Dec 08- Must keep chocolate & cheerfulness near, teething time is nearly here!

[pmk1]

Right.... back to post the link now!

thank you all for your advice re: screaming blue murder. we are getting packed for our trip - madam is napping in the travel cot (!!!) and we are staying with friends near heathrow tonight for our ridiculously early rise tomorrow.

i will log on now and again - wishing you all a fanatabulous easter!

Just a quicky as I've only scanned and still feeling grim. Thanks for all those asking about me!b I feel awful but I think i'm on the good side of awful now. Thankfully B seems to have resumed to good sleeping habits after his 2 days post jabs, and although I was coughing all night he slept from 7-11, fed, and then 1130-6.
Arti hope you start feeling better soon -
Iphone- my brother has one and says it is good but doesn't do a few simple things which as someone said they are fiing with the new one. I like Blackberry's, mainly because we both have one and use Blackberry messenger instead of texting which saves loads of money. Don't have the Storm but dh has the Bold and likes it.
re travel - ditto what LadyT says - i'd say decant the cartons or buy after security. I took EBM through in a bottle and dh had to taste it!! after he said really loundly "you taste good" I was mortified!
I carried ds through in the Bjorn as we didn't take buggy, and they just asked if he was asleep and let me leave him in there which was nice, but if you take a buggy you can check it at the door of the plane and they will either have it there on arrival or send it to the carousel with your other bags...
Lady hope you enjoy your trip - bummer no shops open! Off to steam my head again!

jolly - how's little L today? Are her teeth still giving her jip? hope she's feeling better and back to her smiley self

ladyt nice to hear from you! Have a fab time - and you WG

i've got a TMI question to ask but also 2 girls demanding my attention so it'll have to wait...back later

Hey folks, just back from the hospital where we took T after a night of constant mucusy diahorrea (sp) and this morning he projectile vomited twice within the hour, was like something from the exorcist. Apparently there's loads of it going around and if your LO has it they recommend you don't take them to the hospital as you're likely to pick up something more sinister there. They just gave him dioralyte and said to thin his formula feed by half and basically constantly feed him. Poor wee mite, his bottom is red red raw (they also prescribed metanium, thanks for the tip Turnip) but he's smiling through it like a trouper. Makes my heart break. Now I have the joyous task of boil washing everything in the house .
Whoever asked about the formula containers, you can get them from mothercare but they also stock them in my local independent chemist.
Sorry to hear about the screaming abdabs, WG - could it be an ear infection? (sorry if you've already ruled that out).
Get better soon, Arti and PMK. Kayz, can you take and post a pic of your new hairdo please?

Spot I will post a pic of my hair. It is similar to what it was a few weeks ago just darker. The home hair dye kit didn't get it as dark as I had wanted it.

spot so sorry that T is so poorly, hopefully he'll pick up soon. You must have been really worried about him. They seem so fragile when they are poorly don't they?

Glad to hear LadyT having a good time & wg have a great time. I'm all packed now, so probably won't get chance to catch up now till I'm back. Hope everyone keeps well and the lo's sleep like angels for you all...well we can hope can't we???

pmk1 as you're still feeling rubbish I will try not to be too at your sleeping marvel! Hope you feel better soon.

LadyT I have to admit I chuckled at your post, although it must be really disappointing to be somewhere closed at Easter! I hope you manage to enjoy your break regardless.

spot I hope T's bottom responds well to the metanium. (Sounds like something they'd smuggle during the Cold War! Have visions of you as a Bond villain .) It's so worrying when they get poorly .

Am confused re name changes. Feel I should have done an Eastery one but have very limited imagination at the moment (am blaming my poor sleep-deprived synapses).

Had fab time at the zoo - just missed the rain. Currently snuggled up with DD1 on the sofa half-watching "Monsters, Inc". This is why I had children .

kayz I demand to see your hair forthwith! (no pressure)

Thanks for all the tips re iPhones. Much food for thought!

Ok I have some pics of my hair. I look awful though. I feel like I have 10 chins!!!

Poo!!! I forgot the link!!!

Hair

Just quickly, kimberley mothercare sell them, so do my local Tescos & I would imagine Boots as well.

spot sorry T is so poorly, hope he gets better soon

Have both boys calling for me, back later...

