'October 2009-chattering and on the run, our toddlers are such fun'

[HumphreysCorner]

Right ladies, off we trot into the next stage of our gorgeous toddlers lives.

HC
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Scout so sorry it is times like this that all you want is your mum, no matter how old you get. Like HC says, I wish I was nearer to you. But we are all here for you, never far away. When will they start you on the new drugs? What would happen if you didnt take them?

HC What a bloody bitch your SIL is! How disrepectful of your mum! Does your brother know how she talks to her? I would be hard pushed not to knock her bloody teeth out! As for remembering dates, good god....its hard enough remembering my own wedding date! Your mum should wipe her hands of her, or slap her one......(or I would do it for you!)
I hope someone looks into what is wrong with her, instead of second guessing stupid guesses!
Bugger on the wee school closing down, my DS1 wore a school uniform, well, jumper & tracksuit bottoms, it wasnt to bad as he is soooo messy lol

Heard nothing more from the council.....in very bad mood! lol

xxx

Oh Scout What rotten news for you-I'm so sorry. I know how it is to be away from your mum and desperate for a cuddle. Sending a long distance hug from here and also wishing I was closer to offer some comfort in person. If they are trying a new cocktail of drugs in a few months, what happens between now and then? Is there anything they can give you to stop you losing so much weight? I can't remember the details of your condition, sorry.

Joe's sleep is all to hell at the moment (he woke up at 2am and that was him up for the day) so we are all shattered. Back later.

Hi Scout sorry you need to have more treatment. I also send a hug from freezing Scotland.

Off out back later XXX

Thanks everyone. I'm much calmer now. Even though deep down I knew it hadn't worked (gut feeling) it was still a shock to actually hear the news. I'm glad I heard it over the phone so I could cry at home. (When I was first told of the condition I was told in the MFAU at the maternity hospital and burst into tears in front of a junior doctor who didn't know how to handle a 9 month pregnant sobbing woman and left me to the midwives who were fabulous.)

I'll start round two later this spring with an added drug to the cocktail. I will be alright I have lovely family and friends around me. Thursday, like I said, was hard because I was all alone when I got the news. I have a happy chappy, walking & talking toddler to give me cuddles and keep me going. He also keeps me from feeling too-- sorry for myself since I need to focus on him. It has, though, more or less solidified that S will be an only child. I'm okay with it as I had come to grips with it before (and I haven't been particularly broody).

Oh well, I should probably go rescue the cats (we're at the inlaws and they have five) from the over-excited S (he loves them and they mostly love him). Be back later.

The uni course I want to do is here a double qualification, although I'm not sure it will happen-I don't get much opportunity to do something for myself these days. I know that lots of people are out of work at the moment and dh is lucky to have a job etc etc but I genuinely despise the civil service and that job for what it's done to our relationship. (Big row last night, am still v upset).

littlepea Happy birthday for this week! I remember your fb photos-you def don't look 40. Great news about the health club membership.

HC How is your mum? Yay for Matthew's new words!

fidelma So what did you have done to your hair? at spending all that time at the poolside, you'll either make some great new friends or get a lot of reading done!

Scout Thats the spirit. I hope the next round is successful and doesn't cause such weight loss. Very impresed with S and the cats- MILs elderly cat is not best fond of Joe- he has climbed down the back of the sofa in his quest to pull her tail . Yet he's miles better with dogs.

Right, settling down to enjoy the Corrie wedding fireworks!

HT I like the look of that course.I wish I had done a course that I was interested in when I had 1dc not possible at the moment

HC having been guessing my weight I decided that I should find out 7lb heavier tha I want to be so have upped my exercise for the last week and eatten less (no snacking at night etc etc.) lost 2lb this week (wish it had been 5 lb!) It is such an effort 5lb to go!

Connor very happy,he goes to music and to the playroom at the health club (where I will exercise more soon) He loves playing with his big brother and sisters.

Other 3 all well dd1 swimming and growing! she is 5ft 6" and not yet 12!
dd2 has been full on but with some clear boundries she seems to be back on track.Ds1 is adorable,sensitive,kind and well mannered with the biggest brow eyes!

I should be going off for a power walk with the buggy but it is sleeting!

Littlepea Happy Birthday xxx ( I will be 38 this year,I feel the 40 comming)

Scout I hope you are feeling Ok x

Iggly how are you doing?

Waves to any lurckers (there used to be so many of us!) Anybody out there?

lurkers and brown eyes!

