Dec 08 - The One where they take on the world (school)

[DeidreBarlow]

New thread

So, who'd have thought it? DH's first night away... D3 sleeps from 8-10pm. Unheard of. Then takes 4oz in a bottle from me quietly & happily. I thought I had at least 5 hrs sleep ahead. 3.5 hrs later she wakes for a full feed with a v snotty nose. Bugger!! Thankfully Mum is up tomorrow!

And up twice more. Poor little bird. I'm so very tired!

Bum. Posted too soon.

Arti, how are you doing? How was the sleep consultant? Been thinking of you during my nightly sojourns!

Sorry bout all the lack of sleep. Not sure how you all do it. Superwomen. I meandered my way through a bottle of wine last night. Wish I hadn't.

Obvious day for meet up is the Monday. More peeps can make it and hons can go. Will be sorry to miss you hons since not every day you're in town.

Yay it's half term! Beans sorry to hear DD3 has a cold. Poor thing, but I am glad your mum is coming today to help you a bit

DS took a frisbee in the face yesterday at school and now had a little cut under his eye! Teacher was massively apologetic and frisbee now banned. However my little man got his first merit certificate for an observational drawing of a teddy bear . It was presented by the HT in assembly. He was very proud of himself. All the issues I had with him at preschool seem to be long gone. Thank goodness!

Rubes I had 3 vodkas last night and have a really bad headache this morning! Probably because I've not drunk any alcohol all week. I need to drink more during the week to stop this happening

ds2 joining the ranks of snot. Snot, temp, grumpy, me twitchy and sticking a thermometer in his ear every 5 minutes to make sure we are not in febrile territory.

Ds1 lost a tooth overnight. It was definitely in his mouth when I tucked him in last night but isn't there now. Missing, presumed swallowed.

Half term at least means the dcs get to rest a bit. Mum coming up to do childcare as CM away. I will be in uni :(

I'm living the nightmare ladies. DH gone off for his week in v scary country, DS woke at 3 with streaming cold, DD2 violently sicked her breakfast up. I'm literally shaking with fear over having to deal with vom and the possibility of it spreading, I've had no sleep, I'm not sure how to cope.

Deep breaths arti. Is there anyone you can call to give you a short break? Just to sit with children in front of TV and let you have a nap? Or to cook dinner for you?

Arti you'll be ok, you've come a long way with your phobia. You can do this. But I think it might also be a good idea to let your au pair know how you are with this, ask her to help out. Plus have sickie bowls available all over the house so you can easily have one to hand if you need.

Sorry about all the snotties. Indith unfortunately the thinking now is that it is certain viruses that cause the FCs in some kids so being on top of the temp might not help. However, you can always alternate the neurofen and paracetamol to keep DS2 covered.

Oh Arti, you poor lamb. That's not good. You have done so well so far and I know you can do it. Courage my brave friend. Definitely get the au pair involved, even if you have to pay lts extra. You can do it. Can any of your local friends come and help you? Xx

Arti, how is dd2 now? It could just be an excess of cold / phlegm which caused if DS also coldy. Definitely get au pair to pitch in. You can do this. Keep going. Big hugs xxxx

Arti - :( I'm around from Tues onwards. I could help out if you need a break. Would have ds with me though. But seriously, you're only 45-60 min away I reckon.
This is probably going to come out all wrong, but I'll ask anyway. I'm sure she's very sweet, but what the hell can/does your Au pair actually do? Hot pans, baking spaghetti, fibbing to the kids and nowhere insight for vomit, and you're paying her? I can only assume she is sort of in training and being on track when you return to work? Get her involved! I'm sure I've got it all wrong, as per usual, but heck sounds like more hindrance than help.
Hang in there, you will be fine, but just shout if you want a hand. I could take the Au Pair for a week and teach her stuff? Condensed half term AuPair lessons by Rubes. (promise not to teach opening of wine) Sorry I know you're stressed and upset- just trying to cheer you up, but probably not helping.

Deids. Problem is, You are not "piss fit" as my brother calls it. You're on hols with the family soon? Get in training and sort out that consistent alcohol intake. Consistency is the key However a bottle of wine on my own last night can hardly be considered anything other than sad....

Actually, I would teach her how to open wine..... for YOU!

Oh and Deids, am so pleased for DS (and you) that it's all turned around. Sounds like he's doing brilliantly, and to be honest, sounds like it was definitely the nursery with the problems, not your ds. So pleased.

You are all so lovely. Having sobbed pathetically for an hour or so I have given myself a pep talk and am trying to see this as a challenge. I have not told the au pair about my phobia as I don't want to scare her but I have to say that even though Sat is one of her days off she has been playing with the girls for two solid hours without me asking. She even had all three kids for 30 mins while i drove to Sainsurys on an emergency play doh run. unlike me she didnt blink at being left with a sick bowl to trail after DD2 with. Im now holding poor miserable DS while he naps and DD2 seems quite chirpy so the au pair is playing UNO and I am trying not to give myself too much hope that DD2 may be over the worst.

Glad the Aupair is helping. Long may it last!

