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....

Saying hi now as have a very busy week ahead.

Eczema affects so many of them doesn't it? No idea with DS2 as I can barely remember his date of birth, let alone anything else!! However, I know we saw it with DS1 on his first holiday at 5 months and he had it a couple of weeks later so I guess just before 6 months. Never knew anything about the 6 months rule. See a different GP IC?

CP hope the TT treatment has worked. I didn't knwo it could reattach until you mentioned it - but it does make sense. Poor little mite.

BC I know wha you mean about the small things. For me it is because other things bubble away under the surface and then something small happens and it causes me to lose the plot somewhat. I usually manage to take it out on DH who is totally bewildered until I fill himin on the previous 20 things that had been bugging me! Hope you found the lip stuff (and the headache improved).

Mous we're hoping for snow here. I've done a whole 3 days of work this year and could really do with a day at home with the boys in the snow. Technically, I have to report to the village school if they remain open and offer my services. Luckily, the Head is not local so it is unlikely to happen.

SB hope DS sleeps for you after his busy day.

Hi to the rest of you. Off to bed now. See you at the other end of the week I suspect. (and after another trip to Birmingham for DS1's head, to see the consultant, as they are concerned about his scar ).

yes BC I meant to say.

I guess even when things are going well, we still have years of sleep deprivation and mummy guilt to deal with. Our reserves are gone, so it doesn't take a lot, especially concerning the few things that are just for ourselves.

I have only today got round to being OK with my hair, it's so silly and trivial overall but we have to be kind to ourselves and allow ourselves to feel down or tired for their own sake. Sometimes it's when things are all well I fall apart the most, I have nothing to blame my down feelings on. I had to leave playgroup early on Friday. People to be fair could see I was a bit upset and tried to talk to me, but I couldn't exactly say well I've put on weight, have bad spots and hate my hair. It's too shallow, normally you just blame it on a rough night.

ps good luck this week survival

Dd2 just told me I have a big smelly bottom . Apart from that she has been delightful today, going from one thing to the next (play doh, jigsaw, playmobil, marbles, jigsaw, stickers and colouring, jigsaw..), tidying up whenever she finished with one thing. I had some paperwork to finish so was grateful for her independence. Also most impressed how quickly she can throw a jigsaw puzzle together.

Okay, maybe I have a slightly odd child. Dd2 threw a tantrum just now when she came back into the room and I had tidied up her jigsaw for her... . She had run after dd1 to play and came back to put it back into the box herself! Naughty mummy!

SC

How funny it is that we now post as much on FB than we do here I guess fb settings gives us privacy

We just can't stop nattering SB!

Arf at your DD2 SC!

Poor old DD was complaining of a sore bottom (front) today - something was wedged up there, DH managed to gently remove it, but it looked rather red and angry, poor thing. She'd had an exploding nappy (pooing sitting down....it goes everywhere...) earlier in the day, but I thought I managed to clean her up properly. FX it won't turn into an infection - the last thing we need is DD to be scared of weeing as well....
On a brighter note, apart from the nappy disaster and wetting herself (too worried about sitting on the potty because she needed a poo, then insisted she didn't need a nappy on ) she did do her first wee in the toilet. You win some, you lose some.

Incidentally, we're not potty training as such, but encourage DD to wear Big Girl Knickers (if she doesn't need a poo and thus a nappy) - mostly, she does pretty well.

DS' eczema is still there, but a little better on his forehead. I'm having to slather it in various unguents several times through the night to try and stop him from rubbing at it and waking himself up...which is pretty dreary...

Yes there was a good reason for me being drunk - went to a friend's 40th birthday up in town. It was really good but I suffered Sun morning. Actually threw up.

CP Think you are right. It's hard at the moment. Baby is pretty manic and full on and will only sleep on me or on the move. Alex used to nap well in the day if I BF-ed and put him down asleep or if I walked and then parked the buggy (as I remember) - three hours a day at this age. She's done half an hour today, and is still awake at nearly half 9 pm. I just don't know where she gets the energy from. We have both tried to get her to sleep to no avail so have just let her out of her sleeping bag and trying to let her tire herself out on living room floor. I am drinking red wine.

Also, CP I am sorry you are unhappy about the hair - it's horrible because hair is so much a part of you and how you (and the world) see yourself. I can't imagine you've put on any weight to speak of - you are tiny and so svelte.

Mum had DS today - he was really difficult this morning but lovely on return. Gave bits of his food to the baby. He seems to like her a lot more when she is enclosed eg in high chair or pram. When she is on the loose he shouts at her and will hit out if she invades his space.

Baby is bonkers. Grinning and climbing and belly-creeping around. And this is meant to be an easy time wonder-weeks wise. chucks book in the bin.

Survival - Hope the appointment goes well.

IC Hope DD's bits are ok. Poor DS and his eczema.

