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....

Stan Your ds is 18 months? How did that happen? Hope he feels better soon.

Thanks again to you all. Although we've had messing around with DS1's head tonight, the good news is that it gave the docs the opportunity to say that the blood test from this morning has come back normal re diabetes. Now we have to have further investigations to find out why he is displaying symptoms (waking for big drinks, starving hungry etc..) and has sugar in the urine. However, I feel like we've leapt the first hurdle.

I hope all of you with poorly ones manage to get them well soon and keep them that way - there seems to be a lot going round at the moment. Most of the kids I see seem to have conjunctivitis. My two seem to be improving with twice daily saline solution. Stan DS1 had a funny rash last week that kept coming and going. I decided it was viral and left him to it on this occasion.

CP good luck with the tongue tie. I've found out today how squeamish I am becoming in my old age - very inconvenient at the moment! I hope you do better (though totally get the feeling wobbly-lipped when putting them under a GA Stan. I had DH for support when DS1 had his last Christmas for endoscopy and colonoscopy and have no idea how I'd manage without him!)

I feel I should mention DS2, as it is him after all which has led me here . He's having a blood test on Friday to exclude Coeliac disease. I am confident that he doesn't have it - he 'just' has the intolerance like DS1 and DH. It will be his first blood test though and I feel like he is being somewhat overlooked at the moment. I shall enjoy my 'mummy day' with him tomorrow and hope to go back to swimming for the first time in a couple of weeks.

CP I've banished DH to the spare room since my sleep levels got really bad again. He has taken the monitors with him and I feel like I am actually getting some quality sleep, even if we are still going to bed too late. I still wake up before he does when one of the children wails, even though he has the monitors by his head!! I think what I'm trying to say is that I know only too well that when you are in the middle of a sleep deprived period of time that it seems endless and hopeless. Hopefully, it will suddenly improve again for you. We have decided to be much tougher on DS2 at bedtime and this has helped him with self-settling in the night again. I do think it's worth making a stand every now and then, especially when they have the capacity to understand like the nearly three year olds do now! This too shall pass...

Signing off there to finish wine and go to bed. Wishing you all a healthy and sleep-filled night (from a much happier and calmer Survival).

stan I meant to ask what prompted the career change?

funny you should say that survival they both only woke once last night [night] even if it was for 30 mins each time

I have another cold I had a whole day in between. I suspect DS is getting it too but at least none of them had my one last week.

good to everyone for today

stan I hope he gets better soon! impetigo?

Sotu CpIC good news! hope it lasts.

I have little time now I have around 8h of tutoring per week (even if some is temporary it is a relief for Xmas), and a mega craft project for DD1's Xmas: phase one of building a littlest petshop/playmobile house. It is started FX we can make it before the 22nd during school time .... I need DH for cutting the cardboard, I am really bad at it even with a ruler I can't cut straight there is possibly something wrong with me

BG I was wondering too (already 18 months! stan)

Are you all OK with the deluge?

Lots going on for people on here...

survival I'm constantly in awe of how you cope with everything life throws at you. Glad it isn't diabetes, the laceration is being seen to and good luck with the latest round of blood tests.

CP good luck with the clinic today and hope you all return to full health and sleepful nights soon.

mous your craft project sounds huge. I admire you for taking such things on, as I simply don't have the patience and can't stand the mess going on for days on end. Hope things are feeling better for you generally.

stone glad the big boy bed is going well and the reward chart is working. Hope TTC pays off soon.

stan I am friends with you on FB and often comment on your posts. Nice to hear from you again on here as well. As others have asked, what has prompted your work decision ?

bg I seem to have missed something about your nursery, but hope you can hang on until DD2 moves into pre-school (is that what you have planned?). Hope you are enjoying your work and the commute is OK.

