TTT.....

[AtLongLast]

OTT / self-indulgent I know, but Toddler Twin Tantrums..... aaargh! Just as well they're so cute too. Ds2 was v funny today wiggling his bum singing uh, uh Bobby' in response to me dancing round the kitchen to Bobby's girl'...

Putting my hand up too for obsessive weighing before and after the loo anyone?

I love and food so much I made macaroons for the irst time this weekend and they are sooooo delicious, but not good for the waistline?

Centreparcs next week any top tips ?

Respect for macaroons lavita - tricky aren't they (my knowledge comes from watching GBBO you understand, not actually making the buggers myself ) You do NOT look like you need to lose weight in any case.

I'm a greedy bastard, there's no hope for me. I'm destined to be a size 12 I think. Wish I could starve myself down to an 8 but I've never yet managed to summon the willpower and just seem to lose and gain the same half stone over and over so I might as well accept my fate

Sposed to be marking but just had to say - wish I was destined to be a size 12!!

In other news, boys had sleepsuits/pjs/nappies off within 10mins of putting them to bed tonight. Will be investigating the possibility of converting fleecy sleepsuits into straighjackets this week. What is it with my 2 wanting to be nudey?? Given half a chance they de-nappy poor dd too.

CP next week Lavita - woo hoo! Will put thinking cap on & get back to you

Ha Rose has taken to stripping too although she's yet to remove her nappy thank god. Chuckling at your two whipping off C's nappy! Comical.
Good grief, I'm not even marking and I'm not on maternity leave, talk about making the rest of us look bad - step away from the work woman!!
Must point out am only a 12 because I'm short

Glad it's not just ours then Tarti. Mum helpfully says to keep their trousers on during day / put nappy back on while they're sleeping at night. Simples. Just waiting for the first poo escape. It won't be long . They are funny with C though. They love helping by handing wipes & stuff & ds1 has a doll who needs bum wiped / nappy / clothes on too (not that it lasts long on her either). Dolls at playgroup tend to have clean bums too thanks to ds2 .

Only marking cos I've not done the latest batch & have had it for weeks & said it would be there tomorrow not going to happen. Not doing any more after this cos it really is like a lead weight on my shoulders. Every time I sit down to do it, I'm needed elsewhere & I'm really resenting not being able to concentrate solely on family stuff (even though I know I'm extremely lucky to have such a generous mat leave).

ALL yes but you are meant to be on leave ie not WORKING! No wonder you feel resentful.

Smiling at your nappy less boys. Never had anything like that here - should help with potty training eh?

Would love to write more but struggling to have the patience to type on this minuscule keypad. Two days and counting until that BT engineer sorts us out....

Ugh, can usually tell when I'm posting from my phone rather than the lappy - more typos and far more drivel!

Boys were nudey twice again before bed last night. Then I had a brainwave.... put fleecy sleepsuits on backwards so zip goes up the centre of their back . Was almost willing them to strip again so I could try it - and they didn't disappoint. Slight tantrums when they realised they were truly stuck. Dp said it was cruel and they'd be uncomfortable. Not half as uncomfy as we'd all find wee/soiled matresses. He conceded that and I think was rather grateful when he changed ds2's nappy this morning. Did it for their nap today too & they were v keen to get in sleepsuits backwards. Allowing myself to feel a little smug for now. Bit like mosquito v human race tho.... just waiting for the comeback. Even if it's when they are in beds and can help one another out of sleepsuits... I am hoping potty training will be relatively pain-free

I had to laugh too at your nudey boys ALL
I met someone who puts gaffer tape around her son's nappy and also puts him in his sleeping bag inside out!! He is hard work, he's only 2 and can undo the clasps on both his pram and the car seat
Kate that is so sad about the pressure to terminate one of your trips , we had regular scans at the fetal medicine centre, our consultant had delivered quads before. I remember talking to one of the doctors about higher multiples and he had said that they did advise reducing the pregnancy. DP and I walked away discussing the fact that we could/would never terminate 1 baby, very emotional at the thought of it.
I'm convinced that if we ever try to have more children I'll have triplets, quite scared at the prospect of having more children. I know that the expectation is there from DP's family as I am the last chance of producing a boy, DMIL has 6 granddaughters.
Still to tired to have any for a few years! Am thinking about getting a Mirena, anyone had this?
Cerubina congratulations on surviving your first year, hope you had a nice celebration too
Tarti macaroons were surprisingly easy actually, and utterly delicious, very sweet though as ALL had said, do you want the recipe? Must be a gazzillion calories each though

