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

[pmk1]

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

Verso: can you get an out-of-hours GP to see your DH, or is it a case of waiting till it passes? How are you feeling?

We had a nice day, went on an Easter egg hunt and managed to distract DS1 from eating too much choc - DH working all day tho . Tried DS2 in the Ergo, he's just about big enough tho his head is a tad wobbly. He also managed to sleep from 7:30 till nearly 3 , the longest stretch he's done I think.

Trace, that sounds like a lovely day. Hope yoy got some sleep.

Verso how hard for you all. Hope dh and you feel better soon. Like Effie said can your dh see a doc? Do antibiotics help? Is he allowed them? Poor you holding the fort. I hope the birthday goes well -I'm sure your friends would be happy with pizza And I know it's personal preference but I see no shame in giving a dummy. I know some people are weaning their dc off the dummy, but I'm certainly making no effort to do that yet. Anything that brings comfort and hopefully sleep is ok for us! With dd1 we took the dummy away from her when she seemed to use it as a toy rather than a comfort.
Still 2 hourly nights here...so I'm bleary eyed as ever! It's coughtastic here - dd 1 and 2 both coughing away nicely.
no plans here today but the sun is already out so me thinks a bit of gardening might be in line
am needed to do some craft already...back later xxx

Girls, have just had a text from Verso who says her poor DH has been admitted to hospital. Hope that they can get his temp down and make him more comfortable. Sending positive thoughts (and happy birthday wishes) to the entire Verso family.

If I hear any updates I'll let you know.

Sybs: thank you for letting us know. Please pass on best wishes to Verso and her family.

Morning,

Sybil Thanks for the update from Verso, I do hope her DH is better soon.

Trace Sounds like you have a lovely day planned.

I hope everyone that is ill or has ill DCs is much better soon.

Ds2 occasionally has his dummy. Mainly when he is mumbling and keeping me awake. But he now spits it out 9 times out of 10.

Dinner went well yesterday. It was very nice, I do enjoy having little dinner parties. Mum bought ice cream as dessert so I only had a little bowl. But she left what was left over in our freezer so I might have to go out and let DH and DS1 eat it all.

Hope you are all well.

Morning all, just popping on to bookmark, will catch up properly later.

verso hope dh is better and home soon

I'm bookmarking too, back later on. Sorry about Verso's DH, gosh, do hope he is better soon. And poor little T.

Happy Belated Easter, all...

Right, have a few mins. Hope Mr Verso is on the mend. Arti, how is your back today? Kayz, your dinner sounds lovely, glad you enjoyed it. Your hair looks nice.

Bilbao was very nice but I cannot lie, it was also cold and wet. We made a fist of the bad weather and took brollies (DD has the plastic cover which fits over the MaxiCosi, it was such a boon). Yes, bars and eating places were generally open even if the shops were closed except on Saturday. There were lots of parades with sinister looking figures with pointy hats which came over their faces but just with eyeholes. It was all a bit Klan. I think (hope) it was something to do with Easter.

I am impressed you know how to spell pintxos, PD. I'm not sure I would have done but yes, we had many. But mine were nearly all tortilla based as I am a veggie. I enjoyed seeing all the signs in Basque. Did you know it is one of only four European languages that does not share the same root as all the other ones in the WHOLE of Europe? I know the other three as well. Good pub quiz question

The Guggenheim was smaller than I expected but we did enjoy it. As the rain was at times like harpoons from the heavens I was really glad we had booked a decent hotel, as we did a bit of lolling around having massages and watching films on the enormous bed. Which is naughty but travelling with a baby is tiring, so I will let myself off the hook a bit. DD was so good throughout the entire trip EXCEPT on the plane journey home when she had a 20 minute meltdown (most unlike her) because she was so tired. DP was mortified.

The smoking ban isn't in in Spain, which I thought was a bit of a pain (especially with DD in tow), but babies were being wheeled around everywhere and anywhere at all times of day and night, which was rather nice.

We saw a bit of a very grand service on Good Friday evening, but I was more taken with one of the priests outside the church, in full regalia, drawing heavily on a fag and gabbling into his mobile phone!

Right, off to the supermarket to get some healthy food and SALAD. I have really missed it, there wasn't much of it about. I need to lay off the cheerfulness a bit as I have got palpitations, and when I had them last time it was the result of an overly cheerful New Year's Eve...Although truly, I have only had SPOTS of cheerfulness on this trip. But what delicious spots they were...

I suppose Verso's DD1's birthday has gone tits up as a result of her poor DH. What a shame all round.

