Avidly plotting to Wisely splurge. Come on the sales!

[blossoming]

Just bought the Me & Em maxi. Well I had a code..

Emo, maxi dress?

As I live in a world with lots of the these types of invites I have puzzled over that one many times Emo. IMO it depends what time of day. If it is during the working day then a lot of ladies go in smart working dress (i.e suit/dress/jacket.) If it later, most people are in knee length cocktail dress, however a 'smarter' maxi...but not straying into ball territory...could work. Skirt generally only just above the knee or someone, somewhere could run the risk of being sniffy. Trousers would work if dressy and teamed with an elegant top/clutch. That said, there will always be a range of outfits.

Quick post to ask for a bit of information. I know that I have asked about this before so apologies in advance.
I am still undecided over elective CS vs NVD. Obviously, I know all the medical pros/ cons but there is nothing like speaking to people who have actually had a CS!
No medical reason for CS for worried re my pelvic floor (don't have sx but would not deal with it well if I did) and would get sterilised if I had a CS.
We did have a mother's help lined up to help me with the 4 (was supposed to have started this week) but, sadly, she let us down last minute and we don't have anyone at the moment (trying to find someone but nothing as yet). Am a bit worried as DH may only get 4 days pat leave and I don't know that I could cope with three plus newborn post CS. Also, I've never even had an epidural with my deliveries so the thought of being cut open does scare me somewhat!

Can I ask:
How quickly those of you who had CS were able to be up and about?
How long you needed painkillers for?
Was it painful to lift even light things e.g. the baby?
How long before you could do things around the house that are slightly heavy e.g. shopping bags/ bins?
How quickly were you able to drive (really essential for me to be able to do this for the older three).
Did any of you have complications?

Writing it all down, it sounds totally impractical but I would still be so grateful for your experiences.

Dauphin- how is your father?

Holland has gone orange crazy ready for the Euro championships. Got talked into buying more dutch flags for DSs bedrooms and a very funny CD of Dutch football songs which we listened to over lunch - boys loved it. Real arm waving, ole ole ole stuff!

I am so chilled out after the holiday that I forgot to give the boys breakfastt this morning. Bundling them out of the house at 11 ish to go to the supermarket when DS1 said he had a rumbling tummy cos it was so empty!

Hopefully - arrangements for Sat still a work in progress! Will pm you.

Red i love your interview outfit especially as you got it all in one shop. Very much like your jeans and blouse combo too MiM. Would like something similar.

emo agree with what NY says about lounge suit code.

Bloss I remember you giving Hopefully some good tips about her Style Day but have forgotten what they were. Any advice? Still faffing with outfit choices. You have worked so hard with shred and cycling etc you deserve to show off your great body shape.

Anyone else (being sad like me) clicking on the BodenPreview website and hoping to see the new range on there????

To answer your questions Looby:

I was up and about 24 hours after the C-section when they finally agreed to remove my catheter.
I took painkillers for a week with each - not sure I needed them for that long, but they were there, so I took them. After that, it was the occasional nagging twitch if I moved too quickly.
I didn't find it at all painful to lift either, I just made sure I put them at waist height (so the moses basket was always on a stand, or on the sofa, or putting them into the pram).
I didn't do any of those heavy things until DH was back at work, so 2 weeks on. Wouldn't have wanted to attempt it any sooner.
Can't comment on driving as I wasn't at the time with either.
I had a slightly infected scar first time round, which was easily resolved. No complications second time around.

I think you really need to get a mother's help! Easier said than done, I guess. NY didn't you have some luck advertising at the Job Centre? No way would I have been able to do all of those things 4 days post-section. 2 weeks, yes, with some trepidation. The thing is, there are as many unknowns with a VB, so no way of knowing if you'd come out able to do more 4 days post-delivery, although the likelihood is you would, but still inadvisable, I'd imagine.

Looby I really wouldn't have wanted to be looking after even just my two single handed four days after a CS. I am absolutely convinced that my easy recovery was because I followed the doc's orders to properly rest and do no lifting for 6 weeks. Nothing heavier than the baby (he said not even baby + car seat, an I obeyed!). I know that there were times that DS1 (2.5 at the time) physically needed lifting during that time, but I was never alone looking after him for at least 4 weeks, possibly a bit longer. Everyone I know who had complications was very blasé about lifting/driving etc, and I'm sure they advise not doing those things for a reason.

Just placed a boden order for the boys and my CC has been rejected . Having only paid it off last week, I suspect I haven't run up £9k on it in 24 hours, so need to phone and shout at someone. Sigh.

Thank you ollie! Lol at forgetting breakfast though. I love that chilled first day home after the holidays too.
Style day. Umm. I wish I'd painted my nails, and worn a better top. Dress in your favourite outfit. And when they say, bring a 'casual' outfit, don't bring a 'slob round the house' outfit like I did! Take something you'd wear to a coffee shop to meet a friend, or something. If you bring/wear stuff you love, she will have a much clearer idea of your style. You will have so much fun. But maybe bring painkillers. My head was pounding by the end of mine! Be prepared to not like something you previously liked though! During lunch I showed my consultant photos of styles I liked on the web. I showed her the Roxy, which she loved for my style, and Emanuelle Alt, amongst other things. Lots of 'our' stuff is new to them I think. She didn't know of Whistles for example. Still remember her mentioning East at one point!
Best thing for me was getting the 'okay' to wear tough stuff, like the agnes, the roxy, pointy shoes... Stuff my mum and aunt have problems with, and tell me constantly! I know I'm different from them, and now I can tell them that and let their comments go over my head!
looby, you really must get help from somewhere. If you didn't have the other 3 to care for, what would your instincts be? Remember, everyone will expect you to be back to full working order really soon. You have to put your foot down and insist on help from all directions, and look after yourself and the baby.
I had a CS with DC2, but was in the hospital accomodation as she was in ICU, so was not looking after DC1. Seem to remember running around by the Sunday (she was born on the Friday), but realising quite soon, that I should be taking it easier. Drove after 6 weeks. Feeling okay after 2 is my memory.

hopefully has it there in a nutshell. You need 6 weeks looby.

