Emmsys weebles; pop in for a chat, there's always someone in the greenhouse

[VJay]

How's that? Just hope we all haven't had the same idea and there are now 5 new Emmsys threads

Hello ladies, feeling a bit . Had a phone call yesterday from the secretary of my chest consultant saying that the lab have grown some sort of mycobacterium in my sputum sample (sorry) from two weeks ago - I bloody knew this wasn't just my asthma. I've now got to have some special tests to rule out TB & actually had to have some TB injected in my arm when I saw him this evening to see how my body reacts to it. I'm not overly stressed about it & am kind-of glad that they have now found something wrong with me but it couldn't have come at a worse time. I've done some Googling (yes I know, I'm now going to amputate my Googling-arm forthwith) & depending on what type of mycobacterium it is, I could now face months of drugs & intensive treatment. Right moan over. Sorry.

mls you poor thing, i think you are within your rights to have a moan! i dont know anything about TB, it doesnt sound very nice, but at least they have found something and will be able to treat it. glad you are calm and taking it in your stride, but we are here for the rough and the smooth - you know that by now, so rant away. focus on your new lo who will be here on 10/10 and know that we are here to help in anyway we can xxx

Thanks Moon, that was a nice thing to say. .

omg woman step away from the google.
I was a bit worried about your asthma but remebered that mine was bad when I was carrying ds and thought nothing more.
Thank goodness they have picked something up though and no wonder you feel a whole load of those faces that I am not going to waste time doing.
Bed, rest and tomorrow is another day. Thinking of you lots.

himoonx

Oh MLS - sorry to hear you're news.. As a fellow Asthma suffere I know how annoying having a permanent cough is and how any cold can go into your chest. At least they now admit its more than just asthma and really hope any treatment goes swiftly and doesn't interfere with your babymoon ()

Loved your suggestiona bout using the piccie of Benj, I totally agree, sums him up all blue eys and cheeky smile.. Will diary to bring it up early 2011, a wee early 49th b'day treat to myself..

Sabs - Happt Birthday to your Darling Daughter Saara . Bet she is the prettiest girl in town today. What a quick year

barbie - worrying with you honey. Dolly has always been dainty but never short of energy and blasting those milestones (walking at a year - I think NOT!)which means she has plenty of energy and calories and would be lethergic and unhappy if her bowels were concerning her. What is the water like out there? Sometimes hard water can cause constipation...

Vjay - hope Ajay's sleep gets better soon, did you give him a supper?

Moon - hey, any more thoughts on your intimate wedding?

Busy, busy day today, dropped off DS1, packed up and labelled e-bay goods, picked up DS1, post office, lunch, Tesco, made cakes for playgroup open day on Sat, picked up DH (my car is in garage), dinner, bedtime for boys, made Tuna lasagne and cheesy fish and R-E-L-A-X.

10 years ago it would have read: work, gym, shower, sandwich, tv, sex, bed

Night all xx

Correction!! I will be 40 NOT 49 next year

'Your' not 'you're' (sorry neeko)

Note to self - preview before pressing post...

mermaid - forgot to say , hope you are zenned and uuuumed from your yoga

Mermaid some people say that asthma gets worse in pregnancy & some say it gets better, I just don't know what to believe.

Blue had a little at you saying you were going to be 49! I have a day like you tomorrow, 9am take car to garage, 11am take dd to ballet, collect prescription from gp, 1pm neighbour round for a natter, 3pm play-date, at some point make dinner (I like the sound of tuna lasagne) what next........ ummm have a baby???

quick message ( when do I do any other sort!)

MLS That sounds horrid and if you need help, I'll remove your googling arm for you ( ( hope it's not your fab painting arm!) I was in your Sainsburys in Brookwood tonight sswopping one pair or trousers and buying up the rest of the shop... It rocked ( how sad has my life become, excited about a night out clothes shopping for the kids in a supermarket...)

Barbie Sorry to hear about the tests for Dolly but to look on the bright side, you know your daughter better than anyone else, so ask yourself if you think there is anything wrong ( doesn't look much like it to me.)

And blue I had a day like yours and by lunchtime realized that I shold have sent DH to work on the bus so that I could have the car - walk dc's to school, then walk 25 minutes to babyJ's nursery - oh no, shes lost her socks and so can't carry her that that far in the cold so beg a lift off school parent to nursery and walk home to find sock. Collected from nursery by taxi 5 minutes later to go to dr's to have coil fitted, then shopping and get bus home. 2 hours at home to deal with our paperwork mountain and make spag bol for dc's and ds's friend who is coming for tea. Taxi to nursery to collect dd2, walk back. Get ready for school book sale. Walk to school, set up stall, sell a few books, remember to collect dc's, dc1 feeds dc3, walk home, make tea, seperate waring dc's, baby to bed - and breathe! Oh yes, and put washing out, tidy up etc, etc, etc....... I'm looking forward to going back to work for a rest!

happy, happy birthday, Saara Hope you and yoru mummy and daddy are having a lovely holiday

LBM you definitely win - have a sit down & a cup of tea!

