December 2006- where they've grown so much we spend more time talking about our lives than our children

[Indith]

Well that and our pregnancies and other non-dec '06 children

Tis a good thing I feel.

Oh yeah she did...forgiven then

Jabber, talk to me about the arms reach thingy, am still undecided. How big is the lip? Does it stop you cuddling up? Is it so big you have to lift them over to feed? It tempts me with its "I'm also a tavel cot take me anywhere and stick me to the side of any bed" thing but the lip worries me, I think the mothercare or cossato bedside ones are more of a bed extension without resorting to putting your mattress on the floor! (I would, would be so much easier and cheaper but have nowhere to put the bed frame!)

AQ look on the bright side, after all this your uterus will be so ready and toned and fabulous that you'll cough them out Hope you are managing to rest and be looked after.

Intrigued at margo's dh setting the house on fire
Pleased that Eli's dh is hopefully getting better!
Also v.interested in your take on the arms reach, jabber but I know you're pretty busy at the mo.

Whilst I'm fairly pre-occupied with the business of actually going into labour (rather than a few hours of contractions EVERY day that fade into nothing) - ds1 is now soiling himself 4 times a day, twice at school. DP went in and had long chat with teacher & NN this morning, bless him, I was crying about it the other night I'd thought we were finally getting somewhere. Amazing when you look on here how many children have similar issues though. Thank you for your kind thoughts on my fabulous uterus, indith, I hope when I finally get to hospital they say 'right, AQ, you're 8cm!!'.

how did I miss Margo's dh setting the house on fire?! Is he/you/the house ok, Margo?

AQ poor ds. Is any of the feedback from the other MNers with similar problems heping?

Its v hard being worried about one LO when about to go into labour, too. I'm glad your dh is stepping up.

totally missed the house fire too

the way the arms reach worked on our bed was that it was lower than our mattress which kept lo from rolling out into our bed. I really loved it. Just nursed then let babe fall asleep next to me and when I was ready I moved him over into co-sleeper. We used it with both then gave it to my nephew and his wife and they used it too. It works great up to about 6 months.

I had a mothercare bedside cot. Was very good.

AQ, when I went in for my induction with dd (after the 36 weeks false labour) I was 3-4cms dilated and stretchable to 5-6cms, so it only took 1 pessary for things to get going and 3 hours from the first contraction for her to be born. So to be having on-off contractions all this time is bound to be doing you some good.

I was also told that 3rd labours can often be a bit stop-start before they finally get going and strictly speaking this is your 3rd labour so it's all heading in the right direction.

What did school say about ds1? I know from experience that accident are common place in reception, particularly at this point in the year so while it's understandably horrible for you, the staff should be very used to cleaning up. Big ((hugs)), he'll get there.

I know DD1 doesn't have same problem (for want of a better word) as your DS, AQ, but fwiw, she peed her pants at school today (very unlike her) and so did her classmate at same time. One of her pals from the other reception class came over earlier in the week and he did it too. Sound's like they are all busy having accidents and DS's problems may just seem worse than it actually is at the moment IYSWIM. ((hugs)) though. I was having a totally shite time just prior to and after DD2's arrival. It does get better

Margo, what's the story?

AQ, maybe your dp can have a look for some magnesium glycinate. It's a powder and we dilute it with water then add juice. Also supplements such as Super Fruit help a lot. Ds1 takes probiotics in mega doses (the refrigerated kind). that's the only way we were finally able to get control of the problem. The miralax is good to clear the impaction and help keep another from forming but it's so hard to get the dosage correct after that. Too much and they have seepage problems You have my deepest sympathy on that front. It was sooo hard getting a handle on ds1's problem and still every once in a while he'll have an accident.

Ah well. Dh was cooking pappadoms under the grill (yuk) and forgot about them. the grill was on fire - he yelled to me to help him but it did go out of it's own accord. phew. I getting excited about lots of firemen arriving to rescue us.

I've just come home and the house still smells of smoke.

Well AQ, your twins may not have arrived today but my friends twins did. both boys weighing in at just over 6 lbs.

Ooops Margo

AQ sympathy for ds1, poor boy it can't be easy for him. Hope the school is handling it well. I must admit I had "problems" staying dry pretty late on and still do remember the feeling ashamed when it happened at school. Does he have spare school trousers in case of leakage from his pants? That was the worst..having to wear PE kit or something so everyone in school knew what you'd done. I do feel for him. Really hope that you manage to find the right combination of diet and drugs to get on top of things.

