Trapped toddler parents: Inspiration and support needed through the summer hols!!

[PinkDaydreams]

Following on from the previous trapped toddler thread!
Sorry for rubbish title!

Good evening!

@Motherofmonsters glad to hear school start is going well and that DS is getting the help he needs (hopefully!).

@Chocolatetrifle hope your boys are doing okay, sounds like a rough patch at the moment. Glad you didn't have to go to A&E in the end. So frustrating that 111 are so slow, doesn't instill lots of confidence in it does it?!

@BeHereNowx32 hope DD is feeling better and you've had a good day today.

We had a fab weekend but we're all pretty tired today. DS has been to nursery and was in high spirits when I picked him up, we spent lots of time wandering around outside (we have a large field by us, plus playareas etc) while DH made dinner...but he was exhausted, went to bed early, keeps whining in his sleep and is a bit snotty/drooly. I'm nervous he's getting sick again because everyone seems to be sick at the moment, but he doesn't seem warm to the touch so we'll see how the night goes. DH after checking on him the first time said his "yeah he was struggling to breathe" line again when he really meant he was busy trying to get wind out or something and was pushing rather than breathing normally. But I'm obviously now on high panic alert and keep going to check on him every 10 minutes...this must be a language barrier issue I think!!

Hope everyone gets some sleep, I'll probably be wandering to and from DS' room all night...

Evening, hope everyone is ok.
@BeHereNowx32, oh I hope your DD was ok today after her bug? I hate all the washing after sickness bugs. Bizarrely most of the sick always ends up on me here, I have the ability to catch it in my hair, and on whichever top I'm wearing! They seem to wait until I hold them before it all goes down the back of my shoulder etc.

Hope all is well today. How are you getting on with the potty training this week?

@squishymamma, I hope your DS is ok and gets through the night without too much disturbance. Mine drool terribly when they have bad throats. Hope he feels better soon, fingers crossed.

Not much to report from here. DS1 is now feeling better, he still has some spots but his throat is better. He made it to preschool this morning and declared he was bored at home this afternoon so I'm taking that as a good sign. DS2 is getting there, his rash had come out now and his throat is still bad I can tell. Unfortunately both are allergic to penicillin and the antibiotics they are on are sending them high as kites so it's been 'challenging'.

We played with the stomp rocket launcher which is good and not much else. I'm very ready to go to bed .

@Chocolatetrifle DD was all better yesterday! I couldn’t have coped with more washing haha. So horrible in your hair. It stinks 🙈🙈😂 she had me really busy yesterday. Wanted to make a bug hotel. (We cut a hole in an orange juice carton and filled it with leaves, sticks and pine cones. Then we had to go looking for snails to put in it).
Haven’t really bothered with potty training. Everyone now and again she will ask for the potty to do a pee. But we’ve gone right back. Think I will wait until next week and see where things are at.

Hope you’re at the end of the sickness with both DS then. It must be tough with the 2 of them. Def a good sign to get DS back to preschool. Give you a break too!!

@BeHereNowx32, oh glad your DD is better. A bug hotel sounds great! Glad your DD enjoyed that. Don't worry about the potty, just go at your own pace as and when. They all get there.

Hope everyone is well today. Not much to report here. It's drizzling today. Going to collect DS1 from preschool soon then will think what to do for the afternoon. Annoyingly our local library is only open a few days a week and today is not one of them as might have gone there. We seem to be shaking off the illnesses here now.

Thanks everyone, feeling much better about it all.

I'm struggling today though as between both kids they've kept me up since 2.30am, I'm so tired!! Off to a playgroup with DD in a minute, it's quite small and she's happy doing her own thing so I'm going to stare into space with a cup of tea.

That's annoying about the library @chocolatetrifle, glad your shaking the illnesses though. You've had such a rough time at the minute

Big news of the day, we found 2 worms to put in our worm world! They are settling in in their soil and sand box in the shed. Going to put some dried leaves on there tomorrow for them.

@Motherofmonsters, hope you got through the day. It's awful when you have nights like that. Glad you are feeling better about school. How was DS there today?