Lavita I've just been reading about the mirena - it's what most doctors choose for themselves apparently. I don't love the thought of it personally but it's a sqeamishness issue on my part!
Yes please to macaroon recipe. Feel for you re. pressure to produce male heir! I thought when the girls were about 6m that I would have more, but now I'm fairly sure I won't. Only just feel normal(ish) - can't face going through it all again! Also as you say, imagine another multiple pregnancy (and the actual children that would ensue... )

Yes Kate I meant to respond to your post. Am horrified at that pressure from your consultant especially after what you had been through . No wonder you cherish all your lovely DC.

LVB I remember commenting on a post ages ago about a woman who couldn't keep her son in pyjamas - can't remember what my idea was (cant have been that amazing!) but apparently it saved her life!
DD2 used to strip herself naked, only once in a bluemoon - but you would go in and check on her and then have to struggle pull-ups back on her! Couldn't wake her up though because she used to do this weird thing that if you woke her up, she would just go absolutely crazy - totally flip out, screaming, headbanging etc. Was like she was still half asleep as she didnt recognise us as would scream for us to leave her alone, and then cry for a cuddle - but seemed horrified when I asked if she wanted one.. all a nightmare when you just trying to put some pull ups on!

LVB and Tarti Looking back now, can't believe that the consultant told us some of the things he did. He claimed that it was for 'my safety'.. I think half of it was that I clearly can't hold onto my babies for long - both DD1 and 2 were prem for no reason, and they said that my babies would only come sooner and sooner. Unfortunately for him, the previous few triplet births he had done hadn't ended well, and I think that he just thought I would be going the same way. It sounds so wrong, but at the time we really started contemplating whether we were making the right decision (horrified now!). But you know when you know that something is wrong, but when someone drills it into you that doing the opposite is the right thing - you start believing it? He even discussed that it would be DTri#1 that he would terminate, as she was the smallest and weakest. Funnily enough #1 is the biggest and strongest now!

LVB What is it with even family wanting boys?! MIL said to me the other day that she has started knitting a few bits incase theres a 'DS' on the way....! I told her that I'm not pregnant, not planning on getting pregnant, and not even thinking about baby boys! IF I got pregnant again (which I would never do until the DTrip's are at school - even then, I doubt we would be thinking about another one) we would be more than happy with another little girl to add to our pink team! Obviously it would be lovely to have a boy, as we've not had one - but I wouldn't be 'expecting' it or wanting it to be a boy. DH is exactly the same. He always used to think that he would want a boy, but he's just so happy with our girls - I think he likes being able to treat them 'girly' and having daddies girls!

Can't comment on the mirena I'm afraid - Im too much of a wimp and just stick with my heavenly pills :) Am on mini-pill and not had a period for months.. bliss!

Haha - thanks for that! Compromise - boys have gone to bed with sleepsuits insideout. I think dp feels it's not quite so uncomfy for them but we'll resort to backwards if when they work the zips out. Ds1 loves buckles, clasps etc & I often go to put them in the buggy & find I have to undo the randomly attached straps before I can use it. He's not mastered undoing them yet though. There have been a few occasions where he's sat himself in the buggy & strapped himself in only to discover he can't get out again...

Kate forgot to comment too - horrible decision to have to make. Once the seeds of doubt are planted it's a brave decision to go against the `experts'.

We had Qs about when/if no 4 would be arriving last week. Half in jest... but not really. Lucky we have both genders now tho so proper pressure is off !

Think I'm going for a Mirena but the dr who fits them is off sick. Have been given the number of a clinic to go to but it's in the city centre & appt times mean I'd have to take all 3 kiddies . Slightly put off as I've had an ectopic pg previously so if it fails I'm slightly more at risk of another, though the risks seem less than I remember reading a few yrs ago. Think I'll wait til I've finished feeding dd.

