OK The boys start back at School on Monday, so who is up for a Baby Fly thread

[TeaMonster]

But rather than a one a day baby step, we do a two a day one.

I need to get back on top of things, plus I will be on my own for the first time in over 5 years.

What another hideous day - I've done nothing again - had a friend round (friend down, needed a chat - so happy to oblige, but obviously couldn't be doing any housework around her), then off to pick up DD2 from nursery. DS has had no nap, excet 20 minutes in the car. Then to Sainsburys to buy stuff for DD1's halloween disco tonight, then straight to school to pick up DD1. She's now been collected by another mum and I'll collect the girls and distribute tonight.

Then DH rang to say he'd been asked to cover an evening - but he's needed here while I go and collect DD1 and her friends. I'm glad he said no or I think I might've burst into tears.

It's been one of those days since I woke up today. I think I need an early night - I've got a hideous day tomorrow, too - harvest lunch at DD2's nursery and special assembly at DD1's school - in opposite directions! Then another assembly for DD2 in the afternoon and a meeting with DD2's key worker at nursery. Marvellous.

There's no point trying to maintain an orderly house when you're having to ping pong about like that is there?

My house is pretty similar atm, but with less children.
Busy with work again, but nearly there...

Had a meeting with dd2's teacher today. Managed to resist the temptation to shake her! Will give her till parents evening in November to step up to the suggested support.

Only planning on doing the basics tomorrow. Then getting ready for hols, cleaning out animals etc...really looking forward to a break

Ping.

Pong.

Nearly over.

Quick nappy change (DS's not mine!) then back to school for the last leg...

Oh it is a nightmare when you have to keep going out and have a running list in your head of todos!

Memud! Grr at your dds teacher! That must have been frustrating, how is your dd taking the situation?

I have had a very surprising couple of days!

Yesterday I had ( totally unexpectedly!) 4 and a half hours of complete child free time! and I didn't have to do the food shop in that time either !

So, I necked most of a large bottle of Dr Pepper ( you thought I was going to say wine didn't you!) and I became, WhirlwindKickarsequeen!!! By the time the children were delivered back to me I had every room tidy and hoovered, all the hard floors cleaned too. I'd put through and hung up 10 washloads! I was unconsious by 10.30 pm.

Today I put away 10 washloads, put through another 4 washloads and managed to keep everywhere that was clean and sorted at bedtime last night clean and straight today.

I have barely left the house fo 48 hrs and I'm exhausted, but I feel so much better knowing it all straight.

Lots of piled up hotspots to do still, but i'm getting somewhere....

hope you are both doing ok :)

10 WASH LOADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Faints)

I'd got a bit behind [hblush]

Well, the big event I've been working on for months happened today, and all went well. (phew)
So tomorrow I'm hoping to get on top of everything at home before we go away.

I want:

All homework done.
All uniforms washed and put away.
Animals cleaned out.
Dogs feet trimmed & claws cut.
Bathrooms cleaned.
Hoovered throughout.
General tidy.
Grass cut, front & back.
Pack for hols!

That sounds good!

I've contined drying washing today and putting it away, I have 3 last bits of uniform that need ironing tomorrow and then I can forget about uniform for the rest of the week.

Dishwasher is doing its bit and I'm about to put a washload in, hopefully it will be dry by the morning.

I still have large piles of crap to be filed/ sorted, but I'm feeling a bit better with the general state of the house at least.

I need to put some more stuff on ebay, but it can wait until tomorrow.

Have a nice time on your hols memud!

Thereis, How are you doing??

You two are putting me to shame. As you know I had my 2 mad days where nothing was done and then I had a lovely day yesterday in Cambridge visiting my friend (planned for ages) so left DCs at home with DH. Came back to find house pretty tidy and kids bathed and ready for bed.

I really needed that day away ater the end of last week.

So - we're going on a family day out and then the housework starts on Monday - but at least it's half term.

Have a great holiday MeMudmagnet!

I'll keep you posted, KAQ. I've got a feeling I'll need some motivation!

Glad you had a good day out with your friend Thereis. It's good to have a break from the daily grind, I'm sure that'll help your motivation too...
KAQ - You're doing well! Are you feeling any better?

Had a good sort out today and managed...

3 loads washed dried (nearly)
Both lots of homework finished
Hoovered out car
Cleaned out Rabbits & Hamster
Dog brushed, hoovered, claws cut, feet trimmed.
Downstairs hoovered
Cut grass, front & back
Ironed uniforms

I even managed to finish oiling 2 dining room chairs. I bought the set of 6 on ebay months ago, stripped them down, re padded and re covered the seats, but never got round to finishing the last 2. So that job's off the list :)

Still to do..

