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275 replies

lavent · 13/08/2015 11:49

Looking for advice / support on having 4 young DC.

I'm in a difficult situation, alone, no family/friends as recently moved to escape DV.

Money is tight as I'm not currently working but I would like to start thinking about part-time work at Easter if I can find a suitable childcare solution. Easier said than done though!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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mummypig3 · 16/09/2015 20:14

Hi how's the school run going? Hope your tooth is ok. Not long now til it gets sorted x

Original poster
lavent · 18/09/2015 07:53

Morning!

Tooth been awful the past couple of days Sad roll on 1st Oct!!!!

School run is ok - I am able to drop DS3 at nursery first if I'm very quick so no buggy from next week on for half the week. Also DS2 start full time next week thank god!!!

Trying to catch up on housework today as very behind. Bought a new hoover yday Smile

Decorating went well and now have an amazing living space! Looks much bigger than before and lighter too! Yay!

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mummypig3 · 18/09/2015 08:35

So glad you got the decorating done! Shame about your tooth. Is there nothing else you can take for the pain? How's the car? Are u using it for school run x

Original poster
lavent · 18/09/2015 19:51

I've bought some "orajel" today after someone recommended it - just going to try it now!

Yes the car is great thanks! I am limiting myself to £10/week on petrol (a bit less than what I used to spend on bus) and this week that's gone really far! I've driven quite a bit becuase of the rain and to the shops a couple of times.

Just doing laundry tonight as planning on going to the launderette again as it's built up and I need to do bedding/towels. Been saving my 50ps Grin

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mummypig3 · 23/09/2015 09:19

Hi how is everyone? Not been able to get on for a few days. Hope the tooth is much better x

Wisteria1979 · 23/09/2015 18:13

Hi there mummypig I was popping in to ask the same thing :)
Lavent how is nursery / school run working? Is the little one sleeping better?

Original poster
lavent · 24/09/2015 20:50

Hi both!

Tooth still playing up - dentist next Thu though and the gel helps loads! No more all nighters as it totally numbs the pain.

School run is still a pain but 3 days a week I am now dropping DS3 at nursery first so no need for buggy. It's a bit right time wise but it's far easier. I can't drop him any earlier without paying £5/day for breakfast club and that's a bit steep for 10 mins! 2 days a week I can also pick him up after I've picked up the others.

Some good news today that the school are going to pay for all but £30 of DS1s expensive residential so I'm very happy about that as he probably wouldn't have gone otherwise.

Still waiting to hear from British Gas about the gas/elec bill and I also applied for a tumble dryer as it was on their list of items they can sometimes provide. Fingers crossed.

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mummypig3 · 26/09/2015 09:28

Not long now til tooth gets sorted! School run sounds stressful but at least u get a bit of quiet time when baby naps. Is he sleeping better at night? Fingers crossed you get the tumble dryer, it will make life a bit easier not having to worry about getting laundry dry thru the winter x

mummypig3 · 02/10/2015 09:35

Hi how's your tooth? Did you get it sorted? X

Original poster
lavent · 06/10/2015 22:20

The dentist wanted to try a filling first but it hasn't worked so will have to back :( annoying! Still painful but on/off....

Sleeping ok - wakes at 12 and 4 at the moment so that's a bit better!

Not heard back from British Gas yet but they did say it can take up to 8 weeks to get a reply. Fingers still crossed!

Keeping busy with decorating in any spare time. I get very depressed if I don't keep moving forward. Living room carpet is coming next week I'm so excited! Will be much warmer for winter now.
I've almost finished DS3's room makeover - nothing expensive but looks great!

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Wisteria1979 · 07/10/2015 06:50

Sounds like you are making great progress. It's so easy to get used to the things that annoy you a little rather than fix it so well done for persevering (still have naked light bulbs in several rooms.....lazy... And now they don't even bother me much)
What will he do to your tooth now if that didn't work?
Are all the boys settling into their routine ok?

mummypig3 · 07/10/2015 08:35

It's good to keep busy but don't wear yourself out. I'm glad it's all coming together in the house. You should be proud of yourself!

Do you think you might have to get the tooth taken out? Is it at the back or front?

Original poster
lavent · 08/10/2015 10:10

It's right bottom the last one before your wisdom teeth (tho I've already had those removed). I've got an appointment tomorrow to discuss taking it out.

I had a blood test yday to recheck my iron levels too.

I have started taking DS1 to a tag rugby team on Sunday mornings and he loves it and he's quite good. It forces me to leave the house at the weekends which is a good thing. He had a home match last week and has an away match this weekend (thank god for the car!) If all goes well this week I'll sign him up for the season and get the kit (though they have given him some spare boots).