I thought the maccaroons were ok to make too tho I think I need to try the flavoured ones. I need to expand my cake repertoire. Boys seem to be getting bored with fairy cakes. Shame cos I could make them in my sleep!

kate what a horrible decision to have had to make, and at a time when you are hormonal as well which doesn't help. Pressure from constultant doesn't help. I remember thinking along the same times when I watched a programme about a lady with identical quads. Quads are high risk anyway but identical ones! She was told she would loose all of them if she didn't terminate one, but due to religious reasons refused. Fortunately she has 4 lovely girls (though if I rememeber was a bit crazy about keeping them identical!). Glad I never had to make that sort of decision. And never will. Barring a major contraceptive accident. Which leads me neatly to my next topic. The minera coil. I got one about 1 year after the twins. It works great for me. I didn't find it painful to put in (though it takes quite a long time so I probably wouldn't take 3 kids with me) and apparently a lot of people feel woosy afterwards so they don't reccommend going back to work that afternoon (I did - I felt fine). Initially had a little bit of spotting. And now haven't had a period in months. I think you are supposed to get light periods but mine have disappeared and I don't miss them! Feel free to ask questions or PM me if you want.

ALL laughing at your nude loving children. We have the opposite with D. He cries if you take his clothes off, and after changing a nappy and you haven't put his trousers back on imediately (ie if you are washing hands or taking the nappy out) he will run after you with the trousers wimpering

No more chat of maccaroons please! Am desperately trying to be good this month. Unfortunately just the mention of diet makes me crave sweet things.

Tiramisu Macaroons
*make coffee flavouring by melting 2 tablespoons of instant coffee with 2 tablespoons of boiling water and leave to cool
*beat 2 egg whites until shiny and stiff by hand

• slowly mix in 100g of Golden Caster Sugar, then 120g of icing sugar, then 120g of ground almonds, then 1 tablespoon of the cooled coffee mixture, mix together but don't beat it.
• line 2baking trays with grease proof paper, either use a piping bag or 2 teaspoons and try to leave as much space between them as you can, you should have mixture for 30 macaroons (15once sandwiched together) *leave to stand for 30mins, preheat the oven to 140degrees *cook for 30minutes, then leave to cool on wire racks *filling is 100g of mascarpone, loosen it up by giving it a mix and add the other tablespoon of coffee mixture and 1 tablespoon of marsala(optional) *put filling on one side of macaroons, sandwich together and devour (grin)

You could change the coffee mix and add food colouring/liqueurs etc, let me know how you get on!

Request for no more macaroon talk swiftly followed by..... the recipe. Love it . Will def have to try that Lavita. I did coconut ones & I think it was the texture of the dessicated coconut that the boys didn't like.

Useful info about the time it takes to fit the coil Chesti. I was imagining it was similar to going for a smear. Maybe I need dp to take half a day off then go shopping on my own afterwards.

LVB Have got a lovely day at home by myself, and would soooo love to make those macaroons - But I know that I would be sneaky and cook them, eat them, and then hide all evidence and pretend I'd been healthy all day!

YUM - thanks lavita. Now just need a three hour slot to make them in ... how on earth did you manage, superwoman?!
Also did you use a piping bag and if so what nozzle - I only have v small nozzles which are pointless, even for icing cupcakes: could do with buying another bag/nozzle set but no idea where to start.

Right, enough nozzle chat from me.

Have no further craic. This coil business is sounding very appealing what with the lack of periods.

Ooh, nozzles . I bought a set from Lakeland last year... and then discovered dd was on her way so they are still over there --> in the box unused.

Speaking of which.... pg /breastfeeding is also very good for ensuring lack of periods for a while

NOT EVEN TEMPTED

Tarti, I used tea spoons, made the mix whilst they were sleeping, filling them doesn't take long, I let the girls destroy a cupboard full of plastic bowls and tat whilst I cook. I was expecting it to be really difficult but it's surprisingly easy
ALL whilst I didn't have a period for the year I BF, I bled for 10 bloody weeks post birth (sorry TMI!) which kind of negated the year off really. No babies for me, back molars still coming through here, so fed up of this illness teething malarkey macaroons & wine do help though

mwahaha... maybe not at the moment... but consider - a boy . Anyway, surprises are pretty cool .

