Dec 2011: Running around after our Cybermidgets...

[Aethelfleda]

Roll up, roll up, it's the Dec 11 new thread.
Prepare to be upgraded (if you can catch them!)

I love coming to London being from Scotland it was some exciting far away land when I was little and so as soon as I get down there I want to wear a union jack shirt and get on the open top bus tours managed to get an earlier train so am now hiding from the ticket inspector as don't have a flex ticket.......it's going to be a long 1.5hrs

Hello! Had a great weekend away. Camping tiring but worked reassuringly well, the event was at a mini festival so finished the evening drinking tea in comfy chairs in the tent listening to a motorhead-inspired mash-up version of the Bee gees "Staying alive"..... And DDs enjoyed themselves too, and no-one got lost, sunburnt, or squashed!

Now off to watch The Returned on catchup TV....

(((hugs))) Oi the situation with dh sounds very frustrating. hopefully relate will get back to you about another session especially if you found the first one useful. I have no useful advice only[

cheung you've made me excited about the idea of winter wonderland now!

Had a mostly lovely weekend enjoying the weather lots of picnics, BBQ and playing the garden. poor DSS is still having a rough time, he completely shuts off unless he has undivided attention. DP and I both tried lots over the weekend to make plenty of time for him so he doesn't feel like its all about DS.

He left a diary here open on his bed and DP saw it, was very odd. Was a mix of normal ten year old stuff and some quite angry stuff. last thing he wrote was quite worrying and clearly left in a way that he wanted it to be read so we would know, so DP had to call his ex to find out what was going on I just want to give him a big cuddle but try to keep out of it a bit and leave it to DP and his ex.

Sorry I missed Edith last night, I love a strong coffee and a bit of Vie en Rose, but I was out with a few mums for a meal.
Glad you had a nice time at the festival, Aethel.
BJR - your poor DSS! That must be tough on you. But I'd say go forth with the cuddles - if he'll let you.
I was quite giddy when I got home last night, I even entertained the idea of DTD, but then I opened my mouth and we ended up talking a lot instead. So that was probably good for our relationship too. I say probably, because I can't remember anything.
I am a filthy tramp. I went to McD's for a filthy breakfast this morning, I needed stodge. I'm sorry if I've let you all down.

Hope you had fun last night Oi, couldn't go as I'm already out four nights this week and I think DH might throw a strop if I went out for another night! Glad you and your DH talked some more. Any news on when your next relate session will be? Weljel of your maccies breakfast.

BJR hugs to DSS, stepmumming is hard, I hope he's OK.

Aethel glad you had a fun weekend!

I'm feeling like we might finally have broken the back of the plague that seems to have been loitering around here for weeks. Both me and DH woke up feeling much better today. My hayfever is still killing me, but I've got a new piece of kit that promises to relieve my symptoms by firing lasers into my nose. Or something. No idea if it's working yet, but it makes my face glow when I use it stuns DS into silent wonder. Going to see Dispicable Me 2 tonight with a friend. We're off down south at the end of the month as my fab friend is taking some family pictures for us (she's a professional photog) and I need to have lost a bit of weight before then.

Oh, and I got to have lots of newborn snuggles with my friend's 1 month old yesterday. 6lbs! DS was underwhelmed by the baby and then got stroppy when she wouldn't eat the apple he was trying to share with her.

Cripes I weighed DS this morning on our scales he was 31.5lbs he's hitting 99th centile again

Ohhh let me know if the hayfever thing is any good Hop as I feel miserable with this hayfever!

Oi Sorry, I didn't mean to add to your worries. I should clarify that I am disappointed for them, not in them. And am mostly just sad that she has been suffering through whatever problems they've been having alone. Soon to be divorced friend #1 lives up north and stbdf#2 lives in America so I feel totally useless to both of them. Gah!

In other news, less than a month till my due date, the fb picture of Beatrice made me all gooey

Sorry for my failing to post lately, I have been reading though.

