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.

Afternoon lovely ladies.

I shall ask how you are if you like.

I can't claim to have experienced such awful things in my life as you lovely ladies have, and I know how truly lucky I am that our gorgeous children got to us with barely a scratch when I think of family and friends who have lost babies and one a young daughter. But even for me, very little time passes without me thinking of her little girl. I remember her in cards, a text around her birthday, and just before Christmas when she sadly passed away with all her gifts wrapped and under the tree. I think of her when my little ones reach milestones and wonder what she would have been like now. I can't imagine the anguish her parents still feel.

But genuinely, how are you? What would your loved ones be doing now do you think?

No bubs, they aren't. We just get lots (and lots) of screaming and squealing! Not even pointing to what they want.

If my lads were still physically here I think that I would have several grandchildren - all thanks to Matt - he loved every girl at primary school and always said he couldn't wait to be a Daddy

I would have twin boys who turn 32 just after Christmas. I think that Gareth would be more serious than Danny - he would have a good job and chose his friends carefully. He had a beautiful smile and I miss that very much. Matt would be 30 next year and have no doubt there would have been several marriages/partnerships and a handful of children (proper Jeremy Kyle stuff) he was hysterical and didnt have a care in the world. He said he wanted to be a dustbinman and a vicar - because vicars only work on Sundays ROFL!!

We would never have enough chairs on Christmas day - my house would be bursting at the seams with famly.

Its a 'strange life' isin't it? xxxx

Lovely ladies, I too am trying to recapture that magic Christmas feeling, I refuse to do any decorations until after the boys birthday Wednesday but even after that, I dont know if it will be there, too much going on in my life I think Also, maybe its all become so commercial, it is hard to cope with the the fact that the kids want and expect so much, and we can try, but cant give them what they desire. I don't know, it seemed so much simpler when we were younger
Also, its so much harder for you two, shabbs and trips, as you have that tragic past to cope with as well.

So nice to be able to "talk" about them, it seldom happens anymore amongst my family and friends. Well Matthew would be 35 next July, incredible, I sometimes see his old school friends and it shocks me to think he would be such a grown up man by now. I hope he would have married or at least found someone to love and share his life with. He and Anna were life long friends but I don`t think they would have been romantically involved..............but who knows......I think I am struggling more atm because I lost him when he was almost 15 and I have three 15 yr olds here to remind me constantly of that last year. Thomas is so much like him to look at, I have to stop myself from staring at him sometimes. I am not sure how much it has affected them, my heart wants them to feel that they have a big brother, that they somehow know him, but of course they never did, it must be hard for them at times. Christmas is such a hard one, I try really hard to make it as happy for these three as I did for him and I think I succeed. The hardest part is going to the cemetery, flowers, card, I always make him a mini tree and buy him a new decoration for it every year, I put it next to his headstone.................even saying that "his headstone" tears at my heart But enough, I am lucky to have my three miracles, good family and amazing friends at home and on here.............life is a challenge but sometimes it feels like a battle. But I am still here!! xx

Matt sounds a hoot Shabs, like he'd have you tearing your hair out in despair even now. His reason for wanting to be a vicar did make me smile. Would it be the same reasoning for the bin men?

Gareth is very close to my age. He would have been a school year younger.

I can well imagine between the 3 of them you would have a houseful. My sister and I have given my parents 7 grandchildren between us. It is utter madness and we have to use the garden chairs when we all get together, or the dc sit at the little table when they are big enough until they are too big for the small chairs. Dc 3&4 are just starting to sit there themselves.

Trips, I didn't realise that you lost Matthew before you had the triplets. It must be especially difficult if Thomas is starting to look like him. I guess you wonder if they would be alike and would they have the same personalities. My boys are very much alike, even like their dad at the same ages. Genes have a lot to answer for sometimes.

Mama. How are you getting on with your plans for moving? Hope your little ones are still doing well. It must be your due date soon?

Yes Soks, we lost him in 1994, our only child. Trio were born in Jan 1998, 4 years of pain and utter grief. There were few chinks of light during those 4 years...........Shabs was one of them xx

Trying to get on as much as I can and trying to find time to reply to you all. Artie is passed out on my chest, A is rooming with K even though we didn't want to as her night terrors have started again but she threw a tantrum. And the twins are snoring in their cot. DH is at the hospital.

