D'y ever wonder when it is going to stop snowing??

[Chopstheduck]

Morning girls xx

School is on thank goodness, but not til 10, and dh is wfh

LOL @ 'Sexy Lexi' x

Poor Tom, at least he is coping and it is a short term this year.

Rubes, c'mon! I'm going for a run as soon as I've caught up with my comping. I 've been running on the roads probably pissing off drivers.

Waste of an afternoon here, baked one chocolate birthday cake for kids for Sun, it failed. Then dusted off my Lakeland shortbread mould, it failed......bloody Paul Hollywood recipe, too sweet. Was going to take it tonight as its my book club and also we are doing Burns Night. Kids have demolished it instead. Taking them to Canterbury tomorrow to spend their b/day money, no point going on Sun as alot of shops dont open. Cant believe they will be 15, feels so strange as my darling Matthew died 5 weeks before his 15th :( So all thats to come is new to me, Matthew would be 34 this July, I cant get my head around it. Still cant make our mind up what to do re a holiday, you should spend some money on the house........decisions decisions............right better get the kids fed, then I am going to soak in the bath with a large Dubonnet, might even light my candles...........how bloody decadent is that :o

It is a very weird situation when your other child/children go past the age of your 'lost' child isin't it Trips? The only word for it is weird. I bet you held your breath a few weeks ago when they were Matthews age...I know I did when Tom turned 8 years old.

Has been snowing here for about an hour. Tom just went to measure it and got all excited when he found there was about 3 inches on the ground - on top of the sheet of thick solid ice.....I am STILL going to chelles!!

Hi All, and thanks for all the wise words.
We had another horrible day today, our scruffy Jack Russell, Bobby, suddenly collapsed in the garden this morning, and I couldn't get out there tho find out what was wrong, Cleo, our Staffy, laid down beside him in the snow, and wouldn't come in, I had to wait until DH got home an hour later at lunch to get him in . when he was carried in, it was obvious he had had a stroke, he couldn't move one side of his body, his head was dropping to one died, and he couldn't see. DHABI took him to the vet, who confirmed that this was what had happened, and said hrs was also incontinent and couldn't swallow, so we had to do the kindest thing, and put him to sleep
The boys came home to this and are obviously very upset, he was only 13, and was roaring up and down in the snow with them yesterday.
But I have got to the bottom, or should I say front of what upset J yesterday. He hadn't said anything, but he is worried because one of his testes has not dropped, he had this operated on at 5yrs and they said it would drop properly as he grew up. he had confided this to M, who then made fun of him and told some of hid friends, the little jerk! They were teasing him calling him onehunglow, and other names. That's heat started the fight, and why he wouldn't tell the female member of staff why he was fighting! I wish he had told me sooner, I haven't been allowed to see that part of his anatomy for over a year, so wasn't aware . He has an appointment with our GP tomorrow, DH is taking him.
What else can possibly go wrong, I dare not even think about it

Sorry, I'm a bit me, me, me at the moment, I am taking others posts on board, but it's been a mare of a day.

It's been a calm day here, too much telly though. I really feel I can't complain about anything just wanted to send loads of sympathy to those suffering today.
Ds1 came down the stairs at 10pm when I was trying to watch aDVD of my own choice a very unsuitable (it turnd out - well, for ds1 to watch) Australian mini-seriescalled Brides of Christ I remembered loving in 1991 ,and burst into tears when I told him to "Go away". He just wanted to say hello he said They feel things so much don't they? It all comes out eventually if you keep listening doesn't it
So sorry about your dog Bobby. The picture of your Staffy keeping watch over him will stay in my mind.

A horrid crowded morning tomorrow.17 year old Babysitter isn't going to be much help as her mother said she had to do "coursework" and couldn't engage with kids, only be on hand for disasters. Not what I intended honestly [miffed].

I made a lasagne today, which we have already eaten! That's something!

Oh Bubbs :( I am so so sorry, its so very sad. We lost our darling Tammy 2 years ago to a stroke, it happened in front of the children on a Sunday morning whilst their Dad was in hospital having a lung tumour removed. I had to get her to a vets, get the dcs to my brother, sat with her whilst they putv her to sleep, then come back to the kids with an empty basket:( So sorry.

Note the time girls...........I have just clip clopped home from my friends, Haggis and book club night rolled into one. It did me the world of good, a bit of adult stimulation................then again it could have been the wine :) Night night xx

Morning girls.

so sorry to hear of what happened to poor Bobby, Bubby xxx

everything is happening at once for you :( Glad you got to the bottom of J's problem though, fingers crossed for the GP visit.

