June know it's the fledgling flyers?

[Stillchuckingit]

A warm welcome to the June Fledgling Flyers' thread.

If the state of your house is getting you down, this is the thread where we follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style ) with lots of chat and support along the way and where lace-up shoes are definitely optional.

A huge thank you to Linzer for keeping us all on track so splendidly during May and thank you to DroitwichMummy for the thread title.

As usual, we will be following the Flylady three-pronged approach:

1. Baby-steps (a daily step to establish routines)
2. Then baby-steps + 15 mins daily decluttering
3. (And once decluttered) babysteps + daily missions

If you are feeling overwhelmed by clutter and mess, you can make a difference, one step at a time.

For more information, have a look here. You don't need to sign up to Flylady e-mails (we advise you not to do so in fact - you will be overwhelmed - all the information you need can be gleaned from this thread).

All long-standing members, intermittent returnees, lurkers and newcomers welcome!!

Cant beat a good old fashion Chaostheory classic thread when in need of distracting.
House work 0 mn 1
going to collect ds and then nearly time to go home.

Was that the MN entrance exam one CHB?
Made me very late for bed the other night but SO funny :)

Time's up here, got most of it done, now off for 'Fun with Food' family learning with DD at school.

well, piano lesson is in fact next week, which makes me feel instantly calmer
so I've spent the morning reading the Asperger's book Dh bought. (so we can deal with ds2 better) It is very illuminating. I feel a bit more positive just reading it.

Toffee I always pack lovely jewellery and makeup for holidays, but for some reason am always too busy to wear any of it or muddy...
Packing list sounds fabulous as it difficult to ever know how many of each thing to pack, and how far to go with

done
washing and tidying

CHB I think the book distinguishes between anger caused by stress and the passionate outbursts that you would associate with high energy/testosterone levels. I don't think I've yet sorted out in my mind the difference between cortisol adrenalin and other chemical surges.
Although any adrenalin would be handy
SC is there a name for the wonder pill that sorts out tiredness if it is not ferrous? Hope you feel better, that's good news Doctor has listened.

Hello again. Tis busy on here again.

Swan I was just about to say the same as Toffee. All your posts paint a picture of a very happy, active family. I guess bumps in the road just come all at once sometimes. Very tough on you....Don't feel guilty about the party - one can only do what one can do.

CHB sorry I listed you as having returned when you haven't quite! It's always nicer packing to go home ... no dithering over what to include ...

Brilliant link Toffee!! I've got packing down to a fine art for myself and dh (a) because I do it so often for dh (although he is of the 'survive on the minimum' school) and (b) because (now I'm ancient) I have a virtually formulaic way of dressing and I'm at the age where less is more in terms of make-up but I'm dreadful when it comes to dd. Always take far too much stuff for her. Have to ruthlessly repress my dreadful vicarious-living doting Mummy tendencies to put together lots of little outfits for her - she just looks so beautiful in 'em (sniff). So now I just lay out all her stuff on the bed and half it, and that's usually just about right!

Feetheart your poor ds. That's so young to have to suffer horrible migraine. I really feel for him. I'm sorry, I don't know anything about the subject, but I think I've seen quite a few threads about childhood migraine on Mnsnet.

Well ran Linzer!!

Waves to Whoknows

Sorry to hear about your DS and his awful migraines Feet, hope it gets sorted soon.

Afternoon all Today is DH birthday so we had a lovely start to the morning with us all having breakfast in bed where DH opened his cards and presents. He is now having lunch with his best bud and we are out to dinner tonight so again no washing up or cooking required!

Managed to wash down all my cupboard units in the kitchen yesterday and there are a lot of them - very dusty too. Need to do utility room now and the decobwebbing i didn't manage to do as school run came round so quick.

So far have:

Hung out washing
Scrubbed shower
Did a face pack (try to do one a week and Thursday seems to be the day for it)
Coffee with DH whilst finishing a movie we recorded a week ago
Office work

Stilll to do:

Utility cleaning
Decobwebbing
Clean both bathrooms
Dust bedroom
Pick up DD from choir
Iron school uniform for tomorrow
DD homework

Hope you're all well and catch up soon

x posts Swan

Glad the book is helping. I always find it reassuring to have a serious tome to refer to in times of stress. (Which is why the few book-cases I have are over-flowing!!) I'm not at all knowledgeable about Aspergers but when you mentioned anxiety and agression I remember reading quite a long chapter in one of my many early childhood development books about flight or fight response in dc. Will try and find which one it is.

