The all new rat smacketers thread, this way for a 2012 BFP we are BROOKING NO ARGUMENT

[farfallarocks]

Just wrote a blardy long message before getting the 'thread full' message so here we go.................

Olives that is a genius idea to pull shopping home by sledge. Sounds like your consultant is excellent. So many stories of unhelpful professionals in this TTC lark - how did you find him, was it a recommendation from your work? Am just a bit worried that if when we go down that route I want to make sure we have the best support possible.

Maybe sorry to hear DH is feeling a little under the weather even if it is self induced. Plenty of fluids and all will be well again. Hope you are ok too, back to work tomorrow?

I made it to see the puppies - O.M.G. they were so cute. I will upload some pictures to my profile. Aunt has paid a deposit for one, they are only 3 weeks old at the moment so another 4 or 5 weeks until she can take it home. Fortunately all the others were already sold so there was none spare for the Sweetie household . I would like one for my 40th if we are still childless and DH has said he is thinking about it.

Seetie - that would be such a lovely 40th. You will also be a mum by then anyway.

Olives - thank goodness for excellent consultant. Hope NK results are v helpful too. Can't believe your story has been 3yrs long - you poor soul. The longest I've heard of is 12! Lovely yoga lady (on hippy retreat with my Mum in Sussex). She described getting a pup and 6 months later they were pg. She said she didn't go for a scan until wk36 because she could tell how firmly the baby was there to stay. Amazing woman. I think she must have been around mid 40s by the time she got her sticky bean, whom I met as a v bonnie 6mo baby girl eating... green olives, funnily enough. Was so nice as I was 6months pg and felt v encouraged.

We saw a sledge-shopper today too! And we had snowplay. DS loved: trashing other people's snowmen (better watch out on popularity front there, I told him); eating snow, above all; and cackling on sledge - but then cried when DP tipped him off by mistake. Cold fingers finished us all off.

Maybe - hangover on b-day, bless. Great about your cake success. Dedication.

Sore boobs suck don't they (Sweetie I think)? I thought mine were a bit better this morning but not sure now.

About cd19. Also proud owner (in theory) of ebay CBFM. I bet it tells me exactly the same as digi stix but at least when I am medium fertility I will hold off the old in-out.

Pop - how's the bump coming along?!

xxxx

Hello everyone. Thanks for guiding me home pop and bean. I don't know where the thread went. It totally disappeared from my laptop and phone, and I spent the whole journey to my folks (not driving I hasten to add) trying to make my phone find it. Then ended up at theirs with no reception, broken telly and no wireless. Blooming countryside. Then it snowed and I thought we'd be stuck there forever. Fortunately I'm not back in what i call civilisation and they call the ghetto. Phew.

Amazing productivity maybe. Socks and cake. Blimey. I made a beetroot cake from the recipe in the Abel and Cole calender. Wouldn't recommend it. Accordingly, I will not share with you. Have a ginger nut from a packet (bought in screaming child panic from service station) instead. You can always rely on a ginger nut.

Great news cakes. And agree, there must be a third out there soon, assuming pregnancies are like buses. They certainly make me look like one. Massive congrats.

Hello everyone else. I'm terrified to name check incase I miss people out. You know who you are!

Hi everyone, hope you've all had a good snow day (sorry maybe I know yours has been boring, and Pop, hope you're not worrying about the prawn)

We've been out sledging and snowman building, then home for roast chicken and apple crumble. It's been one of my favourite days for ages, and I don't even usually like snow!

I did a hpt last night which was bfn, so at least when af arrives we can start trying again. Saw my acupuncturist in the week who said she very much believes the "fertile after miscarriage" myth, so that was nice to hear.

bean - Sorry if you've told us this already, but is your ebay CBFM coming with instructions? I got my second hand one from a friend this week and there's a section in the back about reprogramming it, which you have to do if someone else has used it. Let me know if you need to know what to do

Have a nice evening everyone x

Evening everyone!

