Dec 08 mums - any more for any more?

[JumpJockey]

New thread! Hope this is ok :)

Arti, that is such lovely news, and wonderful pix on FB. He is scrummy!

Kayz, what a bummer about the mortgage . Is there anyone else you could ask/they might accept as a guarantor, or are they against the whole idea in principle?

Hi Poison, what a lovely (and talented) DD you have there! Doing ok here, thanks. Had a job interview today (in Hayward's Heath), so 10 mins up the line, and if I don't get that, I have another interview in Brighton (10 mins down the line) later this month. DP also dealing with being here a bit better, he's found someone on his wavelength and went out for a beer with him last night, so it's looking up.

Pingu, that really sucks about the pox. I have to say, though, that B did much better on Calamine than virasoothe (he had very pus-y spots and it helped to dry them out) so please don't think it's a miracle cure that's out of your reach! Do you have different types of antihistamine she can take?

Can I ask some advice please? I cannot for the life of me get B to brush his teeth (or let me do it). i have tried threats, bribery, distraction, persuasion, singing. NADA. I know it's important to pick your battles, but this battle is one that matters to me. Any suggestions gratefully received!

It's the whole idea apparently. Though they told DH that if he was on a low income they would accept the guarantor. So I don't really understand why they can't do it.

Sorry about the mortgage Kayz. The banks are being really sucky at the moment. Considering they are wanting to get the building industry moving, you wanting to buy a new build it good for the economy.

Poison that would be lovely but I'm in Oz then.

Hons a trip to Australia yay. What do you want to know? Will you have a car? How long in each city?

Hi Pingu. Get yourself some priton and wait it out. You are doing those around you a big favour as adults in the US, most of whom had CP as kids, don't get their antibodies topped up by being in contact with CP so are at risk of shingles when they age.

Good luck Cat.

The boys had school photos today and where so excited to tell me they had a photo taken together. Can hardly wait to see the results.

I'm putting in the application to take the boys out of school to go to Australia. Fingers crossed.

Artibaby is delicious. He almost looked like he had a smirk on his face in the FB photo. Like he's thinking "nailed that labour thing"

Sorry about the teeth thing, the boys are (touch wood) really good with teeth brushing. I rarely have to even remind them to brush. Not sure if it would help but I started the boys off with a chewing tooth brush. It's a baby one and it got them into doing it themselves early. Maybe you could go back to something like that to get him into it. Alternatively, they sell light saber tooth brushes over here. The boys love them. They press a button and light up for about a minute & the boys have to keep brushing until the light stops. I could buy one & pop it in the post for you. Oh & I've always gotten the boys to choose their own toothbrushes when we are at the shops. Not sure if that encourages them or not. If all else fails you could take him to a dentist & get him/her to teach him about why he needs to brush.

Kayz you watching the game?

I am. Not quite as nerve wracking as it was. I hope they keep this up. I can't cheer as DD is asleep on me.

I wish I knew how to get her to stay in the cot.

Hey Arti, does he look like the girls when they were bubs? He's got a very unsquishy face for a out the fufu birth.

Yep they have scored twice since I posted that. Oh gosh I couldn't tell you how many times I made the boys cry when I yelled out when a goal was scored. Dh & always worried I was going to turn them off football as they would associate the game with having the shi-ite suddenly scared out of them.

Ramsey scored. Someone famous dies when he scores. Eeeek

Cat, do their teeth in front of telly if all else fails. We have a cup for water and another comme spittoon then they goggle at telly whilst I get in there. Well done on interviews too.

Hope you are home arti and that your bits are not too sore. He is very smooth for a vag baby. Beautiful. Loved the blanket too.

Who is this "Cat" you are talking about, Vag and Sybs? .
Thanks for the toothing advice though, I think I may use a combination of your tactics. And thanks for the light sabre toothbrush offer, Vag, I may take you up on that if all else fails!

Spot you could do out method when DS2 is being a little toad about brushing his teeth. One if us holds his hands and body then the other shoves it in a gives it a good waggle around. Parents of the yr award!

Cos you are spot, as...in....Cats...have...spots??? [Blush]

and 's properly.

