Jingle Bells, Mysterious Smells, Fab Feb 2009 babies will soon be on their way - Oh what fun it is to waddle around like an overstuffed turkey all day.

[dinkystinky]

Hello lovely ladies, the new thread is open for business

Hi MrsY - glad it turned out to be ok though v stressfull no doubt. At least you'll be looked after well till little miss decides to arrive.

Haven't caught up with the rest of the thread for a few days - though the fudge making does sound yummy and Markstretch - even if they don't look good enough to give away you can always eat the gloop yourself!

Had a lovely sleep-in this morning as DS dozed till 8 which is unheard of in our house as toddler time is normally 6am. DH went in to wake him up at 8 as I was worried that he might have suffocated on his teddy or something and DH said to DS - are you having a Sunday lie?-in to which DS say 'roar!!' He thought he said lion! So it'll be known as a Sunday lion from now on.

Now I am attempting to make an angel costume from a pillowcase (with added cereal packet wings) - Blue Peter eat your heart out!

MrsY Xxx Must be very worrying for you, but like Calico says at least you'll be kept a close eye on Xxx.

I ended up going into town with dp and ds, and what a nightmare! A woman in Tesco Home Store mumbled "FFS" as she was trying to get past me down a busy isle. She had her son with her, so I'm assuming she is a complete hero and pregnancy for her was a walk in the park.

Hope everyone else had a good day.
Dp bought Manopoly for the Wii as he doesn't want to play RL , so a bit of that tomight before desperate housewives

I'll eat the sweets if you don't want them and failing that, DS would scoff em down in one..

MrsY, glad you're ok. I'm impressed you've bought all your gear - I've still bought bugger all, though I have got the basics lying around the house from last time, so it's not quite the same.

Weekend went well - man flu has finally left the building and lunch with my parents passed without incident, in itself a minor miracle.

Went visiting to darkest Hackney today to see some friends of DH's and their newborn, who was very quiet and cute. DS played well with their other child, who is about 20 months - I think the large quantity of trains helped.

The day was only marred by the fact that a lump of cornice has dropped off in the living room.

I don't think it will cost a fortune, but it looks hideous and is making me feel anxious!

Wow this thread moves!

Had my pampering yesterday and it was wonderful! It?s nice to be able to wiggle my toes without cutting holes in them! Only problem is she said she could spend a day on my back and still not get the knots out, so although I feel a lot better I can notice the ones she didn?t manage to get out more. She said it needed elbows but because I?m pregnant I can?t lie on my front and she can?t get the pressure needed, she?s asked me to go back after the baby. They?re giving out vouchers for about half of what you spend in December for January bookings but she said I can use it after January if I need to. Tink was very excited to see my purple toes (she loves nail varnish and kept saying ?look, Mummy?s nails!?). I think I need to make it a regular thing after I?ve had the baby, especially as they?re saying it is going to take awhile to get my back sorted.

Tink?s other grandparents had her for two nights from Thursday, which has been a nice break all round (she?s been getting in bed with Mum around 3am, Mum?s not sleeping well at the moment anyway and has been getting into work for 7am as she?s up) and we decided to use the time to put the lights up at my parents house. There are loads but it looks really nice. She came in with her granddad on Saturday squealing ?Pretties!? Granddad smiled and said ?pretties? so I got the impression she was pointing out everyone?s lights to him in the car (as she does) and got excited coming down the road to my parents.

I?m still feeling rough, although I feel more like I have a chest infection now and now Tink is talking in a high pitched voice so I?m worried she?ll have an attack before the end of the week

Speaking of nipples? I was feeling all tingly in the car the other day and said ?I could do with my human expressing machine? got home and noticed I had dark rings around my nipples! I kind of didn?t think that I would leak with this pregnancy, I haven?t really before which I put down to gestation, because of still feeding Tink, but maybe because I?m not feeding her regularly it?s making things more like if I wasn?t feeding IYSWIM. Apparently Tink likes her me-me more than her tea-belly, so I?m rather pleased! I?ve not had an itchy nipple but I have a line all round, under and between my boobs that itches! I think I need new bras and it?s because they?re too small I feel like this I have to have someone do my bra up for me now as I can?t reach and can?t twist them, which isn?t too bad if Mum or TBD are around but the other day I had to ask my dad to do it up I was dressed, obviously, I just had it on and undone under my clothes.

