Dec 08 Mums - Snot Beards, Farty Boos and Willy Milk (not how it sounds!) - let the fun continue!

[Beans33]

Here we are x

Hi Lady,
Got it. OK well anyway since I'm a bit undecided about what I'm doing this weekend, shall we sort out some evening drinks within the next 2 weeks? Perhaps a few others can make it.

I'm going to try and convince dh to join the local Spa/ health club. it's a bit £££ but they have fantastic facilities and a creche, plus thier pool is great with a very child friendly walled garden attached to the restaurant. Is anyone a member of similar? Am I nuts shelling out money for that? Perhaps it's just post holiday blues with all the swimming etc we did back home but I just can't bear Summer with the thought of all that a stones throw from me. I'm sure dh will

Join it Rubes. Those places are great on a weekend morning when you don't know what to do. Something for everyone. Unfortunately they don't have anything as swish as that in the Hague but I do love my gym it has a nice vibe and chilling out on their sun beds by the pool looking out to local shoppers down below is quite nice.

Arti moving is bloody stressful, and the unpacking bit is the worst. It is compounded for you. I really have a feeling of being in a state of limbo for about a month before then you feel like a gypsy for a few days then you have to unpack it all, your gypsy period is extended. I second what someone else said just go buy the things you need. Also now might be the time to have a little weekend away, nothing flash just a couple of nights in a cheap b&b or visiting friends you have been meaning to stay with. It just gets you away from it all for a few days gives you some space to breathe. We did it the other way around and had our little mini break about 2 weeks before we moved but it really cleared our heads and calmed us down so we felt we could attack.the move from a stress free start. It was still stressful but I'm sure I was much less shouty than would have been if I'd not had the break.

Lady I liked three lions, but I think I know why you didn't love it. He actually wrote it before 7/7/2005, and I think he nearly binned it after the bombings. But he decided to do it but I think he had to tread very carefully. While I liked it I would have enjoyed it more if he'd gone even a little darker with the humour but I still really enjoyed the performances and felt it might open the way for similar movies.

I've got one of DS1's school friends over to play, its really sunny so I've thrown all three boys outside. Their having a great time, but going to decent to the park soon as promised I would meet a friend there. Poor DS2 just stepped on a tac which I feel terrible about.

Woohoo its takeaway night.

Trace I think Lady has already offered a contact for you but we also have a brilliant guy who we used for both houses and would have no problem recommending. On both occasions he gave us money back as he didn't use all the fee he charged us on the searches, which I thought was great, we hadnt expected that. He was very very thorough. Ive no idea where he is based, as we never actually met him just talked on the phone.

Yup, Japan news is shocking. Watching it here. V distressing. The world is going mad at the moment. It worries me.

Just had bad news on MIL. It was a text from DH, so I don't really know the details, but she had some issues with her heart in the night and has had to be transferred to a specialist heart unit. She is stable this morning, which is good. But at the moment, whether the lump was cancerous or not is the least of our worries. DH is heading back to see her tomorrow afternoon and staying for a couple of days. So stressful for him and the family. Feeling useless. Just want to help. She is the loveliest lady. It's not FAIR!

Arti - you do sound stressed, you poor love. I, too, have spare spanx. I find it extraordinary that I wore them on my wedding day, when I was skinny mini. And now I don't really, because I'm so fat I find them uncomfortable! Plus I hate the slit bit that you can pee out of. Makes me feel all breezy, if you know what I mean!

Right, off to watch more news.

xx

PS Trace, our solicitor we used for our house was MARVELLOUS! And so approachable and lovely. She's based in Liverpool, with a fantastic scouse accent. Reminds me of my childhood. We sent her flowers when the sale went through.

Thanks for all your concern re DD, I suspect she is a big fraud. Once the Calpol kicked in her temp came down and stayed down although her sleep was very restless and she kept waking and asking for drinks. She seemed fine yesterday morning so I chanced nursery and told them to ring me if she wasnt good. Apparently she was the life and soul all day, and bedtime last night her temp shot up and we went through no sleep again, and then she's right as rain again this morning. I suspect she's doing it to remind me to sympathise with our gang of new Mums!

Talking of whom, please can I have addresses for WG and mom, if anyone has them?

