MAY 07 Post natal - This time a year ago it was all just beginning, look at us now...........................

[Mrsjaffabiffa]

Morning........

Cam im so glad the party went well and im sure the sheep on acid looked like a rather fine Zebra. Do we get pics???

I have all the lovely children back, Hugs has (predictably) not let me out of his sight. I knew he would be clingy It is sooooo fantastic to have him home though, i am never letting him go alone again. His numpty dad can ram it!

I had to drive to collect them in the driving nasty rain. Worse than that i couldnt move my neck, a friend down the road asked us if we would like her Piano as she couldnt fit it in the front room with her sparkly new couch. We said yes please and had to move it to our house. People are not joking when they say "It's as heavy as a piano" I managed to pull every muscle in my neck, dh had to check all roundabouts and slip roads for me as i couldnt turn my neck at all! Is just starting to ease now.

SOH bad news on AF returning, i manage to avoid it for varying degrees of time post baby and bf. It depends on the night time feeds normally, once they have dropped it usually comes back. The only guaranteed length of time in a cycle is the Luteal phase, after you have ovulated it is exactly 14 days before af arrives. The bit before is the 'could be any number of days'. Most likely it was the drop in hormrones you felt before the womb starts shedding and the shrinking of the ovaries after the egg has pootled off on it's little wafty trip down the fallopian tubes.

Mum2G if you are stuck im quite happy to have G till you can find a childminder. Im not registered which means you cant claim tax credits for his childcare but for a stop gap im quite willing to help. I would offer to have him for you all the time but after Xmas i am having litle Clara and im not sure i could handle 3 babies the same age, a 2 year old and 4 at school It's the pushchair situation and car seats that prevent me, i mean a triple buggy and a new car would be in order to cope!!!

I have just dragged B and Hugs round Asda, B screaming all the way only to have my card declined at the checkout Turns out dh's mess bill cheque has gone out Now i have to wait till tomorrow and do it all again! Men....

LG&T, the thing is I know through experience of talking to people on here that the luteal phase isn't fixed. Luteal phase defect(luteal phase of fewer than 10 days) means you cannot conceive as any fertilised egg will be shed before it has time to implant. Many MNers suffer from this although it is thankfully treatable with Clomid for lots of women. Also, having taken a year to conceive and charting to keep an eye on my cycle I know how I feel when I ovultate- one sided pain, slight temperature, ewcm and a headache. That is how I know when I conceived M to the day. I was definitely ovulating, I can feel it, even down to what side the egg is released on- again confirmed by a 7wk scan with M when I told them which side I'd ovulated from while they checked for cysts (was bleeding and they didn't know why). My luteal phase this time would have been about 7 days. I'm hoping this is just a fluke and I go back to my normal 2 weeks next time.

Talking about ttc so want things back to normal.

Clearly i have brain fugg from baby and will dig out my text books again tonight I also know which side i ovulate from (sometimes both ) as i can feel it.

I am currently furious that although B has dropped all but 1 sometimes 2 feeds in the night my af has not returned. I want to be prg again now!!! At least you can now monitor the ovulating and try to concieve without random bonking all times of the month! I keep thinking i must be prg but just get a negative test

I have had many doctors tell me my due date before while i knowingly nod my head and say "yes, yes" all the while knowing they are about 2-3 weeks out. My last af was 17th July last year! B was not born till 26th May, would they listen? No they wouldnt, not till a scan changed the date

all the way round Asda with a full weeks shop? OMG your dh is not 'getting the good news' anytime soon is he Glad to hear Hugs is back, lets have some lovely little huglet tricks soon..Hmmmm posting a picture of the sheep on acid zebra cake might be opening myself up to ridicule and derision, then again I'm sure you could all do with a good laugh.

Sorry SOH about the sore norks, J is doing a great deal of champing down and I am feeling a little tender. Be warned, in my experience each time you ttc it seems to take less time, 1 year for dd, 6 months for ds1 and the twinkle of an eye for J. We could set up a wager - who will do the deed first, you, LG&T or Julie?

Hope it wasn't too difficult today Julie, thinking of you.

Sorry, wanted to type more but M was hungry, she's asleep now. Iron levels have plummeted again as I'm bleeding quite heavily so been out to the shops to buy red meat, green things, apricots etc. Feel atrocious.

Sky, M is 25 weeks on Thursday so about 10 days till she's technically ready for solids. Don't know if I'll start weaning her straight away. I've got pureed sweet potato and carrot in the freezer for when I am ready but will wait and see how M is nearer the time. A friend says she has a Chicco (crap ballad singer, no?) highchair I can have so that's me almost ready. Got a spoon and everything.

