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

[Beans33]

Here we are x

Hi All

So sorry for the silence from me. Just been a bit wrapped up in myself for a while - and back and forward to Essex for DH to visit his Mum. She has come out of the worst of it and is really perky - almost too perky and a bit manic! BUT the great news is, she's coming out of hospital today - WOW! I really wasn't sure she was going to make it, so this is a great turn around. It's wonderful news, I'm almost weepy about it! Had prepared for the worst!

Dad is ok. His operation is looming, which I think he is terrified about. But I think he's ready to get on with it and is getting a bit impatient. In the meantime, he is doing a few weekends away involving either golf with the boys or walking - cramming it all in in anticipation!!! He's also cancelled our big family holiday to Greece in June, as he's worried that something might go wrong. I totally think it's fair enough, but am, of course, a bit disappointed, as was looking forward to it! But instead, we're off to Cornwall for a few days, which will be lovely. And hopefully, all being well, Greece next year.

Meantime, my Mum has been having trouble with constipation and terrible tummy cramps. She went for tests and I think it's probably psychosomatic, but they've found something lurking there, which she's had to have further tests for and we find out on Friday! Plus Dad is having a full body scan that day to find out if the cancer has spread as well. So it's going to be a busy day on Friday!!! Am off to see a friend in Winchester, which is good, so I don't have to think about it all the time!

How is everyone doing here? Trace, that is so sad abot your friend. V sad. And I hope the call went well with your manager too. I'm afraid I don't know about your boob - might be worth going to see a doctor? Vag - can you spread any light??! We do lean on you a lot on here, don't we??!

I never said, Rubes and Lady - welcome back! It's lovely to have you on here.

Deids - are you ok today? Poor you - nothing worse than feeling low.

Spot - how are you getting on? How is little B? And T?

Arti - so glad the Spanx have made an appearance. I don't wear mine at all any more, just find I get a roll of flab above or below them!!! It's vile.

I am gagging to buy myself and the girls some summer clothes, but I just don't know where I'm going to find the money from. It's a bit depressing. But they definitely need a couple of t-shirts and pairs of shorts. Not much, but something, I think. I could do with a few t-shirts as the ones I have are all going through - does anyone else find that they get little holes on their tummies on t-shirts? I think it's where I lean on things! I've had my lovely brightly coloured, timeless, Gap t-shirts for about 7 years and I finally think it's time to refresh them!!! And I want a black swimming costume to cover up my grotesque body. I now have droopy tits like pitta breads. It's almost worth having another baby, just for the Pamela effect the milk has! Postpone the inevitable droops for a bit longer!!!

PS We need a new thread before too long!

And meant to thank you all for your lovely thoughts and white light for MIL - it clearly worked, you heroes!

xxxx

Beans: what great news. Hope Friday goes great too.
Arti:I don't think ours has classes like you describe, & is quite expensive, but very nice, however I think we might weigh up the £'s worth. Don't think we will at this stage.

Deids: hope you are feeling better.

Zoe: thanks for the Ta ra

Lady: ta, yes I'm in really good spirits since the trip. Great decision going & taking the dcs. DS has been brilliant. Probably just getting older, but he's eating loads (since being ill)& talking more & generally really cooperative. I learnt so much about how to manage him by taking him away. I feel like I could take them anywhere now that I've dragged them around the world and endured meltdowns in random airports! We are thinking of going back to dh's family in California over Summer for a longer stay, and we have the Ibiza trip (wedding ) coming up. Must get in better shape. I'm already breaking the rules being the very wrong side of 25 to visit that Island aren't I?

Hello everyone,

This'll be a very quick me me me post, but just wanted to let you know that J came home from Neo Natal yesterday . She started to pick up breastfeeding very slowly but after over a week of hit and miss feeds, she was often too tired to have a proper go, they took her tube out and I spent two days and nights with her so I could breastfeed for every feed and finally here we are .

I'm expecting a home visit from one of the community nurses from the unit but will be back later on.

Hello everyone, life been getting in the way of posting so I think I shall have to make a radical decision. Clearly MNing should take priority, so something else will have to go. So, should I

a) Stop working and go bankrupt
b) Sell DD on eBay
c) Sell DH on eBay

Your votes, please.