Arti I'd hate to be amidst moving chaos as I need to feel in control, so I feel your pain. Agree with all the advice of getting wine and other essentials til you locate them

WG arrgghh at MIL. Can you take it is a complement that she wants to spend her time with your beautiful girls? (even if she won't admit it)

I know I had lots of other things to say, but my mind is mush. Oh yes , sorry about the row Sybs, when Arti gets unpacked she can pass on Jumps knob stick to bash him

Good luck with the run Vag

Back later when I remember everything else I wanted to say, ta ra
Back later when I

i have been rewarded for being a beatch about my mil with NIGHT FROM HELL. where i got about 2.5 hours sleep. if we have more of these, i am thinking about getting in a night nanny. got the littlest madam registered today - she's official!

awful news from japan.

zoe - i could just give you my address if you want it, but please don't feel you need to send a card. i have been very remiss with all the other new babies and really don't expect one. i just love the support on the thread.

one question: when you are breastfeeding on demand (if i hear one more comment about "when is she due her next feed?" i might explode), sometimes i think G thinks she wants more food, but actually she's got wind, feels uncomfortable, wants to feel better, knows feeding makes her feel better, so feeds more, compounds the wind, comes off, cries, the cycle starts again. any advice? i think this is what happened last night - she was on/off the boob for ages, i thought she was asleep, put her down, only for her to jump up again 15 mins later with farts galore. i can't work out when she is cluster feeding as opposed to feeling windy and wanting comfort. waffle waffle waffle. any advice gratefully received. thanks

WG, nothing use to wind me up more than when I was BF and anytime they would cry I would hear "Is she due a feed? When was her last feed?" If I hadn't stopped feeding I would have punched the next person in the nose. Do they not think WE might be aware of that information??? We had that cycle going you are refering to - actually I think it's quite common. The only advice I ever got was from a HV who told me to actually wait longer between feeds initially (it's hard) to make her really hungry so she takes a full feed then stick to set feeding times, however that's completely the opposite to on demand feeding (which I have no clue about) so I will just shut up, as I am at high risk of rambling.... I'm already there aren't I....

Japan - how shocking. The footage is quite surreal -not unlike watching 9/11 unfold when I was actually sitting stand-by in San Francisco working for the same airline involved.... 99% of my brothers staff are Japanese so I'm currently trying to find out if any of them or family are affected What is happening to that part of the world. Getting slammed by natural disasters left and right. Time to start working on my brother moving over here again. He has a Brit passport, and his GF is from Surrey for pete's sake

Beans, so sorry to hear about your mil. I hope you get some positive news soon. Life can be crap, but thoughts with you and your family.

Vag, Haven't spoken to dh yet but he'll probably be fine about joining that place and I'll be the one to worry about the money after all
What T/A are you having? We had it last night from our regular, but I feel short changed as I wasn't hungry and only had some grilled pork dumpling appetiser. I had Thai in Aust and I forgot how good it is over there. Especially Cairns. They are all really traditional and know how to do it. It's like curry in the UK, but sadly I'd much prefer Thai / Japanese etc. Yum I want some now.
DH is at work till 8 and on the bike again, so if he does get out at 8 it will be 845 before he's here. I should be cooking but I can't be arsed (def do not have my wonderwife undies on today)

I have had a good day though and since ds got better (about 3 days before the end of our holiday) he has been a different child. Gone from not eating a thing, to eating 2x bowls of porridge with banana for brekky, pasta for lunch, chicken casserole for dinner and wanting biscuits in between He lost a load of weight when he was sick and is perhaps making up for it. he has also been very cooperative with nappy changes, talking more, and today out shopping, not one tantrum, got off the travelator when asked, and walked everywhere holding my hand! Even sat in the trolley with dd next to him and she was pulling on his jumper and he just looked at her, and to be fair she was being really annoying!

Right, must go, more news to watch, plus huge amounts of American Idol, Greys Anatomy, and gulp, Home & Away How sad am I.

WG its difficult when they feed to help with discomfort, on the one hand breastfeeding is has an analgesic effect so if she is feeling pain she would naturally feed to reduce the pain. Also, if she has got wind, feeding will increase perastalisis, so move things along, so to speak. It may also be that she just wants to feel better. If it were me I would probably let her feed. However, I am saying that now with a child that doesn't feed overnight and I generally get to sleep, I might feel very differently if this was 2years in the past and it was DS2. So I think the option that Rubes suggested could be a way of lengthening the time between feeds. It doesn't need to be a set amount of time, you could maybe try to settle her and get her to expell her wind some other way and then maybe the next time she cries feed her. You can help her with her wind by rubbing her tummy. Laying her over your forearm, tummy down, or holding her so she is on her back in your arms with her feet against your tummy, in a sort of reclined squat.

