Dec 08 Mums - happy new year, happy new thread and soon some happy new babies!

[sybilfaulty]

Happy new year!

Sorry for the rubbish title but wanted to get the new thread underway. Let's close the door on some of the sad events of 2011 and look forward to a better year in 2012.

Jolly how are the girls today? I hope they are both on the mend now? I wanted to add yesterday that you did the right thing by you and your girls and you mustn't feel guilty. Last week Beans felt guilty for getting paramedics out, you felt guilty for not getting J seen to sooner - yet both of you did your best. The 2 have made me realise that we mums can't do anything without thinking we could've/should've done it better - but actually following our instincts in the moment is the very best thing to do

Phew on the negative Arti, you can relax and enjoy your trip now. I'm with you on the having 'little friends', I was just saying to a friend today that I'm enjoying this maternity leave as DD is a lot of fun; she is a proper little person, has a great sense of humour and can hold a conversation with me (often quite bizarre train of thought, but a conversation none the less) and just is better company than she was at 10 months, when we last spent so much time together

Hurrah for the blood test results LadyT , such a relief for you. How is DPs foot doing? I cannot believe how much a private birth costs. Not that it isn't worth every penny of it, but heck!

Is P any better today Trace?

Is DH still away Beans? If he's around, could you bear the indignity of him getting a close look at the lump? I often get in growing pubes, which I just can't deal with myself - even without a big baby belly I'm not bendy enough! Hope the exchange all happens smoothly tomorrow

Mmm, chocolate cake Kayz!

I saw the MW yesterday, and bubs' head is 2/5 engaged - eek! I thought that didn't happen til later on with no 2, so now I'm overanalysing every twinge or symptom for labour. I'm 37 weeks tomorrow, so as long as I hang on for 2.5 more hours then it'll be full term and I'll still get to go in the midwife led unit with the nice rooms and pools. Actually I could do with hanging on til next Friday, because a) I'll have used all my lovely massage vouchers and got my hair cut and roots done and b) DH is going to be in the Netherlands until then. If you don't mind, I'll have a bit of a rant about that - every year he goes to a conference over there in January, and he's always flown there and back in the day. At the weekend I discover for some unknown reason he has taken it to go on the overnight ferry and make it a 4 day trip! He's taking his car, so if anything does happen he can't fly back as his car will be stuck over there. And he's going to be out of contact for 12+ hours each time he crosses the North Sea. I'm almost tempted to force myself to give birth to teach him a lesson!

Just popping on quickly to say phew for AAA and your dd Ladyt - was thinking of you today.

And at your dh zj that's pretty laid back

Beans we used atlas removals a couple of times - I loved them and they were pretty reasonable and incredibly careful.

Blimey ZJ. I truly believe that sometimes mens brains are in their bum. Rant away my lovely and if you do go into labour we will coach you through it with a live birthing thread. Exciting.

RUbes are you feeling any better?

Vag lovely to take a peak at your fab pictures on FB, looks like you had a wonderful time.

Beans grrr at house moves they are so frustrating. When we moved out of London I feel like I spent half my life on the phone to the solicitors trying to get everything moving. I saw that lovely picture on FB of you and your dad. I though it was gorgeous.

AAA phew, thank goodness for that. Although I do think that you could definitely be of the lets go for a third option.

Jolly how is the house of vom?

Lady that s a relief know that DDs results came back ok. How is your ribs and DPs foot. Loved the photo of you in the snow. Tres glam.

Trace hows P?

Effie nice to see you sneaking in. How is school now for DS has he settled back ok after the christmas break?

Indith i really do feel for you on the sleep front. As you know Ds2 is still a tinker at night time. Although since he is now in the big single bed he has got a lot better.

KAyz hope you are sleeping better. Have you heard from your DP. My DH spent a few months in Singapore working he loved it. He got offered perm work out there but we were pregnant with DS1 and just too scared to do such a dramatic move with a heavily preg me.

