Where Emmsy's established friendships continue to support us on our journeys.....

[SparklyPseudonym]

Here we go again . Let the good news flow....

Afternoon ladies,
I have a cold so have just taken some Sudafed - always worry about taking things when TTC but I don't think I could cope without them (and we're not actively trying until Feb anyway ). Have just finished all my assessing and planning for Monday. These hols has flown by!!
Bella You've not had a bath for 18 months? How do you cope? Has the bleeding stopped now?
Fruity GRRR at your DP - mine is going through stealinh the duvet - it's his fault I've got a cold . I love the name Jack and I think you should def double up on the surname if yours is going to die out.
Cricri Am going to see my GP first and discuss with her. I will try and get an appointment next Friday and take it from there. Is E still ok after jabs?
Georgie When is your appointment? Am still keeping my fingers crossed for you. x
Piper Bloody hell @ the ov test cost...you should have put them on your wedding list .
Kate How are you feeling today? Hope the dodgy stomach has gone off to bother someone else. Is your scan next week?
Mollie I was hoping that he'd begin to think it was his idea - always works out so much better that way . Any signs of ovulation for you?
Ei Where are you hiding Mrs? Are you lurking?

Hello to everyone else.

Piper CD7 TTC#1
Sparkly CD9 TTC#2 Cycle 3 after m/c
HappyAndEiKnowIt CD13 TTC#2 cycle 14 (CP/MC april & june08)
Molliemooma CD18 TTC#1 Cycle 3 (mm/c Jan08, mm/c Aug08 & CP Oct 08)

Infanticipating
FruitynNutty 28 weeks pg, EDD 22nd March
TeeHeeLady 24 weeks pg, EDD 11th April
HeyThereGeorgieGirl 11 weeks pg (BFP 3rd Nov) EDD 10 July
Scully 11 weeks pg (BFP 8th Nov) EDD 13 July
BellaHarry 9 weeks pg BFP 25th Nov
Kate2179 BFP 18th Dec

Graduates
Emmsy GIRL! Amy Louise born 7th October 5lbs 12oz
CriCri GIRL! Elise Vivienne at 0630am 4th November, 7lbs 15oz
Mibbes BOY Evan, born 3rd December, 6lbs 5oz

Hi lovely ladies

As you can see I've taken my Christmas costume off, quite a relief, it didn't quite feel right. Sparkly As my profile is back to normal I will get my pictures uploaded THIS weekend.

Georgie How did you get on today? Is everything sinking in a bit more? You sound a little more upbeat but as you say it always feels better to be doing something. I expect meeting up with Fruity and Bella helped - v of the Wimbledon Three's meet up BTW.

Mibbes Meant to say days ago, Evan is gorgeous and I agree with Sparkly you are looking so well, totally fantastic - I am so impressed, can't believe you are feeding all the time. Motherhood clearly suits you.

Sparkly Good news that DP coming round to the idea of investigations. How do you get him to come up with the idea of going private? What a bummer that you have a cold just before going back to school. Go with the drugs! Many women take and do allsorts before knowing they are pg - sure you will be fine. Are you actually straight back into the classroom?

Fruity I also suddenly feel that there is too much to sort out before baby arrives - I think, as you say, it's because the year has changed - Cripes its happening THIS year. I'm 26 weeks today - I have begged DP to lose some weight before baby arrives, otherwise with his snoring and feeding etc I will get no sleep and will be more boohoo rather than Teehee Cricri Bet the jabs were worse for you than E. She has the most gorgeous eyes and looked precious in your latest photos - my gosh she has grown so much.

Emmsy Same goes for your little one - she is adorable and has really grown - you are also looking fab. Don't know how you do it - I am praying that motherhood gives me the same energy that you seem to have, so far pregnancy hasn't! Nice message for the new year as well. We know you're there in spirit if not always posting. Did you manage to meet up with Ei. Speaking of which Ei Where are you? Never known you away so long - come back!!

Kate Hope you are continuing to feel better. Don't worry about bean, when I was throwing up for days the mw described baby as a parasite (ie will get what it needs even if you feel lousy) Nearly 6 weeks - when are you having your first scan? Oh and which shoes did you go for? Nail Polish or not?

Scully Sounds like you had a lovely New Year. You always sound so busy and as my friend says "you can so be bothered" Hopefully not too much longer with the MS now, mine seems like a distant memory. I was really into olives too - really savoury stuff I found I could stomach.

Mollie You are always in the wars - take it easy! I am a bit under par again too - the dreaded piles are back - yey. I am desperate to get on with stuff and am moving around like a flippin 80 year old.

