December 08 ers still going strong.

[Vagolajahooli]

Hello ladies, can you believe we will be entering into a 6th year of this thread this year?

Jam, how're your nips?

Not great but can't get an app with the GP

Wahooo!! I have a new oven!! Still need my step dad to come and install it but at least it is here.

could you see the nurse? sure they can help too.

sybs, how is work going? you still v stressed?

and Rubes, you ok?

and Lady, how are you feeling?

Sorry, have been awol. I'm very well, had a repeat scan today, all seems good. I'm about 10wks. Have my Harmony test re: chromosomal abnormalities on Fri, results in a fortnight which is when I will have my nuchal scan. However, still sick, and still mainlining carbs which help me combat the draining nausea so I feel like a total blimp...Took me so long to get the weight off after the girls and whoompf, am now stacking it rrrright back on. Yes, I know that's very shallow

Sorry about the potential diagnosis, Kayz. Some good advice on here - I am so wary of these diagnoses, they seem so keen to label kids nowadays and half the time it isn't warranted...I suppose so much depends on how good the SENCO team is. Because whether he's got it or he hasn't, what you all need is a proper plan and proper support. How worrying for you. Think you are right to want DH there. Two heads are better than one and you have twice the chance of remembering what's been said.

Jam, are they any better? Sounds awful. I would deffo put yoghurt on even though it's a bit inconvenient! Google any natural remedy you can whilst you wait to see the GP although think it's a bit off they haven't come up with an appt!

Rubes, you've had such a stressful start to the year. Things can only get better. It's a pisser about the house but I am such a fatalist...there's another house meant for you somewhere else. Am sorry you've got to move again. Grrr. How's your brother holding up?

Invis, I would love to see you in Brum. Actually I will be at Mum's on 8th April so small chance I could pop in then...if not then, another time.

ZJ, I was very interested in the Tesco chat your DD had at school. It's such a shame they weren't told more about British produce as you say. I think a lot of kids are woefully ignorant about the 'journey' of the food we eat (mind you, a lot of adults are). Must've been galling for your DH.

MIL is coming tomorrow. Short notice visit. Fackin hell, could do without it just now. I realise that's a bit churlish.

Vag, there's an Aussie lady in my village (married to an Englishman) and she has lived here for ages, kids born here etc but they are going to live in Sydney so the girls can do senior school at posh place where they've had their names down since they were babies. It'll be a big change. Are your boys excited at the move?

Beans, DP leaves the loo seat up sometimes even though (or possibly because) I tell him it's discourteous

Am whacked, I have to sleeeeeep.

Poor little DD2 has a bladder infection. doesn't seem too bothered by it but we're off to the nurse anyway as she's weeing all the time.

lady, how old is your DD2 now? when is her birthday? I think the age gap between your DD2 and DC3 will be similar to DD2 and 3 for me. are you going to find out the sex? when are you due!? too exciting.

if anyone's looking for a good read, try Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty. v good.

x

Hello hello! Honestly I'm on bloody holiday and yet completely fail to stay up to date with you all.

Arti dh rather liked gravity. Perhaps it was because of the underwear . Or maybe just enjoying being able to go to the cinema on his lunch break with some work mates. Last think I saw at the cinema was Walking with the fecking Dinosaurs. Before that was Toy Story 3 .

ZJ holiday in Cornwall sounds lovely. Very .

All of you seem to have had some amazing holidays. If we are going to drive all the way South we end up going to France so we can see family. Otherwise we stay quite local. Which is lovely. But I do want to see more of the UK!

Vag how is uni going? The bike looks super! Are you going to be taking it back to Aus with you?

Jam keep nagging the GP, can you get a GP to ring you back if you beg the receptionist? Ours sometimes do that, thye might prescribe over the phone. Remember both you and baby need treating. Not really anything else you can do I'm afraid. TBH if you can't get anything with GP today then I'd be taking myself down to OOH tonight else poor ds3 is going to end up sore too.

