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!

Virtual hugs from me too, AQ - and eli

I can't imagine trying to do Xmas stuff on top of twins. Start delegating and stop working, I say. I'm having a hard enough time with only two

Off to bed for me now. I have to be at church at 7:30 in the morning for the first service and handbell ringing. Then back again at 10:15 and again at 7:00. I'm a bundle of nerves as I've only had a couple of weeks practice with the music and have never yet had a perfect run through

Aaahhh, nice hugs, thank you

How was your night, Castles? Hope you got some kip. Jabber, merry bellringing to you....I wish I could come and listen, it sounds amazing!

Had a horrid night as expected, till about 4am at which point I went mad and squirted a teeny bit of sinex up one of dd's nostrils in desperation. I couldn't get any Otrivine drops (which gp gave) in. She was waking and crying every five minutes before that, from the effort to breathe (mouth breathing seems to work for one gasp then her throat closes, her throat does better when she nose breathes, so therefore stuffed nose=dd stuffed).

After that, she slept reasonably well. TOday so far she has eaten a bit of croissant, some broccoli, and some milk and juice. Her ribs are sticking out and her trousers fell off, but I think she's ok nutrition-wise for another few weeks....

AAAARGH! Sorry, really do feel better for venting though, you're right Castles: TG4MN (well, not MN really, just you lot )

Is it the time of year, d'you think?!

AQ, thinking of you and hoping you have a better day, and let yourself off a number of hooks....probably not a bad idea to let dh off one or two as well, though not the important ones, obviously. Its a tough, tough time; I can't really compare, but I do know that dh and I found each other much more easily with some sleep, less stress, and lots of letting each other off hooks.

Tis good to have aplace to rant Long may we all continue to do so. AQ, Castles, Eli take care and remember that you all need looking after as well as everyone else around you.

Am a cross between angry, exhausted, frustrated and festive today. Ds has a bug, lots of snot, cough etc but was also a bit viral rashy last night. He is not happy and is showing it in nice violent tantrums and screaming. Oh for a child who snuggles in front of the tv when ill! We went to get the tree today though (look! tree! tree! tree! look! tree! car? tree? tree?) and I have a production line of florentines going

HAd I posted this morning I would have ranted about different peoples' views on sleep ins but now it just seems amusing. Yesterday I got up at 6.15 with ds. Slipped out of bed, found dressing gown in dark, got ds before he made too much noise and went down. Dh got up around 8. Today I got up with tantruming ds, took him down where he carried on throwing a spectacular tantrum. 10 mins later dh comes down "do you want to go back to bed for a lie in dear?" [angry I have to laugh.

not sure what I did there...wasn't meant to be a link! was meant to say "amused" followed by

Ah Indith I sympathise. Fwiw, in nearly 7 years I have never ever had a lie in. I think I have reached the "amused" (probably bemused) stage now. I certainly don't expect anything different.

Poor Eli. I am sure you have everything in place but do you have one of those sudafed/vicks type plug ins? I always use for colds. I heard rubbing Vicks on soles of feet (and wearing socks) is meant to be good. I guess the closing throat is partly due to dryness? So do you have a humidifier? I am sure you do, but just in case. I really hope you have a better night. You must be exhausted.

How are things AQ? Thinking of you

Poor Indith! Its somehow worse when you know you are about to have another little person to look after, and lie ins are going to become even harder to come by, eh...

Thanks, Castles, yes, have used humidifier every night for nearly two years adn its a godsend! Throat closing is due to laryngomalacia and giant tonsil combination, when she is in deep sleep the muscles relax and folds of flesh inside flop inwards - something like that, anyway . Her room is at 40% humidity most nights, I think. She sleeps at 45 degrees, has a pillow, Karvol, and Medised (and occasional nose spray ) and its still the pits. Hence the op...its the only course of action left.

She wouldn't even eat fish finger or chips tonight, or chocolate lollipop (desperate mum emoticon). Bit of cucumber and a segment of clementine. Her nose is running a bit, though, so I'm hoping the not eating is a temporary virus thingy

Castles, SEVEN years wihtout a lie-in?! Ye gods, I consider myself very lucky then. Can we start a 'give Castles a lie in' petition to give to your dh, d'you think?

seven years!!! I'm also very lucky then. Although also in the Indith camp of slightly differing definitions. Bring it on myself a little though, he just ignores DD when it is my turn to get up.

Eli - am not sure how you are managing, but please look after yourself. Sounds so hard. I'm hoping her not eating is temporary too - get theeselves to the GP on monday though if not?? Maybe he could put some pressure on the hospital to bring the op forward?

Castles - hope you got some sleep. When is that appointment?

And AQ - I'm the most festive person going but sod bloody xmas , get yourself on amazon/ebay/the like and order a few pressies. Nothing odd shaped and awkward to wrap mind! (In fact why not put your Dad to use on the wrapping?) Then tick the whole xmas thing off your list of things to do and start looking after yourself. Am serious now lady!! And promise me that you'll be straight down to the GP if you have the slightest inkling this is more than hormones making you feel down. Have got a few more bits here for you - will send them this week.