Wilderness, that isn't really on! If you are paying her, she should be engaging with the kids. That is one of the reasons I wanted to stop my teen's mum from sitting, £10 ph and she wants to sit on netflix while the kids entertain themselves. When we paid that amount to a proper childminder, she used to do all sorts of lovely things with them.

Morning girls.....oh why did they make me drink last night? Woke up feeling a bit jaded, haggissy and have a sore throat to boot. Got to be up and out to Canterbury, kids sort of birthday day out..........

aww poor trips! Have a banana, and some bacon sarnies!

Morning girls xx

Bolton is the 'proud owner' of around 8 inches of snow. Its a pain in the arse!!

Bubby - very sorry to hear about your dog. Thats the one massive drawback of having pets isin't it? They become a massive part of the family.

Our Danny had a hernia and an undescended testicle - both 'showed up' when he was about 4 weeks old. When he was 6 weeks old he had an operation to correct both. Until he wouldn't let me look anymore the testicle was much higher and didn't look like it was there! IYKWIM. When he was about 18 he said he had found a lump in it and took himself off to the doctors. Doctor said it was scar tissue from the initial operation. If your lad talks to you about it please will you tell him that my 31 year old has a beautiful son and not to worry about it?

We had more snow here overnight and today, another 2 inches, so i remain totally confined to the house for the moment.
Thanks for the kind words again, yes, the pets are part of the family, I can still remember Bobs the day we first met him as a pup, trotting around the corner with his brother, little tail wagging, the boys have obviously grown up with him, as he was only 18motnths old when they arrived. J is particularly upset, as Bob was his "confesser" IYSWIM, if anything upset him, he would tell the dog first! [bsad]
It may seem a bit callous, as he only went yesterday, but DH and the boys are already trolling through the rescue sites looking for a new companion for Cleo, as she has never been the only dog in the house, and TBH, I think its not fair asking this of her, especially when I get back to work. We are already on the RSPCA data bank, as both Bobby and Cleo were from their rescue centre in Ipswich.
As for his "problem" the Dr has found his testicle right up in the canal again, and so he has been re-referred to the surgeons, I am v annoyed about this, as it was operated on when he was 5, and I again queried it when he was about 8, as it didnt seem to have remained in place, and I was told I was worrying over nothing, as it would drop into place as it grew heavier [bangry].

Oh, and wilderness dont let her get away with that, it is not on as you were paying for a service!

well,babysitter was sweet (I think it was her mum at fault rather than her...it seems she is not even allowed to babysit on Sat nights as it is Family Time) and despite the coursework she managed to get them off to football and music, whilst I was teaching a church related class (very stressful) I am a catechist, but sometimes I think the children know much more than me. Luckily I share it with a very organised lady who remembers to bring stuff like tablecloths and candles and pritt sticks. We did the lady who washes Jesus feet with her tears. When you tell these Bible stories to 8 year olds they always seem quite difficult to explain. Often we don't explain them we just tell them... or get them to act them out.

Dh finally came back from his business trip, shattered, went to bed, to be woken by children screeching over an CD and then the cat jumped on his head to welcome him. I meantime was trying to have kip on the sofa, literally guarding the telly to stop obsessive ds2 turning it on again . But I didn't manage to get to sleep what with breaking up the screeching, and then dealing with Ds1's comparison of THREE ghost stories [grr] Woman in Black seems to be current text. Which he only did because I plied him with pancakes. All the time he was still moaning about how mean his siblings are and how ds2 had "clawed" him on his "sore" arm, and how come they got crisps and they got to go the shops when he had to do homework and he was tired etc etc... He has done the homework now, I feel as I've climbed Everest

Bubbly there seems to be loads of dogs, and puppies even, that have been handed in after Xmas on rescue sites. That would be such a good deed. My brother has two Jack Russells, both under 3 years. They are very devoted but quite demanding and not very trained. He never leaves them for fear of upsetting them - he once went away for a week and his girlfriend said they sat by the door pining for him day after day

No snow here, balmy as a Spring day in the afternoon. Now it is cold and dank again. And two girls over for a sleepover with dd. Luckily 1 is 13 and can organise bedrooms/duvets/mattresses very efficiently.. Not a good night for a sleepover, but it was an arrangement made a while ago...

Oh I loved woman in black when we saw it at the theatre. So much so that I won't watch the film and keep plaguing dh to take me to see it again. We were in the gods so missed a couple of crucial parts and wondered why the heck everyone else was screaming when we went with school. We understood in the end.

