Fab Feb 2011: Walking, talking and still not sleeping.

[blizy]

I hope you don't mind me starting a new thread? Lets hope it's a lucky one for me.

I loved the opening ceremony apart from the wrinkly bawsack at the end!

Well done reastie and Needto with the exercising you are both putting me to shame.

Dh and I went out for a meal tonightin a new Turkish restaurant , was fabulous!

Wiggles- hope Olivia is ok?

I can't believe that 17 months ago today Z was born, it still feels like it was only last week. Time has gone by so quickly.
Anyway, hope you are all having a good weekend. X

blizy that wrinkly may not be able to hold a note much anymore but I still think he's fab, sorry everyone . FWIW I loved the fact that he did 'the end' skit before 'hey jude' . Although tbh I thought hey jude was an odd song choice - didn't have much meaning behind it other than everyone could na na na nanana na along to it. I thought he might sing 'all you need is love' or some such - may sound cliche but would have been nice to have all those nations singing along something ensemble like that. Hope you're doing OK btw after the 17 month anniversary. x

needto I was looking at the cross trainers in the gym this morning (get me, going in on a sunday morning ) and I was a bit at how huge they were! Btw thanks for all the comments re: my shred level 3 attempt. I should ahve backed it up with the fact that I could probably only do about 2/3 of it if I was lucky, and most definitely stuck to the easier options, so I'm not really that fit.

argh gtg, back later

And I'm back

wiggles hope you get O's throat sorted and I love the comment on needing oxygen to get there . Hope you made good use of the gift shop there

ponyo glad you got an assessment with cruse, fingers crossed they'll get someone with you soon and btw I'm exactly the same re: crying - I know it's ridiculous but I'm awful at crying in front of people, yet I'm a bit of a blubberer so it's difficult holding it in . I've had therapy in the past and always found it really hard to get beyond the fact that when I open up I just cry alot and I've always not wanted to cry to I've tended to not say things I probably should have to hold my emotions back - do whatever you feel will help you and don't worry about crying - I'm sure they're more than used to it!

blizy that was really eerie (in a good way) that angel fell in your path at Clintons. Hope your DH had a nice day today and enjoyed his pressies. FWIW I love shopping, sorry! But DH and I tend to have strict lists of things we want for bday and christmas so we know we'll get something we like.

Oh and needto forgot to say well done Ben on all his poos (gosh there are just so many things we didn't think we'd be excited by pre preg that now we are arn't there?!) and good luck nr needto for thursday - shall keep my fingers crossed.

Hi all
Gosh its been quiet on here this weekend!!

We've had a busy few days. Psychic evening Weds; very good - Lady who does it was fab, and has loads of spirits coming through. I;ve never been 100% sure about these things but she was incredible! DH was off Friday so we wnet shopping then had a BBQ in the afternoon with friends with our new £19 BBQ!! It was great once the damn thing was hot enough to cook - only took 1.5 hours!! I took Ben and my nephew to the cinema to see Ice Age on Sat, then McD's. Then Ben and I popped to Smyths toy store and bought loads of toys for 'santa' to give the boys at Christmas! It was a lovely busy weekend, but not helped by my heavy cold, felt like poo yesterday and finally convined dh that I needed a rest so went to bed for the afternoon - twas lovely.

How is everyone?

Need to- sounds like Ben's 'system' is much better at the monent, thats sucxh brilliant news. Is he more settled in himself too?Well done on the x trainer!Hope dp mum ok, and that his interview goes well on Thursday - keep us updated on both.

Reastie, well done on getting to Level 3 on the Shred! I found a brilliant article in Glamour magazine that said you only need to do 4 minutes interval training every day....would be great if i could arsed to do it!!

Loving the Olympics! I';m not usually that interested but am so into it this time. I Skyplus it all everyday thetn skim through it to get to my fave bits; swimming, gymnastic, show jumping. Can;t wait for the athletics!

Evening all

I too am Olympic hooked - sport is on a level with anything kitchen based in my life so I'm shocked Gymnastics and swimming with us, I'm not that bothered with track and field - the men aren't as attractive, its just running

emski I read that article in Glamour too, it was good, unfortunately I can't find the article it may be hiding under some cake

reastie Apparently Hey Jude may have been chosen as it was No1 in US during the Games in Mexico 1968 when two US athletes iconically gave the Black Power salute on the podium. Mr W loves Macca thumbsup [shudder]

Took O to GP this morning, her throat still a bit of a mess, different antibiotic. So much for the super duper one!

Had lovely day today - our local womens centre ran a weekend of events and today was a family fun day - petting zoo, face painting, ice-cream van etc and the coolest stall selling knitted animals. We now have a knitted petting zoo of our own and the knitters were two 14 year olds - I mean what has happened to the youth of today

Shouldn't those knitters be out on street corners drinking alcohol and bothering people??!! Knitted animals indeed - piccies please?
Noah actually sat on the floor with me watching the men's synchronised diving earlier, it was fab. We were saying whoooooo, splash every time they dived! Fabulous.

