October 2007 These Little Piggies chased the easter bunny..and stole the eggs pt ll

[TheLadyEvenstar]

ok lets try here ladies!!!

FT - field latrines!? I would have to be paid huge amounts of money. It's true, the cottage did serve to remind me why I never go camping. Alex signing 'mine' is sooo sweet, but lol at 'I love daddy' and 'willy'.

Pixie - congrats on the new house - hope you manage to get yours sold ok.

I had such a good day today - parents had Anya so I'd got another personal shopper session booked at Debenhams to rectify my distinct lack of summer clothes. Not only was it the first day of the sale, which I didn't know when I booked it, but there was 20% off for account holders, which I am, if I bought over a certain amount, which I did. Except my Debenhams card turned out to be invalid (ie cancelled) because I've not used it for so long, so I could open another account, get 10% off for doing that, then the 20% off for being an account holder. Woohoo! So I bought loads of stuff for Anya as well. My only problem was that I have pmt, which makes me indecisive and grumpy and unable to work out whether an outfit goes together. Not exactly the qualities you want when you have to try on a shed-load of clothes and then pick which ones to buy.

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Oh no, the dreaded tumble weed!!!

Hi ladies, just quickly poppin in before Dylan has breakfast...

Floria - 'truckle beds with army blankets' !

Glad Alex is doing well with the signing . at 'Willy', I can imagine your dh giggling like a naughty schoolboy aftert that one.

Pmsl at your dh 'thinking' he had hold of Alex when it was infact the dog lead! Can't imagine you laughing at the time though! I would have gone mad lol

Pixie - Great to hear from you! Hope the house move goes ok . Hope the nightmare you speka of is all over now and wasn't too bad.

WWAJC - That's great you had such a good shopping day, I love it when things happen like that! Bargains gallore and loads of lovely new clothes

Right, must feed sit his breakfast!

Back later!

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Floria dh and I have just pmsl at willy!

Pixie sorry to hear you have been having a tough time. Sending you big hugs and hope you are working through it. We are about to move into our dream house having sold our old one so I understand a bit of the stress you are under with your house. Signs are that the market is beginning to recover and houses are stil lselling at the right price - the best advice I can give is don't get fixated on a specific sum - all you need to get is enough to make the move up. we have lost A LOT of money on our old hosue but given that we have got the new one for a lot less than it was a year ago then I think in the end we are onto a winner. Good luck!

WWAJC sorry house was basic but glad you had a good weekend regardless. Personal shopping sounds fab too!

Hello Dal and Muppet and the rest of you!

Well the news from us is that the builders have served our 14 day notice which means we need to complete by 30th June! however to serve this notice the house is not only meant to be finished but it has to have it's NHBC certificate. It is NOT finished and there is no certificate so we're currently playing hardball on dates - it wouldn't be ideal to move then as my parents are away until 30th. So we want to move on 6th July. Either way we will move then - I think legally they don't ahve a leg to stand on but if we don't win on this one then its not the end of the world - we're about to be in our lovely house yippeee!!!!!

Yippee indeed alicet, it will be fab once you're in

wow that's not long off at all, alicet. How exciting

House we want is bit out our league really. \We could just about afford by giving up on pretty much everything else! Tho am expecting to come into some money in under 2 yrs so wouldn't be for that long. Main issue is that our income looks cack on paper - cos mortgage lenders don't recognise part of our income cos its dd's DLA. We really want to move to this place so she could get around in walker / wheelchair and can access house and have as much independence as poss (obv with lift she would be dependent on us to operate)

We're quite specific on area we want to be cos we don't want her to have to travel on school bus for too long. Also want to remain with GP who understands her and won't just send us to hospital every time we go (what usually happens if we see different doc / locum etc)

And its not like there are that many 3 bed + bungalows in area we want to be

All hinges on what we get for ours. Ce sera sera and all that

Ta Dal am fine now. Tired and yawning tho so off to get some zzzs. Ni night all

Pixie - I hope you get the house you want

Alice - Wow nearly in your new house, so exciting

WWAJC - Your camping trip sounded interesting :D I don't much like camping either but I'm sure I will have to get used to it as the boys get older

Floria - Sorry, I laughed about willy too, Ben is not quite at that stage yet, he tries to repeat things but they are not very clear.

