Keziah, City, Choc et al support thread

[Keziahhopes]

Hi - found us a new home. Just didn't like the title of my old thread - and have found your support so helpful but would also like this thread to be less egocentric .

Choc -hope cbt assessment goes well.

City - how are you doing?

My physio exercises are helping me, but don't see stroke consultant until beginning of July. Still not had OT assessment, but dont' think will need it by then - just been horrible for dh to do everything for me since Easter. Now more independend - just had my first shower by myself!!

< choc joins future in proud cyber auntie pose > Glad you had a good time away Keziah. And indeed such an incredible post so soon after your return puts my ability to construct a coherent paragraph so soon after travelling to shame. I do get what you are saying and I hope you're right (and that I'm patient enough to find out). That's what I love about MN - being made to feel 'normal'! Thanks. Future don't fret about not saying that last night. I actually found it comforting comparing our senses of feeling different . Today I dug my heels in and the day was an improvement. Unfortunately won't get to any group this week due to it being half term. But I did manage some fair isle knitting < tilts head to side in anticipation of raptuous round of applause >.

On the negative side haven't had a good day on the garden front. One of my blueberry bushes is dead, also a few basil, parsley and nasturtium plants have died - I think combination of cold(frost??), torrential rain, driving wind and scorching sun in as many days (great summer conditions!).

Good luck with the mountain climbing future but dare I say don't overextend yourself.

Ah Keziah you have my sympathies with ds late bed time, dd was the same. But it did mean I didn't have such early starts. While other mums were up at 5/6 oclock, dd rarely woke up before 8.30am . Hope he settles down soon xx

< most rapturous of applause >
< hopes Choc is knitting a close-knit thing to keep out cold - isn't Fair Isle that verypretty , more open -type stitch ? No , it's those magnificent jumpers , isn't it < off to look it up >

In greatest awe that you've managed such a positive day and such a good post , Choc- sorry , am very behind here but will post more tomorrow , after frantic day .
Argh , definitely a bad year for gardeners round here too - what a pity it had to be this year you've made such efforts . Many growing months yet , though < cowersin anticipation >

Thank you , am relaieved you say that about differences etc . I do find it helps and for me , probably explains ... anyway , sorry will post properly as soon as - and thank you for timely reminder not to overdo it !

Peaceful night to proud mothers and cyberauntiesxxx

Oooh very impressed with knitting project . Sounds like you achieved lots in the day... and not long till half-term over which may help!

Baby D says thank you for his encouragement from his cyberaunties... he interacted with a toy for the first time today and can now chew both hands! xxx

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH at Baby D's first interactiong with a toy
and learning to chew both hands < inaugural medal of excellence in
coordination , exploration , self-soothing & oral health >

Hope you can you take some pics of baby son with toy for your album
Do you think his little gums are getting ready to start teething ?Would be very early for that , surely ? I did read salivary glands kick in around this age , an chewing can be a response to that as well

As for being cyberaunties and ds thanking us for cheering him on , I may
never recover from the joy ( was baffled onlooker to Dh's gorgeous Ns
& N when I was early 2os , regret not having been a "proper" auntie -no
close friends had kids either , so a baby to encourage is unbelievably exciting )

Hope everyone not flooded , that you are being incredibly kind to yourseelf, Choc and sorry no group in half term- all the joys at once .< highest medal of endurance and fortitude for brave, positive Choc and dedicated , full-of-wonderment Keziah >

Aahhhhh at Baby D
Grrrrrr at dreadful weather (no flooding thankfully)
Aarghhhh at feeling sorry for self and having bad day

Now I know a lot of mum's with school age kids say they dread the summer hols but I'm really worrying about it. I don't think I can do it. But if I don't do it, I need to go back to work and I don't think I can do that either.

House is back to complete tip and I can't even blame dd.

