Emmy's weebles are taking over mermaid's greenhouse!

[barbie1]

....therefore she cant throw us out!

Long may the support continue x

Morning everyone , how are we all coping the with snow ? It's actually OK up here in central Scotland, think we had the worst dump two weeks ago but England and Northern Ireland have been hit big time this weekend... I love snow as much as the next person but when it starts to effect travel, deliveries, food supplies for Christmas, just wish it would, like, melt.

Buddha, hope you get some answer for E's ears. Loved your b'day photos on FB, and yes I agree your DH looked like he had the best fun of all in that ball pit

Louey - my word you have been through the mill , you poor thing . Really hope you're perking up after getting a rest () over the weekend. Lovely to read you were able to hear the hb, the most reassuring sound in the world! I was given a stethoscope at work last week (don't ask!) and had it out at the weekend listening to the boys heartbeats . Big hand hold for your scan tomorrow x

4ever - re: your DH's bloods. I just felt it would be OK . LOVED your photos of S, especially the second arty one, of her looking down.

Vjay - did you make it down my way?? It snowed heavily yesterday but only for an hour. hope you've all recovered from the peanut incident, its a lesson to us all re: nuts... Had to at Ajay shutting himself in the cupboard. Ben's new 'thing' is pointing, at everything. points to fridge = i want a yoghurt. Points to me = that's my Mummy. Points to bookshelf = I want my books down NOW

QfS - sooo, have you had a, ahem, busy weekend?? I feel for you re: your trepidation, the longing for a BFP is quickly followed by the stomach churning anxiety when it does happen.. The first 12 weeks are just the longest ever but come on here and we will keep you company when it does happen

Barbie - is that you in there under all those layers ?? hope you're enjoying your swanky apartment and are managing some quiet family time.

cupcake - glad the clothes are going to a good home . I see Kara won Strictly! I have a Xmas playlist too, made it last year to accompany my labour! 'A Spaceman Came Travelling' is my favourite one from last year, the line "a mother and child were lying there on the bed and he had the face of an angel" has me blubbing every time

StNeeko - hope your first week back went Ok x

Had to phone Party Pieces this morning as still no delivery of Ben's b'day banners etc. I've been reassured they are in the Edinburgh depot and will be delivered today, bloody better be or I will be driving there myself. My friend is making his cake, picking it up on Wed. night

Big waves to everyone lurking x

Hi everyone

IHQFS it is nerve racking, the first 12 weeks, but what I did was to think well there's nothing I can do it's out of my hands, I will deal with things as they happen, I still did a lot of wobbling though. Like blue says, that's what we're here for.

Yes blue we did make it down , and back, ok. It was a lovely weekend . I gave you my usual wave .
I forgot to say, I've used party pieces before, it was for Cjays 5th birthday, we had a pirate theme . I hope you get it all today. Can't believe wee B is going to be one
Thanks for all the congrats on my results

Ajay has not been himself since Thursday, bless him, I think it's a mixture of teething, a cold and what happened. I also thought I was ok with it all, but I've not been sleeping well, it all pops into my head, then future scenarios start whirling through my tired brain. So I will take my own advice that I've just given to IHQFS, that I will deal with 'things' as they happen. Plus it is early days.

Right I've just spent AGES doing the online shop as I was reading all the lables , so off to make a cuppa xx

Loved the apprentice final last night, agree with cupcakes that Margaret is fab. Shame she left. Though i wasn't keen on Stella, I think she was a worthy winner.

cupcake great that j is on the move, all the best babies go backwards first DS spent a couple of weeks going backwards before working out how to go the right way

Buddha Nightmare that your work have messed uo your money, what a time to be keeping you waiting Money just seems to disappear at this time of year. I am surprised your GP said that children with glue ear don't get ear infections, as I thought it made them more likely to get ear infections The ENT will hopefully be able to give you more info, usually your gut instinct will tell you if there is a problem with hearing. either way it's good that they have caught it early.

blue Hope your things arrive in time for B's big bday bash. I would be starting to get a little worried by now too. What sort of cake are you having? I smiled at B's pointing, it's so lovely when they start working hard to make themselves understood.

vjay It is completely understandable to still be shocked by what has happened and to keep replaying it in your head, especially as you are still having to get used to thinking about every thing that Ajay eats and what it means for the future. You are right, it is early days, things will get easier and it will all become second nature. Hope Ajay starts to feel better soon and that you get some sleep.