Not much happening here just the usual school/nursery/housework/dog walking.

We have abandoned night time training as he had a week of just being soaked through and not waking up. How he manages to stay asleep with dripping PJs and bed sheets I have no idea. So back in pull ups at night for now.

We are off to the motherland in half term for a few days to visit my Gran. Cant wait we have found a gorgeous little cottage right on the beach. So hoping for cold and sunny days rather than cold and grey otherwise it will be a bit dreech.

Also we are getting a new car, very excited.

DH leaves B P in a couple of weeks and is heading back into banking going to work for B a n k of A m e r i c a. Not sure banking is the right way to go but he is excited about the change so must support his decision.

Oh and urbs cant remember if I said congrats, so congrats.

Must crack on the floor wont clean itself and I have promised DS2 soft play this arvo.

ZJ Your DH is bit nuts!! I hope he is going to be here when you go to labour.

AAA I am pleased you can stop panicking now. 3 would be lovely though I hope

LadyT How is your DP doing? I'm really pleased about DDs results. Did you have a good time away?

Jam Yeah I hear from him everyday. He absolutely loved Singapore, he is adament we will be going there on holiday soon. He is on the ship now going to an oil rig in the South China Sea. It all sounds very exotic to me.

DS2 is growing up so much. Since Monday we have used the pushchair once and after Easter he will be at playschool all day on a Monday. 9:10 until 15:10 and have a packed lunch!!! My little boy isn't very little anymore!!

After putting last night that I had been suffering with no sleep, I slept all night!! Maybe all I needed was to moan about it.

Hope everyone is well!

WE HAVE EXCHANGED!!! HURRAH!

DD2 has also just scoffed a lot of my red thai prawn curry leftovers and won't keep any clothes on her bottom half. Regardless of where we are. Sainsburys car park this morning. Joy.

ZJ - why do men do these things? How very very odd. Keep your legs crossed and don't come round to our house, as you might have the baby on our bedroom floor!

Kayz - so glad you got some kip - hurrah!

Jam - exciting for DH to be moving jobs - ewll done him!

DH is back from his work at last and out tonight!!! DD1 didn't see him this morning as she slept in so late, poor lamb! And she probably won't tomorrow morning either!!

Yay for test results being negative on all fronts Arti and Ladyt!

ZJ don't worry about being engaged, doesn't really mean much as they can bob in and out a lot. Dd engaged well before ds ever did and this one has been merrily sticking his head in whenever we see the MW. Sometimes he is well down, using his head as a battering ram and my bump feels all empty up top then he changs his mind and comes back up.

Can't believe your dh though! Mine isn't allowed anywhere too far as we creep towards due date! He'd be strung up by his entrails if he had planned a trip like that!

Congratulations on the exchange Beans!

Jam I don't even have ds dry at night let alone dd! Ds is the same as yours, he can be dripping wet but fast asleep. I feel we need to try again soon as he has been dry or nearly dry in the mornings, not sure I can face it though. Urgh. Those bed wetter mats are the way forwards though, they soak all the wee up and stop it spreading around the bed.

The cottage sounds lovely.

36+2 and counting down the days. Half of me wants to give birth on Tuesday when I officially hit 37 weeks, the rest of me is panicking in case I do give birth because I need teh baby to stay put until the interview!

Worst mother of the year award goes to me. Just drove the 30 mins to soft play only to realise I had left my purse as home so had to come home again no point in going back as he will get 20 mins of play before we have to leave again to pick up DS from school

Congratulations on exchanging, Beans!

Oh no, Jam, bet that went down well!

(and still not caught up. So rubbish)

Just wanted to say Congrats! to Beans . And I bumped into Urbane and smallest Urbane in a coffee shop at lunchtime! Had to run because DH was gesticulating at me through the window (we'd met for lunch and he had a meeting to go to) but I can report that Urbane looked fabulous and M is a beautiful baby .

