December 2006 - Terrible Two's here we come!

[Olihan]

Here we go. I thought the title was apt as ds2 has morhed into a stroppy little horror overnight. His favourite expression at the moment is 'I cwoss with you, I sceam at you AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH' .

Happy Birthday ToddlerJabber and ToddlerEli .

DD is poorly again. I swear every bug in the vicinity has some kind of magnetic attraction to her . She has a bit of a temp, headache and earache today. I need to buy shares in Calpol and Medised I think.

Aoa, hotel is a very good idea - go for a posh one so you can have a vvvv hot, deep bath!

AQ - could it be reflux?

oli, we did have a pretty big Christmas do with family flying in from all over. tbh it wore us all out pretty badly and we have decided to have our big family gathering in July from now on. 14 people and 4 chldren just shouldn't get cooped up in close quarters over the winter. We have gotten sick two Christmases in a row now after everyone has left. Of course, last year it was RSV so a little virus this year isn't nearly as bad.

AQ, another one thinking reflux here. Also our ds1's seem a LOT alike! I was telling mine just yesterday that instead of modeling 5 year old behavior for ds2 he is simply copying 2 year old behavior and winding up ds2. It really gets so OTT some days. I keep threatening to go gluten-free to see if that will help but haven't had the strength of will to eliminate 90% of his diet and try to coax him into eating new things.

PS AQ, why don't you tell dp that arguing like an adult is understandable atm but name-calling is off-limits!

btw oli, are you still bfing? I finally weaned ds2 last month and within a week he was sleeping through for the first time

News!!! My Christmas tree lasted 5 whole days before being pulled over by Dd I've put it away...am I a spoil sport? I just couldn't be bothered to try to fix it. I thought I may as well just put it all away...

Jabber, yes, morning and bedtime only - he changed to that a couple of months ago, of his own accord. He doesn't ask for milk when he wakes up in the middle of the night any more but he does want a cuddle. I usually end up getting into bed with him and falling asleep there. To be fair, he's much better than he ever has been - he goes from 7pm to at least 5:30am on 5 nights a week or so, I still expect to be woken though and wake at the slightest noise from him, even if it's just sleeping grumbles. I need to train myself to ignore him, I think.

How did you find weaning ds2? Was it his choice or yours? How difficult was it? I think I'd face a real battle with ds2, he just loves his 'milkies' and while I mainly intend to let him self wean I sometimes want to put a stop to it sooner rather than later.

Solo, I think the only reason ours is withstanding the attentions of 3 dcs, 2 cats and a puppy is because it's real and blinking prickly . They all seem to have learned that touching the tree = sharp spikes. I want it gone though, it's shedding needles all over the carpet at a rate of knots!

Did anyone else know that puppies teethe and their milk teeth fall out. Dh found one on the lounge floor and there's a new one in the gap. She and ds2 will be good company, I think he's attempting to cut one of the really massive molars at the back if the horrific, skin melting nappies are anything to go by.

Dd was, according to Ds trying to pull out a pressie that I'd put back under there...

Yes, puppies and kittens all lose their milk teeth and get their 'grown up' teeth as Ds calls them ...watch out though, the pup may chew all manner of shoes/chair legs etc to facilitate its teething!

AQ, another thinking maybe reflux here...sounds just like dd2 was after the first few weeks. She needed domperidone and ranitidine, worth a try?? I would ask GP asap, its such hard work for the LO and the Mum otherwise, and you have more than enough on your plate.

Also, I don't think its ok to be exploded at and called names....sounds as though your dp could do with a bit of support, maybe, with his stress? Is that possible? I know its a rubbish time of year for stress, and generally with 4 LOs, 2 babies, etc, but still...a thought for the New Year? Even if its just to find alternative ways for him to release stress/anger?

Sorry, lots of ??s, probably not what you need

LenniEd, I am quietly agreeing with Oli here...sooner rather than later...wouldn't go placing bets on us getting new babes on the same day if I were you

Solo, our tree is drooping sadly...but its not dd's doing, just nature!

Yes, 13 sleeps (or lack of thereofs) and counting...gulp..

Solo, she's got lots of rawhide bone things strewn about the place to try and save the furniture which seems to be doing the trick for the time being...........

Olihan, take care with those. My friend is a doggie expert and tells me that those rawhide chews can be swallowed in quite big lumps when they get soft and end up blocking the gut resulting them having to have the blockage removed surgically...often emergency surgery.

Kongs or real bones or pigs ears are better options. They go mad for pigs ears!

Thanks for that info, Solo. I'll send dh out for ears in the morning . at emergency surgery - we haven't sorted her insurance yet - can't afford any ops at the mo!

Welcome! Word of warning! they can get greasy and a bit smelly so it could be wise to keep the ear chewing to the kitchen.

Oh, and not too many a day or you'll give pup the trots! UGH!!!

LOL!!!

Real bones/kongs filled with meat paste were puppy favourites here - used to save the kitchen bin getting emptied across the house when we went out.

Oli/Eli - DD was on time 40+2, waters went at 39+6. I feel like it will be a sooner rather than later baby, but then I know someone who had their first at 38wks and thought their second was coming at 37wks and ended up going to 42+1 so am not counting chickens.

Everything but the tree down here, keeping the tree til 12th night but wanted everything else out of the way before I got far too incapable.

I'm still BF too, Jabber - how did you manage to stop? DD2 would, I believe, BF exclusively given half a chance - several times during the night still, and whenever I sit down for 2 minutes during the day! Your Christmas sounds very exhausting - you're very brave to have so many for the festivities.

Indith, so glad the birth went well. Hope DS is on the mend and able to enjoy the little girl that has joined him!

AQ, Eli speaks great sense about the stress in your life at the moment ...

I've just been signed off for another 2 weeks. The doc made me talk about the last year at work and I ended up in tears. It has been very stressful - too much travel and not enough support from my managers (the term 'set up to fail' keeps ringing in my ears). Anyway, doc thinks that my immune system is in melt down and refuses point blank to sign me back to work until I am well and have a voice again. Am now on a massive reducing dose of steroids and (gulp) anti-depressants which are apparently only to help me sleep I don't think I'll take them.

BP : if doc says take them, maybe you should think about it? I understand your reluctance, but short term use of anything that might help you sleep and get better could make sense...like a cast on a broken leg, resting it to help it heal, iyswim? (confession: when in dire straits for sleep, I resort to a dd1 sized dose of Medised but ADs may do a better job, am sure the GP knows better ways than me!!)

Sounds as though maybe there's a problem with work, in the long term, and space to heal then figure it out may be just whats needed. Your GP sounds rather good...take care of that voice (you'll be needing it with the LOs )

ps reducing steroids can be sort of weird, dh and I have both done that - another reason for being nice to yourself and nursing yourself through it.

Yes, Ma'am, Elibean Ma'am!

oh - and, at ease