How you Doin?Whats New?

Thanks girls,I really enjoy your updates!

Beth,my book,well I am still adjusting but basically it's about how there's pretty much 'already' a cure for pretty much every disease and or condition but NOBODY want's to hear it and or prefers to listen to drs or pharmeceutical companies who have NO intention of letting anyone else speak because of course it's a multi billion dollar industry,I just have to find a way to say that people are interested in and open to I guess.

what are you doing for Christmas,what with the economy,are any of you making gifts this xmas,I know we have some talented ladies here. We need to find a new house before we can really think about where we are going for Christmas, looking forward to getting the Christmas tree out again though bought basically all of Theo's presents, a couple of little thing's left to get but that's it.

How are situations with your famlies,I know several of us have had issues in the past and still with the whole 'family' thing. Family life is great

Are you all still working? Are you planning to if you're not Still working part-time and have 1 HUGE wedding booking December 12th, finish work for another year on 18th December.

are you doing anything creative 'writing .singing,painting,making....anything... let us know yes lots of sewing!

I know some of you are or will be moving soon....tell us more ( I know about Georgis coz she posted) but I think Tiff has just found a house would love to know more and maybe see some pics? No pic's as yet but we are viewing 3 houses on Monday! And great news is we have been given permission to move before our tenancy 'officially' ends and face no financial loss!

Any new pets? I know you all have been holding out on me so get sharing! No new pets (jeez what a thought!!)

and.......I am 30 weeks already!!

Busy busy mommy of 2, hehe!! I'm getting tested further into my hairloss, wish me luck!!!

Christmas will be quiet with the 4 of us, then we usually go to my MIL and SIL to open presents later on in the holiday.

Jasper is sleeping his 8 hours at night, doing great!

Audrey is teething her last set of molars.

DF and I are trying to make our relationship work and adjusted to 2 kids now and he's waiting to get a vasectomy done (consultation on the 20th).

Nothing much else, my life isn't very interesting.

Gutter - I'm sure with two little ones, life is VERY interesting at your house these days!

Keep us posted on what the test discovers about your hair loss. I know before you were pregnant with Jasper (?) you were seeing some growth..... is it still coming in?

Lou Lou wrote:Gutter - I'm sure with two little ones, life is VERY interesting at your house these days!

Keep us posted on what the test discovers about your hair loss. I know before you were pregnant with Jasper (?) you were seeing some growth..... is it still coming in?

My hair has completely fallen out since having Jasper. It regrew while I was pregnant with him and it grew back everywhere on my body (not fully and thick just in most areas). So I went to talk to my NP and because it grows back during pregnancy, I must be missing something, so this coming Tuesday I'm doing some fasting blood work. She said I won't know what I'm getting tested for until I get there because she was going to discuss it with the doctor. I soooo hope I finally get some answers!!!

Could it be lack of progesterone, doesn't progesterone massively increase in pregnancy?

if so, you could get some natural progesterone cream :-)

I'm back. I've lurked for a couple of weeks now, but I'm back and here to stay. The miscarriage thing just didn't seem to want to go away(in more ways than one). I tried bouncing back too quickly to normal life, and had to take an extra week off from work(which cause HR drama). This past Sunday was my first day back in somewhat normal capacity. I found out that my boss told everyone at work I had had a miscarriage. I went to HR yesterday and he freaking denied it!! The one guy who I know for a fact he told, told me that he would tell the truth if they asked him, but I might let it go since I've decided to turn in my 2 weeks notice tomorrow(might even be today, haven't made up my mind yet). I cannot work for someone as unprfessional and unscrupled as that man. Anyway, if I can hustle up the $700 for the plane tickets and IF the legal stuff with my ex completes anyday now, then me and the girls are moving to Louisiana on the 15th of December. DF thinks it would be better if we left now rather than later so he could do lots of overtimes. I think he just needs space from us to come to terms with moving(he doesn't want to move). And I can be trying to get a job while there and find us a place(he absolutely does not want to move in with my mom, though he really likes her). That's my update on life in general. I will post in motherhood thread about the kids later. I'm glad to be back.

