Dec 08 - tears, tantrums, giggles and piddles - and that's just the mums!

[traceface]

Or maybe piddling whilst giggling is just me?
It's so sunny here I feel Spring has sprung - where's that daffodil emoticon gone? Had a friend round this morning for a natter and cake - muchos snot and tears but all good. Think I might go for a little bike ride now to blow the cobwebs away.
And no vag - not a chance!
rubs don't you dare spend all your time tweeting - your first loyalty is here!

Yeah Deids I might just do the 5 mornings until he is used to it then change it to 2 x full days (Thurs and Fri) as it'd be easier than taking him daily for such a short time.

My good mood is ruined. The NHS is SO FREAKIN SCREWED UP it isn't funny.

I will put her in for either one morning or two mornings once we move because otherwise I worry that 5 mornings in Jan from nothing will be too much for her. I don't know why they don't have afternoon sessions (well, probably cos it's very small and they don't have a lot of kids, which is great for DD1).

The NHS as in your DH's work, or just in general? I must say I wish we had comprehensive private health care. At the moment we have limited private cover but we wouldn't be covered for an illness like DH's, and his private care made it all so much bearable for tons of reasons. More importantly, you get all the scans so much faster, the better drugs...I could go on. I know not everyone agrees with private healthcare though

Rubes, you okay?

Lady, I used to be very anti private health care. But since MIL & GP's got sick, I can totally see why its worth the money. Although in an ideal world the NHS would provide that level of service...

rubes am v of your night, between E wriggling and wanting feeding, and S coming in a la Lady Macbeth saying "I need to wash my hands" (having done a poo) I was able to greet every hour of the night... Interestingly I was able to hear S through my earplugs but dh didn't wake up at all

how massively exciting about the new arrivals! beans what a story for you all... :)

well E must be in one of those wonder week fortnight buggers, she learned to roll over (both ways!) but is also still being Screamy McScream and feck me she can be loud. Woke up from her nap about 20 mins ago, spent 10 mins happily on the mat and then rolled onto her front and started shrieking, is inconsolable (nappy, boob, finger to suck, trying to wind etc). trying to remain zen and calm [chews table]

she gets so cross she gives herself hiccups which I'm pretty sure add to the wind problem. I was rather rude to the lady in boots the other day, was buying nappies and E doing her 9000dB yells, she says "Oooh someone's not very happy" and I replied "oh really is that what it means? I thought she was telling me how happy she is"

welcome to trudy :) we'll all be asking your advice on older dcs, sop be warned!

rubes sorry to hear that, we're moderately pleased with the nhs for once, never thought I'd say this but it's thanks to cameron, the Gordon Brown policy of extended hours has been cancelled by the condems (or at least made more optional than compulsory), so as of this week dh no longer has his monday evening surgery that got him home at about 9pm. He may yet be here for bedtime more than twice a week!

I can see the benefit of private lots of things, but DH is very anti - we have polar opposite backgrounds , so not surprising I suppose but conversation has been known to descend into argument get a little lively.

Am sitting being gassed by DS who has had a brief but unlovely D&V bug. He's very jolly which is preferable to a grizzly limpet but nursery was no-go today which has thrown everything. Daddy was in charge all morning so the playroom is now carpeted in Lego, the really small sort that I didn't know DS could reach on the nice high up shelf where I'd put it out of reach for safe-keeping.

Has anyone else had epic storms today? We've had forked lightning, ton-of-bricks-on-the-roof thunder and power cuts. Oh, must dash, DS is off out the back door!

Oh dear Jump. I would have been a bit ruder to that woman I think.

We have had a trying afternoon - we have a leak which started dripping through the kitchen ceiling yesterday. Several plumbers and many phone calls later, it looks like we will have the pipes repaired and the hot water cylinder replaced. This means I have to a) get the house in a fit state for tradesmen to visit and b) clear out the airing cupboard. Am I the only slattern with an airing cupboard stuffed full of bed linen, towels, clean washing and hundreds of odd socks? Not to mention DH's beer barrels, some loose tiles and a toy fire engine. The cupboard is done, the house is on it's way but we are all in a bad mood. I nearly clobbered DS1 earlier - he was bashing the Hoover as I was trying to clean up - and had to frog-march him to his bedroom to avoid an Incident.