IC glad the Movicol has worked for your DD. Both my DDs have suffered that way, but at a much younger age. The GPs and HVs were reluctant to do anything, though I did try lactulose and glycerin suppositories, but they both grew out of it when they started moving more. Fingers crossed you are on the right path now, and I'm so pleased you have a decent GP to support you.

stoof you sound like you have had more than your fair share of ill health. Glad things are improving now. Amazing birthday cake last weekend!

Things with me are much the same. I have been very busy with work (though it has slowed a little for the moment, thankfully) and trying to juggle it with everything else (governors, PTA, DH having his eyes lasered, my slightly mad ILs who seem to think I am their IT helpdesk for the Ipad we got FIL for his recent 70th birthday, helping at DD1's school). I had been feeling very low (hence not posting) but today I have taken a deep breath, pulled muself together and had a good look round and realised that I am far more on top of things than I thought. DH is also still really trying (in a good way ) - he has started cooking dinner a couple of times a week, and while not organised in any way is at least not shouting at me if I ask him to do something. So this is all positive stuff.

Anyone excited about Christmas yet? I have put up the advent calendars (I have two refillable calendars, one of which has chocolates in and the other has little cards that relate to small presents which I have already wrapped), the Christmas presents are either here or on order, and the tree will go up on Sunday (it is DD1's school Christmas fair on Saturday so we may as well make a weekend of it).

I think I'll start feeling excited about Christmas when I'm more organised for it, Science! Sorry to hear you've been feeling low, but glad your DH has continued his efforts at being a better support for you.

Likewise, pleased to hear things are taking a turn for the better for you Survival - wheat intolerance is a bugger, isn't it? It seems to be in EVERYTHING.

CP hoorah for a better night's sleep!

Nothing from DD yesterday, but an evacuation (!) this morning. I've upped the dose, though. The aim is something EVERY day, whether she likes it or not (mostly not!)
DD and I went to look at a local Montessori nursery school today. She loved it - and so did I. MIL runs one along Montessori lines, but this one is the real deal and I was hugely impressed. I think it would be really good for DD with all the emphasis on individual learning and self-reliance/responsibility. I need to discuss with DH first, but MIL has offered to help us cover the cost, so desperate is she for DD to go to a Montessori, so we might well be able to do it even before the local authority grant kicks in for the Summer term.

Re Xmas - I have actually started doing online shopping and ebaying and have made a bunch of photo calendars for various relatives, so not feeling as panic-stricken as I might otherwiese....

Hmm....DD and DS are both asleep right now and probably I should try and get some Zs too...but it's so lovely to be up and enjoying the peace and quiet (radio aside...)

Just a quickie to answer the "why the career change' queries.

When I returned to work in Sept I hated it. I hadn't worked in my home Department (the Home Office) for nearly 3 years as the period between maternity leaves had been spent on loan somewhere else and was only for 4 months anyway.

No one I knew was left as they had either found a job somewhere else or been made redundant. The job they gave me was effectively undoable - something my 2 bosses admitted to me in recent weeks and there was one really unpleasant person who tried to undermine me all the time. I was so stressed I was coming home and crying every night. I offered my resignation to my boss and she refused it, instead sending me on sick leave and tried to reconfigure my job. In the meantime HR said I could apply for early severance and get a good financial package.

I decided I just hated what the workplace had become and having spent 20 years as a civil servant i want to do something more satisfying and more directly helpful to society. So I applied and was given early severance. Absolutely no idea what I'm going to do next. I suspect whatever it is it won't be on the same money and as I have been the main breadwinner it may mean we have to sell the house and downsize - but I couldn't waste my life with all that crap anymore.

As the kids have remained in fulltime nursery in November I have mainly been watching Jeremy Kyle and drinking gin. It's been ace but they go part-time from next week so I shall only have Wed and Fridays each week to lounge about. Oh - and I'll have to find a job.

I quit my job nearly a year and a half ago

stan hopefully you'll find a new job which you enjoy again

I didn't get the civil servant job I applied for (but to be fair I knew I will not be shortlisted) but enjoyed contacting HR telling them anout the mistake they made on my letter (they say I wasn't successful after the interview - I didn't have an interview )

science forgot to say. to hear you're feeling down but good news that your DH is helping.

