June 08 - if your name's not down you're not coming in!

[EddieIzzardismyhero]

Welcome to our new cliquey thread !

Amber - that's great news. I've been waiting to hear, can't believe you told us before Mark!!!What did he say?

Am reposting this for reasons I wont explain till the post below has disappeared!

Neenz - just been looking at your holiday snaps - very cute. How do your two get on with the ready beds? (Sorry, I think you said already!). It reminded me that I've been looking at this one for ages after spotting it on GLTC for £40. Out of stock now at readybed's own website and nearly out of stock at my local argos so have reserved one to pick up tomorrow.

what's happening Goddess?

Wow Amber, great news!

DG, totally agree!

Amber, how exciting! What was I saying about prams and waiting to see how many babies you are having...? Hope Luke is on the mend soon.

Debs, sorry Ethan is poorly too.

I had to google Thomas B (Sybil's namesake). My knowledge of Christian history is a bit rubbish obviously. Are there bad connotations or is it just a commonly known name? (Or not that common in my case ).

Dewin, you know you are doing the right thing teaching I only Welsh because you have read the research and have been through it yourself. I was also surprised tho to read that your Dh doesn't speak English to him but if that's the decision you have made as a family then that is your business and you know it won't affect his English in the long run. Good on your DH. And I think the GPs could communicate with him very easily - they should just speak to him in English, he is only 2! I think with a minority language like Welsh (esp up against such a dominant language as English) it is very important for him to get the grounding in Welsh first. btw, the MIL would change his nappy if she had him for the day and you weren't around, wouldn't she? You'd think cos she doesn't see him very often she would love to 'do nappies' but that is the sort of thing my mum would say - she thinks GPs are for fun things like the zoo and chocolate buttons .

Eddie, just checking... you know I didn't mean your surname is silly, right? I only meant silly in the context of wanting a DS called Dan

Dewin, I laughed at your scousers comment and then laughed even more when I realised it wasn't a joke! Are the scouser beaches bad then . I haven't been camping on Anglesey but my friend has a caravan there and says the site is great (don't know what it is called though!). I will ask her and get back to you Allnew.

x-posted Goddess - intrigued by double post... they both look exactly the same to me!

The ready beds were great except the DTs kept falling off them. That was fine for T (see pic where he is half on the floor, half on the bed) because it didn't wake him but every time E fell off she woke up. But that was probably because it was cold on the floor. We put mattresses round her and that did the trick. They would always play for a bit before going to sleep which is why they weren't always properly on the bed when they did drop off. They seemed very comfy though on the inflatable.

Ah good, it's gone. The link on the first one still had my home postcode in the search box. . Sorry, not very interesting!

Am going to pick up the readybed tomorrow I think. I really like the style of that one and I think it is about to be discontinued.

Have done no research tonight (except on ready beds and toilet training stuff!).

As there have been some very interesting and thought-provoking posts of late, I thought I'd get in on the act with this one about potty training

Neenz, I am flouncing off the thread cos you think my surname is silly .

Don't be daft - course I didn't think that at all!!!

My maiden surname was crapola (not literally - I wasn't C Crapola!!) so I couldn't wait to change my name, even if it was to a name that meant I couldn't have a Daniel!

Btw, I am genuinely that you don't know who Thomas B is!! Go forth and research young lady . . . .

DG, I share your loathing of gender specific options - it makes my blood boil in an entirely irrational and totally OTT way! Was looking for goal posts yesterday for A (yes, we are going a bit mad on birthday presents ) and the ELC do them in PINK!! FFS - pink goalposts! Never seen anything so fecking ridiculous - although the pink globe probably takes the biscuit.

I got told last week that I was a "liberal parent" because I "allow" A to have a pink cup!

Jeez, the world has gone mad .

Oh and we had noticed the spelling mistake on the Mothercare thread too - dreadful! You'd think they'd have a bloody spellcheck!

Amber yay - I knew everything would be ok!

Neenz great post above (on the bilingualism issue) - I'm avoiding the other thread now, although why is it so weirdly compulsive? I started it to stir things up if I'm honest and exaggerated some elements...but I am in such disbelief about some of the comments - esp. about my DH! They're now calling him weak and pathetic, and that I'm running the show. But I guess not many of you on here have met him, and those who have have only seen him with the restraints and gags off, and I beat him hard with a cat o'nine tails before to make him perform the caring husband thing.

But Neenz!! Not knowing who Thomas Beckett is?! Step aside, Eddie, I'll handle this one. Seriously, the murder of Thomas Beckett was probably the most significant event in English - if not (western) European - history for a long, long time. Major repercussions, one of them being, indirectly, the creation of the common law, i.e. the English legal system as we know it today (and it is the most superb legal system, totally mindblowing), and the basis of the US system too. Without Thomas Beckett, there would have been no Magna Carta, and thus the modern-day US constitution would be rather a different thing.

