We're taking the train...some now boarding, some delays, some still standing on the platform! TTC 'Waiters' IIT!

[bebejones]

Old thread here

Welcome aboard, make yourselves comfy I have a feeling it's going to be a bumpy ride!

I'm back!!! Well, I have somehow hurt my hip joint & been given anti-inflammatories (sp?) The odd temp sensations are probably MS related :( GP has told me to keep an eye on it & if it gets significantly worse I will probably have to have steroids again :( Keeping fingers crossed it comes to nothing!

I said to him about TTC & he has booked me in for some pre pregnancy blood tests to check my B12 levels (I have a history of deficiency) and he said that supplements wise he would be happy for me to take anything that is a vitamin but nothing herbal. So will carry on with Iron & vitD (high strength one) And will get a prenatal vitamin with Omega 3 in it. So will only stop the Evening Primrose & Glucosomine.

JBells - It's horrid having the scan looming isn't it? I felt ridiculously nervous before mine with DD. Mostly coz I didn't know what to expect and also coz I was so sick I didn't know how on earth I was going to keep down a pint of water! Know exactly what you mean about having more than 2 mins in the shower! Baths are a luxury for me now, just don't have time to lounge in a nice bubbly bath! :(

100 - I have never felt sick when have had AF, but did have horrendous morning (noon & night) sickness with DD, so maybe it is linked?!

xposts Quod!

Know exactly what you mean about 'head space' really finding it a struggle to think about anything else!

Having a sort of timetable helps a bit though! :)

Quod, I've actually found I am thinking about it a bit less now we are actually SWI, or rather I am less stressed over it, I think it's because now it's actually here I'm in the doing something category as opposed to the waiting category which helps me no end.

bebe, :( poop for the hip joint, hopefully that will help and maybe it will stop the sensations from getting worse. Will keep fingers crossed.

Afternoon all!!

bebe great to hear that you have found out that the leg pain isn;t related to your MS. I really hope that this means you are not having another relapse. Also good that your Dr is getting you booked in for all your tests now. Hopefully once they are all done and your Dr has given you the "all clear" to go ahead and TTC then DH will be more positive about it.

WYorksLass such an exciting time when the wedding gets to less then 1 month away!! I was a bundle of nerves on the day (I am not a big fan of having people look at me and being the centre of attention) but as soon as I was standing next to DH I felt amazing and didn't stop smiling for the rest of the day!!!

jbells hope that the scan goes ok. I am sure that all will be fine but I can only imagine how nervous you will be before you get in and see that everything is ok.

On the job front, I have finally got a meeting date and time (and location) I'm meeting him in London on Monday over my lunch break so I don't even need to take a sick day - hurrah! Now fingers crossed on Mondat at 13:30 everybody!!

Good luck with the meeting/2nd interview JS!

I have voted for your DD Bebe- she is lovely- such a nice smile! The advent calendar is fab too- you are very talented! Hope your leg feels better soon. I echo the people that said don't feel guilty about stopping meds, it is probably nothing to do with that.

Time passes so slowly when you are waiting for anything so I'm sure it must be so frustrating waiting for AF or for a certain day to POAS for those of you SWI!

Nice pics of your DD jbells- very cute!

JS - Good Luck for Monday, we will all be cheering you on & crossing our fingers!!

Thanks to everyone for voting for DD :) She is cute, but photos don't do her justice coz most of her cuteness is her personality! Although she is recently cheeky bordering on obnoxious! Still don't think we'll make top 12 but is nice to know that people have voted! :)

Been chatting to my friend about her TTC. She's been trying over a year for number 2. She has 21day bloods next week. Really got everthing crossed for her, our DDs only have 4 months between them & would be nice to have 2nd DC close together too even though we don't live that close! Going to talking to DH about it, coz hopefully him knowing that conceiving DC2 isn't always as easy as the first might spur him on a bit.

hello all quick question will catch up properly later

does anyone know some good recipes, ideas for stuff to put in home made mini hampers to give as gifts for xmas?

simpleish recipes tho as im not the greatest cook

jbells are you thinking sweet or savoury?
Stuff like shortbread, flapjack for sweet
Will have a think for savoury

Feeling a bit meh today. I tell you it's all up and down with me! Just found out about another pregnancy, wishing it was me, but can only let nature take it's course haven't we. Keep thinking it will be me one day, and then adding I hope onto the end. Not sure if I am sabotaging myself at the moment, my food attitude is a bit squiffy at the moment and I feel like eating all the wrong foods to try and cheer me up, which isn't really working. Pah. I'm sure this will pass, think I want AF to arrive now I think I'm just a bit emotional this week.

