July 2009: Only &*%$ days till Christmas!

[alibobble]

hey all! Thought I'd start.

Hi y'all
Patchy - your poor ds Horrible cub leader

Jetli - glad all going ok with pregnancy Hope you shift the cold soon. Can you use vicks? Steam inhalation?

Baby - many congrats on the job

Phoenix - you had a bad experience with healthcare professionals Hope the speech therapy goes well.

Caitlin is still a bit clingy but I'm not worried really cos she is fine when I'm at work. I don't mind giving her extra cuddles in the morning/evening I still have thurs and fri with her + the weekend. Her paediatric appt. went well (can't remember if I updated you). This week she started pulling to stand so it's all coming together. New problem (isn't there always at least one problem with kids!)is that she's started to refuse milk. I do give her cheese/yogurt etc but not sure she can eat enough of it to meet her calcium needs.

I have also been very teary about the miners. Amazing story. So brilliant that they were all rescued Imagine the lady who gave birth whilst her partner was trapped What an extra emotional reunion that must be.

Not at all organised re xmas. Wanted to be but work seems to have zapped my energy. Think we are going to get ds a Wii - but it will kind of be for all of us. Can't justify that expenditure on a 6 yr old! dd won't need much spent on her. Will get her clothes and a toy. Thinking maybe a wooden push along trolley. Dh is the most difficult to buy for as he's so particular. I always need him to make a list for me.

Hi everyone.

It's been ages since i posted, so you've probably forgotten who I am. Sorry.

I am glad you are all still here and from what I have skimmed all seems to be well, more or less.

biting Who was it with the biter? Oliver is biting all the time. I think he thinks he's kissing as his kissing is a slobbery open mouth affair at the best of times (he pretty much snogs his 3 y o sister at the moment !). I think he just closes his teeth mid kiss in some kind of loving-rapture but we all get bitten on the legs and arms all the time. Any advice?

ALso are any of you pregnant again? I am thinking about timing of no. 3. I think I saw JetLi is - congratulations! How far apart will your two be (I think your July 09 baby was your first wasn't it?).

Thanks! . Have a good weekend everyone.

Christmas I have bought all of one stocking stuffer for Marco AND THATS IT!!! LOL. I am going to the US for a shopping trip next weekend with my Mom and one of her girlfriends. Looking forward to it! Our Canadian dollar is almost at par with the US dollar, which means there should be bargains to be had. I am hoping to get ALL my shopping done!

Jetli Glad to hear your pregnancy seems to be going well. How far along are you now?

Lady Good that Caitlin is progressing nicely. I'm sure the milk rejection is only a phase. Maybe try a new cup, or a different temp. Sofia went through a phase where she only wanted cold milk rather than the warm milk we had always given her.

Patchy That cub leader is an ASS!! You know your son and his limits best. He should not have insisted that your son stay.

Phoenix Glad your DH's job is okay for the time being. How are the Baptism plans going? We were pretty fortunate about choosing our Godparents. Each of our sisters and their husbands are godparents to one of our kids... except for Marco (we ran out of sisters! LOL). His Godparents are my DHs neice and nephew. Its hard when it becomes an argument. The outfit you chose is fab, BTW!

Ali Congrats on the new car! I always try and find a space at the farthest limits of the parking lot just to avoid buggy damage or idiots parking next to me. I once had $1700 damage to my brand new car done by some idiot who flung his door open and hit mine! They didnt leave a note or anything! I came back to find a huge dent and scrape in my door! :(

So I survived the first week of my new job! My co-workers seem to be very nice and friendly. The office is laid back as well. The other new guy and I spent the week visiting our assigned schools to introduce ourselves (I have 33 schools assigned to me!),and trying to get organized with our lesson plans. We sat in on a couple of lessons that were being taught by other officers to get an idea of what needs to be done. This week I will hopefully shadow a different officer everyday while they teach. On Tuesday I am already slotted to teach my first class on my own as the 2 regular officers are both away on a conference. Should be interesting! LOL. I will be teaching 6 year-olds about Pedestrian Safety and Stranger Awareness. Too bad I cant video tape it and post it for your entertainment pleasure!! I am having fun right now... hopefully that continues! I just learned that I could possibly have this job for the next 5 years... which would be incredible!!

So my Thanksgiving dinner went off really well. The food was good, DH and I were super organized, and the weather was fab so my guests could sit in the garden whilst I was cooking. Could not have asked for a better day. Everyone left about 10pm and DH and I were up cleaning up the house until 2am!! Thats the part I dont like! But when you have 21 people for dinner, I guess it cant be avoided. Will post some pics later today on FB!!