Jam: thanks for asking about DS1, one of the reasons I've been AWOL is that we've been dealing with school stresses and I sometimes feel like I only moan on here . I think things are settling down, but I have my eye on one little thug darling who has taken to knocking him about on occasion. I think DS1 is getting the hang of playground stuff, though. How A doing?

ZJ: that is crazy. Can he change his plans if everyone shouts at him enough?

Beans Yay for exchanging!!! How is your Dad?

Effie sorry to hear DS1 is having school troubles. I hope he's ok.

Hello everyone,

DH and I also caught the bug so tis truely been a house of vom. DD2 is still vomiting and miserable. Her temp has gone down but she has lost weight and is asleep most of the time. I rang the children's ward today for advice and they said that as long as she is keeping some fluids down then not to worry. She has been feeding lots and she kept down some ready brek made with breast milk this morning. It is horrible seeing her so miserable.

She is coughing so much. Can you have a chest infection but have no temp?

I feel a bit better today but yesterday I was so achey and sick it was vile.

AAA Glad you managed to find a chemist in the end and glad the result was what you wanted. Sounds like you might be going for three though!

urbane You are a super advert for having 3. What you said about snuggling up with a baby and an older one makes me want a bigger bed and another baby!

ladyT Hurray for DD1's results! Does she seem ok in herself? We resorted to bribery with DD1 for TT. I talked about chocolate buttons being issued for using the potty and after about a month she decided to go for it. How is DP's leg now?

beans Wonderful news on the house! I would say 100% get someone else to pack for you. Despite them not labelling boxes properly and leaving one kitchen cupboard unemptied - I'd still go for packers next time! Maybe not the same ones!!

ZJ That is exactly the kind of silly thing my DH would do! 4 day trip the same month my wife is due to give birth - yup sounds fine to me??!! Oh dear. If you do go into labour Vag can hunt him down in the Netherlands and give him a peice of our mind!

jam Oh goodness, that is not an easy one to explain to a 3 year old either. Hope you have a good time with your Gran.

effie Sorry to hear DS is having a tough time. Is it one boy causing the trouble?

kayz That is tricky re the cake. Getting one that will stay moist to be iced in advance. Any luck finding the perfect recipe? I bet you are having fun trying them out.

Early night for me I think.

Wow. That was a hideous day. I'm not really sure why, but I am totally exhausted.

DD1's best friend is very sweet, but when she's tired, like she was today, she is vile. She pinched, scratched, slapped and bit DD1 today and cried every time she was caught and tried to blame it on DD1. DD1 is NOT always an angel, but today, she was pretty good. Plus her little friend never stops showing off and boasting. I love her Mum, but sadly, she has picked up the swanking gene from her father. Ho hum. Always feel quite drained at the end of the visit. On 3rd glass of vino and feeling a bit better now. Pheweeee.

DD1 in no nappy for the first time tonight. EEEK! I have got down one of those disposable mattress protectors and a potty in her bedroom. Will lift her when I go to bed and now just keeping fingers crossed.

DD2 was a monkey today and isn't having a sleep in the day any more. I am not sure how I am going to cope. I didn't even try to put her down for a snooze today and I was exhausted after about half an hour of them fighting and not playing on their own. At least DD1 watches telly happily. Not so DD2. Bugger. Mind you, she was fast asleep at 6.30 tonight! Exhausted!

Right, me me me.

Kayz - thanks for asking. Dad is ok. He went to a couple of meetings for work this week. He is resigning from his remaining roles, but has bits and bobs to finish up. And he LOVED it! He's had a week of chemo last week, and felt so much better. He had chemo again today, which means come Sunday/Monday he'll be feeling shit again, but at least he knows there's light at the end of the tunnel on his weeks off!

Strangely, having got fairly used to the idea of his cancer and being pretty strong about it, I've been quite weepy of late. Maybe because DH has been away a lot, so I haven't had distraction in the evenings. But just a bit up and down. Ho hum. Thank goodness for DDs eh?

