December 06: For my first birthday mummy I would like.......

[Indith]

Here you go Eli!

I almost put 'your clothespegs' on the end there. Ds loves clothespegs. Came home from Rainbows the other day and dp had made a deal with ds. He could play with the clothespegs as long as he did it in his playpen and let dp make dinner.

Half of us going off on lovely hols and half of us poorly or with poorly lo's! Hope all get better soon, jabber, fgs, indith the mummies have to take care of themselves ,methinks.

I am panicking a little about 3 I'm sure it's just hormones but now all the stuff I'd forgotten about is coming to the surface. Spent much of the day in the office crying AND I know I should be so pleased and I was when I did the test, I really was. But god, 3!! Oli, castles reassurance please!! ds2 will only be 22 months. I just fear I'll be lost in a blanket of nappies (2 in cloth!!), washing and feeding again and our house is so small for 3! Tried v.hard to persuade dp that we need to sort the kitchen (knock through etc) as I just can't imagine dealing with all of them in the closet we have! I'm being unduly negative, this is what I wanted fgs!!! What is wrong with me?

Meant to say before selfish rant, fgs - have you tried catarrh pastilles (like Potters) as they really helped me with sinusitus when I can't hear properly and living in fog. They just blast your ears open!

AQ, I was the same when I found out I was pg with ds2. Elation turns to terror! It will be fine though. Your ds1 will be at school so you'll get a bit of a break in the day. Ds2 will still be having naps I'd imagine so that will also give you a bit of respite in the early days. The jump from 2 to 3 is not as big as 1 to 2, really it's not. Ds1 and ds2 will have each other which makes life easier when you're doing the newborn feedathons, and the whole routine of getting up and out to school, etc means that your day always has some structure.

Washing, etc just requires lots of organisation. I'm a hugely disorganised person by nature but I have a set timetable of what washing/housework I do each day which keeps me on top of things. I also ignore mess until after the dcs are in bed then have a half hour blitz which keeps the place looking reasonable.

Space-wise you'll manage, they don't take up much room when they're tiny so you've got lots of time to sort the kitchen. Knocking through sounds like a good idea - cooking dinner is certainly a lot easier when you're not tripping over small children every time you turn round!

Hope that puts your mind at ease and (((AQ))).

Indith, poor ds. You have my sympathies. Ds2 was a very miserable bunny with his ear infection.

Jabber, hug for you too. Not long til Spring now and a bit of much needed warmth and sun.

FGS, hope you're feeling better. Your DH sounds like a star!

I'm currently sat in a freezing cold house as the boiler conked out this morning and the Home 'Emergency' cover we have through the bank is worse than useless. I've wasted a whole day trying to get an engineer out but apparently there 'isn't one in our area' as we have oil ch . The dcs are tucked up under piles of blankets and I'm about to go to the PILs for a shower!

Oli, thank you!!! That's exactly what I needed to hear! You star. Enjoy your shower, hope the heating gets sorted tomorrow!

Oh good, so pleased you feel a bit better .

Oli, hope you are not too terribly cold I can't believe you have to wait until tomorrow to get things sorted.

AQ, a good friend also told me that going from 2 to 3 was much the easiest transition. I'm sure you will do fine

As for me, well, ds2 is starting to drive me a bit bonkers, tbh. He's just into everything and so busy all the time. Much more so than ds1. I've been trying to get the house ready to show this weekend and it seems just as I get one thing done he's taking it all apart again. I have actually upped my AD's as I was starting to feel that my coping skills were critically low.

Congratulations AQ I had a dream that I was preggers last night. Effing hope I'm not!! Don't worry, going from 2 to 3 is a doddle. Ha, ha, ha, ha ...

... staggers back, ((hugs Jabber)) you always sound like superwoman to me, look after yourself, you are doing great.

Definitely losing it: meant to type "wanders"

Thanks, castles I was just thinking about you last night actually and wondering how you were.

