Sept 05 - onwards and upwards!!!

[HeyBaby]

Thought this title was appropriate given that (hopefully) things will be looking up for everyone!

happy weekend to all - here museum trip planned!

just checking in - where is everyone?!! - hopefully enjoying a whole nights sleep!!!

Perhaps a lie-in!!! - lucky!!!

Hi all, sorry. this is the first chance i've had to check in in the last month. Not read all the posts, as i haven't got the time to be honest but i really hope everyone and children are all doing well. Especially you wabbit xxx

Having a really bad week so far, my sister opted to tell me on thursday that she is changing shifts at work, maybe from next monday so she can't have Mia any longer whilst i work, FFS, what the hell am i supposed for tuesday and wednesday if she drops me in the shit on monday for FECKS sake!!!! Just got to DP's work and found that some scally, skanky, scumbag tried to break in last night!!! SO,really not having a great week here to be totally honest! Has anyone else been suffering from attacks from the green eyed monster since giving birth? I've been so terrible. Any advice would be appreciated thanks xxx

Hello, oh it has got a bit thin on the ground hasn't it?

Milward - enjoy your museum trip no idea about e-bay selling, sorry. Can only think you would have to post goods though - this PO thing and your being in a small community and on an island? did I get that right? Keep wondering where you might be... a day's trip away too... Won't guess here though as you don't want it common knowledge

SR - Good luck with your course - I hope you enjoy it and it confirms to you that you're going to be happy with your new direction x

Mummyhill - Any internet yet??? Thinking of you xxx

Beatie - Hi, it needed a bump didn't it?

Bubbles - Oh the horrid sh*ts... did you tell the police? an 'attempt' is worth telling them about as they may get some evidence or at least make their presence more obvious in the area to ward off a repeat attack. It's such a violation
Would you get help with a nursery place for Mia? Your sister, was it in her power not to change shifts? Is there anyone else who could fill the gaps? It's so hard when so much is expected of Mums these days yet so little support in real terms when sorting out how mums can afford to work.

Dp has C for a few hours today and I'm supposed to be concentrating hard to finish this essay - run out of steam... He rang last night to say he'd met up with the other woman (he did warn me that this was going to happen as she said she'd got something to say)
She told him she lost the baby - she died in-utero at 23-24 weeks on 17th Feb - and she had to go through the birth I've re-awoken the thread about this, well I did last night because I just felt so very alone and sad (for her and for dp)
There is one very good thing that has come out of all this and that is that I've learned to be able to tell dp exactly how I'm feeling, even if it will hurt him or anger him... My family are not at all happy that I've not just cut him off from me emotionally and not allowed him to see or look after C. This makes it difficult, we're so close even if we are scattered over the country and one across the pond.

Sorry, bit of a longee! but THANKYOU for being there you guys

Bubbles and Pooka - Thanks for your thoughts and kind words xx

Hi all. It has been quiet hasn't it?
Have been in the throes of horrible tummy bug - dd,not me. She was desperately sick on Thursday night, following a whole day of diarrhoea which continued all Friday. No symptoms since (prob as have restricted her food massively), but she is very subdued and quite content to sit on a towel covered sofa watching dvds and dozing, which is quite unlike her. :(
Think this is the second time ever that she has actually vomited (apart from possetting as a baby). Feel so sorry for her. She's all pale and wan.
Tom has a black eye! Was sitting (props his hands on his feet, sort of doubled up so not proper sitting quite yet) and lurched forward to try and get on his front banging his head on the coffee table, just literally above his eye. Didn't quite grab him in time. Cheered up fairly quickly, and now has a beautiful shiner which is all colours of the rainbow.
So we've been in the wars somewhat.
Saying that - I have actually found the last two days much easier in many respects, probably as have been more gentle and less stressy with dd, and she has been less demanding . But still want her to be better and to EAT PROPER FOOD even if things are more hectic then.