Is it today, litlepea's birthday? Happy Birthday lovely, hope you have been thoroughly spoilt xxx

Evening all,

scout I'm sorry to hear the bed news about your blood, I can understand your frustration but I'm glad that you're starting to get used to the idea of getting on the rollercoaster again. Fingers crossed its 100% successful this time :)

Happy birthday littlepea hope you had fun and nice news about the gym membership, go you!

fidelma gosh there's a lot of swimming in your family, hope your DD1 gets where she's aiming for, she seems very committed.

HT hmmm university - maybe I could study some more :o I think DH would leave me if I starting something else!! Good luck with the course, looks really interesting. And Joe was up from 2am?!

HC hope all well with you and Emma is happier at school

iggly hello if you're reading, hope all going well with Emily :)

Last few weeks of pg grinding along, 7 WHOLE WEEKS TO GO, argh, but bump size and weight gain exactly the same as with Annalise so I'm expecting a similar weight baby (but please let labour be faster!). Annalise is still wedged in the smallest baby car seat (she still isn't 10kg!/22lbs) but since the baby might need the baby car seat if I end up in hospital, we're off to buy her a toddler car seat - I think its the only thing we're going to buy before baby 2 comes :)
{yawn} i really could sleep for queen and country.... night!

Its like a ghost town on here. Is anybody out there?

1 week until half term.dc all well.STILL FEEDING CONNOR ! OMG need to stop........

dd 1 was a runner up in the school Burns competition. even our 6 year old can now recite 8 verses ! (I secretly hate Burns)

dd2 got a nice school report, she goes to middle school after the summer and dd1 to high school.

ds1 great.

We haven't managed to refurb our house yet, cedit crunch slowed us down.We are desprate to create our dream house,I want to do it before the dc start to leave home. However we can't have everything.Soon hopefully.

I am loving teaching 2 mornings a week.Connor is happy to stay with Nicola (babysitter and house help, i love her)Also enjoy the little extra money.

Hola!

I am back online after over a week without phone or internet after the car crashed into the telephone pole. Hurrah! Haven't missed much I see.

fidelma-I am so pleased Matthew stopped feeding when we went to Spain as I would hate to say no to him now. Good luck. Your life is full on still but sounds like you are enjoying it.

Matthew is saying about 10 words now, still sounds like Baby Jake off CBeebies though. He is still in his cot too and as he seems happy I am in no rush to evict him.

Parents evening tonight so will see how the girls are getting on. Emma is doing well with her 1 to 1 help from her literacy teacher after school.

Big wave to everyone!

HC
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Hello!

HC Matthew will go at his own pace, sounds like he is doing well and Faith is still in her cot also, we have thought about putting it down to the bed, but honestly, im going to leave it for another wee while.

Fidelma cant keep up with you! Wish I had your get up and go

Calypso not long now!!! How exciting!! Im looking at babies now and thinking oh I would love another....but lucky Ive had the wee op and it cant happen! lol.....how are you feeling?

HT get yourselve out and do your uni course....I couldnt do it, but I would love to. How is Joe?

Still no school here....getting behond a joke, but dont have it in me to worry anymore. We have an appointment with the school we first wanted, its the special needs school, and it looks like they are being told they have to take him....fingers crossed!

The girls I went ranching with a while back ago, we decided it was time for another break....so we are going to try to climb Kilimanjaro next year!!! Are we nuts??? lol.....none of us have trekked before but ive started the gym, and they have put me onto this programme....called the kilimanjaro programme....they are trying to kill me! At least its taking my mind of everything else, and i might lose weight too!

Hope everyone else is doing well xxx

Hello everyone :)

scout sorry to hear that your medicine/treatment hasn't worked :( I hope you are not too sad .

calypso 7 weeks to go?! My sister had a baby just under 2 weeks ago. Her first baby , it's so exciting but loads for her to adjust to and learn. Do you know if you are having a boy or a girl? Oh and surely Annalise can't still be in the baby size car seat , with the handle? !!

HT how was J up for the day at 2am?! did he just not go back to bed??!

HC F is also still in a cot and will be for quite a while :) he's happy in it and I don't want any night time getting-outs! L and L never got up in the night but F's a diff person!!

Fidelma I'm still feeding F but only before bed and in the morning :) Sometimes I think ' I wonder when/how this will stop ' but most of the time I like it :) it's no trouble to me. A couple of times I've not been in at bedtime and dh has put him to bed with minimal upset.

iggly Hi! :)

We are all ok in the Princess household. F is incredibly gorgeous and adorable ! He talks all the time and loves to sing 'Twinkle twinkle' and 'baa baa black sheep' . He adores Peppa pig and knows pretty much all the words to the DVD
He loves his micro scooter , going to music ( where he stands in the middle and shows off!) and playing with his friends. He is left twice a week ( while I work) and is coping with it really well.