Just read that my friend who was a week ahead of me has just had her babies!

Can you all have a look in childbirth and read the letter I?ve written for my consultant, I want some opinions on it.

Littlesez, it?s not that bad, honest. In the first six weeks refuse to get dressed, stay in bed and do what your baby does. Co-sleeping helps a lot as you don?t have to wake up at night, I used to find it funny when people laughed at me for lack of sleep! I also found baby wearing useful as she would sleep most of the time so I didn?t have to do too much if we went out.

MS, I must try out the recipe. BTW, how much of the flavouring do you put in?

Happy belated birthday THOM

Agh, I shouldn?t have joked about it being three weeks since a hospital visit I?ve just started having them regularly whilst typing! Going to wait till midnight and see what happens - minute intervals is my best yet!

Good luck TBM Thinking of you.
Hope everyone else ok.....
Is this our last full week before Christmas? Gotta get the niece and nephew their vouchers and send them off (they're 10 and 13 so bit hard to know what to buy, v. difficult ages)
Also got to do some housework, the floors get so sticky so quick!

Morning all.

TBM - thinking of you and sending you good luck vibes in case it is the real thing this time. Your pamper session sounds lovely and just what you needed - definitely get another one in the new year as the offer is open to you.

LBB - Silly woman in Tesco! I've had that a few times with people tutting as they have to navigate around my collosal and very slow spacehopper shaped frame. I just imagine sitting on them

MsLucy - yay for man flu leaving the building. Hope your ceiling is alright - rubbish time of year for the cornicing to start dropping down.

MrsY - so sorry you've had a worrying time again, but good that they're keeping a really close eye on you and good that you and John are making sure you enjoy this pregnancy and christmas. Definitely take notes and packed hospital bag (just in case - dont worry about nappies etc as your folks will be able to pick those up if need be) to your folks though over xmas and new years as will stop you worrying about that too.

Calico - that angel costume sounds briliant! Did you put glitter on the wings too?

Swampster - how did the boys enjoy the cinema? DH wants to take DS to the cinema (he's 2.8 years old) - not sure he'll like it though as he's abit scared of the dark at the moment (fine at bed time but any other time - like at 7 this morning when some lights blowing short circuited the electrics in the house - the end of the world).

Think have (touch wood) battled my cold into submission by ignoring it as have been too busy to feel ill this weekend. Had our old neigbours round for lunch yesterday with their 6 year old daughter (DS loves her and had great fun with her) and then went out last night to see Angie Stone at the Jazz Cafe which was absolutely fantastic (and from what she was saying, sounds like she's going to stop touring soon and retire as she's a grandma now, so a great last time to see her) - the baby in me definitely likes music as he was dancing away all gig long. That said, am pretty sure that is now our last gig until quite some time after Squiglet arrives...

We have our work christmas carol concert tonight (in local church - the one from 4 weddings and a funeral when Hugh Grant marries Duckface, or rather doesnt) which everyone's family is invited to - looking forward to it as taking DS this year.

Hope you all have a good day.

Yoohoo (in to vast echoing cavern) - is anybody out there?

Where is everybody today?

