June 08 - 42 days til Christmas, and Deb is coming home!!

[KnittingisbetterthanTherapy]

The old one was taking too long to load!

I think bleeding radiators is for the other way round, toasty at the bottom and cold at the top (air instead of water). If they're cold at the bottom sybil I hate to say it but it's probably sludge ...

Still thinking of knitting, Rolf? The centerpiece sounds nice.
Sledges - surely a tea tray? That's the best! No, I remember the best sled ever, ,my brother and sister and I went sledging with my cousin and he found an old car bonnet in a field and that was the best ever. (And it makes us sound like we grew up on a tinker's camp. )

Sybil I would have suggested bleeding the radiators but I did wonder about being hot at the top. But I know nothing.
We had a narrow escape yesterday - after my midwife visit DH and I stopped off home, and I told him he might as well check the oil. (Oil is the only option around here, and it's ever so annoying.) He did - we had 4 fingers worth left. (Running out = cold + plumber + £££ + £££ for oil as well as repairs.)

MW visit ok - I wasn't well (diarrhoea, looking peaky and I'm well-known in the surgery after the incident where they had to slap me to keep me conscious ) so she wouldn't take blood from me. I've been given an EDD of 6th July, but an early scan hopefully. I'm a bit because I fancied a June baby. Obviously entirely rational.

No potty training here but we might do at Christmas. (And I know, .) Iestyn is funny though, he tells off his toys saying 'you've done a poo in your nappy, go to the changing room' and in his book (a Welsh one) there was a picture of Jac-y-Jwc standing in the toilet queue at the Eisteddfod (yes, really - it's quite a good book, very accurate! ) Iestyn said 'Jac-y-Jwc needs to go to the toilet or he'll do a poo and make a big mess'. Not sure if this is good or bad really...

Done my last crap lecture for the term. Thank goodness. I'm now really pushing my rights (my boss knows I'm pg and is quite worried heh heh heh! He doesn't know what to do - never had a pg staff member before!) and aiming to have my workload reduced, my job made permanent etc. But suddenly all the support is there...Funny that.

And welcome back Deb, and your break sounds lovely Neenz. I fancy a boozy lunch... (not really, it would make me puke probably.)
Amber do you think you're going to go into labour before Christmas?? So exciting! I think Leo's suggestion was a great one - have a spare bag in the car. It's surprising how little you need in the end - I went to hospital in an ambulance in the end, and only had half my stuff. It was fine.

Leo yes I will just leave the baby stuff in the car as we won't need it immediately especially if they are early.

Rolf what do you mean what's the criteria? Do you mean to get it on the insurance? If so it needs to be a medical necessity to have a c section in which case you can go private. I don;t think there is ever a medical necessity to have a vaginal birth at the portland other than a gillian McKeith style phobia of NHS hospitals!

We have 7-8 inches of snow now in sunny Kent. I am crapping myself about getting lUke home from nursery. All public road transport has been stopped and I am not driving as it's like a skid pan. Mark is leaving work now so fingers crossed he'll be OK on the trains. Supposedly trains are OK but I bet it'll take him at least an hour to get the 1.5 mile from nursery to home.

Rolf I can just picture you all snuggled up! Poor T and her constipation. I remember how constipated I was when I had Luke and I would rather have done labour again. I even got an anal fissure (TMI sorry) so I can totally sympathise.

Do you have a section date booked? Is the NHS plan in case you go into labour before your section date?

Sadly Systems my brother who is a plumber (but annoyingly lives hours away) agrees with you. I phoned a friend whose dh is a plumber and he is going to come to look at them tomorrow. He has already started talking about how 'older' radiators can't be flushed as they will explode so I am dreading it quite frankly. I anticipate it is going to cost shedloads even if we don't have to replace all the radiators, having to change would be a disaster.

Amber you must be getting so excited. I know I am

We have only had a couple of cms of snow. This is bad in many ways

1. the kids can't go sledging despite having a brand new sledge that has never been used

2. J has tumble tots tomorrow morning and if the weather hasn't got worse I really should drive him there (too far to walk) and I am terrified of driving in these conditions. Our road is still white and by tomorrow it will be really icy and we live up a steep hill

3. DH is away for 18 days in the next 21 and if the snow is bad he could legitimately stay at home for the day and I could get to actually spend some time with him.

I am a big fat whingy wuss I know. He's away up until christmas, the heating is going to cost a small fortune and I hate driving. I feel unreasonably tearful about everything.

God that was a self-obsessed post Sorry

amber did you get Luke home okay? I agree that it's hard when you're not as prepared. We always get some snow so we invested in snow tyres and the difference is unbelievable.

dewin hope the MS stays better and looking forward to hearing when you get your scan... I think because we've all been talking about you having a second for so long it seems like you've been pregnant for ages... (And I still owe you peanut butter cups... will get to that soon I promise!)

neenz you crazy lady! Who potty trains without bribes? We did sweeties, stickers, and puzzle pieces for rewards.

sybil hope you heard from a plumber today :(

Rolf I'd be so cold without central heating in my bedroom - I don't know how you cope! - I've got layers and layers on and that's with a warm house (I'm warm blooded during the day time but I hate being cold at night and DH wont let me but a heavier blanket on or he starts to sweat).

sleds get a flat bottomed foam style one - they are the easiest to pull kids on and they go the fastest compared to the plastic ones with runners. Like this or a classic one like this one. But I couldn't find any UK ones - typical - but I know they always have stock in Canada seriously look at the selection!

xposted sybil boo for bad news re radiators :(

and I'd definitely not drive if you're not completely comfortable with it. It's just not worth it! Everything is cancelled around here, even church was cancelled on Sunday even though people in the village could make it - they were too afraid someone might try to drive in for it from further out.