Hiya pingu! Sorry I had meant to get back to you to say you didn't tell me which flight number you were on, rather only the date, then it all got too late but hope flight was ok! Sorry about the pox, and good decision sending the others home. Hope you get cleared soon.
We have something like 15 cases of pox at nursery most of which were in Pre school and my two still nothing - odd. Dh's mum never got it either so if they go get it soon I won't have any back up childcare!
Vag wow are they like schools in the UK? I'm terrified of the attendance thing here. So strict.
Spot, ds hated it at first, I used to sit on him if he wouldn't let me which he hated more, and then he decided allowing me or brushing himself was easier. DD always been fine as she watched ds and wants to do everything he does. You can get those light up minute toothbrushes in UK I've seen them in Sainsbury's.
right, must get sorted its nearly home time.

They are super strict here Rubes. If we were in the UK we would probably just call in sick as it is just the last 4 days before school breaks up for the summer. But here if we did that the council would come around to the house & check if the kids were at home. The school can't even lie for us and say we are sick as they will still check. If they had dutch passports we would also need the ok from them so we can actually take the kids through immigration. Apparently they csn stop people at the airport who are taking kids out during school time. They won't literally stop them leaving but they will report them to their local gemeente. The fine is ?75 a day. If they don't allow it we are still going to go as it is well worth the cost of the fine for the cheaper airfare. Generally though they are pretty good and as my step father is having treatment for prostate cancer I think they can't really say no.

Hi Again

We are home and had a pretty good first night. DS fed at 8.40pm, we all went to sleep at 9pm and he didn't waken again until 1.45am! I fed him, he vommed a bit then slept 'til 5am. I fed him and he just woke again now.

Here is my birth story for those that like that sort of detail (feel free to skip):

1.50pm 13/5: induction started with a pessary. At this point II was only 2cm dilated with a long, tough cervix.. I was put on a monitor and after 20 mins or so could see some regular tightenings but they felt like Braxton Hicks.

3pm: went for walk around the area. Walking made it feel like things were happening as the tightenings hurt more. It felt very public to be contracting in a busy shopping neighbourhood so we soon returned to the ward where I sat on birthing ball for hours playing cards with DH. Sitting calmed all pains down and again it felt like simple regular Braxton hicks.

6pm: examined and I was 2cm dilated still but cervix was shorter so midwife said they would break my waters. Annoyingly we needed to wait for a bed on the labour ward and nothing came free 'til nearly midnight. While we waited all tightenings and pains totally stopped which was dispiriting.

12 midnight: i was v tired and doubted it was wise to kick start a whole night of labour but nevertheless my waters were broken and I was told I was still only 2cm and the head was high. The midwife suspected I would need the syntocin drip but suggested walking about for a few hours.

12.30 - 1am: walked the deserted hospital corridors with DH. Contractions started and were immediately quite painful and 2.5 mins apart, lasting between 30 and 50 seconds.

1am: returned to our room, midwives asked if I was contracting and we told them the timings but as I was chatting away they clearly didn't think much was happenings. Contractions actually paused while I chatted to midwives.

1.10am: sitting on birthing ball the contractions suddenly became overwhelming. I had to stand-up and sway through each one and couldn't talk. Begged DH to get a midwife so I could have my epidural. Midwife came in and said she'd examine me in an hour and if I was in established labour then I could have epidural. I cried.

1.20am: I'm going crazy, I scream at DH to get midwife again and insist she gives me my epidural. He tries to calm me, I shout "You are here to fucking advocate for me, I don't want your kind words, ADVOCATE!"

1.30am: midwife tells me she will compromise and examine me in 15 minutes. I can't talk except to moan "epidural, epidural, epidural" she starts to look concerned and stays in the room.

1.40am: midwife finally examines me and says "Oh God you are 7cm and very stretchy, we better hurry if you want an epidural". I shout "that's what I've been saying all along!". She runs off to find anesthetist and second midwife.

1.50am: I am on the bed screaming for epidural, two midwives tell me there is no time, I scream "this was never the plan, I never wanted to feel pushing out a baby."

