Due June 08 - As we start nesting will the creme eggs start hatching?

[bitofadramaqueen]

Another new thread! By the time this one runs out we might have some babies!!! Although, we do chat a lot so maybe not...

I haven't heard anything from Ernest either, I have e-mailed her but I imagine she must be sooo busy with unpacking , getting the boys settled, and getting her medical care sorted. I'll let you know if I hear anything.

Laura - appointment went well Bp ok, Lo head engaged, doing well and i have out on 10 kilos!! She is not too happy bout that but as i said in earlier post its these boobs and the LO nothing to do with me!!

Glad move went well greenfairy

shoould read put on ( i really must check my posts!!)

hi everyone,

Just been catching up...

Deb - you are so not being unreasonable re: having family staying during the wedding. The only thing I was thinking though, if it wasn't the wedding would you be taking guests anyway? Just thinking that even if they are paying guests in one of your apartments then its still more work for you!

Rolf - I find it really difficult to get comfy at night, so I use my maternity pillow to support bump and knees. However, its ALWAYS lying on the floor in the morning .

Deb I like Ethan and Aidan. Aidan quite popular in parts of Scotland just now (depending on what football team you support) so I'd probably choose Ethan over Aidan.

Ooh, on the names front I have to share the name Eloise for a girl. I love it but for various reasons cant use it. Think its a beautiful name though.

PP - I'm always checking out the bump sizes of others in my ante-natal/NCT classes. Unfortunately though, whenever I'm feeling smaller than anyone I'm reminded of the fact that I'm the last one in the group due .

Greenfairy glad the move went well. Hopefully ernest's move has gone well too.

Needahand really sorry to hear about your SIL. No advice to offer, but it did occur to me that if she's an EU citizen she should still be entitled to NHS treatment maybe? Our E11 card thingy entitles us to treatment in the EU so assuming same principle in reverse.

Working from home today. Just had my NHS ante-natal classes with my mad as a brush mw. She asked how I was following trip to hospital on Thursday (so was impressed she remembered I'd called) but then went on to lecture me about doing to much, finishing work and that I looked too pale. I (and my DH) mentioned that I was fine and I was always pale but she wouldn't let it go and kept going on about how much paler than usual I was and was clearly doing to much. It really p'd me off as I've gone through life with people telling me I look pale (yes, I do look pale - that's because I am pale). The woman has met me about 4 times in an artificially lit room FFS. How on earth would she know if I was paler than usual? Perhaps if the class wasn't held at lunchtime when pregnant women should be eating instead of sitting on uncomfortable chairs in a badly ventilated stuffy room for 1 1/2 hours then I'd have looked a little more blooming. Sorry, that's my little rant for the day.

Oops, my post now very long - I'd better go do some work!

needahand, no advice but I really hope your sil is in a safe place soon .

My carseat arrived today and it's soooo lovely, trivial I know but I just want to keep stroking it it's so nice! I went into town to get the car tax and didn't have the right insurance papers so have to rek back again tommorow - I did manage to find what I need and it's covered with sticky boiled sweets and can't be unfolded but luckily the writing is on the outside.
When I was in Sainsburies i must have had a really pained expression on my face as the woman behind the till looked horrifed when she asked me if I was in labour! She then told me to pop into store when it does start so I can use there policy of getting free nappies for a year if your waters break in there!

G43 - you can do your car tax online now...it is so much easier than going to the PO as you don't need to have all your documentation - just a debit card Glad you like your car seat!

bito lol at your mw (my first smile of the day). She seems a bit basket case but I am sure she meant well. But I know what you mean I too look pale and get that sort of comments from time to time. Re E11 you are probably right, I will look into this

GF any chance of seeing some snaps of your wonderful new house?

SIL update. This time she is really being sectioned. BIL and ambulance men dropped her at hospital. BIL had to rush at her appartment to get some stuff so has not yet spoken to doctor. Apparently she is worst than she was at Xmas. Poor BIL cannot stand it anymore and is going back to his home tonight. His nerves are in shreads poor thing. And during all that time, MIL is nonplussed that he is the one having to do that (although she did say "of good of him to do that for her). I had to really resist shouting down the phone to her that perhaps it was her job to do that and not that of her 24 year old son! she hasn't done anything since yesterday. Just seats by the phone.

good news that your sil is being sectioned, hopefully she will get alot of help. Very sad your bil is the one who has to deal with everything without the help of his mother.

Really sorry you're having to deal with all this needahand, it's the last thing you need right now. Glad she is getting professional care.