Hope the training went well SR.
Wabbit - I think that it would be a shame, despite what has happened, to cut ties so drastically with your dp. Having him loving and having contact with C is important, regardless of what he has done to you. And FWIW I think you would be inhuman if you didn't feel sad for "Sharon" while feeling perhaps relieved at the same time, if you see what I mean. And if this whole episode makes you have a stronger relationship with dp as a result, being more honest and open and having better communication, maybe you can move forward. IF that's what happens I suppose your family will just have to lump it, though it's tough when you don't want to seem to be ignoring their caring concern.
Any news on the childcare front Bubbles? DH's yard is always being broken into, by persons "known" to the police. Happened almost nightly for a week with dh being called out at all hours by the alarm people. Eventually the police set up surveillance, but then the break ins stopped for a while. Seems that the thieves might have had insider info from DH's work as they managed to disable all the video cameras installed by DH or covered their faces. Made me so angry as DH has now had to spend about £7000 on extra security measures, and the yard is uninsurable because of the spate of break ins so every loss was basically profit down the drain.
Anyway - rant over!
Am waiting for takeaway to arrive and then am having an early night. Fell asleep while giving ds his last feed at 7.30 and dh had to wake me to say goodnight to dd! Tom is still waking probably 2 - 3 times a night. He is hungry probably for one of those wakings, so will next week attempt to stop feeding so frequently at night. Problem is I get so frazzled that I'm zombie like when I go in and so am not really in the right frame of mind to try anything proactive about settling him without feeding. But next week will get dh to go in unless it's been more than 5 hours since Tom last fed. Think he's teething. Also think that maybe I just don't make good sleepers early on - dd didn't sleep through until she was 10 months, although she's more than made up for it since.
Hear a knock on the door. Food is here!

pooka - hope your dd gets better & your ds loses his black eye soon! hope you get some rest as well - sick & diarrhoea - the worst to clear! Enjoy your take away - here dh made chilli - yum!

bubbles - hope you get some solutions for childcare - a difficult situation. Plus the break-in attempt - some people just don't care about others.

wabbit - hope you're ok. Sad news on what has happened. Go with how you feel about everything xxx Hope your essay is going well. You're so brave to be doing study. For me - you're the ones on the island!! would need to take the train under the channel!!!

Clues aplenty Milward! Hope you enjoyed the chilli - wish DH was interested in cooking. I used to be until it became part of the daily grind. Seeing my mum in such a different light now I've got children! Didn't anticipate the relentless catering involved

Hello all. Training was good - I'm now qualified to take fat fighters - I love the cake!

Very sorry to read about 'Sharon' Wabbitt.

Hope the yucky bugs are all clearing up.

Hello bubbles good to hear from you - what did you mean about green eyed monster - who are you envious of?

Milward - ebay posting can be a real pain - and many people do not expect to wait for items once they have paid for them! Its also very difficult to accurately estimate postage on the advert!

Hi all

Didn't realise you were so very far afield Milward! dp's a keen cook, I love it (or used to) when weekends were pretty much kitchen free for me! I can cook - and quite well but as Pooka said, the monotony of having to takes the love out of it.

Pooka - yes, I couldn't just cut all ties, I think there's something worth while to wait for, I'm willing to see how things unfold over the next few months, we both need to breath after the emotional stress and confusion.

On a lighter note, C is doing really well, he's getting the hang of eating from a spoon and loves to join in! He's rolling around like a little flippy thing and when my back's turned can make his way from one end of the hearth to the other on his nice soft blanket - he's also become a bit of a 'flipping' nuisance when I'm changing his nappynoo... my lovely smiley boy! Oh he can prop himself up on his arms when he's on his tummy too - found him watching Crufts like that whilst I was doing supper tonight

What's everyones LOs doing now? Rolling, Babbling, Sitting, etc

SR - well done for doing well on your course - what's the next step? will you be setting up your own group or taking classes at an already established Slimming World?

PC got snow whilst in Liverpool this weekend... I was nosing on the Who's Got Snow thread, feeling We didn't get any here... guess bubbles and Jarmmy did they're that way aren't they? Anyone else?

Pooka - Hope the horrid bug is well and truly gone now xx

Hello - morning

We have go no snow!