Things have been quite tough here the last few weeks. Beatrice has been really miserable and difficult to feed. A typical feed goes has 60-80ml no problem, wind, scream when you offer her more, put her upright on my shoulder until she calms down, more screaming when you offer her more etc. eventually she'll take more but feeds are taking close to four hours, this has been virtually every feed for the last 3 weeks, last week she only gained 2oz :(. We've tried lactose free formula, infacol, dentinox, gripe water, dr browns bottles and tummy massage to no avail. Current thinking is it could be silent reflux, we've been trying infant gaviscon since yesterday and there may be a slight improvement, though I'm not getting too excited just yet. DH has been under a lot of stress with work and its definitely been a test on our relationship lately, several times I've thought it isn't working anymore but have tried to be rational and not make any irreversible decisions during the first few difficult weeks. Anyway, I'm back and will try to find time to post more.

oi hope you get your next appointment with relate soon.

2 hour feeds, not 4 hours!

Seven have you tried formula for a milk allergy rather than lactose intolerance? She sounds like monkey poor mite gaviscon is pants IMO, it made a tiny bit of difference here but found ranitidine works for him. Hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

Figgy same as monkey! I had to go get a new buggy cause he keeps putting all his hoooogeness on the front and its teasing at breaking.

I see the dinky wee ones in the park and think aww how lovely would that be lol

seven - thinking of you, that sounds really tough. I always found the screaming in some sort of pain/discomfort but you dont know what/why a really tough stage. It is bound to put a strain on your relationship, as stress and lack of sleep are a real killer. Hope it all begins to improve soon.

Freya's ezcema has flaired up horribly these last 2 weeks - shes hardly had anything before but now is really red on her arms, back, behind her knees etc - how long should I keep going with the hydrocortizane cream, emolliant stuff etc before I try the drs again? Or any other remedies anyone can advise? I think it may all be related to teething, as she is a bit run down, whingy and loose nappies and nappy rash too - or perhaps an allergy? I dont know but am feeling sorry for the poor girl.

(((((hug))))) seven, I agree with janey it may be worth seeing your GP again to chat about B's unsettledness and discuss if it's could be cows milk allergy, they may suggest a trial of modified formula for a few weeks, There's a really sound allergy doctor called Adam Fox, he did a mumsnet Q&A on cows milk allergy here
It's worth a read...

Eczema jiggle, if it's not better with a weeks hydrocort and tons of moisturiser then see your doctor for a review. Sympathy, itchy scratchy kiddies are no fun :(

janey that's my next step, after that I really am out of ideas. We've got our 6-8 week GP check on Thursday so will see what his opinion is.

jiggle hope the eczema isn't bothering her too much.

Wow 31lbs! That's not much less than 5yo DS, though he doesn't eat enough to keep a fly alive as my mum would say he's rather on the small side as he doesn't have much appetite.

aethel/janey she was fine for the first 6 weeks, is that possible?

Monkey was terrible on bm, but when he moved onto formula he seemed fine at first then it just got worse and worse and took moving gp surgeries and trips to a&e before he was finally diagnosed.

Does she have any other symptoms? Have a chat with gp who knows a bit about them but don't be fobbed off but if its 'just' reflux they may want to try reflux meds first to see how those go. Suggest the change of milk yourself though.

Jiggle if its been 2 weeks with no improvement I'd go again. I use nothing on monkeys skin except his creams and sudocrem sometimes (he gets excema type nappy rashes with reactions it's kinda odd!). Do you think she needs a steroid cream or just a different emollient?

Ohh I got to speak to Adam Fox's team at the allergy show makes me want to live in south London!

I think monkey's secret reaction might be eggs tares hair out grr! Got his letter to make him a dietician appointment, I hope not because he's a nightmare for protein I have to hide it in eggy bread :(

Got a bugaboo today, for £55 for a bee because one wheel is cracked and she was late putting on photos! Will cost me about £25 to fix very sad to see his oyster go though

Hope is allergic to egg.

We have a mystery allergen she reacts with cherios, watsits, quavers so im thinking it might be mustard? But could be anything and more.than one!

Her excema is way better than it used to be we only have red patches on her tummy now but I still gloop her up every night to keep it that way.

