Mumsnet Talk

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/1676013-November-2012-We-want-rattles-and-we-want-them-now

Marking place

Marking place

Me too. Too tired to be witty...

<yawn>

Marking place!

Typical, I'm wide awake and S is still fast asleep

Morning!

Now then <<massive yawn>>

I'm confused why to people mark place when you can watch and thread has only just started!

Morning cockers...

So it goes into your threads I'm on zcos so you don't have to look for it when the old trhead runs out.

Tat's why I do it anyway.

I don't use the watching thing. It's just another place for stuff to hide

Ditto PR - zcos it means on my fone I just click I'm on & can catch up. I don't tend to do much 'watching' or surfing of active threads unless its the wee small hrs...

Same here, goes into threads I'm on. Don't use watching etc on phone.

I'm curious as to how many of us are still exclusively breastfeeding. We're still going strong despite the occasional temptation, usually in the wee small hours during a growth spurt. I'm not sure when I will introduce formula, it was as four months with DS1 and DS2 as that's when I started weaning, although DS2 was very resistant to the bottle. If we're supposed to start weaning at six months now then I don't know when would be the best time ignores DM trying to feed banana to my 12-week-old baby.

I'm still ebf although have a single carton of c&g on standby if/when the expressed feeds aren't enough if I've left him.

Going out today & leaving 1 full feed of frozen ebm and whatever I can express when feeding him next, so if that's not enough, the carton is there. I'd rather he had formula than scream until I got home.

I didn't introduce formula properly for DD until I had to stop feeding at 9mths. Luckily she was a any-milk-any-bottle type of girl, otherwise stopping feeding one night & being on the bottle permanently the next would have been really hard.

I have no plans to go to formula tbh. I'll keep going, all being well, until he can be weaned onto cows milk.

I am, Stunt, but then I've had a pretty easy time of it in that respect. I'm aiming for 6 months, possibly a year if i don't have to get a job...

.... another new thread?! How many is that now? Our babies are only aprox 12 weeks old

I'm feeling a little better this morning, I tend to go down during the day though so we shall see how I am this afternoon.

Another through night for J, although I'm expecting the 4 month regression so I'm enjoying the 10-6 nights we're currently getting.

I'm not sure it is PND that I have, I have always been a worry wart and it just seem to be exaggerated at the moment. My current biggest thing is DP going back to work, I can handle the work and him not being here but the hours he will be working and the distance will mean him being gone from about 5am until 8-9pm everyday, he's going to miss J growing up and I'm going to suddenly be fully responsible for 3 kids without any help. Its really quite upsetting me but unfortunately that's life, he needs to go where the work is.

J had a great time in the duck bath (as you saw) he loves and bath and he does have a swanky Fisher Price aqua center one but I saw the duck one and it was only a tenner so we thought it would be a laugh.

I think we're attempting the cinema today if they let J in, I'm not sure what the policy is at cinema for babes in arms.

I'm still ebfing, mainly because I'm lazy and it's easier for me to just whop a boob out for him than faff with bottles, he doesn't feed often and I'm not hurting anymore.

They say 6 months but the baby rice and porridge in the supermarkets etc are from 4 months, how confusing is that for parents?!

I was saying to DP though that I have a habit of 'sharing' food when feeding babies so when we start to wean I'm probably going to use breast milk for main feeds then make up and food requiring milk with formula because I don't fancy a mouthful of something made up with my own produce!

It is indeed confusing Tits because the government make the recommendations on (reasonably) recent studies etc but companies are out to make money. I wasn't able to express much with DD so I used formula at first but they do say you can use cows milk in cooking.

Well I can't imagine weaning before 6 months (lazy thing that I am!) all the time he's content on the boob I'll leave it at that.

Still EBF here too stunt, I fed dd1 until she was 8 months. I found she was physically too big to feed comfortably by then and she was only having two milk feeds a day, morning and before bed. It was just easier to switch to formula. I weaned dd1 on to food at 6 months, she took to it really easily at that age and was on three meals a day by 7 months, dropping her day milk feeds.

Still Ebf and will until I start back ay work when he's 8 months. Then he will just have formula when I am out at work well that is the plan

will take his lead on the weaning front. DS2 was five months when I started weaning so we shall see.

This is the 14th post-natal thread Tits although they have been going since the 4th October after the first few babies had arrived. We're actually much chattier post-natally; there were 24 ante-natal threads running from 22nd February to 12 December when Clarella's baby arrived. That last ante-natal thread only had 49 messages though should we send Pass over to finish it?

Marking place!

Oh I've just read the last thread .... Chinese new year? I'm a Rabbit

I'm still exclusively breast feeding, but also think I've had an easier time of it than a lot of the mums here. A hoping to keep going until babylaughalot is 12 months much to MIL's horror

I did my final breastfeed last week, but had been mixed feeding from about week 4. Took DS some time to entertain the idea of a bottle, but last week he decided he preferred it, so we're now completely onto formula.

Hello new thread...

I have banged on about it enough but we ebf till exactly 11 wks when we started the top ups so he now has three post-bf formula bottles and one expressed one per day. Was hoping to return to ebf once L has gained more weight but will see how it goes. Aside from the weight gain issue, I have loved bf and have been lucky to have avoided mastitis/thrush/other issues.

Oh for goodness sake, I'd only just got used to the last thread!

Awful evening yesterday, screams and wails until gone 11, fussy feeding, squelchy hiccups, the works. In the end I gave her some calpol as she felt v hot and within 20 mins she was sound, and slept through til 6.30! A record! Much happier today thank goodness.

I'm still ebf, but having read catbags comment about wrapping the towel around yourself after a shower, I'm fairly sure I've got thrush . Feeding was fine until a few days ago, although it has been sore on the right for a few weeks. It's now agonising on both sides, and there are splits on the right and impending on the left but trying to ignore that You can buy daktarin though can't you? Is it the oral gel? If I can get through this hurdle thereby ticking off yet another breastfeeding complication, thanks then I will carry on until...who knows! Can't imagine giving up yet, even though it nearly reduces me to tears at the mo martyr??

tits let us know about the cinema, am interested.

bigpig ouch.

stunt I'm still ebfing. Going to feed until one year at least. Going to work when H is 11 months so planning on expressing for one month whilst at work, if need be, as he would be on solids and then seeing how we go. I love breastfeeding. I'd be really sad if he wanted to stop any time soon.

Marking place

I only managed to give expressed bm for eight days, I just couldn't keep up with him, he's been on formula since. I try not to think about weaning as he's only 3.5 months and I need to have a look at how to go about it! I think DM is keen for me to give him baby rice soon but I have reservations about it with him being so young. We were weaned from 6-8 weeks but I'm so far avoiding the weaning conversation. To be fair she isn't pushing it yet

I know it's been talked about before, but if I put daktarin on my boobs, do I have to wash it off before feeding?

Still EBF here - just had one bottle formula to see if he takes a bottle. Gonna give him another today and tomorrow to see if it helps and to keep his hand in with the bottles. Then I can tell the HV I have tried. He is napping better today, but still only 45 mins, but in the cot. I am doing well with cutting out caffeine. I am giving thought to cutting out dairy but will speak with HV about it.

stunt yes, the young lady who slept on the back doorstep went in the kennel for one night as it was raining, and her mum found out and she got a severe beating. She was about 8 at the time and still does not understand why. There are some dreadful parents out there.

I would like to bf until he self weans, but part of me wishes he would self wean today. I fed DD1 for 8 months and DD2 18 months.

VQ the no-caffeine rule is a killer. Pre-pregnancy, I was a total coffee addict. We have a lovely espresso/cappuccino maker. Within weeks of being up the duff, had gone right off coffee, to the point of it making me want to vom. Fast forward 8 months, I was v much looking forward to resuming coffee drinking but alas, no! A few cups to tempt my tastebuds, and bring on hideous reflux for LO.

Some mornings I would commit crimes for proper strong coffee

Personality Traits Of The Water Dragon People

The Dragon is a sign of energy and power and has a special place in Asian mythology. In the East, the Dragon is a symbol of luck and authority. People under the influence of the Dragon are considered charismatic, independent and resourceful. In astrology, the Dragon corresponds to the sign of Aries. People born in this year tend to be fearless and confident in their pursuits and are often successful. They need to be careful not to make decisions too quickly and be aware of not being too arrogant. The element of water has the most calming effect on the Dragon and cools their fiery tempers. Water is said to bring out patience and sensitivity in a Dragon’s personality that is often overshadowed by their fiery need for attention. This influence tends to help them make wiser decisions and work better with others.

Evil

Can't connect to any Internet.

I want to cry!

Thank you evil

Screw you Virgin and your crappy service. On hold to disconnections department. Grrrrrrrrrrrr. Crying baby, that'll be fun for the poor person who has to convince this raging mad woman to stay with them. Jog on.

Daktarin purchased. DH all too keen to point out I should have gone to the gp yesterday like he said instead of having to pay for it. Nothing less helpful than somebody saying I told you so

Dsd deposited at hideous indoor play centre for a birthday party so the nursery is finally being painted whilst I sit with a hot chocolate and feed LO stick shards of glass in my nipples

I noticed a thread in active conversations today about how crap Virgin is. Didn't open it but I think a couple of you in this group have been complaining about them recently...

bigpig I was told you don't need to washer off.

I'm still EBF. She won't take a bottle of expressed so far. Hoping to BF until she weans and then maybe mix feed?

Still ebf here. Saul does a little excited wiggle and joy face when he sees the boob. River is far more business-like about the whole thing. They will also take ebm from a bottle, which is good otherwise I would never set foot in my uni again.

Me and Oscar are now watching The Lion King.

DP and DS1 gone to cinema to watch Wreck It Ralph. Feeling left out, but don't want to take a poorly baby out unnecessarily, and not to the cinema where I can't effectively snot remove!

Oh, he's stopped crying at snot sucker now, as he has realised it makes him feel better. I hope anyway! Either way, no more tears and tantrums! Phew!

Talking of watching films, what are you doing about TV for your babies? I've been (?!)guilty of sticking cbeebies on for Oscar, more so he has some noise around him as I am out the room in the kitchen or whatever. But, he is obsessed by the shiny sparkly things that come out of it! D'oh! I can't keep him away from it, because DS1 monopolises it with Disney Channel/Comedy Central/Sky One or xbox games which I friggin' hate but his Dad bought them for him grrr.

I think i'll just go with the flow. I'm not a telly addict, I don't watch much, prefer a film. DP the same really. DS has a TV in his room, but no channels, just for DVD's. I might get him it in his room, so he can watch what I don't want Oscar watching? Not sure. What do others do with kids of multiple ages wanting to watch different stuff?

I'd not really given much thought to it til I saw Oscar staring at some violent xbox game that has appeared in my house...

In other news, he loved my rendition of 'I just can't wait to be kiiiiiiiiiiiiing'.

Will go check it out PR and maybe add my rant! Hah!

I am now disconnected. I have 30 days to find a new package. Decisions decisions!

Cinema was great if you ignore other people's unruly kids and the child/vomit fountain at the front they didn't bat an eyelid about J sitting in and I just fed him until he dropped off then he watched in awe for the last half hour.
They don't have changing stations though so take a mat, luckily we had a travel one with us.
Film was excellent, I really recommend it, wreck it Ralph really good job from Disney.

Oh and I guilty of J falling asleep I his chair to tv, only ever grown up programmes though, in fact I think he thinks Frasier is his dad, he cries when it finishes

The TV is often on here as I like background noise. DD1 pretty much ignores it. LO squirms to try and be able to watch it. I'm not anti or pro TV as far as children are concerned as long as they don't sit glued to it for hours on end at the expense of doing more interesting things like sport and imaginative play and reading. CBeebies is brilliant and the main reason that I got UK TV set up here as French children's TV is dire.

E is a tv addict, I hadn't really sat him to watch it at all but he noticed it anyway so now he has cbeebies on for 20 mins in a morning so I can get dressed. It's always on for background noise and he often watches it but if he's playing I'll turn it off. I'm thinking it's not like he's an older child constantly glued to it, he's a baby and as far as he's concerned it's colourful and noisy so he likes it. I usually have normal stuff on but I do put cartoons on for him sometimes like when I really want a hot meal for once

I'm still ebf. Mainly due to the fact E won't take a bottle otherwise I would probably be mix feeding by now, it at least giving one bottle of formula before bed. I have stopped expressing for a little while. Was getting all a bit much. Luckily I haven't had any troubles bf otherwise god knows what I'd have done. Hats off to those of you that have struggled and persisted.

J enjoys Peppa Pig, Jesse, or Downton Abbey with equal measure. It is all about lights and movement and noise at this age. TV can be useful especially when you have more than one, or need a few minutes to do something. The only time J is say facing the TV though is when I put the girls to bed. It will hold him for a few minutes.

Chick you'll only be breastfeeding two or three times a day at 11-12 months so it would be easy to keep feeding morning and evening. You might not need formula at all as she can have cow's milk while you're at work from 12 months.

J has had a bath so his head is temporarily free from scaly cradle cap. I hope he decides to go to bed before 11 today. Last night he stayed up watching Dredd with DH and I. He also watched a bit of the Following today while DS1 and DS2 were at Wreck-It Ralph with the next-door neighbour. He's going to like scary movies at this rate. I don't think I could stand another baby's worth of Dora the Explorer but quite pleased to see there's a new series of Octonauts on CBeebies especially as DS2 already has the toys.

L noticed the tv when the Australian Open was on and since then he is transfixed when he sees it. I don't put kids tv on but he has been subjected to some crappy daytime viewing.

I think as long as it's part of a balanced diet of tv/books/games etc it doesn't do any harm. Most of my friends' kids love screens of any kind but are pretty well rounded. Not in a physical sense.

LOL @ pretty well rounded .

Seems we are all along the same lines then!

I did however turn Oscar away and distract him at the sad bits that make me cry in the lion king. He's too young for that yet .

Am jealous that I'm stuck home now, with everyone else getting to watch Wreck It Ralph. Damn it! I'll go on my own!

Y likes watching football We have cbeebies on after the boys are dressed in the morning and Y seems to like octonauts, chuggington and bob the builder.

got out the 3 - 6 clothes. He has loads! so now surfing eBay for summer 6 - 9 clothes to cover the barren SMP months

Dsd has returned from her party singing "come and join the conker, oo oo ooooh" - a seasonal version perhaps??

Oh and we watch Mary Poppins here, finally sky plussed it over Christmas - guaranteed to send me to sleep even though it's one of my favourite ever films

They grow slower from about four months so clothes last longer brockle

Stunt DH and I have been watching the Following. BRILLIANT isn't it?!

I have to buy Annie, Mary Poppins and the Sound of Music for the DDs. I am a big musical fan and they are good to start the brainwashing with

Dottie has one bottle of formula a day either at bedtime with me or with the childminder, as I go to full time uni that will increase but I will still bf her when we are together - I always thought I'd be happy to wean and stop bf at 6 mths but that's not long and even if it's only bedtime feed I'd like to carry on as long as she does.

Tv - we have virgin boxes in all rooms -ds likes football and sport so has it for that, dd1 likes sponge bob, Disney etc... Which I hate so she has an hour in her room each evening and we got it in bedroom so I can watch crap while feeding or come up here and sulk if dh is being a knob without missing Enders!!!

Popped to town today with dh to try and clear bad headache - twunts at natwest have blocked his card and account for no apparent reason except we were in Manchester at the weekend -knobs - I hate natwest with a passion!!!!

Headache still here so had a snooze in bed while Dottie napped in car seat until divvy dh brought her up in cars eat and banged it in doorway -knob!!!!

I'm attempting to start reading again!!!

I'd forgotten this quote from Lion King 'before sunrise, he's your son'. Will try that one tomorrow morning .

And, 'they call me Mr Pig'... teehehehe!

that is what I am hoping PR although that wasn't the case with DS2 I could do with him staying in 3 - 6 until august!

The Following is compelling viewing PR but not quite gory enough for my taste (Walking Dead, True Blood, etc.) Do you think the FBI woman in charge of the investigation is in on it or is that too obvious? Elementary has started again which is pretty good but I'll have to get my assigned West Wing episodes watched first!

We love The Following here.

No Following spoilers please. I have yet to see this weeks episode. It is fab. I find walking dead just too gory, although I heart Dexter!

Nah I think she's a goodie. It would be far too obvious and I would be disappointed if she is a follower. I have yet to finish the wire. Next up is West Wing. The latest Dexter is being trailed so looking fwd to that. Is it so very wrong that he is my secret crush?

LO having v bad evening. Lots of tears. Not eaten much. Other than a bit of a runny nose and rare coughs, no symptoms. Just gave her an hour nappy free time. Both my daughters have pissed on me today. Being a mum is so glamourous. <peers at unplucked eyebrows in reflection of wineglass>

yep. Yummy mummies need not fear competition from moi.

Ooh I hope that wasn't a spoiler, but I think if you saw the 2nd episode you'd be ok on that.

Not a spoiler VQ it was episode 2 where she seemed to have a bit of a moment when she handed over the Poe book to Joe Carroll.

Glamour = being weed on pre-bath. Post-bath being fed, I hear a gurgle, smell a terrible eggy smell and see an accompanying poonami escaping from her nappy. Luckily for her she paused in her feeding to beam at me! \

This is not how I used to spend my Saturday nights

Had a lovely day with friends and a LO a year and a day older than L. A little view into the future!

Then I went and bought formula... I felt a sense of relief. Today I've just expressed what I could when I could without pressure. I feel like a different person. Am so determined to enjoy him and my little family now. I am so pleased with what I have managed and I've got to 3 months. That's a good enough start for me.

Also managed to change all the boxes of size 2 nappies I bought never believing my tiny 7lb baby would be 15lb at 11 weeks!

Place marking 4 pages in!

Pass yes primary. Preferance in upper stages. In all honesty the damage is usually already done by then too. From.experience on placements, early and poss first level are the crucial years. Hopefully CfE will iron out some flaws <sniggers and raises eyebrow>

It may well have been Mr Rankin's do although doubt it. He is a very quiet soul, I couldn't even tell you exactly which house is his. One of the posh ones anyway . (I'm sure you know which car he drives!!! )

DP's best friend's mum died yesterday. I never met her but she was like a second mother when he was growing up apparently. Think we will need to fly over for a funeral one day next week . I am tempted with staying an extra few days with M so to give us some space when he goes back to work. He has no idea how much he has upset me and as far as he is concerned nothing happened

We are still EBF

Pikz Firstly, I'm glad you're feeling better, 12 weeks = amazing! Well done

As for nappies, we had to give our local children/family charity 5 unopened boxes of Pampers in size 2 in the week, luckily FIL has a nappy subscription on the go for us so we didn't lose any money and we'll just get a bigger size delivered. To be fair the charity have been a rock for me and my family since DS1 was diagnosed at 2 1/2 so I'm glad they will pass them on to another family who can use them who may be struggling. Size 3 here now, the 2s just couldn't hold in the erm.. numbers 2s!

In other entirely dull news, J is asleep and I need to do dishes and laundry <cba alert>

Thumb fist if possible! sucking has commenced in earnest. This appears to be reason for eating his hands this last week.

So the dummy ain't good enough is it?!

Stinky poo with chunks in - result of cold? Yes?

Could be Detective LO has funny poos when bunged up - mucous - including today. Nothing to worry about

<whispers very quietly> both children are in bed.
Don't know what to do probably fall asleep on the sofa

Thanks Stunt. He's such a boob monster, I can't imagine a time that he only feeds a couple of times a day, lol!!
I have a little one who has a cold and hasn't done a poo since Wed. Called nhs direct and they said not to worry until Monday!!!