Kayz glad you are enjoying driving, that is half the battle. How are you feeling about the SENCO involvement at school? I guess it is good that they are involved and that you will have support if needed. I don't really have experience but my gut says to beware of labels at such a young age. Individualised support, yes. Absolutely. But a label to carry all through your school career? Not so much. But then these days you can't access the support without the label. Hurrah for new oven though! Ours only half works the bloody thing.

LadyT gald the pregnancy is looking good so far. Still can't believe you are upduffed again! So exciting! Don't worry about the weight, do what you need to to get through these early weeks and when the sickness calms down try to stick to a nice balanced diet and you won't put too much on.

Beans hope you get dd2 sorted. Nasty things bladder infections.

So I have regained control of my house. Sort of. Children still exist so any cleaning and tidying I do is quickly undone. How is it that I remove anything that shouldn't be in a room from it, turn around and there are piles of things and stuff all over again? Has been lovely being off though. We have walked too and from school, I've been teaching ds1 to ride his bike with no stabilisers. Not quite there yet though, he is like his father and not very coordinated or balanced. Dh on a bike is rather comical . I've been putting my peer supporter hat back on and doing baby cafe which has been lovely, lovely, lovely. Toddler group, getting out and about with ds2, meeting a friend and her squishy newborn. Has been great. Few days left then back to uni Monday. Quite looking forward to it though.

Dd has been causing a bit of concern. She started wetting herself at school again. Then it turned out an older girl was "being mean" and "telling lies about me". Dd had been coming home with no hair bobbles and it turns out this girl had been pulling them out of her hair and running off with them and generally pushing her about and interrupting her games. I don't blame school for not noticing really, it is a small school and children of different ages do mix a lot, it is normal for older girls to take and interest in the smaller ones. Plus dd loses things on a regular basis and her hair is mad and always coming loose, her teach frequently redoes it at school. Anyway it all came out eventually and school have dealt with it straight away and dd seemed much happier but then this morning she was refusing to go in and trying to claim she had a tummy ache. The teacher on duty takes dd for phonics and reading and noticed she wasn't right straight away so I had a quick word and she is going to keep an eye today. Hope my girl is ok. I always thought ds1 would be the one to struggle socially at school but I guess dd is pretty different. Ok very different. Really completely insane and not at all like the other girls. Her best boy buddy she has known since they were toddlers is in the year above (August birthday, only 4 months between him and dd, seems crazy they are a school year apart). I hate seeing my amazing, quirky, interesting, imaginative, curious, dinosaur mad girl feeling sad.

In other news dh had the snip on Friday! Yippee!

Anyone else get night sweats? I've had them on and off since ds1 was born really. Mostly cycle linked but at the moment they are all the bloody time. I've just put the summer duvet back on rather than the winter one as I was literally dripping every night and it is a little better. Fed up of waking up soaking with the sheets and duvet around me also soaking. Must send winter duvet to be cleaned. Should probably invest in a good waterproof mattress cover too, any suggestions for one that won't make the sweating worse?

Oh Indith, I bloody hate bullies, even small ones. I hope your DD gets back on an even keel soon, these things are such a dagger in the heart. Parent and child! I am glad you are on top of the house a bit more - ditto (a little). A good byproduct of a MIL visit - I force DH to help me get the house into a better state. He's off a lot this week so no excuses! Enjoy your rest, not that it's much of a rest! I have night sweats before my period occasionally.

Beans - delivery date will be very early Oct I think. DD2 will turn 4 on 29 Sept! Oooh, battery going.

PS - prob will find out the sex. Too nosey not to and no self control. Also the girls will want to know.

I notice I promoted DP to DH but he is still a DP. Ho ho.

Jam, how are the boobs?

4 year gap, how lovely, the girls will be such proud big sisters and dote on the baby I bet.

tired already. ds2 is always an early riser. 5am today. Still, can't complain too much as he slept relatively well. He fell asleep coming home from the CM. I couldn't wake him at all. woke at 6.15 pm, ate some spaghetti, had milk and went right back to sleep!