Bella Assuming the bleeding has stopped. Again when is your scan? Hope the marking is progressing well. I seem to remember DP saying at the beginning of the hols that he had school work to do and that's the last I've heard so he'll probably be cramming tomorrow. He has cleared most of crap out of baby's room though so I'm not complaining-Don't you start panicking though - one thing at a time!

DP and I went to do food shopping today and ended up going into city for towels, photo frames and looked at new TV's, although the sales guy seemed totally uninterested because we didn't want a HUGE, playstation friendly, thing, just a fairly basic tele! Really though, we should be shopping for prams not TV's

Sorry for long post but have only had time for lurking last few days.

Piper CD7 TTC#1
Sparkly CD9 TTC#2 Cycle 3 after m/c
HappyAndEiKnowIt CD13 TTC#2 cycle 14 (CP/MC april & june08)
Molliemooma CD18 TTC#1 Cycle 3 (mm/c Jan08, mm/c Aug08 & CP Oct 08)

Infanticipating
FruitynNutty 28 weeks pg, EDD 22nd March
Teeheelaydee 26 weeks pg, EDD 11th April
HeyThereGeorgieGirl 11 weeks pg (BFP 3rd Nov) EDD 10 July
Scully 11 weeks pg (BFP 8th Nov) EDD 13 July
BellaHarry 9 weeks pg BFP 25th Nov
Kate2179 BFP 18th Dec

Graduates
Emmsy GIRL! Amy Louise born 7th October 5lbs 12oz
CriCri GIRL! Elise Vivienne at 0630am 4th November, 7lbs 15oz
Mibbes BOY Evan, born 3rd December, 6lbs 5oz

Kate Have you got your EDD yet - or are you trying not to think that far ahead.

Evening all Your correspondent from Hampshire comes to you tonight from her favourite gorgeous chair by the fire, with a plate of crumpets and honey and a mug of (real )tea. Bliss My firt cup of non herbal tea in a very long time. Feels very naughty... In fact I don't think I'll finish it! [wimp]

Bella I think I forgot to say congratulations on your scan when I last posted. Sorry to hear you had a bleed, but that happens to so many ladies and all is well. Your chances of a successful pg increase once you've seen a hb, so it's all good! But most importantly, what did they say about your dates???? Have they given you an EDD? When is your next scan?
Your aunt has a very cool name btw

Teehee lovely to hear from you Lol at looking at TVs rather than prams - I can't wait to actually get far enough in a pg to be able to look at prams Not quite sure how it happened, but DH and I ended up having a conversation about doulas at lunchtime I took him to Pizza Express. Yum. LOTS of carbs for me really good conversation actually. I told him what a doula was, and that I want one, and sort of hinted that I may have already found one (from some totally pointless internet searching a couple of months ago ), and he said fine, if that's what I want, good plan! We'll have to wait and see what happens, but a positive start I think!
Didn't end up wearing my fabby pink nailvarnish btw, wimped out
Sorry to hear about the Farmers, have you got some decent stuff from the docs for it? My friend saud that aftre she had her DD1 hers were like a bunch of grapes! Nice!!

I do know my EDD btw, but I don't want it on the list yet, same goes for how many weeks I am, I'm sure you understand I'll tell you as long as you promise not to tell anyone! ...it's 30th August...9 days after my 30th birthday

Ei I was thinking about you this morning and wondering where you've got to? I hope you're ok, it's not like you to be away for so long. I'm hoping you're just busy playing on your lovely new DS lite! Sending lots of love nevertheless xx

Cricri I don't think I've seen Elise's latest photos yet, I'm off to have a nose in a minute! Am very impressed you're managing to work already. Very amused by the thought of you sitting at the keyboard with your boobs out!

Fruity I agree with the others, I'm not normally a fan of double barrelled names either, but Jack Arthur Broughton-Harris does have a certain ring to it - in fact I love it! Great that you've managed to find names you both like, and the baby hasn't even been born yet!

Scully good luck on monday, I'll be thinking of you. Mine's a week on monday, which is also my sister's birthday, although we haven't told her I'm pg... 6 weeks today -you and Georgie are twice as pg as me! It's nuts isn't it, if when we've all had these babies, the fact that your 2 are 6 weeks older than mine will be nothing, but right now the difference between 6 and 12 weeks is like light years! I've been meaning to ask you, and I know it sounds like a daft question, but how are you making it work on a practical level with not eating proper meals? Does your DH eat with your DDs or not til later? Do you still have to cook for him and them but just do a meal for one for him? I think I'd be much better just snacking, especially in the evenings, but I'm not sure how to make it work. I know it's not complicated, but I just can't get my head around it...