Evenin all!

We went to a friend's for lunch today. P beamed and giggled and enjoyed cuddles. Did a nice poo then slept the rest of the visit. Awesome. She is asleep again now possibly dreaming of kittens and soy milk.

Hi-5 to all you exclusive boobers. I salute you and your magnificent norks - job well done ladies.

MM I agree about early stages. Part of my job means I read the Personal Pupil Report which follows every child through from nursery. I read every single thing right to their nursery enrolment. It is a massive eye opener. It is a sad thing to be able to look back and see that the chil who didn't know shapes or colours at nursery never caught up. Made me think of VQ's story about the child on the step. I have been known to have to sit with hankies while reading.

I don't want to scare anyone but my ff DD1 is almost 2. She won't drink cow's milk, actually spits it out. Has 500ml of ff a day even now. On top of cheese, yoghurtsand any other which way I can get milk into her. It's bloody expensive

And telly! Personally, I like the telly on in the morning until I come too a bit. P is fascinated by the movement, shapes and colours. I don't sit her directly in front of it but sideways meaning she has to turn a bit to see it. At 5:30 she and I sit down - her in bouncer and me on the floor next to her - and we watch pointless together. I have a cup of tea and some toast and she watches me eat it. Then we hold hands and she chats. It is a nice chilled thing to do before bath and bed hour.

Wonder why she doesn't like it PR? Maybe she doesn't like the taste? I am not a fan of moo milk myself actually. We used to get our milk straight from the dairy out of the chillers. I used to get sent to get it as my wee arms couldn't reach in very far so I would scoop up essentially pure cream. Pretty rich on the old cornflakes

stunt I think sending me off to finish the ante-natal thread is a great idea! I can spraff all my shite over there and you guys only need to read it if you have nothing better to do.

We're still EBF and despite previous skirmishes with thrush and ongoing diet restrictions - still loving it. We plan on continuing until we TTC baby number 2 when Jonas is one - fingers crossed if I fall quickly we can have a summer baby. Due to family issues with premature birth tandem feeding is too risky for my liking.

If we weren't planning on TTC I'd happily follow WHO guidance and keep going until he's two - but ask me again when he has teeth!!!

Thankfully I don't think our recent uptick in reflux is due to pork but rather a bag of salted cashew nuts that contained milk powder. A bag of fecking nuts!!!! Am sick of label checking!!!!

Went out for lunch today in St Andrew's stressed the need to avoid dairy and was presented with a sharing platter with big slabs of butter on it - grazing on everything. Thought St Andrew's students were meant to be bright sodding waitress. Counting down to reflux hell and reminding myself why I'll not be going out for dinner again any time soon

Awww pass hankies! You sweetie!

Well another thread!
My Chinese meal went ok. Somehow. I put to much lime juice in the sauce, grr, but apart from that it was very nice.

DP could only manage about just under an hour of N, how he is going to look after him when I go back to work I don't know? I'm glad I'm looking into nurseries.

Evil

Pass your tv watching creates lovely mental pictures

Mmmmm.... the things I would do to Dexter Morgan given half a chance ....

No exclusive boob ever here sad really I'm a hound not a horse. Though I'm a jan birthday so maybe I'm not a hound? I never understood it.

Burnt myself really badly today. Look like I've got some mega disease. It's not. It's just a mega splattered burn. I'll look fab at the christening tomorrow....

We are still ebf too, M has a bottle of expressed milk every day. I have a freezer full of milk and its got to the point I'm having to chuck some away. I have contacted the milk bank at Yorkhill to find out if they can take some of it off my hands. I'm hoping to feed as long as possible.

PR I don't drink milk and haven't since I was about the same age as your dd. I have to eat readybrek for breakfast as it contains calcium, would your dd eat it?

M is transfixed with the tv especially Friends as Dh constantly watches the comedy channel, oh and sky sports!

I'm a rat in the Chinese calendar.
N is 4 months now and is only having four bottles a day. Each bottle he is having roughly 5-6 oz. Is this enough?
I'm worried as his forntenell is pulsing when he crying. He still has wet nappies and is still pooing.

Evil

evil sorry to hear about the burn. Hope you heal quickly. You will look fab tomorrow as will little E. I so love his name. Often wish I had been brave enough to use it.

Not sure what J is doing tonight. Eating enough to sink a battleship. I chickened out of giving formula. I am fearful it will make things worse.

Oh and N loves the TV too, He loves pretty much anything, but the brighter the better.
Evil

VQ did you mean horsey?

Evil

Exclusive BF here. Fed ds1 until 14 months when he just wasn't interested any more. By that point he was down to one a day in the morning anyway, so never needed to express when I went back to work. DH gave Teddy a bottle (of EBM) today. Gonna keep giving once a week or so as not making the same mistake as last time with bottle refusal. Was bridesmaid for my sister when ds1 was about 5 months; spent a lot of the time in the bridal suite feeding him as ge wouldnt take a bottle and the bridesmaid dress, unsurprisingly, was not designed with easy access to boobs . Had to unzip whole side of it or lift it up exposing my knickers to bf, and that wouldn't have been a pretty sight in the wedding photos.

not feeling good at the mo had a fab few days perhaps too much away from dd... and now tonight I feel sad and useless and alone ...my sister is staying in the next room but dh is an hour away out on the town ... with my blessing but dd def seems to have a cold green poop and see through vomit... wish dh would at least text. dd seems uncomfortable feeding ...wind I think!

sorry posted that without reading as dd crying v bad looks like I'm feeling v sorry for myself.

DS loves any tv but he is completely mesmerised by the Zingzillas I think it's called? Baby tv is often on in our house too.

Yes I am getting my evils and horseys mixed up. Must be my age.

zcos do not apologise for feeling sorry for yourself. I feel very sorry for myself at the moment. Proper pity! Talking it through on here helps so let rip. Share how you are feeling x it is ok to acknowledge it is not all roses.

DS appears to be asleep. Hoping for 3 hours. Dreaming of 8 hours. No doubt see you guys later x

I have baby Einstein dvds that I bought for DD but A mainly watches cBeebies as that is DD's preferred viewing...

Have lost my right contact lense from my eye. Not sure if I rubbed it out or pushed it round

DD wasn't fussed about whether it was bm/formula/moo milk, as long as it was warm. DS has happily taken 2 bottles of defrosted ebm today so fingers crossed he keeps that up have enough to feed a family of 4 in the freezer!! and managed to express enough to replace what I got from the freezer.

Both dc in bed and we're going to fall asleep watch a dvd which is definitely not a dodgy version of skyfall obviously

Little pig last fed at 7. Still sound asleep - to wake or not to wake, that is the question.

Zcos join the self-pitying club, we've all had a good emotional outpouring lately on here, and vq is right, it does help.

thanks vq and pig

cacacaz me neither, my milk phobia started well before I was 2. I left a cup of milk on a radiator. That ended badly. Haven't drunk it since. And hate dealing even with formula. And that impacted breastfeeding too. Ugh. I hate milk. Ugh. Ok with cheese and yohgurt though, as long as it doesn't taste like rancid milk. Which is ironic, because cheese is rancid milk. Ok. Not going to eat cheese for a good few days til I get tat image out of my mind.

I cringe even when I have to wipe up spilt milk. That is why bf was hard. Showering andnwatching that stuff drip, from me, was too much.

I'm another milk-hater. Distinctly remember "world war 2 day" at primary school, complete with a polystyrene cup of milk which we were pretty much forced to drink. Nothing before or since has been harder to eat/drink. Warm milk. Polystyrene cup. Gross but not as gross as having orange squash from the SAME CUP later in the day

Just doing the bedtime feed. Wonder what is in store for us tonight?!

I feel ill. Dp made dinner and I didn't like it . Very greasy and it's turned my stomach!

I'm still hungry and I want pancakes. We have no eggs. Gah!

Think I'll just have an early night. Well. Early for me.

I'm another who doesn't drink milk. It tastes weird to me. I'll cook happily with it. But not have it as a drink. Nope.

Don't like cereal because I don't like milk and what it does to the cereal!

Also don't like butter/marge on sandwiches.

I have the wake or not wake debate every evening bplp, I've started leaving her and she's been going through until 4-5am, so doing 9-10 hours.

I'm full of cold, LO doesn't seem to have caught it thank goodness.

Ouch horsey, I burned myself too, on wed night. Passed my pinkie over the spout of the kettle. - why?! Steamed my skin off. It's developed it's own little protection now in the form of a giant blister - ouch!

I'll cook with it if I'm making yorkshires, or pancakes, coz there's no choice. But sauces? Things like mac'n'cheese? Creme fraiche. Yum.

I don't think I've ever had a bowl of cereal coz of milk. BUT determined as I am to not pass on my phobias I am working on porridge for DD1. And have managed French toast as it's only a splash of the white stuff. We get through less than a pint a week. When I was a kid we had three pints delivered every day

Mmm is everyone on here weird re milk on here? ... I include myself in this! ... I have always loved milk but don't think it likes me! so after a few weeks of having milk in the morning with cereal as I suddenly started having cereal when pregnant... I switched to soy milk. Seems to aggravate my IBS less ... I do feel like some soy milk with b vits is good for me to have a couple of times a week being a veggie.
re tv glad others watch with their tinnies I always feel a bit guilty but its good to manage a bite to eat and I always watch tv when bf in the day. Think its one of the perks

I think maternity leave and crap pay is one of the prices one has to pay for the opportunity to watch unlimited tv and purchase box sets guilt free zcos

that's it until retirement

I'm watching cheers and taxi on HBO at the mo ... I think I will have watched every episode of every series by the time I go back to work... now that's something to be proud of!
Also watching the office American version In the evening through dds cluster feeds (well until I go up to bed and cluster feed some more!)

I meant to say I can't concentrate on anything longer or with a more complicated plot at the moment I sometimes struggle with these!

Evil Thanks for the info about our little Dragons Very interesting also DH is a 1976 dragon too. I don't think 4 bottles a day sounds enough TBH I think it should be more like 6 or7 bottles if they only 5-6 ozs but all babies are different

French toast... Mmmmmmmmm. Or eggy bread as we posh fuckers like to call it.

Oscar decided we should have a late night. On account that he can't breathe properly.

Poor baby. He's being terribly stoic about the whole thing. No man flu here!

I love milk and drink a pint a day at the moment, usually hot to replace a cup of tea. Sometimes I branch out and have Ovaltine. Pregnancy increases calcium turnover for months after giving birth so if you don't drink milk make sure you're getting calcium from somewhere.

Any tips on how I can get J to sleep before 11 pm? He is usually irritable and cries for 2-3 hours in the evening until he passes out around 11. It's getting a bit wearing as we're already tired by 8 so it's hard to cope with all the fussing.

stunt that's interesting about the calcium..my teeth have really suffered this time for the first time ever I've had a filling , an extraction and they are soooo sensitive in the last 12 months I think I should have been taking more calcium.

2 hours. Ho Hum

I love milk and anything milky. DD2 refused milk after she self weaned from the breast at 18months. Only now will she consider a splash. She will eat a lot of frais and other calcium rich food thankfully. DH thinks milk is the root of a lot of problems.

Wish I had the energy to go downstairs and make myself some eggy bread detective have some for me please

What time does he wake in the morning? I found waking Oscar earlier got an earlier bedtime. Of course that won't work if he already wakes at 7!

When the grizzles start in the evening then we do a bath, he is happy in the bath. Then cries when he gets out. I quickly dry and dress him, then feed him in the bedroom with out the light on. This knocks him out. If it doesn't I lie next to the basket so he can't see me (he just stares and stops trying to sleep if he can see me) and rock it while playing White noise for him. I heart White noise. I really do. It stops him fighting against sleep.

Don't know if any of that helps, but it's just what we do.

I'm in bed. No eggs. Someone else is gonna have to sort it!

Am gutted as I specifically asked DP to pick up eggs today. Baaaah.

So, thanks to four month sleep regression, babies are waking at midnight for the first feed of the night and have done for the last four days. They are then waking every 40-60 minutes and taking half an hour to feed off to sleep each time. I don't get it. The latest any child of mine slept through was 12 weeks and I thought that was horrific since the other three were sleeping through at 6 weeks. I am actually ready to keel over.

Been busy all day.
Wi never catch up. And am keen to fall asleep. So wont attempt to either.

Hope all is well. Night night

I can't drink milk. It does bad things to my belly. Don't like cheese unless its melted like in pizza and pasta. I use oat milk for cereal and have just water with porridge.

Don't like the taste of milk but will drink it in tea or if in the mood, ice cold. Prefer choc milk shake if I have to drink it. Love cheese. Red fruit flavour yogs (I.e raspberry - all other flavours are the work of the devil ). Have a tiny bit on cereal.

The other night DS was grumpy, tried feeding him, he wanted it but was fussing, wriggling etc. Stopped feeding but DS was still grumpy. DD was in the bath so took DS upstairs. He immediately settled down & became happier. Think he 'knew' it was bedtime then, and as he was tired, that's what he wanted. Weird.

cat oh dear, that is not good. I also keep wondering why J will not sleep as my girls were both sleeping through by 7 weeks. I also am on my knees but it must be so much harder with two. You are amazing to still be feeding them, and you so rarely moan about anything x big hugs and gentle talking to for S and R.

Why is this 4 month thing called sleep regression when they wake up and eat? How is that any different?

J woke after 1 hour but self settled and slept for another hour. DH saw the clock and said it was 2.30, and I growled that he had already been up twice. Poor DH apologised. Not his fault bless him.

All this driving and added responsibility is very tiring, he said last night. I have been doing this and more for the last 6 years whilst pregnant, ill, sleep deprived. I burst out laughing and he saw the funny side. I was keen to reassure him that he is doing very well as only just passed test, and what a help it is.

I found the feeding got suddenly much easier at 12 weeks. That, or else I just stopped thinking about it so much. Either way, it doesn't take any effort anymore unless you include the arduous task of eating my own body weight in chocolate everyday so I can't take any credit for that. S & R do the hard work with the permanent munchings

The culminative effect of the no-sleep does concern me a little. My executive function is definitely somewhat impaired occasionally not there at all. DH should make me play chess every day to guage whether I am allowed to leave the house in the car, just like Leo and the President in TWW

Seriously though, sometimes I am yawning so much that my eyes are watering and tears rolling down my face, much to the DCs alarm. Have to explain that am not upset, just ever so tired. They look at me suspiciously as they don't ever get that tired. Ah well. Another couple of months and I dare say this will have passed. And then they will be trying to move around!

Twins are twice the work (more than twice probably) , but I get twice the number of joyful faces and excited wiggles in the morning. Makes it all worth it

VQ you said that your dh thinks milk is the root of a lot of problems. I agree to a point, yes it is a great source of calcium but I think a lot of people cannot tolerate it and it exaggerates things like ibs and eczema. But I think you have to be predisposed to it in the first place. I can't tolerate it. Bad things happen. It's not pretty at all. Petite you are missing out with the no cereal thing. I love a big bowl of Kellogg's cornflakes with ice cold (oat)milk and chopped up banana. Mmmmm

Oh dear lots of wakeful babies - Dottie was unsettled and mooching in cot so got her out and she was soaked through - damn buggies nappies - they're shite!!! So full change and quick feed back to sleep required!!!

I love milk but it has to be organic - read about all the antibiotics and crap that was left in regular milk and had to change. We all try to eat cereal though I fancy cornflakes weetabix, crunchy nut, alpen eat 3 bowls and then go off it for 3 mths lol

I didn't mean 3 bowls in one sitting - that would be plain greedy!!!

Depends on the size of the bowl.

cat you make sleep depravation sound almost romantic. Twice the fun with twins - I bet.

Well, J slept another 1.5 hours. I don't know what to think about him.

chick my kids seem to be very mucousy and DH was as a child. He blames dairy as he says milk is designed for baby cows not people.

I think cutting out caffeine is helping boy a bit. It may just be that I have eliminated a bit of mummy guilt. I am going to cut back on dairy too to see if it helps. Feeding is easy now, but the fact it is so often is the hard bit.

We had eggy bread for breakfast yesterday. With bacon & maple syrup. Yum.

On the weaning thing, the lates I have done any of mine is five months and my reasoning is this.

At six months is said the need extra iron, I suppose what you ave them at birth runs out. Anyway the foods that contain ths, like dark leaved veg and whole grains are strong tastes and better to introduce later.

I don't like to rush it, I like to take it slowly to make sure they have had lots of variety and taste experiences. I can't imagine whizzing through it.

All the kiddos have survived they all know how to make healthy choices even if they don't always make them.

I think I'll stick to what I know. <government don't know my children emoticon> we have two NI tris planned in March so will start him in April at about 21 weeks.

detective did you need eggs for something particular? Midnight omelette perhaps?

Peers in thread. Been awake since 5 peering at a poorly baby. His temp is 38. Stripped and calpol'd. I've given him a weight appropriate dose since he is under 3 months.

He's just so brave. Mummy is not!

He's reduced his intake too he has had 2oz at 1030, and 2oz at 6. I hope he takes more next time.

PANCAKES! I wanted pancakes. I now want anything eggy. Nom nom! DP is being dispatched to shop for a huge box of eggs this afternoon morning!

I thought they still got iron from BM/Formula? I thought the added iron thing was one of those things chucked out by formula companies to advertise follow on milks which aren't needed? I could be wrong as I'm tired!

I was planning on a very slow weaning process over 3-6 months after 6 months. I might even wait longer than 6 months if I think he isn't ready.

Mind you DS1 was weaned at 4 months and he wasn't eating regular meals til 1 year. He was happier with milk.

Will see how it goes as every baby's different, and never say never!

I mean regular meals as 3 times a day. He would snack in between but on milk. He was about 15 months when food became the major part of his diet.

Food is fun til one. Apparently. . Ds1 agreed it seems!

I'm another that doesnt like milk. Will never drink it. Put it on cereal but dont scoop it up with the spoon, IYSWIM, so my cereal bowl always has milk in it when I have finished. I cannot watch anyone drink it, makes me want to vom. I sit opposite someone at work who drinks the leftover cereal milk. It actually turns my stomach.

H has an iron and a mixed vits supplement that we give every day as instructed by the hospital. I just assumed everyone took these. Maybe it's a prem thing.

I hate milk too. Just in my coffee or tea and must be super fresh.

Big standard night here. 7-12-4-7

We are crazy attempting to get to the patent & child swimming session starting at 8.30 this morning. Am currently feeding Teddy, ds1 is wandering around half dressed and screaming...hmm.

However, have shaved my bikini line for first time since the night I went into labour...

It was a lot easier this time, btw.

Poor little O * Detective* I hope he feels better soon.

VQ I hope cutting out dairy helps J further and that your Hv is better than the gp you saw.

M is still asleep [happy] and has been since 8.30 pm. We have a lovely day planned, we are going swimming and I'm going to have a cheeky half hour in the sauna and jacuzzi. I'm so excited!

Oh and I finally found the zip part with the play cards on our Uppababy I must be blind as a bat in idea why I couldn't see it before!

I'm glad I'm not the only weird person that doesn't like milk, I don't like cheese or butter either andi eat cereal without any milk. I only have butter in home baking. I get my calcium from readybrek and yoghurts. I'm very strange with my food aversions, the one most people find strangest of all is my dislike if crisps and chips!