Other than that I would just like to say ouch. Student MW. 28 week bloods. Needle slipped.

A-hem??????

Just to put fears to rest, Oli's 3rd labour stop-start theory is still bang on (might look that up, have never heard the theory, I did get to 9cm with ds1 before section so it is 3rd labour). But relatively peaceful and pain-free day today unlike indith (ouch!) so feeling quite happy. Dearest mother came over for the whole day, cooked soup whilst ds2 & I napping, cleaned out half of our backyard and generally wonderful AGAIN. What can I buy/get such a paragon of motherhood?? Was thinking a weekend in the cotswolds in nice hotel with her dh so they can antique hunt?

Jabber, will have to ask for some more detailed advice re the things you suggest which I have never heard of. I've been reading about Encopresis lately, is this an american term? I do take in spare trousers, pants, socks as well as wipes nearly every day so now have 6 pairs of school trousers to cope with all the washing!

at margo's dh 6lb boy twins, that sounds wonderful

How're you feeling at the mo' castles, likely to see anything of dh this weekend?

Margo, poppadoms of all things! Glad no one is incinerated, though.

Indith, ouch and ugh, have been there many, far too many, times. Much prefer phlebotomists to nurses, but nurses better than doctors at drawing blood....go for the arnica, I would.

Oooh, AQ, maybe the calm before the storm, so to speak? I think the Cotswold idea is lovely, thoughtful and generous, I'd like it if I were your Mum. I'd like it if I weren't, for that matter

dh is really bonkers on those steroids, but much better: here's hoping tomorrow's half dose still makes him better, but less manic

Pity I don't drink coffee margo, otherwise it's a fiendishly clever plan

they can only give me syntocin (drip) on Weds, can't have the pessaries. This is why I said no last week & week before - I will have an epidural, two monitors (one more than likely internal) and possibly a catheter so really really didn't want a hormone drip as well. I hate having leads attached to me and various medical professionals saying to me 'it will be a highly managed birth anyway' doesn't make me feel better about it. V of indith's planned homebirth with NO leads...

Glad dh better, Eli, hope is less manic over the w'end - a friend's dp has been on some for quite a while (totally different reasons) and his mood swings are phenomenal according to her. But important thing is that he can breathe again, horrible not to be able to.

Oho, a quiet day: must be the sunshine. My db sent me a photo of him and his family on the beach today (think they went to Brighton) and apparently they even swam

Hey, AQ....how's it going tonight? I really hope you get to avoid induction altogether - understand your feelings re lead. I'd be tearing my hair out by now if I were you (found end of pg hard enough with one!) but its so rare for twin mums to get to term - as far as your babies are concerned, you're giving them the best of starts and have done brilliantly.

dh found a small, hard lump on side of dd2's neck tonight - very near the surface, it feels just under the skin - imagine its a lymph node (she has a cold) but think I'd better get it checked out

Hi all.

AQ - hope you're still ok. I think today might be the day....Your poor DS - hopefully things will improve soon.

Eli - lump could be a small cyst or something. Hopefully will disappear by the time you get to the Drs.

Castles - how are you feeling at the moment?

Jabber - glad you're both committed to counselling. How is DS1 finding school?

Margo - sorry but lol @ your housefire

Another Big C scare in the family at the moment. Doesnt look good and we're waiting for results. DDs both being gorgeous and infuriating in equal measures at the moment. DD1 goes full time at school tomorrow so we'll see how that goes. Hopefully it will mean I can get DD2 back into a regular nap routine.

Well I don't think this one is a fake

"V pleased to say that twins finally arrived last night 27th Sept! V quick labour all well. Boy first 6lb 8oz followed 20 mins later by girl 7lb 7oz! Names later "

Huge congrats to AQ

Hoooooooooooooooooooray

What lovely news to log onto. Huge congratulation to AQ, her twins and the rest of her family. Feel quite emotional.

Yeaayyyyyy!!!!!! Double congrats to AQ and her family, and welcome to the twins! Can't wait to hear the names now....

EV, about the C scare, fingers crossed for your family member, sounds v scary.

Yippee!!! Welcome to the world AQ babies.

Oh, congrats AQ. Seems like the coffee did the trick . and WOWEEE at carrying more than 14 lb in baby and water. (I nominate you for slimmer of the week)

EV - thinking and hoping for good news about your family member.

fingers crossed Eli. I have a lump in my jaw line. I've had it since I was a child. I hope it's the same for your lo.