December 08 Supermums: We are all doing fine and our LOs love us!!

[kayzr]

Hello.

Trace I went with your idea!!

ladyT Do you plan to keep DD with you when you get back to working from home? I only ask because I work from home and it would be much cheaper to keep DD with me (think of the savings on nursery fees!) but I can't imagine how I'd get any work done with her around . I had grand ambitions to write a paper from my PhD when on maternity leave, oddly enough that hasn't happened!

Yes I do...funnily enough I was talking to Turnip about it the other day and she was basically saying it will be impossible to get work done as she has experience of this. But I am going to give it a go...Mind you, DP is around quite a bit in the week, he usually has at least one day totally at home and the odd morning or afternoon, so he is going to have to assist me. I am not for one second imagining any of it will be easy but I am quite strongwilled. Having said that, given that I finished work mid-Sept I have got naff all done to date

Greetings from the USA! This might be short -typing one handed - fun so far! B was great on plane though I did pick a half empty flight so we got the bulkhead with a skycot which was a lifesaver! The plane's engine noise and the illuminated no smoking sign seemed to keep him mesmorized and / or asleep for most of it! dh insisting on bringing a bike for 6 days has lead to many an argument though! Didn't help that he had to lug it a mile to the station and then on the tube! I nearly pushed it infront of a train when we changed at Earls Court! Not to mention the size of the car we had to rent when we got here! Anyhow...
Anyway, ds doesn't know what time it is and where the heck we are but seems to be having fun! he is of course, waking at odd hours and feeding at wierd times (to be expected) but I'm hoping he will settle back into his sleeping right through routine when we get back? Catch up soon....
Done a crap job at catching up but vaugely remember verso pnd, so sorry to hear but glad you are getting help. Veggie hope your ds1 feels better soon - cute photos!
lady good luck with getting that house if you are still wanting it! I know a nice flat for sale in Henley if you'd prefer Right

That was strange - post cut short... not much more to it though - gosh my spelling is bad! That was meant to be 'mesmerized'!

Lost you all off my threaAD list off now to catch up.

Oh and DP was offered a job to day hurrah. .

Yay Jam, great news .

I just lost it at dd1 who has been lovely all day but then played up at dinner time. I shouted at her which is not fair on a 2.5 year old. My shouting at dd1 made dd2 cry too which made me feel so terrible its hard to even describe. I am crap at the dinnertime routine when i have both of them. Right now I totally agree with Verso about going back to work.

Great news jam!!

arti Ialways end up shouting at dd when she 'misbehaves' at meal times. Totally normal for a 2 yr old to play up, but sometimes she really knows how to wind me up and then I spend hours feeling guilty!

That is fantastic Jam

Arti don't worry, we all lose it at times. Last time I really lost it at ds we ended up crying at each other and then snuggling. I think it is natural to reach the end of your thether sometimes and in a way good for them to realise that mummy has tantrums too when she is pushed a bit too far!

Thanks girls,

just had a super quick squiz at the posts and wanted to say to verso, my lovely girl you are not a bad mummy and I am really glad you have sought some help remember we are always here to help you.

Veggie those are some gorgeous looking children you have.

Oh DS2 whinging best go see what the prob is.

Hello again!
I'm supposed to dedicate my evenings to DH instead of MN but as he's watching fifth gear I think I'll sneak on!

Arti - don't worry about snapping - they all drive us to it at times - and they are so forgiving - you'll be best friends again in the morning - and dd2 will have forgiven you within 2 minutes I'm sure. Meal times are our battle zones at the moment - and my dd1 is 4.5 years! She's just such a wriggle-bottom and sits badly, twisting round, feet everywhere, falls off her chair, picks up food with her fingers, spills everything, drops everything...it drives me mad! I'm sure she doesn't do that at school! We've got a sticker chart going for it at the moment but I don't know whether it'll help.

Jam - nice to see you again - really pleased for you and your DH about the job offer

not seen lal on here for a while...

who was asking about work plans? - I'm due back in July or August but am worrying about it already! I'm a nurse so work shifts and can't have set days, which makes child care difficult. With dd1 we ended up paying for some nursery days we didn't need. It's even harder now because school is such a short day, so whatever shifts I do she'll need after school club and maybe breakfast club too, and dd2 will be in nursery...right now I could happily give up work but I guess a lot happens in 6 months.

Well I went to weigh-stay-play and met a couple of people with LOs, so that was really nice. We've arranged to go to an under 1s group next Monday morning together. It's nice to have made some real life mummy friends - not that you aren't real!!! And Phoebe is now 11 lbs! Little fatty!

Veggie - you say such lovely things. I don't think I'd be much good as a support - I don't really know much other than my own experience. It sounds like a great scheme with the GPs though.

Oh and I ordered "What Mothers Do" today seeing as it's getting such good reports on here...and I ordered one for my pregga friend too!

Well my eyelids are heavy so I think I'll hit the sack.

night night xxx

Congrats to your DP, jam. That's great news!