I am a lifelong vegetarian, as are all the DCs. We love cheese. Eat a metric f**ktonne of it weekly. When I go to Subway and they ask which cheese I would like, I respond "All the cheeses please". They look a bit I guess it is not a usual request

J slept 2.5 hours so 7.5 hours but split into 4 parts. He does not want to be awake. I do not want to be awake. I used to sleep better when on a night duty! (I was a coiled spring always ready for action)

catbag same here, I love cheese. I buy tonnes of it and put it in nearly everything I cook.

detective Hope he is better soon, poor thing.

DS slept from 11.30 until 5.30 then again until 8.30. Not bad but several nights recently he has slept for 8 hours straight so I was expecting it again last night and it didn't happen. Boo.

Yawn.......

I could easily live on cereal. I have a bowl as a snack every most days.

N seems to be getting the hang of sleeping in the evening, though she won't let me put her down. Still, it's an improvement and we can work on that.
She also stirred at 6 this morning, but I ignored her and she went back off to sleep until now! I feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel - albeit very far away.

I drove back from Dads yesterday, it was surprisingly easy. Took 5 hours including a stop and both girls slept pretty much all the way.

DD1 and I are both full of cold again. We've only just got over the last one. I hate winter

Sorry vq, it sounds like we have been bad in a previous life and must be punished Every morning, between 4am and 5am, I think that I do not want to be awake. I want to be snoring peacefully like DH. But by the time it gets to about 5:40am, I think that I might as well get up and take advantage of the fact that they will lie here for about 15-20 minutes before kickng off, and go and do something useful. Or have a cup of tea. Just be away, and not lying miserable in bed.

This morning, for instance I got up, ran to kitchen and put on kettle, ran upstairs for wee, came back to kitchen, made tea. Remembered had some roasted mediterranean veg in freezer, threw it into stock pot and cooked with stupid amounts of garlic, added 6 tins of chopped tomatoes. Filled another saucepan with water, added 3 or 4 coarsely chopped garlic cloves, a big chunk of ginger, myriad herbs, tabasco with chipotle and put on to heat up and use as stock. Hey presto, roast veg and tomato soup for dinner. All actions above took 12 minutes. I also put the washing machine on. Stuff like this makes me feel like I am winning, even though I feel half-dead. Keeps me sane. I AM IN CONTROL! Really though, I am! It's not just in my head! <<keels over>>

Good meowning,

Snotty, sneezy, coughing baby and snotty, sneezy, coughing husband. Duvet day in crisp towers.

Detective if you got enough iron when pregnant then baby is born with enough iron for the first six months then needs to start getting iron from food. The same goes for vitamin D, that's why they recommend vitamin drops from 4-6 months. Iron deficiency in babies is reasonably common hence the recent interest in delayed cord cutting to maximise baby's iron stores.

Thanks for the bedtime tips Detective. J wakes up between 6 and 7 but he's not great at daytime naps so I think he's overtired by nighttime. He was going to sleep between 10 and 10:30 which was okay but it's been getting later. I think DH isn't speaking to him after last night's three-hour grumbling/crying sesh. Tonight I'm going to get DH to take him out for a walk with the dog (dog is crippled so walks don't take long) while I run the bath. Then he can have a good long bath to wear him out. Then into his sleeping bag and into bed for a feed. If that doesn't knock him out then he can go in the swing (in his sleeping bag) with a dummy. I'm not convinced it will work but if we start to do it every night then maybe he will develop sleep associations. Should I add a bedtime story in there somewhere as well?

The constant puking possetting is really starting to get me down. He's had three sets of clothes on today already and we only got up at 8 (although one of those was as a result of poonami.) He's sick up to five times after each feed and I don't always manage to 'catch' it in a bib or muslin. I thought my 12 weeks that would be getting better. He also seems to have intermittent intestinal pain. Please tell me I don't have to cut out dairy.

Stunt - did you see what the dr told me? I was going through exactly that. Infant gaviscon has made a significant difference to us!!! His screaming (which wasn't much) has reduced, there is reduced sickness. Honestly we were both changing 3-4 times a day. His started about 13 weeks

I'm a cock too VQ

Mixed feeding (one bottle) since week 6 here, v happy with decision.

pikz totally salute you, think you're amazing and you've reached a decision that's best for both of you. Hooray for more cuddle time!

Stunt we've done a bed time routine pretty much from the day he came home. No idea if he'd just quickly anyway but I do think he knows what order things happen in. Hes a very routiney type baby. Or appears to be!! I am as well.

Chinese people I'm a hound. Fairly accurate description of my personality. Apparently I'm wary of dragons. Mmmmmmmm

I suppose I shouldn't complain. 9.30pm-1.45-7.30am-9.30 and asleep until 9am (in our bed as I fed him laying down at 7.30). But he was going SO much longer than 4-5hrs. The feed at 1.45 was v short so I was back in bed by 2.15 at the latest, inc a loo visit & checking on DD. Perhaps I should have tried a dummy but that might not have been quicker for me iyswim. Babies are truly a law unto themselves!!!

DD didn't stir for 12hrs (late to bed, 9.30).<lie-in emoticon>

stunt we've got frequent posseting then at times more 'forceful' vomiting that continues a while after a feed on occassion. DD did the same iirc. DD spent about the first 4-5mths of her life with her head on a muslin, perhaps that's why her comforter is now a soft piece of muslin??! Either way, DS always wears a bib (catches dribble & puke!) and we have about 6 muslins on the go at any one time. I have no answer other than that really!!

catbag <salutes the powers of wonderwoman>

stunt I know I and others have bemoaned the constipating effects of gaviscon, BUT - I haven't been able to express for a few days and LO has therefore not had any. She was previously having 1 sachet a day at bedtime (placebo saxhet?? ). Since having none, she is in possetting hell and has the most dreadful hiccups. It might be worth giving it a go at a low dose. Have just typed all that and then read what horsey wrote.

We had Canadian breakfast this morning (not sure if it's actually from Canada) - pancakes, bacon, sausages & maple syrup - yum.
Feeds at 11, 2.30 and 7.30 last night, with a mini play session at 2.30 as posset-induced change required then slept in our bed

Milk, I used to love the taste. I recall how the cream used to separate in the bottle. Hm.....nice. But now it's more water than anything.

VQ you have really had it rough.

Horsey I'm glad you got the gavision.

Decteive- I hope things improve soon.

Evil

Also a cock

R did 8:30-4:15 then 4:30-5:45 however, he's on his second nap of the day (first was 30 mins or so, so not long, but he rarely sleeps during daylight hours and if he does it's a mammoth one around lunchtime) and i have a stinking cold which appears to have bypassed him so now I'm worried. Calpol is on standby...

He'll be 12 weeks tomorrow, maybe he's getting ready to grow? <hopeful>

Went to a party last night and didn't get home until 11:45. M went back to sleep after feed etc at 12:30 and didn't wake up until 9am!!!
My boobs were huge and one had leak all over my top and duvet but 8.5hrs

We're also having a canadian breakfast just now! Sorry detective but without sausages BPLP . I am however sipping freshly squeezed oj - DP is doing good! <removes thoughts of kitchen state from mind>

Okish night here. The better nights seem to be when DP is not here, ie when he is working nights or sleeping in the spare room as I was in an arsey mood last night. He flinches to every wee noise she makes whereas I seem to sleep until she is actually awake and wanting fed. Bad mum (or is it an evolutionary thing?)

Mmm eggy bread...

I like milk on cereal & in tea but don't tend to drink it alone. Hate yukky cheese and not keen on cream/yog etc. Am wondering whether to cut out dairy but L didn't have all this pain when we were ebf so maybe it's too slight to matter. It would mainly be in porridge and a couple of cups of (non- decaf) tea.

I seem to have developed a sleep problem. Last few weeks L has had a small chunk of sleep and then been wakeful the rest of the night. This week it's improved but I'm still lying awake waiting for him to snort/cry/cough. Can't drop off. Driving me crazy, I feel like I'm losing my grip. More so than when he was waking me. I even put Ewan on for myself - didn't work.

I had porridge made with water because the little darlings had used all the milk this morning
I have had some mega milk cravings over the past 2-3 days, wtf is that about?!

We had Canadian breakfast too! Is it because of Shrove Tuesday approaching so we're all thinking about pancakes or is this becoming less of a quiche and more of a cult?

Thanks for all your info on reflux, I think I'll keep a closer eye on when the possetting is happening and try and keep him upright more. DH did the 'Jimmy Shimmy' with him just after his last feed and guess what, he was sick. I might try block feeding him again as I'm having problems with oversupply at the moment.

Right off to study, my exam dates came through last week so I'd better get working.

<RAGE> My tossing boiler has packed in again in the night, third time in 3 days, they come, fix and the leave and it promptly breaks again, I might go hang out in the car, at least it's warm in there. <moan, whine, grumble>

Oh, no tits!

LO has hiccups again.

Evil

The stupid god damned woman in boots has seriously annoyed me!!!! Thankfully for her I've got a christening to sort.....

Good luck wih the christening horsey! Take some pics of E in his tweed for us please.

Been hearing about a girl I went to school with dying in her sleep on Friday night. She has an 8 month old baby. Very sad.

tits That's not porridge, that's gruel!

Oh pass, how awful

Oh God that's awful pass.

Yesterday ILs took L out for a walk so DH and I had the house to ourselves for the first time in over three months.

Did we get down and dirty? Did we read each other romantic poetry? Or did we in fact have a very long conversation about our own mortality and what should happen in the event of either or both of our deaths?

Not nice to think about but I suppose we should really get something written down.

blonde DH and I did that the other day. It is a depressing topic, but I felt much happier after we had talked about it. I am so terrified of dying before the children are big enough to fend for themselves

Pass Thats awful.

blonder we did that just before N was born, and got our wills drawn up too. Well, DP already had one, just needed updating. I hadn't bothered as all I own is a credit card bill and a lame horse! But it is important to formalise what will happen to the children if the worst happens. Very depressing to do though.

Right, off to unpack and tidy. I've been away for 4 days and DP hasn't hoovered once - and we have long haired dogs. You can imagine what the floors look like

It's a terrible thing to have to think about but needs must. This woman died of a heart attack it's thought. Fit, healthy and no sign of anything untoward. I am going to spend the day having cuddles

LO and DH had an accident with the nail clippers this morning. Incredible how much blood can spurt from a tiny cut on a baby's thumb.

LO cried a lot yesterday evening and this morning. Very out of character, not sure what is wrong with her. Other than a sore thumb. Everyone in my house issleeping right&#768; now. It's lovely and peaceful.

Oh god, I've become obsessed with mine and DH's mortality since I have birth. That poor family!

I'm another who hates all dairy except cheese. Have only drunk coffee in last year because always hated the milk in it <stressful job overcame that>

I went to a wedding last night.(one of many this year). First time I've left the house after 6pm, and felt v happy to be in a nice dress. Was there for 5 mins before LO had vomited all down the front of my dress and the front of DH's shirt, muslins didn't catch it. I hope the photographer kindly edits it out!

Hugs to catbag vq and zcos and everyone else. I'm dreading the 4 month thing <praying most of us escape it>

Blonder it's worth getting a will drawn up. If anything did happen to you then the court would decide who would be responsible for your children but if you have a will then it's much easier for your estate to be wrapped up. You want someone to have access to your money, insurance, etc. at the very least to be able to pay for the funeral arrangements. Otherwise it will take a long time to get things sorted out. They recommend that you have different people responsible for the money and the children but we have put everything to my SIL and left it to their good judgement. We have set up savings accounts in the children's own names so if there wasn't anything left of our estate when they reach 21 then they would still have some of their own money. It's a scary thought but the chances of it happening are very small although possibly not the way DH drives you do it just in case the worst should happen. There's yourself to think about as well. DH earns more than me so we have an extra life insurance policy for him so that if something happened to him, the kids and I would be okay. I think it's something to set up and then pretty much forget about until the kids are older and you need to update it. The way our will is worded if we have another child then we don't need to make changes to it.

On another note when we got home from the solicitors I told DS1 we had set up our will and if anything happened to us our estate would be split between the three of them. He said that wasn't enough and he wanted half!

pass how

We keep meaning to do a will but don't actually get around to it

We're on a "lots of sleep & 2hrly feeds" schedule since 7.30am. He's 13wo today. Why is he doing this now??!! Why??!!!

I want a Canadian breakfast. but instead I had porridge(not gruel) at about 6:00 so have just had my lunch. Beans. But will be roast beef and yorkshirepuddings for dinner. < yum emoticon>

detective just what stunt says about the iron. I just read it somewhere and so got myself into a nice little routine with weaning and I suppose when it has worked well for three you (I mean me IYSWIM) might as well do the same for number four.

Am not doing too bad for sleep. Though usually at the weekend DH does the 10:00 feed and I skulk off to bed for an early night about 8pm but was kept up last night finishing DD1 s homework with her till 9pm. I was hopping around going " come on come on I want to go to bed!" One of those stupid home works where they bring the teddy home for the weekend and we have to take it About with us and then write about it's experiences.

I note as the book goes on people put more and more extravagant expeditions in and photos galore. It becomes like a competition. Meh

<whispers> once I made it all up, a trip to Glastonbury in a camper van

Oh pass how awful. I can't think of anything worse than leaving DS when he's so small

How sad pass it is heartbreaking when things like that happen.

When I was checking out the teddy book and the things other people had written one girl wrote about how she goes to a club for children who have to care for their parents as they are ill. I suppose the club gives them a chance to be a child.

Pass- that's awful !! I must get my will done. A phone call for the morning.

I've had some porridge and a sprinkling of Special K, I've also had some toast with honey on. I gave LO a small taste, and he wasn't impressed. He was more interested in my tea

Evil

I have had two pieces of shortbread so far today. We are all a bit out of sorts and DH's hunter gatherer instincts are a bit dulled

You're doing it all wrong Sophia, just take a photo of the teddy in the cupboard under the stairs and write that teddy was naughty and had to be punished so couldn't go on all the fun adventures that your children had <wicked mother emoticon>.

That is terrible pass, how sad. We don't have a will either, need to dart that ASAP.

I love milk! No milk aversions in this house. I'm feeling very jealous of those who have had a Canadian breakfast

B still possets regularly too, she gets through a minimum of three outfits a day. She can posset anytime between one feed and the next. It doesn't appear to bother her too much though so I didn't bother seeing a doctor. She was full on vomming but that has stopped since my milk supply has sorted itself out.

pass so sad. The same thing happened to David Coulthards sister yesterday. She was 35.

evil honey should not be given to babies under a year old as can make them very ill.

Oh fuck. It was a very small blob it was just a small drip. Think the size of a rain drop.

Evil

And sophia, we're going to Glastonbury festival in our yellow vw campervan this year, can't wait. Just got to get my head around the guilt of leaving the girls with my parents for the weekend, it'll be the first time I've left Bronwen. I'm currently expressing 4oz a day to build up a stock of milk for while I'm away.

I will start introducing solids when he has 22 weeks. The girls both hung on to 24 weeks, but it was a struggle. Not sure I will be up to the struggle with fat boy. Just puréed food with baby rice. All home made. DD1 had a jar the day we moved to Scotland. She ate it fine, and vommed it all back.

evil do not worry, just make sure to not give it again.

I would swap my mother for a VW campervan (not really, but I would love to have one)

VQ he has been very interested in food. He keeps watching anyone that eats, and then licks his lips. If he could walk up and grap food off my plate I think he would have!

Evil

evil read up about infant botulism just in case so you can spot any signs early. Do not worry though. It is very rare, but the advice is not to give honey.

No worries VQ!
Evil

P is also interested in food. Nt surprised - her milk is horrid

Same person VQ. I went to school with her - from a tiny village.

Picture of bear with can of Stella and a full ashtray sophia?

J is also interested in food in a way the girls never were. He had a brief taste of banana from DD2 before I removed it. I think it was just a lick as she was trying to get him to take a bite. Cannot even blink in this house. The baby jail is no longer working as she just picks it up and walks with it.

I did wonder pass as thankfully it is very rare. So sad.

sophia I hate when the sodding class bear comes home. It has been to NY, Egypt etc. it is a competition.

OMG, I never knew. Talk about scary!!! I thought that honey being a natural substance, would be ok. Fucking hell.


Evil

We got it 3 years ago VQ, she's 43 years old and called daisy! Can't wait to get back out in her

Loving the clas teddy suggestions. Will jot them own for next time!

Same age as me dicks We have a tent, but I dream of having a Winebego (spelt wrong no doubt)

FT columnist Janan Ganesh has tweeted this today- @JananGanesh: The woman next to me on this plane is actually breast feeding. Tyler Brule doesn't have to put up with this.

What a knob

What a twonk, dicks. I hope Twitter is flaming him as we speak

I just had a look. Few people having a go.

Morning all! Ds slept 8:30-10:45, fed, bed at 11:30-7:30 then fed, then 8:15-10-45!!! Then up for 90 mins and a 30 min nap, is now eating a crinkly toy and watching fantasia! All in all a good night! Hope everyone else's went ok potters off to read the pages not yet caught up on

Agree toomany twunt.

DS asleep again. DD having a paddy about cBeebies being turned off for the,rugby. DH engrossed in rugby (although is actually trying to get DD to go for a nap now as I type...). Its all fairly typical in the Chicken house!!

Bit late to the party as usual but marking my place...

DH has taken the girls out in the car <<wibble>>

Today I wish I had Twitter TooMany. I suspect Janan Ganesh will wish the opposite by the end of today.

Evil, wot VQ said. I gave it to DS1 unsuspectingly, after a family members 'advice'. Nothing happened, and I didn't know anything could, until a lot later down the line. He's here, he's fine, don't stress on what is done. Just keep an eye out. There are a few things that shouldn't be given before certain ages. I really must read up on them myself, as my brain lets me down again!

Stunt frequent possetting has been a recent development in camp detective. I thought it might be the change in teats, tried the old teats, made no difference. So I got some dentinox drops. I ummed and ahhed over infacol/gripe water/dentinox drops. I went for the latter in the end. Anyway, I have put them in to 2 feeds a day, and this has helped drastically. Other than when DP does the jiggles after a feed. Stupido.

Pass That made my blood run cold. It is rare, but so so so tragic. Poor family. poor baby. Just awful. Cruel and unfair. I used to worry about these things awfully. Every story I hear, the more the worry sinks back in.

Regarding wills, I do not have one. I have no assets, I'm not sure a house in negative equity could be classed as an asset . I have never known what to do, because I could not decide regarding guardians etc. Having 2 children to two different fathers makes that impossible for me. I don't want my children split up

What do others do with similar situations? I'd like both children to stay with my mum in an ideal world, and DP to live with my mum. That ain't gonna happen! I think DP would do a good job with Oscar, but not on his own, he would struggle emotionally/financially/practically, and I wouldn't want that for him. And I think DS1 needs a stronger figure in his life, his 'disney dad' is a bad influence on him, and DP can't get the good behaviour I can out of him. My mum can though.

Chick Depending on local policy, depends on which babies are offered iron/folic acid/vitamins. Here it is prescribed for babies who were born before 37 weeks AND who are below 2.5kg. Therefore it is not routinely given to premature infants unless they are under 2.5kg. Babies above 37 weeks who are less than 2.5kg don't get them prescribed. Each Trust has their own guidance.

Regarding iron supplementation, I've had a little read around, and found the following links which I thought was interesting:

From Kellymom.

NHS weaning leaflet.

