December 2010: Our Christmas Babies are growing but our energy levels are slowing!

[WhatWillSantaBring]

With thanks to the provider of the snappy title (it wasn't me - I think it was Strix)

Link to Stats thread (I hope)

Here

C&G, I think those syptoms could be a result of low iron (as I have recently learned).

Might be worth trying to eat som iron rich foods s well as takin git easy. And also make sure you are well hydrated. Sports drinks are better than water and sipping constantly is better than drinking a whole bottle and then nothing for two hours.

Hope you are better soon.

I asked MW today Japh and yeah I think you are right! Heres me getting all excited for no reason haha

japh I thought it could be that possibly too, it was all of a sudden so would make sense.

Strix I've had some of the symptoms of low iron (as mine is fairly low) but not as many as I thought I would. I'll have a look at some sports drinks, I'm keeping up with the supplements and trying my best with iron rich foods too. Being a vegetarian that isn't keen on veg makes it hard hehe.

Feeling a bit better now, just a bit spaced out. Just heard that my cousin had her second baby today! A little girl weighing 7lb 1 :o They seem to be doing well from the photo my mum sent me. So pleased for her. She had a planned c-section today as her baby was breech. She looks lovely.

DF sorry to hear that about your sister.

C&G since you have low blood pressure and low iron, I guess it could be either or a combination of the two. As a fellow low blood pressure sufferer I can certainly relate to the shaky, faint feeling. Stay hydrated!

Today was my last day at work [party hat emoticon]!!! I think I managed to get most things tied up and I am pleased with the handover I did - nobody can say I wasn't thorough! Now for the hard part - forgetting about it all and trying to enjoy the next 3 weeks before D-Day. My work were very generous and gave me a load of John Lewis vouchers that will come in very handy when I am needing to buy clothes that fit! Very nice as I wasn't expecting anything on my second maternity leave. Feels very odd to be finished...

Have a horrid cough at the moment which causes me pain in the right side of my bump - I think I've pulled the muscles (or what's left of them). Keep thinking that I must shift this cough ASAP - can you imagine if you had to have an emergency CS and you had a cough??!!

DF so sorry to hear about your sister.

Hope you enjoy your mat leave SlightlyTired, hope your cough gets better soon, it's aweful being ill when you're pregnant.

Had 36 week midwife appointment today, baby is still 3/5 engaged. I've been getting loads of BH last coule of days, some quite painful, hopefully won't be too long now. Booked 38 week appointment - haven't made it to one yet but knowing my luck I'll go two weeks overdue and LO will be born a few days before christmas.

I can't wait to meet my little girl and go shopping for clothes for her. We've got some 5lb and newborn clothes from DD and bought a few 0-3months but we're waiting till she's born to buy any more as DD was in 5lb and newborn for nearly 4 months despite being born 6lb 8oz and she was only in 0-3 (which I'd got loads of before she was born) for a week or two. It's so tempting to buy clothes though as there are some really gorgeous little dresses in the shops for christmas.

Crazykat ikwym about the clothes. We haven't found out the sex of our LO, and I am starting to [almost] regret the decision when I go in the shops and see all these pretty boy or girl outfits and get all gooey. I've bought a selection of neutral stuff in newborn second hand to cover me until I get out and about, or family buy things.

I'm off to see the specialist tomorrow and see if LO has put on some weight or not.

I've been at a funeral all day. My mum's been parading me around for everyone to see family that I've not seen since I was a toddler myself. They kept touching my bump and it really annoyed me. DH was quite good and hugged me from behind rubbing my belly, which meant they couldn't get their greedy mitts on it! Sad that my grandad didn't make it til LO arrived, he would have loved to see his first great grandchild, though we've not seen each other in years [step grandmother doesn't like me at all] and I didn't see him through his illness, would rather have the happy memories of him.

I'm off to bed now as I think I had BH last night, though want to ask the specialist as I'm worried it might be something blood pressure related as I went really dizzy and my chest hurt and my pulse was racing. Bump didn't tense up as such all over, it was more a patch of tightning. Lets hope it's all socalised out and wants some quiet time :)

so sorry to hear about your sister DF the fact that you've been through it will no doubt guide oyu, but I realise it must be more difficult given the fact that you're so close to meeting your own LO

didn't get to sleep until 4am last night/this morning and had to be up at 7am to take DD to nursery. i was supposed to be going to the hospital for a bf class this morning but i was so tired I opted to stay at home. Went in to work at luchtime then interviewed all afternoon. I'm seriously winding down at work now (partly because i never seem to be there a whole day ). Day off tomorrow which I'd be looking forward to if I didn't have to see the specialist mw at 9am. I'm hoping to sort my old newborn clothes out and get some christmas shopping done as well - probably being a bit ambitious....!

