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....

mous does he help out much? I really feel for you, worry I don't say it often but it doesn't mean I don't think about it. Just I never know what to say.

DD did a poo without hassle today :) DS has a fever

A busy weekend for you all by the sound of it.

Mous I think you are amazing - I'd be finding it extremely difficult with your DH right now. I hope things ease for you soon. I think DS1 is on the high functioning end of the spectrum too (and probably me too ) but he seems to be coping well with school so far. Having DS2 has shown up some of DS1's weaknesses as DS2 can now do some things tha DS1 doesn't do yet - e.g. asks if we've had a nice day and is interested in the answer; holds eye contact well etc..

BC loving the robots - we're heavily into cats here and I've spent half the day lying in a 'cat cage' (den) in the lounge meowing!! All because DS1's best friend has just got three cats.

Secind child syndorme -definitely! I've managed 2 photo albums for DS2, as opposed to the 3 for DS1 - I actually think that's pretty good going. Virtually no video though .

The boys have played beauifully for much of the weekend and the house is now looking festive (and most presents wrapped). Donkey outfit checked off the list. Story book writing and puppet theatre left to complete... A much more enjoyable weekend and a big sigh of relief.

Scones The steam train sounds good. I was hoping to sort it for our boys but DS2 is terrified of Father Christmas so I decided it was a bit of a waste of money at this point! Hope the vomiting is a one off.

BG hope the ear improves soon. Go back tomorrow if you see no improvement.

SB liking the angel role -an easier costume too I assume? It must be hard listening to comments about DS's speech. If it's any consolation, my friend's DD has caught up and more in time for attending school (and is fluent in German as well as English).

How are your two now CP? Hope the fever subsides soon. DS2 has a rash and I'm wondering if nursery are going to refuse to have him in the morning. Both boys are feeling sick when they eat. Maybe i wasn't just stressed at the beginning of the week after all?$

It's a school night - must go to bed!!

DD is fine now and didn't even get up to 6:30, better night as well with only two short wakings.

DS is still feverish and am having to alternate the drugs quicker than usual to keep it OKish. Poor little thing had a blue mouth, cold hands and was chattering despite a temperature of 38.4. He has gone back to refusing medicine so it's a battle to dose him. I have some eczema creams to try and well (naturally the cold extremities happened 30 mins after our appointment).

survival did you say that yours can't have lentils? They def. lead to very loose bowels with DS. As he has a habbit of not drinking, last night this was quite useful to give him.

How is everyone else today?

CP wondering how the hell it got to be nearly christmas without me really noticing mostly!!!

I also have a manky ear though nothing like poor BG mine is just where my ear's pierced, and as soon as I start to get run down or stressed, it gets infected, swollen, pus-filled, itchy and uncomfortable? oh, and it looks delightful! I thought I was doing ok on the run down/stressed front but my ear tells me otherwise

i have a (very minor) gripe today? I got a call from school to check if i was ok with DD's full name appearing under a photo in the local paper of the christmas play? apparently they'd done a close up of her and a couple of others? i'd said they could use her first name but not surname cos of my work (don't like to be traceable if possible, specially not for the kids, and our surname isn't smith or jones) anyway? DH later got a message that they probs wouldn't use the pic without her full name, and was made to feel a bit bad about it by school? me? I don't care - if it's a nice pic we might buy it off the website, but then I got to thinking - DD will be upset if all the other kids get in the paper and she doesn't, all because of me refusing to let them use her name? then i figured, actually i'd rather she was upset by that than some loon i've been dealing with at work tracking her down and who knows what?

um? dunno what i'm trying to say really, except that things are never blinking straightforward are they?

hope everyone's reasonably well - CP hope DS fever reduces soon..

Stoof I am totally with you on the name thing. There is absolutely no reason to use full names. Our school uses first names only or first name and initial for the surname for anything in the public domain.

Sorry to hear you also have a sore ear. Mine's still pretty deaf but does some clicking noises now and again and the car alarm sound is now a washing machine (although last night I had the most irritating engaged telephone sound - never knew tinnitus could be so entertaining!). Still hoping it will clear in the next few days so I can have conversation with people again. Also, dh is fed up of having to shake me awake because I can't hear my alarm in the morning

Get well vibes to everyone. dd1 is now down with the school high temperature bug that's doing the rounds. It's already caused her school play to be seriously lacking in sheep (half a flock) and angels (two rather than six) last week. She came home today rattling off all the children that were missing from her class today (about 7) and it looks like she might be off tomorrow.

stoof sounds like you did the right thing. Why on earth does the paper need to print children's surnames anyway?