Have to give up on this post, been at it an hour, arghhh! Be back later! Been abandoned by DP with a sick baby. Tosspot. He's gone to see a relative with his mum. Except he rang me 90 mins ago and said they weren't going as his mum had stuff to do at home. So he is at his mums. And I am home alone with a sick baby. Thanks, fucker. I'll get him back.

detective You absolutely should have a will as a property owner, even if your house is in negative equity. It might well not stay there. You don't want your estate being dealt with under the intestacy rules as your DP would not have a claim, and what there was would most likely be split twixt your kids and your parents, if your parents were still about
Other law people? zcos? Is that about right?

Would they not be liable for the mortgage and negative equity though?! DP could never afford this house on his own. Neither could ds1's dad. I'd rather it just went to the bank than gave them hassle.

I really have nothing of value to leave behind

Just used my twitter account for the first time in years to berate @jananganesh! What a moron

Pass that's so so sad I really need to get a will done

Me too kissy, perhaps if we get the whole of MN to do it he'll have to appologise or get the sack?

Do you not have life assurance to pay the mortgage in the event of your death detective? DH (& I to a certain extent) are, partly because of this, worth more dead than alive. If one or both of us dies, the mortgage is paid off. I would get DH's death in service benefit & pension etc. & vice versa, but his benefits are better than mine in those circumstances.

W/out a will, your DP would be kicked out & I believe, your dc would go to your next of kin as you're not married (although that may have changed) despite their DF's being named on the birth cert. Your house would eventually be sold for whatever they could get and the bank would take it to cover their debt.

I realise I'm in no better position (although we're married, ours in a joint mortgage & joint home ownership & we have life assurance) as I don't have a will, & have yet to put the trust in place to ensure the dc get at least some of the life assurance we've got in addition to that for the mortgage, but its def worth doing.

I don't have Twitter. Tempted to sign up...

I swapped my T25 with my dad for his Punto and will be selling the bug which is also 43 years old. Dp and I met through vw's

I expect there is already a thread on here about him and his stupid comments Toomany! He's going to be in for a shock when his flight lands

No. I have no insurances.

I'm worth nothing dead.



I know I should, but I had to economise when I was a single parent, I couldn't afford it otherwise. Now I'm not single, I'm possibly worse off than when I was single. Shite.

Do you go to vw shows * purple*?

I do not yet have a will, but I do have life assurance, as does DH. I need to check on these things actually. I am not sure anyone would be prepared to take on my three. My parents are too old, one brother is a wanker married to a Munchausens by proxy psycho, my other brother has Aspergers (he would be my preference ) and my SIL is single and just daft. She does love them though. It is horrid thinking of such things.

detective you have two sons to leave behind and they are most valuable. I would encourage you to get life assurance. You are still very young so it should not cost much. With the NHS there is a payment for death in service I believe. I also have cover to pay off the mortgage. I would be suprised of you did not as I think it is obligatory. It is important to think about this as if the worst were to happen, you would not want your family to have to spend out for funeral and have the added ordeal of legal stuff.

I had a bright orange beetle called Bobby. I still miss him. My feet would get soaked if it rained, if I stopped and turned the engine off I had to wait an hour before it would start again, but I loved him so.

VQ Actually, that is a good point. Isn't life insurance a prerequisite of getting a mortgage? I don't have one nor any prospect of getting one with my credit rating, so I don't know.

Ok, double checked my uni notes- your kids would take everything detective as you and DP are not married. That makes it all doubly important since, if they were under 18, someone else would be administering their affairs. You could use your will to nominate who that person would be, otherwise someone would be appointed by the court. Your house may be in negative equity now, but there may come a point where it isn't and it could be worth something to your two.

I would advise you in the strongest possible terms to get life insurance. My eldest two children's Dad was killed in a motorbike accident in October 2005. I was effectively widowed at 25. We were both covered by life insurance but, because we were so poor and struggling to feed the four of us, in the prior June I cancelled it. Instead of having £100,000 to look after me and the kids, I had nothing. I was a SAHM and so after trying to cope for 2 months on Income Support and Child Tax Credit, I had to get jobs. I ended up working five part time jobs to fit around school and nursery to make ends meet. Things improved slowly, and then much more when I met who is now my DH, but it was still a very hand-to-mouth existence. I enrolled at uni because I never wanted to be that poor again, and I see my degree as an investment in the kids' future, but it has been a struggle that I could have avoided. I haven't a house, but have insurance as I want to make sure that whoever is looking after the children have the funds in place to do it properly.

Ok, you may consider this lecture over <<goes to wash face and blow nose and pretend she hasn't been crying>>

Thank you for sharing cat you have had more than your fair share of heartache. You are one touch cookie ((((((((((huggle)))))))))

Tough even!

Solemn Sunday it seems

Shall we go for Morose Monday? Memory Monday? Mischief Monday?

Cat there are no words. Brave woman xxx

Not brave, just a mum. You'd all do the same x

How about Merry Monday instead? :D

catbag fab advice - reminded me to get a will sorted out - dh has life assurance and will which pre dates us - the kids would go to my best friend in Norwich but my dad would hold finances for them. Horrible to think of but even more horrible to think of things not being in place should the worst happen!!!

Havin a crud day!!! Can't shift this black cloud over me - got sooo much to do before uni, occie health check, crb check, bursary application and a whole heap of other stuff to pay out for.

Dh has taken Dottie out in the car to take the step boys back as she's desperate for sleep but will not go longer than 20 mins anywhere.

CBA to make tea or do anything - wanted the house blitzed this weekend but although I mentioned it 15 times because I wasn't doing it myself chained to sofa feeding and wasn't barking orders it's not been done - tomorrow's job while Dottie at the cm sorted woooo

cat ((hugs))

On a lighter note, I have just wasted most of my afternoon not watching the rugby with DH reading a thread on AIBU. Seriously, it gets silly.

Must... put... phone... out.... of... reach.... can't... resist... AIBU...

What about Motherfucking Monday? Or is that more appropriate to Sweary Wednesday?

hugs to you cat

J has slept for 2.5 hours this afternoon. He woke twice and self settled in moments. Feeling encouraged. He has not yet had the crying in pain thing and can sit in his chair, on changing mat etc without screaming.

Catbag you are officially now my hero.

Detective it's actually a brilliant time to take out life insurance. Our mortgage gets paid off if one or both or us die (so either the children's trust can sell the house for the money or the surviving spouse doesn't have any mortgage payments to make) and it costs us £9 a month.

J has gone to sleep so I must go an put the spuds in. Roast beef and Yorkshire puds for dinner courtesy of my mum buying a huge piece of silverside before she went home.

Sorry for apostrophe error in previous post

Would that be the MIL thread Chunky?

Cat you really have been through it. Will def look into life insurance. We don't have much, saving up for house deposit so no assets really. But we need to make a will to sort out what would happen.

I'm up for a Marvellous Monday.

J is no longer asleep after I dropped my phone on his head <bad mother emoticon>. Poor little thing, it's a good thing the case is rubber so it was more of a shock than a hurt.

cat that must have been a horrible time for you.

We have life insurance even though my premiums are through to roof because of my disagreement with nsaids. I would want my sister to take on my children but as they are French my ILs could dispute them being taken out of France. Need to get something down in writing.

On a lighter note, the soup I made at 6am has been simmering away all day and is officially bloody lovely. I put a bit of smoky tabasco in the stock so it has a smoky aftertaste and I also put in... CHEESE PHOBICS LOOK AWAY NOW... two packet of wensleydale cheese. Farking beautiful, and enough soup made for another 12-15 portions. Result!

We have life insurance and accident cover, no will though so far.

Cat you're a very brave and strong lady to come through that <hug>

We had an interesting meal out earlier, J was in my knee wiggling around and hanging onto a straw for dear life, he's quite happy so I'm chatting to DP who is sat opposite me while I eat a caramel sundae (diet day off!) before I know it J has stuck his whole fist in the jug of caramel sauce and is sucking the hell out of it with relish, then cried when I cleaned him up. He went to sleep soon after then woke up and had a giant feed which he then projectile vomited all over me

cat stop being modest its official your amazing all of us can't be wrong.
I'm having a down day so merry Monday sounds good does that mean I need to have a glass of wine!?
can't wait for spring ... hope weather will be milder and I can get out in the garden with dd.
hate trying to work out all this baby equipment I just never have time! have a Moby sling , travel cot and pram to work out... I had been walking dd in car seat as a buggy but read that's wrong < embarrassed and crap mum emoticon>

cat soup recipe please.
I have a soup maker Christmas present apparently its like an industrial one! that's another piece of equipment that I have to get to grips too

tits oops!

cat OMG! That sounds awesome! I think I want my kids to live with cat as she is clearly Supermum! (If I was not around, obviously)

Bloody hell, I need to stop reading sad stories today. I've read the story about the little one who was killed by drawers falling on our FB page. Then read about twins who died the same way, who would have been the same age as DS1 is now. Then reading about a little girl who died in an accident at nursery, and now about a 1 month old who had his finger bitten off by a fox.

Turn news websites off. Gawwwwwd..

Can someone please cheer the thread up? Go on, you know you want to!

Go and look at horseys pic of E on FB, and also look at the 'have you seen this' thread with all the pics of MN kids. It is lovely.

<<flashes norks, complete with tassels>>

<<does a moonie>>

Too much?

Detective stop reading the daily mail

How is O now detective? Feeling better and cooler I hope x

Dicks yeah, usually at the Pod - Big Bang, GTi Festivals, Action. Dp does a bit of commentary and other work for a guy who organises shows. You?

cat so sorry to hear your story. Can't imagine what you must have gone through, and your poor DC's.

We have a will and my sister will get DD's if anything happens to us. We both have life insurance to pay off mortgage and DH gets more through work. We actually need to look into our life cover once we move as we will need it increased.

Gosh there's a lot of sad stories going around so I think a merry Monday is definitely in order.

Had a couple of late nights. Not DC related, just having friends round and not going to bed early enough! Going to have a bath once DD1 is in bed and have an early night. * sprinkles sleepy dust to all the november babies *

blonder just off to check the MIL thread but also read the 'friend should of <sic> given me a lift' thread. Lots of deleted posts, SHOUTING & corrections of grammar...

<Runs through thread streaking>

Sorry about the droop!

Oscar is a snot ball, but a cool snot ball! No more reason to give calpol. My mummy thermometer is in fine fettle.

Thanks for asking!

He's sleeping a little more if that is even possible and eating less. Will see how he goes tonight.

PR I think I came across your blog accidently earlier through the awakened parenting website. Was rather random to recognise someone online IYKWIM!

Eliza thanks for sleep dust hope it works ...been crying lots today house looks like an s hole ... I peed myself last night and it took ages for me to notice ... the washing machine doesn't work dd New clothes are stuck in it! I just want to go to bed and cry all night but I can't worried I have pnd ... I only have one dd, generally supportive dh - tho he did say is it pmt!?
feel guilty for being so upset over such silly things and really feels like I can't cope every time I think of my pee covered pjs that I can't wash I just want to cry again
gotta go machine beeping to say its stuck in cycle again think I will go and beat it up!! thing is neither dh or me good at these technical things!! .

Have you got the manual zcos? It happened to ours once and I was able to drain the water and get the clothes out using the troubleshooting bit.

cat, you are such a strong lady, I am full of admiration for you.

purple, we do action, not been to Big Bang as it's not really one for kids. We've also been to Whitenoise, deva, dub odyssey, vw festival and a few others.

Zcos I was only just saying to DH how bad peeing yourself is for your self esteem. I am always on the leaky side, but with the chest infection I have been in a real mess even with pads. It is horrid and I really feel for you. You are very tired, you have had a baby, these things happen. Hopefully pelvic floor exercises will help. Perhaps ask the HV to pop around to talk through your feelings? There is no shame in having PND, and it is better to face it and get it treated, if indeed you do have it, than leave it like I did. Big hug x

Oh I'm glad somebody tried to cheer the thread back up, it was making for sad reading. catbag I believe I saluted you this morning - consider it repeated. My vote is with merry Monday

We've had a lovely time out today at friends - I excelled myself by wolfing down 2 plates of roast dinner (pork) and 2 bowls of pudding (apple & blackberry crumble, and cherry strudel). I'm eating for 2?! (not in a pregnant way before anyone gets ideas). Little pig was a complete charmer all morning, but turned into a demon screamer mid-afternoon due to overtiredness/over stimulation. She's finally nodded off on my chest now

We don't have a will, I would want my parents to have LO if anything happened, I have real issues with how my ILs raised their kids. They also failed to notice dh being abused. which probably happens often enough but is something I struggle to understand personally.

Good news - have won a bumbo on ebay so little pig can join the bumbo party late

Went to Deva a couple of years back and loved it, but it's a helluva way from down here! Bet we have mates in common

Did you hear about the man with five willies? His underpants fit like a glove <badumtish>

Detective that's perfectly possible she is a MN blogger too and we read each other's blogs

<slaps arse cheek in a jocular manner and passes round virtual

Crikey mikey catbag I think I might have a girl crush on your awesomeness. Better watch out if we were ever to meet cuz I might snog yer face off!

cat amazing.

Re wills and life assurance etc. Think about it, get it done, get it done now, and get proper advice. I know that's expensive but it is worth it. I have seen comes out as a lawyer many a costly mess and heartache brought about by scrimping on good advice, when good advice in the first place would have cost a fraction of the subsequent cost to clear up the mess.

I know fuck all about wills, but the above goes for all things, IMVHO.

Lecture over. But if you dont have a will, do think about it now.

Cat bag you are a hero. Huge cuddles to supermum!

I'm shattered. LO is still self settling by sucking his hands.

We have a full will and all settlements, LO will go to my mum. As the house is paid off we have my death in service if anything happens to me or DP has a savings account if anything happens to him.

I checked out your blog t'other day PR I wuz guid.

I think sometimes that I would like to blog. Then I realise that I have nothing to say! Before babyness I used to teach through blogging. Daily tasks were posted on my blog and the kids posted their results on theirs. They could check out each others, parents could see work covered and pace and I could mark them drinking beer in the pub . Happy days. I am led to believe that this has tailed off since me going on mate leve

toomanydicks I'm not a manual keeping person ... it usually traps with water in ...did last week and dh managed to fix it but now its trapped on dry looked up on net how to fix but is lots of instructions I don't understand and think I need to pull machine out told dh he can tackle tommorow he been out all night stayed.at a friend's and got no sleep. dreading this month he is away 3 nights in a row.

oh and thanks.vq think I will give it a couple of days and then contact hv if I feel the same... just feel so frustrated and want to run away!

Think zcos needs group hug.((((((hug))))))))

I would like to see your blog pr what is it called? Where do you get the time?

Am still suffering from a two week cold. Pah. Have checked dr google apparently is normal. Am mighty fed up with it.

In other news have found a lump on the right hand side of O's neck, the size of a pea. Have also checked dr google with differing responses. Might get it checked out this week.

At least it's dry zcos, the clothes won't be ruined, have some . Hope your feeling better soon. To cheer you up I'll tell you my wee story. When I was pregnant, not heavily either, I was in morrisons shopping and needed to sneeze. When I did I weed, quite a lot! Wee ran down my legs, I was wearing a long skirt, and filled both of my shoes. I had to pay for my shopping and get out of there while leaving a trail of wet footprints. Embarrassing

Once, I went to the DR and said " my pmt is dreadful I feel so depressed and want to leave my husband" without even starting a conversation with me about my life at the time ( death of mother, mil with cancer, house move, unhappy in marriage anyway because of emotional bullying and some other stuff) she just put me on Seroxat (anti depressants) I took them for a week and then thought this is rubbish.

I won't tell you what I did next. Was so shocked at how quickly she threw them at me rather than trying any other routes first.

Sophia it's called pint-sized rants. It's just a load of ramblings really. Nothing special but people seem to like reading it. I didn't write much end of last year and early this year, but am trying to get back into it now.

That is shit Sophia I hate the way anti depressants, like anti cholestorol meds are just thrown at people as a catch all solution. They can be great meds, and save lives, but seen as a quick fix by lazy or overworked gps

When I did a stint in general practice, the waiting list for counselling (better than meds for mild-moderate depression) was 8 months. I used to say to patients that either they would have got better themselves or using online CBT tools, or be so bad as to be at a point where they needed meds. Unfortunately the mental health services are seriously lacking shit

That said, there is no excuse for not listening to your patient, eg. sophia

When I was 19 and a student nurse, I had a horrendous stomach bug that affected the exit only. I was on the student transport bus and I felt a rumbling. I was the first off, but unfortunately the white uniform, tights and shoes were very unforgiving.

pass I very nearly put that I have a girl crush on cat

thanks for the hug and wine... the clothes are free but soaking wet despite being on dry cycle! clothes on radiators helps that they are tiny I think!
its strange I have been wanting for a long while to have a career change and become a counsellor thought it could be good experience to go on mn and give advice... but its been more like the other way around. about 15% of my colleagues have been off with depression in my work place over the past year some of their stories about waiting for counselling are horrendous but drugs are offered freely!

With depression I think they just give you a book now. When my brother was admitted (actively suicidal) he was on a constant watch. The ward was full, so knowing I was a RMN they sent him home to me in a taxi at 11pm. I am often ashamed of Mental Health Care services in this country. I, of course, am utterly fabulous.

I'm about to throw this laptop out the window. It isn't the laptops fault. Poor laptop. No, its YOU KNOBBERS AT VIRGIN MEDIA. Gaaaaaaaaaah.

Do they not know this thing is my lifeline!!

I want my internet back!

It's hard enough to keep up with out relying on 3G.

VQ how mortifying.

I have bad bladder control and can wet myself in moments of hysteria. Very embarrassing!

sophia DD has a small lump on her head. I mentioned it to the GP once when I was there for something else. The doctor wasn't concerned, but I'll keep an eye on it. Might be worth getting it checked?

I think I'd like to blog, but can't imagine anyone would want to read me twittering on. Might go and have a look at PR's.

I seem to have my happy boy back. No screaming in pain, happy to be awake, back to normal almost with day sleeps. Perhaps it was the tail end of the virus as we have all had sore tummies, or the caffeine as I was knocking it back somewhat, but it was just cheap instant crap. I think it builds up in babies though. See, I have to blame myself for everything

I am not so shattered tonight, not dreading tonight, so just waiting for the third yawn and we will be going to bed. Bit of eye rubbing... Yes, yawn! Goodnight peeps. See you in two hours

oh my vq I have ibs (irritable bladder aswell as bowel) always been afraid of something like that happening ... think I know where almost every toilet is though and its the first thing I look for when I arrive anywhere!! Apparently with ibs there is a card you can get that allows priority to loos - get out of jail free card but don't know how to get it and showing it to be people would be no different than going up to everyone and explaining the whole thing in the first place!
think I need to laugh about the weeing myself thing ... dh is starting to make jokes - its how we relate about things just wish I had felt it happen at least else I could just be walking around covered in wee all day.
must ensure I do those pelvic floor exercises ... I must I must improve my pelvic floor etc!

Sophia I have a two week cold too.

LO on third settling of night. No idea why. He's not done this for 5 weeks...

I'm watching call the midwife. There is a baby with spina bifada, So sad. I'm grateful that all our babies are without disability.

