Wow... so it's been a year. 

WE ARE LEGENDS!!!!!   LEGENDS, I TELL YOU!

October babies are wee ones, aren't they!  Yay for the gremlins putting on the pies though - go you good things, go!  That's interesting that no-one worried about Ethan's weight Natalie... sometimes I wonder if those weight charts do nothing more than make us sick with worry.  A couple of the babies in one of my coffee groups are around Ella's build and no-one's suggested they're underweight!  They're healthy, happy bubbas. 

Is Brenna feeling better today?  I hope the grizzling has stopped, Anna - it's so exhausting when they do that eh!  And thanks for your help on my floral question - it was awesome!  I have to go check if there's any more replies on there too. 

Ella hated her MCU, and screamed through most of it.  I sat behind the window in the room, and Jono held her (because I was a crying sook!).  One of the staff wasn't going to let me stay in the room even, because he said x-rays can affect fertility so only one parent can stay, and if the dad is there it's the man who stays.  I argued - what's the difference between Jono's fertility being affected or mine then?!  And what's the point of the big lead apron then?  So a lovely radiographer cut in and said I could stay.  The x-rays were fascinating though, and while the results are a while away, they did look encouraging so far.  The sedative Ella had left her completely stoned in the waiting room (and seemed to have worn off in time for the procedure).  I asked for some for me too, but nope.  Ah well!  My bubba said her first word yesterday and it's... wait for it... MUM!!!  Oh how stoked was I?!!  A couple of hours later though, she was doped up on that sedative that makes them forget things... she'd better not forget how to call me mum!   

How are the gremlin's eyes today, Emma?  I'd feel weird about squirting milk at them too... but I'd try it, that's for sure! 

Morning all....

so this is a bit random but Emma.....I have just noticed that Ethan is about the same weight as your gremlins, and no one has ever been worried about his weight, and he is longer......I know he has always been on the low side of what he should be but it has never even been mentioned as a potential issue...so I think that your girls are probably just perfect.

Wow has Brenna had a busy 3 weeks!!  That's amazing to learn all that in such a short space of time - go, little Brenna, go you good thing! 

I hope you don't have to wait too long to see the Specialist, Natalie.  And yeah Anna... I'm kinda weirded out about there even being a paediatric testicle specialist!!  I'll add that to my list of 'why on earth would you want to, but thank god someone does' careers, right between dentistry and proctology.  I hope tomorrow goes really well for you and Quinn - I've got my fingers crossed for ya. 

I'm getting excited about Ella's party now that I have a venue (go, the in-laws with their huge big garden!!).  Jono tells me it doesn't need to be like a scene from desperate housewives, all lavish with decorations covering everything... and technically I agree with him, but I still plan on pink and green streamers and balloons, butterflies and pretty bugs everywhere. 

BTW Emma, Jono's been calling the gremlins 'them chubbies' ever since meeting Maya.  he he. He can't believe that one of them chubbies is smaller than Ella (not to compare, here, 'cause you know how much I hate people doing that when they're really just bragging!!) - he just thinks they are so snuggly and gorgeous and chubby!!

• rolling (both ways)

• going from tummy to sitting and vice versa
• pushing up to crawling position and taking a couple of 'crawls'
• pulling herself to standing
• moving along the couch
• pointing

Anna.....Massey is a really really daycare, I know a teacher who relieves there and thinks its great, so you are really lucky to have your two there.

I have Ethan in Kids Planet on bush road now, which is just awesome, i love it, its like the place i work (we have a policy we don't take our own kids to our centre..boo hoo) but I had all my troubles at top kids on saturn place, it was just awful....

but it's good to be back on here....

wow, I haven't been here for ages, too long to even read back for all the goss....I got really sick and was out of action for about 10 days, now I am working part time so have been chosing and settling Ethan into childcare (with a few major dramas regarding one horrible centre) and now DH is away for his 3 weeks again...whew what a lot of stuff going on for me, also Ethan only has one day sleep now and I seem to have so much to do during that time...poor oh baby has been  a bit neglected....

so he now has 7 teeth, 4 on top and 3 on bottom

and yay today he took 3 steps on his own...

we are on the waiting list to see a specialist because he still can't sit on his bottom, he kneels and is doing everything else okay, but the fact that he is practically walking and still not sitting is a worry, so hopefully we will get that sorted before christmas....

thats all from me (if you are still awake)

So what's Quinn's op for, Anna?  (sorry if you end up repeating yourself... I seem to miss most of what goes on on this site!).  I hope it goes well and isn't too stressful for you.  And good luck for your test today!

Ah and Emma, to be honest, I'd clean forgotten about Ella's kidney tests by the time I saw you - I was just busy thinking about hidden elevator conspiracys by then, and constantly keeping a hand behind Miss Ella as she climbed those blinkin stairs, over and over... and over!   Ha ha.   Ah it was an awesome avo though and thanks for the photo you guys... best pic EVER!  Well Ella's Paed is away for so many weeks, so I spoke to a Nurse who said that they'd do the MCU regardless of kidney U/S results.  So OK, we'll go through with that.  The reason she hasn't had an U/S yet?  Or even just her RAST test??  Staffing.  Of course. 

I'm so glad that Charli is on the mend, Vanessa - that sounds like a scary time for both of you. 

...I still need a venue!  I'll be so glad when our house is finished and we can have groups of people over with their kids and not worry about it. 

