June 07 - where our cuddly bundles become roller-coasters, carpet-creepers, rug-rats, commando-crawlers and intrepid adventureres

[thisisRialifebaby]

Hope this is ok.

that you are still feeling down Ria

If you are scared by a full OU course, maybe you could start with an evening course?

I'm doing a diital photography course for 2.5 hours, one evening a week, for 11 weeks. I'm really enjoying doing something for me. I might do something longer afterwards.

Some of the OU course are just small "taster" courses. Most of their courses are 30 or 60 points (with 120 points being the equivalent of 1 academic year's full time study), but they do some 10 point courses. might be a starting place Ria?

I'm thinking of doing this course later in the year FF

Hi fairy and andie and izzy .

Go for it with the OU course Ria.....DH did one a few years ago and it opened up huge opportunities for him job-wise. He said it was quite hard work though, and he was living on his own at the time....but men are rubbish sometimes!

Well, I last BF DD at 10:30 this mornin. She had some of a carton of formla after her lunch and then took nealry 7ozs before bed! Boobs don't feel too bad at the moment, but I'll express before bed and freeze it.

Sahe's had the odd carton of formula before and hasn't been too fussed. When I went to Sainsbury's on Mponday they were out of Aptimil, so I bought some Farleys as I'd used that with DS. she gobbled it down like it was going out of fashion, so it obviously tastes better then the aptamil.

After much reflection today and discussion with DH and friends, I've decided to wind it right down. Am feeling a bit glum about it, and had to put up with DD sticking her tongue out at me all afternoon (her sign that she needs a feed) even though I knew she couldn't possibly be hungry. I think I'm doing the right thing. The fact that she is taking to it without any problem is helping; she actually followed me from the kitchen earlier when I went past with the bottle!

We got some spring greens in our veg box today....will they do instead of savoy cabbage for engorgement?

That looks great Jammy

Hi Daisy, I can't offer any advice but I would reiterate what Izzybel said about being impresse that you've kept it up for so long especially considering the pain that you've been through.

Cheers Fairy. I'm just trying to decide when to do it. Think it will depend on how work goes.

Daisy, I don't blame you at all for winding down with the BF. And you've given babyboo a great start - by many people's standards this is a long time to have BF for, and at some point you have to start thinking of yourself as well. But it sounds like it was a hard decision, which I can fully understand.

I think a 10 point one will be where I start. If I hadn't had my bout of sciatica I would have 10 credits already. I might have to do a few to work out what interests me and get my confidence back. probably this or this I expect.

I need something to occupy my mind other than home/housework, being miserable, food, general crappiness.

They both look really interesting as well, Ria.

Dh is out tonight so I'm taking the opportunity for an early night. good night everyone.

Well done daisy, but I would say do it gradually - when I stopped with DS1 (he was only about 6 weeks old at the time) I just stopped, cue 2/3 days walking round with a bed sheet wrapped tightly round me to minimise the pain.

I think this has been the right time for us - baggins wouldn't entertain a bottle at all until a couple of weeks ago, now he's perfectly happy - at teatime last night he shouted out like Father Jack when I got the bottle I do feel very though, but I am having silly issues about him being my last and stuff

I am using Hipp Organic, I got cow & gate originally as that's what the others had but he wouldn't enterain it. You wouldn't think there would be that much difference in taste.

I'm actually enjoying the fact that I have no right boob pain this evening!

Ria, the environment one looks good and I'm thinking of signing up myself. I think that all things environmental are only going to get more important over the next few years. In my line of work cleaning up ex industrial land is a huge thing at the moment as more and more brownfield sites get developed. Am thinking I might lean towards environmental engineering.....don't know if I can cope with the study though!

nite FF.

I am watching Honest, but will be lurking til bedtime. Don't have too much fun without me

LOL at Father Jack

I think that environment course looks great Ria.

C was given SMA Gold in hospital ( but that's another story) so we bought that when we wanted formula at home and she was fine with it. When she got to 6 months and the tin ran out at about the same time we "moved up" to SMA Progress and she's not half as keen on that. We've ended up going back to SMA Gold to try to get her to take formula at nursery.

Jammy, I've always been led to believe that there is no need to give progress type milks and that they were only developed by the formula companies to get over the ban on advertising infant formula. My HV with DS told me that five years ago so I gave DS first milk from 5 weeks until I switched to cows milk at one year.

Is there any news from Trace about Chloe? I only skimmed the thread and didn't see any recent posts from her.

Yes, I've been told the same Daisy. And even if the progress is better (not saying that it is), if she won't drink it then infant milk is the only way to go.

Anyhow, I'm off. I rediscovered the joy of reading this afternoon while C had an hour and a half nap on my lap, and want to go read another chapter or two.

At least if you stick with the SMA gold it'll be one less difference for her and maybe make the transition easier.

Going back to work is really hard though, so you have my sympathies. DS was two when I did it, and I think it took me longer to adjust than him. He absolutely loved it, and never looked back. You'll see a huge difference in her really quickly I imagine.

right off to express to avoid middle of the noight boob explosions. I had all my lovely underwear out earlier looking wistfully at it....I hope it still fits as I can't afford new bras!

Hopefully I'll be able to stay caught up this time!

Well done daisy. You've made the right decision for yourself. I think expressing a little each day to ease the engorgement is a good idea. You must feel terribly sad, it's the end of an era. But the start of a new one, and hopefully you'll feel better, get skinny and your libido back and just feel much more like yourself again!

Ria those courses look really interesting. If I wasn't going back to work I would definitely consider something like that. I would love to do an evening course but can't afford it. I'd like to do something like economics or law or geography. I'd really like to do yoga teacher training actually, but it is a few grand and I am not commited enough yet. One day though...

yuk. It's grey and raining and blowing a gale, and DS2 and I have colds

It'll be a PJs day and back to bed as soon as humanly possible. I would keep DS1 off school too but I don't think I could cope with the conversation and he doesn't have any actual symptoms other than being pale.

PJs day sounds great Ria. Can't happen here though. I've got to go to the GP, and we're due to be going out this afternoon.

I've requested a prospectus and application forms from the OU! Hopefully because we're so poor I might get the course fee paid/reduced. Still haven't decided on the exact course though...

I am off to feel sorry for myself. Back later.

Have a good day everyone

It's raining in my dining room! There is water coming in above the windows, probably due to cracks in the pointing outside. Thankfully we hadn't yet replastered from the last year when we first had problems (and thought it had been sorted). I think because the rain was coming at an angle it's found a way in. One more bloody thing about this house that needs fixing! I'll definately be back at work soon to pay for it all

Need to go out today but can't use the car so I'll be braving the elements. Thankfully I can get the bus door to door.

sorry about the colds Ria