Right, off.

xx

Kayz, have you tried the Mary Berry Death by Chocolate? It is very nice and moist and just gets more squidgy with time rather than dry. She just ices it with chocolate but I prefer to make gooey ganche type icing. Her baking bible also has wedding/celebration cake recipes and has the measurements by layer as well as by whole cake so you can make layers one at a time and freeze if you need to.

Effie I'm so sorry you're having school issues with DS. Must say, I find it quite hard with DD1's mate who hits her, so must be far worse at school when you're not there. I worry terribly for when DD1 goes to school as she often seems to be picked on and is v wet gentle. Victim tattooed on forehead, poor lamb!

Indith, so impressed with cake knowledge!!

Indith No I haven't tried that one. I will do. I have tried the ones from my cake decorating books and none have been quite right. All seem a bit too dry.

Hurrah for exchanging Beans, fab news. Shame that the rest of your day has been such hard work. I'd be quite happy at your house, knowing that you are an experienced midwife

Mwah thank you so much for telling me that the head can bob in and out. I made the mistake of getting out my pregnancy book last night (for the first time, have made up my own rules this time!) and it said that it is extremely rare for the head to engage before labour in second and later births - I am so relieved to hear that the book is a load of twaddle!

How did DS take the lack of soft play Jam? I hope you are forgiven for your mistake? DD also sleeps happily in cold, wet, wee soaked sheets, which makes her eczema flare up, poor love. She only wets the bed once every few weeks, but I don't know how we can put a stop to it if she's so unaware. Fortunately it's not that often, as she refuses nappy/pull ups for bed because she's a "big girl, even though I'm not a tall girl"

at Effie meeting tiny baby M, did you get a quick cuddle? Sorry that poor DS1 is still finding school hard, are the school trying to help him settle and sort out the thug problem?

Oh Jolly, you poor love, getting the bug too. Wishing you a speedy recovery x

DH appears to have made some concession on the trip, as much as he ever will anyway the stubborn git. He has arranged for the people he is travelling with (customers of his) to be insured on his car and has got himself insured on theirs, so that he can fly back if needs be and use their car, and they can bring his back. I think he is very aware that he has been a fool in planning this (or not) but he never, ever will admit to being wrong about anything, nor will he do anything to rock the boat with his customers. It drives me mad that he always asks 'how high' when they say 'jump'. I know they pay our bills, but they are human (and have children) and would understand if he'd said he would have to fly and meet them there. Love the idea of sending Vaj to sort him out Jolly . I will stop ranting now, as Kayz DP will be away to much closer to our due date than mine, he just seems to have his head screwed on better!

Which got me thinking, are you thinking of a home birth again this time Kayz?

Ah I'm strugglimg to keep up, will catch up soon and hopefully post properly one day.Ah i

ZJ yeah I'm going for another home birth. I'm getting a birth pool do I can hopefully have a water birth. DP is due home the day after I'm due all being well. So fingers crossed the baby stay put and is a few days late.

The insomnia is back.

Sadly Vag I did not have time for a cuddle.

Beans: i think we were talking ages ago about the fact that if we were bullied at school we worry about our children being obvious victims. I think it's just normal power games, but DS1 doesn't know how to play them! Nor do I for that matter.

School have been great, they've taken it very seriously and have put lunchtime staff on the look out for any problems. The main issue is that if something has happened to upset DS1, he will not talk about it - either because someone at school has told him not to tell Mummy or because he thinks we'll be cross. I hope that he now realises that a) he should say something if he is upset and b) we will fight his corner of necessary.

All a bit of a saga, and one I was hoping to put off for a few years!

Zoe: that is a small compromise I suppose. I still think we need to have Vag on hand. She could pop up at the conference ninja-like, administer a quick thwack on the back of the head and disappear.

Yes, we did, Effie. I remember that chat. Bullying is just hellish and once you've been through it, I think you know the scars it leaves. Like my pathetic wish for everyone to like me. It's sad. And irritates me that I can see it in myself!

