Oct 2007 - These little piggies are not so little any more!

[Dalrymps]

Welcome to the thread for ladies who's lo's were born on Oct 2007!

Some of us have been here from the begining and some have joined along the way. New ladies always welcome to join in and chat with us, we're a friendly bunch!

:0)

Hey ladies, here's the new thread, had to start it cause the old one is nearly full and Inzi has been in touch to say she can't post on it as it won't load on her phone. She has been booked in for a section on fri!!!

Hope you are all well, off to bed for now

Finally Back!!!!

I did a huge post 2 weeks ago to tell you all what a fab time we had at CentreParcs but it got lost in the ether and I was too bad tempered to re post and since then I have been rushed off my feet with one hting or another.....

Inzi..wow at the weight loss...dont think I could do it that way myself but I need to lose 5 stones so perhaps I should consider it more seriously..Lovely to hear how good George is and how much Jnae enjoys having a little brother.

NC..thrilled to hear that you are enjoying Shannon so much atm and hope Rich is better soon ...who knows, perhaps it might teach him to ease off the sauce (though not if he is anything like my DH) I hope DD1 gets her choice of school next year..it is such a minefield isnt it?

Bogwoppit...thank you so much for keeping us updated on Strawberrys progress

Strawberry...CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! I hope Ollie adores his new siblings and you are recovering and managing ok and of course that both babies are doing well.xxxx (love your choice of names btw)

Eva; Fab to hear how well your baby is doing but seriously hope that you are not developing spd. I hope Aaliyah loves her party and all her pressies

Choc; how was the rainbow party? (..skimmed the last few pages so I do hope I havent missed a post telling us how sucessful it was)

Herjazz; lovely to hear from you as always..I hope this half term (your first on your own as mum of 3 as you said on FB)goes really smoothly.

News from here is that CentreParcs was a huge hit with Dh and Alex...lots of cycling up steep hills ("Come on Mummy!!!! You can do it!")...lots of swimming and going down fast scary water slides ("Not you Mummy! You are a girl WE are ^boys!!!")....and lots of adventure playgrounds with zip wires(ditto last comment)...cue lots of heart in mouth moments ("dont worry muumy,I'm fine")and very wobbly legs for me they finally got used to the steep hills on the last day.
and in other news, my brother announced last night that his girlfriend of 8 months (mother of 2 (girl aged 12 and boy aged 9)and only out of violent marriage 12 months and out of womens refuge 6 months)did a pg test yesterday morning and got a BFP!...so it looks like his Mercedes SLK that he got himself as a birthday pressie just before he met her last February will be off to the dealers before his next birthday. I'm have very mixed emotions about it myself...I'm thrilled that he is going to be a Dad (Alex worships the ground he walks on!) that our Mum is going to be a Grandma again (Alex has been her life line since we lost our Dad)and that the family name will be carried on (Dad would have been soooooo thrilled) ..even excited more so that I'm going to be an aunty by blood rather than by law!!! ...but can't help but feel that it is all a bit fast and that he is landing himself in a heap of problems with a traumatised teenage ready made family as well as a new born and sibling rivalry (everything going well, God willing)all quite a handful for someone who has never lived with anyone before....still he is a big boy now and must know what he is doing, but one thing is certain, his Mercedes SLK that he got himself as a birthday pressie just before he met her last February will be off to the dealers before his next birthday!

bother...I really should proof read shouldn't I....loads of typos and forgot to delete the sarci car comment from the middle when I repeated it at the end...ho hum, think I'm losing my marbles as well as my comic timing[head shaking emoticon]

Hello ladies!
So nice to be back on here - I know what you mean about real life getting in the way sometimes! Thanks for all your lovely supportive messages and thoughts on FB ? it has meant the world knowing you are all there sending us good wishes.

So what happened was ? I went into hospital on Friday eve for some checks after I had some brown bleeding ? I?d already been to the hospital on Friday morning to have the first of two steroid injections for the babies? lungs after my 34 week growth scan showed that one may be dropping off a growth curve. (I was supposed to be going for another scan at 36 weeks, but no need for that now!)

