About Me

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I'm Carole, living in London, happily married and mum to two amazing boys.I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Rectal Cancer in April 2010. Surgery took place in November 2010 and I now have a permanent colostomy...Spinal mets were then diagnosed in October 2011...In January 2012 I was told of further spread to the hip area (multiple lesions)..My life expectancy is now 6-9 months. Walk alongside me on the last part of my experience with this..

Sunday 15 May 2011

Special Day Today........:-)

Today is the birth day of my eldest son, James.

Those of you who have followed my blog along will remember that whilst I was in hospital recovering James took over the blog and kept everyone updated. Despite his own worries he managed to keep that smile on his face and convince everyone around him that all in the garden was rosy.

That is very much in keeping with James' personality. He's always been a smiley, happy, content and loving boy (now he's a man of course - but he'll always be my boy)

31 years ago today I gave birth to this little scrap of a thing and remember looking down at the cot and thinking 'Oh God! What have I done, how can I bring up a child on my own with no money, no job, no backup' (his Dad had decided he didn't want children after I found out I was having him)...I think at that point most people expected me to fail.
But I've never really been a quitter - somehow we got through it all together. I grew up WITH James ...in fact, I grew up rapidly overnight then continued to do my growing up with him.

James was always conscious of the fact that we didn't have much money in the early days - he never asked for the things that his friends all had, refused even to have an ice-cream in the park when he was a little boy until he'd asked 'how much does it cost mummy?'
Birthdays and Christmas were special times when I always made sure he got something really special, something I knew he'd had his eye on but would never have asked for. He always appreciated even the smallest of things.

In short, my boy has always been one in a million - we survived the odds together and I look at him now - married to the most beautiful girl, a home owner, good job with a future and feel nothing but admiration and total love for him.

Have a fantastic day James :-)

From this little scrap below










To this gorgeous man.....



Happy Birthday to my first born, very special, son James xxxx

18 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday James 31 years old...a well done for making your mum so proud...

    and a well done to you Carol as I am sure James didn't do it all by himself! :-)

    You are a great solid family unit that works by the sum of its parts Rab + Carole + James + DJ = 1 solid family unit! :-)

    T xx

    T xx

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  2. Hello there, I followed your blog since October and I would like to wish your handsome son many happy returns. He seems a lovely man and I can see why you feel so proud of him. Happy birthday James, keep looking after your mum

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  3. Thanks for your kind reply Carole.

    Happy Birthday to your son! How wonderful to hear how he supported you when you needed it the most.

    Erinne

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  4. A really handsome lad you've got there Carole - and I know how lovely he is too - despite supporting Arsenal.

    You've both done so well. I love the idea of you both 'growing up' together - mother and son. A truly special bond.

    Happy Birthday James

    xxx

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  5. The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. ~Rajneesh

    Happy Birthday James and Carole. You have been a blessing to each other for 31 years. And to your credit, you have each done extremely well.

    Carole, I love your photos showing James growing from a 'little scrap' to a 'gorgeous man' (both inside and out). I think this quote pretty well explains his success.

    The precursor of the mirror is the mother's face. ~D.W. Winnicott

    Much love to you and your beautiful family.

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  6. Hi Carole and James,
    Nothing that I can add that hasn't already been said!
    Happy Birthday James, Well done Carole!
    Hugs!
    Carol

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  7. Carole,
    As a mother of two boys myself (and a daughter) this post was quite touching. Don't you just love how the relationships with our kids keep evolving? Thanks for sharing the lovely photos of your lovely son. Hope he had a great birthday!

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  8. Apologies for the late birthday wishes, im hoping you are all for the 'better late than never' saying.

    I wish James the very best in life and hope he had a wonderful birthday. From the few blog contributions he wrote on your behalf, he is an absolutely charming and praise-worthy young man.

    Give him my very best xx

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  9. Happy belated birthday James. Wasn't sure of your new mobile number so posted on Leannes facebook. When you come to Greece, I'll take you out for a birthday meal!

    Carole, your post brought a tear to my eye. I sooo remember these early days and how I didn't want to go to school as I wanted to look after baby J! Before you had James, I was the irritating baby sister, but James brought us together immediately and we have always been best friends.

    Love you all little sis xxxxxxx

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  10. Hi to all,

    Thank you all for the lovely comments and birthday wishes, it is much appricated. Had a lovely BBQ with my friends who got me very drunk on Saturday and then a fantastic meal at Jamie Olivers on Sunday with my georgeous wife.

    I have to say the happy birthday feelings were in full flow this year, quite a stark contrast to my birthday last year where I didn't feel like celebrating or even talking to anybody if i'm honest, all I could think about was "how could I possiably survive without mum, the one person who has made me the way I am, the one person who understands everything about me".

    However this year it was happy thoughts and trying to get on as normal and planning for the future.

    As for the bond we share, it's hard to put into words but everybody says i'm my mothers son. You may be proud off me but I'm soooooooooooooooooo proud to call you my MUM

    Love to everyone xxxx

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  11. And now you've made me cry J - but happy crying

    Luv ya loads xxxx

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  12. What would we do without these fabulous children ?So much joy and love wrapped up in them.Well done all of you.xxxx

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  13. Crying here too
    Big hugs and love to you all xx

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  14. James so glad that you had a really good Birthday this year , you so deserve it, you have been such a great support to your Mum as always, we are so proud that we have such a lovely Grandson ,i also had a few tears reading your post, love you loads
    Nan and Grandad .xxxx

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  15. a very happy (belated) birthday to you James xxxx

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  16. Hey Carole

    It's been ages since you posted. Missing your chat! I know you're busy being back at work, but just hoping all is well

    Xx

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  17. Hello. Been out of circulation, blog-wise, for a few weeks since 'losing' my I.E. toolbar and thus my link!!

    Cool Breeze - you are your mother's son and, quite simply, the best. Love ya. And your mum! xx

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