I lecture on it a lot - it's within my period - wd you like a 10 point guide? I can make it really interesting. I mean it, that's my aim in life. I have a really cool medieval manuscript link...
It's not Christian history per se - no disrespect to eddie but she's not into that kind of thing! - but church supremacy, church v. state was the issue. He's a Catholic saint, and his shrine is, I think, the most important Catholic one in this country - am I right, Rolf? (Oops, I started.)

Iestyn's slide is pink! I only want boys because I can empower them in a feminist role. (Oh, crap, and now I really am a manipulative freaky controlling bitch who is point scoring against humanity in general.)

Eddie your post made me (a) panic (I could only see the angry face) and then laugh so hard at the thought of you being Miss C Crapola!! Did you ever tell me what the origin of your surname is? I suspect Celtic, but that's just a hunch.

p.s. Sybil I would have loved it if you'd used Thomas. But probably not wise. I did once meet a man with a medieval name: Stephen Langton. (The original was the go-between for Magna Carta.) I also have a student at the moment who is obviously from the Tudor court: shares his first name with Beckett, surname Kynaston. (Don't know if there was one in the Tudor court, but I always want to hand him a lute!)

That's fabulous Amber

Must click refresh before posting! I'm still giggling at Eddie being Miss C Crapola . And at the thought of you having a Dan and Sybil having a Thomas Andrew . I feel the same way about the name Thomas - I've wanted a Thomas since I was little (and now I have one!). Dewin can't comment on the English Catholic thing as I'm a chippy Irish Catholic . Do post your 10-point list - I bet it's interesting.

I hate the ELC pink thing and all the gender-specific merchandising. I get very cross when DD1 is given Hooker Barbie stuff as presents.

DD1 is a bit of a tomboy, which I like, but wondered if it was because I so consciously steered away from pink frills, but T is very much more girly and is, I think, influencing DD1 into being a bit more frilly. T isn't sleeping well and was sitting up with us watching Legally Blonde (one of DH's favourite films ) and she was wearing sunglasses and bracelets .

I had my leaky lady appointment - so revolting. I was hysterical (literally )

Oh, and I'm also giggling at the scousers comment. Where are the non-scouser beaches, then?

Dewin my DH is more of a feminist than me! I'm totally doing my best to raise feminist sons....

and lets have the lecture on T.A.B. and the king.... I know the story but not from a proper historian POV

And I was annoyed that ELC do a blue or a pink magnadoodle - why on earth would it not be green or red or white?

hugs for rolf after her dr appt.

PMSL at hooker Barbie!!

Sorry to hear that your appt was so traumatic . If you feel able can you let us know what they said? I did an aerobics vid on Monday (inspired by that scary control freak we have on our thread ) and it wasn't pleasant .

Some people obviously don't care about the name/surname thing cos I was listening to the radio yeserday and they had a Mr and Mrs Wood phoning in a birthday request for their 15 year old daughter . . . . . . Holly . Bet she got bored of that joke quickly!

I don't know the origin of dh's name tbh - FIL likes to think it's Italian but I think he has deusions of romance! It's very very prevalent in the west country where their family is from, but could be Celtic. Oh and my maiden name was Smith not Crapola! And I hated it with a passion - a lot of my friends were surprised that I changed my surname cos of my feminist credentials, but I couldn't wait to change it tbh! I only ever dated men with interesting surnames too - once had a date with a Jones and dumped him as soon as I found out .

And lol at the "she's not into that kind of thing"!! My medieval history is not good I have to say, esp my history of royalty (I know they were all bastards (some quite literally!) but that's as far as it goes!!), I'm a modern political historian .

Right, have left this exciting news til the end of the thread . . . . . M slept through the night!! And I mean proper slept through - 8pm til 7a.30am! Unfortunately A was up at 1am and 4am which kind of spoilt it, but still - HE SLEPT THROUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!

neenz I didn't know about Thomas Beckett either . My knowledge of history is appalling

DG your description of MNetters was very apt indeed!

Great news amber - really hope you don't go on to develop spd though

rolf is the doctor able to help?

I started doing aerobics recently and am enjoying it but the star jumps are

Eddie - wowzer at M! Luke still doesn't go that long!

Thanks for all the nice comments everyone. I think I might go for the extra scan she suggested in a week or so to see if there is any more news on 'sac 2'.

Rolf - what happened? Can you tell us? Was it painful or embarrassing?

Eddie - we've spent a small fortune on Luke too but half of it is from other relatives with no imagination (who will never give us the money for it).

Ooh, busy thread. Rolf v.v. sorry to hear about the clinic. As Eddie said, talk if you feel able to. (There's several dodgy pelvic floors on here, I believe and you're very helpful).
Eddie I did mean the Christian history wasn't your thing. Most people don't know much about medieval history - the Tudors (which I wouldn't count as medieval) are very popular, but earlier than that is largely avoided. Possibly because it's seen as 'difficult', or possibly irrelevant? But there's such a wealth of fabulous history there... But I am passionate about it.