Evil

sophia p has a lump on the back of her head about pea sized. I got the doc to check and she said it is a gland. I have one on the side of my neck

Went round to see my cousin and his family today for Sunday lunch today - they had the same issues with reflux with their DD so made everything including a Victoria sponge cake - dairy and soy free. So fab

I'm not a fan of milk either in terms of drinking it - but by god its hard to avoid when you have to - its everywhere and its the simple things cheese, chocolate and a cuppa I miss. Drinking another animal's breast milk probably isn't v good for us as has been pointed out - when I lived in HK was amused by how gross the Cantonese find the whole concept.

The horsemeat scandal has really made me worry about food labelling when it comes to avoiding dairy etc for DS - we clearly can't trust big corporates to care what the hell they feed us - no chance DS is having follow on milk - its going to be BM and 'real' foods during weaning here. Haha famous last words......

Cat I too have a lady crush on you. What an inspiration to your kids

I was at deva two years ago purple, i got pulled up on stage dressed in rockabilly fancy dress and won the dancing competition. I was very drunk

Lovely day ds an absolute superstar!!! Held by so so so many people and just took it all in his stride!!!!

Not giving gaviscon tonight though, his feedings a bit off and he's getting belly ache. So think if I give it at a couple of feeds it shouldn't impact as much.

Hopefully.....

Dh being odd though. Not sure what his problem is.....

You realise we have probably scared cat away now.

9.15 asleep with no tears or fight. Too good to be true???

just flipped back a few posts pig I won a bumbo on eBay yesterday 5th attempt! wonder how many of us have been bidding against each other!?

Haha zcos I was fervently pressing refresh on my old and cheap phone whilst feeding LO upstairs at our friends. Dead chuffed we've won one, she went in one at baby group and blummin loved it!

What is the facebook group called please?

I'm another one who is peeing themselves.

Still waiting for fucking physio.

I'm very and that 11 weeks down the line I've got no health care despite the fact I've said 'helloooo, I don't have the sensation of needing to wee'. I was going to mention this on here the other day. But when I think about weeing, I wee. Whether I'm on rhe toilet or not.

My urethral opening hurts right at the end of a wee, as you draw the sphincter closed. As if it's been damaged.

I need help I've had absolutely no improvement in 11 weeks despite doing pelvic floors.

So, pissy ladies, you ain't alone!

I must go kick some ass without piasing myself in the process tomorrow coz it just isn't good enough!

And to make matters worse, I bled from my epis site this morning.

det and

Sophia S has one of those lumps as well, hers moves though, HV had a feel and said nothing to worry about but get GP to have a look, so that makes me think it is something to worry about!

That does sound bad detextive really hope someone listens to you soon!

hug zcos

Wow catbag I agree you are indeed superfluous! I have never thought about a will or life insurance. I think I've been awfully naive in assuming nothing will happen to me. I don't even know how you'd go about sorting a will. I'll have to look into it :/ and add it to my list of stuff to do which includes opening LO a bank account and sorting out passports!

fruit and soph my gland moves as does P's. get it checked out but I was happy that her lump and mine are the same thing. Better safe than sorry though.

I was shat myself in an ongoing dribbly manner as a student teacher.

I had a sore stomach and had wind. I was walking round my class letting out tiny little riffs every so often hoping that noone would notice. I did think that one child smelled bad though. At lunchtime I finally got a chance to go to the loo and realised that all my farting had actually been dribbles of bright orange liquid poo! It was a bit like the grease you get on top of curries. I had another class period 5 and was too scared to ask to go home. Had to sit on the bus like that as well.

If any of the children noticed then they certainly never let on.

bloody pages13 already???!!!

well I was on the new year catch up.

I'm a dragon, (77) Dh is a dragon (76) and ds is a little dragon too

nightmare wknd with breast refusals hoping a combo of post jabs plus growth spurt plus we thought 3 drops of coilef ok. it's not. at one point would only feed if I walked about with him had a nice bath though with a lovely feed and done well this evening fx. will attempt to catch up......

Does it pass? It's probably nothing then, I need to take S to the doctors anyway, I think she has eczema (sp?) so might as well get them to look while I'm there.

lol pass!!!!!

I played flute accompanying y2 on a song while y6 got ti see my skirt tucked up into my knickers.

I shart myself like that pass but thankfully after school when tidying my room, so just picked up my stuff & ran!!

In the embarrassing story vein, we were camping when I was about 11-13yo. Went swimming in a normal swimsuit. Sat near some maybe slightly older girls in a small pool & wondered why they gave me a funny look then left. My right tit was poking out the side of the swimsuit. At that age, I was mortified.

I am now sat with my right tit out & couldn't give a shit....

oh hugs to so many people.

we swim with our kids as sen - tits often escape during 'incidents'. I wear a teeshirt for this reason! not sure I don't have spiders legs though

On the mental health thing, in my area now they prioritise women who have had babies in the last year and they basically jump straight to the top of the waiting list for counselling/CBT. Don‘t know if it‘s the same elsewhere, but if anyone is dithering about asking for help, is worth doing so now just in case it is.

We went swimming when on holiday in a hideously busy pool. Dsd announced she needed a poo (now) so I lifted her out the pool and jumped out the pool, bypassing ladder. Unfortunately my bikini bottoms stayed in the water. My bottom did not

Dsd has also done a floater in a little beach stream i pretended she was nothing to do with me

And to complete the hat-trick, on a school camping trip my best friend went to the loo and returned to announce that she had somehow managed to get actual rabbit droppings inside her knickers, presumably on the previous toilet trip <<not a jealous face

Off to bed, wishing good nights for one and all.

I have a particularly childish sense of humour. Am very much enjoying the poo stories

I've started getting a bit of bleeding I presume from my epis / where I had internal stitching esp after DTD - should I give my doc an exciting change from reflux consults?

Gosh... lots of hugs to all.

<whispers>

DS just slept from 10;30 dreamfeed to 6am

I was just going to bury my head in the sand. I have a clinic appt on 7th March, after my demanding a second opinion. So I will wait til then I guess.

Hey, at least we aren't alone YW! I'm assuming it just isn't healed yet. But who knows.

Just read all the way back through the thread and nearly snorted at

zcos
Cat soup recipe please!

I mean I know we are all getting used to eating horse but really...

Anyway I won't say I pmsl as that is a sensitive subject but I came close. Personally I find my problem is more with accidental trumping than wee, even harder to cover up.

L has one of those little lumps, the GP said it was a gland.

Just felt so sad this evening. On the verge of tears. Not sure why. Had dinner at Mum's and the atmosphere was really weird although I don't know why. Then they all started quizzing me on 'why I looked sad' - you're not allowed to look anything other than blandly cheerful in my family. It was a bit much. Anyway. It's been a nice weekend and I feel sad DH will be back at work tomorrow. But it's not just that. Maybe it was the small g'n't I had before dinner. Dunno.

ARGHHHH!!!

This is what happens when you are stuck bfing and have a toddler.

DD came in just after I last posted. She had a toothbrush in her mouth that had NOT been used yet, holding her toothpaste and asking to brush her teeth.

The toothbrush was DRIPPING wet.

There is only one source of water in the bathroom that she could have reached.

<- not an envy face.

Do I just boil her in bleach or assume that this is not the most disgusting thing she will do as a child?

blonde G&T can make some people a bit weepy. ((((hugs)))) to you too.

blonder you can't be full of the joys of spring every day! I know what you mean about blandly happy. I was always getting aske what was
Wrong with me as a younger woman. Nothing really - sometimes just feel heavy shouldered. Tomorrow is usually better

I have such an adolescent sense of humour. I love stories about poo and pee. If you can't laugh . . . Seriously zcos I would cry in your boat too. I hope you are feeling a bit better. I think none of us are as quite as toned as we used to be.

cat you are very strong

comrade think of it as strengthening the immune system

Glad you had a lovely day horsey

dondoon the Facebook group is Nov 12 babies (picture of a bump with a flower on it)

Can I put in a request for Merry Monday please?! Wills etc are very important but too depressing to think about for too long! And I couldn't read the drawers story on facebook as I just cannot cope with that sort of thing. I can't decide if that is a normal part of being a parent or if it's going a bit too far with me. I am constantly anxious about something happening to the girls, which I know is normal, but it's all the time. And if I hear an awful story I can't stop thinking about it and I get a bit panicky. I lost my Mum last year so have just learnt that horrible things don't just happen to other people <charmed life emoticon>

You just need a solicit it's appointment Fruit. Have an idea about who you want as executors (who oversee the execution of your will which basically mean instructing solicitors), trustees (look after the money until your children are 18/21/25 whichever age you pick) and the guardians you wish to look after your children. You can give then a list of bank accounts, life insurance policies, etc. if you want but this doesn't have to be done as part of the will, you can add that to the solicitor's copy later. If you have any valuables or heirlooms you can either specify who you want them left to in your will or you can add a note in to go with your will as instruction to your executors. It's about £90 for a single will or £135 for mirror wills for a couple. If you want to change your will in the future, e.g. when you win the lottery when your children are adults, it costs £40ish to write a codicil. Easy peasy so don't delay.

Another day missed. And another day ill never catch up on

So instead ill bore u with my day.
Nieces bday yesterday. So late one. Gave LO feed at 12 and he slept till 10am ! The darling must know mummy is working hard ATM n needs rest .
So then lounged around till 1. DH took over n I came bk to bed. Lol. Went to mums for dinner. N bk to bed I come.

Keep thinking with dc2 on the way I must finish dc1 blanket! Must dig it out and start knitting. N only then can I think about nxt project. Which I think will be a crochet blanket for the new fraggle.

Can't believe ill be able to say I have two under 1... And they ain't twins!

My mum : are you OK? (With intent staring)

Me : I'm fine.

My Mum : have you got a headache? (Leanimg towards me and staring intently)

Me : no. I'm fine (agitation in my voice)

My mum : you look like you have a headache (frowning with hands in lap)

Me : I am just tired mum (trying to take her words as caring)

My mum : you don't look well dear.

Me : (perhaps too loudly) I have not slept for 15 (fucking) weeks so I think I am allowed to look a bit tired.

My mum : should you see the doctor?

Me : not unless he can make my baby sleep.

Every fucking time I see her. Drives me potty!

DS slept 2.5 hours. I woke him with my cough I think, then he started coughing.

GT a summary of todays chat :

Sad stories to encourage writing of wills and sorting life assurance.

More sad news items to remind us to secure all furniture to the wall, and give our LOs an extra closer cuddle.

And stories of incontinence.

We plan to be more upbeat monday.

Btw. I still have discomfort and bleeding from epi nearly 7 years on.

Fuck VQ that isn't normal. As in you shouldn't have to put up with that. Have you spoken to your GP about it?

I will not put up with the pain. I'll be the pain. In my GP's arse. See how they like it...!

Fartalot here also. Literally just let rip the most loudest embarrassing fart ever. And I'm lay in bed next to DP who has learned to just ignore the terrible noises. I lost control in that department when pregnant and clearly havent regained it!

I have to go to the GP tomorrow now. They will be sick of the sight of me. But I have to. Just had a split condom on ovulation day. Frickin' great. DP's speciality shredding condoms. MAP here we come. No offence GT but I definitely don't want to be able to say I have 2 under 1!!!!!

How many times are you allowed the MAP in your life? I reckon I've had it about 6/7 times in 12 years now. Is that bad??

Clearly need more reliable contraception. But nothing works well for me. Have the combined pill, took 1st one then forgot for 2 days. As you do when you are so busy with a baby!

Sorry for the huuuuuugely TMI!

It is not that bad now detective but was one of the many reasons I was happy to have a section.

DS woke and self settled at 1am, then DH kept me awake for ages with coughing fits. Just given J (at 3am) a 15 min dream feed really. He did not open his eyes at all. May hear from him again shortly. There he goes!

He is now seeming to be in lots of pain, arched back etc. I don't know....

Try again..... He is just so squishy and snuggly. The fact I think that shows I am having a better night eh?

taking me longer and longer to read these threads as dd keeps tapping screen with her paw while she eats and it goes back to home!!
blonde glad I made you laugh with the whole cat soup thing! I can't really re-read what I'm typing on phone and hard to edit maybe worth it for gems like that though
I feel like putting my cats in soup at the moment ... they were sick in the bathroom.this morning on towel that had fallen from the floor! ... I just threw it away! ... they also keep mewing to be in the living room with us when they didn't use to if I wanted a cuddle I would have to go and collect them.
det sorry sending a hug your problems make mine pail in comparrison hope you get results when you kick ass sure you will.
oh and washing machine has been fixed by dh before bed put it on a cycle and its finished no problems ... yay I have bras for the morning... I only like a few that I have. why do some have bones in the side? ouch? and I don't feel comfortable without a bra on 24 /7 at the mo nipples being v sensitive
dh is a sleep tease has missed 4am feed past 2 nights not tonight

sooo ... what light jovial topics will we talk of in the morn... hope I get back to sleep now...had to put turtle (sounds of the sea) on for dh (yes dh) to sooth back to sleep.
it works for me too I imagine I'm in Rhodes (one of my spiritual homes) it should be mumbles really but brrrrr!
could be a new thread ...what is your spiritual home/homes apart from where you live or lived as a child.
The other place for me apart from Pefkos&lindos Rhodes and mumbles is Larghne near Carmarthen ...(really doesn't look like that's spelt right). I am not sure why ...Mumbles I have been to loads dh parents have a appartment there (mil is a vicar so their home is not theirs so they have that instead). The other two I have been too 2 (rodos) and 4times but there is something about them. Maybe I have been there in a former life...if that sort of thing exists!

Well this is weird. LO woke at 5 so has now been awake for an hour. Happy and giggling and feeding. I don't want to get used to this. I have warned her she'll be grounded if she does this again. She laughed.

My spiritual home is France, and I'm here. I've not found my forever part of France yet, though I would say Paris probably. I lived there for ten tears, but there were bad memories so we moved away. It was home though, where I'd always dreamed of living.

Damn. Just had massive spit up. Going to need to change her. Merry Monday is not starting brilliantly for me.

Oooooh pancake day tomorrow. That's cheered me up. Hoping it's not the baby vom that brought pancake batter to mind.

You're welcome

DS accepted the dummy a couple of hrs ago so did 7+hrs which is good. I'm hoping he'll just suddenly drop the 5am feed like DD did, & go until 7am. He's bigger than she was so surely he could go longer at night already??!!

DH off to a work conference today assuming the snow isn't too bad. So will have my 2 alone for 2 nights. On the plus side, things might stay tidy...

I haven't strayed far from "home" really. A few holidays, not many abroad, & a few yrs in Manchester at uni. Loved Manchester. Also loved Stockholm when we did a day there on our honeymoon cruise. Think it was the only place I'd move to on the basis of a holiday visit. Otherwise, I generally feel home is where your hat/heart is...

VQ sorry you're having a rough night & its not due to DS atm, although glad he's cute

Uh oh. DS is finished feeding so I'd better go to sleep before I suddenly spend an extra hr awake, on here...

Well, N took ages to settle tonight as she's very snuffly, but once she did she's been pretty good - this is the first feed of the night, which is pretty good going for her!

My feeding is not going so well! I won't list the crap sugary stuff I ate yesterday because I'm too embarrassed to, but suffice to say, there was far too much of it and I just couldn't say no

cat in awe of braveness and soup making skills!!

det & vq that's isn't good - why should women put up with such poor health service!!! Kick ass and privates so they have an inkling as to how a broken fanjo feels

I woke up at 4 and couldn't sleep - leaky boobs soaked the bed - that's not happened for weeks!! Dots woke at 5 so leaky boob shoved in gob!!

Hopefully another 90 mins sleep is had!!

LO went back down to sleep and I stayed up to do the ironing. This is completely out of character for me.

Talk of 2 under 1 year old makes me feel faint! Good night here he's just nodding off on me amidst rippling farts (his!) hope he doesn't get woken by DH's alarm in 45 mins...

Lots of snow here

<arrives fashionably late>

I have been meaning to sort life assurance and a will since being pregnant. I am definity going to do it this week. DH does have sonething through work that i would get should the worst happen. Just need to decide who DS would go to. Dont really want him to go to either of our parents for various reasons. My sister would take him i know, but DH wouldnt be happy with that as she makes completely different lifestyle choices to me. However, i am named as guardian for her daughter should i ever need to be.

I cant read sad stories about babies/ mums dying, it makes me anxious and sad.

Last year on pancake day we found out i was pregnant! Wont be repeating that this year! Anyone else get a pancake day BFP?

I wont discuss my epis scar and pelvic floor due to it now being merry monday! I suggest the first discussion to be 'what do you have on your pancakes?' Sugar and lemon for me. Fresh lemon, not jif! DH likes nutella, yuck!

kirrin are you the poster who's eaten 48 creme eggs this weekend?!

No pidjin - but possibly only because of a lack of creme eggs in the house! Actually, that's not true - I hate creme eggs, and 48 is insane My intake involved coke and cakes rather than sweets.

tiger Lemon and sugar are the only things to go on a pancake as far as I am concerned - anything else is just silly

N appears to have farted herself to sleep. Honestly, she's really not very lady-like. She smelt so bad I had to check her nappy twice as I couldn't believe it wasn't dirty.

No sleep for me - madam wanted to play and chat!!!

We had pancakes yesterday as tomorrow will be too manic with school discos and other things - it's got to be sugar and lemon or maple syrup nom nom

There are advantages to getting up at 5 (never thought I'd say that).

It's not even 8 and the kitchen is clean, the ironing and laundry are done.

Maple syrup is nice but lemon and sugar is divine!

I had a terrible night with J up for an hour and a half from midnight. I was getting to the point of being too tired to look after him I think I could have slept through crying. DH had the insane bright idea if starting controlled crying at 1 a.m. Idiot. Talk about the worst time to start sleep training. I rocked and nursed J to sleep instead since that's what he's used to.

DH isn't speaking to me in a being superficially pleasant but avoiding me as much as possible way. I got upset with DS2 yesterday when he started berating me for not playing his Skylanders game correctly with him. I was shocked to hear his father's manner from a six year old. Particularly as I had just been berated by DH for not running J's bath correctly (he had only run in cold water so I was letting some out before putting hot in otherwise it would have been too deep). DH really needs to sort himself out now the children are copying his behaviour. Although I wonder if the damage is done now and they can't be fixed.

His parents think everything would be okay if I did all the housework and looked after the kids all the time. Tbh I wouldn't mind doing that so much if I didn't have to clear up after him as well. He had left a trail of destruction behind him (bib on the bathroom floor, baby clothes etc. strewn around the change mat, kids' swimming bags and floats lying on the hall and kitchen floor) and was ready to slope off to bed. I called him on it and he said he would tidy up and then I could 'inspect the house' to make sure he was finished. I said I wasn't doing that it was up to him to tidy up after himself. Then when he was done (which took about two minutes) he asked me if I had any more chores I wanted done tonight. Honestly he wouldn't do that at work. Imagine leaving papers all over a meeting room or empty coffee cups strewn about the place. So why is it okay to do it at home?

Sorry about the epic me me me post, I needed to get that off my chest. If you post in Relationships all you get is 'Leave the Bastard', there doesn't seem to be any advice on rescuing an emotionally abusive relationship. If only he was a little bit more introspective but I don't think he realises what was done to him as a child. His dad is a narcissist, I don't know about his mum but she was neglected as a child which I'm sure leaves its mark. When I asked DH whether he was abused as a child he got really angry with me and went on about how his parents love him. He doesn't understand that they can love their children but still make mistakes with the way they treat them, and each other. Just the way he's trying to be a good husband and dad but isn't managing to avoid the mistakes his parents made.