BTW what is it with the coil, is it this Autumn's new must have accessory? One of my friends had hers fitted yesterday & quite a few on this thread have it already. As far as I'm concerned the coil is one step too far.... eeeeuuw!

louey thinking of you today hope you mark the day how you would like to remember and big gold star for being fab.

mls hope you are on a slightly even keel this morning
lbm had to sit down after reading your post!
ditto blue and omg can you imagine actually being 1 away from 50? shudder.

louey - thinking of you and your llo today xx

MLS - about coil being the new black . I'm with you on it and DH is going for snip option (been reading the post-snip thread with interest!).

LBM - blardy hell, what we cram into waking hours . Hope you have the car today. I'm at work, so it's cups of tea and pacing my day but I do miss my boys, ahh the ying and yang of it all. You need to get those sock stay on thingys (you can get them from Mothercare).

mermaid - still chuckling at me being 49. The thought has almost kick started my mid-life crisis . I do fancy Glastonbury before I'm the big 5-0.. Maybe take the boys and we can all wear matching Hunter wellies .

blue we had the glastonbury conversation last night too.... not sure I can do glasto toilets anymore though.

Morning,
Goodness mls you poor love, I hope everything is alright for you. Was thinking of you this morning, not long to go...

blue had a little chuckle at you being 49!!! I like the idea of Glastonbury, but like Cjay I hate the crowds, we'd end up huddled in our tent throughout

louey thinking of you today too x

lbm you made me tired just reading your post

I didn't end up giving Ajay any supper last night as he fell asleep, but he did sleep through, so I am feeling much better today

louey just popped on to say I am thinking of you today too. I know your head will be full of the what if's and what could have been and I am sending you an extra hug today.

Had a quick scan of the posts, but will catch up prpoerly on Sunday when i have more time, i am not meant to be here right now but didn't want to miss louey

MLS so sorry that you are having a worrying time, at least they are finally going to take it serious, though that must be little comfort after being poorly for so much of your much wanted preganancy. on a brighter note, not long now Will add myself to the sweepstake!

Curly - 25/9, GIRL, 6lbs 7oz
Neeko - 29/9, GIRL, 7lbs 8oz
Sabs - 30/09 (Saara's birthday), GIRL, 7lb 7oz
Blue - 1/10 GIRL, 6lbs 6oz
Louey - 5/10, GIRL 7lbs
4ever - 01/10, GIRL 6lb 11oz
Neeko's mum - 1/10 BOY, 7lbs 5oz Well she has met her and feels that's reason enough for a guess!
Cupcake - 10/10, BOY, 7lbs 10oz
Moon - 10/10, BOY, 7lbs 1oz
LBM - 11/10, BOY, 8lbs
Vjay - 17/10, BOY 7lbs 6oz
QuestionsAgain - 8/10/10 Girl 7lb 11oz

Barbie I agree with blue that Dolly sounds like she has waaaay too much energy her weight to be too much of a concern She sounds so adventurous. But I know how much we all naturally worry about our LO's, so hope you're ok.

I am still waiting, waiting, waiting. Not good for an impatient person like me

Sorry to everyone I missed, going with the theory that something is better than nothing....

Thinking of you all x

mermaid and blue I can't face glastonbury but we will be doing at least one festi again next year however BabyJ will be visiting Grandmas

You'll be pleased to know that today wasn't any quieter - no car again and so,school run, then babyfit via train ( means 30 minute walk before and after class), followed by 20 minutes at home to feed us both and change us both and then off to help at school which today meant that poor babybelle stayed in her buggy under a tree in the pouring rain for 2 hours whilst I helped ds's class make stewed blackberries and apples over an open fire. Not sure that babyBelle has forgiven me yet...

As for the coil - the snip is a bit too serious for me, coil was a bit uncomfortable to fit but is fine now and for the next 5 years!

louey Thinking of you today - hope you are getting extra cuddles from DT's

Evening ladies, hope everyone is well. I missed you all!

Sending lots of hugs to you louey. Like lbm said, hope your DT's are giving you lots of extra cuddles.

