FEB 2010 Three is a magic number, yes it is......

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Come and take shelter from the DC here, folks!

IC Hope you feel better soon!
mous Not too bad, thanks. Trying very hard to keep work and personal life separate, which should help.

dd2 is still quite poorly with her temperature not going below 38.5. She was in tears earlier when she overheard me discussing childcare with dh because there is no way she can go to nursery tomorrow. She cried because she wants to go, but even if her fever is down she won't have the energy. She's already been up crying five times or more since she went to bed . Here's hoping it's a vicious but short lived bug and that the rest of the family don't get it (although judging by the amount of sneezes that hit me today logic tells me I will be next).

Aw...NK... could it be another ear infection?

Well, I'm streaming today, but feeling less poorly with it, so that's okay. Meanwhile DS and DD both have the cold too, although they both seem cheery enough despite the snot/coughing...

DD had a good nursery session yesterday - she was a bit wobbly chin when I said goodbye, but apparently soon rallied and was on great form when I arrived to pick her up. That's the difference doing her poo in the morning makes! She's pooed this morning too, so hopefully she'll have another decent day, despite being a bit snotty....
She's also starting to regain some of the ground she lost during the nursery stress. She's back to eating eggs again (which is a big relief! Didn't want dairy supplying the main part of her protein) and she's twice requested to use the toilet to do a wee, which she managed each time. Yay!

DS back in the cot for lunchtime nap and he went off without me in the room. Got him all settled first.

we are without heating again! plus DH is not back until 8/9pm tomorrow night. DD has been up since 5 and I need a shower.

Oh dear CP, a long day for you

NK, how is dd2? Poor little thing

IC, glad your DD is coping better with nursery but sorry you are ill

I have also had a cold over the weekend, but it has faded thankfully quickly. DD1 also has it, but seems to be managing well, which is another sign that her asthma is on the wane.

Our boiler also stopped working today but a man came round and got it working pretty quickly, so that's a relief. I seem to remember last time DH went skiing, I was in danger of being in a house with no heating or hot water...

He's off on Thursday. I think he feels guilty because he pulled out all the stops on Sunday (was knackered at the end, as well ). I have quite a bit planned though, so the time will fly

and hugs and sympathy for all those that need it (which sounds like most of us!) Also empathy for quite a lot. Not in a great place at the mo (very first world but hey) would describe myself as a bit wonky. Still reading every couple of days here and on FB but not posting really at the mo, tired of hearing my own twining on (even if it's mostly in my own head) and trying to pull my head out from being firmly wedged up my bum? back soon, and in the meantime, thinking of us all!

Whassup stoof? Don't like my cosmic twin feeling wonky...

stoof feel free to vent here! We've heard it all over the past three + years . Hope you are okay.

Well, dd2 had a bad night last night, predictably, but woke up fever free and furious I wouldn't send her to nursery. So I did. Phoned at lunchtime and she had a huge dinner (not surprising as she hardly ate yesterday) and was absolutely fine. Didn't manage to collect her until after 4 by which time she had flagged considerably and was slumped in a bean bag with flushed face and red nose. I felt awful!!!! But they did reassure me she'd only been like that for about 10 minutes. Got home, put her into pyjamas, offered her a sandwich etc for dinner but all she wanted was water and then to lie down. Fast asleep by 5.20 and asleep ever since!
Still feel guilty for sending her in in the first place but I do trust the nursery staff and know they would have phoned me if she'd been unwell in the day. Still...

We're back to school and work today. DS had a meltdown when dropped off as he still wanted to play with the snow. I feel guilty to have him FT at pre school but we cannot do otherwise.

How are your DC doing re wipping their bums after a poo?
I help at home but staff at school encourage them to do it themselves (which I agree) and will check it's done properly. DS just goes to the loos without telling anyone, then wipe. My issue is that he doesn't wipe fully and we get poo stained pants every day.
Do you any advices on how to get him to do it properly?

NK it's hard not to feel sad/guilty when we send them to school poorly. I am sure the staff would hace called you during the day if she wasn't well. How is she today?

SB IME it is way too early to wipe themselves at 3, they need a arm length/body length ratio which is reached around 4/5, DD2 is just able to do it herself, not very well, very sensitive skin if they didn't do it at school she would be in pain.
I would say he can't reach therefore can't be taught!
(if he has long monkey arms and can reach properly make him look at the paper before throwing if it is stained it needs one more wipe...)

NK how are you all?

we have all that coughing/sorethroaty/coldy thing that lasts for ages, when you get better you get worse again it has been going on for a months now!

SB, I think it depends on what mous said, but also the consistency of their poo. DD1 is a firm girl, so could do it competently herself pretty early as there wasn't much to wipe . DD2 used to do as you say your DS does - going to do it herself and coming home with pooey knickers - so we have told her she has to ask for help, which she now does. Now I have started getting her to wipe and I do a checking wipe. Lovely.

Mous, how goes the decision making?

NK, how is your DD2 this morning? Sounds like she was better yesterday and simply ran out of steam.

