D'ya ever wonder how life still carried on like this?

[Kelly1978]

A new thread!
Especially for throckenholt

I was hoping the original one would go to 1000, but it was gettign a but annoying scrolling all the way done, so come over here instead.

How is everyone coping with the school holidays?

I'm fed up with the rubbish weather, as we're stuck in the house too much. I daren't take them to soft play as it packed during the hols and then I can't watch all four of them. Plus it costs a fortune.
Mine are changing so much. Rav is becoming a right wuss, scared of new places. I suppose it shows awareness, but it is annoying when I've driven miles for a nice day out and he just wants to sit and whine because he is too scared to go on anything! Shay is developing his houdini skills, and now has a tendancy to bolt out of parks so I have to watch him like a hawk. I must dig out the reins before we go on holiday.

[Kelly1978]

Oh and we finally got our car back!! After 2.5 weeks of cramming 4 kids into a smart car with a crowbar I am so pleased to be driving the bus again.

[tracykb]

Hi Kelly

Summer holidays are already too long, and we're only 2 weeks in . Why do all the parent and toddler groups shut for the hols as well? Surely a lot of parents are still around cos it's too expensive to go away during the summer hols? Like you I don't want to risk the local soft play on my own as I can't quite cope with them all on my own just yet - Edie and Maia aren't sure enough on their feet to be left alone but they will go off in different directions . It's also v. expensive as no discount for twins.

We (me and OH) just had our first w/e away without children in 3 years - it was bliss, but DD1 has been punishing me for it ever since and only today has she calmed down.

Anyway, enough rambling...hope everyone makes the move to this thread!

[kelly1978]

I'll drag them over

I'm going to be runnign a mother and toddler come sept. Not really sure why they close tbh. Maybe because of comitments to older children. I wouldn't really fancy opening to hoards of schoolage children with jsut lego bricks and dressing up clothes to offer!

[devondoris]

Just posted messages on the old thread cos I didn't read the list properly. Sorry! Will try to remember to come here instead next time.

Doris

[tracykb]

I'm going to start a twins group in September as well...one am a week whilst DD1 is at nursery. It'll have to be at my house to start with, but hopefully after a while we'll find a hall to hold it in. I already have quite a few people interested. I know what you mean about older children at toddler groups and I do understand why they close (sort of), but it's just frustrating - it's great going to the park etc, but it's nice for them to see other children as well.

[kelly1978]

hi devondoris, it's never straightforward with twins is it! Try not to let them get to you too much. They got mine totally mixed up at one stage and I had no end of arguements to get them right again. All the scans are quite fun though, seeing the developement, I quite liked them in some ways.

traceykb - at your house! Are u nuts I think it is a lovely idea though. If you do want to develop the idea try your local council. Our council has a lovely lady who liasons with M&T groups and helps them keep running. She gives advice, info etc and is brilliant.

[MarsLady]

Ah.... here you are. Lol! Here's hoping FG and the rest find us.

Attended a lovely birth on Friday/Saturday. Then went dancing last night as my brain was too tightly wound and I needed to wind down.

Studying semi hard Gotta get my brain into gear. Have a 4,000 worder to get done by the end of the summer and an exam in October.

The DTs have spent a lot of time naked in the garden. It's so annoying that people don't do twin discounts. Makes days out a real nightmare. Of course my other difficulty is the age range of the children. Still, the older two are able to take themselves off and out and the middle one is in France so I only have to entertain the DTs most days so I shouldn't complain.

Found out why I kept getting cramp and pins and needles etc. Not some dreadful disease, simply a lack of potassium in my body. My bp pills were causing that so they've been changed. My pharmacist recommended yoga (cos I have time right? lol).

My work is building and I find I love it more and more.

DD1 started her period this week. First ever. Sob! So we are going out to celebrate and have "Lady's day" next week. I also need to buy her her first bras. Sigh............ babyhood is over far too soon!

Anyhoo..........must study! Good to see you all.

[Flamesparrow]

Yay!!! I don't have multiples, but I've been wanting you guys to get a new shiney thread for aaaaaaages

[Kelly1978]

4,000 all of mine seem to be 2,000. Hope I don't have any horrors like taht waiting for me! I've been studying too I have a tma due in the day we go away, and the work is a nightmare - so much of it.