Hugs also to monkey as well. Sorry I wasnt around this week, but I see the ladies took good care of you in our greenhouse

QA nice to see you on here. Agreed that flying visits are most welcome

vjay Hope Ajay sleeps through tonight

lbm I often have a night out alone to my nearest Asda so know what you mean! Do you only have a week left before you go back to work?

blue Hope you have a much calmer week next week!

mermaid I'm another one who misses you when we dont hear from you. I love your posts. How is the yoga going?

mls sorry to hear about all the stress you're going through. Hows the bump?

moon Loving the wedding talk Let us know how the venue is on Sunday

barbie Sorry to hear Dolly has been unwell. Hope the teething is getting better. at Dolly saying Allah. When we say Assalam-mo-alaikum to Saara, which is the way we greet each other, she responds by saying 'hi!'. Is anyone else on here bilingual and have experience in teaching their lo's more than one language? We speak English at home as well as our mother tongue, and we really want S to learn both languages, it comes in handy when you're in public and need to tell someone off!

cupcake hope you're having a fab time and getting some good weather out there

4ever at you being so in love with your DH

jools Have a fab time on holiday. I'm really glad you didnt walk past. It was lovely to mee you and hopefully see you again soon

neeko I wanna see photos of the birthday party too!

Hugs to everyone who have had anniversaries and significant dates recently.

Thanks to everyone for your birthday messages and thanks to curly and 4ever for your texts. Cant believe my baby girl is a year old. We had a great time on holiday. Her actual birthday was spent on the beach and randomly singing happy birthday to her but the day before we went to a zoo and had an amazing time, especially in this viewing gallery where we were practically nose to nose with giraffes! Tomorrow we have a special baby sensory class. It was her favourite baby classes when we were going to classes and they're having a special one-off birthday session which DH is coming along too. On Sunday we're having a small tea party with just immediate family but I've gone mad on decorations, cake and other foodstuff . We've also bought her a trike to give to her on Sunday (so dont tell Saara about it yet!

The holiday was great. Saara was challenging during the flight and on various taxi/car rides where we had to keep her constantly entertained as she just wanted to use her new found freedom of walking! She charmed everyone everywhere, flirting with all the men She even picked up a bit of german by saying 'ya'! We also started her on cow's milk when we were out there for one of her milk feeds but need to read up now on how much milk to give her now she's one. The only issue with Saara and milk feeding is she likes her milk hot and will not drink cold or even lukewarm milk, a problem when we're out and about.

Have a bit of bad news. Got home from holiday at 4.30am this morning to receive a letter from work to say that despite them writing to me to say that I had been matched to a role in the new structure and I would not need to undergo a selection process, as my maternity leave had come to an end before the consultation process I am now again at risk of redundancy and will have to have an inteview, most likely next week - I go back to work on Tuesday. If they had told me this earlier and not confirmed a role, I wouldnt have gone on holiday and spent the past 2 months preparing for interviews. I've been off work for nearly 14 months and feel so out of the loop, theres no way I can prepare myself for an interview for next week as well as settling myself back into work, a new routine and having to be away from Saara and settling her in into a new routine and environment. I've been told to seek legal advice. Will see what happens.

Night all

Girls, I am so sorry I haven't been on before now. I feel doubly bad because I didn't come on to acknowledge all the lovely support you gave me for Tuesday. I don't know quite how to express this, but you all help me so much it's unbelievable. Very few people in RL knew it was our EDD, and so it gave me huge comfort when I felt sad to think of all of you lovelies buoying me up and keeping me going. It was a very wierd day, and as I said to Barbie I felt a little out of myself if that makes sense? Like I was going through the motions but really I was somewhere else?
I didn't manage to get to go to the cemetery on Tuesday and haven't had a chance all week, but I wonder whether that's really my doing - creating jobs/errands etc so I don't have to go? Hmmmm.
The other thing that happened on Tuesday, which I almost fell to bits over, was that I had the news that my colleague gave birth to a little girl. I just knew I would find out on my EDD. Fantastic for her, I know, but it almost tore me apart. In fact, I can't even get the words out to tell dh, so he still doesn't know

Anyway, enough about me - I have been thinking of you all lots this week, and hoping you're all okay. Happy (belated) First Birthday to little Saara Sabs It sounds like you had a wonderful day, and that the fun will continue this weekend! Hope she likes her lovely pressie tomorrow Also, am v at your work, poor you! Am glad you're going to seek legal advice, because it doesn't sound fair at all. That's ridiculous expecting you to go into an interview with such short notice, esp as you're starting back after such a long time. I hope you get some good advice, let us know what happens won't you, and good luck for Tuesday xxx

MLS Gosh, I'm so sorry to hear that you're still suffering, but at least they have done tests and hopefully will have everything under control before long. You must be worried about the baby too, poor you having to deal with this now I really hope it's all not as bad as you think it might be.
BTW, you hit the nail on the head about how I feel sometimes, when you said I must feel like sinking to the floor and weeping. That is exactly how I feel, and I just don't understand what makes me keep going. I s'pose something must kick in to keep us upright mustn't it...

Louey Big (((((hug))))) to you too. Y'day can't have been easy. How are your lovely boys?