I am grumpy at the moment. Starting to think that planning lots of stuff to do while DH is away for the next few days wasn't such a good idea, but on the other hand it'll be nicer for the DDs than me snarling at them all the time Horrible mummy.

Agree with arm length and consistency issues. Dd1 still calls me to help when home (never firm). Dd2 (always firm) does a good job herself and is particular about washing her hands, so I let her get on with it herself.
I do think it's quite incredible for just 3 year olds to use the toilet independently and I'm amazes dd2 needs no prompting or reminding or help.

Dd2 slept from 5.20pm to 7.45am when I woke her . She's quite snotty but fever free. She was happy to go to nursery but dh will collect her at 1 before she starts running out of energy. Hopefully she agrees to a nap once home.

DD has done 10 hours the past two nights which isn't enough for her.

nk I agree with the no need to feel guilty, sounds like this nursery is on the ball and honest.

I had the people round last night that I'm going away with, we have booked our accommodation and have a rough idea of what mountains we will do. I managed to get all the tidying/cleaning done before children went to bed and have a shower. Only needed 20 mins of TV as well. I'm so much more organised when DH isn't here. I think we do things on different timescales so it always appears I'm the lazy one when I naturally am tidier (only as far as living space) as I go along and tidy/clean later than him. However he tends to make me start the day pretty messy which just begets mess/makes it harder to little bits here and there.

I've not let DD have a go at wiping as I just don't want to deal with it yet. Especially as she often does on when she first wakes so like that she wakes us to wipe her (well I don't, but you know what I mean)

I am cutting out DS's 10pm feed that had snuck back in. Last night went well and as he didn't have his antihistamine until that feed he then slept to 3 and then 6. Lately he has been going through to 10 and then waking every 2 hours. He also went off by himself in the cot today with me out the room

First time I got really spooked by something relating to my dc. dd2 woke up in the night a few nights ago and called for me. I went to see her straight away and she was sitting in bed with wide eyes. She wouldn't focus on me at all and just kept staring with huge eyes at something in the room just past me. Then she laughed out loud. I got so spooked I grabbed her and brought her into our bed for a few minutes to check she was okay. I wonder if she hallucinated due to her high temperature. Luckily whatever she saw seemed to be funny rather than frightening.

Dd2 on form last night. Started shouting at 4 and I went to see her. She kept saying 'I want to go to the little shop but it's not there any more!' over and over again. I don't think she was awake but eventually settled again when I promised we'd go to the little shop! Then at 6 she came rushing into our room crying 'There's a large animal in my bed and it's talking to me, I don't like it'. Went with her to remove large hello kitty soft toy from her bed...

It's not full moon yet, is it?

dd1 now has the heavy cold and high fever and is home today. Luckily the girls timed the worst of their illness for Monday and Friday, the days I don't work! Right now it is eerily quiet in the house with both girls tucked up on the sofa with postman pat on dvd.

Ahh poor girls!

mous you are right, but I was thinking more in terms of poor me because I was up and down all night and already feel my head and throat hurting. Having been hit by at least 20000 sneezes this week it would be a miracle if I don't get it... Just in time for being on my own this weekend as dh does some serious DIY in our old house (possible new tenant for mid April fx!!)

poor you too
we still all have that never ending mutating virus the story is getting old!
FX for new tenants.

NK full moon is on 27 March. Your DD2 has got a lot of imagination so her brain is probably working double time at night. FX for the new tenants (take a deep breath as ours has just renewed their lease).

Anyone found their DCs really changed on their third birthday. DD's play is so different and I can immediately spot the toddlers who are under 3. She is still going through a development phase as she is overtired and grumpy, but also mostly OK. Just ends of things are full of crying, but actually I am OK at dealing with her when she is like that. She is back to 6am wakings.

DS doing great, he has only had one feed in the night for three nights running. Plus today's wasn't until 4:30am. Still quite wakeful but largely happy to just snuggle in with me. I think we are almost there with putting him in his cot and leaving him for his nap (nighttime not yet).

I got offered another interview today. I applied for 5 jobs as largely a academic exercise a few weeks ago. I got one rejection and 4 interviews, two job offers. I also had it on my CV about the children.

Yes I do see a difference in dd2 but as it coincides with starting her new nursery I didn't think it was just her age.

Impressive result for your applications, especially being offered the posts. I got shortlisted for pretty much everything I applied for too but only got two job offers (brilliant on paper, rubbish in interviews... Sigh.) Had to turn down one job because my childcare plans fell through and I had no nursery place for dd2.

I remember that one. Tbh I deserved not being shortlisted for that one, hardly changed my cover letter and didn't even remember applying for it . The advantage of working in a niche is getting short listed, the disadvantage being is there are not loads and I wasn't excited by many of them. It's hard as the requirements of a job when you have children are quite different. I am relieved to be leaving academia though, I didn't realise it until I had made the decision. Not sure if I have said but me and DH will have the same salary which is also very nice (again I just tried to ignore that side of thins until now). It has been nice to have a good week after last week. Now I have to see if I actually have the ingredients in to make the cake with DD that I promised.

Oh, she is now getting obsessed with pink!

and it is all Peppa Pig's fault

Peppa pig is banned in this house. I can't stand it.