MAY 07 Post natal - This time a year ago it was all just beginning, look at us now...........................

[Mrsjaffabiffa]

Morning........

Morning, thanks for the new thread MRs JB.
Yes Scoot it was HSerwood FOrest we went too. It was lovely to just have a short drive for a change. That was what I loved about CP, you could be anywhere. I loved the no traffic rule. Looking at the weather now we picked the right week to go.

Morning.

Someone (can't remember who, sorry) wanted a view on German CP. I've not been to any others, so I can't compare, it did seem good though. The kids loved it, everything was very clean and well organised, not too pricy. We didn't go in the spa so can't comment on that. Very few Brits there if that's an issue for you though. The reason we went there was because it ended up cheaper than going to UK CP, even including the flights and car hire - we flew with Air Berlin to Hamburg from Manchester, flights for 5 of us were £200 in total.

Morning - good thread title MrsJB...... i could smell something as it happens

Scoot, PHEW on the neg front! Good luck with the packing - i still have some NEW HOUSE notelets if you would like them, saves them going in the bin. Bird World is close ish to Reading, more Farnham way. Jack loves it. Glad i didnt go today as its pouring down and very windy.

Cam, I like spreadsheets...... what do you need in it?

Julie, Phil & Teds are amazing. I love mine and wouldnt change it for the world. So handy to convert from single to double and back again in about 2mins flat. We have last years model and have seen this years model, it has a fair few new bits on it the handle raises (i think) the doubles chair can recline slightly etc etc etc. Our P&T has the buggy, rain cover, cocoon (really handy for when baby is tiny), doubles seat, car seat & travel system adaptor. can you tell i am a fan, i could go on for pages about it.

Did i see that cake was being offered around???

Who's got cake? Pass it this way please.
Just been to the baby clinic and Ruby was 14lb 10. She doesn't seem to be putting weight on very quickly put having said that C was a little tank at her age and put weight on as quick as I can!
Not got many plans today. C has gone swimming (as if he didn't have ebough last week) with his granparents and dh is out for a bit working so I've actually got the pc to myself for once. Still got piles of ironing to do from holiday but that can wait. Next Tuesday I have to work!! Shock horror! At school I am the PE co-ordinator and I am a Link Teacher for the School Sports Partnership in our area. Next Tuesday is the third module of 6 and I really need to go. It will be the 1st time I have left C and R with the childminder.

I love my P and T too..Maybe we could start a club April..y'know like Mini owners have Mini clubs..we could be a P and T one..

Im not sure where Sawtry is but let me see...we can always meet in the middle Cam..

Lovely thread title Mrs JB..Just right for me at the mo as am feeling very retrospective packing up the house..lots of reminiscing going on here!

We might go for it and book Elveden forest CP for Jan then..something to look forward to..oooh!We should all go at the same time!A giant thread meet up in CP!How fab would that be?!

Well Im off to plug in my straighteners, (of course)and google James McAlvoy..

Will you be back just for one day though Abby, or is it back back....like Back for Good?(to coin Take That)

morning all you lovely ladies

I have had a dredfulish morning, dh needed taking in to work again (suit not easy to transport on a bike and i had made hima lemon cake to share with all his mates for morning coffee time ) which means we have to all be ready and out the house at 720

The kids (even though they had breakfasted before we left) were treated to a Mcdonalds egg and sausage Mcmuffin, i only went for coffee. So they were happy. We arrived at school at 8!!!

My friend phoned while i was in the car park and asked me to have her 2 yr old as she wanted to see her other little boy's assembly (he is in the same class as ds#4) I couldnt relly say no. Hugs had playschool this morning and i knew he was going to be upset, let alone leaving his friend in the car who got to stay with mummy He screamed again, they had to prise him off me

When i picked him up he was all red and puffy and had been crying most of the morning. They hadnt called me either. I think im going to leave it and try again when he is 3 after xmas. He doesnt settle at all and is such a panic merchant even at toddler groups if he loses me for a second. I may have underestimated the effect all the change in the last 12 months has affected him, moving house, different area, no one but mummy all day and then a new baby too.

Twatty ex p can bugger off if he thinks he is having him for a month (just cos he wants to) I have a feeling it will only make him worse.

Lunchtime now and then im off to toddlers, school run then it will be time to collect dh. Not enough hours...

Scoot im kinda dissapointed your test was negative, would have been fun to have another prg to talk about. Not to worry sounds like JulieWoolie will be filling that gap soon

MID how is the pox boy? Hope he is on the mend now.

PinkJenny text me late last night as she had been in hospital with Alexa, she had a rash. The hosp just said it was a virus and sent her home though. This morning she said she is still blotchy but ok otherwise. Flippin babies, do nothing but scare us.

And here we all fret about to carrot or not to carrot, to leave crying\not leave crying etc...etc... I think they hand out guilt along with the baby at delivery, it never ends.

Right doom and gloom over, cake to be eaten.