Sparkly am very impressed that you've finished all your work! Surprise surprise I've left all mine to the last minute...

Hello to everyone else - I think that's quite enough from me for one night!

Kate Sounds like you're having a lovely relaxing evening - warm crumpets by the fire, yum!
Fruity Sounds like I should be taking tips from you when it comes to my tax return I'd go for the double-barrelled surname. I did - DH is Smith which goes with most things and I didn't want my surname to die out as I've just got a sister and my only cousin is gay... Elise has taken my name too which is lovely.
Teehee Have you decided which pram you're going to go for yet? A friend gave me the one I'm using so I missed out on all the pram searching - there was lots of discussions going on on our AN thread. I've just bought a M&P three-wheeler buggy for Elise because the pram is a bit bulky. It's suitable from birth so you could forget about a pram altogether. DO sort out your DH's snoring now - mine snores and what with him, Elise and the cat miaowing to go out at 4 or 5am each morning I'm getting used to functioning on very little sleep!
Sparkly You're very organised in getting all your planning done. about your cold though. Elise is still fine after her jabs, thanks for asking.
Mollie Hope you're OK.
Hi to everyone else - DH has just put dinner on the table

Evening ladies...Casino Royale, Blue Ray or not is very boreing!!! I'm trying to watch it with DH at mo but can't...too dull, mn seemed more interesting oh and Topshop too!! I am now starting to crap myself re. blood test on 12th Jan, I've been having nightmares! You see I have a genuine problem with blood, had counilling for it years ago but no luck I really don't know if I will be able to go through with it and I know it is so vital, but something just comes over me and I panic, cry and faint, it's not even the needle, just the blood...any advice???

Sparkly Hope the cold clears up! I love sudafed it's magic! I have been bathing, wow, how smelly and stressed would I be!!? But it just looks a state in there as the underneath of the bath is exposed and we keep loosing cats under the floorboards! lol No more bleeding so fingers crossed it was nothing serious, I got to see baby and hb which is fab.

Teehee DH loves TVs when we bought our TWO top of the range ones (why I'm not sure it's not like we're loaded) we were a sales assistants dream he positively salivated as DH reeled off al the things it would need to have...I just don't get it!!!?? Towels sound good though, I could do with a big fluffy bath towel Mmmm. My bleeding was short lived and painless which by all accounts is not too much of a concern? which is fab. Had a quickie scan at 8+5 and booked in on 21st for Nuchal!!! Can't wait, will it look like a baby rather than a blob then??

Lola seriously cool, sounds tropical and exotic...after scan they confirmed my dates were dead on, so I am now 9+2 and EDD is 6th Aug! 3 days after our first wedding anniversary aaaw! My next scan is 21st Jan oooh exciting!! and a bit scary re my first comment in post about bloods....Pass us a crumpet?? Yummy! How are things going for you hun??

Hope you're feeling better Sparkly, good idea to have some private investigations done too.
Crumpets sound lovely Lola, especially by the fire, I do miss having really cold weather where you need heating or a fire. Sure I'd be sick of it by now if I was living in it again though With my picky eating, breakfast and lunch it doesn't matter if I don't eat a normal meal, and with dinner, I still sit down with dh and the dd's and generally just have a smaller portion of what they are having, so the girls haven't noticed anything different. We went out for dinner the other night to a place where I'd normally order a steak or a burger, but couldn't face either, so I had potato skins with cheese and salsa on top and a salad, very yummy dh has been doing most of the cooking the last few weeks, my nausea has improved, but I have no motivation to go near most foods still. dd's have been eating more microwave macoroni cheese and other such 'nutritional' meals lately too, but I figure it's not forever and I'm making sure they get a lot of fruit through the day
No advice about the blood issues Bella, I'm the opposite, even as a child, never got worked up about it. Can someone go with you, if you do pass out?
It's nice shopping for things you don't really need sometimes Teehee, especially in the sales. dh isn't that into having a tv with all the bells and whistles, thank goodness, I just can't justify the cost right now, not before a new dishwasher, stovetop and oven anyway
We have been busy the last couple of months, am hoping it will all slow down a bit now, so we can save some money again and continue to finish more jobs around here, my current obession, made worse by pregnancy
Also, if anyone gets some cryptic message on FB about your photos being on another website, ignore it, it means hackers have been busy and you could get a virus on your machine if you open the website mentioned.
How are you doing George? Will you get your scan results straight away on Tues or will you have to wait a few days? Thinking of you.
Fruity, do you have a moses basket or will ds2 go straight into a cot? Will either fit in your bedroom? That's where dc3 will be for the first few months then will be moved into dd2's room, as it fits a cot and her bed no probs. This is of course assuming all is good at the scan tomorrow, which I'm sure it will be..........I have several piles of maternity clothes all folded on my bed, not packing away my normal clothes and hanging up my maternity stuff until I get the ok. Not to be negative, but I've had to pack away maternity clothes at 12wks before and it wasn't fun, so not doing that again.
Hope you're all having a nice weekend