Hello all - guess what, A is up and awake and has been all evening What is going on?! I'm ready for bed :( dp has just taken her upstairs to listen to music, its weird, she was running about earlier, she never runs that fast in the day, and doing some v focused colouring in too - its like she's got her daytime hours and night hours mixed up Am thinking it might be her brain being over active - 18 month sleep regression anyone?!

Anyway, that aside we had a lovely weekend lots of park trips and on Sunday went to the Best Swimming Pool Ever for little'uns, nice warm shallow pool plus floats AND a little area with water slide and buttons to press to make the fountains come on, it was fab, and only 50p per person! A loved it, she was v quiet and concentrating hard, think we'll go again :)

Anyway enough about me -

wigs loved hearing about S ebing so excited about the olympics, so funny :) Hope O is better soon. at the knitters, I think it sounds brill, I can't even knit!

needto good news about B and good luck to your dp for thurs. Hope his mum gets better very quickly. I love father ted, I stayed up late (ish) watching it last night

blizy hope your dh had a nice b'day, and happy 17 months to Z. Its your docs appt this wed isn't it? Good luck :)

reastie yes yes to crying, glad its not just me! I look such a snotty red faced mess too when I cry, I hate it, though I doubt the counsellor would actually care

emski your weekend sounds nice, I am wanting to/thinking about seeing a psychic about my dad, that sounds silly but the thought has crept into my mind. I'm loving the olympics too espcially fit swimmers

I'm watching walking dead re-runs, make me miss the days when A was a newborn and wouldn't notice that there were zombies on the tv, she gave the screen a funny look which is why dp has taken her upstairs! Hope all the babies are being better than Mrs No Sleep here...

Morning all!

Ponyo- yikes to Anya, i hope she settled down eventually. Yes Dr tomorrow, I am pooping myself.

Wiggles at the mini knitters, sounds fab though. How is O? I am loving the Olympics too, mindees are even enjoying it (not that they have a choice).

Emski- I was doing the same splash noises at the diving yesterday, mindee loved it!

I'm off to the safari park today with baby mindee, can't wait to see his wee face..
Hope you all have a good day. X

ems only 4 minutes of interval training you say to get fit? Now that I can manage . Should be off to the gym this afo but DH is running late so may have to suffer the shred or one of my ancient Jane Fonda aerobics jobs at home instead

deb please can you let me know re: dates please

wiggles v interesting re: hey jude - Mr W really knows his stuff doesn't he?! Btw hope the new anti bios work better

blizy have a nice time at the safari park - you sound like a fab cm doing all these exciting thingsn with your mindees all the time. Did you ever find that double buggy btw?

ponyo to anya and her lack of sleeping. Hope she works it out soon. I know how annoying it can be with late bedtimer Alice (although not as late as 10:30!). On olympic opening ceremony night we tried to start gradually shift her bed time forward and it completely backfired and she wouldn't sleep until well after 10 and was really crazy/manic. So DH and I missed half of the ceremony or had to watch it through shouts/screams/yelling

DH is taking Alice out on Saturday for a family day out with his family - I get the day off on my own - yeah! My first ever proper time off while DH takes Alice. Only thing is, I have to take them to the tourist place they are visiting with the family (I don't want to be stuck at home with no car) and collect them which apparently will be 3 hours later - so much for a whole day to myself! Think I"ll just go to the gym and then perhaps have a swim and then if I get time a cup of tea in the cafe there and then time to pick them up again!

Watching the old favourite 'come outside' with Alice at the min

I had a fab but knackering day out. Thats me off work now for 2 weeks, mindees are all off on holiday!

reastie I didn't get a new double, the other mindee fell through. I don't need a new one for the new baby starting as she is only one day a week.
Can your dh and Alice not go in the inlaws car?

needto how is your mil?

blizy yay for holidays

archareastie I'd be telling them to get the bus, sure A would love it

ponyo A is obviously perfecting a new genius type skill. I love finding somewhere fab for the girls, always puts me in good form.

Talking of which we went to a huge country park today with walled gardens, a maze and also the bestest playground I have ever seen (and I've been to many . There was also a seperate "funzone" with a train, bouncy castle, mini golf. There were those plastic, inflatable, walk on water balls for kids to get in - Sofia tried it and loved it. It's strange before she did her swimming club last week she would have loved to do something like that but would have lacked the nerve/confidence. Her classes last week have absolutle transformed her - best £35 I've ever spent.

