Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2019 i Pick Me Up! Special

Happy New Year! It’s exciting to think what 2019 has in store for us, as life doesn’t always turn out the way you plan. But as always, when faced with a challenge, we can be surprised at just what we are capable of. Shai-Anne (pg26) couldn’t wait to be a mum, but her baby was born with a rare skin condition that meant her little boy couldn’t even close his eyes. While Katie (pg18) was heartbroken when her daughter Jeanie-May was diagnosed with not one, but two cancers. But both mums dug deep, and found strength they never knew they had. When you find out what young Daisy is achieving at the age of four (pg31) you’ll be as amazed as we were! Nick’s weight loss will impress you, too!…

After one last push, the nurse placed baby Ethan on my chest. Cuddling my newborn, I’d never felt love like it. I drank in every bit of him – his button nose, mop of red hair, blue eyes – 8lb 2oz of perfection. I’d become pregnant at the end of a short relationship and his dad wasn’t around. I’d be a young, single mum, but I couldn’t wait. My mum Julie, then 50, had helped me decorate the nursery in sunshine yellow. And when Ethan and I came home, I took to being a mum like a duck to water. Ethan was a dream, sleeping through the night by six weeks, happy, with a cheeky grin. Then, one day in October 2011, an old mate, Jason Redgrave, then 24, messaged…

Settling down in front of the telly, I couldn’t wait to tuck into my delicious McDonald’s burger. And as the meat and melted cheese hit my tongue, I felt that familiar rush of satisfaction. I devoured it in minutes, and washed it down with a large portion of fries and a Coke. Half an hour later, I was hungry again, rummaging through the kitchen cupboards for a packet of crisps or some biscuits. Of course, I knew that my eating habits were far from healthy, but I’d been following this routine from the time I was about 16. As a child, I was fit and healthy. I loved PE lessons at school and often played football with my mates in the afternoons. But after leaving to go off to college,…

After having three children, I knew the signs. Nausea, backache, tender boobs. ‘I can’t be pregnant again,’ I said to my husband Ray. After a difficult last pregnancy with my third child Daisy, we’d decided not to have any more kids. The doctors had even warned me against falling pregnant again. But, staring at the blue line on the plastic stick, there was no denying it. ‘What are we going to do?’ I asked Ray, worried. ‘It will be OK,’ he said. ‘I’ll just have to take extra care of you.’ But over the next few weeks, I suffered cramping, so the doctors sent me for tests. They feared the pregnancy could be ectopic, but scans showed that everything looked fine. After a rocky start, I prepared myself for things…

This is a very rare disorder that causes a baby to be born covered with a transparent membrane which sheds to reveal red, scaly skin patches. It causes widespread and persistent thick, dry, ‘fish-scale’ skin. There are at least 20 different types of ichthyosis. Most are inherited and appear at birth. There’s no cure, but for those with less severe forms of ichthyosis than Carter’s, a daily skincare routine usually keeps symptoms mild and manageable.…

Shall I tell her I know so she can speak out? Ever since my sister and I were little, I’ve suspected that she’s gay. She’s 34 now, and still hasn’t ‘come out.’ I think she’s worried what people will think but I’d 100% support her. Should I encourage her to be true to herself? What if I’m wrong? Carrie, Glasgow YES  Pick Me Up! reader Donna from Bath says: There’s a chance that your sister isn’t strong enough to talk to you about her sexuality and starting the conversation might be just what she needs right now. If you’re wrong, so be it! She’s not going to be offended as you clearly have the best intentions. Giving her the chance to open up to you could give her confidence to…

Safe seating If you’re ever in Venice, be careful where you sit. Tourists could face steep fines for sitting in certain parts of the city, thanks to new proposals by the city’s mayor. The by-law is meant to keep the growing number of tourists, which often overwhelm the city’s narrow walkways, at bay, and if you’re caught sitting where you’re not supposed to, you may have to fork out up to €500 (£450). Tourists are already forbidden from sitting on the famous Rialto Bridge and in front of several churches. Travel envy Nine in ten Facebook users admit they feel low when they see their friends’ posts about travel, new research has found. In fact, women were more likely to feel down because posts made them envious of their friends.…

