June-ior middleweights - fighting on through the second trimester (Due June 2010)

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Here we go ladies - I'll C&P the stats in a tick. Don't forget to add the gender on if you find out at your scan

I can't believe it that we've reached the halfway mark! And there's another thread! I had scan this week and was so tempted to find out the sex but didn't succumb.

So, deep breath - the latest.....

Dh is working in India, unfortunately there is no spare cash for us to fund trips home. All pennies needed for new (2nd hand) car. We had to have some emergency and expensive work to our house about a year ago now which wiped out our savings.

Had a showdown last night which involved much greek tragedy wailing on my part. Seems dh was under the impression that he had my blessing for the work he's doing out there (how????? this is not the first time we've talked). He has now agreed to speak to his bosses about finding a replacement out there for him (which was always what was supposed to be happening but seemingly everyone just ignored this) and for him to return to Head Office in the UK. I appreciate that this is not going to be easy but surely we all have to make sacrifices - flippin' eck, I've made enough of them. So he will still be going back on Sunday, but I'm now hoping that we will be looking at a March / April return date. It hasn't been said out loud, but I actually think the reason why no plans have already been put in place for a handover is because dh and his boss thought he was going back after the babies came [horror].

Anyway, way too much about me. Thank you so much for all your support. I think the air has been cleared sufficiently that we'll have a nice meal out tonight.

morning ALL

madamefreckle my 1st two pgs were boys, this one will be a surprise...and so far it has been a surprise

im not hanging out in the bathroom anymore which is great but im still off everything, lost weight but its ok ive plenty to spare most days ive to force myself to eat 1 slice of toast after my cereal and as for lunch its getting harder to find something i want to eat. im waiting for this magical appetite to eat to appear maybe sometime in the next 20 weeks!!!!

playfste hope your ok and managed to have some sort of talk with your DH about his 5 months away, i cant imagine my DH leaving for so long while im pg with 1 baby, but you are having 2. My DH did have a week away on west coast of states on my last pg(i was around 32 wks) and i missed him terribly and everyone around me was overly worried for me.

Morning all,

Rubbish start to the day, DF and I argued on the walk into work. Started off by him asking me what something was in a container in the freezer? At this point I had visions of myself stuffing gim in the freezer with said container and closing the door! instead I helpfully replied "I don't know, open the lid and have a look!" For some reason things went down hill from there and we parted company barely talking. All we seem to do at the moment is argue

Things are slightly better now, a lovely lady at work has brought me in some home made cake. I did have to fight back the tears in my emotional sate though

monkeymargot I bow down to your crazyness, 3 under two- yikes. My mum was the same as I am a twin and our sister is only 18 months older!

Playftseforme Feel for you re your DH going away so much, I find it difficult when DF goes away a couple of days with work. Glad that he's going to try and get things sorted.

Ginafb So glad that the scan went ok.

Mrsdmamme I could have written your post myself re feeling like this is a girl but sure it's a boy!

Madamefreckle see above, training started this moring but not very successfully
And yes I'm in Swindon, tis not bad dispite what you may have heard/ read.

Sobloodystupid Well done on sticking to your guns and not finding out. I hope I can be that strong.

Right I'm off to eat cake do some work, and try and decide if I still want to go out with DF and his friends for a meal this evening after this morning. (I should go, as we havn't been out together since NYE)

So tired this morning....didn't get home until 9.30, then worked till 11.30 and was back on emergency calls at 8 So much for making dd's birthday cake this week...might have to be done whilst on conference calls (on mute!!) this afternoon....

Playftse - India?? For 5 months with no home visits? Just prior to having twins? And thought he would go back there after? Glad you've discussed it now but it does sound as though your dh is on another planet...you may have to keep a close eye on that for a while! Anyway, you're certainly a better dw than me...my dh would have been hung, drawn, quartered and dragged through the streets for contemplating even a month away just before I was due...!

Madamefreckle - lol @ bakingwonderwoman...not sure about that, but I do find it very relaxing (much more than 'real' cooking!). I've put some photos of the last efforts on my profile if you want to see

GinaFB - so glad things seem to be ok, and you can look forward to the normal scan next week now

DIMB - which book is that in? I'm going to be making the one with sour cream (just triple quantities to make enough for the teddy bear), but yours sounds yummy Not sure about green cake though, although green icing is always easy...although the trick is not to make it too green IYSWIM

Gizmo - I was brought up in the belief that a) everything freezes (it usually does!) and b) there is no 'time limit' by which you have to use frozen stuff. DH tends to insist that 2 years is a fair cut off, which mostly seems fair. But he will happily scoff cake excavated defrosted past that point.