Oh, and just had to share this one. Of course you've all heard me moaning about no energy (although today seems better - yay!) and then a couple of days ago I felt kind of queasy all day. So dh just casually says "I wonder if you're pregnant?" We have been very, very careful and I haven't even had a period yet so I'm sure I'm not but it still scared the life out of me! Deffo a two kid household for me, lol.

Jabber. I keep pregnancy tests in my knicker drawer and test now and then - whenever I start to panic and imagine PG symptoms. DH thinks I'm completely bonkers ... So glad to hear that your DS is as mad as DD2 and into everything. DD1 was so placid compared to DD2, although DD2 is a much more joyful, less solemn child.

Oli, you poor, cold things. Hope you all managed to snuggle in for the night. I don't know of a single 'Emergency' cover that actually does what it says on the tin.

AQ, I have also been told that it is easier to go from 2 to 3 than for 1 to 2, if that's any consolation. (Personal apologies for my opening statement. I have decided that we are definitely a 2-child househod, particularly now that DSS is talking about having children. I cannot possibly have step-grandchildren that are older than my own )

Indith, I bet DS feels a bit better now that his ear is oozing. Now do try to get a decent night's sleep under your belt.

Indith, how's ds today?

Jabber, you and AQ could join the Due in Oct08 thread together .

Well, heating was sorted today. Bit as there wasn't actually anything wrong with the boiler - we'd run out of oil . I didn't realise you had to pull a little plunger thing out on the gaugeto get an accurate reading. Oops. Fortunately FIL checked it before the boiler people came and outed me as a silly woman who needs her dh to deal with this type of thing . Nice oil delivery man checked the boiler was working before he left so we are warm for the first time in 48 hours. Hooray .

Glad you are warm, oli

bp, I guess that's the trade-off as ds2 is a much happier child in general than ds1

DD2 had her MMR yesterday. She was so brave -just did a little silent cry until she saw the chocolate buttons and then cheered up. She has been happy and slept through too

I think her 4th bottom tooth coming through the other day has brought back my happy DD. It has taken about 2 months and all of a sudden she's back to being my little poppet!

DD1 still has tummy problems. Now accompanied by very loose poo and has been for several days so I think I need to go back to the Drs.

Oh god, I had managed to forget completely about MMR. I so hate taking my children for immunisations

Glad things have warmed up chez Oli.

Indith, how's DS? Did he manage to sleep at all last night?

Oh, me too, bp! Forgot to take ds2 last week (again!). But he's ill again so it'll have to wait. Last time (with both of them) was so horrendous I never want to do it again - why can't dp do just one of them????
Oli, Have to say I giggled at the boiler thing, sorry! I would have done the same thing!!! But glad you're warm again. I'm still v.hormonal and not wanting another baby mode but trying to recognise it for that and looking at baby name threads (already told dp my first choice for boy's name, we both want another boy!).

Home with ds2 today as it just didn't feel right leaving him at nursery when he feels rotten and I wasn't busy part. Lovely walking ds1 to nursery instead of the rushed car drop-off.

Jabber, it is great that ds2 is a happy little chappie, despite the busyness - I thought from your descriptions of ds1 that he was the same but obviously not. How're you feeling?

Indith, report on ds??

Hello!

Glad you are warm again Oli. The fan thing on my parents' boiler broke a while ago and it was a couple of weeks before it was fixed Thankfully they have an immersion heater so had hot water for showers and they have an open fire to snuggle up in front of.

Ds still pretty miserable. I have missed enough uni staying at home with him though so unlike AQ, now that he is not rashy and his eyes have cleared up he is back at creche. I feel horrible though. It is so unfair to put him there when he would be so much happier cuddling mummy at home. Hopefully ear tests should be back today so we can get started on ABs.

Happy, into everything babies are ace When ds isn't ill he just spends all his time pottering around the downstairs, emptying cupboards and examining everything in minute detail. I love it. I did, however, have to go and buy a large amount of plastic tubs to organise my baking cupboard as he kept spilling sugar and flour on the floor

I have also said I am never again taking in both of them for jabs. Ds1 is terrible about it. He is quite the drama boy, AQ He can be very cheerful but is legend for his mood swings - guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree on that one

I am feeling much better today. Thanks for asking everyone I spent all morning on the house yesterday moving things around, etc. and I think it will be presentable for viewing this weekend. Now, of course, the potential buyers will probably reschedule...