Dal - great bargain there, I also love a good bargain. The last time I went to Clarks for shoes for the boys it cost me £75

Well I am beginning to wish we had left Ben in his cot I feel like we have a newborn again as he is awake so much in the night. Its been 3 weeks now and he still doesn't stay in bed all night. Last night for instance he went to bed at 8pm and for once stayed there (normally takes 3-6 attempts to get him to stay there) but then he woke up at 12.20am and from then till 3am he was up and down so no chance of getting any sleep in between. Then he slept till 6am, I managed to get him down again till 6.50am.

This is the pattern most nights usually waking at about 11pm then being fitful through the early hours. Me and DH are beginning to snipe at each other because we are getting so tired (sleepmenot - I do not know how you do it) Anyone have any ideas?

Pixie - really hpoe you get the house!

LLL - I've been wathching the house of tiny tearaways. She advises to do a 'gradual withdrawal technique' where you go in when they wake and touch them as little as possible and don't speak but just shh quietly. If they get out of bed just return them without speaking and maybe a little pat at first with the shhing. Wen you don't have to pat anymore just sit by the bed and shh. Eventually it should get to the point where you just have to pop your head round the door and say shh and then after a while he will learn just to go back to sleep without it... The lady on the program managed to resolve the problem about 95% in 6 days doing this. Sorry if you've already done this and it doesn't work.

Haven't had sleep problems with Dylan (yet!)

ad to tell you ladies something funny that happened yesterday evening...

Dh was tidying up with me and he got the ironing board out of the under stairs cupboard (where we also keep the ladder) and started going upstairs with it. I looked at him stragely thinking 'why is he taking the ironing board upstairs'. I said 'where you going with that?' and he was like 'I'm going to put some stuff back up the loft'. At this point I was still looking very puzzled, then dh realised he had the ironing board and not the ladder LOL! He had not even noticed, I collapsed on the sofa laughing Ha ha ha

Well I had my funding meeting with the man from the princes trust today. He sounded positive about my plan and my idea etc. He did say that things are tight at the moment with the amount they can give out so is going to offer me a 'will it work' grant to start off with of about £200-£250.

This is for advertising, once I can gage what kind of response i'll get then they'll discuss giving me a grant for the rest of the equipment i'll need.

This is good and I am pleased but I am a little confused as to how it will work?! For instance, if I advertise and people call asking for their ironing to be done then how will I actually do it without having any of the equipment I need??? I can't just say 'oh i'm not set up yet but i'll call you when I am thanks for your interest'.

Seems a strange way of doing it and a sure way to make sure customers won't return to me

So a bit puzled about that, going to have a meeting with my business advisor on wed to discuss it...

Where did everyone go?

I think it might be me. Hehe I come back and people disappear

glad yr dh didn't try and climb the ironing board

Am a bit as to how you can market a service that you aren't fully equipped to do. Hope yr meeting on weds sheds some light. V exciting - hope it all goes ok

He recons he would have gotten to the stage of putting the ironing board up before realising

I'm a bit too, very frustrating!

Hey inzi! Well done on the weight loss, thats amazing, I am so so , I must lose some weight, argh I weigh 11st 12lb and I was about 10st when I met dh . I just can not stop eating bad things!

We have travelled a 9 hour journey with Dylan, actually it ended up being 11 hrs . I would just say if they get moany to sit in the back with them and entertain for a while.. I entertained Dylan by pretending to sneeze his hat off my head for an hour on the way somewhere once, I had a stiff neck and a headache by the time we arrived LOL.

We usually make sure Dylan has clothes that are really loose and comfy. Plenty of stops if you can manage to strech her legs too. She'll probably surprise you and sleep more than you expect

Alice - not long to go now then - how exciting!

LLL - sorry you're having a hard time sleeping (or not). Hope it improves soon. I'm not moving Anya into a bed yet - no chance of her climbing out of her cot.

Dal - lol at dh with the ironing board. Hope you get some answers at your meeting on Wed - does sound a bit strange.

Inzi - at Jane learning swear words - I can see us having to be really careful when Anya starts talking. Well done on weight loss.