Turns out (having strugged for 3 weeks with nausea and stomach probs trying to down iron pills) that although I'm low in ferrous, I'm not anaemic, and the dizzyness/tiredness is caused by high blood pressure probably due to taking a high dose (for my age) of contraceptive pill, which I'm taking because of chronic gynae issues. So looks like hysterectomy on the horizon . Very confusing though because always had low blood pressure all my life and feel cold and tired with finger nails turning blue - which wouldn't have thought fitted high blood pressure. And now I'm on different pills to lower it which, guess what, are likely to cause nausea. So I seem to be going around in circles.....and not just when I stand up suddenly

You just reminded me that the DDs still haven't done any practice since their lesson swan (I normally don't remember until bedtime) - but then I realised that Monday is a bank holiday, so feel slightly better about it now. We are nowhere near practising "at least five times a week", as their teacher recommended.

CHB I can be distracted by most kinds of threads.

Toffee Great website - I love lists too. I have a master packing list on my computer with optional sections depending on the type of holiday (we only ever seem to go back to the UK, to Italy for our annual summer holiday and for short breaks in Austria), so I'll have to compare the lists and see if I've left anything out.

Did lots of panic stricken cycling between home, kindergarten and school at lunchtime looking for DD2, who turned out to have gone to another kindergarten with her friend - I must have got distracted talking to a friend at the recycling containers on the other side of the road, and missed seeing DD2 walk past. Her friend's mum commented that she'd never seen me with so much "colour" in my face; I thought initially it must be because I was as red as a beetroot from all the cycling, but it turned out she meant I am tanned (for me, i.e. a normal colour for anyone else) and freckly (I'm normally pale and ill looking too, Toffee - teachers at school often used to ask me whether I was feeling OK).

Have finally got DD1 to switch off the TV. She now has about 10 minutes to do her homework before we pick up DS and go to the dentist's. Must remember to make an appointment with the hygienist - I've been procrastinating for ages. Which reminds me that I must update my Pocket Life Book before we go.

x posts LadyinPink I'm glad at least one of us is sticking to the mission today!! Top marks!! Many happy returns to your dh.

x post Linzer phew! Glad you found her ...

You know my DH has actually written on a white board "Drink Water" in huge letters to remind me and DD to drink more fluids. He drinks loads but i tend to prefer hot drinks and forget the all important water. Both DD and i have had bowel operations and it is imperative for us to drink consistantly so the reminder is great especially now summer is on it's way! Thanks for the tip SC

I have a confession to make SC I have had a long leisurly lunch and watched desperate housewives (recorded from last night) so i'm behind with what i had assigned to myself to do so I don't deserve top marks as yet and thanks for the B'day wishes for my DH, will pass on when he returns from his lunch.

I'm off to clean, clean, clean now............

In haste

Linzer - oh, how scary for you! Thank goodness you found her OK.

Still - that sounds really rough. Poor you.

Lady - hope you enjoy your meal out with DH tonight (and it's not even 'date night'! Does Flylady allow this? ).

Swan - that's not the Tony Attwood book you are talking about, is it? I have been through that with a yellow highlighter pen for DS1.

Glad to cheer up all you list-lovers with that packing website.

Have finished my errands and printed out various documents, but now can't find the email with the ferry tickets on it [panic emoticon]. Just off to collect DS2 from school, then am going to drag the suitcase out of the loft and start packing (and hope DS2 wants to watch CBBC this afternoon).

Hello everyone, thought I'd pop in v. quickly before going to pick up dd. Now I have my homestart help she is helping me get my routines finally sorted out and written down. Dyspraxia, dyslexia and uncontrolled epilepsy was really stopping my brain understanding and writing down all my flylady routines which, as especially swanriver will understand, I desperately need as I also have slight autistic tendencys so things here are getting much less stressful!
I have to go as ds is kicking off again!!
BBL

Linzer I am always losing ds1 (who walks around by himself, but has no latchkey as yet, although I did consider it) He goes to park, or icecream van, or home when I'm not expecting him to - then we all go round in circles lookign for eachother..You know they are safe, but you just can't find them...

Lady relieved to hear it The sort of day we all need once in a while.

Toffee Attwood is on the table, but I confess it is very long and serious and I haven't yet read it properly. No, so far I've only read the one called Asperger's Answer Book by Susan Ashley.

