June 2008: new year, new diets, new resolutions, but when push comes to shove creme eggs are still the solution!

[KnittingRocks]

Sorry, couldn't cope with Christmas anymore!

Can you believe we've been dumped by the night nanny? She sent me a text on Friday saying she was sick and couldn't come which I thought was cock and bull anyway but gave her the benefit of the doubt. I then (after having the day from hell yesterday) get a text from her about a page long telling me she wasn't coming back again as the twins were too stressful for her. Sh has already said that this was the worst job she'd ever done for having to get up over and over but I thought that was what a night nanny did - I am certainly not paying for her to come and sleep on my sofa and I doubt anyone else is. Personally I think she's got better paying clients that she could use our days for. It's the only way we could afford it to be honest as she was doing us a deal. Isabella still wakes up 3 times a night about 1.30, 3 and 5 so i'll have to go to bed at the same time as Luke to get anywhere near a decent sleep. Bollox.

Amber that is so unprofessional of her! She should have seen through her commitment to you. Has the sleep got worse recently? I thought they were sleeping well... how old are they now? Do they settle themselves to sleep for naps/at night?

Rolf, yes gross with the potties! But they are only trying to help eg putting the contents down the loo like I do. I have got rid of the potties upstairs now but they still use them downstairs. Loo only upstairs. Glad you feel positive about the help DD1 is getting.

Systems, that sounds very interesting! I actually think the communities are wonderful but have been given extra strength through FB. It takes a long time to get to 'know' someone on MN because there are no pics to go with the names and it takes a while to remember who is who and who has done what. I think our group got a lot stronger after we all linked up on FB. I certainly don't have a problem with you using our thread as evidence

I have got an interview for that breastfeeding support worker job . I have to give a 10min presentation. I have to imagine I am running an antenatal breastfeeding education session for 15 people. What would I cover and how would I deliver it? I was thinking of starting with an ice-breaker: everyone introduce themselves and say one thing they know about breastfeeding and one thing they would like to know. Then discuss the aspects of BFing from there. What do you think?

Rolf - thanks for the windows advice, have since discovered that it isn't a listed building so the windows might be cheaper. Have also heard about anther couple coming on the market so might be tempted to wait for those.
We took Ethan to the specialist at the hospital and he said there was nothing physically wrong and nothing he would do or could do to help.So we wait to see if it improves, he said peer pressure might help , meanwhile Ethan is always falling over, not so much inside but on uneven surfaces he's terrible as he drags his right foot a bit.Stefan was much more pigeon toed and he did just grow out of it. Speech therapy sounds good and interesting about the palate.Glad that you're getting some help and have come out of hiding re dd1 I think Ethan will also need ST as his speech is quite immature and he uses a strange assortment of sounds!

Neenz, good luck for your presentation, opener sounds OK, I just personally hate the introducing yourself thing but I don't know how else to start it - sorry.

Amber - I agree with Neenz, how unprofessional

Systems - researching MN sounds like a great idea

Shoulders - great weight loss, well done

I want to lose weight too but I have no will power at the moment as we are still quite unsettled, I tried Zumba and enjoyed it but hurt my dodgy knee doing it on Monday and I am still hobbling around. I couldn't even drive the next day so that's the end of zumba and I'm so disappointed as it the mums from toddler group go. Looks like pilates or something like that for me

Hi everyone,

Neenz - good luck with the interview. It might be a bit less intimidating to ask people to introduce themselves and to say what they're hoping to find out/get from the session to help you establish what people's expectations are. At the end I would ask everyone if there was something they were surprised to discover.

Well done on the weight loss Biscuits - you're doing really well! I really need to find some will power. DH is away for a few days and I've just pulled my back today so I don't think I'll be back shredding any time soon!

System - the research sounds interesting? What kind of conference is it for? Have you approached MN about it - they might let you do a thread or something getting input/views etc from members? I am glad that you're not writing about our threads specifically though - I completely get what you mean about the 'private' aspect even though they're on the internet. I've never randomly surfed another post-natal thread and I doubt anyone would be particularly interested in ours.

I was interested to read all the walking chat. S seems to just fall over his feet sometimes and I think that either one or both of his feet seem to point inwards. Again, I thought it might be something he'd grow out of.

We finally got heating and hot water again on Friday - just in time for the nice warm weather and a trip to London! I think they must have replaced every main part in our boiler, so it should be good for a while now

hmmm, my back is getting progressively worse and DH is away until Wed night. i can barely move one side of my body. Putting S to bed is going to be interesting!

How's the back now Keepcalm?

Neenz it's funny you should mention our thread getting stronger when everyone linked up on FB. As much as everyone has probably told me a million times I still have no idea who anyone is!

