Innholdsfortegnelse for September Special 2017 i Pick Me Up! Special

Welcome to our September Special! Summer might be coming to an end but sometimes change can be a good thing. Louise (pg18) was desperate for a spot of variety as she waited for the arrival of her seventh baby. While Sherridanne (pg20) knew that she needed a big transformation if she was going to give her friend the wedding she deserved. Unfortunately life can often throw you a cruel curveball. Roz (pg12) was looking forward to watching her beautiful daughter Demi accomplish all her dreams, but within a week of a shock diagnosis, Roz had to say the saddest of goodbyes. But even the toughest of challenges can bring out a fighting spirit in us. Despite Amanda (pg24) and her two sisters being repeatedly put to the test by the…

‘I wasn't going to judge him’ ‘I felt so completely trapped’ Lugging my backpack towards my Scout group’s tents on the New Forest campsite, I buckled under the weight. ‘Let me help you,’ a young lad asked. ‘I’m James.’ ‘Bethany,’ I blushed. James and I spent the whole weekend together. He was funny, cheeky and charming and really brought me out of my quiet shell. After we got home, we added each other on Facebook. We started messaging online and soon met up to go to the cinema, then James invited me around to his house for tea. A week later, he asked me to be his girlfriend. We were only 15, but I was convinced James was my soulmate. After a few weeks, James opened up to me. ‘My…

‘Why had they shared a room?’ Serving up fish fingers and chips, I called upstairs to my son, Jack*. ‘Tea’s on the table,’ I yelled. ‘Wash your hands!’ ‘I’ll be down in a minute!’ he shouted from his bedroom. ‘Xbox off now please,’ I sighed. ‘Your dinner will get cold.’ Jack groaned and then stomped down the stairs. ‘Good boy,’ I smiled, as he joined his brothers and sisters at the table. Cheekily he poked his tongue out at me. ‘Behave!’ I said, ruffling his hair, as he grinned. The eldest of six, Jack was usually as good as gold. He was popular at school and despite being the class clown, he loved sports and worked hard. His dad, Tony*, and I separated when Jack was just five years old.…

COLOUR ME HAPPY Celebrate health, happiness and friendship at the Color Run in Brighton on 23 September. Dubbed ‘The Happiest 5k on the Planet', this fun run will see you and the family having the time of your lives! Runners start the day in a special edition white t-shirt, and get covered from head to toe in a rainbow of colours at four Color Zones along the way. Not a runner? You can choose to walk, skip, or even dance your way towards the finish line - it's all about the fun and what gives you the biggest smile! • Tickets from £28; £10 for children • www.thecolorrun.co.uk HIGH LIGHTS Adventurous families get the chance to experience urban mountaineering with an exhilarating 90-minute climb up one of London's most iconic landmarks. Up…

Kedgeree with Turmeric and Coriander • 3 tbsp olive oil • Leaves from 6 spring onions, finely chopped • ½ tsp ground turmeric • 1cm length of fresh ginger, grated • 175g basmati and wild rice, mixed • 4 eggs • 200g smoked , un-dyed haddock • Salt and pepper to taste • Chopped fresh coriander leaves 1. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large frying pan and add the spring onion. 2. Add the ginger and turmeric followed by the rice. Stir well and add twice the volume of water to rice and a good pinch of salt. 3. Bring to the boil, reduce to a simmer and cover with a lid. Cook for 20 mins. 4. Place the smoked haddock on top of the rice and replace the lid. Cook gently for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, place…

‘Brecon had a tough start to life’ Watching my son, Brecon, five, as he sat at the kitchen table happily scribbling away, my heart swelled with pride. ‘What do you think, Mummy?’ he said, holding up his drawing. ‘Very good, well done!’ I said. It was hard to believe that Brecon had such a tough start to life. My partner, Rob Vaughan, 49, and I were desperate to start a family, and after two years without success, we were beginning to think it would’t happen. ‘Let’s not give up,’ Rob would say reassuringly, each time I emerged from the bathroom in tears. When two blue lines finally appeared on the plastic stick in my hand, I couldn’t believe it. As the news sank in, I became a bag of nerves…

‘I was absolutely petrified’ When Rachel was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) last April, it was a terrifying and uncertain time. The prospect that one day it would leave her permanently disabled was devastating. Within just a few months, she’s seen the discs in her back crumble, she’s lost the feeling down one side of her body and has even lost the ability to walk. At the moment, Rachel is at the stage where her body can repair itself, but unfortunately that won’t always be the case. ‘I was devastated when I first received the diagnosis and wondered if I should be planning my own funeral,’ she says. ‘But I refuse to let MS define who I am.’ The first sign that Rachel had that something was wrong, was when…

