Due June 08 - Creme egg season is over, summer is now here, so time to tidy the ladygarden before the big day

[bitofadramaqueen]

I wonder how quickly we'll get through this thread?!?!?!?!

Morning all, last mornign for breakfasts for awhile and we too are having a barbie today, think there is about 15 of us, managed to go out last night to the pub where there was an excellent band. Have a very quiet week in front of us until the weekend.

Peartart - sympathies about teething, we were very lucky with DD in that she only woke up once when teething, all the others just appeared.

Deb - don't work too hard today.

Rolf - hope you manage to get some sleep today.

Neenz - good luck this week.

Morning all - jealous about all this bbq talk. It's looking lovely here today, but unfortunately I'll be stuck indoors studying . It wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't set up to study at the kitchen table next to patio doors overlooking the garden!

deb I don't know where you get your energy from - painting a balcony?!?!?! I struggle with a bit of housework .

Anyway, hope everyone has a good bank holiday and not too many people working.

Dramaqueen - hope the studying is going OK. It started to rain so painting has had to wait, I've been ironing instead. I have energy in the morning but by the afternoon I'm flagging and by the time the boys have gone to bed I'm semi-comatose on the settee!! Just having 5 minutes break, and going to go and put my feet up, haven't felt baby move much today so I'm ready for some reassuring kicks now. I know by this stage there's not much space left so movements are reduced, but it doesn't stop you worrying a little!!

Panic over, just put my feet up and baby started kicking

Panic over, just put my feet up and baby started kicking

oops!!

I have been cooking double and putting things in the freezer for months, but that was more because of the SPD - I never knew how I would be by the evening, so each time I did manage to cook wanted to make the most of it! It gave me a bit of a sense of security each time I stored something away, though it's nothing exciting at all, lots of plastic boxes labelled 'chicken and veg' or 'lamb and veg'. Dp doesn't really cook so this will all come in handy for the first couple of weeks. Last time I spent the whole day of my due date preparing freezer meals and nearly wore myself completely out, but it was well worth it for those first couple of weeks. Oh and we do plan lots of takeaways too!

Rolf really hope your ds is feeling better now, it's miserable being sick like that. Hopefully he'll sleep lots when on the mend and you can have a rest too.

Good luck Neenz. I have got to the low-energy stage too - takes me 5 minutes to get up stairs - so can't imagine how it is for you carrying 2 big babies (+ placentas) around. If ever you are justified in staying on the sofa all day, now is the time!

Hope you're feeling better Peartart.

right am at work so must get on ...

I am really lucky as DH is not a bad cook and then when sproglet is 3 weeks we are moving out to my parents for 2 weeks while the house is let. Having said that my mother will have had her foot operated on so will probably end up cooking there.

Glad the baby's moving, Deb.

Thanks for the sympathy about DS2. He's lying in the bath now - I think it's helping his poor tummy which is hurting him. DD keeps trying to get in with him so I'm wrestling with her. DH is busy outside and is being so grouchy. I'm not sleeping well and am feeling uncomfortable so really don't appreciate being scowled at for not racing around being busy.

Am very lucky because DH does all the cooking here! HAve promised him I will become domestic goddess while on mat leave !

One of my guests who have just left has admitted that she was a newbie on MN, she is due in July so have directed her towards that thread. How wierd

morning all, just taken my boys for their very 1st day of school. They were very excited en route, but when we got there, ds1 went off with v. nice teacher, and ds2 cried his anxiety and panic was tangiable and I didn't like his teacher much., but he's in a class of 19, with 4 adults, so hopefully between them, he'll be well looked after. Then took fil back to airport, and about time - he was starting to drive me a bit mad, I shouldn't be too ungrateful, as I've done this whole move with no bloody help at all, then he comes over offering to do loads of jobs, has done tons of gardening, but was really stressing me out by being really dopey, not listening or just plain doing things wrong, eg incapable of putting toilet seat down, so kept catching cat drinking out of toilets, gross, when she was here that is, as he was also incapable of remembering to shut the f*ing door, so she escaped, he couldn^'t work out how to open our kitchen bin ( ) and has now broken it etc etc etc. So now I'm sitting here, with only me and ds3 wondering what to do. (do unfortunately have tons of housework, some unpacking still and all the paperwork to sort out, but well, erm, can't be bothered.

Oh, and did my 1st white wash yesterday and all of dh's expensive, new, work shirts (as well as the other stuff) have come out covered in balck - oil? - what does that mean and what can I do about it? Any ideas? Have got tons of washing that I daren't do now.

