Feb 2010 - turning two and turning heads

[BigBadBear]

DD2 has another cold and is miserable with it. I'm bracing myself for a second bad night.

DS got a fever again and is still stuffy. I rang the GP but he was pretty useless regarding the two of us. On the NHS site I seem to have textbook bacterial sinusitus (been over two weeks, got worse at a week, pain in one cheekbone and the teeth that side hurt) but got told that colds going around atm last up to 2 weeks and that he had never heard of paracetamol headaches. I do feel i'm on the bend though just wanted to rule stuff out with DS.

DD go longer seems to have a runny nose but is about 2 hours short of normal sleep so hoping she doesn't get up early again. Plus the sickness thing has gone.

mend not bend, although a maybe a bender is the way to go

I'm sure it won't harm Nigel

DS cold is fine now. How are you all doing?

bethy how was today?

How is everyone? I'm due out of the house in 20 mins to catch a train to my mum's for a few days. This is the earliest I've attempted to leave with them both, and I'm not convinced I'll manage it... [worried] Feeding DD2 right now hence the MNing, I'm not just blatantly wasting time.

Happy birthday to bc's DS (from memory so I hope I am right).

scones good luck for catching the train.

PA That is rotten. I had something like that around new year, and still have a bit of a "dirty" nose (TMI) sorry. Have you tried drops of olbas oil in a bowl of boiling water with a towel on your head? It does help. When I was in the UK and had a sinusitis the GP told me to come back in 2 or 3 months if nothing had changed because they don't believe in AB for resolving this. (I think I got AB in the end because I had fever as well). Take care

BBB and all the others with sick children, sending get well vibes.

IC BC how are you feeling?

DD2 is allergic to kiwi, I think, she pulls at her tongue after eating it and try to wipe it and then her bum is all red and blistered. Is it too strong a reaction for just an intolerance?

She is beginning to have fun in the snow (it is less cold BTF, only -2 yesterday, -10 today), but keeps eating it so can't be outside for too long with her.

Food is a bit better. At least ham and fish fingers are back on. Good job because apart from "nutella" the nut spreads didn't work, I now have a pot of peanut butter that nobody will eat.
She tastes and ate some spinach and leek cheese omelette today and ate a fair bit.
tinned french beans are back in favour too (yeaH! tinned frozen or 'fresh' won't do )

She will also eat olives, ice cream, chocolate, nutella, any kind of sausages, cured hams and potatoes only in the form of crips or macdonald chips , and I was sooo careful with DD1 [bad mum emoticon] BTH Dh is undermining me a lot.

It's gone quiet on this thread. Everyone partied out/preparing for a party?

mous I know it's not a huge range, but your dd2's diet doesn't sound too bad to me (esp if you know she gets her fussy eating from your dh).

dd2 is holding her own with dd1 home on half term but I think she prefers her sister to be out in the day (particularly when she wants to explore her sister's room in peace )

Happy Birthday Bc's DS!
And did I remember bethy's DS2? If not, a belated happy birthday to him too. and get well soon.

I'm okay, thanks Mous. Still getting mild pg symptoms (sore boobs, funny tummy, bit of nasal congestion), so can only assume it's all right in there. I've got my dating scan a week on Friday...
Mind you, I'm certainly swelling up - probably more from the overeating prompted by constant hunger (followed by feeling too full after eating, can't seem to hit a happy medium!) than anything else. I'll have to crack open my maternity clothes in the next week or so at this rate.
Your DD eats more vegetable matter than mine does!

How are you doing today PA?

IC I started wearing maternity jeans at about 9 weeks with dd2 compared to about 22 weeks with dd1!! (Mainly because I didn't like anything tight but also because I got a bit bloated with eating a lot )

I'm here but can only post in the evenings!