Speak soon :)

I'm feeling alright. A bit anxious to get going again but I need to wait until later this spring.

S is still lovely. He hates the snow, though. Hates it. My brother did, too, until he was about five. I guess it means I don't need to bundle him up and go out to play! It does mean, though, that I need to carry him outside since he won't even stand on the snow. I've dug out the HippyChick again since I can't carry S for long distances -- he's just too dang long and heavy.

littlepea Kili is on my list as well . Put in lots of hours at the gym - a friend of mine did the trek to base camp a few years ago and he found it really tough - incredibly fit man, RSPCA inspector for 18 years, and was abseiling, climbing, doing ironman events etc. He was really shocked! Dare I ask if there is news about the school?

fidelma Still feeding here too!

HC Hope parents evening went well. Nothing wrong with Matthew still being in the cot and he sounds like he's coming on great speech wise.

Calypso Four weeks to go? I bet you can't wait now. Hope you're feeling well.

Scout Aww at S and the snow. How is he liking the HippyChick again? I tried J in my Manduca but he's having none of it so I sold it on. How long until round 2 of the treatment if its ok to ask?

Big wave to PrincessMel and Iggly if you're still reading

We're good here - no snow it fell as rain, froze immediately and turned the town into an ice-rink! Joys of living on the coast . All well with J - no more 2am wakings (yes, that was him up for the day, he refused all attempts at nap and crashed out at 6pm) - we got 2 back molars through a few day later. Speech coming on slowly but ok, he loves reading and books in general. I'm trying to do lots of Montessori type stuff with him, I find that whole way of teaching fascinating. Wish I had the guts to home ed- John Holt has been interesting reading of late.

I've been busy organising voluntary work-I need to start now(as I need a least 300 hours) before I apply for the course. So, working in a prison visitor centre(which I've done before), possibly this time as a playworker with the children. I'm about to be matched with an elderly person for regular visiting and have also applied for the local Advocacy service as a volunteer. I need to get as many voluntary hours as possible before I apply for the course. Not sure what I can do as evidence of recent study-I still have to work that one out!

HT, it's okay to ask. The honest answer is I don't know. Sometime after May. The new drug they're adding to the cocktail is going through the NHS's "Nice" test (it's already on the NHS in Scotland) and is expected to pass in May. I've been given the okay to wait until I can get it on the NHS and the specialist has put me on the list to receive it as soon as it's available. Specialist is lovely but is moving jobs/hospitals so will have a new doctor for round two.

Haven't actually used the HippyChick after digging it out as most of the snow disappeared or I didn't have to carry S far. I'm keeping it out, just in case.

HT, interesting you're considering HE. Can I ask what's stopping you from taking the plunge?

Boiler's packed it in so spent the weekend away since plumber couldn't come until today. Outdoor pipe froze while we were away. Today has not been a good day. Tomorrow will be better.

Loving the HE chat. I have my lot off for half term and it is bliss. nO early mornings,we are doing lots of educational things. St Andrews yesterday with snowdrops by starlight at Cambo, Fantastic.Big ice creams,fish and chips and Connor saying on the beach "I want to be naked,swim in the sea!!!" Scotland Feb !
I said to dd2 in the kitchen would she like to be HE ? she said yes.Then I said what about your friends? "OK perhaps I will stay at school " LOL. DD1 said "no way I love school" but if it wasn't working for some reason I would HE.

Both the girls went to a wonderful montessori nursery.Sadly the boys attended and will atted the close state nursery. It is still very good but not as goos as the Montessoiri.

Great chat.

We're going to HE S unless something drastic happens. I've also said we would re-evaluate it every year to make sure it's the right thing for S and for our family.

We have friends in the States who HE and I love there stories. I think the children seem very relaxed.No rushing around, they work at their own pace.There children also swim for a club,play musical instruments to a very high standerd,talk politics,are well mannered and interesting. I wish I could find some negative but I can't.They aren't as with it with music or current teenage stuff but that maybe to do with their parents and also not a bad thing!

