D'ya ever wonder how long the sun will last...?

[Sokmonsta]

Morning! Since its a sunny day here I thought I'd say sunny hellos. Unless of course anyone else has beat me to it and I've missed the new thread.

Morning girls x

Such a busy weekend! Had a fab time in Edinburgh. Walked about 13 miles, saw most of the sights and climbed Arthur's Seat - views were fab! Back home sunday and out to the NFL at wembley. Yesterday DH was stuck home because the trains were cancelled. Was quite relieved he didn't have to go in. actually. Where I usually drop him in the car, a tree has come down and flattened a car in the waiting bays. There is so much forest around us, there has been quite a few tree incidents.

Now have four days with the kids, and not a lot planned. And they've already started fighting - over who is doing their teeth first DD is grounded.

She is such a bugger, she goes out, promises to text when she reaches and let us know when she will be home and then she forgets, and doesn't answer her phone, leaving us to worry. I was phoning round friend's mums, from Edinburgh, trying to track her down!

She has her first bf too, so keeping a very close eye on her atm. She also isn't doing a very good job with personal hygiene, and with having started AF it really isn't pleasant. Thank god I only have one girl to deal with!

So glad for you, it must be relief, why dont they listen to us Mothers? Chops good luck with your dd, mines been like it for 2 years and still no change! Off to Canterbury this morning as James I seeing the orthodontist, he doesnt seem bothered about what she is going to say! Lovely sunny day :)

Good news Sok - totally different thing but my youngest, Tom, didn't sleep through the night till he was 5 YEARS old - Trips used to ring me about 10pm for a chat and he would still be running about. We tried everything - strict routine, winding down time etc etc etc. Nobody would listen to me when I asked for help.

Finally, my HVisitor (who, incidentally had been my special care midwife when I had my twins) got me to keep a sleep diary for him. I had to record everything that happened in the evening. After a week of doing this she came to see me. She looked through all the notes (and there were hundreds of them) and said to me.....'IF he was mine I would throw him through the bloody window!!!!' LOL. That sentance made so much difference because I thought I was doing a rubbish job!!

He still is rubbish at sleeping but we are 'used to him' now!!!

Morning All
Trips - good luck atvthe orthodontist with J.
Chops - I know just what you mean re personal hygiene, my 2 are reluctant showerers snd teeth cleaners, and I had to say to both the other day they were not coming out with me until they had wadhed, as they both stunk of BO overlayed with lynx!
Mama - good news about both babes about dh.
Soks - what a great start with your J! Glad you are getting somewhere with a diagnosis
Wow! wind storms yesterday were horrendous, we lost electricity until 10am this morning and the mobile phone antenna is still down gor my network, so we had no way of getting in contact eith anyone at all yesterday. A tree came down just missing dh car on his way to work, and the double decker bus the boys eould have bedn on if it had been a school day got blown over!!
We lost a large part of our conservatory roof roof, as the edges holding it had all been melted, but at least we already know it is already being replaced, but in the meanwhile we have a groundsheet over it, as the electricity supply is still live in tgere for our chest freezer.
Oh, and our hortible neighbours had just finished builfing a big gazebo type structure over thrir koi pond on Sunday, and the whole roof got blown off and broke 2 of their windows, what a shame

oh - and funny re carers Shabs - reminds me of my mum when we first got carers in for her
By the way, my mum doing much better, she got bolshie with the nurses yesterday, and said they were all 'interfering cows' yesterday as they stopped her wandering around and off the ward, and my elder fh was a 'bastard' for trying to get her to drink!! She never used to swear much, and shebis another 'posh swearer' when she foes, so its quite funny to hear. Oh, and I was a 'darling' for trying to do exactly what both the nurses and my db were previously trying to do
We are just waiting to hear from SS exactly what care they will put in on her discharge before she can go home. They tried to fob us off with saying if she needs extra care, we can pay for it ourselves, but she has another think coming if she thinks she can get one over my bossy, bolshie, policeman elder brother with that crap, I think the sw is a bit scared to talk with him after she suggested that option yesterday!

Having a 'heated debate' with people I dont even know, on FB about Madeline McCann. Someone just said that the Portugese government and the UK government made a pact between them to accuse the parents of killing her - 'just in case the same thing happens with a Portugese family on holiday, with children, in the UK!!!!!!!! What the actual fook???

The parents, in my opinion, should not have left the children in the room alone - but, as for killing Madeline themselves.......I only have to look at the Mums eyes and I know that she hasn't done anything to Madeline.

This story has haunted me since it happened....whenever we go through Rhodes airport there are new pictures of Madeline everywhere....along with many other children who are missing

So, DH fell down the steps today while carrying Dom. Dom found it hilarious and started laughing madly, he laughed do much his face was red. DH on the other hand cursed like a sailor and gas 2 massiv bruises on his ass and side. Luckily, he was carrying Dom on his front not his side and protected his head and back. Dom now sits and bounces and reaches for DH when he sees him heading for the stairs. My kid is weird.

