Life with twins 3

[GibberingGinger]

Like some sort of film sequel, or a royal dynasty, welcome to Life with twins III, a thread for general discussions and sharing experiences of having (or expecting) twins.

Well I bit the bullet and started a new thread. Off to finish off the old one now!

Woo hoo, well done GG - I couldn't handle the responsibility . Too much of a newbie .

Course now I can't remember what I was going to say to who. So - randomly:

I have thought about salt gargling.... but not actually done it. Def worth a go. & vitamins - of course, doh! I even have some in the cupboard so will dig them out. Still pretty sore, but feels a bit more under control than at the weekend. Get me whittering on about my stupid tongue. So piddly but, honestly, I couldn't do anything the other day without being v aware of how sore it was.

Our `routine' at 1yr ish was:
up at 5.30-6am
breakfast as late as I could (preferably 8am but did slip forward to 7am)
milk & then nap ~9.30am (only ever 30mins or so)
lunch 12
milk then nap ~2.30 (again, only ever slept for 30-40mins max)
dinner 5pm
bath/book/milk/bed started at 6pm for 7pm in cot

A long lunch nap is def a good routine to get into & I sort of wish I'd tried it earlier (I switched once they started nursery at ~15months as that's what they do there) but the boys were always grumpy for a mid-morning nap at that age. They're sleeping now, hence me being here `working' & it's nice to know I should have an hour or so. Other thing was I was always out & about & they'd tend to sleep on the move - and much better than when at home so I wasn't desperate to change that.

In to work later. I must be nuts agreeing to go in for parents' evening on my day off. Still, dp gets to do bedtime on his own for the first time ever - should be interesting! Boys aren't well again - nursery rang yesterday cos ds1 had thrown up 3 times in 5 mins, poor soul, & they were both at it last night. They seem pretty much OK other than chucking up though so that's something. Can't even blame nursery as it was dp who had it at the weekend. Just hoping it avoids me! As for mat leave - starts on 31st Oct but my final week is half term so I guess I'll be... erm, `working from home' then

Just marking my place

Ooh I do enjoy the old half term maternity leave swizz ... I've got a dilemma about going in on a day off next week - I can see I will have to do parents' evenings, that's fine, but there's another meeting on Monday which is more to do with an extra responsibility I have.. it starts at 3.30 so it's not really feasible to ask DH to come home that early, I think I'm just going to have to tell them I can't do it.

Thanks for the flowers Lavita and lovely kind words everyone - I really did feel quite down over the weekend but much better now. DH has 'only' been away two nights this week and nothing else in the pipeline for next couple of weeks. Plus I am allowed out for drinks tomorrow night, and am going to York shopping for the day on Sat to meet up with some old school friends - can't wait. Really feel ready for a treat (should probably hide credit cards....)

Our routines at one year were almost exactly the same as MM describes although with milk and without snacks.

ALL I hope the boys make a swift recovery. It's coming up to poorly season again, isn't it. Sigh.

Phew - found you all!
GG it is the etiquette to leave a link for the new thread on the old thread so idiots like me can easily find you - but I don't mean to sound ungrateful - thanks for taking ownership!

hi all - watching strictly. Shouldn't Brucie be retired by now?

Yes colds a plenty here. Atticus has bad chest. All 3 DCS had development assessment today. Our nanny and DH took them. Anyway, it's official, our DTs are FAT. Rafferty was off the scale, and Atticus 98th percentile. (both in the 80s for height). DD was 98th for height and weight so fine.
My nanny has been hinting for ages I feed them too much. Maybe she has a point. Hmm.....

anyway, it's the weekend, it's sunny, and i'm in a great mood! love to all x

Glad you found us despite my lack of link MM. I agree Brucie should definitely be retired by now.

Our routine at 1 year was approx
7.30 wake
7.40 breakfast
10.30 milk
11.00 nap
12.30 lunch
2.30 nap
3.30 - 4ish milk
5.30 dinner
7.00 bath
7.15 milk
7.30 bed
11.00 dream feed(dropped this about a year I think)

Welcome back Lottie! Happy sandcastle memories & sounds like exciting changes afoot.