48 Creme eggs?! Eww. I can't eat one, I think they are just revolting. I could probably eat the straight chocolate equivalent in one sitting though

detective you can get it from the pharmacy theses days but is about twenty quid.

I could probably eat close to 48 creme eggs over a whole weekend . I love 'em.

detective you need to do that quiet but fucking deadly, like a ninja assertive attitude with the GP, and refuse to be fobbed off.

stunt no advice, but ((((hugs)))). I know what you mean about the relationships board.

kirrin totally agree re pancake toppings.

I had a good night's sleep but an appalling nightmare that I am feeling sad and guilty over. Wont go into detail, but a "Sophie's Choice" situation presented itself. Even typing that has set me off again.

So, Merry Monday, eh? Well, I am happy that DS seems to be getting back to the good sleep only because I caved can let him follow his own routine of bed at 9pm, not 7pm, and let him sleep in my bed, that DD left for nursery where she is in a new room really happily, that I have a quiet day with just me and DS today one of the rare occasions my poor second child gets some of my attention and that my friend is coming to see me today.

stunt not sure what to say? He sounds like a bully and someone who needs some sort of therapy. I don't know what to say though other than I hope you and your sons are not at risk.

Ds has just eaten all his breakfast. With no gaviscon in. I don't think he likes gaviscon. Now someone has suggested trying sma staydown but I think I should give the gaviscon a go just perhaps only on three of his feeds? It is really working!!

Well it's a merry Monday for me so far. S slept from 8:30 until 7 and only woke once at 3 for her dummy, I went straight back to sleep for once
I looooove creme eggs, I could eat loads, I want to try them new egg n spoons but the diet won't allow it lol!
Deffo just sugar and lemon on pancakes for me too.

Oooh I won a bumbo on eBay last night so S can also finally join the bumbo gang. I got it for £10.50 how much did you all get yours for off eBay?

That sounds really hard to deal with Stunt . unfortunately we do tend to copy our parents' behaviour, for better or for worse. DH is messy because he was always cleaned up after, and I honestly am the same. We both seethe and resent the other when we tidy, me more so atm as I am here so do more.

It's not too late for your son; you can teach him respect, but it will be harder if your DH acts like a bit of a twat.

Floors mopped. It's 9am and I am knackered. Going to wake LO and she is going to have a busy day. She is not getting me up at 5 tomorrow morning.

Pancakes: lemon and sugar. DH puts jam on them which is just so wrong.

Creme eggs: I used to miss them when I left the UK and bought some last year. Vile. Too sweet. Those caramel eggs though?? Mmmmmmmmm.

I have a question, may seem silly, but really bugging me.

How much are you LO's drinking and how often??

Charlee DS is now FF, he has approx 6-7 bottles a day, between 7am and 9pm. Each bottle has 7oz in it. Sometimes he drains all 7oz. Sometimes he takes as little as 3oz. I'd say he averages approx 40oz per day. He's 14 weeks old and has got to be approx 14lbs now.

madame Sophie's Choice is not for discussion today <<howls>>

:O holy mackerel

DD is 12 weeks old, drinking between 2 and 4 oz every 4/5 hours, sleeps from 8pm til 3am has a feed then goes back to sleep until 6 then will wait until 8am for another bottle. Shes averaging about 18 oz a day!

I havent been able to go and see the HV because she wont come to home address and LO has been poorly with a cold and chicken pox!!

I got her weighed 2 weeks ago (so 10 weeks) and she was 11lb 6oz (6lb 7.5oz born)

Ooooh fancy a creme egg now but not 48 of them!!

Lemon & sugar.

stunt that sounds really difficult. My DH is an untidy fucker. His DM is too. Although she is cleaner than me in the sense she hoovers, dusts etc more her place is always littered with stuff. It makes my fingers itch. I mean, the dining table is covered with letters, newspapers, magazines etc. When I lived there, I used to try to tidy it into organised piles but it didn't work. I digress... I tell DH its a respect thing. If he doesn't put our car key back in the same correct place, I can't find it, that's unfair. If he doesn't put laundry in the wash basket then I don't know its dirty etc. I refuse to clean up after him and the kids. It's not fair. But he doesn't have a go at me thankfully - he just doesn't see the mess. Have you considered relationship counselling? Don't worry about the boys, they're young enough to unlearn their behaviours, although they need to see a better example iyswim.

stunt no advice chick as I'm in a relationship pickle at the moment though hugs for you x

We've got snow here!! Dottie went to cm's all smiles monkey!!! Once I've dropped dd off at school I am all by myself until 4pm - I should blitz the house but then think why the fuck should I do all the tidying up when I didn't make all the mess??? Might just go to bed - am feeling very tearful the past few days and don't know why - the last time I felt like this....... Nooooooooo soooooo not going there!!!!

Around 36-40oz a day. 5-6 feeds.

15 weeks prob weighs about 13-14lbs

charlee your LO will eat when hungry - they are all different. Is the pox gone now? I was wondering how things were but could not remember which LO had it.

stunt sorry not awake enough for sensible advice.

Sugar and Jif lemon. Will have them with maple syrup if I have to.

Creme eggs. Once ate six in quick succession. Not really fancied them since as I was a bit green.

Nor feeling very merry. Half term here so having requests for crafts and activities from all sides, plus the constant 'I'm hungry'

I am pretty much caffeine free. Just on decaf now, but a small bit of choc might have got in my system. No coke for ages either. No fizzy. Not tackled the dairy yet <<howls again>>

Good meowning,

It is DH and my first anniversary today. Considering the amount of snot going about in crisp towers it will be a lust free anniversary.

charlee p is 13 weeks today. She had 6 bottles per day all of 150ml. She will drink anything between 90ml to the full 150ml. On a good day she might take 24oz but recently has been on 18-21oz. I am teaching myself not to get frantic about daily changes in amounts. She was weighed last Tuesday and was 11Ib 7oz

fruit you beat me ... Drat! is that including postage...I was feeling quite good my bumbo was £17 including postage.
stunt yeah think you need to talk things through proper and maybe he does...think I have narcasistic mother - how do you really tell though? and I was v worried about turning into her think being aware of the selfish behaviour I felt I couldn't help 10 years ago was the start of me stopping it. Mum is a dragon too and born 3 days before dd (and 60 years earlier) I panic sometimes will they turn out the same.
cluster feeding wearing me down again 7-11 last night thinking of formula feed again.
cluster feeds in the night -told me I was going to loose the fight... to the tune of weathering heights!
is no-one else going to take me up on the spiritual home topic.
re pancakes yeah sugar and lemon...raisens in the mix too. though I think it will be limes this year (order of 1 was not available for online shop so got 6 instead).
needing to wee all the time ...but think I may have dd cold

Spiritual home - haven't got one. Not really sure what the phrase means to be honest.

Congratulations Mr&MrsCrisps

What about Nutella on pancakes?

Congratulations crisps

charlee totally agree with VQ (as always). If your baby is gaining weight and seems happy, then they probably are. Every baby is different. DS is chunky and very long, he is also a real snacker, can only go a couple of hours - 3 at an absolute push - without more.

vq sorry my posts are so long bet no ones reading them...by spiritual home I meant somewhere that feels undeniably like home in a way you can't put your finger on a place that you long to be. I am very lucky to have moved to the little village that I felt at home in when I walked through it with dh 7.5 years ago! (had driven through as a child) ...it seemed almost magical ...I think I only see it through rose tinted spectacles though which could be a bad thing raising a child here!!

just realised I have confused that spiritual home thing again my other homes were Pefkos&lindos in Rhodes and Larghne near Carmarthen although I have only had holidays in both places a handful of times.
oh and congrats Mr and Mrs crisps too did you get anything for each other? its paper isn't it first year?

B feeds 6 times a day, I don't know how much she takes but when i've given her expressed milk in a bottle she's taken a maximum of 4oz and this seems to be the most I can express from one breast at a time. So she must have around 24oz a day. She was 11lb at 9 weeks.

I love pancakes but it's my birthday tomorrow so we're going out for tea. I might make myself pancakes for breakfast

((((Hugs)))) stunt

I wouldn't say I've got a spiritual home but I felt most at peace and well rested on holiday in France two years ago. We stayed in a family members cottage in Montignac, Dordogne. It was totally cut-off down a country lane and had a huge garden. It was just so quiet and peacefull, I loved it.

Good, im glad to be honest. When reading the milk tin that shes on (Nutramigen Lipil 1 as has a cows milk allergy) The amount shes on is for a 2-4 weeks old baby I nearly dropped down! Thought I was doing something wrong! She was 10lb 6oz at 7 weeks so she is gaining weight but her 'line' in her red book has dropped - although she is still above 50th centile.

vq she has been a bit grizzly, they have all scabbed over now, but there is one above her eyebrow which I think the top must have burst as she got fluff in it and its now scabbed over the fluff. In 2 minds whether to get the tweezers out after a bath and try and get it out or hope it comes off with the scab...

charlee p is on exactly the same formula. I get myself into a right state logging every feed and getting stressed if it looks like she is not going to take much. Yesterday p took 18oz which according to the pack is much too little. Your LO is obviously a good, healthy weight so I don't think you should be concerned.

zcos no gifts. Not even a card! I was offered a shag this morning but listening to P coughing and spluttering was hardly a turn on! We will have a nice meal later and probably open one of he borked of champagne left over from the wedding. I suppose there have been plenty of hankies being passed about so paper it is!

LO very rarely drinks what it says she should on the packet. She gets through 600-750ml a day, sometimes less. She never has the 800+ the packet says. DD1 was the same and she was on 98 th centile for her first 20 months.

Congratulations pass, who says romance is dead eh?

Happy anniversary pass.

No zcos, £10.50 was just for the bumbo, the postage was £6 so £16.50 altogether!

Charlee, S only has 4 bottles a day, she has 7oz in each of them so 28 altogether, in fact I didn't realise she only had 4 bottles a day until now, I thought she had more oops!
She got weighed last week and at 12 weeks is 12lb12oz she's getting a right little chunk aswell considering she only has 4 bottles a day so I wouldn't worry, your LO will have more when hungry!

Congrats pass

DS has discovered his hands!! He lay there starring at them yesterday at 13wo exactly & has done it again today. No idea if that's early, late, 'normal', but it is cute... Don't think DD did that much - she went almost straight to grasping things I think. DS has been batting at his toys for a few wks, but only just opening his fists. They grow so quickly!!! <wibbly bottom lip emoticon>

n has woken up and been very grumpy, he didn't even want his bottle this morning I spent over an hour trying to get him to drink something.

Something tells me it's going to be a long day.
Evil

Spiritual home - unfortunately not found that - I've moved 34 times since I was 15 - this house is the longest I've lived in one place (8yrs in August) but I hate the house and the only reason is cos I'm with dh, before then I'd move after every relationship ended or when I got itchy feet my nan says I must have gypsy blood I think my spiritual home is somewhere in Norwich - lived there for 10 yrs and miss it so much - I'm not an Essex bird

Congratulations pass was LO a wedding night/honeymoon baby?? It's our 6th wedding anniversary on 24th - candy yum yum!!

Back to bed with a pile of lemon curd on toast and a bucket of tea!!!

I don't have a spiritual home Zcos but I've always had a hankering to emigrate to Tahiti even though I'm afraid of flying!

I was wondering how things were going with you and your DH Glenda. Any improvement? We've only been having real problems since J arrived but I think the seeds were there before that IYSWIM. I think DH needs help but his reaction is always to bury his head in the sand. He needs help but doesn't want it. I'm away at my parents' for a week from Saturday so I'll have a break then. It's just something we need to work on together.

This baby better hurry up with his second breakfast, I have an appointment at the asthma clinic in 20 minutes. How can they feed and sleep at the same time? He's sucking away but I swear he was snoring a minute ago.

I don't think I have a "spiritual home" but then I've not travelled as much as I'd have liked so maybe just haven't found it yet?

Zcos I read but don't really have anything interesting to say hence short posts and rants that are meant for ignoring!

Well, lesson is tomorrow. I have a nasty cold - luckily R hasn't got it, fuck knows how! - and I'm at my folks so mum can look after R so I can finish my lesson. And their computer has a virus. Fuck.

Creme eggs bleeeee bleurgh ick gak.... might as well just eat a bag of sugar now mini eggs or a feck off massive monster of an Easter egg - hell yeah. DH is buying me eggs and saving them until I can eat dairy again. I nearly cried when I saw them at the supermarket

Pancakes with golden syrup mmmmm going to try to make with oat milk.....

Spiritual home - hmmm Glastonbury village? Rocamador in the lot in France? Jericho in Oxford? Aberdour in Fife? I think despite having lived all over that I'm still looking for my spiritual home. I have to live somewhere beautiful or else I feel really down.... Maybe that's because I'm a horse in Chinese astrology but I've been a restless address book wrecker for years

DS woke up when his Dad got in the shower - he's showering in the evening from now on! and potentially sleeping in the spare room! Yawn. Wee man has just crashed and burned on me - sigh wish I could snooze too.

Stunt I would really struggle to be spoken to like that - its passive aggressive and very disrespectful how do you respond? I don't know what to advise - it must be hard at times to love someone like that <hugs>

stunt baby multitasking!

P was a honeymoon baby. I thought I might be pregnant on our first anniversary - wasn't expecting to have an actual baby!

Oh, and my bumbo is costing my a fiver from another mum at clinic, my friend is collecting it tomorrow for me as she'll be there anyway and I forgot about the interview when I made the arrangement!

I find that if DS doesn't have a good 7 feeds inc the bedtime feed, he wakes more in the night. So yesterday he had a 2am, 5am, 7.30am feed then every 2hrs until lunch, then 3 in the afternoon/evening, so slept through until 5am. He took 5oz ebm in the 2 bottles he had on Sat, which is also what I got from expressing, so guess he drinks a lot in a day!!!

stunt mine does that too. Woe betide you if you take him off too soon...

I have missed so much!

My sister came to visit for the weekend and we had a lovely time. I have 3 sisters scattered all over the world. I miss them.

Went out for a lovely dinner, DP was on double duty. Then amazing sister offered to look after DD's on Sunday morning. I slept in spare room and had lay in until 11am! First lay in in 19 weeks!

cat I think we should move into a commune with our twins and make soup. You sound like super mum with your brood! 2 under 6 months is enough for me at the moment

zcos I did reply at 5am...

pass I had a BFP on honeymoon with DD. That was a bit of a - had to do the test in a public toilet as we couldn't check into our hotel yet

I got bargain from a second hand sale at Twins club when I was pregnant. Got a play mat, 2 Bumbos with trays, one bouncy chair and an inflatable play ring for 50 quid, all in great condition. DT2 likes the Bumbo but DT1 hates it and will not sit in it for more than 5 minutes.

Merry Monday everyone – I am merry because LO has only woken once between 11 and 7 for the past few nights although this does involve sleeping in our bed

I know what you mean about the relationships board, I once asked a question after dh had been a bit of a nob, and specifically asked for constructive advice and that I would not leave him. Only advice I got? Leave the bastard. Er thanks for that… His mum waited on him hand and food so he used to be dreadful around the house, he is now less dreadful due to my nagging but he just doesn’t see mess, clutter, cat hair etc.

fruit I got my bumbo for £6 and am collecting it – bargainous!
horsey we played around with the gaviscon having gone in on the max dose, all guns blazing – she only needs 1 or 2 now to keep on top of things so reducing your Los down to 3 sounds like a good idea.
pass congrats – it’s dh and my 1st anniversary in a fortnight – we got our bfp 2 days before we went on honeymoon

Not so merry (sorry gt) was my nightmare – was pregnant again. Cemented the thought that I don’t want any more just yet!

Damn, I thought I'd got a bargain with my bumbo, clearly not lol

passi luvs Nutella on pancakes!

Happy Mondays for me too. A quiet day with boys. Off to toddler group in the snow.

What criteria does a place need to have to be a spiritual home.

stunt I am over in NI at the end of Feb, shall I Coe and bop home on the nose and tell him to pick his shit up? Feel for you. . How long does it take you to get to Banbridge?

Can I have the prize for being the person who makes the most I pad typos in the place?

Don't worry Fruit I bought mine new <stupid person never looked on eBay emoticon>

He's not all bad YW, he tries hard but I think he has the triple whammy of an abused childhood, very stressful job that involves frequent travelling, and three demanding children given that one has SN and another is a baby. I think the stress and lack of sleep is bringing out the worst in him, as it does to a lot of people. His parents aren't very supportive and mine are too far away so it's just us vs. the world really.

I'm 50 minutes from Banbridge Sophia. Do you know the area well? There's a brilliant leisure centre in Lisburn that your older kids would love: www.lisburncity.gov.uk/lagan-valley-leisureplex/.

Have a for your ham-fistedness sophia (although I know how goddamn slow the said Apple device is - it can never keep up with my typing & does the most horrendous auto-corrects!!)

My DM has had to cancel her appts today due to snow, so she's coming over to help with the housework, so I can play with DD (& DS when he isn't feeding &/or sleeping). Bless her!!

Was going out to see some pg yoga mums again - we're all on #2, our DDs are all similar ages & 3 of the 4 of us have DSs now too. Unfortunately, the littlest LO, 1mo on Wed, has a cough, so she cancelled having us all over to let him get better/go to the Dr. Shame but important to take coughs in LO seriously, as we know.

DD has just covered herself in glitter glue.... oops. Better go!!

anniversarys

its me and DPs anniversary on valentines day. Were not married, and due to spending our first few weeks together pretty drunk cant remember the actual date he proposed (yes we'd only been together about 3/4 weeks)

Jeez that sounds pretty bad written down...I will say we have been together 2 years this year and are very blissfully happy (only ever had 1 arguement and that was when I was pregnant) so I think we've done very well!

I have a sleepy baby. She slept well again last night.
10pm-6:30am!! Then fed, threw up on me, nappy change and fed again then slept 8-9:15 back in her bed then woke up then slept 9:25-11:10am cuddle up with me in bed
I wonder if she's gearing up for her 12 week growth spurt.

Just wonder though, the last two nights she hasn't woken up for a night feed, that's meant my boobs have been huge and painful in the morning. Will this affect my supply? I don't want her waking up for a night feed and not having enough milk.

stunt I'm ok with the immediate Mourne area but not really familiar with anywhere else. My SIL used to live in Lisburn, i have been a couple of times, but she is on the move to Dromore. I know the other SIL takes the kids to a swimming place in Lisburn, that must be it.

Banbridge is about 40 mins for us I think. It is the nearest BIG Tesco. So am likely to trip up there once on a while.

Have a cosy Monday all of you staying in. I am bundling the kids up and setting off to baby and toddler shortly. It f fresh air and exercise to try and blast away this nightmare cold.

My extra news is DH has an interview for a job in Glasgow on Fri we will see, would e a better commute from NI though than Wokingham!?!

chunky I know you replied about spiritual home! think that's why I said anyone else as it was only you

My spiritual home is Queenstown NZ. DD1 was conceived there...TMI

I'm making pancakes for breakfast tomorrow with DD1. Will deffo have one with Nutella on. And my sister has invited me over for buttermilk pancakes in the afternoon. Yum!

Can't believe it's bloody snowing again. Booo. Just off to collect DD1 from preschool and then off to in laws for the afternoon and dinner so no cooking for me. Hope everyone has a happy warm merry Monday.