Thank you to you all for your words of support. I am feeling much more certain about things now and yes, have been busy over the weekend and will have to keep up the momentum until at least Wednesday

Have got my christmas playlist too. I love having christmas music on when i am wrapping presents, cooking and well, just whenever I can really When I get time I will come and post my top 5 christmas songs, perhaps we can create an Emmsy's playlist

oooh QfS - a top five Christmas playlist you say?! A girl after my own heart

1. A Spaceman Came Travelling (Chris D B)
2. Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas - (Judy Garland from 'Meet me in St Louis')
3. I believe in Father Christmas - Greg Lake
4. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
5. Winter Wonderland - Dean Martin

If you'd asked me in ooh 1986 it would have been

1. Last Christmas - Wham!
2. Last Christmas - Wham!
3. The Power of Love - Frankie
4. Do the know its Xmas - Band Aid
5. Last Christmas - Wham!

QfS - great to hear you got off to a flying start at the weekend I've given my friend a creative brief (pretentious - moi?). white square cake, icing ribbon effect to create four quadrants, name, age, balloons and streamers all white and pale blue. Her cakes are amazing.

Vjay - I'm sure you have done this already but you can probably google about peanuts and foods to avoid that might not seem obvious.. Glad you made it down and back

I'm now off work and on holiday until Friday 7th January - yehaaaa!

Evening all - there seems to be a lull in the Christmas madness tonight and so, obviously I've missed something and the rest of the week will be madness!

So, lets try some posting!

Firstly, 4ever so pleased that you had good news about your dddddh. Also thanks for sending S's photos's they are so cute and where did she get that dress from, it's just lovely.

vjay about Ajays nut allergy. How scary , not to mention a real pain in the butt. One of my friends daughters has a nut allergy and pack reading becomes an obsession. It really annoys me as some companies are either too lazy to label properly or too busy covering their corporate behinds to help. Supermarket bakeries will be a thing of the past in your house... You might want to get a breadmaker if you want fresh bread - if you make it yourself, you can garuntee whats in it.
And congrats on the distinction - I struggle to even spell it!

blue and IHQFS loving the idea of a play list - in `1986, mine would have been much like yours, blue. Think you need to add Fairytale of new york and possibly driving home for Christmas to your list now, though.
I too have the Xmas CD's out and they are on when ever I control the music. Makes a nice change from DS's Elvis obsession!!

Blue love the plans for B's birthday - what a lucky little boy and so cute. Think your Xmas might be a bit less stress than last?

barbie hope you have stopped shivering. What a time to chose to come home but bet it is great showing off your lovely girl

cupcake at Jude crawling! BabyBelle has just discovered rolling and loves sitting up - I don't want her moving for some time though!!

budha Shame that E has failed his hearing test but good that he's been refered. With DD!, she failed it three times, never got refered and we only discovered she was deaf in one ear when she was 5, we did have an idea something was wrong though once she started listening on the phone. With DS, he also failed it twice but we knew there was nothing wrong with his hearing , so didn't worry. Both had loads of ear infections - DS had a nasty one that went on for months and we needed to be refered as the GP just couldn't manage it. When we saw the consultant, he diagnosed glue ear and an infection, so they can certainly happen at the same time. Both cleared up and he has perfect hearing.

louey hope you are feeling better soon - there is nothing worse than being pregnant and poorly as there are so few things you can take, even hot toddys are limited!