Weather has been crap here, but hopefully it is going to pcik up again and I can shove mine out in the garden. IKWYM about discounts. I was so fed up with being in, I took mine to soft play and it cost £20. And the boys didn't even really play - the place was a tip and they went round trying to finish off abandoned drinks. Shay managed to tip hot choc all down his front. Never Again!

Must be so strange for you, I dread dd getting that big, she is still my baby!

[harrogatemum]

helloooooo all.

Mars - how did you get your potassium deficiency discovered? I ask because I get some of the worst cramps in the world (well thats what they feel like, call me a drama queen if you like) - always at night when I have just turned the light off and always in my toes, feet and calves.

Last night for the first time ever during an amorous moment with DH (few and far between due to pregnancy and having twins) - I got a massive cramp in my thigh and had to walk roudn the room somewhat killing the mood!!

[MarsLady]

HM.... cramp was part and parcel of pregnancy for me lol! However, I had a blood test because I'm on blood pressure meds (thanks DTs!) and it came back with a low count.

Quite dramatic really (well not really, but I like to think so). I forgot to call the surgery for the results cos I always assume that all will be well. My gorgeous gorgeous lovely doctor sent me a letter (typed by her secretary and she cross out the Mrs Lastname and wrote in MarsLady - well obviously she used my actual name but ykwim! lol) with new perscriptions in it. She'd only just re-issued me my perscriptions. She sent details instructions of how I was to stop my current meds and start the new ones.... until I see her next and get a new perscription I will be taking about 6 pills a day but then I can get the combination pills taking me back down to a respectable 2. I will be rattling in the mornings I tell you.

Kelly, don't feel bad babe. I've got a half written essay on this pc... I know nothing changes lol.... and I haven't even begun to do the necessary reading and work for the 4,000 worder!

Flamesparrow........ you can be an honourary DT mum. Of course with this new power comes compulsory babysitting.... so see you tomorrow. 7.30am sharp as I have a new client to see across town! Don't be late dear!

[Overrun]

Hi all,
I have just come back from a four day stay in our family caravan. I went down on wednesday night with Mum, and then dh and my Dad joined us on the friday evening.
I have to say I am totally shattered. dt2 learnt how to climb out of his travel cot, so we had to take them down and try and get dts to sleep in beds for the first time.
We had to stay with them for hours stroking their hair and putting them back as soon as they tried to get out.
the upshot of this was no lovely adult eveing time sipping a g&t with my Mum.
On the last night dh and I went out while the grandparents babysit. Well what do you know they settled like a dream so they could have a nice cosy evening watching the sunset. Dh and I had a lovely evening and meal too, but the mood was somewhat spoiled by the little buggers waking at 1am and keeping us till well past 3am.
I went to bed at about 8 o clock on Sunday eve, but of course this means that I am still unpacking today. Sometimes it takes me weeks to do it, maybe even months to finish it all off
It does make you wonder if it is worth it, I was so looking forward to a break, but realistically it is harder being away with them than it is staying at home.
They are really grumpy today, and fighting loads. DT1 has five nasty bites on his back and shoulders, one of which drew blood
HOpe you are all well.

[throckenholt]

ooh - my name in a thread - will come back and read later

[harrogatemum]

Overrun - remind me how old yours are again? I have a baby due in Nov so am planning on getting mine in beds by their 2nd birthday (also in Nov) to free up a cot for the baby!

[Overrun]

They are 21 months, and I don't think I will be in a hurry to put them in beds after this weekend! I guess the problem with twins is that they encourage each other to get up

[throckenholt]

hi folks - guess I ought to join in this time .

My darlings are 3.5 and are currently driving me nuts with pooing their nappies 10 minutes after going to bed - even if they did one just before they went to bed.

Is it just me - or are you all completely exhausted the whole time ?

In between the exhaustion there are brief moments of respite - like this evening when we all went for a walk with DS1 and DT1 riding their bikes without pedals (DT1 first time) and DT2 running along beside - we could hardly keep up with them !

[speedymama]

Hi, I will join this time too. My boys are 2years and nearly 6months. They are the first for DH and I and even now, we still pinch ourselves because we cannot believe that we have twins!

Does anybody else still feel like this?

[Kelly1978]

overrun, sorry to hear you had a crap holiday. Are you planning to keep them in beds now you've started?
There are far too many stories of crap hols on mn atm, I'm worrying about mine now!