Debs you have done well to stand your ground! I am not even allowing a single visitor this time around until I'm happy we're all settled in - can't believe they are expecting all this from you just a few weeks after the baby arrives - families can be crazy in their demands sometimes.

Just back from lovely appointment with physio - long discussion about how to handle birth and delivery, positions, dealing with midwives, negotiating about positions for internal examinations etc. She was so supportive, understanding, and full of useful and specific advice about how to make sure the SPD is managed and I don't end up with too much damage afterwards. Last time I had hip / pelvis pain for months after and was dreading that, but I feel like I know exactly what aspects of the last delivery and its aftermath I need to avoid this time!

Came out feeling much calmer about things and well-prepared. This was the conversation I've needed to have with a medical professional since last time - I feel debriefed from that experience and well-prepared for this time now. Strange that it should have been with the physio, not the midwife or the consultant, though!

Needahand, glad that your SIL is getting help, and sorry that her mother isn't helping at all.

Greenfairy, so glad the move went well

Paro, glad your appointments were OK and your baby is fine

Debs, very difficult with your mil. It is hard when people want to make everyone happy - though she is not making you happy by inviting people to stay in your house!

Re this performance appraisal thing, apparently I have to do it for feedback and a grade. The feedback is going to be really useful when I'm on maternity leave, isn't it? I know that everyone has to do them, but it's really stressing me out.

On the non-stress front, I had a one-off hypnotherapy class today. A lady from Kingston comes to your house, spends half an hour getting to know you then conducts a session, which she records on a CD. The idea is then that you then listen to the CD to practise self-hypnosis frequently. I thought it was excellent, and am sure it will help with the birth.

Needahand - glad they got her to the hospital , she's in the right place now and you can relax a little knowing that she's safe for the time being.

Dramaqueen - yes we would normally be taking guests then as it's our peak summer season, we're not as busy as the winter but enough.

Well actually we could do with some more bookings actually - so blatant plug here - if you know of anyone who fancies a week in Austria in the summer we still have availability and if you choose the right days, at the moment, you can get return flights with Ryanair from Stansted for £20 including taxes.

Anything's worth a try!!!

Upsidedown - as you're not at work at the moment you can't actually change anything for your appraisal, no working yourself into a frenzy so you look even better on appraisal day, so just view it as a chat about your job that's out of your control, and get it over and done with. The thought is probably much worse than the actual event.

Upsidedown - I am going to have to go through the same appraisal process as you and I am in a different but equally tricky situation as I am moving departments next week. In theory my old boss should do my appraisal as he should be more familiar with the work I have done since January but he is US based and doesn't really have a clue what I have done. Plus because I am leaving I am really worried that I will be made a scapegoat and given a low grade so that they can make sure they have a spread of grades across the department. It's not supposed to happen like that but I got a crap grade last time I went on maternity leave and this time I'm in a worse situation as I have changed jobs too!

As Debs says there is very little we can do about it so I am going to try not to stress/get really annoyed about it and just remember that I got an excellent grade last year which proves I can do my job. However, next years payrise will be rated on this years performance so I guess I can expect a low payrise but hey ho I will have a gorgeous little baby by then who will more than make up for it .

Glad I made you smile needahand - it sounds like you're having a tough time of it. Such a shame for your BIL.

UDcake - sorry you are having to go through the appraisal process if you're not feeling up to it. I think I may have missed any chat from you about your work - maybe on a day or two when I was just skimming. Is work causing problems, hence you dont want to go through the appraisal? It probably doesn't help, but from an employer perspective its important for them to do your performance review in a timely fashion - if it was left till you came back from mat leave and you weren't happy with it, that could be problematic (for both you and your employer, especially if it was linked to pay etc). Try not to let it stress you out (easier said than done).

Deb - plug away! I've had a wee look on your website before and said to DH I quite fancy a wee summer break in Austria. However, I dont think we'll be venturing on a plane with the little one this year . Maybe next year though!

U/Cake - I have had to do the same. I kind of wondered what my objective would be e.g changing a nappy in less that 2 minutes, picking up baby's call in less than 30 seconds, clearing up projective vomit whilst handling and settling baby?
Your hypnotherapist sounds interesting. I am a great believer in those things (as you probably know by now!)

System addict - you physio sounds lovely (mind you mine said we would discuss positions etc as well).

Debs - if I hear of anyone fancying and austrian holiday, I will let you know.

Last think on my SIL. The only thing that selfishly annoys me is that I am sure now that our holidays will be ruined as instead of relaxing in the nice accomodation we had booked I am sure we will have to travel thousands of miles to pick her up and bring her (somewhere) as it is not likely MIL will pull the finger out of her ar-e. I know it is life and that SIL is more important but I was so looking forward to having a proper rest/break with DH pre-baby . Now I promise I will stop boring you to death with my SIL saga.