We have an amazing private school in the wee village where we live.So we have been sucked into that.It is very hard not to send them when it is right under your nose All our dc are doing very well and are very happy but omg what I could do with the money on a HE front (and my wardrobe!)number 3 and 4 are half price as long as the others are still there.It is a 5-18 school,smallish class sizes,200 years of tradition,great art,sport,music,drama etc. But it is a huge commitment.I did add up the cost once but wish I hadn't.I also find the other parents very commpetitive,I find that exhausting.It is also a big school 1200 so they are quite small people in a big pond of high achievers, which can be hard on them (and me!)But everything has its pros and cons.We all do our best.However if you are thinking of the private route do weigh it up. (unless money is no object)

I just wish we had a school for DS1 lol

Im going to be honest, I looked into HE and it was great....but....I think if you had only 1 child or 2 very close in age, it would work great, but would it give you enough time to each child if you had more, or difference in age? I dont know. For me, trying to teach a child with Special Needs, and one like my DS1 would be behond what I could do, and with 2 little ones also, it just would never happen. And I think that I agree with MEL about needing other kids, seeing my DS1 with no-one during the day is terrible, and because he isnt at school, he has no-one outside either. Though you can meet up with other HE families. The private school I would do, but they dont take kids with problems that my DS1 has, we tried looking into that, a couple of boarding schools do, but I couldnt have him away from me, it would kill him.
But its all very interesting.....

Fidelma I love the 'want to be naked...swim in the sea!!' so funny!

HT Im at the gym 3 times a week, and doing 4 classes a week, my body doesnt know what has happened to it! LOL....my 3 month taster with David Lloyd ends in another month, and DH is renewing it! Happy days I just love it. At least this trek isnt until August next year, so at least Im going to get fit if nothing else lol.....you are always welcome to do it with us!!!

Hi to everyone else hope you are all ok xx

Having stood on the scales for the first time in ages (18 months) I need to lose a good half a stone. The problem is as soon as I try to lose weight I constantly want to eat LOL

I have upped my exercise,so hoping that will have an effect.

Littlepea. Are you getting anywhere with a school for ds1?

Having gone on about HE dd1 was hard work yesterday and I was thinking I LOVE SCHOOL LOL!

That's the thing with families one min you are having a blissful time the next all Hell has broken lose! It can go anyway at any given moment. (well in our house anyway!)

Littlepea, it's just so not on that your DS doesn't have a placement yet. What is the LEA's sorry excuse?

fidelma, I'll take some of the pounds you want to lose please! I lost somewhere around 35/40 lbs and have put about 25 lbs back on (in the six months between stopping the meds and my status check). I fear if I lose a similar amount of weight again I'll be under 100 lbs. I'm trying to "bulk up" a bit, just in case. Thanksgiving 2010 I had gone down 2 jeans sizes and by the time I finished I could have gone down another 2 sizes. These jeans, the original -2 sizes one are still too big and I need a belt or I'm constantly hiking them up.

Yes, children need other children but, if I'm honest, I've never met a lonely HE child (not to say there isn't one but I've never known one). All the ones I know (peers at home who were HE-ed at various points of their lives, family members who HE and friends I've made since deciding to take the plunge) are very social. In fact I find my HE circle, and the wider HE community, much more welcoming than the other mums at various toddler groups S and I regularly attend (and it's not for me not trying!). Ah well.

Oh, I didn't mention to this group, I've decided to take a year off of Guiding. After 30 years in the movement I need a break while I do round two of treatment. I really struggled last year and so decided to look after myself and focus on my family and my health. I can only imagine the amount of time I'm about to free up!

It's the social aspect that is stopping us from HE more than anything else, we want Joe to have the opportunity to make lots of friends and this town is so incredibly insular (no-one moves away so everyone knows everyone else) that school is the only real opportunity he'll have to do that. I've looked into the HE network here in the North West and it doesn't appear to be massively thriving in the way it is down South, so not many opportunities to meet up etc. But I just don't want school to knock all the spirit out of Joe (like it did me - v strict Catholic school).

I also come from the perspective of having spent that 6 years working in the Netherlands, where children don't rerally go to school until 5. Lots of relaxed HE type things going on there.

We need, really to make some decisions about where we want to live-I have found a wonderful Montessori school in Liverpool, coincidentally an area that we travelled through on Sunday. Its one of the nicest parts of the city as well as being close to the Uni-a uni that also does a version of the course I want to do. So hmm. I'd rather send him to Montessori school than anything else and will take on umpteen part time jobs to pay for it if it means I could. I'm that impressed with the teaching methods! Some good friends of mine at uni were Montessori educated and they loved it.

Hi all

Hope you are all OK.All fine here, Matthew can say car now-progress!

Am interested in all the HE talk, I am always quite relieved when the girls go to school then I can look forward to seeing them at 3-15pm. Don't think I would ever have the patience to HE. Hats off to those of you that could.

The weather seems to be improving which makes me feel better.

Big wave!

HC
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