Start your runners (talk) and your new jars of Jam, 'tis the season-almost.

[Vagolajahooli]

Here we are ladies, time for all that talk of christmas table runners and chrissie deccy colour combos. And will we be getting some new Jam in this thread! Maybe not quite.

Omg worms. When I was a kid mum would worm us regularly which meant taking 6 large tablets which made me gag. Bleurgh. But my older brother would refuse to take them so we still often ended up getting them as he would pass them on after the tablet cover would wear off.

Kays DS2 wants to be a paleontologist and DS1 a scientist. I want ds1 to be a stunt man as he is so good at gymnastics and sporty I think he'd make a great stunt man.

Indith sorry about all the poo, hope it settles down and you can get some work done. The boys are on a half day today so I will have the onslaught of the friends after school. Hoping they will entertain themselves and I can get some work done on a research critiquing assignment.

Just sent ds2 to school with his party invites. Luckily here it is not normal to invite every child in the class. In fact the usual thing to do is to invite the number of the age your child is turning. But DS2 wasn't having that. So we have invited 8. We have booked out the kidzone at the local snow dome. It is great fun, just loads of bouncy castle type things and slides. But it is in a ski-ice skating center so it's fricking freezing. It says on the information that DH & I can actually watch from up in the ski cafe upstairs so we might do that, though feel a little naughty. I assume they have someone supervising.

Arti found the photos they are lovely. What a beautiful church. The after party looked nice. I loved DD2 hanging over the cake.

No nativity here as it's all about Sinta klass at the moment. The rommel piets came to school over night and messed the whole place up I've no idea why the school does that. They pretend some of sinta klass' helpers come and mess up the school but all the kids leave a shoe at school and the Piets leave a lolly for them. But they still need to clean the school up

I love the Dutch Santa thing Veg, so eccentric. Our German au pair also has a tradition of leaving shoes out for presents but in Germany is Dec 6 and the giver is Saint Nick. She wants to do it for the girls this year. Weird that the Dutch and Germans have similar traditions but on different dates.

Sorry to hear of the poo, worms, mice and coughs. Being a parent really ain't glamorous is it?

I'm glad you are enjoying DD3 so much Beans, I hope you manage ok without your DH this weekend.

The big news here is that DS seems to be sleeping through 7pm-5.30am. It's an early start but I'm pretty happy about it nonetheless. The no feeding at night thing worked v well and it's interesting to see that even at 5.30 he doesn't guzzle his milk.

I love hearing about different traditions. I remember in Russia it was all about new year rather than Christmas and then people would celebrate old new year too on the date it was before they changed calendar.

No more poo from ds2. poor cm's dd is still going and is vomiting too. so either ds2 is very lucky or the fact that he increases his bf when bus start is helping him out a lot!

Been to chemist, have to leave it with them and go back this afternoon so they can sort out the right stuff for me and ds2. cleaning all bedding, dcs have had nurse technique hand washing lessons. Must finish breakfast and attack bathroom and all chairs. curse my c children and their nudist tendencies.

In a weird coincidence there is a mouse in my house too Kayz! DS found it hilarious when I jumped on the table and started squealing. How are you going to get rid of yours? I hate the idea of emptying traps and I don't want to use poison with the kids around.

I'm going to get a plug in thing that is meant to deter them and try some humane traps.

I'm going to stay on the sofa until DH gets home Sunday.

We had a rat once Thankfully with rats the man form the council comes and sorts them out for free.

My friend recently lost her hamster, she caught him by making a bucket trap. Bucket with a ramp leading up to it with food spaced out along the ramp. Hamster went up and fell into bucket then couldn't climb out again. Wonder if that would work with a mouse? Though then of course you'd have to empty the mouse out.

I don't actually mind mice in the house. Comes from a childhood of long holidays spent in our house in France where mice took refuge when we were not there. There were always mice around. They don't really cause harm, you just make sure food in the cupboards is in plastic boxes! Then our cat in the UK used to catch mice but never kill them so he'd bring them into the house alive and they'd set up camp. Once near Christmas I heard this rustling from inside one of the presents. It wasn't for me so I checked it out and there was a mouse merrily shredding the wrapping paper from the inside! Flipping cat has also brought live rabbits and birds in. Scared the life out of me one day watering the house plants when house sitting for my parents and a bird flew into my face!