StNeekolasMissinginACtion Hope work hasn't been too horrrid. M being ill brings back memories of my first week back with DS and DH ill, followed by BabyBelles pnuemonia

And that is as much updating as I can do for one night - hoping to try and book flights to Oz for next year tonight...

Morning. Am starting to finally feel a bit better, touch wood its not another blip...

DH still poorly and has now been signed off work until Christmas. Drs have prescribed antibiotics.

blueisonherxmashols wooohooo!!! Hope Bens party stuff all arrives in time. Want to see pics of the cake - it sounds wonderful. Can imagine Ben pointing to his cake Love your 1980s xmas list - mine would have been very similar. Really haven't listened to much this year yet - December has passed in a coughing blur.

IHQ I wanted Stella to win - thought they were a bit mean about her earlier in the series because she was a bit corporate. Really thought Sur Alan would choose Chris though so was pleasantly surprised at the end. It was a very close one. Glad operation knocked up is going to plan

vjay Tis understandable - it was a big shock and I know it makes you rethink things. When will you get to see a consultant?? LJBM has a very good idea about the breadmaker - I had one for xmas last year and it is fab. Very glad you got your weekend away in the end despite the weather

LJBM your DS is into Elvis??? Aren't kids funny. Did you manage to book your flights - I don't envy you flying all that way with 3 kids. I do however love Australia so I am very about the fact you are going. We've talked about taking the kids when they are old enough to bribe with things to keep them quiet on the plane

4ever fab fab pics of S - thank you for sending them (and the email). How did your weekend's plans go?

buddha Poor E - but try not to worry too mch - glue ear is really common. I agree with LJBM its good that he's been referred. My DS1 had it. I think your GP is talking pants as it is usually caused by ear infections and then the fluid not draining away and it becomes sticky (hence glue ear). DS1 was diagnosed when he was 20 months but in hindsight we think he had had it for several months before that. His hearing was quite severely affected at the time. However, ENT consultant didn't want to do anything as it clears up in the majority of cases by the time they are 2 as the tubes in the ears just get bigger by then. That is exactly what happened with him. I have a friend whose daughter has just had grommets put in (which are little tubes to clear the ears) but she has had it a lot longer and is over 2 now. It tends to be worse in winter as you get more colds/bugs then. Am really sorry work messed up the bonus. Bloody awful of them. The weird thing is that you really don't care so much about presents for yourself when you have DCs cos its much more fun watching them open things.

cupcake are you still snowed in??? Yay to a moving Jude - its lots of fun when they back themselves into something and can't work out how to get out

monkey - hope you and your DS get better soon x

Hope all the other Emmsys are ok out there.

Scan is late morning - am strangely not nervous (yet) but maybe because I have just been dealing with not coughing myself sick half the time. Am going to work afterwards but will update as soon as I can.

Am waiting for maternity clothes to be delivered - have literally no trousers for work and need to get changed in about 30 minutes. Eek. Oh and DTs are ok - coughs but not much else. Thank god childminder is back working this week. They came home yesterday having made reindeer pictures. She puts me to shame....

hi louey gald you are feeling better and we are going to Oz before BabyJ is mobile and couldn't go before as the kids had to be able to watch TV/ play games for 24hrs solid!!

It looks as though we are actually going to have a baby!!!! All is fine, measuring a bit ahead and EDD now 29th June. Little bugger took a while to co-operate though. Am on the way into work to tell my boss. Am very very happy

Fantastic news, Louey - I'd missed your mention of scan! Assume that this is the regular 12 week one and that you have managed to pass that milestone?

And the child minder doesn't put you to shame- thats what you pay her for. You on the other hand have to organize a house, work etc. She gets to do the fun things at work like making reindeer pictures!!

Congratulations - sure this news is making you feel a bit better!!

