Angels and Rainbows - The beauty of a rainbow does not negate the ravages of the storm. But it can provide colour and hope.

[Whatevertheweather]

“Rainbow Babies” is the understanding that the beauty of a rainbow does not negate the ravages of the storm. When a rainbow appears, it doesn’t mean the storm never happened or that the family is not still dealing with its aftermath. What it means is that something beautiful and full of light has appeared in the midst of the darkness and clouds. Storm clouds may still hover but the rainbow provides a counter balance of color, energy and hope.

august I'm envious of your South Africa holiday, glad you had a good time :) Glad that your pregnancy is going well, I used my doppler quite a lot and found it very reassuring.

Too I was worried about scbu but I think I got a little used to the idea as it was so likely that she'd need some kind of hospital stay because of my GD even if she hadn't been early. It was really hard coming home without her though, I'll be totally honest there, but going in daily and spending as long as possible with her really helped. We had to juggle the other dcs as well but spent the majority of the day there and did all her care and feedings etc too.

The staff were very good and so nice which made it a bit easier but I found I just got on with it. It's more so that I'm thinking about it all now and realising how crappy it was. I really don't doubt that if your bean did need a stay in scbu (which hopefully won't be the case) then you would cope well and be ok with it.

I didn't stay in hospital at all, I went home the same night. I convinced the drs to let me go as I just couldn't bear to be on the ward with other mums and their babies when I didn't have her with me. I was going to discharge myself if they didn't agree though! They were worried because of my low iron but I felt fine and was much more comfortable at home.

Too thanks big squeezes duely passed on to my gorgeous girl. Xxx
Cheese thanks for " be friending" me!!! Ella is delightful & gorgeous . Well done xxx hopefully you ll be able to see my pics of Phebs on FB.
August congrats on 15 weeks. Glad you had a good holiday.
Blizy xxxxx hope you get through Zoe's birthday but as I've said before I quite often find the run up to these important dates much worse than the actual days theirselves. I think, I m relieved when the actual day is here. Sending you much love & many hugs xxxx
Fan hoping for a BFP for you so very soon . You so deserve one (& Blue oh & Blizy!!!)
Phebs is good so adorable & doing so well . We re just buying her a high chair etc... Now to start weaning soon eek... Can t believe where the time has gone she's now 18 weeks & I ve only got 7 weeks mat leave left!!! Urh... However , have just booked a trip to Euro-Disney in August & Ant gets his " compo" from his old job tomorrow so I m desperately trying to " coerce" him to booking a holiday!!!
Love to all xxx

Hi girls sorry been awol was getting myself worked up and nervous about having my baby, I thought it would be easier as we lost grace at 20 weeks, however I am pleased to say baby rose was born today by c section weighing a lovely 7 lb 3 and is absolutely gorgeous. I was under a general aneasthetic so didn't get to hear her first cry or get cuddles straight away but she is absolutely beautiful. Thanks for your support over these difficult months. Will catch up when I get home but hugs to all that are feeling low.

Wow huge congrats Shakey ...enjoy xxxx

Congratulations Shakey Rose is a beautiful name and what a good weight she is. How strange that I was just thinking earlier today I wonder if you'd had her. Enjoy your cuddles xxxxx

wow its been so quiet on here and then suddenly everyone posts!

shakey a huge congratulations on the safe arrival of Rose. Cant wait to here your birth story. Im so happy for you, I shed a little tear but I now have a massive smile on my face.

blizy been thinking of you all the time, especailly yesterday while I was feeling a bit low. I hope you are getting through it all.

too yay for early mat leave!

miasmum big hugs to you, were in the same boat, ive been crying alot over the unfairness of it all, and why we have all had to suffer like this. But we shall get through it. My DH always says to me that we have been lucky, we got to hold our baby, she was born into this world, she just didnt live. You were so lucky to have Mia, and if only for a short while she lightened your life, sometimes you have to think of the positives in the darkness to help you through. I am hoping so very much that all us ttc'ers get pg as soon as possible.

I had a bit of a rough evening, I had held in my sadness and crying all day yesterday at work, put on my happy face and joked with everyone else, tried to carry it on when I got home, but i just couldnt. I burst out crying and had to be looked after by dh. I just thought about where I was this time last year, I was getting bigger and we had bought the pram and were gettign the cot ready.

shakey your news has really cheered me up.

Shakey- huge congratulations! Rise us a beautiful name, I'm so happy for you. How you are both well. X

Fan- thank you, I know what you mean about looking back. I have been doing a lot of this recently. I am ok'ish, I think like angel says the build up will be worse (I hope).