My mums cat is a super hunter. She once brought loads of frogs in and my mum put them in the bin. They all jumped out at her next time she opened the bin. Was bloody hilarious.

We get mice all the time from now until the weather gets warmer. They come in from the fields. We have the plug in things they don't work. Sorry Kayz.

We have found traps that you can put poison in and then it's locked away so safe for children and pets. If you don't want to use traps that kill you can get humane ones. But if you let them go they will just come back again. Peanut butter works a treat they love that.

Beans how's the trumps?

I forgot to do the torch up the bums last night so will do it tonight.

Will post more later. Got a howling baby who WILL NOT have a snooze. I have mastitis. Joy. On antibiotics. Will bore on more later. DH away for 6 days. Aaaagh!

X

dd left the playground today thinking ds and I had gone already at school pick up. He was scooting in playground outside his classroom as usual (all in same jackets with other kids looking the same) and I was still talking to his teacher (which I told her!) turned around and she was gone. Fortunately another Mum saw her speeding off and stopped her hysterical before the road. She's been told the rules if she ever can't find me, but clearly was too young to take them in. Heart failure. Then I cried when I got in the car, composed myself and lectured the rules into her on the way home. ds knows them- There's is no end to this kids worry thing is there - these are the reasons I hate letting other people have control of them when I go away - but I know I have to - don't I?

We have field mice cause the dog chases them back and forth under the deck.

oh dear, hope it clears soon Beans.

Hope you feel better soon beans.

Rubes How heartstopping. I know what you mean though. Dd2 walked out into the road and peered at me through the car window when I was leaning over the back seat sorting out the car seat last week. I've upped my road safety lectures and stopped trusting her to stand beside me on the pavement when we're waiting to get in the car.

We don't have mice as our cats are very efficient hunters. I could loan them out if only you weren't all so far away!

Beans rubbish, anything I can do to help just yell.

Rubes bloody hell they are intent on giving us all heart attacks.

Oh Rubes. The fear. You poor lamb. Thinking of you.

I am tucked up in bed. DD2 now running a high temp. Bum. Woke up at 2am last night with burning, throbbing sore boob. Tried hand expressing, then went downstairs and did proper expressing. Came upstairs and couldn't stop shaking. Thought I was cold from downstairs! Got back to sleep 4.30ish and DD3 woke at 5. Not much more sleep. Fed DD3 from sore boob and it still felt hot and bruised, so managed to get appointment at doctor and now on antibiotics and lots of rest. Hmmmm.

Anyway, I am off to sleep now. Thanks for kind thoughts and Jam, for help offers. You just put your feet up, Mrs! Not long til newbie arrives. Woohoooo!

Night all xx

Bloody kids. We've all been there at some point but goodness me they don't half make you feel like a shit parent at times!

Beans you poor thing. hope the ABs kick in soon. Keep feeding. Mastitis is crap and it just goes from "oh I'm a bit sore" to "I can't stand up and I want to cut my boob off" in no time.

All oiks in bed. I have cleaned and washed everything I could. Dh and big 2 have had their pills, ds2 and I should get ours from the Dr tomorrow. Worms will die. Pretty sure ds2 has them too as he keeps talking about poo, crying and sticking his fingers up him bum when I take his nappy off and put him on the potty.

Tomorrow I need to do my work though! After my smear test of course. That'll be fun.

I had a smear on Tuesday. It's a treat.
had a night with DD2 in bed with me and up with her or DD3 about 5 times and all up for the day at 5.55. ouch. never mind. my lovely sister is coming up today. yay!

DD2 has no temperature now and is leaping around on the bed now. not sure whether to send her to playgroup. she seems fine!!