Good morning!

How are the boobs Jam? I have never had thrush but I have heard it can be agony. I hope you are doing OK.

Sorry to hear about the diagnosis Kayz. As others have said don’t get too hung up on labels and focus on the positives that this is a way to access extra resources to support your DS. If he gets a statement that will mean he can get into any school you want if you move.

Lady, so pleased that your went scan went well. I cannot wait to hear what you are having. Will you do a Beans and have a third girl or follow me into the strange new world of boys. I will put a bet on the latter. Do people keep asking whether you want a boy? Everyone seemed to assume that was why I had gone for a third (nothing could have been further from the truth).

Indith, I’m glad you are enjoying your hols. How is your DD today? Do you think the school issues all focus around this one older girl? Its so sad when you feel your children are getting hurt. I really hope she rallies soon.

I get to meet ZJ tomorrow! If anyone is around Zone 1 at 11ish then join us!

All OK here although I am struggling to enjoy my new job. Its just not as interesting as my old job and although I know it is good for my career and I am finding it rather dry and uninspiring. I feel like I am turning up to work just to pay the mortgage and I have never felt like that before.

Oh and in other news our au pair has offered to take DS for 24 hours so DH and I can go to a friend’s 40th in Suffolk. We had been planning to leave the girls with friends and take DS but last night she said she would like to do something nice for us and asked if we would enjoy the party more without DS. Of course we would and its so lovely of her but I am a teeny bit nervous as (a) I have never left him with anyone (b) I still do two BFs in 24 hours and (c) she has never had him for more than an hour or two at a time and she has changed one nappy and that made her nearly cry. She is great with him though and i think she really loves him. Maybe we should just go for it.

Arti go for it! Sorry you are feeling glum about work. I know DH often takes on roles just to fill in the time before an interesting ones turns up.

Lady am so excited for you dont worry about the weight it will come off again.

Indith I absolutely hate bullies. Girls are so much meaner to each other than boys.

So my boob saga continues. I eventually saw a GP yesterday who was useless I got more information from google and the lady I spoke to at the breastfeeding advice line. The GP said just rub some canesten on them and no need to treat DS3 . So what I have been doing is putting on the canesten and I also have daktarin oral gel. Which is not meant to be used on babies under 6 mths because of the consistency of it. But I have been removing the cream the Dr prescribed before feeding and rubbing the oral gel on it so DS3 gets some. I have also found feeding lying down is helping as DS3 is really fussing at my boob but seems more settled feeding in a prone position. My poor nipples are all bruised where he has been pulling at them also as a consequence of this I keep getting engorged. So not enjoying feeding this time round. If I wasn't so lazy I would totally put him on formula.

Right have to dash. Seem to have no time to post these days. Big hello and love to you all.

jam that is terrible! Can you get a copy of the bfn thrush leaflet and take it in to the gp? They have a section on them for doctors. Why on earth have they not given you the drops for ds3? The mind boggles.

arti shame work is not great. Hope things pick up. When is the party? Can you leave him with her for a good long afternoon or get her to do bedtime a couple of times before you go to see of you think she will be ok? such s lovely thing for her to offer. I I'm sure she will be fine, she sounds like she is able to step up to the plate when she has to.

I don't know about dd. seems like the older girl thing is sorted, she bounced back and was so chilled and happy for a couple of days after that was brought up with the teachers. But she claims her tummy hurts every day, she tries to get me to take her temp, I have to drag her to school and shove her through the door. But she just gives me a load of random twaddle if I try to find out what is wrong. Maybe she is just shattered. We had a snuggle last night and I gave her the chance to air all her worries. main concern is that boys are smelly and that protoceratops is extinct so she can't have one to keep as a pet and ride. She then proceeded to talk for half am hour about dinosaurs.