The best and worst of weekends here. Had PILs down & we went out for the day on Sat in the lovely weather. Animal farm / picnic / ice cream / swings / choo choo train. FIL was in his element - I think he's beginning to appreciate the age the boys are at now & it was a joy to see. Gave MIL a photobook of a pro photoshoot we had done earlier in the year for her bday pressie & she was so overjoyed there were tears all round. More unsettled nights tho - boys were still throwing up til the weekend so I've been surviving on 3/4 hours per night. We think it was back to lactose intolerance of a gastro bug as they were relatively fine during the day (tho apparently FIL has been throwing up all day today). Sunday we always go out for lunch when PIL are here. I didn't want to as I didn't think the boys were up to it but was out-voted as they'd all decided (while I was having a lie down with grumpy ds2) we were going to a carvery so it'd be quick & fine. It wasn't. We were that family from hell & dp & I had to take turns taking ds2 out while FIL entertained ds1. I ended up crying into my dinner. How embarrassing.... Today we had a call from nursery to say they think ds2 has chickenpox. Oh yes, it's all go here! Been up since 4.30am with ds1 so decided I'd go to bed early tonight to catch a few hours before it all kicks off again. Too late, unfortunately......

My word LL no wonder you were livid with BA re. the buggy at airport. That's ridiculous, and IMO a load of bollocks as I've flown 3 times now with a double buggy in tow and have always taken it right up to the gate/aircraft, depositing it at the latest possible moment. I would seriously be writing letters to the top at BA to complain.

Bit stressed here as our nanny has resigned, moving in with boyfriend in Bath. Totally gutted and quite pissed off too. Just interviewed a nice but not amazing eastern european girl. More to see over the next few days. Dull.

I'm cross because we asked the question of our current nanny right at the start about her boyfriend in Bath. Feel we've just wasted 3 months. Now have to start the whole painful process of interviewing and then getting the children used to a new person, getting the new nanny up to speed etc etc. I am trying to be positive, and hope we find "the one" without delay.

BTW - your hols sound fab - and great the girls got on with the childcare. Sounds fab. Except for the travelling part.

God MM how awful. Here's hoping you find a good un over the next few days of interviews. So frustrating though when you had a good solution which worked.

ALL are you ok? Is it chickenpox??

Lottie your airport ordeal sounds grim in the extreme. Love the cute talking stuff though (and that your choice of example 'sentence' involved your shoes.... very telling )

I am struggling with work at the moment - DH away a lot so I am not getting there in the morning until the last minute, and having to leave as early as possible, so I just don't feel I am getting enough done. Also it's odd being part time (and busy every minute I am there) for lots of reasons, a side effect of which is that I don't feel part of things socially in the same way. It's neither one thing nor the other really. And yet for mostly selfish reasons I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to be full time at this stage... Urgh sorry I feel like I am always moaning about this! No answers really.

Gosh aren't we all a barrel of laughs

That is pretty rubbish about the buggy Lottie, and def something I probably wouldn't even have thought about. Sure they could make an exception for those who need a double. What do they want you to do - buy 2 singles for holidays?? Have to say, I did have a chuckle at the shoe ref too (& your shoe links are still an education for me). It's amazing to think in a few short months the boys could be at that stage too (tho with boys, who knows...). Ds1 is repeating lots of words now, but I'm guessing many of them don't actually mean anything to him just yet & he's just practicing sounds. Tis very cute though! It's suddenly become apparent how much they do understand - they will do as they are asked(at times..) & that just seems weird! Over the last few days ds2 has taken to grabbing my hand and pulling me when he wants something - usually involving snacks / drinks in the kitchen.

Watching for potty tips . Think we're way off here but dp seems to be keen to begin. In fact he bought a potty the other weekend when we had to abort a nursery furniture shopping trip & he went into the shop on his own. His Mum has been putting ideas into his head telling him he was fully dry by 18months . So at the weekend we had both him & his Mum making a fuss about the potty & I just wanted to yell at them that for now it was fine that it was being used as a hat / step / window to make the world look a funny shade of blue.

Poo to nanny trauma MM! I hope she had the decency to be suitably embarrassed on telling you??

With you on the work thing Tarti. I feel a bit of a pang leaving work on a Wed knowing everyone elese will be there on Thurs/Fri. Not that I want to be there FT - I love just doing 3 days but do feel I'm missing out. Esp since I've lost all my responsibilities (and headaches....) as a result of going pt. Planning / teaching etc is great on 3 days but I do feel I've been chasing my tail over the last couple of weeks when the boys have been ill & I suspect it's much the same when you're on your own with the girls. Had to go in again tonight (Open Evening......) tho & wasn't so keen.