Verso I do hope your DH picks up quickly and can come back home. And take care of yourself as well, because the last thing you need is a trip to hospital for yourself. I hope your DD1 wasn't too dissappointed that her Mum and Dad were poorly on her birthday - a good excuse to have a second birthday when you are all well again. Take care

Effie grand news about the house . Thanks for the tip about the blankets in the cot, I used towels last night (couldn't find blankets to roll up) and she slept more like normal. (I didn't, as I was awake waiting for her to wake, which she didn't until 3)

LadyT your break sounds lovely, despite the rain. Rain in another place is nicer than rain at home.

I had a bit of a meltdown yesterday, DD had slept badly at night and hardly slept at all during the day. When it got to her tea time feed she screamed and screamed - too tired to eat I think - and I couldn't get her to calm down. In the end I stomped downstairs and almost threw her at DH and ran out of the room to get away from her , I felt so awful. He calmed her down and we managed a lovely relaxed feed in the end. To my shame, this drama was played out at my parents house, in front of my sister and Gran, so I feel doubly awful at showing off my crap mothering. I was then bullied persuaded to have several glasses of wine, a big glass of port and lots of chocolate to help me calm down and DH promptly had to abandon his drink in order to be driver. Good medicine, but I'm still trying to make it up to DD today, and tomorrow is jabs day so I feel even worse putting her through that . Nevermind, onwards and upwards from Wednesday.

xx

waves< thanks to all for your kind well-wishes. DH is in hospital on IV antibiotics and fluids. His mum is on her way down from Cheshire and we're going to visit him later today.

(I posted in a fit of self-pity and pique earlier, which is why I asked MN to delete the post .)

Verso: didn't see your earlier post, but please don't feel bad! One of the things I love about this thread is that it's a safe place to rant, however unreasonable you may be feeling at the time. Hope you have a peaceful evening .

Hi Verso, I did see your earlier thread and it seemed perfectly reasonable to me under the circumstances! I really hope your day gets better and you and your DH feel on better form soon.
I've been living in a world of self pity these last few days, had so many nice things planned over the bank holiday and have had to cancel them all due to all of us being ill. T is still poorly and spending most of the day grizzling and refusing to eat (when he does, pooing it all away) so we're still on the dioralyte and thinned feeds, doesn't help that his teeth are hurting big time too . I really hope he starts to feel better soon, will have been a week tomorrow since the bug started. I'm feeling a little better today but still can't eat anything, DP is worse so we're playing tag team go to bed while the other tried to find ways to calm T that don't involve carrying (neither of us have enough arm strength!). I guess I didn't think we'd all have the same thing at the same time, but having visited our local pit of disease hospital it makes sense.
Sorry you had such a bad day yesterday Zoe, but glad it ended in cheerfulness and that DD slept better with the towels. We now have the opposite problem - T likes to be surrounded by acres of space and if his hands touch anything when he thrashes around he goes beserk. He'll be wanting a king size soon...
Hi LadyT, sounds like your trip was good but it's so disappointing when the weather gets in the way, you have all these images in your head of how you're going to spend it and you end up sheltering from the rain! Still, am glad it had its moments and that DD was so good (if her only complaint was a 20 min meltdown in the plane you've done purty well ). And I loved the image of the priest, would make a great photo.
Hi Kayz, glad your dinner went well, I think you deserve little more of that icecream though, it is a bank holiday after all...
Poor you, Trace, those nights sound exhausting. Am so impressed you can even consider gardening on that little sleep. T is screaming big time as poor little mite so tired (not napping as usual), will go and relieve DP on trying to get some fluid into him.

Hello all, happy Easter Hope everyone's had plenty of chocolate. We had dd's godfather and his lovely wife and three unbelievably active kids for lunch, bit of a miracle that we all survived! Lots of cheerfulness and while dd had a bottle for afternoon tea her bedtime milk must have still been a bit boozy as she slept from 7.30 until 5am! And we've got loads of leftovers for tea, double bonus. Also went to a friend's baby's baptism, I was lined up to be singing a motet with some friends but the tenor had lost his voice so dh had to step in, plan was for the other chap to hold dd but she was yelling so i ended up feeding her and sharing dh's music!

verso - we're all here as the basket, remember, ranting and self pity quite allowed whenever needed. Hope dh is on the mend soon, glad you've got his mum coming to help.

LadyT sounds like you had a great break. The Easter parades are amazing, we were in San Roque a few years ago at Easter and it was just like you said, v sinister. Though we did see a kid with the best mullet I've even seen before or since.

Gahh dd has done a very musical poo, off to clean up and will catchup later!

Evening all wow Verso all sounds very hard for you poor love and don't delete posts it makes me all curious as to what was said!! Do you know a while back in my heady younger days a bunch a lovely ladies and I had a fab girls night in where much cheerfulness of the red variety was consumed. On that night as well as doing some brilliant Kylie Minogue impressions we decided to make a pact that we would always keep in touch and always help each other even when we were not together. We called ourselves The Coven (a bit White witchypoo) and vowed to always to help out with positive thoughts for each other if it was needed. We called it 'putting the white over x' so if any of us had a dilema or a job interview or was just in a bad place we could text around and put the White light over her. Even to this day even though our little coven is spread around the world we still text each other if we're in need of the White light. So anyway poor Spot & Verso need a bit of positive thought right now so I'm sending out the White light to them, anyone can join in just think good hugging supportive caring thoughts for them to give them strength or pray as I'm sure many of you already have.

