Dec 2008 - Hello 2011 the Year of the Toddler!

[DeidreBarlow]

Totally unispired but hope you all find it...

I'm glad you got the flowers Lady, but would be nice if he tried to change a little. I forgot to answer your question about DS1's violin. It's going really well. We were so lucky to find this teacher, she is just brilliant. he has started playing small tunes with notes (ie holding the strings down etc) but the best thing is his interest in the theory side, he's really into the recognition of the rhythms with notes written down. His teacher actually extended his lesson to over 45 mins last week because he was so into it. However, much as he seems to love the violin, one of the boys in his group lesson plays the cello and DS1 has become a bit obsessed with it. I would have loved to play the cello, but not sure what DH would think as its a bit more expensive.

Beans hope its all ok with mil, small is good but the wait is a bit stressful. Sorry about your sister, truly I am. I think my worst fear for my boys is that they will end up in an unhappy marriage. How are you parents with it all?

Deids, I'm glad your nan is out, but I hope your parents can enjoy their holiday. I imagine they'll be worried.

Rubes that attachment made me giggle, what does the hound think.

Hope tonight is ok Lady, enjoy the free booze.

Where's Sybs?

Rubes it was the same when we were kids, with people dropping into our house. I guess there was no text back then, these days there is no excuse. It's a boring story, but basically this women.has decided to be my friend but I don't really like her and conversations are really difficult and forced, and she has quite a strange personality and is a bit scary. She told me once that she and her DH fight a lot and I asked if it upset the kids and she said "Ronell (her son) gets a bit upset when we throw things at each other, but Shorell (her daughter, they're twins) likes it and joins in"!!! I can't put my finger on it but she's just strange, DH agrees, hes a little scared of her too. Anyway I tried to just not contact her but she didn't get the hint and came to the house on Friday afternoon. The one saving grace is she has a nice friend who is from Birmingham and we get on well and sometime have a little bitch about her. But we don't get to catch up much because we are both a bit busy.

Anyway I've waffled, oh day three of no day time naps.

well ds perked right up with the Ibuprofen, agreed to dinner, started racing round the house, then dinner came and he wasn't too interested. Had about 6 mouthfuls then wanted none. Really wanted a bath then sounded like he wanted his usual milk which I loaded with Calpol then barely touched it and then really wanted to go to bed and no story he's totally asleep now - I feel bad I didn't think he was sick last night but I should have known him waking 3 or 4 times was really out of character

Lady, enjoy the drinks - as painful as it might be! Love your description of the atmosphere there

Vag, the hound isn't too keen on it to be fair, but she'll get there. it's quite course so her scalp/skin probably isn't used to the tough bristles. I sometimes tried to Vac her with the normal vac, and she likes this better than she did that she'll get used to it.
Aah it's ringing a bell that crazy lady now.... are they really her kids names? Where is she from? BTW how come you know so many people and can communicate. Are they all English speaking? Are they all from that coffee group or are you just impressively good at meeting the locals? I still haven't made a proper effort with our neighbour - in ENGLAND! Next door! Will do though for Sure. gave them some wine and a card for Chrissy tho.
Right must go, dh will be home soon and gotta rustle up some food.

Veggie: glad you have heard from family and friends. What a fantastic thing is the Internet. A few years ago you would have been running up massive phone bills and fretting for days. It is shocking, especially the speed of the flooding.

Lady: DH flares up too, esp when he is stressed (ie 90% of the time). But then I sulk. So we are no doubt as bad as each other. I loved spending time with him over Xmas, no work meant I wasn't treading on eggshells the whole time. But he is working hard to develop his business snd keep us in nappies and cheerfulness, so I can't complain.

I am slightly traumatised by finding CRAWLING BEASTIES in DS2's hair. Yuk. Though not as traumatic as worms. Have treated all heads and will be obsessively wet combing for weeks.

ewwww nitty nora Effie. I have had them several times due to my charges bringing them home. Tea tree oil and use conditioner in the boys hair. Makes it too slippy gor the eggs to hold on.

Veg & Rubes glad all your family and friends are safe. The news footage makes it look terrifying.

Rubes poor DS, you know to alternate calpol and nurofen keep him proper dosed up. Poor lamb.

LAdy a row is never good. I am glad he has apologised but maybe it would be good to talk about it when the fire of the argument has died down. I am rubbish in arguments shout like a banshee and goad DH until he snaps. Not nice. All my family tell me I talk to them like they are 2yr olds.

OOh also Rubes, loving that dog grooming thing. We are lucky Luis is short haired but he does shed alot. I just hoover every day.

Veg I remember the scary Dutch woman. No idea how you ditch her.

Have to say I kinda miss the drop in culture. I always thought that being a SAHM would involve me popping in on mummy friends and vice versa sadly doesnt happen. Prob because I am rubbish at making friends and am anal about the house being messy so can in all reality never do just a drop in as I would be fretting about being judged about having a messy house.

