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!

Oh Castles, that's awful . You poor thing, what a morning and to not see the GP after all that. You almost need to faint in suitably dramatic fashion that it's a 999 job - at least then you might get it sorted a bit more quickly.

Indith, ds2 has just hit the throwing phase - his favourite game is throwing the really solid wooden toys at dd's head. His aim is quite impressive . LOL at your ds just whacking the balloon thief - that'll learn him, as they say in Bristol! I also sniggered at the new very old wrap matching your skirt - that's my kind of reasoning. I told dh we couldn't get a red pushchair once, because it would clash with dd's pink coats .

Thanks Indith - have entirely given up on birthday spacing now. Just want to get to the end of next week (37wks) and then want baby out. Am gradually getting more and more run down with one night after another of BH and cramps and even my usually oblivious DH has noticed I look like shite. Not sure I can manage another 6 weeks if I go over. But then hopefully it'll either stop or baby will arrive.

Wraps to match clothing... now that isn't an avenue I have yet exploited.... nappies to match clothing however...

Castles and Oli - glad you enjoyed nativities, can't wait for DD's first. I love this time of year too Castles, despite being fed up with being pregnant I'm enjoying all the festivities. DD dressed up in a Santa dress today for her playgroup xmas party, melts my heart every time I look at her. Soooo soooo cute.

Yes Eli - I'll drink to that. What will it be? Lovely glass of red wine for me please. Promise to save it.

And Castles - I'm cross for you. Hope you are ok until Weds, and hope it all gets sorted, sounds frightening.

Happy Birthday to Margo's DD

Thanks everyone. Starting to feel better already with the meds.

DD1 is exhausted though and her cough is worse. She had her school xmas party today, fell asleep in the car on the way home and has been sleeping since. I cant really wake her. I'm tempted to put her to bed but I'm a bit frightened about what time she'll wake up tomorrow...

We're going to have DD2s birthday cake tomorrow when (hopefully) we are all a bit better.

Lennied, can you have a Vindaloo to go with your glass of wine tonight? Or maybe a phaal? (sp?) Fwiw, I felt absolutely rotten when I was pg with DD2 and she kindly turned up at 38 weeks.

I'm going to catch up with the thread as we're just back from Centerparcs!

at getting thrown up on, castles

oli, we're at the throwing phase too. And two nights ago ds2 whacked his brother on the head with a plastic hammer! The next morning he was introduced to the concept of Santa's elves who take away toys that have been use to hurt someone - that way Santa can still bring new toys for Xmas as said child is prevented from going on the naughty list Not sure if he is really old enough to appreciate the concept that we are really just trying to save him from himself, lol.

Good news, just got a call from school and we have a meeting for Tuesday! Fingers crossed we actually get something accomplished.

Anne, glad the meds are kicking in. My asthma always gets worse during/ater a virus.

Castles am very that they can't see you sooner when it was not at all your fault you couldn't be seen today.

Glad meds are working Anne and hope all are well enough for cake tomorrow!

Happy birthday small Margo!

Someone on the Dec 08 thread just had a 10lb 5oz baby! Give birth? What now? Pass something potentially that size through my fanjo? No way.

Just briefly checking in, I'm finding it hard to cope at the moment with dp & I arguing constantly (asked him to leave tues and then changed my mind, I hope we're on the mend now), just v.draining as I expect you know Jabber. I can't get excited about xmas, I am total scrooge, just wish it was over so I just have 4 children to look after instead of 4 kids plus 15,000 presents to find, buy and wrap. Grrr, humbug. Phaps should dress babies in santa suits to make me more festive??

Indith, glad ds having better nights, do you feel better? Um, how many wraps do you need for the one baby? Have been trying out my hugabub and can't be doing with 6 metres of material quite frankly which never wrap right so went back to my mei tai today, dd fast asleep in it bless her.

Castles, is this the same thing you've had since pg with dd2?? That's over 2 years now! have they ruled out heart issues, as I had an EKG with similar symptoms a while back.Could you call emergency doc after surgery closes rather than wait until Weds? I know you don't like em much but

Anne, hope meds kick in well before xmas arrives!

ds2 is being angelic, thank goodness, compared to his stroppy, pooey, aggressive older brother. My dad (visiting from Oz) is suggesting a psychologist. Sigh. Sob. He was lovely in his nativity play today though, Herod's helper dressed in huge fur hat. "Wait! I will see if Herod will speak to you!" etc etc.

Sorry you are finding it tough at the moment AQ. Be good to yourself. Milo? Chocolate? Wasn't someone on this thread an Ovaltine drinker?

