The 9th Broadly Gemini Bus - the one with first birthdays!

[Lorelei353]

Ooh Inge to start a new thread. So if the last one was the one where they don't sleep, then they'll start to sleep now, yes?

I go back to work next Weds Kitty. DS started properly today. Full day today, tomorrow and Friday. I've just done a lovely yoga class and am using the next few days to have lunches, get hair cut etc. miss DS though.

pear definitely want to hear all TTC details! I'm beginning to accept that I will do it all again but not yet!

Hahha sorry Kitty

Can we talk Christmas yet?

Anyone doing a tree?

I went for a kitchen in the end. Lucky bpear!

When they take suspicious tissue out of someone's bladder after they've previously had bladder cancer & their mother died of it it's kinda hard not to assume the worst! It's the most likely answer. She's still in hosp because she's not stopped bleeding from the cystoscopy & they won't let her out until she's shown considerable improvement. She's got Parkinsons too & I'm not convinced she's strong enough to fight it again. We've all got to die sometime though. She's 81 so she's already lived longer than lots of people! Maybe it's her time. It sucks but it's got to happen eventually!

On a more positive note, DPIL had suggested we go there for Christmas which we've never done before. They're not big on the festivities - no decs except cards they're sent! They visited today hence why it took 2 hours to get Runt down & I'm now teetering between meltdown & migraine & after talking about it they decided they couldn't guarantee a family get together because another relative is really anti-Christmas but were more likely to be able to organise something at New Year so we're going to my parents' instead! I do feel bad that we never see DPIL on the day but I'd hate missing out on seeing the DC all excited with their cousins! No babies on DH's side except some of his cousin's DC who live in other countries!

Someone get pregnant. I wanna hear all the gory details! Of the pregnancy, not the conception! DH is still really set on not having more. He was putting away some of Runt's baby things yesterday & I pointed out that there was no point keeping little things if he didn't want more, in a maybe he secretly does want more given that he hadn't thought to throw them away sort of way. He said he was happy to throw them. I'll wear him down eventually!

Pear we probably won't have a tree but my parents will! Don't trust either DS around a tree. Any decorations we have will probably need to be hand painted onto the ceiling... Even then they'll probably still manage to throw things & damage it! Based on recent observations, I'm predicting Calf will be the world's shortest basketball player & Runt... Ummm... Maybe shot put?!

I'm really naive to think wooden decorations on a tree will be OK I was thinking it might be a lot of No's at first but then maybe he will get used to it? I can hardly EVER leave bpear alone for a second anyway.

Just spent the last hour whispering "sleepy time" in the monitor. Seems to have kept him calm and although I can't sleep through it at least I am warm in my duvet

Oh yeah That's definitely not just a "being cautious" scenario. It's hard no matter how old they are. 81 is a lovely long life though. I just hope that she heals from the procedure so she can have quality of life from here on out. I'm so sorry agnu. Too much on your plate right now, my lovely. Also good news on the Christmas organizing. I can't believe we are already making plans for this.

It's so tempting to just whip the coil out and just abandon the whole nursing school thing and just get the baby making part of my life over with. Who knows when the right time will be as a nurse, you know? Maybe I'm not doing this in the right order. I keep thinking about how this could possibly pan out and I'm so conflicted... now (well, you know what I mean) or in a few years? DH really wants me to apply (and subsequently get in) and all I can think about is how crazy life will get again as a full time Uni student. Oh the choices...

I think we will be digging the old fake tree out at the end of the month. Oh yes, in other winter-related news; We are expecting our first blizzard predicted to be starting tonight and going through Tuesday afternoon. They are projecting 14 inches of snow. I went to the shops tonight to pick up items for a lasagna for dinner and the store looked like people were preparing for a zombie apocalypse! Massive queues. Just mayhem. I would seriously laugh if we got all of 2 inches.

Agnu you've so much going on. So sorry to hear it all. Thinking of you. Good news on your Christmas plans though.

pear we're thinking of getting our normal, real tree too but just keeping any valuable or breakable decorations off it this year. Might be a mad idea but hoping DS will learn not to go near it too?

