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April 2007 - Hanging out the Bunting for BIG baby Connor .......

500 replies

CaptainDippy · 03/02/2009 10:30

Congratulations!! to Elkie and family!!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Doobydoo · 03/03/2009 18:45

RARARARARARARARARAAAAAAARGH.
Thinking of you all and you pregnant ones too.
Good luck sol
CYTWIIY REALLY HOPE YOU OK.hAVEN'T A CLUE WHAT IS GOING ON BUT HOPE YOU AND BOYS OK.
hI TO ALL.sORRY PANTS POST...IN RUSH.
RARARARARARARRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAARG.XXXXXXXXXX

StealthPolarBear · 03/03/2009 19:05

you OK dooby?

oooggs · 03/03/2009 19:16

dooby - whats up?

katy - ENT!!!! keep us informed

sol - yes does seem to have gone quick - your new job will be fab

mj - no sure I could juggle 4 children at a park on my own - infact two toddlers anywhere out of the pushchair on my own = hell

leaky - wow 9 weeks - hasn't that gone fast

ds3 is 6 weeks today

talking of walkers, dh and I have been trying to spend some time with dts seperatley (sp?) so dh took Erin to walk James to school and Jack walked around the supermarket like an angel and yesterday Dh took Jack to school and Erin walked on some errands with Luke and I. So it is just two walkers together that is the problem - they also egg each other on to be mischevious

CanYouGuessWhoItIsYet · 03/03/2009 20:06

Evening All

SPB - It will depend on which pre-school you choose. J starts at Easter and they do a morning and an afternoon session, with a lunch club in the middle, which means he will go 9-3.15. Not all of them do that though, at 3 children get grant funding for 2.5 hrs x 5 each week, this means that a lot of pre-schools only open for those 2.5 hrs each day. It's worth having a look around now and seeing what's available near you.
As for ENT - M went at a similar age, they booked him in with the Paed ENT doc who was fab, just don't let them fob you off, do your own research before agreeing to anything. I know Ange's ds had gromits so might be worth having a chat with her if it comes to that

Elkie - Is there a reason you're only taking the 39 weeks? I was fed up and wanted to go back by then but you don't sound like you want to!

SOL - Is there a day that would suit you better than Thursdays do? If so, what about explaining to your new boss that you already have commitments on that day but you could do another day if they were able to hold the meeting then? As for being on time, I can't lie, it is a complete nightmare and I really struggle with it but I've managed it when I did those hours by arranging to do half hour less for 4 days and made up the difference on the 5th day. It meant I was less stressed and then paid a CM for the 5th day, worked better than paying someone for the sake of half hour just to make sure I was on time everywhere! Is there an after school club you could book B in to for one day a week?

Leaky - Only 9 weeks I know I don't usually do this, but have a hug cos it sounds like you're struggling a bit just now!
I was so pleased to find the price difference between Private Nursery and Pre-School! Nursery costs me around £35 a day, Pre-School will be more like £20 I was paying £24 a session (half day) for M before he went to school, but in Holiday Club I pay £22 a day!

Dooby - Nothing's going on, just haven't been here for a while and the name was cos I had just seen Rolf Harris on that Churchill advert and had his catchphrase "Can you tell what it is yet?" in my head
How long before we get you back in the UK? I'm adding you to my tour list

MJ - I'm off first week of Easter, might be up for a trip over your way if you're gonna turn up this time

Oooggs - I know how much M eggs J on to do things so can only imagine (and thank goodness I only have to imagine!) how bad the dts must be
Would you be up for a visit if we came as far South as you this time?