DS is currently obsessed with calling everything 'poo', with his willy and with making strange noises all day, starting at breakfast that sound disgusting and enrage me unduly (especially the loud swilling of juice/milk round his mouth).

Counting down nursery days now for dd2 before she starts her new school nursery . Staff who have worked there for years have all left (except one) and staff turnover among new staff seems quite high. Quite a few children have stopped going, and the whole place feels strange. I picked dd2 up yesterday and was told she has stopped speaking in nursery now (but will chat to herself for ages when she goes to the loo). She doesn't cry but goes in with a serious face and comes out with a serious face. Both her little friends have left. I feel like the worst mummy in the world to leave her there for another 5 days in the next two weeks.

Does anyone have snow? We had a forecast of snow on Sunday night but it never happened. dd1 was furious on Monday morning and threatened to emigrate, especially when my mum called and said they are snowed in . I reminded dd1 that if we go and live with grandma she will have to go back to Kindergarten as children only start school at 6/7 and she is only 5.
Very icy here though which I found out to my cost yesterday when I did a cartoon style legs in the air fall in the car park. The black bruises on my bottom and hip are coming on nicely.

dd2 just blamed her imaginary friend for a book that flew across the room. Nice try!

what choice do you have Soc? It doesn't too horrible, just not nice.

Not too icy here, just a layer of frost everywhere. Then again the roads and pavements are gritted pretty much all over town. I'm quite impressed. I was in Notts yesterday and the residential places were icy.

The funeral went alright yesterday, DD was pretty overtired when we got home. So much so she was not happy being in her bedroom, she climbed onto the top of the stair gate. She did it a few times but hasn't worked out how to get off the other side.

CP Please tell me your stair gate is not actually at the top of the stairs

CP Know what you mean, no I can't change the situation with dd's nursery (Well, I can and I have but not until February). It's just getting to me and now also to dh which is unusual (my mummy guilt has always been stronger because I have been the one spending more time at home and he has always worked). He does the drop offs and finds it harder and harder to see her little face so serious and brave when she goes in.
I love my job but not at the expense of my dc's happiness.

no, well there is one there. We have one on her room as well since rapid return failed. The stair one is only closed if DS is upstairs and wandering around, so open if he is in bed. For the time being she hasn't figured out she needs to move her bum round and I think can't remember she did it now she's calm. I know I'm on borrowed time though.

Do you have any friends or know any childminders (can also ask your friends about their childminders, if they could some odd days) that could do odd days, or you or DH have any AL left (I know most of it is needed for sick days). On the plus side, 5 sessions, they will soon go by.

(shouldn't be here - technically an internet free night-SHH!)

sorry there's a few feeling blue for various reasons :(

DS had his consultant appointment this aft, hoping he'd be fully discharged after the H0157 in August? they're pleased with his progress and think he's fully recovered but cos this strain has only been around since the 80's they're going to keep an annual check on him for a while?

got a urine sample to sort for him and DD to test again for protein to check on kidney function then should be it til next year! :)

DS has had temp at 40 for about 36 hours but finally dropped back down to normalish yesterday and no sign of owt else but a snotty nose? I do wish his temp didn't get so high - his fit last year was at 40 so I get anxious?

ho hum

hope all's not too bad with everyone

CP glad the funeral went well - sorry we forgot to wish you well beforehand. I'm beginning to realise that other people don't notice when I gain weight as I only gain a bit before doing something about it and seem to 'carry it' quite well. I'm sure you are the same. I do, however, understand how it can get you (and me) down.

SC I hope the remaining nursery days go fast. DS2 cries his eyes out at the moment when he knows it's a nursery day, and yet comes home singing and saying he's had a good day - I just don't know what he really thinks but I hate leaving for work and wishign with all my heart i could be with him instead (and yet I know I'd go completely mad in a few short days).

Had about half an inch of snow here on Monday but not enough to really do much with (and no time - again, due to work ) However, I have now got a cleaner for two hours a week and this is helping me to feel like we are getting a better balance, as we do a lot less cleaning at the weekend.

BC that sounds like a good party! I can't imagine having a hangover these days! DS1 is also using the phrase 'pooface' all the time and they are having farting competitions!! I think this might be the way of things to come in my house where I am outnumbered three to one by males .

DS1's appointment went well today - they are so lovely at our regional hospital. They won't operate on his head for at least a year until the scar has settled. However, it has formed a hypertrophic scar and they've given us some special medicated patches to apply each night (at £90 a box - cost to the GP's practice) and silicone gel for the day time. They want to review him again in a month.

I have randomly agreed to DH going skiing for a week with some mates. I must be mad!! My colleagues looked slightly bewildered when I told them!! I have to say, things are so much easier now than they were even this time last year (and I know several regularly cope with absent DH/Ps - all tips gratefully received!) I'm sure I will be on here asking for some hand holding if/when he goes. They're trying to sort dates at the moment (and I have actually aided DH in getting his new passport). He will be 40 next year so I've said it will be an early birthday present for that as it will take the family holiday budget for the year.