Maybe, your cakes look amazing, really fab. You must deffo sign yourself up for GBGO - if you don't then I will do it on your behalf (hmmm, do you think that they will accept an application from Maybe from Somewhere in Essex??) Sorry to hear about MrMaybe - are you a sympathetic type when it comes to hangovers or not? I'm definitely more from the not camp these days!

Bean congrats on the new addition to the family! That CBFM will get you updiffed before you know it - if you're not already that is (which of course I'm brooking no argument about).

Little, glad you are ready for action again. You'll get your BFP on your first cycle back and this time, Extra Small will get stuck in and stay there.

Pops, poor you!!! What colour did you choose? I swear I know every paint colour from Dulux, Crown, Farrow & Ball and Little Green - I have become marginally obsessed with paint colours. That's what doing up a house does to you I suppose. The take away sounds awful - hope you can go out or get another one one evening this week to make up for it.

Whim, hello! My parents also live in the middle of nowhere - no village shop, no street lights etc - feels like I'm out in the wilderness when I'm there! My mum needed some milk when I last visited so I said I'd get some before I left ours - she told me not to make a special trip out to get it as she didn't want to put me out - I have a shop about 30 seconds walk from mine! I don't think she can get her head around the idea of being able to buy stuff without having to get in the car!

I've had a lovely weekend - OH and I have been painting our new utility room. We did have plans to meet a friend for lunch today which we had to cancel because of the snow but tbh I didn't really fancy it anyway - it is too cold and there is too much to do at home

Who's testing next btw?? AF is due for me on Wednesday or Thursday - I don't think I'm next to test am I???

D'oh - GBBO, not GBGO!

Evening all, a quick post while DH has taken Otis out.

The day greatly improved, birthday boy came to life at 3, walked to the shops (should normally take 15 mins, took an hour and a half) then went to pub for dinner. Just settling down now with some wine and a film.

Sounds like you have had a productive weekend Imps shame about the lunch, but we can also go nowhere (our pub is literally over the road).

Bean well done for winning the CBFM, bet you can't wait to get cracking

Little what a lovely day, hurrah for the commencement of rat smacking

Whim glad you made it back to civilization

Sweetie those pups are too cute! Get one. It will keep the baby company

Olives loving the new trolley replacement!

I am feeling a bit better, but I don't see how I am going to get to work!! The station is over a mile and a half away, and it is crazy out there. DH is off this week, and would normally give me a lift, but the car is snowed in. DH doesn't want me walking as he is worried I will hurt myself (it has been known!)

How's everyone else getting to work tomorrow?

Imps I think you are next to test. Valentines would be my testing date! Though that would be too good to be true!

Morning All

Imps AF not due here on Wed or Thurs too. I have felt quite positive this month especially with the sore boobs, feeling really tired and slight back ache. But boobs seems to be less sore this morning and my temp has taken a drive, those who temp does this mean AF is lurking?

Lovely to hear all the tales of snowy related fun. And poor Whims who was stuck in the wilds for a while there.

Look after yourself Maybe ease back into the working week.

Morning everyone.

Can't help you on the temping front Sweetie my temp is still up, but I have a long LP, so another week yet. Your symptoms sound positive though!

DH is outside trying to clear snow so he can give me a lift to the station, I can't walk, it's treacherous out there. He doesn't think I should be going in at all, but I have just had a mini meltdown about work. I know for a fact that when I get in today I am going to be made to feel rubbish by some people, and not going in today will only make it worse. I want to leave so badly, it is really starting to affect how I feel now. But we can't afford for me to stop. Sorry for the me me me.

How is everyone else today? Cheerier than me I hope

Ooo - too much to reply to. Thanks for the offer of help Little - I may well need it. I thought taking the batteries out then putting back would do the trick! This CBFM was bought on ebay then swiftly put back on by the current seller because they were already pg. Am I paying for the luck in the backstory, possibly?!

Maybe - poor you. Hope you find a solution dear Brooker.

Right - I really must settle down to serious work today.