The midwives decided to keep me in overnight on Friday, as I needed the second steroid jab first thing on Saturday morning. So far, so ok (though sleeping on hospital beds at 34 weeks pregnant with twins was not fun).

I had the injection, and went to get dressed, as it all looked ok, and then my waters broke ? major shock. So back to the ward and being monitored with the consultant saying it would be a c-section at 12 noon now that my waters had gone (and I was 2cm dilated). Typically it took all day to get a theatre slot, and I did start having contractions in the afternoon, but finally I was taken to theatre at 5pm ish.

Zoey was born at 17.45 weighing 5lb 5, and Lucas at 17.46 weighing 5lb 1. So now the whole strawberrylace family has birthdays in October and it is going to be a very expensive month.... The twins are both doing ok at the moment, Zoey is out of her incubator and in a cot because she can hold her temperature ok. But they could both have a bit of jaundice which they were checking out when we went up this morning.

It is so strange to suddenly go from being pregnant and thinking you have ages to get things ready (I only finished work last Thursday, and was intending to spend this weekend getting things ready for the hospital bag) to being at home and the mother of three children!

My community midwife was great ? she helped me to get home yesterday evening, so today I have been able to eat nice food, read books with Olly, talk to my mum (who has been staying and holding the fort) and spend some time with DH, Zoey and Lucas (even had a cuddle with Lucas skin to skin to try and get my milk started) ? much more relaxing...

Will be back later to read your posts properly, but I do hope you are all ok xxx

Strawberry; Congratulations again...No wonder that hospital bed was uncomfortable with 10.5lb of babies aboard, no wonder you went into labour early ....fabulous news that Zoey is out of her incubator already and you got some skin to skin time with Lucas too. I hope you are healing nicely, lucky to get a great community midwife to look after you and thank heavens for your Mum holding the fort and making things a bit easier for you (though sorry for your lost anticipated weeks relaxation...still, I'm sure they will be worth it once you get them home) ... Lol at all of you being October birthdays now, you are going to have to budget throughout the year to cope with October and December from now on . I hope Lucas gets out of his incubator quickly and they are both home with you very, very soon....((((hugs)))) to you all until then.

Strawberry that must have been such a weird experience! I am so glad you are all ok though and I hope that Lucas gets home soon.

Floria thanks for asking about the party, I hadn't posted about it because it didn't go that well! I just got really stressed around sil although I tried to avoid her as much as possible. It is always unpleasant when Dareh gets together with her DD who is the same age. Sil has this obsession with kids sharing, I obviously encourage Dareh to share but I also recognise that at that age they are not always cognitivly ready for it and that if you get given a brand new toy for your birthday you are not going to fancy sharing it anytime soon. Anyway the upshot is that Dareh always ends up in tears and looking like a brat and I had to keep taking him away to calm him down. We also of course got the speel about her big fantastic party with hired leisure cenre, bouncy castle, ball pit etc etc while we are all just sitting in my living room.

I also wasn't feeling well though that might have been part stress. I have seen a dr since and I have low blood pressure and amnemia which is making me dizzy. Got iron tablets now, don't think I can do much about low blood pressure though.

Glad you had such a nice time on holls. I think I would be the same as you with regards to your brother. It does seem soon and like there is a lot of baggage there. I hope it goes well for them.

Inzi what diet are you on? I am dreading the need to loose weight once this baby is born.

NC how much longer do you have to go with your studies? DH has another year and I can't wait for it to be over!

Right off to work. I am counting down the weeks as I am finding it hard being there right now. Hopefully it won't drag too much!

Aww Choc..I'm sorry the biggest brat of them all spoiled it all for you...of course they don't want to share, especially their new toys...even my 6yr old nephew still has problems with sharing (despite all his other improvements)...we had a similar problem on Alexs' birthday with a friends' (9month older)son who wailed to me that Alex wasn't sharing (over a present he had only just finished unwrapping) I just said "well it is his newest car isn't it and I'm sure you dont like sharing your newest cars either do you?" to which said child said "I do!" and then burst out laughing when I pretended shock and said "Matthew! You fibber!!!".
Sorry you are still feeling so ill, I hope the iron pills do the trick and give you some of your vavavoom back...at least enough so you can cope with work...how many more weeks are you expecting to be working?