Shabs & Trips; I bet your boys would have grown up to be wonderful men. I makes me treasure my boys even more.

Moving plans are crazily hectic. Everything we do not need is packed and is on it's way to Germany. We have simple Christmas Decor up, early I know but it's for the DC they need something exciting. So we made loads Christmas crafts.

Artie was weighed yesterday and is a whopping 7lbs 2oz! The HV was very happy with her progress. Apollo has had a few bots of steroids to try and wean him on to CPAP but he's being stubborn. He also cried for the first time. Hearing his voice was magical. Their due date is on Tuesday but the Doctor's say it's unlikely he will be home before January, so we gotta work out our insurance.

Oh Trips we have shared lots of tears and laughter haven't we? I still remember having Tom and you sending me a card....on the back of the envelope it said 'Not one, not two BUT three!!!' Remember being beyond giddy for you. xxxx

Morning all............just up as Thomas is in a x country competition today for the ATC. Yes Shabs, many tears but many laffs!! Good to hear all your news Mama. x

Morning girls xx

Morning All. Trips & Shabs reminisce away about your lads, we love hearing about them. Soks, has everything settled down there?
Mama- hopefully Apollo will be off the cpap soon and breathing easier, well done to Artie!
DH is a little better, he is determined to drive today on this party run, as he says, we have no choice really, which is true. I just hope he will be ok.
DFinL coming over this morning, trying to tidy up again, you would never belive to look at this place it was clean and tidy yesterday!
Oh, and happy birthday to Bertie dog, 1 yr old today

:) HAPPY BIRTHDAY BERTIE :)

Ringos party over and a great success. 6 happy, well fed and exhausted 12/13yr olds returned safely to their various households, and my 2 happily reveling in the fact their birthday treat has been voted the "best fun ever", (so important in the school hierarchy) , as well as being financially better off by the equivalent of £60 in cash and gift cards. (all parents had obviously come to the same conclusion that this was the easiest way to go!) DH suffered, but managed to drive in the end, is now back home and happily bombed out of his brains on painkillers etc.

Glad they had a good time and dh managed to go too :)

Morning girls xx

Just had a lovely walk to our local branch of the Halifax.......only an hours walk there AND back - they closed our local branch. At some point today I am going to officially give up......anybody got any pin on smiles spare because my box is empty!!

School closed due to busted pipe... Chaos is the correct word to describe my home right now. DH thought it would be fun to ignore being an adult for the day so we have a paddling pool full of water another full with plastic balls and what house wouldn't be complete without homemade non-toxic body paint. Already had to hide Artie in the stroller because the twins wanted to attack her with paintbrushes full of red paint! DH is covered in masses of paint and my kids have somehow bribed my dad to join in so he's coming round later to bake with them.

Help!

Evening ladies.

Shabby and trips, thank you for sharing your boys. You give them such vibrancy in your words. Feel free to share them some more whenever you want to.

Mama. Sounds like artie is certainly enjoying her milk.

Dc3 was sick Sunday. Which meant plans for taking them to see Santa were cancelled. Thankfully they weren't aware of the treat aspect of our outing so weren't too disappointed.

Took 3&4 to choose their new glasses at the weekend. Our lovely optician came out with some super light frames that he had just got hold of, with bungees attached to discourage pulling them off.They are fab. 3 didn't try to take them off the whole time they tried them on. I'm hoping this continues when the glasses arrive.

I'm exhausted today after trying to clear loft space again. I can actually see some of the floor now though. 2 bags to the dump and 6 to a charity shop, all full of children's toys and clothes.

Rubester........stay........come back.........we need abit of zing on here...........I have baked and baked..........made my version of Christmas Pud today the smell in my kitchen was divine.....ahh. Trying to fight off a cold..................a a a choooooooo!!

Morning girls xx

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Ruby - I like the second ideas better

Morning.

Take the day off ruby, refresh yourself before the domestic onslaught begins.

I saw a mouse this morning. So today's mission is decluttering the kitchen and buying some traps.