So neenz - no news? Believe me, when labour kicks in, you'll know about it

Impressed with all you organised enough to freeze food - what sort of things are you cooking and freezing? any tips welcome.

Hope my health insurance card comes soon so I can book into a hospital and start to get some things organised.

Morning everyone

Peartart, sorry about your rotten night. Hope you got some sleep.

Rolf, four times a night! That's not fair. Hope your DS feels better soon - it's terrifying when they're ill, isn't it? You just have to sit it out.

Glad the baby's moving, Deb. And yes, DS, not DH in his bathing costume! You can take Surfin' USA only so far, and definitely not into a South West London back garden!

Aberdeen, glad your BBQ was fun. I totally agree with you about getting the entertaining out of the way. DH and I feel like we paid a few debts yesterday - PHEW!

My big report on Flooding comes in tomorrow which I'll need to work on for the next three weeks. Off to read a previous one so that I'm prepared for the onslaught tomorrow (after my performance appraisal - Grrrr!).

Hi Ernest!

Sounds like you are having a tough time between FIL, cat escaping and new schools. Is DS2 the one who may have ADHD?

Sorry I can't help re shirt. Could you try and empty wash or wash an old short and see if it was a one-off problem or long-term? Plumber?

How long will it take before your health insurance card comes?

Hopefully card will come this week, hopefully.

Ds2 definitely does have adhd, it was ds1 who might have, but unclear and now won't be diagnosed for at least 8 months due to move/baby, Never mind.

Any thought on childacre options for me for ds3?

He has got a place at Kindergarten, but this doesn't start till September. He's 4.5 & used to going to CM 3 x a week and play group 1 x a week.

option 1
he stays at home till KG in Spetember
pros - not having upheaval of starting new, which he potentially doesn't like.
cons. I get no peace & quiet ( ), he is no longer used to leaving me or speaking German for nearly 6 months, he gets insanely bored being at home with me the whole time.

option 2
playgroup ( 2x 2 hours a week)
pros he gets to know other kids, possibly also going to his Kindergarten
cons he can't start for another 3 weeks, so possible only 1 week before I have the baby, bit concerned it's too close to the due date. It's only 2 x 2 hour sessions, so I won't get much done while he's gone, like popping into town.

option 3
Child Minder
pros
think she'll be flexible
cons he's a bit old & probably will object to going - he's very proud about starting KG (and he'd started to really hate going to his CM in CH. Also, not sure if she works during school holidays?, in which case we have the same 3 week start date problem as with play group.

Am indecisive. Any thoughts?

good luck with appraisal, upsidedown cake.

Hi everyone,

Ernest- Do you think the oil came from something that had been put in the washing machine or from the washing machine itself? Agree with UDC about trying something old in it and seeing how it comes out.

DQ - my DH does most of our cooking as well, the deal is whoever doesn't cook washes up and he hates washing up so would always rather cook, luckily he is a great cook as well. Think once I finish for maternity leave I will end up cooking a lot more, and probably still wahing up!

We have been away at a wedding over the weekend, it was lovely, we both really enjoyed it but didn't go to bed until about 12.30 so I felt totally worn out all day yesterday, really can't hack the pace anymore! Got up late today so feeling fine now, glad we have the bank holiday to recover.

HI Ernest - sounds a bit grim - having to take the boys for their 1st day, I bet ds3 is really missing them, any news yet in whether he can start Kindergarten any earlier than September?

Mil sounds similar to your Fil - she's slightly forgetful too, just about to start writing down instructions for her, for when she's staying, - how to get the tv on english channels, the oven, the washing machine, timetable for boys - starting and finishing school. etc...etc.. but she's also very helpful.

Washer - I'd put something through like an old sheet or something you're not bothered about and see if it does the same.

Upsidedown - good luck with the flooding report

Ernest - I'd go with option 2 - playgroup, I know it's only 2 sessions but it would keep his German going, and give you a tiny bit of time.The cm would also be good but depends on what other age children she has, if ds3 is the eldest but a long way it might not be that good an option.

If you have to wait 3 weeks to get him into these places then so be it - make these 3 weeks so boring for him that he's be so pleased to go!!!

Ernest, I would definitely send him somewhere between now and September, it will make a big difference to keep his German going and to give you some space (even just a little) with the baby. Playgroup I think sounds great - really good for him to get to know the other children around his own age. Could you combine playgroup + some childminder time, to give you some more time?

