Dec 08 Ladies - Maybe this thread they'll ALL sleep through the night at the same time!

[Beans33]

Apologies for rubbish title, couldn't think of anything - mind is totally riddled by hormones...!

Oh and pubes - I'd keep an eye out for an acidy nappy, not sure if that many might upset his tum a bit.

will catch up with everyone else later

Oh yeah JJ - didn't think of that. And he has had bad nappies with the teething oops

Well I have been crapola today on the work front so will have to work during the Italy match but not too fussed about that. I kept lurking here but not posting as I knew I'd get in trouble, am such a sad act.

Beans would def def stay at the hossie you know, as others have said. Even if you have a fast labour you'll know the signs to look out for this time and I'm sure will get there in plenty of time. It 's most important you are relaxed as possible and that's going to happen in a familiar environment I would think.

JJ, keep EVERYTHING unless it's really awkward to say otherwise. You don't want to feel in the position of being the bad guy for asking for what's rightfully yours at a difficult time for her.

Jam, wow well done you on the big boy bed, that's really impressive. Am wondering if maybe we should do it at the move and kill two resettling birds with one stone. If we ever move that is, tis taking a vv long time.

T has another bad cough, the people at nursery think it's croup, he's in a really bad way, poor sausage. I'm so sick of him getting these upper respiratory infections, but all the docs can say is he's "prone" to them. Tres unhelpful. We had a really bad night last night as he kept waking from coughing, DP is off to Amsterdam super early in the morning so am not holding out for too much sleep in the next few days .

Kiwi your day sounded great, did you buy something nice?

Oh yeah JJ - I'd be inclined to keep it with you too. Just say you are feeling like your clothes are already tight so will need to be in maternity clothes sooner than expected.

Spot - sorry T is ill again - very annoying that "he's just unlucky" type attitude of the pro's huh

Spot actually turned out a bit underwhelming - my friend forgot about our lunch date and stood me up (didn't really mind as it was nice cafe and i was going to be in area anyway) and then couldn't find anything I liked. Though I did buy DD some Night Garden PJS from M&S ... She loved them, kept pointed out Maka Paka...

JJ Hold on to them!! Unless you've got a couple of things you didn't really like that you can send her and keep the ones you do like

Evening ladies feeling better just really washed out post migraine feeling. I rallied a bit after picking DS1 up from school and met some friends with their kids at a nice park. The boys had a great time and DS2 is getting quite adept on the play equipment. A few times I nearly had a heartattack when I couldn't find him and discovered him on the top level of the castle climbing frame thing. DS2 enjoyed his upward mobility though as he was able to use him as a babe magnet with the older girls up there.

Where is Trace?

NJAN that CBT sounds like it's worked really well for you. Any new haircutting?

SL good news on the VBAC, the canula will be fine, in the end it's up to you when you have it not them but it's not something you want to go through during contractions like last time. You can ask them not to put it in your hand or to strap it down well, something that can easily be done if it's not in a hurry. I only know one person who had tried for a VBAC and it was all fine. She actually started at a HBAC but her baby was distressed so they got her to go in to the hospital but she had a brilliant very confident midwife who worked really well with her. This midwife even shouted a junior doctor out of the room who was trying to do a vontouse.

Beans I've heard similar things to Rubs about Georges not being a great Mat unit. The Birth Center is next door to Georges and I would have gone there if there were any probs with DS1's birth but thankfully was all fine. Apparently they have a very good neonatal unit but Thommies is better. Not that you'll be needing that. I was 45 mins from the birth center for DS1 which turned into an hour & a half on the day because there were road works. If DH is worried just go in early and if it's too early you can always go for a nice walk along the Thames.

Spot sorry MrT is unwell, is his cough exhausting him? Is it very often? With the moving bed & house thing I'm a bit of a softy but I would be inclined to move him into a new bed after you have moved not at the same time. They do like having something they know so if you change houses at least he will have his cot that he knows.