Thanks floria! She's hard work alright. I plan to until the 14th of jan but whether I will manage I don't know.

Hi, happy birthday to all the little piggies I've missed (most of them . As with most of you, rl getting in the way - I have neglected this a bit.

NC - how's Rich now? Hope you get the school you want for dd - when will you know?

Inzi - so glad your diet's going well - fantastic weightloss! How did George's innoculations go?

FT - sounds like you had a wonderful time at CP. Lol at Alex "come on mummy" - they are so wonderfully encouraging aren't they? Congrats to your brother - was it a shock to them?

Strawberry - congrats to you - the photos on fb are fab, the twins are so gorgeous. It sounds as they are doing great and the labour wasn't too traumatic - do you know when they are likely to be home?

Choc - sorry the party didn't go quite as you hoped - your sil really is a nightmare - sounds like you coped well though and I bet Dareh still enjoyed his birthday. Hope you're feeling better now you're on iron tablets - and I'm sure the last few weeks at work will go really quickly.

Not much new here. Had my first concert with the new choir - a bit nerve-racking in places as there were a couple of pieces we'd only done once in rehearsals because everybody else knew them. We've got lots to do over Christmas, which I'm really looking forward to.

I've got to go down to London next week for a seminar - going first thing Wednesday, back Thursday evening. Anya is staying over at ex-h's Tue/Wed nights - and I've worked out that Wednesday will be the first day in her life where she's not seen me at all. I'm sure it's well overdue but I do feel a bit weird about it!

Anybody doing trick or treating this year? Not sure whether to go out with Anya - not bothered before as I thought she'd be too young - but might give it a go over the weekend.

Hi everyone. Just poking my head in for a quick post. RL is getting in the way right now. Having a hard time adjusting to having 4 kids and a full time job! Seems I barely have any time to myself... and when I do, I only want to sleep due to sheer exhaustion. Job is going well... love it! Thank God for my housekeeper who came today and rescued me from my pigsty! Now I just need to get on with the washing before it burries me alive! LOL. Will do proper post soon. xxx

Really glad the job is going well for you and am still jealous of your cleaner!!!

Not much to report here, mainly just trying to survive at work. My aunt has been ill in hopsital too. Her kidney has failed but she has refued dialisis because of her age. I don't think she will last long sadly but we are pleased that she managed to get home at least.

Glad you are enjoying the singing, I miss singing and dancing actually but there is not much happening up here.

Hope everyone is well.

Flippin' 'eck!!! another post gone missing grrrr...

Inxi Happy birthday to Jane. I hope she has a fantabulous day.

BB4 ditto Chocs feelings of envy for your cleaner also ditto gladness that the new job is going so well...I hope you soon learn to balance your stamina reserves so you dont get so exhausted.

QoL the choir sounds like it is going to be great fun to belong to..I hope the stay in london feels ok...I can imagine how wierd it must feel for you (I have never had a day or night with out Alex yet )How did T or Ting go? We went to a halloween party...Alex was soooo excited to be going dressed as a devil (again...but he doesnt remember last year and I wasnt forking out for another costume when last years still sort of fits [stingy emoticon])right up until 30 mins before we went when he suddenly got stage fright and refused to dress up....as we had to go(I was helping with the food)I ended up forcing him into the outfit, forgoing the face paint and dragging him kicking and screaming to the party ..he stood himself in a corner wailing for 3 whole minutes until he spotted a toy through his fingers and then proceeded the life and soul of the party [couldnt you just kick him? emoticon]and demanded the face paint as soon as we got home [eye rolling emoticon]

Choc sorry to hear about your aunt..she is very brave to refuse life extending treatment..I hope her choice allows her a peaceful and dignified close to what I hope has been a wonderful long life and that you and the rest of her family get chance to rejoice together recalling the highlights and creating a few more with her before the inevitable. I hope you are doing ok and enduring at school..what a shame that there are no outlets for your talents nearby.