Stan that sounds rubbish about the unmanageable job - well done for taking the brave option and taking a leap. I'm sure you'll find a job as you must have lots of skills (and many more improved as a mum on maternity leave - negotiating, multi-tasking, lateral thinking etc..)

SB sorry you didn't get the job. Hope you will find something else if that's what you are wishing for.

Science really pleased to hear that your Dh is still trying hard - that sounds like a real effort, not just a half-arsed attempt to appease you this time. Don't be hard on yourself for feeling down - I hope the festive weekend ahead helps to raise your spirits further.

IC I bet you've got more done tha you realise once you get it all out to look at. And, of course, you do have a rather small baby and a recent C Section to contend with. (Not to mention an ongoing battle with daily poo )

CP really pleased to hear that DS's lasering has gone well and with immediately good results. I hope it has a positive impact on his sleeping too (if he can feed better).

Mous hats off to you with your craft project. I have sewn two lovely santa sacks in the last couple of weeks (and it would have been much cheaper to buy them!) and am going to start on a puppet theatre to hang in the door frame just as soon as things calm down a little.

I've had a migraine today, which I guess is unsurprising. I got DS1's bloods back - he may be anaemic again, as well as needing investigations for the sugary symptoms, so we are seeing the consultant tomorrow as a priority. Then back to the same ward for DS2's blood test in the afternoon. Despite the above, I have had a nice day with DS2 and managed to get him back to swimming, which he really enjoyed. And, heh, i didn't puke in the pool, so it was all good .

what a day survival Good luck tomorrow

Science forgot to say hello. If it helps I've been feeling down too. I'm blaming it on this proposal writing and I think I tend to feel this way until reports tend to come more together and sound professional instead of incoherent thoughts that I don't understand. Anyway my strategy has been to post loads . Hope things feel better for you soon.

IC brilliant news about potential help with the costs. The ones our way are expensive (and too far away really, and full up...). I'm still going to hand notice in to nursery, but I'll also try for a local childminder if I find one I like. That way can save money by paying her hour, instead of per session. There is a good pre-school, but it won't take her until Sept. Still not sure about potentially moving her and then moving again come Sept (there are too many what if's). Do free hours work for childminders as well or just nursery settings?

DS was a bit grizzly this evening after we did the stretches and wouldn't take a feed. Hopefully he'll take one later.

oops

I don't really drink anymore.. ever? not quite sure why but I'm three glasses of wine in and have work tomorrow. i should probably go to bed now

sotu blimey what a lot you've got on - good luck tom

cp good on the ties :) ? your 5th sentence in last post proper made me grin? in fact I chuckled out loud which scared the cat and made DH look enquiringly at me?. like I said, i don't drink often i'll do pretty much anything to avoid writing stuff like that? i'm currently considering scrubbing the work toilets with my toothbrush as i have a full staff briefing to deliver next weds on welfare reform yawn

mous sotu I have an enormous long list of stuff i'd like to do but will never get round to!

science my cosmic twin? chin up lovely!

off to bed before I fall over

dd2 wants a 'rainy deer' for Christmas

BG . DS keeps asking for Pere Noel (father Christmas) especially as he wants to eat the one made of sugarpaste

Good to hear the tongue-tie cutting went smoothly, CP! I think the nursery vouchers are exactly that - but you might look into childcare tax relief that is managed if taken directly from your DH's salary?? (think BG can explain more about how that works...)

Blimey survival - a day with a migraine is a good day!! You're amazing. Good to hear you had fun with DS2 - I hope you get some definitive answers and a good treatment programme sorted for DS1.

stan good for you for quitting. Life's too short to be made miserable by a bloody job.

SB how cheeky that HR said you failed at interview stage! Sorry to hear you didn't get it, not to be I guess.

DD has only got a vague idea about Christmas at the moment, although she's far more clued up about presents than she was a year ago - especially since the slew she received when she became a big sister!