Things here this week have been about as bad as we've had it I think, but we agreed this am the fog was starting to lift a little. We actually slept, which helped. Dp woke mortified that he'd slept through but no. We were still both up 2/3 times each but resettled quickly & non of the screaming / throwing up / general unsettledness of the previous week or so. Ds2 does have chickenpox (apparently, I'm still unconvinced) but no sign of spots yet on ds1. Most disappointed though - thougfht we were going to have some of that delightful phenolic-smelling, patchy calamine lotion..... it's a non-smelling cream now. Gutted!

When do you think you will move back to the UK LL? How long will DH test the water with the new role?

Nanny interviews, we interviewed a total dud 2 nights ago, a no-show this morning, and then this evening, a real corker of a nanny - I'm now just hoping she wants the job! We are seeing another one tomorrow too. Feeling more hopeful now. But it has been a seriously stressful week. My ezcema is terrible as a consequence.

ALL - how long for you to go now?

PS Potty training - my view is wait and wait until they are really ready, and it will be so much quicker. DD was 2.5. As i'm sure i've mentioned countless times.

Ooh - i went to the book club in our village last night for the first time - in the local pub. Was excellent - met some super women. (As predicted, 100% women in attendance).

Hope everyone has a great w/e x

Does that mean dh will be on perma weeks away til it's decided / you move back then Lottie, or does he have the flexibility to work from Switzerland with his new job? Yikes, you def want to get some resolution so you can feel more settled about it all.

I was reckoning on 2.5ish MM, but hoping for slightly earlier as it'll be summer then. Saying that, the boys are so into stripping off at the moment that it would be great if they did it sooner rather than later. Does everyone else have that problem? Now they can take their clothes off, they just do - constantly. & then the nappy comes off too & I'd much rather that stayed on for now. Now it's colder I don't like them wandering around in the nude either, but they get so frustrated with clothes....

Looking hopeful on the nanny front MM. Everything crossed that you will have a choice to make after tomorrow's interview. & good on you going to the book club. What are you reading?

I'll be 35wks on Monday - eek! Three more weeks at work (though the final week is half term so doesn't count really). We really had better start thinking about things. I bought baby a hungry caterpillar cardigan the other day & that is the sum total of the preparation we've done. Was supposed to have a midwife appt today but I had to cancel it as I'd have to take the boys & an antenatal clinic full of newborns really isn't the place for them with chickenpox. Not sure the rebooked appt for next week will happen either if ds1 doesn't hurry up & get spotty. I can see the baby just arriving at this rate.

I would also recommend leaving potty training until they are really ready. H was 2.5 and cracked it in a week. We just went cold turkey and put her in pants. I think it was a combination of luck and good timing. And my parents large garden!

Glad you had a lovely holiday LL, though annoying about the double buggy fiasco. MM hope the nanny hunting is successful and the good one you saw yesterday accepts the job. ALL 35 weeks eeek!

Had a good day today. For a friends 40th we went to "go ape" this morning which is a sort of outdoor treetop wire adventure trail. Was good fun. Off out to the pub for a few drinks this evening. Was a nightmare sorting out the babysitting (MIL can't look after 3 kids, it's too big an ask) but worth it to remember that some sort of life exists outside work and family routine!

I'm feeling much better atm. I've done a few things on my own lately, had a friend up and we went to the National wedding show, and I tried on a dress which didn't fit me but I loved and had a much needed night out on Thursday, went to see Rihanna with some friends which was fab. Although it meant I went to bed at 12.30am which is 2 hours after my normal bedtime, felt knackered all day yesterday, must be getting old!

LL Hope the work/life situation gets sorted soon, 2 friends of mine who've been successful with potty training both waited until 2.5 too and it was done in a week. Gina does a book that is supposed to be good.

ALL Wow not long now then, I was only 34&3 when the girls were born but it's different with a singleton isn't it. Hope the chickenpox is gone soon, bet that is a nightmare.

MM I'm interested to see what you are reading too, I wonder if there is one near me, sounds fun and doesn't involve me staying up late I've got "The Brave" by Nicholas Evans (wrote the Horse Whisperer) on my bedside table but I haven't started it yet.

GG How do you sort out babysitting, I feel like that and I only have 2? the zip lining sounds fun, hope you had a good time tonight too

Tarti Hope things are better for you on the work front, I can't imagine what it must be like juggling the girls and a pt job, although I may be working sooner than I think, as DP is looking to expand the business, which will mean me doing a fair few hours.
Thanks for the you passed out earlier, I am going to open a bottle and drink the lot! now, it's Saturday night after all. Is everyone watching Strictly/X factor? I love it saddo

Trooper - haha, I don't think so! I do think I've had a fairly easy time of it through both pgs tho. I keep catching a glimpse of my bump & thinking it looks huge, but it doesn't (generally) feel it. Spose it wouldn't after twins. Dp thinks it is - and keeps telling me it's going to be a monster. Cheers for that!