WWAJC - Hi, yeah we will have to watch what we say, apparently they understand a lot more than they can say! I swear Dylan was trying to say 'shut up' today

Inzi - Sounds like a good plan for the journey, sure it'll be fine

I'd like to lose a stone to a stone and a half I think, trouble is I don't want to do anything too fast with us ttc. Mind you, I don't seem to be doing anything at all lately! Would do the lighter life thing if I could afford and wasn't ttc. You've had amazing results!!! I would LOVE to be a size 12, more like a 16 at the moment, occasionally I get away with a 14 but not often . I'm shorter than you though, about 5'6".

HI all

I will read and catch up later but have 2 pieces of news for you all...

Henry walked 6 steps without any help and didn't throw himself at me at the end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whil st I can't say he's strictly 'walking' he is definately more upright than usual and is happy to walk a short distance between 2 things that require more than just a step or 2 and then chucking himself at whatever he's aiming for. I am sooooooooooooooooooooo pleased.

The other news is that our black lab Dexter is definately on his way out we have had many poo accidents in the house and he now finds it impossible to go through the night without pooing. He doesn't even whine to say he needs the loo which is really unlike him. He stands in it and walks it around the study which is foul as I then have to get him out of the study accross the hall and through the utility room in order to get him in the garden. Much cleaning/bending over for me. Coupled with his habit of regurgitating water back after he's drunk, things are pretty frought between dh and I as I thought it best to call it quits but he took Dex to the vet who said he was too spritely to have him put down but agreed that he was probably suffering some sort of senility and was clearly in pain with his arthritis. The vet prescribed some drugs to improve blood flow to the brain to help with the senility and pain killers for the arthritis at a cost of £116.
Now I know I sound a complete cow when I say this (fingers in your ear Inzi and Floria our lovely dog lovers) but I really do think this is just putting off the invevitable, Dex is kept mainly in one room at the mo due to the messing -he was pooing all over the house prior to this- he is walked by the dog walkers as I can't walk him on his own as he is agressive towards other dogs and with 2 children soon to be 3 I can't let him off the lead as he no longer comes back. He is 12 and dh has given him a lovely life but Dex is no longer cleaning himself as he used too and I worry about the dog mess in the house with the children PLUS we are soon to have a newborn. I don't think I'm being unreasonable to ask that Dex is given the kinder option of ending life now rather than a slow deterioration. Dh feels we are 'getting rid of him because we (he means -me) are finding him an inconvenience' and I'm sure he didn't give the vet the full picture.
Dh wants to give this new medicine a fair trail -2-3 weeks which is when we are due to have Tobias...

I also think £116 is a lot at the moment especially as I can see this being needed on a fairly regular basis. We have tried to re-home him with family but they are unable (understandably) to help and he's a nervous rescue dog that really can't be re-homed with anyone else.

I feel awful as I'm pushing dh into a decision that he clearly deoesn't want to make yet I'm the one who has to clean the mess up and keep the children away from Dex.

Any advice anyone?

Wow muppet, thats great news about Henry! Well done little man! Bet it won't be long now till he's toddling around, just in time for Tobias too

About Dex , I'm sorry to say I agree with you. Maybe if you didn't have children then he could keep going a bit longer and the poo in the house wouldn't be such an issue but you do have children and are soon to have a newborn... I don't think it's vital that it happens straight away, but maybe quite soon. I understnad what your dh is saying, it's a very hard decision to make, maybe he just needs a little more time to come to terms with it? Maybe if he did a little more of the poo cleaning he'd understand where you are coming from more.

I don't think you are being a 'cow', I think it sounds like Dex's quality of life has deteriorated and because you care abuot him and your children you don't want it to get worse. It can't be much fun being in pain from arthritis and being senile and not knowing whats going on anymore .

I did also wonder whether the vet was thinking of the money a little too much when deciding the best course of action? Just a thought, although as you say, your dh may not have told him the whole story?

Is there any way you can call the vet and discuss it over the phone or something?

It's difficult. Don't know how i'll handle it when Tess gets like that...

Inzi - fingers crossed for the car journey. Have you got a cd of nursery rhymes or something you can put on in emergencies? That always cheers Anya up if she's getting grumpy.

