May 2009 Towards the Terrible Two's

[momino]

Well, here we go again. may this be the start of a thread with lots of positive news and posts [bsmile]!

[omnomnomtom]

Hi everyone

Glad to hear febes is ok

We were meant to be having a relaxing week off work but it got a bit hijacked by DPs family deciding to visit at short notice, my parents visited at the weekend which has been planned for a while then DPs parents phoned up on Sunday and when they realised we were off work they decided to come on Mon and stayed till Weds, and we are going to visit DPs sister tomorrow so have only really had Thurs/Fri to ourselves. Has been nice to see everyone but it wasn't how we planned to spend our week off and I am soooooo tired! I have also been suffering with nausea and vomiting again, which is a pain but at least I had a couple of weeks of feeling ok

Can't remember who was asking whether I had any celebrity gossip but the answer is sadly no- other than Mr Bloom the other people I know who have been on TV have had bit parts or have been on reality tv shows (the family, hotel inspector- stuff like that) or programmes about art/music so nothing exciting.

[llareggub]

Evening all.

Just wondered how everyone is doing. I'm very jealous of Smokey's ski trip.

Not a lot of news from here, but my feet have barely touched the ground this month. I've been so busy since I gave up working. We started canvassing today for the May elections and I was terrified beforehand but it turned out fine. Hardly anybody answered their door but I did manage to convince 2 people to vote for me. Hurrah! Only another 4998 to go! I can't believe one chap though. He actually came to the door smoking a joint. He didn't live there and told me that his girlfriend wouldn't come to the door because she was naked. Ahem.

I met J@o C@amer@n from The Apprentice this week. She is really funny and just like she was on the telly. She is so energetic and really quite inspiring.

Right. Ironing to do! Night night all, have a great weekend.

[runningmonkey]

Hello all,
Well I totally failed to come back and catch up last week didn't I?

momi hope your DH's first day at new job went well today and woo hoo re the America trip, I can understand your excitement :) No experience of longhaul travel but I can really recommend sticker books - kept A entertained for a good while on our 2x 4 hour flights the other week. <a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/Airport-Usborne-Sticker-Felicity-Brooks/dp/140950736X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299522509&sr=8-1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">this was particularly successful :)

belg hope you are ok and a bit less shattered. Make sure you look after yourself.

ses hope your DH is ok

flip glad you are doing well.

smokey hope you enjoyed yourself I must admit to being a bit although I am not a skier, the sound of a girls holiday sounds wonderful. Hope your DB is doing ok too - any news?

omnom sorry your week off wasn't that relaxing and that your nausea/sickness has returned. How much longer are you working for? A loves Mr Bloom by the way :)

llare that sounds v busy - am v impressed at your running for local gov. One of my ex-students has recently been voted to his town council, making him the youngest elected official in the UK ever - he won by pounding the pavements apparently so keep up the good work :) Loving your new 'do by the way, v glam :)

Hello to everyone else, pika cupboard regg dandy and anyone else lurking.

All ok here. I def do have GD but it looks like I'm managing it with diet so far which is good. Feel as if I am spending my life at the maternity hospital for various checkups though - never seem to get in and out in under 2 hours for some reason. A is as entertaining as ever - doesn't stop talking and singing but is definitely heading towards terrible twos. We had a 10 minute meltdown outside the childminders last week as she didn't want to get in the carseat. She was yelling 'leave me here' at the top of her voice and doing that annoying thing where they go completely limp so you can't pick them up properly. I'm finding the days I am off work with her on my own v difficult at the moment as I'm v tired and feeling ginormous now. Have badly planned my first two weeks of mat leave too - its the Easter hols so I'll have her full time! Think I'll be calling in reinforcements in the shape of my Mum :)

Right, must go. Milk and bedtime cuddles are required, hope everyone has a good week.

[smokeybacon]

Evening all.

Back down to earth with a bump after a fabulous trip. Think it did all of us who went a world of good. So nice to not have to think about doing anything except pleasing ourselves!!!

