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

[DeidreBarlow]

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How lovely :) Hurrah for Mr Rubes! Fingers crossed for you Arti x

Well done Mr Rubes!

Brilliant, hooray Mr Rubes. I actually wrote a post earlier saying to take Rubes up on her offer of Mr Rubes but didn't want to put pressure on the man. Apart from being a nice distraction, it can sometimes be helpful to have a man on the inside, so to speak. No doubt it will be going into the handover notes that you a friends with one of the orthopods. Not that all the nurses aren't generally wonderful but it will make the ones who maybe are a bit glum behave. Awesome news on the sats, that is what they will be looking for. Does he have much of a cough? If they do send you home, maybe ask if there is a community children's nursing team you could contact if concerned, best case senario of they could get someone to come around from the community team to check on him. Your health visitor will be informed but they are a bit useless with actual illness.

Great to hear DS is on the mend Arti. How are the girls managing? And the au pair? Hope you're on your way home soon. And well done to the hero of the hour DrRubes.

Jam have you got your power back yet? Not much damage round here but our garden fence blew down.

Vag interesting about the OCD-type stuff being a normal(ish) reaction to stress. I'm hoping it's going to pass obviously but I must admit I'm terrified it's going to turn into an ongoing problem. DH's brother has been diagnosed with Aspergers & OCD so it all feels a bit close to home. And as for it being a reaction to being out of control well that would certainly fit. I'm not massively happy about DS being kept in at playtimes and lunchtimes, well not if it's going to become a habit anyway. However I feel I've got to tread carefully otherwise it'll be counterproductive so I've gone along with it so far. It seems to be happening less at the moment so perhaps it's working a little. The teacher was making noises about sending any unfinished work back home but I told her I don't want his home life becoming an extension of school, especially if school is making him so miserable. She was a bit . But I won't be able to assess his work (for SATS) she says. My turn to be a bit . Says it all. I mean it's not that I don't care about his academic progress - we would normally happily support his learning out of school (tbh it's the kind of school that relies heavily on the involvement of parents to keep up in the league tables despite the mediocrity of its teaching), but the school's SATS scores are not at the top of my list of priorities at the moment.

I make sure DS gets plenty of time doing stuff on his own (he loves Lego & reading) and he recognises himself that he needs it (he's like me in that respect). However we've actually gone the other way since all this stuff has started. He doesn't normally do that much in terms of after school activities but he's recently started Beavers, football & choir (as well as his normal swimming). Beavers is so he can meet some new people and build his confidence doing different kinds of activities in an environment that's not school. The football is partly for the exercise (which is obviously good for mental health but also particularly for tics apparently) and partly so he can socialise with some of the boys in his class he wouldn't normally hang round with. And choir because he wanted to. But the general idea is to make his life a little less school-centric rather than to keep him busy really.

Hons I may well head into London tomorrow with the DCs. Sort of got it into my head to go now - just a shame today was such a disaster. Not definitely going to go but it would be nice to meet you if I do. Will PM you my number just in case and if you are free and fancy meeting up for a bit you can get in touch. Anyone else about in London tomorrow?

Arti, I hope that DS gets better very quickly! And Rubes how lovely is your DH.

Having a hell of an evening. Decided to try the gradual retreat with DD, so was going to sit next to the cot until she fell asleep. Except she just screamed and then threw up everywhere. Luckily missed me by inches!

So she's asleep on the sofa while I try not to cry about how useless I am.

Aww so pleased he got round to see you Arti! He was raving about how cute A is, so I'm a bit envious he's been able to meet him first and see you! He texted me when I was at JFK saying he was going to try and get round if he had time, and wanted to know your last name. Didn't think there was much he could do today but was pleased to see you both, and thinks he's on the mend x

Was glad to make it in after the storm hype, and the pilots put their foot down and got in early in the end!

Anyway, must go as dh is chugging through the bottle of without me!

Aww kayz you're far from useless. You do an amazing job. Stick DD back in her cot and pour yourself a is my advice. And then forget about it. Tomorrow's another day.

Kayz I know that feeling well, as does all of us here. Don't beat yourself up, you're doing an amazing job with your three and you have to do it mostly on your own. As poison says get yourself a nice beverage and chalk this one up to experience.

Crikey there is some serious carnage over here, loads of trees down, no trains, trucks cars and motorcycles blown around the roads. Bicycles blown all over the place. In Amsterdam a massive old tree fell onto a canal boat and sank it! One of our large compost bins (empty thankfully) blew from behind our trampoline over and up to our back wall of the house. We also don't have any cable at all.

Glad you got in ok Rubes and hooray for DrRubes, what a star.

