June 2008-keeping little hands off mummy's creme eggs

[poppy34]

New thread here

Essie, your post made me want to barf! I hate to worry anyone but I had a 2nd degree tear with Michael - my 2nd baby and only 6lbs!! How is that fair?!

Had my smear this morning -twas awful as always . My cervix is 'hidden' and round a corner so always involves alot of rummaging to find! But needs must. Desperate to have a coil fitted once all this is done as my periods are hell since having M.

Deb, what a nightmare for your friends . It has all been v stressful for so many people but I don't quite understand why so many of them think it's the Government's problem to get them home? People always bang on about a nanny state and then expect the Govt to jump in when they need them . Those people are feel really sorry for are the ones with small children - brings me out in a cold sweat thinking what we would have done with A & M in an airport for a weekend .

Neenz, I also wonder whether it will put people off flying but doubt it - people have short memories!

Well looks like move day is going to be May 5th - and dh is away in Scotland that week! That could be fun .

I'm putting off having a smear test and that hasn't encouraged me Eddie . I know a woman who needed a cervical stitch and loads of VEs in pregnancy and she would remind the Dr which "case" she was by saying "I'm the one with the v long vagina", and watch them recognise her

Sorry Rolf .

Lol at "I'm the one with the v long vagina"!! That's exactly what the nurse told me I had this morning .

Sorry, that was probably tmi for those who know me in RL!!!

Yeah, Eddie, I did barf and I was there. Nope, manual removal was hell on earth, and I joke about it but I was seriously traumatized afterwards. For a start, I was in an operating theatre, conscious but paralysed. So it was like one of those weird waking dream scenarios. But I guess it would have killed me if they hadn't done anything.

Argh, smear tests. But I would like to now state my pride on my last smear. Bizarre, but true. Nurse looked at my records, saw I'd had a baby, and automatically went for the size 2 speculum. It was too big! I clearly have a designer vagina. Tee hee.

OK I'll stop being a freak now. I just felt the need to compete with those long vaginas! LOL!

Have dropped our friends off at the station for the start of their long journey, they would never have considered it the government's responsibility to get them home. But OMG what a stressful day yesterday booking all the various parts of the journey individually as to do it all in one it said there was no availability.I can't imagine how people have coped stuck in an airport.

I can't begin to compete with long vaginas or essies designer one, can't imagine what size speculum I would need after 3 big babies.

Who talked about putting people off flying, I don't want that when we might be selling!! This disaster hasn't come at a good time for us!

Oops, quite right Debs. Let's hope you sell soon!

lol at v long vagina

I'm quite a fan of the nanny state so I think it is a good thing that the govt is helping people get back, only because they have no other options (or didn't). People shouldn't expect it but it is a nice thing to do in the circumstances. I don't suppose sending some coaches over to Madrid is costing much and it means at least some of those poor people (especially the ones with children, or what about people who might need diabetes medication or similar) can get home. I think GB missed a trick tho not sending those coaches/ships last Friday - he could have scored himself some much-needed brownie points. I have a work colleague stuck in Tenerife and one in Canada who has been told it will be May 5 before he can get a flight! They are only casual staff as well so won't be getting paid .

Lol neenz, I misread your post and following on from the long vagina chat I thought I you then said you were a fan of the fanny state!!

My pelvic floor seems to have sorted itself out with time on it's own (and pf exercises). This time last year I couldn't have run, but I'm okay now... I had a 2nd degree tear with Fraser too - it is not true that you wont tear for a second birth.

Eddie I think it's because it was government decisions to close airspace and the government has a history of helping citizens stranded abroad, just normally not on this sort of scale. After all they help people who choose go to more dangerous places and get into trouble, it seems unfair not to help those stranded now when no one could have guessed the risk of stranding...

fingers crossed deb and how are you doing sybil?

AH, that's good to know that things got better re: pelvic floor. Have you tried a trampoline?!

I take your point re: stranded passengers, but I think people's expectations are way out of line with what can actually be achieved and the timescales involved. The skies seem incredibly busy today so I'm guessing every plane owned by every airline is up there!

Btw, did your sling get back ok?

eddie yes thank you and perfect timing, it's gone next door to the neighbour who's due in June.

And no to the trampoline - why push my luck?

As for expectations, I guess I'm seeing different news reports. BBC was covering people last night saying how pleased they were with how much help they got. I guess some people will complain and others will make the best of it - human nature.

And while everyone talks about things back to normal it's not the case for lots of families up here the helicopters aren't flying yet because one encountered ash on it's windscreen. I have a friend who's really missing her husband and after the rig fire in the US today, I feel really lucky to have DH at home.

lol at fanny state

The DTs turn 2 in two weeks

I can't think of anything to buy them really. Everything I think they'd like/need I buy them straight away and can't wait to give it to them cos I want to see their reactions! So haven't held anything back for their birthday. I might get them a toy Ninky Nonk (well I'll have to buy two or they will fight like hell over it ), it's not much but they will love that, and they have had loads of garden stuff over the past few weeks (got two trikes, two scooters and two Cozy Coupe cars for £60 ). What's everyone else getting for birthdays? I was going to get them some balance bikes (our local bike shop has some in - two for £80 which is cheap isn't it) but I think they are too young yet, maybe get them at Christmas. It's very handy having birthdays mid-way through the year isn't it so it doesn't clash with Christmas.