JJ she takes forever to send stuff you could do the same and then say 'oh sorry I'm going to need them now'.

Lady DS1's name isn't particularly posh but we like him referred to it in full not shortened (except to his initials nickname but that's just so cute). I really don't like it shortened to the first four letters, I just really like the full name. We had loads of people go 'oooh sorry aren't you posh' when we said not to call him xxxx. It's our child surely we can have a say in what he is referred to for now.

Spot poor T and his chest. Has a specialist had a thorough look again recently? Dh says if your practice has an asthma nurse, they could have another look at him and see if that's making him liable to infections. [hug] for T.

Summer what a cheeky bugger your mate is! Needs a bit of a poke in the ribs I think

Avo I am feeling worried about the mummies and daddies bit of your book. All I know is that when mummy and daddy love each other very much and want to have a baby, they have a special cuddle. And that's how it happens

kiwi really glad to hear your sleeping panda is doing so well! And hope you're feeling the benefit of it too.

veggie it sounds like life in Holland is suiting you all so well, the jazz festival sounds awesome! We had a 'country fair' here over the weekend with little steam engines and cows and hens and so forth, dd got cockadoodled at which she found hilarious

Effie thanks for your FB message, I'll send you my number and if you let me know when the meeting's over DD and I can pop across and meet you - if the weather's too iffy for the gardens, the Fitz museum isn't too far from the station and also lots of fun. Fingers crossed for the job share, things could well work out perfectly.

Keeping your friend in my prayers, and urbane also your DH and SIL.

I'm afraid the football holds absolutely no interest in this household, we're more likely to have people over to watch the proms on telly than the footy and of course DH is scottish so has even less enthusiasm than most blokes - actually, does anyone know if anyone's doing pants like this in a Scotland version? I really want to get him some for father's day!

hello NJAN good to see you, sounds like a lovely weekend!

pubes your MIL is fabulous. Could you lend her round a bit please?

beans will be keeping fingers crossed for the next couple of weeks, it's surely quite normal to be feeling a bit overwhelmed all of a sudden with the imminence of the new nipper, we'll all be here to offer sage advice empathy and coffee oh and fantastic news about the house, nothing like applying a bit of pressure to get people moving...

WG you'll be fab at the singing, just remember if you forget the words, don't replace them with cursing and all will be fine How have your sessions with DH gone, if I can ask? Hope things are looking brighter.

LadyT, how exciting about O's upwardly mobileness!

Jam, goodness what a big step with the new bed. It must be quite exciting for him to be able to get out and about, I'm sure the novelty will wear off soon and he'll stick in it at bedtime. Are all the pox finally gone?

Right, I shan't feel guilty about not sending SIL the mat clothes. Since it's very early days, we won't be telling her (or anyone else!) for a little while yet but I can just fib and say I forgot. My maternity wardrobe comprised 1 pair jeans, 1 pair work trousers (that I never wore as they're about 3" too long, should have sent them to LadyT!), a camisole, a wraparoundy top and a skirt. Not very extensive... The rest was just stuff I nicked off DH so am pretty loathe to lose the proper kit by posting to SIL. In fact I'm pretty sure the reason we conceived the next one was that I finally got round to putting them in a bag to go up to the loft

jj it was Adam who you've met who said those rude things!! He's not normally so rude. The bad thing was he was right, hence I realise I need to get some nice maternity clothes as the (non maternity) top he was referring to is a bit like a sack and does not show off my cleavage or obviously pregnant shape.

Tell your SIL that you have leant the clothes to someone else who is about to have their baby in a couple of weeks, then tell her that they are overdue, and then forget for a couple of weeks, and then voila you will be able to tell her you are clackered and you need to keep them after all.

Ooh just a little test from dh's fancy new iPad!

Rubes it was this set which is nicer than you would expect for the price, and very comfy, the boys have loved eating outside.

