March 2013 - by the time we finish this one we'll be shopping for elf outfits. Eek!

[ecofreckle]

Here we go again then ladies. Plenty more shiny new space to fill up with ramblings :-) Link to last thread

That or I scared them off...

Bad night here as after a minor choke on spag bol the toddle appeared out of sorts and was breathing at 50 breaths per minute. She went to bed very early after drinking buckets of water, and DH after a brief consultation with google began to wonder if she had a partially blocked airway. NHS 111 agreed, and wanted us to either go to A&E or see an out of hours GP. Given the usual state of a Friday night A&E we opted for out of hours, and eventually at midnight got an appointment at a local cottage hospital.

To cut a long story short her airway is fine, but she has a raging ear infection, so I've been up and down all night and DH has been drenched in vomit. Lucky DH. Her temp is down this morning thankfully, so fingers crossed.

I am down with d&v. Will catch up when better.

Get well soon worselet.

Hmm, I wonder how long she's had the war infection, worse. Could well be related to recent self settling resistance. and for you and for yummy. Sick sucks.

No idea Stormy but I'd say not long as she's been full of energy, happy, hungry, and hasn't had a high temp up until yesterday evening. Bit better today. The doctor wrote a prescription for antibiotics, but advised us that 19 out of 20 children with ear infections will start to improve within 24 hours without them, so not to use it unless absolutely necessary. I've not given her any so far.

Yummy you poor thing. Hope you're through the worst of it. My best dog owning tip is if you need to get the smell of vomit out of carpets, buckets etc a solution of warm water and biological washing powder will do the trick. Disinfectants just mask it and it comes lingering back again. Can't remember who told me that, but suspect it might have been a good old MN Doghouse forum tip! Believe it or not the doghouse is why I originally joined MN. How one's life changes.

Oh no Yummy and Worse. Vomit is grim. Worse is indeed correct, either biological washing powder and water or sprinkling bicarb over liberally and hoovering after a few hours are the only options. Dog ownership is a good introduction to having a toddle!

I'm in London for a family meet up with cousins, parents and my fave aunt and uncle but I'm the only one with a small person. They've all decided the best family activity is a day in the pub getting shitfaced so DD and I have been for lunch, to a park and are now having a cuddle in front of CBeebies in the premier inn. Glam. My Aunty did suggest maybe DD would just sit quietly in the corner of the very very noisy pub, do some colouring and then have a nap while we caught up. I suspect she's forgotten what having a small person is like.

Bicarb works wonders too - sprinkle it on, leave it, hoover it up.

Sorry for all the poorlies

I think it may be time to crack out the antibiotics. Temp back up to 39.2c. I think I may also have to kill DH. She has earache, and he's playing deafening 70's prog rock or similar. I don't actually care what it it, I just want it to stop.

Worse I've just made some piping hot curd tarts. Personally I'd be tempted to put on over DH's ear to learn him a bit of empathy, but realistically I'd try to have a calm word over it. Hope the toddle feels better soon, that sounds grim.

Yummy I hope you manage to get out of the bathroom at some stage today. Is DS better? D&V plus small person is grim.

Betty We frequently come up against this problem with idiots relatives whose kids have grown up. The most spectacular failure to understand a small person was on holiday. We were promised an outing to begin at 9am, culminating in an early lunch if DS would be so kind to fall asleep in his pushchair. We left the villa at 11. MIL would not let me walk separately to the rest of the group, and insisted on nattering to me while we went from busy shop to busy shop and DS got very excited. FIL eventually took us to a restaurant at ONE. I spent half the meal walking DS around the cobbled streets trying to rock him to sleep.

Said little person is now clinging to me so we're off to the park.

Plonky I had a word although one of your tarts mights have been quicker. I think he gets it. In fact he looked mortified and starting trying to rock her to sleep to a quieter option of ColdPlay. Poor child.

Antibiotics duly administered and rejected. I think 1ml went in, and about 10ml went down the sink. We've been down this road before.... Who on earth decided vile banana flavour was a good idea? Calpol flavour would work. Flavourless would work (in milk). Gag inducing banana though? Now that's just unkind to parents.

Yummy are you onto the digestive biscuits and water stage yet? Fingers crossed, and feel better soon.

I'm with you all on the some people just don't get how life has to change round small children. My mum was here when the toddle was 6 weeks old and ebf. She cooked dinner for 'dinner time' and was most put out when dd woke and needed a bf. Her exact words were 'She can wait half an hour' . Yeah, because 6 week old babies do that. They wait until it is convenient. Not.

