Dec 08 Mums - Happy New Thread, You Beauties!

[beans37]

Come join me....

Gosh Beans! I hope you are Ok with it either way :)

Evening dear girls! Am just on my phone with cold fingers - been out in Oxford cos a Belgian friend's over and she hasn't had the pox so couldn't cone to the house. To be honest, I'm glad of the change of scene and solo jaunt. Two on the trot - last night I was in London for the party of a paper I write for sometimes. Full of D list celebs. T list, even.

Tentative huzzahs from me, Beans! When will you test again?
Withdrawal method conceived my DD2...

Hons, you need to PM JJ. I haven't done it myself yet. Glad your cold is clearing, sounds like a shocker!

How are you feeling Rubes? It's been a real bad one for you...Are you managing ok with the folks having left?

DB - am so glad DH climbed down a bit. Do you think someone was bending his ear at work re: asking you to work more? Do you still have any thoughts of doing your PGCE? I know it's dear but it would fit in with school hols.

DD2 is swathed in the pox and we all had a bad night last night. Am hoping today or tomorrow is the peak.

Nolda - it's early doors, your new area may yet boast more enticing delights than Londpiss

Ooh, feel a bit travel sick. Better end.

Give me strength. DS2 wants to know why he has a brain in his tinkle.

Marking my place on new thread. So sorry been away so long, pox has totally floored us. But am back. Promise. Can't read back much, but am thinking of your high hormone levels, Beans .

Haha hilarious Kayz, well they are controlled by them.

Feeling a bit headachey here so have decided after my rousing bit of sorting of the house this week I'm going to take it easy this morning. Also a friend said something I really liked "don't glorify being 'busy'" I loved it. She didn't say it to me directly but as a saying. I feel as a sahm that I have to justify my time off and show that I am doing something. But actually everyone else gets time off and don't feel they have to justify what they do with it. I know there are loads of people out there who think that sahm with kids in school do nothing all day, but they forget that when they get home from work or on weekends they do the same (except for working mums, they never get time off). So I'm going to do the things that need doing but I'm not going to feel that I have to justify my time.

Rubes I'm sorry about your eye. If the ointment was opened within 3 month it's fine. If longer it just won't be as effective. Occasionally there is the risk of infection from opened ointments but really there is the same risk from open mascara applicators so it's worth giving it a go. You could always pop to the chemist and get something. They have some over the counter stuff that can help, but don't let it get out of hand. If it's not improving within the next day or so get to the GP.

Lady hope you had a nice night with your friend.

Can I give all contact lens wearers a tip, if you didn't already know? My optician told me this and I'd never heard it before. Apparently if you get swimming pool water in your eyes when you have your lenses in, you can go blind!!! Seriously. Worth having daily disposables, just for swimming. Which I now do! Terrifying.

Anyway, I like that saying too, Vag - must say, I feel no guilt about putting my feet up if I get the chance during the week. I work harder at weekends than anyone else and every afternoon when the kids are home!

Just been told by DD2's playgroup head that there's a strong possibility she won't get into the nursery at the school that DD1 is at because they only take 22 kids and they'll go for littles from the village first!!! Oh buggery bollocks. I hope that doesn't happen. She also said that if she doesn't get in, they take 30 at reception and she'll almost definitely get in because DD1 will be there (I hope!!!). But they're happy to keep her at playgroup for an extra year if she doesn't get into the nursery. Still, am a bit worried as she'll be really behind on her letters and numbers as the teaching at playgroup isn't a patch on nursery and she's so bright, I'm desperate for her to get going. Eeek. Bridge to be crossed when I come to it, mustn't get knickers in a twist.

Still pregnant today.... Will re-test at the weekend, I think. Just to make sure!

Beans at the boys school siblings get priority. Hopefully they do something similar there.

Just lost a post on the bloody computer. I will summarise

Vag don't feel guilty. I do the same. We have established how hard we all work and absolutely need a guilt free break.
Ran the tour past dh. He got so excited and was saying " yeah excellent" closely followed by a big sigh then the realisation that he won't have time to train given he will be doing a lot of 6 day weeks for several months this year due to the house situ which has again taken another twist!
My eye looks and feels a lot better but the drops have def been open longer than 3 months. Might get some new ones today. I am suppose to be taking dd swimming but do you think I should give it a miss this week? I really need to get better and meant to be working at the weekend but I have no idea if the pool is a bad idea if not? Leaning towards not going just incase.

