Well it now almost a week since my husband left and I gotta say its really hard. I knew it would be difficult. The kids are suffering. My son goes to the window every night looking for daddy's truck and gets really upset that he is not there. the first few nights my daughter was crying but she seems to have become a little more stoic about the whole thing. My son is waking every night and coming into bed with me and sleeping the rest of the night in there. On a positive note my husband and I are still on speaking terms and we have agreed to try counselling - first appointment next Thursday. It is really hard to be without someone you love but the way I see it the alternative to this situation I fid myself in is worse and I cant cope with that. Best case scenario we find a solution and are able to carry on with our lives - I dont even want to think about worse case scenario.

Just wanted to let everyone know that today my marriage has ended. After struggling with my husband's gambling problem now for almost 3 years I made the decision to ask him to move out. Being that I am 3 months pregnant with 2 children already I can say this was not an easy decision at all - but a necessary one. Pretty much my husband lives the single life but with all the conveniences of a marriage. His gambling has put us in a large whole financially so things will be a struggle I know. Basically I based my decision on what I thought was best for me and my children and I dont feel that a man who would rather spend his spare time with a pokie machine instead of with his family was the right person to have in our lives. I am feeling really alone and a bit lost at the moment being that all my family is still in NZ and I dont have many friends in Brisbane. I am hoping that I have done the right thing so any words of encouragement  or support would be much appreciated. I think I have done the right thing but I know I have taken a huge step that is on the hard road.

Hello all. Well I had the morning from hell today. It started off lovely - my 22 month old son climbing into bed with me for a 5 minute cuddle before the day kicked off. Then as I was getting up to get his morning bottle/drink I had to make a run to throw up (morning sickness again!!). As a result J was completely beside himself and proceeded to throw himself on the floor in a display that any Hollywood actress would be proud of. Then he decided he wasnt getting the reaction from me - since my head was down the toilet - so he came into the toilet while I was busily throwing up and screamed at me. Now anyone who has more than one child will probably know that soothing an upset tot whilst throwing up is not the easiest thing in the world. Anyway moving on...after I eventually was able to make his bottle (he wanted bottle this morning not cup) we sat down on the couch so he could have it. I had to get up and go and get ready for work but as soon as I got up he started screaming again. This went on the whole time I was in the shower and while I made my daughters breakfast and got her things ready for school. I tried giving Mr his breakfast and we ended up in a war over his highchair. He wanted the tray on then he wanted it off and then on again. I thought bugger this and took him out of the highchair where he laid on the floor and screamed. He decided that climbing into his highchair and standing up was a good way to get attention. As a result the highchair is now in my bedroom with the door closed. About 15 minutes before we had to leave he was still screaming around the floor so I ended up grabbing him and sitting him on my lap and holding tight while he raged. Slowly he calmed down and by the time we had to leave he was his usual sunny self. When we got to childcare I explained that we had had a bit of a rough morning so he may be a bit more tired than usual. She looked at me as if to say 'this all happened today??'. I think basically what it boils down to is he needed a lot of cuddles this morning and unfortunately because I work full time I can't stop and wait until he is ready to go. I spend my evenings with him and my daughter and we all get lots of cuddles and all sit together until bed but I do feel so bad because I have to work full time (both me and my husband have full time jobs). I try to spend as much time with them at weekends and in the evenings but sometimes I just feel like I am failing them as a mother by working. I have asked for extra time off over christmas so I can spend more time with them and when this next baby is born I am hoping to take at least 5 months off. I work for a very small company so no paid maternity leave. With J I only got 3 months and got called back 2 weeks early so its hard. Plus there is the financial side of things. I have a lot on my mind about trying to support the family and being a good mum and trying to keep my job too. Anyway that was my morning - thanks for letting me vent.

Well my son has been in his bed since Saturday night. Last night was the total blinder! At about midnight he suddenly started screaming. I went into to him and cuddled him until he calmed down. But when I tried to put him back to bed he started crying again. I tried laying down with him but every time I moved away he grabbed onto me again. So all in all a very restless night. I don't want to shut his door fully to lock him in his room but is there a way to encourage him to sleep in his bed without Mum or Dad there. If anyone has any tricks Im willing to try anything. We are thinking maybe is it better to go back to his cot and wait a while before we try the bed again...any suggestions?

Our weekend was a big step for us all. My 20 month old son has graduated to a big boys bed. We were given a Batman car bed a few months ago and have just been waiting until things felt right to move him out of the cot. He was a part of the process the whole way. He helped to dismantle his cot and put it in the garage and was there watching so carefully what was going into his room. When he realised that it was in the shape of a car (he is car mad) his little face just lit up and he laughed so much. We went and bought a new matress and sheets and a doona and he was there finally when it was all ready for him to lie down in. Boy his face was priceless!! He seems to like it although I think he gets a little confused in the morning. He is waking at about 5.00am and going to the front door and banging and calling out out for Mummy and Daddy. We call out to him (we sleep with the door open so the kids can always come in if they need us) and he ends up doing a lap of the house and going back to his bed. I guess it is a big step for him and once he works out that it is his space and his bed things will settle. We are very excited tho. I had a sleep on it yesterday afternoon with my boy and its very comfortable.

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone to gave advive on the morning sickness thing. I will certainly be trying everything I can. I have already started on the gingernuts and so far it is really good. Things have stayed where they are supposed to almost all day now. TOPS!! Mnay thanks for the info and suggestions.

well here I am at work again. My children gave me a really good start today - they were both in great moods and my son who is almost 2 is at that stage where he parrots everything. I said Lets go and this little voice in the other room repeats it and he comes running around the corner teddy in hand ready to go to kindi. LOVELY!! I so love days like this. it makes me so thankful that my children are healthy and happy. Another reason to be happy is I think that my morning sickness is finally slowing down. If anyone has and hints or tips on how to deal with it I could surely use the advice. The last 2 were never as bad as this - but then again my mother in law swears we are having twins this time...ARGHHH! Aannyway...hopefully this is the last of the morning sickness and we arent having anymore after this so I never have to deal with it again..YAY! Work is looking pretty quiet today so maybe have a bit of a tidy up and catch up on paperwork etc...nice! Happy day to all - hope its full and exciting for you. catch ya later.

Well hello to all - Im new here. First a bit about myself - I am 33, a mum of 2 and another on the way. I am married to a spunkalicious lovely man and we live in Brisbane's West. I work full time and am pretty active. I go to the gym regularly and walk two days a week with my best friend and her daughter - who happens to be my daughter's good friend. I work for a small company that produces large format digital displays - which is a long way from where I started my apprenticeship when I was 17. Oh and by the way I'm a kiwi - well English Kiwi if you ask my husband. He always says Ive got the best of both worlds - a whinging kiwi so to speak... Other than that I have other interests including reading, cooking and generally just be a social animal. My family comes first in my life so I like to do things that will include them. Next week we are all going to the Cirque du Soleil (spelling??). It is something both my husband and I have wanted to go to for a long time so we thought we would do it before the next bubba is born (which is June sometime). Ah well best get back to work - love to chat - anything, anytime...