March 2010. A lesson for much of life: Shut the door. Find the corkscrew.

[Arcadie]

Happy Christmas MMMs. This is my gift to you!

Dalrymps Well done on getting your certificate Just a thought about DS - why take him to the HV at all for any check?

evitas DD always used to start dancing around in my belly before she was born, then when we got in from the hospital and put the TV on, it was just starting. She likes to clap along now still.

Pixie Glad that DD2 is home, hope that she's settled.

Hello to everyone else :)

back again - DD in bed, shattered. I reckon she is dropping her morning nap, since before xmas, and we have to have an early lunch and then she goes to sleep really quickly, knackered, but i cant seem to push her past 45 mins without feeding and cuddling her - anyone else on 1 nap?

TOday DD had her 4hr nursery settling in session - 10 till 2. I went to the cinema and saw the Kings Speech as Arcadie had ruined 127 hours which was marvellous :) It also took my mind off DD who spent 3 hours crying at nursery yesterday. Not proper crying mind, a new kind of moan and complain, that involved raspberries every so often, I was told. Non stop noise. So I was feeling quite sick when I went to collect her today but yey! she had moaned for a minute then got on with stuff, hooray! Her first full day is monday and I'll be happy to leave her now, if she's happy too. Im glad evitas DS is happy at CM too.

Ang how is work, and Toby at nursery? Did you manage that case on your second day back? How is house move progressing?

fliss did you get operation titchmarsh finished?

BMI how is the sleep training going?
we I am doing pu/pd with DD to eliminate nightfeeds. She has responded ok to this, in that she isnt asking for a feed, but she is still waking around 3am everynight, and is taking around an hour/ hour and a half to settle back down. She is sleepy, and lies down quickly, but then spends the rest of the time sucking her thumb, drifting off, then waking again. I keep my hand on her for reassurance, otherwise she gets up again, but I suspect this is what may be keeping her awake - so tonight Im going to just lay her back down and move away and see what happens. Its so frustrating to feel her drift off and then wake! And at the mo Im getting less sleep than I wouldve if I just fed or cuddled her. :( Anyway, DH home tonight and as boobs are no longer required inthe middle of the night, I am going to sleep in the spare room and he can deal with it!

shroomer fingers crossed indeed. evitas did AF arrive?

scooby I hope you are sunbathing :)

Dalrymps WD on certificate! What does midwife training entail? Is it a nursing then midwifery course? DRMcDreamy are you still lurking?

sariska what were you intending to say, if not bromilads?
I thought I had kept my pee stick but I cant find it really hope it hasnt found its way to freedom and is lurking in a public area..!

Pixie is DD2 ok?

Melk have the spots gone?

Thanksfor the thoughts about bloody Monty. And Manda for the empathy! Im trying so hard to find himm another house, he has now peed on my coat, the day after it came back from the dry cleaners.

wave to everyone else, and wonders if dizzidoll is ok? And valium? tooblessed has got to be back from Africa now?

Siamese- so glad Dd has settled in nursery, such a relief for you

Lol at your pee stick being lurking in a public place somewhere

Midwifery training, as far as I'm aware is a 3 year full time course including placements. It use to be the case you could train to be a nurse then just fo an extra shorter course to become a midwife. I think they've just changed this though so you can only do the three year course now..

he doesnt like other children? Bloody hell, what is he meant to be doing? Shaking hands and suggesting games? Im not impressed with these guys, ICWAS, you are having such a rough time with childcare, I wish I could help. And your twatty HV..

How many days has he been there? Did you do any settling in? DD was unsettled every time for the last 4 visits until today, and Ill let you know how monday goes. Maybe it is just a seprartion thing, but you have to be happy where you are leaving him too, obvs. Hope new CM works out. (hug)

Oh, grrrr, IWCAS, how crappy for R and you!! Of course he doesn't 'like' other children - he is 10/12 old: as far as he is concerned he is the centre of the universe and you are his moon. And, like you say, he is not used to lots of other kids and noise and commotion. Of course he does not have Asperger's - even if he were to develop it, there'd be no way of knowing NOW.