Nobody likes getting changed for PE as a teen. But for me, it was hell. Because I knew the other girls would stare at the bulky brace around my torso. I had to wear it to stop my spine from curving any more than it already had. At seven-years-old, I’d been diagnosed with scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine. ‘She has two 60-degree curves,’ doctors had explained to my parents Mila, 44, and Jonathan, 46. The only treatment available was spinal-fusion surgery, using screws and metal rods to fuse the spine into one bone. But this could restrict my upper body movement and growth, and there was also a risk of paralysis. So my parents decided to let me choose what I wanted to do when I was older.…

THEY SAY: Ensure your digestive system is in tip-top condition and that your toilet trips are stress-free with this powerful 3-in-1 formula which combines gentle fibres, probiotic cultures and natural prebiotics. YOU SAY: 'I suffer with IBS, and this really eases the pain. I use it every day, and now I find myself in a far better condition than I was two weeks ago. I can highly recommend this product. It's a life changer.' Val, Bedford WE SAY: For those with tummy problems, this will help ease bloating and cramps. It's small and discreet enough to keep in your handbag – just stir it into a glass of orange juice, drink up and you'll feel better in no time.…

Every morning, Mark Lunsford and his daughter Jessica would both set their alarms for 5am. Mark would get up for his job as a truck driver for a refuse company, while Jessica, nine, would get up for school where she loved seeing her friends and working hard. The dad and daughter shared their home in Homosassa, Florida, with Mark’s parents and Jessica’s dog, Corky. Mark had separated from Jessica’s mum when she was just a year old and had been granted full custody. The pair were inseparable. They would sing karaoke together and Jessica would ride on Mark’s motorbike with her arms tightly wrapped around him. Jessica would call her dad at work just to say she loved him. On February 24, 2005, Mark turned off his alarm, but Jessica’s…

HAPPY FACES 1. nspa Sensitive pure cleansing lotion, £5, George at ASDA Start your beauty ritual with this gentle cleansing otion. Let this mild formula with its blend of vitamin B3 and pro-vitamin B5 cleanse and soften your skin. Sensitive enough to be used every day but effective enough to remove make-up and impurities. 3. Pure marine active face serum, £18, Marks and Spencer Harnessing the power of nature to help smooth fine lines and wrinkles, this serum contains active ingredients to leave your skin feeling firm and fresh. Simply wash and dry your face and apply for instant moisturisation. 2. Oh K! egg white sheet mask, £7.50, NPW Created to give skin a boost, this sheet mask is rich in protein which actively works to firm and smooth skin.…

Being a first-time mum is scary for any woman. But when you just can't seem to feed your baby, it can be terrifying. Holding my baby Jaxon to my breast to feed him, I teared up with frustration. I'd tried using nipple shields, syringe feeding, everything. But no matter how hard I tried, he wouldn't nurse. ‘This is so hard,' I cried to my husband Nick. And soon after, I was in agony. My breasts were swollen with milk and I developed mastitis, an infection which made feeding even harder. But I was desperate to feed my baby. I pump three hours a day ‘I'll express milk and feed him with a bottle,' I said. So I bought a breast pump and my milk started flowing. In fact, I couldn't…

Butterflies fluttered in my tummy during my 20-week scan. ‘You're having a girl!' the nurse beamed at us. ‘Another girl!' I laughed to my husband, PJ, 34. We already had three daughters – Aliscia, 19, Anya, 17, and Amber, eight – and when Alice, now seven, was born, she fit right in. But after about eight weeks I noticed that something didn't look right with her. Her brain was being pulled out Alice was straining her neck a lot and struggling to swallow. She would cry through the night and I was back and forth to the hospital with her. ‘She'll grow out of it,' I was told. By the time she was three, Alice was using her own coping mechanisms to deal with the pain. When she was eating,…

Waving off my friend after a chat and a cuppa, I closed the door. But just a few seconds later, she was back, ringing my bell. Confused, I opened the door to find her holding my cat, Jacob. ‘He was in my car!’ she giggled. ‘Good thing I noticed before I drove off!’ ‘Thank you!’ I smiled, scooping him up. It was typical Jacob. All it took was someone being distracted as they opened the car door, and he’d sneak in. A few times before, I’d been on my way to work when he’d appeared in the back seat! I’d spotted him seven years earlier, in September 2011, as I walked past a pet shop window. A tiny kitten, he was in his own cage and I just knew that…

