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.

LL My girls are great thanks... but it's not always been so - probably one of the main reasons I fell off this thread. Lydia was very ill from Dec-Mar, and has only just 10 days ago finally been discharged from the paediatrician. It was very very stressful to be honest. But she's doing great now, in fact has nearly caught up developmentally with Evie which has staggered everyone as at one stage she was about 5 months behind and they said it would take her to school age to close the gap. But now they are great. Just starting to talk a bit which as you said is just lovely!

As for your living questions... we live in a small town north west of TW. It's an overgrown village really. I would not go any further south than TW if DH is commuting to the city. And look at the train lines and go from there. A lot of the villages have direct lines to London Bridge, and Victoria. So work from there. A lot of the villages don't. You could also consider Sevenoaks? If you want to stick with more of a town rather than village? If you are faily near one of the towns Sevenoaks/Tonbridge/Tunbridge Wells then you will be able to get the best of everything. We live rural but 2 minutes drive we have groceries etc. You can walk to a mainline station. But I do travel everywhere - for school, for activities, for proper shopping. So if you aren't used to that I think it can come as a surprise. It doesn't bother me at all.

As for the schools - yes it is very competitive, and because of the 11+ system it does actually really matter that they get in somewhere 'good' for primary if you are likely to think they are grammar school material. Because we live quite far from TW/Tonbridge our kids will have to not only pass the 11+ but be cream of the crop to stand a chance of getting in to one of the grammars. But I LOVE our little village school, it's perfect for primary and suits DS and us as a family brilliantly. Fortunately they are very hot on academics too so we've struck gold there.

I grew up in Hildenborough - about half an hour from where we are now (and may be somewhere worth looking at). We're now tied here due to DH's job. I think the renting IN TW is good idea and then using that time to explore. There are so many different options that it would be sensible not to buy until you are sure about the exact area and DH has got used to the commute etc.

Erm, anything else?!

Hi TOBN

LL I'm really interested, all the talk of schools and moving I'm lapping up. We are still talking of moving house within the next couple of years, and all the info helps, I quite like it that most of your twins are older than mine so in theory you all do the hard graft and I learn from it but it's still bloody hard graft

Tarti & MM Are you still dieting? I am tempted to join limming World on Thursday but am a bit scared

Hi all, only a quickie as am in the middle of a lovely big row with DH which I would hate to miss the end of

Been away this weekend, I had two night's at my sister's - a long-awaited child-free treat - while DH took girls to his parents' which is nearby. I have not had so much sleep for TWO YEARS, it was a delight.

Lavita I am still dieting on and off, have lost about another half stone in the last two months. Would like to now lose a stone and then just maintain, which I've never been able to do. I am nearly happy with my weight and it's a bloody long time since I've been able to say that. I've done Slimming World in the past and lost very successfully, I'd definitely recommend it although it doesn't suit me so well now as getting to meetings would be difficult, plus am a zealous convert to low-carbing (although you can do a version of it on SW). I'd say go along on Thursday - I didn't find it at all scary (after the initial jitters about walking in!).

Lottie any interesting nuggets from your diet book??
Am feeling your pain re. schools (as always) and don't apologise for the repatriation chat - that's what we're here for .

Weegle I remember you from when I was pregnant (or maybe when they were born) - my girls are nearly 17 months now. It sounds like you've had a rough year, so glad Lydia is all better now.

MM phew, two to choose from isn't bad. How will you decide? Wish we could form a Dragon's Den-style panel...

GG I got dragged to Go Ape shortly before I got pregnant (the two were not connected...) - was dreading it but loved it. Hope your night out was good!

ALL where has the time gone?! Nearly half term (I am telling myself on repeat). Love how chilled out you are second time around...

OK that wasn't a quickie at all!

That's really interesting. I watched a Zoe Harcombe lecture (online - I'm not that keen!) which was saying very much the same thing about fitness, if anything even more relaxed, to the effect that basically walking as much as poss, getting stuck into housework like mopping the floor etc and/or walking the dog is perfectly adequate to have a healthy lean body if your diet is right. And she talks convincingly about no sugar or processed food of any kind (lots of interesting stuff about the diet industry and big companies like Pepsi/Cadbury etc being behind a lot of the 'research'/advice we get fed about what is healthy. Certainly put me off cereal for life...
I'm still doing a less fatty version of pig to twig. I like it, although I am not super strict, especially when social occasions clash with it. I could NOT cut out dairy as am a big fat greedy pig fanatical about cheese, so will be very impressed at you managing that. Bet you will feel good though. Will have a gander at that website.

