May 2009 toddling along...

[momino]

here we are. How long will this thread last?

Helloooo! I am slightly tiddly after hosting nice jewellery party this evening. I fear I will regret it tomorrow

'twas loverly to meet up with Llare Dandy and Sausage on Saturday. We were rubbish and didn't get a photo. But we did talk a lot! And apologies if I have passed on my nice lurgy to anyone. I had a really nice day, and realised that's my first time away from all 3 kids on my own. I must do it more often!

Momi I was smiling at the thought of H being a human hoover and picking up the scraps from the other DC. G just eats anything... he is a human dustbin.

Llare hope everyone is feeling better in your household

Smokey So impressed you are getting on MN and you are getting on so well with your new additions.

omnom fantastic news - congratulations! And hope you are feeling less sick very soon. It's such a horrid stage, that feeling sick bit . I remember going to work with hundreds of rich tea biscuits to scoff to stop myself barfing at my desk.

Saus has the snot not gone yet? My nice cough has turned into a blimmin' sore throat now.

Belgina any news on the house

And hello to everyone else I haven't mentioned.

So, my DH is off in the States again and is back on 22nd. So far I am surviving. I find the weekends the hardest, but going to M&Ds this weekend for some help. I fear the weekend after that will be the worst as.... MIL is visiting.... and I won't have DH to shield/share the pain. Might have to order some extra Valium for that weekend I fear.

Momino - we chose warmth over glamour (well, I did, the others looked larvely, natch) - and I didn't think of a photo! Duh! We went to a swanky restaurant and all had scallops and then went mooching around Marylebone High Street and balked at stupid prices for small wooden monkeys (£130!) and didn't even bother going into the Conran shop - that kind of thing

Tummum - aaargh re the MIL! I share your pain! And no, the snot is still lingering, but has come back with a vengeance for M - I had to change her sheet this morning, the amount of dried snot on it was vile... (and btw am still up for popping in yours for a cuppa on that Weds before xmas if you can bear me.... will fb you) Booooo re your DH in the States again Will you be meeting him at Heathrow again? Oooh, it will be all Christmassy and just like that bit in 'Love Actually!' - take some mistletoe!

Hellooooo.

I think sausage summed up our lunch very well. In fact, the monkey was almost the first thing I told me DH about. The first thing of course is that I met real people and not pretend people from t'interweb.

I had a lovely time and I will definitely not leave it another 16 years before I visit England's capital. Really. I was at university last time I went to London. But the others looked after me well! It was a lovely day. Dandy and sausage looked just like their profile pics on facebook. It was lovely seeing Tummum again but now I am finding it hard to use the right names on here.

I'm off to bed now, I'll come back and do a better post tomorrow. Night night!

I have to defend the honour of the monkey.... to clarify... my husband's ex-girlfriend purchased him the monkey and we definitely did not spend £135 on a wooden monkey .

Hi everyone,

Long absense here too. I don't seem to get a look in when it comes to the computer nowadays, if it's not the dcs, it's dh or the ap.

I'd like to add my own at the London meet up. Sounded loverly... I'm having visions of a Sex and the City style glamorous lunch time meet up

momi H's eating habits made me C's similar but not quite so extreme. She'll happily go from desert back to main meal and back again. She clearly lets us know nowadays when she's finished and wants to get down from the high chair now

tum Nice to see you on here again. I hope your MIL wont cause too much trouble and that your DH's absense will pass quickly,

smokey No apologies needed for not coming on here. Nb twins are the best excuse in the world IMO. Glad to hear you're all doing well

[omnom] I hope your morning sickness will go soon. Congrats again too

[saus] Hope you're snot free soon.

The news on the house is that they've accepted our offer, provided we exchange contracts before xmas and complete by mid jan, because or some reason or another that's abit too longwinded to go into. It's all going a bit quick, but very exciting at the same time. I can't wait to move and have space again. It'll be soooo lovely.

Other news: Me and C have both been ill. C's only just recovered and has had 2 weeks of extreme grumpiness. She's now finally more cheerful and I can finally get on with things again instead of sitting on the sofa with a toddler on my lap.

Today our boiler also stopped working. Luckily we've got the woodburner, but the rest of the house is freezing and there's no hot water. I hope that the landlord it a bit quicker at fixing it than he is at fixing the shower which we reported ages ago and has finally died last week and the unidentified leak that's still going on somewhere under the bath or in the airing cupboard... Sorry for that little rant, but had to let it ot

Hope everyone I haven't NC'd is well.