Our second-hand caravan was done for the summer. Exhausted, we’d given her a good runaround in Great Yarmouth in August 2017. After sweeping out the last of the sand the kids trailed through, we parked her up to rest for the winter. Me and my husband Lyndon, 51, had got permission from a farm around the back of our house to leave it in the corner of their field. But one morning in November, we woke up to a startling discovery. The caravan was gone! Panicked, I ran over to the field. But our beloved caravan that we’d paid £9,000 for four years before was nowhere to be seen. Back home, I called the police. Then I switched on the laptop and got straight on to the caravanning groups on…

Your health Eat right Q My husband has just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He eats badly so what can I do to make his diet better? Trisha, Bournemouth A Working together to make changes is a great idea, as it can provide your husband with the motivation he needs, so see this as something the two of you tackle as a team. While there aren't many strict guidelines for what you should or shouldn't eat, it is important that you find a diet plan that works for the two of you, and that you can stick to it in the long-term. Incorporate plenty of vegetables and fruit, avoid high-fat animal foods, and choose low-fat alternatives when it comes to dairy products. Also, make sure that you…

Our mood Research has revealed that vegetarians may be happier than their meat-eating counterparts. In fact, vegetarians had lower scores on depression tests and mood profiles when compared to people who eat meat and fish. There is an element of freshness to most vegetarian dishes, especially when it comes to organic produce, so this is bound to purify our minds and keep our thoughts positive. Lean figure A bonus to sticking to a vegetarian diet is the positive effect it has on our figure. Vegetarians typically weigh less as a result of a diet comprising of fewer calories in the form of grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables. Vegetarians are also generally more aware of healthy food, and so tend to eat better. Less toxicity Organically, vegetarian diets are…

Perfect your skin Many women often make the mistake of trying to cover up fine lines with layers of makeup, but this actually makes them look older. Instead, look for products with photo-optic technology, which brightens and improves skin's clarity. Brighten your eyes Any professional makeup artist will tell you that their most important tool is an eyelash curler, which instantly makes the eyes pop. After curling, apply mascara only to top lashes, being sure to remove any clumps with a lash comb. Lose the length Women tend to believe that long hair is more youthful, so they hold on to styles that worked for them years ago. In fact, collarbone-length and shorter hair accentuates features like your eyes and smile, making you look younger. Have some layering, too, as…

Bouncing down the stairs, my daughter Eve, six, carried her school bag in her hand. ‘Are you nearly ready?’ I asked, checking my watch again. ‘Mummy, it’s show and tell at school!’ she grinned. Typical! I thought to myself. We were already running late and she waited until then to tell me! ‘Today? Have you got anything you can take?’ I asked, frantically putting on her jacket. ‘I’m going to take my dancing trophy in!’ she buzzed. ‘No, Eve, can you find something else please?’ I asked. Taking her fragile trophy into a class full of six-year-olds was a recipe for disaster and I could already see the tears if something happened to it. She sprinted upstairs and came back grinning. ‘I’ve got something!’ she giggled. ‘Great!’ I called, and…

A right regal lady I adore my cat, Lady Diana. She's such a gentle creature and loves being cuddled, which is perfect for me! Michelle, Swindon Hopping with joy Millie and Pepper have been in our family for years, and we love them to bits! They’re such happy little creatures and can make me smile no matter what. Cora, Hartlepool Perfect mornings Here's my cat Marcus soaking in the morning sun and taking a well-deserved nap. I wish I could spend my mornings like this… Charlotte, Poole…

Sitting at the kitchen table, I stroked my cat, Nina. Just then, my husband Carl, 40, came in carrying the weekly groceries. ‘Let me get dinner on and then I'll help you unpack,' I said, as Carl plonked the carrier bags down. Placing Nina on the floor, she gave me a grumpy look. ‘Cuddles later,' I smiled. Then, as I placed a pizza in the oven, I gave her ears a ruffle. Carl was behind me, rummaging through the shopping. ‘There's something wrong with this,' he frowned, picking up a deodorant aerosol can. Liquid leaked from the nozzle to the kitchen floor as he handed it to me. Just then – Bang! A blazing fireball swept across the kitchen floor! Stunned, I jumped back. Strong fumes were flashing up my…