Spot:sorry to hear T is still poorly, hope he recovers soon. Apart from telling you not to bring him to the hospital were they nice and helpful? Metanium is great stuff, back on it for DS1 currently as he has a bit of a sore bum.

kmp: glad you're recovering. I think you were asking about nappy cream as well: for a barrier cream (non-medicated) we use Weleda calendula nappy cream. You can get it from health shops or poncey supermarkets, it's one of those free-from, herbal jobs. Also good for scrapes and bruises.

nice hair Kayz . My sis had her hair that colour for ages (she's naturally blonde) but she's currently hennaing it, there was a slightly worried Facebook post about how red it was

Heloooo ladies, what a funny grey old day it's been. Spent the day in Lincoln with some friends. Left ds1 & DH at home and just took ds2 he loved the extra attention of me and my 2 girlfriends, as well as half the population of Lincoln when we walked through town. I don't know if any of you have ever been to Lincoln but the have a little cobbled street called Steep hill and as the name suggests it is steep I thought I might keel over walking up it! Def need to get fitter. The good news is it would have worked off the baked cheese cake I had with lunch. Kind of cancelled out not having chips yesterday Trace.

It is a lovely drive to lincoln from derby but J had a meltdown in the car about 30 mins from home and just screamed constantly I stopped in laybys a couple of times to feed and try t settle him but in the end it was just delaying getting us home for proper cuddles so I just drove with him screaming at me. By the time I got home I felt physically sick and ready to cry, it felt so good to cuddle and comfort him after how upset he was. He is nice and settled now and nearly asleep.

Tilly nice to hear you got a sleep in with DS1 I like to think my ds1 wore him out a little yesterday.

All the ladies going away or currently away enjoy. Kimberley as others have said the policies at different airports vary on the liquids thing and are alwas changing so if you do contact the airport make sure you check with Dublin airport too as they may be different to the London airport you are flying from. Also take clear plastic bags with you for your liquids as some airports are now charging for the plastic bags cheeky beggers. And don't forget liquids also means creams so if you have any nappy creams or eczema creams you need them in the bags too. Also not sure where you are flying too but on longhaul flight many airlines actually provide you with a little baby pack with nappies wipes and formula so just check.

Kayz I love the hair colour I know what you mean about the home dye kits Im really disappointed mine didn't turn out as obvious as I wanted it too. I figure if your dying your hair you want it very obvious it is dyed, i'm def buying ds1's recommendation next time. I love the photo of you and Freddie what a smile! I will have to upload the boys photos from yesterday.

Lady you could always buy a few bottles of cheerfulness and drink to Easter!

Oh for F's sake, I'm such a nonce. Kimberley you said Dublin and I even mentioned it in the post earlier. Ignore the longhaul advice bit.

Oh boy asleep hooray.

Gosh Veggie that brings back memories! We went to Lincoln to do some xmas shopping one year when we were kids. I had a race with my brother up that hill and I thought I was going to die!!

OK everyone's been fed and watered and the small ones are snoozing...so back to my TMI questions...(feel free to skip to next post!)

sex .
We've done it 4 times since P was born but it aint getting any better - in fact last night seemed more painful than ever. Not at all enjoyable . Is that normal? Or should things be back to normal by now? I can't believe Phoebe came out of there because it certainly doesn't feel comfortable with something going up there. Also having been OK pelvic floor wise, I keep finding that after a wee I stand up to pull my pants up and out comes a bit more . I think that's worse after sex too. Can someone who has had a previous vaginal birth please tell me I'm not a freak and I will return to being vaguely normal at some point? I had none of these issues after my c-section!
There. sorry if that was Too Much.

Well P is full of cough and cold . She is rattly and snotty galore but still smiley. Have tried to give paracetamol tonight because her voice is hoarse so I'm sure it must be sore, but unless it can be absorbed via the neck creases I don't think she'll get much benefit from it!

lal - did you ever resolve the elephant seal noise thing? I always struggle with giraffe noises. What do they say? I have settled for munch munch but it feels like a cop out!
I've discovered that I Absolutely Cannot draw a dog! I can have a bash at most things, but it seems dogs are beyond me. I'd never realised that until today

DH has been in a stinker of a mood all day for no reason that either of us can identify. He has been a total misery and has snapped at Lucy over the tiniest thing so I've spent the day trying to keep the peace, comforting Lucy without appearing to undermine dh! All I actually wanted to do was tell him off but thought that might not be the best parenting technique! I think he just got out of bed on the wrong side - but when he's a misery guts like that I think I'd be better of on my own with the girls for the day. Bad wife.

