June 08 - 118 (and counting) sleeps till Chistmas, but don't tell Deb!

[EddieIzzardismyhero]

Welcome to our new, cosy thread. Log fires, big jumpers and Christmas shopping .

What do you mean it's still August?!

I think finding out the sex was the best thing ever! I also think it really helped the older kids to talk in terms of a 'baby brother who is going to be called x' rather than the vague concept of a baby.

Amber the only 'surprise' baby we had was dd, as the scan lady wouldn't tell us the sex. When she was born I was a bit freaked about having a girl after ds1, but within a few days I couldn't have imagined her any different. You will feel the same too.

I love the fact that we are all living vicariously through Dewin and her cervical mucus. Seriously, I have never met you, but I love you!

Lol Sybil, glad that my mucus is keeping you entertained!

Get off MN, Dewin, you're supposed to be shagging .

Amber I found it odd when DD1 was born, having a girl after 2 boys, but I got used to it very quickly, and in fact the novelty made the first few weeks even more exciting. Having twins would scare the bejasus out of me, too, and I think you're being very sensible in thinking about childcare options well in advance. Do you want someone to live in (agree an au pair would be cheapest and could be v useful) or would you prefer live out? When the boys were little I had a girl studying childcare at a local college come to us a couple of times a week as part of her placement. I had to stay in the house with her but it was useful to have an extra pair of hands. It was free, too.

T isn't doing lots of tantrums (I bet I've spoken too soon!), but she is doing some very stroppy bum wiggling and chin tilting. DD1 and I look at one another in amazement as we have no idea where such girly stroppiness comes from (DD1 and I tend more to the swift punch in the face style of stroppiness!).

The boys invented a game called "Is he dead?" where one of them acts dead, and the other one does a cheesy commentary before giving his brother a wedgie to see if he is just faking .

Quick post to mark my place - lol at get off MN you should be shagging! And at the "Is he dead?" game - as a teacher I'm impressed with the imagination though !

Oh, and I'm firmly in the "find out the gender" camp - was great . We'll defintiely find out when we have No 3 .

Final question, biscuits I'm assuming that isn't the real Mr Millar posting on your FB page?!

definitely -

Thank goodness. Thought I'd crossed the line and killed the thread.

Whadderyemean "when we have no.3"???

Rolf!! Spent the afternoon with one of my friend's newborn yesterday, another friend has given birth today and I have another FIVE friends due to give birth before Christmas. My hormones are running rampant.

I have to keep reminding myself I'm infertile though and the chances of me even getting pg are tiny .

Anyone help me with this potty training question?

T does that with the loo. She sits on it and then proudly tells me she's done a poo/wee and feels much better .

I remember when A was v small, you posting how sad you felt that your next child couldn't be conceived spontaneously but would have to be via IVF and all planned and technical . Any chance of the same thing happening?

knitting I was so broody a year ago and I'm so not broody at all now... We're at the point where an accident would be bad news rather than a secret celebration. Give yourself some time and see how it goes - your two are still so young!!!

rolf definitely no thread killing - dewin's just been busy... Not sure what the rest of us have been up to...

no 3 Knitting???

just in from the 12th day of sightseeing and we are well and truly knackered.Today was another cable car to a fantastic walk interspersed with great play area, had a lovely lunch up there, then came down and went swimming. Pleased to say Ethan came away remarkably unscathed despite falling headfirst from about 6 foot through 4 suspended tyres on a climbing frame. My heart was in my mouth.

knitting - what do you mean the real Mr Miller?

Rolf, you have a good memory - don't remember that!

There is a very small chance, but it would be very small. AH, I think dh is really really hoping that the same thing will happen with me tbh . It would be difficult if dh wasn't totally signed up to the idea as, if it all went horribly wrong, I would never forgive myself.

Dh has promised me that next year we will go and see our old IVF consultant and have my tubes rescanned just to see whether anything has changed, and then we will speak to our obs cons about my high BP, and then we will make an informed and joint decision.

Biscuits, this one!

at E's fall Deb! How scary!

Your sightseeing sounds brilliant, Deb, and what a great idea to make sure you see everything before you leave.

OK, please can somebody, anybody, talk to me about something that doesn't involve bottoms or laundry. I think DS2 has threadworm and whilst I feel very sorry for him, I feel much more sorry for myself. Washing everyone's bedding, keeping the towels to single use, and making sure everyone bathes in the morning, washing all the floors, and supervising whilst everyone scrubs their hands is really enough to make me cry. And I can look forward to sneaking into the boys' room tonight when DS2 is asleep and trying to peep at his bum to spot a threadworm in action . If social services are reading, I have spoken to DS2 about this plan and he is in agreement. He has a few digestive symptoms in addition to the itchy bum so I would quite like some sort of confirmation (ie sight of an actual worm) that it is worms, hence the midnight bum-viewing expedition.

