December 2008 Coven - white light and basket cases

[EffiePerine]

Seeing as LadyT broke the thread...

I had a poster of Aha on my wall, and kissed them all goodnight but had to cover the eyes of the other ones as otherwise they'd be jealous that Morten got the best kiss. I also swore that I'd never marry anyone but Morten. Look where that got me...!

had a row-ish with dh last night - dd woke up (for the third time... ) at 4am, needed a change and by the time I'd got her done and put on fresh clothes (peed all over the mat...) she was completely awake. I said to DH that he really must get round to sorting the bloody spare room so he could go and sleep there, as otherwise we end up with what happened - I have to take her downstairs so he can get some sleep, and by the time she finally nods off (5.30) the act of taking her back upstairs wakes her up again. Looking back the spare bed has been covered with crap since Feb - DH keeps on saying "oh I'll do it this weekend" then something else comes up. I love him dearly but he could procrastinate for the fecking universe. At 4 he came out of the bedroom and started looking at all the stuff sayign "I'll do it now" but since some of it is stuff that has to go in the loft, hardly the best time...

Anyway, off to a friend's for lunch and apparently there will be 8 babies, this should be fun!

JJ your DH was seriously going to do it at 4am.

Had smear today hooray that's over for another few years, next person to do it should have an Australian accent rather than a Midlands lilt.

DS2 is having a huge sleep and as I'm feeling all better have managed to clean the whole downstairs yay feels nice to be all done. It has been neglected while I was sick. With DH home too it gets pretty messy and dirty. Oh he's awake I think. Is it sad that I get excited about having time to clean the house. I used to clean when friends came over (well clean friends) in the old days.

I missed the boys dental appointment yesterday I thought it was today bugger hope they don't charge me. I had ds1 all worked up for it too.

Trace does your hospital have childcare.

Greetings from deepest darkest Essex.

Well we finally left London at the weekend - a bit emotional, especially when we sent DS packing a few days before, but mostly too busy to dwell on it. Sorry we left without saying goodbye spot - it just got a bit hectic towards the end. Great news about your sis & T's non-allergy btw.

The new place is still not ready. Let's just say the moving date is the moving date in more ways than one. At the moment it's Friday. In the meantime we're staying at DP's brother's, with the PILs as well, so 5 adults & 2 children in a 2-bed house. Fun fun fun. So far it's been fine actually - have been taking advantage of MIL on the childcare front and trying to get in as much kip as possible. I have even managed to read a novel since I've been here - a Jonathan Coe which I found in the pound shop. Result! Have also seen Effie already - we'll have to arrange something soon Jam (good to hear about your sis too).

Anyway, hope you are all well. Sorry no time to do personals etc - can't stay online long but just wanted to pop in and say hello as I don't know when I'll be able to post next. No idea how long it's going to take for us to sort out some kind of internet connection. Could be days, could be weeks. Will try to post again from here but it's a bit difficult to get on the computer for long.

JJ, am so for you, you must be on your knees, and you're not only sounding remarkably chipper but are even contemplating lunch with 8 other babies (when i have a night like that I tend to walk around the park ranting and raving to myself like a loon and threaten to stab anyone who smiles at me). You are indeed Superjump (TM), and 'tis how you shall remain.
I am on a complete emotional rollercoaster after my weekend with mum (obv not helped by 3 nights on the trot of 3 hours broken sleep) and I know this is not the forum for family therapy but I am at my wits end, all we do is rub each other up the wrong way within literally seconds of seeing each other yet we both want our relationship to be easier and def want her to be v involved with T. I just turn into a mardy teenager and act in a way i never would with anyone else. Actually, family therapy might be a good idea, though I wouldn't have a clue where to start.
T been pooing himself silly on the new formula but at least I'm not having to trick him or wait until he's asleep to get anything down him. That was a very interesting article, Lal, thanks for linking to it. It mentioned that babies who become intolerant to their usual formula can benefit from being weaned earlier.... will mention to the dietician we're seeing next week and see how we get on.
Also, his cough is still v nasty and rattly and has been going on about 4 weeks now - when I went to the docs last week I was sent away with a flea in my ear, but how long should they go before another visit? It just doesn't seem to be getting any better...
Sorry, know I had more to post but must get some food down me before T wakes up, later.