Thanks to everyone for asking about DB. He is doing well. Have just spoken to him on skype and he looks really well!! He is on week 3 of cycle 1 and the effects of the first week of consecutive days of chemo has worn off so he feels fit and well and may even go for a ski himself tomorrow. He has cut his hair in preparation for losing it which he has been told is very likely to happen. But a small price to pay. But feel so much happier now as the prognosis is good.

running when are you due? You must def try to have some me time before baby arrives. Get your ma here prompto.

Sorry not to NC everyone, but hope everyone is ok.

[momino]

gosh. I keep losing this thread so back to bookmark again.
smokey, sounds like a great trip, loved the fb pics. glad your DB is doing well and best wishes to him for a speedy recovery. glad it's positive.

Runnning, take care with your GD. be sure to rest in the midst of your busy life.

dd2&H down with stomach flu so haven't got much work done. Just finished a bit so of to bed to make up a little for last night's rubbish sleep.

poor little H in her few awake hours of the day only wanted cuddling. then screamed the rest of the time (presumably tummy cramps ), got sick a few times and slept on my shoulder (aww). they're all still asleep now so hoping everyone is better in the morning. thanks for the lovely wishes on fb for the DD's.

Hi omnom and llare and everyone else! Hope everyone is well. x

[flippineck]

Hello All!

smokey - your trip sounds fab, photos ere great! Good news about your DB, hope everything continues to go smoothly.

running - glad that you are able to manage to GD through diet. A sounds a character! And ye, tantrums have started here too, .

momino - hope everyone is better soon.

Everything is ok here now. A was ill earlier in the week, D&V, nice...especially as my morning sickness pops up every now and again. I've had to get my maternity clothes out, my normal stuff is uncomfortable now.

I'm terrified - we promised DD1 that she could have a birthday party, never done one before! So village hall booked for a couple of hours, what on earth do we do with 20 3 and 4 year olds?! Eeeeeek! Oh, it's in two weeks time and DH is away all of next week for work. And I hate party bags.

[momino]

Hi Flip. Hope A is better soon. Good luck with the birthday party

H said her first full sentence today 'Daddy's in the shower'.

DD2still quite ill but is asleep. I'm in front of an open fire with a glass of wine so a bit more relaxed than before. Hope all ok tonight.

[pikachu999]

flip and momino - well done for coping with the D&V and stomach flu. Sounds awful. I really am not good at dealing with sick.

flip - if you don't want to do party bags, a good alternative is to buy books and wrap them up instead. I know people who've done this. I would say that 3 and 4 year olds just like running around and if you provide loads of balloons on the floor, they'll love that too. Pass the parcel with lots of layers and choc/sweets in each layer is usually good if you have time to fill. Does the village hall have a playgroup that you can borrow toys from?

smokey- your skiing trip looked wonderful. I am inspired to do something similar myself next winter now. Glad your DB is feeling Ok with his treatment.

running - look after yourself, and call in reinforcements - I found pg with a LO to look after very tiring. S is having more tantrums at the moment and it's very draining.

[pikachu999]

Hello. Not sure if anyone is there but i need to talk. My Dad hasn't been well all week (I only found out on Thursday). He's been getting breathless and had some worrying blood test results. He was told not to take his chemo tablets this weekend and go to the hospital on Monday for a checkup. Well he ended up being admitted this morning. I phoned my mum at 4pm as i hadn't heard anything and she would just say he's not at all well and will call later- I guess because its a mobile and she shouldnt be using it there. I am just so anxious wondering what it wrong .

[runningmonkey]

I'm here pika on phone so a bit slow. You're prob right tgat yr mum was feeling awkward with a phone in the hosp. How far away are they? Can you get there? Or ring hosp directly. Hope everything is ok x

[pikachu999]

I am about an 80 min drive. Was waiting for news all afternoon- now just wish I'd driven over...

