Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Multiple births

When do you start showing with twins? What is life with twins like? Join the conversation on our Multiple Births forum.

D'y ever wonder how life got like this?

929 replies

FrumpyGrumpy · 12/04/2005 23:06

New to MN but like what I read so far. Struggling to get by day by day at the minute and feeling isolated but not enough to make the effort to join in the 'groups' the whole world seems to think are just what I need!!!!

Have daughter of 4 and girl and boy twins of eight months. Not had time since they were born when all three kids have been well, am I just cursed? Throw in a house move that took 6 months, a partner that works away most of the week and a mother-in-law I can wait another lifetime to deal with and I've ended up the sort of person I used to look at and wonder how life got like that.

Anyone give me hope that when the babes are eighteen months I'll feel better?!! If not, anyone tell me that alternate nights of gin then chocolate is an ok passage through?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
MarsOnLife · 27/02/2006 14:40

I'll be thinking of you on Wednesday HM. Hope the cough goes. Can't wait for Spring and the re-appearance of health.

GO I'm doing Shakespeare Text and Performance. Whilst attempting to write my assignment I'm beginning to feel that maybe my brain still isn't quite ready for this. We'll see. I'll either be laughing or crying next week.

goldenoldie · 27/02/2006 20:22

Mars - wow, I'm impressed.

Kelly1978 · 27/02/2006 23:31

hello everyone.

I so should have kept my mouth shut earlier, I've been full of it, and so has ravi. I didn't make it to tutorial and there are plug ins in every free socket!! Study is going ok tho, I'm about a week and a half ahead now, so hopefully that will give me lots of time for the TMA.
The boys are ok, tho rav has been sleeping lots. Shay has started telling me 'no!' He is incredibly cheeky, 'runs' away and shouts at me. He is gonna be such a handful.

No advice about work goldenoldie, I figure with four kids I should be paid to be at home. Grin I can't afford to go back to work yet, but I'm studying int he hope that maybe one day I can get a well paid job and afford childcare!

I regularly talk to meeeley from this thread on msn. She went back to work after maternity leave with her dts. She'd be a good one to talk to. I'll ask her to look in tomo.

goldenoldie · 28/02/2006 16:07

Thanks Kelly. I'm going back to work in June 3 or 4 days a week and am starting to think about childcare.

FrumpyGrumpy · 01/03/2006 20:09

Hi all. Am feeling so much better. Its my bloody bloody bloody hormones. I just don't know what line to try with them. This week I'm just me. Bit under pressure, bit sleep deprived, but totally riding the waves and allowing my sensible head to say "y'can't keep them all happy at the same time" and not getting at all worked up. But for most of the rest of the time I am so ravaged its untrue - white face, dark circles, huge spots, hair where there shouldn't be hair, one day horny as a devil and FULL of energy, next day angry and exhausted. When I', due a period I get a god awful headache for about 4-5 days accompanied by a dragging pain (like mild labour pain) in my lower back and sevee cramps. It lasts most of the month in some form or another and then I get a week of normal.

Gotta run DP just arrived. Back soon.

OP posts:
Kelly1978 · 02/03/2006 14:37

goldenoldie - I spoke to meeley and she said to pass on her msn for you. If you email/msn me on [email protected] I will pass it on to you. I don't want to publish hers on here! Smile Her dts go to nursery and they seem to have it all worked out nicely.

Kelly1978 · 02/03/2006 14:39

oh, and glad u feelign better fg.
I'm actually feelign shit cos my hv tore a rag off me. I know I shouldn't let them get to me, but I'm tired and worn out atm! She turned up out of the blue and I didn't need the hassle about overdue immunisations, etc. I have my hands full with kids, sn appointments and study without her starting!

I will not let her get to me!

FrumpyGrumpy · 02/03/2006 20:29

Sorry folks, I had to run. DP would probably be totally supportive of me chatting to you lovely girls and glad I had the chance to air the worries but I get the chance to be totally honest about certain things that maybe he wouldn't like to read so I daren't tell him about mumsnet!!!

Anyway, in short my hormones fluctuations are really crazy and I just don;t know where to turn. I already take herbs and a multivitamin to cover the VitB6 thing. My diet could be better but on the whole ain't too bad really (I do porride, fruit and most meals are homemade from scratch). I was better on the pill (one which really helped my skin and smoothed the see saw effect) but I really don't want to go back on it as I can't be on it forever and this will just bite me on the bum when I do come off. Rant rant blah blah rant rant rant. Tell me to quieten down, your kids are sleeping aren't they!!!

Goldenoldie, blimey you sound so normal given your babes are 3 months!!! Grin Mine were still wearing babygrows morning noon and night at that point and I was running on empty and living off adrenalin. My DTs are 18 months and my DD is 5. I'm in the middle of two brothers who are 10 years apart. If you don't mind me asking how did you end up with the big age difference? If you do mind just say, I'm just curious but totally don't mind if that is nosey. Welcome to the thread honey Smile.