Hi all. I am on the water and digestives stage but still feel grim. The irony is I called dm over to look after ds but she came down with it too. Db is also ill. Ds is getting over his bug. He is still cranky just before he does a dirty nappy so I suspect he has stomach pains still. Despite us being ill we have been laughing at our situation especially as it took 2 of us to lift ds out of the cot. Dh took over when he came from work and haven't been out of bed only to go to the loo. Only problem is dh cannot hear ds wake up tonight and every bloody night so i've been looking at ds.

Thanks for the clean up tips. Can't wait to disinfect the place.

I hope worselet is feeling bit better.

I feel a bit mean for waking up cheerful and well rested when others are feeling so grim. yummy I hope you're spending the day in bed while DH does toddler duty!

The man's friend went to the Fair and brought back tat for Fartypants! I ate the cane full of fake smarties because they're a bit hard for her yet, but she likes the fluffy pink elephant, and she loves the light-up flashing star wand. If anyone's thinking about Christmas I'd definitely recommend one.

We had Strictly on yesterday, after DD's bath. Oh, the dancing! Big arms, spinning in circles, stompy feet, shouting "die, die!" because she can't pronounce dance yet! I would have filmed it for you all, but she was naked and I'd get arrested if I put video of that on fb.

Another one here who feels the pain of people forgetting that small children have different needs. Dsis invited us for dinner last night. The week before, we said it'd be about 5ish but apparently she thought I was joking and told us to get there for 6pm for dinner at 6:30pm. I told her that we couldn't do that late because of DS and she said there was no point in us coming then. Dneph is only 5 so you'd assume she'd remember. Apparently not. In the end, we got there for 5pm and ate straight away because I sulked

Thank you for all your rubbish sleep empathy. worse you hero! How have you survived 6 weeks of that? You must be wonder woman! I watched a trashy film at 3:30am this morning and today is sponsored by energy drinks and more trashy films. DP has bought chocolate, too.

yummy how are you feeling now?

Ooh, I can smell something unpleasant. I better deal with that.

Wow it's been so quiet here this weekend.

Something your story makes me . Is that what caused your overnight problems with ds, do you think? Or was it just your own insomnia?
I vow never to become one of those people who instantly forgets the daily grind of having tinies.

Worse and yummy, how are you faring this morning? Did dd accept the antibiotics? Tell dh that Coldplay is never acceptable. If he must go for moany piano sounds then REM are much better but they make me cry. Shame on him, inflicting that knobber on you, Babax (poor little ears) and DD.

This morning ds decided he did NOT want porridge. So he got bread and jam (back very well acquainted with rod). Is currently using bread to scoop jam into mouth clever boy. He can't read or blow raspberries or count but this boy can eat. His mother's son after all.

I'm doing a couple of property viewings on my tod today, provided that DM can break away from work long enough to watch The Eater. I'm very excited about the second one, as despite some deceptively bad photos it has a proper range cooker and bigger dimensions than anything we've found so far. And it's cheap as chips. It's in the sticks though.

In the sticks, Plonk - what's the public transport like, and what is there for DS to do when he's older? I know you can always move again, but you don't really want to be somewhere where sheer boredom means he'll start drinking cider in the village's one bus stop when he's thirteen. Shouldn't br a problem for now though, since you drive.

Don't forget, ladies, the clocks change this weekend. Back an hour in the small hours of Sunday. Our plan is just to put DD to bed at 8 on Saturday and hope for the best. She'll have been on an 8pm bedtime for a few days then, as she's off to the Land of SomePlonk on Wednesday.

Colours seem to be happening here too. It's really interesting, the way she can clearly distinguish between red and green, but not between yellow and orange. Reminds me of studies of little tribes that don't have words for all the colours we do, and that effects their perception of colour.

I think colours are going to be on our list soon too Stormy, but who can really tell? He's still telling me the hoover's hot

Living in the sticks isn't really a problem as a) we already do and b) if we buy this house we will most likely be moving out of it again in 3-4 years. We don't have a huge deposit so we're not looking for a forever home just yet, and are prepared to upgrade as our family grows.

eco speaking of families and houses (because you have both ) how are you these days? How's bloody Bedfordshire? YOU NEED TO POST MORE, WOMAN.

Me me me post alert. I went to work today thinking I was well enough. Big mistake. Being unwell and the pressures of work (including having to play catch up from last weeks annual leave) I had a bit of an emotional breakdown at work. I am back home now laying on sofa, sipping lemonade and eating grapes.