Bring Snow! Your season starts here

We took DS to the Lord Mayor's fireworks on Sat. It was raining a bit when we got there but not too bad and DS was well wrapped up in full snowsuit up on DH's back. We had big ear protectors on him but after a few minutes it was clear he wasn't keen and started to get a bit distressed so we left and jumped back on the tube. Glad we did! By the time we went our three stops home and came out it was raining like the end of the world. We ran home but got soaked. DS was grand except for a little wet face but we dried him off and gave him some warm milk with little cocoa on it anyway Both he and I have massive colds and coughs now but I think that was coming anyway.

Hmm, I'd go with the experienced nanny. I would hate to feel responsible for making sure that your dd makes it home on time, plus the babysitter getting home and having to coordinate all of that. I'm such a Nervous Nelly that I would be pooping myself worrying about my kid making it home in a taxi. I get nervous about putting DS1 on the school bus

I agree with bring, Frus. For me it's the difference between leaving my DC with my mum/sister. Would be happy to let my sister watch them for an hour or 2 while I just popped to the shops, I'd be really reluctant to leave them with her for a whole day. Not because I don't think she'd cope, just because she doesn't have that same level of experience & if something did go wrong I could see her calling me to ask what to do - Mum would deal with the situation & either call me to get me home or just tell me when I got back depending on the seriousness. Babysitting is a different kettle of fish to being a nanny. I've done both, prior to having children, & nannying definitely required more than babysitting for a couple of hours... Especially when you're looking after a 9yo for the weekend who lets herself out of the house without telling you & you realise a few minutes later that she's not in the house! I'm just glad I had DH then DF with me. I genuinely have no idea what I'd have done without that second person to go after her while I stayed with the younger 2. The situation called for a lot more experience than I had at the time!
I can't actually think of a single non-parent person I'd happily leave my DC with for any length of time, especially not if they were planning on leaving the house. We nearly lost Calf on Sunday when he slipped out of children's church at the end. DH turned up to collect him & no-one knew where he was or how long he'd been gone for! He turned up at the back of the main room munching on a biscuit but, had it not been for the lure of the biscuits, he could quite easily have gone out of a door that's often left open to watch the older boys play football. From there it would've been easy for him to wander over to the road. Really wouldn't put it past him. From this experience alone, I'm not sure I'll ever really trust anyone other than my closest mum-friends to look after him! It's more that I don't trust him to behave in the way they might anticipate. You really do need to be 10 steps ahead with him & expect him to be Houdini all the time!

Sorry, I'm waffling... trying to avoid going to get the boys down from their quiet time because multiple children they've been playing with recently have just started coming out in pox-spots & I'm scared I'll go up to find spotty children! Obviously, avoiding them they're happily playing is going to make them not have pox! I've sent DH a long list of natural remedy supplies to pick up on his way home. As long as they don't break out before he gets home at about 8 I'll be fine. I need my arsenal in place before I'm prepared to deal with it. Control freak! I'm planning oat baths with chamomile, lavender & tea-tree oils & some fresh ginger, coconut oil & lavender to help the healing once they've scabbed, bicarb-water to dab on them to dry them out, witch hazel to stop the itching, vinegar baths I forgot what they're for already, vit. D supplements & carrot & coriander soup to boost their immune systems... have I forgotten anything?! I think if they actually stay still long enough for me to do all these things to them then they'll probably need medical attention! They're not going to get ill now...

I feel itchy.

bring I'm picturing all your neighbours tripping over cans of spam & wondering what on earth they're supposed to do with all the bread they bought!

Frus ~ who are we to judge? Are you going somewhere nice for dinner? Hope so! It's none of my business but I believe everyone is entitled to fight for their marriage if that's what they want. Oh and I would say nanny too!