After a day of no-show, we had two productions yesterday. DD fought both, but admitted they hadn't hurt when she admitted defeat.
I took her to a localish gym which does ace toddler-and-parent sessions today and she did the whole journey and session in Big Girl Knickers (including three uses of the travel potty) with aplomb. Very impressive! We still give her the choice of knickers or nappy, but she's becoming more confident about opting for knickers (providing she doesn't need to do a Number Two...)

DS yowled a bit in the car seat both ways (unless he's VERY tired, he seems to have stopped just nodding off once we start the engine, unfortunately) but was otherwise content to hang out in the sling and snooze there once he'd had enough of watching the action. He is SO smiley, especially at me, which is heart-melting. I can forgive him the 05.30 nappy change when he grins up at me in delight from the changing table.
I often find when DH is holding DS that both are smiling at me and looking hungrily at my breasts (for different reasons) - a mixture of cute, funny and vaguely disconcerting....

I've got ear ache I thought only children get ear infections? . dd2 got a bit of an earful (pardon the pun) from me earlier when she started screeching for no obvious reason, in a fun sort of way. Normally I would have just told her not to be so silly, but the throbbing in my ear became so bad that I shouted at her a bit . I did apologise to her later and she said sorry for screeching and we were friends again by bedtime.
Yuck, my ear has just started leaking.... Hopefully that should help with the pain.

IC I got tea up my nose this afternoon reading the last sentence of your post

[BG] get yourself checked you might need AB if it is seeping!

BG I agree with mous get it checked. I still suffer from otitis. Hopefully it'll heal soon

IC good news on the medecine doing the business for your DD

CP how is your DS doing?

We're going to the swimming pool today and I hope it won't be too cold [brr]

BG I agree with mous get it checked. I still suffer from otitis. Hopefully it'll heal soon

IC good news on the medecine doing the business for your DD

CP how is your DS doing?

We're going to the swimming pool today and I hope it won't be too cold [brr]

DS is alright but he's suffering on a few fronts really.

Night after he came down with a fever (unrelated to TT/LT cut as he was coming down with something anyway). He hates his temperature being taken. He also hates the stretching exercises so felt like I was continually trying to pin him down yesterday. He didn't take some bf's the first night but has fed fine since. He still has nappy rash which is unlike him so shall see what its like on Monday and take him to the GP in case of thrush.

He did until 4am today (not sure if it was just the illness rather than anything else), of course DD got the memo and woke 3 times in that period and 2 times afterwards. She's complaining of a sore mouth but indicating tongue rather than throat (not that she would necessarily know how to indicate the difference). I periodically suffer from quite sore tongues so hope she doesn't have that.

bg how you doing today?

DS and my christmas project is nearly finished . I'll just have to make the gingerbread village a few days before Christmas.

I spent today in a very bad mood. Ear ache does not agree with me! Got cross at breakfast about dh having the radio on while reading the newspaper, and the girls getting ever louder trying to drown out the radio. Noise and ear ache are not a good combination. Then got cross about the suggestion to go into town. Then got cross I wasn't invited and dh took the girls on his own! My ear leaked onto my pillow overnight (gross) and feels wet, so very cold weather and wet ear didn't seem like a good idea. Stayed home sulking, spent an hour wrapping presents and wondering how Santa is going to manage to get them up to the Lake District without the children noticing Then had a bit of a lie down... Was woken two hours later by excited children coming back from a lovely time in town (newly opened Hamleys store featured highly), and felt cross I wasn't included. Briefly wondered whether I was cross enough to divorce dh. He then offered to get wine, so I decided to keep him for now. Have now had some medicinal wine and a roaring fire for warmth and a few Frasier episodes for nostalgic value, and feel a little less annoyed.
Tomorrow can only be better I guess.

DD told us that 'Doing exercises on DS makes him sad, so no do exercises on DS' :( but also a bit sweet all at the same time.

hope you feel better soon. I'm feeling pretty normal now so a mild cold in the end.