Due in June - Creme eggs are long gone and our own eggs have started to hatch. Who will be next?

[Upsidedowncake]

We are two down and have another 30-40 to go. Makecakes and Gemma have probably popped by now, then G43! It's all happening!!!!!

lol Deb. The absolute reverse here. Not even worth trying. He thinks I'm devolving (all the grunting, groaning, scratching etc) and will soon become an amoeba.

Grr, my e-mail is so slow that it's hardly moving. Minor things really get me going at the moment!
allipalli - cleaners are a bit of a problem for me really. We have a superb Polish girl from an agency in London, but had very bad experiences before we found her. (She also does ironing - my husband is a barrister so no casual days for him!). Here in Wales, though, I have a girl from the village who is doing it on the side. (Don't report me! She's got 2 children, son only 2 and a bit, gets no maintenance from the fathers - daughter was a 1 night stand, son is by a man married to someone else - can't afford a car, there's no work in the village...I do feel for her because she would work if she could get to a job without having to pay for childcare. She's unskilled.) Anyhow, she's a brilliant cleaner, although heavy on the bleach, but I don't get much of a warning as to when she turns up. I think we're working on a text message the night before basis now.

And another thing! Why don't I get post very often? It's rural around here but I'm convinced they don't bother coming every day. Actually, my cleaner's son's father is...the postman .

I have water, but seeing as I didn't wash this morning there's little point in doing so now (I don't do manual labour!). I'm off for my second meal out- lunch with a friend where I had the most garlicky garlic bread ever, with large pieces of garlic visible. I thought of you, Rolf!

Oh, I'm not getting any either so jealous of Deb. Or am I? I'm fairly non-sexual at the moment, but worry that I will never ever do it again if I don't make the effort. I might have forgotten how to!
DH said he felt guilty when I was tired, and didn't fancy me much after hearing me retch (only stopped a few weeks ago). I suppose it's fair enough! He does do good rubs with body butter though. (Me, not himself!)

{sulk] emoticon.

I want at least half the problem deb is having.

I want a cleaner. And someone to do my ironing.

I want some BHs or some early labour symptoms.

I'm going to go two weeks overdue and be on here till July - I just know it!

I want my heartburn to stop.

[sigh]

Hello all just going to post quickly as by the time i keep catching up my battery goes and I have forgotten what to say.

Had MIL staying at the weekend how that woman survives on her own is beyond me she is obviously incapable of boiling a kettle...they she tells the kids she is coming to stay when the baby is born as I will need help....oh no she aint and what help she thinks she will be is baffeling!!!

Had home visit from MW today went well as of Thurs 7am im clear to stay at home Gas and Air was also dropped off its all got a bit scarey and real all of a sudden....still suffering with belting BH's and grumpy pains and im being a right moody cow even my DD is saying I have a temper...MW doesnt think anything is likely to start in the next week though and estimates baby is 8lb-8lb7oz at the mo.

Right away to charge this then I can catch up properly with posts later

Oh allipalli I wouldn't report you but she should be able to work a certain number of hours legally before she would lose benefits though? .

Hi everyone, thank you so much for your kind words, it's just been one of those days. Tried to get a nap - fell asleep immediately - then ds woke me up after 15 minutes, so that was that. But managed to get (crap) couple of bits and bobs for dh, so at least he's got something (really really) crap to unwrap, and I bought him a cake from the bakers (couldn't be arsed to a. cook, b. fathom out our incomprehensible oven-machine thing. Even opening the door is an art form .

If someone could just say what my rash was & why I've got it, but no one seems to know, asking if the kids are healthy, if I've been in contact with chicken pox, any new creams/allergic reaction to something etc etc. But no one seems to have any idea, and it's maddeningly painful & itchy. Still, I discovered the ice cubes in dish cloth trip this lunch time and that made it at least bearable.

Deb, thanks for that

Rolf, you're never going to live it down, you do know that don't you?

Afternoon all. Even checking in every day it's hard to keep up!

Deb - v jealous of you getting bedroom action. Then again, not sure if I could be bothered!

DQ - feel exactly the same way.

Laura - tell me about the new ice cream parlour.

I had my tour of the hospital today - brought reality hitting home. Don't like hospitals anyway, and ours is a bit on the skanky side. Rooms vvv clinical looking - bed, bright lights, etc. The birth pool room is the best, but that's not saying much - also v hospital-like. Dreading having to go in, but don't think I could do a HB - no spare room in our flat, and DP not keen on the idea. After seeing nice labour wards (that sodding NCT dvd again) feeling v annoyed ours isn't.