Evening all..........Mama, is there ever a dull moment for you ? Well J got a ticking off from one of the dental nurses, made him feel really bad. When he went in to see Susannah she was lovely and said it was a shame but not the end of the world. She explained his choices and James decided to continue with his braces (at least another 6 months) which is what she wants him to do. That means the broken tooth will have to stay as it is until they come of then it can be crowned. She warned him that the nerve will die and it will be painful, he will then have to go back to our normal dentist and have root canal treatment. Poor James :( Feeling abit stressed with all three of them atm..........finding their teens the hardest time. Night all xx

mama- your Dom will love thrill rides when he's older
trips - stock up with paracetamol&codine, ibuprofen and maybe clove oil for you poor James
I had the scan of my ankle this evening (6.45pm appt!!), it seems to show that its the tendon causing the problem rather than the bolt thats loose, the tendon is stuck with adhesions to the scarring, and thats why its getting inflammed. It may be sorted out with steroid injections, or they may have to go in and release the tendon surgically. I now have to wait to see the consultant again

Ouch and double ouch - Bubby and Trips' James.

Sounds very painful xx

I know it is only Tuesday night but I have had a couple too many pints of apple juice - sounds better than cider. Me and Chelle have sat and sorted the world out. Trips - you would love my friend chelle - down to earth, great sense of humour and a great friend xxx

Morning all, yes its stupid oclock. Keep waking up around 4am, am very much aware a girl needs her beauty sleep............cant believe its nearly the end of Oct............the days fly......would love to be given the gift of being to turn back the clock...........to live a period of my life again. Cant though can we.............sad. Next to me on my bedside table are three photos, Matthew, Mum and Dad. How can they be gone forever.........still seems unreal..........the three people in my life who are part of my blood, loved beyond anything I can describe.......so missed.......and needed, I need them to make me whole again. That's it, I feel like a jigsaw, pieces missing........you keep looking for them but you cant find them.............................never ever be complete, never whole again. I am not sitting here with tears running down my face, you think youll cry forever when you lose your child, but you dont, they dry up only to suddenly surprise you when you least expect it and that can make you feel guilty, like you have betrayed them, silly isnt it? But for me that's how it is, and against all the odds my heart beats on and his doesnt. Why? Why take him away, why wasnt he given the chance to have lived lifes ups and downs, to have sat up in his bed one day wondering where his life has gone, to have experienced time flying by? Its cruel............painfully cruel. I am not here in a state, I am quite calm, but these are the thoughts that live forever in my head. These are the words I can type, see them in black and white, study them......get them out in the open........be able to talk about Matthew in the only way I can now because in the waking hours it wont happen. Dh never ever ever talks to me about him, Mum, Dad not here to go to to say "oh Mum I miss him", my brothers as much as I love them never mention his name, friends the same............and yet I know its not that they have forgotten him, they are still afraid they will upset me. Maybe they will, but I want him to still be part of us all, not spoken of feels unnatural to me.........so that's how it is.........and I cant change it. I am here in this totally quiet house.........and sleeping in their beds are my children who gave me my life back and I love them. Just wish wish wish he was here to help me guide them, to laugh and play with them...........I wish they didnt have to grow up with my sadness, with my fear of anything happening to them, seeing them hurt, even James losing his tooth it all hurts and worries and upsets me. A thought has just occurred to me.............if I had written this down and sent it to some agony aunt in the paper I bet she would reply and say I need counselling, it would help. Maybe it would, but all the counselling in the world is never going to give me back the only thing that will make me whole again, it wont. But .........you are here, you dont judge me, tell me it will get better, you "listen" and let me say all these things I cant in the waking hours and that is like holding my hand when I need someone to............I dont know what I would do without this place we all share, you know Shabs and I are life long/ joined at the hip friends in all this, she is wonderful, special, funny. I am forever thankful she wrote that first letter, its stlll here Shabs in my hidden box of things I treasure.
So endeth my sermon for today...............I suppose I had better get the trolley out, you lot will be up soon, full English or Continental? xx

Morning girls xx

Trips have never read a more honest post on MN. I sadly know how you feel. xxxx

morning girls xx

{{{{hugs}}}} for trips. Keep talking, love hearing about all your kids xx

Was up far too early today too, going to be a loooong day! Will try to motivate myself later to take the kids swimming I think.

