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

Thanks everyone. Betty she's half way through a 7 day course of 2 doses a day. Missed last night's and this morning's. I might be able to start again this evening as she does seem much brighter, and has eaten some toast, which hasn't re-emerged.... yet! DH took over, and has syringed small amounts of water into her regularly throughout the night. The kitchen stinks of vomit though so obviously his cleaning skills are a bit dubious, so in the interests of keeping the bugs at bay I am going to have to don rubber gloves and sort that one out. I could really really do without this right now, but poor little toddle, it's not like she would have picked it either.

worse poor little DD. Glad she seems a bit better today. Make sure you're togged up to clean the kitchen. Full on hazard suit, I think!

betty I hope DD lets you have a bit of calm so that you can feel better. Must be lovely to have her with you again after your busy days. And as of today, the wedding date is officially 30th January 2016 which gives me just over a year to bore you all senseless so plum and gold it is!

plonk I remember looking at a couple of toddles when DS was small thinking 'I can't wait til he sits nicely like them' but now I know, it's all a myth. There are no nice-sitting toddles! But your DS is a very good boy so I can see why she said that!

I've found something that keeps DS happy and calm even in the height of a tantrum, and I'm afraid it's tv related. Mickey's Twice Upon A Christmas. He will sit on his rocker and watch the whole thing, which gives me time to shower and get dressed. And it's Christmassy so I don't feel too guilty

Right, we're off to Birmingham to see Santa. I've been showing DS lots of pictures and telling him who he is and he now recognises him so fingers crossed he has fun!

how's the landscape looking your end today worse?

Plonky I bet the landscape your end is looking boxy? Good luck with these few fraught days ahead.

Oh no Worse! Best of luck! I have had quite a bit of luck with D&v containment in the last couple of years. Secrets (alongside washing of hands and handles etc) also included trying to have bathroom facilities for the sick (cleaned often and deep cleaned after) and different ones for the well, and no cross food prep, so if dh could sort out him and toddle and you just looked out for you? I hope it clears quickly for all concerned.

Ugh, I have a cold and a nasty cough and I am bored already!

Still just this week to go and I have a fortnight off! Just going to have to put some crazy hours in to make that doable .

Well the good news is it has been a vomit free night, and the toddle was eating and drinking small amounts by bed time. The bad, I have caught her bad cold, and am feeling a bit sick. I'm hoping the sick feeling is just down to tiredness and the cold, rather than the bug. I did my best to avoid the vomiting bug so fingers crossed. DH on the other hand is more likely to succumb as when he wasn't being vomited on, he was bathing her, or co-sleeping just to get some rest. It's been a hideous few days.

The cleaning company with the sensible rates never got back to me. What a surprise. The £51 an hour company are calling round today. I'm going to have to book them, but only for a couple of hours every fortnight. I don't have any other option for now.

Summary for the day - bit fed up!

How are you feeling now, Worse? Any chance the sick feeling is at the thought of a cleaner charging £51 an hour?

The less said about the landscape round here the better, eco. That driveways causing all manner of issues. Our solicitors not allowing us to say "actually were happy and want to complete regardless" so our seller has to pull a load of documents out of his holly jolly arse or get a statutory declaration. Fun as he's in derbyshire and his solicitors in Leeds, and we wanted to complete by tomorrow.

Oh Worse, things really are a bit pants your end aren't they. Those cleaners are robbing bastards. Have you asked around your neighbours and anyone you know in the vicinity about who they use? Surely people aren't using people that expensive everywhere? It's crazy? Fingers crossed you're not vomiting and it's just a side effect of being ill and exhausted.

Plonky, that sucks. I'm keeping everything crossed that today is all of a sudden very productive!

I'm fairly sure I've got tonsillitis what with not being able to swallow but if I don't make it into work this afternoon someone's cancer op will be cancelled and then they'll be in over Christmas. Tis shit sometimes. I'm off to have a long bath, nail some Beechams and get the Difflam throat spray out.

Something, winter weddings are the best!!! Just try not to get snowed in like we did although the 1am snowball fight was epic Eco and I are definitely up for a year of planning! I love a good wedding!!!

Diving in briefly with a question for Plonk and Something - don't suppose either of you have a travel cot that won't be in use over Christmas? You two are my last hope before I hit amazon and just buy one.

I think I may be ok [touches wood]. No vomit.... yet

Betty oh god, you poor thing. We really don't value medics enough do we. It must be awful to have so much responsibility on your shoulders over taking a genuine sick day.

Something winter weddings are wonderful, not least because you get to wear gorgeous warm clothes that do not require every spare inch of flesh to be buffed to within an inch of its life. What the eye doesn't see... . Add roaring fires, and mulled wine. I'm soooo jealous. (I had a summer wedding, v uninspiring in comparison. Strawberries and cream. Yada yada. Could have been bloody wimbledon. Yawn.).

