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

[Arcadie]

Happy Christmas MMMs. This is my gift to you!

oh smac- get well soon x

linky

Posted on your thread, Smac.

Good morning, lovely ladies. I have 5 minutes before start tying furiously (I wish)

Smac Hope you are feeling better today. Mastitis is awful, I had it when DS was 4/5 weeks and it was really painful. Massage (especially when he was feeding) and cold/hot pads helped a lot.

PD any news on the snot front? I also feel your pain about Scotland and flights :( it's so hard to get good (direct) flights - the lack of choices is terrible.

Pixie 20 weeks scan?! OMG... I don't know about finding the sex. I always admire people who don't, but I'm too curious and I don't think I could wait till the birth.

Scooby Sorry about the job and boss! Hope the GP will help you. How was your birthday?

Siamese and BMI how are the girls? Is the vomiting any better?

Bluey conjunctivitis?! I hope A. gets better soon?

Manda did you take DD to the GP? Is she eating any better? Could you convince her to take some vitamins? I remember to take vitamins during the exams, since I wasn't eating properly.

Melk what a birthday party! Your DDs are gorgeous

Sarah how is DD? Was last night any better?

Flip and Fliss at MN logo. I agree with you Flip, any resemblance with a cannabis leaf is pure coincidence... maybe it's a subliminal message to mums: "chill"

Fliss very impressed with your website!

Sariska How is work going? Hope this week is being easier and that you have adjusted again to the routine and commuting

RKD have a lovely time in Kent

IWCAS glad the childcare situation is back on track

news: DS has a temperature since Saturday + a rash. Took him yesterday to see the GP and it's something viral, but he has some blisters on his right hand which appear to be "hand-foot and mouth disease" :( Two nights ago he wouldn't settled at all. I was so desperate that we had to turn the TV on at 2am for some distraction... and it was the only thing that calmed him down . MIL is here which is very helpful, because she looks after him while I try to do some work

Hope everyone else is well
x

Hi all

Had fab bday thanks everyone. Nice sleepover at the hotel we had our wedding at. Thoroughly enjoyed it and childfree ;-). I think we both slept well not least because I feel better just for leaving work and taking back that control.

Went to Gp today- I was damned if I was gonna go on my birthday- got a first sick note with 'work related stress' [ PACIFIC thanks for that tho didnt even have to ask- GP said ' they wont like that cos it s notifiable'

My HQ have been on to send me to OHU for counselling -hmmm. As has my federation, boss ( who I ignored) and HR

They all seem to be flapping somewhat- can't think why an any of you...???

Sympathies to EVITAS and SMAC for poorly ick mums and babies. Get well soon.

Greetings also to the finally health PiXIE clan. Hope you enjoyed your family coffees out and enjoying the status quo of DD2. I know what you mean about realising how much you love your twins. DS has been a joy this week since ive been off- think he genuinely likes me being around constantly which is sweet xx

Smac, I hope you're feeling better, I had mastitis a few months back and it was truly horrible. The antibiotics kicked in by about day 2 though.

scooby, glad you enjoyed your birthday and had some well-deserved child-free relaxation.

Isobel is getting over her sicky bug but is quite grumpy and clingy today, and at times very upset. I can't tell if she's just not feeling well or if it's teething. Could even be both. And I've been sick twice this afternoon.. I feel pretty grim, but DH should be home within a couple of hours. I'm going to lie down while Izzy naps.

scooby SO glad you've taken back an element of control and have the support of your GP although I feel sad that it got to the point where you walked half way through a shift. I can tell how seriously you take your job and responsibility so recognise you really must have been at breaking point. But from here, the only way is up!

I say go to occupational health for the counselling - be very explicit with them about what has heaped stress upon you; your, frankly, unneccessary and unworkable sitution. They can only agree that to resolve the situation will involve your employers, oh, y'know, taking note of the laws that are on your side and become a little more flexible. Meanwhile, make the most of your down time, regroup, and relax. You ARE still a person, and able for your job, of course you are. Just the boundaries need to change a little to accommodate the changes in your life.

BMI Ah, sucks that you seem to have caught Izzy's sicky bug But good news that she's on the mend, if still a little needy (for whatever reason! Sometimes, we just don't know!)

evitas Awww, another poorly baby. It's no fun is it? I'm glad you have some practical support in MiL though.

smac really hope you're feeling better. Unfair to get to this point and then be struck down!

pixie So pleased DD2 is hangin tough. And I kinda know what you mean about The Realisation. I've always loved James from the moment he was born but I'm so much more in love with him now. Now he's doing new things nerly every day he's inspiring a rane of amazed/proud feelings in me and, yeah, the whole thing feels more intense.

I will definitely be finding out the sex of baby (my 12 week scan on monday so I've a little while to wait yet!) so my answer may be biased...

FIND OUT!

(then tell us!)

Brain gone a bit blank...

So, good news. I've not made an appointment for DD as, for now at least, she's definitely improving with a little gentle encouragement from me. Infact, today, she made pie, waffles, sweetcorn and gravy for her lunch which was a nice surprise (that I didn't comment on!). I'm still not sure about the underlying issue, but I hope it was a temporary blip. If not, I feel much more confident about dealing with it thanks to you all.

My sickness seems to be improving slightly - hurrah!

Hi, all, I have 20 min max before all hell breaks lose the darling children return - DH collected them from CM tonight and went straight to Tae Kwon Do: DS1 has a grading coming up and is keen as mustard to do well....