I'm determined to go to bed now - trying very hard to look after myself more. Hope the rest of you are well.

Blimey Survival that's very good of you! I'm feeling daunted at the prospect of DH being late back because of a parents evening, meaning I'll need to do bedtime solo. Likewise, tips gratefully received!

Eek CP!! (the stairgate climbing)

SC I'm not surprised you feel guilty, you're a loving mum...but it won't be long before she's finished there.

Speaking of nursery, DD starts her settling in period next week. I'm reasonably confident she'll be absolutely fine, but we'll see how it goes. At the moment, we're doing 1 hr when I stay, then 1hr with me there and 1 without. After that, we'll review the situation to see what more (if anything) is needed. I'm looking forward to it for the personal space aspect, but also because DD has become a bit TOO assertive at toddler groups - toy-snatching and getting rough with other children if they get in her way - so I think the nursery will be good at helping her learn a few manners. That said, she's also started properly playing with other children too - running around, laughing, throwing balls to each other etc. - the flip side of negative interaction I guess!!

stoof hope all is well with your DS - good to hear things are moving on past that horrible bug.

Eek at the tireless baby, Bc!!

Picked dd2 up again today and she was dancing (disco lights etc) and quite chatty. Mummy guilt a bit less now . She also brought home her first proper (in her own right, not as 'the sibling') party invitation. Cruel mummy won't take her though (clash with another party and she says she is not friends with this child, I have no idea who the child is and have never met the parents either, plus she is about to leave the nursery and won't go to the attached school, so making friends is not relevant).
Four nursery days to go...

Survival There's no way I would let dh go skiing on his own AND blow the holiday budget for the year! You are a better person than me (or mad)

Tearing my hair out at dd1's behaviour at the moment . Might start a thread on how to deal with a 5 1/2 year old. And I thought the baby phase was challenging, then I thought the toddler tantrums are difficult... [hollow laugh]. I am already feeling sorry for myself for when my bright but infuriatingly stubborn pfb reaches her teenage years

Heavy snow warning for our area for all of tomorrow and this time I think they mean it! dd1 is beside herself with anticipation and I am glad I am not working tomorrow because there is no way my poor little old car could cope with remote snowy valleys.
Actually, come to think of it I am missing out on a 'snow day' because I simply wouldn't be able to work . But it may give me a chance to use the plastic sledge I bought ages ago and haven't unwrapped yet...

survival x infinity that your DH is going on a week's skiing using the family holiday budget!!!! What are you getting in return??? BIG brownie points to you.

Soc my pfb is 8 tomorrow How did that happen?
At that age, 5.5, I did more time one to one with DD1 and it seemed to improved things a LOT. Friday afternoon was our girl time (only 1 or 2 hours or even 1/2h after school) she would choose what she would do (sometime just playing in the park with HER freinds or going to the shopping mall or explore the subway or have tea...), but her sister was still very little (6 months) so still very insecure.

mous I guess dd1 could do with some one to one time with me... dh and I often split the girls up at weekends and each does something different with one child. It definitely helps to keep the squabbles down.
Happy Birthday to your dd1!!!

Just told dh that I saw dd2 dancing at nursery when I collected her, and she butted in saying 'It was gangnam style and I danced like this' showing us the 'horsey' dance (dh curses the day he put the video on on utube and the girls were obsessed by a few days . Didn't think the nursery would use the song though ). Oh and then she said some children just hopped (and clearly didn't know how to do the dance properly unlike her )

Urgh, garbled grammar there...

Happy birthday mous's DD1.

Sorry about the cross post Stoof. Hope the appointment went well.

SC liking the dancing description!

IC bathtime seemed to change as the baby developed. I think I used to bath baby first so he was tired and then lie him on the mat in a vest while DS1 had a paddle. Once DS2 became mobile it had to all change again (and was harder in many respects due to the hard furniture and floor in a bathroom for potential accidents) Even now I don't relish bathtime on my own - mainly due to fighting over toys and the fact that it is the end of a long day! And, believe me, when DH went away for 3 nights when DS2 was 6 months old (and a 20x a day vomiting machine!), I was evil for days beforehand and would have paid him anything not to have gone. Nearly 2.5 years later, it's a very different prospect.

The skiing was kind of my idea - I'm just not so daunted by the thought of solo childcare at the moment. It now looks like they can only manage a long weekend date-wise. There was talk about delaying until next year, but we may be having an op on DS1's scar then so I've said I think they should just go now while we know they can, even if it's for fewer days. Our lives are just too unpredictable to put off sizeable treats for that long! If I lose my job, he certainly won't be spending money on a skiing trip!