1 Take time to relax Whether it’s taking a warm bath or reading a book, take time to relax before you go to bed. You could also write a to-do list before bed to free your mind from worrying about the next day. 2 Get into a routine Sticking to a routine allows your body to programme itself to naturally fall asleep and wake up at certain times. Be strict about going to bed at a certain time. 3 Avoid technology Avoid looking at your phone before bedtime. It emits a blue light that suppresses the hormone melatonin, essential for a good night’s sleep. 4 Create a restful environment Make sure your bed provides the correct support and that your bedroom is the right temperature. Pale colours and pleasant smells…

Celebration chocolate cake 150g self-raising flour 180g soft butter 3 large Fairburn'sLincolnshire free range eggs 3 tbsp boiling water 85g drinking chocolate (not cocoa) CHOCOLATE BUTTER ICING: 60g butter 100g icing sugar 15g drinking chocolate 1 tsp instant coffee, melted in little boiling water CHOCOLATE GANACHE: 35g unsalted butter 100g plain chocolate 35g caster sugar 50ml double cream 1. Preheat oven to 160°C. Put all of the cake ingredients into a mixing bowl, beat together well for 2 mins. 2. Put into 2 x 18cm greased and bottom lined cake tins and bake for about 30 minutes.Be careful not to overcook. Remove from the oven and turn onto a wire rack. 3. To make the butter icing, cream the butter to soften, add the icing sugar anddrinking chocolate, and beat…

Fast asleep and dreaming peacefully, I suddenly felt it. A gush between my legs. I was 35 weeks pregnant in November 2016 and it was too early for the baby to come. But for three weeks, I’d been waiting for this moment after being in a car crash with my fiancé Zach, 19. I’d escaped with three fractured ribs and bruising and had been on bed rest ever since. Now though, our baby was finally on its way! After I’d been in labour for 16 hours, doctors carried out an emergency Caesarean section to bring our first baby into the world. As the nurse handed me our 6lb 4oz boy, I noticed Carter’s skin was bright red. So bright, he looked sunburnt. He was just seconds old, and his skin…

Breathless and beaten, I rested on top of Pendle Hill. But the climb hadn’t knocked the wind out of my daughter Daisy, four. ‘Come on, Daddy!’ she said, doing a cartwheel in front of me. ‘Let’s go back down!’ Slapping my hands on my thighs, I stood up again. ‘Right, come on then,’ I laughed. With Pendle Hill right on our doorstep, we often did this climb together on weekends. Daisy never tired of it, physically or mentally! Not long afterwards, in January last year, Daisy and I were strolling through the centre of Burnley, when we spotted the people from Pendleside Hospice selling sweets. Daisy wanted to know what they were raising money for. ‘It’s for poorly people who can’t come home,’ I explained gently. Daisy stood there for…

Baking cakes for a living sounds like a recipe for disaster when it comes to keeping slim, but luckily, I don’t care for cake. I’ve never had a sweet tooth and apart from the odd taste of cake mix, I don’t indulge in treats. Which is why I was horrified when I saw a picture of myself in my favourite polka-dot bikini looking absolutely huge. In July 2015, me and my husband Mark, now 42, and our kids Jamie, now 23, and Holly, 15, were just back from a holiday in Turkey. I was itching to upload our holiday snaps to social media. But as I began to transfer the pictures from my phone to the laptop, I saw the shot that was to change my life. Bulging out of…

A new discovery could explain why obese people are more likely to develop cancer. A type of cell the body uses to destroy cancerous tissue gets clogged by fat and stops working, the team from Trinity College, Dublin, found. According to Cancer Research UK, obesity is the biggest preventable cause of cancer, and more than one in 20 cancer cases in the UK are caused by excess body weight. According to the College's Professor Lydia Lynch, there is a drug that can block fat uptake, but this is not 100 percent effective in preventing cancer. ‘The best way to prevent cancer is to lose some weight,' she said.…