Dieds glad to hear your nan is out of hospital. Has she got some good aftercare?

Pingu good to hear you are off to Harpenden can I be super nosey and ask where. The local schools are super.

Beans, do you want HH or are you just thinking that area of Herts? I know there are lovely parts of HH but if it was me I would check out Haprpenden or Redbourn.

Interesting to read about everyones 2yr check DS2 has his next week. Looking forward to finding out his weigh as I dont think he has been weighed since his 8wk check Honestly everyone please dont worry about the speach thing. DS1 was useless with words and DH and I used to argue about it all the time as I was happy enough and knew that they would get a few words and plateau for a while. He was obsessed he wasnt goign to be able to communicate. Our HV told us that as long as they are able to communicate and understand at this age its nothing to worry about. An d here we are DS1 is now thre and half and never shuts up. I used to be really sad that he wouldnt say Mummy and now I wish he would stop saying it. Muuuuuummmmmmyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeee. Drives me bonkers.

SUmmer I really hope tonight is a bit better for you. Lack of sleep is just shite.

Our poor shmoo poo (dog) is really poorly. The vet thinks he may have a gastric ulcer. LAst week he had a dodgy tummy then seemed fine. Then on Sunday pooed all over the kitchen in the morning. Then fine again. Then on Sunday night we went to bed and I heard him vommiting. We came downstairs and the poor soul was vomming up bright red blood and phlegm. Took him straight to the vets on Monday and he is now on loads of meds including Zantac (!) and on a diet of rice and chicken. She told me that it can be very serious and that if not treated his prognosis is not good. Thought he was oding loads better then tonight he has vommed all his rice up. So worried about him.

More me meme

DS2 starts nursery tom He is going to go one mornign a week as he goes absoloutely ballistic when we drop off DS1. So tom morning for the first time in 3 1/2 yrs I will have a child free morning. So excited.

Am cream crackered DH was working late so instead of going to pilates tonight I did my Davina DVD. I have had this DVD for nearly 2 yrs and tonight was its first outing. BLoody hell I think I need to do a bit more cardio and not so much body balance/pilates/gentle swimming. That was hard work.

Right DH wittering about wanting the laptop. back later

Did you use Hedrin Effie? DS1 caught evil, resistant lice from his Aussie cousins and Hedrin was the only thing that got rid of them.

Most people between 15 & 50 speak pretty good English Rubes, but this lady we met through her brother. DH struck up a conversation with him in a park we were at with the boys. He was with her kids and DS1 was playing with him, anyway it went from there. I get on with a few of the parents at DS1's school but I've got enough company with my Aussie coffee ladies and their hubbys, we have a nice little group of friends with them. Our neighbours are all nice and one lot provided a daughter for babysitting.

I've done Hedrin and will be combing with conditioner too - these buggers are going.

Cross posted Jam, your poor pooch, that is very sad. Give him a little cuddle from me. Bit jealous of the child free time. We are starting to look into a nursery for DS2, one of the mums at DS1's school is going to give us the name of the nursery that most of the kids there come from. Probably won't send him for another 6 months but need to put his name down somewhere.

Oh goodness! I've just realised the boys have had itchy hair lately!!!!

Evening. Just a quick post as am feeling in shock a bit. My Dad has just rung and he has a cancerous lump in his leg. It's a sarcoma. Starts radiotherapy next week and then will have to have it removed. 70% survival rate, which is positive, and no secondary tumours, plus it's soft tissue, not bone, which is also good apparently. He's 70 next Tuesday and my sisters and I were organising a surprise night out for him. Am not sure if it'll be happening or not. God. Shocked. Keep bawling. DH being a total rock.

Oh beans how bloody awful. Still fo the night out or postpone a few wks.

Yes, will see how he feels about it. If therapy hasn't started he might want a last blast hurrah pre treatment.

I'm sorry Beans, what a shock :(.

Oh no Beans!!! You've had such a rollercoaster of emotion lately, what a shock. Will of course be putting the white light out there. Be good to yourself. I think go ahead with the party, if anything he will want to feel 'normal'. How are the rest of your family?

Bloody hell beans that is awful. So sorry.

Beans so sorry to hear about your Dad, what a shock, and on top of your worries about your MIL. Lots of white light coming your way, in the form of a big hug. On a lighter note, I wondered if your DD2?s nappy rash could be due to her teething? That?s when DD always suffered the worst. I recommend as much nappy free time as possible, to get plenty of fresh air to her bum

Avo I?m angry on your behalf about your buyers, definitely sounds like they are pushing their luck. On the damp thing, could you get a quote for sorting it and offer that instead (assuming its less then they are demanding). I hope DD1 has had an easier morning this morning

Sorry to hear about the cat Sybs, my dog and Granddad died within a couple of weeks of each other (several years ago) and I?m a bit ashamed to say I was more upset about my dog than my Granddad, I think it is because pets are such a constant presence in your home and life, so I can fully understand your upsetness (which clearly isn?t a word, but you know what I mean). And on the same subject, Jam I hope your dog isn?t in too much pain and recovers quickly. Enjoy your morning off tomorrow ? are you going to fill it with nice things you?ve wanted to do for ages, or completely chill and enjoy the silence?