The stuff going on in Japan is just terrible. We still don't have TV but we are seeing it on the internet, that Tsunami is just horrible.

I had a lovely afternoon I took the boys to the park with DS1's school.friend and met a friend of mine there with her kids. When we got there another of DS1's little friends was there with his dad. He was nice we all chatted and watched the kids and it felt a little bit like I was part of the community. On the way home we ran into another friend of DS1's from school and his mum. It is a really nice area and we are now so much closer to many of DS1's little school friends. I also love being so close to this shopping street. Everything we need is just minutes away.

Oh and Rubes we are having Indonesian again. It's so true the Thai in Australia is amazing, as good as the real thing. We found 2 Thai restaurants in UK which were pretty good, one in Limehouse and one near us in Derby. We've eaten Thai all around the UK and many were ok but those were pretty good, and got extra points because they would do glass noodle salad. I did find good Japanese but they were away stupidly expensive. The best Japanese outside Japan is definitely in Cairns.

Glad you are feeling happy with your new place Vag Oh and I just remembered you asked for the bank stuff - I'll FB it to you but tell him not to worry if he's busy and not near a bank!

WG One thing dh used to do was cycle (no surprise there) dd's legs - she would always fart. try that too if you haven't already.

I had dd in the Bjorn today and ds walking, and the lady in the bank congratulated me on my new born I know she's not huge, but is she that small?? then she asked how old and I said 7 months, and she nearly fell off her chair and said "wow she's tiny" Might need to have a meet up and bring her to measure against another!!

I knew I'd forgotten something important, lovely Beans and your dear MIL. Lots of white light, I will be strongly hoping for good news.

WG you're right, I don't need to send a card, but I WANT to, so please PM your address.

Just watching the news from Japan for the first time, I've only heard radio reports so far, it is terrifying. I can't imagine how scary it must be to experience that

Zoe, btw you said Ta Ra before. Can you close with that on every post please? Love it used to watch Blind Date, just to listen to Cilla Black I'd better have another I reckon

Rubes I think some people forget how small babies are. I had a women come up to me in mothercare when DS2 was 3 weeks old to look at him in the sling. She wouldn't stop going on about how small he was, she asked how much he weighed at birth and I told her 8lb 1oz and she asked was I sure!?! Another mum ended up coming over to rescue me and said that its hard to remember how small babies are. This women still went on, but I just scurried off to get more breastpads.

beans sorry to hear about your MIL. I hope you get good news

rubes your DD looks similar to mine from pics. Though mine has been piling on the pounds of late. She's really packing away the food and not holding back on milk either, still bloody waking in the night too so not going more than 4 hrs without feeding. But I suspect she's still smallish for her age.

wg I'm not sure on the feeding thing, but I think I had similar, with the whole not sure what's wrong with them re wind or hunger and not settling. It will settle down, but I'm afraid I don't have the magic answer, I think i used to err on the side of feeding but then a) she wasn't VERY windy and b) I used to think oh bugger maybe I shouldn't have fed her, as now she has wind so maybe it was the wrong thing to do!

Horrible about Japan. My Japanese friend who lives in Canada is back visiting her family in Tokyo. She hasn't been on facebook so I hope she is ok.

rubes that gym sounds great. There is one like that near me but I am not sure I would use it enough to make it worth it.

Gah I still feel a bit hungover and v tired. Not surprising as I didn't go to bed until 1 and then DD woke me at 5 for a feed and not sure I really went back to sleep after that. I drank 3 whole pints . Such a lightweight, I think I might go to bed and read and then sleep early.

Hi folks, logging on on a rare night back home with Mr T, have missed you loads and for all of you on FB you have probably been adequately bored with my blow by blow status updates. If you're not on FB, it's probably a good thing.

A brief summary - since going back into the hospital on Sunday they've tried and failed several times to get an NJ tube into B (like a normal feeding tube, except it bypasses the stomach and goes straight into the small intestine). They found a hiatus hernia after he had a barium meal on Monday which partly explains why the reflux meds weren't working.

The surgeons aren't keen to repair it unless nothing else works as the surgery has a high failure rate and is quite a big deal so they want to give his entire digestive system a rest and give the oesophegus a chance to heal. Hence the NJ tube, which we'll be trained to use so we can do it at home.

They managed to finally get it in the right place today, but he's been really upset all day, (I don't know why but I was expecting him to be loads happier). I suspect because his poor throat is so sore from having loads of tubes stuck down him and ripped out. DP is with him tonight and tomorrow - my mum will be down tomorrow too - so I have two nights off. Am v excited as I only get a max of 2 hrs sleep a night in hospital and I'll be in again from Sunday night for the week.