CP poor DS. Have you been to doc I take if from your appt? Can doc prescribe suppositories, they were a lifsaver (literally) when DD2 was ill. She still struggles with taking meds now but will take Tesco's own over Calpol, have you tried different brands? Worrying for you Glad DD better though

I get a gummy earring hole too, tis smelly and yuck.

BG get well to DD1. Will it cause childcare headaches?

Survival 2 photo albums for DS2 is impressive. Photo albums are on my I Must Do Someday list.

scones Yes but I'm getting better at this . Briefed dh as soon as dd1 was home with a temperature of 39 this afternoon. She's a tough little thing and may well sleep it off until the morning. If she's still unwell I can be flexible in the morning and dh can work from home in the afternoon (providing she's happy to lie on the sofa watching dvds and doesn't think having him home means playtime ). I'm then home on Wednesday anyway. Fx she doesn't pass it on to all of us. I have no problem sending dd1 to school with a cold if she is bouncing round the house and seems well enough in herself, but for some reason I am much softer with dd2 and wouldn't dream of sending her to nursery even with a hint of a slightly raised temperature...

DS more normal ill, but woke with a temp of 39.7, he took the drugs though. My sister is looking after them today, am at my mums to do some work. Have to try and not feel too bad, but I'll be back for at least an hour for lunch.

Hope the other poor lies are ok

Sending get well soon dust to all poorly

stoof I would not want my DS surname to be published neither.

Need to carry on working

DS had a massive meltdown this morning when he realised he forgot his cuddly toy at home. I felt so useless at not been able to comfort him but he stopped crying when I started singing a 'christmas' song about an elf and Santa . But as a result of his toy been left home we finally managed to wash it!

Sorry I haven't been on for a while - 4 month sleep regression seems to be setting in with DS, so I've been going to bed by 20.00 in order to cope with the multiple wakings.
In other respects, he remains delightful, so I forgive him and thankfully, his naps are still fine (although I'm using those that synchronise with DD's to get Christmas organised....)

Oh CP more illness - rubbish for your poor DS and for you. I hope his recovery is quick. Sorry to hear about the withholding, it's a bit of a nightmare, isn't it?

Likewise BG - not much fun for you and your DD2. The book I have says go easy on dairy products as apparently they can actually be quite dehydrating (although this seems to apply more to Number 2s than 1s....)
How's the ear doing?

Mous sorry to hear about the continuing DH frustrations...

DD is on great form at the moment. Her behaviour is much better in general - partly because of the regular bowel movements (!) and partly because I think she's getting the idea that when I say I'm going to do something as a consequence to something she's doing/done, I actually do it. She definitely takes me more seriously now, which is helpful. Although I agree Bc that it's not always ideal to have a child jump to obey you in an instant, it does help if they will at least do/stop doing something reasonably promptly when you ask them to - especially if it involves danger to themselves and/or their sibling.

Second child syndrome, yes a bit of that here. DS definitely doesn't have as much attention as the PFB did. I'm looking forward to February when DD will start nursery three afternoons a week to redress the balance a bit!

it's great that you are able to get to sleep early to compensate

IC I was completely shocked over the effects on her behaviour and the distress it caused her. So glad your DD is still doing well.

I sent off the proposal today, working on the lay report and wondering how I will ever fit it into one page.

DS slept with my mum last night and he actually slept. We tried with me but he's worked out he can lift my top.

Oh Mous how dreadful. Huge sympathies to you. Don't go if you can't face it, I'm sure you have many plausible (and true no doubt) reasons why you can't leave your family at the moment. Big hugs. You are coping with such a lot and all on disturbed sleep too (kick DH onto the sofa for a few nights). and

Good luck with the proposal CP, Herculean effort with two very small people to look after.

BG hope DD1 is better.

IC Woweee on the 8pm bedtimes (Not of 4m SR tho, I swore DD2 wouldn't regress and she did. I'm afraid I uncontrolled cried her out of it). Great that DD's behaviour better, I completely agree, DD1 is mostly better with me because she knows I mean what I say. [taking no shit emoticon]

SB Well done on the cheeky toy wash. Our girls both have 2 of their cuddlies or I'd never be able to wrench them away long enough to wash them (helps when they're sick all over them too ).

