I'll start by welcoming newly de-lurked Jashook and Afribaby - as has already been said afri, you need to check with specific airlines about their regulations/requirements (ie 'fit to fly' cert froma doctor). But it sounds like a good idea for you to be in the UK if you have a support network here.
annamama I'm laughing at your seduction technique; you minx, you! But aren't pregnancy boobs just the best (bump and colostrum leaks (perfectly normal, tigress) nonewithstanding)? DP regularly comments on how fantastic mine are and considering I am usually an A cup and am currently sporting a firm full C he's loving it. Ah, sweet irony to be sporting this rack and banned from sex until (I'm being positive - until) this placenta moves itself.
shroomer It's understandable you've eaten half an advent calendar in one fell swoop. Those tiny pieces of chocolate (are they even chocolate? They have a waxy consistancy that makes me wonder...) aren't even big enough to satisfy a child, let alone a pregnant woman with a cold. You may have to invest in some heavy duty chocolate. Maybe green & blacks, a huge box of thorntons... or just one of those massive slabs cadburys do (I like the one with the little bits of crunchy all through it!) Go on - you're worth it! Also no problems for me with shoelaces - but that's because I live in my uggs right now. You don't even need to bend over to put them on, let alone squash baby to reach your tootsies to adjust and do up. Oh, and isn't 'tieing' what all the kids in a race will achieve these days when it comes to sports day? :P (heh, check out pixies nostalgtastic thread in chat 'what nice things do you remember from primary school that wouldn't happen today')
Speaking of pixie hope DD is enjoying her rediscovered mobility now the cast is off, that you're not still spending every waking hour going to, coming from or waiting outside of ballet, and that the twins are doing very nicely, thankyouverymuch Have you considered this new treatment shroomer has discovered for a cold? Give it a try, and feel better soon
pacific Thanks for the comiserations/advice. I'm in a bit of a quandry re: my falling hb as my mum has haemachromatosis and nags me about being tested because her consultant always asks if her children have been checked. My problem is the GP I saw didn't think there was a need to be checked as a) being of menstrual age, even if I did have it, it wouldn't pose a problem or even necessarily be picked up by a blood test for that reason and b) I was asymptomatic (although he conceeded that doesn't mean I'm clear). I mentioned it to my midwife at booking and she didn't really seem to know what I was talking about (can't blame her, it's not an everyday thing, really) and when I told her the gp wasn't concerned abut testing me she dismissed it as irrelevant. I guess what I'm saying (kinda think-typing as opposed to thinking aloud here!) is that you're right I should ask for my ferritin levels to be checked as I understand it's those that are the problem once they are high and the iron is being stored in organs. Eh, I'm probably frettin' for no reason and don't 'have it' anyway, but can't help wondering how do you supplement iron if your body doesn't want to utilise it, but store it instead? Bah. They made me an appointment to see my consultant on Tuesday (first time seeing her, so I must train my pregnancy-brain to remember to ask then) meanwhile, I'm buying spatone later today. I don't suppose it will really hurt me if I have it for a few days then am advised to stop. Ah, and am completely with you re: repeatedly taking ab's when pregnant. Up until a few weeks ago I'd not even succumbed to paracetmol. Now I've chugged two lots of abs (the one I'm taking now is apparently contraindicated in the first tri which makes me even more ), co-dydramol, paracetamol. I know they're all 'safe' but it just goes against the grain.
IWCAS So, so sorry you're having to deal with such a sudden passing of a friend.
smac just to clarify, you and DD weren't at tumble tots, right? . Aw, I'm sorry, I shouldn't jest - When DD was about 6/7 she smashed her mouth on a bench in the playground a day before her school photographs... I'm glad it happened at school (if it had to happen anywhere) as I'm sure there would have been a few raised eyebrows. As you say, though, mouth injuries tend to look more shocking than they actually are. Mind you, she broke her arm there too, twice. And DS broke his collarbone there... OMG! I'd better homeschool this one and wrap him in cotton wool! :p
Seriously, hope you've both fully recovered.
DB given your symptoms and myself showing all the symptoms and some physical sign of infection, yet no cultures grown from sample, plus pacific confirming no culture doesn't mean no infection, I'd be sorely tempted to return to your GP (or another one in the practice if he/she is not very sympathic) because I'd hate for you to end up writhing around in agony the way I was. Yes, we DO have to expect niggles (pains even) from ligaments, etc, but how frustrating for you to know your body well enough (particularly when not a first pregnancy), know it's not 'right' only to be dismissed. Please persevere with trying to get some treatment if it hasn't eased yet.
swings lol at your blue peter thoughts. True story - the nurse at my primary was 'Mrs Ellis' - Janet Ellis's mum! I wonder if it was that connection that seemed to have our school forever collecting stinky milk bottle caps to 'buy guide dogs'. Incidently, when I was in secondary school, I used to pass Janet on her school run with her children - funny to think the little girl I saw her with grew up to be Miss Sophie Murder-on-the-dance-floor Ellis-Bextor. Uh, what I actually meant to say before falling into reminiscing was: hope you get a new recyclying bin forthwith! Certainly before christmas (oh, all the wrapping paper!).
caitni We appear to be going head-to-head in the 'write the wordiest posts ever' challenge. I believe you're a nose ahead just now, but once I'm back up to speed, believe me, I'll waffle on and on as usual until you're cowed into the silver medal position (and thanks so much for the encouragement/well wishes )
Ah, arcadie I've just seen that you've posted as I compose this post... Your wicked sense of humour would have me spitting whatever it was in mouth all over the laptop if there was anything in it. Luckily, there isn't! You can uarantee the MS has learnt a valuable lesson. Well done you!
As for me, eh, I guess this is karma biting my arse setting me straight for having rampant sex all the way through until a few weeks ago. I guess it is unbecoming of a mother-to-be. I miss it though!
If spatone warrents a t-shirt, it's gotta be Good Stuff. I spoke to DP not long after starting to type this and he's popping into boots for me to take advantage of the 3 for 2 offer.
to anyone I've missed - I'm not top of the pops, still, and it's completely unintentional (especially considering this challenge caitni and I are engaged in...). Hope everyone has a good weekend. I've cancelled the plans I had for dinner/cinema tonight as it was in leicester square and traipsing across london twice, alone, in the darrrrk (with murders and the like!) feeling as I do is probably not the best idea. I just hate that I seem to be cancelling on people all the time.
Oh my, forgot to mention I purchased a bugaboo from ebay the day before I was admitted. Paid for it as the auction ended, then vanished into the ether. I emailed the seller last night re: collection but heard nothing as yet. Hmmm.