Oh AQ, sorry you are going through it, you are bound to have some adjustments to make to your relationship, after all just had another two babies arrive. God only knows how DH and I made it through when DD arrived, was very tough for a while. Bound to be harder when there are 2 newborns and 2 older children on the scene, plus having problems with DS1. Are you ok in yourself? Don't worry too much about xmas - they still aren't old enough to be materialistic - maybe DS1(?) but not the others so they won't mind what they get, the excitement of the day will be enough.

Will cross the hugabub from the list of potentials then. Sounds like a hassle I don't need.

Hmm, vindaloo - not sure if its worth the risk might get messy

Hope you had a good time Margo.

Indith 10lbs of baby?? Surely not.

10lb 5oz Lennied, don't forget those extra 5oz! Homebirth too. Gas and air and tens.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

Yes, keep those legs crossed, girls - they're bound to get smaller if you wait another week or two ! No, really, not envying this stage at all, awful, awful, awful. But carrying dd round in the sling this arvo, her gorgeous little face all calm in repose...priceless!

lennied, happy to send you the hugabub to try out with more boy clothes next week.

am not ok, really, but hope I will feel better after some sleep. dd waking in the night again so not likely.

Oh AQ, you're at a horrible point after having the babies - I remember absolutely hating dh around the 3 month mark with all of mine. I think the adrenaline has long worn off, you're beyond knackered with sleep deprivation and you're also juggling the needs of the older ones too. It's bloody hard with one new baby so twins must make it ten times so. Plus you're sorting Christmas and birthdays, it's not an easy time of year, either. ((hugs)) Be kind to yourself - can you get dp to wrap as many presents as possible and send him out with a list of what to buy?

If it's any consolation, ds1 is also a nightmare at the moment. I think tiredness from school, all the hype and excitement of Christmas and his birthday is taking its toll. I hope you won't mind me saying that your dad seems to be a little alarmist over some of the issues with your boys. Your ds1 has been through some pretty major changes in the last 3 months - starting school which is a huge upheaval for all children and absolutely wears them out, the twins' arrival, his impaction problems (which aren't being helped by school's attitude from what you've said). It's not really surprising he's playing up. I think a cetain amount of aggression is pretty normal in 4/5yo boys - they're little bundles of testosterone which has to find a way out somewhere. Ds1's default setting when he's cross is to lash out and I know a couple of his friends are the same at the moment. I honestly wouldn't panic too much about it being anything sinister.

It's horrible for us to have to deal with it all the time but I'd be fairly sure it's just another phase, like all of these lovely habits are and it will pass quite soon.

Can you or dp make some time for him to spend just with one or other of you? Dh and ds1 often take the dog out for a half hour walk after tea and it does seem to make a difference. DS1 gets a chance to chat without ds2 or dd taking attention away from him and the fresh air and exercise seem to chill him out a bit.

Try and look after yourself and don't be too hard on yourself either - you're doing a fab job as mum of 4 dcs under 5.

Lots more ((hugs)).

God, that was really long, sorry. Was trying to be reassuring, not lecture-y .

Indith and LenniEd, ds2 was 10lbs 2oz and born naturally on just G&A with less than 10 mins pushing and just over 2 hours after the first contraction. I tore along my scar from ds1/dd but that was it. So don't panic - I'm still hear to tell the tale .

Waah, you lot have been talking

Castles, am also (unfestively) for you, silly silly woman and very annoying doctors. I agree with Oli, go to A&E and faint (or better yet, pretend to) in reception. It sounds scary and exhausting, both.

Glad you're enjoying the nativities though, we have dd1's on tuesday, am much looking forward to seeing her as a donkey

AQ, Xmas plus four kids, two of them brand new = guaranteed arguing with DPs. At least, for us it would be, I'm sure. Its tiring and upsetting when we get like that, I can imagine you don't need that right now...hope its settled soon. Can you do most of Xmas online?! I recommend it when stressed...

LenniEd and Indith, glad to see you both still ing

Had letter for dd's op today, relieved, even whilst knowing nothing to eat/drink from 7.30am when she's not due to check in even till 11am is going to be interesting, to say the least

GP was very nice this morning, especially when dh played her his recording of dd asleep...she told us we should forget about nutritional niceties, routines, or anything else and just survive as best we can till Jan 13th. She also gave us Otravine nose drops to help her stuffed nose, but getting those into dd is another story

And AQ, x-post with Oli but I agree with her re stroppy 5 yr olds at the end of a long term...dd1 is also doing a fair amount of misbehaving, and its quite out of character. I think she's knackered. It does get wearing, her favourite word is 'never'

Perhaps your dad's opinion could be gently shelved until a week or so into the Xmas holidays, by which time ds will be rested, hoepfully....