Muppet - wow, way to go Henry! That's brilliant news. So you did get to see his first steps then . Sorry about Dexter though - but my instinct is to agree with you. My parents and sister have had loads of dogs/horses/other assorted pets over the years and they've always put them down sooner rather than later - they would rather the animals' last days were happy ones rather than ones in pain and suffering. I can understand it's hard for your dh - maybe see how the next few days go? £116 is a lot though for what's likely to be a few weeks extra life at the most. Agree with Dal that it might help to phone the vet and get a clearer position.

Nothing much to report here - quiet weekend, although we're going out for a meal later on.

Alice ? fab news on the house, I bet you can?t wait

Pixie ? I really hope you get to move to a house you want soon xx

LLL- Sorry to hear of the sleep troubles, we did the quick return thing from when he was in his cot (Ollie, not Henry) as he did wake a lot to find his dummy. We carried this on when he moved into a bed and it seemed to work. No eye-contact, don?t turn on the lights and say the same boring mantra like thing each time ?It?s still night time Ollie, time to go to sleep? It is hell though when they don?t sleep and you have been used to them doing so? Do you have a gate on his door?

Dal ?re the equipment, can you make do with what you have for the mo until you have built up a good, regular customer base in order to convince the manager to give you the other grant?

Inzi ? WOW! Great news on the weight lose, the one thing that comes across in your posts is that you sound so happy about it, I am so pleased for you, bet you can?t wait to go shopping!! We should have a virtual shopping trip and then go out for a virtual lunch to celebrate Good luck on the drive, we?ve only ever done the dreaded Cornwall holiday which was 5-6 hours. My uncle/aunty used to do the drive from Scotland to Wales with my cousins and always did it through the night. IT seemed to work for them xx

Thanks Dal/WWAJC for the Dex reply. I know it?s really hard for dh as he views Dex as his ?1st son?. He had him when I met him and they clearly adore each other. Dex came from a rescue centre and was so nervous when I met dh that he would go upstairs and hide whenever anyone came in the house ?he was that nervous. Dh has done wonders with him by being patient, letting Dex go at his own pace and just loving him unconditionally. Dh took a week off work when he first got Dex and just waited for Dex to come to him when he felt ready. This part of dh is one of the reasons why I love him so much. Dex has come on leaps and bounds and now trusts people he?s never met (although he does bark and sounds something like the hounds of death ) I always knew this would be the most difficult decision for dh and I now he feels the responsibility enormously. I had the same attachment with my first Jack Russell, she was my baby and when she died I was devastated but I don?t have the same feeling for our Jack Russell, yes, he?s a fab little thing and it took us a while to all gel but at the end of the day he?s a dog. I don?t think dh has this view with Dex and feels very protective.

Muppet - Great news on Henry, now he has started you will find he will come on leaps and bounds over the next week. Just in time

about Dexter but I wholly agree with you but can also understand how DH feels. I agree with whoever said about DH cleaning up after him, I mean you shouldn't have to do that in your condition. I hope it is resolved soon for all your sakes.

As regards Ben... Since his first night in the bed I have done what you suggest, the first three times I take him back give him a kiss say its bye byes time, anything after that I go in without making any eye contact or noise and walk straight back out. After 3 and a half weeks last night was his best night, got out of bed once at 11pm, as soon as I got to his gate he turned and got back in bed. I put the covers back on him and that was the last I heard till 6.10am. Even then I managed to get him back to sleep till 7am Hopefully this is the start of good things to come.

Inzi - WOW well done, it does seem like only yesterday that you started the diet and now you are a completely different woman. Now the hard work begins, keeping it off, good luck

Just quickly checking in ...

muppetgirl - fabulous news on Henry - not such fab news on Dex

I'm still wobbly ... so not been up to much!

Right, going to tempt dh with food - he's not at all well, poor thing!

Hi everyone
Just checking in - back at home now. Looks completely different - DH has done really well, and we have our new stairs in, and all the first-fix electrics in the kitchen. The bathroom hasn't got its walls finished yet, so you have to let everyone know when you're off to the loo so you don't get surprised!
DS went to his nana's today, so i could clean up the house a bit, and organise everything ready for living without a kitchen for a couple of weeks. The plasterers are in tomorrow...
Hope you are all ok - have to go and sort the washing out now, back later