Morning everyone

DF, so sorry to hear about your sister

Strix & MrsSL, thanks for the offer of steak, if only I'd seen the thread before I'd have been on that ferry before you could blink. And yes, it does seem very over the top the way he is, but I've had to learn to deal with him (& I think he's getting better). He takes after his mum and something that wouldn't worry most people they will spend days getting themselves into a right state over it.

Miffster, glad all is ok with little one, fingers crossed you can get him to turn himself back round and he doesn't give you any more frights. How much were the bits in Primark btw? Iknow Asda have shower curtains for a quid but if Primark have them cheaper I may be able to be brave enough and go in there.

Chloe, also glad to hear that all was well with you. Was that the breastfeeding group at St Marys? We were told about that when we had the QA tour, quite that there was nothing like that when ds1 & 2 were babies.

It's such an exciting time, getting so close to meeting our babies, but so worrying at the same time.

Mmmmmm, Costa hot chocolate, think that's my favourite one, I didn't know that Costa was there until the tour, it's huge how could I have missed that all the times I've been there?

notso, I will be 31 in December, and that doesn't feel right at all. I often forget that I'm 30, it doesn't feel right, I still feel like I should be in my 20's, don't worry, you won't turn old over night.

I also agree with you Kelle & CrazyKat about clothes. We also haven't found out the sex and there's so many very lovely little outfits out there, but I know I'd be disappointed in myself if I had found out. We have managed to get some cute neutral stuff to keep us going for a little while, mostly 0-3, but a handful of newborn, and if baby turns out to be too small for newborn then the big Tesco is only 5 mins down the road so DP can scoot up there and pick a few bits and bobs up.

I don't think the hamster is very happy as he's giving me dirty looks, I got up to find that the front room light has been on all night, so no wonder he's not happy!

Does anyone else get BH in their back? From everythign I've read and from speaking to other people these contractions that I'm getting are not BH as they don't come in my belly at all. I come over 'all funny' when I get them, can't explain the feeling, just not right, almost a little bit out of it, but as soon as the contractions stop, the strange feeling goes away.

I'm not really feeling baby move either anymore, but DP has said he can feel baby every night, so his/her waking times must have changed. But oddly in bed last night he kept jumping away as he was being kicked by baby but I couldn't feel a thing.

Is anyone else still really stuck for names? We can't decide on anything, we've downloaded the lists from last year and from 1998 but we can't find anything, they're all either too popular or too unusual, too middle class or too chavvy, or too old or too modern. And all the inbetween names are a bit meh.

cheryl we were stuck for a girl's name until a few days ago when we finally agreed on one. I had a brilliant book when I was having DD, 1001 baby names or something similar, it gives the origin and meaning of all the names, I was kicking myself that I got rid of it after DS was born.

DD had a babd night last night, she's got a bad cold that me and DS have but she seems to be like DH and get it really bad. She had me up several times in the night and was up five til half six, just as she was going back to sleep DS woke up so I'm shattered and have the headache from hell that nothing but sleep will get rid of. On the bright side I'm starting to get used to hardly any sleep again so it might not be such a shock when LO arrives.

crazykat hope the headache goes and you get through the day okay. Will you get a chance for a sleep during the day at all?

Cheryl we have one boys name that we could agree on and that's it. For all the same reasons you give. Just hoping we think it suits him when he arrives!

Have just tried twice to complete my annual performance review on line and lost it due to a rubbish internet connection at least it is getting more concise each time I do it!

Good news on the house front - finally have contract and can set a date for exchange! So should be okay to move at the end of the month. I'll be 37 weeks but since LO seems to be growing better now hopefully that will still give us a couple of weeks to get settled before he puts in an appearance. Please keep everything crossed that it all works out. We were this close to moving in the summer when it all fell through so still not home and dry (pardon the pun) yet...