Anyway a few messages:

JB Brilliant news! How lovely to be home.

Spot Hope you are hanging on in there, stupid consultants notwithstanding... Honestly that comment you put on FB made me SO angry

JJ How's the house moving/buying? We're about to do the same thing. Eek! Have hired storage unit this weekend to offload some of our huge amount of clutter/books/ stuff to.

Beans Great news about your mum. Hope your Dad's scan goes well - I always think of House (do you watch it?) when full body scans get mentioned though!

Anyway over in KiwiTowers all is well, apart from a rather grumpy DD (final teething, possibly?? Only a few to go now) We're putting our house on the market soon so are going into spring cleaning/decluttering mode. I shall be spending Friday putting things in boxes. What fun. Err is there anything else exciting I have to say? No. So, bet you missed me then

JB what lovely news.

Beans glad to hear MIL is on the mend.

Arti hurrah for the reappearance of spanx!

Rubes, my self and the DC have memb to a golf and country house near us. We use it for theor swimming lessons v good ration 2 teachers to 3 children so great for that. I use it for classes and swimming it also has a really decent cafe and a creche which I dont use as the boys have never been happy going there. Although it is a bit spenny I think its worth it. Also glad to hear your DS is on the up.

WG MOM JJ how are you all getting on?

SPOT how is B now?

VAg love your drunk chat.

Trace I hope the phone call went ok.

LAdy it is lovely seeing all the daffs out. I often think that living out in the country with all the farm land around means you get a much better perspective on the changing seasons.

DIEDS sorry you are feeling down. Just think soon the sun will be shining lots and the awful grey weather will be gone. Always makes me feel a bit lighter whent he weather turns.

INVIS how is DS?

Urbs hows work going still bonkers?

Bit boring round here at the mo. I keep getting all excited about Spring then mother nature throws us a curve ball grey and drizzly today.

Boys are being spectacularily lovely at the mo.

Looks like we are going to do Florida again this Summer DH found a great deal on a villa so a couple of days at Disney hell then lots and lots of beach. Must must do more exercise for bikini wearing.

Must go and put the shopping away. dullsville.

Hi Jam, gosh ds would love Disney Hell we were thinking of stopping at Hong Kong Disney for a couple of days, but it's nowhere near the size of Orlando. It's probably more your ds1 who gets the enjoyment out of those places right? Would my ds be a bit young? I could stop on the way to CA. By the way if you want to do that meet up now, let me know and I'll drive over some time, since all the kiddies are being so pleasant!

Great news Jolly

Kiwi, if you did a bundle with option B&C,then option A would work without going bankrupt

Rubes tbh they both really enjoy it. A loves the rides and is terrified of the characters and L loves all the characters but is terrified of the rides. When I say rides I mean tea cups not quite ready for the rapids, they are only 3 & 2.

Oh and Thursdays are always a good day for us as we dont have any organised activities.

quick update - we lost the house to a cash buyer, were willing to offer more but they wanted a quick sale. Since going on the market on Friday we've had 3 viewings and another two in the pipeline - at least it means we keep the house tidy :) But... we don't want to sell if there's not a house to go to, so may take it off the market again if nobody makes an offer. We've not spent anything on this yet, done a few bits to the house that needed finishing, and impressed oiurselves with how neat we can make it! so a shame, but no great loss.

JJ At least that means you can just keep it on the market until you get the price you really want? Am now going to be asking you endless property questions you know...

Rubs I like the way you think... however, though I think DD is small, cute and would therefore get a good price on eBay, DH is big and messy so I'm not sure that he would fetch more than a fiver. How much should I charge for postage for a 6'2" man, do you think?

Pick up only Kiwi

Bugger JJ, but at least you are positive about it all.