Hoover upstairs
Clean bathrooms
Clean school shoes
Finish packing the car........

Wow - you sound so organised MeMud - I think that perhaps you're already away now. I hope you have a great time wherever you've gone.

Well, it's been the first day of the holiday and it's been really good. I've not achieved loads but it's been quite relaxing.

I have sorted out the clean laundry and done 4 loads more.

I think I might have another 6 or 7 to do tomorrow. It would be so lovely to get it all sorted out this week.

I'd also like to clean out the car. It's another dumping ground. The kids take things in there and they tend to get left in - I have so much to carry usually that I leave lots and don't generally go back for it. But the car has begun to smell of old apples - so I know it's time to investigate...

I'm actually really excited about having nothing much to do, no plans, no one to see. It's nice to have a break from trying to cram everything in.

I've had a text from a friend to say that she's really worried that I'm cutting myself off and I'm in a bad way. And I'm not really sure how to take it (I know, KAQ, you mentioned the omega 3 and I do think there's something in that and I do plan to get that sorted, I just haven't yet). I don't feel like that at all - when I'm doing stuff at home, I'm happy pottering, but I get agitated when I have to do loads of running around, feeling obliged to see people just so that they don't think I'm miserable. Maybe it's because I'm an only child - but I'm more than happy in my own company. I really don't know how to handle texts like that. Anyway, I suppose it'll blow over...

How are you feeling KAQ? Are you feeling better? Did you say that you have a Dr's appointment? Is it this Thursday? I hope it goes OK.

Hi Thereis, Sounds to me like you are doing brilliantly, and I know exactly what you mean about it feeling exciting to not have plans, to me it almost feels illicit to have a whole day which isn't prebooked with things I must do! Let alone a week! [hgrin]

For what its worth, if you want my opinion :) I don't think you are cuting yourself off. You're on here aren't you?

You have 3 children, another on the way and a house to run, you have enough obligations amongst that lot without anyone else putting bagsys on your attention. I think if one of my friends sent me a text like that 3 possiblities would run through my head.

No 1 I would be a bit miffed that she felt she was a better judge of me than I was, if that makes any sense!

No2 I would wonder she was actually a more needy personality than I realised.

No3 I would probably start to doubt myself! :(

If you feel happy in yourself, then she needs to realise that she's off way the mark.
I know what you mean about how to respond to texts like that too, but I think I'm getting blunter in my old age, I'd go with something like.

Hi *** Thanks for your text and its nice to know that you care. Actually I'm fine, if i'm not I'll let you know. I've got lots to do at home at the moment, I'm happy pottering, but I get agitated when I have to do loads of running around, feeling obliged to see people just so that they don't think I'm miserable.LOL! I'm having a week of "me and the kids time" and its bliss! Catch up soon Love Thereis

Glad you had a day out in Cambridge, I don't get out nearly as often as I should. I've been asked to go to a hen night in leeds next june and the concept of going away over night leaving dp with the kids is... odd. Me and dp had a night out a week ago for my friends b'day, it was the 1st time I had been out since July 2007 without the children.

The docs appt is this Thursday and I'm dreading it, its a bit complicated. On top of the keep on getting ill issue I think I may need a gynae referral which has me nail chewing and explains my google panic earlier this week :(

If it helps you any this is the exact omega 3 I was using here

This is the Tel No to place an order over the phone no postage charge afaik. :) HTH

The other one on the thread I linked to was supposedly better, but that one is still better than nothing :)

I'm keeping on top of things atm, but its having a weird effect on my girls! lol! They got the paintbrushes out earlier and were using them to dust the skirting boards behind the pipes and the edges of the wood panelling!

We've got the heating on here which I'm feeling a bit bad about, several people have said its not cold enough yet, but the added advantage is the amount of washing I can dry per day on the radiators - with how cheap gas is compared to electric atm I'm probably saving money!

Hope you're ok Thereis and feel free to ignore my interfeering advice at any time :)

Memud! I hope you are having a fab time, see you when you get back!

Google is a double-edged sword, isn't it? There's nothing you can't find out about, and if you're like me, convince yourself of. I really hope that things aren't as bad as you fear they are. And I hope you get to the bottom of your recurring illness. I had many years of hardly getting so much as a cold - and then, when DS was 3 or 4 months old - I joined Weightwatchers and I had about 3 months where I caught everything going, I had fevers and infections and tonsillitis. It went on for months. Who knew that not eating cake could be so bad for your health??!!