Vag I know, all the many Drs who prodded ds2 in hospital told us that it was now pretty certain that keeping on top of temp didn't help but that they still suggested for children who had had them to keep on top of temp anyway so I have gone from a thermometer free shrug my shoulders only give them calpol when in actual pain sort of a parent to a neurotic medicine waving fiend . He's may baby, what can I say .

My lovely friend has just had dc4. she lives in Florida. I wish I could meet him, he is totally edible and she look like she is radiating happiness. Got to say, part of me is sad that part of my life is over. I currently have a hulking toddler asleep in the sling, that will have to do me.

DB your boy is fab. I may join you on alcoholic training. I'm out with the local MN lot soon and it will involve large amounts of alcohol. I've not had a drink in months and month. Probably not since last time I went out with them!

Glad you're feeling better Artiieeeeee. You do emergency play doh runs? I hope you needed other stuff too, or it's no wonder you're stressed out! Prob good to get out the house too.
Right, I've spoken enough.
Indith, Deids, Vag and I are your best bet for training tips - in no particular order! Infact Vag makes her own cocktails - Making me thirsty now.....
Right, must run to the post box.... have had eBay sesh too so off to deposit a car seat pee liner thing in the postbox. Hope it fits through ad I'm not in the mood for driving to the post office. Yesterday I posted a Toilet trainer seat - got a tenner for it! Really pleased with the ongoing clear out

Ha, ha Rubes. I realise the play-doh run sounds ridiculous but with DD2 ill and the rain coming down I was desperate for entertainment and the girls set their hearts on playing with their play-doh ice cream factory. Never fear though, I also bought Gu chocolate puddings to see me through and a small bottle of wine (well, a normal sized bottle but I will drink it in small instalments). Once you have trained my au pair in essential life skills I will allow her to do the wine runs.

DH flying first class and has wifi in the sky! He just e-mailed me a photo of his champers.

How is DS2 Indith? I hope he doesn't fit.

Ah see now the Au Pair is starting to sound like good value!
Glad dh is enjoying the trip so far! Yes wifi just everywhere these days. I just had step by step photo diary on fb of a friends flight to Istanbul from the US.

Rubes at first I thought you mean exercise training, but you mean alcohol drinking, I can't possibly know what you mean

Deids meant to say well done to DS and hiS awesome teddyness.

Well done Arti and well done to the Au pair for stepping up. I have several friends here who have them and while they are a big help they are also like having an extra child, including how much they eat! One of the girls here also got herself in trouble when she went out one night and slapped a security guard while very drunk.

DH and I are off out to the Halloween tour of the prison gate museum. I booked the tickets via email on Monday and went to pick them up yesterday only to be told I should have picked them up BY the 19th. I showed them the email from the 21st saying that my tickets were reserved and I could pick them up from the following day (nothing about having to pick them up well ahead). She told me my tickets were no longer available but admitted tvat they had messed up by not saying I should come pick them up the following day, only that the tickets would be available. I even emailed asking if it was possible to just pick them up on the day but didn't hear back. I asked her to double check the tickets as I the emailed used my maiden name (an unusual welsh surname) & I repeated it to her. As soon as another ticket lady heard she said in Dutch that yes someone had already collected those tickets. I said that wasn't possible as DH & I were the only people who should have picked up the tickets as I had the confirmation email. It was starting to become apparent that they had thought I wasn't coming to pick up the tickets so they had sold them. However, they didn't want to admit they had messed up so continued to maintain that someone else had picked up the tickets claiming they had ordered in that name and had a confirmation email. Anyway they sorted me out with tickets and will have to deal with the tour being over subscribed. The only problem is the tour is at 10pm and I'm shattered already. We have the sitter coming at 8pm so are going to get some cocktails into us before it starts to wake us up.

yeah right Vag - as if i'd put myself on any kind of list to help with exercise although now the legs on the mend im easing into it again! That's if dh was ever around as bit tricky in school hol and with my gym passes ran out!!!!

Oh dear arti, what awful timing. Great that although the au pair is useless at many things she was fine with the vom. I even forgive the oven baked spaghetti!

re the meet up, if you wanted to go for Tuesday (it would be good to see Rubes!) then we may be able to see you depending on where you are meeting. I've a double whammy of a hospital appointment and a work meeting over lunchtime! I then have to head back to the hospital for the remainder of my appointment, scan etc. So I'm near the Royal Free then somewhere near Angel tube then back to Royal Free. I just can't be sure of timings and I'd hate for all the appointments to overrun and then not be able to see you after all. I expect that I'd be ok to meet after 1 for about an hour before I'd have to head off again!

Can you do Tues Lady?

We got through the rest of the day with no more puke although I've now convinced myself I feel dodgy. I'm just praying for an uneventful night. I have to say the au pair has been super today: stayed with me all day playing with the girls and helping out, then after bedtime I told her about my phobia and she just said "I have no problem with sick, you can wake me in the night if DD2's bed needs cleaning". Amazing. I guess I should have told her before.

The prison tour sounds interesting Vegerola, I hope you have fun.

Arti, glad to hear DD2 is on the mend. Fingers crossed you don't get it. Yay, for the vom-happy au pair!