[runningmonkey]

Aw not an easy drive then. Do you think yr mum wld mind if you rang the hosp directly? Use the reasoning 'i know mobiles aren't allowed in hospitals' if nec. No idea if they wld give out any info but might put yr mind at rest if they do and then you can decide what to do re driving over. Sorry you are going through this x

[runningmonkey]

Also worth bearing in mind that as it's a weekend and if the hospital is anything like ours, they may be waiting around on seeing consultants etc so might not have anything useful to tell you. Haven't phrased that v well but hope you know what I mean.

[pikachu999]

Thanks running. Just got the DCs to bed and my brother called - he has seen my dad and picked mum up from hospital. Sounds like he has picked up an infection and it really affected his breathing. He's on oxygen and antibiotics, and being monitored but is stable. It's just so frustrating because he was feeling poorly last Sunday, my mum said he couldn't manage a flight of stairs without struggling for breath but he wouldn't phone a doctor, and was still claiming this morning that he would be OK. My brother hopes it is a wakeup call to him that this is serious and he shouldn't ignore the signs.

[runningmonkey]

Glad you have heard some news and hope he recovers quickly. Hope you are ok too x

[pikachu999]

Thanks running. It's been a hard week - stress at work as everyone completes their applications to keep a job and not be made redundant. I've decided there's nothing i can do now, so will try and forget about it for a month.

Also DD decided to be brave at her swimming lesson today and when she took her armbands off as she has done for the last few weeks, she moved away from the wall as I said she should try beforehand (as she always clings on with one hand). Next minute she's sinking and swallowing water about 1m from the edge and I was up out of my seat ready to jump in. She was very upset, but i really want to take her tomorrow as I feel I need to know how she is after that .

Hope you are not too tired and having a relaxing evening.

[runningmonkey]

Hope you are doing ok today pika. Sorry I didn't get back on last night but went to bed at 8.30 as was exhausted. Have you heard from or seen your Dad today? Hope he and you and your family are doing ok.

Sounds like you are having a v tough time of it on top of all this worry - a good friend of mine has just gone through being reinterviewed for his job and it is not a nice thing to have to do. The swimming with DD sounds scary too but you are probably right to get her back in asap - we took DD swimming this mornign for the first time in a couple of weeks (we usually go weekly) and it was strange to see how she was a bit timid even after a short break.

Hello to everyone else.

[pikachu999]

Hi running - I am OK - he was in the critical care unit last night (mainly so they could monitor him and give oxygen) and my mum said she would call this morning, and didn't and then wasn't home when i tried. Spoke to my mum last night and was a bit that my dad had a temp of 104 and still wouldn't see a doctor, and that my mum kept taking his temp every few hours all day and didn't think that maybe 104 is a little bit too hot . I am a bit too that noone is calling me but then worried incase they are too busy at the hospital to call. I was going to offer to go over and give my mum a lift back from the hospital later as my brother is taking her, but it's too late now i think. Will have to try tomorrow as i'm off work.

[flippineck]

pika, how worrying for you, hope you get some more information soon, and that it's positive. Sounds like you've had a horrble week, hugs.

Thanks for the tips for the party! We actually went to another 4th birthday party today, and blimey the pass the parcel dragged on, so yes, I guess that'd be a good time filler!! Like the idea of books, also thought of a (plastic) mug for each child, we could stick a ballon and a bit of cake in it and ta-da!

momino - well done H for the full sentence! A still doesn't talk loads, but will now sometimes put two words together. We have quite good conversations though, with her one word answers! And I love the way she says yes, she has a very serious expressiona dn nods her head at the same time as saying 'yesssss'.

Hope everyone is ok! All fine here, girls seems to be well, touch wood. DH is away for the week again. I'm still feeling a bit queasy at times. That's it really.

[pikachu999]

Thanks flip- I finally got a call at 6pm and the direct number for the unit at the hospital so i can call whenever. I'll be driving over tomorrow morning. He sounds very poorly, but making some progress but sounds like he will be in for a good few weeks (a week in intensive care maybe) and then he will need to start the chemo again. Sounds like they are worried about his heart - he has a blood clot (on his lung?) which is making him breathless, and is on warfarin to thin the blood, and IV antibiotics to fight the infection.