Hi from the house of sick. DD1 has a weird night time vomiting virus that means she is ok by day light then voms all over her bed at night. this is quite a challenge for me as I am properly phobic of vom and am convinced we are all about to catch it. Poor DD1 is being v brave though, she clearly doesn't take after me. In other news I am terrified I might be pregners after a few too many glasses of cheerfullness led to some sloppy contraception. It's v unlikely as I haven't had a period since DD2 but I wish I could fast forward a few days so I could know all is ok... why, why, why was I so foolish?!

Spot - so glad T can have normal formula. DD1 was allergic to cow's milk and was prescribed a formula called neocate which she refused to eat. I eventually tasted of myself and it was grimmer than a very grim thing. Hopefully T will enjoy mealtimes now.

JJ - I think it was you who was raving about napping next to S. I love those moments too. When DD1 is with her nanny I always nap nose to nose with DD2 and it makes me so happy. Sorry about your mdnught row but how annoying of your Dh. I bet if you refused to go downstairs for a few nights he would soon get motivated.

Summer - how exciting about your SiL. Keep us updated.

LadyT - no wonder you are tired, you are a force of nature to keep going as you do. How is your house purchase going? And are you and DP getting on a bit better now?

Lal - bleurgh indeed. Two up at once is too much to bear. I loved your snake story, did the police do anything?

NJAN - I too am dreading returning to work. I am going back mid July but get August and most of Sept off so other than two weeks of stress in July I have a while to go. Need to find a new nanny first though and that is really stressing me out... The hand that rocks the cradle and all that!

Trace - you need more chocolate girl. Oh, and in our house penguins say "p p p" but in real life they may just squawk.

Veggie - sorry about your ducking awful result!

Has Turnip left us for good? And poison?

POison - x posts, so pleased you've finally moved to the right county, though about your actual moving in date, I hope it goes smoothly when it actually does happen.
I will def be up to stalk visit you and Effie when you're settled .

ha spooky x-post with arti there - thanks for asking about me. Sorry to hear about your vomtastic nights. And the pg scare! I do occasionally wonder who's going to be the first casualty on here. Certainly not me

Yay to venturing up to Essex to see us spot. Will very much look forward to it. Sounds like you've got a battle on your hands with poor T and his poorliness. One day this will all be a distant memory but blimey, you ain't half going through the mill in the meantime. 4 weeks does sound like a long time for a cough. As for your relationship with your mum, I think there is often an element of asserting yourself as a mother and repositioning of the pecking order. I too turn into a teenager/toddler when I'm with my mum since having DCs. She mostly manages to let it wash over her though luckily. Things should start to settle down eventually though - it's a massive readjustment for everyone concerned. You have to give yourself a bit of slack though - your world has been turned upside down in a few short months.

Just realised DD is 5 months old today. It's going so fast! She started sitting up yesterday - can't maintain it for long though. I was just saying to Effie the other day that I thought she was ages away from sitting on her own. I still pretty much think of her as a little tiny newborn really.

nice to hear from you poison
Arti at the pregga scare...hope it's a confirmed negative for you very soon!
Veggie - no there is no child care at my hospital. grr. it's such a hassle.

I took dd2 to the garden centre this morning and got a few plants, then she fell asleep on the way back. I really wanted her to sleep in her cot so I could rest too - so I took her out and woke her up (she'd only bee a sleep a few minutes), made her watch me pot the plants outside, then put her in her cot when I though she was proper sleepy. She kicked off so I feed her then tried again and she has been sleeping for 1.5 hours now!!!! She had fed at 10 so when I fed her at 12 I thought that was too early really but she's had such a good nap with a full tummy that I might try that again tomorrow!
Have got one of dd1's friends for tea tonight. Her mum says she's so fussy she probably won't eat anything. She doesn't like any veg or much meat...hmmm. I've got some angel delight for pud - what child can refuse that? This little one has never had tea at a friend's before - her mum is sooooooooo worried because of the fussy thing. I'm having to assure her that her dd will be fine! Ah.
Superjump - hope your babyful afternoon goes well!

Trace, put something on her plate that you know she will eat otherwise put exactly what you would put on DD1's plate. I sympathise with this poor lady really I do I completely understand what she is going through, but the biggest break throughs we have had with DS1 is when he has has tea with his friends either at theirs or at ours. I watched with complete amazement the other evening at a friends house as ds1 ate baked beans after telling his friends mum he didn't eat them. She just nodded and said that's ok you just eat what you want (she is used to him and knows what we do at home) but then another boy who was also there for tea who ds1 idolises said I love baked beans and tucked into them. Ds1 was quite surprised that he liked them too. Don't make a fuss if she says she doesn't want the food just put it in front of her, if she does eat something make a bit of a fuss about it.

