F(l)ab Feb 2009: Primark pants and teething rants

[dinkystinky]

A brand new sparkling thread to mark the four month mark for our bubs

bumps, just checked times and could be at Victoria around 10.30 if that is ok?
should only take 1/2 hour to coram fields?
will give you my old uk mobile which I don't use much (in case of stalkers) if you need to contact me - 07973 232341

Yay for the nursery Nkweto - hope the dc enjoyed it there today. And yup meet up i on wednesday (.i.e tomorrow) - was originally suggested for today but wednesday suited more people.

Mos - hurray for the brand new p& t.

Bumps - have you tried white noise out on O? May help him sleep abit longer - helped with ds1, not with danny though.

Coco - sorry DS not feeling well - danny screams and is miserable after his jabs too. Definitely give calpol, keep an eye on his temperature and keep him well hydrated. Hopefully he'll be happier tomorrow.

Apart from discovering a horrid absess on my leg for which I have to take killer antibiotics 4 times a day (poor Danny - can tell he is going to have a v upset tummy) for a week we've had a nice day today - old uni friend who is taking a career break came over and we hd a nice walk and pub lunch. i love it when the weather is glorious like today.

Abcess sounds nasty dinky.

Thanks for the advice re DS. I am so worn out. My sympathies to those of you who have babies that are cranky a lot of the time: DD1 was an ubergrumpy baby, but the subsequent two have been happy babies, and I'd kind of forgotten how awful it is. I couldn't put him down all day, he just cried and cried. Think he's gone to sleep but who knows. It was terrible once both DDs were home too, absolute wailing mayhem. Plus DD1 fell on the way
home from school and smacked her forehead, nose and elbow, plus knee, so hard on the pavement it made a real crack - so ended up dragging all the wailing horrors to the docs to get her checked out.

DH is going out to play squash, so I could do a much-needed exercise DVD but feeling like sinking my nose into a bottle of vino.

Sorry I'm missing the meet-up tomorrow, but I think it is too much to get there and back from the darkest reaches of south London in time for school drop off and pick up.

Ouch Dinky a leg abcess sounds horrible - hope the ab's do their job.

Nkweto hope the DC's had a good day at nursery? I've just found a childminder who has set up a house to run like a nursery for 6 children. It's a sort of half-way house between a nursery and a chilminder. I loved the nursery structure (and it seemed to suit DD) but there's no way I can afford to send them both to nursery at £73 a day! This childminder seems a good compromise so I think we'll start settling in soon. I can't believe you are going back to work next week - wishing you good luck .

Bumps so sorry to hear things are still horrible. How is the dairy free working out? We have a second paediatrician appointment tomorrow to talk about possible combined cows' milk allergy and silent reflux. I can recommend an excellent website that the dieticians at Kingston Hospital gave me - www.actagainstallergy.com - it's got excellent information and guidance about cows' milk allergy.

Hope you have a fantastic time at Coram's Fields tomorrow - wish I could be there. My friend's renuion thing got cancelled but now we have our follow up paediatrician appt, so I still can't make it. LBB we have mentioned meeting in Kingston - I think you said Mondays are good for you? How about Monday 6 July? And anyone else who can get to Kingston!

Got to clear up the carnage in the garden now. Paddling pool to be emptied, all the stones to be returned to the flower beds etc. etc. Beautiful day though!!!

hi all, rushing around like a lunatic, sorry you aren't going tomorrow STW, maybe I'll travel to Kingston next month.

Can anyone tell me what is at coram fields for the bigger ones, ie paddling pool or anything like that? what should I take for DD aged 2.8? also, what about food there? Should I take her a packed lunch?
just rushing to bath her, will check in later.
See some of you tomorrow!

MOS, yes there is a paddling pool and sandpits, here's the text from CF website

"What can I find there?

Coram's Fields has a wide variety of activities including extensive lawns for free play (and very suitable for family picnics), artificial turf sports pitches, a paddling pool, sandpits, a flying fox and other slides, a pets corner (with sheep, goats, ducks, hens and much more), vegetarian cafe, a nursery and drop-ins for under 5's as well lots of other organised activities.

Our aim is that all of Coram's Fields play areas are suitable for use by children with disabilities, including a new sensory play area. There are children's toilets, and those accessible to disabled children and the Under 5's."

You can get food there and nearby but bringing a packed lunch seems like quite a good idea.

Sun cream? Though if you're used to Saudi that's probably a bit obvious sounding.

there is a great playground at coram's fields, really fab. we went when DD1 was about 2.9, it was perfect. plus an overpriced cafe.