I got Ella's appointment for her kidney scan yesterday - she's having an MCU (the one where they insert a catheter and inject dye into their bladder, and track it), which I'm upset about because they told me that she'd have a regular kidney scan (nothing invasive) and if that showed any problems, then they'd do an MCU, but they wouldn't do one first in case she didn't need it, since it's not a pleasant procedure.  Sure I know it's for the best that she has the test done, but I'm so pi$$ed off that the decision to change the whole plan of attack was made without me being told anything.  Grrrrr.  I'm having a 'my poor baby' moment.

Lucky I see the gremlins today and I'll be reassured that dodgy kidneys don't mean sad babies. 

Well I'm loving having Emma and Kelly and their tribes here in town... it's awesome!!!  Lots of playdates... lots of fun.  I think a gremlin taught Ella how to finally snuggle! She's been practicing her 'awwww nice cuddles' this morning - so sweet. 

...welcome back, Danni!      And Vanessa - how's your wee Charli?  I hope she's OK but am wondering if you're busy with her at the hospital... oh dear.  Get better soon, little bubba! 

Awwwww, I have to check out that photo!  Can't wait to see youse soon, Kelly and Emma!!

... and Vanessa, big hugs to you - the CAA ain't no fun at all, is it.  Poor Charli - hope she is on the mend soon. 

I second that decision, Kellz! 

Hope Charli doesn't end up in hospital... what is it with Oct bubs and the children's ward eh?! 

Thanks for reminding me, Shelley... Oh I sooo have to pull finger on Ella's party plans!  I'm going to trial an everything-free recipe today. 

Of course!  That rings a bell... boy did I feel like a neglectful friend there!  Sounds like she had them in all in good time - fingers crossed for no more ear infections. 

OK so I've not been here for a couple of days... and seems I've totally missed a gremlin needing surgery - and there I was bleating to you about Ella yesterday, Emma!  Oh dear.  Since Emma's no doubt MIA today, can someone please fill me in on what wee Mercedes is in for?  (BIG hugs to you, Emma)   Thanks...

Well Ella did get admitted to hospital with her infection, and because of refusing all fluids... not a great idea when you're already sick and sore!  So we had an awful night in the ward (not helped by the 2 sleepless nights before then), and then after just a few hours sleep that night, miss Ella wakes at 6, skulls a bottle, eats some brekkie, and is ready for a big play!  4 Docs came to assess her and when they walked into the room I'm the one who looks like the patient, and Ella's babbling away, zooming around the room chasing a balloon!  Soooo not the same kid who was still crying away at blinkin 2am.  But I'm so glad we're home now, and she's sometimes fine, sometimes grizzly, but that's a huge improvement. 

Anna, that photo looks amazing!  It's so perfectly lit and just gorgeous.  And Katie - I'd love to see how Oliver's book turns out (and get instructions for one!  He he). 

Our coffee group is doing the same for their birthdays, Katie - it sooo takes the pressure off their own little parties, doesn't it!  Love the idea. 

I agree that them chubbies (LOL - Maya's just too cute, Emma!) should be plotted as premies... makes for much nicer reading on their growth curves! 

Ella has been in hospital... I thought around midnight Sat/Sun she was having a reaction to the tiniest bit of white bread that she'd nibbled on Saturday, but she got worse over Sunday, and it turns out there's an infection and blood in her urine.  We were in their assessment unit late into last night, but because she is old enough for oral (not IV) treatment, she could go home eventually, after a nasty experience with a catheta for more tests.  Once they're back, we'll know if she needs a kidney scan.  But her uncle had kidney reflux and they said it tends to run in families, so I hope it isn't that, as it's treated surgically.  Anyway, I won't get ahead of myself on that - I'd rather just deal with what I know is currently wrong with her!  She still may need to go back in - they're ringing me each day to check on her, and she gets more results in 2 days.  But if she keeps refusing her bottle (her new trick ) I can't imagine things going well here. 

Awwww, Kellz... is it still Croup keeping you ill?  That can't be one bit of fun.  I hope you're well soon... very soon... you have to be well enough for your big trip to Palmy!!!

Awwww, Katie - it's stink that we won't get to see you at the mega meet-up .

We've been a quiet bunch, eh! 

How are all the lovely October mummies today, and their very lovely babies?  We went to the Paed yesterday - Ella's weight is good enough now and I'm weaning her off lactulose finally.  Yay!  But the same doc who told us twice not to let her anywhere near any wheat, soy, egg, nuts, fish, etc... until she'd had a RAST done at a year old was reluctant at first to arrange a test for her when I asked for one, as she didn't realise that Ella's diet was so limited... sheesh, this is the same person who told us everything we were not allowed to feed her!!  So a RAST test we'll have, but I just thought - bugger it, and gave Ella 3 little raisin-size pieces of white toast this avo.  She thought it was nice, but threw it up pretty quickly, so we'll see.  We've had a good morning with aimeejoy and Hannah today... the weather sure was nice in their part of the country!  Hope you are all in for good weekends.  I've got a long-lost friend in town so that'll be exciting.  But I need to plan me a decent vego feed when she's here for tea... hmmmm. 

Sounds like I need to get a copy of that one - ta!  I'm still in the 'way too chicken to go there yet' camp for baby  #2, but I can feel that resolve softening... hmmmm. 

I'm glad Brenna is the picture of health, Anna - woo-hoo!