Hope everyone is safe and sound. Early night for me

< blows in dishevelled , glad all >
(((Choc)))),am sorry hard day and have been unforgiveably rubbish as
mis-sent a PM the other day ,, & when I realised by chance , send button had frozen again. So , I could have been driving you up the wall with optimism just when you leastneeded it

wish I had a clue about thany possible schemes for parent in this situation mother-child but I I whave had brief ill lohad a look on net but not sure what is available with the cuts ... depeding on resourcesyour cpn might be able to refer to play schemes /clubs , but I feel pessimistic in this Tory world . Your support group providers might be bester bet, & able to refer you ?

I don't think it would be sensible to contemplate work at this stage - you are magnificent enough to started volunteering - you need the time to recover properly , and your confidence needs to be exercised to retun to full fitness< cheesy > Keziahwill have wisdom

Empathy on house being complete tip -& don't you dare be hard on yourself about it .. very hard to be consistent over testing holiday

Hope you're being very kind to yourself too, Keziah , wth non-stop toil and preparation for challenges - sending strengthening thoughts , and hope will have good peaceful time this week .( btw, has been brilliant that you are so organised that you can still post regularly , plus pass baby son's messages ( please tell ds cyberauntie hopes he is pleased with the June roses he passes in his pram )

Sunny with wind here , so I hope we all get some time outdoors this weekend

Am writing up stuff for appts/ forms etc , crossreerencing , and Dh been dealing with horrible work negotiations . This is the year to try to Sort Things ut . Had v scary appt few days ago & very shaken in some ways , v encouraged in others . Bigger appt next week , followed immediately by appt at place where I had memorable experience the other week

< comes over to babysit dd and sets egg timer for limits of endurance >

< coaxes dd into cybergarden to play with animals >

< passes dd to Keziah for iabsorbing , creative pastimes >

< f & K emerge ready for revitalising chamber >

How did I miss all those mistakes < more care , less rambling , future >

Just a quick one to bump us nearer the top again . I'm silently fuming, and slightly stressed. Have realised about 5 mins ago that dd probably has school tomorrow . Bloody incompetent school has put Tuesday 11 June on it's term date sheet so of course on reading the day only (and not the date also) I've been preparing for school start on Tuesday. (This is having read the same aforementioned term date sheet last Thurs as up until this point had thought it was Mon). Now realised the date and day don't match - the school website is a pile of excrement and tells us nothing - so have to prepare for tomorrow. Cue ironing of school uniform, scrabbling around the house looking for: suitable things for packed lunch, still unwashed PE kit, reading books/log etc. The only reason I'm not loudly fuming is because actually I could do with dd being at school. All the same I'd have rather been slightly more prepared...and BREATHE.

< choc stops ranting and finally waves hello to future and Keziah >

< truly hopes it's a good week for us all>

Good luck future with your appts. Hope ds has settled back home after his first trip away K .

at not on webite . < cheers on Choc's preparations & hope she's almost in bed now

Thank you so much for all this cheering me on - trying not to panic here
Time you two got a go of the support .

Keziah, hope you have a peaceful week , and the referral comes through soon for baby son's paedetrician appt

Peaceful night (and morning nap for Choc )
< sings lullaby to baby D >

Helloooo - a rare daytime post from me!

future I can't believe you were still eating dinner at 1:48am . For a split second I thought you were living in America! (btw wasn't almost in bed - decided to iron ALL the clothes, another two loads of wet clothes waiting ).

Keziah I must of missed the bit about paedetrician appt . < choc joins future in hoping referral comes through >

Final words to future "Don't panic!!" xx

Choc - how frustrating... hope the thought of day with dd at school is worth the stress!

Well - horrible day today. Took ds to a free baby massage session at sure start centre, which he screamed through and was sick twice (once over me and once over his clothes)... he then proceeded to scream most of day when not asleep. Am also looking after dm this week (don't ask!) which has already been stressful for lots of reasons. Tomorrow is scary appointment.

Oh - have referral through before end of june for paediatrician, but it is the one day dh has to be at work all day (actually is away with work) but I will still go, but have to be brave and hope ds screams instead of his usual trick of smiling through dr's appointments!

