Living in America 2011

[MmeBucket]

We were a few messages away from being closed on the other one. Hope everyone finds me here.

If you've already had antibodies detected then I dinnae have a clue! Would imagine they would want you in for more regular blood tests? or something?

They give you one at about 28 weeks, and then another one after giving birth. I (and he) didn't find out until after my 2 were born that DH was also rh- and there was no need.

Oh it was in the last pregnancy, so all OK, got given an extra jab within the time frame (36hrs) of the fall that I had.

It's amazing how much you forget and it was only just over a year ago that I had her. I remembered that it was 20 summit weeks, but then realized that it didn't really narrow it down.

The Uk it's definatly two nowadays (was not for my first). Over here i'm surprised they don't make you have it every second week, I'm getting slightly cynical about all this profit oriented healthcare.

Sorry, Ginger, nowhere near there. I am of the shy type and I managed to make friends at things like babybootcamp/stroller strides and at story time at the library. If I can, anyone can!

I am very cynical of some of the healthcare here but I found my inner JAP so have secured excellent healthcare for DH and myself. It pays to be very assertive with medical people here (the insurance company moreso than doctors). I interviewed eleven obn groups and toured three hospitals before making a decision. It sounds OTT but it has paid off. I managed to find an obn group which listens to me and has suggested alternatives every step of the way. As an example, I can't go past a certain weight due to back problems so I found out two weeks ago that they have lined up an acupuncturist to work on me when they say I am ready. If it doesn't work after the 2nd attempt they will then medically induce me. Other obn groups were telling me that I would have to have a c-section.

As an auditor I have a couple of clients which are medical practices. This has been invaluable. You would be surprised at how much money these guys don't make. The insurance companies are the problem.

Ginger - I don't know anyone near Houston but I have just joined a group called other mothers here in South Orange. As I don't have a baby yet I don't go to the events/playgroups/coffee mornings but they seem like a nice group of women.

Signed DD up for kindergarten today. Is it standard practice for them to be ushered off into different rooms without you? Is this something that they would do in the uk? I was a bit perturbed to say the least! I am going to ask the school this at some point but will I be allowed to access her school file. Any ideas?

Hi frida - we had our Kindergarten 'Registration' for my DS last week. I was also surprised by the format - yes they took him into another room and put him through a series of 'tests' (cutting with scissors, drawing and even bunny hops! Teacher told me he can't skip very well....wtf?). Then he had to talk to a speech therapist. I guess to check if he is ready for K?

Meanwhile school nurse gave me a grilling about immunisations (which DS has had!). Our school nurse is on some strange power trip - her tone with parents is really patronising.

They don't do all this in the UK but then all children have to start at 4 - there is no Kindergarten 'readiness' thing that they have here.

Ginger your sister could try meetup.com to see if there are groups in her area? Otherwise just search locally for baby activities. A lot depends on area and luck when meeting other Mums/Friends.

Hope everyone on the thread is doing well with the newborns/pregnancy's etc..

Dd's school screening isn't till August and if she needs to catch up she will have all-day kindergarten, otherwise she's just pm only. I am gutted but maybe that will work out as that is when ds2 will be napping (fingers crossed!)

How is the weather where you are? We are finally getting some sunshine but I think it is going to snow again tomorrow!

DS has been in a private kindergarten, as we knew we would be moving and wanted to give him some stability.

So he has had to take a week of tests to prove to the State of Virginia that he is ready for first grade. We are waiting for the results and I am swinging between being very concerned (a la parent waiting for GCSE) to very relaxed (because I cannot possibly start that level of worrying before first grade - I will not survive to College!).

That is reassuring, was just a bit odd. I was going through the paperwork with the receptionist (watching it all be photocopied), when we finished I said "can I go and join DD now" to be given a flat no. I don't as a rule leave my children alone with adults I have never met before. I'm going to phone them tomorrow and just talk it through with them I think.
And the skipping thing, redflipflops, indeed wtf? And DD saw four different people! I think they found her ready anyway.
spamm we thought about doing that last september but looked at the cost of going private and decided that we were a bit lacking on funds.
Tadjennyp-why would she need to catch up? I thought kindergarten was the equivalent of reception, is that not so ? fingers crossed for your dd anyway!
Weather has cheered up, I feel so much better for it, rain and greyness make me glum.

i keep losing this thread.

anyway, it's busy in both good & not so good ways round here. also pissing down like i can barely believe!