Lady how us dd2?
Whilst looking through cupboards for medication for myself I remembered i had an unopened bottle of paediatric benedryl allergy which helps the itch and also sleep. I can post it to you if you think she's not at the worst yet? Prob should have remembered that earlier though.

Good luck beans - hope it sticks if that's what you want x

Wouldn't worry about the school thing if its just Pre school. At least she'll get into reception. How far us the school from your house? Is it a better one than your local then?

Could you wear goggles Rubes? Poor DHthat's a shame.

Beans I wouldn't worry too much, you could always do some stuff at home but they pick it up pretty quickly. They will be aware that she has come straight from playgroup not nursery so will just give her a little extra time. I didn't actually go to any school until I was 5, so started straight into the Australian equivalent of reception and I'm fine. It would be better if she got in of course but if not it's nice to know there is something for her. She will get there eventually.

Morning All

Beans ? does the nursery not have sibling priority if it attached to the school? My DD2 got into DD1?s school nursery because she was a sibling which meant she had priority over those that lived closer.

Spot ? Sorry to hear the pox have been bad. And Lady sorry to hear that DD2 has had it bad too. Is there anyone left on the thread who has yet to be hit by the pox? I am really going to make sure I vaccinate DC3.

Deids ? I did not have time to properly comment about your DH?s shocking comments about you needing to work more. Like others I was aghast. I know it has all moved on now but what I would say is that I work 41 hours a week and am at home with the kids the rest of the time and throughout the long holidays. I have to say I find my life a lot easier when I am at work. For your DH to say being a SAHM is lazy or the easy option is just so wrong. I find being a SAHM very tiring and utterly relentless. There are magical moments of course but I have nothing but admiration for those who can do it and do it with patience, energy and commitment. I would love you to make your DH do everything for a whole week and then talk to him about whose days are easier.

Jolly ? sorry that you have been ill for so long but good to hear that you are on the mend. And Rubes I am sorry to hear about your eye too. Although I laughed at your comment that there is no above-the-waist disease you are yet to get: mastitis, oral herpes, nits... there is so much to look forward to!

Veg - I can?t believe you have two children in full time school! What a milestone. Is there any part of you that feels sad or nostalgic or is it just a lovely? Of course you must enjoy your time of, you deserve to enjoy some ?me? time before the studying starts.

JJ I am going to try and message you about holidays today. What month are we aiming for? I have been wracking my brains for cheap places to stay. I could offer my PiL?s place in Pembrokeshire, we could have it for free and there are 5 bedrooms plus two sofa beds BUT it is so far away from EVERYONE and the travel would not be cheap.

I am having holiday dilemmas. I have a real wanderlust at the moment. I loved the travels I took part in this year they reminded me how important travel is to me. I went to: France, Germany, Kosovo (those were all work), Greece, USA, Wales and Devon (those were all family holidays). I really want one last family adventure before the baby comes. February half term is the only possibility because by Easter I will be too pregnant to travel. We have very little money but I have found some cheap flights to Marrakech or the Egyptian Sinai (Dahab which is a little more off the beaten track than Sharm El Sheikh). Both those destinations would feel like a real adventure but I worry that at 27 weeks pregnant they might be unwise. First I don?t want to get an upset stomach and secondly, and more importantly, my placental scans have shown I am at high risk of pre-eclampsia again and although it did not hit until 36 weeks with DD1 I suppose there is a chance it could come earlier and do I really want to be in Northern Africa if it does? Would you guys consider those destinations while up-duffed? And if not where can we go? I have no interest in being utterly freezing so Northern Europe is out. Big package holiday destinations like the Canaries do not entice me. I suppose southern Spain might be nice, I have always wanted to see Granada, and it should be 20ish degrees, but crazily it is more expensive to get there than Egypt or Morocco. Any ideas?

And am I crazy to agree to go to Latitude festival with a 9 week old? We have gone every year with a big group of friends and we all have a brilliant time. I don?t want to miss out this year but it is very crowded and very loud and its camping and could be wet and muddy... Tickets sell fast so I have to make my decision ASAP.

Thanks guys, has made me feel better. Am also going to talk to the head about it to see what she thinks the options are.