I'm going back to work on Thursday 4th June and am doing some more "keeping in touch" days between now and then. Only problem is the second half of the first year is the good bit if I remember rightly from last time.

Thanks for the support. DH is sceptical - doesn't think I have PND, am just knackered, but if the tablets help...?

Verso even if it isn't PND but the phsycological effect of having the tablets help then thats fab. IF DH thinks you are tired tell him to get up a bit more a night time.

Ooooh Verso I have to say your DH is a bit cheeky, how can he admit to seeing you are tired and not do something to help, or get your mum or his involved. Your an intellegent women and have been here before you know what you need. It may be the early stages of PND and it's damaged is minimized if caught early. What does he want you in a full psychosis before you do something.

Sorry that was a bit of a rant no idea where that came from maybe just tired.

Arti sorry you are dealing with the dinner time nasties it is so hard on your own, I'm with you this week DH is away til late Friday.

Ds1 seems so much sicker at night. Is that about right for chicken pox. He is fine, if a little easily tired during the day but at night he is unsettled has a temp, sweat loads and has a barky cough. My poor little man.

I watched Mamamia tonight and was bawling my eyes out when Meryl helped her daughter get ready for the wedding. I think it was mostly because I will never experience a daughters wedding, I suddenly thought of trying to convince DH to have another one to see if we could have a girl. Bit silly really. I had just convinced myself that 2 was better for travelling and we wouldn't need a bigge car.

I have managed to get a job working from home assessing course work for health studies distance courses. But I think I will ask them if I can wait a few more months before I start I have to go for some training which is difficult due to having to leave ds2 and working it around DH and I think it might just be better to wait. I think it's pretty fexible so I can work it around the boys naps and nursery etc. We don't really need the money but always nice to have extra esp these days and keeps my hand in.

Jam great news about you DHs work and so quickly, fingers still crossed for Kayz DH.

Jam, I am delighted for your DP. Huzzah!

Yes Trace, where's Lal? And I hope Bisou is doing ok (I cannot imagine how she is coping with performing at the moment). And Turnip. I think I might order 'What Mothers Do' as well, Trace. For my DP Sounds like you had a nice day. I haven't got a clue how much DD weighs but have been summoned to the HV in a week's time.

Veggie, I watched Mamma Mia at the pictures when I was pregnant and I bit my lip all the way through that scene and in fact had to dig my nails into my palms to stop myself from emitting very loud boo hoos. I do like to pretend I have a lump of coal for a heart, particularly in Magdalen St Odeon.

I have the Captain of my cricket team coming over tomorrow, to finalise the fixtures for the season and to have a general chit chat. Well, come the new season I will have all my old children back. They are like obstreperous toddlers, tbh. I spend most of the season breaking up silly arguments. But I can't wait to spend Sundays with DD, looking on at them fondly. Ask me in September if I still feel the same, though

Well...my other news is that DP wrote off the car tonight. He has never had an accident before in 22 years of driving, but thank heavens he is ok, if a little shaken. The insurance will give us a hire car but it will take a few days to sort. I feel really sorry for DP as sadly it was his fault. He is in the middle of a trial and very stressed and lost his concentration a bit I think.

Oh poor Mr LadyT, I'm glad he's ok but a bit of a wake up call for driving when stressed and mind on other things. Replacement cars are notoriously crap, we are getting one week after next while the damage that slide on ice hit and run driver did is repaired. We will have a ford fiesta for a week. They are usually driven to death by the people that use them.

LadyT sorry to hear about your DP having an accident but glad everyone was ok. Very scary.

I have been up at 10.30, midnight, 1am, 2am, 3am, 4am so far tonight . I'm not doing anything differently to the nights where she slept six hours then five hours, so I am at a loss.

I asked DH earlier if he and my Mum could split one night shift a week so I could sleep. He is prepared to do 9pm-2am one night a week (he has MS so can't do any more than that). It's the easier part of the night usually as she goes down from 6:30pm-11pm usually quite consistently. He won't ask my Mum to do 2am-7am though because he says it would be too much for her.

I pointed out that as she's retired she could go home and sleep during the day afterwards (a luxury I DO NOT HAVE unless DD2 naps) but he still was doubtful.

I've just emailed her to ask directly if she will do it. I can't do 168 hours a week without a break any more.

Morning,

LadyT, Sorry to here about DP's accident.

Jam Yay for your DH!!!!

Verso I hope your mum will do that for you. You really need a break.

I've been awake most of the night. I just couldn't seem to get to sleep at all.