Does everyone still have twins on one room? Mine are starting to call each others' names as soon as I leave/turn lights out, which is very cute indeed but does spiral into silliness a lot of the time and I am fast forwarding to when they are in beds and finding it hard to see how to control bedtime!
The Gina Ford toddlers book was hopeless by the way. Have bought The Incredible Years but it's gathering dust at the moment. I'll let you all know if I ever read it and find any nuggets.

Had to pick M up early from nursery today with a temp but I'm hoping it's just teething. We had a letter from the hospital giving her the all clear after a series of scans she had to have following a UTI aaaages ago. Very relieved and also pleased I decided not to keep her on antibiotics (as advised) while we waited for the scans and results as it would have been 7 months

Lottie good luck in negotiations with DH over house viewing. Serve him favourite meal? (euphemism )

Oh and since you mention it, mine storms off as a rule, I generally follow him round the house screeching at him

Did you get a satisfactory ending to your row Tarti? How is M now? Good to hear she's been signed off from the hospital too.

Any resolution to the nanny situation MM?

Hullo TOBG. We've not met before . We've got 18month non-id boys & #3 due in a month or so . Sounds like you've had an awful time of it - glad things are on the up.

Friday here for me - yey! Only 3 more working days (plus a zillion emails, no doubt) til Jan 2013 . It's nuts. Been a bit stressed out by students this week. Why is it I care more about their education than them even though I've only known them for 6 weeks? will I ever learn?

Chickenpox mystery deepens. Picked boys up yesterday to be told ds1 now has it. I ask where his spots are & we couldn't see any (girl who `saw' them wasn't around). Aapparently a little girl in the baby room also went down with it yesterday. Then undressed ds2 later & he had a load more on his back. Dp took him to the walk-in clinic & they reckon they're more like insect bites. Which is what I thought last week. So nursery accepted him today without question? So, did he have it last week or not? Or has nursery got some sort of insect infestation? Will new baby be safe? Do I go to my midwife clinic this week? Dilemmas. I really could do with knowing....

My parents are coming this weekend . I think they must've decided they'd better make the effort if we're not going home for Christmas. That & the fact that dp's parents have been a couple of times lately. & that they don't feel confident about going abroad for their Oct/Nov holiday since Dad's heart attack. So, 2nd choice, but still........

I have mastitis and am feeling very sorry for myself

Oh shit Lavita

Ouch, lots of sympathy LVB.

Haven't time to post much as I am trying to sort out stuff to sell at a NCT sale on Sat. Will try and find time at the weekend to read through and catch up properly. Hope all well.

Hi all, long time no post so I will certainly fall short on attempts to make relevant noises to all of you.

But poor LVB, that sounds horrid. I had a touch of that when the twins were in hospital and it was v v painful. Hope you are getting some relief from hot flannels etc but I know it's torture to handle the soreness.

LL I agree with the others, do feel free to muse aloud on here about all the moving logistics. It's a lot to get your head round and must be hugely frustrating not knowing when/if it's going to happen - while also knowing it'll be down to you to organise movers, new accommodation, childcare etc etc.

Hope the last few days at work fly by smoothly, ALL. You are very good to give a shit at all, whatever the students are like, when you are heavily pregnant! Perhaps a good thing I never went into teaching?

Hello TOBG and sorry to hear you had such a hard time with your DD being ill for such a long time. Sounds dreadful but hopefully all behind you now. You sound like a fount of knowledge on Kent and school-related decisions. I am miles away from that stuff with twins of 7.5 months but perhaps it's never too early to start thinking about it.

Glad you got the nanny situation sorted MM and I trust you have made sure she's repellant to the opposite sex this time?

Tarti I also loved the line about missing the end of an argument with your OH. You sounded as though you were relishing a good old ding dong. I'm useless with arguments, just sulky/inarticulate/irrational as the case may be and usually end up apologising first. Rubbish.

Hope all's well with hippy and her boys, and GG.

So we have finally dropped the 10pm feed, which seems to have gone well - though both a bit prone to waking around 5.30/6am and chattering until it's getting up time. I've also dropped the milk part of lunchtime so it's just solids and a bit of water/juice, but coinciding with that S has had a couple of days of only managing an hour at lunchtime when usually he is totally reliable. Total nightmare for me as I live for my 2 hours off for surfing meditating. Am thinking it could be either hunger due to no milk or needing a shorter sleep in the morning (again, selfishly a bit gutted - 45 mins is what I need for washing bottles/prepping lunch etc). Any thoughts on whether these are likely explanations at this age?

R is also very attention-hungry and starts whingeing/crying/screaming as soon as I attend to S or leave the room, which is a bit wearing. I think it should improve when she (and they) can sit up unsupported as she seems to want holding all the time.