2 year checks, I?ve not heard anything from the HV, so assume it isn?t mandatory round here. DD understands EVERYTHING we say (far too much, to be honest), although whether or not she acts on it is another matter. And in the last couple of weeks her vocabulary has been increasing exponentially, so keeps surprising every hour. Her latest favourite is ?stop it, STOP IT Daddy?, even if all he is doing is breathing!

Aussie ladies ? what a relief to have heard from your loved ones out in Queensland, I?ve just seen it on the news and it looks terrifying for those in the middle of it

I missed One Born Every Minute last night, as C4 took it upon itself to have a night off. I do enjoy it, even though I end up sobbing like a proper softie. I really like watching the new Dad's reactions, I as stopped paying any attention to DH once DD was born so I can?t remember a thing about how he took it all in

Sorry to hear about your row with DP LadyT, especially as it put a downer on your anniversary of DD2s conception. Although, if I remember correctly, didn?t you row on that night last year as well? And that resulted in a beautiful little girl who has made you very happy. DH and I are going to London the last weekend of the month, we?re staying in Soho as we wanted to be central and walking distance of lots of things to do and not spend all the time on the tube (as we did last time we went, when we thought we?d found a barginous hotel, and then found out why). We?re both really looking forward to a weekend together. I?m very tempted to suggest a meet up, but not sure how I?d get that past DH, so think I?ll have to give it a miss

Deids good news that your Nan is coming out of hospital, hopefully she will be much more relaxed with her family. I hope your parents enjoy their holiday

Rubes how is DS sleeping tonight? It?s so sad when they?re off colour. Am I the only one who doesn?t bother with taking temperatures? The thermometer we?ve got is useless and DD has to keep still for about 15 seconds, which has never happened, so I chucked it to the back of the drawer a long time ago

DD has shamed me into cleaning tonight. Whilst I was bathing her she said ?ooh, Mummy?s hair? and passed me one of my hairs that was floating in the bath. And then ?ooh, more Mummy?s hair? about half a dozen more times ? grim, grim, grim. So I have had a bit of a cleaning frenzy. If a 2 year old notices what a state my house is in, what on earth will my Mum say when she comes next week? (I must add that it was my head hair, not anything else that was in the bath, that really would be grim)

DD had a couple of practice sessions in the big room at nursery last week, and loved it. Her key worker took her through, but DD completely ignored her and got stuck right in with the bigger children and was quite upset to go back to the baby room once the hour was up. This week she?ll have lunch with the older kids one day, and then she?ll also get to take her nap with them, and if she?s happy with all that she?ll go up full time and leave her lovely lovely nursery nurses behind. I?m quite sad about not seeing them each week myself, oh dear, I clearly need to man up and be brave like DD is

And before I finally turn in for the night, I?ve been meaning to ask ? ages ago someone mentioned a mobile site. How do I find that and get it to work on my iphone?

Night all

Thanks for lovely wishes. I think we're all in a bit if shock - it's DAD! He's immortal etc. I hate to sound like a daddys girl, but all 3 of us are and despite being married with kids etc, we all still depend on him and are v close to him. He's an amazing man and v positive, which I'm sure will help. I've rung my sisters and we've had a good blub on eachother and are agreed we must now just be positive for Dad. I'm driving down tmw evening and DH is going to look after the girls for me. I think Mum is going to need our support too.

Sorry to all for pet woes. Illness/death in pets is so sad - if only it was death to those pesky headlice!

Sleep tight all xxx

ZJ I don't use a thermometer, but a bizarre skill I have picked up over the years from nursing kids is the ability to guess correctly, a child's temperature, by feeling its forehead. Strange but true.

So sweet about DD in nursey. So confident.

Right orf to bed.

Beans, that's rotten, but seriously,from what you say (and from what I know about cancer, which is too bloody much) I reckon that all sounds as if he has a really big chance of it being eradicated by treatment. I know it's all shocking and horrid but hang in there.

I got back about 10. I felt like leaving after five mins but I made myself chat to people (almost exclusively behind the scenes staff on the paper) and we had a good old cackle at the bizarre array of faded 'celebs' swanning about.

More tomorrow, night all.

Happy New Year!