Thanks LJBM - yep was 12 wk scan although I'm nearly 13 weeks now (always nice to be a bit further on than you thought). Can't stop smiling

louey That's fantastic news, no wonder you can't stop smiling and an extra bonus to be moved along a bit too Pleased you are feeling better, fingers crossed your DH improves before Christmas too. Hope your trousers arrived in time an you didn't give your work colleagues an unexpected Christmas bonus

blue Yay to long holidays. B's cake sounds gorgeous. Love that Nat King Cole song on your play list. My top 5, err sorry 10, and even that was hard:

1. Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
2. Christmas (Baby please come home) - Darlene Love Its on Phil Spectors Christmas Album which is fab!
3. The 1st Noel - Ella Fitzgerald
4. Maybe this Christmas - Ron Sexsmith
5. What Christmas means - Stevie Wonder
6. Zat you, Santa Claus - Louis Armstrong
7. sleigh ride - Andy Williams
8. Jingle bells - Frank Sinatra
9. Merry Christmas Baby - Otis Redding

10. Fairytale of New York - The Pogues

ljbm A trip to Australia sounds exciting, have you got friends or family there? An Elvis fan in the household hey, how old is your DS? Glad that babybelle has discovered rolling, there is a whole new world out there for her, does she do that slightly surprised/proud face when she realises she is not where she started?

monkey just seen Louey's message to you that you and your Ds are poorly? Hope you feel better in time for Christmas xx

Can you tell I am using this thread as a bit of a haven from googling random things to do with ttc It is certainly helping me keep up to date with the thread!

Louey's having a baby, louey's having a baby!! Keep smiling, lovely, you deserve it!

QA the elvis fan is 5 and it's all Lilo and Stiches fault but then it could be much much worse! And yes friends and family in Oz so really looking forward to the trip - had a bif of a moment when I was about to book the flights and saw that they had gone up by £1k in 2 weeks. So had to make some changes and they are now back down again - still a price but more managable. It's also the first big holiday we've had since DS was born and this helps me justify it!

Have 'Love Actually' primed and on pause, just wanted to raise a glass of Bailey's (or snowball in Vjay's case)to toast louey's fantastic news .

A June baby - just lovely

QfS - WOW! some playlist, superb vibe going on there

Right couch for me x

p.s. party stuff arrived @ 1300 hours today - buntingtastic.

Louey Hurrah!!
Summer baby very sensible
Blue Phew glad the birthday stuff arrived on time!
Vjay Hope Ajay feels better soon
LBM £1k in one week blimey!
QA If you take all the advice you can find googling about TTC I will have visions of you in all sorts of positions just get p*ed at the Xmas party and have a quick bunk up!

Love the christmas play lists - I think all my favourites have been mentioned my top two are definately Fairytale in New York & Have yourself a merry little Xmas (Coldplay)

Thanks for all your wise words about E's ear, it's nice to know how common it is, hopefully he'll grow out of it, bless him he's spent so long tugging and poking his ear, wonder if he'll eventually sleep at night when he grows out of it

Waves to Buddha and comforting head stroke to poor E bless him!

Whoopee and HUGE Yay to Louey so pleased for you! What a milestone and also a humongous relief! I agree Summer babies are great!

Ihqfs I echo Blue what a fantastic crimbo playlist! Love it!

Bluebaubles hope you enjoyed your annual viewing of LoveActually! Was so great the way we all coordinated it last year, i was all pregnant and emotional! I just cant believe B is 1! When exactly is the special day again? Is it tomorrow? Give him a big birthday kiss from his cyber aunty and cousin! So glad his party stuff arrived, been waiting on an Amazon delivery for my 89yr old great aunt since 1st Dec!

Vjj apologies for not yet offering a huge hug for your incredibly worrying nut allergy episode with Ajay, how awful, and lifechanging, no wonder your still really shook up, lots of repercussions what with specialists visits and label checking, i really feel for you hon..

Ljbm at the £ of your oz trip but well worth it im sure, what a fab experience for the kids! Big kiss to baby belle from us!

Cupcake bless lil J keepin you on your toes, S is too, crawling everywhere, running round in her walker pulling washing down, almost pulling herself to sitting up on her own, and pulled herself up to standing leaning on her bouncer chair the other day! DH and i were and behind ready to catch her!