DS is moving room in nursery on Monday ( my baby is now a big boy ) In the morning he now refuses to wear a nappy but he's happy in pull-ups but he won't sit on the potty amymore at home. I need to nag explain his new keyworker that she needs to seat him on the potty.

bc how was your DS birthday?

mous she doesn't seem to do too bad food wise. I would guess the reaction to kiwi is an allergy but I am probably wrong

BG at your DD2 half term reaction

IC good that you still have pregnancy symptoms. I was in pregnancy trousers from 5 weeks with DS as I was so bloated. Wear what's comfortable for you

We had a lovely day thanks - I am so shattered now though.

Made the cake last night and did finger food lunch for 6 toddlers. Cooked cheese, onion and spinach muffins and the sweet potato falafels that were recipe of the week on mn recently, crudites, breadsticks, rice cakes, fruit etc. My mum came and helped me.

DH got a tank of helium and did loads of balloons to make the living room look festive.

Borrowed a couple of toddler tables and enough little chairs so they could have their own table. They all sat really nicely and ate well. I was surprised at how long they sat still for. Everyone loved the cake - it sank a bit in the middle (it always does) so I turned it over before I iced it but it tasted fine.

Then after nap went to the park for a bit with his best friend and then his Godmother came round after she finished work and we took her to the local Japanese restaurant. DS ate loads of edamame beans and rice and a bit of teryaki chicken. He likes it there because he enjoy sitting at the sunken tables.

I still have a cold/sore throat (it started on Friday on the way back from center parcs).

Got a growth scan on Friday when I will be 32 weeks. I'm feeling ok in myself with regards to pregnancy, just wish I could shake off the cold.

Apologies that this time I'm not writing any personal responses, too brain fuddled - hope those who are ill feel better soon.

Sounds like a lovely party, Bc!
Any chance of a link/pointer to the muffin recipe? Sounds yum!
Bummer to have a cold. I hope it eases off soon. And good luck with your scan!

Thanks for the reassurances wrt needing maternity clothes already BG and SB!
Did any of you wear maternity tights? I've got a couple of pairs that I got in Spain but they are utterly useless (or possibly just the wrong size) and just fall down. Normal tights are now starting to spontaneously unroll down my belly, so recommendations would be welcome!

Lovely to hear that pregnancies are progressing well (BC and IC) and BC's DS had a lovely party.

DS2 had a nice day yesterday with a little trip out for cake and a bit of pottery painting thrown in (as it was too cold to stay out on the swings and tractors). DH gamely managed to stay up all day (having caught the lurgy that the rest of us have been dealing with for the last few days), but I had given him the night off in the hope that it would help.

DS2 had a lovely range of presents but is most impressed with the cuddly Peso we gave him (from the Octonauts, as introduced to him by his older brother). My mum came round for tea and DH's parents came round the night before (apparently having already tried to pull out of it all, even though I'd managed to cook a roast for them with a chest infection and two kids to look after.. ) so, in addition to the party from the weekend, we've done our best for DS2 in the somewhat sniffly, feverish circumstances! (And then DH and I had a massive row, hence not posting last night . Good job we have postponed Valentine's Day until next week due to DS2's bday).

This virus etc.. is a horrid one. The DS are still spiking temps and being quite miserable 7 days later and I'm feeling worse today than yesterday, despite the antibiotics fo my chest, and am now pretty hoarse. DH is away this weekend so I simply have to be better!

Today we went to a building site to watch 9 diggers demolishing an old foundary from the safety of a perfectly placed bridge! We could even watch the trains running in the background now the building has gone. I think the boys thought this was a much better birthday treat.

Anyway, as you can see, it is late, I've finally finished Sunday's ironing(!) and I wanted to say thanks for the brithday messages and let you know how we got on. Hope all the poorly people start to feel better soon and I'm loving the pics of the snow Mous! Back soon for more proper catching up.