Kelly, your HV can stick it up her bum sideways with bells on sweetheart. You do just great dealing with all that you do and I would be mad as sin at her turning up off the cuff. I don't actually answer my door unless I'm expecting anyone but then I am (a) an unsociable werewolf (sp?) and (b) can't hear the bell amidst the clanging of corkscrews, singing and/or crying. I recommend smiling and doing the broken record technique of "yup, its top of the list I can assure you, oooops mind your feet on that soiled nappy, can you just change him while I wipe up that crushed banana, you don't mind do you, I s'pose thats why you're here, its so lovely of you to pop by and help out, as I was saying it's top of the list" (grit your teeth on the inside babe and snarl once the door is shut). You can always say you've been debating whether its the right thing to do and that DP isn't keen, just to totally wind her up of course Grin.

Mars, offering me a visit, you're lovely darling, and me a freak of nature and an almost-stranger too. I accept without condition! Of course I cannot find a way of explaining this to DP but one day......... Thank you, I consider you and Kelly my most trusted silent friends and hope I can one day repay the debt of saving me over and over. You girls keep me going sometimes and I just love you for it. Thanks lovely babes Wink.

By the way, my DTs emptied a kitchen cupboard on Tuesday while I had a wee and I came in to find them sitting happily munching their way through a packet of biscuits. On Wednesday they did the same and I found them chewing opposite ends of a french stick, later the same day they pulled out and empited two drawers of clothes in my bedroom. Today they dragged a chair over to the worktop and attempted to climb up and later managed to reach a bowl of DDs chalks on the kitchen table, eat some of them and then draw with green chalk all over the floor, all over the wall, all over the doors and in lovely patterns all over my kitchen units. I SWEAR I was only out the room for moments. DT1 said "oh oh" like it had nothing to do with her and DT2 said "oh dear" like I'd done it. Aye, they've turned a corner all right Grin.

Peaceful nights all x.

OP posts:
FrumpyGrumpy · 02/03/2006 20:30

JEEZ ITS BIG. GO TO THE LOO AND GET A DRINK.

OP posts:
Kelly1978 · 03/03/2006 09:37

Thanks fg, your post really cheered me up. I had to laugh at the picture of dts on either end of a french stick too! Mine used to raid the cupboards too. I've caught them with chocolately faces from the biscuit tins. Now it's like fort knox with locks on every cupboard!

goldenoldie · 04/03/2006 00:03

Kelly - thanks for the e-mail address.

Ops - you have reminded me. The DTs immunisations are overdue too. Whoops!

Frumpy - your post made me laugh. Have I got all that to look forward to?

My DTs are sleeping the night and have so so for a good couple of weeks now, so I feel human again.

They did not do this naturally, and needed a bit of training, but I am assured my mums of singletons that some babies do just decide to spontaneously sleep the entire night. Does this ever happen naturally with twins?

I go out most days - can't stand being in the house for too long. Sometimes it seems a huge effort to get two ready to go out, but I always feel better once I'm out. Took them for lunch in the London Stock Exchange today!

Big age gap happened cause I was perfectly content with one child for years, and years, and years. And when I did decide I wanted another it took a lot longer to conceive the second time around - I'm talking years again.

MarsOnLife · 04/03/2006 00:13

ah what do mums of singletons know? lol So glad that you've come to join us golden. Really looking forward to getting to "know" you here.

FG..... Blush you're welcome darling. I'm here and there's a bed for you. Grin I can't be arsed with locks on the cupboards (except the one with the carousel that the DTs adore). DT1 will happily munch her way through the breakfast cereal without a pang of guilt, but if you catch DT2 at it, he'll hand you the packet and look shamefaced lol.

The DTs (esp DT1) have been rather clingy recently. Found some spots on DT1's back and some on her chest. I think the pox has finally arrived! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So clearly she got it from my best friend's son cos he had the pox 2 weeks ago today!

So I have benedryl and piriton at the ready. Are you all prepared for my long-winded rants and my sheer exhaustion? All this and I Blush Blush haven't quite finished my assignment yet! Oh bloody hell.... what have I let myself in for?

FrumpyGrumpy · 05/03/2006 14:22

God Mars, you've had that assignment for ages, wot you been doing wumman? Bet your toenails are painted though eh.

Grin Wink

OP posts:
FrumpyGrumpy · 05/03/2006 14:24

I'm going out tonight. Haven't done this in a while. Might forget something.

Like the way home Grin.

OP posts:
goldenoldie · 05/03/2006 14:38

It's my own fault...............

DT1 has a chesty cough. Though I'd wrap them up warm and pop down the road to the supermarket. Afterall, they always fall asleep in the pram............

DT1 SCREEEEEEEEEEEEAMED the whole way there and all round the supermarket. Got endless hostile stares from singleton mums - WTF - I mean, if you want to offer help/support, thanks, you are welcome, could always do with an extra pair of hands, but if you only want to criticise/complain/stare - please just pi** off, this job is hard enough already.

One woman literally planted herself in the middle of the aisle, folded her arms, and looked at me as if I was poking baby with hot needles. I very nearly went up to her and asked her if she had something to say, grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I should have run her down with the double buggy, screaming baby an all............