And yes, I did have the thread open in another window so I could type my post while I was going along

Doobydoo · 03/03/2009 20:33

Mammoth post
Am ok,just trying to get things sorted from a distance is hard.I expect everyone to reply IMMEDIATELY,which I know is unreasonable.Also have forgotten how things work in Blighty and need to get M a child benefit number and find Fis am also nervous for F re starting school though i AM TRYING TO HID IT.Dp has interview in Lincoln on Fri have told no one except you lot.that has eaten into our moving money.
Have also seen job I want on nhs jobs but need to do return to nursing course which usn't til sept and then I worry tha no one will give me a job after as there will be so many young things with degrees etc.I really want that job!
aM SO GLAD ALL IS OK cytwiiy..MOVING 27TH MARCH AND WILL BE DELIGHTED TO SEE YOU.mAYBE YOU SHOULD GET TOUR TSHIRTS PRINTED[GRIN].
SPB Sorry you feeling rough.
Really hope you ok Runny agree re work life balance and hope ok W too.9 weeks Leakyhope your jobs remain safe.Very difficult time for people isn't it.
SOL..Am so sorry about your workplace.I wish you much happiness in your new place and hope you ge childcare sorted to your satisfaction.
OOOGGS Have to say you amaze me.Have no idea how you do it!Your twins sound so sweet!
Sorry if have missed anyone.
Hope all well.xxxxxxxxxx

Doobydoo · 03/03/2009 20:35

SPB..Meant to say that it is good T is being referred...hope his ears are sorted satisfactorily...ifykwim.xx

Doobydoo · 03/03/2009 20:35

I could never be a secretary

StealthPolarBear · 03/03/2009 20:39

Thanks everyone, and CanYouGuess for advice. I thought it was Ange and J who had had grommets. Just not sure what they can find out but still The pain doesn't seem to bother him, he's 'ard

AngeG · 03/03/2009 22:29

Hello

It's been ages! Have been trying to keep up, but failing as usual!

I am now 30 (as of Saturday) I had a lovely birthday weekend. Spent loads of money in Bravissimo on friday and then some more in Next on Saturday! I am a shopoholic (which is a funny film by the way!)

Just got back from my first Ikea trip. Wow what a place it is!

SPB - Poor little T Yes Jake has had grommets, twice actually so any questions please ask. They maybe able to blow some air into his eardrums to see how the sound waves react and whether the gunk behind the ear is impairing his hearing. If you dont mind me asking how is his speech?

SOL - Congrats on the new job. It's always nerve wracking starting a new job. Hope it goes well.

Dooby - Hope the move goes ok. It's so stressful moving house never mind countries!

Oooggs - You are fantastic. I don't know how you manage to get on here with 4 children, when I can't manage it with 2!

Leaky - I really feel for you. You've been so ill throughout this pg. Can't believe you've only 9weeks to go. That's gone really quickly from my point of view although I supppose it hasn't for you!

MJ - Might be able to make a meet up in the first week of Easter, we're going to Spain the second week.

Agree with Bramshott and others about how LOs are suddenly seeming so grown up. Izzy is really talking well now! She also has her hair in bunches and ponytails most of the time now.

Elkie - You are doing a fantastic job with C and that he's now putting on weight well.

Hello to everyone who I haven't mentioned
Will upload some pictures of my birthday, so you can admire me and my children

CanYouGuessWhoItIsYet · 04/03/2009 01:08

NL - Just seen your post about Secondary School. Don't know how appeals work (I know Caz and Octo do) but I'd think that you not driving would go in your favour for appealing to get into the closer school?

Doobydoo · 04/03/2009 09:21

What lovely photos Ange.Happy Birthday for Saturday last
NL..I have seen your posts too and am sory about the school issue.Really hope you get it sorted it seems utterly crazy.
Hope all have a good day.We have snow here.Anyone know what forcast is for lincolnshire as dp is going over Friday.xx

MJreturns · 04/03/2009 11:43

Hi all.

Dooby, sending lots of luck to your dh when he heads to Lincoln Can you apply for the nursing job anyway and state that you will be starting the return to nursing course? It really depends on how quickly they want the vacancy filled I would think, but for the right person it could be held iykwim. Good luck xx

I will check what I am working in the first week of Easter. Hopefully only the Thursday as I will get Good Friday off anyway. I am off the second week which is typical!