God that sounds like a shocker of a trip home Coco. Hope DD1 is ok. I generally find with Danny that if he has a good sleep after his jabs he's miles better afterwards - fingers crossed for a good night's sleep for your DS tonight.

MoS - yep, loads for older kids to do. I'd bring a sandwich for her as the cafe is expensive and when busy quite slow servicewise in producing lunch stuff.

Have fun at Corams Fields tomorrow. Decided I couldn't hack the trip with DS3 and my obstreperous DS2 knowing I'd have to be back in time to pick DS1 up from school.

MOS I can get into Victoria at 10:32 where shall we meet? I will text you in the morning to let you know I have made the train (early start for me!!) and then you will have my number as well.....

I will be bringing sandwiches tomorrow as well.

STW I am still going dairy free but carrying on with the meds as well... Something is helping because he is not being as sick but he is also not feeding as well as he was which I think may be a side effect of the meds...

I am really looking forward to tomorrow. Cant wait to meet you all. What time will everyone be leaving?

Sorry you wont make it Swampster - am bringing DS1 (complete with our nanny to run around after him so I can drink tea and natter) so would have been nice to introduce him to your DS2. Maybe they'll get to meet another time...

Bumps - I headed off after a couple of hours last time but think that the meet up went on for a couple of hours more. Basically just rock up and spend as much - or as little - time there as you'd like.

have a lovely time tomorrow.
busy with students so sadly can't join you.
hopefully catch up with you all in Aug.

Went to Corams on Sun and fab as ever. There is a Waitrose in the Brunswick Centre across the road for all your sandwich/picnic/water needs.

Also Tesco Metro at Russell Sq. Cafe is overpriced and the menu a bit limited.

Hi all..

nursery went pretty well.. DS1 was very upset initially, but settled and played particularly when he went outside. he has gone into the eldest toddler group so is the youngest there.. and it he just looked so small and alone ... but actually he was fine and refused to leave when we had to go ( a very good sign!)

DD was her usual smiley self and only realised I had gone when I returned and started talking and then she was a bit put out but only for a second

STW.. our childcare woes stemmed from the fact that we could not afford the £70/80 a day nurseries... these nurseries I have found have good and outstanding ofsted reports and are about £50 a day.. a dramatic difference, but I dont know how people find them. I only found out about them because I had a friend attending them, they are simply not advertised anywhere!! they are in west london if that is any good to you, though your childminder's set up sounds ideal. I did also look into that, but everyone I liked did not have space for both children...

Coco.. hope your LO is feeling better.. DD has her second jabs soon and I am a bit nervous!!

Bumps.. hope the dairy free/meds work for you

I have to go to bed I am so tired..but looking forward to meeting you all.. we will be late as we have an early settling in session first.. am attempting my first long day with the P&T I hope I don't regret it !

mos I can't make decisions either..... Maybe go for the double then?
coco hope tomorrow is a better dat and dd is ok. you can't make meet-up
STW Monday 6th July sounds good.
mos I'm taking the rat-bag some pasta for lunch, he won't eat it, but will take it anyway.
I didn't know there was a paddling pool there. I wouldn't plan on letting ds1 in there, but I should prob pack a towel and a change of clothes incase he finds it?
bumps My leaving time will depend on the moods of the boys really. Last time, think I left at about 3ish!!
Don't know how much I'll be able to sit and chat though, ds1 will be off all over the place and is young enouh to need a constant eye. Although, when Luke needs feeding, ds1 will be put back in the pushchair as he tends to use this time to get himself into trouble when he knows I'm not really paying attention to him, but must warn you all of the likely hood of unhappy screaming!

Not bringing spare clothes and towel, will just have to keep him away from water! I'd be suprised if he went in anyway, he never does at friends houses

Hope you all had a lovely day at Corams fields - I contemplated joining you last night and even checked out parking nearby but couldn't face the planning and drive from here (M4 can be unpredictable) if it was going to be really hot and I got stuck in traffic. Needed to be back at 3pm for Little Kickers for DS1....so it would have been a 3 hour treck for a couple of hours of chat.....would def have come if I'd only have had DD as she's no trouble . I'm back at work in 5 weeks but hope to be able to meet you all at some point !

Nursery fees quoted sound horribly expensive. I presume that's for one child?! Shocking isn't it. Out here we're £52 a day which decreases with age but we'll be doubling that when DD goes. Luckily we get our childcare vouchers soon, I only have to put them in 2 days as we get family help on day 3 but it's so prohibitive isn't it if you want to work....there is no easy answer..