Gonna be a cold one tonight eh? Need icicles emoticon...

oh mous how jarring. I agree to do your own thing and have your family to help you.

ps I might post my two things on fb once done as I feel I need to show someone and shout 'look, I made fire' . I'm used to submitting and getting feedback, not just sending off into the abyss. Plus you lot will appreciate how hard it is to squeeze this stuff in while being a SAHM.

Hi all,

Mous - very sorry about your friend but absolutely you shouldn't go if it will freak you out. You have 2 very young kids and the journey sounds awful. You are NOT a freak - rembember and honour your friend the way you want to.

Sorry to hear about all the poorly children and mums.

CP Well done on the proposal.

Stoof I think you were q reasonable to not want surname published.

Survival - so sorry you've had another trip to a + e (saw facebook).

SB How did the macarons come out?

Had nursery nativity this pm. DS was a shepherd and his best friend was Mary's donkey. He was sweet - didn't do much, but got v nervous when he was supposed to be dancing and needed to sit on his keyworker's lap for a cuddle. Another mm commented that the parents looked like a paparazzi pack. She was right to be honest - all except front 2 rows standing and in the aisle .

I am crap at getting dd to sleep. Because DH is out she is still wide awake on my lap. I usually feed her to sleep then he takes care of the transfer to basket and upstairs. She's had about 2 20 min naps all day. Tuesdays are always bad as it's the only day I have them both all day.

DS has just started telling me how horrible I am. I try not to react but it hurts.

Not just as in just now (he's asleep) but since yesterday.

mous I hate funerals too and you are more than reasonable not to go. Send your apologises to the family and if they can't understand why, I would not worry too much (I hope I don't sound harsh as it is not how I want to say it but cannot find another way).

bc it'll be fine tonight

CP well done

DS is once again coughing but fx it'll stay on the lowand won't need another trip to the gp

survival what happened to your DS1?

Well done CP - that's some achievement.

Mous sorry to hear about your friend. I agree on you having plenty of reasons not to go if you don't want to.

BG hope your DD is on the mend. Many bugs here too.

BC that sounds very cute about DS in the nativity (and less so about the parents!) I've been getting, "You're not a nice lady, Mummy!" from DS2 for about 6 months - it's now water off a duck's back!!

IC glad to hear you are still winning the poo battle .

SB Ds2's cat now looks like it's been dragged through a hedge backwards as it has been puked on so often and washed!! A sneaky wash is very clever, as long as it comes out looking the same!!

And yes, a further trip to A&E today with DS1. He's made a real mess of his middle finger (and nail) on his right hand (and is right handed). I can not believe it! I flew into panic mode when I got the call, I think after last time, but he has been very brave once again. Unfortunately, DS2 then retched just before teatime (haven't posted tha on FB in case I end up sending him to nursery if he's not sick!). He's been complaining about tummy ache since last week but has not managed a full-on retch until now. Could be his dysmotility as they had given him lots of baked beans at nursery - I guess the night will tell. DH and I trying to juggle the childcare for tomorrow as a result. I am determined that next year will be spent less in hospitals...

Off to write Christmas cards now. Hope all the poorly folk are mending and love to all I haven't mentioned.

what a hideous amount of bugs doing the rounds :-( SOTU hope it's ok? I once had to take my little brother to a&e by myself (I was 14, he was 10) when a sandstone slab fell on his hand and crushed 3 fingers

DD has nasty cough? not much sleep last night, hoping tonight a bit better.

mous

it's our christmas lunch tomorrow at work.. .cost £25 !!!!!!!!!!!! so hoping it's good (also hoping I can get out of the almost obligatory manager buying everyone a drink as we're horribly skint? our director's going, so hopes are high!!! my plan is to let her get to the bar first!!)

night all xx

Surprising response from dd2 when told that dd1 will not be at school today (39.6 ). 'She'll be alright! Give her medicine!' Sounds like she does not want to give up her mama day!
Some serious mummy and daddy guilt last night - we sent dd1 to school yesterday because she seemed absolutely fine. dh collected her from after school care at 4.30 and she lay down on the sofa when she got home. Got back at 6 and took her temperature which was 39.9 .