We are having just as many/possibly more tantrums as ever 'now we are 3'...LLL mentioned on FB that Ben had suddenly developed separation anxiety and we are having a lot of the same...not all the time..but when MIL babysits...once at nursery... and sadly every time we go for his swimming lesson...we used to go to another pool for the baby with Mum swimming lessons and he was sooooo confident but had no respect for the teacher so when he turned 3 and was about to move to the classes without me, we changed pools to go to a locally well respected teacher. The first lesson was fine, he looked a bit shocked that I wasnt going in with him but had a great time, did brilliantly.. until the last bit when he started frowning a bit but he got loads of praise for being such a big boy and I thought everything would be fine ....but next lesson he was about to go to the bench by the pool to wait for his lesson to start when he suddenly clung to me and started having hysterics...I tried calming, soothing, promising, getting him to watch the others, everything...he wouldnt even get his toes wet. 3rd lesson the teacher just took him off me straight into the water and kept him on her hip...he screamed for me the whole half hour ...4th lesson was yesterday; I took him in for a play session with me before his lesson started and he was fine until I passed him over the rope for his lesson and the screaming started again..we cant blame the teacher because yesterday it was a relief teacher who was just lovely with him....I dont know whether or not to take him for the last 2 lessons because I'm finding it as torturous as he obviously is...any opinions ladies?

Hi lovely ladies!
I have been awol again sewing like mad and finding a new house to live in + renting out ours.

I'll have a quick read of what's been going on and be back for a chat and catch up.

Happy birthday to all the lovely piggies, I've tried to wish them personally on facebook, hope I've not missed anyone xxx

Back soon!
xx

Right, starting on page 2 here I go!

Dal ? I am laughing at the pig hunt and everyone joining in!

QOL ? You?re sounding really happy in your posts, I?m so glad things are really working for you in the new situation x
The new choir sounds great and good to have lots of concerts to look forward too.

Strawberry ? Congratulations on your lovely babies! (posted on f/b but feel the need to ?officially? congratulate you on the piggy thread ;o) ) Like Floria said I bet you were uncomfortable with 10.5lb?s of baby and water! Glad they are all okay and I hope you?re healing well and you?ll have them home in no time xxx

BB4 ? I am really in awe of your cooking! I need to get some really simple recipes to get me back in the saddle as it were. I?ve not done and proper cooking for ages ?any ideas?
Wow at you having the new job for 5 years that is perfect whilst the little ones are still little.

I see the ghost of past threads came back?

Inzi ? great you?re enjoying George and loving the giggles at your face (!) Brilliant your coping, it is hard with 2 isn?t it at first :o) Great Dal has given you some tips, it?s a lifesaver. Hope the diet works well for you, I know how important the weight is to you for feeling good about yourself x Roll on Jan and those size 10 jeans!

Eva ? Hi! Hope you?re doing well and that you?re not suffering with spd :o(

Needcoffe ?Hi, hope you?re all fine too! Xx

Floria ? wow on your brother! I can imagine how tough it is looking from the outside in especially when you know it?s going to be hard for them all to adjust.

Chocstar ? we have an unwritten rule than any new toy/birthday/Christmas presents gets played with solely by the new owner if they want to. If they want to share that?s fine too. You?re right it?s too much to have them be expected to share on their birthday. We don?t buy a longed for book only to let someone else read it first!!