And it is nice to have you back too mscherry.

I have had a couple very frustrating days here, and I just got home from spending the evening at the er with the 12 year old. Soooo frustrating when they tell you, we ran all these tests and can't figure out what is causing the problem. Just keep your reg dr appt you already have next week and have them refer you the specialist like they were going to anyways. Grrrrr. I am sure the bill will be two arms and legs even if they didn't come to any conclusions.

Anyways dealing with her issues yesterday and today. My shihtsu was coughing like she had something stuck in her throat. Ran her into the vet this morning. Walked out $350 poorer and they think she has valley fever. But they wil let me know next week. But the test can come back false negative. Grrrrr. Of course I called Kirk to get sympathy, and the first thing out of his mouth was ''I am not spending a bunch of money on that dog.'' I decided not to tell him how much he already spent yet.

Everything all day long just went like that. And Lucy was like hell on wheels all day long. I was sooo frustrated and every time I turned around there she was getting into something, or beating up on the dog, or taking off all in top gear. Of course Kirk said she acted perfectly fine the whole time we were gone to the hospital.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. Or I am staying in bed with a pillow over my head, holiday or no holiday.

Awh! DM! I really hope your Thanksgiving Day has turned out to be better!

I hate going to the doctor especially when they can't figure out what's wrong. It's so frustrating. I hope you get some answers soon.

Owen has been a little devil too. It's SO hard to get things done with them clinging to your leg or undoing everything you have just done!!!!!

Hey Cherry! Glad to see you back. Did you give notice at your job?

Lou Lou,
I sure did. I gave it Tuesday afternoon. I was really hoping they would walk me out afterwards, but no such luck. My last day is Dec 8th.

On another note, DF's grandmother sometime during the night. He was so devastated. It was so hard to watch him break down, as I've never seen it before. I was/am there for him, but am not good in these situations. I am just saying as little as possible, but offering my presence and my arms as needed. He's flying to New Jersey on Monday. Financially, it's such a bad time, but who cares when family is involved. I don't know or care how this will impact our move. I still haven't bought me and the girls' tickets yet, and now am not sure if I'll be able to. It's not a worry, cause it's a matter of when we move, not if. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. His mom has now lost both parents(they were divorced though) in the same year.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, and were successful on their Black Friday if they braved the store masses.

hello all! i swear i have not forgotten about you, but my life has been so incredibly busy i only really have a chance to update on facebook, and half the time thats only because i can access it easily from my awesome new phone charles got me for christmas LOL!

thought i would take advantage of a spare quiet moment (not sure how long it will last though... lol) and give everyone an update! hope no one thinks im being rude or selfish since i havent posted in ages.

so my sister and her 3 kids made it here on dec 10th so we have been crazy busy. they are living with me and charles and the girls right now, and when the tenants in our rental next door get the final boot on feb 13th they will move in there! its so nuts having 5 kids in the house! (good birth control )

my sister went back to work the day after christmas and i have been full time nanny since then, so i have my 2 girls, her 7 month old girl, 5 year old boy, and 7 year old boy. that keeps me running ALL day to say the least, and i can now tell you i understand why parents are excited their kids go back to school at the end of a holiday vacation! LMAO! im so looking forward to monday where i will only have 3 kids from 7:30-3:15!!!! i am getting paid well by my sister though so i cant complain too much

its going really well though, im handling 5 kids for 14 hours a day (breakfast to bedtime!) much better than i thought i would! i love doing it as much as those boys push my patients. they arent the *best* behaved children, but i have seen a change in attitude even if ever so slight since they have been here. me and charles are really working to get them to appreciate things more, take less for granted, and to stop fighting and whining all the time. they are learning! they havent had any stability in their life until now. they never knew which relative or friend was going to pick them up from school and put them to bed and all. my sister being a single mom of 3 has done her very best, but it was just to hard without the support and help shes finally getting here from us. now the boys know they have a home and the same people will be there for them always. its a very rewarding feeling, and even more rewarding when you see them playing together nicely, acting well, helping and playing with kaydance!! they are doing so well now, and kaydance just LOVES them!!! (plus all their big kid toys lol!!!)