Looking forward to Sweetie and Imps confirmations!

TTFN everyone.

Morning brookers. I am 5 weeks today :o :o only symptoms are itchy boobs and trapped wind still very happy. I've bought a pg diary but I'm putting off starting it as I'm worried it'll junx things! Does anyone have snow? Ours is all gone, though we only had a sprinkle to begin with :(

maybe that sounds like a fun night! I hope DH is feeling better this morning? Sorry work is so sucky ? you're working in education, is that right?

You were right Olives the dining room looks lovely now it's done :)
Really glad your appointment went so well ? that's a great outcome, as I hear a lot of consultants don't believe in NK cells. I didn't realise it had been 3 years, I really admire how upbeat you are about it. (12 years bean ? Blimey, I think I'd have given up by that point and adopted)

Sorry they'd sold out of puppies sweetie they sound adorable! How far away is your 40th if that's not a rude question? And I agree with bean that you'll totally be a mum by then but I think you should still angle for a puppy
It's a bit early for a nosedive to mean AF is on its way I think? (though mine stay up til AF has been so I'm no expert) ? could be implantation?

bean your DS sounds like a total treasure :o

Will the next one be your first AF little ? Good luck :)

Imps it's Dulux Just Walnut. I thought it would be a bit darker than it is, but thankfully there's loads of white wood in the room so it's obvious it's not white iykwim The room was quite dark to begin with so something so pale was a bit of a shocker ? I'm not a ?hint of? kind of gal, generally :o Looks like you're next to test!!

Oh Pop a pregnancy diary, that's so exciting!! It will be so nice to look back on plus we can then cross reference all of our symptoms with you

I am a PhD student Pop I only have a year left, but I really can't wait to leave.

I stayed at home today. DH has half cleared the but outside, but clearing 2 foot of snow is no easy task! Pus, I just checked my train company's website, trains aren't running anyway. So I really am stuck

I like the theory behind the lucky CBFM Bean, just by buying it you will get a BFP

Oooh Pops our upstairs and downstairs hallway is Just Walnut! I love it, but then I'm a "hint of" girl - can't do dark colours. I am starting to regret not having used a washable endurance paint in the hallway as it already has a few marks on it - I still have enough paint to keep painting over them but a washable wall would be so much more practical, especially when the twins are bigger

5 weeks today, eh?? Only another 35 to go - you're one eighth of the way through your pregnancy!

Oh, Maybe I feel for you - I know how horrible it is to hate your job. Are there any options for finishing your phD elsewhere or does it have to be where you are?

Sweetie hurrah for being confirmation buddies!! Let's deffo be the 4th and 5th confirmations of 2012 so far!

There's no shame in being snow bound maybe. Perhaps send a few emails to show you're back in the game and not wasting a 'working from home day' (loads of others will be, I'm sure I don't have to tell you) and then take the opportunity to catch up on some reading. Work reading, not Grazia. Well, maybe a bit of Grazia. Then write a to do list with colour coded bits. You'll get back to work (eventually) feeling totally on top of things and in a much better frame of mind to deal with the doubters.

Friends who did lab based PhDs said similar things about snarky colleagues. There's just no call for it is there. I remember someone I met on a training course saying 'as a PhD student, you're the lowest of the low'. I had to do the equivalent of a wet fish slap (not a MNer) and explain that really you're the highest of the high in any other situation. I think you might need the same talking to. A research lab is a very rarefied environment. Anywhere else and you'd be a big cheese. Or at least a medium sized but on the up cheese.

I was very lucky and did mine in an office full of boy children. Bless them. I've taught them everything they know - how to make soup, how to sew a button on, what sort of engagement ring to buy. They make me feel very old, but very wise. You too are very wise, although not as old as me.