The good thing is that the agents (we are renting) have been very good at sending people round and it's their job to hassle the landlord. Is it too early to neck the last drop of Rose in the fridge?

We could do with a good storm Trudy - it's hot and humid here.

JJ, frankly I think the lady in Boots deserved it....Those comments are so irritating.

DB, I do know what you mean. And my sister works in the NHS and I know how tough it is. But as far as DH was concerned (and he only had six months left from diagnosis ) he'd have gone even sooner if he hadn't had the private care, cos as our consultant remarked, he'd have died from the abscess in his chest whilst he was waiting for the scan to diagnose his illness...That is not to say that cancer care on the NHS isn't good, just that their hands are necessarily tied. One of my cricketers is an NHS oncologist and the stress and frustration of it all (his special area is childhood leukaemia - you can imagine) nearly does him in.

Rubes: we have DS1 in nursery for 2 full days but I'm leaning towards putting DS2 in for 5 mornings a week. Has your DH been put upon again?

Oh just the usual (work) but I shouldn't bitch - especially on here, but it's just so wrong. He has worked 7 different places just since I've known him (8 in Oct) and every one of them pretty much the same bs

Thanks for the nursery input. Lady after thinking about your sitch, I'm thinking 5 morns straight up might be a bit much and maybe I'll put him in one morn soonish and then do the 2 full days from Jan which would be more helpful to me.

Effie I have just the cupboard you describe, and to add interest the back wall has mould on it - I discovered this at 2am when we'd not long moved in, DS had barfed lavishly and I needed clean bedsheets for him. So, after dealing with the grot, I was then moving mouldy pillows, bags and my wedding dress out into the hall to deal with in the cold light of day. I've dealt with those bits, but the rest of the contents is still sitting a foot in from the back of the (huge) cupboard in a strange, gravity-defying heap. Ideally I need to empty it, clean the back wall then stack the contents neatly but it's not tempting.

DS goes to nursery, has done since last September. He goes one 2/3 day (til 2pm) and one full day til 5pm. It took him a couple of weeks to settle down but now he loves it and talks about his fwends and tells me "my did FUN today!" when he gets back DD's school has just opened a nursery so we'll see about putting him in an extra couple of mornings once he's three and we're in the wonderful world of nursery vouchers.

Hi, Trudy! Good to have you on the thread. Sorry to hear your DS is poorly, hope he gets better soon.

Vag - I'm glad you enjoyed the kayaks. Sounds a lovely day. DH is talking about buying some inflatables ones and taking them as the DCs' luggage on holiday with us.

DB - I'm with you on the TT and talking thing. That's why I have been loath to push it with Ed. I crazily tried to TT DD when she was 18 mths and both of us ended up scarred. Then successfully trained her when she was 2 and 3 months when it was so much easier as we were able to talk about it together.

Glad you enjoyed BM, LadyT. Sounds like fun [pushes wardrobe door closed on Per Una dresses].

Rubes - I have DS down to start pre-school in September 5 mornings a week. I don't think I'll actually send him all 5 to start with but we'll see how he is. Being a bumpkin we also get the country rates .

The Health Visitor came today and has confirmed that DS is an alien from outer space and does not speak English. She has referred him to be assessed by a speech therapist and to have his hearing checked. I feel terrible for not having spoken to someone about it earlier and DH is even more worried than he was before and is muttering about DS not being able to go to pre-school in September (what?).

OK, I might have the odd Per Una item (in fact I can think of one thing) So should not be casting aspersions!

Nolda, I hope you get some answers from the referrals but I really would have thought that not saying much at 2 is surely not uncommon. My littlest nephew was like this. He's not particularly chatty now (mind you, he is a teenage boy and obviously they never are) but he is v articulate and a total brainbox. I bet your DS is just drinking everything in, taking his time.

Nolda: I think there's such a wide range at this age that it's difficult to tell when a bit of extra support might help. If the referrals help things along a little that's great. Isn't his comprehension ok?