IC Best tights are the H&M mama ones for sure. I tried Topshop and Marks and they both fell down (especially the M&S ones). The muffins tasted very nice but didn't rise very well, the mixture seemed very dry and cheese-heavy (and the cayenne pepper made them quite spicy so I wouldn't use a whole teaspoon next time) but if you want it after those caveats it's here cookingforlove.tumblr.com/post/4550556108/cheese-and-spinach-muffin

Bethy So sorry about the row and the ungrateful PILs and the sick boys. The building site trip sounds right up our street! Glad DS2 enjoyed his day and likes his presents.

We got DS a wooden hobby horse that he thinks is a broom (because the rope mane) - he drags it around shouting 'cleaning, cleaning'. We are going to get him a scooter as well but there are some erm, cashflow issues at the moment. DH's account is up to his overdraft limit so I've had to lend him money out of the allowance he gave me from Jan (I still haven't had Feb's). You'd think that someone self employed would set money aside over the year for January's tax bill, wouldn't you? His mum paid for our center parcs trip and my mum had to lend him nearly two grand (which he has now paid back) - he is shit with money. On the good side it looks like I have around an extra £50 a month as the fixed rate mortgage on my flat has finished and the SVR is a bit lower for now.

SB Hope DS enjoys being in the big kids' room.

FC Big congrats on the birth of Scarlett. Ow re ventouse and tear :( hope you heal quickly. Hope you are home and snuggling.

I don't wear tights but can also recommend h&m for maternity wear. Can you switch to leggings IC if all fails?

I never wore tights, just leggings and boots.

bc crap about the money issues, I hope it gets better soon.

bethy glad he had a good birthday, shame about the argument.

I wore normal tights rolled (folded) down below the bump.

IC I tried those carrots/courgette muffins with DD1 but they ended not really nice and flat any advice?

SB Thanks, it's ok really, just the time of year. He has promised that from now he's going to put some away every month for the tax bill.

OK have remade the muffin recipe and tweaked it a bit to make them rise. I think I stirred the mixture too much to get everything blended and you're not supposed to do that - just fold it as little as possible. Tips here food-4tots.com/2009/08/22/how-to-make-muffins/.

I put 1 and 3/4 teaspoons of baking powder rather than 1 and a half, an extra 10ml of milk and only half the amount of cayenne. I cooked the spinach first to make it easier to fold in. I cooked them on a higher heat for a bit longer than the recipe says (more like 175 for 25 mins) They rose into proper domes and are really good. I did what the tip link said and started them even higher then turned it down.

bc I know what you mean about self-employed and the dreading income tax bill My DH should receive his within the next 3 to 4 months (income tax doesn't rush over here) and one half to be paid in July and the rest in December unless we owe them a lot and they'll ask for some money then...

Money will be tight for the next few weeks as our flat tenant is leaving so will be rent less until we find someone again. We're also planning to build a porch to move the study under the stairs and use the room as DS's bedroom (like this no more sharing with my mum as they keep on waking each others).

PA how was your day? Do you feel better?

DH is crap at money and paying on time and taxes. He handed all control to me! Mwaah hahaha

mous

Glad to hear I'm not the only one whose DH isn't great with money! This came as a massive surprise to me as DH's mum is an accountant but I think it just meant that she dealt with money and didn't teach him how to be responsible with it. With both of us working, we are quite fortunate that we bring in enough money to cover the bills etc.. but he did not enjoy budgeting during my maternity leaves!!

Meant to say earlier to FC, lovely to hear how your birth went. I had a mini ventouse (a kiwi delivery?) with DS1 and it was because his head was tilted too. I was very worried that DS2 would tilt his head too (if maybe my inners had encouraged it) but it all went swimmingly. Still had a 2nd degreee tear with him, despite that! Did you not have an episiotomy? In England if you have a ventouse, they do one first.

DH has come home from shopping to spend some quality time with me now before he goes away tomorrow for the weekend. Both boys have been really trying today so I'm currently not looking forward to it, although the only way is up!! Have rung DH at the shop to ask him to check with the pharmacist of I can have a medicinal despite being on my antibiotics!!

Hope poorly people are mending well. Wine and flowers to all in need (and the rest of you too).