Arg. Meant to be in bed, snoozing peacefully while my DCs slumber.
Instead am sat on sofa with mumsnet and a decaf, while DS breathes heavily in between bouts of suspiciously croupy-sounding coughs. Have given ibuprofen (calpol is standard but he takes inuprofn better), and have him sleeping upright on me to stop him burbling. Will try to put him back into the (propped) cot later, but something tells me it's going to be a long night. Fortunately have decorated DD2's cake: as ever have winged it a bit, half way through was convinced it was a disaster, but by the end it's looking pretty ok! May be sad/sleep deproved enough to link shortly.
Also have all the party prep bar the "easy food" done, including an inspirin list of party games so if we are brain dead we just pick off the list. I love parties, beats me why people spend £250 on a pre-arranged softplay doodah (ok, the kids like them too).
Northern, the bears thing is a shameless consumer con, but the way they do it entrances the kids (more's the pity). They get to pick the sound chip for their bear, "help" to stuff it, give it a wish heart that's stitched inside, name it, get a "birth certifcate" thingy....the bears are £15-20 depending on size (mini ones are £8), then it's £3-£5 for a sound chip, £4.50 if you want a vibrating heart in it, and them the killer are the clothing and accessories costs....seriously, these things are as pricey as real clothes. £4.50 for a pair of slippers, £10 for a dress, £4 for hat, £4 for shades, £8 for t shirt and shorts,?£10 for a teddy bed, it just keeps going... We did the "budget" approach and let DD choose day and night clothes for it,,-'d introduced her to the Sale rail! They have both gone to sleep happily clutching their bears and really enjoyed the whole caboodle.