MIL has come good today, and agreed to have LO every Friday for half a day once I'm back to work. I managed to sell it to her as special bonding time with F that she didn't get to have with dsd obviously nothing to do with saving us £125 a month

Oooh YW Jericho is lovely. <dreams of G&Ds>

Oh and zcos my spiritual home would be an island called Malaita, part of the Solomon Islands. I spent a few months living and working there as a student and despite the lack of infrastructure, resources etc it is a beautiful place with wonderful people who appreciate life for what it is. Very happy memories if you ignore the earthquakes, malaria and massive fuck off spiders

Morning people. Oh how I would like more than a couple of hours of sleep in a row. He's only feeding at 3ish and 7ish but waking up so many times I never feel rested. Wahhh. I know it could be a lot worse.

Spiritual homes... Hmm... I feel very at home in lots of places: Edinburgh, Brighton and a small town in Essex which my Nan came from among others. But I'm a Londoner at heart. Camden, the South Bank, Soho...

I hate driving in bad weather - it brings out the stupidity in other drivers. Had three near misses going to pick up DD1 from nursery, and none of them would have been my fault for a change

Oh, watching This Morning on +1, and a bloke just had his balls checked by a doctor. The camera zoomed right in. Daytime TV has changed since I left the UK.

Yy to relationships board being a bit too LTBy sometimes. I don't think I could ever ask about some aspects of my relationship with DH. We have a good marriage but his upbringing (religious and country australian) means some of his views are pretty prehistoric.

Anyway, night all.

I think a lot of people, probably most, could post on Rlationships about some aspect of their relationship and get a LTB. I think they do help a lot of people on there but the reactions are often quite hysterical (not hysterical ha ha)

Hugs for stunt.

Charlee my LO has 38-45oz a day in 6oz lots usually. He spreads it across 6-7 feeds. He is 14.5lb at 11 weeks.

LO being very off. 3 hours of screaming last night at bedtime which he usually loves and snuggles down in his cot. Eventually we gave him a tiny amount of Capol as he was so warm and we had exhausted every reason why he was crying. Same again late morning. His cheeks are very flushed and he is chewing his whole fist. Could he be teething?

I agree petite about the LTB I think relationships do need to be worked on... makes me wonder what the relationships of the people who say LTB are like!

Dp is exceptionally enlightened in his views - despite his illness he's still pulling his weight around the house, for example - yet I'm sure I'd get a LTB for some things!

Charlee my LO's also have very little milk.

Between 22-28oz a day. They are 19 weeks old and about 12lbs10. They were 6lb1 & 5lb7 at birth. Pediatrician says that amount is within normal range & babies should be double their birth weight by 6 months. They are 25th & 50th centile.

I can't believe you are able to express 45oz a day pikz, that is amazing! And the fact that you have kept it up for 12 weeks is mind blowing. You definitely deserve to stop now x

M is asleep again!! Lazy madam

Double their birth weight by 6 months?! She's done that and then some inside of 3, and that's with 2 weeks of losing weight at the beginning Must be all the mince pies over Christmas that did it.

All this LTB stuff - as you say pikz they never advise to stick around and work it out. I distinctly remember making vows for better and for worse.

LO has been asleep for 2 hours, and has had two hour long naps prior to that since waking at 7. It makes me realise why she was a grumpy bugger yesterday, with about 40 minutes nap the whole day!

Pikz?! I mean zcos of course

Bplp I was thinking the same on double of birth weight... LO is double his at 12 weeks!

As long as it has been doubled by 6 months. Some babies do it way before.

It took mine over 4 months, babies are all so different.

The gas man just came to read our meter - I answered the door and he asked if my parents are in!! Hahahahahahahaha THAT'S MY SODDING BABY RIGHT THERE AND CAR ON THE DRIVEWAY YOU NOB.

There is no way that E will be double her birth weight by 6 months. She'd have to put on 9lbs in 3 months. And unless she miraculously starts downing 6 bottles a day that ain't happening!

All this talk of birth weight has made me look back at the photos of when LO was born; feel a bit emotional <wipes dust out of eyes>

Could well be teething pikz. My LO has been teething since she was 6 weeks old (confirmed by HV) Nothings come through yet but her gums are very white at the back and the 2 space at the bottom front, nothing on top.

I hope to god them ones come through first. With DD her top 2 come first followed by her bottom 2 3 months later. Needless to say she looked like a bloody rabbit for them 3 months lol

bplp wow you must look v young lol - I'd take it as a compliment though I doubt that would ever happen

Dottie is gonna take forever to double her birth weight - she was 10lb 8oz at 12 weeks - she's creeping up towards the 25th percentile which is good.

Well I went to bed but only managed an hours snooze grrrrrr I could have had 7 hours lol I should do housework but have made an egg n bacon buttie instead!!!

I've just emailed my dad a begging letter - as the bursary and student loan don't pay out until I'm well and truly at uni and I need to find at least 2 months full time childcare fees to pay in advance I've asked him for a loan - I'm sure he'll help me if he can as he paid for my lil brother to do his degree but I hate asking, if he agrees that'll take a bit of stress off my shoulders!!

stunt things with dh are still the same - nothing changes am still weighing up whether I can put up with his laziness or not - it barks me that other than this we have an amazing relationship always laughing and joking, loving and supportive it's just this tiny little part of me that feels like a skivvy!!

I'm all up for a commune of just women - share the childcare, chores and workload, utilising our individual skills though I've got none then have girlie nights in with a couple of bottles of plonk - sounds heaven!!!

that happened to me pig too lots when I first moved in 7 years ago... it stopped as soon as I had my hair cut short!

Ow I feel like someone is sticking little pins along my c section scar today. Ow. I know it's normal, just wanted to whine.

I am up for the commune.

Spiritual Home is where my babies are.

HV visited. Bottle not necessary, possible refluxy symptoms brought on by virus but seem to be dissipating now. Recommends trying those homeopathic granules or colief. If colief works, they will happily prescribe it for him but I need to buy the first bottle. She also recommends starting a wee bit of baby rice and apple purée at 20 weeks. Discussed sleep, and I am doing everything right. He will get there in time. I feel happier after seeing her. He is much better today - more like my happy boy, and napping better so fingers crossed. Oh, and I am to try cutting out dairy, but not to the extent of YW thank fuck. Just to see if it helps really.

Mum has had the girls today, so it has been peaceful here, tidied up, done washing, cuddled baby. Miss them now.

PR ouch. Is it healed ok? Mine is still tender I must admit, but I do not heal well anyway. Was it you that had the infection?

vq good news you're doing everything correctly. Nice to have that reassurance.

I bought the wrong teats hence my feeding issues with leaky bottles. So if anyone wants Phillips naturally 3teats I have 6. I am such a bloody muppet.

Oh and I need to go into work to discuss my role.

Yeah it's healed fine, I didn't get an infection and do heal very well and quickly in general. It's normal for them to get prickly from time to time, I was just having a whinge. It's not tender, most of the time I forget about it. Just the pin pricking today being annoying. It happened after the last one too.

VQ I took a photo of my CS scar today for the Kelocote product test and it's all red and angry looking. Still look on the bright side I don't have to hold my belly up to see it any more.

J had a mammoth sleep tonight (after being wide awake for 90 minutes at midnight, little sod darling) and I got some studying done. I've decided to only do chores when he's awake so I can study when he's asleep. While I'm soon housework he'll have to go in his cot / sling / swing / high chair / playmat.

Aw vq that's sweet about your spiritual home! I can't wait to take my dd to some of the places I have been and fallen for... in the UK to start with not done much travelling but parents always took us to a different place every year to explore wonderful caravan holidays I will remember all of my days!

Oops PR not VQ!

Lo has finally woken up after a mammoth 3 hour sleep - tea cooked, crumble made, kitchen clean, laundry done, nursery restored to tidy after being decorated mumsnet broswed

I had attributed the white coating on her tongue to reflux but day 2/3 of daktarin and it's gone reflux hasn't though

For the record, am 26...doesn't help tthat today have not done hair or makeup and am wearing slob clothes. Fly I am not

It was me with the infected scar. I was on 3 lots of antibiotics and had to have the bit that wouldn't heal cauterized! Luckily is absolutely fine now, gets itchy every now and then but has healed up nicely. My stomach looks like a train wreck. The c section scar, loads of stretch marks and some saggy skin from twin bump, a biggish scar in between my boobs and 4 hole marks (those were from gall bladder removal) and a scar next to belly button from massive cyst that was removed. All this within 6 weeks of the birth! Safe to say that the bikini will be staying in the cupboard forever never actually wore a bikini due to fat arse

Yay VQ!

Spiritual home would be Copenhagen or Kerala. And London, always be a Londoner at heart.

Having issues with work, was made redundant and now they are trying to claim a policy change last week means no longer eligible for priority redeployment and less redundancy pay if not redeployed. FUCKERS. And also illegal I think. But the faff to just get then to do what was agreed is going to be a kong drawn out nightmare, I just know it.

My spiritual home is the village I grew up in. I'd move back there tomorrow but it just won't work at the moment.

stunt that sounds tough, but hopefully things will get easier as J gets bigger and the stress of having a newborn eases off a bit. Counselling is always good but only if you are both on board.

Glad you feel better after the HV has been VQ Always nice to hear you are doing everything right!

Don't know what to do unless he is asleep or eating baby is screaming. At a loss to as why. It can't be the few ounces of formula introduced can it? The only time he's been calm these two days when awake is after Capol. Am so lost as to what's wrong

pikz no bright ideas but would you like a communal hug?

<<hug>>

Sorry pennie Cross post. Surely a policy change can't be applied retrospectively? Try CAB for initial advice, and threatening them with ACAS could be worth a try?

I think you have some protection whilst on mat leave pennie but I'm not a solicitor/lawyer.

Both dc asleep, in bed (first time for LO, as I usually have him downstairs, but needed to do something, he was tired so out him in his cot & he self-settled!! Feel a bit bad he didn't get cuddled to sleep but I guess he was happy, he didn't make a peep). West wing on box. Clean bathroom thanks to DM. Tis a v merry Monday!!

pikz oh dear. How old is LO? Any other symptoms? Sometimes formula can make a dairy issue more obvious apparently. Fever? Snotty? Arching back? Peeing and pooing ok?

I have come to the conclusion today that babies are like snowflakes. No two are identical in their behaviour. Being a mum of 3 I am no more an expert than the next person.

J is sleeping really well today. So pleased. Hoping it bodes well for tonight.

Just a quick message to say Cheeky Wipes are having a flash sale tomorrow and Wednesday, 20% off. More info here

pennie that sucks - fingers x'd they see the error of their ways!!!

vq awwwwwww lickle baby snowflakes!!! You're damn right though my third is a bigger enigma than my other two put together - they were text book babies - and I know I should be v v v grateful for baby that sleeps through I just wish I knew what she wanted at any given moment when she yells.

Dad said no &#128557; he would if he could but lil brother skinted him and now he's putting every spare penny into a pension as he should be retiring in the next 5 years - fair enough - he said if we were desperate he would get a bank loan for us but I can't ask him to do that. I'm gutted don't know how the hell I'm gonna be able to afford the first 2 months of uni as the childcare will be £750 a month and petrol will be a full tank a week at £70 not to mention parking, bridge crossings and books. Need to have another chat with dh tonight but like last time he just seems to think ill be able to magic it from somewhere and as its me going to uni I kind of think he thinks its my problem I do get pissed off with dh about money - his money pays for set stuff each month - rent, utilities, child maintenance, money aside for cars etc.... So no big changes, my wages pay for everything else, food, clothes, everything Dottie needs big or small, riding lessons, decorating, pocket money and one month I can have a few quid spare other months I'm skint a week into it.

I'm so fed up been in tears all day - did pg test cos I'm sooo down and thank fuck it was negative - can you get pms on the implant? Had no period so not sure wtf is going on.

My Monday is more maudlin than merry sorry!!!

VQ peeing and pooing good. Cries when poos occasionally but has always done that. He gets wind but doesn't chuck up anything more than a mouthful every few feeds.

He has very red cheeks and is a little warm. Happy sleeping on me or in a carrier but when awake just screams. He arches a bit. He's 11wk 3 days.

Am just lost!

Ooohhh just saltined him and he's smiling again after two huge snot balls. He's got my damn cold again maybe...

Thanks-will go to CAB! Good idea. I don't think you can apply it retrospectively.

Funnily enough VQ someone said same thing in my baby group this morn. Makes me nervous about having a second!

Hopefully that's what he was after Pikz. Let's hope spring arrives soon, and all these colds can p* off. It's sweary Weds early over here!

We just rolled over. THREE TIMES just to be sure. Was a bit shocked

We all cheered.

glenda (((hugs))). Can you make the money by getting rid of stuff - ebay? And changing the shop to an Aldi one? Can you talk to your childminder, or is there anyone else who can lend you some money?

Lazy day here. Mainly watching series 2 of Downton Abbey.

Wow Sophia that's great!

Gelnda where are you? If you're near me I might be able to help with riding as I know several people looking for jockeys for ponies. I'm derby/Nottingham.

Going into work next week to discuss job. I'm actually quite excited!!

Yay sophia !

I'm seriously fucked off. Tried and failed to cook a nice meal tonight after the incompetent man child interrupted me at least 10 times! "She needs fed" - no she sodding doesn't!! Now sitting sulking feeding an unhungry baby whilst my meal gets ruined - pissing about on his laptop is more important than watching it or amusing M

Wow sophia awesome!

pikz probably a mix of cold and gearing up for 12 week growth spurt.

glenda hugs x

Alex will be 12 weeks tomorrow and he was 13llbs 4oz when he was weighed 3 weeks ago. Quite the butterball. He gets around 8 feeds per day - 2 of those are ff.

horsey what might be happening at work then?

VQ that's great news! Fingers crossed cutting down on dairy helps further - sadly for us cutting down wasn't enough - only total elimination. Tomorrow we try to slowly introduce soy FC I can gorge on Chinese soon.... On the plus side DS reaction to dairy is getting less violent (after I ate dodgy cashew nuts last week) he only cried for 2x 2 hours

Just had offer on house refused our best and final saw us offer 97% of asking, we are chain free and can proceed immediately to a couple who are desperate to salvage their collapsing chain. Meh they can't be that desperate to move given they've been there 16 years and are mortgage free and we're quibbling over £5k. Not offering any more in a falling market - its time for head not heart. Shame but negative equity isn't a barrel of laughs. Boooo could really see us there.

Gah! Just given J some formula, I've got thrush in the boobs again and my word it hurts even more than last time and I just couldn't do the feed this time, why do I feel so guilty?!, his nappy area is horrific, spread down both legs and all over his testicles and under up into his bottom, back to GP tomorrow it's in clumps of tiny spots/blisters, no doubt about it being a yeast infection, he's still as happy as Larry though, kicking and rolling round the playmat.

tits please take comfort from the fact it does not seem to be bothering him. Formula sounds like a good idea, so quit the guilt please <hug>

YW I could not give up what you have, at this stage anyway. Had it happened earlier I may have coped with that, but now I would just see it as an excuse to put him on formula. Your commitment and determination is exemplary. Sorry about the house. Hope something else comes up soon.

We might get to double bw at 6 months but only just. Another 8oz this week which is great. 10lbs13 now.

VQ that is great about naps. Hope it bodes well for tonight.

J slept 3 hours! He was very keen to feed, as was I! Proper boob clutching going on, and such big smiles.

Great weight gain blonder Jacob will have no problem doubling birth weight me thinks. He is not far off already.

<<applauds sophia>>

tits ow. Am coming out the other side of thrush, and take solace in the fact that it didn't seem to affect LO. Not sure I would be able to carry on if I had it a 2nd time.

DH is feeding LO a bottle of ebm, was a bit worried as it looked like she was going to refuse it (1st bottle of frozen ebm since previous refusal) but happily she's now guzzling it down like a pig

<<<hugs>>> for those in need

R was 9lb8 at 11+1 last week, 6lb3 born. He needs to put on 2lb8 in the next 14 weeks to double.

I'm feeling very odd about tomorrow

PP have you ever tried tapping? Relaxation technique. You will be fine. It is a wonderful opportunity. Try and enjoy it if you can. Hope R sleeps for you tonight x

I'll google that but iirc it's like nlp which just makes me feel a bit silly <sceptic>

It's an amazing opportunity but it seems so far-fetched that anything will come of it. I was pretty much born to teach (ideally music therapy but financially it'll never happen now) so no doubt I'll get a pgce eventually.

I do enjoy teaching, have picked a topic i feel comfortable with - i regularly deliver off the cuff lectures on it to my teens at youthie! - and y6 are my favourite age.

We shall see

You will be brilliant PP.

Settling number 2... Hoping this is the last. He's had milk, capol and lots of cuddles. He's chewing his hands a lot.

DP is at the gym tonight, I'm hoping it goes quickly, I can hardly bare fabric of my clothes again my norks atm let alone picking J up against them everytime he yells! I am not blessed with the sort of boobs I can let free (they'd hit my knees if I did!) I'm just trying not to move too much.

Promotion vq and new career. In same team but different role. It's what I really really want to do....

My fridge just collapsed .

I think I need a new one.

I now smell a gorgeous aroma of hot chilli sauce, Mayo, witchazel, ikea mustard, calpol and garlic sauce. FAFS.

And still picking glass out of everything.

And I still have no Internet.

And I spent 2 hours trying to get Sky ordered after I cancelled Virgin for being shit the other day. Still, 5 online attempts and 3 phone calls later, I have managed it. Was determined as I have a half price for 12 months code.

Then I spent an hour in Sainsburies while they fannied about looking for paperwork so I could have the MAP for free so I didn't have to see the GP and look like a naughty school girl .

Oh yeah, the boiler broke again.

And I wasted a fiver trying to get oscars PP pics I a photobooth as it didn't tell you you only get 3 attempts . I nearly got them too if I'd of had another go or 2 it would have worked. And if I hadn't spent the 2 hrs sorting sky, and another hour in sainsburies, I'd of had time to make it to town to get them done in max speilmann.

I've had a fab day. Thanks for asking.

Good morning! DS managed around 7 hours again. It's bloody lovely but my sleep is still broken as I keep waking up and thinking 'oh he's not woken up yet.'

Going with dh on a business trip today. Just 3 days driving through New South Wales. Lots of stops so Ds Won't be in his seat too much.

On phone so can't check back but sorry for the screaming babies, house offer refused, Uni finance issues, thrush etc.

Poor detective

horsey good stuff! I have worked at higher grades than I am at the moment and I find it so bloody frustrating.

Oh no detective. Will send you some condiments

Well done mini jig!!

Oh my goodness what a happy baby I have. In bumbo, next to me on sofa. All is right with the world on merry Monday

Holy shit detective! It actually collapsed? WTAF? Is DP there? Get some takeaway.

PP is it tomorrow? I'll be thinking of you. I've never had to do an interview lesson so I would be papping myself. You sound like you have balls of steel and to cope with what you have and take this on - I can think of few people more deserving. I think I would love to share a staffroom with you.

pikz glad LO is more settled. It is truly awful when you have no idea what the matter is. Teething?

That sounds very exciting horsey. Fingers crossed for you as well.

glenda and stunt and daisy you are total champions trying to balance work and study with babies. Have I missed anyone? I have so much respect for you all. Considering how I spend my days . . .

I am really interested in the work chat. Before P I was the main only earner and it was my career that really was the driving force. I was promoted very early in my career and have spent the last two years preparing for the step to depute rector (in Scotland many secondary schools call head teachers rectors). It has been all consuming and fraught with disappointment. Immediately prior to getting married and then conceiving the lovely P I failed to get another internal post. It was a massive shock to everyone if I am honest and I found it very hard managing other people's shock if that doesn't sound horribly egotistical.