Spot I referred myself to MIND who offer 6 sessions of counselling for free, this is during the day but I have a "work from home" arrangement that I can use. I am also on the CRUSE waiting list but have been on it for ages now, probably because ideally I asked for evenings/weekends which is more difficult. So I did those without the GP. The CBT is through work, they have a free private counselling service but it is only available in Cambridge so I complained and they said the current Occ Health provider has a CBT trained person who is supposed to work with employment related issuse (ie fear of public speaking etc), but who was willing to help me just in general, which has been great cos its 30 minutes every couple of weeks actually at my place of work.

Lady I come from a big family myself and sometimes I feel like someone is missing. DH and I agreed the other day the only thing we really regret is not starting earlier. We met when we were young and I was just never that broody. If we had time I would definitely say yes, but I have just turned 37 and feel time is running out to choose. Sometimes I worry it would ruin what we have, but then I remeber I felt like that before DS2 and now I definitly wouldnt change it. The first year would be hard but in truth couldnt be harder than last year, and now we have some proper family support locally (GPs 30 mins away) which would really help. I kind of love the challenge and the mess and the noise and cuddling little bodies.

I am a cheapskate as I got a lot of my maternity clothes online from Vertbaudet and some from the cheap Next outlet at a big retail park near Colchester, the name of which I cant remember. I did also just buy a lot of shirts in large sizes from second hand shops too (there are loads where I live).

Beans I think it is normal to feel the way you do. I blubbed so much one midwife told me that I neede to calm down as that was probably why I was overdue. In the end I was induced on boxing day and I sobbed so much when we left I was not allowed to say goodbye to DS1 (an hour before his bedtime) and all the way to hospital and until the contractions got too bad to cry anymore ! It was such a relief when it was over, and I am not someone who crys a lot normally.

Anyway gotta talk to my husband I guess.

hello
we finally hasve scabs so I'm out of pox-isolation now! Phew! All been a bit busy and have been feeling a little down, hence not posting for a few days. I'm fine though - just been feeling so level for such a long time now (for me!) that it took me by surprise a little, but I'm doing better today so it was perhaps a mini-blip
Anyway. Nuff of that.
Lightening I got most of my clackerwear from Dorothy Perkins - they do petite stuff too (I noticed you are on the shorter side - like me!). I had some cut off combat kind of trousers which had the softest waist band and I just lived in them! Got quite a few tops from there too.
What's an ipad?
Hurrah for the fab MILs. Or rather MsIL.
Mine came over 2 days last week to have my inpoxicated child which was a fab help, so gold stars here too
wg eek about the music classes - I'm sure you'll be fine when it comes to it. Are you still feeling wobbly about your 'real' teaching?
Ladyt I'm thrilled that Little O is discovering the joys of standing I imagine you must be sick of people making food suggestions, but I've recently discovered that P adores fig rolls - has O tried one? It's as appealing as a biscuit but with enough fruit to allay the guilt! P also pointed at a banana yesterday, nodded eagerly when I offered it to her, then squished a handful and threw the whole thing across the lounge as though I'd given her a bowl of worms to eat
I wonder how kayz is getting on.
Oh lightening I had a VBAC and had my cannula put in in the early stages. It wasn't any hassle having it there, and I was glad it was there then, rather than having to do it between horrendously painful contractions. I was told that I wouldn't be allowed to labour for too long, but that I wouldn't be allowed to be induced, so if things weren't progressing it would be another section. I guess different places have different policies. As it turned out I was only officially in labout for 6 hours and there was no concern about the scar whatsoever. Knackered my front bum though!