Loving the DIY chat green, imps & pop. I was amazed to find out recently just how different shades of Magnolia can be. I now have a spare room with 2 peachy type magnolia walls and 2 pinky ones from trying to use up old tins.

looking forward to a BFP from you sweetie

bean, i meant to say the other day your job sounds really interesting. Good and flexible, presumably reasonably remunerative and good to be able to manage people occasionally as well as working by yourself. Peaks and troughs must be tough to manage as a self emp. person though.

Glad to hear of your lovely day little, and your good-bad news of your BFP. Very good positive mental attitude. Good luck with Operation Puppy too.

Seem to have stacked up MASSES of work by having a day off last week with a child with an injured arm so best go and do that now...

Oh Whim, thank you. It's so hard to explain to some people, and my lab is so male dominated as well. I have sent a few emails, so they know I am alive! Have also done a few bits of analysis last week so have sent that off too. I am also being told that I am the lowest of the low, and that I should expect to be treated like this and that I should literally live in the lab. I didn't sign up for that, so I don't! It just winds me up that some people I work with come in late, have 3 hour lunches, multiple coffee breaks, and then stay late, making them look like troopers. Plus I am one of these people that when I have something to do, I do it right away, rather than dragging it out all day like some colleagues. I think I just need to keep my head down and my teeth firmly ground together then I can leave in a year.

Sorry for that huge offload, I feel much better now

Imps I can't change to another lab now, but I suppose I am over the worst of it! I am normally quite upbeat, but DH and I have noticed what an effect this is having on me, it is always on my mind, even if it is subconsciously!

Plus, DH is really driving me on to get my baking business off the ground, so that will keep my occupied too

Thank you lovely smacketeers, you're amazing

Ahh you clearly have great taste Imps
I'm going to paint my dining chairs duckegg to inject a bit of colour into the room I think :)

Wow whims & maybe that sounds awful how can people treat people like that?
But a year will fly by in no time at all, I'm sure of it, especially when you've got your BFP to distract you Glad you get to stay home and watch Jeremy Kyle working though :o

Sometimes I go in to work at 6am maybe, esp in the summer when the boys get up really early. I always make sure I send emails straight away, even before I have coffee, and even if I don't really need to. Totally agree about the people staying in the office in the evening. They all just seem to be on Skype.

Presumably you don't have too much lab time left? I don't know how sciency ones work, but surely you'll be writing up soon, and not so lab based? Anyway, bet none of them can bake bee-yooo-teee-ful cakes like you.

It's crazy isn't it Whims None of them seem to understand why I don't live in London either And I agree about the skype!!

I am hoping to be done by september/october time, so then I can write up everything! No more commute for a bit!!

And you are so right Pop I am going to be pregnant soon, so I can focus on that!

September is no time maybe. A few weeks until Easter, then a couple of long weekends to relax. Some lovely royal festivities (loves the Queen when she gives bank hols, other times of year I think 'off with their heads'). Then it'll be summer, yippee, and the olympics and the lab will be empty for a month while the chaps watch sport. Then it'll be august, and the lab will be empty cos they'll all be on their hols or at conferences. Then it'll be Sept and you'll be done. Easy.

Except that's just scared the bejesus out of me cos I've got to emigrate in less time than that.

Haha, you have it all worked out Whims you are right, this is now have I have to see the year, broken up with holidays! And all those antenatal appointments I will be attending

Do you have a moving date yet? Very exciting! What will you do when you get out there?

I'm going to be a spy.

To be honest though, I don't know. There's a wive's sewing club, the prospect of which terrifies me, even though I'm a wife and I like sewing. Once the boys are settled, i'll either look for academic work, or go to a Bretton Woods institution, like the IMF or World Bank or something and see if they want me to be an analyst. That should keep me out of trouble.

And then obviously I'll be on mat leave.

Whims you sound so cool :o

I would love to be a spy Whim when I was little, I had one of those Spy Files (made by the people that did the funfax) and we had a little spy club. Ahh, I was a geek from very early on

That sounds like a good plan Whim, though as you say you will be on Mat leave

Aah, if only you knew pop. You should see me in my slippers, enormous cardi and hot water bottle accessory.