Hooray for sitting up babies. Which reminds me I didn't answer Tilly's question the other day about the highchair, yes he is sitting up well supported and for a little bit unsupported. The high chair is one of those Stokke copy ones (I think is a baby dan one) and has paddingbplus we will put some extra in. We will be close to him so won't fall. We still haven't brought it up yet. We had some hot noodle soup for lunch so couldn't hold him so we put the bath seat thing on the table (not recommended of course) it was so funny he didn't know who to look at me DH or ds1. I gave him a green bean to suck on but he was getting a bit frustrated cos it get slipping through his fingers so he just chewed his hand instead.

Arti poor you with the nocturnal voms, I hate hate hate vomit too, which is not great if your a nurse and mother. Baby sick I'm ok with but proper vomit us eurgh, saliva too, don't like it. Oh and cheeky you on the drunken fumblings and bit of...hope for your sake it wasn't fruitful. Though I think without alcohol the worlds population would be halved.

Hi everyone,

Veggie, thanks re highchair. I was rambling a bit last night, but I popped ds2 into the highchair & tilted it back & he loved it. So he now can sit at the table with us!

Damn, ds2 has woken up, back later to post properly!

Hello girls,

Sorry to ramble on about myself earlier, my head is in a spin today. I have come to the conclusion that something has got to give in my life - unfortunately, it all feels essential! But I shouldn't whinge and agree with Spot re: Superjump! You too are indeed our Supers.

Jump, I feel your pain re: messy/procrastinating blokes.
DP would be happy living like Stig of the Dump (and we almost do). There are papers and files and briefs everywhere as well, from trials past and trials months ahead.

Ooh, Tilly, we need a highchair too, I think. I am happy to get just a cheapish plain wooden one but DP seems to want some sort of space age effort. I dunno.

Just wanted to say hello to PD! Ah, I know that wrenching feeling 'pon leaving the capital...but I hear good things about Essex.

Hello hello dear Arti, sorry you have been having a bad time re: sick. Oh dearie me! and the pregnancy thing - I have taken a few idiotic risks recently so I do understand. Fingers crossed. If you find a decent contraceptive that isn't the pill, condoms or the coil, do let me know! The house sale is limping on - still waiting for endless quotes for the work that needs doing so I can try to get it off the asking price. How about you? As for relations with DP, he is trying to be less grumpy and I am trying to care less. So far so good...

Yes Lal, I want to know about the snake as well. It looks like I am off to the Badminton Horse Trials on Saturday - there is a Grand National for shetland ponies there but I think my betting is done for 2009.

Veggie (and Jump) I have been sent first three eps of the new Conchords series! If I finish watching them before it's on, you can borrow them if you like (haven't the facility to copy).

Right, it's Apprentice night tonight, I am having a break in a minute. The only one I rate is the smallish chap, quite well spoken and reasonable seeming. Forget his name. I know Daisy and Tilly watch - anyone else?

How did you go with the picky eater, Trace?

Yes Turnip, where ARE you?

Ok, his name is Howard. And by backing him I have probably doomed him to failure in tonight's episode. And in the above post I put 'too' when I meant 'two'. Doh.

I really dislike that awful Debra. Don't like Yasmina much either, but Debra takes the cake!

evening!
Well I just gave the picky eater the same as everyone else (chicken pie, potato, brocoli) but told her not to worry about anything and to just eat what she wanted - and she ate everything apart from the brocoli - which Lucy finished for her! And of course she ate the Angel Delight . We made peppermint creams before tea - you would not believe how far two 4 yr olds can make 6oz of icing sugar go! I have mopped the kitchen floor twice now and it still squeaks when we walk on it!
I have a (completely unfounded) positive feeling about this evening. She went down at 7 and I've not heard a squeak since. I am expecting more sleep and fewer wakings...I'll let you know tomorrow if I'm right!
off to bed now for another early night (by which I mean early night, not nookie (!) - no chance of that round here! Am impressed that arti and ladyT are getting the opportunity to be slack with contraception - I feel like the least sexy person alive - painful when it happens and don't even want to be touched especially on my boobs...maybe one day I will be a sexual being again!)

SL I'll sort it out (when I get round to it), so you can CAT me (or vice-versa).