God, DD2, go to sleeeeeeep! Screeching away in her cot. YAWN.

Effie Glad school are being supportive. It is heartbreaking though. It is awful being unhappy at school.

Took J back to GP today. She woke at 8ish last night and screamed if I put her down. I slept propped up on pillows holding her between her waking and crying. No sign of infection so just hope she feels better soon. It is so unlike her she is usually so cheerful.

I hope she sleeps better tonight. I'm shattered.

Cripes I have no chance of keeping up.

Effie I'm not sure if you read it but I posted while in Australia to say thanks for the free Sherlock Holmes tip. Dh bought me a galaxy tablet thingy for my birthday and I downloaded a study in scarlet & the adventures of... . Really enjoyed them both. I got them from the Project Gutenburg site which is brilliant.

Lady I got the idea that things might be moving along with your book. I love to have it as my next book club suggestion so let the agent know he has at least 6 buyers.

Finding being back a little depressing, I miss everyone at home more now and the boys had such a great time with everyone. Also due to ds1 missing so much school he has fallen far behind the level he needs to be. They had a little test and apparently he did poorly. Also his spoken Dutch has become quite poor again. His teachers are being really good about it and are going to give him some work to do at home to bring him up to speed. I think they are little stressed about it too as it is a high achieving school and ds1's scores bring the schools averages down.

I just made a statement I never thought I would make to a child before I had kids "no, I AM NOT HOLDING YOUR WILLY!". dS2 hates having to wash his hands after he goes to the toilet. DH started a rule tat if they don't touch their Willy or wipe their bottom (ie if we wipe his bottom, not if its not wiped full stop) they don't have to wash their hands. So ds2 started getting arond this rule by either getting me to hold his Willy or worse, not using hands at all just opointing his Willy towards the toilet bowl and hoping some went in. As you can imaging this was fine while there is decent flow rate but once the stream slows down it ends up all down his legs and feet.

ZJ I will quite happily head slap you DH. kayz where your other two late, I vaguely remember ds2 being a little early. Am I wrong? Would they fly him back if you go into labour?

Sybs how is tt going, get thee a big batch of of pullups. Ds2 has started wetting overnight so we have had to put him in one at night. He refuses to wear them so we have to wait until he is asleep then sneak in and put one on him.

Oh Vag I am in stitches about the willy holding, hand washing avoidance! Love it.

Kayz pools are brilliant :)

Effie so sorry for your poor boy. Hope he talks to you about it. The school sound as though they are being really great though.

I'm feeling very proud of ds today, his teacher said some lovely things about how well he is doing in reading :)

Ds seems to have developed a (hopefully temporary) lactose intolorance after the tummy bug he had on Friday. 2 days of no dairy though and we have had no tummy cramps, wind or splatty poo so fingers crossed. Shall allow him milk on his cereals at breakfast tomorrow, stand well back and see what happens. Dd has done some lovely splatty poos this afternoon so looks like she has the original bug. Don't you just love children? All ok in love and war though, ds may have given dd his tummy bug but she has given him her cold .

Birth boxes should be delivered tomorrow. I have breast pads and maternity pads arriving with Mr Tesco Man tonight and I bought huge knickers and lansinoh today. My personal birth box (to make it rather easier for dh to find everything) is shaping up. Sheets, baby blankets, mirror, anglepoise lamp, baby clothes, incontience mats. Need to add maternity pads when they come, a dust sheet for the sofa and some towels. Probably some comfy pjs too. What have I missed? Pool has been inflated to test. New hose and liner arrived the other day.

I feel like I am making progress in being ready. Need to make sure lots of bits and bobs get done this weekend (cot bringing down, general cleaning so we are on top of things, junk that needs charity shopping/tipping actually being charity shopped/tipped rather than cluttering up the house) then I can relax knowing that I am ready for the baby and I can concentrate on the interview.