scully Thanks for the warning re:FB & hackers. I'm glad that the sickness has eased slightly, also really looking forward to your good news from the scan, I really do know what it feels like to be told its over at this stage, it happened to me in the summer of 2000, once this hurdle is over you will be able to look forward to your pregnancy with a little more optimism, is Monday today down under?
A big thank you to everyone who said my little Amy was a cutie.
THLD hi hun, you will be a super mum, just wait and see, pregnancy can be really hard at times (especially when you have to work &/or look after others) sometimes you just want to lie down and suffer in peace!
mollie hello lovely,work are to phone me either this month or February to let me know if they can let me have the additional 52 wks off wef from June (umpaid of course)I am really worried that they are going to say no! I can't bear to hand Amy over to a stranger when she is so little, then there's the expense of the child minder for Amy and & Ian as he doesn't start school until September and also extra costs for the other 3 to be put in the Tinkers group in school early in the morning and after school until they can be picked up. I am only contracted at the moment to work 3 days pw and don't really think we will be any better off if I go back, its possible that we will be out of pocketwe don't qualify for Working Tax Credits because DH works a lot of overtime to make ends meet his flat wage is poo, I'm pretty sure that we wont qualify for any help with the child care costs (as we dont qualify for WTC) Think my wages will just be paying for the child care! Really feeling sick about it. Not sure how much I will need to pay back if I hand in my notice as I was practically on full pay when I went off of Maternity Leave with Emma. Then there's the childrens educational needs, I tend to be responsible for most of that (Homework,reading etc...) as DH does not participate very much, thinks its best left to me. have to log off now as need to wipe a bottom!

back again!
as I was saying mol don't know what to do, just wish work would let me know one way or the other, just to put me out of my misery, then I can make a decision or post pone my worries for another 12 months! I have recently bumped into 2 of my work colleagues, I haven't seen them for approx 5 years, really do not like them, I felt quite sick when I saw them. It just made me feel worse about having to go back at the end of june mollie are you sorry you asked me about work yet?

THLD forgot to mention before, I have not made any arrangements with ei yet, she's probably enjoying her christmas present at the moment.

fruity how are you today? you will soon have another little cutie to cuddle.
bella glad your bleeding has stopped, things seem just fine at the moment, hope it stays that way.

cricri have you thought about when you would like to have your next baby yet? how much of an age gap would you be happy with? or are you intending to only have 1 child? X

mibbes hows it going with the feeding? have you bothered trying to express so dp can have a go!?

hello to everyone else, need to give the children some attention now! take care all X

Teehee Yep straight back tomorrow for and INSET day and then in school until Feb half term. Am hoping that DP will suggest private investigations after I've seen my GP and we realise how long the waiting list is . I don't believe you'll ever put those pics up .
Kate Don't worry about the odd cup of tea - lots of women do far worse in pregnancy and end up with healthy babies. What is the caffine allowance? I remember being told that you could drink a lot of cola in one day and still not go over the limit but guidelines may have changed. Good luck with the work. Are you working on anything tricky at the mo?
Cricri Glad E is ok. Can you send your DH this way - I could do with having lunch on the table .
Bella Our cats kept doing that when we had our bathroom done and a new boiler fitted. It's funny when they explore new places...I could hear crying from my airing cupboard a few weeks ago - the cat had found her way in there when DP opened the door. She was only in there for 15 mins and she prob thought it was a great place to sleep until she realised she was locked in . Try not to worry too much about the tests. The hosp have real problems getting blood out of me and they have always been very good and understanding. Make sure someone goes with you.
Scully Thanks for the facebook pointer. Sending you so much for the scan. Not sure about times etc but you may have had it already? Please let us know how you get on.
Emmsy [waves] Hope everything works out with work, lovely lady.