SPB, hope T gets his ears sorted quickly. Good thing that it isn't bothering him though

SOL, I am sure you will love your new job just as much as the old one. Hope you can sort out the problem with the timing of the meeting. How is your mum doing? Hope she is still well xx

Ange, glad to hear you had a good birthday Had a nose at your photos and Izzy looks so grown up. And you don't look 30 either!

NL, hope you get the school issue sorted out asap xx

elkiedee · 04/03/2009 12:50

Leaky, while my own pregnancy seemed to last forever, other people's seem to be speeding by! Sounds nutty but I can't believe you only have a couple of months. I hated every minute of both pregnancies, but it's amazing how quickly the broodiness can kick in... There are lots of good reasons for me not to have a third - my age, my experiences of being pregnant, currently a tiny house, money, plans to move out of London, etc etc, but I'm already wondering what I can do with C's clothes as he outgrows them - I've stored D's at my mum's but she seems to think I've definitely decided against having a third (don't remember saying that!)

CYG, my maternity leave is only marginally shorter than my first one this time - C will be 9 months not 10 at the point where I think I'll go back. The main difference was that I was near the end of my leave year when I returned and took 5 weeks at the end of my maternity leave, so almost 48 weeks in total. This time I had a bit of leave to use before I left but don't want to use all my holiday for the next year when I go back, but I will still be off for 43 weeks, plus I had a lot of December off work.

I have a good maternity leave scheme but have to go back for at least 6 months (can be part time) as a condition of getting the employer's maternity pay (16 + 12 weeks full pay then 11 weeks SMP or 16 full + 24 half - SMP included).

My aim at the moment is to move out of London some time next year, after my 6 months back at work, so ideally between May and September, as we will be needing to apply for school for D in autumn 2010.

I would need to return for financial reasons - my wages are marginally more than dp's and we can't really manage indefinitely on one wage - but I think I'll probably be psyschologically ready then. I hope I'll really enjoy this maternity leave, but think I'll appreciate it much more knowing that's what it is than if I decided to stay at home with the kids all the time.

elkiedee · 04/03/2009 12:50

Belated happy birthday to Ange.

Bramshott · 04/03/2009 13:39

Hi Elkie!

See that's another thing I will have to stick my fingers in my ears over - the MERE THOUGHT that we need to do our babies school applications in the autumn of NEXT YEAR!!

oooggs · 04/03/2009 13:50

bloody hell - school applications

yes may well make a meet up if you lot can help me

Ange you no way look 30!!!!!!

elkiedee · 04/03/2009 14:02

Bramshott, yes, I know, that's a scary thought. Our nearest primary school has a nursery class from 3 up as well, and I think we need to find out about applying for that this year for next, in case we find ourselves still living in London then.

MJreturns · 04/03/2009 16:02

I have been sent an application for F to go to school. It is for her to start after Easter next year since her birthday falls before the school Easter holiday break I think that she would be offered a half day place until the September and then full time after that, eek!

cazboldy · 04/03/2009 17:56

My tumble dryer is broken AAAArrrggghhhhhh!!!!!!

Molly is due to start playgroup for 2 mornings a week in September but judging by the other day she will love it!!!

I have a really sore neck.... it feels like I have slept wrong iykwim, but I haven't, has ben like it for a couple of days now and paracetamol doesn't touch it.

oooggs · 04/03/2009 18:19

they start early in Wales

runnyhabbit · 04/03/2009 18:25

Yep, they do oooggs. J will be 4 in May, but has been attending full time since October. We had to put W name down before Christmas because the places get full very quickly.

Def up for a meet up in Easter. Weds would be good for me x

runnyhabbit · 04/03/2009 18:28

and W has got an asthma. Got a cute little pump for him with teddy bears on. He only has to take it before he goes to bed, atm.

Going to be interesting to get him to take it ....