speaking of kaydance, OMG i cant believe my baby turned 2 yesterday SOOO bittersweet! shes growing up so fast, and talking up a storm now. up to 4 words in a sentance and her newest word is so funny!! "fuff" (aka, fluff) its so cute!! and she says please now, sounds like "peas" LOL! shes just growing and advancing in every area. shes still tiny as can be, just now outgrowing all her 12 month clothes, still in 18 month pants and can fit a 2T shirt depending on the brand LOL!!! most 18 month shirts fit better though shes my pip-squeak!!!

julie is NOT a pipsqueak! LOL! shes my big fat chunk. shes huge! last time she was weighed was over a month ago and she was 14 lbs then, cant wait to see what she weighs at her next well check a week from monday! shes a really really hard baby, another reason i hardly post lol! she never lets me. shes very colicky, and cries a lot, but she also gives the BEST smiles now! i think shes developing just a bit slow, but im not terribly concerned about it, i will mention it at her next appt on the 11th just to have her eyes and ears double checked to rule those out as a reason for the slow development. it would be nice if she was a bit brighter just so that she could maybe entertain herself a tiny bit, but thats ok. she doesnt really do anything but stare and scream most the time lol but she does smile very well and it just makes my day when she does! its the best, makes all the screaming just melt away like it never happened. im still waiting for that first giggle she still has no interest in toys at all, cannot bat at them or grab or reach for them. shes also sooo fat she looks like she has a huge beer belly and it makes tummy time nearly impossible, shes like a teeter-totter rocking back and forth on her huge tummy LOL! she doesnt really try to lift her head at all yet on her tummy either, just burries her face and screams LOL! she does hold her head up very well when shes propped up or in her bumbo though, so i think her neck muscles and all are fine, shes just stubborn

adriennes (my sisters) little girl stella is 7 months old now and cute as can be! doing very well, but spoiled rotten!! LOL! when my sister is home i swear that baby is glued to her hip! she always holds her and spoils her rotten!! haha, shes still a good baby though. sits up well, will entertain herself if you sit her up with a pile of toys for short periods, allowing me to get other things done (mainly tend to julie who screams so much lol) and all in all is following a good routine and eating like a little piggy. doing well on table foods too! its fun having a bit of an older baby around again, i missed all that! kaydees growing up so fast and all. its just hard juggling two infants at once, i think it would be easier with twins that are at the same development level rather than two infants 4 months apart with totally different needs lol.

wow. ok so much for my "short little update" hope you all enjoyed my novel LOL! ill close with a few pics

oh and i have to say "neener neener neener" for the fact that i havent posted in ages and im still top poster

LOL.Thanks for the detailed update NIka.I have been following you on FB so I dont feel so out of the loop but it's good to know whats going on exactly.You are doin SO amazing with all those kids.I think it either overwealms you completely and takes over,or you just jump right in feet first and don't stop till it's all done,which means moving/cookin/tending to people all day long.Sounds like you have done the latter which means you are doing an excellent job,even if it tired you out! It's so nice you can bring some stability to the kids too.I know it's hard but they'll settle eventually helped by you all being there Glad everyone is doing well and thanks for the update.

Lovely pics Nika :-)

News from the North West, England hehe. I think most, if not all of you know that me and rich got engaged in December No wedding soon, as funds are going to need to increase just a little ha.

I started a new job, as a carer for a private company called home instead. It's a nice job, going into elderly peoples homes and helping them with everyday tasks. They are gradually increasing my clients, at the moment I have 4: two 90 year olds and two 92 year olds hehe. However, I have a cold at the moment, so I think I'll need to take a couple of days off. I'm just concerned I'll spread it, and I'd hate myself if they became ill. Although I am doing all I can, washing hands, wearing gloves etc. I've only done a few days, and it is very rewarding, although I don't see it as a career as such, but it's definitely a more rewarding and suitable job for the time being :-)

I may have to go back to Uni to do Occupational Therapy, that is what I think I'd like to do since I gave up on teaching. I need to go and shadow one and get a better insight. It'd mean doing it part time so that I could work around Uni and pay the bills! The downside is that we'd have to put off a couple more years, as it'd be a 4 year course, and I probably wouldn't start until September 2011, and then I'd want to work a year before having a baby, so we're talking me being 29 by the time we can ttc. I know it's still young, but I don't know if I could wait that long.....