Piper CD8 TTC#1
Sparkly CD10 TTC#2 Cycle 3 after m/c
HappyAndEiKnowIt CD14 TTC#2 cycle 14 (CP/MC april & june08)
Molliemooma CD19 TTC#1 Cycle 3 (mm/c Jan08, mm/c Aug08 & CP Oct 08)

Infanticipating
FruitynNutty 28 weeks pg, EDD 22nd March
Teeheelaydee 26 weeks pg, EDD 11th April
HeyThereGeorgieGirl 11 weeks pg (BFP 3rd Nov) EDD 10 July
Scully 11 weeks pg (BFP 8th Nov) EDD 13 July
BellaHarry 9 weeks pg BFP 25th Nov
Kate2179 BFP 18th Dec

Graduates
Emmsy GIRL! Amy Louise born 7th October 5lbs 12oz
CriCri GIRL! Elise Vivienne at 0630am 4th November, 7lbs 15oz
Mibbes BOY Evan, born 3rd December, 6lbs 5oz

Ha! Sparkly I have done it! Mind you due to my sore bum (tmi ) I am doing nothing more interesting than laying on the sofa so really have no more excuses. DP insisted on taking bump picture in new bathroom, so Mollie if you look really closely you can see my new blind in background!

I am fed up as have been suffering now since Wednesday - need some reassurance that it is OK for me not to go to work tomorrow and that I am not just being a wimp - it's painful to move at the moment.

Scully Know what you mean about obsession to get it all done now pg and the fact that it seems to be one thing after another. You seem to be doing a marvellous job though and always seem to be doing something. We have hardly finished one room and I am pushing to start another. Unfortunately DP seems to have taken my inaction today as a sign that he should also slob about reading - he always does that when I feel ill and it really annoys me but I just can't be arsed to argue today!

Kate It was the caffeine thing that finally made me more lenient - when they came out with reduced guidelines a few months ago but said already pg should not worry if they had been drinking more! Mind you I was much more careful early on - but seriously you can't have crumpets with herbal tea anyway so don't worry!

Emmsy You sound busy as ever. Sounds like a bit of a nightmare with work. Can't understand why they are making you wait for a decision, they must know whether it is workable by now. Like you say you need to know where you are to start really planning. Is it June that you would go back if you have to? I am quite relieved that we have made the decision that I am not going back to my current job as I totally know the feeling you had when you saw your colleagues. Not sure we can afford it for long but as I have grown to really dislike my job and my employers I figure it's time to move on anyway and as you say childcare is so expensive, altough obviously, Fruity if I could have you do it, it would be worth every penny!. Plan is to wait until baby is a bit older (and possibly has a brother or sister) and then go into teaching.

Big hello to everyone else xx

Teehee What's happened to your bum (or shouldn't I ask?) Your bump is beautiful!! Looks so neat!!

Ah thanks - my area manager said a few weeks ago that I was going to be huge-I was quite offended as I like my bump!

I have piles again - this pregnancy lark is extremely glamourous don't you think!! Sorry for oversharing but fed up with brave face on it!

Evening ladies.

Kate Just eat what and when you like. I've found it's the only way to get thru MS. It'll all even up in the end. As long as you're not scoffing huge qunatities of 'bad' food everyday, then I'm sure you will be fine. And the odd cup of tea won't harm. I find that a cuppa really settles my tummy.

TeeHee Poor you. Ouch. Not nice. I had piles after giving birth to Libby. So can emapthise. Hope you've got some meds to ease the pain.

Mollie How's the back?

Scully Best of luck for tomorrow. Will be thinking of you and have got fingers crossed. Really hope it goes ok.

Emmsy Hope you get decision re: work soon. Gotts be a pain in the arse not knowing what's going on.

Cricri Am v impressed that you went back to work after 6 weeks. Don't think I could have.

Sparkly Hope first day of school is ok. Do the techers get as nervous as the kids?!

Bella Sorry, not advice re: blood being taken. Am sure if you speak to midwife she can suggest something. it is important to get your bloods done.

Ei Where are you? Hope all is ok.

Fruity LOVE the name. It works so well. Think you've cracked it hon.

Mibbes Has Evan's feeding settled down? Or is he still a greedy boy!!

I've got my detailed scan and bloods on Tues at 3.30pm at the Fetal Medicine Centre. Then the CVS with Prof Nicholaides on Wed at 4.30pm. Am scared to death. But know we need to do this to get some answers. Only 2 more sleeps to go.

Oh, and to add to everything else. Got phone call from DD1 today (she's at her dad's), saying that she'd had an accident and had got a rather nasty balck eye. Am picking her up tomorro morning so am going to slather it in arnica cream. But think I'll be having quiet word with her teeacher so she doesn't think I've been beating her up!