My sister's friend didn't want to splash out on a balance bike so bought a normal Thomas Tank bike and just removed the pedals and chain!

Abdn, that's sad for your friend, my sis has a DH who works at sea for weeks/months at a time and really misses him. And then when there are accidents or hijackings it makes you realise what a dangerous job it can be.

Twins turning 2!! I'm like you, Neenz, I like to give Iestyn stuff whenever, because of the reaction. (I was looking yesterday at your facebook pictures and that one of E on Christmas day is so lovely. ) So he's getting his slide from Grandparents on Monday.
My sister has been going on about getting a balance bike for Iestyn too - they're the way to go apparently (she's a keen biker herself). £80 sounds good. Is that 2 x £40??

Iestyn won't watch ITNG or anything English any more. It's because he's talking and has realised that he doesn't know any words on them, I think.

I went to bed at 9.15 last night. Iestyn's got a low-level cold and isn't brilliant with it; I then got really, really dizzy last night. Bizarre. I'm better now but still a bit light headed. I might go to eat another gingerbread man now just in case.

Hi all - bloody broadband has been conked out for ages! I have tried to read on my iphone but with very limited success.

No real news from me. Living room has been painted and the carpet laid so just waiting on furniture. I am so excited but have said no kittens allowed (as they are destroying everything).

Sat is my official 2WW testing day but I did one yesterday (naughtily) which came out negative. I feel a bit periody so I am pretty sure this cycle has not resulted in anything. I am annoyed actually 'cos my friend was meant to be coming on Saturday and if I did a neg test i was going to allow myself to have a drink up but she's cancelled me - booooo!). I am now blaming Mark and his dodgy sperm 'cos I made three follciles so it must be his fault! Not feeling bad about it as my chances were so low anyway. If I ever do get pregnant I will probably not believe it.

I am thinking of having a party for Luke's birthday. I am very scared though that no-one will come! We have a lovely garden now though. Luke doesn't really know many other kiddies and I though I could invite his nursery friends. Do you think they would come? I don't know what to get for his birthday as like you neenz I just give him things as and when. I might get him a sand pit for the garden. Or a wendy house tent thingy and probably a paddling pool. Luke is also obsessed with dinosaurs so anything like that he would love.

When do you think it is appropriate to start teaching the kids letters? Also should we teach them phonetically. Personally I have a problem with a whole generation of kids spelling their names out in phonetics ha a ra ra ya. Luke seems to have memorised the whole ABC alphabet song from start to finish (remarkably!) but obviously doesn't really know what he's singing about. Thought I should jump on it though but don't know how to go about it.

Oh and by the way - can't remember who mentioned it but thanks for the tip on M&S doing slim clothes - they are perfect for Luke!

Hope everyone is well x

Hey Amber, glad you're back! Hope you're pg now that you can't have a drink. Maybe have the drink all the same? I would!
I've been wondering about having a party too. I have big problems in this area - cue AIBU moment.
Last year I had to have a party and it was dictated by PIL (MIL mainly) who announced that they were coming to stay; they came to stay with my parents thankfully (but poor Mum who had to manage). I then had to have a party, and it was family only. It was ok but I was because MIL started opening presents with Iestyn when I was getting food ready.
This was on a weekend; they insisted on coming over on his actual birthday too; arrived at teatime, didn't help, I got stressed, they left at bathtime, and Iestyn took 2 hours to settle and I was sick in the night (probably stress).
This year PIL have announced again that 'they will be able to come' (yaaay) but they're on holiday the week before. I've said they can't stay with me - I have exam board meetings all week - but they're thinking of staying with my parents. Mum then said if that's the case, my brother can't come as well because it's too much stress. (You can all gather that my PILs are stressful guests.) But I adore my brother and so, so want him here. (Blood being thicker etc.) So I said he could stay with me, but that is surely going to look really dodgy? (Justification: FIL does nothing, MIL cricicizes, my DB has a wife who can cook me a meal and will help clear up, and DB even 'helped' me change a nappy last time he was up. MIL 'doesn't do nappies'.)
WWYD?? I don't want to be ungrateful or nasty, but I also, quite selfishly, want to protect myself. And also selfishly, I want to dictate what happens because he's my son.

Amber with nursery friends, I wondered about this too, but there's not much contact between parents at Iestyn's nursery. So I think when he's older?

Quick post cos just about to go out for lunch for dh's birthday.

We're taking A to Legoland for his birthday and my mum is having M for the day so it will all be about A . Not bothering with parties yet and can't do family parties cos our parents don't like each other so have to have seperate events .

Going to get some stuff for the garden for present and some craft stuff which I want to get more into when we've moved and have the space for it.