Hello all. Just back from a short hospital stay i got a stomach bug which came on really quickly on Saturday afternoon and felt awful, couldnt stop being sick, therefore couldnt eat and therefore had to be admitted on Sunday for insulin/glucose/fluids drip till could keep stuff down and take insulin again. Anyway have not been sick for nearly 24 hours now so registrar let me out this morning ... god i was soooo bored! No internet there and i was in the leper room at the very end of the ward all by myself, i thought id be really glad of my own room but its a bit lonely, still wasnt too bad as felt so poorly that i just slept most of the time anyway. My forehead is all blotchy where i burst loads of blood vessels being sick and i felt like i was getting flu, going to spend today in bed being lazy now though as still feel all weak and rubbish. I had blood in my urine and keytones where i couldnt eat so just waiting for the hospital to call with the results about the blood as they think i might have infection too but am sooo glad it was only one night - i am definately the worlds worst patient! I had three traces done on Lo whilst i was there and in every single one he got hiccups and they lasted ages! Cant wait to meet him now though as the ward i was on is both post natal and ante natal ( post at one end and ante at the other ) and felt so broody with all those tiny ones i could hear. Mrsy sorry to hear about all of the close monitoring that you need but glad in a way that its being done as both you and she will be kept a good eye on Tink, hope this isnt it for you just yet but if it is you have reached a good gestation so all will be well - fingers crossed that its a false alarm though! Hope everyone elses weekend went a little better than mine... Saturday started off so well as well as well ... there i was daydreaming about MS's homemade sweets... Just soup and roll for me today though - but might have to indulge myself in some shop bought fudge as a treat when i can stomach it - perhaps tomorrow.

Yooooooohoooooooooooo back atcha! I am here but I can't see the screen for the proud tears still in my eyes - it was DS1's nativity play today and he was a gorgeous wise person!

Everyone please stop having scares!

rosie - sounds like you've had and are having a bit of a rough time there - poor you.

dinky - Ooh I remember "the Carol Concert" - I used to love going (and sang in the choir one year - nice thing to do even though it's not usually my thing) - it's all christmassy and old fashioned ...[reminiscing emoticon] - hope you have a lovely time.

Nothing exciting going on here today. Am plodding on feeling a bit weary. Baby is very wriggly either side of bump but I've only got tomorrow and then 2 and half days next week and I'm outta here ! Hurray !

Well we decided to get checked out and I am having contractrions, getting all the way to 70 sometimes! Still not dilating though so they are waiting before they do anything, she turned breech while on CTG so there goes my VBAC discussion! I'm on the ward (getting a sore arm on the premier thing!) going to be here overnight.

I really just wish she would hurry up and come now before I end up a total nervous wreck! We're 33 weeks, furthest I've gone and she is 4lb 11oz so a good size.

Aww i cant wait to have another one the right age for nativity plays Swampster ... somehow teenagers dont have the same er 'panache' when it comes to playing the part of mary/joseph/sheep/cattle

Ohh Tink - how come you have internet and i didnt! Bloody patientline thing was rubbish and only did tv and phone and you cant take laptops on Hazel ward either 33 weeks is good and she does sound like a good size so you must be getting quite impatient to meet little Fifi ... well good luck whatever happens over the next couple of days

Herb, not long till you 'break up' yay! Gosh its getting really close now - it seems like yesterday we all discussing 12 week scans. Still feeling rubbishy so going to have a nap for a couple of hours and eat some leek and potato soup then - still have a real hankering for that fudge but i dont think my stomach would appreciate it atm

Poor you Rosie - what a horrible way to have to spend your weekend. Hope your girls are pampering you now you're home and get lots of rest and fluids in you (and agree on avoiding fudge till tomorrow - something to look forward to).

Swampster - cant wait to experience those kind of proud moments!

TBM - best of luck hon either way (with stopping contractions or with Fifi's arrival). Try polar bear position on the ward bed if you can (and if monitoring allows) if you've got your heart set on a VBAC as the little madam may move round again but whatever happens, will be thinking of you.

Herbgarden - 2 and a half days. Am so . The carol service has got even better as they've dropped the fire and brimstone sermons - yay! (Apologies if the yay offends anyone's beliefs - its just not a particularly great way to get in the xmas spirit with toddlers and other little ones there)

hi all.
ANother marker as you all tend to get chatty in the afternnon and evening and I 'm too busy to join in right now . Mainly due to not being at work much last week but hey that's what happens!

omg rosie.... what a horrendous weekend! glad you're feeling a bit better now but do try and take it easy and get those teenagers and dh pulling their weight.

tink... hope fifi stays put a while longer... 4 lbs is great but over 5 would be fantastic... she might turn round again yet, get your ass in the air woman

got our tree today, have just done my back in though trying to hoover up the pine needles from everywhere though have had to dump the hoover halfway through the kitchen and limp over to the pc and strap on my heat pad... tree is gorgeous though so well worth it, i let ds pick and he chose a good one

hospital day tomorrow... going to have to keep dd off playschool to get them dropped to my parents in time to make it to the hospital... that said she's coming down with something so might be just as well. dreading it though, my friend was at the hospital for antenatal last week and her appointment was at 2 and she didn't get out of there til 6 hope to god she was just unlucky and it's not going to happen to me tomorrow... best bring a book just in case though!