DH is going to do LEJOG this summer. That's cycling Land's End to John O'Groats. I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's 2 weeks of his holiday time doing cycling and hoping we'll come and watch him at some point. If this foetus sticks, I'll be 7 months pregnant and 2 weeks on my own with the girls. Will probably go to North Wales for 2 weeks too, which will be nice. Hmmm. It's more the training than the actual thing, if you know what I mean! We'll hardly see him again. But actually, I've got really used to it and almost find it easier on my own. It's just bath and bedtime that get a bit wearing!

Arti,
I meant to say ENT condition! Having said that, I've had (I think) Mastitis, isn't oral herpes a cold sore? - had those, and have also had nits!
We've been pox free here - also considering the vaccination, although I need to not much about and it's prob better to get the pox and ride it out. Might ring today.
Re travel, I think it really depends on individual circumstances etc and how you feel and how pregnancy treats you. You may remember I went to Spain (quite rural) with DH and ds when I was 34 weeks when DH did that Quebrantahuesos Pyrenees Sportive. We went over on the 24 hour Brittany Ferry and drove to Sabiñánigo. I was horribly seasick on the ferry, and had to drive dh to the race start at 4am then fight my way back to the hotel through about 10000 cyclists, but all was ok. That said, I was traveling with a doc I spose. He was all for it, although couldn't get on the ferry without me as I had it massively discounted through work

Oh Beans, why does he pick these times to do these things? Although - see above - dh trained all through my pregnancy with dd, but it was all on him commute to and from work really as he was doing 45 mile round trip each day and then the odd 5-6 hour ride at the weekend. I also didn't have 2 other kids though - just the one thankfully!
I saw an article about the contacts in the paper!

Vag, I don't have goggles so might give it a miss. I'm guessing the other people won't want the possible contamination for them or their kids if it looks a bit gammy?

Give it a miss Rubes, if it looks gammy they prob wouldn't let you in.

I'll be honest Arti, I've travelled to loads of countries in Asia middle east and north Africa but the only two countries I every got dodgy belly were Morocco & Egypt. Having said that I loved Morocco. As long as you don't eat at the markets I think you would be fine. Have you considered Sardinia or Corsica?

Beans if your hubby does this trip I think you could definitely justify a little solo beany holiday sometime.

Thanks Vagazzle. An gonna give it a miss. It doesn't look too bad until I'm due eye drops then it starts getting red and glazy - no gunk or anything but I'd rather not risk infecting the others just incase - despite the fact 24 hour of treatment kills the bacteria. She can miss one plus I'm not 100% feeling anyway.
Have got a beef casserole in the slow cooker. I need to use it more as I'm fed up of trying to cook when it's witching hour.
Right gotta get ds to Pre school

Arti just a quick one as I meant to be playing with DS2. I went to Marrakech when pregnant with DS1. I was just under 6mths. The food there is amazing! No probs at all on that score. But if your girls are fussy not much option apart from chips for them. If you are looking for heat the weather is a little hit and miss in Feb.That is when we went and it was lovely and sunny during the day and mostly warm not shorts weather but the nights were very cold. We love it there, it is where DS1 was conceived.

Being shouted at must dash.

Oh and sort of fashion advice needed here about South Africa wedding in March. Ta.

Article I didn't read your post properly. Sorry why would you care about my trip to Spain lol. I thought you were saying much further along.
Can you speak to the doc about chances of an issue at 27 weeks? Dunno I'd probably be a little cautious given its a little bit in the history.
Jam Interested about your Marrakech post. My bro just want and said bloody brilliant but not the place to take kids. Might be due to food. Can't remember.
If you aren't bothered going a little further Dubai is hot and kid friendly!
Vag I have some new drops now

Pmsl I meant Arti!! Not article lol

Beans, I am a lens wearer but I wear daily disposables all the time - so are you saying these are ok for swimming in?? Or not? Can't see a blessed thing without 'em and specs are impractical for swimming. Look, it's a tad inconsiderate/selfish of your DH to use up all that holiday time on himself. I am all for people realising ambitions - in fact I sympathise with the need to do so, but blimey, it's a big ask isn't it? I think you are taking it v well! If it was me, I would bugger off somewhere sunny for the fortnight with the girls, your Mum, and the sister you get on with.