Well we're all up again. DH was sick last night and I have just been sick. DS1 had some awful diarrhoea and before we could change him, he had pulled his nappy off and it went everywhere!! So while I was throwing up my brilliant DH was cleaning up DS1 and everywhere he had got poo. Then he cleaned up where I missed the toilet. He has been wonderful.

kayz what a miserable night for you, hope you all feel better today

Ladyt glad dp is ok after his crash

jam congratulations to your dh!

veggie that work sounds perfect! How's your course going btw?

arti I often lose it at dinnertime as well, especially as ds1 has turned into a fussy eater. He used to eat anything but now won't touch any vegetables, will only have sandwiches, beans on toast or plain pasta. I'm going to start a reward chart today & see if that helps.

trace sounds like you've met a lovely group of people!

By the way, if anyone is looking for a reward chart I found these on the Supernanny website. You have to register to get them but its free.

I think we have to move ds2 into his cot. He's getting a bit too big for the moses basket now & it seems to be disturbing him as he's not sleeping as well as usual. Well, I hope that's the reason!

verso, sorry I didn't mean to miss you off in my last post. I'm glad dh has agreed to do a night but for you that you've had to insist on it. I think as well that the babies are still at the stage where it changes daily what they do and what helps settle them. [hugs] to you anyway, & let us know if you need anything.

Verso: sorry you had a bad night, could it be another spurt? Are you nearly at 12 weeks?

LadyT: hope MrT (!) is OK and you get the car sorted soon.

Kayz: grim night, hurrah for your DH.

Ladyt Hope your DP is okay, sounds very scary!

Verso so sorry you are feeling so bad. I do hope your mum can come and give you the break you need.

Kayzr hope your feeling better this morning, sounds nasty and very exhausting!

rosemerta your ds sounds like my dd! PLain pasta & fish fingers are about all she'll eat. Definately going to have a look at that reward chart. Although it will be about our 4th

Well DS has had 2 good nights (whispers as I don't want to jinx things). Last night 9pm till 4am and the night before....8pm till 5.30am. TBH I think he has heard DH ranting about what a problem baby he is as he has to be rocked/cuddled/fed to sleep, and has thought 'ha I'll show you'. DH has it in his head that DD was this amazing baby that used to go to bed at 7 slepp till 7 and always settled herself, funny but I don't recall it that way!

Right off to play with DD while DS naps (the boy has some sort of sleeping sickness at the mo i think)

hiya all,
Not been on for a while as been at the in-laws
LadyT bummer about the car, hope your DP is not too shaken, and glad he is alright!

Kayz that sounds very nasty and horrible. Hooray for your DH. He sounds ace.

Verso sorry you are down, hope that the pills help things and you start to feel better, also hope your mum agrees to help out, a good nights sleep once a week is necessary I reckon!

veggie hope your DS is not feeling too icky. I prescribe lots of thomas and friends.

My DS has been sleeping well as well. the first big sleep of the night has started to be up to 8 hrs. hooray. Tried to do the dream feed thing last night to try and align the 8hrs over MY 8hrs, but alas it did not work. He slept for 4hrs which was 8hrs after the time he went to sleep first. So maybe I shouldn't have bothered.

On a light hearted note, I was interested to read that the nickname most of you use for me Summer is in the top 20 or so of girls names now! I didn't even know it was used as a name often. I may have to change my name in RL as I quite like it.

Oh and arti no I don't know any babysitters, though i think there was someone advertising their services on the cambridge local board (they sounded like they had qualifications, etc), do you want me to find the details (obviously I know nothing about them!)

Oh Kayz, d&v is so horrible. Hope you all get over it soon.

LadyT glad dp is ok, I hope not too shaken.

verso sounds tough. fwiw dd is doing 7 til anywhere between 10.30 and 12 and then feeding/fussing constantly so I'm lucky to get half and hour at a time(and there was me saying she fed twice a night, these babies just can't make their minds up!) Can your dh manage early mornings? I find I can just about survive if I go to bed early to ensure a couple of hours together then dh takes her about 6am and I can get a bit of sleep then.

Summer I have not even tried a dream feed with dd, not sure it is worth it. When I tried with ds it broke his long sleep and he would go to frequent wakings from the dream feed onwards so I just waited for his long sleep to extend naturally. I think I'll do the same with dd, plus I keep seeing threads on sleep with titles like "how do I drop the dream feed" etc.

Fussy eating- we were having trouble with ds who had gone from eating everything you threw at him to refusing most things and acting up. I have swapped his meals aorund so he now has his main meal at lunch and it is so much better. Then he just has cheese on toast or eggs in the evening. I think he was just too tired by dinner time to eat well.

Hi.
Verso I am so glad that you are getting some help. Fingers crossed that it does the job.
Lady Thats an extreme way of him stopping you borrowing the car! Seriously though, so glad he is ok.
Ros Just remembered you wanted the words to spiderman:
'Spiderman, spiderman, does whatever a spider can. Spins a web, any size, catches theives just like flies. Loooook ouuuut, here comes the spiderman'. Or, the alternative Oliver version:
'Spiderman, spiderman, does e what what a spider can, spinzee weeb, any size, klatches fleaves does e likes, loooook ouuut here comes a spiderman'! repeat to not quite so fade!