Hi to everyone else I?ve missed [waves]]

We?re all fine, didn?t T or T as we had a party. I think it?s easiest for us as we get it all done and dusted. Dh has a new job, it?s a step up and a super doper package but would mean travelling and long hours and no working from home so we?d see less of him. We?ve had major dilemma?s whether he should take the job but he has and he starts on the 22nd Nov. Mixed emotions about it but I can see we have to look at the future and not just now. We?re moving too next Friday (12th) to a place with a bigger garden so we?re all really excited. We?re just renting it and going to rent ours out. I?ve found the milk getting nicked the fact that we?re really not part of the local community not being in the local school just a bit difficult. All the kids play outside and no-one calls for Ollie. He?s tried hard to break into the group and he?s doing well but they all stick together because they go to the same schools and play with siblings etc. I?d rather live in the middle of nowhere physically because I feel I already do living here. My neighbours are great and I?m really going to miss them but outside this road I don?t know anyone.
Hen started nursery school today and he was so excited. Was quite easy for us as Ollie already goes so Hen?s really wanted to for ages to be like Ollie. Sorry to hear of the separation anxiety isa, I really hope it calms down soon.

Anyway, sewing going well, picking up orders here and there whilst making like mad for a Christmas fair and shopping evening. I can honestly say I don?t want to see a set of Christmas bunting for quite some time as I?ve made so many!! Also, if anyone wants anything am happy to do it half price for you lovelies. Not touting and won?t mention it again, just thought I?d let you know.xxx

Love to all
xx

BB4 - so glad you are loving your job. Your housekeeper sounds like a Godsend too!

Choc - sorry about your aunt - as you say at least she's at home. Hope she's comfortable at least.

FT - we didn't go trick or treating in the end - Anya would have been too shy to go up to strangers' houses and say 'trick or treat' so I'd have had to do it for her. I can just about cope with children begging for sweets one night a year but I draw the line at an adult begging for sweets on a child's behalf ! So we stayed in at let the T or T'ers come to us. That was fine until a teenager with a 'scream' mask knocked at the door, which sent Anya diving under the table whimpering. She wasn't that keen after that! Sounds like Alex enjoyed himself though, eventually!

About the swimming - to be honest I'd leave the other two lessons - the danger is that he's going to start associating swimming with being upset and scared. I'd go back to being in the pool with him and try him again in a few months when his separation anxiety's passed.

Muppet - congrats to dh on the new job, though I can understand your mixed feelings. Hopefully you'll adjust quickly and the long-term rewards will be worth it. Wow on the move - hope all goes smoothly next week.

We've had a lovely bonfire weekend. We went to a display at a local school on Friday night - there's a big common behind the playground. Anya enjoyed the atmosphere until the fireworks actually started and then she wanted to go inside because they were a bit loud - but by that time they'd locked the school up, so she had a major meltdown, screaming to go home - so we did.

Saturday was better - a friend was having a house party with fireworks in the back garden. Anya decided she'd be ok if she could watch from inside the house. She actually managed half inside and half outside with her hands over her ears .

Just pooping in to say I have fallen terribly behind. I am reading when I can and will try to post properly very soon, sorry ladies. Thinking of you all xx

Ha ha just realised I wrote pooping

Good grief I lost you all!!!!

sincerely getting concerned that the thread has moved to FB which is great in some respects..in that we are all keeping in touch but it is not as intimate as here...i barely say half of what is going on in my life as I do here...but then is half of what is going on regularly better/more than everything that is going on reported very occasionally :-(

Anyway, what I came on to say is, that Moira has received her parcel (relief!)...now I must hope that everything arrived intact, is to her taste and fits

I did indeed receive my parcel today, and it is just fabulous! So thank you all for all your contributions, and to FT for her excellent purchasing skills. I just couldn't believe how many nice things you got us, we feel very special. Can't wait to get them dressed in the outfits, and lovely hats and gloves - and need to get the front room finished so I can hang up the bunting!Olly was very excited to get his car (with the 'wings') and loved helping to open all the presents - he is being a great big brother.

Zoey and Lucas are doing well - the health visitor came again today and is pleased with their progress - good weight gains for both. Zoey has gone from 5lb 6oz to 6lb 5oz in a week, and Lucas from 4lb 12oz to 5lb 10oz. Which I am delighted with, as it shows the breast-feeding is going well, and means the broken nights are worth it! So far they are very easy babies, as they just feed and then sleep - tomorrow I am going to go shopping in town as Olly is at pre-school, and I would like to buy some new clothes as a treat for me...