Finally back online & have spent most of the evening skimming the last month's posts - and now of course I've run out of time to write a decent catch-up post of my own. But I did want to say

Beans awful news about your dad. As LadyT says it does sound like he has more than a fighting chance. Defo go for the night out I say - will probably perk him up no end.

spot lovely lovely news about Billy. Sorry you've been having a tough time - go easy on yourself. It's such early days and soon the last couple of weeks will be just a hazy blur (as if they aren't already ha ha).

urbane sorry to hear about the mc over Christmas. So sad. But congrats on the new job - have you started it yet?

Vag thanks for asking about the job and house. Bit of a nightmare moving day what with heavy snow, someone crashing into hire van, DP taking 7 hours to travel 10 miles or so, having to saw the settee in half to get it through the door and then of course the heating going the day after. House needs a bit of sprucing up and here is the sum of our efforts so far: 1/ going to Wickes with grand ideas, having a massive row in the aisle, storming out empty-handed and then 2/ going to B&Q, having a medium-sized row in the aisle and leaving with a grout pen and a paper lampshade. Both rows were of the heated discussion and not the boat-based variety, I hasten to add. First couple of weeks on job a bit stressful, as was Christmas at my mum's (won't be doing that this year). But I think the job is going to be okay and a big improvement on my last one hopefully.

Anyway enough me me me. Sorry I haven't got round to proper personals once again - we really need to do a meet-up soon. Fridays are good for me - can anyone manage a Friday in the next week or 3?

Shmoka starts nursery today!!!! So excited am going to poo, pee, drink a can of coke and leave it sitting on the side table and watch trashy tv. Whats the betting I dont do any of that and take the dog for a wlak and do housework.

Morning :)

Show Me Show Me is on so I shall catch up in pleace nad hopefully have a quick shower. TOday feels like a slow, lazy day which will probably be fine until about 10am then we'll all be killing each other.

Jam I am very at nursery, oh to be child free! Much as I love being told what a good girl I am when I pee . Hope your dog is ok though.

Beans so sorry about your dad. Sounds like you have a great family for lots of support for him and each other :)

Nits. Yuck

Vag crazy Dutch woman sounds, erm, crazy. Suppose sometimes you just have to smile and nod and pretend to be very late for something important!

Spot great name :) very good taste indeed, the world always needs another William.

Sybs why did you have to mention Goodbye Mog?

JJ that nap sounds so sweet :)

Aussies the floods are just terrible :(. I spent my gap year in Australia back when I was 18/19, so strange looking at places I've been. I spent some time working in Theodore and joined up with the Guides and Brownies in Moura. I'm not in touch with anyone now but can't help googling images, the whole town was completely under water :( I hope they are ok. The family I worked for were on a cattle station, fingers crossed their cattle was on high enough ground. So strange, I left there just before New Year and the area was still in drought yet this year the Dawson River was bursting its banks.

I love OBEM, it is addictive! Wish my internet were fast enough to be able to watch the extra stuff online. I felt for the young boy, his girlfriend was so scared, I can really understand her wanting her mum but his face when they left him there, then he asked for a hug and I cried.

My William was 4 yesterday, I can't believe it. 4 years ago I just had one tiny little baby.

I have not heard about a 2 year check, no idea if they still do them, last I heard my health visitor was on long term sick anyway (back problems so feel for her but not too concerned). All of yours sound very involved though, when ds had his the HV just watched him potter around as she chatted with me and pronounced him normal. He could say maybe 10 words at that point and that will have included animal noises. Seriously. Talks the hind legs of a bloody donkey now. Don't somehow think I need to worry about dd though, she talks up a storm nad builds her own simple cars out of lego (real lego, the duplo hasn't been touched since Christmas, I'm going to put it in the loft).

Dd has given up napping :(. She is still struggling a little and will collapse around 4.30 and have 40 winks on the sofa but basically we are done for. My goodness me the day is long when nobody naps! She sleeps better at night some of the time, currently working on another molar though. Just 2 to go, come on teeth!

Well ds didn't want dinner again and hardly even wanted much milk. Woke up at 11pm - more Ibuprfen and then went back to sleep till 5 then very upset. Temp climbed higher so to the GP today.
Got a bit of an ear infection she reckons from all the coughing and gunk. Antibiotics for a week and no swimming Least I know why he's sick now. He's never had the AB's before so hoping not allergic or anything
Aww all these sick animals. Jam hope your dog gets better soon
Hi Poison.
Lady that was a quick night out!

Poor thing, hope the ABs kick in sharpish.

Just a very quick post to say sorry to hear about your Dad beans. Hope you all still feel up to celebrating his birthday and spoiling him a bit.

Re temperature taking. I can't tell hotness from a raging 40 degree fever so I got one of those in ear thermometers. I could never get DD to keep still for the digital under arm ones. It's fantastic, DD loves it, 'more beep beep mummy'.

Back later on.

Sorry to hear about DS, Rubes. Hope he's feeling brighter soon.