Evening girlies

I'm back to my old name now seeing as you lot are Christmas tree being put out tonight

Sparkly How's the cold? Hope you're ok by tomorrow. I can't believe I'm back to the old routine again tomorrow, 1st mindee in at 7:30am agggghhhhh - that's the middle of the night!
Teehee your bump looks lovely, I'm dead jealous. I'm tempted to put a bit of fake tan on mine so it doesn't look so pale (it's practically see-through with whopping great big veins running along it) BTW, Looks like a boy bump to me From what I can tell from the side. BTW, let me know if you need any advise on prams, I've been through hundreds!
Kate I was talking to a trainee Doula a couple of weeks ago who I found on MN. She's looking for people to practice on. She seems very knowledgeable for a trainee. Not sure if she's actually been through a birth yet but she's got a 9 month old baby so has recently gone through her own. She said a fully trained Doula charges £600-£800. She can only charge a maximum of £150 to cover expenses. She's in Epsom though so not sure how near that is to you - might be a little far. I was seriously contemplating using her but seeing as I'm panicking so much about having no money when on Mat leave, I can hardly justify that much just now.
I can give you her email address if you're interested? She's really nice.
cricri You early morning antics sound just like mine. DP snoring, Cat wanting to be let out at 4/5 in the morning and a soon-to-be crying baby.
Bella no idea what advise to give you re bloods being taken but you know it has to be done so grin and bare it? No help at all I know! I'm getting my bloods taken tomorrow. I'm quite used to it though because of my thyroid.
Scully Baby will be in with us until he's a bit older. We are going to try and squeeze a smallish cot into DS's room eventually. We have a cotbed but it wouldn't fit in his room with a single bed too.
We'll be getting a Moses basket - I think my friend is lending me one. I just don't know where to fit it in our bedroom yet. Our room needs a good jiggle about.
Thanks for the FB warning!
Emmsy I can fully understand your money worries. I'm also so stressed out about it. It's not fair is it, when we all work so bloody hard - we get nowt I tell you we're all better off being single parents and jobless.
Georgie Poor Molls How did she get a black eye? Best of luck for Tuesday. I've got everything crossed for you xx

Piper CD8 TTC#1
Sparkly CD10 TTC#2 Cycle 3 after m/c
HappyAndEiKnowIt CD14 TTC#2 cycle 14 (CP/MC april & june08)
Molliemooma CD19 TTC#1 Cycle 3 (mm/c Jan08, mm/c Aug08 & CP Oct 08)

Infanticipating
FruitynNutty 29 weeks pg, EDD 22nd March
Teeheelaydee 26 weeks pg, EDD 11th April
HeyThereGeorgieGirl 11 weeks pg (BFP 3rd Nov) EDD 10 July
Scully 11 weeks pg (BFP 8th Nov) EDD 13 July
BellaHarry 9 weeks pg BFP 25th Nov
Kate2179 BFP 18th Dec

Graduates
Emmsy GIRL! Amy Louise born 7th October 5lbs 12oz
CriCri GIRL! Elise Vivienne at 0630am 4th November, 7lbs 15oz
Mibbes BOY Evan, born 3rd December, 6lbs 5oz

Right, I think that's everything.

Ei where are you hiding?
Piper everything ok with you?
Mollie How's the back?
Mibbes Is Evan being a good boy for his Mummy?

Just put DD to bed and already have everything ready for school tomorrow - DP is reading 'The Heart of Darkness' and doing his planning in his head (as usual!).
Teehee Have you got some cream for your piles? Try and increase your fibre and don't sit on the toilet for very long i.e. taking a book. Don't go to the toilet for the sake of going - only go when you really need to. It's a normal part of pregnancy and it will get better. I was huge when pg with DD - I'll upload a piccie if I can find it. People really enjoy talking about whether your bump is big/small. I think yours is perfect .
Georgie Have been thinking of you lots and am sending all the best for Tuesday. Am feeling ok about tomorrow because the kids are at home but I think I'll be excited to see them on Tuesday. Your poor DD . Hope she doesn't have school photos coming up - I always used to do damage to myself before those.
Fruity Just peeked at your photos of FB and your bump is gorgeous too. Hope the next weeks don't drag too much. Cold seems to have gone . It's been happening for about three weeks now, coming and going. It's going to be dark and icey when we leave the house tomorrow!!

Scully Don't spend too much time missing the cold weather it's pants!! I was actually alright with blood etc as a young child but sometime between age 15 and now I changed, my sister is just as bad! I'm going to go in to my GP for some 'magic cream' which at least takes the sting out so I might not notice and DH of course will be there, he doesn't have a choice!

Emmsy it must be such a stickler the whole child care issue, I just don't know what we're going to do, but have quite some time to think about it so will be playing the lottery! lol

Sparkly our kitten has a thing about the understair cupboard too, but it stinks of our neighbours cooking so good luck to him, I can't even bear to take a broom out of there at the mo, it really pongs!! they make me giggle though!

