hello all, starting to tune back into things now...
fan just another one here quietly crossing her fingers for you. Willpower, willpower, stay away from the test kits!! Concentrate on your cooking and preparations for DH's birthday to keep your mind busy... but such an easy thing to say 
elly know what you mean about fireworks. On 31st October last year, the night before the celebration of Mia's life, we had a big family dinner to honour her, and then lit fireworks. All the children spontaneously agreed that the biggest, brightest, golden-orange firework was hers. 
angel it's not surprising you are feeling rubbish, a lot on your plate emotionally and mentally. I didn't realise that Mia and Georgie shared the same good-bye day
whatever K is so very special. While you feel that she has lost her innocence, she is still an amazing big sister who adores her younger ones, and it is wonderful that she shows it so openly. 
kleine when I lived in Belgium, they were still very proud of the Stroumphs!
babyH wow, you are really going strong on the decorating!! We are now on the 'keep the house warm' campaign' although I have to touch up our bedroom first. I am in charge of secondary glazing and organising thermal-lined curtains, while MrMia does loft insulation and draught proofing. Think I got the easier end of things.
blizy you sound like a fab child minder, so much effort you put into making things special for your mindees.
rainbox just saying I am thinking of you and Dexter too, hope you are being quiet because you are busy rather than sad...
spilt another here glad to see the end of October. A black month for many of us, it would seem.
razz Little Samuel sounds like a real little character, I did giggle with the Moanbags comment. 
cheese wow, you are definitely a super-mum, homeschooling while waking 4 times a night to feed.
blue definitely on the countdown now, hope you are more prepared than me! And that you are feeling less unwieldy than I do, this week everything has suddenly become so much more of an effort and I still have over 4 weeks to go.
green lovely, just checking in on you, it's been such a tough few weeks for you, yet you have still managed to do all kinds of amazing things for your DCs. Such admiration.
missamel and mallulah hello from me, I have been reading but not really having too much energy to properly write. This is a wonderful forum, as you can see by the writings here.
august The Fear. So Very Real. I still can't quite envisage this baby being in my arms, let alone anything more. I want it, but I know only too well that this doesn't mean anything.
I dreamt last night that Mia died for a month, but then she came back to us, and somehow, we had a choice in making that happen. (If only.) At first, I was worried that people would think we were weird, but then I realised I didn't care.