Oh Summer, did you say meetup ? I'm on hol at the beginning of July but OK after that. Fridays are good for me...

njan hello! Yes CAMBRIDGE MEET UP!! can you do monday to Wednesday, it's just that jj works Thursday and Friday.
Having said that Friday is fine for me from mid-july as I will not be working. At the moment I only have Thursdays off. If you only have fridays off that makes jj, you and I totally incompatible re meeting up!

trace thanks, I will check out DP, I think I went in one of the cambridge ones and they had sod all, but maybe I will try again. Yes I remember you didn't have a very good VBAC experience. I definitely want another section if things aren't progressing properly or if there's any worries actually. I just don't want masses of faffing around if there's actually nothing wrong. And I definitely do NOT want to be induced, i get the impression they are not keen on inducing you but will if you really want it, so hopefully i will be able to avoid that. Also DH thinks inducing is evil and has said that I am not being induced either. I think he doesn't realise that actually it's possibly just giving birth that is evil, though to a certain extent I agree with him! With me they tried to put my canula in during contractions I seem to remember, I think they failed though, they were trying to put one in my hand for the section when I already had one halfway up my arm for some reason, but I think they just had to use the arm one in the end. Which was massively annoying afterwards as whenever I remotely bent my arm it put a kink in the pipe thingy and an alarm went off and a huffy midwife came in grumbling and saying what idiot put that thing in your arm there, blah blah blah.

Oh an ipad is like a big iphone, which sounds quite pointless but is actually quite cool.

Ooh, Summer L, missed the bit about your VBAC. It's good that you have reached a decision that you are happy with. Do they mean the canula would have to be attached, or would you just have the toggle in your hand? A pain, aren't they? I still have the scar from mine.

Beans, what Effie and others said about the hossie - seriously. Go where you know, if you are very happy with the place you know, even if it is 35 mins.

JJ, I think tell your SIL you have a lot on at work and you forgot...by the time she gets round to wondering about it, it will be time for her to have the baby and for you to tell her about yours.

I am so sorry for poor little T. I am sure they will diagnose asthma as soon as he is old enough but that doesn't help for now. Coughs are such a bugger when they are tots as you can't really give them much. When O had a cough I gave her the Simple Linctus that one can have whilst pregnant, it soothed it a bit...

Rubes, you didn't annoy me, promise. Neither did anyone else (on here). Some of the twots on the names board annoy and goad me, that's all. I should stay off it, but I just really like names (even when not up duffed). I am glad things are calmer with your brother, even if you are both ignoring the elephant in the room. When are you orf to Spain?

Aw, Jam, your baby in a big boy bed I would feel just the same. I still see O as a baby. I will just feel like I have two babies when I have the next one. Mind you, I will probably feel like that when they are in their thirties As I know full well I am still the baby in our family.

DP bought me presents today. I was rather cheesed off last week and he came with a posh beret and a lovely head massager in the shape of a lady wearing a feather boa , all to cheer me up. It was a really nice surprise as he gets freaked out buying gifts and things, it's not really his thing. I was really touched. And then we went out for an Indian tonight - a really nice change for a Monday. (I have been too uptight to eat out over much, as I am paranoid about getting fatter, which is a bit daft as I am now 6 months gone). DD ate poppadoms and after dinner mints Oddly her weirdo food phobias didn't extend to these items.

Oh, and I like your DS1's name, Veggie, as it is the same as my eldest nephew. And Syb's boy is the same as my youngest nephew

Right, going to have a rare early night. Very thirsty, though I know that's the Indian. Still drinking gallons. But the rash on my tummy is all but gone. I am afraid it was that lovely Lush therapy bar, as itching and rash coincided very neatly with its use.

Effie, when will you know from your colleague about your days? Are you still having a spa day next Monday? I would come as I am in town that day, but have O (as well as a consultant appt at 2.30).

Crossposted with Trace and NJAN!

Trace, I was wondering where you are. It's funny you say fig rolls, as dried fruit and biscuits are some of the few things the little beggar will eat (or sometimes, at least). But DP is ahead of you He bought some a fortnight ago and nearly did a cartwheel, so convinced was he they would tick her boxes. And can we get her to touch a fig roll with a barge pole? We cannot. Oh, and I never tire of people's suggestions - all gratefully received. I am pretty sure I have tried everything now (I even tried her on sausages again after Kiwi's suggestion the other day) but it was still no go. Yes, I am so chuffed about the standing. She is SO keen as well, and proud of herself, and calls herself a good girl and cheers (copying us as we give her lavish praise and encouragement). It just seems like a miracle.