@Chocolatetrifle that is exciting! Feel like most of our days revolve around bugs too 😅 will you be a me too send a photo when they get settled in please?
I saw a post on insta- if you put a couple of plants pots on top of each other, then face upside down, loads of snails will go underneath it. I’m definitely going to do this.
Our dog peed all over the bug hotel, so will need to make another

@Motherofmonsters that is so tough. Amazing that you still made it out the house. Hope you’re feeling ok

@BeHereNowx32, here are some photos of the worm world. We got on Amazon. Need to keep it in the dark except when looking at the worms. Will release into wild again in couple of days.

Was out walking with DS2 this morning as dS1 is at preschool and there was a massive worm just on the road so I just had to scoop it up and bring it home to put it into the world.

How is everyone today? dS1 is having his nap so going to do a bit of work before getting DS1. Hope everyone is well.

@Chocolatetrifle thank you. That’s looks great. I am going to get it one day. Next year I am going to order one of those kits that you keep caterpillars until they are butterflies.
Lol. I love how dedicated you are with your worm world

@BeHereNowx32, . I like your snail flower pot idea too. I saw a Hey Duggee -the potty badge book. Your DD might like it. I picked one up in Asda for DS2 x

@Chocolatetrifle we have that book actually. Thanks! :) DD has asked for the potty a couple of times today. But mainly pees in her nappy. She does like that book though

Evening everyone

@Chocolatetrifle the worm world looks great! Glad to hear everyone is feeling better now.

@Motherofmonsters hope you managed to get some sleep last night and are feeling better today!

We're in sleep regression hell yet again. DS is shattered at 6pm but refuses to go to sleep. Last night he was up until 9.30pm, then was wide awake again at 4am! I let him run around but made it as boring as possible, no lights or anything and I just sat on the couch, and eventually he lay down on the carpet so I popped him in bed and he slept until 7.30. He's still up and complaining in his room now, so we'll see how everything goes. Think his insane amount of drool is related to more teeth coming through as he doesn't seem ill at all.

Hope everyone has a good night!

DD didn't sleep last night she had the most horrendous wind, so I'm still dying. I've bought DS a Yoto box so he's got that playing in his room, I'm hoping it will help him switch his mind off. He's still charging around up there but hoping he settles down, he hasn't turned off which I was expecting.

They're both at school/nursery tomorrow so I'm going shopping and having a bra fitting. The last time I had it done I was childless, so definitely due one and all my bras are falling apart.

Oh no @Motherofmonsters, hope tonight went better and the Yoto box helped. They are a really good idea! Hope you enjoy your bra fitting, I still live in my nursing bras from DS and I imagine I'll be doing that for a while with the new baby, they're not the best fit now though I miss a nice, good quality bra!

DS ended up sleeping quite well in the end, he stopped making noises around 8.30pm and only woke up once in the night. I went to bed also around 8.30 and woke up before my alarm, so I'm hiding in the bathroom having some quiet time because once I move to the living room/kitchen DS will most likely hear me and wake up (as our flat is not huge). Anyone else do this?

No sleep here unfortunately, DS fell asleep quickly with the Yoto player but woke up in the night 2-5, I think it helped a bit but DS was to wide awake. Not sure what I can do to help him. DD woke up every hour as well. I haven't gone shopping as DH needed help on the job he was on so I've carried over 50 loft boards up stairs for him. I think I may die, currently stopped to pick up a McDonald's breakfast to cheer myself up

Glad your DS had a good night @squishymama, I am a fan on hiding in the bathroom/kitchen.

Sorry to hear of the poor nights sleep the last couple of days. It's an absolutely killer. The Yoto box sounds interesting, what is it and can you recommend?
I have hurt my foot looking for bugs. Yesterday afternoon I lifted up this large wooden board we have in the garden, which houses lots of bugs that the boys like looking at, unfortunately I dropped it on my foot. It is all swollen so I'm finished bug hunting for the time being, it's over! Hobbling around, got my boot on but can't zip up. Could be worse I guess!

