June 08 - 42 days til Christmas, and Deb is coming home!!

[KnittingisbetterthanTherapy]

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x post Spider - that must be a worry, hope it turns out to be something easily sorted.

Spider, sorry to hear W didn't pass his hearing test on one side. DD2 has always had problems with her hearing but aslong as one ear is working okay they don't seem to worry if they can't hear from the other. Poor child can't hear much at all at the moment as she has an ear infection in her good ear which is oozing. Am taking her to the consultant to hopefully get some treatment to clear it.

Spider - sorry to hear about the hearing test. Hopefully he'll pass next time round - I don';t know how they test stuff like that on such new babies.

The Santa vid - well as well as making me cry when I first saw it, Luke went mad for it and has watched it about 6 times. When Santa uses his name he says 'yes' and he is very excited about the dinosaur he's getting (I put in a pic of one as I know it's what he wants!).

Ditto here Amber, A can't get enough of it! When Santa says he hears A has been a good boy he grins at me from ear to ear, it's lovely .

A quick post - had the worst day of my working life today, no kidding (and that includes working at Little Chef, although thinking about it, Little Chef was lovely compared to where I am now!).
Had some truly horrendous news about a friend - she's seriously ill in hospital, had been getting sicker for a month (but only a month) and she has a massive something in her abdomen - nothing confirmed but they strongly suspect cancer and a really aggressive one too. She has a little girl same age as Iestyn.

Anyway I'm all misery here. Can't even do the Santa thing because Iestyn can't speak English!

Spider I'm partially deaf in one ear. You might think it's a bit weird to put a smile there, but really, it's nothing. I can sing in tune and everything! It's only obvious because I speak rather loudly, but that's not always a bad thing - nothing worse than someone who mumbles. (Or maybe I'm saying that because...hmm, there's something which never occurred to me before!) Anyway, W might not be deaf at all. Obviously, you don't want any worry or niggle at all because he's your little boy, but it's early days (he might not be doing well on the tests because he's so little?), and he has passed on one side.
I promise I'm not making light, but speaking from experience.
And going I was your DD2 - I second what you said. And repeat ear infections like I had were far, far worse than the hearing loss - that's nothing compared to the infections. (I have 1 million times sympathy for your DD2, and I urge you to be a pushy mother on this, get the consultants and the best possible help. An ear infection is up there with childbirth in its horror. Seriously. And the only thing that's worse than childbirth is a tooth abscess. I know, because I did childbirth and the abscess within a few months of each other.)

Actually - there are probably other things worse than childbirth. Amputation, probably. What I meant was the only thing I've experienced which is worse than childbirth!

hugs spider - did they tell you what happens now?

ktpie I tried this for DH's facemask thing (okay boy-snood) and it worked much better.

dewin how horrible :( sending hugs your way.

The news is showing pictures of aberdeen today with all the traffic sliding all over theplace. We actually worked out fine as DH took my car keys to work (again) this morning and had to send them home to me in a taxi so I couldn't leave until after rush hour and then we left a wee bit early today (my boss lives out of town so he leaves early if it snows) and although it took twice as long, we made it home fine. DH is on his way home now from volleyball.

ktpie looking carefull - I think the link you posted is the same technique as what I did...

Abdn - glad you got it sorted.

Dewin - how awful. <a class="break-all" href="http://ak.imgag.com/imgag/product/preview/flash/bws8Shell_fps24.swf?ihost=ak.imgag.com/imgag&brandldrPath=/product/full/el/&cardNum=/product/full/ap/3166187/graphic1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Here is something for Iestyn (and all the others of course!), my Grandma sent it to me, a little cheesy but J loved it. The writing is in English but I'm guessing that won't be too much of a problem.

Snow here is just a thin layer, looks icy though. I need to pop out today and try to get the last of the presents, for DH and H, so I'm hoping it has melted a bit before then.

Dewin so sorry to hear you had such an awful, such sad news for your friend.

I took DD2 to see her consultant last night and he cleared her ear and gave her some ear drops and a different course of antibiotics. I feel very frustrated that the dr we saw on Sunday didn't change her treatment as it was very obvious her antibiotics were not working, it then meant I took her to see her private consultant. We don't pay for the appointment but did have to pay for the drugs - grrr

I've had such a fun day - could go nowhere because of the snow! But DH is working till late in London (his last day at work - how predictable...it's not like Christmas is a moveable feast with no warning; but then he does this before every holiday, without fail) and can't come up until 'first thing tomorrow', allegedly.

Pretty awful for my friend, and we still don't know anything. I'm very close to her sister (I knew her sister first) and had a chat with her today. A funny thing...she's beside herself with worry, and can't travel to see her sister in hospital because of the weather, but in the middle of all of this she's done a test and found that she's pg! She's 6 weeks or so, and last time it was IUI - they weren't even trying this time. (Knitting sounding familiar? When she said to me 'but I can't conceive without assistance' I did say 'well, I know this woman who...' )

Going glad you got the consultant, but very annoying about the last dr though. Often in these cases if you're experienced/it's your child and you know them, you know what's going on but it's frustrating when you don't get the answers you need.

Thanks for all your comments about the hearing test. Good to know your positive stories Dewin and Going. I feel ok about it now. Yesterday I was a bit sad as obviously I was hoping it would be an all
clear. AH the next step is a 3 hour hospital appointment which will be in about 6 weeks.

Dewin such sad news about your friend. Sorry that work is so unpleasant for you too. Glad the scan went well. Was that 12 weeks already?

I'm eleven weeks today. But still, it did go quickly!

Hope your DD is better soon Going.

So sorry about your friend Dewin.