So I've been doing all the nights then and not feeling too bad considering the twins have both got coughs so bad you'd think they smoked 20 Bensons a day. We've got a new one coming tonight as I got a local agency who's normal charge is only 15 quid more than the discounted rate that the old one gave us. Hope she's OK!

Still very sore Amber GP thinks I've torn some muscle tissue or something. I'm a bit miserable about it all. I have to try and keep moving, but it's bloody painful and I keep getting excruciating spasms in it. Am off work and it's impossible to study as I can't really sit still for any length of time. My exams are in two weeks, so if it isn't significantly better within the next few days I'm really going to have to defer. I keep bursting into tears because it really couldn't have happened at a worse time. DH is still away and I'm just generally feeling sorry for myself. I've had to drive S to and from nursery for the last couple of days which has been eye-wateringly painful.

Hope your new night nanny works out well for you.

Keepcalm, that sounds dreadful, no wonder you are so down. It's hard when you are on your own for a bit as well.

Good luck with the new nanny Amber.

No news here, been working all week on my presentation for the BFing job. The interview is tomorrow. Thanks for your feedback. I asked on some of the AN threads and got some good replies. I am really happy with the presentation but I know I will get pretty nervous. Just got to have confidence in myself.

Hi, we're back from our holiday in France which was lovely! DS1 gave us all a tummy bug though - and even though I was sick for 24 hours I've still gained a bit of weight on holiday. Good for you biscuits - I'm not ready yet to seriously diet (denial coupled with laziness as my clothes are getting tight) but if I gain any more weight I'll need to.

deb the house looks lovely - and there would be advantages to a town over a village (I'm in the village - the commute to the doctors/nursery/shop etc gets to be a pain (we do havea primary school though)).

systems have you swiched areas of research or did I remember you wrong? The paper sounds very good through.

Lisping is very normal in DS1's nursery friends. DS1 struggles with his 'l' sounds but we're just working on it at home and the teachers say he'll manage it eventually.

amber your night nanny sounds pretty crap - that's not professional notice! did you get her through an agency? Can you let them know that she's left you this way?

deb I love pilates!!! I really wish I had a chance to take a class but our lives are too crazy at the moment. I'm trying to ride my bike at least three times a week to or from work (DH and I switch with the car - instead of me driving both ways) as it's 11 miles and seems a good way to get exercise.

keepcalm back pain is the worst, it's so debilitating - thinking of you!

Bugger - I think Luke might be coming down with chickenpox. He has about 8 spots dotted around his body. That'll be the end of our Easter then I guess! Still I'll wait and see if any others have appeared tomorrow. He wasn't himself today though so expecting them.

New night nanny today - eek!

Neenz - good luck tomorrow!!

Thanks folks. Feels a bit better tonight, but I think that's the combination of painkillers and moving about lots. Will see how it is in the morning.

Glad the tummy bug didn't spoil your holiday Abdn - which part of France did you go to again, I have somewhere near Loches in my head? Did you visit anywhere you'd particularly recommend (we're back in Grand Pressigny in the summer).

Hope Luke is ok with the chicken pox. When S had it, once the spots came out he was in good form, but it was a bit of a bind not being able to go out. At least you have the nice weather so can get out in the garden to run off some steam if he's up to it.

Waves.

Will try and post properly soon, DH has claimed laptop for work purposes and other computer is too slow. Going to see peppa pig live tomorrow. Don't know if I can take the excitement.

No new spots today - how odd! Was expecting loads - maybe something else?

Easter was so busy with visitors I've only just got back online now that I'm back at work!! Thanks all for the supportive comments about my proposed paper on Mumsnet. abdn same broad area of research (linguistics / literacy) but I haven't done much work in online communication before now - a bit though. Amber, Keepcalm, the conference would be this one. Now I feel I have the blessing of my Mumsnet friends I will do some more work on it! There are a couple of other threads I have been on which would have to remain completely unexamined too, for ethical reasons (Dewin will know at least one of the ones I mean) - I will tread v. carefully in what I focus on for this - but I do think it's such an interesting new form of community and very much worthy of the attention of social scientists.

Pigeon toes: I was extremely pigeon toed as a child (and dyspraxic) so got sent to ballet from 18 months. Can't say it cured it though, and I was a terrible ballerina!

Speech: I think there are some sounds which all children master much later on, and others which they normally 'get' earlier. Lisping is pretty standard for pre-schoolers, but there is a little girl in my son's class having speech therapy because she is struggling with the 'k' sound and that one is supposed to be mastered earlier.

Keepcalm huge sympathies on the back - hope the painkillers keep it under control until it heals. So hard to manage with little ones.

Amber can't believe the night nanny couldn't cope! Wimp! and clearly in the wrong job!! Chicken pox spots sometimes come out in waves so keep an eye on him; and sometimes they do only get a few spots.