Big waves to everyone else, huge thanks again for all the support for DH worries and glad you all liked the email pics! Every day this week has been spent meeting friends and distributing pressies, had 6kids here yest! Lovely though to now have S, (understatement!) as was always the 'childless' one, with armfuls of pressies for everyone elses kids! Very much looking forward to the big day now! DH splits up for 11days tomorrow so may not be posting much, but loving you all from afar!

Congratulations louey on a fab scan, you are now a bigpanter at last

buddha poor little E and his ear, the others have said some wonderful things on here

blue I was half way through my snowball last night and half an hour into Love Actually when dh turned it off to watch Top Gear , so I necked the rest of me snowball and went to bed in a huff!
He has promised me I can watch it tonight.

Hi 4ever so pleased your dh is good and well , sounds like you are having a very busy time just now, and just as it should be really

Thanks for all you thoughts and recomendations. I have a bread maker, which I love but don't use enough, now I have a good excuse to use it more often.

Ajay was back at the docs last night, this time with a virus. It's a nasty one, he's got a cold with diaoreah (sp?), sickness a cough and did have a temp. He's spent the last 2 days sitting on me or asleep, BUT he has just got up and played with his singing dog, so we may have turned a corned

Have graduated myself to big pants thanks for reminding me vjay. BQ have not moved you because I wanted to make sure you were happy before I did. Just say the word....

Commando/smallpants

Bluemoon
chocciechip
hoping
jools
mermaid
monkey
ThePFJ
QuestionsAgain

Medium pants (dusted down out of drawer)

bakingqueen BFP 7/10/10

Big pants

Loueytbg EDD 29/06/11

Saggypants

VJay 01/09/09 BOY Alexander James 8lb 6oz
Lionstar 27/09/09 BOY Arlo Bryn 9lb 5oz
Sabs 30/09/09 GIRL Saara 9lb 1oz
Buddhabelly 25/11/09 BOY Ewan James
Annie 25/11/09 BOY Ellis Charles 8lb 11oz
Bluesatinsash 23/12/09 BOY Benjamin Charles 8lb 3oz
MM 30/12/09 GIRL Nieve Ellen 8lb 6oz
Curly 05/02/10 GIRL Grace Eliza 8lb 4oz
Graciegirl 05/02/10 GIRL Isabelle Clare 7lb 1oz
Barbie 21/02/10 GIRL Devon Nimah 5lb 15oz
MrsKate 09/03/10 BOY Jack David 6lb 13oz
Neeko 29/03/10 GIRL Hannah Denise 8lb 15oz
Littlebellsmum 18/05/10 GIRL Joanna Emily 7lb 7oz
4everhopeful 26/05/10 GIRL Summer Clementine Hope 9lb 5oz
cupcakefairy 05/06/10 BOY Jude 8lb
iggypiggy 25/07/10 GIRL 6lb 14oz
MummyLovesSadie 11/10/10 GIRL Kitty Violet 7lb 1oz

vjay poor ajay. Really hope he is on the mend. Sounds rotten. And poor you having to suffer top gear instead of love actually. What was your DH thinking of I think I would have stormed off as well!

4ever LOL at summer babies being fab Glad the present distributing went well. Sounds like S is going to be another early walker - start babyproofing now! Enjoy having your DH around for a lovely 1st xmas with S x

LJBM very glad you managed to tweak the flights to get the price back down again. Hate it when they do that!! Tis a good plan going before babybelle is moving and especially if you have friends/family there to see too. You are right about the childminder - there are only so many hours in the day. I am just so rubbish at all the creative stuff. They came home yesterday having made mince pies.

blue wahay for bunting arriving. Glad the post didn't let you down. Hope the birthday/party all goes well and you get lots of pics of B looking scrummy

IHQ stop googling - you will drive yourself mad (I know I am a fine one to talk but...)

BQ hope you are starting to feel a bit more human

Waves to everyone else.