Scooter would one like to partake in some divine chocolate cake?

oh yeah, anyone else up for it?

hehe

I was the same Scoot, about Atonement. I cried at the end, and given that I knew what was going to happen, having read the book; I reckon they were tears of grief that I don't live in 1935 in a country house where one dresses for dinner. Tch.

I'm trying to restrain myself re: carrotting. She's 17 weeks on Thursday. I just want to feeeeed her with stuff. It's a slightly bizarre feeling. She's just started going 4 hours between feeds rather than 3 (hurrah!) so if that's not a clear sign that she is NOT hungry, then I don't know what is. She's very interested in our food and likes to chew your hand and suck her bathwater off it (ewww), but doesn't appear to be hungry at all.

She has a cold at the mo. Calpol have a "cold and flu" version now, with a decongestant. Seems to help enough so she can feed without choking on snot. She's finding it hard to sleep though, so was up at about 4am this morning. Eventually brought her to bed and DH and I dosed her up and fetched snots out of her nose and put saline drops in and what have you. She thought it was hilarious. Bless her. Aww. I'm like a bag of cats when I'm poorly. She went back to sleep around 6.30 and slept til 9. Woohoo! Lie in. Poor DH had to go to work though. Will set up sofabed in the dressing room in case there's a repeat performance tonight.

No word from SOH. Hope she and M are ok.

LG&T - can I have your recipes for lemon drizzle and your traybakes please?

Still have very ugly itchy arms. THey're swollen now too. Yuech. I think it's really bad urticaria caused by ant bites. That's my internet-based opinion. Would normally treat with steroids, but I presume that's out with breastfeeding. My homeopathic friend has stuff for me to try this afternoon.

Oh and I meant to say, a month is def too long. You're right LG&T. S used to stay with my mum for 4 or 6 weeks during the summer at that age, but I would go up every other weekend to see her, so she didn't miss me too much and she was pretty robust. Plus mum would keep her in a routine and everything.

4 weeks with a dad you rarely see, being looked after a woman you don't know very well is too long for a LO, especially if he's quite sensitive anyway.

AND LG&T - how the bloody hell are we going to get our husband's to get driving licences? Argh!

husbands - no apostrophe. Duh.

Hello all

C had his third day of apple today, so will be moving on to carrot tomorrow. Trying not to get into the habit of him having warm food as I did with the DDs as it is a pain to warm up when out.

Having quite a nice day as been for coffee with friend most of the morning, DP and I did housework over the weekend so not much to do. Not a nice weather day here though -been raining on and off.

No word from SOH? Hope they are feeling better.

TYG i have no idea how we are gonna get them to learn to drive, methinks it is just too easy for them. DH has been driving the car in and out of the drive a bit, but given it is an automatic it's hardly rocket science

I think your rash is an allergic reaction to the bites too, have seen vaguely similar on others before. Poor you and little S with her cold too. Feed her she may devour every morsel

Little A NOT S!!! Doh, not so little S!!!!

Afternoon ladies

E's party was a great success and the rain held off until it was all over and cleared up!! All the children wore themselves out on the bouncy castle and the face painting lady was brilliant. We were surrounded by butterflies, tigers, devils(DS1), and various superheroes. We had only booked her for two hours but she stayed longer to make sure all the children had their face painted and were each given a balloon animal, will definately book her next year. E had lots of presents. Its his actual birthday today but having his party yesterday has confused him, when he was given cards/presents today he kept saying they werent for him

MIL dropped all our suitcases round today so I can start packing, oh joy. Packing and unpacking has to be the worst thing about going on holiday.

Scoot We are going to Elveden Forest for my 30th in April. Its lovely there. The spa is great, I am definatley booking myself in there for a birthday treat.

Sky - I just read "finished his third apple of the day" !

Oh Pebble, that's so sweet, him saying the presents weren't for him. Awww. So glad the weather held. The auld bouncy castles are great - just not so great in the rain!

Do you think LG&T, Oh wise one? Hmm. I think I'll give her another couple of weeks and see how she goes and maybe try her on a bit of rice. I noticed, giving her her medicine, that she rolled it around her tongue and tasted it and made a different action with her mouth than usual. DH noticed as well and said it looked like she was "eating" it. She licks all her toys too.

Really must try her on a bottle again too. It's just so soul destroying going to the bother of pumping only for her to refuse it and have to throw it away. Still, would be worth it if I could have a night out, I suppose.

LG&T will join you in the 'hellish day' camp Have been to see the HV today as we are seriously losing it with ds. Nightmare child doesnt even come close. Got given pamphlets etc to read up on and have been very close to tears all day. Just dont know what to do with him. We have even booked him to go to nursery on a Monday pm just so we dont have to deal with him..... how bad it that Have also put E into the nusery as of next week on a Mon & Fri pm - purely selfish but to allow me to get the house up straight, shopping done etc just so that i dont have to do it when the children are around. I cant tell you how bad i feel and am sitting here with tears rolling down my face at the thought of leaving her and also ds. I just feel that i need to do it for my own sanity.