Keziah oh no your day sounds a nightmare! Ref ds screaming - does ds suffer with colic? Dd screamed the house down when she suffered. (sorry if you've already said). And looking after your dm too? Hope is ok(ish??). At least good news about paeditrician, though sod's law about dh being away. at ds smiling through dr's appt. Dd used to do that. One time she ended up in a&e just hours later (after outof hours doc saying she's fine just a cold ) and was admitted for a few days for steroids and nebuliser! Maybe withhold his feed if he's due one around appt time - that should do it < choc only joking >

Good luck at tomorrow's appt. < choc crosses everything >

Oh Keziah , sending every atom of positivity for tomorrow, and for ds to feel better till paed appt - awful luck is for that one day

Oh Choc, I could cry thinking of baby dd on nebuliser- really hope sustained no lasting problems < says future with helpful sensitivitye >

Keziah , am indeed managing to not ask why looking after DM - just hope stresses ease masively , and I think youI know I have been thinking of you , preparing for appt . Very hard when need the services but not trustworthy - we know we need to go in with attitude finely-tuned, but is a challenge at best of times

< irises & orangeblossom to K & C >
Am doing impossible stuff for appts & forms - will never get enough evidence within 10 days , will need to get new form , but good progress . Very nervous about 3 appts Wednesday , but appts for dc etc put it into perspective

PS Choc-was ludicrous day & better than not eating , tht tinme --won't catch me ironing , mind-You did amazingly to get dd to school after that mis sprint

Peaceful , comforting night to us allxxx

Keziah Hope scary appt wasn't too scary. And future really hope the nerves have been kicked into toe (is that correct expression??) for your appts tomorrow. < choc crosses everything > You've been working yourself very hard with all your prep - the evidence sounds a huge task to complete

No lasting damage to dd (well not physically but I can speculate as to whether her "full-on-ness" is related to her stint in hospital ).

A bit of a bits and pieces day for me. A thousand and one chores to do but it did finally stop raining long enough for me to get some weeding done, yay!

Hope you both fast asleep

Oh Choc , I see that there can't no be some effects from such an ordeal -... so glad nothad complications from the the physical illness

Thinking of you , Keziah , massively hoping appt not too grim

Thank you so much , your orders did help me calm down ! Got referral to neuro , hopefully will be on books for treatment as needed - your understanding of the process 8Keziah* was a lightbulb moment for me

Sorry short , migraine , but sending love to us allxxx - you are doing so incredibly , staggeringly well with postivity & , well , everything , Choc

I imagine you two are appointmented out!! It'll be my turn next week. Hope you're being gentle on yourselves . xx

Fabulous xposting there future . Good to hear you survived. And brilliant news on the neuro referral. Three cheers to Keziah for causing lightbulb moment . Hope migraine doesn't linger too long.

< waves to Choc and Keziah , fretting about both >

So sorry not been around- fast asleep all day

Cheering you on Choc , and will be around a bit more - really hoping I can pass on the calming vibes lovely cyberfriends have sent me

Really hope you're OK , Keziah < peaceful thoughts >

hi - sorry been looking after dm and ds all week! Now got a dh to help out, phew! Love weekends right now.

Ds loved all the attention. Me, will probably meltdown next week, but hey aiming to have some good days first. Scary appointment was weird, I said nothing and was asked nothing - so will await letter to see outcome!!

Brilliant future on neuro referral - put it on your DLA form . hope migraine went soon.

How are our gardens?? Mine is full of weeds but have baby cucumbers appearing!

Fantastic you were able to poke your head above water Keziah and so glad for you that it's the weekend. I'm at your scary appt < choc hopes support isn't being withdrawn >

Funny you should ask about gardens. I've been digging like a mad hatter the last couple of days because of, you've guessed it, WEEDS, lol!! Ooh cucumbers - I've never tried to grow those. We've been picking a few strawberries but I think we need some more plants (only have 6 - but one I'm allowing to produce runners) because only getting maybe 2 or 3 strawberries each day!! Sweetcorn is seriously behind though and I haven't even planted any lettuce yet.

