The last blog was 10 days ago now. All in all we have had quite a good week. A lightbulb has been turned on this week and suddenly life doesnt seem as unbearable as it was 4 weeks ago. There are a few shoutouts in this blog, so watch out for your name. We are in the same financial position as we were nearly 4 weeks ago. Not much room for manoever on their part at the moment. But hey ho as long as there is food in the cupboards and petrol in the car then thats all I care about. Michael and Hannah go on holiday tomorrow with the Newman Foundation. They are going to Staffordshire for 6 days. And im gonna miss them both like crazy. This will be the longest they will have been away from me. But they are both really looking forward to it and eagerly packing their bags today. Awwwww bless them. Table and chair arrived last Thursday and they have been built. Unfortunalty 1 chair didnt make it, and its taken residence in the cupboard under the stairs lol. But its built and its saving the mess on the livingroom carpet. Am really looking forward to Monday, me Kirsty, Thomas and Andrew are going to see my cousin aunt and uncle in Wolverhampton. Its been nearly 13 years since I seen Mercedes Jill last and 8 years since I seen uncle Michael. Thankyou for the invite Mercedes, will look forward to seeing you all Monday. I always remember growing up and really liking the name Michael. When I got pregnant with Michael I said to George if we had a boy could we call him Michael? Fortunatly George liked the name Michael as well. However the only one draw back I could think of is that my dads brother was called Michael. So we pondered it over for a while and finally decided that Michaels middle name would be Kenneth. We told my dad and he was thrilled. So Michael Kenneth Coe was decided upon if the baby was a  boy. I had a rough time during the birth of Michael and ended up with an emergency caesarean after nearly 2 days of labour. He was born at 11pm on 10th March 1998. I woke up after a couple of hours and George was peering over me with Michael in his arms and he said to me "its a boy Rachel". I smiled and fell back to sleep. Having kids is an amazing experience and I am priveleged to have experienced it 4 times over. It is Thomas and Andrew's 4th birthday in 3 weeks. Where have my babies gone? With the twins I made it to 36+6 weeks gestation. They were due on 20th September 2005. With 4 weeks to go I had been on 3-4 times a week hospital monitoring because little lad Andrew had stopped growing. It was 5 days before I had them and the doctor had said to me that they were concerned with Andrew's health. I asked them to deliver me that week and he said no. He said that the only time they could book me in for was Thursday 1st September. He said that they had no surgeons in on the Bank Holiday which was the 29th August. So I relented and went home. Funnily enough on the Sunday nigh 28th August I was walking home and was experiencing some contractions. So I hurried on my way and when I was almost home they had stopped. Went to bed thinking nothing of it. 4am the next morning I awake and go to the toilet and pop. Let me tell you it was a pop. Nearly flooded the bathroom lol. I goes into bed and layed down for a bit. After a minute or so the first contraction hit and it was painful. So I waited 3 minutes till the next one came. Woke George and told him my waters had gone. He jumps out of bed like a headless chicken and is hunting round the flat for the bags. Unfortunalty we had 3 kids in bed and I did have to go to hospital on my own. I got to the hospital and I was already 4cm dilated, which is established labour. I phoned George and told him that they had to deliver me soon as these 2 wasnt waiting. Unfortunalty because id had 2 previous caesaren sections I couldnt deliver naturally as it was simply to risky. Scar rupturing and many others the doctor run off. George was upset as he had wanted to be there when they were born. Here I was facing the mammoth task of having a caesarean section all on my own. So next came the theatre. Croching down on a bed so the anaesthetist can stick a big needle in your spine was enough to send my blood pressure shooting up. I have such a phobia of needles and the very thought of them makes me break into a cold sweat. So he puts it in my back and my leg starts shaking. He takes it out. Tries again and I swear I almost jumped off the table. He said to me can you crouch down a bit further? Im thinking wtf im here looking like the back end of a bus and he wants me to crouch down further. He takes it out and puts it in again and it was like being electrocuted. He takes it out and by this point I can feel the tears starting. He said to me that he would get an person to do it and if it didnt work then they would have to put me to sleep. So this older fellow come in, inserts the needle and wham works straight away. Im laid out on the table and they started a few minutes later. They slice you and reach their hands in like they are doing washing up. Out comes twin 1 Thomas, weighed 6lbs 1oz. 1 minute later out comes twin 2 Andrew, 5lbs 1oz. I hear one baby cry and it is the most wonderful sound on the planet. You know he is ok and breathing well. Waiting to hear the other baby cry and nothing. I feel my heart pounding wondering why he isnt crying. The nurse says to me that they are clearing his airways. After what seem like an eternity you hear that magical wail. Trust me its enough to bring tears to anyone's eyes. The nurse says to me that they are nice and pink. I said "pink, but they are boys". Untill I realise she means their skin, omg dumb or what. I cant imagine me without kids. My life has been hard and these 4 little people make it worthwhile for me. And soon enough they will be starting school. I miss my babies. Let me tell you having twins and getting normal everyday things done is hard. That is a whole other blog.

L.C  I know we havent met but iv read some of your posts to me and im looking forward to the day we do meet because you seem like such a cool funny person. You give the impression to me as a "get on with it" person. Top bird.

K.C  I know your having your fair share or worries at the moment. Keep strong hun you will be ok. Thankyou for the offers of chats when iv been down in the dumps, one day you will regret it because il start and I wont be able to stop lol. Keep your chin up hun.

I.M  Your a great mate and your support over the last few weeks has been invaluable. You have listened when iv ranted and raved. The advice is always great to hear. Before it all happened your advice was a blessing in disguise. It helpled me come to terms with so much of what was going on. You dont mince your words of advice because you know I cant stand people who beat around the bush. Your quick, helpful and always straight to the point. You truly are a fabby friend. Thankyou.

J.C  Thankyou for the over the last 2 weeks. Last week I was in shit street but you were on hand to save the day. Thankyou for that. That help will always be apreciated and remembered. Thankyou

K.C  Thankyou for the help. What you did last week was so nice and it has helpled me out sooooo much. It will always be apreciated. Thankyou

K.C  What can I say, you have been a star over the last 3 weeks. Your help is so very much apreciated. Without you I know they would be putting me in the loony bin lol. Thankyou.

M.C  Thankyou for the chats, they seem to have brought me out myself for a while. I know you have been through the same thing as me and as long as you are an example I will be ok. Thankyou.

V.D  Thankyou for the chats, thankyou for the practicle help. Before all this happened and I was having them problems that only we and 1 other person know about it was nice to get them out in the open to you. You listened that day and after as well. I went to the brink that day and your words of advice really did help me. You are a true star, thankyou

J.K  You are a star and I love you to bits hun. Thankyou for the talks, you have listened while I have ranted and raved and cried and laughed and all the others in between. You are such a true friend to me and you always will be. God knows when I get going I really get going. Love the nights out and we always do have such a laugh with the others. Sundays are my favourite because we just have such a great time. Thankyou hun, you are a diamond.

K.K  What would I do without you K? Always willing to help. You have bailed me out so many times and I do really very much apreciate it. Your such a caracter and never fail to make me laugh. Bless your heart. 

There is one more person I will mention but I know she wont be able to see this. 

C.M  Hun you are a wonderful person. Love the nights out, you are the life and soul of the party. Im proud to call you my mate. Bless you hun.