Anyway i guess i should go and sort something out for our dinner...

Did anyone notice if it was their White Cardi that i seem to have aquired......

Pebble, glad it stayed nice for E's party and he enjoyed himself.
AM sorry to hear you're having a hard time. C went through a bit of a phase not long after R was born. Don't know if her birth had anything to do with it but we just rode it and it did get better. How old is J? I definitely think you are doing the right thing re Nursery. Don't feel bad about it. You need some time away from them and vice versa. One of th ebest decisions we ever made was to keep C at cm for 3 full days a week while I have been on mat leave. He loves going there and thrives on the attention he gets from someone who is paid to play with him all day. I think it's really important that they have time on their own. It is hard to leave and it hit me today that I am back at work, full time, 3 weeks today. I love my job and see it as a big part of who I am but it will still be hard to leave both kids with the cm. Doin't beat yourself up about it hun, you have done the right thing before it gets out of hand.

Hi all

Its the fairweather friend again. Lexie is covered in a blotchy, spotty nasty rash, head to toe. Went to A & E last night and have seen both the Doctor and the Health Visitor today. All have said its a non-specific viral rash, which as long as she is OK otherwise, should just go by itself.

Still can't relax though.

Hey April, I seocnd what Abby said..it was you guys who all persuaded me to put L in with the CM two afternoons a week just so I could get some time with M and a bit of a rest..and its proved essential!I feel a bit gulity about it but she loves it there, they treat her like a queen and it gives me time to do all the boring shopping etc and spend some alone time where M can be the priority..but if we could afford it I would most likely send M one day a week as well just to have some time to myself..whats J doing?Is it constant tantrums?

If its any consolation I totally lost it with L today and have been quite grumpy about M as well..(spookily she too has a cold TYG and was up at 4am also..'ere text me if A does it again tonight as im sure M will and it would be nice to know that Im not the only one awake in the world)I feel like the worlds worst Mum TBH..I have been trying to pack and L has been chucking things out of all the boxes..we then went to see our B and B group in a cafe where L refused to play with the other kids and instead screamed bloody murder throughout..she has chucked all her tea at the wall in a rage..I could go on..All normal toddler things but a combination of stress re move, being knackered, AF, and it really got to me today..eventually I must admit I did shout at her which of course made her worse and me feel very gulity..I hate days like these!

One will have her chocolate cake now if you please LGandt..Actually I have just polished off the Galaxy I bought at the pictures yesterday..new cookie crumble one, very nice...

Glad party went well Pebble..sounds lovely..I like nothing better than a bounce on a bouncy castle..

TYG-When you have got A on the bottle, where are we going?!

I am seriously considering training to be a driving instructor..(as I dont want to go back to my job)If I do I will teach both of your DH's and SOH gratis!

Horrid isnt it Pinkjenny..try not to worry though, if you've had it checked and they say its ok they must be really sure as they dont mess about on rashes in case its meningitus..chin up hon..

you are here!! Hellooooo lady who does not post enough Stop worrying she will be fine, easier said than done i know. They all give us the scares once in a while. It just changes the older they get, soon it will be A&E dashes with raisins up the nose\pennies swallowed\bumps on the head...oh the list is endless. Lovely to see you posting xxxx

AM dont worry about J, he will come good soon. They do go through a hellish stage, it feels like it may never end but it will. Naughty behaviour, tantrums etc.. just when you think they have grown out of it. Hang in there and do whatever it takes, you should just be recovered for when Ella starts and girls are a whole different ball game

TYG if A doesnt want to eat she wont, mine would just spit it right out again if they were not ready. B has opened his mouth, tasted (much like A with the medicine) and swallowed with mouth open straight away for the next lot! The faff is what puts me off, you are wise to wait if you can.

Cam how is the carrot going? Thinking of giving B some apple next, shall we tandem feed? Apple for J too next?

DH has made some crazy curry and sour cream bread to go with our salmon tonight. It is yum! Bit like fluffy naan bread mmmmmmmm

Hey Scoot, nice to hear from you.

L sounds like a right little diva, I fear I have one of those too. I keep telling myself to be glad she has a spirited personality. Ask me again when she's 3.

The rash just looks so angry, most of her legs are just bright red, it looks like she's got the plague. Dh says he doesn't understand my obsession with focusing on the negativ, and why can't I accept that three different healthcare professionals have told me that she is fine. I am going to seriously need to try and relax with this motherhood lark or I'll be in an early grave. And as if that wasn't bad enough, we're back to bloody Alder Hey for a checkup on Thursday. If all is still well with her hips we won't go back til she's one.

We've all known each other almost a year now, can't believe it. Poor SOH, she's been through the mill. Big hugs and so glad that M is on the mend.

We're off to CP at Whinfell on 8 October, can't wait.