Has anyone got any Hush stuff? I the quality half decent? Really need some nicer lounging clothes, as I'm currently donning enormous old pyjamas after my post exercise shower at about 6:30pm, and I'm not enjoying 4 hours of looking homeless before bed. Anywhere else I can look for summer lounge wear type stuff?

Looby my answers below:

Can I ask:
How quickly those of you who had CS were able to be up and about?

• with 3rd c-section was up very quickly and was sent home 24 hours after

How long you needed painkillers for?

• not too long - a few days each time

Was it painful to lift even light things e.g. the baby?

• lifting baby was fine - lifting 19month old not quite so fine

How long before you could do things around the house that are slightly heavy e.g. shopping bags/ bins?

• very quickly really - DH didn't take any paternity leave but mum came for a couple of days and my cleaner came twice a week

How quickly were you able to drive (really essential for me to be able to do this for the older three).

• after 3 weeks with each of them

Did any of you have complications?

• my recovery after my 3rd probably took longer but was possibly a combination of it being my 3rd c-section and having 3 children to look after and not exactly much help.

I would really recommend out-sourcing as much as you can so washing/cleaning etc and trying to get a good stock of food in the freezer for easy suppers.

But by your 4th - you'll be such a dab hand at babies that am sure it'll be fine.

Still very warm here and sad to think this is the last day of this glorious weather. Very happy with outfit today: dark tan skinny chinos, short sleeved white cotton fine knit (with very subtle glittery stripes, an old favourite from TS), leopard Gigi sandals and casual navy bazer.

I really hope you can get some help sorted and come to a decision with which you're happy looby. As someone who has had two very lovely VBs I'm afraid I can't help you but wish you well and am thinking of you.

Thinking of you too dauphin.

Love those shoes emo.

We have just decided to have a little jubilee gathering on Monday for a few friends and family, say 15 people. I love entertaining but am hopeless cook and food provision always terrifies me! It will be a casusl buffet affair. Any foolproof ideas about what people might like to eat please? Any suggestions very gratefully received!

I'm not remotely sad the weather is breaking, DCs have been hot and restless at night, and I have worn my few dresses so I feel satisfied!

Me neither, have worn all my dresses except the Me&Em cap sleeve which will get worn when out with Rufus in Dublin! It's too hot for the baby and this house is an inferno.

Looby hope you can find someone to help. Use an agency, maybe.

Blue, barbeque or Bloss' quiche, ham etc. Or just go to M&S!

Hopefully, I have Hush pajamas and they are good quality. Splendid, James Perse, Vince are good for loungewear (will all be on sale soon), also Gap and the White Co.

Hello All

Looby, no CS experience here but I have been thinking about the practicalities for you.

I agree with MrsCB about outsourcing as much as you can. I am assuming the DC will still be at school so you will need to outsource the school run. Don't be afraid to ask people for help as IME they are more than happy to help out under these circumstances. I would try to do this for the rest of the school term. If you get it sorted now it will be a weight of your mind. Buy some little thank you gifts for those people who will be helping out now and put them away until you need them.

Train the DC up to be more independent around getting themselves ready for school, again start doing this now. The same goes for showering. It is much easier for you to sit with the baby in a chair in the bathroom whilst the younger 2 DC have a shower than faff about getting them in and out of the bath. Ditto clearing up after meal times and helping with clothes washing (transferring clothes from the washer to the dryer/line etc.)

Stock up on DVDs, colouring books/activity books and nice new pens..

...oops, everybody back now...gotta run.

Yes please to weather breaking. Get hot and flustered and hate it.

Blue I would go for a really traditional, almost kitsch, spread. So big bowl of coronation chicken, eton mess (saw a lovely recipe for a pimms eton mess somewhere, will have a look for it), I saw the most amazing rectangular Victoria sponge that had been decorated with blueberries and raspberries to make the Union Jack - think it was this weekend's Style magazine with the ST. Then maybe a ham, some jersey royals, jam tarts, a couple of salads (maybe a caprese to do the white and red thing). Can you tell I'd be hosting a party where our garden not a rubble heap?!

When are you off to Ireland decam? Did you get the air lingus 20% off email?

this is the cake that red is talking about blue. Pretty foolproof I'd say!

Have just had a slightly embarrassing incident. I chased a woman down the street because I like her handbag. It was a Mulberry, but she didn't know the name (it was a present ). Googling suggests it could only have been an Alexa, but it was really slouchy and soft. Are the Alexas more soft and slouchy than they look online? She was wearing it with the long strap as a cross body bag. Sound like an Alexa?

Suitably chastised everything!
I like the bag. Your colour, and good structure no?

Sounds like an Alexa to me...

That sounds like my Mulberrry Hopefully, the <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=alexa+hobo&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&tbnid=hyiiXz3sOLohIM:&imgrefurl=designerhandbags.me.uk/tag/oak/page/2/&docid=YzrZ_dyHU-Q0pM&imgurl=designerhandbags.me.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Mulberry-Alexa-Hobo-Handbag-in-Oak.jpg&w=345&h=387&ei=ZhfGT5KiCoqu8AP1vrCIBg&zoom=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Alexa Hobo. It's gorgeous and they have lots of them in the outlet at Shepton Mallet. It was originally £950, I got mine for £450 in the Selfridges sale last summer.

Do we like these sunglasses? For cycling, so I stop wearing my prada ones.