Thats it for now... time to go for a run and then we are taking the DCs to the park to play in the leaves. We have had frost the past few nights, so winter is quick approaching. Today its about 15 degrees and sunny, so I want to take advantage of the nice afternoon.

to all I have missed!

belgrano we are still ttc but no af yet for me. I was the one with the biter, but it was my 4yr old ds. He hasn't done it for a few weeks noe and seems to settled in to school. That reminds me I must give him back his consficated fire engine!

So can anyone make it saturday? I am sad to say I may have to back out this time things have just been mad round here :(
It is my 8th wedding anniversary tuesday so we went away for the night fri. Was lovely and peacefull if crazy logistically for granny babysitters!
Baby glad the job is going well :)

Hi QueenFee, would that be your second Dc or third? Good luck, I hope you get that BFP soon. I can't work out when to start ttc. I know its good to have them close so they play together etc etc but I might go MAD with three to handle. Two is quite hard enough when you add in the house and the family life to run too (DH works long hours)! We're moving house at the mo which doesn't help I dont think. Perhaps I shoud wait till that's over. Who wants morning sickness while packing boxes...?! Glad your biter has closed his biting chops now. Mine is improving somewhat too. yay.

Babyblue, that sounds exhausting! Thanksgiving I mean, not the job. Which sounds actually quite lovely. I'd love to go back to work right now, feeling a bit blue about staying home. It just gets a bit boring and lonely doesn't it? Sorry, mustn't moan. Hope you're all ok.

hey everyone
It has gotten kinda busy again on the thread.

Jetli what a good idea to start your own family traditions at Christmas. I am putting my foot down re Xmas Eve. We to and fro and I want Xmas Eve in my own home where DH and I wrap pressies, eat xmas nibbles and put the DC's to bed with a lovey story. And then we we wake at home and do Xmas morning at ours. I am still not ready to host a dinner myself though. Temping over, thank goodness. Hope the bump is being good to you.

sleep Tristan is beyond being a bad sleeper. He was up from 1am. And to top that off, he is getting non fussed about the BF (and started BITING AGAIN!) that it is even harder to soothe him. My plan is to stop BF in the next couple of weeks and do some real proper sleep training. I think it is the only way.

Patchy Lydia what do the hats look like?

Baby your job sounds fun! What a great thing to do. Are you getting geared up for Halloween?

Belgrano welcome back. TTC. 3 has broken me - lol. Seriously, I wouldn't have it any other way.

QF I am sure you will get your BFP soon. The babies will still be close in age.

Christmas Shopping god, I haven't even thought about it. I am have done my puddings, and will bake the cake this weekend. Shopping next on the list.

Hi to Phoenix Ali Lady.

If anyone is every in London let me know.

Hi all [hsmile]
Sorry Phoenix - cross posted with you last time. The Christening outfit is really lovely. Can't help you on the Godparent dilemma - we'd be in a similar boat

Hi Belgrano - good to see you back!

Still poorly here. Hetty has come down with the cold & conjunctivitis so I've had to take some leave from work since she can't go to nursery for 5 days. The eye ointment is a pain to administer & she sobs & screams - truly awful to do

Glad thanksgiving went OK Baby - so yours is much earlier than the US one? Have fun on your USA shopping trip - sounds like fun. I occasionally go with Ma JetLi but she usually has such a massive list of stuff to buy & take back & birthday cards for such-and-such, blah blah blah that I end up coming home exhausted & having bought bugger all. Sometimes she'll talk me into buying something inappropriate - those purchases whereby you get home & wonder what on earth you were thinking!!

back after the bath

Hello [hsmile]

Godparents sorted. I've asked my brothers and one brothers partner. We're going to see the vicar on Thursday to book his baptism. I'll be picking his outfit up tomorrow and hopefully it will fit him cos 12-18mth is the biggest size they do it in.

[hsad] for Hetty been poorly JetLi.

Welcome back Belgrano [hgrin]

Hi everyone, it is busy again!
Jetli poor Hetty, hope she is feeling better. I was always told that once you had started theointment for conjunctivitis that they were ok to go to nursery? DD had it all the time as a small person, to the extent that she saw a eye specialist about it. He said that it was due to the shape of her eye blocking the duct and as she grew it would change and sure enough it did. She hasn't had it since she was about 4. Thank goodness as it is nasty. I caught it from her once and actually cried as it was so sore!

MissP the hats are too cute. The apple is a deep red and the pumpkin bright orange. I managed to get a photo of him wearing the pumpkin today on my phone but I don't know how to download it!!