Why can't there be some leeway with the 48 hour rule DS1 had 1 episode of diarrhea Wednesday morning. But no school until Monday. He's absolutely fine and I've got no one to take ds2 today or tomorrow so he'll have to come with me.

should I be worried about a 39.6 temperature in DD2?

Hello, happy birthday to anyone turning 5 this week. And get well to Beans and those with worms, d&v, snot or anything else grim. Has DDs temp come down with Calpol Beans?

Kayz if you're looking for bras in York, Leia on Coney St are fab - they know their stuff when fitting and their prices are more of the M&S range than the usual independent fitters. They kitted me out when I stopped bf

Thanks for the treasure box tip Arti, I found a good thread and have a whole host of stuff for DN now. I was looking for a touchy-feely treasure box (and before Beans points it out, I appreciate that sounds even more dirty ) - my sis doesn't have a sentimental bone in her body, so I memory box would be recycled immediately! I never got round to making one for my girls, so I feel like a good Mum now I've done one at last

Hons, are you coming over my way this weekend, or did you change the date? Town was heaving today and it reminded me of your plans

Crikey Beans you have one sickie after another in that house. I say calpol / Ibuprofen combo as much as limits allow, and tepid bath. If in doubt take her in - (*note: dh not home that's purely me) hopefully Vag about can advise better? Hope it comes down.

As long as calpol or ibru reduces it I wouldn't worry too much Beans. Depends how she is in herself. When dd2 was sent through to the children's ward it was her floppiness and listlessness that was more worrying than the temp.

ZJ No we decided against York as we couldn't find anywhere even vaguely reasonable. We're still having a girls weekend but at my friend's house instead. Both dd's are laying on a guilt trip though, I haven't been away on my own for over a year!

Sorry Beans I haven't been checking enough cos I have an ass due and the boys were on form this arvy. We popped out and got some oliebol which is a dutch donut which is only sold at this time of year up until new year.

Anyhoo, that temp is fine as long as it is settling with calpol or neurofen (or both). How is she in herself?

Oh and Arti. I'm a bit over the dutch sinta klass. We have to put sweets in their shoes by the radiator every couple of days. And December is already jam packed full if gift giving with DS2's birthday and Christmas, but we have to give them more on the 5th. For Sints birthday. The old man arrives halfway through November to much pomp, the kids are all chock full of sweets and ginger nut biscuits until the 5th and then we have the Advent calendar. But worst of it is that instead of elves Santa has helpers called Zwarte piets and they look like this most expats find them a bit racist, but the dutch just brush off any protests as silly. But there is a growing movement against the zwarte piets and many black dutch people have been protesting. The UN has recently gotten involved, but the Dutch don't seem to see what the fuss is about.

Beans, hope DD2 is ok.

Thanks ZJ. I always think the bras in Leia look great. I've never been in though as I'm a 40E and nice shops don't tend to go so big. I will go have a look.

Vag, I think the Zwarte piets are terrible!

I think DS2 has tonsillitis. They are swollen and look like they have spots on them. He sounds so ill and looks exhausted.

I was thinking about all the DC turning 5. Made me think of Trace, hope her and the girls are all well.

Thanks for tips. Ding calpol every 4 hrs and neurofen the same, but so it works out every 2 hours. She seems to be a bit better. Am so TIRED of all the illness here and of course it's when DH is away, again! Exhausting. Am in bed and have set alarm for 11 to do the feed then. I can't face another night like last night. And am going to give a bottle as boob seems to have settled down. She fed off my boobs so much last night and this morning that they were like 2 empty plastic bags today. I had to ff her at 10am and she wolfed it down!! One extreme of far too much milk to the other of not enough! Thanks for all your wise words.

Vag, that sounds exhausting!

My lovely DSis came up today. I am so tired I could barely focus and kept forgetting what I was talking about halfway through! Not sure I could have held it together without her. DD1 has a day off tomorrow as the school is closed and no way DD2 is going in, so we will have a telly day. Can't wait. And maybe take the dog for a walk if DD2 is up to it. She gave me a real scare today. So poorly. But luckily, not floppy. Just weepy and sleepy.

Right, to sleep. Thanks again xxx