Miasmum- i don't have any words of wisdom to share but I can send you a huge hug. Hope you are ok? Xx

Aaw shakey massive congratulations! Welcome baby Rose xxxx

Shakey, congratulations! What lovely news to wake up to. Rose is such a pretty name. Much love and best wishes to you both.

It is odd that someone thought of Shakey yesterday, just as she was having Rose! Psychic or what? Was it you, Wtw?

Fan, you poor lovey, you will get there and you will have a baby. I know you will!

Angel, Disneyland Paris is so much fun! I haven't been since 2004, but I love it and am dying to go back. I spent an exchange year living near Paris and we went to Disneyland twice while we were there and it is so magical. We came out once thinking the stars were dancing, quite blase at Disneyland's ability to arrange this, and then realised it was just a plane!

Cheese, thank you for your wise words - I suppose deep down I do know that if that's what I have to deal with, then I will. It's Bean's kidney that worries me - no one knows yet how much of an impact it will have on her, although it may be very little.

Thank you too and blizy.

On a happy note, DH has said I can have some rats, so I'm on the look out for some rat babies! I want baby ones so I can properly raise them. I'm so excited! I'm going to get two, I would like males so I've been thinking of double acts I could name them after, any suggestions girls? I've come up with bert and ernie, rizzo and gonzo so far but they don't feel right.

Shakey congratulations! That's lovely news - absolutely love the name Rose, would actually love to use it if I had a daughter as it was my dear Grandma's name but alas I already have a little sister Rosie so its sadly not an option, maybe a middle name. (Even though I know I'm having another boy!)

Too we managed to get the Euro Disney tickets free via Sky. It was 1 of Martin Lewis's tips last week otherwise wr would have waited a few more years. Pheb's will be too young but hey ho!!! It's also a " trial" flight being only 1.5 hours long. Xxx
fan sorry can t participate in your love of rats!! Our Scottie ( our cat who was put to sleep on June) , in our old house near rail tracks used to bring HUGE rats in via the cat flap upstairs for is then get scared!!! I ve had to don up in massive gloves then chuck the rats out , whilst 1 of them was up our bedroom wall, screaming & Ant shitting himself in another room!!! Horrible things. Hasten to say when we moved we ensured our new house didn t have a Catflap!!!
When we called pest control out as we thought we had " lost" a rat in our house as it was on the Market the council man asked me how I get rid of the rats as he' d only dealt with dead rats!!!! Was impressed i' d dealt with live ones but as I said what choice do you have wgen your cat brings them in???
Whatever floats your boat though!!! Xx

angel I know alot of people hate rats but Ive been in the search of an intelligent pet that doesnt smell to bad, can live in a cage and doesnt make a noise and this came out top. Im a real animal lover so love them all, used to work on a petting farm, we had alsorts. I just love it and I would fill this flat with alsorts of animals.
My dream would be to have a small holding with chickens and ducks. and also goats and sheep and maybe a cow.
Maybe I shall put some pic's up of my rats when I get them and see if it changes your mind. lol

Angel Disneyland Paris is my favourite We were there this time last year for Katie's birthday. Free tickets you say?!!

Fan Garsons in Titchfield has baby rats last time I was there. We got our guinea pigs from there. I think they look quite sweet, prefer them to mice!

Very wobbly start to the day here - cant believe 6 months have passed. Am going to visit Erin shortly then plaster on a smile for the rest of the day for Katie's birthday party. I suppose it's good to stay busy but part of me just wants to wallow in an 'Erin day'

Love to all xx

Hello ladies
Huge congratulations to the shakey family, how wonderful that another rainbow baby has been born safe and sound.
miasmum sending you lots of cuddles and you are in my thoughts. The thought of anything happening to my two dc is horrific and you are doing so very well. The fact that you have been able to share your story and feelings with us all is a huge step. It is still so early into your loss, be gentle with yourself.
cheese so pleased that baby Ella is home and doing so well, you must still almost not quite believe it!!
too wahey for finishing work.....my consultant has just signed me off so I will be joining you on the not doing too much sofa!!
fan I totally get your dilemma but really hope that you enjoy being back out in the fresh air and that it helps towards conception. I have to agree with angel and say that along with snakes, rats are the only other animal I am not so keen on. The property we are hoping to move to has 5 stables and 7 acres and I have already promised dd chickens and pigmy goats to keep her pony company......the rats I will be trying to keep away.
august lovely to hear from you, your pregnancy seems to have gone quite quickly though i am sure you do not think so.
wtw I really hope that you manage to enjoy the day with Katie today and make it her day. Painting on that smile is so very tough I no