After a disastrous trip to Next last week, I have now committed to losing weight properly too. Watch this space...

It's quiet round these parts these days!

Back at work this week, but back still not right. Will have to defer one of my exams [csad] but hopefully will still do one of them. Am feeling VERY overweight [csad] - not helped by having so much chocolate to get through [cblush]. I'm really keen to get back on the shredding, but no chance with a dodgy back. Have just been reading about Biscuits mammoth weight loss on fb - I'm almost tempted to give it a go. Very well done Biscuits Sympathies on the shopping trip Systems - there's nothing worse than a disaster, especially at this time of year.

Actually, if you're reading this Biscuits - for evening meals and stuff, do you have the same as the rest of the family? S is skinny enough without going on WW so I guess that's my excuse puts me off.

Is anyone doing anything for the royal wedding? Despite being a republican (though not as ardent as Knitting obv) I'm off to a friend's garden party. We have royal wedding masks to wear [cgrin]

I'm trying to get plenty of crowns in this post to see if it attracts Knitting... [cgrin] [cwink]

Thanks Keepcalm, I am very pleased with myself and feeling so much better for it! I generally have the same as the rest of the family, although C often eats earlier than we do, and is a bit of a pain generally when it comes to eating, fussy and seems to require bribery to finish anything, so she often has something different to us, particularly on nursery days as it needs to be quick and easy! My DH has the same as me though, and he hasn't lost any weight (he's v athletic though and doesn't need to!) I tend to just give him bigger portions of carbs! My eating habits that required addressing were a terrible chocolate habit and no portion control, rather than eating high fat or bad foods at mealtimes though, so it's been all about how much I put on my plate. and writing everything down, which really makes a difference I think. I would definitely recommend the new WW plan for those of you who are thinking about it. It encourages healthy eating I think, rather than starvation, and I have found it very liveable IYKWIM, have been out for celebration meals etc and been able to choose nice food without feeling like I've broken my diet and may as well give up!

I'm not doing anything for the royal wedding, other than enjoying the fact that DH has the day off, C's nursery isn't closed and therefore I can get my haircut while he looks after D. Apparently the Glasgow City Council has had the sum total of 0 applications for street parties! I'll probably watch a bit of it, if only the be amused by the commentators! I'm sure she'll be a beautiful bride, but I wouldn't want to be in her shoes!

systems your project sounds interesting. I don't mind you referencing our thread.

amber your night nanny sounds v unprofessional. If she wanted to give up, well that's up to her, but to quit by text at thge last minute is appalling. How are the spots - CP or not?

speech C struggles with GR sometimes, she calls my Dad Pwampa. interestingly, she can say Granny though?!

D is still proving to be a very easy baby, and remains on the 2nd centile. She's like a little doll. She weighed 11 lb 9.5 oz 2 weeks ago (so at 20 weeks) I think she must be listening at the WW meetings! I picked up C and D at the same time the other day - their combined weight is about what I've lost in total. No wonder I was knackered and felt miserable!

abdn I need to send you my handmade thing! it's on the mantlepiece. eeek. FB me your address! Glad you had a lovely holiday. We're going to France in July, I can't wait. I have great memories of childhood holidays there and we decided that we'd brave it this year. we're going with a place we booked through baby friendly boltholes - one of these ones
dewin how goes pregnancy?
deb how goes the house hunt?
rolf get your interweb fixed.
knitting I hope you have your bunting ready for Friday?! [cgrin]

Everyone else, how are you all? sorry, run out of time but hope you are well!

oops link is wrong should be one of these

It is quiet isn't it.

I didn't get the BFing job but I feel very positive about it - I got good feedback, she said my interview was excellent but there were lots of good candidates and someone just got more points than me. They only asked 6 questions and you got a mark 0-4 for each. I know what I should have said to get more points but didn't think of them at the time! Feel like it was a really positive experience and will be better prepared next time. I think it probably would have been too much for me to take on atm anyway.

Theo and Esther are 3 next week . I feel so proud that we have got through the 'terrible 2s' without much trouble, but feel sure we are getting terrible 3s instead! Their behaviour seems to have gone downhill a bit recently, nothing too serious, just low-level whining (Theo) and being a bit mean with toys (Esther). T had a tantrum today and the CM's - she could hardly believe it cos they are normally so good for her. He had a strop at not being able to put his toy pram in the water feature in the garden.

We are going to my PILs for a bbq on Friday, not for royal wedding tho - the vicar has retired so she has invited him and his wife for a goodbye. So glad the wedding is out of the way at 11 cos I am sure we won't have the telly on then. I am happy for them as a couple cos a wedding is such a special event but really can't be arsed with the wall to wall coverage in the media. And of course as a republican I think they should not be treated as anything special and they should pay for it themselves. pmsl at you Keepcalm - a Republican but not as much as Knitting 'obviously' . Are you on the campaign trail for the elections? I was thinking of volunteering next week but think we might be a hindrance with all my kids in tow.