LenniEd multiple visits to MN when possible, a dh that gives me lots of hands on help, occasional other help, and the knowledge/hope that this is purely temporary.

Occasionally I get wise and think how much worse off dd could be - a week in HDU when she was a wee babe made me very aware of that. Then again, most of the time, I'm an ungrateful sod who needs a good moan, lots of chocolate, and just muddles on

She ate her cold fishfinger and a bit of broccoli in front of the TV before bed, yeay!

How are you, though? How are the BH cx? And how are you managing, minus sleep? I had that awful hormonal itch the last few weeks of pg, got very little sleep and honestly thought I'd collapse with a newborn and a 3yr old to look after, but it all got soo much better after dd2 was born. Pain is very wearing though, you take care of yourself too, y'hear?

Fishfingers and broccoli are DD's favourite you know Eli

All ok here, thank you for asking - went on a nice day out today and had a meal with friends last night so feeling a lot better. BH come and go. Am sleeping for a few hours at night now so am fine really, think the anxiety is easing even if the cramps etc aren't. Just need to get through the next couple of weeks and then DH will be closing his business for a few days over xmas (his first days off since June poor sod), I'm literally counting the days, has been a hard year for him and we are just hoping it doesn't get too much worse.

DD is getting very clingy and over-sensitive though. People keep going on about this baby to her and I wish I could tell them to sod off and leave her alone. She is getting very confused and I'm not able to keep her entertained as well as usual to distract her. When this baby finally arrives and the world doesn't end as result I'm sure she'll be back to her chirpy self.

Hang in there, Lennied, I know how fed up you must feel! I seem to remember doing a lot of dvds and the laptop with ds1 when on my last legs expecting ds2 (poissonrouge.com is fab!) as couldn't manage much else. They do get over it and soon you're back to crawling on the floor being a lion (or whatever, that's just what I was doing tonight!).DS2 is jumping on my lap all the time as I guess he can now!

Eli, it has been a long, hard slog for you with dd, I would be counting the days too, it will be wonderful when she has good nights as well as days

Thank you all, I am trying not to be superwoman but I think that's what I have been aiming for lately. Have just spent over 90 minutes doing our calendars with kids' photos rather than sleeping after very little last night.I've written about 40 xmas cards between the dt's heads whilst they feed, done party bags for 14 children and countless other things that could have been left. But mainly it was stuff with dp, he got v.stressed with work a few weeks ago (plus coming home to 4 kids & ensuing chaos) and started being v.angry with me and kids, it happened before a few years ago.I'm sure I didn't behave as well as I could either, but ended up he was so angry with me he withdrew all affection and love.

Evening all - hope everyone is ok.

Thanks AQ, I'm sure DD will forgive me my uselessness soon. I remember last time being so relieved not to be pregnant, I felt human again as soon as she was out, despite it being a long recovery from the birth. I'll just be glad to be able to snuggle up on the sofa with her without panicking about foetal positioning!

Glad you and DP are getting to the bottom of things, am sure you'll get through it, this is the hardest time ime. DD was at her worst at about 12wks - 20wks and I was still recovering, and the initial rush of excitement has worn off everyone so there is less help about. Once they get past 24wks though the DTs will become more interesting to DS1 and DS2 and they'll start interacting more. Things got much easier between DH and I once DD became more interactive iyswim, and of course once she had started to sleep (but as you know that part came much much later!)

I do hope you have a better time with sleep with ds, Lennied, I certainly couldn't have hoped for better with my 2nd after a nightmare first...

Pls don't say things will get worse at 12 weeks (they're 11!) arggggghhhh. I figured I'd get to 3 months and it would all get better as dd was sleeping through before last week and ds3 not too bad. I even had thoughts of (gasp) a routine for them although I'm just not sure how I can carry on bfing them as they're both so heavy it's really hard to tandem feed them, just lifting them onto the pillow is an effort much less winding one whilst feeding t'other.

Things are better, dp cuddled me for ages in bed last night which I think is man speak for I'm very sorry . He's happily ensconced in setting up the surround sound system (sigh). Twins much much better today thank goodness after a horrible few days and nights with them.DD stayed up later and was gurgling away, I've put a really sweet piccie of her on FB this afternoon.

How're y'all getting on with birthdays and Christmas prep etc? I feel like scrooge because I want the tree gone already! Will vow to put on some christmas carols tomorrow once dp teaches me how to use our newfangled player (it's a PS3/bluray whatever, I just want to play a sodding cd!!!!).

Castles, were you serious about single mum in the NY?!

On and off AQ

I am glad you are feeling better AQ. Do you still have paid help? I found 12 weeks a turning point with all of mine. Things definitely get easier ime. You are doing brilliantly - do I say that enough ? My friend stopped bf'ing her twins at 3 months for similar reasons. Hats off to you though mate.

Is DH angry about anything in particular other than work?

DD2 finally threw up today. It must have been the bug from the GPs surgery. Grr. Thankfully though at this age they are over it so quickly.