You are having such bad luck with your child care - I so hope, that the CM you liked will get back to you. Gut feeling is pretty much all the counts wrt to child care; not certificates and First Aid courses etc.

2 nursery workers brought a semiconscious toddler into the surgery today (he was not our patient, but we were the nearest dr to the nursery): he was barely breathing, probably had had a seizure and thankfully did come too a bit with time. BUT: why on earth had they not called 999?? We are not equipped to intubate a baby, I have not done it in over 10years, we were so so lucky that he just got better. I cannot remember the last time I heaved such a big sigh of relief. So even in a nursery where there are several memebers of staff with all the training and the certificates a bit of common sense would have been nice...

Good luck with winning the lottery - money may not make happy, but it makes a lot of things so much easier. Really hope you can work something out.

Geez, IWCAS, you certainly deserve that gin. I am open-mouthed at that childminder. And, sorry, but bollocks to the "doesn't like other children" business. Does the woman know anything about little kids? I couldn't even begin to count the times I've seen tinies totally ignore each other. You've only got to think about how they snatch toys from each other; they don't see another baby, just an article that they want. Anyway....I wish I had a magic solution for you but I don't so I'll cross my fingers that you are lucky in Euro Millions tonight. Oh, and FWIW, my DS cried (and cried and cried) for entire day after entire day when he started nursery. It still makes something inside me crumble to think about it. But he did settle - and he (mostly) likes nursery now - and, at 2 yrs 10 mo, is starting to have friends. Your R will too - betcha anything .

I am lucky this time round as, so far, DD seems absolutely fine at nursery. She's having a slow settling in period (3 half days this week and next, before going up to 3 full days). I still wish wish wish she didn't have to go but, as she does (for now, at least), I'm glad she is settling well.

Bromeliads, Siamese, should have been broodiness. ....because, god, I am. But TTSP. ???? It's got to, not least because DH, who used to want 3 DC, has now come around to my original way of thinking that 2 is perfect for us.

BTW, I meant to say that I'm really sorry to hear about the trouble you're having with Monty. Clutching at straws but have you investigated the possibility of a feline behaviour specialist? Don't laugh but I sent one of my mother's dogs to a canine one when her behaviour (digging holes in the plaster on walls, running away blah blah blah) got worse (and too much for my mother to handle) after my father died. The transformation was amazing.

Oh, and also, to Siamese, has your Dsis had her baby yet?

Pixie, I hope Dd2 is doing better. It must be terribly hard for you all.

Darymps, midwifery training sounds ace as a future career.

Wine time, now.

Oh Sariska I'm fucking furious with DSis, who is 40+3. She is tearing my mum and dad apart being insanely selfish and up her own arse (no change there then) but no one can say anything because she is the only pregnant woman in the world. Grr.
I hope it all works out ok for her but I do think she's in for a shock when LO arrives - she recently asked me what I do all day, and I should take up a hobby as a way of cheering myself up.

anyway I'll report back!

Pxie so glad DD2 is home and heading in the right direction. What a lot she has had to cope with, it'd be a surprise if she did come home and just slot back into total normality. Hope therapist continues to be a real help.

IWCAS I'm so so sorry to hear about R's CM experience. Sounds like he needs a CM who can give him a fair bit more attention (which is what most 10 month old need eh?!) not Sim as he is roundly ignored in favour of his more interesting siblings. Just that he's been like that every day and they have told you he's fine!!!!
I really hope you can find someone else in the short term and long term. Can you take a week off work to sort it, or can your Mum have him in the short term?