Although like blizy Mr W and I are lying about absolutely knackered

Ps Have put some new photos up - well what do you expect? - its been over a month since I last boasted

wiggles what lovely pics, A looks so big! And so cute with her dimple in her chin :) Well done S - very brave walking on water, its so nice seeing them get more confident isn't it. That park sounds amazing, there is one with a maze here that I am planning on taking A to when it stops raining.

blizy woop holidays! Hope you're having a nice relaxing evening.

reastie agree, can't they go in another car/the bus?!

A went to bed at 7pm tonight no probs, what the bugger...?! Plus note to the late night last night (11pm) she slept until 8am I woke up at 7.30, thats the first time in months I've woken up before her.

dp is planning on visiting his family next weekend - he's taking A with him and I'm not going I feel like I should go! I'll worry about A and that she might miss me please reassure me she'll be fine.

Evening everyone!

wiggles I dreamt that I visited you last night It was great, and your girls were all so well behaved. We even went to the pub! sounds like you've been having a great time, are the new abs working for O?

blizywoo hoo to 2 weeks holiday, hope you get a chance to relax and do something nice for yourself, god knows you've earnt it!

ponyo yep, there is definitely an 18 month sleep regression, I read about it somewhere. I have no idea what you can do about it though other than ride it out and nap whenever you can. I hate sleep deprivation more than almost any other part of parenting, it just makes everything 100 times harder doesn't it?

reastie hooray for a little time to yourself! Where are they taking A? Is there any way they could go on a train or bus )B loves them as much as the activities themselves)?

Well, update on MIL, she became a lot worse over the weekend and was taken back into hospital yesterday and they finally operated last night. It's quite a gruesome op (has to have her wound left open and packed iyswim) but she is feeling so much better. Last night she had to get a nurse as the woman in the opposite bay was SMOKING next to her oxygen tank! Really hope she recovers quickly and gets home soon.

I'm feeling quite broody ATM, two of my friends had had babies in the last week and they are so gorgeous. I know we are happy with one though and they don't stay newborns for long! Hopefully get some cuddles soon though.

B is being his normal 'spirited' self, has just learnt how to say biscuit which is fun...

needto you do realise you just mentioned sleep deprivation and being broody in the same post there?! I get broody around cute little newborns though and the fact that they sleep for hours in the day Thanks for reassurance re: sleep regression, oh and A says bic bic too, then doesn't eat it if I give her one I am at the smoking woman, thats sooo bad! Glad mil is feeling better.

NeedToSleep , we've had a really busy few days. Mr W is back to normal shifts so trying to fit time when the 5 of us can do stuff together tends to mean its either a feast or a famine. Glad mil is feeling a bit better xx Of course my children are well behaved - I rule with an iron fist or bribes

ponyo Anna has Mr Ws dimple A will be fine - promise xx, are you planning anything nice when they're away?

Anna doesn't say 'bic bic' just "mine"

wiggles gorgeous photos, Anna is getting so big!

Ah ponyo I'm sure anya will be fine, enjoy your weekend off, do you have any plans?

onmehols hope you are having a fab time.

wiggles I can't see your new piccies but I think that's as I have nn changed for olympics - I'll have to savour the excitement and wait until I nn change back

needto poor your MIL but glad she's had the op and it's out of the way. Hope that she has a speedy recovery now. Btw I get broody all the time too, but then I remember how awful I was when pg and I just can't do it .

ponyo I'm sure Anya will be fine and you'll miss her more than the other way round (not that she won't miss you...hopefully you know what I mean). FWIW different thing but when I was ill a few weeks ago and DH looked after ALice and I didn't see her all week end except when I bf her first and last thing she wasn't bothered at all and infact got less clingy to me for a little while after and was a bit more daddyish - it was quite nice as it gave me a break as usually i have to do books etc with her in the evenings as she doesn't let dh

Comments re: DH getting a bus - I'm afraid we live out in the sticks and very few buses and no bus stops near where they are going, and it's on a big dicey road with no foot path for the buggy . I dont' mind and it's really close to the gym so it's easy, just I imagined a day out might take a bit longer so I would have time to go home and do nothing before going to pick them up as opposed to loitering in the gym got to make my moneys worth somehow I guess

Well that wasn't so bad after all.
My last day 21 blood test was good, progesterone levels were 91, my fsh level was border line, but dr said its because I had already ovulated. Dh has to do a semen sample for analysis.

Dr has sent a letter to the fertility clinic but is unsure if I will qualify for further testing as I have been pregnant before.

Do you know that if you have step-children who live with you full time you don't qualify for fertility treatment?

I have also been referred for counselling, I will have a telephone appointment first (17th aug) to assess. The dr was fab, I have to go back to see her in a weeks time.

blizy sounds like your GP is being really good and thorough but I admit I was completely about the step children thing. FWIW I had a telephone consultation by my local mental health team some months ago - I was very scared and nervous about it but the lady was really nice on the phone. I did write down things I wanted to mention to her beforehand as I knew I'd forget things . In my case it was to decide which type of therapy/counselling they thought would be best for me.