DD1 had her Xmas play today. I also posted some pics on FB. Will wander off and look at yours AQ.

Phaps a lie in once in seven years might improve things, castles !
I still have lots of help, yes,nanny here for a few hours on monday for school runs and all day weds & fri plus cleaner for 4 hours and homestart volunteer 2 hours on a tuesday. Phew!
DP just stressed with work I think, and finally hit him that we have four v.young children and it's not going to let up for a fair while. I realised that quite a bit earlier (like, at the scan! Men...). I will feel sad if I have to give up as I really enjoy feeding them separately and it's free & convenient, better than making up 16 bottles a day for them!

Did have a wander round fb, but I find it v.annoying to use quite frankly, filled with lots of invitations to rubbish i miss new photos! I have a snapfish album full up with photos though, just ordering some stickers for the ds's for their thank you cards. Or am I doing too much again?

Um, can I come back? I've been AWOL for such a long time, and I have soooo much to catch up on. Operations, lie ins, super-mumming, sad news, happy news, birthdays ... dear me. I promise to get up to speed soon!

I've been off work for nearly a month now, with a mystery respiratory tract infection. I've really been off colour since October, and this is the latest (and most exhausting) manifestation of whatever lurgy it is that is invading my system. I've also been struggling to focus my eyes for any length of time, hence the absence.

But oh my I've missed you all

Um, yes definitely!! We've missed you too BP - well I have, will let everyone else speak for themselves Hope you are on the mend. And you haven't missed all that much... now where is Margo with her updates??

AQ - I meant that 12wks was the peak of the worst with DD, not that it got worse after that. Sorry, didn't mean to worry you. Is your supply well established now? (Don't know how it all works early on) Could you feed one twin and give the other a bottle and alternate? You have already done so so well to make it this far, I'll be pleased if I manage 11wks b/f with the new baby, but can understand it being a difficult decision.

Eli - you ok?

Off to look at FB photos - and to sort out the mess I've just made of DH's accounts... eeek.

Night all

BP oh welcome, welcome! Its v nice to log on and see your name on top. IYSWIM. Sorry to hear you've been poorly all this time, it sounds awful - and not dissimilar to whatever dh struggled with back in October. Horrid. Hope its on its way out.

I started to post last night, then dd2 woke up, coughed, cried to come into our bed, coughed more, and threw up all over me, herself, and our bedroom carpte

Needless to say I gave up posting in favour of shower. Am hoping I'm not jinxed, and have ear out for coughy noises as I type!

AQ, I agree about FB, I find it v annoying though useful occasionally...dh keeps getting messages from FBers who have him muddles with a US cameraman with the exact same name But I'd like to see your photos. Stickers for thank you cards? Yup, definite sign of super-mumming/womaning, I think mums of 4-including-twins are exempt from thank you cards around xmas time (said Elibean, wondering if she really has to do 30 thank you cards after dd's oversized party next weekend )

Am feeling in newborn haze myself here, 4 hours sleep last night and another day of half a fishfinger here, three crisps there, type eating. But dd is in good spirits, and dd1 has her nativity tomorrow, and those are Good Things.

Night LenniEd - x posts

There you are Eli! [relieved emoticon]

Night

FB photos are all lovely - some from Oli on the group too. I can't wait for nativities DD will be starting pre-school this time next year (Jan 2010, sob sob) so it'll be the year after before her first. Am really looking forward to it.

Oh heck, am going to have to try and sleep now. Have entirely given up now, no point. Shall I just sit on MN all night and see what the moro brings? Perhaps not eh

Welcome back, bp

I've been hit with allergies or virus or something. Spent a lot of the day in bed while ds1 was at school and ds2 in mother's day out. Had meant to clean house, decorate and wrap gifts. Ho hum, maybe tomorrow

Where is Indith ??

Welcome back BP Yes where is Margo with her summaries.

'Tis the season to have vomit. Sadly. We have a house full of it.

Hope the harmony is continuing AQ. Poor DP. Always remember he is your 5th and most precious/needy/demanding child

And you got some sleep Elibean.

Indith is still pg Castles

7 years? I command you to boot that man out of bed at the next opportunity.

AQ, cuddles and getting round to sorting out gadgets. Must be sorry Nothing wrong with mixed feeding so long as you get some good advice on it so that your supply doesn't drop too much.

Welcome back BP Great to see you.

Ds is poorly. Has been since Friday, but hey we had 4 good nights of no terrors before that! Think he may have actually flu rather than stinking cold. He is surviving on milk and yoghurt with the occasional satsuma segment. Though he has a bit more in the way of fat reserves to carry this off than Eli's dd.

Think I need to cook this baby a bit longer until ds is better again! I got all tight and horrible last night, in pain over my back and bump. Dh massaged my back which was great but I was just panicking about the possibility of it being labour and tensing up again. I really need to relax! Baby is full term, have pool, have many friends happy to take ds, have done this before.

I keep forgetting to put festive hats on my s

Bah Humbug!