Nolda, try not to be too worried. DS can only really be understood by me, its very hard to decipher his babbling. My Dad says to him "Sorry little man I can't speak Harry!" However, like Effie says his comprehension is fine though, so consequently our HV wasn't too concerned.

Does DD tend to speak for him? My DD certainly does with DS

urbane fab news about new babe.

Lovely to see the Perrine family yesterday. I can confirm that both boys are polite, sweet and well-adjusted, unlike Colin - who now goes by the name of Princess Colin, if you please - who gave a charming demonstration of her spitting skills.

Yes, 4-year-olds and their hormones - tell me about it. When he is not attacking DD with blunt instruments DS is sobbing inconsolably over a photo of my long-dead grandparents, the news that my brother split up with his girlfriend 2 years ago or the fact that he won't be a mummy when he's older.

Ooh so might there be a glimmer of a London meet-up on the horizon? It is the bank hol weekend though so I guess a lot of us might be away (not me though - we have friends staying & will be doing the Grand Tour of Essex in the desperate hope of persuading them to move here). Would the following week be better for anyone?

Hurray for sleeping through Rubes. And Brighton - hope you can make it. Will you be driving or coming on the train if you come? (not a loaded question at all...)

Vag kayaking sounds fab.

Oh and urbs/Beans - I was actually talking about potty training rewards for DP rather than DD. Although a swift punch to the throat might just do the trick just as well.

Oops, seem to have cross-posted with loads. Nolda, hope you're not too worried about it. Did you get the impression the HV was particularly concerned or was it more of a routine referral do you think?

PD your sobbing DS has had me in stitches and your DD's spitting, where do they get it from DS2 has been doing it too and it drives me around the bend.

I too wish we could live in an ideal world where the NHS could thrive, but sadly you get what you pay for. the only reason the NHS has survived on the meagre resources it has is because its staff put their heart and soul into it. In return they get more cuts and work longer hours to keep it afloat. The health system here isn't perfect but there are next to know waiting lists ( a friend's daughter had T&As & grommits inserted within 6 weeks of her first GP referral) & the range of services offered is very wide.

oh gotta go.

PD - crying with laughter at your description of DCs. Hilarious! You should write - or do you already?!!!

DH working from home today - he's a total pain when he does. Much prefer him not to be here.

DD1 does 2 full days at nursery. She went from nothing to that and it took about 2-3 weeks, but now she absolutely loves it and I've watched her come on in leaps and bounds. She loves her friends and her teachers and runs from me to them in the mornings - it's lovely to see. And a little bit annoying, as surely she doesn't want to leave ME!!! God it's a bit of respite, though. Don't know how I coped before!! Hee hee. Evil me.

Such lovely news on all other baby fronts. So glad all well with 34 week baby. Sounds a strong little thing. Baby born here is well. Called Eleanor. Not Beans, sadly. Or even DD1 or DD2. Middle names are Frances and Rose. Boohoo! May have to go and help when the register her, and surrepticiously sneak in a quick Beans! Hee hee.

I think I can do 27th meet up, but I might be going down to see Dad in Kent. We're going on Thursday this week, which will be really nice and then nothing for a while, so might be going then and staying as DH is away. Kindly on a bank holiday. Git.

Right, off to gargle some salt water. I have mother of all sore throats this morning. Plus we have Fruity Tunes for Pru and me at 10.50 and I haven't warmed up properly. Need to prepare for Twinkle Twinkle... La la la la!

Hello Ladies

This thread has provided much amusement to me as I have lurked over the weekend. I am flabbergasted by Beans sudden stint as a midwife! But we need more details Beans! Was it her first? Did her DH get back in time? Did she get to go straight home? And have they named her after your teddy???

PD, I'm loving Colin. What a choice. Maybe its something about little N's that they insist on other names. My N likes to be called Girl at the moment "No Mummy, I not N, I Girl, call me Girl..." I don't sound particularly loving in the park when I holler "Girl, come here".