Good luck 93 - hopefully this sale will go through no bother. AND hopefully you'll get settling in time before your LO appears - great that the growth rate is getting better. Good luck! .

Odd about those tightenings Cheryl - Is your LO back to back? Perhaps they are real contractions? My BH are defintately all over my belly - it goes really hard and tight. Am so so hoping this means labour will be a little quicker. Dont remember so many before? We are struggling with names. We'd have been fine if it had been a girl, but as its our third boy (but fourth boy we've named due to late MC), then we are running out of names we both like, and go with the other 2, and go with the surname.... Mmmmmm. I looked at the name book we have last night but its too tricky to read and its like a dictionary and there are so many foreign names in there, its a battle to find the ones you may like.

Great that you've finished up slightly! Enjoy your first day of not having to think about it. I thought it would take me ages to wind down from work as I had to hand over my project at a really critical stage and I thought I'd be really concerned about it, but by day 2 I was totally relaxed! I'm now in my thrird week off and loving it .

By the way has OWO had her baby?????

uurrgh - hope you get a chance for a little sleep today crazykat - its horrible when you're so tired... I'm amazed at whoever it was who said they slept all the way through the night a few nights ago - I was up for 5 wees in the night... I'll be grateful for the baby arriving so I can get more sleep

Congrats to Lavi on the birth of her lovely twins - its so exciting!

I am working from home as have developed piles (nice) which have in turn developed blood clots so literally couldn't walk, sit or lie comfortably - so two nights without sleep had me at the doctors where I burst into tears as soon as I enter the room - am so embarrassed - but I now have a lovely gel that numbs them.

Getting lots of BH, as others have said some pretty eye watering and the other night had pulling down sensations and aches in my pelvis - have convinced myself the baby has moved down as bump seems abit lower and definitely more room around my lungs/rib cage.

Friend who was due on Monday came round my house Tues morn as her boiler had broken - been here about 10 mins when her waters broke - baby girl born the following morning after what sounds like a gruelling time (was pushing for 3 hrs when they realised baby's shoulder stuck, crash team suddenly called but finally got her out but has nerve damage on her shoulder and juandice due to blood blister on her head where it took was stuck and banging against pelvis. Then her placenta wouldnt come out so she had an hrs wait and 3 hour surgery, meantime baby screaming its head off and dad has nothing to feed it with - so mental note forDH and I, that we will take bottle/formula in even though we hope I can BF.

DF - I am so sorry to hear about your sister - I wish happiness comes back to her very very soon.

Am 36 weeks excactly today x

Slightly I'm thinking that it must just have been that as I feel fine today now, definitely doing to make sure I drink lots though from now on, think I've been getting less lately. Hope the cough goes soon, sounds awful.

crazy I know what you mean about buying clothes! I've bought a few bits and am now waiting to see what size she is before buying anymore.

kelle so sorry about your grandad, the funeral must have been really difficult for you. Hope you're not feeling too bad today. Good luck seeing the specialist today.

max hope the midwife appt is going well this morning, what's it for?

cheryl I've not tried the hot chocolate in costa but I hate their coffee, the decaff one at least, I prefer starbucks mmm. I love a vanilla latte. There is a little cofffee shop just up the road that does amazing hot chocolate, might have to take a trip there one of these days and also for a big slice of cake :o Sounds odd about the baby movements, might be worth mentioning it next time or sooner if you're worried. I had achiness in my back when getting BH's but also in my bump too and it goes very tight at the same time. More or less decided on a name now :o

93pjb If you're still doing the review then copy and paste it at intervals just in case so you don't have to start all over each time :) Great news about the house, keeping fingers crossed for you.

chooster I managed to wake up just a couple of times in the night last night but managed to not get up for a wee even though I did need one, really didn't want to move in the night as I was freezing!

Lovely bright morning today, always puts me in a good mood. Reaaalllllyy need to pack bags today :o I'm so awful with procrastinating. I've been thinking more and more that I'd love to have a homebirth, really don't want to go into the hospital again. It's been great this week not having to go in at all this week, would prefer to be left alone to just get on with it.

spanish ouch that sounds painful, so glad you got something to help with the piles. Personally I wouldn't take a bottle or formula into hospital, they do have provisions there just in case and I find that if you take them you're more likely to end up using them. I've bought some bottles for expressing bm into and a pump and sterilser but that's it. I fully intend (and hope I can!) to bf this one too.