I really do appreciate your advice - my DH is fed up (well, nearly) with me talking about it, because I've started doing number 3!! I've started to really doubt myself and believe that maybe I am really low. It's funny - I can be in a relatively OK mood, then someone tells me how miserable and low they think I am and then I actually believe them. The power of suggestion, I suppose. I sometimes wonder if that's the desired effect. The only thing that happens, then, is that I want to see people like this less, but then it's a vicious circle because they think I'm cutting myself off. But it's hard to see someone when you suspect they are watching everything you do and everything you say so they have 'evidence' and can analyse and counsel you. I just don't have the time for it at the moment, and I wish people could see that. I did wonder about the 'neediness' aspect, too. And no, I don't think I'm cutting myself off - but then, I suppose, no one knows about MN (I don't think), so it might seem to them that I'm not talking to anyone.

A night out in Leeds sounds great. But I know what you mean - it's a bit strange going out on your own. When you're not used to it, you can sometimes think you lost or forgotten something. It will do you good, though. Last year I did an art course on Saturdays at Wensum Lodge in Norwich. It lasted 30 Saturdays and I left the kids with DH. I felt incredibly guilty to start with, but really came to enjoy 5 hours doing something just for me once a week. I wasn't mummy for those 5 hours - I was me again. But don't get me wrong, I wouldn't swap being a mummy for that, it was just nice for a change and I was always happy to return to my mummy role.

So - back to the house. I'm going to round up the kids and try to get them involved in tidying. Wish me luck!!

Thank you, KAQ. I relaly appreciate it. And I hope you have a great day, whatever you do. And do try not to worry about the doctor - ususally the fear of the unkown is worse.

Take care of yourself

XXXXX

Good Luck Thereis :)

Funnily enough I never used to get ill. I've now lost 5 and a half stone and its since then that I keep getting ill so your cake theory fits perfectly!!!

Glad my advice didn't offend :), back on later. Tell you friend you've been busy chatting with your friend in Norwich That'll throw her!

catch you later.

But 5 and a half stone!! That's amazing! Well done! I bet you're chuffed aren't you?

Actually I think there is something in it. If you make ay big and sudden changes to your diet it can have a huge impact on your immune system. My BIL and SIL recently went on a huge detox - cut out, alcohol, wheat, sugar, fun... and while SIL was fine (hard as nails) BIL had a run of illnesses.

I texted my friend - then didn't hear for a while, so thought I'd offended her. But she did reply and said that she didn't mean to hassle me. So, then I started feeling a bit guilty about being 'assertive'. It was shortlived, however, as she must have been speaking to another friend about it - who has begun to text me to see 'if I'm alright'. Aaaargh!!!!

But I managed to sort out the lounge (a proper top-to-bottom clean) round the kids.
Sorted out the clean laundry - still didn't get all of it done - so more loads today.
DS was sick in the night - so more sheets to wash.
but I sorted out the lounge too.

Today I'd like to:

sort out the kitchen
do the bathroom
hoover stairs and all of upstairs
start tackling my bedroom...

I meant 'I sorted out the dining room, too'

Hope GP appointment is OK. Will be thinking of you x

Hiya, you are doing great!!!!
Is your DS ok? Its a nightmare when they are sick in the night, I always feel so sorry for my kids if they are ill in the night ( and then for myself in the morning if I have to scrape chunks off the sheets

Hiya, I'm being referred, but its not as bad as it could be!

Tech has messed about with the "i'm ons" I completely lost this thread.Its taken me ages to find it again!

Hope you are ok :)

I'm glad that it's not as bad as you thought. Although it can be a bit nerve-wracking being referred (then waiting for the referral) it's often a positive outcome. And the being ill continuously - did the GP confirm my cake theory??!!

Naughty techy people! Glad you found it.

All OK here. DH on a long day and I'm tired and I feel bad because I shouted at the kids - well DD2 in particular. She's recently refused to eat/try/taste any meals that I put in front of her. I know I should just not make a fuss, and that my making a fuss just makes it worse, but it's every time. She's never had a huge appetite, but she can easily fill up on drinks and juice - so I've learnt to keep drinks to the end of meals. But I'm worried that it'll become a problem. I suppose my shouting will make it a problem. I feel like a bad mummy today.

