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 It's mainly been me whining about chickenpox spots . To be fair, dd2 has some impressive ones close to a 5 pence piece in size .

How was your work do? Hope the meal was worth the money! I went to one the other day (paid for luckily) which was basically a set xmas meal with all the trimmings. Being vegetarian, they presented me with a bowl of gnocchi with tomato sauce... . I actually laughed out loud and then piled lots of sprouts, carrots, mash etc on top and left half the gnochi uneaten. I am no fan of nut roast but they could at least have tried to make it roughly equivalent!

scones thankfully this bout seems to be a mild one.

DS can say duck, well 'uck' but he was clearly picking up plastic ducks at playgroup and then calling them duck.

after two weeks of no exercise I hit the climbing wall tonight and now feel really good, despite a rather wobbly start. I am now resolved to fit in at least some running this week.

I sent dd1 off to school with dh to give dd2 a lie in. She's still sleeping
and [biscuits] anyone?

Sorry, too greedy, seems like we are only allowed one

Talking of , I had a slightly bizarre conversation with dh the other day. He complained of feeling a bit ill because he'd eaten too many and blamed me for buying them in the first place . I told him that the fact they are in the house doesn't mean he has to eat them in one go . He said he paid for half of them so should be allowed to eat them and I shouldn't buy any... I actually laughed at him and told him the conversation was over. Surely we as a family don't have to stop eating the occasional because he has no self control? It's his own fault anyway because he rarely has lunch, so when he comes in from work he is so hungry he'll grab anything he can find eg several bananas, a few slices of bread, half a pack of biscuits..

Going off to put the kettle on and stomp around the landing a bit to wake dd2. She's spooking me now.

BG are you married to my DH?

DS just went off to sleep, in his cot, with just me sitting the floor next to him. No crying, no patting, just a little bit of shushing at the end for 10 secs max.

CP yepee

at mous and BG DHs re

Well done CP - that sounds like sleep progress (and good climbing!)

Some of your husbands sound really 'fascinating', to put it nicely. I suspect I give DH rather a hard time and should perhaps be offering to loan him out from time to time!! I have no self control BG and occasionally ask DH not to buy me any treats at the supermarket ('cos of course it is only me who can eat them here) but I'd never blame him if I ate them!! Hope the pox are starting to give DD2 less grief.

DS1 was a donkey in the nativity today. After the term he's had, I was a trifle emotional on the way there but managed not to require the tissue I'd taken with me once we were there.

DS2 has come home from nursery sounding quite stuffed up with cold and cough and, yet, is not complaining. I can't wait to get home from work (and hospital in Birmingham) tomorrow to give him a big, long, festive holiday, some rest and lots of cuddles. Remind me of that by the time I reach Thursday evening !! I'm very much hoping things run smoothly at Birmingham with DS1's head and finger, as I will miss my work Christmas lunch if not. We pay for it ourselves and have to squeeze it into an hour, but it would be a shame to miss it.

Have a friend popping over for a catch up now but wanted to send some MN love to our lovely thread friends, particularly those having a hard time of it.

survival is the hospital visit a follow-up? I hope it goes fine and that you manage to go to your lunch

DS nativity is tomorrow. Fx he won't freak out in front of unknown parents.

BG how is your DDs doing?

Stone - she's pretty okay with the chickenpox although nowhere near crusted over yet, so looks scary. But she's struggling with the fever bug she's also got. Her temperature still goes up quite high in the evenings (dd1 had the same for over a week). Today she got up at nearly 10, asked to go for a nap at 1.30 and I had to wake her at 3 to collect dd1. Then she was asleep again at 7. Spooks me but I guess she is sleeping herself well (like dh would, but dd1 and I wouldn't).

works do (x2) survived and i got out of buying the drinks :) felt very tight, but we're skint and our director was also there!!

BG lunch do I had goats cheese bruschetta (yum!) and then a filo parcel with sweet potato (not so yum)? I get irrationally pissed off with the provision of completely unfestive veggie alternatives to turkey? especially stuff like lasagne, gnocchi, curry etc served with all the trimmings...? night do was catered by a veggie cafe so had nut roast and salad - v nice!

CP

BG glad it sounds like CP passing? DD still got horrid hacking cough but the benylin is deffo helping her sleep which is helping. DS seems to have picked up the cough - think I'm in for a rough night (it's my turn to get up tonight). DD has been sleeping in our bed for over a week now - just a lot easier when she's ill, best chance of us all getting some sleep?

still not very robust about DS? though definitely paying heed to the GP's reassurance last time we went - despite scary high temps and nasty cough, I haven't felt the need to run to the docs with him? feel like I'm getting back in control again!!

I'm not ready for Christmas. Can we postpone it please?

I have brought one thing so far (to be fair only out of 6 in total to get) and even that needs assembling. Plus I forgot DH is in London today and back at 11pm and also out Friday night. We travel to my parents Saturday lunch, but I have tutoring first so can't even get stuff done in the morning.

children have nursery this afternoon, but I have all the fellowship corrections to do plus get dinner and housework ready as DH won't be here

he had his one year jabs yesterday finally. He has reacted to all previous jabs plus I've mistimed it so the 7-11 days part for the measles reaction is due on xmas day. He was a bit miserable this morning so was down for his nap by 9am.

I don't think the cot sleeping will continue, especially as we have the xmas disruption coming up, but at least I know it is possible and can deal with in the new year

I have also declared that DD now wakes more often than DS. Still on 2 or 3 wakings (and only 2 wakings as she gets up early instead)

CP on your lack of sleep

dd2 has beaten her own record and has just emerged from her cot!! She's furious that she has missed dh (by a mere three hours...). I do hope her excessive sleeping means she is getting better, not worse? (She was asleep by 7 last night). I'll try to talk her into having breakfast now

No need for :( I'm in a steady state atm where it is alright. i'll be complaining soon enough I'm sure

Water coming through the frame of a closed window is not a good sign, right?

I seem to have gone off garlic, coffee and wine ... It'd better be due to my cold!!

probably not

DS went off for night sleep in his cot, mind you I have only just come down. The place is a state, I have had no dinner (let alone cooked one and we have a silly amount of veg to cook and freeze) and no run. Corrections always take longer than you think don't they, but bar one final read through I am going to leave it all alone now.

CP I take my hat off to you getting any academic writing done with two children! I am still trying to do a literature review...

BG

and what sort of window is it? if pvc it might have buckled a little? or sprained the stay? double or single glazed? north facing? unusual weather? do you have mould/condensation trays or trickle vents? have they blocked?