Eddie which exercise DVD did you do? I have a selection, some good some not so good. I love the thought that I'm a sporty inspiration - that's so hilarious, really. (My sister was a champion gymnast - it affects your view of exercise and I was never the sport one!) I originally was going to ask because I thought you found it hard but now I get it... but Allnew the star jumps are absolutely the worst. I have some Davina DVDs and there's star jumps in one of those, and Davina actually jokes 'ooh, lucky I've done my pelvic floor exercises hahahaha'. And I think, er, no, I just

I will give you my 10 point Thomas Becket (I've been spelling it wrong ) in a sec but can I share my woes?

Iestyn moved up in nursery yesterday and it's not going well. It's his first move, and it wasn't handled brilliantly really (I arrived yesterday and it was the first I heard; some of the staff didn't know, and they weren't told basic stuff like he has a dummy to sleep. (That was fixed by one of the girls who does know.) It's a bit crappy, but they're a fab nursery in most other ways - management is a bit come-day-go-day (is that proper English?) but very caring. Anyhow, I'm not complaining about it, just explaining, because it made the transition harder!) Yesterday, he left me to play with new toys (novelty) and later he cried a bit, but the three newbies did and they all do apparently. When I went to pick him up he told me to go away, 'Iestyn stay here'. But this morning he slept in, and when I got him up he was being extremely un co-operative. He mucked around with breakfast (so I phoned nursery who said it was toast and that he could get plenty when he came in) and then when it came to getting dressed it was a disaster. He totally and utterly refused, and kept ripping off any clothes and fighting. I eventually got him dressed and told him we were going but he said no, he wanted to stay in the house with me; then he alternatively offered going to Nain's. He also asked for a biscuit and chocolate (which he didn't get...) so he was clearly hungry and I thought the toast might help at nursery. He refused to let go of me, cried, and then I sat with him a bit, and eventually one of the girls took him to see the toast popping up so I snuck away. But before I had left the corridor I could hear him howling his heart out.
Really, there's no question here because he'll have to adjust. I just want someone to be sympathetic!

OK. The squeamish should look away now...

Before the appointment, there is homework:

a 3-day bladder diary - keep a log of all fluid in and out, and note any leaks;

an online questionnaire divided into bladder, bowel, vagina and sex life. Most of it wasn't applicable to me, but instead of finding that reasuring, I thought oh golly, this is how bad it can get;

a pad test. You drink a litre of water. Wait an hour. Put on a huge pad and do some exercises (cough, go upstairs, sit up/down, run the tap). After an hour remove the pad and put it in a bag and seal it. They weigh it to see how much you've leaked.

At the appointment, the nurse who was looking after me directed me to a changing room and told me to strip off my bottom half and put on a surgical gown. Then I went into the room next door and had to sit on a commode and pee.

Then what is supposed to happen is you sit on a bed and they insert 2 catheters. But if you're me, you burst into tears and ask if they have some drugs, preferably soporific ones. She offered me an anaesthetic gel but as she approached me with it I screamed and cried some more. Anyway, after much sobbing and hand-holding they did the catheters, which wasn't exactly painful but was unpleasant in a finger-wriggling way. Then they put a tiny balloon thing up your bum which wasn't painful. They pass water through one of the catheters until you feel full. You're asked to cough every minute. When you're full you stand up and cough some more and they turn a tap on. Then you sit on another commode and pee, then stand up and all the stuff is removed.

It lasted about an hour, but about half of that was crying . They need to do all those tests to assess exactly what the problem is. She said that she thought I'd probably be offered surgery (TVT) which I was a bit surprised at as I haven't been offered anything else. I queried it and she agreed to refer me to a specialist physio.

I've looked up the TVT procedure and really don't like the look of it. Partly because I just don't think I could handle it. Also the risks and side effects are ones that I don't think I would find acceptable. Also it's relatively new surgery therefore there are a lot of unknowns. So I'm pinning my hopes on physio.

Poor Iestyn and poor you, Dewin. I hope the rest of the day improves for him.

Eddie well done on the sleep! I am knackered as T is hardly sleeping at all, and I get her out of bed as I don't want her to wake the others. She's being a real pain at night, actually.

Despite all the chat on here, I've only just registered that T's birthday is next week . Better start thinking...

Oh, Rolf, that sounds pretty traumatic, and I'd have been crying too. (My personal medical issues have been to do with my ears, and I've been known to fight consultants, cry, call them bastards and walk out saying I'd rather be deaf. ) It's the intrusiveness. I don't know whether to google TVT or not, but I suppose it depends how bad you're deemed to be. Why aren't they giving you those pelvic toner machines? (This is a serious question!) Apparently in France after you've had a baby they sit you down, check through your pelvic floor, and you're sent away with a toner if you don't score 100% in the exam.

Unrelated, but I find it impressive: my grandmother's mother was one of the first three people in the UK to have surgery for a torn bladder (result of childbirth). It's revolutionized women's lives, especially in poorer countries.