TBM you made it to 33 weeks!!!!! Wowzers!!!!! That's practically a fully cooked baby. Am so pleased for you. Just hoping Fifi does the necessary spinning to give you the VBAC chance. Or that she settles down for another 3 weeks in there so you can shock the world by having a "term" baby.

The sandwich shop round the corner is selling the most gorgeous Christmas cake. Sigh. wanders off to buy another piece

rosie poor you, how awful.

Nothing to say here, spoke to m/w this morning about how much pain I'm in and was told to take paracetamol regularly for next few days and if that helps, great and if not they'll refer me for physio. They think it's just ligament pain, but if paracetamol works, am I supposed to take upto 8 doses a day for next 8 weeks? I'll give birth to a baby addicted to OTC drugs

TBM Hang on in there! Stand on your head or something , like PP says 5lb would be a fantastic weight.

i don't think i can cope much longer, i just want her out so i don't have this constantly! i don't feel too bad saying that now we're a good age and size.

little pest is always in birth position but turns breech each time the ctg goes on. laugh at mummy's expense i think! i also think it's why it keeps stopping.

i wouldn't worry too much about the net, it's not very comfortable to use, i'll have to get tbd to take a pic lol

TBM I have no words of comfort for you I'm afraid. My friend that I mentioned before said that each day her baby stayed inside her was one less day she'd have to stay in hospital. Know it must be frustrating at the moment and all this must be extremely hard, but stay positive and hang on in there. X

WARNING Don't make the fudge !

I have realised the recipe should say condensed milk and not evaporated milk.

That's why mine was utterly shit.

TBM- hope you're ok and not doing your nut in hospital.

I have offically started my last full week of work. I am excited.

[thick] i thought condensed and evaporated were the same thing?... i was just going to pick up the cheap condensed milk from lidl to do it with

i wonder if there is some way you could get maternity leave from being a sahm.... coz i could really do with a few weeks off before the baby comes!

first timers.... i know we've said it before but really do listen and obey [stern]:

ENJOY THE FREEDOM WHILE IT LASTS!!!!!
GO TO THE CINEMA
SIT IN THE PUB ALL DAY
GO OUT FOR NICE MEALS
SIT ON YOU ARSE ALL SUNDAY IN FRONT OF THE TV

all that will be gone and you'll miss it so much. dp and i were talking last night and we both really regret not making the most of those last few months..... we had this odd notion in our heads that once i was done being pregnant things would go back to normal and i'd be more in the mood for cinema and meals, etc..... obviously we forgot to factor the little baby into that hypothosis.

kids are great, they really are. they'll give you more joy than you can possibly imagine but it's incredible how completely being a parent takes over your life, how tiring being needed 24/7 can be and how draining it is never to get a break when you need it.

YES AND SLEEP AND SLEEP AND SLEEP!

I woke up this morning and basked in the luxury of having a DD who sleeps 11hrs a night. It's going to be a shock getting up with a baby!

PP I didn't realise they were different either [thick too]

i know

mine do tend to wander in at odd times of the night and climb into our bed but they sleep til so much later than any other kids i know of the same age i really can't complain

having a newborn waking 20 times a night (both my others did so no reason to presume this one will be the fabled 'slept all night from 6 weeks baby') will be a bloody shock to the system.... especially as i've the playschool run to do now in the mornings so can't just stay in bed with baby when i eventually get him/her down at 7 am but have to start getting the others ready to get up.... SOB! MOAN!

Pink, Markstretch - it will all be worth it ladies when those night time cries turn to night time gurgles and smiles just for you. And besides, by the time the little ones arrive we'll all be v used to being up 40 times a night to go to the loo anyway...

night time gurgles and smiles

pray tell what do they sound like? ... dd is almost 4 and still screams like a baby when she wants me at night!