< waves to future - hope you're resting >

Oh choc most impressed with your weeding - mine are just increasing with neglect and rain! Great you picking strawberries - I need to investigate mine! You could take runners from all of them and double your number? That is what I did and all original plants did well. Sweetcorn sounds impressive. My lettuce has 2 leaves on, so plenty of time to sew some!

Family left so just us again - phew!

Ah Keziah glad you get to enjoy the peace and tranquility - a less stressful week is much deserved. It's pretty quiet here to as dd is at DM's yesterday/today. I had my arm severely twisted to go on a night out so haven't been long up. It was a rather surreal experience being in a club surrounded by people that looked young enough to have been my children . I did have a good time though.

I'm a bit of a novice gardener - having mainly only grown herbs before. Lastyear is first time I had strawberries. It was an Alan Titchmarsh book from the library that had said to remve runners off plants so the mother plant uses nutrients etc to produce more fruit. That said only one plant produced any runners (so far it's produced 3), and the same plant hasn't flowered yet either. That's reassuring about the lettuce. Are you growing in succession?

Choc - yes I know it is good to not take runners off plants if you want the fruit, but mine seem to produce fruit and runners so I take both the first year and just fruit the 2nd year of a strawberry plant. Then the third year I take the fruit and then dig them up and throw the 3yr old plant away to prevent infections etc. So I have a 3yr cycle of plants (in 3 areas) with new plants created and lots of fruit. Saying that went to pick strawberries today (5 red ones) and found slugs got there first (should have put organic slug pellets down, now done!!). Lettuce, yes I aim for succession! Though have one type that you can pick the leaves from the outside of and plant still grows which is rather handy. I object to paying over £1 a lettuce when I can grow them and they taste much nicer! It is great you are trying new things... I am growing this year: potatoes, onions, garlic, strawberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, rhubarb (the easiest crop possible!), a fruit tree or two, radish, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, aubergine, chilli, beans (2 types) and peas. Peas are very easy to grow and your dd might like to try growing them with you next year = they can go even in a flower bed and are lovely fresh!

at choc going out - glad you had nice time, long lie in and dd being looked after! x

Waves to future and hopes her DLA form is going well ? Oh - I have a job for definite, as new contract, for next year or so at least now. Phew!

Sorry for abandonment - shattered after last few months ,have bigger flareup & you both know about finding it a struggle to interact when like that

Was reading & very relieved when you posted had survived appt , keziah , though itsounds v strssful , & hope resulting letter won't cause you concern , and you won't have a reaction to the horrible week -amazing amount shouldered.

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY at new work contract , fabulous news

Been sending mega -positive vibes to you , Choc , for this week .
Delighted to hear you've been out clubbing Know what you mean
about the young people who could be our children , oh yes .

Fabulous gardening going on on our thread , and virtuous weeding - oooooh
sweetcorn , very good fun but I killed mine last year by underwatering

Keziah , incredible variety - aubergine my fave , difficult in this weather ? I've always wondered about the discarding strawberries & using runners, so that 's me sorted now ! May still bel time to try sowing cucumber, Choc - v entertaining vines, tendrils but take up a lot of space- usethe spiky sort to deter slugs. Agree peas very pretty to grow , really nice for dd to enjoy picking
as long as no moth grubs in pods- you might want to use a net

Have tomatoes , potatoes , brocolli , very "behind" courgettes , loads of runner beans that haven't come up at all, and broad beans FIL gave us space for . A blueberry , strawberries & a few leeks , & thank you for reminder to sow lettuces, preferably out of the way of all the foxes here (cybergarden friend grows at waist height or higher )

So sorry again for absence

Hope we all sleep peacefully , including dcxxx

Am escaping here for a bit, has an over tired baby that yet again refuses to sleep - even after a walk! 15 minutes sleep all day for a baby is not good. Just need a few minutes of "ahhh" time.

Future sorry about relapse, hope you able to rest up physically and only do what you want to do and can ignore other things for a bit. And yes, my aubergine plant is rather small, as is my chilli and pepper - oops! However my tomoato plants seem to have self seeded everywhere, oops. Am impressed with your brocolli - I can't seem to grow that at all. ~Glad you are ok, well as ok as can be.