I'm just wondering if it's her way of getting some attention - after all negative attention is better than none, isn't it? And she's a middle child - DD1 is 5, articulate and busy and constantly chats away, asking me questions and takes my time that way, DS is 2 so has the demands of a 2 year old (nappy changes, needing to be wiped every 5 minutes, naps, etc) and DD2 is quite happy pottering in her own world - dressing up in different outfits. I think I need some special time with her. Bless her. Or am I missing something? Any tips on the food issue?

So - not much doing today - more washing of course (grrrr).

Cooking
tidying (though you wouldn't know now)
and I suppose I should sort the clean laundry.

Not that I feel like it.

Hi Thereis, (sorry this is a huge post!)You are not a bad mummy! Before I had kids I didn't realise that being a parent was about picking your battles and winning them and you have to win each one. Theres never 1 big war to fight and be done with, just hundreds of little battles! Fighting those battles makes you a good parent!

I always worried about my dd2 for exactly the same reasons, and my d2 has spent the last year going most places dressed as cinderella, a fairy a ballerina...! Are you sure you're not actually me in some strange other reality???
But I have to admit I've given up with dinnertime stress (mostly). I bought all my kids (inc the 14 month old ) some new waterbottles theres a special cap to make no'4s bottle completely non spill, it fantastic!

They get a cup of juice with their meal but only water inbetween, if they don't eat their meal they don't get anything to eat at all until their next meal, no snacks (harsh, but they know exactly where they stand) - even if its overnight. I don't badger them over it anymore because either they eat it or they don't! That said I always give them food they like. If they refuse to eat I let them get down, but their dinner only stays on the table for 1 hour. ( dd1 used to pick at her food all night otherwise and use it as an excuse to stay up)

Both of my girls ( now 6 and 5) have left their tea once each. They then had seconds of breakfast the next morning and generally eat plenty of their dinners now! :)

Reading the above makes me sound really mean!! But things had got so bad and every meal was so stressful, it has worked and I don't think i've scarred them for life!

If your dd is refusing to even try the food, would you feel ok about cutting out all snacks and only giving water to drink? Because unless they have a specific medical condition children really won't starve themselves! Honest!! A large part of it probably is attention. :)

What foods does she like to eat? can you stick to those for a few days?

I however am an idiot! I was so stressed about my appointment with the gp and the whole fanjo issue I didn't even mention the "constantly bloody ill" issue! So I'm going to have to go back. Oddly I'm now losing weight, not much but I normally have to fight the weight off and I've been eating all sorts of rubbish lately.

I'm managing to keep on top of the house atm, I have half a basket of washing to put away and 2 half loads waiting to go in, I keep finding that if I do the washing every night on a quick 30 wash ( 30 mins) I do a 3/4 load of darks a half load of lights and I'm saving all my whites for friday evening (school shirts, I whip them off the girls as soon as they come in after school so I can wash them! ), I can completely keep on top of it!

I can even get it all on the radiators and in the airing cupboard so I haven't used my tumbledryer all week [hshock] That has NEVER happened before! but I'm having a guilt trip about not putting in full loads! Do you think i'm wasting electricity or does the fact its a quick 30 wash mean its ok? AND because its a small load I can radiator dry it instead of tumble....

I've got a half load to put away tonight and 1 to wash and hang!

Btw, when mine were 5,4 and just 2 I couldn't stay on top at all.

Especially when I was pregnant!

Take a look at the top of this thread.

I had never got past shining my sink on fly before!

I know we have got a bit lost on the fly aspect, but I now have a morning routine that means he upstairs of my house doesn't overwhelm me.

I don't think I could have done that nearly so easily with children a year younger and pregnant.

In a year, you will find it much easier too. :)

And!!!

I think you are doing brilliantly :)

x

Thanks for your message and your kind words. We had more luck today - she ate lunch that Daddy cooked and she even ate most of her sausage casserole tonight (she loves sausages) - with no fuss (so she'll get a sticker for that). Observing lunch today - it followed a similar pattern to usual - she starts fidgeting and messing about at the table (with cutlery, just being silly etc) and then she gets told off for that, then she won't eat any more. That's if she's not refused it at first sight, of course. Maybe we need a different tack - something like 'why not show your brother how to sit at the table? etc) And I'm trying not to let her have juice until she's eaten a large proprotion of her meal first - though that means the others can't either. The thing is, even though I know what I should do, it becomes really hard when it's your own child refusing to eat. It's hard to be objective, isn't it? The more I think about it, the more I think it's attention related.