Thank you for the clock change alert stormy with our unpredictable bedtimes I doubt it will disrupt ds.

Ds has no knowledge of colours. He has learnt to pretend he has fallen on the floor and fake cry. He then runs up to me for mummy to kiss him better.

I have a video to upload on fb later of ds weightlifting. Yes you read that bit right.

plonky good luck with the house viewing.

worse how is dd?

Yummy you need to look after yourself. Those vomiting bugs are nasty, you feel fine after a day... until you try and do something, and then you realise you really aren't. Stick with the lemonade and grapes, work can wait. They're probably glad to see the back of you to be honest. I mean that in the nicest possible way, but no one is keen on sitting next to the person who might have puking germs about their person!

The toddle is thankfully on the mend - just one wake last night, and that was for milk because she'd eaten very little all day, not because she was burning up. I have devised a new and cunning plan for getting banana gunk down her. She doesn't mind it mixed with a tablespoon of plain yoghurt and some Ella's banana pouch. I'm not sure how long this compliance will last, as banana yoghurt 3 times a day is a big ask for anyone, let alone an opinionated toddler.

Plonky sticks is good for young children, assuming you have transport. Less good if you don't. Enjoy the house hunting! When you say range I'm crossing my fingers you mean electric/gas range, not a bloody aga. Aga's work, if the house is enormous, freezing, a bit damp, and in need of constant heating. Anywhere normal sized and you have to tolerate being half roasted alive all summer, or else turn it off and cook in the microwave. We looked at a few houses with Aga's last time we moved. It was summer, and the places with small kitchens were unbearably hot. Put me right off.

Colours, no idea. How would you know? She selected herself a toy in babysRus that teaches colours, so who knows, maybe by next week

I ought to cook lunch now. DH is at home because we have men with diggers attacking our drive. Now that looks like a fun job. Anyone thinking of a career change - consider it!

I would advocate living in the sticks. I did when I was a nipper and never spent my yoof in bus stops. Because my friends had to travel get dropped off by mum to see me, or me to see them, we spent our time in small groups having "gatherings", as we called them. It beat sitting in fields drinking cheap cider, we sat in comfy bedrooms drinking expensive whisky, and our parents knew where we were, which is something I would now appreciate.

plonk I'm not sure what caused the overnight I HATE SLEEPING from DS. We ended up having porridge and bacon sandwiches at 5:15am and he fell asleep in my arms watching Prof Brian Cox. Last night, he went to sleep at 6:30pm and woke up at 8:30am so I couldn't complain with that. Enjoy the house viewings today!

yummy I do hope you're snuggled up watching crappy daytime tv and getting yourself better. And I'm glad the worselet is feeling better.

I downloaded a countdown app on my phone today. Only 53 days until I break up for Christmas!

Hello Plonky! I do need to post more. You're right. never a day goes by without my checking in on your news but sometimes I don't have anything helpful to add and sometimes I am on the blessed phone with a sieve brain and can't remember everyone's stuff. And it's important stuff. And I don't want anyone feeling unloved because I've ignored their stuff. So I ignore all the stuff. And everyone feels unloved
I had to hunker down after having 4 adults and 3 under 3s in this 2 up 2 down last weekend. And then having MIL on the phone the next day crying about the fact that dh is her son as well as my husband and that she should see him at Christmas. That made me feel bad. I have no wish whatsoever to be anywhere else other than somewhere where I can take a walk to the church where Mum is on Christmas Day to have a natter with her. And the only place that would enable me to do that is my sister's house. We're 1.5 hours away so at a push we could have Christmas here and I could head up for a church visit and back. Dh's family are 3.5 hours away from us and even further from Mum so it's all a bit rubbish. My Mum was Mrs Christmas. Every brilliant memory and Christmas association I have is because of her. The least I can do is go and say hi on the big day. That's got my knickers in a twist because we've now agreed to head to MIL for Christmas. Christmas! What a minefield of crap.
I just had a meeting at home scheduled for 1300 and Ecotod stayed asleep. And is still asleep. That's lovely. But I'd best not leave her beyond 1515 or else there'll be trouble tonight!
Plonky how has your house hunt today gone? Do you like the house you thought you would? What is your main concern about it? We can soon shoot it down!
Yummy you shouldn't be at work so I am delighted the sofa is where you are currently residing! You need 48 hours to recuperate. I was sorry to hear about the mass family d and v. But I hope it has passed now and that you start to feel brighter as the week goes on. Did ds ping back quickly then? I am guessing that's a yes if he's weightlifting.
Worse things sound pretty naff with you too. Other than the high temperature and crankiness what other symptoms do ear infections have? Was she pulling at her ears? Were they leaking gunk? I'd genuinely not have a clue. Glad you managed to force feed the banana goop. I remember it fondly from the back to back chest infections I had as a nipper. I used to be given half a refreshers sweet afterwards so I wolfed it down.
Stormy we have no idea about colours but since you mentioned numbers we've been paying more notice and she does join in with 4 and 5 when we sing zoom zoom and always points at the number 2 on the hop scotch saying 'two' This in the grand scheme of things means bugger all except that I need to pay close attention!
Something so you got a good night last night? Good. Was is happier to go in his cot? Does he have a special cuddly that he looks forward to seeing that lives in his cot?