1.55am: I scream I need to push, anaesthetist arrives, takes one look at me and leaves. I've never felt a sensation like it. Midwives beg me to breath the baby out, I'm so scared of tearing I try and concentrate on slowly breathing and actually everything feels slightly more manageable now I'm pushing.

2.05am: breath head out, can't believe I have to live with it out for a few mins until I can push again, desperately try and remember its nearly all over. Midwives say to breath deeply and breath him out.

2.15am: Rest of him arrives. Immense and immediate feeling of relief is like nothing I've ever experienced. DS is put on my tummy and cries immediately. Midwives say I have only tiniest tear and that I had breathed him out in an incredibly controlled manner that is v rate given i had no pain relief whatsoever. It certainly hadn't felt controlled.

I then got that incredible feeling of amazement that a human being just arrived from inside me. I'm overwhelmed by how tiny he looks compared to his sisters. I can't actually do proper skin to skin as I'm still in a bra and tight top as I never had time to change!

The next few hours were a weird mixture of overwhelming joy to meet DS and total shock. I think my body went into shock as I was shaking uncontrollably and felt sick and dizzy. Adrenalin got me through the first few hours but when I was moved to the postnatal ward at 5am I tried to sleep but everytime I drifted off I would jolt awake thinking i was still in labour and totally panicked that another unbearable contraction was coming. I felt so awful that I burst into tears on DH and begged him not to go home to tell the girls at breakfast as planned. Thankfully I felt better by 8am and DH bought Carluccios almond croissants and coffee and we had a celebratory breakfast.

That's a fascinating birth story Arti, thanks for sharing it (especially for those of us who have never experienced similar). What I don't understand though is why the midwife who came in after 1am said she'd examine you in an hour instead of getting the anaesthetist for the epidural. I can't help thinking there's a mode of thought amongst midwives (one reads about and sees it a lot, on the wider board and on progs like OBEM) that they would just rather people did it without drugs - whether that's contrary to the mother's wishes or not. And I have to say it makes me furious. I realise you got to experience a drug free labour - are you glad it worked out that way or would you still rather have had the epidural? Anyway, I am so glad you both came out the other end (as it were), he looks absolutely beautiful!

Can't do catch up now as Stepmother is coming to stay in an hour. She is a retired midwife and we do not agree on even a single issue to do with childbirth

Arti I am so glad you shared that with us. Think it very much depends on the midwife. With DS1 was desperate for epidural after 24hrs of back labour finally got one then they wouldn't top it up as the wanted me to feel the contractions for pushing. With DS2 they blue lighted me from the MLU to hospital to give me my epidural only to find it was too late. So one set of midwives who wouldn't let me have one for ages and another who were happy to let me have one. I truly believes it depends on the midwife you get on the day.

But lovely to hear you are both home and settled. How delighted are the girls with their brother?

bloody well done arti.

Well done Arti!! What do the girls make of their baby brother?

What a lovely story, Arti and well done you. I had echoes of that with both my births, ie got to 7cm v quickly with DD1 and they actually offered me an epidural, but by that stage I just wanted to get it done, so I chose not to have one. And with DD2 when I was in hospital they said they'd let me labour for an hour, then examine me (I was also v chatty - transition anyone???!) and I had DD2 within half an hour of that conversation. Although to be fair, she was a trainee midwife as they had no qualified ones available!!!

You are wonderwoman, well done you. xxx

PS Any name yet?

Beautiful story Arti, and well done you. Is anyone else reading 'ADVOCATE' in a Ross-from-friends-shouting-PIVOT-voice? I wish I could meet him for a snuggle, newborns are the best

Arti beautiful birth story, brought a tear to my eye! Although I'm hormonal and stressed about DS and pre school/nursery. But that's for another day

Huge congrats again, any name yet?

ZJ, that has made me laugh a lot. Friends is, I think, enormously underrated, as has been shown too much. But it was very very funny. At times. And I know cheesy, but I was/am still a fan.

Just done a 2 hour softplay session. Was lovely. I read my book for an hour, then a friend came and joined us with her son for an hour, so we had a gossip. She is lovely and makes me feel very settled and pleased I live here.

DB, what's the story? I hope you're ok?

I must go and clear up some dog shit from the garden. Such fun.