Due in April 2007 - BigOnion to the rescue

[EllieK]

another week, another thread

Only thing I can suggest with cats on benches is a battle of wills... every time you see them tell them to get down, push off, or get a little water pistol.. we are going through the same thing with ours at the moment re the dining room table... dp will get up and go in to the kitchen to tell him off.. its quite amusing really... I'm sure the cat just jumps up to wind him up.... but after about 2 months he's starting to get the message..

Having said that, I really wouldnt worry too much about cats on benches..if you clean them regulary then you'll be fine... more germs on benches and handbags than on toilet seats and all that..

caz where do you get chicken feed from?

Oh God, our cat is awful for walking round the kitchen. At the moment he will only drink from a running tap, so spends a lot of time sat on the draining board. He also sits on the kitchen table a lot and I am crap at discipline!!

Crossways at Ellingham. It sells all kinds of animal feed (good for me, at least I can get it all in one place) but it also has a good equestrian shop on the side which is too tempting....esp as I am always telling hubby that the horses aren't that expensive

Im now beginning to worry im not thinking enough about when the babys here! Im just assuming ill bf cos thats what i did before and i think for me thats the way to go and not even consider bottle feeding. And have to admit will be going with disposables , i think with 2 kids already and probably starting childminding when baby is 3 months old or so trying to go with reusables would just be too much work and i know what im like, if i started something like that i would put a huge amount of pressure on myself to stick at it. But really ive not thought in detail about anything, im just kind of going along in a daze!

Liath - have made very similar comments to my dp about needing a good seeing to but not getting me anywhere In fact im lucky if i even get much of a cuddle!

RH - i think my tumble drier is on its way out, its taking twice as long on its low heat setting to dry things as it used to. Why now?!

As far as starting school my dds birthday is november so she started just before turning 5 and really could have done with starting sooner. As i said ds will be 4 at start of aug and is nowhere near being at the stage she was when she started. We do have the option of holding him back till jan or by law they dont actually have to be in school until the term after their 5th birthday so he could not go at all until next year but he would then go straight into year1 and so miss a whole year of school. I have thought very carefully about this. The school is very good, they are large classes of 30 but with at least 2 very good teaching assistants and they do not put pressure on. When dd has homework (now yr1) there is no deadline, they have words or spellings to learn and are tested once a week but there is no pressure to know them by a certain time it is all working at their own pace and in groups with children at a similar stage to them. And although ds is perhaps a little slow with his communication he is very confident and friendly and i think will cope very well with a school environment. I think the problem with holding him back would be that when he startde in jan he would be joining a group of children that had all been there since sept and would all know each other and know their way around and he would still have to try and catch up and fit in and this would just make it even harder and more stressful. I do think he will struggle a little with reading and writing but I am happy that the school will not pressure him and will happily take it at his pace (and they will have me in there all guns blazing if they dont ) but i think the rest of school life he will love and the extra structure and routine will do him alot of good. I have already seen him come on in leaps and bounds after being at playschool 5 mornings a week.

Sorry went on abit there, as you can tell this is something ive given alot of thought to!

morning

well i felt soooo ill last night. crawled into bed and cried on dh. Feeling bit better this am, but not great. Not sure if i've caught a cold off someone or if i had a bit of a reaction to the anti-d injection. Oh well, hopefully today will be better.

Sorry to hear some of you are feeling crappy too.

Can't join in the cat debate, am allergic to them, so no cats ever for me.

Caz - I'm planning homebirth too. m/w's aren't keen coz it's my 1st, but I feel it will be the right thing for me and dh.

Runny - about your washing machine! Machines are just a pain in the neck when they go wrong. Hope you manage to sort it out.

MIAM - Hope you're feeling a bit better this morning. I'm sure you will be fine, you've already done it all once with ds. It's us 1st timers that are going to be loosing the plot !

Bit of snow here this morning! Very exciting!

Runny!