We're moving home at the end of March!

Now hoping to get on the Occupational therapy masters route course which starts in January, it's 2 years but full time.

We're gonna live with Rich's Mum in a 4 bedroomed house, so we'll be good hehe. We get on really well, we're taking our kitties ....there'll be FIVE cats and a dog hehe.

We're really excited though!

There are a number of reasons why we're moving, financial and for our careers. We're not that happy round here, Rich hates his school, and whilst we're paying £600 per month on rent, we can't save for a wedding! Also, I can't afford to do Uni full time and work.

There's my update hehe xx

It's been so quiet here lately. I miss reading about you all!

My hubby is still out of work. He normally is seasonal anyway since he works bridge and road construction. He DID work some over the winter which was great, but by now, he's always back to work. But projects have been slow to start this year. And two other unions (steelworkers and teamsters) are on strike, so that's shutting down jobs as well. He collects unemployment but we're starting to feel the pinch. Hopefully things will get rolling soon.

Holi, you'll be interested to know that I have been trying to eat healthier lately. Partly for money reasons, partly for health, but I'm bringing my lunch to work at least 3 times a week. A nice salad but I do include chicken, egg, and cheese so maybe not quite as healthy as it could be, lol. Haven't seen any weight loss yet though so I guess I need to work harder at eliminating/cutting back the sweets and other stuff.

We took extended weekend vacations Memorial Day weekend and also last weekend. Both time to Pennsylvania and both times we spent some time riding our dirt bikes. It ends up being a nice way for us to spend time together. As usual, I am one of very few women on the trail, and often I'm the only one on a bike.

Here's a pic of our girl Morgan on Memorial Day weekend. We've found a creek that is perfect for her to play in. She's a German Shepherd/Labrador Retriever mix and the retriever part of her is very strong when it comes to, well, retrieving, lol, and playing in the water. She looks much more Shepherd-like when she puts her ears up but here she's wearing her Lab look!



and here's a cute one of her and her daddy.....


My work is just so-so at the moment. I'm quite frustrated with my boss and his lack of (sales) production. He hasn't really done much since Christmas! I'm salaried but also get commissions.....but my commission checks are almost non-existent at the moment. And there's some other stuff going on (and has been for awhile) that been getting worse but I can't really discuss it. Anyway, his bookkeeper and I have scheduled a lunch with him next week to discuss how to get him motivated and working again. Because his bookkeeper and I talk almost daily, I know the state of his finances, and I'm getting really concerned. Is today's paycheck going to bounce??? I happen to know his account is -$2000+ right now. I've been with him for 8 years and really don't want to leave.

It nice to read an update from you Bethy! I am glad you are trying to eat more healthily and you sound more content.I see there is still a lot going on,Lovely pic btw!I hope the work thing works out.I am glad that you talked to us either way. Good to heart from you.

As for me,I have recieved my work permit,I have my interview next week (24th) for my green card.We all have to go and I am excited yet nervous.I am also officially a student.I recived the first part of my course (bachelors degree in holistic nutrition) I will have a Phd,when I am done which will be a few years.I am excited and love it. Other than that,kids are fine.We are still homeschooling,as it the summer break we are only studying every 2-3 days English and Math mostly,just so he doesnt forget.I don't think this is unfair because he is pretty much on vacation everyday!LOL So that's it,oh,we're planning ur cruise wedding for 2012,that is not imminent of course but it's something I am working on slowly and its nice to look forward to it!