You're allowed to be a bit down too - I hate it when DH is away and everything just seems that much harder. I'm so lucky that we had enough snow on friday that he couldn't land at the platform offshore (helicopter had to turn back) although I'm somewhat unimpressed that they tried if the conditions were that bad.

Thanks for the sled links Abdn. This one www.amazon.co.uk/1-5metre-SpeedSheet-Suggested-8yrs-adult-challenging/dp/B002QW24O0/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1291153858&sr=8-9 is supposed to be good on sand and snow, and we live near some sand dunes so that might be fun.

Sybil crap about the radiators and that your DH is away so much at the moment.

that looks good for the older ones rolf!

Ok so trying out my traditional christmas name

I have texted dh and he thinks that I don't have to go if I don't want to. But, if I do decide to not wuss out like I have every other time, then I should just drive very slowly. Apparently, we have no claims bonus so if I have a prang he won't be cross (not feeling guily about bogging off for the next 3 weeks at all then ) and if I am going slowly no one will be hurt.

Have another 30 minutes to decide...

Who else is having a name for christas then?

Gosh, lots of long posts!
Dorothy is doing really well rolf thanks for asking! She initially dropped 9% of her birth weight, but regained it from Saturday to tues, so midwife pleased with us! She's sleeping well at the moment, doing 2330 to 330 and then about 0430 to 800, so no complaints!

I had a bit of a weepy day yesterday,, a friend came round with her toddler, and just stayed too long, it wound up c and I was exhausted afterwards. DH was v sweet though and he and c went out to soft play to give me a sleep - felt much better after that.

Hopefully going to get out the house today - it's been too cold and snowy to take d out since we got home from hospital and I think I'm getting cabin fever!

I have read everyone's news, but struggling to retain info at the moment!

'who else is having a name-change for christmas then' that was supposed to be. I was too excited about the santa emoticons

me!

Me!

Oh, it's DGIT/WWLD in case you're wondering

Just realised that having my Christmas name straight after yours is mildly amusing DoNotFeedMeMincePies.

Go on, have a mince pie

Sybil you're brave even trying to drive (still not driving ).

Biscuits glad D is doing so well. What does C think of her? I assume her pox is better?

I can't think of a Christmas name .

Dewin Yes, I'm still planning on learning to knit. I though my Dad had my Mum's knitting needles and I that it would be really nice to learn using them. They are bamboo ones that my brother and I got her for Christmas one year. But I've just asked Dad and he thinks that he gave them away - which is fine as he had no reason to think that I would want them - but I'm still a bit sad. I was sure I had them actually, so am an annoying combination of baffled and sad. I guess I'll buy myself some. It's sad how the longer she has been gone, the fewer things there are in the house that she used and touched, and sometimes tangible stuff is comforting...

I want to change my name but there's no way mumsnet will recognise the Welsh w-circumflex, and I won't have a grammatically incorrect Welsh name. (Here's an attempt: ŵ )
I just got my timberland boots delivered extra fast for no charge because they cancelled my order, I phoned to find out why, and they said there was a problem with my address: it didn't look right. I asked them whether it was because it was in Welsh (is it coz I is Welsh) and they said yes...big mistake, and a long rant on ignorance and racism later...

Rolf oh I hope you find your mum's knitting needles. That would be just lovely.

No real news here - trying to write a paper for St Andrews. Have to do it today really because I've been faffing for ages.

Rolf that is sad about your mum. Maybe they will turn up when you least expect them.

Well ladies I return triumphant from my first ever drive in the snow/ice. Actually I am a bit as apart from my road and the carpark the other end (which was very icy and scary) the roads were perfectly clear. Sorry to be a bit dramaqueeny

It is still -2 here at midday. Seriously, when is this weather going to end?

Hi all what a mare I had yesterday!! The snow us awful in north Kent. It must be 10 nches in the garden. All transport ground to a halt and as much as I tried to stress this to mark there was no snow in London so he didn't leave till 330 thinking all was ok. we realised Very quickly that there was no chance of him getting home in time to get luke so I had to try. Of course the nursery called and said they wanted to close early even though all the trains and buses were down! I managed to get the only taxi in my area which was working by begging. The guy was an angel and has restored my faith in mankind. The roads were all nose to tail and not moving at all. Cars have been abandoned everywhere and I thought I would have to walk (3 miles in snow and ice with a toddler who is scared of snow whilst 8 months pregnant with twins!!!!!). The guy went the wrong way down a one way street to get me to the nearest road and then got out and let me hold his arm for the half mile walk and then held Luke the whole way ba k yo the car. I gave him a ten pound tip!!!

Amber, what a star! People like that totally restore your faith in human nature.

Quick post marking spot- that is a lovely story Amber .are you feeling ok after all that today?

Amber what a relief you got Luke OK! I was worried for you after I saw your FB status. What a nice bloke that taxi driver is

lol at being mad not offering bribes for potty training. It just feels really unnatural to me to offer bribes when it is just a developmental stage (like giving bribes for walking!) but I am not averse to them if necessary! Esther hasn;t needed any, but I ordered stickers for T from my online shop but they didn't come . But we had a breakthrough yesterday anyway - he has realised when he goes on the loo he can press the button to flush which he thinks is great fun so we have had lots of success (poos and wees) on the toilet the last 24hrs - my poor children being bribed with a flush button . Thanks for the info ktpie, I also get the 'potty, potty' cry after they have gone to bed.