I have seen the film but tbh I had completely forgotten the plot, after seeing play about 20 years ago. It felt quite different, even when I saw the film it didn't register as anything I remembered, apart from the solicitor and possibly a train??? Ds1 loves it though!

Goodness I feel soo tired. Girls are entertaining themselves nicely though, but I suppose I had better stay awake till they go to sleep Dh is making them bagels now. Boys are avoiding girls and slumped on beanbags in tv room again House is extremely messy still!

atch oooooooooo! atch oooooooooo! Absolutely streaming with cold..........feel ghastly. Great timing for the kids b/day tomorrow. Haven`t even made a cake yet as it was on the agenda for today...........went to Canterbury with them, total disaster as the place was heaving, dd spent all her b/day money in one shop in less than 10 mins, boys bought nothing and I struggled. Dd had her ears pierced, she has wanted it doing for two years but chickened out when we got there. Look lovely I do, propped up in bed with tissues up my nose........what sight.............first cold in about two years, hate them really hate them. Night night all xx

Woman in black???? Scary, scary film and I got so very angry with the ending....good though.

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRIPS LOVELY BROOD. We have been friends forever and a day Trips. I remember so clearly when my Tom was born, you sent me a lovely birth congratulations card...on the back of the envelope you wrote the following......Not 1, not 2 but 3!!!! We have walked a weird path my friend, a path of the bereavement of our beloved sons...BUT I value your friendship beyond words, I am proud of the wonderful woman you are and I am delighted to call you my friend xxxxxx

oh my we have indeed shared so very much and no doubt have more to come. It now seems a very long time ago I wrote that letter to The Compassionate Friends, those booklets of such sadness. You will always be very special to me my friend
Had a rough night, sneeze, sweat, sore sore throat.........my dcs and dh are all blotto, and I must drag myself off to the kitchen and knock up a cake, never bought one yet! Its pouring down out there, Rebeccas two friends now can`t come to see her so guess she is going to be abit fed up.........again! Anybody got any strepsils?

Morning girls xx

Stressed. Spent 3 hours in a&e today with a 'come back if no better in 24-48 hours' for James re possible fracture - they wouldn't xray, he didn't flinch when they poked his arm but this evening screamed the house down when I accidentally caught his thumb, very briefly. Poor sausage is now sparko so not waking him to take him back. Going back on the way to centre parcs.

Clothes all over the bed ready for packing. Friends we're going with came over to finalise travel plans. Kinda want them to go now so I can get on. I've left them for a few minutes just to check on James and get a breather from a hectic day.

Bloody husband wondered why the babies were unsettled and wailing when I got back this afternoon. To which my question was, did you give them their bottle? No, but he had given them lunch. Err, I should hope he had!

Back into the frenzy. Hope you've all had better days.

Oh Socky poor James, I hope its nothing too serious and that you can all enjoy yourselves. My poor trio didn`t get much of a b/day as I have felt so rough, its only a cold but when I get one I get one! Really struggled today to try and make an effort, even made two cakes and a chinese meal for tonight. They have not really minded, its me. Wanted to make it happy and special as I never got to do it for Matthew. Hope I get a better night, was rather hoping dh would tell me not to get up in the morning for school.......no chance!

Sok getting ready to go on holiday is sooo stressful isn't it. Many's the time I wished the flight would be cancelled so I could just go home before I even get on the plane - the runup has been so nailbiting. However it will be wonderful It will be an experience...it will go in the photo albums...

Triplets every birthday with twins(I get quite carried away with all the arrangements) I find myself forgetting how grateful I am for their actual birth. Someone(a random parent of invited child) once brought round a bottle of champagne after their party as a present to ME, and I remember thinking Hey, this is a celebration, wow I had them, they were babies on this day. But usually I get very bogged down in the primary parties and the cake making!
I hope you get through today, and out the other side with hope and fortitude.

Today was busy in one of those ranshackle chaotic ways rather than energetic and streamlined.

I went swimming with the boys. I cooked a horrid lunch, despatched sleepover-ees. Made Dh play board games with ds2 who was getting nervy and screechy, dealt with dd who was in a sort of post sleepover PDA mood [grr] refusing to do any homework and then wailing about it, and ds1 was lovely!!! Managed to get to Mass at 6pm but almost didn't. Macdonalds (bribe)
Call The Midwife and more homework with dd...[sigh]

Last uniform wash on. Scuzziness everywhere, so many appts next week and now one is clashing with another and I can see from glint in Dh's eye that he not going to want to get involved... We are trying to find a tutor for ds2, but it is proving very difficult.