Going into work today. Ds1's school is off and the nanny called in sick! I'm going to worry all day as my mother will be helping out and she has a hard time keeping up with both of them these days.

Is anyone else holding off on MMR? Or doing single vaccinations? We don't get reminders here and I'm not going to give DD2 hers until she's at least 18 months and she is a bruiser who is wearing 2 year old clothes already, because of her height, not weight! I certainly won't be giving her the pre-school booster, as I haven't with DD1. Sadly DS had his but he's my PFB and hence 'the experiment'.

Glad you are feeling better Jabber

I have to say DD2, although she's a domestic terrorist, is an absolute joy. When she gets up for the day at 4 or 5am I stagger in to her and her huge smile/laugh/chattering just disolve any bad feeling. My other 2 are the same. I'm very lucky.

Hey, castles, I'd been wondering if I was the only person doing singles. Ds2 just had his first, probably a little sooner than I would have otherwise b/c ds1 is having his boosters and since we are moving I'm hoping to get them all in before that. It practically took an act of God to find a dr. around here to do singles for us and I hated the thought of having to do that as soon as we get to a new place. They are so militant in the US about vaccinations! I've manipulated the system so that ds2 is on the "catch-up" schedule and won't have to have quite as many.

I know what you mean about that big smile first thing in the morning. I just love it Poor little ds1 woke up crying until just recently. His world just isn't an easy one...

Hello people. Congrats on all your news!

DS had MMR yesterday, along with other booster. He squeezed out a couple of tears but soon stopped when the sting was over and the chocolate drops appeared! He was very grumpy during the night though, we hardly got any sleep.

We thought long and hard about it, but decided to go ahead. Doesn't mean that I haven't been a total wreck about the whole thing.....

I did triple MMR vac with both DDs. DD1 was fine for first but really struggled after her booster a few months ago. On reflection I dont think the first jab worked as she got suspected rubella age 3 and that would make sense as to why the 2nd lot affected her.

DD2 had hers Wednesday as has been fine. Although she's been unsettled at the childminders again. She has been 5 x fridays now and is still unsettled. I feel very guilty leaving her.

DS1 had a really high fever after his first rubella. We're doing his booster the end of the month and I'm hoping it's not as bad this time.

I decided to speak with his OT about the eating issues and it looks like we're going to add that to his therapy Sometimes I think I'm going overboard but he has been much better the last couple of weeks. I'm just wanting so much to get some of his "issues" under control before kindergarten in the fall.

Jabber, does DS1 have a dx of anything? Is he an HSC? Just curious, hope you don't mind me asking. IME it is really wise to get all the help etc you can/therapy before they start school.

We can pinpoint the start of all DS's problems to when he had the MMR booster aged 3.5. Interestingly, both he and DD1 (who had her 1st MMR same day) were constipated for 10 days afterwards, a problem they never normally have. "Oh no," said the GP "nothing to do with the MMR". Yeah right. I've been told there is no benefit in the booster, apart from 'catching' all those who weren't done 1st time, but don't get me started. I should be on another thread

Oh, yes, I thought you knew he is definitely an HSC. In fact, he has recently been dxed with Sensory Processing Disorder. Much better than Asperger's though, which was my big fear.

I totally agree about the booster's. I talked to his dr. about doing blood titers first but she wasn't particularly willing. So, since she's the only person who has agreed to do singles I have had to be satisfied with that. The only downside is that I'm having to do them about 6 weeks apart instead of 6 months b/c of our imminent move, jabs being backordered and looming school date I've been thinking that I would love to talk to you more about our respective ds's and thought we could email offboard or do Facebook?

PS, we were also told the high fever had "nothing whatsoever" to do with the rubella. Even though a good friend who is a dr. told us to expect it