This is what I’m thinking! The only complication with my first was that nobody believed me that he was coming, until DH was like, um, that’s a head, I’m getting the nurse. The second.... from my POV, exactly the same. Sure, they said something about meconium and needing to attach a monitor, but honestly, that never registered as really bad in my focused-on-labour mind. And I thought everything went totally smoothly. I never saw the cart outside for an emergency c-section, or anything else that was different from the first one. If it was up to me “trusting my body” I’m not sure what the end result would have been.

Endless hot water is why we decided against tankless when we had to replace ours last year. Paying for water/sewer and gas is bad enough; I can’t imagine if my family didn’t have cold water as a sign to get out! If it’s starting to show signs of not working well, you’ll want to get to that before it just springs a leak!

If you’re cleaning up after one already, what’s another?

To add on.... and you don’t have to answer.... I know your DH was able to take a lot of time off already... but is there anyway he could transfer to another unit for a bit? Or does he need to get back to his regular position? Mine would absolutely prefer to deal with stress by being focused on frontline, and it would have been asking a lot of him to take a (to him) soul-crushing desk job.

I really had to learn to mentally give control to my DH and God when he walked out the door. Actually take a deep breath, and close my eyes, and visualize handing it over. There is literally nothing I can do. So I have to believe he is smart enough and well-trained enough, and yes, lucky enough, to get through another shift. Hugs to you.

My youngest really wanted to keep the tree up and just change the decorations to suit the season. I had to kibosh that, but I do miss the cheerful glow when I come down the stairs in the dark to go to work.

I would like to live upstairs at Downton Abbey. In a completely opposite direction, Sons of Anarchy.

@Helpdesk Thank you for looking into this and keeping us updated!

Sorry, I don’t have that one either. I have a different LL Bean parka that’s still going strong 15 years later and was worth every penny!

Very sorry for your loss, Scarlett. (((Hugs)))

A good, realistic set of play money New books, of course Kitchen/cooking items (kids’ knife, apron, spatula, etc) Hmmmm....

😂 We have quite a few snow moving items. My favourite is any combination, manual or mechanical, involving teen boys.

Looks beautiful you guys!! It’s been -40 to -50 all week and I am quite over it. On the other hand, I don’t want to shovel, so you can keep the snow!

We passed on a house with poly-B. It was our dream house. The estimate was 25,000 to repipe, as all the walls would have to be opened, tile work, etc.

We had a baby shower for a coworker and his wife when their adopted son came home. We had a BBQ, and gifts, mom could even have a drink, lol. It was possibly even more special, because we’d all been through the ups and downs “with” them, and we all wanted to celebrate.

I cleared everything for well trained mind, with no change. Using iPhone... I haven’t been on any other platforms to compare.

Oh, me too! I actually thought the site was down for about a week, because I never got a response from the bookmark I’ve used for *years*, which goes to my content stream. One day I just went to the regular home page, and that worked. So now I have a new bookmark. But yes, my content steam is painfully slow loading and times out still.

Right? I read the OP, and all the driving and scheduling meals around activities, etc....

Well, of course!

I don’t see any real difference between him going there for those hours, or to daycare. So, much like any other daycare, as long as you like what they’re doing, it sounds like a good fit! There’s nothing wrong with needing childcare while you’re both working. He will have the structure and attention that he may find unpredictable when dad is sometimes busy, sometimes available.

When we lived in the Arctic, the kids and I only saw people there other than DH a couple of times a year. We flew out every six months and saw grandparents and stores and crowds. Even once we moved south, the only people they’ve been able to count on to be around are each other. Now, at 16 & 14, they have friends at school, and online friends. Once in a blue moon they are alone overnight, and more often than not, they end up watching a movie or tv show together. They do, on occasion, choose to hang out together. It’s not often, but maybe more than some. And it has definitely made this whole pandemic thing a bit more bearable.

Just finished Real Murders (Book 1, Aurora Teagarden) by Charlaine Harris. I enjoyed a quick, easy read! I will keep the series in mind for the next time I need that. On to Chapter 2 of CMC!

I started reading CMC, and decided to switch to reading it in French. I have no idea if it’s the original French, or if it’s been modernized, but it’s free on Kindle 😉 And, of course, it is practically the same, but I am enjoying the flow of the language.

So happy you are at home recovering, @Lady Florida.!!!!

I finished The Riddle of the Labyrinth this week. The audiobook is only around seven hours, I think, but took much longer due to the number of naps induced! The content was interesting, but I’ve fallen asleep reading books out loud to my kids, so...... It is about the decipherment of the Linear B tablets from Knossos and Alice Kober who played such a key role in breaking the code of the unknown language. She died too young, and was hampered by the man’s world she lived in, but had such great ideas. Still reading The Year 1000, which is also interesting, but an actual physical book that I keep forgetting to take to work with me. Looking forward to starting CMC (is that what we’re going with?) with you all!