Essie, your ILs sound like a right pain, I remember all the hassle you had last year . I say have your DB to stay and to hell with it! My MIL is exactly the same - does absolutely nothing to help. And as for opening presents when you're not there . . . .

separate !

that was supposed to be a !

What, in sheer horror at confusing separate/seperate?

Hi everyone, yay for birthday chat!

I'm still humming and ha'ing between a kitchen and a balance bike. I do think he's a wee bit wee for a balance bike so I think we'll go with the kitchen. We're having a family party the weekend before S's birthday but I think I might just have a very small party on his actually birthday with just 4 or 5 other toddlers just for an hour. I don't see why you can't give the nursery a note to invite other parents to a party Amber. Could be a good way for you to get to know a few other mums locally?

On reading, I don't have any plans to try and teach S. I think if you do, you should try and find out what method they use in local schools. I've heard from some teachers that it can cause problems for some kids when they start school if they have to 'unlearn' everything they've be taught at home. That's probably put me off a bit - I'd be worried that I might be doing more harm than good. Deb and Eddie were both teachers in a past life I think - what do you think?

Tricky one with your inlaws Essie. Not sure what I'd do. My DB and SIL are nightmare guests but I think this year they're going to stay with my P's. They're a bit put out that we're not going to look for a larger house so that we have space for a bed for my DN. Yes, I should spend in excess of £20K for a fourth bedroom just for someone who visits once or twice a year . I keep having to point out that my p's brought up 3 kids in a 3 bed house. I certainly don't need two spare rooms!!! Could you get away with telling your PIL's that your DB is already staying at your mums and she cant take anymore visitors but give them the number of a local hotel/B&B? I remember how stressed Iestyn's birthday was last year actually - can you make plans so you don't have to see any family on the big day itself but do a family thing on another day?

S doesn't watch ITNG anymore either Essie. It's all about 64 Zoo Lane and Jakers now. I like Jakers because it's quite long .

On the airspace, I do feel really sorry for those that are stranded, but I feel as a culture the media we have too much of a need to have someone to blame. Sometimes, crap stuff just happens. I watched the transport minister on BBC Breakfast yesterday and he really emphasised that it was the Civil Aviation Authority who felt that the airspace should close and that he believed it was right to take the advice of experts on this. I think in this kind of situation you have to go by what the experts say, not make politically popular decisions or bow to pressure from commercial organisations who have a vested interest.

How cool to go back to school next week and say you came home on a warship though !

Fraser's already riding his balance bike and loving it (it's a hand-me-down). He's on the islabikes.co.uk/ one. It's really brilliant and DS1 is on the next stage up. I'm a bit nervous about hearing about cheap bikes because as a cycling-mad household, we really think that it's important to have a decent bike. Cheap bikes don't roll smoothly (bad hubs), are too heavy, aren't sized properly, and generally make for a less-fun experience. My boys have been very quick to learn on their bikes but I think partially that's because they've had the right equipment for the job. I know it's expensive, but for us it's worthwhile.

As for reading, I just spoke to the nursery teacher for DS1 and she's recommended not teaching him (I love her!). Instead read to him, make silly rhymes, and relax. She says that no matter what level they are when they start P1, they end up in the same place at the end.

Oh, yeah, Abdn, forgot that you're bike mad in your family too! (Me, not so much, although I love cycling; my brother and sister and BIL are mountain bikers.)

Reading - my Mum always says don't teach your children to read, but prepare the ground. That means open books occasionally, ones with writing in (although you'd be surprised...) and get them familiar with the idea but no need to teach letters etc. And as Abdn said they end up in the same place at the end.
MIL says DH taught himself to read before he went to school. I say bollocks to that: I've seen the number of Ladybird learning to read books she handed on to Iestyn. (We read the books in Welsh to him, simultaneous translation LOL, so he's going to be seriously confused when it comes to reading! )

Phonics - n/a here. Welsh is phonetic.

Essie, I'm with Goddess - tell the PILs your DB is already staying with your Mum, so they either can't come or will have to stay in a B&B.

Neenz, can't quite believe the DTs (and all our other babies - not that they're babies anymore) are going to be two soon.

I want to get B outdoor toys for his birthday, but haven't given it much more thought than that. We had a nice smallish party last year with his sisters and our friends, so it'll be the same again, but maybe a few more guests as we've got more space. Fingers crossed that the grass is all done by then and the weather's good!

I'm sure people would come to a party for Luke Amber!

As for all the pelvic floor chat - I think I'm just about coming to terms with the aftermath of childbirth - I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to have surgery, as I've defintely got a prolapse, and I'm pretty sure I've got a rectocele. Horrid . I haven't been to the docs yet, I'm still feeling a bit weird about it all. I didn't even tear when B was born, but a big baby arriving very quickly seems to have caused quite a lot of damage that no one noticed at the time.

Anyway... The Wiggles are a bit of a hit here, as is Postman Pat. I'd love to take B to the Wiggles tour, but I'm not convinced it would be money well spent at the moment. Might have to see if I can wangle some tickets somehow instead.