MWs and staff all seem to be lovely, but I can't help but think it's going to be a very clinical experience, and to be honest I'm totally freaked out by the whole thing now.

I wish I could just fast forward til the middle of July when it will all be over and I'll have my lovely boy.

On the plus side, I have three days left at work!

BDQ Essie's cleaner is working on the side, not mine! Mine just hasn't turned up today (now 5.30pm). This leaves my house in the strange situation of being simulataneously tidy and dirty. (Alipalli repeats to herself: I wont start cleaning, I wont start cleaning)

Debs sorry - you're on your own there! DH does not seem to be finding me a terribly interesting prospect at the moment. Maybe it's the stick that you are beating him off with that is source of the problem!

Everyone has been really chatty today, its taken me ages to catch up.

Ernest - so sorry to hear your rash isn't any better. Do you think it could be a (very localised) allergic reaction? You haven't been trying out any new stretch mark creams or anything have you? I know my bump is by far the most sensitive part of me at the moment.

Lots of early labour symptoms going on, I'm not sure whether to be jealous or not... Actually I have 4 weeks to go still and have previously always been overdue so am not expecting babyvimes any time soon. This is my excuse for not getting that hospital bag packed anyway.

Still here! Pains gone more or less now but bump is heavy so wearing support belt to hold it up!

I have a cleaner too Its called DP and if i must say so my self he is an absolute star.He does everything

My BP goes up just getting a cup of tea so spend most of the time on blow up bed in sitting room watching him do everything bless

And also i join debs im afraid i have to beat him away too!!!Whereas i really cant be arssed most of the time!!!

Whinegums - sorry about the crap hospital. When I was having DS2 I went to see a birthing centre and it was like a spa - fluffy towels, lovely smells etc. Then the turned me down cos of GBS and I ended up at the uncleanable hospital.

Re garlic - yes, lucky we're all imaginary isn't it!

Essie - my DH is a barrister as well. What sort of work does yours do? DH is in The Times today - I'm gauchly excited!

Would love to have a girl in the village. It sounds so feudal

Whinegums I went on my hospital tour on Saturday and although its got a great reputation it was arwful. Its so clinical - I felt sick, even the birth centre above was pretty clinical... I'm seeing my MW tomorrow so hopefully she will say it's OK to be in the birth centre, although I do have one complication of a dermoid cyst on my right ovary, but the OB said everything was fine with it & they will remove it in c. 6 months!

Bit of a rant coming but my MW is crap, she said to me she would call me to sort out my birth plan, come round to my house but I've heard nothing! So as the hospital told me I should be seeing her every week I've booked in to see her tomorrow - may have a little moan at her. Sorry moan over!

Had a really productive day today, really pleased with myself - think I'm going to put my feet up now & watch all the soaps as a treat!

I'm having a problem, since I started maternity leave I don't seem to have much time to catch up with you all anymore (says a lot about how much work I was doing at work!), by the time I have read everything I've forgotten who said what! Yet somehow my list of things to do on maternity leave is getting longer, not shorter.

No news from me, made some chocolate brownies today, very exciting.

Ernest - hope you get the rash sorted, I have a bit of an itchy bump but think it is just the stretch marks stretching more!

On the ironing topic, we are firmly of the only ironing when it definitely needs it (weddings and interviews) camp here. I always thought by the time I had driven to work everything was creased anyway!

Re irning, its only done on a need to do basis - so only really on special occasions I absolutely hate ironing and DH is crap at it so it doesn't really get done.... unless MIL is bored!

Evening all! Sorry allipalli .

Ernest really sorry to hear your rash continues, cant think of anything. I know the skin at the top of my bump is very sore, but I think that's caused by some friction between bump and very heavy boobs and sounds nothing like what you have. Can you go and camp out at a doctor's until you get an answer?

ktpie I've started to make a list of things to do when I'm off, and I keep adding to it all the time. Cant wait till I finish on Friday though.

Whinegums - sorry your hospital is rubbish, ours doesn't even do tours, and am starting to think that might be a good thing...

Was very cheered to get home tonight and find that our moses basket and stand was deliverd. It's super cute!

Allipalli - at your cleaner, hope this is the first time. Love the full moon thing, let's see if it comes true.

Deb / Paro - You lucky things?.actually I?m not sure, I have trouble turning over in bed at the mo let alone anything anymore adventurous than that!