LG&T, a piano is dangerously heavy you silly superwoman. A friend gave us their piano last year while I was pregnant (always wanted one and hopefully going to teach M to play) and I got a piano mover to deliver it for us. I wouldn't let DH and his brothers try and move it and I know you technically are wonderwoman but piano transportation is not to be taken lightly. Scuse the pun. Hope your neck eases, be very careful you've got a brood of adorable children to look after.

Need to arrange visiting you ie what day's best and some ground rules (I look atrocious so if you could not look too beautiful/earth mothery/capable etc that would be wonderful for a start). Is tres expensive round your parts. DH thinks we might camp. So all blocked ducts and anaemia aside, I may have the more serious problem of freezing to death. Think we're coming on a Thursday (15th ish, not sure of exact days) and staying till the Tuesday. Actually, might go and have a look at youth hostels in your neck of the woods.

Going to bake flapjacks now while the Tank snoozes...

Camping!!! Wont bloody hear of it, you are all staying with me. M and B can share the cot in your room. You wouldnt even notice B feeding along with M, the little whipper snapper that he is Of course he too is doing that clamping\gumming thing so you may notice that . I have shouted more than once! Im dreading the teeth, i have a feeling he may be like dd She used to enjoy making me scream... she still does actually

Post a pic please Cam, sure it is fab. Did you buy the black icing or make it yourself? >

C also clamps and pulls his head away too. I have been known to shout!

My public profile had vanished and I don't know why. I made a new one though with some newer piccies.

SOH don't fancy camping in November - too cold for me (actually don't fancy camping at all!)

LG&T, no don't doubt yourself you're right of course, I didn't explain myself very well. The luteal phase is fixed, just woman to woman not by date. So when you're late, your period isn't late, you just ovulated late (for whatever reason) for example. Ideally, it should be 14 days but due to hormonal imbalances in some cases, your luteal phase isn't long enough and can be longer than average which isn't necessarily a problem for conception. I'm just worried that pregnancy/bf has screwed up my cycle. I used to ovulate on day 12, bleed on day 27 like clockwork.

re ttc, not sure we're actually taking the plunge, just thinking about it. Not sure it's a good idea just yet having had an em cs only 5 months ago. Should really lose weight first as well! Can't decide if a small age gap is better or whether we should just enjoy M first. I worry that it's not fair on her for me to have another too soon. Contrarily, I want at least 4 and want a reason to stay off work so want to get cracking asap for other reasons. I've got so far to go before I catch up with LG&T...

LG&T you can't possibly put up with us staying at yours. I look shocking in a morning, postmen have chucked themselves in the river in desperation to avoid the living dead that answers the door in this house. Is there a campsite nearby?

Cam, you have to post a pic of the the squiffy sheep/zebra hybrid. It's 7 years of bad luck not to. Gwan gwan gwan, I want to see pictures of cake.

I have some Lindt 70% cocoa, dark choc and orange stuff. It's very good, has actual orangey stuff in the middle like melted jaffa cake. You must go out and buy some now.

LG&T, meant to say poor you having to do the nasty at all times of the month to try and get the right day. I know how much you detest sex and other frankly dirty stuff.

Aarghhh! I logged out and could not get logged back in for ages! I forgot my password!

C been asleep nearly 2 1/2 hours now so is very late for lunch and I need to go shopping before the school run. Don't really want to wake him up but may have to.

SOH - your profile has gone too!

Sorry Sky, hadn't migrated my profile across from my usual name. Done now.

Meant to aske if anybody had any experience with an ergo carrier or similar (patapum etc). Look good and have heard good reviews. Thought dh might prefer one to my flowery ring sling that I use atm.

Oh Sky, Callum is gorgeous. Love the picture of him with dds. And that monkey hat is darn cute. He's a handsome wee chappie.

Course you are staying i look like ive been dragged backwards through a hedge in the morning and not much better by lunchtime. Campsite... I was prg by the time the twins were 1 and have suffered no ill effects of a section. I have done a few age gaps now and have decided if i have a small age gap then Beau will not be legging it away quite so fast by the time i am of gargantuan size. Thats the theory anyway.

I have heard good things about the ergo too, may need to invest in a better sling. He is killing my shoulders in the baby bjorn.

Have dropped all the forms in to the school today to apply for a place for dd and put the twins on the waiting list. DD is starting next Monday!!! I will be a 2 school run mommy soon

Must make tea, nothing in the cupbords from the fruitless shopping trip earlier. Should be interesting.

Hope it went ok Julie, have been thinking of you.

