Me: Gwendolyn Merla Loman
Hair: wavy red
Eyes: hazel
Job: Writer
BF: Channing Daley Rowland
Hair: curly black
Eyes: green
Job: United Nations Worker
Location: Ireland
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Year1: Channing and I visit Northern Ireland's biggest theme park.
Gwen (23) and Channing (27).
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Year2: We welcome a daughter into the world! She has curly black hair and green eyes like her daddy, we call her
Xena Henrietta Rowland.
Gwen (24) and Channing (28) with:
Xena (nb).
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Year3: Shortly after her 1st birthday, Xena becomes a big sister to two little girls with straight red hair and blue eyes. We name our twins
Ember Roberta and Willa Georgina Rowland.
Gwen (25) and Channing (29) with:
Xena (1)
Ember and Willa (nb).
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Year4: I receive a portion of inheritance from my great-nan Edith whom I was very close to. Channing and I agree to put the money into saving accounts for our girls.
Gwen (26) and Channing (30) with:
Xena (2)
Ember and Willa (1).
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Year5: My life goal of having a series of my books turned into a movie is realised when my agent calls me to let me know that Lionsgate is interested in my work.
Gwen (27) and Channing (31) with:
Xena (3)
Ember and Willa (2).
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Year6: On the two year anniversary of Edith's death, my family calls a reunion as they've finally realised we don't see enough of each other. It's good to see my parents, big brother, little sister and nieces and nephews.
Gwen (28) and Channing (32) with:
Xena (4)
Ember and Willa (3).
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Year7: Using some money from my inheritance, we take the girls to International Falls, Canada for two weeks.
Gwen (29) and Channing (33) with:
Xena (5)
Ember and Willa (4).
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Year8: Our first son is born! He has wavy red hair and big brown eyes, we name him
Jeremy Beckett Rowland.
Gwen (30) and Channing (34) with:
Xena (6)
Ember and Willa (5)
Jem (nb).
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Year9: Channing is stunned to receive a phone call from Bolivia stating that his UN counterpart and friend has been killed in an uprising, leaving his two year old daughter orphaned. We make the decision to adopt the little girl; she has wavy brown hair and hazel eyes, her name is
Elisa Gabriela and she fits in very well with her new siblings.
Gwen (31) and Channing (35) with:
Xena (7)
Ember and Willa (6)
Lisa (2)
Jem (1).
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Year10: Adopting Lisa was brilliant and very rewarding; so when we here of a plea for a family willing to adopt two year old quintuplets who unfortunately cannot stay with their mother because of financial issues, Channing and I put ourselves forward. With five children already the decision is not made easily but we fight for the children once we meet them. Eventually they become part of our family;
Finn Tobias (wavy black hair and blue eyes),
Lorcan Xavier (curly brown hair and brown eyes),
Gregor Xander (curly brown hair and brown eyes),
Tadgh Mason (wavy black hair and blue eyes), and
Caoimhe Wisteria (wavy black hair and blue eyes).
Gwen (32) and Channing (36) with:
Xena (8)
Ember and Willa (7)
Lisa (3)
Jem (2)
Finn, Lorcan, Greg, Tadgh and Caoimhe (2).
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Year11: As if our house wasn't busy enough, we decide to adopt a kitten from a local shelter;
http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/classifieds/364390-grey-and-white-kitten-for-sale-derby.html - We name him
Charlie.
Gwen (33) and Channing (37) with:
Xena (9)
Ember and Willa (8)
Lisa (4)
Jem (3)
Finn, Lorcan, Greg, Tadgh and Caoimhe (3)
and Charlie the cat (8wk).
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Year12: I give birth to our eleventh baby! He is another boy, with straight red hair and green eyes, we name him
Isaac Zechariah Rowland.
Gwen (34) and Channing (38) with:
Xena (10)
Ember and Willa (9)
Lisa (5)
Jem (4)
Finn, Lorcan, Greg, Tadgh and Caoimhe (4)
Isaac (nb)
and Charlie the cat (1).
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Year13: Channing swans off to Geneva, Switzerland for a UN conference. He is gone for four weeks, during which I have to cope with all eleven of our children!
Gwen (35) and Channing (39) with:
Xena (11)
Ember and Willa (10)
Lisa (6)
Jem (5)
Finn, Lorcan, Greg, Tadgh and Caoimhe (5)
Isaac (1)
and Charlie the cat (2).
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Year14: We adopt a puppy! (We must be mad!)
http://www.123rf.com/photo_15686093_half-breed-shepherd-puppy.html - The girls got the vote on Charlie so now it is our boys turn and they pick Davey.
Gwen (36) and Channing (40) with:
Xena (12)
Ember and Willa (11)
Lisa (7)
Jem (6)
Finn, Lorcan, Greg, Tadgh and Caoimhe (6)
Isaac (2)
Charlie the cat (3)
Davey the dog (12wk).
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Year15: Channing and I make the decision that should have been made six children ago; we move into a converted farmhouse with it's done-up outbuildings. It has eight bedrooms and six bathrooms scattered amongst the various annexes as well as ten acres of land, giving our children enough space and independence to flourish.
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After 15 years the crazy Loman-Rowland family looks something like:
GF: Gwendolyn Merla Loman
BF: Channing Daley Rowland
D: Xena Henrietta Rowland
D/D: Ember Roberta and Willa Georgina Rowland
AD: Elisa Gabriela Rowland
S: Jeremy Beckett Rowland
AS/AS/AS/AS/AD: Finn Tobias, Lorcan Xavier, Gregor Xander, Tadgh Mason and Caoimhe Wisteria Rowland
S: Isaac Zechariah Rowland
Cat: Charlie
Dog: Davey
Gwen (37) and Channing (41) with: Xena (13), Ember (12), Willa (12), Lisa (8), Jem (7), Finn (7), Locan (7), Greg (7), Tadgh (7), Caoimhe (7), Isaac (3); Charlie (4) and Davey (1).