I'm delighted to announce that Monkeymargot is the winner of the "Crazee Ladee" award. However, after much consideration, the judges (ok, me!) have come to the conclusion that this is due to unplanned twins and that she must share her place on the first place podium stand (bumps allowing) with wheredidmyfeetgo who has also got a special nomination for intentional 'crazee ladee' achievements

Ooh impressive looking cakes filly.
And pleased to see that you have one of my absolute fave films on your fave films list too - a woman of good taste clearly!

Filly could you possibly rustle up a Thomas Birthday cake for DS1's party on Sunday? I was going to do a train but I'm sure it won't end up looking as good a yours. I have made pirate ships before but again not as good as yours

This is the cake that dd will be having for her 4th birthday party in a couple of weeks. Impressive huh?

You lot have such glamorous and exciting lives compared to me.

We have an actress, Dh's who work away/abroad in wierd and wonderful countries, some of you who live in glamorous places ie New York and Oklahoma or have lived in other great countries, career woman who manage to juggle full time jobs and young families and great cooks/bakers!!!

I work (well did work) evenings behind the bar in a small village pub and my DH is a Gardener/Handy man who picks up work where ever and when ever he can. We live in a rural village on the South Coast of Devon! Not very exciting.

Thanks for the comments about my brother. gizmo I won't talk to him about it because we don't see each other very often and tbh he gets on my t*ts anyway. Normally I wouldn't have bat an eyelid at a comment like that from him but sleep deprivation did wierd things to me yesterday!!

CSWS Love the cake and I'm very impressed it serves 36!!!

Blooming heck there is a lot of accomplished bakers on this thread. I'm not one of them. DD1 got a tesco cake for her birthday. I figure at 2YO she is too young to care.

There are a lot of January birthdays in the older siblings. Do you reckon this is a planned thing that we are now all having summer babies? Mine definitely was! Last time I was completely cheesed off with Christmas getting in the way of antenatal appointments/classes/aquanatal etc, and then post baby having to wrap them up warm etc. This time a summer baby was def planned. Though I'll probably find that has loads of drawbacks too (lots of sunblock!)

Hope everyone who is feeling low/argumentative is feeling a little better. I blame the time of year (as well as massive amounts of pregnancy hormones). Little daylight and rubbish weather always gets me down.

4 days til scan for me (tuesday). Will have 3 under 2.5 so no crazeeladee prizes for me. Though will quiz everyone later about what buggy will carry 3 and what car will take 3 car seats!

mampam I was going to post a very similar post to yours! Except it's everyone's wonderwoman status that I'm gawping at, with husbands away, multitudes of DCs under two, coping with SPD and MS, and baking cakes left right and centre while conference calling! I'm 38 and haven't even got one DC yet, my husband pretty much stays put (I'm the one that travels for work - although you should see the ancient relics I find in the fridge when I get back) and I have (at last count) 80 cook books but do precious little baking. My life feels very simple and worry-free at present compared to all of you, but I'm looking forward to joining the fray .

Wishing you all fab and harmonious weekends. My big news of the week is that a friend is going to give me her second-hand bugaboo cameleon! I suppose that's one advantage of having DCs later - lots of hand-me-downs!

im no use at baking..well never tried really since school way way centuries ago.

so all bday cakes here are tesco bought and i never even have a slice bcos i could never eat cream or jam or tham thick icing/marizpan.

i really should try and bake my own might have to wait a while though no chance of even cooking anything with my super sensitive nose.

mampam does living abroad for 8 months count as exciting...i really miss it now love to move off again.(I live a very quiet settled life in the middle of nowhere now) even though at the time i found it very hard to settle into life abroad.
Ive been hinting to DH that if he needs to go abroad again for work im free towards the end of the year.

MrsD Yes 8 months does count as exciting!! I last went abroad 9 years ago (I hate flying which doesn't help) and I very rarely get out of Devon. Our last holiday was 2 weeks spent in a cheap, scabby caravan in Lancashire!! This year if we're lucky will be 3 nights in a Premier Inn!!

georgee I agree with the wonderwoman status'. The mums on here sound fantastic! I'm not a wondermum, I'm lame arse mum!! Can't be arsed baking but DH does make about 2 sponges on average per week!! I can hardly move let alone walk and haven't been to work since October. My DC's are 10 and 6 so perfectly able to sort themselves out!!

Thanks everyone xx LaTrucha 20 week scan is on the 4th Feb, it can't come quickly enough frankly! I just want to be sure that all is well.