Max and I are both full of cold. I am feeling quite rotten today, not helped by a late night last night as i had some girlfriends round for a curry night last night and then an early start as Max woke up at 6am! I also managed to pour a cup of boiling water on my leg (don't ask!) and have 3 blisters from the burn which hurt like hell!!!

We are off to Wales for a week on friday so I am trying to get organised, it is all pretty crazy! QueenFee are we still on to meet up or are you too busy? We come up alot so we could do it next time?

Phoenix so glad you sorted the godparents out. It is always a relief to get sorted.

MissP well done for making your puddings. I normally make my cake at 1/2 term with the kids but as we are away I will do it with them one weekend. I think I will just make a pudding this year as only dh eats the cake and he could do without it!! [hgrin]

Thanks for all your comments on the cub leader, lol at "a lot of a knob" so true!! It is cubs on thursday and poor ds has said he doesn't want to go so it looks like he has been put off for life. I feel sorry for him, bless him.
Anyway, Max asleep now so I must get busy.

Hope you all ok
xxx

just wrote a long reply and lost it so will try again tomorrow!

BF Well looks like he self weaned! Why do I feel gutted even though I was planning on doing it anyway? [hsad]

i'm jealous! I always feel a bit sad when they stop it's always feels like the end of their babyhood to me.
Patchy pm me on facebook and we will try and see if we can arrange something :)
Belgrano it would be my 4th! The older 2 are 6 and 4. Most of the time I love the chaos! Alfie is by far my easiest little one yet.
Not getting masses of sleep think Alfie is getting molars. We were supposed to be starting controlled crying with him last night but I chickened out. I am hoping he will sleep better soon!

Awwww MissP - same here more or less. About once a fortnight she'll have a little go at the boob, but there's nowt there since about 3 months into the pregnancy. Agreed, tis [hsad]
Had Hetty to the Doc again in the end. I dithered about & was giving her Nurofen periodically to get her temp down. Lots of inconsolable crying and she wasn't well at all. Anyway I'd totally lost my confidence in dealing with it at home, so we nipped off yesterday morning (once I'd gotten an appointment out of our Gestapo Receptionists). Turns out she has an ear & throat infection - just mild but enough to warrant a short course of AB's. 24 hours after the first dose she is honestly transformed - almost back to normal. A good friend had said they work pretty quickly in babies. So compared to the last week, we've had the loveliest day today. Hopefully she'll keep improving.
Got some shoes at the Clarks outlet in the end. Nice old-fashioned black patent - Ma JetLi is most pleased They were the only ones that fitted in the end - her foot is so shallow all the other styles just slobbed about.
What with me being ill last week & her this week, the house is an absolute pigsty. No washing has been done, beds not changed, the kitchen is a death trap & the fridge is disgusting. I could weep, honestly. DP spends all his free time, pissing about in the garage or clearing up in the garden. I'm going to have to join the Flylady lot or something - any advice? I'd get a cleaner in for a couple of hours a week whilst I'm working/pregnant, but there is so much crap/ironing/paperwork/stuff piled up that they couldn't clean IYSWIM. And I dread to think what it'll be like when there's 2 of them. I'm booting the pair of them out of the door tomorrow & Sunday so I can start tackling it. But it feels like I'll never get sorted. We've folks coming over for a meal on the 26th November & it is making me panic already, even though thats over a month away, but I'm not convinced the house will be hygienic enough to allow anyone through the door by then Aaaaaargh!!!
Patchy - hope the burn is better - sounds nasty.
Phoenix - hope the outfit was OK & the baptism is all book
Where is Ali? She's not been on for aaaaages!
MissP - what are Tristan's daytime naps like? With Hetty I went for the option of putting her down late at night (usually with us around 10pm) & that way she at least did 7 or 8 hours in one stretch usually - I found that easier to live with than broken up sleep for me. Then at nursery they knocked out the afternoon nap & gradually we brought bedtime forward to around 7 - 8pm. Nursery days are the best. She generally only sleeps there between 25 & 40 minutes in a morning now, so when I get her home she can barely keep her eyes open in the bath [hgrin]
Have a fab weekend all - hi to all the lurkers [hgrin]

Well it started off OK today - DP & DD went out. I cracked on with load after load on the fastest wash whilst simultaneously running around tidying & cleaning. Then I made the mistake of sneaking 2 handwash only jumpers into a cold wash & I've shrunk the bloody things . They were M&P maternity wrapover ones & I loved them. So I've spent another hour with a steam iron trying to stretch & pull & iron them back into shape & all the steam has set my asthma off in the process

I am going to bed now in a huff!! [hangry]

Oh Jetli noooooo - I bet you must be triple annoyed. M&P stuff is so nice too! BTW glad Hetty is on the mend. How many weeks are you now?