Rant alert: No chance of any loving after the last few hours in my house anyway! It?s catching - DH is driving me mad and we are on the verge of a really big argument any second now.....?Which of these boxes are the newborn clothes in?? he hollers down the stairs at me after telling me to take a nap....could it be the box marked newborn darling? Or how about just looking yourself as the boxes are in front of you, darling!!?? (Every sentence is ending in darling - and not in a loving way!) Got my arnica today, does it work for a pain in the backside?

Also told him my back is killing me and he said 'well, the tens arrived today...'. After +ve pregnancy test result I was promised daily massages, 8 months on and I've had 2! [really grumpy emoticon!]

Drama queen - I have a huge to do list now mat leave has started and once I have tidied and packed as much as I can, getting a cleaner in is on that list. And I'm not sure I can imagine a life without heartburn anymore. Can anyone tell me does the heartburn stop as soon as you give birth?

Needahand, very glad the news is better about your SIL. Probably good that your DH is only telling you things on a 'need to know' basis too, so you don't get too stressed.

Debs, my DH is still quite keen on the old bedroom action too, but we are only averaging about once a week. It may all be over for the moment as a little 'nooner' this lunchtime ended in tears when DH decided that the bump was in the wrong position for him, and I wouldn't countenance any other position ...

Allipalli, what a shame about your cleaner. Hope you get things sorted soon.

Systems addict, thanks for reassurance re false labour. Having been convinced that this baby was going to come late, I am now positive that she is going to come early when we have no childcare possibilities for DS ...

Paro, glad all is well with you

rolf, am off to figure out which is your DH in today's paper. Incubation for chicken pox is 11 to 20 days btw.

Have a good evening everyone. Poor DS now completely miserable and bawling every 15 minutes. He's just howled the place down as I've annointed him with calamine. Who was it who had chicken pox on holiday? Libra? I can't even begin to imagine it!

To all those jealous of my situation - don't be, he may be up for it but it doesn't mean I am!!

PP - yes my heartburn stopped as soon as I had the boys, just been gulping the gaviscon myself. I was bad with it at Easter, then it stopped for about a month or so, now this week it's back with a vengeance

Allipalli - maybe the cleaner thought as you were going on ML she wasn't needed.

Lorettah and whinegums - by the time you're in the throes of labour you won't care where you are anyway( or is that just my experience?)

Josey - your MIL sounds a treat!!

Who was crying Udowncake - you or dh??

sorry ds isn't feeling too good with his cpox.

Evening all

Essie your cleaner can earn £20 extra a week without having any benefits docked.

Deb my DH would be up for it any time as well but is being very polite and not jumping me

needahand I am so glad things seem to be settling down for your SIL, hopefully this may be the start of a slow recovery.

For everyone else with pangs then fingers crossed for you.

I have taken an executive decision and apart from doing breakfast tomorrow then I ain't doing anything, all my washing is up to date as is my ironing, DH can put the 2 extra beds up for tomorrows guests. Next week is goiing to be tough so saving my energy for tyhen.

UDC yes it was me when we were on holiday and DS had chickenpox.
We were liberally covering him with calamine with huge arguments from him, but when we took him to the hospital to see if he was allowed to fly, they told us not to apply this as when the scabs form the calamine can make them more itchy.
DS was prescribed Atarax (we were in Greece) but think it is the same type of medication as Piriton (made him a bit drowsy anyway) and certainly stopped him itching.
Mind you Greece has a totally different climate to here so that might have been why, although it is the home of the hypocratic oath so why would we argue.

Deb, certainly don't envy you having to fend of DH.

And I am so of those who have cleaners. I could do with that especially at the moment.

Ernest can you google the gadget show as they have some great ideas for uptodate boys toys, hopefully this will link you gadgetshow.five.tv/index.htm

Evening all again,

sophie good for you saving your energy!

Sorry about your DS UDC - hope he feels better soon. LOL at your lunchtime tears.

PP - your impending argument with DH sounds strangely familiar... (though, tbh, since my fall my DH has been an even bigger angel than usual - its seems like nothing I ask him to do is too much trouble ).

Off to lie on sofa and catch up with last night's lost etc. I've got an aching side where lo has been pushing a body part (bum? heel?) out and just wont shift it. It's now quite sore.

Deb!
I'm so !!!

Or at least I think I should be,

I'm sure we were at it like bunnies in the spring at this stage with DD,

Then again I might just feel like a whale being harpooned...