Wabbitt - I will take over 4 Slimming World classes from the current lady who is moving away. On a Tuesday from Tuesday 28th March - so just 2 weeks time! There are currently 100 going across all 4 - I need to recruit another 50 or 60 to maintain a good % take!! So will be leafleting for the next 2 weekends and need to speak to editors today to run a story in the local paper! I also need to be good at it or no one will stay - so loads of work for me learning and practising.

Hope every one is well xxx

Hello - I am back again from the wilds of the Northwest .

Will read thread and make salient remarks

wabbitt - sad news and difficult when you were just starting to put it all behind you a bit. Sounds like c is having great fun though and is keeping you cheery. G not really rolling that much manages it every now and again.

Pooka - let us know what/how you get on with eliminating the unecessary wake ups G often wakes after 3-4 hours when put down at 7 but often then manages the rest of the night so not convinced it's hunger. On the nights she has a really good scream at 7 or 8 will then sleep til 4/5ish! too knackered to think up stratagies yet.
Dh didn't get the job which was in Glasgow but they want to interview him about another job so would be all change for us.

DD and Ds both full of the cold.

No snow here!

Can say that here it's a sunny but cold day!!

ds4 has started to push himself backwards whilst on his front & rolls over from tummy to back. If put him to sit up he falls forwards!! so sit him in my lap!

the mum at the preschool who thought I was the nanny of my little ones!! now has taken to calling me Mary Poppins - ahhh - in fact wish I had the tidying up powers!!

OK - will now try and post something a bit longer

wabbit - hope your back is feeling better. Also hope that C wakes up less at night (although his weight gain is very impressive). The situation with "Sandra" sounds very complicated again - very not fair on you or anyone else involved. My cynical accountant's brain does feel a bit cynical I have to admit, but whatever, it is very sad.

beatie how have DD1's nights without nappies been going? And how has Alice's sleeping been going?

bubbles - some people are really awful. I can't imagine what anyone gets out of trying to break into somewhere . Also hope that you have managed to sort out Mia's childcare.

milward - I was wondering during the night where you might be (I scanned the thread last night and was thinking about islands and decided you might live in the Scilly Isles ). Hope you enjoyed the museum.

SimplyRed hope the publicity goes well. Do you get the Comet and will you be appearing in it (says a Mid Beds resident ).

pooka - hope DD is receovering and that none of the rest of you has succombed. I am also trying to think about how to improve nights (see later)

Rhumba - colds are always present here - but at least DS can blow his nose (when a tissue is held under it). He also likes to comment on the snottyness of others - "Alice big snots" after she has sneezed .

We had a good time in Liverpool and both children were very good on the journeys. DS also managed to travel up and down in pants and with no accidents . In fact he had no wee accidents at all (although poos are frequently in pants...)

Alice slept terribly [yawn emoticon]. On Thursday night she seemed to be awake all night (slight exageration but it felt like it). Her cold has given her a cough which is waking her but I am worn out. Last night it was regularly evry two hours and taking an hour to settle her etc. Sometimes feeding her, sometimes not. I think I need a proper strategy. At the moment she is still in our room - I keep saying I will be stronger once she moves but not sure I will (or will just fall asleep in her room instead).

She has also started having some solid/mush. Gave her some baby rice in Liverpool and she kept grabbing the spoon, putting it into her mouth and slurping it off . Maybe more food will hep with with nights (maybe not).

DS at nursery and Alice and I are watching Carousel. Well, she is asleep right now, hence my lengtherned post.

pc - would love to live in the scilly isles!! - here I'm across the channel near a big city but in the countryside - it's a small world despite being a big place! I'm in the local community with having my kids at the local school & in the international group with having dd3 at a pre-school attached to a big international school. Sometimes don't feel in either group as not a local but have been here a while & not really in the expat group as most of them have everything paid for by their companies & live a life disconnected to what it's really like to live somewhere - iyswim!!

nappy moment!!!..................

just to send best wishes to all xxx - off to do a big shop for the week!!

Hello

No sadly PC - we don't get the Comet - just the Beds on Sunday and the Times & Citizen. I'm hoping the local papers will want to run my story! Well I better ring them !!!!

We get Beds on Sunday as well. What a quality read that is .