Ernest - hope your DS1 and DS2 enjoy their first day at school Poor DS2.

I'd go for option 2 and also explore option 3 to try to give you a bit of extra time. Could the CM pick DS3 up from playgroup to give you a longer day with just the baby? Is your DH enjoying his new job, and are you all enjoying being together during the week?

I'm trying to organise some sort of childcare for the summer, too. My in-laws will be leaving shortly before the school summer holidays and there is no way I'll be able to cope with all of them 24/7 plus a new baby, especially without a car. I'm hoping to find someone who works in a local nursery who will come a few times during the week and take them out, eg take 2 of them swimming, or take DD out so the boys get some attention, or take all of them to the beach. That sort of thing. DS1 likes doing things like football camps (non residential but all day for a week) and it would be great to find someone who can either stay home whilst I drop him off, of take him for me. DS2 is really resistant to anything organised like that, and both of them disliked going to a childminder last summer. It was only the odd day but they both really seemed to need to be based at home. It's a shame as she's v nice and does loads of activities with them but I guess I should be happy that they like home so much

Playgroup does seem to make most sence, socially, but the fact he won't start till the week before I give birth, coupled with it only being 2 short sessions put me off. Either way, Playgroup or CM, it'll end at end of July, and he'll have whole of August and 1st 2 weeks of Septmeber at home with me, I don't think there's anything available during school holidays, so I'll have the 4 (OMG) of them to myself. Am attempting, unscuccessfully to fix kitchen bin

Rolf, you've panicked me!!! wtf am I going to do, 3 bored kids, one new born, possible also no car, and 6 long weeks Is it too late to change my mind?

Morning all nice new thread moving really quickly!!!

Had a very strange day yesterday, one of my MILs (yes Im bless with 2 but this one I like)came over and cleaned my house top to bottom, did all my ironing and cooked the tea blah blah and made me sit on the sofa and rest its lovely having it all done as have been struggling with the swelling,but it did make me very twitchy.

I backed down on the freezer cooking, but have stocked up on lots of mince, chicken fillets, salmon fillets, frozen veg,quorn etc dh should manage by adding a sauce even if its packet for a few weeks.

Rolf Make a couple of big batches for the freezer then you can tell your ILS that they are there, and hopefully they will insist on not using them but cooking for you before they go for the evening.

Ernest did you take the washing machine with you? sounds like Motor oil has leaked during transit which if its the case the removal men should cover a new one on insurance. You could try a wash with nothing in to see if you can clear it and its a one off. I would try taking the oil out with fairy liquid then bleaching with some form of detergant before righting off the clothes. for the rest hunt the streets for a laundry service(one that irons also)

Its really hot here today, would love a bbq but not really much point with me and the kids, plus the bbq is hiding in the garage somewhere

Bump is painful, joints are painful also cant sleep and like Rolf think my body has just had more than enough!

Have some good news though DH will be home tomorrow I wonder if he will see a diference in 3 weeks.

Hope everyone has a better day with sick and teething children, aches pains and exhaustion.

Welcome to the chatterbox gang Gem hope things get better for you soon.

Rolf , Ernest could you approach the local collages/uni with childcare/nanny courses, you might find some dedicated students that are looking for a summer job and work exp, they would be cheaper and obviously very keen for a good reference and the dcs will be run wild for you?

Have just written mammoth post and then accidentally deleted it [groan]. Still, probably for the best, I was mainly just moaning about how I still feel unwell and now both dd and ds have horrible colds.

Ernest, do you have space for an au pair? You can get them on quite short term contracts and then she could help out pretty much full time over the holiday.

Rolf - Do your boys have friends locally? If so I am sure that another Mother would do drop off and pick up from the football course. Don't wait for someone to offer - just ask! Josey has a good idea about asking for someone from a nearby college.

Ernest - I didn't realise that you'd be stuck without a car too. Are there no summer camp week courses(non residential) run by the international school? I know they have them in Vienna for working parents.Might be wirth asking the other MN mum in Munich that lives near you, or other parents at the school.

I know I'll only have 3 children(OMG too) this summer but my boys get 9 weeks off and we have to stay here because we have guests.
We have them booked into a circus camp in our village for one week, 8.30-5.00, picked up by bus - bliss eh? Then on the Friday night we go to watch the performance. Tristan thinks he will be learning how to eat fire

Josey - glad your dh is home tomorrow, how long is he back for? Can you relax a little now?