I'm in bed reading this on my iPhone. DH has just asked why I'm giggling. It was your Sex & the City comment that did it, Belgian. I was thinking which character we all would have been. I didn't think we had a Samantha until I remembered that someone at the table was regaling us with her sexploits before we'd even broken bread...

at the lunch meet. Sounds like a lot of fun. Count me in for the next one. Four children to look after? Pah. Prosecco and window shopping and gossip much more important!

belgina v exciting about the house. Prob best that you get it all done quickly. At least then you won't be hanging around with more time for it to go wrong (DH is a conveyancing solicitor and tells tales of this all the time). You'll be able to start planning as soon as you are exchanged too. And the house looks lovely, btw.

tummum sorry you are on your own again but hope you have given your DH a long shopping list whilst he is in the states? You will deserve a BIG gift for putting up with the MIL too. I share your MIL pain having had mine here for 12 days over the birth of the twins.

All is calm here this morning. Doula has arrived. Twins asleep and am still in my pjs. I may go for a little run later (I do mean little!) whilst I have a babysitter here. One stone to go!!

I am nominating smokey for superwoman of the year. Running. After twins. In the freezing cold!

SUPERWOMAN!

Your London meetup sounds lovely
smokey I second that nomination for superwoman of the year- I think I would be choosing a nap over a run if I was in your shoes! Well done! Oh and thanks for the toothbrushing advice- I feel a bit better about it now
belgina fab news about the house- that's very quick but it doesn't sound like you will miss where you are now
momino at you feeding H extra veg by leaving them on the table- we once left the remains of a roast dinner and J climbed up on a chair and finished off the roast potatoes- he had 5 in total!
tummum boo to weekend with MIL and no DH

I have been off work this week as have been vomiting 4-6 times a day but am actually not feeling too bad this afternoon and haven't been sick at all today- am hoping that this awful morning sickness may be nearly over.

Anyone following the apprentice? I was that 'Baggs the brand' didn't go last night!

sorry for the selfish post but just feeling low. DH didn't get the job he interviewed for at the final stage. His work are treating him like rubbish as well. he's down and I'm down and now just worried about the future. and it's Christmas. we're supposed to be happy and festive and buying presents.

big sigh.

well, he has a 2nd interview next fri but it's so difficult to feel positive right now.

I'll go back and name check soon. just not feeling like I can say anything at the moment that's worthwhile. except,
I hope you are all well and not aas stressed as I am. Belg, hope the house transaction goes smoothly.

Am off out in a sec, but just wanted to say, oh Momi

DH has been made redundant a couple of times (!), both times because of the company he was working for was sold on to another and so they got rid of part of the original company.

The most recent time was earlier this year, as you know, but the first time was at Christmas time and it sucked.

It's really crappy timing for you and I'm not surprised you're feeling low.

Wish I lived in York so I could buy you a drink.

Would a virtual thread Christmas drink cheer you up if we actually arranged a date?

btw, this may bring a weak smile to your face momi

I had my 24 hr blood pressure monitor fitted by my lovely BUPA-provided consultant this evening - I return it back to him tomorrow. I am going out though to a friend's Christmas do. So my 'party look' is complete with a grey tube peeking out over the back of my top and a cuff attached to my arm, with the monitor on my hip. Every 20 minutes, when it takes a reading, I beep and hiss

Do you think I should warn them that I'm slightly bionic, or keep schtum and enjoy their startled faces when the machine goes off?

dingdongDandy, .
thank you!

I think you should make the monitor part of a drinking game and down whatever is in your glass the moment that it beeps/hisses. hehe. hope you have a good time.

momino - I wish we were closer, sounds like you need a hug and some cake. Keeping everything crossed for you all.

dandy, sorry but lol at your blood pressure monitor! Would a boozy night out give a false reading?

A big fat at the Ladies What Lunch! Sounds fab. Who was spilling beans first?!

smokey - running? really? wow!

belgina - exciting about the house, hope it all goes smoothly.

All ok here, we finally seem to be over the hundreds of bugs that have been around, but A's sleeping isn't good again. We're in the process of decorating and swapping bedrooms, so once everything's settled then we'll need to try something again.

Waves to everyone, and sorry if I haven't NCed you, nothing personal!