• THEY SAY: This spray protects children from parasites by breaking their life cycle and killing lice before an infestation becomes established. • YOU SAY: 'This is ideal for times when the risk of a lice infection increases, such as the beginning of a new school term, at children's parties and sleepovers, school outings, and following an outbreak letter from the school. Just spray on and you're good to go.' Rachel, Swansea. • WE SAY: Anyone can get head lice, but this scented conditioning spray is easy to apply, and dries naturally, leaving the hair healthy and conditioned.…

Q: How do you get those perfect waves that last all day? Everyone can enjoy those tousled waves that last all day. Wash your hair then mist damp hair with Bed Head Queen For A Day Thickening Spray, £7.45, Albeauty.com. Blow dry and then grab GHD Final Fix Hairspray, £3.95, Feelunique.com, and a curling wand. Section off your hair into chunks, then mist with hairspray, wind around the wand, hold for 5 seconds, drop it down carefully and mist with hairspray. Repeat until you've done every strand, then allow to cool. Once the heat dies down, shake out your waves and finish with one more layer of hairspray. Q: When is the right time to apply concealer – before or after foundation? After is always best, as if you add…

Aries 21 Mar - 20 April It's going to be a busy time for you, so bring fun projects full circle; take note that your energy will be redirected on the 5th - your routine habits will come under scrutiny. A healthy fresh start will become available towards month's end; set some healthy goals on the 20th. Escape your busy stride on the 6th - take a step back and recharge, then think of others. Taurus 21 April - 21 May September is set to bring fun and friendship to your door! The stars have finally delivered some emotional security and stability at home, and from the 10th it's passion projects that you can pursue with vigor. Harness the fresh start for these interests on the 20th, and note that…

‘I could hear everything but couldn't move’ ‘I willed my husband to go against my wishes’ As I stretched to turn off my beeping alarm clock, I felt pins and needles spreading across my toes. ‘I must have slept funny,’ I thought to myself, wriggling my feet around before going to wake up my son David, four. After limping around at work all day with numb feet, I headed straight to my GP’s. ‘It’s probably nothing,’ I said to my doctor, a little embarrassed. But she sent me straight to A&E and I called my husband John, 58. ‘You have had a bad run of cold and flu lately,’ he said, as he sat with me. ‘I’m sure it’s nothing.’ The sensation started to spread up my body and my…

‘Our home was a boy zone’ ‘It was hard to believe it was true’ My boys darted around the house, play fighting and knocking into everything in their path. ‘Dinner’s ready,’ I called, bracing myself for the stampede. With six sons under the age of 15, meal times usually resembled feeding time at the zoo. My eldest, Ben, 14, and his brother, Cameron, 13, shared a bedroom, and dragging them away from their Xbox and Minecraft game was a battle in itself. While Lewis, 11, Leighton, 10, and Keiran, nine, hated to sit still. My youngest, Ollie, five, was my shadow and was constantly glued to my hip. Holding him with one arm, I’d have to cook with the other. Every evening, I was exhausted and things were about to…

‘We were determined to fight back’ Perched on the edge of our seats in the consultant’s office, my identical twin sister, Louise, and I waited for her results with baited breath. ‘I’m afraid you do have breast cancer,’ the consultant said, confirming our worst fears. We broke down in floods of tears and I clutched Louise’s hand tight, sensing her despair. As soon as we heard the ‘C’ word, we both thought the worst. The only other person we knew affected by the disease was a family friend who’d passed away. But there was no time to dwell on the bad news. ‘I’ve booked you in for an operation first thing in the morning to remove the tumour,’ he told her. At 7.30am the next day, Louise was wheeled into…

‘Surely this was more than needing a poo?’ As I tucked into a bowl of Coco-Pops, I felt a familiar gurgling in my gut. ‘Uh-oh,’ I thought. ‘Not again.’ I ditched the bowl of cereal and dashed to the loo. I’d been suffering with IBS for a while and I always felt worse just after I’d eaten. But over the last few days I’d started getting different kinds of stomach pains, abdominal cramps and back ache, and I was starting to worry. ‘Go to the doctor,’ my mum, Debbie, 53, said. The doctor sent me to have my liver looked at and called with the results. ‘You have an inflamed liver,’ he said. ‘You need to adjust your diet.’ I sheepishly told him about my daily treats and tried to…