Well, after measuring 36 weeks on monday by thursday it was 41!! Another scan has now confirmed that I have polyhydraminous (if that is how you spell it). I am so uncomfortable. My GTT has come back as impaired glucose tolerence so not quite GD yet. Spent all day at hospital yesterday having tracings and scans and have open access now. My membranes could rupture at any time as my uterus is at capacity so am trying to take it very easy. They will hopefully give me steroids next week. It is all such a constant worry and I really hope I can cook the baby for another 2 weeks at least. I have even discussed being sterilised during my section as really couldnt cope with all this again .

razz you take it easy lovely, get your feet up and get pampered by the kids. Fx that little one stays in for a few more weeks.
Im very jealous of your animal plans, can I come a live with you?

wtw I hope you had a brilliant day at the party and that K had a wonderful time, and I hope you also had a gentle day thinking of Erin. It was a beautiful day for both of them.
I will have a look down in Garsons, a rat breeder is going to get in contact with me tomorrow if she got some available, if she hasnt then I might buy some from garsons. Still trying to think of names, maybe Boris and Monty? or Chaka and Demus.

Weve had a lovely day watching the rugby, had some friends round and now Im sitting watching the telly while DH is sleeping and snoring on the sofa!

blizy thinking of Zoe today. Here the sun is shining brightly, there are clear blue skies, and snowdrops and crocuses are peeking through - a beautiful day to celebrate your little girl. Be gentle on yourself.

whatever I'm sure that Erin was at Katie's party. She was part of excited smile, and every noisy giggle and scream.

shakey welcome to baby Rose!! A perfect little flower of love.

Thank you all for your comforting words the other night, they meant a lot from people who understand.

Mia glad we bring you some comfort. Can t do much other than support you verbally & virtually!!! Xx
Blizy the sun is shining here for Zoe. Hope today is not too painful xxx

Razz hope you re resting ... 2 weeks wow ... How exciting? You ll be out in the other side before you know it xxx

Blizy, thinking of Zoe today.

Miasmum, what a beautiful sentiment re Erin! Reminds me of that poem that goes "I am the thousand winds that blow/I am the diamond glints on snow/When you awaken in the morning hush/I am the swift uplifting rush/Of quiet birds in circled flight/I am the stars that shine at night".

at rat babies, Fan.

Razz, so sorry to hear of the polyhydramnios. Keep those feet up and take it easy! Are you about 32 weeks now? Hoping that BabyRazz stays put for a bit longer.

WTW, kudos for getting through yesterday so well. Hope today is quiet and peaceful for you.

Hi everyone,
blizy thinking of you today x
razz how stressful for you, hope things settle down, make sure you rest lots x
miasmum I hope you are having a gentler day today, it's such a long, hard journey we are all on x
fan I think getting a pet is a great idea, my dog has really kept me going some days, she is so expressive. My sister has rabbits called cosmo and dibs, that's the only double act names I can come up with x
too hope things are going well on the countdown for you
angel eurodisney will be great, I have been to Florida and loved it x
shaky congratulations on your little girl x
wtw it's hard when you have to put a face on, don't be too hard on yourself and go off for a cry if you need to x
I am still on the countdown, 3 days now! I went in to see my niece and sister, the ward has been totally refurbished and looks so different so that helped a lot! My niece is beautiful too, I love her to bits. Like everything the thought was a lot worse than the reality, i am so glad I went in now. Hope everyone has a good day today x

Oh Ciwi not long now!! You must be so excited and anxious.

Razz sorry to hear about the polyhydraminous. Make sure you are getting lots of rest. You are in the home straight now lovely not too much longer xx

Blizy thinking of you and your Zoe bear today. I hope it passes as peacefully as possible.

Fan we had fish called Basil, Sybil and Manuel

Thank you for everyone's kind words yesterday. Katie had a fabulous party and a wonderful time with all her friends. She's still opening presents now! Think I may end up buried under craft sets! Bumped into a mother of a little boy who K used to go to nursery with who i hadnt seen since i was pregnant - she asked what i had so i just said a little girl. She then asked where she was so i had to squeak out that she had died Managed to hold it together though and had a little cry in the evening with dp.

blizy big hugs for you today, the sun is shining here aswell I hope it is where you are.

Too my friend at work said I sounded like Pheobe out of friends talking a bout rat babies, she thinks Im going to turn up at work next week with a box of them.

wtw Basil and Manuel are wicked names they might go on the list.

ciwi so excited for you.

I just asked K Fan her suggestions are Tom and Jerry and Shaggy and Scooby

wtw bless, thank you K. I will put them on my list, I have to meet them before I name them.