Patchy ouch! R you and Max feeling better? And DD's conjuctivitis? Goodness, sounds like a lot of icky illness stuff right now for you. Hope it is getting better.

QF I keep reminding myself that I was planning on weaning and it is a godsend not to be the "mean one" in the situation and that he decided to stop. As I am not going for 4 it is just even more sad. I am quite pathetic really. Did you always know you wanted 4? I always wanted at least 3 but think 4 is is 50/50 as opposed to a definite.

2 people I know gave birth today so feeling extra broody.

DH is away and I am watching X factor keeping the older DC's up. Naughty mommy. [hgrin]

Phoenix did you manage to get a baptism outfit?

Right
Back to chocs and x factor.
Night

I think I might have rescued the jumpers with the hours worth of wet steaming. I had another look at them on the hanger this morning & shall try them on tonight. They may not fit over my boobs once I'm in full buxom breastfeeding mode but I might be OK outside of that time. I hope so. Am kicking myself for taking that shortcut

Hi MissP - it's very odd - I have to work out how many weeks I am every time someone asks me - its 25 now. Is this normal with subsequent pregnancies? Last time I could have told you to the day, and also the exact size of the baby at any given moment . Getting lots of movements now which is lovely - helps remind me that the little mite is in there & slows me down a bit I think you should have another though MissP - we've been talking about having 3 again at the weekend. But I'll get this one out first....

What a bloody miserable day. I've a big pile of wet washing waiting to be hung out.

How's everyone's Christmas shopping going? I could do with some ideas for some friends. They're nesh so last year I got a big fluffy blanket to snuggle under from TK Maxx, a bottle of chocolate liquer (M&S - don't bother - tis shite - just tastes like weird Baileys with no choccy taste at all, and I had such high hopes), and then a really cool DVD off ebay which was a roaring log fire & Christmas carols playing in the background. The DVD was ace - only about £2 but very very festive & the carolling wasn't naff at all - a bit brass band-ish which is appropriate for Up North. Was going to stick to a similar-ish theme this year as they're still cold - anyone think of anything? I wondered about an electric blanket but it seems a bit old-ladyish.

No idea what to get Hetty. Nephew's ELC kitchen is coming her way sometime soon, so I might leave it at that. I'm very grateful as well, since its not pink

Hi to all - hope all are well

hi all. Sorry I've not been around. Been skim reading the posts. Life been v busy and becca ill with one thing an another for weeks now. We're on half term this week so no time to post. Just doing this before take off to work.

conjunctivitis becca has 2 gooey eyes here too. Poor thing but doc says it's due to her viral cold. He called it a multiviral infection ie affects multiple sites rather than multiple viruses.

Will prob be a while till I'm no again as new work hours sem to leave me totally busy all the time. Bah! Never mind. Am enjoying half term for once as means I don't have to be out so early.

Hope everyone is well. Missing my mumsnet fixes. Thinking of you al even if I'm not posting :)

Hi Ali - gungy eyes not good - hope they clear up soon.

Hetty cried when I left her at nursery this morning shes never done it before. I now feel like a complete shit. Going to give it an hour & then ring up to see how she is.

Yet again I wrote a long reply on my phone only to loose it so no more phone replies from me you will just have to wait till I go on the PC :(

jetli glad the cardi situation appears to be ok. I went to a conference when I was preg with dd and the day before was ironing my best top and it burnt a hold I burst into tears. Dh said it's ok go and get a new one but I couldn't get the same one and it always looked lovely so I cried some more!
It is perfectly normal to not know how far gone you are, and it gets worse with each one. With Alfie I had to ring my sister and ask how pregnant she was to find out how old he was as she got preg the week he was born! (She had to look it up in her notes lol)

ali mine had lots of gunky eyes a couple of months ago hope shes better soon

missp I always said I would have 4 when I was a kid but that was before I knew the reality!
I said 2 or 4 as an adult but dh was insistent on no more than 2. DS was such a difficult pregnancy/baby/child that we decided that that was it and sold all our baby stuff and called it a day. However 2 years on I got really broody and also felt that I didn't want to be a stereotypical mum dad boy/girl fam and I hated the fact people assumed that because I had a boy and girl that that was it. So I convinced DH to have another. Along came Alfie before he could change his mind. Now it is as if he has broken that comfort zone and he even said the other day maybe we should have 6 However I think 4 is enough for me!