Speaking of pagan rituals we went to an egg rolling competition this morning. A welsh friend of ours puts it on every year here for friends and family. It is a family tradition of his that goes back generations which he thinks comes from some pagan thing. Basically it's quite simple every child decorates hard boiled eggs and then races to roll them down a hill without cracking them. Ds1 managed to win one of the races which he was chuffed about. They also hid stones covered in silver foil in the wooded areas of the park and the kids had to find them and then could exchange a stones for Easter eggs. It was great fun with loads of kids and parents. We then all decended on the local park cafe for lunch and played football and generally rowdy games all afternoon with the kids. Everyone had loads of fun and it was nice for all the kids and parents to play together.

Am here and sending strong thoughts and prayers to Verso, Spot and their families. Loving the idea of the white light Veggie.

More later >

A belated Happy Easter to one and all,

Verso - you really deserve some good luck. I hope it comes to you soon. I also hope MrV is up and about ASAP. MS is a horrible disease. My best friend at uni was diagnosed when we were only 20 and she woke up one day unable to feel the left hand side of her body. I learned alot about it then and I have much sympathy for MrV and yourself.

Spot - have you all had D&V? That is my nightmare so I am really feeling for you too. I hope little T starts to feel better soon (and you and MrSpot).

Veggie - I love egg rolling. We were once in Washington DC at easter when I was a child. Each year the White House has egg rolling on its front lawn and we went along. It is one of my best Easter memories ever.

LadyT - its just like you to still sound so positive after rather alot of bad luck befell your holiday. I am glad you managed to make the most of it. I have to say I did laugh when you said that your DP was mortified by 20 minutes of O crying on the plane. If that mortified him what will he do when he is confronted by moments such as my poo escapade at Kew gardens???

Trace - sorry that you are still being woken every two hours. You are also someone who manages to sound very chipper despite things. I would be beyond tired and would probably be parenting through CBeebies, not you though, you are off doing early morning craft!

JJ - 7.30pm 'til 5am. You give all of us that have had bad sleepers some real hope.

Thanks to those who asked after my back. It is still pretty bad. Not as bad as Friday when I was literally flat on the floor and scared to move, but still not happy at all. I can't push the pram, wear the sling or drive so it won't be fun when DH goes back to work tomorrow. Other than that the Easter weekend has been nice. We had to cancel our plans to visit my aunt in Bedfordshire (I can't sit in the car) so we hung around at home and painted eggs and played with the girls and generally relaxed.

I am not sure that I have told you all that we have pulled out of the house purchase that I have been going on about (I know I told the London meet-up ladies). It is all rather boring but basically it did not have planning or building regulations for its extension and that turned out to be pretty serious. Well on Thursday we viewed loads of other houses as we do not want to loose our buyers so need to find somewhere else to move ASAP. We saw one house that was STUNNING. Just a dream. We both want it soooooooo much. However it is on the edge of a very bad school catchment area. If we move there the DDs may get into our current local school which is great (but over subscribed) or they may get into the local sink primary which I just could not send them to.

We are now in a real quandry. How can we take that risk with their education just because we love a house? But how can we not move to this dream house when it is likely they will still get into the good school? Another house like this will not come on the market. But will we hate each ourselves in a year when we realise we took a bad risk and have nowhere to send them? And should we abandon our principles and send them to a private prep? And if we are prepared to do that are we anyway too late to get their names down for the private schools around here which all open registration at birth??? Such were the Easter conversations chez Artichoke.

Righto, catching up time.

arti - don't be getting any ideas, last night was almost certainly a one off! She's usually up at midnight (just after I've turned in...) and thence every few hours. V exciting to hear about the dream house, but what a dilemma. If it really is the house you'd love to spend the rest of your life in, then go for it. If the school was awful, is it in special measures/has a new headteacher - as often places that have been bad end up improving hugely when they get a sort of 'last warning', which is no comfort for the people who were there when it was rubbish but might mean it would be getting much better by the time your dds were going there. And in any case, parents who really care about their child can make up a great deal of ground, my cousin had to send her daughter to a dodgy local primary but by being encouraging and helping her out her daughter did fine in the end. Oh - BTW could you FB the details of your fab babysitter from the wedding weekend

veggie that white light thing sounds great, a forum I was on (back in the BMN days ) had a 'prayers and good vibes' group
to send good wishes in whatever way worked best for people and it was a great support. Sounds like you had a really lovely day out on your bikes Now egg rolling - am I being really thick or would eggs roll in a circle down a hill, or at least not go straight at alll?