Hi everyone. I'm jealous of everyone gearing up to ttc and like 100years the pg tally just keeps going up, leaving us behind. I'm a bit scared about how I'm going to handle it when Christmas is over and DH still says no. As he inevitably will.

Your friend must feel despair though Bebe, I have to remember things could be much worse. I'll cross my fingers for her.

As SP says you mustn't feel guilty about stopping the meds. You said yourself another pg could be good for your MS. The important thing is that you aren't off them for no reason, which I suppose means that talk with DH is unavoidable. Hurry up with that man control recipe JS!

JBells DH and I had a brilliant time making chutney. It was really easy to do and tasted yummy. You need to make loads though! Jam is also very easy to make.

So much going on on this thread! Ttc, scans, job interviews, FOF talks... Good luck to everyone!

Not to mention weddings WYorksLass! It's really getting close now. I had all sorts of crazy pre-wedding dreams where really mad stuff went wrong!

Quod a date in the spring! At least it's a date you can aim for and plan. Do you think you'll stick to it? Would you try to miss out Christmas and go for the January or February bus do you think? I wonder if I'll still be here? I'll be like some mad literary character by then walking around nursing some weird inanimate object and singing to it.

Hugs AC

AC - lol at you wandering around with an inanimate object!
If we 'get going' I've always said I'd stop to avoisd a December baby, but think once we start that'll be easier said than done!

JBells - Fudge is really easy, but you'll need to make it quite close to xmas. Have a recipe downstairs if you'd like it? Also 2nd AC on chutney, is SO easy (likewise jam) you will need a very big pot as you have to make quite alot! Christmassy shaped gingerbread could be quite good & your DD could help 'decorate' them. I have a cupboard full of jams etc that I've been making for xmas pressies. Last year I got a cheapy wicker basket & put in a couple of homemade chutneys, a cheese knife & small wooden board & some nice crackers. Went down really well!

JS - I really need that 'man control' recipe over here too!

Have been sowing the seeds of doubt with DH over how long conceiving #2 could take! He keeps saying it's not the right time. I keep pointing out that there will never be a 'right' time, but that there won't be a worse time. If things are only going to get better then surely there is no point to delay. My health won't let me wait forever!

AC have a feeling I'll be here with you!! We can keep eachother company in the bar car nekking martinis and feasting on a cheese and meat antipasti board whilst everyone else is on the virgin mojitos!!!

DH read an article the other day though which said that September and October babies are more successful academically. He seems to think an autumn baby would be perfect............ And then I pointed out that to get a September baby we'd have to change our timings and start trying in January. He then said "or wait until January 2012" with a hopeful face..... Not likely sunshine!!!!

Also a big chutney fan. I'll be making a batch of my grannies rhubarb chutney this year, it's amazing !!!

I'm a december baby, I have not - unless I requested something mega expensive - ever got joint christmas and birthday presents, if that's what's stopping you.

Oh no JS, let's hope he changes his mind come January and doesn't want to try and make you wait another year.

Im so bored tonight. OH is away for the night, I'm all undecided about what to do/watch/read/post/anything. Gah

hey all thanks for all suggestions

bebe- i wud really like your fudge recipe

anyone with a good chutney recipe i wud really appreciate it to

in fact anything u all want to send me please do so :)

sorry just a quick one as about to finally eat dinner, will catch up properlyu in the morning

oh AC did u ever see that tv show where the people pretended dolls were babies thats wot your comment made me think of lol

and JS pmsl at your "not likely sunshine" remark made me giggle

have a gud nite all :o

Oh 100. It sucks when you're home alone doesn't it?

Have you got sky+ or the virgin equivalent? I always store up crap tv for when DH is away or home late!!!

Nope, we have no recordable TV options! In fact we have only recently started receiving some freeview channels. But that's OK, we don't usually watch stuff anyway. Might iPlayer something in a while.