I am trying to night wean/ sleep train Alfie at the mo, and so far (night 3) he is doing well. I am not leaving him to cry just sitting with him and trying to persuade him to go to sleep nicely. So far it seems to be working as 1st night he slept from 2.30 till 6 and next night 12.30 till 8 :) :) However I am still happy to feed him at about 11 and 3 but he seems to be dropping the 3am one which is great!!!!

Jetli becca has developed separation anxiety recently though didn't have it at whatever age they are "meant" to have it - whatever that means. She's very clingy for DH at times which is good news for someone who said he never wanted her (in mid depression) I cant imagine he'd be without her. She's such a ray of sunshine :)

miss/QF 4? Eeks my eyes water at the very thought!

Well I have the house to myself for 24hrs (though I do have work tomorrow - boo hiss! so no getting up in the night for teething babies/toilet trips for me tonight but what's the betting I wake at 6am anyway?!!! DH is taking DC to the zoo at Chester with PIL tomorrow and stopping over the night before so that the journey there in the AM doesn't take all day. Beth v excited about her "sleep over" and i'm very excited not to be going! MIL has been on the phone about 20 times rearranging and organizing things. Heehee I've had a lucky escape :) that said I've promised to put up a blind tomorrow AM before work so we shall see how lucky my escape really is then

Hey Ali hope Beth's eyes get better and most importantly do NOT put that blind up and rest tomorrow am before work.

QF wow re 6!!! I guess you really want to get cracking on no 4 then lol. We have just decided to put DH's snip on hold for a couple of years. They say you regret the children you don't have, not the ones you do. Right? Hope the weaning is going well. How many feeds does Alfie have? God I miss BF!!!

Jetli 25 weeks so that is over half way. Woo Hoo. How is Hetty's separation anxiety? Is it ok now? I hope so.

hey to anyone out there

Hi all :)

:( for all the gunky eyed, poorly babies.

Noah's baptism is all booked and set for 28th November. His outfit fits too so i'm happy :)

Just poking my head in for a quick post. I have been lurking, but too busy to post. I still have not adjusted to having 4 children and working full time. I'm beat!! Thank God for housekeeper who came today and got rid of the pigsty... though the washing is slowly creeping up on me AGAIN! Will do proper post this weekend. Hope everyone is well and that all the sickly babies feel better soon. Love to all xxx

Hi everyone
Sorry to hear about gunky eyed and nosed and poorly eared babies. Its the season isn't it (don't you love how you can say that from Sep-Mar and from Mar-Sep you can blame summer colds...delightful climate ours!)

Anyway, Jetli you made me laugh out loud with your jumper shrinking and stretching and asthma story. I'm sorry, I know it would have been gutting in life but it does make an entertaining story as it is exactly the sort of thing I would do!!

I'm thinking about getting a puppy - am I mad? Anyone out there to comment? Think I might not TTC for no. 3 for a year or two and a puppy might fill the gap as it were. Oliver only 15 months obviously though, so unsteady on feet and can't talk yet. He's likely to get knocked over a lot. Would be a lab or lurcher or similar biggish doggly friend. All opinions welcome please.

Hope you all enjoyed Halloween and have a good fireworks night. My kids HATE both, so I've been up and down the stairs every time the shouting kids or rockets go off to comfort them...sigh.

Night night.

Hi Everyone

We had a good week in Wales. Sorry I didn't send you a message QF. I didn't see your message till we got back as we didn't have internet access and i haven't got a clever phone! It was weird not going on the internet for a whole week! I felt quite strange!!! It was a manic week, toing and froing from the inlaws but lovely to have our own cottage, which was gorgeous. Max had a horrible fall though which was quite stressful but all ok now.

Belgrano we got a puppy when dh was trying to convince me not to want another baby! (Between no 2 and Max) It worked for about a year and she is great a real member of the family and brilliant with the kids. You really have to do your research as some dogs are great and others not so. Also big dogs need alot of walking! Mine is a little dog, 1/2 shih tzu and 1/2 something else, we aren't quite sure! Anyway, I love her (dh not so keen!!)

Jetli glad you sorted the jumper...sorry I laughed too, but you describe things so well!!

Baby I am sure you are doing a better job at juggling working full time and having the kids to look after than you think. I don't know how you do it, you are amazing.I can't believe you had snow at halloween!!

We went trick or treating last night and Max came too dressed as a skeleton, very cute. He was ok as I let him eat chocolate buttons all the way round! He never has sweets because of his teeth so he loved it!! Horrible nappies today though so I wonder if it was the chocolate!?

Have had a good clean and tidy today, i felt totally out of control with it all over the weekend. Have put all the halloween tat away for another year!!

Anyway school run beckons, hope you are all ok.