Hi everyone. Hope you're all well.

momi Sounds like you're having a bit of a difficult time. Sending you lots of virtual non-mny hugs (and some virtual wine/chocolate/cake). Hope your DH's 2nd interview goes better.

omnom Hope you'll start feeling better soon, so you enjoy christmas properly

dandy Hope that 24h BP monitor thingy gives you a bit of a better idea what's going on. Sounds like you'll look fabulous, tube and cuff and all. Oh and @ momi's drinking game idea.

smokey Wow, going for a run, so soon after having twins I'm looking for an "awe" emoticon, but it's not there. Wow, you're amazing!

flip glad to see the bugs have now left your house. Hope the decorating/room swapping will be over soon.

Thanks everyone for the good luck wishes with the house. I have fallen in love with it and can't wait to move in in Jan

Yesterday I've taken the big step of having my coil removed. I suppose that makes us officially TTC. Oddly enough I'm feeling quite relaxed about it, not like with the others, where I had to get that BFP there and then. We'll see how it goes, I suppose

Aw shucks, ladies. Am def no superwoman though.

momi here, have a glass of v lovely sauv blanc. Don't blame you for feeling down about the situation, but will keep fingers crossed for the next interview.

dandy sniggers here at your description of the BP monitor. How did it go? Is there any improvement? Mine is down a bit but am having it checked at the surgery every week. Wad 135 (good) / 91 ( not so good but down a bit) this week.

omnom was also secretly happy that Baggs the Brand got through. He is hilariously cringy and good viewing. Don't really like any of them this year though. What was the name of the guy from last year who came across a bit dim but was really funny and did quite well in the end. Wonder what happened to him. And hope your MS gets better soon. How many weeks are you now?

flip glad the lurgy has left your house. We have it in the form of the snot monster at the moment and both twins are really congested. Hate that.

Momino sorry to hear you and DH are feeling low- it's such crappy timing. I hope you guys get some better luck soon x

Dandy your party look sounds tres sophisticated!

yay at belgina TTC Hope the new house has lot's of bedrooms- you will need them with your growing brood!

superwoman smokey there are always some characters on the Apprentice aren't there? You're right they aren't such a great bunch though this year.

Thanks for all the morning sickness get well wishes- at nearly 17 weeks pg I should be past it by now. Today is the first day in a week that I haven't vomited at all and it does seem to be easing off- I'm even getting my appetite back after living off cream crackers, apple slices and soup for several days

Evening all. I am knackered - been trying to sort out the rental house in time for new tenants moving in next Saturday. Total PITA. Anyway

Momi sorry to hear of all of the job worries. Really hope the other 2nd interview works out, will be keeping fingers crossed on Friday. Maybe the other job wasn't to be? We're having similar crap work issues. DH was offered a job really close to home last week, only for the offer to be withdrawn the day after. Bastards . I am trying to think that something better is out there and it fell through for a reason, but it's hard. Especially when I am desperate for him to quit and come home.

superwomansmokey sorry love, but you are amazing... 4 kids including newborn twins, and you are going for a run.... amazing

Omnom really hope the MS is on it's way out

Belgina Any sign of your cat recently? V exciting news about the TTC and new house. All fantastic things to look fwd to next year

Dandy at SATC comment and Momi's drinking game idea. Your party does sound v. posh and nice. Not long now til your big trip

Flip sending good sleep vibes to your household. Lack of sleep = bleurgh.

Hello? Have I scared you all off?

Since no-one will be reading this, I'm going to offload. It's likely to be long, so apologies. Just skip over it and ignore.

I am a bit worried about myself. I'm under so much pressure I feel like I am going to snap.

1. Husband is away 'til next week. That's difficult on it's own
2. Work is crazy busy. I feel like I'm doing a shite job and and under loads of pressure to get things sorted by the end of the year as well as juggling end of year reviews with my team over the next 10 days
3. Today (at work)I heard a disciplinary appeal for some chap who has been dismissed. It's a horrible thing to have to do (decide whether he can be reinstated or not.) Very emotional and hard. I hate it.
4. DD2 has started wetting herself again. I think she has proper UTI issues but finding it hard to find time to go to the Drs (bad mummy - I should prioritise). I also think it's linked to DH being away
5. DS1 I think has developed food allergies. No idea to what. It started with cheese, but has got worse. He is so blotchy and red, it's horrible. No support from the GP. Absolute pain to sort out restricted diets and food diaries and stuff.
6. DD1 has tonsillitis. She's pretty poorly but coping on paracetamol.
7. Along with all of this I have been struggling to get our (other) house ready for tenants to move in on Friday. I'm having to organise carpet cleaning, plumbers, electricians, handover of keys, sorting out contracts alongside everything else
8. I am trying to organise everything to do with Christmas on my own. Presents, food, who's going where, cards. I am so behind we're going to have beans on toast for the lunch at this rate. None of the stuff I ordered online has turned up yet and I am starting to get anxious about it