Was out most of yesterday and then came home to a power cut so apologies for not being around to chat, epic post follows...

Thanks for all the sympathy over naughty Tiny and the no movement scare. He has been wriggling like a ferret ever since so he is obviously fine, just hope he flips back into position and stays there. Am doing lots of tasks which require me to get on hands and knees today.

Chloesbaby and emmaxmas hope you manage to get some chill out time after your scares, how worrying. Definitely take it easy!

Lavita thanks so much for sharing the lovely story, looking forward to the next update. Do we need to start a December 2010 babies postnatal thread? Where does it go, if so? The parenting forum?

DuellingFanjos so sorry to hear about your sister, how heartbreaking. :(

maxpower sorry you're finding it so gruelling, hopefully the iron levels will creep up a bit? Weirdly I have been craving iron rich foods, like watercress and lentils, so have been adding them to everything, eating boiled eggs for breakfast with fortified brown toast drinking OJ, and eating red peppers and cherry tomatoes for the Vit C which apparently helps with absorption, plus Floradix which I quite like the taste of but you can mix it with juice as well... you probably know all this stuff already. I have also been craving carrot cake which is not a source of iron as far as I know. {grin]. Online Christmas shopping rocks.

93pjb sorry about the D&V, hope you feel better soon, that sounds grim, can't believe you went back to work. Good luck with the sale!

Japh, how are you doing? I like the idea about the NCT pillow case so the men can empathise. We have the second all day class this Sat and BF session Sunday morning, hopefully it will be a bit more helpful.

notso yikes about BH & cramps all night, that sounds tiring and a bit scary, hope you get some rest,

slightlyTired know what you mean about not wanting to walk about as it sets the BH off. I am starting to think I am getting away with a lot this pregnancy however, 35 and a bit weeks (or 36 weeks and 3 days if you go by my conception estimate) and not too bad, can still bend forwards, deep squat, put shoes on, etc, back pain gone and am not too tired and sleeping ok, getting stuff done. Hope reasonably easy pregnancy doesn't mean I have a horrific labour...

kellestaryour classes sound a bit manic, LOL at the fainting man, and the MLU tasteless bathroom suites

crazyKat that is a real bummer about your MLU closing...and the headaches.

Cheryl have the damn steak already! Your body is telling you things!

C&G don't do too much! The twinges!...be careful in the bath!

Chooster gosh, 37 weeks already, hope yours is in the right spot and your friend can suss out positioning. Enjoy wrapping pressies. I love this time of year too, can't wait to put the decorations up on the 1st December, and the tree, determined to get the most out of the festive season! (and in case Tiny turns up early _ I want a HB under the Christmas tree and lots of fairly lights to distract me in my grotto!)

SpanishLady oh, poor you, how miserable. And your friends, blimey, poor things.

I have been given a great free breastfeeding DVD by the midwife. Called 'From Bump To Breastfeeding' I really recommend it. You can watch it here and I think you can send off for one. Lots of closeups of babies feeding, great latching demonstrations, real mothers interviews...I hope the NCT class is as good.

I will put a link of pregnancy forum too and the BF forum but I have to shower and do my chores before my energy levels go! I am determined to have an achieving day. I think baby will come once I know everything is ready and am content. Plus, reading what you ladies are feeling at 37+ weeks I realise I may not have mobility/energy to spare soon. So, time to crack on!

Have a great Friday, good luck OnlyWantsOne and baby and thanks for reading this ginormous post!

Yes it was at St Mary's Cheryl really thorough and encouraging.

That birth sounds really distressing Spanishlady I hope your friend recovers quickly

I definitely think we should start a postnatal thread but maybe wait until a few more of our babies have arrived

I got given that DVD too miffster not watched it yet though, might subject my mam tto it tonight

sorry to hear about your grandad kelle that must have been awful!

Because my doctors is so busy the mw is full between now and my due date, Im 37 + 2 and dont have another appointment until Im 40 weeks exactly, she didnt seem to mind that I would miss my 38 week appointment...I've had a look in my maternity notes and it does look like a routine app but surely thats the one that makes sure everything is OK ready for the birth? Do I need to push for the app do you think or just trust the mw?

Hi everyone. Finished work yesterday and had a lovely send off and pressies. Felt really spoiled and also strangely sad to be leaving, but also relieved as I can start nesting properly and adjusting to the idea of being at home with a newborn and toddler.