I am in soooo much pain. I did a heavy cross fit session. After a warm up, we had to skip 90 times (with a skipping rope), do full burpees 30 times and jumping jacks 30 times, and we had to repeat that 4 times plus do a 500 meter row at the beginning and end. I'm shattered, luckily the boys were tired and the weather out was yukky so I didn't have to cycle them to gymnastics.

Kayz hoping ur feeling better now. You are a star. Def not useless!
Agree dh is a good one he kept saying that he couldn't really do much though, but said it was nice to be able to chat and at least now the staff know you have a "connection" there which is always helpful. He thinks baby A is mega cute. Crikey I get nervous when he gushes about babies! He's now asleep and I'm still finishing my wine as it's my Fri, ahem night am watching xfactor. Struth, what's going on with L Gaga? I liked her a lot.. Once...

Your DH has good taste in babies Runes. And two nurses asked about him after he left so he was notices.

We are still in hospitak. DS back on oxygen. I think I may be getting cocking mastitis. I am worried my body may be about to go into major protest about the utter lack of sleep & cafe it had received.

Gosh my typing. You all know what I'm getting at.

Often babies will be ok during the day but their stats will drop overnight, it's not fun for you but it doesn't mean he is going backwards. I hope he picks up today but be prepared for another night. As he is only a bub they aren't going to send him until they are sure he will cope off O2. How are the girls? Why do these things happen when menfolk are away? A friend in LA who was preggers, had to have her appendix out while her hubby was in Australia for work. She had to farm her two boys out to neighbours.

I'm girding my loins to go out, it is cold, dark clouds are looming and it is pissing down intermittently here. I've got a pilates class at 9.30pm. Think I will be turning up dripping. Which is obviously nicer than being stuck in hospital so should count my blessings.

Hey Jam how's the lecky?

I missed all this yesterday, the girls led me a merry dance! Am definitely doing a catch up bef I go to Mum's today.

Arti, I do hope DS gets discharged today - been thinking of you. And we are big fans of Dr Rubes in our house, he's a lovely man.

What a shame, Kayz. But please don't let it knock your confidence. Have some

PD, haven't come back to you properly yet but I think the extra curricular activities sound like a really positive idea. Er, the school don't sound like they are getting it. Which is a great pity. Glad you are able to keep on their case.

More later. I'm glad we had all our trees cut down recently as they might have caused us grief in this storm. Jam, sounds like you've had the worst of it! I say I'm going to Mum's but actually I need to check trains.

Still no power have come to the inlaws for a shower. Super whiffy.

Hi all
Sorry for radio silence. Have been v v busy with nipper and going to see my Mum today. Her new house is amazing. she has decorated it so beautifully and it's just gorgeous. I wish I had taste as good as hers!

Arti, how is DS doing? How are you bearing up? What a nightmare for you. I can't believe these things happen when your DH is away. Poor you and poor DS.

Jam! Any power yet?? At least your armpits are scent-free now!!

DD3 seems to have had a bit of a turnaround in behaviour and is much better. She's a bit more awake in the day now, so is a bit more fun too. I am really not mad on the newborn phase, so am loving the smiling etc. Nights are a bit shit still though. 3 times a night minimum.

On other news, I've managed to do the deed with DH after less than 6 weeks! And I actually really enjoyed it, much to my surprise. It was fun!

Cooked a roast for the kids tonight and DH and I having the rest of it tonight. I'm excited. saddo!!

I am going to go to bed at about 8.30 tonight.

Did I break it?

No I'm here Beans, I should be doing some reading for uni but I'm playing with the Thermomix instead. I'm making pretzels!

Ay and well done on the deeding.

Arti how are you and DS now.

Arti, sorry to hear that DS has been so unwell. I hope he is on the mend and that both of you will be home very soon. Have you been able to talk to your DH or is he incommunicado?

Vag, I am jealous of the thermomix. It looks fab. I'm tempted to get one but DH would be horrified at the price.

Beans, I am amazed!

No breakage Beans. I'm just too tired to even post! We got home last night. 'Twas so lovely to see the girls and sleep in my own bed. DS much better but needs inhalers every three hours so sleep was limited again. He seems to get hyper after the inhaler.

I have to say I am so amazed by our au pair. Not only did she have the girls on her own for 48 hours but when I returned they had done loads of art stuff, been to the park, played board games, had dance offs and all sorts. In addition the house was spotless because she said it would be sad to come home to mess. She has transformed from slightly clueless to really brilliant. She basically saved my bacon this week.

Cross posted Nolda. Are you in your new house now? How does it feel? I have spoken to DH. Poor man was so worried and I probably should have kept quiet as he feels terrible about being away and is unable to call for regular updates.

Arti think the steroids in inhalers can have that effect