Had to scroll back through the thread to find the list and read back my panicked posts a few weeks ago during bleeding-gate. You lot have been so so supportive. I never really thought I would make it to 12 weeks and so I just want to say a big thanks from me

Also got text from my little sis yesterday evening to say that she has unexpectedly started her IVF (she thought her FSH was too high this cycle). So its all systems go - she has to go in on xmas day!!! Really really hope that it works first time.

Better go - its my last day in the office before xmas and I am supposed to be doing exciting things like timesheets (boo) and sorting out my desk (double-boo). So far, I've outed myself on FB, sent a few non-work emails, finished my xmas Ocado delivery order and taken some maternity trousers back to Next. Oops

Hello hello hello....remember me

I'm on a borrowed I pad and can't work the bloody thing but iwas desperate to keep in touch...excuse the typos and bad grammar, I don't know how to check it

I haven't had to to lurk or catch up, I did see on fb that lou was very happy so I'm guessing all is well and another good scan under her belt?

Can I call one of you so you can tell me what is going on? Or can anyone sum up the last week for me? W have been snowed in and have no access to the Internet except sneaky time when we go to parents, but to be honest we have been so busy we have just been checking emails and not much else

I miss you all dreadfully, i hope i can catch up soon. Thinking of you all often and with much love

We are fine, dolly is fully walking, loving the snow but is very cold. We went to see father christmas today and i cried, can't do a embarrassed emotion but you get the pic, it was just so cute.

Anyways my uk number is posted on fb, i will try to get it to the rest of you....promise to catch up soon xxxxxx

Good morning and a HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Benny Boy , can't believe he's 1!!!!!!!
blue enjoy this amazing day, and, how fast has this year gone?!?! I will raise a glass of snowball tonight to mark the day

barbie I will send you a text in a bit with some catch up

louey still for you.

StNeekolas that's you on hols now isn't it?, wrap that kindle up and act suprised and amazed how it's fully charged

mermaid I am missing you, get your snowy butt back here, your lovely words calm me.

Gotta go, busy day here but my first thought that entered my mind was B's birthday

Happy Christmas Eve Eve

Thanks Vjay , you are very kind x

Thanks for all the FB messages too, really touching.

Birthday boy is napping in the royal cot getting some rest before the partay kicks off. My precious, soft spikey haired, pouty lipped bundle of gorgeousness. I just love him to bits and thank god for him x

Have a good Christmas Eve eve everyone

Hi everyone. So sorry I've been MIA since I went back to work. I've tried to keep up with a few people by text but life has been really hectic with lots of illness

Anyway, IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!! [f

Hope you alll have a lovely Christmas and I promise to be back on after the mayhem festivities are over to catch up properly.
Hope those of you with reasons to celebrate (great news Louey ) are happy and thankful and those of you who will find this Christmas particulrly hard know that there are Emmsy's all over who are thinking of you and sending you virtual hugs.

Take care all.

I'd like to second StNeekolas post and let the wonderful strong ladies who may find Christmas hard a huge hug and I'll be thinking of you all and hoping for a more positive New Year for you all.

I know I won't get time to post tomorrow so I thought I'd wish you a all a fantastic Christmas and a buge thanks to all of you for the support, wisdom and strength each and everyone of you gives I have received invaluable advice and help from this thread - It's the best x

Happy Christmas everyone

It's lovely to think that there are Emmsys dotted all over thinking of each other , nicely put StNeeks

Quick inadequate phone post but at my parents' now so cant post properly.. ended up being mad dash to get pressies finished, car dug out etc so had no time to wish u all a happy christmas! so HAPPY CHRISTMAS! blue thought of u all yest, happy bday to ben! hope party was lovely, where has that yr gone?! parcel unfortunately didnt come b4 we left but our lovely neighbours said they would take any packages for us (as some pressies we ordered didnt come either)
watched love actually tues and loved it as always!
louey such amazing news. really happy for u & so lovely to see the big pant bench occupied again :)
hope u all have gorgeous days tomo, will try to post x x x