So, I get home today after an awful day's work to find the Nanny has been really poorly today. She has soldiered on today but can't make it in tomorrow. So tomorrow I will be juggling childcare and trying to work at the same time. Oh, and sort the rental house out. And everything else. I could really really do without it.

And the final straw. The toilet is also blocked. I am so looking forward to having to unblock that tonight, trying not to vomit with the smell, poking down the drain with a big stick.

I am having to try very very very hard not to shout at the children, or, in fact, anyone at all who speaks to me. I just don't know how to cope with all of this stuff. I can't do it all. I don't know where to start first.

aww tum was just popping in and saw your post. If I wasn't in work tomorrow I would be over to give you a hand.

You say you don't know where to start so fwiw here are my thoughts. I hope you don't think I'm telling you what to do but I just wanted to try to help a bit. I can appreciate it must be v hard with your DH away so you can't unload easily or ask for help.

Above all, call in a takeaway if you haven't eaten yet and once the DC's are in bed get in the bath and have an early night.

In your shoes I would take tomorrow off. I know you said you have loads on in work as well but it will all still be there on Thursday if you don't do it tomorrow. Not initially a nice thought I know however it will give you a day to concentrate on sorting the DC's out - would you be able to get GP appointment for DD2 and even DS1 at such short notice?

Re DD1 - any family or friends that could come and snuggle up on the sofa with her while you took DD2/DS1 to the Dr?

If you can't face relaxing because you have too much to think about, write a to do list while in the bath. I usually do two columns, one for work and one for home and then when I've written everything down I start to think about putting them in order of priority. Really geeky but I find it helps when I am feeling overwhelmed which is quite often.

I'm sorry I really have to go and sort DD out but I'll try to pop back later.

Aaaaw tummum you poor bugger. I echo everything that running said. When is DH back? I'm going up to my brothers next Wednesday 22nd and can still pop by and bug you say hello, but I can come by a little earlier if you like and go and do some odd jobs for you? Fraid I'm not good at unblocking loos though

Fwiw, I think you are probably right re the bedwetting and your DH being away. What an arse though. That's so crappy the job offer was withdrawn! How awful for you all.

I really do hope things pick up for you soon - and the offer is there if you want me to come and help out.

Belgina - TTC!!!! Ooooh! Same here! Glad the house is going ahead - any cat news?

Momi - so sorry about your DH too - its all bloody happening, isn't it? Hope the 2nd interview goes well this Friday.

Hey ho. My life has been all over the shop. Went for that lecturing job. Didn't get it, but they offered me another one. I said I couldn't do the hours they stated because of childcare, and suggested other ones, and they said they'd get back to me after talking to the team and HR. Ho hum. That was on Friday 3rd. Poo to them. I have emailed and called but no luck, so hey ho, clearly not meant to be. So yes, we are TTC. The bonking is back on!

Speaking of which, I always thought of myself more as Charlotte in SATC

"Sexploits"????

Running & Saus thanks for the advice and calming thoughts.

Now that I have unblocked the loo (yewch) and come to terms that I won't be going to work tomorrow (that's loads of pain on Thursday, but I'll deal with that on Thursday/Friday) I am feeling a bit more in control. I have also ordered the meat for Xmas and decided to stuff sending cards, and everyone can have an email instead. Tomorrow I will try to get appt with GP for DS and put in DD2's sample in to get a view on UTI.

DH is in a right states in the States. I really wish he would jack it in and come home. He's miserable, I'm miserable, why are we doing this?!!

Saus I can't believe they haven't got back to you with new working hours, but yay for back to bonking! Lol at you being Charlotte. Wonder who I was? The mad harassed lawyer probably! I'll probably be at work on 22nd so we might not be able to meet up .