Today is going to be a long day. ds2 has had 3 breakfasts all before the school run and demanded snack the instant we got home. He has had 2 helpings of snack and is now screaming and tantruming because I asked him not to bite my leg. Apparently getting up at 5am makes toddlers tired not just mummy. How much tv is too much? Have had am octonauts special plus 2 regular episodes so far today.

Jam, that sounds shit. I'm so sorry. Are you feeling any better?

Indith, I'm glad your DD seems to be ok. Just keep an eye in things.

I'm very concerned about DD2. She is enormously distressed about wetting her pants. S much so, I've taken her to the nurse and there's jo infection. She goes to the loo about every 3 minutes and its really disrupting her school time and play. If she can't go immediately she wants to, she starts weeping and there is hardly anything coming out. I've been in tears on her nursery teacher this morning, which is embarrassing. I just don't know what on earth to do. Any suggestions welcome!

I am zooming towards London and an hour away from meeting Arti, v excited to finally meet another Dec08er . So excited that when DH asked me what I was doing down here today I completely forgot to mention my 4 hour meeting this afternoon and he questioned how work had approved a MN meet up ...

I am half way through a catch up post, so will finish that's off and return with it. See you all later

Oh beans your poor dd2 . Have you looked at Eric.org.uk? Very good site for toilet issues and children. Was my Bible when ds1 had trouble. Could be irritable/overtactive bladder? All info on there anyway including pages for the children themselves so they can be involved in their own care and taking action themselves.

thanks so much for rhat Indith. will take a look xx

There is a lorry unloading in front of my house. excellent toddler entertainment. Hoe long van I string this one out for?

I spent a lovely hour with Arti today, thank you for the chat, cuppa and tour - it was all so so nice. I have the dates of my next London trips in my diary at work, so will check when they are as it would be great to continue the chat and include anyone else if poss.

Is the thrush subsiding Jam? I only had it with DD1, so my memory is hazy, but I'm sure I got a little plunger type thingamajig (like those for inserting thrush cream into your fanjo) to give DD her medicine, plus cream for my nips and something to smear on my nips pre feed. I was v lucky, I rang a BF counsellor on the Sunday and she told me what medication I needed, so I rang the HV on Monday morning and because they knew each other she accepted the BFC's diagnosis and prescribed it all immediately without seeing me. Makes me realise that I was very lucky there

How was the scan Lady? Fingers crossed the Harmony test goes well for you. Arti and I were talking about your baby, wondering if it'll be the last thread baby. There certainly won't be another little Indith

Kayz have you managed to change the senco meeting to include DH?

I have no idea what to suggest about DD2 Beans, I hope that website is useful

DH back from India tomorrow night. Any ideas what to do for the day tomorrow with the girls? Think the weather is going to be a bit pants. Ho hum.

Stick a dvd on and count down the hours?

Or were you after more proactive parenting solutions?

Don't know. I've promised to take the dcs book shopping tomorrow. We'll probably go put a few more bricks on the lego cathedral too. (because that's an oh so helpful suggestion for you). Dh is working overnight and they are re-surfacing the long stay carpark tomorrow so he had to put his car on the street and they only let you pay up to a maximum of hours so I need to go top it up before midday. Trip to town it is!

PJ day or if you need to get out are there any little museums you could take them locally? I used to love the random little local galleries and museums we had near us in Derby, always enthusiastic staff happy to explain random stuff to the kids.

speaking of museums we had a teacher training day today, so took the boys to Amsterdam to a whopping big science museum called NEMO. They loved it, DS1 is in love with electricity and DS2 knows how to build a bridge.

Jam, are your nipples any better? Seems such a strange question to ask

ZJ, I cancelled the appointment and they will contact me to sort out another one. XH is being less than helpful as he thinks it is all rubbish.

DS1 was 7 on Thursday and DH came home yesterday so life is all good. DS2 was crying when he came out of school yesterday when he saw DH had come to pick them up.

Hope everyone is well!