Re that cats on worktops...I had the same thing when I got my new kitchen and I found that if you put kitchen foil on the worktops for a few days they will stop going on it - they hate the feel of it underneath them. I know - it's a bit wierd but I got the tip from a friend and it worked - I only had to do it for about a week and then Jasp gave up...hope that helps?? Bramshott - wouldn't worry about discipline with cats - they don't do discipline - lol!!! You have to make them come to the decision not to do something by making it not worth their while or unpleasant (in a harmless way)...the other thign I tried as a deterrant was squirting with a water pistol when I saw him jump up ....but not v effective when I was out etc....kitchen foil deffo worked best.
Geordie - Samson is beautiful! I love his bow. Just out of interest - how many cat owners have had the well meaning comments about "oh you'll HAVE to get rid of the cat now your having a baby" comments.....
I'd just like to say that my MIL drove me insane before James was born yattering on about allergies and smothering the baby and all sorts...all turned out to be utter tripe. I remember Jasper sniffed the moses basket when james came home and went in a huff for a few weeks whilst he got used to the wailing thing in the corner. We only ever caught him in the cot when James was not in it and a few tellings off later he stopped that. James and Jasp get on like a house onfire now...in fact as I type James is rescuing Jasper from a tree with a tie as a rope ladder.........all imaginary of course

BBCFK - thanks for that hun - I know you and the others are so right. It really is nice to have supportive friends group hug
xxx

Eca - aww poor thing - hope you feel better today lovey. I think we all just need lots of TLC and a hug from our DP/DH's when we feel like that.
I do feel better today thank you - thanks to all of your nice words and encouragement.
I know it does seem silly that us 2nd/or more time Mums stress out as we have done it before....sometimes there is just no rhyme or reason to how we feel I suppose. Right I am going to clean this pram!!!!
x

I know what you mean about people twittering on about cats.. "ooh it will sit on the babies head" etc etc etc luckily my mum has 4 cats and has done ever since I was little, and dp's family all have cats.. so everyone else can p*ss off!!!

Samson does go on the benches, and the sofa, and the beds, and anywhere else he can get.. but hey its cool... I havent died of any cat related illness in 25 years so..

Thanks for the cat tips

Miabt - we had LOADS of anti cat comments when we were expecting ds (esp from "well meaning" friends and family) Ds is now at an age (20mths) where he loves them, although I don't think the feelings mutual though lol

Hello - Was feeling v. when I woke up this morning, but feeling a little better now, although DD2 has just woken up after only 1/2 hr of sleep. Bum. Hoping she settles back ..... !!?

Ooooooh, it would be cool if you got on mine and Bamshott's train as well EmmyMummy! My email is: captain_dippy "at" yahoo "dot" co "dot" uk if you wanna exchange mobile Nos. Bramshott - LOL @ reservation for "SexOnLegs" - Really looking forward to this Meet-Up!!

Hi Cazboldy - it is good to have you back with us!! Can't believe you are moving in 6 weeks (you're v.brave!) - Where to?? (I know you've probably said, but my brain is so sieve-like it can't retain any info atm!!) I am planning to have a homebirth this time round, as long as everything goes ok - My last PG ended at 35 + 4 with a Pre-Term Rupture of Membranes and an induction .... Bum. However, my PG before that was full-term and fine - so we'll see!

Right, best go and try to ignore the moaning .....

Morning all on this bright and cold morning.
Hope everyone is ok, Eca, hope you are feeling a bit better today.

All well here. Dd is full of cold and I felt so awful dropping her at preschool, but she is not ill enough to warrant her not going iyswim! She looks really run down, and in need of some sunshine - couldn't we all! Hate this time of year.

Loving all the cat talk. GMM, lol at the picture of Samson and his comedy bow - hilarious! MIABT, Jasper is a handsome boy isn't he! No wonder the black cat has moved in on him.

Fortunately we didn't have any chat from people about getting rid of "our boys" before Becky came along. I would have ignored it too. Becky has a great relationship with them - one in particular - and I think pets are of real benefit to children. It teaches them to be gentle - well most of the time!
Our cats aren't too bad about going on the table etc, and tbh it all gets wiped down regularly anyway. One cannot wrap one's kids up in cotton wool. Tbh, if Wiggly goes up on the table, Becky shouts at him to get down, and he is off like a shot!

I had a real pain in my lower left abdomen this morning - like a knife being shoved in. I am sure it was was porbably either baby or trapped wind, but thankfully it has gone now. I couldn't straighten up for a while and I think I scared poor dh to death! He was ready with the phone to call the mw!

Bramshott, I am pretty sure I have booked the table under Claire - my real name! I will call today and just ensure everything is ok and they haven't forgotten the reservation. I'll come back to you later on.

Right, mammoth post that was - I'll bugger off now. x

Glad your pain has gone SOSPL! Jasper is very handsome but then I am biased.....he has turned out well cos he was a patheticly scraggy little thing when we got him...in fact Phil's comment at teh time when he got home to the kitten I acquired was..."Oh good god what is that?!"