As for cleaners, this really is the last resort. I have asked everyone. Most are looking themselves, or have someone who is completely booked up. I've called 5 different independent cleaners, all of whom haven't answered or returned my calls. Madam crook didn't turn up after being asked for a reference. One agency pi55ed me off big time by stating an up front £240 clean wasn't necessary, before changing their minds and deciding it was . This agency seems very professional, straight up, honest, I have two separate recommendations from local people, and the rate covers two people which makes them eye watering rather than breathtakingly expensive. We'll have to budget for it as I can't manage anymore without help. This house is too bloody big. That is not a stealth boast it is a complaint!

Plonky you can complete if you sign a disclaimer about the driveway. We had a similar issue on a previous house. The party wall documentation was incomplete, and our solicitor wouldn't sign off, so we took a gamble on it. It was fine, but if you do that be aware the same thing will come up again if you want to sell in the future.

The toddler is napping after another no lunch day. Poor little thing. You know she's ill when fish pie is rejected and she can't even be bribed with jelly.

Oh dear Betty I hope it's not tonsillitis. I also wish you felt able to take a sick day. Everything about being a poorly medic sucks!

Something feel free to learn fr my wedding faux pas. I'm sure there are plenty of lessons there. Ooh I can't wait to see your plans!!

Stormy as we're going to Wrexham early on Boxing Day morning my travel cot is officially in use. Would help if I could, but it'd leave ds with no bed at the PILs.

Worse yay for not puking! Whenever there's someone pukey in my house I always feel a bit tummy buggish too, but I'm sure it's a fear of getting ill. Long may your good health continue!

To save headaches the seller decided to get a statutory declaration. Thanks to him being a copper and knowing a solicitor down here who has witnessed it, plus the magic of email, my solicitor now has all the documents she needs and has applied to draw down the mortgage funds. It's been quite a fraught day to say the least! We still can't arrange anything as the solicitor won't be pushed into saying when we'll definitely get the keys, but we're earmarking Saturday as moving day.

This means doing the move without actual movers (seems a bit like stabbing in the dark to book anything) and are recruiting as much family help as possible. Keep your fingers crossed, kids!

Glad you're well so far worse. It's a shame stormy nor I live closer; toddle free cleaning of your lovely house appeals very much.

Plonky I've no clue about this stuff....has anything moved on today?

Betty did the bath help? I hope you're either better or in the right place: tucked up in bed.

Ecotod is really quite poorly. Luckily my first prolonged, proper poorly time. 38.2 temp, awful rash on face, screams when eats, not really managing food, terrible nappy rash with thrush for first time, big red tonsils, trouble sleeping. That sort of thing. And my dh is away in London overnight. It sucks eh?

Cross post Plonky. Great progress!

betty what a horrible poorly predicament. I hope the bath fixed you right up! I love the sound of a 1am snowball fight! I'm hoping for a light dusting of snow please, Jack Frost. What month was your wedding?

worse glad you remain unscathed of vomit. As for summer weddings, having seen plonk's gorgeous wedding (of which, I assure you, had no faux pas) I can totally see the benefit of a lovely summer day to get thee wed. I always thought I'd be a bride in the sunshine but the idea of a winter wedding where I can wear fluffy shawls and boots, and have a hot chocolate bar, and offer blankets and gloves as favours has just changed my mind. Plus, it's lots cheaper. The venue is somewhere I used to work and know the wedding coordinator very well, who has already saved us about a grand in including things in the package.

As for your cleaner problems, it sounds like such a saga. My mum hires some to clean my great uncle's home and they've offered her 6 hours of work on her own house, top to bottom, half price for £75. Any chance you could pop your house up here for a couple days and I'll send them your way?

stormy unfortunately, we've never had a travel cot. DM has one but we'll be using it on Christmas day. Sorry!

eco poor little ecotod. It sounds like they're all going through something at the moment. It's so scary when their temperature soars. Lots of naked cuddles, Windows open, calpol and Christmas films, I think. DS had a temperature of 39.2 once, and the nurses were worried about him fitting so we have calpol and nurofen every 4 hours. I hope she feels better soon.

Something that sounds delicious. I want a winter wedding now! Shame I've done it already and rather love the husband I've got I guess Blankets as favours? Generous :-) I love a blanket to snuggle in, that's a lovely idea.

Ecotod's daddy is now getting last train home instead of staying over. I'm lame aren't I? I just would like the moral support if it all gets dodgy again. My recent list of rods for back that may make many of you more experienced mums smile:
juice in sippy cup
saying yes to demands for "treat"
Ella pouch for lunch
liquidised my dinner for her dinner
biscuits for breakfast
Peppa pig dvd

All these firsts on the same day! Oh how the Eco fall

Worse how are things now? Is worselet still nibbling on stuff? Did you manage a kitchen clean up? And, how are you and dh? I've been thinking about you and willing the vomit fairy to leave you alone.