Northernlurker · 04/03/2009 18:59

Hi all

Loads to read through and catch up on - haven't been posting too much as I had people over on Sunday and then in the early hours of Monday I was struck down by a terrible d&v bug. Never had anything like it before - for 8 hours I felt continually sick and made more bathroom trips than I could count - made me appreciate our en-suite I can tell you. So I've had two days of work - which is unheard of for me. Symptoms stopped by lunchtime on Monday but you are supposed to stay off for 48 hours (hospital rules) and actually I felt so washed out and dizzy yesterday I couldn't have worked anyway. All well today though.

The other news - as I see some of you sweet people have spotted - is that we didn't get dd1's first choice school. We got our catchment school which is fine - but not as good iyswim. It's also further away from us so she will need to take the bus. Thanks for the suggestion guys but I don't think transport will make any odds as being a city school it is quite easy to get to - and anyway even if I could drive I wouldn't be! I have heard she is currently number 1 on the waiting list though - which is really good but also makes me furious about how close we've come Dd1 has been very sensible and calm about it (she is so not her mother's daughter!) but I can tell she is a bit disappointed. I don't really want to appeal as it all sounds very stressful and I can't think of any grounds to do so - but I think dd1 expects me to Ho hum - ok on with the catch up....

Leaky - how can you have 9 weeks left?? You only get pregnant five minutes ago and we all had our April babies a week last Thursday wasn't it? Nobody mention 2 years around here please!! Hope things work out for you and your dh - easy to say but try not to worry - we've been through redundancy twice - the first time the company went bust and we left without any notice pay or indeed salary! You get through though - don't know how but you do

SPB - good luck with ENT - definately good to get in the system now so you can act promptly if you need to.

Oooggs - cannot believe you can get you twins to sit still for haircuts. B would raise the roof if I tried that!
Re buggies - I have a friend who had twins under two and a new baby. She had a triple (which she bought new -ooooouch!) for a few weeks then went back to her double/a sling and a buggy board combination. Have you tried yours on a board - might they go for that?

Elkie - sorry to hear about your friend. You might be interested - or to hear that I managed to be well enough last night to go to a talk given by Lindsay Davis as part of the literature festival here. She was very good - and very funny! How is C's weight doing now?

Runny - dh's new job sounds great - well done him! Hope your job continues ok - at least your boosting your cv with the new responsibility if nothing else? How do you feel about the asthma news? I've no idea how you get him to take the inhaler - is there an asthma nurse who could advise?

Canyouetc - your new childcare plan sounds good - hope your appointment goes well on Friday.

SOL - don't stress about the meeting - you've arranged your hours and this wasn't part of them was it? So - you can't do the meeting but you can come up with a brilliant way to feed into it and get actions back. Remember - this is a part time post - not full time in disguise right?

MJ - B is a dawdler too. Apart from when she's running off of course - I always knew with the other two that they wouldn't actually 'go' as it were - but little miss independant would take herself wherever she wants to go! Can't believe how early F can start school! B isn't going till January 2012 - by which time dd2 will be in year 6 and dd1 will be in year 10!!!!! (NL passes out in horror)

Dooby - hope dh gets on well with the interview - any chance of them refunding some of his expenses? Might be worth asking - especially if he doesn't get the job - you've nothing to lose then. Re your nursing - from what I've seen of recruitment to our unit EXPERIENCE is worth it's weight in gold. Once you've done your course you will be running rings round the newly qualified nurses! Will it be paeds you're looking at or more general?

Ange - can't believe you can put bunches on Izzy. B doesn't really have enough hair for that and anyway she is very anti having her head touched

Hi to Dippy, GMM, Bramshott and everyone else

weeonion, IDOC and anybody else in there - report in asap - unless you've been eaten by your demanding lovely toddlers???

Northernlurker · 04/03/2009 19:00

Two days off work that should be - honestly - a behemoth of a post and I can't be bothered to proof read!

CaptainDippy · 04/03/2009 19:20

@ NL's last post!!

Sorry, brain is fried, so poppig in to say hello. Off out to babysit for BF who's B'day it is today ....

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