MrsDmamee has your placenta stayed where it is or moved up? My OH is feeling a bit fed up with hospitals too, he felt that they were not interested enough, he is a worrier though!

fillybuster your cakes look amazing!! I am now starving....

GibberingGinger I will now step down off the podiumm, you too get to share the award with Monkeymargot!
I'm not in a position to have to worry about a puschair for 3 (DS1 will just have to walk) but DF decided that 3 meant we had a good reason to go and buy a 7 seater Merceedes Vito! I suppose it will be good as we will have 3 car seats so would have been squashed in the VW Estate. Plus we have a boxer dog and enjoy camping so the Vito will be fab.

georgee Great news about the free bugaboo, my friend loves hers.

Mampam Would you like a life swap??? Yours sound lovely

MrsDmamme You have a very valid reason for not baking- I wouldn't if I couldn't eat what I had made.

My slab of cake given to me this morning is very rapidly getting smaller

Ah Mampam you already live in the most beautiful place in the world... I'm a Devon girl born and bred but have lived in London for years so am a bit biased. Would do anything to be able to give my little one the chance to grow up by the sea. My DH is trying to persuade me to head back to Sydney (he is Australian) which is 2nd favourite place in the world once the baby is born but the older I get the further away it feels...

Can't wait to start making cakes for my own child. I remember helping my Mum make my sister's birthday cake - it was the first time I heard my Mum say fuck!!

Glad you are ok Gina hope the time passes quickly until your 20 week scan.

Brain befuddled by stinking cold today.

Keep forgetting to add myself to the list. Is it just a c and p job?

27th-3rd - ScaredofEverything, 33, #2
30/05 GoodName, 31, #1
31/05 RnB, 31, #3
31/05 dinosaurinmybelly (DIMB), 37, #3 GIRL
31/05 - mampam, 30 #3
1st - Washersaurus , 33, #3
1st - ELM, 29, #2
1st - bambino02, 23, #2
1st - whenwillisleepagain, 42 #2
1st - PogueMahone, 35, #3
2nd - scrappydappydoo, #3
2nd - MrsGravy, 33, #3
2nd - meggymegmegs, 31, #1 SURPRISE
2nd - Justbeme , 41 #3
2nd - AlwaysHopeful, 35, #2 SURPRISE
3rd - nickytwotimes, 35, #2
3rd - Tafftaff, 36, #2
3rd - Jenba, ?, #3
3rd - Flossysmum, #4
4th - minimoonumbertwo, 33, #2
4th - madamefreckle, 34,#2 GIRL
4th - sunshiney, 34, #2
5th - Dizzymac, 35 No.3
6th - zumm, 37, #1
7th - MrsC09, 29 #1 SURPRISE
7th - mumandlovingit, 28 #3
7th/11th - PorridgeBrain, 34, no. 2
8th - LittleRobbo, 35, #3 GIRL
8th - Tobermory, #2
8th - Saucepanman, 31, #4
8th - MrsAlwaysRight 31, #2
9th - greensnail, 27, #2 SURPRISE
10th - charlottew 32, #1
10th - upsydaisysexstylist #3
11th - woofie, 33, # 2 BOY
12th - UnrequitedSkink, 33, no. 2
12th - Rangemaster 29, #3
12th - Georgee, 38, #1 GIRL
12th - Fabi76, 33 #1
13th - ChairmumMiaow, 29, #2
13th - sobloodystupid, 34, #3
14th - Fillybuster, 35, #3
15th - MummyWantsANewBag, #2
15th - Ponymum, 41, # 2
15th - Millymollymoo, ?, #4
16th - NizzyNoodles, 35, #3
17th - Bluesnowfalcon 28 #1
17th - Summerhols, 31, #1
17th - Barbeasty, 30, #1 GIRL
17th - chestnut100, #1 GIRL
17th - MomBanks, #2
18th - theperfectbaguette 34 #1
19th - Ladyemmalou83, 26 #1
20th - addictedtofrazzles, 33, #2
21st - Gizmo, 39, #3
21st - Sunworshipper, 36, #1
22nd - gaelicsheep, 33, #2
23rd - GinaFB, #1 - scanned
23rd - Sunshineday 39 #5
23rd? - Spudthescarecrow #3
23rd - Earlyonemorning, 35, #4,
23rd - SecretLemonadeDrinker, 23, #3
23rd - IckleJess, #4 BOY
24th - GibberingGinger #2+3
25th - Ilovemyterrier, 38 #1
25th - readysetgo, #1
26th - Celery, 34 #4
26th - herewegrow 31 #2
26th - imkeepingmum, #1,
27th - Stac14, 30 #2 -
27th - muchchocolate, #2
27th - nikkisbump #1
28th - diznom 32 #1
29th - CantSleepWontSleep, 36, no3
29th - MrsDmamee #3
29th - MumfieMagic, 37 #1,
29th - playftseforme, no 2 + 3
29th - JBroRo, 30 #1.
30th - Monthlymayhem, 34, no. 2
30th - MonkeyMargot, 35, #2+3
30th - LaTrucha, 36, #2

Ahem ...

