Last night was exhausting.
Late in the afternoon I could feel this horrible pain starting again at the top of my abdomen and in my back. And since I had experiences the excruciating pain before I knew immediately that it was another gallbladder attack. Yep, you read it. Another! See, I had one a couple of weeks ago that landed me in the ER in a matter of minutes. Docs released me later that same night and put me on waiting list for a gallbladder removal (surgery).

Well, back to last night...I took some pain meds and hoped it would go away without me needing to go to the ER. Well...it didn´t. It just kept getting worse and worse until Hjörtur finally told me that I would either go with him in the car to the ER or he would call an ambulance. I agreed on driving there ourselves. Hey, guys. I have an ancient Ex who drives the ambulance and I DO NOT want him picking me up when I´m crying and vomiting from pain.

While I was getting dressed and ready to go we heard horrible screams coming from out in the street. Katla (5) had fallen of her bike and straight onto her face. She started swelling immediately and was obviously in a lot of pain. We rushed her into the car and headed for the ER. You can imagine the surprise of the nurses when they saw us both coming in but for completely different reasons. I just told them that we just thought it was more economical to do it all at once ;-)

Katla was sent right off for a CT scan of her head to rule out bleeding and/ or swelling of the brain. I stayed behind while the docs did some bloodwork on me and gave me morphine to manage the pain. I HATED not being able to go with her, but was very glad that at least her dad was there. I know that he´s just as good as I am but still it broke my heart.

This is what she looked like this morning, and the swelling is still getting worse.

P.S We´re still 3rd in the Radisson competition. Please keep on voting http://bit.ly/5elves Your help is amazing!

As many of you may have noticed I am competing in the most awesome competition to win 365 hotel nights with Radisson Blu, to be spent over a 5 year period anywhere in the world. Out of more than 7000 participants, I am currently in 3rd. place!!! http://bit.ly/5elves

How cool would it be, if we could take our 5 little elves on an awe inspiring road trip to cities such as Paris, Vienna and Rome? Cities, we can hardly dream of paying for 2 hotel rooms in.

Our most amazing friends and supporters have joined our Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=113602562018685&v=wall&ref=ts. Maybe you´d like to do that too?

Yes, I´m begging

Pleeeeeaaaaaase vote for us to win the "Worlds Greatest Holiday" http://www.greatestholiday.radissonblu.com/inga-ros-antoniusdottir/862003/

To the end of the world

There aren´t many countries in the world I wouldn´t like to visit. I don´t recall ever having read, seen or been told something about a country that didn´t in some way intrigue m. Fact is, I LOVE traveling. Seriously, I do! I know I´m not alone, and that most people love going on holidays but I also know that many people love coming back and get all warm and fuzzy at the thought of "finally" sleeping in their own bed again.

That´s my point! I never get tired of traveling. I never reach the point of: "O.k. now, it´s been great but I´d love to be AT HOME again." Home is where your heart is, which in my case is with my children and husband. So as long as I´ve got them all with me, I´m "AT HOME".

We´ve been extremely lucky and have been able to travel pretty extensively with our children, considering that 4 of them were born while we were still both in school. One of the greatest trips so far was a European road trip. We drove from Denmark through Germany to the Czech Republic, where we stayed for a few days in the beautiful city of Prague. Therefrom through Austria and Slovenia to Zagreb, Croatia, where we stayed for a few nights before we drove all the way down the gorgeous coastline of Croatia, staying in Senj, Split and my favorite eastern European city, Dubrovnik. From there on we continued into Bosnia and onwards to Hungary where we spent amazing days with friends at Lake Balaton and in Budapest before heading back to Denmark.

Our family has grown by two since then, but, oh, how I wish we could go on a road trip to France and Italy for instance, and that is why we signed up for the "Greatest Holiday in the World" http://www.greatestholiday.radissonblu.com/inga-ros-antoniusdottir/862003/

The Neverending Story

Twice in the past two days have I been asked whether we will have more children, and once actually been told that we indeed will have more children, despite my negative answer. Why exactly is it that people somehow seem to believe they have a say in how many children other people have?

I have friends who have no children, either by choice or not. The reason shouldn´t matter though. It´s none of your business!!!

As a mother of 5 children I think I´ve heard just about every response there is when I told people about my pregnancies.

I was 15 when I got pregnant for the 1st time and 16 when I had my son. Granted, friends and family thought it was too soon, but most were supportive. However, a few people offered me and my mother their condolences. What? This is my baby, my mothers first grandchild and you´re telling us you´re sorry in the same way you do when a life is lost?

Second time I was pregnant, I was 18. Still happy with my first baby´s father (and still am 16 years later). We were both in school, living on our own, hubby (boyfriend at that time) working and we were doing pretty well. Very committed to each other and our children. People´s response: "Why make the same mistake twice?"- Wow, just wow!

Third time was a charm, probably the only time a pregnancy didn´t spark strange or rude comments of some sort. I was 24, still studying, hubby was studying and working, we owned a house and people who knew we wanted more children felt THIS was the right time.

Fourth pregnancy- that´s when the fun started for real. Comments and questions such as " You guys know about condoms, right? - Are you going to keep on going forever? - Trying for a soccer team?" started rolling in. A friend of mine, also with 4 children had experienced the same.

Fifth pregnancy - Go figure!

Now, that we have these 5 children, the same people keep asking about a 6th!!!

I should add, that these were not our close friends or family. All of them were very supportive, loving and wonderful.

So, why is it exactly that virtual strangers feel they´re entitled to voice their opinion on other people´s childbearing?

If you are someone who keeps telling childless couples to have a baby, parents with an only child to give their child a sibling, or someone with many children to start using contraceptives THINK BEFORE YOU TALK.

Saying hello to summer

There´s not much to say about these photos, and I´m not feeling very well, so here goes, without explanation.

Pouty face, but still so cute ;-)

Planting strawberry plants

Katla picked straws and took them home to keep in a vase.

365 nights!

My plans for July 24th? To win this competition http://bit.ly/a2AbeP and take my family on one hell of a road trip :)