LadyT and Deids. I know what you mean about wanting private care but you have to choose it carefully because it is not always best. When my Mum was having her mastectomy she went private. She had a lovely surgeon who lavished her with attention and a lovely private room overlooking the sea. She didn't have to wait for the op and all seemed perfect. Then, post-operatively, she had real problems with her blood pressure. Because she was not in an NHS hospital there were not doctors of all specialities available. Her breast surgeon was not a vascular expert and nobody at the hospital was. It was all quite scarey and I at the time I longed for the solid structure that is the NHS. Similarly a dear friend gave birth at the Portland Hospital a couple of years ago (the Portland being the celebs' materneity hosptial of choice) and her baby was born with breathing problems and they had no peadiatric care unit. Her baby had to be blue lighted to the nearest NHS facility without her. I guess the moral of both those stories is that if you are going to go private you should go private within an NHS hospital.

Effie we can play airing cupboard snap. I often loose whole outfits only for them to turn up under a stack of never used towels some months later.

Rubola I hope your DH's work is OK. Is he going to have to move again? Would that mean you had to move house? What progress on buying your current place?

I was woken at 2am this morning by the sweetest thing. DD1 tiptoed into our room and crawled into my bed with a huge grin on her face. I asked her why she was up and she whispered "I am just too happy to sleep" I asked why and she said "My teacher says she loves me so much because I am just amazing and when I think about it my heart beats faster". I think someone has a little crush on their teacher. So lovely.

Oh, and update on Operation Make DD2 Wear Sensible Clothes. I have admitted defeat. She wears one of two sundresses every single day and I wash them every night. Her one concession is to accept that when leaving the house the dress will be accompanied by knickers and as she puts them on she sings "bye-bye bott-bott, see you later alligator".

beans your friends have excellent taste in baby names

PD that is hilarious - yes I'm still hoping to make it to Brighton. How could I miss an opportunity to see Princess Colin again and witness the spitting skills. You will bring her right? I'd drive for sure. I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than get on public transport with 2 littles if I don't have to plus it's much quicker.

Didn't mean to open up all the Private vs NHS talk - only meant dh working for them is doing my head in - again! They just don't run the show properly.
Arti, yes he changes hosp again in Oct but we knew where he was going before we moved here so we are smack bang in the middle. He only has a 22 mile round trip commute on the bike at the moment so it's only about a mile further. But his 12 months at that job will be majorly short as he starts fellowship in Feb / March which is a whole other story. House buying - still keen, but just waiting to see if we can finance buying this whilst keeping out flat, and if so will get a survey and neg with the owners.

Right I'm cleaning this house from top to bottom as mil and gmil staying from tonight - bit silly as I am much tidier than her but I still can't stand mess / dirt. Got a million things to do and dh was meant to be off earlyish then of course the deal he made completely cocked up and he has to cover an afternoon list

Beans - think it was your suggestion for the 27th! But better that you get to spend time with your Dad. Glad he is doing well.

Oh and dd up at 230am but didn't want much milk - think she had a poo as I had loaded her with so much food for dinner, but she just wanted to go back to sleep so left it. Hope it was a one off and she really will sleep through. if not, buggeration.

Oh and I meant to say Nolda, don't worry too much - if you remember I was worried sick about ds not uttering a word (just Mum, dad, oh no, and oh shit) and then suddenly we went on that trip, came home and he hasn't sut up since. he went from nothing to sentences! This morning he was sitting on our bed (me still foolishly trying to sleep) and he was singing Baa Baa Black Sheep. He can also count to ten and I didn't teach him that!

Nolda Just to add to Rubena's comment - DS' speech transformed overnight, oddly enough the day we moved house. He started telling us he didn't like the lorry, and he's barely paused to draw breath since.

Arti: our youngest ones would get on well - the boys have palled up with a little girl who lives several gardens down - it's a terrace and we all have low fences from the middle of the garden - so M spends a lot of time hanging over the fence shouting 'Gurl! GURL!' in the hope that she will appear.

Beans: your gaff will be in demand as a birthing centre - John Lewis towels and fluffy pillows! You must have been a great comfort and support to your friend.