Georgie I'm going to try magic cream but who knows, maybe as fruity says I will just have to get on with it!?? Failing that I shall inform DH that he has my ermission to hold me down, he had to do that before and a big fat nurse had to sit on me!! lol

Fruity

Thanks Sparkly

Only 8 more posts to go before new thread girls!!!!!!

Ei we need you, you're always so inventive with thread names!

Georgie You sound much better? Good luck for Tues, I'm sure you'll have a better idea of what you want to do once you have all the info, although let's hope that there is no decision you need to make and everything is fine. Everything is crossed for you. How did Mollie do the eye?

Fruity Keep forgetting to say that love the name and think it really suits the double-barrelled. It really does go well. Advice on anything baby related always welcome (well unless it's from my mother!) I think I want a Bugaboo, have persauded myself that I have lots of sensible reasons for it (walk alot, friend wished she'd got one, want a pram type to start, don't need car seat etc etc) but basically I think I just think they're cool and kinda just WANT it. What do you reckon? Yes - bump all front really so we'll see.

Sparkly Have a good first day back - it has gone quick. Christmas is over - boo

Hiya, haven't had my scan yet, it's at 3.30pm this afternoon (it's currently 9am here). Last day of dh's leave and he's finally doing some diy Painting window and door frame in dd2's room. I've just booked the electrician in to fit ceiling fans on 17 Jan, so hopefully we'll have our garage mess sorted by end of Jan.
Lovely bump picture & bathroom blind Teehee My only advice about the pram is don't spend too much on it, you'll realise afterwards they aren't worth it, well I don't think so anyway. We had a Mothercare 3 wheeler with dd1 and that was great and with dd2 we used the 3 wheeler sometimes and the rest of the time used a Maclaren that could be used from birth. I found a small, light pram was much more manageable when you have another child to keep an eye on. Still using the Maclaren occassionally for dd2, so it's lasted 3yrs no probs.
Poor you and your piles Bella, I've never had them, but don't like the sound of them
Baby's name is lovely Fruity, Jack was on our list for dd2, could be on the list for this one too, when I allow myself to start thinking about names. dh asked me last night what I thought it was and I nipped that conversation in the bud quickly, can't allow myself to go there yet.
Have you had any interest in selling your flat?
Piper CD8 TTC#1
Sparkly CD10 TTC#2 Cycle 3 after m/c
HappyAndEiKnowIt CD14 TTC#2 cycle 14 (CP/MC april & june08)
Molliemooma CD19 TTC#1 Cycle 3 (mm/c Jan08, mm/c Aug08 & CP Oct 08)

Infanticipating
FruitynNutty 28 weeks pg, EDD 22nd March
Teeheelaydee 26 weeks pg, EDD 11th April
HeyThereGeorgieGirl 13 weeks pg (BFP 3rd Nov) EDD 10 July
Scully 13 weeks pg (BFP 8th Nov) EDD 13 July
BellaHarry 9 weeks pg BFP 25th Nov
Kate2179 BFP 18th Dec

Graduates
Emmsy GIRL! Amy Louise born 7th October 5lbs 12oz
CriCri GIRL! Elise Vivienne at 0630am 4th November, 7lbs 15oz
Mibbes BOY Evan, born 3rd December, 6lbs 5oz

Hi to everyone else

Very quick one to say GOOD LUCK to Scully for this afternoon, am keeping everything crossed for you!

I have to leave the house at 7.15 tomorrow and it will be dark by the time I'm home again as well, won't be seeing any daylight until sat or possibly friday I'm really scared (to the point of not sleeping) about how I'll cope with work if ms gets really bad. Atm it's an underlying nausea with various peaks and troughs throughout the day, but that's when I've been doing nothing. Normally I'd just say bugger work, but I have 2 cases between now and the middle of march, one after the other, which are really horrendous. The first is a 110mile round trip a day, and the second is really hardcore (for me - probably the most serious case I've done) and I'm absolutely sh5tting it... I know my pg is about a million times more important, but I'm just so scared to think how I'll cope. I think the basic answer is that somehow I'll just have to. Doesn't help that I'm a bit of a wimp when I'm ill, I can't imagine sneaking off subtley at court to throw up and then managing to still put in a credible, professional performance - hard enough at the best of times! To make things worse, the cas ewhich starts tomorrow is at the court where I was for 10 of the 17 weeks I was pg with Thomas. I had to go back there a few weeks ago and the smell of the place hit me like a ton of bricks, it's funny how smells carry memories isn't it? Just such an awful time, and going there brought it all back

Plus I'm pretty sure I'm getting a cold, how on earth am I going to manage the cold, no drugs, the commute, the work and the ms all at once??? [terrified emoticon]

Look at me, came on for Scully and have just ended up moaning Will be on tom night as soon as I get in to see how it went, unless any of you lovely ladies would like to text me? Speaking of which, does anyone have ei's number? I'm really worried about her? Have you spoken to her Sparkly? Really hope she's ok...

