FEB 2010 Two and a half to three...the "contrary age" (no it isn't! yes it is!)

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Come in, sit down, fresh coffee is brewing, Prosecco's in the fridge for later and there's a bumper box of Lindt chocolates for all....

Stoof Wow sounds like you are doing a fantastic job!! And very happy birthday to your dd.

Well done Stoof! Try to believe them! Can I share the cake?

congrats Stoof now print it all out and read it a good few times

I possibly cried when I failed to get the cambridge job but the prof sent me an amazing email

Ace work stoof! You must be doing something right, even if you don't think so!

Oh Survival that sounds rubbish - DS1 deserved better than that. Which hospital was it? I do hope it mends properly. Thankfully I haven't had the experience of glue/stitches in children's wounds, but it sounds like a shoddy job from what you say. Poor lad.

BG boo to the overnight coughing..... Do you use a humidifier? Have you considered the naughty cheat and getting the Benilyn mixture to help DD2 have a more restful night?

Rubbish night here - DS was very fidgety (but not feverish - if anything, I think he was a bit too cold) and DD woke in the early morning and called for me a couple of times (for no good reason, I might add - I'm afraid my response was rather shirty). Probably related to the witholding as she hasn't been for three days. Another reason to get it sorted.

Lactulose might work, although it would need to be a pretty high dose because it needs to not only make the stools softer and easier to pass, but to force DD not to withhold them any more. Apparently mild laxatives can't override the child's ability to clamp shut their anal sphincter. Movicol might be more effective (the amount of Lactulose necessary also has issues with regard to tooth decay as it is so sweet). Anyway, we'll see what the GP has to say - I hope we see one who's got some experience treating the problem.

You may have guessed that I've read up on the problem..!! I got a book which shed light on the situation and described DD's situation to a T. It's by a paediatrician who specialises in toileting issues and has successfully treated loads of kids using long-term laxative programmes. Apparently, it can take as long to treat successfully as it took to build up the problem (over a year in DD's case...) so the sooner we get started, the better. The reason is we now have to overcome an ingrained habit with a strong psychological hold as well as the physical problem.
At least there is an answer! It probably causes DH and I more anxiety than anything else relating to DD...... (and it certainly takes up a lot of her time too...)

A quck post from rainy Wales (actually it's sunny but misty today and we might manage to do something outdoors, on our last day!).

Survival that's awful treatment your DS received. Very and for you. Hope the maths is going well

BG sorry re asthma diagnosis and hopeDD2 is feeling better.

I must say your (plural) childcare issues sound incredibly stressful and is reinforcing that the grass is alway greener re SAH/WOH but not necessarily.

CP huge congrats to DP on the job. Could you keep DD's nursery up until she gets her free hours n April? I sometimes do nothing while DD1 is at nursery and DD2 naps. I do feel guilty but then tell myself I don't ever get a lunch hour so the odd hour here and there doing nothing isn't too cheeky.

I can't post much more, DD1 is sitting on my right arm in determined fashion. Good weekend vibes to all, catch up shortly I hope.

Scones

IC You are quite right, I think your dd's problem goes beyond lactulose. For dd2 it has a wonderful placebo effect - I give her a teaspoon of the stuff and she goes off and does a poo... I hope you see a GP who's clued up on the problem.

Sorry, meant to say a big WELL DONE to CP's DH on getting the job!! Bummer that it only works out as a smallish rise in income, but as you say CP, it won't be long before you've got more freedom to get a job and you're still young......

Wish the placebo effect was all that was needed for DD, BG!!

We saw a lovely GP who was indeed clued up on the issue. He asked if I had a medical background after I described the history and symptoms then palpitated DD's tummy and had a listen. He agreed it was distended and full of trapped wind (DD was excellent throughout the examination, especially when the GP let her listen on the stethoscope) and she bore all the hallmarks of classic stool withholding. So he prescribed Movicol - I have to experiment with how strong a dose DD needs daily to get her going daily, then once a regular daily habit seems to be established and DD appears to be losing her fear, we start to gradually reduce the laxative until she doesn't need it anymore. I feel so much better now we've got something positive to do about it! I disguised the first sachet in some chocolate milk today, but will probably mix it with some dilute apple juice in future. FX we start to get some results soon...