Jam, maybe I'll see if dh wants to break up the next trip to San Diego and go via Disney My ds is so shy though - he was scared of bubbles until just recently! God knows what he'd do if he saw a very large Mickey Mouse What was a real eye opener, (and a little sad for me - Vag you would understand) he was a bit scared / fascinated by sand as although he has a sand pit here, it was the first time he'd walked properly on, or had seen a beach he was also terrified of the ceiling fans at my brothers house in the non-airconditioned parts of the house, which was quite funny, but you forget that he has just never seen them, wheras kids in Australia (Qld) grow up with them. My brothers kids get WAY over excited by snow though, so you win some you lose some

Such lovely news Jolly, well done you and little J. She's still about a month ahead of her due date, isn't she? That is amazing

Beans such good news about your MIL, fingers crossed it comes in threes and Friday is a good day for your parents

Agreed on the seasons Jam, I used to be shocked when I came home from uni each term as it was a surprise to see things growing

DD also found the sandpit at the playground strange the first time, but was quite happy to run around and roll around on the beach

Thanks for doing my survey, 10 year old Invis

And Kiwi my vote is option a, agreed postage on DH is too much

Someone remind me when the phase where they're screaming from 5 pm, then finally asleep while you eat dinner, then feeding every two hours overnight ends?

The lovely DS2 is definitely making his presence more felt the last few days. Much harder to settle to sleep. Why do I breed children who fight sleep tooth and nail?? I love sleep!

Spot - thinking of you and hoping you keep posting updates on Facebook.

Beans - great news about mil. Hope your dad enjoys pre-op time and that things are okay with your mum.

Kiwi - good to see you again!

Zj - I could have sworn I had a message from you on Facebook but when I went to reply I couldn't find it?

Jj - too bad about the house. Hope an alternative comes up soon.

Lady - finally had a chance to look at your Egypt pics. Stunning!

Jolly - welcome home your dd2! How amazing!

We are doing fine here but only because I am able to focus on Ds2 while my parents and Dh sort out Ds1. I really don't see how it is going to work once I'm on my own after next week. I won't be able to put effort into getting ds2 asleep and he will then be awake for hours and very screamy. Will take strength from the fact that many of you have survived having two and are surviving much tougher things besides.

Better run. Trying to feed ds2 like a Xmas goose in hopes of more sleep. Futile. Sorry for bad typing.

Mom: you are doing a grand job there. Will DS2 sleep in the buggy or sling? And do you have some good toddler groups to go to? I loved toddler groups when DS2 was tiny, DS1 could run around and amuse himself while I cuddled the baby.

Jolly: hooray for getting home! Your DD is doing brilliantly. Posted your parcel yesterday, but I didn't have your RL name so it is addressed to The Jolly Family (with apologies to the sorting office).

Zoe: will do the survey. I love York, it was one of the bits of The Other Place we were allowed to visit without grumpy comments from my Dad (who is from Lancashire).

Trace: how did the call go?

Beans: sending you lots of White light for Friday. Great news about your MIL.

Jj: boo to forward cash buyers. But maybe something even better will come up.

Arti: glad the spanx turned up.

Sybs: am thinking of you, soldiering on under the burden of the demon work.

Kiwi: eBay value of DH would depend on any added extras: can he cook? How is he at making coffee? Does he do the thing where he leaves his stuff everywhere them moans when he can't find it?

Deids: hope you're feeling more cheerful.

Lady: any news on the moving date? I love daffs too, they're my favourite flowers.

Rubes: your DS sounds adorable. Mine has hone from a quiet though grumpy toddler to a manic, shrieking, bolting mad child. We met up with my parents and grandpa earlier in the week and the boys were dashing about in opposite directions All Day. Mum and Dad watch with benign expressions while I shriek 'Grab him! He's heading for the road!' All very wearing. And meal times are a strain - we were in a cafe yesterday and I was beset from all sides. It was like the scene in one of the Arthur Ransome books when they are on a desert island surrounded by small but determined crabs goggling and rushing in to pinch any food or drink lying about. They hoovered up their snack, started on my cake, slurped their babyccinos then attacked my coffee with spoons.

mom this too shall pass, poor you. I still remember your first post 'hi, I'm Mom and I'm obsessed with sleep' and here you are again. I think my fb message was just a cheery hello when I asked to be your buddy. Now is there anyone else on fb I haven't tracked down yet? I'm coming to get you!