I do my best `I-can-cook-Katie' impression while baking. Just to see how ott annoying I can be of course. Boys love it.... dp not so much

cerubina sounds like you're having a tough time getting back to work! Hope they are being good about it. Annoying that they (apparently) shouldn't really exclude for conjuctivitis, esp after a couple of days of treatment but I guess a policy is a policy...

I had to sign the accident' book again today. Ds2 has a lovely set of scratchmarks under his eye. Inflicted by ds1 <img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Hmm" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/hmm-PR4o6B1t.png">. Fighting over a police car while in the den'. At least they keep it in the family I suppose!

Just a quick one cos I remembered something v important (!!!). We had no Cbeebies in our accom at CP Lavita. Luckily we had plenty Thomas DVDs (boys prefer now anyway)

Sorry for absence, I have been completely tied up in organising the hen night for next weekend. It's the world's tamest hen night but still taking ages to organise. Am spending most of the evening on the phone/email trying to figure out who is coming when, and trying to get people to send photos etc. Ugh nightmare.

Hope all is going ok with everyone. cerubina, hang in there with nursery, it will get easier I'm sure.

Chesticles too late but never EVER agree to organise a hen do or anything like it. And adding requests for photos (or payment) is like strapping on lead boots to wade through treacle. As you're finding. I am one of nature's born bossyboots organisers but you are a braver woman than me!

Loving the stories of inside out sleepsuits, straitjackets, gaffer tape etc but hoping we are a way off such things. R has figured out that she can open her nappy tabs, which has led to a couple of nice surprises in the morning, but so long as I spot them before the sleepsuit is done up we're OK (for now).

S has suddenly got a couple of upper canines coming through - no incisors, just canines. I have visions of a little vampire, will have to get him a cape I think!

Both have been so poorly this week - nothing more serious than sticky eyes/colds/coughs/teething/jabs, but clearly feeling rubbish for days. Vile nappies, puke, snot that they won't let me wipe off, loss of appetite, lots of crying. Poor little R is whippet thin because she has refused so much food . And of course it's done nothing for my attendance record. 6 days out of 7 now is the tally of partial or non-attendance at work. My boss is very understanding but as my other post suggested, I don't believe that is inexhaustible and am quite concerned about how twins can just pass things back and forth, as well as mine potentially just being susceptible to all bugs due to early arrival. I've got S at home now following vomiting incident at nursery. At least it's the weekend and perhaps they'll get a bit better until they pick something else up on Monday

Hope everyone else is well and ALL, do step away from the marking...bloody outrageous.

Cerubina ours were constantly ill when they started nursery, it was really awful and I kept being called away from work because of sky high temperatures etc etc. It took about three months to completely settle down and since then they have been completely healthy (bar the odd gammy eye/dodgy nappy - but ime once nursery know you and the children well, and of course as they get older, they do become much happier to take them/keep them in even if they are a little under the weather).
Your work must know how mortified you are about it, and there's really nothing you can do so try not to feel too bad. It's a bad time of year for illness at the best of times, without all the exposure to new germs that nursery brings. Give it a month and it's be a totally different picture I promise!

Pleased to report that insideout sleepsuits work v well! Surprisingly difficult to work zips that way round. May be a bit of a niche for toddler clothing there oh' just my family then. Ds1 has undone the nappy through it tho, but at least mess would be contained I spose. Bit of a breakthrough with them repeating back (endlessly) 'nappy catch poo'. So hopefully they're getting the importance?

Marking now complete cerubina yey. Think that's why I was a bit giddy in my posting the other night. Such relief.

At Country Pile (Haha) for weekend & managed to avoid neighbour so far but won't last. Builder done loads this week so we have scaffolding up (how grown up does that feel?). He said he's got the measure of our neighbour after a few encounters so far . He needed leccy but our outdoor supply was disconnected cos we weren't expecting him to start so soon. He thought he'd ask lady if he could (pay) use hers. She asked for £10 and then spent ages deliberating whether it was enough or to charge more. Poor dp woke up this am feeling like he'd ranted all night. I assumed work, but no, the thought of having to deal With her.