See - it's all I can think about. PLEASE talk about something else. The NHS website comfortingly confirms that there is a 75% chance of the rest of us getting them. I am trying very hard not to tell DH as he gets into a state about things like that and is in court all day tomorrow, and I don't want him to be obsessing about his bum.

Please...

Oh Rolf, you have my sympathies, I have been through this ordeal too , what a nightmare, we all had to take the medicine, ds1 had them 1st then ds2 and me We have strange toilets here and it is very easy to investigate the contents so we could see the worms without having to do midnight explorations.

Sorry, you wanted to talk about something else didn't you? Our day trips have been great, wouldn't have done them without the card though as it would have cost an absolute fortune.

got to go tea and chocolate waiting for me

marking place - hi all. Sightseeing sounds great deb (am also impressed with your enterprise at selling on old stuff) and glad E unscathed.

Rolf are there not treatments that can be given for whole family at same time (I seem to remember something like this from the dim and distant past when I worked as a pharmacy assistant). But know you did want to talk about something else.

Dewin - second amber on the digital monitor thing being the best -even if only use it to work out your cycle.

amber - have you thought about a mothers help? same sort of thign that rolf was talking about but friend who also had twins as their no 2/3 found it very useful.

nice weekend here esp as loved the sunshine- off to see friend who just had a baby? All you recent new mums any good tips on a present for her - I liked nice toiletries that you can use in shower given that was about the only thing I did for myself at that time but any other ideas.

rolf the thought of your DH getting worms has me in stitches for some reason - tons of sympathy for you though. I think it's because he seems so dreamy about parenting sometimes...

deb those shelf toilets are finally good for something! We thought DS1 had them (worms not toilets) for a while but it was a fungal infection instead (not sure that's better but at least it wasn't contagious).

Off to bed now - just spent a fortune on dress shirts for Dh and I now that I'm working - I really hope this ends up being permanent. If anyone else is interested, www.ctshirts.co.uk/byron gives you them for £19.95 each which I thought was pretty good.

knitting I know what you mean re: DH - mine was not keen on the third kid ever and I was a bit worried that one of us would end up having to compromise. I don't think i could get through the newborn stage without DH's help so I wanted him to be as broody as me. Fortunately we've ended up in the same headspace and I'm feeling good about it. Now that Fraser's two I'm enjoying this boy-stage so much I don't want to go back and not be able to do things. I think I'm not a baby person though, what I love is the outdoor adventures with them.

Speaking of which we went hiking/gentle strolling yesterday and Fraser walked over a mile in a row without complaining. We were very impressed. They did pick up lots of bugs and bark and sticks etc on the way of course...

Okay Deb and Rolf and other older boy mums - what besides meccano and lego is a good birthday present for a four year old boy? I have until Sunday (for the first birthday party in the set) so I could order online. The shop where I go for meccano is a bit of a trek and I'm trying to think of closer alternatives.

Ahhh, no Knitting, it's not that one. Mine is much funnier!

DGIT do you want to call me when you get to Glasgow Green tomorrow? the other friends I am going with are planning to get there for 9 ish so we can get good seats I'll save a space for you and Struan if we're there before you!

rolf I could tell you about testicular tumours, lung cancer or congenital heart disease - that's what I spent this afternoon reading about. Not much light relief here I'm afraid. I shall regale you with tales of ITNG Live tomorrow - how's that for a promise?

I went to see a friend with a 12 day old baby today. She looks as though she has never been pregnant honestly, it's just rude to look so good so soon. V cute baby too.

DH back at work now so I have time to post. I managed to catch up this morning, H woke me up at 3.30, he got back to sleep with no problems but I didn't so I've been awake since then. Feel surprisingly good though, it won't last.

Deb - I thought you were from that neck of the woods, we stayed in a cottage, booked it at the last minute so it was a bit cheaper but still made it one of the most expensive holidays we've ever been on. Really enjoyed it though, there is a lot to see and do round there, even though I come from Ilkley way, which isn't that far off, I don't really know that area too well. Ate too much cheese!

Knitting - watched the video on fb, your boys are so cute!

at all the broodiness, I'd still consider a 3rd (even though straight after having H I said no way), but DH is adamant that 2 is enough.

Does anyone with a copy of this months red magazine also have a scanner and can send me a copy of Knit's article?

Going - I also use the buggy as a restraint system!

Last Monday = floods, today = multiple power cuts. I have written three posts today and managed to post none of them. Grrrr.

Amber - At least when the girls are older they'll be too busy arguing with each other to argue back to you. And you'll never be short of clothes in your house!

LOL @ Rolf "Get off MN, Dewin, you're supposed to be shagging" & at your boys dead wedgie game.

Knitting - at no 3 - I thought you were joking, glad you're not. You should try and get Red/GMTV, etc to pay for any IVF!

Deb - Thank goodness E is ok.