Off to read some more What Mothers Do to give me a pat on the back which I feel I need.

Veggie: glad you enjoyed Lincoln, I'm from near there and it was our shopping venue of choice . There's a great bookshop at the top of Steep Hill if you can manage the climb. Do NOT attempt in icy weather, esp when wearing heels! My sister went to college nearby and she remembers crawling up with her friends wearing unsuitable boots while fit old grannies zipped past them in their comfy shoes . Did you find the sweetshop at the bottom? Also love the novel The Dean's Watch (Elizabeth Goudge) which is set in Lincoln (or somewhere pretty damn identical)

Trace: grumpy DHs are vile, it's like having another child to placate! I tend ot avoid as much as poss (hard in a small flat). Re the sex, I'd go to your GP. Even if it is 'normal' (whatever that means), you shouldn't have to put up with it.

I found a formula dispenser today! I guess I had just overlooked them

veggie we are doing a long haul flight in May back to the states... so you're not a nonce.

Kayz that is hardcore running up that hill. I Walked up it today with just under 8kg strapped to my front and it was hard. We saw a little boy come flying down it and take a tumble on the slippery cobbles poor little thing.

Trace I don't want to say your abnormal but on both occasions post birth I've had no discomfort. I never had stitches and you did have quite a few so I'm wondering if this may have caused it but really you should by now be fully recovered. Can I delve a little deeper and ask where is the pain? It's not possible that the pain could be due to the crisp packet issue, would some K-Y help? I think you might need to see your GP, ask for a female doctor and you may need a referral to a continence specialist or womens physio.

Will be going back Effie so will look for the sweet shop. Apparently the Magna Carta is kept in Lincoln.

Morning folks, am back on early as DP was upstairs on the sofa doing the poorly Thomas shift and I got on at 6. He is v patient (DH, not T) -had just finishing giving him his bottle of dioralyte and thinned feed, 10 mls every 10 mins when he threw it back up all over himself so DP had to do full clothes change and start again with the bottle. Finally finished at 2.30 and I think it's stayed down. Will go in to wake him in a min as I don't want him to dehydrate but I guess he also needs lots of sleep to get better. I'm v fortunate I guess in not having had a poorly baby before so it has thrown me a little to know what's best (e.g sleep or food). I just know that if I have D&V that all I can keep down is dry toast, but when they get all their nutrition from milk, that's tough as it's impossible to keep down).
Trace, I had a 2nd degree tear with stitches and the first couple of times it was v painful and I bled, and the following 2 were better. I think it was also psychological as I was scared of the pain, so probably my body tensed itself in anticipation, which in turn made it more painful. But would echo Effie and Veggie's advice to try the KY and see the GP if that doesn't help. Re- the whole mardy arse DP situation, I'm an avoider too, but it always comes out so arguments are inevitable. Don't see how it could be otherwise when looking after small people is so stressful. I find that time and cutting each other a bit of slack are the only things that help.
Love the hair, Kayz. I've coloured and shorn mine too as T kept getting it twisted round his fingers and it ended up looking like matted dreadlocks, too the hairdresser half an hour to detangle it .
Actually, one thing I discovered that is worth knowing about. My friend's little girl who is the same age as T had one of my friend's hairs wrapped round her toe - the parents didn;t realise what it was until the hair had really cut into it and the skin had grown over, was like cheesewire. They had to remove it under general anaesthetic or she could have lost the toe. It's called a hair tourniquet (if you want to wikipedia it). Just to warn people, esp those with long hair. T used to have mine in his hands but I didn't realise it was serious, just annoying!
Right, better get me some brekkie before I get mr T up.

Good bad morning,

I didn't really sleep last night. I woke up at half 3 to go to the toilet and then I couldn't get back to sleep. DS2 isn't awake but it is almost like he is talking in his sleep and it keeps me awake. A few people have said to put him in his own room but I'm just not ready yet. Any ideas for sleeping through his mumblings but not his actual hungry cry?

Veggie I think I was about 10 and had a lot more energy then. I love Lincoln but never go now.

Spot I didn't know about the hair thing. They both always play with my hair but I always take any loose ones of their hands but more because I'm worried they'll somehow put them in their mouths.

Hope you are all well.

Spot that is a bit scary about the hair. Hope you're still liking the new hairdo . T sounds a bit better, sending lots of get-well vibes

Kayz: not sure I can help, I'm getting quite good at dozing through any mutterings!

Another 2 wakings night for us, long may it continue!