SC hope you get second opinion, just for peace of mind. Gynae issues are so overwhelming and make one feel thoroughly awful. xxx
I don't like being old! I suppose it was even worse being young though

Right - have found travel plug and printed out ferry tickets, so that's progress. Have thrown a pile of washing in the tumbledrier and set up my (very demanding -grr) five-year old on a children's website (Poisson Rouge, which he used to play at nursery). DH is under instruction to buy ready meals for tonight and tomorrow, as I said I can't cook food as well as pack and tidy up the house.

Had a long chat with some teachers at school about DS1. I had hoped the TA who had accompanied him to the 'taster morning' at secondary would be able to go with him to the 'taster day' in a couple of weeks' time, but she can't. I felt like crying when I realised that he is expected to make his own way down there and spend the whole day at the new school. I just can't imagine how he will be able to cope with it . Have resolved to discuss it with the SENCO tomorrow.

Swan - the Attwood really isn't that serious once you get into it, honestly. I found it very helpful. Haven't heard of the Asperger's Answer Book. Is it helpful? I'm confused about whether DS has AS or not these days, even though he shows certain traits. We are seeing a psychiatrist after we come back from our holiday. Maybe she will be able to throw some light on it all.

Shannaratiger - welcome to the thread. Glad to hear that you are getting useful help from Homestart and getting organised with your routines. Having a 'control journal' really helped me get the routines clear in my head when I was starting out.

Back to the packing list....

Very quick post as supper late and dd has school trip (long list to assemble) tomorrow. Just wanted to say:

Hi Shannaratiger a warm welcome to the thread. Sounds like you have a lot on your plate - I'm sure Flylady system will help!!

Respect to all of you on here battling with special needs.

Thanks Swan I'm beginning to not like being old myself!! (It never bothered me remotely before I health "ishews"") Pain in the bum it is

Toffee That's very disappointing about ds1 and taster day. Surely it is worth putting in the resources NOW so that his transition is as stress-free as possible for him. Feel on your behalf. Hope you manage to get it sorted and good luck with the packing!!

Great you managed a bit of "me time" Pink - you deserve it!

Back later...

toffee hope Senco helps at new school. That is what they are meant to be there for isn't it??? I'm sure there will be other parents whose los will be nervous on a taster day too, it can't be unheard of.
It is so difficult to tidy/prepare anything with little ones around, the temptation to scream You are not helping! No you can't do this that or Don't touch that is great

done
errands galore
and a friend came round with her daughter to play
supper in oven
dw
sink
bins
washing

now I need to sort out the hall in which I've already discovered a mouldy bit of Sunday's picnic or was it Sat's?

Hello Shannara - nice to see you back. I fail miserably on writing things down, I always think I will remember, good tip to write down routines.

Just popping in!

To add to my damaged hand I've been to doctor's today to get them to find out why my hip hurts so much. I was previously diagnosed as having bursitis and given anti-inflamatories for a month which helped but as soon as I stopped taking them it came back. Dr is sending me for hip x-ray and blood tests so that's a result - last time I saw that particular one he just gave me painkillers.

SC - hope you don't have to have a hysterectomy ........ but it's the best thing I ever did! I had a partial one a few years ago following a prolapse and don't even have a scar. Let me know if you want to know more.

Welcome Shannara. I have a feeling you will put me to shame!

Oh thank you Mummy that's really good to know and has lifted my spirits no end. I'll PM you if I may once I've seen the gynaecologist again (properly within next fortnight or so) as I think I have already entered the "tmi" zone with regard to posting about health issues on here and am boring everyone to death with it!!

Sorry to hear you are in the wars again. Good to know you are getting proper testing for your hip though. Hope it doesn't come to this but my eldest sister had to have one of her sockets "resurfaced" a while back and she has been a new woman ever since!

Shannara sorry if you have been on the thread before and I didn't "recognise" you. I am dreadful with names!! A warm welcome back anyway!!

Swan I found a mouldy garlic bulb behind the radio in our hall once ...couldn't work out what the pong was ...turns out dd had wedged it there and forgotten about it...