I have just been catching up cos not had time to read much the last week. I am shattered most of the time, 4.5mths of broken sleep, plus the twins dont have a lunch nap now and I dont get a lie-in on Saturdays (cos once I've got up and fed daniel I can never get back to sleep) have taken their toll. I begged asked my CM to take T and E for a day this week and she did yesterday so that was lovely. Have also been on an anti-cuts demo (you might have seen on FB) and started an anti-cuts group locally! Just completed a breastfeeding peer supporter training course too. it sounds like a lot to take on but ironically all that other stuff actually makes me less tired cos I do all that without the twins. It is when I look after them all day every day that I get knackered.

Daniel is sleeping through from about 11pm to 7/8am about 50% of the time so it's not so bad but the twins kill me during the day. T is quite badly behaved sometimes but it's only normal stuff, same as others on here. It is just so full on. Daniel has bronchialitis right now so is a bit miserable but like T and E he seems to like to sleep when he is ill and has been sleeping through (thanks to Calpol).

sorry for being such a misery - I just feel like the world is spinning and I'm not allowed to get off

Talking of miracle conceptions, one of DH's partners at work has blocked tubes and had a baby boy through IVF 2 yrs ago. Now she is pg (unassisted) - with identical twins

When she told her and DH's boss (a sad millionaire with no kids), he said: 'Don't you and Peter realise you will never have any money'

Nah, you can't possibly get pg naturally if you've got blocked tubes, she's lying . How exciting for her - and your dh's boss is a prat! I wish I could have had twins second time round - would have had my big(ger) family then .

My cons has advised me to have an op that will sort out my heavy periods but mean I absolutely definitely couldn't have anymore children . Just can't decide what to do . . .

Dewin, sorry to hear about your friend .

Met the new baby spider today, or "Peter's Michael" as Alex now calls him . He's an absolute cutie and very settled. Didn't get any piccies though, sorry! Did get some cute ones of P and A together though, on FB if you're interested .

A is getting sooo excited about Christmas now. He met Christmas Claus at his nursery Xmas party today - think he's getting a bit confused about Santa's name! One of the nursery staff told me when I picked him up that Alex was the only child there who had said "Thank you" to FC for his present .

The nursery also really kindly took Michael off my hands this afternoon so I could go and have lunch with some of the other mums with no children in tow .

Hi to everyone x

Sometimes it's hard to tell when you are joking Knitting! but you are joking about the blocked tubes aren't you? [duh] It's funny cos the boss is so anti-children that if she were to have more ivf she may well have lied!

That's lovely about A saying thanks to christmas claus!

I am going to show theo and esther their pnp vid now - not sure if they will get it.

Neenz, I have blocked tubes!! And I promise u M was a natural conception!

The south east is now buried under more snow as it was a full on blizzard thisorning. Luke is sick (he is never sick) poor lamb and has covered me and mark in it. Happy days.

Yeah that's what I thought Knitting!

Amber, that sucks, poor Luke. We have had about 8in of snow, it is more than I have ever seen even when I lived on Lancs moors. Usually get next to nothing on the coast here.

DH went out on his works do in Liverpool last night. Went for the train at 11pm - all trains cancelled. No taxis either. He had to sleep at the office!

Abdn - did you manage to get the boots sorted? I was in Decathlon this morning with DH getting his Christmas present, some more lycra (his choice of course!), and they have masses of winter boots. I should have thought of it before because I got me and J some boots from there last year. You can buy things from there online now but I can't see that option on the boots, maybe I'm being stupid , and they only have one store in Scotland in Glasgow. If you still need any let me know and I could post them to you.

I'm meant to be sorting out the tip that is the spare room in readiness for my Mum coming to stay next week so I'd better stop procrastinating and get on with it.

ktpie thanks - I did get some boots from hard and sleazy's link so I'm finally sorted (whew!).

Lots of snow again here and highs of -5! We went carol singing at the local garden centre and then decorated our tree - the first real tree I've ever had in my life. It's only 4' tall so not too impressive but nice and homely - I love it!

glad you're feeling a bit better today spider, keeping my fingers crossed it wont be a problem or will turn out to be a false alarm etc.

and hugs to dewin and everyone else...

Thanks AH.

P woke in the night. He had had a nightmare I think. He was shaking when I picked him up. When I asked him if he had had a nightmare he said "eyes, mouth". DH says this has happened before but not on my watch. I was a bit shocked by a shaking child.

Nothing else to report here. Terribly disorganised about Christmas. Considering digging a car out of the snow. Need to fill up W and try and grab a shower.

It's horrid when they have nightmares. Luke gets them a lot and I blame ben 10!

Great about the real tree - we have one and it smells gorgeous.

Luke had a bad night and was sick everywhere. How shit is it to have to clean a child and ALL of their bedding in the night...

Oh no poor you Amber . How is he now?

Daniel's routine is all over the shop since he got ill (bronchialitis). He didn't settle till about 12.30 last night! Then he was awake at 3 and 7. Not too bad but normally he goes bed earlier and we don't get the 3am waking. But he hasn't been feeding so well so I was quite pleased he had the extra feed. Hopefully it means he is getting better. he is teething too which doesn't help! He is such a cutie though and hasn't really complained much, he has just slept a lot more which is why his routine has gone all wrong.

I have decided the DTs watch far too much TV so I just turned it off the other day and said 'no more TV, let's do puzzles' . Cue major meltdowns - but after about 30mins crying they started playing. They still watch telly when they have their meals and a dvd after lunch so I can have a rest - that's still loads so imagine what they were watching before . 10 episodes of Thomas The Tank Engine a day was not unusual.