helping. You know when you don’t feel well its difficult to carry on with simple tasks. Everything is such a struggle.

I am not coping with having children with complex needs its taking its toll of me, its wearing me down. I am fed up with having to fight for every thing. I am tired physically, emotionally and mentally. I am fed up with being on this rollercoaster one minute we are up at the top enjoying all the spectacular views and the next minute as we turn the corner we are in the deepest dip where the only view is the long track ahead. This has all had a massive impact on my health that has taken a true battering.

So enough is enough I want this to STOP!! I want to get off this roller coaster

How many of us comfort eat, when we have a bad day? I have to admit I am one of those people if I feel down, fed up I reach for the crisps these are my downfall. I have tried various diets where I lost a bit of weight but then got fed up with the whole dieting so put the weight back on.

Recently I was sent a pack of Skinny Sprinkles love the name it conjurers up that one day I will in fact be skinny again, a girl can dream.

What Are Skinny Sprinkles ?

Skinny Sprinkles are a sumptuous energy drink, that arrived in eye catching packaging giving a great first impression of the product . As I was mixing the sachet it had a very strong strawberry aroma that was very appealing and enticing. The drinks tasted delicious with a very palatable strawberry flavour. I used them before meals I have to say that they did help suppress my appetite, which in turn stopped me snacking and reaching for the crisps and biscuits.

They are simple to use

1. Pour the sprinkles into 200ml of cold water and stir rapidly
2. Let them stand I let mine stand for a minute as I like a thicker consistency
3. Give one last stir and drink

Skinny sprinkles work as they give you a full feeling and are intended to be used 15-30 minutes before a meal and/or to replace snacks. To be taken 1 sachet 3 times a day.

With less than 20 calories a sachet that helps maintain a calorie controlled diet. I lost 3 lbs in the week I used the drinks.

Available

www.skinnysprinkles.co.uk a box of 21 sticks is £29.95

Disclaimer

For the purpose of this review I was sent a box of 21 skinny sprinkles

To celebrate the release of Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked that is available on DVD and Blu-ray Triple Play Now -Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. We were sent these lovely Alvin and the chipmunks biscuits. They look fantastic don’t they ?

To help celebrate the release of the new Alvin and the Chipmunks dvd Chipwrecked released April 2nd.

A fantastic event was held in Blackpool involving children from a local school who came down to team up with a fantastic sand artist to help create sand art drawing of Alvin . It was an exciting event for children and to create a fantastic art spectacle on the beach .

The Sand Art of Alvin looks pretty spectacular and stand approx 165 feet that could be seen without the use of a helicopter

Blackpool Tower in the background

Alvin with some special guests

It’s Chipmunks ahoy as Alvin and the Chipmunks along with the Chipettes set sail on a luxury cruise liner for their fantastic holiday. True to Alvin and Chipmunks style you just know that choas is going ensue and something is bound to go wrong as the chipmunks and chipettes wreak havoc on board.

Dave who is their long suffering guardian tries to keep them out of trouble but never quite succeeds. Why is the ship’s mascot continually being mean to Dave ?.

As Alvin’s mischief making goes a step too far the chipmunks soon find themselves stranded on a deserted island where they find they are not alone. What will become of the Chipmunks/ Chipettes ?

We loved this film with its catchy soundtrack you’ll soon find yourself singing along. The dance off scene is good as the chipettes fight for supremacy of the dance floor

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked is available on DVD and Blu-ray Triple Play 2 April. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Easter Fun

Also included with the dvd is an activity sheet for some Easter fun