D'y ever think - I really hope the film 'The great escape' is on tv on Christmas Day?

[pinkfrog]

no....are you sure?

Ruby, so pleased for you that the verdict has come through before Xmas - hope you can now really relax and enjoy your festive season.

Pixi, sorry things are hard for you right now, Ruby's idea of hiding the PJs sounds good. Can you get Prince out of the bath first and run round the others' beds putting the PJs on their beds for them to find?

So I am feeling majorly sorry for myself. Like Pixi, I was up all night with DT1 and DD1 coughing and spluttering. DT1 spent the night with me and DH got the sofa-bed - every time she coughed and woke herself up, she was writhing around in pain...we thought we were going to have to call an ambulance, but she settled eventually. But she was still awake every hour. Then DT2 woke up about 5 and was crying cos DT1 wasn't there, so she came in with me as well so that was pretty much it for the night (not that I'd slept much before then). I lasted till 7 then sent them downstairs to find DH, while I got on with my birthday lie-in .

So I have cancelled Claridges and I'm going to return the dress I bought for it. DH was going to cook something extravagant tonight, but there's not much point as we will probably be up and down the stairs all evening, so he'll cook something and has gone to buy a nice pudding (ie something v. chocolatey ). I was getting upset because no-one had rung me to wish me happy birthday but then realised that the phone was broken, so he's getting another phone as well. At the moment, DT1 is napping upstairs, DT2 is on the sofa in one room and DD1 is on the sofa bed in the lounge - trying (probably to no avail) to keep the germs a little bit separate in the hope that we might get them a little bit healthier by Thursday.

So happy 40th birthday to me - not. V fed up, v p*ssed off. But have had some lovely cards and flowers from friends and beautiful jewellery from Dinny Hall from DH, so am counting my blessings .

Sorry for the long rant!

Will try to catch up as soon as........

Hope you are all ok. I finally got my old new Christmas name dress on. Still not feeling particularly excited though. Mainly nervous!!!

Happy Birthday TKB!!!!

Happy, Happy Birthday TK - December birthdays suck!!! Mine is the beginning of December but it always gets overlooked because of the beginning of Christmas preparations.

Rubester - so pleased for you - lets hope there is a little hanging, drawing and quartering in January.

Pixie - I daren't mention the miserable face because then I get very personal comments from when I first met him when I was 18!!! Im bored with it and very saddened by it.

Happy Birthday Tkb! And well done Rubes, hopefully you feel more relaxed for Crimbo now that that is no longer hanging over your head.

I am shattered - have spent the day prepping stuff for the Christmas period, making up beds, washing etc. Still got to do the vacuuming yawwwwnnnn. DH rubbish - last night I told him I was going to divorce him as every year he says he will help me with Xmas and every year he doesnt. He managed to turn it round and make me feel awful as he says his job is severely stressing him out (and the wonderful words "move out then, you couldnt afford to live here on your own" - nice.

To top it all DT1 is still weeing and pooing in his pants with seemingly no knowledge of when he needs to go or the fact that thats what the toilet is for - aged 4 years and 1 month. Someone please tell me what to do!!

Happy Birthday TKB sorry to hear all is not going as planned but hoping things will pick up quickly and you'll enjoy your xmas.

HM There are some threads on the potty training section for dcs around this age. What sanctions have you taken? Would he be upset if you put him in a nappy? Have you tried reminding him/taking him to the toilet every 5 mins hour? Cutting privileges?

Ruby hope this is closure for you and your family enjoy this christmas without all of this lurking in the back of your minds.

Hi Pixi - he has been in pants for 6 months so I dont want to put him back in a nappy. If you take him to the toilet he will do it in the toilet, he just wont tell you he needs to go, even if you ask him if he wants to he says no, then 2 minutes later there is a puddle on the floor.........hey ho.

HM I think I meant the threat of a nappy. Would he use the toilet rather than face the shame of a nappy (wouldn't work with ds1 when he was little, he just said "ok I'll take the nappy so I can keep playing" lol. I'm guessing you've done the usual taking him out for special whichever character he loves pants? My dd1 used to get upset if she did wee on princess knickers. I'm sure I'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs lol, but just want to help. I'll try to look out my advice books at the weekend so see if they offer anything new.

thank you pixi - I really appreciate it - he would probably just say ok if I tried to put a nappy on him. he is also unnaturally obsessed with his penis - I mean I know little boys love to play with them but he has his hands down his pants 24/7 and often has it out playing with it whilst watching the telly or looking at books in bed at night.........but thats another story!! Did you brave the supermarket with your DCs by the way? (saw your status on Facebook!)

lol no I chickened out, costs a fortune on bus (about £11 return) and I figured I couldn't carry anything. I'm sure we'll manage without the sprouts/starter type stuff.

is it just you, DH and your DCs for Crimbo?

Yes just us, they'd probably prefer me to make curry lol.

I've updated my profile pics, been dressing up the dcs today .

DH just called to say he's coming home tonight (well about 4am tomorrow). His company are closing the site till the 5th, not so good for contractors but we'll get through. I'm feeling much happier now.

Those children are so gorgeously gorgeous. My goodness but DTD looks like you!

Happy Birthday TK... I don't know if you got my late text so thought I'd post here as well.

Kisses all.

My oven is now FIXED!!!!!!!!!!!!

yay Mars, of course now you have no excuses not to cook! I wondered who'd come first, your cooker man or my oil man, we're still without heat . I've got this mad idea of driving past yours on sat if we do end up in London, just so I can run in for a quick hug are you likely to be about?

Happy birthday to TKB..........wish I was 40 again!
Hi to everyone else, wheres that Pinkfroglet tonight?
I am just beginning to feel better, and starting to look forward to Christmas, should count my blessings I know. Went to the cemetery this afternoon, took my Mum and brother up, everyone stands and watches me make it nice. Dad and Matthew have a rose tree which I decorate, I drive everybody mad as I wont go unless it looks perfect.Breaks my heart looking at their names, flowers seem so inadequate, but I only had a tiny tiny cry, its not fair on the kids, Becca gets upset for me. I like it to look lovley for Christmas Eve, cannot believe its my 15th Christmas without him. My Dad loved Christmas, he had some very funny jokes he told every year, he would always send me a funny card and Id send him one. Every year I put up his and Matthews last card to me, no one notices it, but that doesn`t matter, I need them still. Hoping for a quietish day tomorrow, Christingle at 5pm, then some of my family will come here for a drink. Have a lovely day everyone, xxxxxxxxxxxx

Pixi I will have masses of leftovers! Don't you dare run in for a hug! I expect you all to come in to be fed, watered and entertained for a while!

Praying that your oil man turns up! btw... thank you for the chutney. I can't wait to try it out on Boxing Day! MrPixi tried to make it fall into the back of the car... but my eagle eye spotted it!

Trips et al... loving you all.

Just sat at my dear friends house all night with a bottle of wine in front of me.....then brought it home, still full.

Cant be bothered with anything....everything that can be done is now done. I am going to have to peak at some point over the next two days.....will give my Elanor Rigby face a bit of a make over and paste it on.

See you in the morning girls xx

Good morning girls xx

So close and yet so far Momma. Bet you're down in sarf lundun aren't you?