Am going to collect DS1 at 12 from preschool, he ran in this morning. He really loves it there now and I get a bit emotional remembering how he struggled with it initially. Sure you all remember my posts about it ha!

Hope everyone is ok. I've got some lard and seeds and string and going to make some fat balls for the birds I think with the boys this afternoon. It suddenly feels very autumnal here.

Hope everyone has a good day.

@chocolatetrifle a Yoto box basically plays stories a bit like audiobooks but you buy the stories on cards that they can slot in themselves to listen to. It also can be a nightlight, has its own radio station. You can also buy blank cards and record your own stories to play. I think it's really good, DS has only had it one day but I like it. There's lots of choice as well and a few kids mediation type ones.
Oh no you're poor foot, hopefully the swelling will go down soon! I like the idea of making fat balls, I might give that a go with mine

@Motherofmonsters, oh that sounds really about the Yoto, especially if they can work it themselves. I might look into getting one too.

Fat balls was good fun, think I enjoyed it the most as with all craft type activities. The DS's tried to just eat the seeds and currants. Best to do it outside I think. Unfortunately my kitchen floor is full of trodden in lard currants....

Evening!

@Motherofmonsters sorry to hear DS' sleep is still not sorted. Maybe he's just figuring something out, learning a new skill etc and will be back to his normal routine soon? Very impressed at your manual labour and as always lamenting loving abroad when I hear the phrase "McDonald's breakfast" crossing fingers you can get some sleep tonight.

@Chocolatetrifle I haven't tried making fat balls with DS yet, he also just tries to eat everything. But I love making them myself and watching all the different birds come! Sorry to hear about your foot, hope the swelling goes down soon. And huge congrats to DS, so glad he's enjoying it! I remember how worried you were so it's wonderful to hear it's going so well.

We've had the usual routine of work and nursery, another struggle getting him to sleep tonight but we've dug out Ewan the Sheep and he seems to be helping a little. Definitely some kind of sleep regression because he's his usual self in every other way, just can't seem to wind down to go to sleep. Fingers crossed it's not a long one!

I'm knackered and we've got a playdate in the morning (plus DS will likely be up at 5am as usual) so off to bed I go. Anyone have any nice plans for the weekend?

Sending magical sleep dust to you all

Here's a code for a free toucan craft box if anyone is interested. I've signed up what with winter coming, thought it would be something exciting coming through the door. Has anyone used it before?

Did everyone have a better night last night? Did the little ones settle down? Everyone was tired here and settled early for once.

What is everyone up to?

Our local village has set up a scarecrow fest so we've had a drive around looking to spot scarecrows this morning. They are musician themed, a lot seem to be rock and metal stars for some reason. Best one was Kiss who had a pet who was Hey Duggee .

Hope everyone is ok.

You'd think a walk by a canal looking at swans would be peaceful and idyllic, oh no not with a screaming 21 month old who was swinging around on his reins! . Two words: hard work.

The scarecrow fest sounds like fun @chocolatetrifle. Toddlers definitely have a special talent for making relaxing activities chaos.

We've been to Flambards today, which is a theme park. DS went on the big rides but didn't enjoy them, he liked all the smaller rides though and we had a grand time. The both slept the 45mins home so bedtime is going to be interesting

@Chocolatetrifle sounds like a great day, despite a screaming 21 month old! They have something similar where I'm from but with hay bales, my favourite was a field of Minions

@Motherofmonsters fun with theme parks, hoping they manage to settle well for you.

DS settled around 7.45pm last night, and only woke up once in the night (that we noticed). Slept until 6.30pm and had a 3 hour nap today!! He had a bit of a late bedtime tonight too because we got home late, we've just put him down and left - see if that helps, since usually we try to sit there and sing some songs and wait for him to sleep. Will report back. I do worry he's getting sick though because that's the only time he sleeps so much

We has a lovely playdate with his friend today and then went into the city centre to buy birthday presents. A niece and nephew are having a joint birthday party tomorrow so had to get sorted for that. I'm 29 weeks now and feeling it in the legs/feet tonight...

Hope everyone has a good night!