Can I please please have some napping advice from people out there please? Am at my wits end now. Alice as you know has to be walked in her buggy to sleep or else in her car seat. In the old baby car seat it was easy as I could lift her out in the car seat and bring her inside in the seat and let her carry on her nap (or put the car seat in the buggy if we were out). Now we had to give back the baby car seat to my colleague who lent it to us as she's having another baby so we are in the big girls forward facing seat which if she falls asleep in she will 9 times out of 10 wake up if I try to get her out but keep her asleep. So, we've been walking her to sleep most of the time. 2 times a day every day I'm out walking her to sleep. In recent weeks though she's been very resistant to go to sleep even though she is obviously tired. So this morning I had to walk ehr for an hour before she went to sleep and this afternoon I walked her for 45 minutes and then gave up and she's home awake with no nap this pm. I know she'll be grumpy later and will drive me mad but I have to stay near the house for a boiler man coming this afternoon so the walk after lunch consisted of walking up and down to the end of the road and back 42 times. Yes, I counted! She has 2 naps a day still - I take her out in the morning at about 8:45 - 9:15 and once she's asleep she'll go for anything from 20 minutes to an hour. In the afternoon she goes out any time from 1 - 1:45 and once asleep will sleep usually around about 35 mins - 1 1/2 hours. It's just the walking her to sleep for such a long time getting me down now and how resistant she is to sleep - the other day she took half an hour just to get to sleep when I was driving her in the car. So - any advice? What shall I do about it? Can I do anything or shoudl I just accept this and continue spending so much of my time walking ehr to sleep? I realise this is good for my waist line! It's just I don't always have time for it and it's tough when I need to get her to sleep by a certain time so she has a nap before a class or so she doesn't wake up so late we can't go anywhere in the morning as it's half gone. I keep thinking about taking out the morning nap but whenever I've tried it she has been so awful and tired and moany I really think she needs it.

Sorry for epic post there - but would really appreciate some thoughts and advice on this as I'm going up the wall

Quick post - reastie could A go longer in the morning and have 1 nap a day? A has been on 1 nap for a while now, anytime from 10.30 - 12 for 1-2 hours. She could sleep later in the day but manages to keep going til bedtime. I feel your pain though, A will only nap in the car or pram, we used to be able to cuddle her to sleep but no chance of that now. If I put her in her cot in the day she screams so you have my sympathies.

blizy well done on going to docs and really pleased it went well, your doc sounds pretty good! I did not know that about step children, how depressing

A woke herself up coughing at 11.30 last night and was wide awake for over an hour, I let dp deal with it, apparently he said to her "go to bed" and she said "no", he said it again and eventually she said "okaaaay" and walked to the door to go upstairs to sleep. It freaked him out, he said it was like seeing how her mind works and her being much older than she is!

Ponyo and at Anya freaking your dp!

Reastie- I agree with Ponyo re: naps. Instead of going out can you push her back and forward or just shoogle the pram indoors?

Yes the Dr is indeed fab, I have just had a phone call from her! We will qualify for further fertility testing and she wants to see me again next fri about counselling. I am so glad I asked for her, it makes such An amazing difference having a proactive Doctor.

ponyo I've tried that but it makes it really hard with her classes (which are 10:30 - 11:30) as she can't get through them without a nap. She is tired most of the time before I take her for a nap but just won't go to sleep . Love the story of Anya with your DH last night

oh x posted blizy she won't fall for the pushing pram indoors - just screams! Excellent news re: your call from GP btw

blizy brilliant news about the Dr - makes such a difference when you trust your Dr

archareastie Anna too has dropped to 1 nap around the same time as ponyo mentioned. Can you not let her sleep in the car?, rather than lift her. Thats where I was doing my Mnetting from in the mornings or reading the Kindle. Although Anna has skipped naps altogether twice this week! She gets grumpy but is very easily distracted from her grumps (oh look shiny thing, or would you like to climb this very dangerous chair ) and is in bed for 6.30pmish.

ponyo at A last night.

blizy - great news about your gp and at not qualifying for fertility treatment if you have stepchildren at home.

Ponyo - A will miss you but you'll miss her far more.

reastie - sorry, no sleep advice. I'm relieved L sorted his sleeping out on his own, otherwise I would've been at the end of my rope too.

Speaking of sleep, at Borg's N turning into a sleeper.

My mum and aunt were over for a week, L really loved seeing her. He insisted on being carried around far more than usual. I took them to the airport this morning, DH took L to nursery while I was gone so I went back to bed until 12:30. Now I'm having a pot noodle before my trip to Aldi - living the dream, I am.

Hello to everyone else I missed!