I know what FT means about more FB posts than MN posts - I am going to try and post here more often I promise (it's just that FB is easier from my mobile, so I can do it in bed - as it were ). I was just downloading photos from my camera, and found ones from the BBQ in the summer - what a lovely day that was

Strawberry; All you ladies with new babies, and especially you with 2! are definately excused from less than prolific posting on here ...it was ME I was getting at..I have no excuse except I get sidetracked on FB and neglect MN.
Fabulous news at the twins spectacular weight gains. Bravo you for managing to breastfeed two at once...Enjoy your shopping trip I hope you find some fantastic clothes, you deserve it...though I bet you dont get far with the number of people who will stop to admire Zoey and Lucas
Again you are more than welcome to your goodie box...enjoy.
Ahhh the BBQ meet up...it was a lovely day with lovely company...it went so fast..I remember we didnt even have time to employ your facepainting skills...we will have to get you to bring them along to the next one eh?

Hello Lovelies!

Its been such a long time since I have posted! I have been lurking, but real life is just so exhausting and busy right now. After work, I come home to make dinner, then run out to pick the babies up from nursery, back home to eat, do homework, chores, and get the kids off to bed by 9pm. DH is home by 8:45pm. I then get to work on laundry, lunches, and getting other things ready for the next day. I am usually in bed by 11:30pm (which needs to be earlier but somehow it has happened). I am up at 6:30 the next morning to start all over. Throw in time at the gym plus appointments, and its chaos! The weekend are spent grocery shopping, taking kids to Italian school, and errands. I wish I could find the time to sit at the computer and just unwind! I usually end up in bed with my Ipod lurking. Its too tedious to type out a long post, so I wait.

DS1 is also keeping me busy with the problems he is having at school. We took him in the spring to be tested by a doctor, and they found him to have generalized anxiety disorder. It means he gets nervous and anxious about new situations, tests, people, places. Its affecting his grades, so I have been meeting with his teachers and trying to come up with ways that will help him to cope. Its stressing me out! Then at home, I am constantly getting after him to his chores, his homework, follow house rules. I dont know if its just a boy thing, but I am at the end of my rope with him. Sigh.... rant over.

So how is everyone? How is the Christmas shopping/baking? I am almost done the shopping, and the baking plans have been made (its a full day event for me!).

Tonight I am working some overtime doing security work, so that I can pay for the shopping I plan to finish this weekend! LOL

Anyway... I am home on my lunch break. I am fortunate that all the schools I teach at are within 20 minutes of home, so I am able to come home to do chores and laundry have lunch!

Strawberry - glad the twins are doing so well - that's fab. Hope they continue to be easy babies for you!

BB4 - wow I'm surprised you manage to get on here as often as you do! to you on coping with ds1 - is it a permanent condition or is it something that's been triggered by something specific? It sounds as though his teachers are being helpful and cooperative though - has anything they've suggested worked? You sound really organised for Christmas - I've done about half the shopping - don't really have much else to do as I'm not hosting anything.

FT - I'm worse than you - I'm struggling to keep up with either MN or FB. It doesn't help that we've got new internet security at work so I can't get on either site there any more . And I don't have a smartphone so I can't get them on there either. And I'm a bit rubbish at making the effort in an evening - the only time I've really got to do computer stuff. Anyway, Anya's had a rubbish few days - she's got a terrible cold and it's making her throw up in the night when she's swallowed half her own body-weight in mucus. Wednesday night she was sick in her own bed (bad) - Thursday night on the floor (better) - last night in my bed (much much worse). She seems better today so cross fingers we get a decent night's sleep.

And I've run out of chocolate.

Dont know about struggling to keep up with MN and FB...I'm struggling to keep my eyes open tonight...want to update you all on Alexs' goings on but am just cross eyed ...just a combination of week of Alex having bad nights (cholking due to a nasty cold)...I have so much sympathy with all those of you who are new Mums...and insomnia because I have so much to do and zero energy or enthusiasm for doing it...joining wwjc in the moanmoanmoan dept(something to do with the dark evenings do you think?)....so I'm just saying hi! and hope everyone else is more fun to be with than me atm.