Daisy I'm going back to work in July. 4 days a week. I love my job, and was sad to leave (!) but now I dont want to go back. Motherhood has screwed my brain and I dont think straight anymore....

LadyT Sorry to jump in, but have you tried Persona, from Boots ? I used it for 2 years, and it works really well, basically it learns your cycle, so you get a green light (ie go for it sans protection and a red light means dodgy, use something else, ie a condom. I'd go back to that cos I hate everything else. Anyway, bravo to all you ladies that actually have a sex life. I have only 4 dodgy days a month

WRT to grumpy DPs, my DH is fine at the moment, its me thats the miserable git.

That is, I mean, I have 4 fertile days a month, not something else

Debra is awful. As is the boy with the braces...

Good evening. Just a quickie before the Apprentice!

Veggie - Yes I agree - v unhealthy for 5month old to have choc biscuits. 18 months sounds much better and I won't be too strict as I'm a great lover of chocolate. Was distressed to realise we had no chocolate at all in house today (how did I let that happen!) but NJAN to the rescue - the chocolate pudding was a life saver and did some for DH who couldn't believe it wasn't from a packet.

Lal - I didn't get too far with the tax - can't seem to find statement from the month DS was born so will have to search it out - I do normally end up doing it in January but was trying to be organised!

Spot and Tilly - I left my sister 3 pages of instructions when she looked after DS last week for my course!! I did try to make it light hearted though with lunch instructions and lap top passwords if she got a chance to use them!

Also NJAN - I think you asked who worked. I will be going back to work in June but only 2 half days a week! Will only ever work part time now I have DS - would prefer to be SAHM but has been slightly tight while I have been out of work and need to keep my hand in really or would need re-training. My mum and DH will be able to have DS when I'm at work.

Mom - I also imagine my breast milk to be chocolate flavoured the amount I consume.

Trace - remember GPs do this sort of examination everyday and it will be over very quickly. Sounds like haemorrhoids and if it has stayed back inside then all should be ok.

LadyT - busy as usual. Good luck with appointment tomorrow.

SL - Hope all well with your sil.

DH is even at this moment clearing the spare room [fierce JJ] [grindstone]

trace hurrah for angel delight! And well done you with the picky eater, sounds like a real achievement there, have you let her mum know that she ate all that?!

pd boo to houses not yet ready, but great news that you've got some MIL help in the interim. Essex is lovely, really it is if you're in the right part (as you and Effie both are).

arti yikes re pregnancy scare, fingers crossed for you. Am v impressed that you've been getting any sugar at all, we've still not succeeded on that front (tmi) it was too weird for me with dd in the cot next to us! BUT now that the spare bed will finally be done, who knows... [jj falls asleep on spare bed instead of any action]

gah tea is ready (roast chicken, mmmm and on a week night too!) so will catch up with everyone else later, quickly though NJAN that persona sounds really good, SL hope your SIL has a baby by now, LadyT you are a force to be reckoned with and amazingly full of stamina

(will go back beyond the current page after dinner, promise! )

x-posts - agree debra is horrible.

Hi everyone, how are you all? I?m in the middle of an organising frenzy (or trying to be anyway), on Monday we decided to go on holiday in a fortnights time so I?m desperately trying to get a passport for E and find flights, plus I really must get on with organising her christening so am trying to order some invitations. I used to love organising things, but that was in the day when I had a brain rather than a sponge! Oh well, it will be fun if when I ever get it sorted

NJAN have written down that recipe and it sounds fab, I?m trying to think of other versions so we can have a different one every night of the week! On work, I?m supposed to be going back full time in December, although I don?t really want to but as DH is self employed I do need to go back so we have some stable income. I had a meeting with my boss last week, as this week they?ve relocated and my new commute will be at least 2 hours each way , I was told I?d be considered for home working a couple of months back but have now been given a big fat no on that score, so now I?m in a big quandary. I want to ask for redundancy and not bother going back, but I?m also concerned about finding another job in the current climate so don?t know what to do for the best. Grrr. I should not have started on work, I?m a bit het up about it at the moment and have been typing this paragraph quite ferociously!

Trace I?m pleased today has been a better day than yesterday for you (must be the angel delight, I love love love the butterscotch one, haven?t had it for years [nostalgic emoticon])

Spot good news on the new milk for T , a friend of mine?s DD went from milk to milk and never really settled with any, but perked up 100% when she was weaned and the only conclusion her and her HV came to was that the LO just liked proper food better ? it sounds like T might be similar to her. And on the family thing, when me and my sis are both home with mum and dad we revert back to teenagerdom and all bicker and bitch, but we are all fine on neutral territory or even at our grown up houses, I think the family home reminds of when we were all last there so we behave accordingly. Do you and your Mum get on better at your house?