Sorry to hear about all poorly babies (and mummies

evitas sorry I forgot to say in my last post, poor DS :( What's the treatment for hand foot & mouth? I hope he's better soon.

Manda I'm glad DD is eating more, hopefully it will continue.

i am so excited i am meeting the one and only ICWAS and Little R!Tomorrow, off to find the best outfit i own and will even iron it :)

Oh wow, sarah, you must come back on here and tell us whether they are real...

They are real, I promise, I've met them too.

Sarah. iwcas is lovely and R is even cuter in RL. Can't wait till April to see some MMMs again, and put a few new faces to names!

And as much as I love you all, I'm afraid there will be No Ironing here for the Brum MMMM

Ironing? Huh? What's that? (I bought a new shirt to celebrate make me feel better about returning to work. A shirt! What was I thinking? It has been worn and washed once. It now needs ironing. I am guessing it may be a while before it has an outing again.)

Hope you are feeling better BMI. The first baby-acquired sickness bugs are just grim. It generally gets a bit better, if that's any consolation. Well, better inasmuch as they still catch stuff but you don't so much.

Congrats on the strep nose, Pacific. Sounds horrid. Definitely don't come to B'ham if you've still got that, will you .

Re illness: am now watching DD for signs of measles. It seems that DNiece may have it, despite having had both MMR jabs.

Re finding out the sex. I think you should find out, Pixie, and tell us. Actually, if it was me, I don't think I would. But, saying that, I have found out the sex wi both my DC so would need more self-control. Still, a birth day surprise does sound nice.

I'm still not feeling the love re work. In fact, I feel I need to leave "me" outside to make it through the day, if that makes sense. And the
commute is really getting to me. Admittedly, I do quite like the hour's worth of early morning nap on the train but I do not like the fact that every single train, morning and evening, has been late - 30 mins this
evening.

Scooby, glad you're feeling better. Have you been referred to OH? Can you self-refer?

Sarah, have a good time with IWCAS tomorrow.

to everyone else. Sure I've missed lots of you out - but not intentionally, honest. Off to bed now. What an exciting life I lead.....

Ds's blisters/spots continue to appear.... mainly in his legs arms and now in his ears. I'm starting to wonder if it's hand foot and mouth or chickenpox. I've been looking at images of both but they look the same. I know both are also viral so there's nothing we can do apart from waiting, but if it's the chickenpox there's something to help the itching, isn't it?

Just a quick message to say thank you lots to those of you who have had a nosy on my website and have left lovely messages on my FB wall - I've had enquiries for another 3 children since putting it up on there so must be doing something right...now if only they will translate into actual mindees, that would be amazing.

Hope you/DCs are all feeling much better soon, how rotten that so many of you and the LOs are snotty/sicky :(

Manda Glad that DD is eating again, can she come and make me lunch too please?

Pixie I personally wouldn't find out, but if you DO, you must tell us what you are having!

If it is chicken pox, evitas, try calamine (SP?) lotion for the itching. And Piriton is usually ok for the over 1s.

Hi ladies, i am coming to the UK in april so i was just wondering when you plan to do the meet up and where i will be in London and would love to meet you all,i will be there from the 15th to the 21st of april,,

evitas sorry about your DS,hope he gets better,calamine lotion does help with chicken pox,

smac mastitis,,ouch,hope you are feeling better, i had that when i was 'trying to BF DD, oh the pain,

pixie i would not find out, because the first time the surprise was worth the wait for me, i was convinced i was having a boy, imagine my shock when it was a girl, and joy because DH was wanting a girl bad, however its up to you and DH, you are alone on this Pixie,,,then come back here asap to tell us the sex if you do decide to find out..

And to all the sickly babies and sick mothers, hope you feel and get better soon.

Sorry everyone- the meet with ICWAS is of- i have been up all night being sick, look like death and feel like i have been hit by a speeding train! GUTTED!!!!

on my own all day with three lively lo's is not good when i feel so bad! boohoo!

(contemplaing foning my mil to see if i can drop them off there and i can go back to bed!)

Def. Phone your Mil Sarah, you need to rest x

Back ltr at nap time, I've had 9 hours sleep and feel bouncy :)

Oh no, sarah that's not good! Do hope you feel better really soon and that if it's a bug nobody else catches it!

siamese last night was particularly horrific in terms of James waking/not sleeping/me not sleeping so I could happily strangle you for getting nine hours!

(I'm happy for you really. Somewhere under all this jealousy, I am. )

Oh, I forget who mentioned it but I did buy DD some WellTeen from vitabiotics... £12 a pack! what with them, the WellKid I buy for DS1 and the Pregnacare Plus I have been taking ever since I fell pregnant with James I think I am keeping that company afloat!

She is TERRIBLE at taking them, and its only when I hand them to her that she will - jut forgets, or in a minute''s me if I don't hand it to her with a drink. I think, in the future, it won't be a good idea for her to use the pill as contraception (I always used to forget mine too! )

Marking my spot.

Just want to say well done to scooby. I had to take stress leave a few years ago and it was horrible, but the best thing all around, and kept them on their toes. Smac poor you, had a blocked duct once and was horrific. Bawling crying with the pain.

A friend of mine adopted a baby boy today! She has been waiting years to adopt, and had years ivf etc before then so this is just huge. So happy for her.