Rubes, that is such a kind offer about sending me the stuff - x - but I am hoping that either today or yesterday will have been the peak. She is just not herself - superduper clingy and tetchy. I hope the new drops see the eye infection off. I hope you are still managing to wear mascara

Arti - Wanderlust is basically verging on a disease with me. It's a condition I live with on a daily basis. I have an small atlas by my bed which DH bought me and I gaze at it every single night. 10 trips last year, albeit almost frighteningly cheap ones, in our most cashstrapped year ever...Now listen - I would normally say yep, go to Dahab at 27 weeks. But your history gives me pause...And a tummy upset, however mild, is practically a certainty in Egypt. Granada is amazing but there have to be cheaper ways of getting there than you have looked at (eg Ryanair flight to Malaga and then drive...) but I would be astonished if it was that warm in Feb - I went in April and it wasn't all that sunny! I know what you mean about the Canaries BUT don't write them all off because actually there are still parts of (eg) Tenerife which are charming and interesting (in the North of the island)...and I think that's your best chance of nearish sun if you don't go to Egypt. Or what about Madeira? Different vibe. I love playing the travel agent so I am going to come up with some options for you if I can find a bit of time tonight. What's the weather like in Crete in Feb? It's just about the hottest Greek island.

Bumholes, another unproductive day today. I've got to interview an actor (by email) about Sicily and yet again I have failed to finish writing my questions. Off to Mum's tomorrow night until Tues.

How's DD2 finding it, Vag?

I meant DS2, of course. I am such a dork.

Oh yeah Rubes, what is the latest twist on the house?

Schools etc are such a worry Beans, I know. I think our pre-school is considered pretty good but DD1 wouldn't be writing words or trying to read if I hadn't taught/encouraged her. Then again, it's not a pre-school's remit I suppose and I am grateful it's a nice environment and she likes going and has made friends. But I should make a bit more effort with both girls as they are such little sponges at this age and I haven't done anything with DD1 for yonks.

Arti My pre-eclampsia kicked in at 28 weeks and I had almost daily monitoring and two stays in hospital before dd was born at 33 weeks. I'd be tempted to give more exotic locations a miss as you have history plus your recent scans.

I'm naturally cautious though!

I think you are probably right Hons. I didn't have any pre-eclampsia with DD2 and I never had a bad placental Doppler scan with her either. But this time my Doppler scans she placental artery pressure that's already off the scale. They don't seen clear whether this means there will be problems or if it's just an indicator. Do you know.

Lady, I'm sad to hear Granada might be cold. I'm not looking for real heat but I'd like to wander around outside a lot and have the occasional coffees outside cafes. We once went to Lisbon in Feb and it was perfect. Lisbons a possibility actually. We went to Crete this April and it was lovely and warm but not hot but even in April we were told we were lucky to get that weather. Any other ideas? I migh investigate Rome, I love Rome, but DD2's coeliac disease makes gluten crazy Italy challenging! Do you know whether Cyprus very package holiday filled or has it got hood exploring opportunities? Where was your favourite trip last year?

Actually, I think it may have been freakishly cool that April in Granada as we were expecting mid 20s. But February will be a pot luck month, in most of Southern Europe. As I have said before, I am nuts about Spain - NUTS - and flying into Malaga and then driving to Granada/Seville/Cordoba is my idea of heaven (Cordoba is a brilliant place but maybe less interesting for the girls?)...I am certain you could find a cheap place to stay. What sort of accommodation are you looking for? Or do you just want an easy hol where you find a place and stay there? Again, you could luck out in Cyprus for weather in Feb. Rome I don't think will be at all warm and it will be very hectic. DH and I once went to Malta and stayed in the capital, Valletta, which was charming. (Lots of not so nice packagey areas in other parts of the island though). Favourite trip last year...tough one. Need to think about it!

DH and I had our first holiday together in Seville and Cordoba. We loved them both but never made it to Granada. I havevery fond memories of DH telling me he loved me for the first time just outside that huge mosque-turned-church in Cordoba. I hadn't thought of Malta, I'll go and google that, would the hospitals be better than North Africa though???

DD is in her cot!! She slept in there all night last night and woke twice to be fed. I put her to bed with the boys about 7ish. I've just fed her and she went straight back in.

Long may it last.