NJAN, that is exciting that you are thinking about it. I know I will feel supersad about not having any more babies after this one, even though pregnancy is (in my opinion) a nuisance, and even though I know that, practically speaking, it isn't really an option for us. Babies (all kids) are so lovely. Such a blessing. The friends we were with on Saturday night have four children - girls aged 13, 11 and 8 and a little boy of 4. They are such fab kids and I do see it would be immense fun to have a lovely big family like that. But they are stinking rich and live in baronial splendour, and I think it makes the practicalities so much easier.

Right, bed!

I?ve been lurking over the weekend, and thought I was on top of things, but must have skimmed tons of posts because I?ve been re-reading tonight and don?t remember anything I?d supposedly read before. My poor little brain

I do remember Trace going dog walking though . And yay for the scabs. Has Lu still managed to avoid the pox?

Fab progress on the sleep Kiwi ? yeehah to you and your DD for making such great, and rapid, progress

Summer I liked New Look for maternity ? stretchy and cheap, perfect

Beans I wouldn?t change hospitals at this late stage, you could give birth at any time so stick with what you know. DD was born 40 minutes away ? and that?s my nearest. Despite what they say about staying at home as long as poss, I wasn?t going to risk getting there late under any circs. Can?t believe you could be just days away. Lots and lots of luck xx

Well done to littleLadyT on standing. I am, as always, mighty impressed with her huge vocabulary

Big beds scare me Jam, as does anything that vaguely suggests DD isn?t my baby anymore. Talking of which, we were at my friends at the weekend and my goddaughter (2.5) still can?t be persuaded to drink her milk from anything other than bottle. So my friend went through the usual ?why don?t you have your milk in your cup tonight? you?re not a baby, only babies drink from bottles?. To which my smart cookie goddaughter replied ?but I?m your precious little baby Mummy?

I?ve had to sign the accident book twice for DD in the last week at nursery ? never before has anything happened to her, and now it seems like its going to be endless. Today?s incident was her getting too excited at teatime and running over to her high chair, and smack into it The damage wasn?t so bad that she couldn?t eat her tea ? apparently managed most of it before deciding to cry and whinge

Right, should go to bed, but also I?m tempted to have a quick look at those name threads first ?

Thanks for asking after DB and SIL and all your kind thoughts. She's much better today. They've given her a huge whack of IV antibiotics and it seems to have done the trick. Poor things though. Last thing she needed.

And gala dinner went well in the end. Although I was so nervous during the auction that I ducked out and caught up with the thread on my phone. Such a salve you are...We did ok in the end - and raised a surprisingly huge amount of money. Was still beating myself up about not doing enough when DH pointed out that the point of me being a trustee wasn't that I knew lots of people who could bid £££ but because I knew stuff about government. So I felt a bit better (and a lot poorer. Honestly how the other half live...).

Beans St Thomas' was about a 35-40 minute journey for us and I still had DD there. Like you I loved it. I'd stick with it as your plan A if I were you. Getting very excited for you. . Fingers crossed your house works out ok tomorrow.

And had some nice news today - my cousin had her twins (DC3 that turned out to be DC3&4). Alexi and lisette and both over 6lbs.

LadyT congratulations on O standing. Clever girl. Also love the thought of her telling herself she's clever. And how. DD is still at the pointing to things and saying cat stage. In fact she stumbled upon the pet food aisle in the corner shop the other day and was completely beside herself pointing out all the pictures of all the cats. V amusing.

Am in total denial about moving DD to a big bed - she's staying in a cot until she has to write to me to express her desire to move.