Siamese What up with the sister? She sounds delightful. And let us know if PUPD works. I'm happy to try most anything with Sim. [haggard]

Siamese Nowhere near finished, although I did dig and clear one flower bed, dug a new flower bed, planted both and cut back all the hedge along the back of our garden, which doesn?t sound like much, but it?s a bloody big garden. Ached for about 3 days after.

Good plan about getting DH to do tonight with DD. No chance of that here (or getting out into the garden today) as we?re having DH?s birthday party this afternoon. In fact guests are due in 20 mins and I?m still sat here typing.

Bite your tongue at DSis, she?s in for a shock over the next few weeks. Try to keep the smug face off when she?s around .

IWCAS Poor R :( Do you not have a contract with the CM? Sounds odd that she?s just binned you off like that ? and to not say anything is ridiculous. He sounds like a normal baby to me. He can probably pick up on the fact that she?s not a very nice person. Very astute of him. Hopefully the nice CM?s registration will come through soon, Ofsted are a PITA for getting paperwork sorted and processed though.

Would you like another gin?

PD How frightening. I suppose they either panicked or thought that it would be quicker to take him to you than to wait for an ambulance. Glad he?s ok though.

Pixie Glad DD2 is making progress :)

Best go off, got sausage rolls in the oven and WooWoo chilling in the fridge

Iwcas @ CM. Don't really know what else to say, apart from you are a great mum! [hugs]

Pixie Glad DD2 is doing well :) Loved the idea of xmas cake and gossip in the middle of the night - she must have felt really important!

PD that must have been scary. I can't really understand why they didn't call the ambulance. Hope you have a more relaxing weekend.

Siamese congratulations on the sleep front! Hope C. will continue the good work :) and LOL @ the stuffed Noel Edmonds. Yes AF arrived yesterday, but stomach stills funny...

Fliss enjoy the party!

Sariska Glad your DD is also settling well @nursery. How's the sleep going? I was hopping that DS's sleep would improve with all activities and play @CM, but I think that he doesn't get much sleep @CM so he's overtired :(

waves to everyone else
x

Hi everyone

IWCAS very about your CM. Been thinking about it all day. Agree he is most astute, acting like a normal baby, and she is a neglectful hag!! he's lucky to have such a caring mam. Glad your DD is getting on well Sariska

Pixie how lovely and thoughtful and empathetic your daughter is, a credit to you. PD how scary re the toddler. Congrats on the skiing.

siamese i know all about selfish sisters believe me. Families eh...

Anyone work around embankment tube station in London? I'm doing my KIT days in February so would love to meet up for lunch.

All grand here, think DD is teething so not a great night. But have had a few more sleeping through nights. Although, like evitas she now wakes at 6 if she sleeps through. evitas tis a pain in the arse altering the timings for naps etc with the earlier wake up time.

Hope party going well fliss.

Wonder is flip's mother is ok [worried]

IWCAS so sorry you are having such a crap time with your childcare. I suspect that all carers shield you from a degree of truth about how your child has been, but what you describe is outrageous and certainly to tell you and dump you at the same time is very unprofessional. It does sound like he is just finding it tough and behaving as we all hope they wont but in reality realise they might. Hope there is more gin open at yours tonight

pixie glad your DD is home but sorry to hear that she is having a hard time adjusting to what has happened. Your Xmas cake and gossip session sounds lovely. When I grow up I hope I am as good a mum as you!

Glad to hear that there is some improvement for some in the sleep department. What you were achieving on very little sleep was amazing, so now you have had sleep you guys can tackle world debt and world peace!

fliss hope DH's party went well

bluey hope DS is feeling better

Sariska siamese glad your DC are settling into nursery OK

siamese at your DSis I am sure you will enjoy the smugness when she realises what has hit her!

sarah you are always glass half full, I love your spirit!