As I mentioned on FB I'm practically in a cold sweat thinking about how to dress them warmly for winter when we go out and about. The things we have bought for outer wear are absurdly hard to get on and off, and add about 10 minutes on to the time it takes to get ready to leave. I even complained to JoJo about their stupid fecking reversible sweatshirts which wouldn't fit a Tiny Tears. LL I liked your suggestion about making the buggy warm so clothes don't need to be so much. But is there anything sensible on sale that isn't a complete trial to force on?

I feel as though I'm entering a new phase now of things needing puzzling out, which means I didn't realise when I had it easy with them and now know what you've all been saying about how just when you think you have the routine sorted out, they go and change it all...

Thanks everyone, I had a terrible fever, vomiting, sweating the lot for 2 days before my breast swelled up, then it literally came up within half an hour of theire bedtime feed. I'm on 2nd day of antibiotics now though and thankfully feeling much better, phew. Still swollen but not dying

Will catch up properly!

I wonder about that too Lottie. I over-intervene but often think it is totally pointless. Doesn't feel right to just leave them to fight it out though... Anyone else?
I like the sound of your TTJs but have just bought them a pair each of mary jane's, trainers (silver - inspired by your Kickers link!) and wellies so we are all set for now.
Re. Autumn clothes, I have bought everything in one go so I know where I am, after a chaotic summer clothes-wise, and like an absolute freak I have bought only navy, grey, red or camel/cream stuff so that everything goes with everything else. So far it is immensely satisfying as I can get them dressed AND pick spare outfits for their nursery bags in just a few minutes - no more dithering about wondering why I have only lurid patterned tights, lurid patterned dresses and lurid patterned coats.
On the down side they do look like they are off to boarding school at any given moment but I kind of like that

Lavita so glad you are on the mend.

Good lord what is up with my use of apostrophe

I hasten to add since I sound like a stuck up lunatic that most of the aforementioned clothes are from Sainsburys and similar

Oh no Lavita, poor you, nightmare. I was lucky to avoid last time round & hoping for more of the same this time. I'm glad things have taken a turn for the better.

Cerubina, my fingers are firmly in my ears when it comes to dropping milk - at least at night... yup, even when we're so much further down the line. As for keeping them warm, I'm sure I overdid it (babies dripping in sweat would somewhat evidence that ). I tended to do long-sleeved t-shirt / trousers, woollen layer, padded coat & hat once I realised a blanket snuggled up to the neck under the cosytoes really wasn't necessary. I found summer dressing difficult when they were small as they were too visible to old biddies who had an opinion as to whether it was too hot / cold to be sockless etc.

haha Lottie... sounds like it was a useful learning experience for her portfolio anyway! Now the boys can move round they are def harder to photograph since ds1 in particular just wants to have the camera too. He loves looking at all the pics stored on there, but prefereably if he can be in charge of button pressing too!

Dealing with scraps... hmm. We always intervene too & also often wonder why when offended twin just err, well isn't bothered. I also worry that ds1 will think ds2 is favoured just because we are always telling him to give stuff back to him, or praise ds2 for sharing with ds1 before he takes it off him. I reckon that they have worked out their own pecking order despite our interventions. Sometimes ds2 looks so wary when ds1 approaches that it's quite sad really.

I'm thinking I might have to partake in some kiddy winter clothes shopping too. Not so complicated with boys though! Wellies still my exciting thing to look forward too but I want some nice puddle splash-suit things too.

Midwife appt today - on a mission to up my iron levels to make sure they don't put pressure on me to not go for home birth! Got her to look at my tongue (yup, still wittering about that) & she thinks it is thrush but can't understand why the pharmacist won't give me anything. Seems listerine wasn't a bad guess to try to sort it though - she suggested Corsodyl so might give that a go.

Not sure if one twin is dominant here. D (ds2) is very physical and barges straight into things and is often the toy stealer. J (ds1) is much more sneaky. Sly even. He will sneak a toy away from D easily. He is also a dirty fighter who pulls hair and bites. D on the other hand just punches. Needless to say they still hate each other. I despair! My dad was telling me stories of how my granny hated her twin brother, and his twin aunties (granny's sisters) also hated each other. So apparently twins hating each other is a family trait. Is this supposed to comfort me . I'm undecided about the breaking up of squables, but in our case the fights are often physical so a certain amount of intervention is required

LL I'm not a member of NCT and they are happy for me to sell stuff at the sale. I just have to remember not to buy too much stuff though!

Oh, and I'm on the gin tonight. Less calories than wine. Am on track for my pound a week weightloss until Christmas. 5lbs down so far in 5 weeks. This is not impressive considering I'm sooooooooo overweight that 5lbs should be easy to loose. but hey, I just love wine food too much to loose weight fast