December 2011: Of Mice, Men and Tables

[NorthernChinchilla]

Here we go...I hope!

"and it's July and all he has are tshirts and shorts" ha ha ha! When will the rain stop?
The washing machine has started it's work. :) I did a 9kg load of DHs work uniforms and jeans that are now on the maiden. I then did a 60degree whites wash of all BOis vests etc. When I came to take them out this morning and throw them in the dryer, no can do. It is very odd. there's a big lint/dust thing in the drum, and it had all packing in it and another bit of pipe... DH thought that dryers just got plugged in. we'll have to suss uit out tonight. New fangled technology. Pah!
Also, in the the washer's book thing, it says 40 degree Cotton wash = 95mins. Oh no. I put in the mahoosive load, the display said "calculating" or something... then it started and the "time left" was 2h45!! It's far too clever for it's own good. It remains to be seen if it actually cleans better with it's steam settings, eco wotsits and "Smart" technlogy.

Shiny tech!

It was so bad this mornin that I went to crackdonald's for skanky breakfast after I dropped the spawns off at school >_

I love my works restaurant cheese croquettes with peas and salsa £2....lunch done!! Trying to catch up on the food i missed at the start of the week obviously.

Lo has started making new noises he clicks his tongue and is saying gaa a lot which is a development on the grunty grrs we have been getting.

He slept until 5.45 and then until 7.30 after his first bottle.

Well I didn't get to tearful at assembly. YR2 done a very good leavers assembly. My baby is so grown up She's home now, playing with her BFF and its now officially the holidays

Aw no lo has had 3 explosive poos and been sent home by the cm, he's souled all his clothes at hers and pooed on her pushchair through his clothes.

Poor figgyboy:(

Oh dear figgy, poor Figgyboy! Sounds like you "win" a long weekend...

Stealth DIY chez Aethel: I am sneakily doing small bits whenever the Spawn naps. So far have done three radiators, the back of the front door and a light fitting. Next up is repainting the stairs skirting board, I've masking taped the carpet. The aim is quiet surruptitious tidifying so that when we decide to put the house up it will look fairly neat and tidy without too much extra effort. That's the theory anyway!

I shall look forward to that delight Kate although thankfully DS continues to be the world's least vom-tastic baby so that's a treat in store for the future! And so pleased for you that DS slept- sometimes it just does work out as planned, hurrah!

I love kids' birthday parties for exactly that reason Mopsy, the joy of munching kiddie food...bliss... May make some rice krispie squares or something over the weekend.

The car seat is good for a while- it's an up to 13 kilos, and he's only 8.7. I agree, we'll be keeping him rear-facing for as long as poss LMF. Now don't you be over-doing it, you'll be knocking back shots of tea and snorting French Fries like a maniac if you're not careful ...

It's weird- given that he's turned his nose up at vegetably things, I thought he'd really object to houmous, but no; seems to be a baby favourite then Oi (and Kate!). And I know what you mean about 24 hours..., that clip had me and DP turning to each other and whimpering. I know I'll end up rushing upstairs just to look at DS to reassure myself afterwards .

Our dryer is exactly the same: MiL bought it for us as it did everything but blew your nose for you. They're very kind but the sort of family who would never dream of getting a basic model anything iyswim? Naturally, it claimed that it sensed what drying needed to be done, and promptly did everything on mouse fart strength and temperature for about 18 minutes. I now ignore it and set everything for one hour of high....!

Aw, poor figgyboy, hope's he's not getting what you and your DP had.

Now aethel, what with your stealth DIY and LMF's wild behaviour, this thread is taking a licentious turn for the worse. Calm yourselves ladies!!

I have tomorrow off work- I therefore have a and a !

Too late. The kids and I shared a chocolate trifle earlier. It was carnage, very messy. The boychild's school jumper will never be the same again at least until it goes on a number 3 wash cycle :o

Enjoy your wine. I'm in bed with a book, though sleep is calling:)

Wow! Everyone has been busy Aethel with her DIY amongst things.

Figgy Hope Figgyboy feels better soon..

Well my bean has officially finished Infants. Only got slightly choked up she's now fast asleep. Sky has only just settled. Been a right little moomin tonight!

Roll on lay-in tomorrow morning

Hi all,

Hope Figgyboy is better soon, that sounds really horrific!

Having a bit of a nightmare here, DH got a call from his younger half sister that her mum (his ex stepmum)was having a nervous breakdown. I told him to go straightaway to pick up his half sister and half brother, so we've now got DS back in our room sister in DS's room and brother on sofa!

Looks as though their mum is having some sort of psychotic episode, she's hallucinating and threatening them witha knife and thinking cameras are in the house spying on her. This doesn't shock me as much as the fact that the kids said she's been acting strange for a few months and they haven't told anyone!

I've spent the day on the phone trying to sort things out, called the school and they will make sure the form tutors and heads of year are informed what's been going on. Spoken to the hospital about 4 times. Tracked down one of her friends who is going to visit her on Saturday and we're organising clothes and toiletries etc. updating the kids dad and also Dh's full sister as well. Also cooked us all a roast dinner (easiest meal to cook for 5)!

Anyway, looks like the kids mum wont be out earlier than Monday, but I suspect it will be a bit longer than that tbh. Does anyone know if social services will be informed? The kids phoned the police and the police then called the ambulance. Not really sure what the process is with the kids and how to safeguard them in the future. One of my best friends has bipolar, so that bit and the mums illness doesn't worry me in regards to the mum.