Got to get up in just over 6 hours so better go to bed... xx

Hello ladies, all good here, I'm very happy to report
I was crapping myself, to put it mildly, but straight away a little baby appear on the screen and the sonographer talked loads, explaining everything as she looked at it. It was wriggling away the whole time, very surreal I have to say. My nuchal measurements are all good, taking my age, the scan and blood results into account, I have a 1 in 2000 chance of a downs baby. I was so relieved to hear the results and see that so far, everything is in the right place. Have to say I feel bad posting this, with the week George has had, but hopefully you will get good news later in the week.
Poor you Lola, I am normally so bored in my job but have been so grateful lately that my job is boring and doesn't require much brain power as I really struggled through Nov and Dec to focus. I hope it's not too bad for you, with the memories as well as the m/s.
Forgot to say before Emmsy, understand completely what you are saying about going back to work and if it's worth it. That was one of the reasons we left the UK, we also earnt too much to access any benefits, although we had little left at the end of each month after paying the essentials. Just didn't feel like you got any thanks for being too middle income earners, paying a mortgage and trying to raise your children in a half decent area.
No country is perfect, but here at least middle income earners get some govt help. We get 50% of our childcare refunded by the govt, quarterly. There are also 2 types of family tax benefit, which are means tested. Last year we were eligible for both, this year I've decided to wait until our tax returns are done, as dh also does a load of o/t so it's hard to estimate his income. Also I will get 13wks paid maternity leave from my employer, plus $5k paid by the govt as a baby bonus. It will all help anyway and at least the govt tries to encourage mothers to return to work in some capacity.
Anyway, dinnertime for me, chilli con carne, not sure how much I'm going to eat but I've become good at pretending

Hey Scully wonderful news about the scan. Am very pleased that everything has turned out alright. Now, if you wouldn't mind wafting some of that good luck in my direction I'd be most grateful. Have you told the DD's yet? Are they excited? Fingers crossed that everything goes my way tomorrow.

Lola Sweetheart, you're winding yourself up in knots before you've even got into situations. Take an deep breath and bite of small chunks to conquer rather than tring to win the whole battle at once. It's going to be a hard slog for you, but you will find ways to cope. The MS is manageable by eating little and often. Just keep snacks in your bag, make sure you are hydrated, and maybe use travelling time for a power nap (but not if you are driving!). Don't worry about getting five a day, just make sure you are giving yuorself enough fuel to allow the baby to grow. Get DH to do more, just in the first 4 months or so. And LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS! House doesn't need to be spotless, DH can look after himself, dogs can be taken for shorter walks. Make yourself a priority. We're here if it all gets too much. ((((Hugs))))).

One more sleep. Scared to death.....

Also, could I just ask (pretty please) that we keep this thread going, just until I've had the results. I know it sounds stupid, but if things do go tits up, then I'd rather not be staring at it everytime I opened the new thread.

I know we start a new one every 1,000 posts, but could we have make an exception?

Thanking you muchly. xxxx

Scully excellent news about your scan I bet you can relax now can't you. Any pics to show us?
Oh Kate you know it'll all be worth it all in the end It's just so tiring int the 1st trimester though isn't it Everything seems such a struggle - and it is! Are you getting MS? Or is it just nausea at the moment? I was lucky, only had nausea for the 1st 10 weeks - never sick. Then I felt normal from then on.
You can always take paracetamol for the cold if you need it. I know it;s not as good as Sudafed/nurofen but it might just get you through a few hours without feeling like crap. Also, for headaches, Georgie recommended 4Head to me. It's quite good. You just rub it on your forehead so perfectly safe.

Bella I just had a thought, you might be interested in the Trainee Doula I've found? Epsom is quite near to you. For £150 you cant complain! Had you thought about a Doula at all? She might even be able to help you with your fear of needles?

So, unless any of you have posted in the amount of time it's taken me to write this post then we only have another 2 posts left!
C'mon girls. You can think of something!

Georgie Perhaps we could ask MN towers if they'd allow us a few more posts? I'm not even sure if this post will get in. Try starting a thread in "site stuff" I'm sure they will allow it!