‘Even a spell in hospital didn't stop me’ As I turned the sausages and crisped up the bacon under the grill, I called up to my husband, Paul, 37, to make sure he was all ready for our fun-filled day out ahead. ‘What better way to start the day than with a full English,’ I said, drooling over the feast before us. ‘When don’t we start the day like that?’ Paul replied - only half joking. I laughed off the joke, as I always did when it came to comments about our ‘lifestyle choices’. I wasn’t going to open that can of worms – not today anyway – we were going to Cleethorpes seaside for a romantic day out, and I wasn’t going to let anything ruin it. I wasn’t…

Bugs Me I feel like I catch every bug or virus going round – is there anything I can do to strengthen my immune system? Joan, Bristol It is natural to pick up a few bugs each year. Children for example often suffer from around 12 infections a year. The best ways to help yourself are to eat healthily, reduce alcohol intake, get eight hours of sleep every night, keep hydrated with water, avoid smoking, and do 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week. Washing your hands after using the toilet, or before preparing or eating food, will also help. Not swell During the summer, I suffer from such bad swollen ankles and puffy feet. What can I do? Claire, Birmingham The medical description for puffy or swollen feet and…

Is it time to come clean? Laura, 26, Nuneaton My fiancé and I are about to get married and I’m crazy about him, but I’ve got a secret that I haven’t told him. When I was a teenager, I fell pregnant and had an abortion. It was right for me at the time, but I do think about it a lot and still feel guilty. I haven’t told my fiancé because I worry he’ll feel differently about me. He adores children and can’t wait to start a family. Should I tell him and clear my conscience before the wedding? YES Pick Me Up! reader Nicole from Suffolk says: You absolutely need to tell your fiance the truth. He deserves to know, and you shouldn't start a marriage on a lie.…

Ali Westmoreland, a stylist at House of Colour (www.houseofcolour.co.uk), says that you can use colour to take control of your life. The shades you wear and bring into your home play a huge part in your mood and the way that people see you. ‘If you are wearing the right colour, you'll be more memorable, look brighter and healthier and be more visible, which in turn will make you feel more confident,' she explains. ‘By taking control with colour, you're influencing your mood and consequently, the outcome of your day.' Red ‘Red is the colour of love and romance, but it also demonstrates confidence, and is a great colour to wear if you want to stand out from the crowd,' Ali says. ‘It is the most visually noticeable colour –…

‘We wanted a day we'd always remember’ ‘All our guests made such an effort’ From the moment I popped the question, my fella, Liam, 33, and I began planning a wedding like no other. We had been talking about tying the knot for years, and when our third anniversary passed with no sign of an engagement ring, I got impatient. ‘Will you marry me?’ I blurted out, as we stumbled past a bridal shop on our way home from a night out . ‘Yes!’ Liam said, wrapping his arms around me. Eager to make our wedding a day to remember and wanting to steer away from a traditional ceremony, we started brainstorming a few barmy ideas. As complete film buffs, we got together while both working at cinema and bonded…

‘I don't worry about money’ I caught sight of the man waving across the room at me.‘Hi, I’m Phil,’ he said. It was January 2015, and Phil, 60, and I were on a blind date. We chatted for hours and I told him about my life-long dream of one day going to Las Vegas. ‘Maybe you will win the lottery one day. Then you can send me a postcard from Vegas!’ he laughed. We were soon a couple. One evening, an advert for People’s Postcode Lottery came on TV. ‘Maybe we should give it a go?’ I said. A few months later, Phil proposed, and two months later, a mysterious gold envelope came through the letter box. ‘It’s an invitation to a Postcode Lottery event where we stand a chance…

‘How could a baby cause so much pain?’ ‘It was the worst news a parent could hear’ Knocking on my daughter’s door in a new dress, I braced myself for her reaction. ‘Come in!’ she replied. Demi, 22, was sat on her bed, surrounded by make-up. She looked up and gasped. ‘Mum! What is that?! Go and change!’she demanded. I laughed. That was my Demi – young and feisty. As the baby of the family, she got away with murder. She was the only bird left in the nest after my son Wesley, 28, had gone travelling, and daughter Holly, 25, had married. ‘What’s wrong with it?’ I laughed, pretending I was clueless. ‘Follow me!’ she said, leading me back to my wardrobe. She picked apart every dress, blouse, pair…