Right must go and turn cbeebies off. DS needs his footie kit on and DD needs to get out of that bed !

have just realised aaron is well overdue his jabs

can't have them done in the next couple of days as an adverse reaction while we're out of the country would be awful, will have to book him in for monday. wonder why i didn't get a letter this time

lbb, if it's as hot there as here he'll dry off in 20 seconds anyway. put washing out this morning and it was bone dry when i got back from playschool run.

bumps, glad ds is a bit better on the meds/dairy free.

dinky [ouch] about the absess, hope the ab's shift it quick

Hi all. Meet up was nice, quite intimate too as only a few of us could make it in the end. All the little ones were very well behaved (apart from Jacob and his little pushing part of the day!)
Was lovely to finally meet mos, bumps and nkweto. bumps Thanks again for taking J to look at the animals, pleased he behaved for you. He normally is quite good (ish)

Finally home after getting on the slowest train in the world. By the time I got to Tescos, Luke was screaming for a feed but wouldn't take the bottle, so I put him back in pushchair where he fed fine. Maybe he heard all the 'serial baby dropper' talk? more likely he was too hot to be held.

Hope everyone had a stress-free journey home, and really sorry the rest of you couldn't make it

herb I'm meeting STW on mon 6th in Kingston if you can get there? Not sure where you live........and anyone else that wants to join us

Evening all. Lovely to see Elkiedee, Nkweto, MoS, LBB and Bumps earlier with their little - and not so little - ones. LBB - sorry you had a painful journey home - hope a glass of wine tonight helps erase the memory of it. MoS - hope you had a smoother journey home than the journey up to London - preferably one involving no steps. Was impressed at how nicely the elder kids were playing together and how chilled out all the little babies were being. Was less impressed at a pigeon landing on my potato salad while I was dealing with a child (still making me feel queasy thinking about it [but in a oh I'm gonna be sick kind of way]) - but thanks to the others for chasing it off... Sorry had to shoot off shortly after 2 - made it to the St Marys birth centre birthday picnic in time to see the midwives who delivered Danny and they both had a nice cuddle with him before it all got too hectic (there were well over a 100 people there - excluding babies - by the time I left an hour later).

Herb - shame you didnt make it but as LBB said, it was a pretty small meet up in the end anyway and 3 hours of driving on a day like today would not have been much fun. Think August is the next month mooted for a meet up (as older kids will be on holidays hopefully more people will be able to make it). Are you back at work then? Perhaps the south london lot could suggest somewhere more convenient for them and those coming into Victoria and Waterloo for the August meet up. Preferably a venue where pigeons are banned

Haha dinky on the pigeons
(for all not there, she had a pigeon land on her food. Both feet right in her pasta dish. Not nice)

hi all, was lovely to meet some of you.
dinky, journey home just as awful, lots more sodding steps but a nice young man helped me.
FYI, the mamazon fund was up to £455 just now, over £500 when I suss out paypal!

That's fantastic MoS (re Mamazon - but also re someone helping with the steps ) - really restores your faith in human nature. Feels like "Its a wonderful life"....

Luke sat up on his own.
I was drying him after his bath and held him sitting up so I could dry in his neck and I just thought I'd see what would happen if I let go and he sat all on his own! He had his fists on the floor infront of him and looked like a little monkey, but I wasn't touching him and he wasn't supported by cushions or anything, so I'm counting it.

Good to hear you had fun at the meet up today, but at the pigeon Dinky. They are truly disgusting creatures!

Well, Paediatrician appointment today was interesting. I won't into the finer details, but he was mad at my GP for refusing his prescription etc! He is convinced Sam has cows' milk intolerance and reflux and wants him to go into hospital for 24 hours with a feeding tube so that they can monitor his pH levels and treat accordingly. Just need to get formula on NHS prescription, then we should be sorted .... .

The results of his blood tests were a little worrying. He had a very high "score" for hazlenuts and pistachios (bizarrely) - concerning enough to be anaphylactic (not sure of spelling) so we need to follow up about epipens etc for the future . He was also allergic to milk (as we know!), peanuts, cashews and sunflower seeds,oh and his iron levels are half what they should be, so this needs treating.

That's about it from me because I suddenly realised I haven't eaten breakfast or lunch . I'm starving.....

LBB wow at Luke sitting up! I'm very impressed .

Bumps I meant to say that the paediatrician said that reflux happens at certain times of the day and there is a special medicine (can't remember the name) that can be prescibed to be taken at set times based on the results of a pH test. He thinks Sam's reflux is occurring early evening which would account for the numerous trips upstairs for chunder breaks. It would also explain what we thought was colic.

Really must go now, upstairs for the 4th time since 7pm.