Snow Anything where you ladies are?? We have had a small sprinkling a couple of days already, but so far, nothing is sticking . Compare that to the poor souls in western Canada that have had several dumpings of 10cm and more (not to mention frigid temps). We have gotten off quite easy so far. This morning I awoke to 15 degrees Celcius!! Its going to drop to -2 tonight, so a little crazy.

prezzies So what is everyone doing for their LOs?? We wont be going too crazy with the babies. We have gotten Marco some clothing (which he is in desperate need for since no hand me downs), a Talking Woody doll and a few little cars to go in his stocking. Sofia's gifts are about the same. Our house is filled with toys from my sister, so I really dont need to get more. The 2 older DCs are getting a little more since thay appreciate things more. We are doing a minor update to DD1s room for Christmas. She is getting a new bed spread, and girly chandaliere, and we are repainting one wall to have an accent colour. Small things, but will make a big impact and make her room more grown up (she will be 13 in a few months). DS1 will be getting a digital camera since he has begun to express an interest in photography and its something both his dad and grandad enjoy.

So I have had to reschedule my surgery for summer Work was giving me a hard time since I would need time off as well as time spent on light duties. I was told that my new position would be in jeopardy (since it is only a 1 year temporary spot). Since I did not want to take that chance, I have rescheduled for June and I was told I will have no trouble taking the entire summer off son paid sick leave. Thats a plus. It just means I will have to be careful not to make my situation worse. Sigh... always complications!! Why cant things ever be easy!! LOL

So how is everyone else?

Hi!
Sorry your surgery has had to be rescheduled BB4...I hope you manage to maintain the status quo until the summer....as to pressies we have bought him a Leapster Explorer as he likes to play on one at his friends..and lots of dinosaur toys (and the 'Walking with dinosaurs' DVD) as stocking fillers.
No snow here just yet (NW England;Lancashire;Rossendale)but it is apparently falling everywhere else and has just been used as an excuse by Dh to seriously p8$! me off ..

sorry rant coming on.....

I have 2 of my oldest dearest (school)friends who now live a quite a distance away..the one that lives 300 miles away we last managed to see back in October for a day before our break at Centre Parcs so I didnt think we would get to do our usual christmas pressie swap meet up in the Cotswolds with the other schoold friend (who lives about 50 miles away;I usually get to see her every month) but when Dh was in South Africa he said we could go and join them...I was ecstatic!..we were supposed to have been going to Cheltenham this coming weekend, but Dh has just woken up and said that with the bad weather around/ the number of things he has to do before Christmas/the fact that Alex will only get a few hours to play with his pal(distant pals son) and then we will all have to sit in our separate hotel rooms while the kids sleep and only have time for breakfast before we have to start the 4 hours back so it will be a waste of time and money... so 48 hours before we go he wants to cancel!....I'm beyond upset...I can't fault his logic; he says I can see the one who lives closer anytime (100 mile round trip but we do usually manage it once a month)and we could go down in the New Year and stay with the one who lives further away but that isnt the point..the point is us all meeting up ....the point is 3 weeks ago he said we could go and waits until the hotel price comes through... the point is I moved here so he could stay near his friends and family (all of his family and all his 4 closest friends live within 4 miles!...my family is 25 miles and more away)....the point is he works with his best mate every day, I see mine once or twice a year at best...the point is you dont promise things and the renage on the promise....I'm livid and am seriously thinking of just going anyway (better than sitting here having yet another weekend doing the same old things I do during the week cleaning/cooking etc and seething while he works on his parents house yet again ...and no it isnt 'work' to him, he loves 'achieving!)....

just in middle of feeding hungry twins - will post properly later, but just haveto say to FT - go with Alex for the weekend! would drive me mad to be stuck at home doi8ng same old stuff, while DH was off doing something different and while i knew my friends were having fun. get the car packed now!