(((Trips))) and (((Shabs))) and (((bubs and chops and mama too)))

Won't be on as much soon. We're starting to back the majority of our things to be taken to the new house when my FIL drives up with the moving van. The kids' bedrooms look so bare with just bed and boxes!Finally have the kids registered at a Doctors too. Who knew moving abroad was a PITA!Artie is now 4lb 10oz!! Right little chubby cheeks! :) Her feeding is coming along nicely, no issuses besides her impatience at suckling. :)A'lo's eye infection has finally cleared up! I can now see both his lovely eyes. The swelling looks to be going down though his bruises are still brightly coloured. They moved up his scheduled and today he had his first drops of breast milk and it agreed with him!! :)

Bubs - I could never imagine the pain and loss you feel and I selfishly I never have to. Life cab be so thoughtless and cruel but I am happy you have memories of him. Feel free to talk about him here, he's your son and will always be a part of your life through the memories you shared together. You too, Shabs. If you wish and willingly to share your precious memories, I'd love to hear a story about them xxx

Ah, meant Trips!!!

Was going to reply to bubs too but lost my train of thought!

{{{{{{{Trips}}}}}}}} and you {{{{{{Shabs}}}}}}} you can both just let the words flow about your loved ones as often as you like.
We all know any of us can talk about anyone and anything you wish on here, and the others of us will be there, listening, doing our best to help and support each other.

Thank you girls xx

Mama do you have a date for leaving the UK? What will happen if the babies are still in hospital?

I am tired, and foolishly in a weak moment said the boys friend could stay over tonight, he arrived with a luminous bag and said he has to get up at 6am to do his paper round!! Then dd said if they are having a friend can she tomorrow night as its Halloween....yes I gave in!

Night night.......hope I can get past 4am! xx

Morning girls xx

We've set date for 28th Dec and DH"job starts on 5th Jan. No solid plan for if they're nof home yet but more or less they'll go and I will stay. Really hoping it doesn't come to that.

Happy Hallow's Eve ladies xx

Morning All and happy Halloween[wgrin]
cold here this morning, but trying not to put heating on as oil so expensive.
Mama - I hope your LO's are out of hospital in time for the move.
Trips - my 2 wanted a sleepover too, but, as they are already sharing a bedroom atm due to Js window being fire damaged, and we cant use the bedsettee in the dining/game room for the same reason, I had a good excuse!
insurance people have finally agreed to pay us 70% of our contents claim, and also agreed to accept the quotes for windows conservatory etc. Unfortunately their general tardiness in agreeing this decision means that it looks like we will be hsbing our windows installed just before or just after Christmas! We have already agreed to leave the conservatory, guttering soffits etc til the spring.
As for my mum, she is a lot better, but getting stroppy with the ward staff, she vould be discharged, but SS are reluctant to pay night care. I pointed out to thrm yesterday that her blocking a hospital bed is far more expensive than a few nights of care, but that hasn't made any difference as, quoting "its not their budget!"
My db was annoyed with me yesterday as I didnt go in to see here, but I did point out to him that a) I have the boys home from school atm, b) I live 40mins away from the hospital,(thats without any traffic delays, it took me just over an hour each way Tuesday) and he lives only 5mins away, c) I cannot afford either the petrol or the £3.30 parking fees to go every day!
I feel guilty, but I have spent almost £100 so far during this admission. Not only have I the travel costs, but bought new nightwear for mum as hers was not suitable, plus paid for her to have a tv on in the hospital as it keeps her from getting too agitated.

You sound stressed, bubs! Glad to hear you mum is feeling better and the insurance are paying up!

This morning we headed up to the graveyard to place offerings on my mama's grave as today is remembrance of family and friends. A very sad but cleansing day. I've made Mexican Atole, bought some marigolds and placed some little offerings their too.

Tomorrow is Día de los Inocentes and DH and I have bought little toys for the Children graves at our cemetery. Shabs, Trips I'd like to place a toy/offering on our porch alter for your Angels to honor them, that's only if I have your blessing to do so.

Off to the hospital to spend a few hours with the A-team. The kids have drawn scary pictures to put near their cot/incubator :)

Mama isnt that the 28th Dec? I understood its a Spanish tradition to do with the slaughter of innocent children by Herod. Doesnt seem quite right in our circumstances but thank you for your kind thought.

Well the girls are as noisy as ever, despite the promise to be quiet. They came home at 10pm, must say Rebeccas face paint was fab, she has also put on her top hat and steampunk goggles!

Did well at Tesco this morning, doubled up my vouchers and got 2 hudls and 3 hudl covers, paid for the 3rd one, so that's their main Christmas present sorted. Had to have all black ones though, they said the coloured ones are just not coming in so couldn`t promise them for Christmas.

Man coming to measure the stairs for a new carpet at 8.30am. We have had no paint on the walls and no carpet for over 6 months, it doesn`t bother me as the kids all trudge in with their shoes on, feel its a waste of time.

Can`t believe its the 1st Nov tomorrow, scary how fast this year seems to have gone. Night everyone xx