T is taking it well, considering he's being shunted from pillar to post and is getting closer to my SIL as a result. He's so grown up now, tonight he wanted his new big boy duvet (like the one you have, Rubes). Hope it goes down ok as I'll be really pissed off if he wakes loads in the night when I really need to sleep!

Arti you have loads on your plate right now, small wonder you're feeling overwhelmed. I don't know you but suspect you may be a bit of a perfectionist (or perhaps am projecting massively) - I would feel the same about the work project. If you can chip away at it every day, rather than feeling the deadline looming, you might be surprised about how much you achieve. Sorry, that sounds really patronising when what I mean is I bet you'll do a marvellous job.

Rubes even if your DH does a face, but doesn't outright dismiss it, I'd go for it. Sounds wonderful. Great news on DS's eating, and general happiness. It makes such a difference when they eat!

WG hige sympathies on the sleep front, as well as the BF/wind situation. Admittendly I didn't do it for long, but with T, I remember introducing a dummy helped after a while, though you may want to avoid so early in the day.

Beans, thinking about you and Dh. WHat a difficult time. .

ZJ, I think they are worse at night with nothing to distract them, but how frustrating you're drawing the short straw. Hope it passes quickly.

Sybs, sorry to hear about the row with DH. I feel for you. I know you guys were considering counselling (as we were) a while back - or at least you were. Have you had any more thoughts on that?

Sorry would like to post more and aware I've left loads out but wanted to just say hi now as I need to call DP and get the latest from the hossie then clean up. Then fall asleep. Luckily i have wine to help.

SL at your hangover, you dirty stopout. Enjoy the reading.

Oh and JJ I liked the house a lot!

Hats off to you Spot. Posting to others with all that's on your plate. You're going to get through this, and you will deserve a medal, and after dealing with all this, you will get through anything. I like your FB updates. Don't stop them. great news on the I'm having one with you

SL - it's more of a country club / Spa / hotel / Golf type establishment. Very swish, and no doubt pricey. dh has expressed interest in joining in the past, mainly for the golf. I might have a tour which they offer for potential members and see what I think. Also have my voucher courtesy of dh to use for a 2nd look.

dh on his way, so muct get dinner finished.

Hows our Avo?

someone strangle the T-ster. Up for 2 hours in the night for no good reason. In the end I shouted from my room 'this isn't fair it's my one chance at sleep!' in a desperate and immature way. Then ignored him until morning.

Morning

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments, suggestions and even offers to send me Spanx, dongles etc. You are all so kind and reading your posts felt like real support and really cheered me.

I was meant to be going to work yesterday for a training day despite Friday being my one day home with the girls. DH had the day off and it seemed such a waste of a day when we could have got lots done. So I pulled a sickie, which I never do, but it wasn't even like I could have made and progress on my project as it was rewind plus I don't get paid for Fridays so it wasn't a real sickie (huge post event justification). Anyway we went to John Lewis and ordered shutters for the windows and a rug fir the girl's room, to IKEA where we got loads of storage stuff and many things we did not know we needed, to B&Q for shelves and bathroom accessories and to a paint shop for colour samples. So I feel we made strides towards preparing the house. We also got a booster aerial for the tv so now we have the basic five channels while we await Sky. Phew.

After all the shopping I picked DD1 up from school and had three friends with there six kids round for tea. Eight kids in total so utter chaos but so good to see friends again.

I then had a dream about my Mum last night where she was well and happy. I only ever dream of her dying so it was lovely to remember her as she really was.

Spot - it's so lovely to hear from you. Do not stop your FB updates as we want to know how you and B are doing. How long more will he be in hospital? It sounds like your DP must gave made up with his sister if she is looking after T. That is great. Did she apologise? And how are you in yourself? You are going through so much but sound so sorted and calm.

Beans - I'm very sorry to hear about your MiL? Is she in intensive care? How is she doing this morning?

SL - congratulations on managing three whole pints! I don't think I could even get away with that much.

Trace - thanks for your tips on getting my girls to play together. They are funny because they can and do play really nicely, whole imaginary games, but at others times they wind each other up so badly. When DD2 is in a trying stage (as she seems to be at the moment) it's a nightmare. Any viewings on your house yet?