Oh sky i just looked at little Callum, he is a handsome chap! Loving the monkey hat too.

Aah, what is known affectionately in our house as Cupboard Cooking ie you throw open all of the cupboards, stand in the kitchen and slowly spin on the spot looking for things to chuck in a big pot with some defrosted chicken and call Chicken Surprise. Tonight I'm having stirfry (quick and easy) Chinese stylee with beef, beansprouts, pineapple and green stuff. Sounds revolting but is lovely, especially the green stuff.

The clocks going back has totally thrown M. Bedtime is between 6 and 6.30, a feed and cuddle with Mummy and then she's usually out for the count by 7pm. So, about now she's looking longingly at me and rubbing her eyes. I staved her off last night until the corrected time and she sobbed and sobbed and sobbed come bedtime. I think I'm just going to have to put bedtime back by 10 minutes each day until she adjusts. Her zeitgebers function all too well but unfortunately all exogenous cues are misinforming her causing a complete endogenous crisis to accompany the ongoing existential crisis. Ooh get me, I'm a twat.

LG&T, if I agree to spend a night at yours, two at a push, we'll find a field to inhabit for the rest of the time. I'm sooooo nervous about meeting you. It's like meeting a favourite filmstar. I apologise in advance if I fall down, blush, stutter, stammer or hide behind J. This is me --> but my face is rounder because of all the gingerbread.

LG&T you live near a business called 'Bouncy Castles R Us'. How exciting!

Oh and this place is very top drawer, does hampers for one to take out on the boat for larks and frivolity.

Wow this place is nice. Snort at "our aim is to cater for our guests every need whether it be breakfast in bed, special dietary requirements, a feather pillow or a picnic hamper for a special day out." Oh yes one absolutely needs a feather pillow. I wonder if they cater to my every need. Porridge, gingerbread and Thierry Henri in a pinny and nowt but. Hold the feather pillow. I do like it though.

Sky love the photos of Callum!

Great news on the new school place, I am envious at the thought of you walking to school, still, only another 8 weeks of it for me..

ok so I have done it for a limited time period only one zebra-ish sheep having one of M's existential crisis, cake, hope it made you all laugh

I had an altercation in the park today with some yoof, I even telephoned the police and lodged a complaint I was just so annoyed that they showed me no goddamn respect the b***ds. Then I calmed down and now I'm worried they will find me and put a potato in my exhaust pipe or something.

Yours, Mrs Angry from lack of respect,small car riding, loud music blaring, yoof ridden Somerset.

Gorgeous zebra - most impressed!
Good for you re yoof Cam - they were prob so surprised that you said something that they won't do anything - I wouldn't worry.

Now folks - Cambridge meetup - there are quite a few people in this neck of the woods - or would be happy to organise it in Peterborough (ie I have though of somewhere we could meet) which is not v beautiful but is easy to get to on the train.

MUST work out how to do photos etc - have just spent time cooing over all your lovely children - will there soon be one of Beau and Mathilda - aaahhh!!

Evening all.......

My my we have been chatty today.

cam, sheep on acid looks like a .............. ZEBRA. Woo Hoo, I bet it tasted as fab as it looks!

pmsl at the soh/lg&t chat, I'd love to be a fly on the wall when you lovely ladies meet. You are going to have Sooooooooooo much fun, can't wait for some photo's.

JW, I really hope things were OK today.

I can't remember anything else, sorry if I've forgotten anyone.

Been Christmas shopping today, Mum & Dad are off to the UK when my sister has the baby so I'm trying to be organised so I don't have to post too much. She had a scan today at 37 weeks, he's breech, completely bum down, head wedged under ribs. They are going to try to turn him later this week sometime she's fully aware that the chances are slim so she's gearing up for a planned C sec.

Jw, hope things went as well as they could have done today. Been thinking of you.
Cam ,that zebra looks ace. You did so well to even have a go and it looks like a zebra. It's C's birthday in December and I really think I should make him a cake this year instead of buying one but I want something as easy as possible. Any suggestions? LG and T? I'd rather it was a 'novelty' cake if you like, not just a round sponge but I don't really know where to start.
Work was ok today, feel a bit hoarse after shouting at the little sods darlings.

Awww guys, you are all being so kind about the dreadful lovely cake

Abby, how about a train? Really quite easy using swiss rolls, ready to roll icing and a cake baked in a loaf tin with the inside scooped out to be the smoke box. Quite easy but looks impressive.

Thanks for the idea Cam, sounds good but I need more direction than that I'm afraid! Explain it in a little more detail to me, it sounds like somethnig I might just be able to manage.