Can I just say...I've nearly got a 18month old!!! Eeek

In that case, Frus, make him pay for the nanny! The only s are because we care about you & don't want him messing you around again. If you think there's a chance he's capable of being a good husband now then go for it. Completely your decision & we're all here to support you no matter what. Do we get to be pretend bridesmaids if you get back together & have a vow renewal? My parents survived after an affair so it's possible! Have you picked out an outfit? What do you have planned in London? That's a bit of a trek for a date!

We're 28 days off having an 18mo. I'm counting down the days because once he's 18m I can officially leave him in children's church alone to escape & eat biscuits with his brother! I get to actually have my Sunday mornings back! I'm on the team for the next 2 weeks so he'll be coming into that group with me so I can get him used to it so hopefully he'll be happy being left as soon as he's old enough!

DH was working away again today. That's a 5 hour round trip but he's avoiding having to go there more than 1 day a week now. He also goes to another office one day a week but he catches the train so he a) can't be late home and b) doesn't get quite so exhausted. He's still not home but I'm hoping he'll be back in about half an hour. He must've left by about 6.30 this morning. That's another reason I'm counting down until Runt's 18m - this project should be over by then & I can go back to getting annoyed at him for getting home at this time despite being just a few miles away!

I hope you have a great date Frus I hope he thoroughly wines and dines you . I don't have my judgy pants on today so I'm happy for you. If this is what you want to do, go for it! You'll have to fill us in on the details.

YIKES Agnu! I had nearly a mini-panic attack just reading the fact that your eldest just wandered out and no one was paying attention. Heads would seriously be rolling if that happened. JEESH! Did you complain to anyone? How are things going with being on your own for longer stretches now?

I'd have shouted so much we'd have had to find another church had I been there! DH was overly concerned about 'making a scene' so didn't say much. I have since emailed & spoken to one of the people who oversee the whole of children's church & a stern email has been sent reminding everyone of their responsibilities! I was careful to point out that it could've been worse for the church from a legal standpoint if it were a guest's child who'd disappeared. I almost feel like it's worse that it was a child they're supposed to know, like they should know what he's like. Then again, they do only see him for a total of 2 hours every 2 months so there's not a huge amount of time for them to know him really. I'm trying not to get too het up about it. Mistakes were made, he's fine & they're tightening up their procedures. It'll be interesting to speak to the team I'm on with next week. I did overhear someone talking about it who didn't know which child had escaped so I'll sit on that info & just see what's said next week. There really will be an issue if they even hint that it was our/his fault!

Oh man. STILL! A child going unaccounted for.... no matter whose it is. Your DH sounds so sensible. I think me and mine would both be chewing someone's head off for that.

I must be on hormone over-drive over here or something. I've just suddenly developed a crazy crush on James Hetfield from Metallica while watching them on TV. He got really hot! (His 17 year old self- yeah, not so much). Swoon!

Scary stuff Agnu Can't believe no-one saw him wander off. DS would do the same. I frequently run around the flat trying to figure out where he's gone, but I know he can't get out - although we've had to start locking the front door as he's so very close to being able to pull down the door handle and open it. Wouldn't get far unless he managed to call the lift but still...

Frus hope date goes well. I really do. We do worry that you'll get messed around a bit but as long as you go into it all with your eyes open and your heart protected it's all good. We'll be here anyway. What are you up to in London? Need any info?

bring James Hetfield? Really? Even when I was really into Metallica I didn't fancy him! I'm languishing in my Sean Bean phase

pear 18 months! Eeek indeed We have a month to go but still can't believe it. He's such a grown-up. We went for lunch locally on Saturday and DH sat down with DS while I ordered the food. A 3/4 year old kid at the next table said 'oh it's baby 'DS name here''. He just knows people out and about. Has this whole life outside us at nursery.

Oh and in other lovely news, my cousin's baby (born at 25 weeks in Australia if you remember) turned 1 the other day. Amazing. Such a healthy, vibrant, gorgeous little guy. Seriously amazing. Modern medicine is an amazing thing.

Fab news about your cousin's baby! So glad everything's going well for him now!

I'm a bit scared of Calf being friends with children I don't know. His pre-school has an open door policy for parents though so I can stay with him any time so I can get to know the other children!