Spot I hope T is doing a bit better. Must be so hard for you. I hope you do get a sensible diagnosis. This is probably last thing you want to hear but I had similar problems as v small child and my parents (and a very switched on GP) realised I was allergic to all sorts of things - including dairy, some food colouring, chocolate and dust. Which was obviously a complete arse. But I had a bedroom with hardly any furniture in it and washable floor etc and it really helped - especially in the night time. Much more sophisticated these days, but can you get referred for allergy tests? Am I right in thinking you had to give T a non-dariy formula (I could be completely mis-remembering). Anyway. Sorry for rambling. I hope he's feeling better. If it's any consolation David Beckham and Paula Radcliffe (and Effie and me if I remember right) have asthma. So T could still play football for England/run marathons sit around reading books (sorry effie - could be shameful libel but was pretty sure you - like me - hadn't done either).

Njan I was reading the thread on the way to work this morning and thinking that you're such an inspiration. I'm full of admiration for the way that you and LadyT have coped with such sorrow in your lives.

Right. Am trying to read up on health inequalities for Londoners for this job interview I have on weds. Am too wired to sleep. Which could be a very bad idea. I already look like an extra from night of the living dead. Hope you're all sleeping.

Urbane: right on both counts! Although I was keen on swimming when younger. The dust mite thing may well be worth looking into, as would the asthma nurse. The things that help me are dusting with a damp cloth, hoovering the mattress and not living in Lincolnshire .

Speaking of allergies, I'm considering taking DS2 to the gp as he has been having very runny exploding nappies for a while now. I've been putting it off as he's well in himself but he had 5 explsions at the childminder yesterday and was not happy last night. I need to make an appointment for DS1's mmr booster so may try and do both at once.

Am on a slooooow train to Cambridge, one carriage. No sign yet of it being towed by a horse.

Lady,
We leave in the morning. Nothing like leaving stuff until the last minute in this house. Just took the car in for the service and but of course the car service guy tried to rip off the pregnant girl! He attempted to scare the hell out of me by saying a million things are urgently wrong with it, but apparently it's only ONE tyre that is urgent (after I got DH to call him) and also some other alternator part (which unfortunately is £200 in itself) Really annoys me that this guy tried to say it would cost £1600 for him to fix everything that is wrong today, and made it sounds as thought it was ALL urgent, but then I get DH to call him and he completely changed his story and said "well most of it could wait a bit but needs to be done at the next service"! (Funny that!) The NEXT service!
So we are getting the one tyre and the alternator thingy and will do the other stuff when we get back. I guess DH said some people in this part of town would just tell him to go ahead - fools - not I.

At least they gave me a courtesy car I suppose, and they are doing the tyre for a good price DH said - still makes me though. Not to mention dh leaves things like servicing the car until the DAY before we go away in it, but has been agonizing over whether to leave his bike frame with a mat or glossy finish for days now, not to mention the A1 top quality parts on the thing! meanwhile the car is falling apart
I have to pull out the Gaviscon again I think. A few too many pieces of toast and I've got that stuck in my throat feeling all morning....

Oh no Rubes I have to take our car in for service tomorrow, hope they don't rip me off too, you have me worried now! Mind you DH is more likely to say oh go ahead with loads of repairs than me, as I am stingy, he is Mr Cautious and Mr Safety. Oh I need to do some work.

Oh and bless your DH and his bike. I love boys and their bike obsessions, I miss evenings in the pub talking about tyres (though my DH is not like that with bikes, in fact our mountain bike club call him "wrecker" as he is always trashing his bike and not maintaining it!)

I am massively on the gaviscon too, it is ok to take it regularly isnt' it? I have it at least 4 times a day!

Yeah Lightening, It's an obsession for sure... There's so much bling on that thing, and it's going to be his commuting bike shortly as he's eyeballing a new frame. I think he's taking the bling off and putting crapier parts on the commuting bike though when it comes to that. No chance in hell he doesn't look after it, it's like brand new, and get's maintained after every outing

I'm taking Gaviscon it a lot. I hate it - can you swallow the tabs whole for the same result? Or do they HAVE to be chewed? (Assuming you have the tab form)