AQ you are really doing wonderfully considering all that is going on. I know how stressful it is to have the poo issues from a fecal impaction - cannot imagine going through that with twins too! I wish I could come over and help out. FWIW, we had ds1 in play therapy for 6 months and the result was that he was absolutely fine in that respect. Evidently these types of problems are fairly common in boys of 3 especially when new siblings are around. Unfortunately the stretching out of the colon can take quite a while to rehabilitate. I hold my breath every time we go a few days without a poo or if he has a less-than-normal looking one. Poor ds1 is probably going to have toilet issues for the rest of his life I would love to help out any way I can just ask away. Not sure if I have any extra poo advice but we've been dealing with this for a long time. I do think that if possible your dp should take on the poo issue as much as possible for now as you have your hands full with ds2 and the twins. Is he on board with something like that?

AQ - try and give yourself a break. You are knackered, worried about DS1 (My DD is very stroppy at the end of her 1st time by the way as she is exhausted). And you are still feeding the twins an awful lot.

Jabber's idea about DH taking responsility for DS's colon issues is a good one. You need to spread the load a bit.

My PND came out around now. Take care of yourself and try and keep talking to DH.

AQ. It's bloody hard but you are doing so well. Fwiw, (and without wishing to sound flippant) I am considering becoming a single mum in the NY . I agree with everyone about DS1. Even my angelic DS is being slightly arsey at the moment. DH has an amazing effect on him. Can you pack the two eldest off with your DP for some male bonding whilst you concentrate on the twins?

They did an ECG when I collapsed during pg with DD2 AQ so I guess it's not heart related. I am so worried about really injuring myself. I still have a damaged hand from the fall 2 weeks ago.

I was 9lb 9oz pg ladies. My mother lived to tell the tale though maybe it explains why she hates me I have a friend who produced two 12lbers and she's ok ... although she does walk like John Wayne these days ...

13th January isn't that far away Eli, although it probably seems like it. Must be such a relief to have an appointment.

Hi everyone! Just seen this thread and thought I'd drop by...

Can't believe Dd is nearly two, it's gone so quickly hasn't it?!
Dd is Boxing day, so no party for her sad...

Hope you are all well...looking forward to tantrum central? Ds didn't go through the terrible two's really, so I'll probably have it ten fold with Dd as punishment!

Thanks, all. More hysterical crying today but I think I'm starting to calm down now that dp is talking to me again - he was being v.cold and horrible for most of the week. I haven't been eating either and collapsed at 4am weds weeping madly, couldn't stop and couldn't stand up. DP just pretty much ignored me although helped with the dt's.

It's just mad this time of year, I was coping but can't with all the extra stuff with xmas/birthdays and ds1's issues at school (he's being bullied as well although I hope we've sorted that this week). DP is very very helpful with the impaction issues, he's always been just as involved/concerned as I which helps enormously. My dear dad (who is a pediatrician so fairly expert on the subject!) thinks ds1's soiling is largely behavioural now rather than the colon stretching as that should have healed by now and I'm inclined to agree with him. DS1 being incredibly non-compliant about everything arrrrghgghhhhh all week. His birthday tomorrow so he had better be good or all presents confiscated!!

Dt's have possibly picked up on the stress and tension and it took over 5 hours to get them both to sleep last night (both of us), dd screamed almost continually. She has a virus, but I think my not eating is causing my supply to drop so tried to stuff my face all day. Things thankfully better tonight so I ought to go to bed instead of trying to do my christmas calendars online.

I am very emotional and tearful today, crying at the drop of a hat so just dismiss the following outpouring but I do so love this group, you are my rock. Sob.

(((((AQ))))))

I don't do those on MN much, suspect they're not approved of here, but stuff it! Do you realize how much you're dealing with atm? I do'nt think anyone who's recently had a baby, first let alone third/fourth, should have to deal with Xmas cards or anything beyond the bare necessities of keeping LOs happy through it all.

Keep outpouring, we love you too

Castles, take care, I worry about you hurting yourself too.

Had a nice day today, after a horrid night, and probably before another horrid night, and then hopefully another nice day. This is a very weird way to live - dd currently sounds like she's being strangled, but otoh she ate a whole fish finger for lunch, so am less worried, just very knackered.

Am also outpouring daily about dd here, keeps me sane I think

Hello Solo

Poor AQ. Sound's like an attack of the 'mones to me. Agree with Eli, do you really have to worry about Xmas that much? I remember getting my knickers in a twist after DD2 was born (c-section) that I had to iron all DH's shirts for work (he's always happy to go creased) when I was utterly exhausted. MIL popped round and thought I was (rightly so) insane. Let's have a group hug. Can you feel the love? (Sorry, just been watching X-factor the final !!)What is up with DP? Any reason for the cold/'orrible ness. Let me know if you want me to send the boys round

Hope tonight is better for you Eli. Have a hug too.

I'm all jittery and can't sleep so it may be a long night. TG for MN.