Really tired as I'm just not sleeping but DD still gets up at 6 bless her. She's helped me make a cake for my brother's birthday this morning and gone for a nap. Am just waiting for it to cook then I'm off for nap too.

DF so sorry to hear about your sister. I don't have any personal experience, but I imagine that because you have been through the same thing that might give you some insight into what to say or do.

Sorry too kelle to hear about your Grandfather.

After reading discussions on here the other day, I got DH to get some steak and really looking forward to that tomorrow night.

I'm getting a bit sore too, SPD pain seems to be making a real return and as the baby is firmly back to back with me, I'm getting quite a bit of back pain with braxton hicks. I am spending a lot of time on hands and knees and sitting on birth ball but the baby seems to have settled in that position unfortunately. Hopefully if he/she is still that way at start of labour I'll know and get myself in good positions so that they will turn.

Sorry for everyone else feeling achey or having scares. I am only 35 weeks so trying not to get impatient but I just want to meet my baby now!

Morning all.

Back to knackered today...yawn. Really need to crack on with Christmas shopping but have come to a bit of a mental block for DH's family, he of course has no useful ideas just vague "something for the home" type suggestions.

LO has been going crackers last night and all morning, my bump has been stretching in all directions.
Bought Clary sage oil when I got the evening primrose capsules, you are not meant to use it until 38 weeks but I couldn't resist a sniff... boak it stinks and I threw up! Serves me right.

miffster hope you get your chores done and Tiny turns for you.

C&G I haven't packed my bag either, well tell a lie I have put a pack of opened maternity pads in a holdall, I'm sure that will see me through! Can't find my lucky T-shirt that I gave birth to DD and DS in, not a good sign.

spanish poor you sounds awful. Sorry your friend had a bad time too, I would echo C&G reguarding formula though, your friends poor baby may have just been distressed from the traumatic birth and have screamed even if they had given something.

chooster also am struggling for boys names, I could name about ten girls though, perhaps it's a sign this one is a girl!

93pjb crossing everything bar my legs coz it hurts that everything works out with the house this time.

crazykat Hope you get a better nights sleep, read your post as DD had a baby last night and was til I re-read

cheryl I am serious denial about my age, I feel about 17. Was a bit depressed the other day that I have had my potato masher for 11 years though, I'm too young for such a boring admission

maxpower hope all well at the M/W.

kelle sorry about your Grandad. Also dislike uninvited bump prodding.

lauren it depends on if they say 4/5 palpable or engaged, palpable means they can feel 4/5 engaged means they can feel 1/5. However they told me at day unit that it's pretty meaningless as each m/w has different sized fingers and may measure differently, also head can be engaged for a long time before anything happens.

slightly how lovely to have vouchers from your work.

japh am jealous of you having done your shopping. Hows things re PE?

Right going to search for a bargain Ipod for DD if there is such a thing to be found

93pjb - good news on the house, fingers crossed for you that this one runs nice and smoothly and that little one gives you some settling in time before making an appearance.

Chooster, baby is on left hand side with back outwards, so in 'optimum' position. They do feel exactly like real contractions, and fairly strong (certainly stronger than ds1's labour!), but they peter out after a little while (sometimes after 15 mins, sometimes over an hour).

SpanishLady, congratulations to your friend, what a horrible experience for her (and baby) though.

C&G, glad you're ok adn it seems it was just the bath that caused you to feel faint. We've made a list today of things we need to sort out before baby is here. I'm going to do a little hospital bag in case I need to be transferred in at all, but in an easily accessible bag so that it can be got at easily at home. Have you discussed a HB with your MW? All the midwives I've spoken to have all been really excited that I want baby at home. My MW has given me orders to only go into labour when she's on duty and to make sure we have plenty of biscuits!

Lauren, If it was me I would be insisting on an appt, am I right that this is your 1st baby? The appointments are supposed to get closer together at this stage, not further apart.

notso, how old is DD? We have got a cheap, very basic mp3 player from currys/pc world for Christmas. He's only 9 so for now it will do, but we have said that his 1st Christmas after he starts senior school then we will get him a proper ipod (don't want him being picked on for having something other than an ipod). Maybe something like that would be ok if she is younger? I'll get a link to it. We've had it out of the box and it's perfectly good for his needs we think.

www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/r/mp3+player/0_0_0/?t=2_1&u=0_10 Notso, they no longer have the one we bought, but looks similar to the sansa one (only a lot lower price, so must ahve been end of line).