So all well here> done two weeks back at work doing 3 days. All working out well so far. DS doing well at nursery. He has cried a bit but I have turned up early a couple to times and watched him without him seeing me and he looks really happy and settled. He is also eating stuff I can never get him to eat! My case went Ok, done three trials so far (very straightforward stuff) and feels like I have never been away!
Thanks for asking about the house move siamese all seems to be going ok as there is no chain above and below although we had a scare re the mortgage. They refused to lend us what they had agreed when they discovered it was a new build. There was nothing in their literature about new build having a lower LTV. Have complained and found a different lender but it was a bit hairy for a while!

Oh and donttry are you on FB? Sariska bluey and I all work in/around fleet street so may be able to meet up.

Waves to everyone else

Hope it is wine o'clock where you are, it is raspberry vodka o'clock here.

Yes, as ang says, I work near to you, donttry, and am definitely up for meeting for lunch if your KIT days coincide with when I go back to work (16th Feb). If you're not on FB, feel free to PM me.

Sleep, evitas? Well, she's never slept through, never come close TBH. Last night was about as good as it gets: 7.30 - 12.20 (obviously when I should have been in bed but I was doing my tax return instead.....), 12.45-1.45 , which was when I brought her into bed with me and she then slept til 6ish IIRC. It's not great but it's not awful at the moment and I'm coping. I don't knowmhow it'll be when I throw work into the mix but we'll see.

Even if your sister has a textbook angel baby, Siamese, she must surely be in for a rude awakening just as we all are, to some degree, with no. 1.

Hope all parties (Fliss, Sarah) went well today.

Party went well. All guests in, fed, watered and out, DD in bed and dishwasher on by 8pm. Now that's my kind of party. DD having a day with Nanny tomorrow so DH and I can go go the cinema/have lunch.

Wishing all of you a restful night, with sleeping through babies :) x

Sounds lovely fliss!

sariska that doesn't sound too bad with DD's sleeping, but hope it gets a bit better.

I used to work right behind the RCJ which would have been very handy, but i can make it down to Fleet Street. Not on FB, am holding out, so will pm you sarika* re meeting up. I am in London on the 16th Feb.

Ang delighted to hear DS doing well at nursery, you must have been so relieved. And that work is going well.

Hi All, having a mild stress about DS1's birthday. Those of you with older DCs (And those without as well) feel free to give your 2p's worth here

hey all,

DS had a fab birthday and party on sat, no problems other than the fact i need a bigger house to put all the new toys etc in.... still 2 birthdays to go next month yet-eeekkk!

am shattered though been a busy weekend, and i have just realised i have not even had a glass of wine..... unheard of just lately! lol

be back tomorrow x

Hello everbody,have been lurking on other threads and couldn't find this one,,we came back from Zimbabwe alive and in one piece,however the trip was so intense that i needed a holiday afterwards,

MIL came to my place one day and there was a misunderstanding about bread,she wanted to give DD some and i thought it was for herself,i happily made DD some porridge and this pissed her off,the next minute i was being called a lier and a manipulative bitch,that i want to have sex with brother in law,because i touched his thigh 3yrs ago(don't recall doing this),

I asked her what it was about me that made her see red,she sisn't have an answer but before she left told me that she didn't want me on the Dubai Cruise anymore,we cancelled and she is taking her two sons,just the way she likes it,she wanted to take DD but this can not happen,so she demanded her money back,

DH has booked me for a trip to spain with my girlfriend instead,and he will stay home with DD..So lovely of him,in short MIL wants me to be divorced.rant,,feel better already.

pixie glad that your DD is home,sorry that she is having not such a good time with adjusting to what has happened,things will get better,iwcas poor you,you are a terrific mum,siamese your sis is well,funny, for lack of any words to use,

A shout out to everyone having a hard time re sleep,it is a PITA,DD is doing ok,we ended up going to emergency 2 days before christmas because she couldn't handle the heat and she had developed some serious sore throat infection,her voice was totally gone so it was interesting having to check her all the time to see if she was crying,i am so glad to be back in Europe,the trip however went well,baby behaved and didn't utter a sound the whole trip,thank God,