Josie - surely that is sex discrimination if they do that!

Josie - I cant remember what its called, but there is a dreadful system that some companies use where all the employees get put on a scale and there needs to be a % of each employees at each rating. Sounds like that's what your company uses.

If you do get an appalling grade you should consider appealing and force them to provide evidence (which you can counter with your own evidence). Especially if your pay next year will be based on it. Some companies make me .

Bodq - that's exactly the system we are on. They deny that departments are given targets/guides as to how many employee's should fall on each grade but other people involved with the process say it does happen. I don't disagree with performance related pay but I do disagree with forcing people to fit a standard curve. At the end of the day you often get teams of people that are really good and why should some people get penalised. Must get off my high horse.

Hi again

Needahand. Am so sorry about the problems with your SIL. I always think when there are other family members who won't help it makes things feel worse somehow. I'm sure one day her mother will regret being so neglectful - not that that helps you now.
Will post some pix of the house over the weekend when hopefully the weather will have picked up.

Josie - that system sounds terrible! Am sure you could challenge if they give you a low grade - that seems so wrong to me.

Debs - sorry you are having MIL problems. Must be in the water at the moment!

I've got my 'coping with labour' physio session on Thursday so I'll let you know how it goes. DH has to come as it's 'partners welcome' (ie partners must come or face rollicking from pgy wife/gf!) I fear it's going to be a bit on the daft side!

Righto, must crack on with finishing all these annoying handover notes - can't believe how many I've got to write!

Needahand, you are right about your MIL. It is her job to look after her daughter and I am not surprised you feel annoyed about your holiday being ruined. But well done you for caring so much about your SIL. Hopefully she can get through this OK.

I saw MW this aft. I had a raised result on a blood test from last week for that liver thing that makes you itchy. The normal level is up to 14 and mine is 16, but MW said it is probably only raised cos it is twins. I am not even itchy now, was a bit last week which is why she took the blood. But I have to go to the hospital tomorrow to get checked out. She said if I have it they'll induce me next week (at 37 weeks). Don't want to be induced but had such a bad night's sleep last night it sounded rather tempting!

Can't believfe you had a full night's sleep Debs - am very jealous! I think I set some sort of record for loo trips in the night - last night I bet I went eight times (once every half an hour from 10.30 to 2am)! I do drink too much fluid late in the day but am always thirsty so that's the price you pay.

BTW - I have put on 3st 5lbs so far, but was only 9st to start with (I am 5ft6in) so pretty pleased.

Neenz - it's good that they've identified the liver thing (cant remember what its called either). Hope all goes well tomorrow.

Josie - I'm right up there with you on that high horse. Cant speak for your org, but I first came accross the system as a manager several years ago and the performance ratings had to fit the curve. It was in retail, and I was unusual in that I had v low turnover in my team so a higher than average % were really bloody good at what they did because they were very experienced. It was a real battle with my area manager at the time. Grrrr. My company seperates the performance review from the pay review completely which works really well (and cuts out unnecessary stress of the performance review). We still have an element of performance related pay to reward great performance though.

crikey - can you tell I've still got my work head on ?

Dramaqueen - I'm the first due in my antenatal class which makes me feel bigger than ever! Your MW sounds like hard work. I was lucky today and got the good lady I had last time. Hope she's around for the big day. (Fingers crossed)

Needahand - really sorry to hear about your SIL. Hope it all works out as well as it can for all concerned.

Goingfor3 - That's a tip to know about! I live very near to a Sainsburys, but doubt I'll be rushing there when my waters break, unless I still haven't got everything for my hosp bag by then...

Debs - Sorry about your MIL making life difficult. I think you're being very generous as it is as you'll have a newborn around... Have you got a link to your place for us to do some promotion for you?

Regarding the appraisal talk, it may seem like hard work now, but from an HR side I'd actually recommend it. If you do it now with them, it's more likely to be accurate. If you let them do it and grade you whilst you're away you're more likely to be downgraded...

Went into shop by hosp this morning and they had cream eggs. I haven't had one since Easter or so, but felt it was my obligation to you all to have one. Sending virtual eggs to you all.

Debs which airoport do you fly to in Austria?

Can't believe that you may have your little ones next week Neenz! That is very exciting. My next MW appointment is at 36 weeks, it suddenly all seems very real.

Oh I so want a creme egg PP .

Oh, M&S also have some kind of freebie policy if you give birth in one of their stores.