Barbie As I said in my email you are simply wonderful. I would so love to be able to meet you in RL (and all of you other lovely ladies). You are so thoughtful and kind, and know just what to say to make someone realise they're not going through things alone. Thank you xxx ps I loved the poem, and will keep reading it x pps I really hope Dolly is okay - have you been to the doctors again today? I have my fingers crossed all is well, it's so worrying when they're poorly

Cupcake Hope you're having a lovely holiday! I missed where it was you said you were going in France, if you did say? Obv you won't be answering soon, but would love to know in case it might be relatively near me! Hope you've enjoyed all the fab food!

Blue at you being 49. I had a moment there when I thought, no, surely not??? Sounds like a lovely pressie to yourself to get Ben's picture done next year. You'll have to post pics when it's finished - bet it will be fab Also, am loving the thought of your matching Hunters, v sweet

LBM My goodness, you must have bucketloads of energy to get everything done that you've been doing Either that or you must be knackered Good luck back at work. When do you get the car back btw?

Hello also to VJay and Neeko How are the diets going? Hope you're both happy and well

Mermaid How are you doing? Hope you're okay...

Sorry if I've missed anyone out, but lots of love to anyone I did, and to the rest of you too!

Now I have to have a bit of a preen here... Today I have made my mincemeat and my Christmas Cake Am very proud of myself, because despite the help (read hindrance) of my sweet, sweet boy, we got everything done! Yes, the kitchen looks like a bomb's hit it, but it does smell yummy! Just got to do the pudding now...

Have a great rest of weekend all xxxxx

monkey my heart really goes out to you, you are so amazingly strong, that is why you keep going. You will go to the cemetery when you are ready to, you will wake up one day and just go.
As for your Christmas cake and mincemeat, well done I have my ingredients in for the cake and plan on doing it soon, and would love your mincemeat recipe

sabs so about your job, there are always loop holes they find, you can't be expected to interview when you go back it's just not fair!!!!

Hi qa lovely to see you

lbm the coil is good, once it's in you can forget about it for the next 5 years....apart from when the strings go missing , I checked mine this week and the strings have definatly dissapeared, not sure what to do about it really!

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend

Thanks VJay Will write up recipe for mincemeat tomorrow - am just putting mine in jars now

Btw coil? Strings? And I thought I knew everything about what goes on down there...

monkey that will be great thanks

We have no Ac (again ) so not spending much time in the villa..hence no posting. Man coming tomorrow so i can sit in comfort and catch up...louey sorry i wasnt there to support on you edd i was thinking of you though.

Hope everyone is ok, ill be back soon xxx

Ps Dolly is fine, no more test needed, oh and she has cut two teeth (both on the same day poor love)

Just a quickie with the recipe for VJay - we've had people over for lunch and seemingly dh has gone on strike There's lots of tidying up to do!

Barbie So glad Dolly is okay, and well done her with her teeth! Bless her Hope you get your ac back soon...

Mincemeat Recipe (copied out of Delia's book, hope I'm allowed to do that )

450g Bramley apples, cored and chopped small (no need to peel)
225g shredded suet
350g raisins
225g sultanas
225g currants
225g whole candied peel, finely chopped
350g soft dark brown sugar
the grated zest and juice of 2 oranges
the grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
50g whole almonds, cut into slivers
4 teaspoons mixed ground spice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
whole nutmeg, for grating
6 tablespoons brandy

All you do is combine all the ingredients, except for the brandy, in a large mixing bowl, stirring them and mixing them together very thoroughly indeed. Then cover the bowl with a clean tea towel and leave the mixture in a cool place overnight or for 12 hours, so the flavours have a chance to mingle and develop.
After that preheat the oven to 120 degrees C/gas mark 1/4, cover the bowl loosely with foil and place it in the oven for 3 hours. Then remove the bowl from the oven and don't worry about the appearance of the mincemeat which looks positively swimming in fat. This is how it should look. As it cools, stir it from time to time; the fat will coagulate and, instead of it being in tiny shreds, it will incase all the other ingredients.
When the mincemeat is quite cold stir in the brandy. Pack in sterilised jars (wash in warm soapy water then place in preheated oven at 140 degrees/gas mark 1 for 30 mins), cover with wax discs and seal. It will keep in a cool, dark cupboard indefinately, but is best eaten withing a year of making.

I stuck mainly to the recipe but couldn't find Bramley apples over here so used a mixture from the garden. Also, I cheated and bought the almonds that are already thinly sliced. It does take ages to prepare all the ingredients, much longer than I thought it would anyway Poor ds was an hour late to bed by the time we'd finished grating and chopping! He loved it though - he is my official mixer

Good luck!

Thanks for that monkey it sounds delish I will have a go at making that.

barbie clever Dolly cutting 2 teeth together and so glad she doesn't need any more tests done, a relief for you.