Incidentally, after three days DD did a whopper-toilet-blocker today, (nothing to do with the laxative - she just couldn't hold it anymore) and looked very sore afterwards. So a good thing action is being taken now.

IC fx

IC so glad you got the right GP

IC great news. fx it works well for her (and you as a result)

you make a fair point about age, hopefully I will be starting something by the time I am 30

CP

the point was serious though

DS just screamed for 45 mins as I dared to lay with him instead of rock him back to sleep (he'd only been asleep 20 mins and DH has gone out). I need to do something to move him towards self settling, before our patience runs too thin.

IC well done. Hope it resolves more quickly than you expect.

Scones I simply couldn' be a SAHM and that makes me feel a bit crap. There is definitely no easy solution for any of us, unless you happen o be one of the lucky folks who seem to adore every waking moment with their children.

Maths course finished, 2 hour Friday traffic jammed journey home complete, homemade (by Dh and boys) chocolate cake eaten and red wine on the way down. A good end to a rubbish week and an entirely average birthday!

I didn't know. Happy Birthday

average birthday is a great thing :)

Survival, aww that's sweet, I don't think my lot would manage a cake! :-) nothing wrong with an average birthday as long as cake and wine is involved! Happy birthday and I hope you have a lovely weekend to recover from the stressful week.

Still keep raising my eyebrows at dd2's current nursery but I am keeping quiet about it because she is going to be there until the end of January . Key worker talked more about dd2's one single episode of being sick last week and as good as accused me of lying about dd2 being fine the night before and fine after the episode. The fact that dd2 was very very sick a few times in quick succession at nursery just confirms my belief that she reacted badly to something she ate or drank that morning at nursery! Counting weeks...

Dd2 is still sleeping . Shame her sister got up at 6

BG fx it'll go quickly

survival happy belated birthday.

She's still fast asleep!

Happy birthday for yesterday survival. Cake and wine sounds great (maths and traffic not so great admittedly). Both my sisters made me a bday cake this year (I tend to make the bday cakes in our family) so I was . But a little bit at DH who is perfectly capable of making cakes (and does occasionally), it didn't even cross his mind to although he gets a cake every year even if I have to stay up late to make it. Ok he did take me out for dinner tho

stoof your appraisal sounds utterly brilliant! You know if you were a man you'd believe all the good stuff and ignore any negative, not that there was any negative from the sounds of it. Believe it!

IC great on the sympathetic GP and hurrah for a plan of action. Hope the situation starts to turn around soon. How are DD and DS getting on?

CP at DS non-settling. If you still have patience for patting and rocking then you have the patience of s saint. I'm sure it must be possible for him to learn to self-settle, he will have to at some stage and will it just get more difficult the longer it goes on? Do you read books on it (I read every sleep book under the sun) or just go with instinct? I have some I can send you if you like. What happened after 45 mins, did he go off? If yes, a few more like that and he will get the message (cruel but effective).

SB good luck TTC. Enjoy it! Do you have any day time you can grab the opportunity, if you're too knackered at night? I agree with not planning it too much. Fertility can differ wildly from when it's 'meant' to. Every 3 days and you'll have if covered Plus think of all those happy hormones swishing around post-deed.

DD2 started crawling on holiday Quite late, she's nearly 13m. Although I knew she would some time, I'm still gently bemused that she doesn't stay where I put her any more. I've had over a year of it!

We got home last night, after SUCH a lovely day yesterday, I didn't want to leave. DH persuaded me to quit while we were ahead and I'm glad to be home, and with very happy memories of our last day