Thanks for thoughts :)
DD much better. Now have to wait, fingers crossed, hoping that Tom and I escape!
Rhumba - Glasgow is AMAZING! Lived there for 5 years while doing my degree and always kind of regret not having stayed (but by then had met dh back home in Bromley, so ..... ).
I'd love to live in the Scillies. Or anywhere in Cornwall really. Very dull here. Would like the beach nearby.

Good luck SR - sounds like you'll be very busy but hope you'll love doing it as it makes the hard work all worth while.

Mummyhill must still be offline at the moment, missing her posts...

PC - it does sound all so convenient doesn't it? From what I gather though she was very subdued and distraught and apologetic so I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt. There seems to be a line drawn under the whole episode now and me and dp need to concentrate on eachother.
Well done your ds for being wee-free in his pants, my sister is potty training her ds 2.5 and he's having trouble getting the pooing bit right too.

Rhumba - yes he is great fun and dd never a dull moment either! Glasgow's a lovely vibrant city - I remember it as quite magical as I was introduced to it by a lovely boyfriend who was as silly and giggley as me! (ahhhh)

Milward - the tidying gifts of Mary Poppins maybe, but I could do without the chirpy chimney sweeps!! Do you get to see your family much?

pc - hope Alice's cold gets better soon - & you can get some rest. lol at the "big snots"!!Nose wiping is so good when they can do it! my dd3 can get through nearly a whole tissue box in one go - have to keep an eye on her! Good going on the wee free journey!

sred - sounds great plus very busy - hope everything goes well. I've joined the nov 05 thread weekly weigh in. I'm not dieting but just want to fit the summer clothes I couldn't wear last year. Anyone want to do a weekly weigh in? I'm 65 kilos (was 63 but have been eating biscuits!) - would like to be 58 - I'm around 10 stone & would like to be 9 stone.

rhumba - hope everyone is feeling better. I don't know glasgow but it always sounds interesting. Hope you know soon if you have to move.

wabbit - hope your work is going well. Here I don't have any other family! My mil & fil came to help after ds was born which was wonderful. Wish I did have family closer - great for the kids & super for babysitting.

I'll do a weekly weigh in with you Milward - I'm somewhere around 10.3 and began at 8.5 but I'd be really happy to be 9stone too

I'll do a proper weigh tomorrow when I'm in the clinic for Bumps and Babies You watch, I'll be wearing the lightest clothes possible in this bitter wind!

Keep thinking of NoLongerSingleTeenageMum... wonder how she's doing with her twin pg... sigh, it's a lovely thought

Hi everyone. Sorry not to do personals. I have been reading posts everyday and by the time I come to post a reply I run out of time and then the next day I come to post and forgot who said what and feel bad for writing without doing personals!

Anyway - we're all well here. Alice is a little mokey when it comes to having naps. Frustratingly she still has no nap routine when I know dd1 did at this age. I need it more this time round because I need to know when I might have time to do bits and pieces! Oh sigh! She really fights naps. I can't even feed her to sleep during the day. It's all completely random.

She sleeps well at night. I still express a bottle per day which DH gives Alice as a dream-feed at 10pm. She sleeps through until around 6:20am. On the odd day that I don't express enough, she wakes around 4 and I feed her. Next week I'm going to change the expressed feed to a bottle of formula, so we should reliably be able to get enough ounces into her to keep her going until 6/7am. I hope!

Not much weaning going on here. So far Alice has had a lick of pineapple and a piece of banana to hold. She managed to get some off and into her mouth but I think spat most out. I'm intrigued about babyled-weaning and love the idea of not having to spoon feed her, but I think I'll do breakfast as a spoon-feed job. The rest of the time I'm going to offer scraps of finger foods.

Alice is on the verge of sitting. She can sit but I need to put cushions around her for the inevitable wobble to one side. No definite rolling yet and not much tummy-time the poor girl hardly gets any floor time, with dd1 around.

We got a highchair and we're really happy with it. We got the East Coast adjustable one and bought an insert for it. I'm still sitting Alice in the pram in the kitchen most of the time, though.

I hope everyone is well. A weekly weigh-in sounds good. Which day should we post our results. I'm about 67kg. This is good news as my scales at home told me I was 73kg. But I'll assume the ones at the gym are more reliable