I had rescued him from a cardboard box on top of someones wardrobe...(heard about this eejit via a friend)he was only about 6 weeks old and far too young to be away from its mother...I didn't think he would make it through the weekend...amazing what lots of love can do eh?! He was so smal he used to sit in the sleeve of my dressing gown!
Anyway - enough about my other baby!!!

My pram is GLEAMING! I finally got it cleaned - nightmare to get all the bits off to clean it tho.... I need to get a raincover as mine has ripped.....also Aria is advertised as being compatible with the Primo Viaggio car seat (which I still have in the loft) ...but I can't see where it clips in sigh....won't panic until I've tried it....but now it's clean I really can't justify buying a new pram as it looks like new so at least I've saved some money somewhere!!!!

V jelous of the southern meet up - hope you have a brilliant time - you'll have to post some piccies....
waiting eagerly for Tesco shop - I'm starving and James wants CAKE - don't we all!!!!
x

Blimey, have missed threads again!

about the twins Miabt and about your grandad yvie

Dont have cats but cute pictures!
at jewlery from husbands. When ds was born dh bought me a .....dishwasher! Not that I am ungrateful - I couldn't live without it now but typical scotsman eh? Love him
Having a hard few days here. Dh is in Germany and dd2 has come down with Bronchiolitis. She is also an asthmatic so have had no sleep for a few nights. Decided to gulp down my pride and ask for some help yesterday, so phoned the school for a parking permit for a few days so that dd2 does not have to go out into the cold air. They were very kind and said of course we will put it in dd1s book bag. Tucked dd2 up in the car with ds and merrily drove to school only to be given a roasting by a teacher for parking in school grounds
Cant win. Did explain that permit was on its way but .
On a happier note just found over the bump jeans in Next YEAH. I am only 5ft and the under the bump jeans just fall down
. I have already flashed my backside at my friends husband when removing the casserole from the oven So I am really pleased to have found some dignity jeans! Especially as of to Scotland on sat. no cold bum for me now

miabt - the arias car seat clips might be folded down, like they are on my M&P freestyler. When you look at my pram, you can't actually see the clips. They lie flush with the frame, and you have to hook your finger under them to make them upright so the Viaggio will clip on iyswim - not sure if that makes any sense at all

Hiya! Flump, sorry to hear about the bronichiolitis - not very nice at all. I hope dd2 feels better soon, and you can also get some rest. Lol at the bum flashing incident! I nearly did that at work the other day. I got my heel caught in the hem of my skirt, stood up and the skirt started to come down!

MIABT - boo hiss at Jaspers previous owner. Our boys are from Cats Protection and I have to say they were in good condition! Although saying that, they had called one of them "Skinny" and that was his name registered with the local vet! He has been renamed I hasten to add!!

DS2 back from playgroup in good mood - going to do some painting with him when looks bored then watch dvd with a blankets and hot milky drinks! Keep thinking about all the jobs (mostly painting) that need doing but cannot be bothered at all - still really tired - was supposed to be going to a Virgin Vie party tonight but expect will be snuggled up fast asleep by 8pm. Have got myself a lavender candle to see if it helps send me to land of nod.

I have 8 days left at work (4 weeks) - cannot wait to have whole days to myself!

We don't have any pets - dh allergic to cats - my parents cat died last week - he was 19 years old! Over the past year he's been getting steadily weaker and wobbly - then when went last week as he looked quite ill they said it was probably best he was put down Bless him - my dad was more attached to him than my mum - so he is missing his company.

CD - did your second born at 35 weeks have to go to scbu or was everything all right at that gestation?

I have my GTT tomorrow which I am dreading - the thought of not eating for so long really worries me - luckily am going to village doctors to get it done by my midwife and then go back again at 11am for second test - and can then eat ... may take some food with me!

Thanks Sol, dh has just phoned to say that he will try to fly back tonight so fingers crossed. Its bizarre how I seem to have crossed that line from being able to manage everything to finding everything so much harder. Did that make sense? Possibly just the effect of entering the 3rd trimester?????

BBCK sorry to hear about your parents cat. Horrible losing a family pet, they are like members of the family.
Good luck tomorrow with your test, I would take some food with you for when you are allowed it .

Hugs FP. It's grim when they're ill and ten times worse without dh. Hope he does manage to get back early.

My parents are coming in a week's time. Hurrah. DH back in 25 days!!

Thanks Clarice
How is your dd, have the dreaded spots dried up yet? Congratulations on your pink bean. I thought that mine was pink and was quite shocked to be having another blue one.