Very hard as the kids are acting as though nothing has happened all day (they're 14 & 16 btw), but their mum has phoned I don't know how many times and I don't think that is helping at all. They're not really close to me, but when DH got home from work little sis burst into tears. Best to let it all out I think. DH has been brilliant!

Cherry I'd assume SS would get involved if their mum has to be sectioned or something. Would you & DH be willing to look after them in the meantime?

Hope it all gets sorted soon.

I've no advice to offer, but sending for you and your husband Cherry

Wow cherry that sounds horrible!!

Figgyboy seems fine i got home to find him playing and smiling and chatting i filled him up with some carbs cheesy pasta and half a crumpet and plenty of water. He drained his usual 7oz bedtime bottle and gone to bed will see how he gets on tonight.

Will you be coming to see that flame thingy tomorrow then Northern?

Pugh just caught up - that sounds worrying Cherry. I would assume SS will be informed by the police as I assume they would class the children as being "at risk" if she was wielding a knife Are you able to care for them? I don't know whether you would be able to claim some kind of carers allowance?

Glad figgyboy seems better, Figgy!

F's temp is up slightly again (37.5 - her normal range is between 35.5 and 36.5). Have given her some precautionary calpol before bed. MIL said she was a bit snotty and sleepy today (but ever the smiley munchkin ). We shall see how the night goes... my bets are on teething!

Pugh? I have no idea what that's meant to be I blame the sheer exhaustion of first week at work/trying to figure out an evening routine

missree carers allowance is for people caring for someone with a disability. Hope Freya is ok btw.

cherry that must have been pretty scary for them! Hope they're coping ok. If they live with you for a while you should be able to get the child benefit for them instead of their mum.

figgy glad to hear figgyboy is more himself now.

kate how old is DD now? We stopped dummies with DS around 20 months. I know people who used the dummy fairy (like the tooth fairy), and someone who bought a toy shark which ate the dummies. We however went cold turkey. He took about an an extra hour to settle the first night, half an hour the second night then was completely fine without them. Good luck whenever you decide to start.

Giving Eva fromage frais wasn't a very good idea. She was grizzly this morning which I put down to teething, until she had a couple of explosive nappies which is really unlike her. This afternoon though she spent an hour and a half crying in pain :(. I won't be trying again for at least a couple of months. aethel am I right to assume that the longer this goes on the more likelihood there is of it being actual lactose intolerance rather than her immature digestive system being unable to process it?

figgy apart from the poops, was something wrong with the figster? I'm not sure I agree that the cm should send him home.
aethel I am in awe of your stealth DIY. I want to do some.
dsm beware the moomins!
cherry good on you for stepping up. I hope that everything sorts itself out soon and mum gets good meds to allow the family to stay together safely, without too much stress and worry. ((hugs))
I had a good day at work today. I finally finished an article I was writing for metal Finishing News (I should really send a copy to Have I Got News For You). :)

Hi MissRee, yup, am watching the flame tomorrow- our poor guest has just flown in from the middle East but we're dragging him up to watch it!

Cherry, if she's been sectioned, and the Police have been involved, then SS have got to get involved- the Police wouldn't be doing their job otherwise. She will have been detained under s.135 or 136 of the Mental Health Act most likely, and if minors are involved, then SS should be told.
It sounds like you're doing a magnificent job in the face of some pretty horrendous circumstances, so well done. And best thing to let the kids have a good cry. If you're able to look after the kids for a bit, then SS will probably be happy with that, but don't have much experience in that area.
Take care, and (hugs)

Yeep cherry, how awful. Well done for being an oasis of stability for the children, and What northern said is quite right, if they were both over 16 it would be less of an issue but with the younger child being 14 SS would certainly be involved (and will probably contact you tomorrow). They are always relieved when there is a caring relative willing to support children temporarily (even if not the closest relative blood-wise) as it's preferable to emergency foster care for them. Good luck and I hope the mum improves quickly. If she's kept in hospital they may put her onto a section two (up-to-28 day assessment section) while they work out what's going on and try to sort out what medicines may help.

Well, it's off to bed WAY too late tonight (whoops) but we have shiny repainted stair skirting. Need to clean the bannisters for phase two. The only problem with this DIY lark is realising quite how many squillions of things need doing....

My neighbour is at it again. She's got rid if her kids for the night and is making a hideous racket. If she wakes the kids up I'm going to go ballistic.

Morning all

DS is fine he's never showed any sign of illness so not sure what caused the massive poos. I think the cm sent him home because her kids were there and she was worried it was the start of something and because he'd ruined all the clothes he had with him.

Operation group 1 car seat commences today shame I'm skint already this month

Hope u got some sleep lmf

Morning! Shocked to discover that DS a) slept really well from 8-4.30 (woo!) and then b) has worked out how to crawl. Crazy child isn't even seven months yet and has tried to nosedive off the futon three time this morning... Emergency trip out for stairgate is in progress: tesco Home currently has their Lindam pressure gates on sale at £15 if anyone else has this problem!!

Crazily we've had a stair gate up since i was pg as the skunk isn't allowed up the stairs as she digs up the carpet and i couldn't keep climbing over the makeshift mdf barrier dh constructed when we moved in.

Just went to get ds dressed and found a stealth poo which i think he had been sat in a while as was all up his back so another mega soiled suit for the wash. I like it when he needs to work for a poo i never miss those.