I'll get the flapjack and shortbread recipes for you tomorrow

Hi all :) I have managed to get through all the annual review/planning stuff at work today... although now I feel a bit bad for coming up with a long-term plan that I am hoping not to see through! DH is away so I've caught up on last week's Mad Men, and now am just wasting time before meeting a friend for a drink later.

bebe glad that your leg isn't down to the MS, hope the rest of your symptoms disappear too.

jbells how about chocolate truffles? They are lovely, but normally made with cream so they have to be refrigerated and eaten within a few days so maybe not suitable. Other things you could try are fruity alcohol and jars of mixed nuts in honey.

100years my sis has her bday in Nov, and I often get her joint presents! Its too much thinking of all the presents I need to get

Tomato Chutney Recipe
1kg ripe tomatoes peeled & chopped (To peel, score a cross in the bottom then submerge in boiling water for 30seconds or so, then peel/rub skin off)
750g cooking apples, peeled, cored & chopped small
375g light muscovado sugar
250g chopped onions (I use red ones)
250g raisins
1 green pepper, deseeded & chopped
2 tsp salt
1/2tsp ground ginger
350ml cider vinegar

Put all ingredients into a large pan & bring to boil on a medium heat
Stir occasionaly until the sugar has dissolved
Boil, uncovered for 45-50mins until fruit is tender & it has thickened. Cool & pour into sterilised jars.

(To sterilise jars, wash in warm soapy water the put upside down on a tray in an oven at 140c for 15mins, boil metal jar lids in a pan of water for 5mins)

This is really yummy with cheese!

jbells we made chutney with our leftover green tomatoes the other day, sooo easy...I just googled recipes. Pretty sure you can do a normal tomato chutney too.

AC I hadn't thought that far ahead! Don't think I'd bother with avoiding an xmas baby though. We're going to Australia for the whole of December which will be a) a chance to finally satisfy the wish for a proper long holiday together and b) a chance to talk about when in the NY we might TTC. To be honest I think it's as likely to be me who puts the brakes on as him. At one point I was thinking maybe we could stop the contraception whilst we're away but I think it might just bugger up our holiday!

Worked out the other day that because my sister's birthday is right at beginning of Oct, my mum couldn't have had her any nearer the start of the academic year without risking her being an August baby if she's tried the previous cycle. My parents are both teachers and I know they conceived my sis first time trying, so I wonder if they actually planned it.

100 have you watched The Wire? Now that is a box set that will keep you busy of an evening for, oh, the whole of winter. I was so sad when we finished it!

There is a good white choc & cranberry fudge recipe on MN recipe pages. Will go find my choc fudge one now, but is another one that needs to be made relatively close to consumption!

Recipe Number 1

Absurdly Easy Chocolate Fudge.

450g chocolate
57g Butter
396g (1 can) Condensed milk.
...
Melt the chocolate and butter together before adding the condensed milk. Stir throughly.
Pour into tin/mould then place in fridge to set. Leave at least overnight. I find it tastes better/firmer when its been in the fridge a few days. After a few hours mark into squares.
Keep in the fridge

Recipe Number 2

In a medium, heavy based saucepan put 225g granulated sugar, 50g unsalted butter, a 397g tin of condensed milk, 1 tbsp clear honey and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Heat gently until the sugar dissolves - keep stirring all the time.

Bring to the boil, and boil for 6 - 8 minutes - keep stirring all the time!

Remove pan from heat and beat in 100g grated dark chocolate until smooth and glossy.

Pour mixture into square cake tin (lined with baking parchment) and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Chop into squares. Store in an airtight container

The 1st one is really yummy, make with half milk half plain choc.

The 2nd one is 'fudgier' and doesn't necessarily need refridgerating!

Right that's my domestic knowledge passed on for now! :o

I must spend alot of time in the kitchen as DD has taken to saying 'No mummy, go away....back in the kitchen!!'

100 - It's not the present issue that puts me off December but it's a busy month! Our wedding anniversary is the 1st, I have a really close friends Birthday on the 8th, DHs best friends birthday on the 13th, then Christmas, then SILs birthday on the 30th & then New Years! It's a pretty packed/expensive month already! January isn't much better!

JS - really hope you don't have to wait til 2012!!