I was up late making a clown outfit for Air as its curcus day at school today but I didnt get the letter so had to improvise

Hop no relate appointment yet. I chased up but she hadn't had the notes back... The night with the mums was really very nice. Lovely food, wine and company. :) Hope your hayfever buggers off. can't be nice.
Sorry kat, didn't want to make you feel bad either! You didn't add to my worries. My mum does that enough! 1 month till your due date! how exciting! Have you stopped carrying big sacks of post around yet?
7 sorry that Beatrice is having food difficulties, I hope you get to the bottom of that soon. It must be really tough on you. Some good advice here, so good luck.
Jiggle Boi had eczema on his legs, it flared up from nowhere for a few months and then went away. We had hydrocortisone and Diprobase which were helpful, but the thing that seemed to work most was baby oil after his bath.
My niece (Dh's niece) is pg. She found out the week I had my mc. She's just had her DD confirmed as 14.02.14 - which was also what I'd worked out my DD would be. I'm not sad about it. It's OK. Just bloody typical, isn't it?! But it's also their first wedding anniversary, so that's nice.
Got a funeral to go to tomorrow. Not someone very close. A bloke I used to flirt with a lot. And had a few good snogs with. Always fancied him, but he was always a bit wild and scary. We had a date arranged once, back in the days when I was a good girl and insisted on being dated (!!) - and the bugger stood me up! He was only in his 30's (so a bit younger than me anyway). I was more friends with his dad TBH, and his step mum - who cleans for me. He had an asthma attack. (is the official story - could be true, I'll find out in time from his step mum, I guess, in time. As I said, he was always a but wild, and I only found out recently that he'd had a heroin problem for a long time - but apparently was over that. So it's difficult not to think that maybe, perhaps,...) Whatever happened, he was a nice bloke. It was a massive shock to his family and friends, so heart breaking when its someone so young, so full of life. It'll be a sad day. His facebook page has hundreds of messages on it. there'll be a lot of people there. I expect the whole village will turn out. - Where I used to live until the last 18 months.

Hang on, is there a weight limit on the Oyster?!

Mustard is one of the top allergens even though I've never known anyone to be allergic to it! So could be!

What are the good egg replacements?

Sorry about your friend Oi

Hop there's a limit on every buggy it's normally 15kg, oyster can hold way more though I'd say. Problem is the he insists on sitting right at the edge a lot of the time so all his weight is there (refuses to have footrest down) and it sets it off balance & just teasing it to blooming break!

He doesn't like the bug though so have to take ads for oyster down atm and hope he comes round to it.

Argh DS just got out of bath wrestled from my grip whilst drying him and ran off but as feet wet slipped and landed on his back banging his head hes gone to bed easily should I worry about him asleep?? I know back of skull thickest part but it was a proper thud

I haveno advice. But I wouldn't wake a sleeping BOi! It takes so long to get him to that state... But I'd probably turn the monitor right up so I could hear his breathing, or check on him every 10mins... Just to put my mind at rest.

If he's gone to sleep (normally, ie not gone unconscious) and not been sick then I think you're generally OK figgy, just keep an eye on him tomorrow. It's horrific when they do that isn't it- DS went down two steps head first and landed with his neck twisted which made me think paraplegia and he ran off

Sadly our break has come to an end; we've ended up just lying in and eating out these past two days at home, but seeing as we never get to do either owning to a total lack of support network/family round our way, it was a real treat!

Sorry to hear about the funeral Oi, I wonder what the back story is...did he even have asthma do you know? It does sound like he could have got clean, had a hit after a long break and OD'd, happens a lot. But however he died, it sounds like it's left a big gap- poor parents
Sounds like there's something still there for you and your DH; whatever happens, we're all here to listen.

I was wondering how F's colic was getting on seven, sounds like you're having a rough time of it. It's grim and it takes over your life and sucks the fun out, so big sympathy from me. Good call re. not making any decisions, I'd definitely give it a few months.

In a funny way BJR, the fact that he's left it out for you to find is good, rather than totally hiding it/bottling it up. At least you know there's an issue and can start to tackle it. Hope your DP's ex could shed some light.

Treaty dinner of fajitas tonight, in prep for going back to work and tackling the mountains of work, under-staffed office, further recruitment and mad people
At least it'll be a two day week!