I am headed to Berks tomorrow to take down our yurts for the winter. Ecotod is with childminder so I shall be driving over with the wind in my hair and the stereo turned up and I will get loads done and ignore 'mealtimes' and eat when I have time. I am excited. But it will be hard work and I will be covered in yak hair by the end of it and smelling a bit Mongolian.

Just a quick one to say ear infections have no symptoms what so ever Eco until they get bad enough for a fever to kick in. At least that was the case here. She was her usual happy little self at nursery on Friday morning, ate a massive lunch, had a good nap, then by teatime she was off her food, and it got rapidly a lot worse from there on. Apparently they are common after a cold. There ends my limited knowledge.

Eco I feel sad about your Christmas. Obviously MIL didn't intend to make you choose between your mum and hers (I presume) so it sounds hard. Does dh know how you feel? I understand the loss of your mum is still quite raw and Christmas is a tough time when loved ones are no longer with us. I hope you find a way to see both mums.

But I'm glad to see you back :)

Worse my knowledge of ear infections is first hand. For about 5 winters on the trot during primary I lived on banana medicine. It's as you say, fine at lunch time and clearly poorly at bedtime. I remember feeling a bit run down after lunch at school once, and cried the entire 6 miles home. I must've been 6 at the time. Was otherwise a very healthy child, and steadily grew out of ear infections, though now have a tiny bit of hearing loss, no idea if that's related though. Glad you found a way of duping dd into taken the yucky medicine.

Something I too grew up in the sticks. I was over the moon to move to the middle of notts when I was 15, and I could actually do stuff other than running head first into trees, pigs and Robin Hood impersonators/tourists from Centre Parcs. As a kid these things were brilliant. As a bit-of-a-goth 15 year old it sucked. Not helped by going to school 20 miles from my house. But like I said before, we're buying a for now home, not a forever home. Speaking of...

The two links I posted t'other day are both unsuitable. One in great nick but too small, the other a total damp dive and also too small. We saw one more which was horrendous, and I viewed one alone today which I have fallen in love with. It's rural, and very close to Matlock (yay). It's still cheap. The third bedroom is actually usable as a spare room and an office. The garden is very unkempt and something I'd class as a project. The whole house needs a lick of paint to start with and we would have to slowly upgrade. It's doable, affordable, commutable...and I love it. It's also the first not shit house I've seen, but happily the photos don't exactly inspire confidence so I don't think it'd get snapped up by anyone before we could put an offer in. But dh has yet to see it and be convinced. Fiddlesticks!

I don't know about everyone else, but I am really looking forward to yummy's weightlifting toddler video.

worse when I was an opinionated toddler (and apparently just as much of a fussy bugger as DD) I would have happily lived on banana yoghurt. So you never know!

As for how would you know that a toddler is learning colours... "What colour is this?" "Wed!" "Very good! What colour is this?" "Gwee!" "Well done! And what colour is this?" "Purpoy!" is a bit of a clue. Books with colours in, they're the way forward. But what I can't work out is how she figured out that "one" is 1. 1, she knows. One, she shouldn't, I'm sure.

eco you still haven't explained how you fit that many people in such a small house. I'm intrigued! Where did you put everyone?

Plonk do us a link to the mystery house so we can have a look?

Half past eight, that's not too early to go to bed, right?

Colours here are being recognised by my prompting "where's the red car?" Etc.

this house is the one I've been thinking of for 14 hours now

Bath toys are handy, we've got ducks that are identical except for colour, and ditto with the boats. So if she learns a different word for each, those words must mean colours.

Had a quick peek at the house on my phone, looks pretty much the same as the other two. I suppose there's limited variation in terraces. I like the way if you had D&V you could sit on the loo while chucking up in the bath.

Well obviously that's our criteria met