JB why oh why do babies always poo on their nicest outfits and at a time when you really don?t want to get poo on yourself? Glad you had a good week away, and yay to the sleeping

PD its nice to hear you?re (starting to) get settled in Essex, I hope the poisondwarf family will be very happy there. And I too think of DD as a newborn, until I see all the tiny babes at the health visitors or baby clubs and then I want to take one of them home!

Arti I hope your DD1 gets better quickly, I have a friend who can?t bear vomit ? she?s a vet and happily handles all sorts of gore and gruesomeness, but vomit sends her all funny. Fingers crossed for a BFN (big fat negative) for you, Trace I feel just like you, poor DH admires my lovely full cleavage every day but won?t be allowed near it until it is saggy and wrinkly

LadyT I too have a DH who leaves piles of work and papers everywhere. I am quietly (and a little bit evilly ? is that a word?) waiting for the day when DD totters over to the pile and sends it flying ? I think he will get a filing cabinet pretty quickly then

Well this week DD has decided she doesn?t like to nap in the day, with today surviving on just 30 minutes from 8am to 8pm . I seem to remember someone else mentioning a no nap phase (ladyt possibly?), is anyone else?s LO?s preferring to be awake all blooming day at the moment? Is it normal, or is DD unique? I shouldn?t complain, as at least she still sleeps well at night, but the house is really filthy now

OK, back to the tasks I was supposed to be doing when I got distracted by MN, wishing you all lots of sleep and good dreams tonight

Have just got my DH's laptop out to get at something I saved on there, and found my birth plan in the case! I'm so pleased that he took good care of it and was careful to hand it to the midwives, and didn't just put it to one side when I wrote it

cheerfulness ramblings from me now!!

Love Apprentice.

Highchair - I wanted a wooden one but mil (kindly!) got us a plastic one and we have DS watching us eat meals. I have now bought a wooden one for my parents house (could swap one day!?)

Trace - I used to love making peppermint creams. Can't wait to bake with DS - not wishing the time away though.
Good luck for tonight.

The getting of sugar - slowly getting less painful. Would feel bad if got preg now as new job just a year contract so couldn't get mat pay. Just using condoms as cautious of the pill I have script for - may need to consider persona.

Hello,

Very very quick post. Not read through much but did see that Arti is having a preggers scare. Fingers crossed for you.

Veggie What on earth happened yesterday?? But Mr Lehman was bloody gorgeous!!!!

We have decided to start weaning DS2. He is waking during the night again and finishing full bottles. But we haven't had much luck with getting food down him. I'm going to make him some apple puree and some carrot sticks to nibble on.

Hope you are all very very well!!

Blummin heck ds2 is still snuffly and snotty and didn't go to sleep until about 45 mins ago. Was going to get back to some exercise tonight but have only just managed dinner.

NJAN I don't have a microwave (no room and I don't really like them they ruin the lovely bits in me veggies) but I want to make that pudding, when you say steam do you mean in a stovetop steamer. I'm interested in that persona someone has mentioned it before I think. But everytime I try to talk to DH about it he just gets excited because it's the closest we get to talking about sex, poor thing is so gagging for it.

ZJ I remember you talking about that location move with your office a while ago, I was sure they would allow home working. You can't possibly commute 2 hrs!!! What is the redundancy package like.

Sorry am a bit sleepy so can't remember anything else I have read but hi to Lady and hope you have ok night JJ.

NJAN - jump in all you like! I thought Persona might be my wonder solution but my SiL conceived all three of her kids using it - as contraception, so it worries me a bit (also haven't get regular cycles....) As for work, am going back part time from home in July, 2-3 hours per day. But as I do a million other things as well I feel like I have been back at work for ages.

ZJ, I am alarmed to hear of your work woes. You do know your employers are obliged to offer you flexible working? Are there a variety of solutions you can put to them? And yes, my DD's record is 6.30am to midnight with one short nap, but that was a freak. She still often has very wakeful days and seems to come to no harm.

Right, off to bed with me. Night girls.

Nightmare Kayz, so happy Barca got through tonight. I want Thierry to get a champions league title. So funny watching Chelsea kick off.