They don't really get snacks if they don't eat their meals either (unless GPs come and bring loads of BAD sweets - why do they do that?)

I did laugh when you said that your DD2 goes most places dressed up - DD2 is EXACTLY the same! I watched her go into nursery the other day - wihtin 2 minutes she'd managed to get one of the nursery teachers to dress her up as a princess.

My GP must dread people like me. I go with a whole long list of ailments (I save them up but GPs get that panicky look when you say 'And there's another thing...') - but I suppose when you've been quite worried about something potentially fairly big, it's easy to put other things to the back of your mind. I hope it doesn't go on for too much longer for you.

But good news about losing weight - maybe it's because you've been worried? That can happen with nervous energy, can't it?

The house was a bit of a mess this morning (though the kitchen was clear and the sink sparkly) - so DH and I whizzed round and it didn't take too long to sort out. That's definitely something that's changed - it used to take ages, but we can turn it round in less than an hour these days.

I do need to get myself back in a proper FLY routine though - particularly as we're back at school on Monday. It really does make sense - I can't believe how much better and easier things are when I'm organised (I know that sounds daft - it's obvious really, but the effect is tremendous).

Thank you for continuing to motivate and inspire me!!

And thanks for the virtual cake - at last, I've found a variey of cake that doesn't give me heartburn!!

XXXXX

Wow! You two seem to be doing brilliantly and I'm glad you're both still here!
I've just read through the posts I've missed.

KAQ - I'm glad you've seen the doctor. Hopefully your referral won't take too long. Dramatic weight loss is a big adjustment for the body to deal with, especially when you're so busy with a young family.

THEREIS - Sorry to hear you've been hassled by your well meaning friends again. Do these friends have children of a similar age??
FWIW you don't sound like someone 'on the edge.' To me, you are coming across as a busy Mum whos time is taken up with the needs of a very young and still growing family. Friends need to realise that they will have to take a temporary back seat and that, for now, your priorities have changed.

Both my dd's have gone through fussy/difficult eating fazes too. DD2, still sometimes. I do agree with KAQ about being ruthless though and about the small battles bit, that's so true...but bloody hard work!

Our holiday was lovely, we went away to a little cottage on rural IOW, with friends who have twins the same age as dd1. We were surrounded by open countryside and all the kids went feral!
My friend is a very organised Mum and her home is run like clockwork, so it was interesting to see how she does things. She attenpted to keep on top of all her washing during the week (even though there was no tumble drier)I usually do a few bits, but she was manic.
If a teaspoon was left on the kitchen worktop for more than a few seconds it was whipped into the dishwasher etc etc

She has inspired me, even more, to get myself more organised.

I managed to catch up quite well before we went away, so now have to tackle the washing mountain (in the rain )
Now I will be quieter on the work front too so I'm hoping to devise some sort of routine.

So Glad you had a good time memud, I love the IOW! I haven't been there for ages!

I've had a bit of a disaster for my new washing routine! DP decided to recast the utility drain at the back of the house which is where ALL of our waste sink/bath/washing machine water goes! and he only told me it was happening as he started doing it! So I couldn't do the washing/set off the dishwasher or bath the kids for 2 days!!!

I have now gotten everything washed but there was too much to go on the radiators so I had to use the TD for 1 load and now I have a heap to put away! :(

I will try to get back on top tomorrow!

Kids back at school tomorrow. Need to sort their lunches and get their waterbottles ready.

Then I need to sleep!!!!

No washing machine, dishwasher, sink or bath!!!!Time to move out?

I remember a few years ago, we were having some building done at home. The builder had to mess about with drains etc at the back of the house. I told him I could cope without a toilet, but under no circumstances was he to leave me without a working dishwasher or washing machine!

Getting back into things this morning was a bit of a shock. DD2 had her tutor session at 8am this morning. So after dispatching dd1 off to school and dropping off dd2, I wizzed home to unload/load dishwasher, get her bag packed, lunch made etc.
Then picked her up from tutor, dropped her at school and walked the dog. Got back about 10.30, hosed down the dog and set off the TD.

On my list today;

Hang up non tumbleable stuff
Make a plan for the week
Put away washing pile
Tidy & clean kitchen, inc; cuboard doors and oven.
Bathrooms
Front room straight
Hoover
PTA stuff
Fit in a few hour of work
Small shop
Clean out hamster

Also dd2 has a friend over for tea after school and both girls have the dentist.

I'm just going to do my best and see how far I get.