Plastic mug is a great idea . Mine would love that, especially if there was cake and a balloon inside too. Hope you are OK whilst your DH is away. 2 DDs and morning sickness isn't much fun!

momino- I am also impressed with H's language skills. S is coming on well, and uses signs a lot to help us understand. He can say DD and DS1s names (sort of) now and it's cute when he says things (only comprehensible to DH and I) like "Breakfast DD!" He also loves Bob the builder and can (sort of) sing the song which makes me smile.

[Cupboarddoor]

Hi Pika Sounds like very worrying and stressful time for you at the moment. Hope your Dad is being cared for well.

Momi v impressive talking skills. G is still on single words. Favourites are still 'car' 'spider' or 'stuck' . How is your DH's new job going?

Flip birthday parties for DC... my advice is make sure gin is on hand, and remember it's once a year!

Running I second the take it easy line... being pg and having a toddler is not much fun. Mega-post BTW !

Life bit more settled with me ATM. DH is back from the States, hopefully permanently, and we are trying to work things out. Some good days, some bad; you know how it is.

[pikachu999]

cupboard - nice to hear from you. Hope you are OK, and that soon you have more good days than bad.

I am having a tough time. My dad is still in intensive care and very poorly. He might not get through this, but at least he's stable ATM.

Yesterday was the day from hell. I came over to see my dad in the day and he wasn't looking well, although my mum thought he was better than Sunday, so dread to think what he was like then. I decided to take the DSs home and come back as my mum isn't sleeping/eating, and hoped it might be comforting to have me overnight and someone to take her to/from hospital as she doesn't drive.

She called as I was driving back, so i knew it must be important. When I called her back, she was hysterical and said she needed to be there by 9pm. I thought the worst. Turns out he was really poorly and needed to be sedated and moved to a new hospital, but wouldn't let them do it so she needed to sign the consent. I am sure he was worried he might not wake up from this and wanted to see mum. When we arrived he was so weak and breathless and was scribbling his will . He wouldn't stop writing it all down (all his bank account logins, shares, business instructions etc) and no-one could stop him. It was horrible. He needed to do it for himself ("just in case") but it was making him weaker. My mum felt tortured by it as though he was doing it deliberately to upset her, and I was stuck in the middle. Luckily my brother and sister are coming over tomorrow as I don't think i can manage much more on my own. Basically his lungs are not functioning, so he's on a ventilator and sedated, and he is on a cocktail of drugs as they aren't sure what is causing it. Could be a virus (still unidentified and results back tomorrow hopefully), pneumonia, or a result of his chemo although unlikely as he was only low dose. I think if he worstens then that will be it . Sorry for going on, but i am really struggling. I phone DH a lot and keep my siblings up to date, but it's hard. Took my mum to her GP this morning and she was prescribed diazapam. She blames herself for not getting medical help sooner, but after seeing him last night, and how determined and stubborn he was, I can see how hard it must have been, and he hadn't been telling her the whole picture (e.g when they asked when his feet started swelling, she said it was in hospital and he said it was at home). I really don't know how she'll cope if he dies. She asked if she could come and live with us, but it's not a workable long-term solution and she has friends/family local to her too. Anyway, one day at a time...

[runningmonkey]

Oh pika I don't really know what to say it sounds so very hard on you all. I am sorry I can't write more right now but was having a sneaky peak in while cooking tea but will come back on later if you need someone to talk to. I'm sure others won't mind me saying this but we are all here for you to vent/share or for some support. Please, PLEASE don't feel you need to apologise to us for going on. Massive hugs xx

[Reggiee]

Pika I have just seem this . One day at a time at the minute is a very sensible way to take things. You cannot do anything else. Just take one day at a time. Are you eating and managing to sleep? Big hugs x

[momino]

Just on quickly to see Pika. big hugs to you, lovely. what a tough, tough time.
I've just sent you a mssg on FB. Call me if you need to . I'm just 'working' right now but ready to listen at any time or offer support.
WE're all here for you!