The sum total of my 3 car seat across the back car research (in the cheap second hand car category ) is that the S-max or Citroen C4 Grand Picasso with lots of miles on the clock and in diesel look like reasonable bets. Technically I don't need 7 seats, but I figure that the boot space will be handy for a twin pushchair. Also, trying not to succumb to newer versions so that I don't get all precious about say a nanny driving it, if that's the childcare route I decide on.

So that's the benefit of my wisdom FWIW (not v much actually ) (rejected the Galaxy cos the newer ones with the isofix points are too pricey and the engines are less efficient according to the quoted stats, and also the Qashqai+2 cos there's hardly any second hand market in them).

Lol (and ) at anyone thinking I might fall into the 'wonderwoman' category!! I spend my entire life running to catch up and in an almost perpetual state of guilt/stress as I try to get everything done I am so far from being a wonderwoman its scary

I definitely think its unhealthy to compare yourself to anyone else in terms of lifestyle choice and stuff - I know, for example, that choosing to live in london means dealing with more stress & a higher cost of living so its at least partially self-inflicted, IYSWIM. And baking, for me anyway, is a selfish activity (even when I do it with dcs) as most of the time I totally love doing it and its my way of unwinding...and maybe the whole 'working mother with something to prove' thing is a bit of a cliche but it might be (a little bit) true with me - I do regularly feel as though some people (like my MIL!) think my family 'miss out' because I work so I need to prove my good mother status by making everything myself etc...(um, sorry, got a little bit navel gazing there!!)

Wheredidmyfeetgo - I am never assembling a train again! I literally had nightmares about that Thomas cake for a week in advance - it took 8 different shaped pieces iced together to make the inside shape, including 2 long round bits that I achieved by baking them in empty baked bean cans And applying the blue icing and stuff took forever. Honestly, never again

Littlerobboo - looking forward to seeing you tomorrow, but you may have to fight my dh and dcs for the spoon!!

playftse have you looked at the Grand Scenic?

We have just ordered a normal Scenic as we have no practical family cars (much to my OH's horror!) they have 3 back seats and 2 in teh boot that fold up

Playftseform We don't need 7 seats either, but it's DF's choice! I don't drive (well apart from a Motorbike pre children and that license has now expired) so I don't feel I can pass comment on choice of car. As long as he's not heading off to buy a 2 seater sports car of course!

Filly We are living the same life, I could have wriien your post from "I spend my life" through to "good mother status"!
Maybe I'll rethink the train cake then, sounds difficult at the best of times let alone when pregnant and with limited time to prepare it it.

And I do believe it was me that had dibs on the spoon!!! *Littlerobbo" asked what time she should be round- I wasn't that polite!

Thanks GinaFB - only prob is that dh has an irrational dislike of Renaults, ever since we hired one on honeymoon and it beeped at him over his driving what felt like every 5 mins (probably more to do with the driving than the car!!). Is the Scenic a nice car to drive (and does it have many audible warning alerts)?

ginafb i wont know until next visit with my consultant at 24 weeks if placenta has moved..she only has a mini scanner in her office but she was able to point out quite clearly last time my cervix baby and placenta...baby seems to have a lovely cushion to lie on
but the bleeding has stopped for over 2 weeks now so im taking that as a good sign that placenta has moved a little.

My DH just couldnt stand the waiting around in the hospitals hoping everything was ok, we had a trip to the hospital before bleeding started when doc thought this pg was ectopic at 6 wks.

woohoo thanks mampam i did have a sort of exciting life if only briefly, before that small move abroad i did live a very differant life as a single parent. So having a DH now and our own home is exciting to me and a dc3 on the way

wheredidmyfeetgo phew i get a "get out of baking" pass

playftse we liked it, and I have heard that Renault have really improved recently. It might be worth a test drive. We thought they were good value compared to some of the alternatives. We are expecting delivery in March of the new dynamique and managed to get a fantastic deal (30% off).

MrsDM Glad the bleeding has stopped, I hope it all sorts itsself out. My OH was fed up watching everyone "wander around" and was horrified that the Dr that we saw looked about 15