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mummypig3 · 08/10/2015 20:11

Sounds like you are keeping busy. Hope you get your tooth sorted x

Original poster
lavent · 11/10/2015 20:06

They tried taking the tooth out on Friday but failed :( got antibiotics and going back next week for another attempt!

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mummypig3 · 11/10/2015 20:48

Gosh that sounds painful! I would ask to be put to sleep if it's going to be difficult. Do you have someone to look after the dc?

Original poster
lavent · 11/10/2015 21:00

I wasn't expecting him to do it there and then so I had the baby with me! He was asleep in car seat though.
My friend from the refuge said she'd have the two younger ones next week for me.
Dentist said than infection makes the anaesthetic less effective so hopefully once it's cleared it will be ok! Trying to convince myself of that anyway! Even day surgery would be a nightmare with the kids so don't think that's an option really though I had to have a GA for my wisdom teeth!

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ziggyziggy · 13/10/2015 20:32

hello lavent, I have been off radar for ages!! life got crazy hectic here.

How are you doing? hope everything is going ok. Is it still all very stressful, do you have any help from SS still?

Hope the little one is doing ok and your tooth isn't playing up too much Flowers

Original poster
lavent · 13/10/2015 22:20

Hi!

Antibiotics seem to be working... I knew it was infected!

Huge boost today as flooring laid downstairs (went for half carpet half vinyl in the end for warmth!) it looks amazing and I'm so pleased!

SS have closed the case.... I knew it would only be short term help though and I guess their resources are finite and only for dire situations.
They have paid for childcare for my 2 year old so I can attend a course for "survivors" of domestic violence though and that runs until the end of term.

Still going with the anti-depressants though I really don't find they have much effect..... Seeing the house come together is what keeps me going at the moment. That might seem a bit shallow but it's true!

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ziggyziggy · 14/10/2015 12:31

i know what you mean on that front, it's what keeps me going this end too! I think I am over the worst of my own issues (PND and single parenting stress) but through that getting my house sorted really helped...as little one grows hopefully it will get easier too.

so pleased you have your flooring sorted.

how are you doing financially - are things getting slightly easier or is it still a real struggle? I guess there's always more to buy but you will get closer to that stage where most of the big things have been bought and you can focus more on general day to day living / costs so it gets slightly easier then.

Original poster
lavent · 14/10/2015 13:20

Glad it's not just me! Grin

It's still a struggle financially and small things always crop up to ruin my budget! This week it's school trousers as DS2's trousers are extremely tight due to his "roundness" and the TA said he can't pull them up/down on his own so can I buy some bigger ones Blush I've found some more generous ones called Sturdy Fit in the uniform shop.

My original goal was to finish the house before Christmas and except the bathroom I'm pretty on target at the moment. Luckily the HA put in a new kitchen and painted / laid flooring in there so hvent had to do anything.

Can't wait to relax my weekly food budget a bit!!!!!

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ziggyziggy · 14/10/2015 13:53

sounds like you're doing brilliantly...

there's always something extra-budgetary that crops up isn't there...! frustrating when you're trying to stay on track. can't quite believe the amount of extra things that crop up.

i'm currently fighting extreme tiredness and trying to finish some urgent work. lapsing slightly right now. yawn...bed is necessary but not allowed for me today Sad

how is the youngest doing?

Original poster
lavent · 14/10/2015 14:49

Hope you finish work in time! Brew

Youngest is good thank you! He's getting huge! 12 weeks now and going slightly longer through the night if I feed him 3/4 hourly during the day.

My filling just fell out so good job I'm going to the dentist tomorrow to get my tooth out!

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ziggyziggy · 14/10/2015 15:32

sounds like little one is doing well!!

good luck with the tooth out tomorrow. I found ibuprofen brilliant for relieving the pain... also paracetamol with codeine so stock up if you can!! :)

Original poster
lavent · 16/10/2015 12:10

Another failed tooth extraction Sad
He's now referred me to a clinic where they can sedate you. Feel a bit disappointed about it but can't be helped.

In other news I've been reading about salicylates and their link to hyperactivity in children and I decided to trial DS2 on a low salicylate diet for a month which started on Monday. His teacher was sceptical but on Wednesday she actually commented on an improvement in his behaviour / concentration. Early days but hopefully it will make him more manageable. It's not ideal given my low budget but he's been driving me (and everyone else!) up the wall so it's worth a shot!
I've also started him on some kids omega 3 supplements as this can help too.

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