The ONLY people to offer me a bit of support were two other mums with much older twins, who remember what it was like.

twinthing · 05/03/2006 14:48

what a great thread....i can really relate to u mums ! I have 12 week twins and a 2 yr old toddler...quite good 4 under 30 i thought! Smile I never look at singleton mums in quite the same way...especially when they winge about lack of sleep...more to the point with twins what is sleep ??!! DD1 was a breeze compared to the twins...i'm just looking forward to some kind of routine...and i want the bfeeding to get easier...it still takes ages!! have started to give bottle at night- and whoever said that formula helps them sleep was wrong because my two are still up and alert after the bottle...and only really settle once i bung them back onto the boob! has anyone got a suggestion for a twin buggy...cos i'd like to venture out in a few weeks- when the weather brigtens up...

MarsOnLife · 05/03/2006 19:24

I have a redcastle buggy called a shop and jog. It's fab! Saving me a fortune as it's too wide for my favourite shops, and if you think I'm jogging then you're mad!!!!!!!!

Let me see if I can find it for you. \link{http://www.redcastle.fr\my rather lovely double}

Don't nag FG.... you know what it's like.... sick DTs.... wine to drink...oops!.....sick DTs

FrumpyGrumpy · 06/03/2006 20:04

Hi golden and welcome twinthing.

Golden, they were probably in awe of your capabilities!! I have had similar moments and once was when it was a little too cold really to have them out and DT2 screamed for 25mins while I legged it home. He was just cold and kept ripping his hat and gloves off but I felt eyes boring into me. I have hardened a bit and smile hearty smiles to all now Grin. A good scream always makes them sleep better for sure.

Twinthing, I can't recommend a buggy, Mine is the McLaren and I really can't say much for it. It felt lovely and light when they were little but at 18months its just a burden. I agree, first time round just looks like a breeze now! I hardly used my buggy then!! Mars has 5 in her clan (Shock).

Mars pour yourself another glass babe, the writing will just floooow.

I met DP for lunch today. I amaze myself. On our own, for an hour!! We ate and chatted. They say once in a while you should meet your partner out somewhere and not arrive or journey there together and that the person you fell in love with might turn up. He did. We are never, ever, ever, ever on our own and it was heavenly Smile.

Then I crashed back to reality and here I sit with a kitchen full of work and DTs choked with colds and DD in bed with a very sore throat. Bum.

Peaceful sleeps all!

OP posts:
MarsOnLife · 06/03/2006 21:06

Bloody hell FG... a night out and lunch? You dirty stop out you! Grin

Kelly1978 · 07/03/2006 16:04

Whenever I meet my dp the kids are in tow! I quite liek that idea tho, jsut me and him for lunch. Only 4 years to wait...

U dont that tma yet mars? I've got my first to do this weekend. It looks straightforward but they always do until I start.

Welcome to twithing. Nice to see some new faces on here. I have the Jane powertwin and would really recomend it - so easy to push. Its a tandem tho, and I'm still longing for the perfect side by side. dt1 refuses to sit in the back and I feel guilty shoving dt2 in there all the time. I've tried the maclaren, and the we2 combi and ebayed both pretty quickly. Like fg says - too hard to push.

Kelly1978 · 07/03/2006 16:06

my typing is getting worse. Just the smae as my memory - can't go shopping without forgetting two or three things. The twins are getting to me!

goldenoldie · 07/03/2006 20:56

Both DTs have the lurgy, chesty coughs, temps, snotty noses. Apart from Medised and Calpol and rubbing vics onto theis sleeping bays, is there anything else I can do/give them?

TwoIfBySea · 07/03/2006 21:36

I always find olbas for children gets my dts off to sleep when they have colds and the such. It also seems to stop them coughing all night long.

There is also a really good cough medicine that I can never remember the name of, it is used at the local hospital in the children's ward. I think the brand is CARE but it comes in a bottle, purple label with white writing and doesn't have any sweetners so only costs 99p! It is brilliant in stopping the coughs and if you ask at Boots they stock it next to where all the kiddy medicines are, not behind the counter.

MarsOnLife · 08/03/2006 09:06

that's good to know about the cough medicine twoif. Thanks.

Another recommendation for olbas oil (you can get a children's one). Fab stuff! Grin

I think that I'm too tired to do this course. My brain keeps seizing up and I'm finding it hard to complete the middle section of the essay. I have a cunning plan.... she's my friend's American student who is also studying Shakespeare, but a different course. Apparently she is increcibly brainy so I'm meeting her and getting her to give me the idiot's guide to writing this essay. Then I'll go straight into writing the next one, cos that is due at the end of March. Gah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kelly1978 · 08/03/2006 09:22

goldenoldie - try a karvol plugin, they really are a godsend for colds. Meeeley on this thread reccomended it to me, and I thing fg has had success with them too!

mars, that's cheating! Wink i'm pretty sure the dts are killing off my brain cells, I'm strugglign a bit too. We'll get there tho!

Swipe left for the next trending thread