I am ill and have had no sleep - I can feel myself getting angry with the children...

[bringmeashrubbery]

I have got some horrible virus which has left me with a streaming cold, blocked nose, mucousy cough and the inability to sleep. I am getting on average about 2 hours sleep a night. DD has had a version of it so have been up with her as well. DS not got it yet but I just found myself raging at him for not eating his pot of fruit which he then proceeded to hurl all over the kitchen, and I now have to clean it up. I can feel myself welling up with anger and I know it's because I'm ill and am not sleeping. Now dd has just tipped her lunch everywhere - sigh...

I could do with some words of comfort...please ?

Oh that sounds horrible - no real help I'm afraid but you're certainly not the only one to feel like you've reached the end of your tether when you're ill and the kids seem to pick up on the fact..

Can DH/DP not help out as soon as he gets home so you can go and have a lovely soak in the bath?

hello. I am sure he will - in fact he has been doing so ever since I got this thing. I've been going to bed early but just lying there not able to breath, and then one of the children wakes up...etc etc. It's a viscious circle...

It's horrid being ill and trying to deal with children. Do you have any family/neighbours who could take them for a short while to give you a break/chance for a nap?

Try sitting up higher in bed to sleep - an extra pillow should lift your head enough to ease breathing..get some olbas oil or similar and put it on a wet towel on the radiator in your room...if the kids wake up get DH to go whilst your ill.

Hope you feel better soon - do you have parents nearby that could take the kids to the park for a bit?

mumpbump. No family nearby and don't really know neighbours. I would ask DP to come home but it's not really feasible. He is eating into his leave and is aleready taking Thurs off for an interview so not much point really. Will have to get through the day somehow.

I'm afraid to go in the kitchen ! I can see dd happily throwing pasta everywhere. More crap to clean up...

How old are the chilodren? Do they normally thrwo food around or are they just playing up cos they know you're out of action?

Have you a garden they could go mad in?

it's horrid isn't it....mums just don't have the time to be ill....

to stop you going insane i would relax with the kids whilst you are ill.....let rules about eating etc relax a bit just so you get some peace and quiet.....don 't worry about the housework..it will still be waiting for you when you are better..you won't miss out..lol

Emma.x

dd is 1.5 ds is 2.5. they are both going through phases of not wanting to eat anything apart from crap. I have the back door open but they are just milling about and now ds has started whining at me.

Right - will steel myself to go and clear up and then I think we will go to the park or something - it's such a beautiful day.

Perhaps this is an opportunity to get to know your neighbours. If someone asked me to look after their kids for an hour or two because they were ill, I would happily do it in the hope they might someday return the favour...

mumpbump. Most of them work as far as I know. The only girl I know fairly well along the road has just had her dd2 and is having problems as the baby is poorly, so I don't think I can prevail on her at the moment.

Right. It's an emergency (one we all know well). I'd opt for a video/DVD/Cbeebies. All afternoon. Veg out.

You're right motherinferior. I've whacked on Pingu as our freeview isn't working. Mind you they are both ignoring that at the moment as well - jeeesus...

Sooner or later they will succumb and slump catatonically in front of it, let's hope!

Might have to bring out the big guns - 20 episodes of Thomas back to back...