WG - DD2 used to do that windy sucking. I found I had to wind her every couple of minutes to make feeding comfy for her. I also tried Infacol but can't remember if that helped.

Rubes - I think a mobile hair dresser may be the answer to looking good while v busy. I'd never thought if it before so thanks. Would your lady tavelas far as I live (I'm v near Westfield)? If so I'd love her number. I'm glad your DS is back on form. I loved your FB pics. Made me want to raise my kids in Australia. My cousin and his famine emigrated out to Perth last week. They say they love the weather & beaches but that decent food is hideously over priced and they dear they may have to live on plastic cheese and cheap bread.

LadyT - Are you still feeling energised? Is the cottage all ready now or is there still work to do? My top tip is make sure your broadband and tv work before you move!

Vegola - your new neighbourhood sounds so friendly. How's the hamster? I saw she was ill on FB but missed the outcome. Is she rather tempting bait for the cats? How are they settling in.

Zoe - sorry to hear tour DD has night illness. It's the worst kind from a parental point of view. Could you try Mediaed to cool her down while making her sleepy? Or bring her into bed with you?

Sybs - I'm sorry that you have had another row. How horrid. Do you bumble along happily together most of the time but have big explosions or is it often a bit strained? Could you try regular nights out together to talk things through? Or even a regular hobby together Luke tennis.

JB & MoM - I hope you and your babies are thriving. Any news on a discharge date JB? And is the Tongue tie sorted MoM?

Where are Kiwi & Dieds?????

X

Hello ladies just popping on to say hello. Have had a rather busy day and feeling a bit bushed but off out soon to a friends for dinner. DH is already there now watching our FA cup game while I put the boys to bed. Both boys have molars coming through, can you believe that! DS1 is coping but diet is limited, but DS2 is def not coping very angry. I've gone the pulsatilla for immediate relief and quelling of anger, and the call neurofen combo to for the long term pain relief, fingers crossed I get a night out without being called back. Tonight we are going to get the babysitter to try to resettle him herself if he wakes, fingers crossed.

Arti, amazingly the Emily the rat/ hamster lives. We have had her for 15 months now well over the usual year. She was making strange noises the other day but she is still with us. The cats showed a little interest but do far no attacks. She looked a little stressed though.

Right Jordi is asleep time to get ready babysitter here in 5.

Apparently B in worse pain than ever. Vag can you think of any reason why the insertion of an NJ tube would cause greater discomfort than an NG?

Sorry, just seen you're on a night out. Have a good time, hope you don't get a callback .

Spot poor B and poor you. I don't have a clue about feeding tubes, but I do want to give both you and B a big hug. T is such a star dealing with it all, you must be so proud of him (apart from the middle of the night, that is)

Vag your community sounds really lovely. I think that is what I love most about my village, knowing I can go for a walk and can and will stop and chat to everyone I see and I could knock on any number of doors and get a cuppa and biscuit. Hope those teethy boys have settled and you're having fun

I think you did a good thing in skiving Arti, you sound much more chilled today. I am v of the shutters, I'd love some in our house

Ta ra Rubes, ta ra everyone

Woke up at 6am this morning to DS coming up to our bed covered in vom and then vomming some more, all over me. He's been pretty poorly all day, couldn't keep anything down and very clingy. We were supposed to have around 20 people over for lunch today, so had to cancel and now have to figure out what to do with mountains of food.

Right, more fun stuff, books. LadyT - I think Treslove may be the trouble with the Finkler q. I suspect that HJ is essentially interested in exploring the Jewish characters and Treslove is basically only there as a mirror on the others - but that is a big problem when its a major character in the book. Having said that I kind of recognise the type - there are these odd hangers on with a strange push/pull fascination with Jews. So odd though he is, he is actually a recognisable if unattractive caricature. I agree, Libor is affecting and the London scene setting familar and spot on. I have to say, when it comes to the Gaza politics, I close my ears these days. I have long since lost my capacity to engage with it - fruitless and depressing.

MoM - I just finished Freedom and loved it. Very satisfying in every way.

Sorry not to do more proper personals, am struggling to keep up at the mo

Bizarre, lost the first half of my post:

Spot poor all of you. Hope you get a chance of rest tonight.

Beans - thinking of your MIL - hope its all better than you fear.

Arti - glad life sounds better after your day on Friday - it can all be overwhelming and moving house is a pretty big last straw.

Pretty knackered here. Work busy and DH spending a lot of time up north. No real news on MIL but she has had various rounds of tests and DH has needed to be there to help get her around, look after FIL etc. More again next week.