Dewin are you about? Hope you are well. I sent you a message on FB about the mat clothes. Will send them to you in the post if you want them? Got some shorts and vests which will be just the thing in this weather.

Not been doing much campaigning - a wee bit here and there. DH doing lots though so he's doing my share [cgrin]. We've had S out on the campaign trail though - there are some pics on FB. S is already quite the seasoned campaigner, he had cake with Iain Gray and we met Eddie Izzard on the campaign trail at the w/e. I hope you find the time to do some campaigning - even a wee hour is good on the final day - you could find out if your local party needs people to staff the polling stations and take the DC for an hour!

Sorry to hear that you didn't get the job - interviews are good experience though, especially if you get good quality feedback. Cant believe the DTs are just about 3! Did you go with a firestation for them? Do you usually get a 'big' present for them to share or two separate ones?

I'm very inspired by your WW tales Biscuits - am seriously contemplating signing up. DH has done it before and lost loads so might see if we can both do it. We're both real enablers of each others bad behaviour though, so we both need to be committed I think. I don't think we eat too badly for meals, but we've got a terrible addiction to treats which is our downfall. We're both always knackered (I read somewhere recently that poor sleep can lead indirectly to weight gain) and we really need to try and do something about it. Do you find it hard/time consuming to work out the points values of meals you're cooking from scratch?

That website looked fab for your hols - I'm going to bookmark it for future use!

Deb - are you still going to Zumba?

No, not time consuming at all - tend to know the points of my usual ingredients and anything more complicated I put into the online calculator thingy. They have an iPhone app too, so very portable options!

Ooh, iPhone app - now I'm even more interested! DH thinks it's a good idea too. Might see you on the WW thread yet...

Thought that would get you interested!

FWIW I found 3 more terrible than 2

That's a shame about the job, Neenz, but it sounds like great experience.

Biscuits your weight loss is very inspiring. Our local WW is on Fridays so there's been no meetings with all the bank holidays, but I think I will join when they re-open. What you and Keepcalm say about being knackered and miserable is absolutely how I am atm. I do lots of cooking and we generally eat pretty well but I have some bad habits that maybe WW could help me with.

We were supposed to go to a garden party tomorrow but it's been cancelled. The organisers didn't realise how many of their acquaintances were fervent republicans (not at republicanism but at the lack of awareness). So we're at a bit of a a loose end as we thought we had the whole day planned out.

The HV said that T's pronunciation is normal. She's coming round next week to look at her walking so we'll see what happens.

I'm easily pleased Biscuits [cwink].

What a shame about your party Rolf. Lots of republicans going to the party I'm going to tomorrow but it's just an excuse for a get together and to drink Pimms really. Glad to hear T's speech is fine. S has problems with a few things S's and G's mostly and his pronunciation of consonants together i.e. pr or sn but it seems fairly common among his peers.

He had his first day at pre-school today - can't believe my baby is in pre-school! His best friend was moving up so they thought they'd try him too as they thought he was ready for it and he had a great day. Some of the staff I've really liked when he's been in other rooms in the nursery are now in the pre-school (it's part of his private nursery IYSWIM) so I'm pleased about that. Also realised that the nursery bills will drop a fair bit once he gets his pre-school funding in September which is a bonus!

Just realised that Easter has come and gone without mention of creme eggs [cshock] - we've got a fridge full of them and I'm sick of the sight of them now! [cgrin]

Hi everyone! Well Luke had got chicken pox - he was covered in them poor thing. I have a feeling we will get scarring as he scratched himself to oblivion. He went back to nursery today for the first time in over a week and was incredibly reluctant. I wouldn';t have bothered but I desperately needed a break after two nights of hardly any sleep and full on daytime entertainment for Luke.

Luke starts his big schoolnext week - he has a proper uniform with a cap and blazer and everything - now that will be scary. I have only tried on bits of it but not all together yet. He's going 3 mornings a week. I really wanted him to go as itr means guaranteed entry into the primary school, otherwise an entry exam - at age 4!! All the mums there wear make up to srop off and pick up their kids. They also have chanel bags and tods loafers. I am not going to fit in at all!

Neenz - sorry to hear about the job. You can still be a BF counsellor but just on MN!

WW - I am on week three and so far have lost 7.5lbs. I never get a chance to do the tracking though so I have to guess. You get so many extra points to use over the week though that I know as long as I'm not stupid I will be OK (being stupid like today when I had two slices of victoria sponge sa I couldn't keep my eyes open with tiredness and thought the sugar would help!).

Oh shall I tell you my funny news? I have decided to get a nose job! Does anyone know anyone who has had one?