Effie daffs are my favourite too (iPhone just changed daffs to d'affaires - WTF, I didn't know it spoke French!), well daffs and honeysuckle for it's beautiful scent in summer. I had daffs everywhere at our wedding ( it was our anniversary last week) but as it was a little bit early for the full show my poor Mum had pots of bulbs filling her house for weeks beforehand to trick them into thinking it was warm enough to flower early!

Mom, we'll get through it... you have my greatest sympathy! at least this time we know the end is there somewhere, rather than first time round when you think "dear lord will I ever sleep/eat my dinner with two hands/have my boobs to myself again?"

So, house. We have 5 people coming to view on Saturday which is one the one hand great, on the other a pain as we have to keep the place tidy til then! Given that I've been watching Rightmove for a couple of years and a house of the kind we want and can afford (more to the point...) comes up so rarely, I'm thinking of popping a note through peoples' doors - would you reply to this? Would be targeted at the streets we like, and then also to houses where google earth shows they've got a kitchen extension or loft conversion [super-sleuth]

Dear resident,

Thinking of moving house? We've been living in [area] for seven years and absolutely love it here, but the arrival of our second child means we've outgrown our current home. If you're thinking of moving in the next six months or so, we'd love to take a look at your house and see if it would be what we're looking for. Could you send an email to wanttostayin[area]@gmail if this is something you might be interested in?

The agents are full of enthusiasm that we'd find somewhere, but it's difficult - there are two kinds of houses here, victorian terraces (usually 2/3 beds unless they've done the loft, smallish gardens) or 1930s ex-council houses (bigger, more space, DH refuses point blank to live in one ) so we're a bit stuck really! TO think we were pondering Glasgow, and are now looking in a teeny tiny area only...

morning ladies.
zj you have an amazing memory - fancy remembering MOM's first post! I am utterly useless at remembering things. I seem to be worst with my FIL, who tells me the ins and outs of everything happening at his work and I can follow it for about 3 seconds, then switch off, then look stupid when he refers to it later and I have no idea what he's talking about
jolly how fantastic to have dd2 home. I remember when we first brought L home, we had been warned that she would forget her lovely 4 hourly feeding routine which they had so wonderfully trained her in in SCU, and feed and feed and feed - which she did! I wonder if dd2 will do the same for you. I think it's so different for them - they're used to the lights and beeps and general activity through day and night, then suddenly they're in a quiet home, being expected to know what it's all about! Also I found it hard knowing if her temp was ok, having had it measured to the point-somethingth of a degree, then an extra blanket being added accordingly, to suddenly having to guess. We have photos of her sitting in her baby bouncer in the lounge dressed in about 4 cardigans and a hat! How is L finding the new family member? Are you well and getting enough rest? And are all your organs behaving as they should?
JJ sorry you lost the house. I can't believe how quickly thinngs move in your area!
I'm reading a book called The Mother-in-Law (chosen by my usual method - what has the word 'funny' in the reviews and can be spotted in the library in 2 minutes with children clinging and dragging me away) - and it made me think of WG. How is it going WG - did you manage to put her off coming?
Thanks for asking about the call from my boss. I ended up going into work to chat it through and have a cuppa with my colleagues. It was quite strange but nice to see them and get the 'first meeting' out of the way. As for the 'chat' with my boss...well she's written a very detailed and lengthy referral to occ health but I feel it reflects how I was a few weeks ago, rather than how I am now. But I just need to wait for an appointment from occ health and see how it goes.
I was there for about an hour, and have been exhausted ever since.
Anyway I'm waffling!

Haha trace about the MIL book. Is it any good? I hope wg is doing ok if she is visiting.

I haven't been on I don't think to say what great news about you going back to work. I hope you can get all this stuff sorted with your boss, etc. You do sound loads better

jolly that is brilliant that you are home! Such lovely news

mom for us it was about 6 weeks with the stopping screaming all evening. And then it started again at 4 months. And stopped ish at 6 months, but still occasionally happens. Actually I lie, it's not the same now, she just doesn't settle but if you get her now she's happy as larry downstairs. The days of evening screaming where nothing would calm her, not even feeding are gone for now - I rememeber she would do it like clockwork between 5 and 6 while I was trying to make tea for DS. One memorable time DH decided we were all going out for a curry to an expensive curry house. We took it in turns to take screamy mc screamy outside and didn't get to eat any of our expensive curry together, but just sit inside trying to stop DS throwing it around. Not been repeated since! Anyway I hope it gets better for you soon, it is exhausting.