Am now is bath which when alone with sick baby in bed is a bit of a dicey game to play but I'm living on the edge today. I have a mumsnet Christmas bargain thread playmobil zoo and a Lidl wooden garage to wrap up tonight in santa paper. This excites me more than it probably ought.
stormy, could you maybe try your local free cycle for a travel cot. My friends got one from there!

Eco how's she doing? Any better? Crossing my fingers for some improvement over night.

Hi worse....I was wondering same about you guys! She's really up and down....I think the calpol doses help. She also managed to get some dinner down which I hope is a positive sign. The rash on her face, legs and bottom are just awful though. Bright red, raised, angry looking. It's so hard to see your precious baby who is perfect so bruised by illness. I say that realising that that's rather over the top and that there are many other babies out there with far far worse stuff going on. It must be totally heartbreaking for people. One just wants them well again eh? I guess this is a taste of the rest of my life. I guess this is how my own mother felt every time I was sick. I wish she was still around. I've learned a lot since becoming a mother myself which gives me a new perspective to things. I always appreciated and and loved her immensely but I never really understood (or thought about I guess) the sacrifices which were many.
Crap! you only asked how she was doing and I had a mini indulgent rant

Eco I totally understand. It's so hard when they are ill and you are on your own. I feel exactly the same when DH is out in London, and I'm coping at home with a sick toddle. DH is out much less these days, but it's still once a week and it's always tough. Hope your DH gets home soon and gives you both a big hug.

From your description I was wondering, could it be chicken pox?

Things are much better here tonight. The toddle ate some cheesy scrambled egg and toast for tea, which is at least filling, and has played nicely without having a meltdown or biting anyone this evening. Bodes well for the night. Plus all adults have remained reassuringly vomit free. I have no idea how, given how much of the stuff we've had to wade through. Makes me wonder if it wasn't something other than noro virus. A reaction to the antibiotics maybe, or a straightforward stomach bug.

Good news your end then worse. Hurrah! Hopeful for a good night for you all then. Sounds like you bloody need it. I saw a friend who is 35 weeks pregnant at the weekend. It's really quite pregnant isn't it!? Go steady.

Yes, good call with the pox. Not been in contact with any and the doc spent a good long while with my babe naked on his couch examining spots with magnifier so I'm currently putting (most) of my trust in him. She's not appearing to be itchy. Strange.

We have a viewing Friday morning, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Safe to say that with decs boxes down and presents in mid wrap the house is going to need even more work than usual to get it to viewing ship shape!

Hope poorly parents and toddles are all feeling better. Tis grim.

Well how do you do. I just wrote a very long and meaningful post, only to have ds lean on my phone and delete it. Honestly ifeel he wasn't such a cutie pie he'd be working down the pit soon.

Did the doc say what they think it is, Eco? With the other general misery is it a virus or something more? Either way I hope it's shortlived. Solo parenting a poorly toddle is like an emotional endurance test.

Worse I'm so glad you and dh remain vom free. Perhaps it was the antibiotics? As I agree, when you seem to be wading through a pukey house (now there's a mental image) it's v hard to succumb. I hope she's better for christmas and gets to tuck in. Her last Christmas as an only child!

The landscape is about to become very boxy indeed. We told the solicitors a tiny white lie, that our landlord wants us out this Friday. He doesn't, and certainly won't kick us out over Christmas as we're happy to pay another week, but shhh it worked. This gives us a nice overlap as completion day is Friday and the move will take place on Saturday/Sunday.

Ds is dancing around watching Postman Pat. It's incredibly cute, and he's definitely inherited his mother's instinct (or lack thereof) for rhythm.
This morning I had a chat with ds that went as follows:
Me - ds would like you toast?
Ds - no.
Me - porridge?
Ds - no.
Me - yoghurt?
Ds - no.
Me - what would you like then?
Ds - cock cock. (Chocolate).

I blame the advent calendar.

Starting to think whoever named chocolate really didn't think it through. Fartypants has an advent calendar hanging on the wall, very high up from her perspective, so it contains "top cock". And as she's only allowed one a day, we have many many mournful wails of, "Top cock! Top cock peeees, Mummy!"

Hope poorly toddles are feeling better this morning.

Stormy ds has two cocks and they both live in a cupboard.

OMFG we're exchanging today.

Wotta hope the viewing goes well!

Yey wotta and plonkydonk so happy for you both that things are finally happening!!

DS doesn't know what cock is because his advent calendar is a train with drawers that harbours oranges and raisins I have a cock calendar though, and I make sure to eat it every day!

eco how is little DD today? Has her temperature come down?