BBCK, sorry to hear about your parents cat. My parents have lost a few cats, and have been distraught, especially my dad, as he is at home a lot. I am hoping they will get 1 or 2 more when they return from their trip in NZ.

Flump, fingers crossed your dh gets back soon. I know what you mean about coping. I am finding the simplest of things either exhausting or impossible, and thus frustrating. I feel so bloody heavy down there that I could fall flat on my face!
It is made 10 times worse when the other child/ren are poorly. As I said earlier, dd has a dreadful cold and chesty cough and she is so sensitive to things that would not normally bother her. I tweaked her hair last night when combing it and you would have thought I had ripped her head off!
I try to be sympathetic, but when you are tired and feeling incapable, it is quite hard isn't it!

Clarice, how fab that you have your parents coming soon. Good news indeed. x

Is your dd better yet sol? Poor things. All of our mn children seem to be suffering at the moment.
I can't complain, I think that my dd is too ill to be bothered. She is lying on the sofa giving me little smiles every so often - bless her. I think that I will be glad when she starts being cheeky again. At least then I will know that she is on the mend.
Are your parents on holiday in NZ? Gorgeous country. I went travlelling out there after uni. Loved it but couldn't live there
My parents are out in Oz visiting my big sisters.
Not long now until your parents are with you Clarice

Flump, dd not great, but she is at preschool, although not sure how she will be by the time I pick her up later. She just looked so rough!

My parents are holidaying in NZ. They started in Singapore which is where my brother, sil and 4 kids are for 2 years, and then hopped to NZ yesterday. They will stop again in Singapore and are due back in the UK at the end of Feb. Feels strange having them out of the country for so long.

I apologise in advance for the purely selfish post, just need you girls to be kind...Feeling really sad today.. lots of little things just getting to me I guess..

My first baby would have been due this week. I feel really grateful that I have a lovely little boy in my tummy but I just worry so much that everything will go wrong..

Bloody car seems to be one thing after another at the moment... we are supposed to be trading it in and getting a sensible one but dp seems in no hurry.. at the moment one of the tyres is split, it needs an MOT, there is a problem with the accelerator, brakes are pretty crap, needs taxing at the end of Feb and now I see that someone has taken a gouge out of the passenger side door.. I hate the stupid thing, and am feeling more and more unsafe driving it if that makes sense which leads to the worries about the baby..

Had a really shitty weekend, the major issue being we hired a van to go and pick up a sofa bed that we got from ebay.. stupid bloke that was selling it was directing dp as he was reversing up the street... guideded him straight into a wall.. just waiting for a bill from the hire company now.. £400 excess, which is what we really need as I'm now finishing my contract at the end of Feb as opposed to march so we already £2k down...

DP has now announced that he has applied for tickets for liverpool everton in 2 weeks, not really a problem but we were supposed to be heading north to see his family. I'm sick of me discussing all my arrangements and plans with him before I do anything but he just makes plans as he seems fit then mentions it in front of everyone at work, as if its funny.

It just seems at the moment that the littlest things make me sad.

Sorry for this major rant... reading through it I feel stupid for being so petty..there are people a lot worse off than me... still bloody crying as I write it though!!!

Afternoon - Safely installed in my nice warm shop, tis freeeeeeezing outside!! Took DD2 to Tesco for lunch as she was being so grumpy & demanding. She threw her dinner all over place and was a general nightmare; but it was good to get out of the house all the same!!

I've had similar pains in my abdomen to the one you described SPSOL - Soooo painful. Unfortunately for me, DH wasn't as much concerned as amused!! Gee, thanks....

I am 5" as well Flump and have exactly the same problems with under the Bump jeans - Will definitely have to cheeck out Next!! to DD's bronciolitis - hope it clears up soon and you can get your sleep back!! Grrrrr! - to teacher for giving you an ear-full, unnecessary! Grrrr!!

In response to your question about DD2 being born at 35 weeks - I passed out after she was born (reaction to drugs I was given) so couldn't feed her, hold her etc ... She got v.cold and couldn't control her own body temp as she was so small (4lb 6oz) so she was admitted to SCBU for a week where they warmed her up, gave her Phototherapy for Jaundice and taught her to eat as her sucking reflex wasn't very well developed. She was fed exclusively through NG tube for first 2 days and then we introduced the breast and toppped her up with expressed tube feeds til she was ready to exclusively take the breast.

So there you go .....