Thanks cheryl, DD is 10.
Unfortunately she has had an Ipod shuffle for two years, DH's sis and youngest Bro clubbed together to get it and she really wants a Nano/Touch, have looked at equivalents but think we are either going to use our clubcard points to get it cheaper or buy a freezer from Argos to get the £10 off then by the Ipod which comes with £15 Itunes voucher and another £10 off something else.

We seriously don't spend big like this every year but she has worked really hard at school and has been made Head girl, school councillor and sports captain. For the past three years she has wanted a TV, laptop, mobile or Ipod and the first three are definately not happening at 10!
There is also a bit of my own guilt money going towards this as I think this new baby is going to be a shock to all our systems.

I've been getting loads of BH's today, which are getting a little painful, so frustrating having all this and knowing it's more than likely nothing and knowing I'll have to go through it all again for the birth!! Feeling quite sick too. Getting really fed up of either aching, BH's that hurt, feeling sick or heartburn.

Miffster hope it didn't take too long to get the power sorted last night, sounds like a right pain.

lauren I'd insist, it's important that you get your bp checked and urine etc, they'll fit you in if needs be as long as you insist.

WLL glad your last day went well. I feel the same as you, 34+1 today and I can't wait to have her!

notso I've used clary sage before and didn't like the smell at the time, may try it again this time but not sure. Have a google maybe for ipods, might find some good offers/deals.

cheryl I haven't spoken about HB with MW, I'm pretty sure they won't want me to but I'm seriously considering it at the moment. Have to have another chat with DH later and see what he thinks too. I'm wary of taking risks obviously but I know I'm likely to labour fast (like before) and might find it easier being at home, and more comfortable. Are you having a pool?

Hi all. I was definitely being too ambitious about my plans for today but not all my fault! DD was up at least times in the night being sick - all over her brand new bed and carpet (grr). We ran out of clean pj's for her, DH ended up in bed with her as I've been sleeping so badly. So, as a result, we were all awake half the night and DD couldn't go to nursery today. That meant I was on the phone to my mum at 7.30 this morning to see if she could watch DD while DH and I went to see the m/w - thankfully she could.

Appt was hugely emotional - lots of tears - but the m/w was absolutley lovely. She made it clear that while they have recommendations about my labour and they have to make sure I understand the risks, it's absolutely my choice whether or not I go along with them. It made such a change to speak to a antenatal health professional at my hospital who had actually read my notes beforehand! She was entirely supportive of me going for a vbac and spent an hour going over all sorts of things with me and we were able to document some of my preferences. While it was encouraging to know that me collapsing into tears at the mere thought of my last labour or this one is apparantly entirely normal in my circumstances, but I wasn't too delighted when she said that it'll probably get worse closer to my due date - I fear I'll end up dehydrated if nothing else . It was also quite shocking to be told that I should go for counselling now, especially as on a personal level I've always taken a 'oh pull yourself together' approach, and apparantly my risk of having PND is increased as well. But overall, I found it quite positive. I was also delighted when she said as long as I'm comfortable at home and everything's going to plan, I can stay there for as long as I want before going in. In fact, she said stay at home for as long as possible even if the m/w ont he labour ward get twitchy and start suggesting I come in. She also said that if I want to speak to her again at any time before d-day, just to call her. Did wonders in restoring my faith - I'll definitely be writing to the CEO to say how fab she was.

M/w also checked my iron levels from my 28 wk bloods - all good - so it must just be the sleep deprivation.

I've developed piles too Spanish which seem to be worst at night, probably because there's nothing to distract me from them. Haven't got round to seeing GP as tbh I've barely been at work this week and couldn't really face telling them I need yet more time off for another appt (3 in 3 days is more than enough!)

My bloody washing machine is misbehaving and despite being convinced I took out an extended warranty on it, I've rung the company who confirmed I haven't. Could really do without having to buy a new washing machine right now. Not sure if it'll last to the Jan sales.

So I've spent the afternoon searching for a warranty I don't have, buying no Christmas presents and looking after a recovering DD. Still, better than being at work (just )

93pjb fingers crossed on the house front.