jj sorry about the house. Is there any way you could persaude your DH to take a look at a few 1930s houses, I think some of them look very nice. Some are minging though! Are you definitely set on [insert area beginning with R and ending in Y here]? What about up near Milton Road Primary or down towards Blinco Grove or around Queen Ediths? We also looked there when we were looking, and then ended up moving out altogether. anyway I think the note is a great idea. I would sign it with your actual name though even if you are giving that special e-mail address, just so that people don't think you are an agent touting.
zj I have done your survey, I did it as my DH as one option jumped out at me (railway museum) as his total favourite and I couldn't decide for me!

Kiwi option a) who needs money when you have us?

rubes v heartened by your trip, will be after tips nearer to my Canada trip. Should be a doddle then?!? I am getting very excited as we are planning what to do when we are out there.

beans I will have my fingers very crossed for Friday and I hope your MIL is doing well. I think having a boob job would be cheaper and less painful than having another baby - haha! Not suggesting seriously though, I am sure your boobs are lovely

Oh, also I did do some shopping on the weekend on my own like I said I would. I got loads of new clothes, hurrah. Got some high waisted flares from gap which I have since found out are trendy! And a lovely jacket from monsoon. On a whim I also booked to go to MAC and have my make up done which I did earlier in the week with just DD. It took them an hour and a half though! As if I can spend an hour and half doing my make up, not even for a wedding! It was fun though and DD was v well behaved considering, I would not have risked it if I knew it would take an hour and a half. then I spent a fortune on stuff from there. Only time will tell if I can be assed to put it on (today am going swimming so won't)

Oh also I liked this dress - didn't buy it as the only size 10 had a mark on it, what do you think? I thought it looked v nice on and nice for weddings as well as potentially for a smart outfit for work, but it is dry clean only, which puts me off and the price too. I thought it had sold out but then I found it in asos as above and am tempted again. DH likes the look of it but I think he fancies the model!

Summer: I like that dress a lot, though I'm not sure it would be suitable for work (bear in mind that I work in a library!). I think it would be a great evening dress though. The colour is fab.

Summer I LOVE that dress, it's absolutely gorgeous. I'd totally wear it in the day, specially with tights in winter and a cardigan to dress it down a bit. Would a discount help? Because I get one at the site, so it would bring it down to £98.45 including delivery. Let me know, I could order it for you! (oh dear, is this shopping enabling?)

Right so I have some property/moving advice to ask for please. We had pretty much decided that we will probably move to St Albans. Many advantages - good schools, we have (some)friends there already, lovely city, we get more for our money and can afford a proper family home.

But the main issue is with DD and nurseries. She LOVES her nursery, so the idea of taking her away from it and her beloved best friend is very sad. Then complicating that is the fact that due to their insane notice periods we have to pay up to September now anyway, so god knows whether that would coincide with move. Then, St Albans nurseries are small and oversubcribed, so our odds of getting her into one seem small. So now I am having a massive wobble.

But if we stay put.. well our house is small and I swear is getting smaller by the day. The local schools are truly awful, and we cannot afford anywhere nearby that's any bigger.

So, what would you do, dear friends?!

KIWI just quickly. I love St Albans! Honestly she will cope of course she will be a bit wobbly for a bit but she will cope As will you. . Go and see a few of the St Albans nurseries then see how you feel. I am sure she will find another friend who is just as lovely. For what its worth I moved alot when I was little something in the region of every 18mths. I do not remember any of the moves or new friendships I made until I was about 6. So please dont not move becuase you are worried about DD.

Oh and by the time your house is sold and all the palava with moving you might find that its only 1 or 2 months that you are having to pay. Although I have to say that seems like a ridonculous amount of notice period.

Back to the housework, oh and SL love love love that dress. It will look amazing on your lovely petite frame.

Kiwi: my only worry with moving out of London was taking DS1 away from his lovely childminder. But we found a good nursery and childminder here and he quickly settled in. So I wouldn't put your move off for that reason alone.