However, DH and I both agreed that had I got the post - which was temporary - we would not have had so much fun on honeymoon making Penelope! We would have chosen to wait to see if I got a permanent job and then I would have wanted to bed into the role meaning possibly another 2 years.

I am so glad I didn't get that job.

I'm all prickly. I am mostly amused by my day so I don't cry!

Forgot too add Oscar puked in my hair and right inside my top and bra, and it ran in to my knickers.

I've eaten my weight in donuts. Just to make it all better!

Yea DP is here! The insides just fell out EVERYWHERE!

The shelves are now broked. It's DPs fault but we won't talk about that in case it makes me want to poke his eyes out!

It's still cold so I guess ill just have to make do with no interior!!

detective OMG! Did not know fridges could do that.

VQ So glad that you are feeling better after the chat with hv and that J is settling down. Fingers crossed that everything's on the way up now.

glenda You need to get in touch with student services at your uni. All universities have a pot of discretionary funding for students who are struggling financially and will help you out. You can get a grant for living costs (like fuel going to and from uni), a one off grant for emergency stuff (like car repairs etc) or a short term loan to tide you over until the student finance comes through. They are WELL used to dealing with situations like yours, I promise you. There have been a couple of times wher DH and I would have been truly stuck without it and our university has bent over backwards to help. They even do a maternity grant, but I don't know if that is specific to my uni. If they don't spend it, the gov gives them less money to spend next year, and it has to be used by the end of April, I believe. Usually they want to see 3 months bank statements, tenancy agreements etc, and they want to see that you are using an overdraft, if you have one. If you don't have one, they will prob tell you to get one or want to see written refusals from a couple of banks. Good luck! X

In other news, my smallest DS is close to being put in the bin. He has been a bit of a screechy monster since 2pm this afternoon. I suspect that the week of keeping me up all night is catching up with him and he is muchos overtired

horsey that sounds great. Fingers ceossed. Loved the tweed btw.

VQ You're sounding more positive, that's great.

glenda (((hugs))) I have no advice I have never been able to finish my studies I know how feustrating it is.

Detective you're obviously having trouble with all that is technology related. It seems neverending.

MM is your DP being at least less of a twunt than last week?

Tits I am very thrush prone and since bf I get it on the boobs as well as everywhere else each time I take antibiotics. You have my sympathy, it's awful. LO has it in some of her thigh folds, but it doesn't seem to bother her either. I wonder if babies feel pain like we do. They don't seem to.

Stunt how are you this evening.

General to everyone.

My prickly scar has calmed down this evening. Sorry if I was snappy about it earlier. It was annoying me, and I know it can come and go for --ever- a while yet.

Also, good luck to horsey and pidjin! I know you will both be magnificent

Thanks for asking PR but I'm in a bad mood as this baby will not settle long enough for me to make dinner and I'm STARVING since I had lunch at 11:30 and that was over eight hours ago.

PR less twunty more useless. Still I managed to recover my prevalentines meal and it was lovely --ignores burnt custard--

Vq - daft as it sounds I think mat leave will have done me good in terms of what I'll go back to. I think they realise what I do now I'm not there.

Stunt I resorted to a carrier this afternoon to make dinner!

PR glad the scar is better.

Detective what is going on in your house!! Try free cycle for a new one?

VQ how is LO now?

Bplp you sound like your having a fab night!

Good luck horsey too!

Cat bag you are still my hero.

Wonder how many of us (when I say us, I do not include me!) will be announcing a second valentine's baby in a few weeks time!

Repeat: definitely NOT me

Luck has never been mine.

Now you know why I worked my ass off in my annual leave web I was pregnant.

You can guarantee this shit will all happen when you can least afford it!

Of course, if DP hadnt knocked the bottom shelf of the door off some weeks back, meaning we had nowhere to store milk without it leaking all over the show, then decided to fuck around with the shelves to see if he could get the milk in....

Fingers glued crossed NOT ME!!

Also some more - I made an executive decision today to apply for the LLM at uni, starting in September. I finish my final year in May and I am quite simply not ready to leave yet. I told DH and he was like as I have no idea how we would pay for it. So I need to find a way of putting together £2000 by the Autumn, that in no way impacts the financial well-being of the family. Now I am pulling the

I intend to do it part time over two years so would need to find the other £2000 next year. I don't want to stagnate. It took me so long to finally get my shit together and get to uni (I was 29 when I started), I really don't want to lose my momentum and sit around on my arse until the twins are 5, I am 37 and am trying to pick up where I left off on a degree that is 5 yrs old. Kind of makes me twitch a little that DH doesn't have this issue, although that is a little unfair. He would be happy to stay at home, but as he points out he has a job to walk straight into after uni; I need to study more before I can start my practise. If I could earn more than him straight away, then he would be the SAHD though who knows how the kids would turn out then Mr 17 hours a day on the computer.

So. End result is that I have promised him that if I can't squirrel enough to pay for the first year, I will withdraw my application and not be miserable at him about it (which is what he is most worried about). Ladies, I need to pilfer your combined gargantuan intellect and come up with a way of making this cash. Non-smutty answers only please detective and vq I am looking at you

Just so you know, I totally wasn't scared off by your collective girl-crushes, was just not able to get on MN today. You are all v. lovely

Cat bag can you get any admin work part time from home? For example my DP business hires a part time mum and she gets £12 an hour for the hours she can work. She's at home on a pc doing it.

Wll baby evil has lived upto his name! He has only drank 3 bottles today at 7oz each. He has been grumpy ALL day, and driven me nuts.

I tried to phone the HV as I have given in regarding his colic at 1225, all I got was a recoded message saying phone back before 1230 he has also been teething. Why does there has to be so much druel?

DP is insisting I watch a programme in channel 4 about how bad nurseries are. He still thinks they are bad, and I should hand over baby evil to his crazy mum!

Evil

pikz That I could definitely do. Not sure how I would go about drumming up the business though. Will look into it. By the way, I might be your hero but you are totally mine too. 45oz a day? I do a dance when I get 6. You are a total legend. Take a bow

Passme the simple fact is that it's this or minimum wage shit again. Or starve.

Cat bag look at gum tree, get your linked in profile up to date and try remoteemployment.com and monster.com.

Forgot to say... as DS is so fat chunky he has huge jowls and they get sweaty and grubby even though I wash him and them regularly. The creases are very red and shiny too. Yesterday morning he STANK of off milk to the point that if the smell hadn't gone in the bath I would have taken him to the dr.

I think part of the problem is that it's a hard area to dry. Any advice?

I GIVE UP!

I should just go to bed!

Oscar nearly pulled my nose piercing out. I read how you should let them explore your face. Well. I won't be making THAT fucking mistake again.

Owwwwwwwwww. Btw. My piercing is stuck. It would have to be cut out it just won't come out on its own. This is because the pain is excruciating as the hole has gotten too small!

I may have screamed like a starving baby with a shitty nappy and a bout of colic Oscar has now stopped crying at the shock.

Baby evil and baby pikz have clearly been talking and decided to have a grumpy terrorist day!

Sorry Cat, I missed your post.

I read on MN a while ago that the best way to make money in a certain amount of time is to figure out how much you need to earn per week (so X number of weeks until September... 2000pounds divided by number of weeks = amount needed per week) as that should be far more manageable than a WHOLE 2000. Then figure out what you need to do to get there... ebay? baby sitting?

Sorry, hope I've not written the "earning money" equivalent of saying "just enjoy the free time" to a recently divorced mum who has to send her kids to her ex and OW.

Ah well boo to house hunting just had a bit of good news - an email from my old freelance client asking if I'd consider a few hours a week - at £30 an hour I'm sorely tempted to try to fit in 4 or 5 a week. Especially as I'm still waiting to hear about MA. Thing is some days I barely manage a shower so think I'm not quite ready yet. Still its nice to be missed by the world of the grown ups!

( WARNING moaning)

Pikz- I just don't know what to do, I'm at my wits end. He usally drinks 30 oz a day, but today he has only had 21oz and I've really had to push the milk too.

I recon he will be up, all fucking night.

But why oh why does he have to moan ALL the time.

I would YW. Even 4 hours would be such a boost.

Evil, I getcha on the whining. DP made me go for a walk as I told LO to give it a rest.

Jing Jonas does a fine line in BM brie in his neck creases too - we've been told to carefully apply talc into the creases with a dry finger until the moisture is gone - we do it each night to prevent thrush. You have to be careful with talc so close to their faces as it can be inhaled if applied too liberally; but if done carefully it seems to be the lesser of two evils. His neck isn't red and shiny anymore. We use Johnsons Bedtime Powder. I find milk drunk comatose (about now!) the best time to do it.

I even told N off in a motherly tone, which set him off again. I know it's not his fault, but there is only so much I can take.

decective- wow a collapsed fridge!

Oh and we really need a new oven as I almost got smoke inhalation from the grill (I knew there was a reason why we never used it)

Evil

Evil ear plugs, and sing at the top of your voice. It can help keep you sane the same can't be said for anyone subjected to my tuneless singing

Sorry for those who are having a crap time - swings and roundabouts I'm sure as just as your LOs sort themselves out, the rest of them will turn into baby terrorists.

Am trying to type this whilst fending off the cats amorous advances.

Aaaaaand now I've been puked on again. Basically, any slight movement forward (so lying on my chest, cuddles, tummy time) and boom. Vomtastic. Doesn't matter how long ago he fed.

I am . The dentinox helped for 2 days but he is just the same now. Tried size 2 teats and he just went apeshit.

Tired. Just put both dc to bed one as DH on a course. Going downstairs to watch more west wing & cry with exhaustion in the face of all the laundry to be hung out & stuff to sort out for the morning but...

detective that sucks.

& good luck pidj

Good luck with that task catbag will see what comes to mind.

mm stunt glenda wishing you overnight transformations of DPs or at least some thought on Valentines

Oh and no, I will not be getting a Valentines derived BFP although really really strangely I'm a bit broody. I know my marriage & sanity as it stands wouldn't survive another

jing you can also buy liquid talc, but I swear by Lanosil. I clean his creases with baby lotion and apply a thin layer of Lanosil if red or cheesy.

cat I think babysitting may be asking a bit much with 5 to sit on already. Sorry I cannot think of anything non-smutty.

pikz J seems more like himself today, and was asleep by 8.45. I am also feeling a lot happier.

PR

horsey I am hoping my boss feels the same.

evil hope you have a reasonable night and little evil settles.

I was feeling a bit broody today. Thankfully that door is now shut. I spoke with a dear friend of mine who was due at the same time as me but did not have the same happy outcome. I asked (sensitively) if she wanted all my baby kit and she does. She was so chuffed, it was lovely. She is hoping for a BFP next week, but is expecting it to be negative. She lives not far from where YW was, so will be a while before she can collect it, so I can get it all sorted out lovely for her. I had offered it to a friend who lives nearer and is actually up duffed, but she is getting everything new.

Off to bed soon, but have an eclair to wrestle first. Dairy free-ish from tomorrow.

Has anyone used the colic granules?

No Valentines BFP for me thanks .... unless the pill were to fail <shudders at thought!>

Evening everyone. Haven't had time to read all of the posts, dd1 and DH have both got a vomiting virus so I've been mopping up sick all day and trying to keep Bronwen away from it all. She seems fine so far luckily

Good luck tomorrow purple, you'll be fine.

Can't think of any money making scheme's cat, but if anyone has healthcare in work like axa ppp you can claim £200 maternity benefit. DH was told about it, he just had to send a copy of the birth certificate and a cheque arrived a few days later.

yw that sucks about the house. The place we are buying accepted £18k off of their asking price, but we in turn accepted £13k less than our asking price. It's the way of the world at the moment. Gone are the days that places are snapped up at full asking price, or like when I last sold more than the asking price. These sellers are being unrealistic. Any chance that your offer could stay on the table and they may change their mind in a couple of weeks? House buying sucks!

vq glad you had a successful visit with the HV. I hope things continue to improve for you and J.

I watched the dispatches documentary about nurseries. It's tragic what happened I the children in the documentary but it didn't change my view of putting my DD into nursery. I'm sure there are awful nurseries out there but equally there are great ones. Same with CM's.

Thanks Eliza I'm hoping they come back to us - they sound a bit shocked that we're walking away. Fingers crossed.

Sorry I havnt mentioned everyone.

To those going back to school or getting a better job, congratulations.
For all those grumpy, grizzly babies, I wish you all a good night.
For those with house worries and P/H problems, I know it's not easy.
And for the classic mumsnet saying
"This too shall pass"

Nite all.
Evil

I bet they will come back YW and I have to say if they do, if you could risk it, offer lower because they have been greedy and clearly turned you down in the hope you would up your offer!



I've used my judgement and decided to get some Karvol capsules. He is 12 wks on Friday. I've just put one on a muslin cloth tied to the handle of the basket. He caught whiff of it and after a couple of sniffs he just gave the biggest gummiest smile I've ever seen from him! He seems grateful! I think I'll just use it in small doses and take it off once he is asleep. His breathing seems much better since I've put it there.

Talking about muslins, I had 9 muslin cloths. I do his washing every 2/3 days and have always had enough cloths. Well since last week I've been washing all 9 almost every day. I've had to go out and I've bought 2 packs of 5. That shows me just how much his possetting/vomiting has increased.

Perhaps it will settle soon. Maybe it's rhe cold on top of new teats. Either way, stop it already!

catbag have you thought about bursaries in your area? sometimes trusts give out monies once a year to assist with peoples studied. often you have to have a local connection but it may be one avenue to go down? your uni may know of some.

just been super sensitive about something and gone overboard I think. aunt posted a "joke" on FB with a by line that was v offensive to Muslims. my DH and DC's are Muslim and I saw red and told her to keep her racist jokes to herself. she has now apologized as she didn't see the by line but she had put similar things in before that I have bitten my tongue about. she wad so apologetic that I feel awful now. the thing is that when I see or read something like that I just see my little boys faces and get upset that they will have to deal with that crap all their lives despite doing nothing wrong. it makes me sad and afraid for them . I have thought of quitting FB for this reason a couple of times before but it is great for sharing the boys pics with PILs abroad. I know this is trivial what witheverything you ladies are going through but it makes me sad. thrush in both breasts doesn't help either. sorry for vent

Am I mad considering going back to work full time when M is 4 months? Yes. But sod it, I don't know if there will be work for me in August so I'll apply. Probably won't get it.

YW fucker house sellers. As for freelance, I'm going to start doing 2/3 hours tutoring as of next week. I think it's doable. If it turns into a nighmare I'll stop and withdraw ft job application . You up for baby massage tomorrow if the littlies are in good form (ie Matilda returns from whatever grumpy planet she was on today!) ??

No suggestions other than eBay cat .

Detective I've had a fucker of a day with baby vom. No collapsing fridges mind!

brockle the fact you feel bad shows your character. Your aunt will feel bad for a while but she will think more carefully about what she posts from now on. You did the right thing for your family!

YW they may well come back to you. Surely a sale is worth a prove lower than you hoped. I have friends who sold at the very height of the crash if that makes sense? Accepted £100,000 less than the original valuation. Something is only worth what is being paid for it.

I am with you on the grateful look detective. P has learned to accept (if not necessarily enjoy) the snot sucker and really did seem pleased when I rubbed her checked with vix type stuff I bought. It is called Snuffle Babes. I have no idea why it is different to vix but you can't use vix until 6 months and this can be used at 3.

detective you could use that passpic website I linked to? Would save you a trip to max spielman
M is very sicky as well. Been soaked through to my knickers twice today

cat what about transcription work at your uni? Boring but should pay reasonably well. Or proof reading? Offer your services via the student union perhaps?

MM yep hissy fits aside we're on for massage - will pushchair him into a nap first to avoid his screaming about dabs!!!

Cat are you keeping an eye on jobs.ac.uk for funding opps? Have you thought about changing focus a bit and trying to find a firm to fund you through the LPC? Might also be worth asking about sessional teaching work at uni or advertising as a private tutor.

PR my scar is prickly also seems to be getting more sore, not less. Have stopped using slings for the moment but even low waisted jeans seem to make it worse.

YW hope things work out with the house.

Pikz, Evil and anyone else with unsettled LOs, hope they sleep well. H is not himself at the moment. Can‘t decide if its teething, wind or hunger. Another one here who thought l‘d have it sussed with 3rd and don‘t have a clue at the moment!

before I read the rest of the posts and forget welldone baby Sophia were there any signs it might happen.
sorry to hear that Glenda I was so morose yesterday I feel so much better today think it may be baby hormone ... cross the bridge? where do you hail? you getting uni loan too?
the thought that all babies are like snowflakes is very sweet but also puts me off number 2 I thought I would be an old hand next time and really know what I'm doing... but provably not and then not only do you get to grips with a newborn and how they work but have a toddler on your hands too! ... I don't know how you others with 2&3 cope! I had wanted 3 and dh 2 thinking now I could be more content with 2!

cat when I was at uni my laptop imploded one day and as I was feeling cheecky I applied for emergency hardship fund to replace it. Didn't think I would get it in a million years, but a check for a grand turned up
As someone else has said, the universities have a pot of cash they have to spend, in order to receive the same amount the following year. It's well worth applying to as you never know (plus it's about time you had some good luck).

detective your day sucks There have been a few occasions when I've considered covering myself in a bath towel, but thankfully they are few and far between. Daily vom must be rubbish.

Brockle I get myself all worked up over less than that on fb sometimes, and not even on behalf of my family. People can put some really insensitive stuff up sometimes (or maybe it's hormones making me more sensitive )

Just had a bath - way too hot and accidentally fell asleep so feel a bit weird. Didn't get round to shaving my legs so still hairy as a bear. Gross.

I saw the snuffle baby stuff! I guess it's probably got less than whatever the active ingredients are in Vicks. Not as strong basically.

I so love Karvol though. I'm excited to go to bed just to smell it!

Fatima I keep looking at that site, and getting my head in a pickle. I don't have anything light to use as a background! Have just arranged lunch with SIL in town tomorrow so I'll have to go! Plus I need to get the form from the PO seen as I have no fucking internet. Oh. Yeah. I can't use the website at the minute as ive no Internet! How could I forget! I need to get them tomorrow so I can get them to school and get them countersigned. Need to get application off by the weekend.

Sophia well done O! Clever boy! No signs of rolling here. Unlesshou count rolling in his own vomit . I love it when they get to the active stage! Not too active though!!

Good luck for tomorrow pidjin Sounds like you've got it all covered so you'll be fine. And to you horsey - hope your meeting goes well. Shame it takes your absence to be truly appreciated, but at least they know now!

MM i'd apply and worry about the details later. Especially as you can test out working part time in the meantime. Good luck.

evil hope N sleeps well, despite his drop in milk.

detective I've cracked open the karvol too. N is 12 weeks tomorrow. A few days can't hurt, right?!

YW give it a couple of days and I reckon the house people will be back in touch.

I've struggled to keep up today everyday so hugs to everyone who needs them and apologies to anyone I've missed.

Just been to official work do for a retiring Board member, thought it was good to show my face. They are not the most friendly bunch. I became pg just after being promoted and I'm not sure if some of them were pissed off about that. But as I thought I was never going to get pg I put myself forward. Of course the next month it happened. Can't exactly explain that though!

Meeting my boss in a few days as she is also on mat leave & we are going to work out a job share proposal. Really hope it is accepted as I only want to go back 3 days a week, as does she.