We went to the playgroup I'm going to be running from sept yest. I'm really wondering if I've taken on too much! There were so many toys. The kids had a great time helping 'sort' them, and fits when it came to putting them away again. Dealing with two tantruming at the same time is not fun, I hope they don't do that every week.

Speedymama, I felt like that for a long while. It's really good though, knowing lots of twin mums, in rl and on here - makes it seem more normal! I still can't get my head around the fact they I have four though. I think of them in pairs - so that is only 2.

hellooo throckenholt! No wonder you are tired if you take them out in the evenings. All mine are in bed at 6 - I've had it by then.

I felt so bad last night. I really need to stop the dream feed at 10pm before we go away, as it is going to be too hot to carry around milk all day. (We don't normally get back to the villa til late on hol). When I went in to check on them, they both leapt up as usual and I felt really bad not giving them their milk - they love it! They don't need it, they have 9oz when they go to bed, but it a habit. Then this morn I discovered that dt2 hadn't even drank the one at 6pm, he must have dropped it out of his cot. I feel so mean!

[speedymama]

Kelly, I was interested in your experience at the soft play centre. I have never taken the boys to one because of the price and I'm not convince they are value for money but I suspect, that like most things, some are better than others. I just keep taking them to different parks because at least it is free. I suppose when they are older they will appreciate that type of activity more, so I will probably relent and dip into my deep pockets. I'm such a meany.

Must get back to work now.

[Kelly1978]

I only use them when it is too cold or wet for the park. It was ok when they were less mobile - now they are too quick! I agree with the park - far cheaper, and you can take your own food I've found a lovely nature reserve about 5 miles away. Walk round a lake, then through woods to an adventure playground. I've been packing up picnics.

[devondoris]

Just a quick scan update - went to the hosp again today for the check up growth scan and surprise, surprise, everything's actually normal and they made a mistake last week. So I got away with a "quick" appointment which only lasted an hour. Plus the 45 min journey there and back... Feeling vindicated!

Mars - what a bitter-sweet thing your DD's first period must be. Wonderful to happen, but growing up... On a more practical note, have you seen Mooncups about where you are? They're brilliant pieces of bell shaped silicon which can't cause TSS and which you just empty down the loo, wash and reuse. Not sure how good they'd be for school, but for home it could work depending on how you think about things like that! Particularly good if you have a hint of guilt at flushing tampons and landfilling towels! Anyway, they cost about £20 and last for 10 years or so. If you want any more info, let me know.

Anyway, bath and bed calling - I'm making the most of last 8 weeks of non-twin time. Husband may actually not be leaving London after all, so I think I need to...

Night all!

[Kelly1978]

Hurray! Pleased everything back on track for you .
glad you thinking like that too - enjoy every last second of it.

And err mooncups are quite well known on mn. There have been all sorts of hilarious stories of them getting lost leaky, not going up at all, etc. Lots of people use them successfully, but I've not taken the plunge yet myself!

[throckenholt]

Kelly - can you give them water instead of milk ?

I have had it by 6pm as well - but bedtime is about 7 - although last night it was gone 8 before they stopped reappearing downstairs with som efeeble excuse . Bedtime is nearer 6.30 in the winter but gets stretched in the summer because they are usually having fun outside. The pre-bedtime walk is an attempt to wear them out and something they love so we try and squeeze it in most days.

The thing I love most about having twins is listening to them talk to each other when no-one else is around - soooo cute .

Much as it is hard work, I really love having twins and often think how boring having singles must be (didn't think that when I only had ds1). I even (in mad moments) think that if I ever had more kids I would only do it if I could be sure to have another set of twins (mainly because it would be a bigger gap and would not one a tail ender much younger than the others, and would definitely not want to go through two more pregnancies/early years for two singles ).

[Kelly1978]

throckenholt, are you all there?! The main reason I probably won't have any mroe, is because it could be twins again. I know what you mean though, one could be boring after two. But also peaceful, and serene and calm...

Mine kissed each other this morning, I melted!

Thats a good idea, I will try water if they wake up. I didn't go in there at all last night, and they slept fine apart from one wail at 4am, but he settled again. I daren't go in there with water in case they expect milk and jsut throw it at me and get worked up! They do drink water durign the day.

[speedymama]

Does anybody know anyone who has had 2 or more sets of multiple births? If (or should I say when) we decide to have more, I would love to have twins again but balk at the idea of having triplets! DH has said he would love to have twin girls as this would balance our family.