‘When she asked me I burst into tears’ My best friend stretched out her hand to reveal a sparkling engagement ring. ‘I’m getting married!’ Charlotte, 24, squealed. ‘I’m so happy for you,’ I cried, throwing my arms around her. Having spotted bridal magazines poking out of her bag, I had my suspicions that her fella, Liam, 25, had popped the question. ‘Sherridanne, there’s something I want to ask you,’ she said. ‘Will you be my maid of honour?’ Charlotte’s request caught me off guard. Instead of beaming from ear to ear, I burst into tears – and they were not tears of joy. I was over the moon that she was tying the knot, and I was desperate to be part of her big day, but I was horrified at…

‘Bets were made on who would survive’ ‘The nurse had been playing God’ Warm, caring, and compassionate, with an attentive bedside manner and a gentle touch. That’s how patients described nurse Orville ‘Lynn’ Majors, and they loved being under his care. While growing up, Lynn, as he was known to everyone, had cared for his dying grandmother. It went on to inspire his career in nursing and made him especially popular with many of his elderly patients. But what no one knew was that once you were admitted under Lynn’s tender care, your odds of survival dropped dramatically. Lynn, then 36, was a treasured member of the community in his hometown of Linton, Indiana. Most residents there worked for a local coal company or at the mines, including Lynn’s dad,…

‘I struggled out of my dress as the ambulance arrived’ Sipping on a vodka and diet coke in my local, I spied on the handsome man at the bar. Tall, dark and slim – he was exactly my type. I noticed he’d come into my hair salon a few weeks earlier and I immediately fancied him. He caught me smiling at him and he came over.‘Hi, I’m David Croft,’ he said, smiling at me. ‘Andrea,’ I replied, sipping at my straw to stop my grin. He never left my side all night. Electrician David, 27, was really outgoing and talkative and we soon started dating. My friends and family loved him, he was so charming and charismatic – it just seemed natural to move in together after a few months.…

‘Dylan's lungs had collapsed’ Looking down, I was sad to see peas and Yorkshire pudding left on my three-year-old son’s plate. They were Dylan’s favourite and he usually gobbled up every last bit. ‘He’s just not himself, I sighed to my husband Mike, 36. He’d always been a healthy little boy, so I thought he’d bounce back. But seeing him off his food worried me. I thought that maybe he had contracted a chest infection, so Mike took him to a walk-in health centre while I took our older son, Bryce, six, to my parents to give them the good news. I was 12 weeks pregnant and we couldn’t wait for our family to grow. But Mike called me in a panic.‘You need to come to the hospital right away,’…

Distressing news stories can be worrying for people of all ages but for children especially, it can lead to real fears and anxiety. Kristen Harding from the childcare agency Tinies (www.tinies.com) says that although it's impossible to hide everything from children completely, you can take steps to help your family react better to difficult situations. YOUR REACTION If you are watching the news with your child, they will have a close eye on you and will base their reactions on how you react. It is therefore a good idea to be careful with how you act. Keep a level head and stay calm when you hear an upsetting news story. OPEN UP Don't be afraid to communicate about what is happening in the news. By not communicating, children can often…

The average Brit consumes 121 different ingredients every day - three times more than what we think we are eating. A survey by Ryvita revealed that over breakfast, lunch, and dinner, adults will take in about 84 more ingredients than they thought were on their plate. Cornflakes proved the most popular breakfast choice, containing 13 ingredients. Tomato soup topped the lunch menu, stacking up 16 ingredients, while a dinnertime favourite was lasagne, containing a staggering 51 ingredients. Ryvita's nutritionist Rob Hobson urges shoppers to look at the labels on their food. ‘By making meals from scratch, we can better understand what we are consuming and help manage our intake of salt and sugar,' he says.…

‘I yanked and pulled but it wouldn't budge’ If there was the smallest chance to get into some mischief, my three year old daughter, Kyla, would find a way. I could turn my back for just two seconds, and Kyla would immediately strip off, dig out her felt tip pens and turn herself into a human colouring book. ‘Oh Kyla,’ I sighed, trying to hold back giggles as I wondered how I was going to get the splodges of ink off her entire body. My two older children, Liam, 15, and Katelyn, 13, adored their little sister. The cheeky monkey had been keeping us all entertained from the moment she was born. And once Kyla started talking, there was no stopping her confident attitude from taking over our house. ‘Get…