Rolf - worms sound horrid for you. Sorry. Hope all clears up super fast.

Hardand - I agree re: shower gel, etc. Perfume also good and if the Mum won't take offence, YSL touche eclat or a skin balm of some kind. (I'm suggesting one of these options BTW, not all of them at once, unless you want to send me a congratulations package in Jan ).

Biscuits - does your friend have any tips!?

Just marking my spot before I lose the thread.

Nothing to report. Insect bites have cleared up so that's one less thing for me to moan about.

Hardandsleazy (please can I address you as Sleazy for short ) I have two present suggestions! Based on a recent stay at hospital and tiredness making me look like shit tired. One is one of those posh (pref. silk!) eye mask things for making it all dark when you're trying to sleep during the day, and the other is Clarins beauty flash balm for eyes. (But like Penguin depends on whether she would take offence. This would not be suitable for Biscuits' friend, perhaps!)

Knitting so you're serious? Join me in my lone TTC! But being the only (known?) one does make me feel special although I'm willing to share. (Actually it also feels nice that there's a crowd of you gunning for me, and nobody in RL knows.)
Seriously, I've said to you before and will say it again you certainly should get your tubes checked just for research into infertility (and you might not be infertile any more - M certainly suggests you're not! ). I wonder if anyone is researching it? (From the article I read some time ago, the answer is no, because sadly people don't look into the causes of infertility because a better solution is to 'make people better' (quickly), which is IVF, rather than research the causes and reasons which might be unnecessary if IVF gives a happy outcome and no need to spend years working out what the problem is in the first place. It was better said than that, obv. )

Good news about the insect bites Spider.

Rolf one option, rather than the bum-staring, is to get a piece of sellotape, fold it over into a loop, sticky side out, and stick it on your DS's bum when he's ready to sleep. Then any wrigglers coming out get stuck on it.
I have no idea where I got that from, but I'm sure I've read it/been told it. Maybe check on the internet before you do it though...
(I'm not one to laugh - Iestyn's willy's gone wrong again. It's ballanitis (sp?) and he seems prone to it, but will probably stop once he's potty trained.)

No real news here - I keep feeling sick. I'm assuming it's still from my gastroenteritis: I'm still dead tired.
Thinking of coming to London this week, as an impromptu visit!

Sorry you're still not feeling well, Dewin. That's a great alternative to bum-staring. I didn't do it in the end as I couldn't be bothered to look for a torch, and it somehow just seemed so intrusive for him. He had another shower this morning, and I'm washing his bedding, and he said he felt much more comfortable.

I've just dropped T at nursery for a settling-in session, and she didn't even say goodbye, just got on with making playdough cakes . I know that's good news but still...
It was obviously a much bigger moment for me than for her

Ah Rolf, well done your DD! Totally feel your pain re all the extra work with the worms. It's hard enough looking after four kids without extra stuff. I can manage when things go to plan but anything extra tips me over the edge. Like creche at church yesterday - it was our first one and it went well but just not knowing exactly what we were doing/how it was going to go made me really on edge beforehand and DH totally dawdling along made me get angry with him and he got annoyed at me for nagging him . Anyway all was well in the end!
Love the 'is he dead' game!

Amber, I don't think daytimes will be a problem cos newborns don't do much at first (get a cleaner though if you don't already have one). I'd try to organise something for nights though. Even if it is just an au pair who can settle the babies after feeds/change nappies or even do some night feeds for you. You could get her to work 12-8am (and she could get up with Luke ).

Knitting at 'when' you have no.3! I am willing it to happen for you.

Hardand, wine is the only gift I appreciated after giving birth (champagne even better).

DG, I absolutely love my Mountain Buggy twin and for a side by side I don't think you can get better. You can also get the double carrycot for that pram and it is so cute.

Took D to the football on Saturday and it was great, he slept through most of it (had to feed him midway through the first half, no one noticed tho). Took loads of photos but now can't find my camera which I am gutted about. I had it yesterday morning so hopefully it is in the house somewhere.

we went to ITNG Live today - best £5 I've spent for a while! C loved it, it was extremely well done, and the organisers had thought of everything, down to having infant toilet seats and steps in the temporary toilet facilities! I succumbed to the marketing, but only to buy an umbrella for C - she'd been asking for one for days, it was pouring with rain and it was only £8, which wasn't too bad I thought. Better value for money than the £4 helium balloon that my friend bought and was sailing free into the sky less than 10 minutes later

If the show is still to come near to any of you, I'd try and get tickets - we all said that we wouldn't have felt short changed if we'd paid £17.50 a ticket!

bath time here... will comment later on others posts x

Biscuits - INTG sounds like it was fab. We were offered tickets for the London premier but turned them down as it was the day we were going on holiday - wish we went as it's sounds great and we crahsed the car on the way to the campsite so didn't get our holiday!