Linzer sorry! Completely forgot about your dh! Where he is staying is not that close to Sablon but nearer to the Grand Place/Grote Markt which is well worth a visit. Have fantastic recommendation for a fish restaurant not far from there if he is interested : Bij Den Boer, Quai aux Briques 60, B-1000, 02 512 61 22. Really authentic/down to earth but wonderful fish with great atmosphere. Another gem is a little traditional Belgian bar tucked away down a cobbled alleyway off the Grand Place where you can buy traditonal beer in earthern jugs - it really is good and very atmospheric - it's called A La Bécasse, Taborastraat 11, B-1000, Tel 02 511 00 06. Quite hard to find as it's so tucked away so best to ask around first!! They serve food too but have never eaten there myself so cannot personally recommend but I'm sure it's good. Also in Grand Place itself is Wittamer (good biscuits and ice cream), Delvaux handbags if he wants to buy you an extortionately expensive present (!!) lace shops, plus I would recommend he visits the Galerie de la Reine/Koninginnegalerij where there is a wonderful collection of chocolate shops and cafes and a very traditional and pricey brasserie, Taverne du Passage, which they say serves the best steak in Belgium. Have only been there once long ago - it certainly was an experience!! There is a marvellous book shop there too which sells books on art and design which I could personally live in for a couple of weeks!! Btw, if your dh ever needs anything on one of his trips here, or has any travel or hotel problems, I hope you wouldn't hesitate to pm me. We'd be happy to help!

oops - behind the radio should have read - behind the radiator ... I AM getting old

No flying here today. Feeling exhausted and ratty - having the boys around for 2 extra afternoons has really brought out the worst in me. :( Still, a friend came over with her 2 this afternoon which was nice in a stressful way!

Waves to all. Will try and catch up properly later.

Right will confess to having skimmed but came home to a hell of a bombsite. The joys of being stuck at the parents so have over dosed on coffee and tackling the laundry and anything else that gets in my way that is my (or ds') chaos to deal with.

Ds is needless to say kicking off again big style due to the change of location and the state of the house.

Honestly you'd have thought i could have gone away for two weeks without the parents trashing the place

Will be back when i have flown off some coffee and done bedtime and stuff.

Thank you to each and every one of you who replied to my post. I was feeling really down about it yesterday but I took a lot of time to read your very useful hints and words of encouragement and have now made a bit of an action plan. Would you like to see it?

1. Go back to ASDA and buy 3 more large boxes for our keepsakes (have 2 so far and will have one and one only for each person to be kept on top of our wardrobes)

1. Sort ^^ above boxes and clean and clear on top of wardrobes so the boxes can go up there.

1. Set the fans up in each bedroom. No point putting them out in the sheds where they have been sat waiting to go since last summer as we will need them in the next few weeks anyway.

1. Have a good sort out of all the clothes and shoes and handbags.

1. Organise DH to go to the dump. I have twenty or so LARGE things that need to go including a portable tv, microwave, desktop computer and desk, lawnmower, scooters, bikes..... you get the picture!!!

Anyway I'm going to make this my mission to get sorted. It's the one room which never ever gets touched and i'm going to change that.

Thanks for listening to my rant!

SC sorry to hear about your health issues you're not boring me as it's the first i've heard you mention it, hope your appoint is enlightening.

Hadn't found the time to iron the school uniform and resigned myself to sending her in in a creased dress when i looked in DD bookbag and found a letter saying it's mufti tomorrow - hooray!

Had a lovely meal tonight with DH and he has had a lovely day. I managed to do most of my assigned cleaning tasks with the exception of the loo's and downstairs bathroom.

Hope you have a better day tomorrow Blue

See you all tomorrow - night night.

Sounds like a plan, NickNacks. (I was looking for our fan for the DDs this evening, as they complained that they couldn't sleep as they were too hot - but we must have decluttered it for some reason.)

SC Thanks so much for all your detailed recommendations, which I shall pass on to DH. I wish I was going with him (and probably would if it weren't for the DC); it all sounds wonderful. Maybe one day! Have just proofread one of the presentations that he's going to give, which isn't quite the same... Btw have now found out that he'll be staying in Rue des Eperonniers/Spoormakersstraat (not sure how near that is to the conference hotel).

CHB DD2 has finally replied to your DS's Christmas card. And there will be a postcard on its way to your DS soon too Nettie, if you're lurking.

Blue Sorry to hear you're feeling exhausted. I'm still in denial about the fact that in just over three weeks' time, the DC will be at home for nine whole weeks - one day week is more than enough.

Waves to everyone else; have just noticed it's 10 pm, so already past my bedtime...