We have a `go ape' pretty local to us GG & work keep threatening to use it as a team building thingy...... I like the idea, but not keen on doing it with work!

I have friends who went to see Rhianna this week Lavita - got glowing reports! Still not sure about the chickenpox. I think we've had a mild case, if at all. Thing is, ds2's spots seem just to be going down rather than crusting over etc that they're meant to so I wonder if they are even pox spots.
Or rather that we've just been swamped by the general horribleness of stomach upsets / colds they've had at the same time. We have been giving piriton too so maybe the lack of itching is the key to a `good' chickenpox experience? Strictly here btw, not watching as avidly as previous series, but it is on & will get into it once mat leave starts

Lottie, I really don't blame you for thinking constantly about what you will do - it's a major decision / change! Esp I think when much of it is not in your control but you're left with managing the day to day stuff on your own as well as trying to make sure future plans work for everyone. It sounds exciting from the outside but less so when the realities are actually impacting on you. We're struggling enough with the decision about when / if to move 10miles or so....

Bit of a `non-weekend' here. We have a plasterer doing some work on our house in Wales this weekend & decided that it wasn't fair to drag the boys down given they're not well. So dp went on his own at stupid o'clock this am with the aim of getting back tonight. Turns out it's a 2 day job so he's staying there instead. He's pissed off with himself for not asking (I did tell him to make sure, but he knew best...) & was going to drive home then back again tomorrow cos he feels bad about leaving me on my own. I don't mind & at least know if tonight is bad he'll take over tomorrow. We had a roughish night last night so we've done little but jigsaws, books, sleeping & CBeebies today.

Felt like major progress this am though. Ds2 woke at 5am needing a nappy change. Did it & accepted I was up for the day but he took my hand & pulled me towards the stairs so I thought I'd try him back in his cot - he slept for another hour. Result! I was so impressed!

LL I too complained the whole time I was pregnant because it was bloody horrendous! all my friends behind my back had commented how much I was complaining, bed every night at 6pm, puking daily, time off work, back ache etc. but after I discovered I was having twins they all were a bit more sympathetic.

Now they all think I'm some kind of saint because I have twins and don't moan. Little do they realise I have found you all to open my large complaining heart mouth to!

LL our house/location hunt was fairly spurious in that we made a decision on the county first, as Oxon is at least a bit nearer to my family who are in the midlands, but still commutable where I work. We then looked at lots of houses in different areas, focusing on the house first. Then any houses/villages we liked on our search we looked into in a bit more detail, schools, pubs, stuff going on etc. We quickly ruled out North oxon (too far to commute) then starting focusing on south oxon. The decision in the end was the house primarily, followed by the fact it was a "thriving" (estate agent speak) village with a good primary school, pre-school, 2 pubs, shop, couple of restaurants etc.
Having lived in London for 15 years, I would say don't be scared by the move to a village. It's something city dwellers ponder on, but it's such a nonsense in the end (well it was for me) - I really don't miss anything about London at all. If you have small children you simply cannot help but meet other families. All my new friends seem to have made the leap out of London or Oxford to live in the country anyhow, so likeminded peeps.

P.s. now interviewed 2 nannies who i like - one has solecharge nanny experience but lives further away, the other has worked in a nursery for 2.5 years but seems really lovely, calm and "steady", and lives very nearby.

Hello... I hope you don't mind me crashing in... I used to post with you ladies, I was 'Weegle' then...

I have identical twin girls who are now 21 months...

LL just wanted to say I'm not far from Tunbridge Wells, and starting to get to grips with the Kent school system a bit (DS is now in Yr1), if you wanted any advice/opinion I can offer?!

As for potty training, I started DS the first time at 24 months. Day of hell. Tried again at 2.5 exactly and he had it cracked in 3 days. I left the night time 'training' as well and it just happened at 4 years and 1 month and no wet beds ever... I'm all for stress free potty training! No one writes "I was early to be potty trained" on their CV so I'm all for the easiest job for the adult, ie. ME. . I'm pretty sure I won't even attempt it with the girls until next spring at the earliest - there's something to be said for fewer clothes needed and line drying possibilities...

Anyway, I've enjoyed catching up on you all and hope it was ok to come back and say hello!