Oh MD hun, it's a tough one to know what the *right* thing to do is in this situation isn't it? You're not going to know how you feel until you start, but some extra care for E is definately needed, even if just to deal with the times when you're glowing bright green after treatment kwim? You may deal with it absolutely fine, but it's something you just need to take one week at a time. Do you have someone that can just come to your house to help you out, so at least E is there with you, but there is also someone there to take the burden kwim?

Supa, again, it's a tough one to know when the time is exactly right. Sometimes I think you just have to take that chance because like Jaz said, every age gap will present challenges in regards to the dynamics of the family etc. We originally wanted Lindsay to be TT and all that before having #2 too, but once he got a bit older no way known could I wait that long, mind you he didn't TT till nearly 3 ROFL so it's a good thing we didn't stick to the plan.

Kate! great to hear you had a wonderful time. I expect photos for the FB group too IKWYM about the tan - Alister was the same over summer, didn't matter how much suncream i put on or him wearing a rashie or not, he was brown as a berry by the end of swimming lessons. He has his fathers olive complexion too.

G, great to hear that L slotted into care so well, he will benefit so much from it plus you will get that extra time for just you and Jimmy too.

Jaz, IKWYM about not being able to do things with the older ones cause of the little one. I couldn't go groups at school last year either cause it just didn't work out right to coincide with preschool and I would have had 2 to deal with. Next year I will be able to though.

Cally, I don't think you've ever said before that you're only having one at this stage? How soon do they want you to take all your leave? You should have a nice holiday with DH at the end of term and use some up.

Arte, I really like that name, but unlike G I don't know anyone bad called that LOL.

Super busy here today! Paige had a speechie appointment at 10.30, Erin had to get a filling fixed up in her tooth at 12 and Lindsay brought a note home yesterday saying he was getting an award at assembly today at 12.15 (they send a note home so you can be sure to go and see them get their award etc). Luckily the school has a dental clinic so I was already at the school by the time the assembly started. Then had a few jobs to do around town and got home by 2.

And now it's my turn to have a brother busted up in hospital after coming off his motorbike. This kid has more lives than a cat I tell ya! Ever since he was little he has had buster after buster - most of them involving motorbikes and he's always been lucky and only come away with minor breaks and cuts, but this time he did his knee in gooooood. He had the first lot of surgery yesterday to clean it out and start to mend it with pins, but they had to leave the wound open so it could drain (and the hospital he is in has a terrible record for staph infections so fingers crossed he doesn't pick anything up) and he will need another lot of surgery on Thursday and then they are talking skin grafts. Mum is heading over to see him tomorrow, but I can't get over to see him this week. He's doing well enough though, well as much as can be expected anyway.