Oh and further egg chat the egg mayo was a great success for the starter, thanks very much for the suggestion. (can't remember who it was though

superspot you poor lot, sounds like you're really going through the mill at the moment. Really hope you get some improvement this week. I did giggle at your description of the epic poo though sounds like you just needed hosing down!

LadyT - pics of priests etc on the phone - have bunged a couple on my profile from our hhols in Italy last year

Effie - an awesome night for you as well Great news about the house, sounds ike a lovely garden situation.

zj don't feel bad, we've all had moments like that.

trace re the sex thing, you've had loads of good advice and it does sound like a bite the bullet with the doc situation.

right - DH has been heating up the leftover lamb from yesterday so delicious tea here we come have a lovely evening one and all, sleep little babies and give your mummies a nice rest (get the hint dd? )

Turns out it was "man flu". Can you warrant it? I am speechless with fury. Apparently he regained the use of his legs within a short while of starting the antibiotics.

He TERRIFIED me this morning. I have been half-sick with worry - and it's just A BLOODY COLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sent his mother here (she'd just driven down from Cheshire) with a HUGE list of stuff he "needs" for the hospital. I haven't been to visit him. I am too angry.

I have a VERY sore throat myself. DD2 is very unsettled - I think she has it too. Already been up twice since settling at 6:30pm. No one gives ME a break. A nice rest in a bloody hospital.

He will be in tomorrow but they fully expect to send him home later on.

Arti that's a hard one. What happened about the other other house (?!)- the one that you considered when the parents were down on the original one? Sorry your back is so bad - that sounds so restrictive. Hope it gets better soon.

Veggie the egg rolling sounds fun!

We ended up going to a big park with the biggest fish I've ever seen - they looked like they could have eaten me Poor Lucy screamed when she saw the first one but she soon got used to them . We stayed a few hours then I was too pooped to do gardening so I chilled out with P inside while dh and Lucy played out! Anyway they are now in the tent in the garden because they are camping out tonight! Just the two of them - and 6 cuddly toys! I get to stay in my own bed because of Phoebe... phew!
I expect they will be rising pretty early in the morning (that's if they manage to stay out all night!)

I'm off to bed very soon. Am feeling sick - I don't even fancy chocolate and I'm not sure if it's tiredness or if it could be the mega brufen (600mg ones) that I'm taking for my sore hip. I also have a bit of a knot in my tummy/mind about P and her (lack of) routine - again! DH made a comment earlier about if I kept her awake more in the day then she would sleep more at night - sounds obvious - but I just can't make her stay awake any longer because she just gets whingy then cries. I feel a bit like she'll never change. I always try to be positive (like you said Arti!) but I'm all tearful again this evening . I think as I read about more and more of the babies doing big long stints it makes me think she really shouldn't wake every 2 hours still. And she WILL NOT take a bottle so I can't change anything. Last night I thought I'd try to leave her a few minutes (literally about 2 or 3) to see if she would wake properly or settle back off - within 1 minute she was in a rage! I fed her and she went straight back to sleep until 2 hours later...and on it goes! I've been thinking of having a little MN break because I don't think it helps me to be comparing her to all the other babies, but the Basket is so supportive I'd miss you all so much - especially now I've met some of you it seems rude to just stop!
Oh well I should finish my cuppa and go to bed and wake up more cheerful in the morning (the conventional use of 'cheerful' you understand!)
nighty night xxx

trace I feel for you. I think I'm in for a LONG night if it's any consolation, because DD2 has worked herself into a lather already... am sure I will be up plenty of times during the night. As H is not here I have the laptop upstairs so I can check in during the night to keep sane. I will be thinking of you.

well as DH is camping in the garden for the night I might take my laptop to bed too...perhaps I'll see you later! I can't imagine what things are like for you Verso. Is his mum staying with you tonight? Would she do a few feeds? Really hope your dd gives you a well-needed rest.

His mum is staying in a local hotel. My mum is here, but will be looking after DD1. DD2 is very very screamy and upset tonight . I think she's probably picking up on my stress. Maybe see you on here later?

Trace: please don't leave us, there is nothing 'wrong' with Phoebe bar not sleeping that well... DS1 was exactly the same (and I think Verso had the same with her DD1). He is just v v v active and now he can run off his energy during the day he sleeps like a log at night. My theory is that wakeful babies are just super bright and need the stimulation (or something). I found the Sleep threads on MN really helpful, we had a little group of non-sleepers and even started a blog, which sadly (or not) fell into disuse when our babies started sleeping better: sleepisfortheweak.wordpress.com/

Oh, and 5 out of us are either pregnant or have given birth in the last few months, so we must all be optimists...