i've JUST signed a contract today for a part-time job in Sep (68%, so decent amount) at the school I'm subbing in. they love me so much they didn't even advertise the job - apparently all the staff that the head spoke to said 'give her the job' so he did

sick & tired of royal wedding shite on the tv, but not long til it's over.

and dh is in england this week for his step-father's funeral. which is sad, but also v complicated & spending this time with his mum is making him realise that she is really v deceitful & manipulative. a horrible thing to say, but he's just discovered that she has been hiding (and lying about) his birth certificate, as well as lying to other relatives about how often we get in contact. those are just the small & annoying things he's discovered - he says there's more, 'big stuff' to talk through when he gets home.

so, I have resorted to wine & cigarettes this eve, as a kind of celebration/commiseration thing.

btw - US school nurses seem to be fairly sure of themselves. ours tried to ban dd, cos she didn't have the right jabs, only she did, but the nurse didn't read the paperwork correctly.

Has anyone heard from Madamdeathstare or jabberwocky?

Iirc, Madam lives in Alabama and jabberwocky in Arkansas - both states have been hit hard by tornados over the past few days. Hope they are OK.

Off to do a 'search' to see if they have posted in the last 48 hours.

Btw, I'm in Tennessee. We had some very scary moments with tornado warnings/sirens going off multiple times, but all is OK. I have a huge tree branch (probably as big around as my waist) that has fallen on my garden fence (from neighbour's tree) that will require tree surgeons to remove - but that is minimal compared to the devastation all 'round this region.

Ginger I answered your question on the other thread, but I've also remembered Storytime at Barnes and Noble - they are all over the city and each one has a storytime morning in the kiddy book section - then there's usually a coffee shop to go to afterwards in the store.
I am in West Houston, and happy to answer any more questions.
Hope everyone in the southern states is okay x

I was wandering if anyone from here had been effected (affected?), hopefully they will show up soon!
Congrats on the job kickass!

Great news on the job kickass! Sorry about your dh and his family woes. Hope they get resolved soon. Have you been asked to bake any Royal Wedding cupcakes? [csmile] The coverage is really ubiquitous, isn't it?

Hope everyone in the weather affected states is ok.

I don't think dd will need to catch up but those kids deemed not kindergarten ready get to go full days, or you can pay $3200 and have them go all day. Otherwise it is just a couple of hours a day for the full year.

Well done on the job Kickass

tad we had that part time K last year (12 -3pm) with DD and it was quite awkward with two younger siblings... makes it hard to get out during the day or fit in naps etc... The extra hours at your school seem very expensive? Luckily our local school has now changed K hours to 8 -1pm - will make life a lot easier with DS!

Agree - hope everyone is clear of dramatic weather.

Is there any news from anyone in the tornado hit regions? I hope everyone is safe and unaffected.

Hallo, I was on the previous thread a while ago, and then it seems as if we weren't moving, and now it's definitely back on. So in the next few months we will be relocating to San Jose, CA. I have also read through almost the entire thread - riveting stuff!
Now to fill in the visa application forms and making an appointment at the consulate in London. Just the start of an enormous amount of paperwork!

I'll do a search for jabberwocky and madamdeathstare shortly to see if they've posted since the tornados.

I've just come back from Costco. There were several men there buying generators. They had driven up from Alabama - many stores there are damaged and/or sold out of any emergency supplies. One man bought 4 generators - perhaps he was sent to buy for several families/businesses.

Costco worker said there had been a steady stream of out-of-state people coming to buy supplies - batteries, water, food, tools, etc.

It is terribly sad.

wow, i've been so busy i haven't seen any news this week, so it has barely registered with me. it's such a scary thought that your house can just disappear/be torn up so easily. and that's if you have time to get everyone to safety.

mdavza - good luck with the paperwork

Ok - have now done a search for our two 'missing' living-in-America mumsnetters.

Jabberwocky has not posted since Monday, but saw on another thread that her Mum has had bypass surgery recently. Jabberwocky - if you see this, hope all is well.

Madamdeathstare has not posted since very early Wed AM - which was the day of the tornado. Madame - if you are reading this, know that you have been in my thoughts. I know that many in your area are simply without power atm, so hope that is your situation (and nothing worse). If you see this and need help, let me know. I am (I think) only a few hours away by car.

Thoughts and prayers go out to you both. xx

I really hope everyone is ok.

Me too, it's devastating.

I'm sure earlybird has posted else where, but has anyone heard from jabberwocky?