So guys,it's been a while.A lot has happened...I have received my green card.I have just today,received my social security card.Teo and I are now legal premanent residents who can work (yes even Teo LOL) without restriction. I am studying the little drivers liscence book and hopefully sometimes next week,I can go and take my drivers test. I am also doing my degree (first part bachelors) in holistic nutrition.It's going well,bit slowly because I have been so busy.I spent a couple of weeks looking at jobs,taking time on my resume and even went to a couple of interviews,but the thing is,we have managed this far without me working and I do still want to homeschool teo and Tia-li.So Chuck said 'why don't you just find something you LOVE to do?) So i decided I would invest into the crsytal bouquets. I have ordered (and recieved) a bunch of crystals and wire and tonight I am going to ger cracking on them. I am doing three different ones (one in indian pink and hyacnith orangy red /peach melba colors) then another in pacific blue and opaque blue.Then another in lilac and pale green.I have to hussle coz I only have 2 weeks until august first...on august first I am going to my first wedding gala/expo...I have paid for a place as a vendor and have ordered business cards and created a very cheap website... http://bellabouquets.vpweb.com/ where I have displayed the few that I have made so far. I will scatter crsytals over the table and maybe make a cake topper and a boutoniiere as they are advertised in my price list,just to show people.With a big 'please do not touch crystals ' sign (LOL Nika) .I will have order forms and a description of how they are made and the pro's of ordereding a crystal bouquet as opposed to a floral one...will also make the odd few crystal loose stems to thred into regular bouqeuts which I will take to local florists and cut out some of the crytals (minus the prices) from the catalgue just to give people an idea of the range of colors and hues that they come in

Also,as most of you know,since discovering the feingold diet and it's effectivness in helping my son.I have been an advocat for the association and I have spoken publically,well as the director (Jane hersey) heard I was looking for an income,she was so sweet and talked to the other directors and they decided they are going to pay me $200 /month to help with the social networking as I am the youngest n more computer savvy,so thats awesome! I am very excited and hope that this all takes off! So thats what new with me...how about you guys?

That's awesome Holi! I'm so pleased for you!

Wow, Holi!!! That's all awesome news!!! Congrats on the green card - that's exciting!! And wow, on starting up your business with the bouquets. Yay!!!

I haven't been posting much lately cause it has been crazy busy. So here a quick update what's up with me.

Sean - as you all know - was born on July 4. Before he was born we enjoyed the summer with Kian here in the area and I tried to get as much work done prepping the upcoming semester as possible. I managed to edit my dissertation and get it published as a book. After Sean's birth we stayed mostly at home (as it was sooooo hot here), went to swimming pool or to the splash pad or worked in the garden. My Mom visited from Germany at the beginning of August for two weeks, DH's sister came from Seattle to visit for a couple of days and then my ILs were here for a couple of days at the end of August and just arrived again today to stay for 5 days. I started work on August 24 with an all-day faculty retreat and classes started August 25. I teach 4 classes, doing advising and coordinate the French program at my university. It has been super-hard to go back to work and leave Sean at home since he was only 7 weeks when I had to go back. But he has taken to the bottle and DH is taking great care of both Kian and Sean when I am gone.

The boys are doing great. Kian has his moments but is most of the time just a wonderful kid. He loves to help with baby Sean, loves to help cooking and harvesting our veggies, loves to swim and go to the playground, speaks great German and also some English, sleeps in his toddler bed, eats almost everything and loves playing with his Legos.

Sean is 8 weeks now and is a little chunker. I am so not used to that since Kian is still sooooo skinny. Sean was 12lbs 4oz at 8 weeks. He is smiling and cooing now, loves tummy time and pulls himself up on my hands. He loves going on stroller rides with his big brother. He loves to nurse ---- and I am still nursing Kian.

I haven't deserted you, ladies. Just the beginning of the semester has been crazy busy, lol.

Good for you Nicki!!!! I am so happy to hear you are doing well!! And so happy that someone besides me is nursing their BIG boy LOL I always feel a little alone on that subject BUT Thane is doing great with it also and still just gets it for naps and night time - which he is sleeping in his bed in his own room and i put on the monitor so i can see him. he is in a twin size bed, we skipped the crib and toddler bed completely! LOL

But its great to hear from you and so happy your family is doing well!!!!!! xxxxxx

I am totally impressed that you are nursing two growing boys!!!!
That is awesome!!!!