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

hello all, still recovering from awful flight last night. Was delayed which was a pain. DD slept most of the flight and H was petty good. He slept for a few hours in the bassinet just waking for 2 feeds but then when we were landing he seemed to have problems with his ears poor little thing. Then we had the joy of rush hour traffic on the M25 and a long wait for our tescos delivery before finally having our bacon baguette. Harry had vanilla custard for tea today. We've decided that for the next week or so he can just have one meal in the evening as the days are manic.
Thank god I've sorted the grave cock up and am refusing to let my twunt of a brother ruin mum's funeral. Like some of you have said, families can be a real pain but you can't choose them.

LBB well done for not smoking, you are doing really well. Hope Luke is ok. H is being a bit ratty at the moment and only seems happy when being picked up which is hard work.
Done loads of rushing around today and took a good few hours ploughing through months worth of post, mostly junk. Managed to open some bank accounts for H which was good so can start saving.
DD1's birthday tomorrow so into town first thing to pick up a cake I ordered for her and then will suprise her at school. Going to look at a prep school for DD2 and DS2 with a view to them starting in two years time. Originally planned that DD2 would go where DD1 and DS1 went but its very expensive for 2 of them and also I don't really like the new headmaster so we are going to see what this other school is like. It is just affordable (if we stay in KSA for 2 more years) for DD2 and DS2 but the other one isn't really.

elkie lovely thought ref clothes, really kind of you. Luckily my friend gave me some of her DS's old clothes that he has grown out of and also some of H's clothes I bought in 0 - 3 months were winter clothes and he is still quite weeny so they fit. Also, DD is quite weeny so some of her winter clothes I'd left here stil fit which is lucky. Just don't understand why my DCs are so petite when DH and I are, well, on the large side. Worked out my BMI today and clinically obese Need to rush out tomorrow am before I pick up the cake and find something to fit for the funeral as bugger all fits me

Hope everyone is ok and looking forward to meeting some of you. Found out that another Mner lives in Crawley too so I'm meeting her and some of the Brighton ladies next week or a meal/drinks which will be lovely

getting them to beb was bad enough... keeping them there is proving impossible

STW Pleased Sam is improving. I know what you mean about soya milk, but sure in most cases it's fine. Sounds like it's done the trick anyway.
dinky I was thinking that earlier about trying to move the meet-up date. Would be a shame for lots not to make it. We're pretty easy (I think.....)
Non-smoking is gong really well, if I get through tomorrow, it'll be the longest I've ever done, but trying not to think of that, might be a bit too much pressure! I'm not too bad for it either, dp is a bit moody so we're bouncing off each other a bit, but that'll be ok.
pt hope your dc's have calmed down and gone to bed.

Am also thinking Luke must have a little belly-bug, not sure what to do about it really, not sure if he's in pain or not. This feeding is worrying me too, but that's prob just because for some strange reason, I am only happy when I'm worrying about something , it seems that he eats alot. Going to get him weighed on monday and speak to hv again, see what she thinks about hungry formula for now.
Dinner at playgroup went really well, eveyone seemed to like it, and I managed to raise a bit more money for the donation pot whivh is good. They gave me back the £6 for the ingredients, but I put it back in the pot, all money comes back to our families in one way or another and will pay for next weeks dinner.

Tonight has been a better night, Luke has just woken for a feed which I have done and he is now asleep again (I hope, all is quiet), ds1 was asleep before he even got to his bed and hasn't woken/fallen out (yet) I'm feeling much better for a few hours sleep too.
Another thing, Luke hates having covers on him. If I cover him with a blanket, he wakes up straight away whinging and kicking away. The minute I remove the blanket, he is fast asleep. Ds1 was the same and still doesn't really use covers, no matter how cold it is, he always kicks them off and sleeps in just pj's. Freaks. Do you think this is ok for Luke? If he seems happy with it.......?

Well it didn't last! Owen had me up most of the night either feeding or being sick!! I need a shower. I am holding out hope that he is getting better and this is just a small set back though. Sleep is (after all) for the week

shit night here too - Danny worse than when e was a newborn and up every hour and a half rom 9.30 (having gone down at 7) and up at 5 - joy! am hoping it is a combination of cold and growth spurt - know it is just a phase which will pass but is a killer as has been going on for ages now!

meet up - would it suit more people to move the meet up to the following week - Monday, Tuesday or Wedenesday? Please all those interested in meeting up let us know.

ps LBB - is Luke like that with grobags too? If he doesnt like covers am sure is fine - just dress him abit more warmly when the weather is cool.

Bumps - sorry Owen is back to not sleeping so well and being sick - it may be a cold coming in rather than the reflux returning? Hope today and tonight is better for you.

hello everyone.
just cheered myself up by buying a load of gaudy tat in Peacocks - including cropped skinny jeans and an eighties style purple and grey striped T-shirt (I blame Ashes to Ashes)

Yes I am mutton and proud of it

Only trouble was that Stan was not happy to wake up in a changing room and went into total meltdown. Screaming continued in M&S and only stopped when I whipped out the boob at the bus stop - normally wait till I'm on the bus, but this was hardcore.

dinky/elkie cold gone now so see you on the Heath tomorrow.

Hmm Danny too is not a fan of changing rooms in shops MsLucy - must be a boy thing! Hope to make it to pushy mothers tomorrow - have emailed Rachel to tell her I'm hopefully coming but if have another night like last night (after 2 weeks of crap nights) may bin it as driving over to the heath and co-ordinating limbs to exercise is well beyond me today. About all I've managed to do is finish decorating DS1's new room and moving his stuff in there - fortunately no brain cells needing to be engaged to do that. True to form the nocturnal insomniac is now into the 2nd hour of his lunchtime nap...

Oh Dinky - that sounds horrible. What a long run of bad nights you are having . I know this doesn't work for everyone, but I have to admit that we put Sam in his own room when he was > 11 weeks old . Since then he has only been waking once for a feed - or rather, he has only been waking us once. He may wake a few times but has been settling himself back to sleep. However, this may all be coincidental etc ....

Re. the meet up, I could do any day the following week, but would prefer not the Tuesday (it's Mums on the Run - but nothing I can't miss). I would love to see you all again - and show off my new baby .

LBB I was going to suggest the same as Dinky - have you tried Luke in sleeping bags? A big pat on the back for the zero ciggies - on top of everythign else a real achievement!

Bumps what a bummer - let's hope it was a one off and O will be back on track ....

I started this post ages ago, so proabably missed loads but am hitting the post button anyway and will have to catch you later !

must be a boy thing... aaron went beserk in the changing room at the outlet place last week too... i'm sure the women queuing to come in thought i was murdering him!

shattered here too but no-one to blame bt myself as i went to bed to late again (catching up on prison break) although could have done without ds1 pooing his nappy just before 7am and having to stumble out of bed to deal with that.

brought dd to the docs today and she's been referred to paeds about the wetting... she doesn't seem to have any sensation of having a full bladder or needing to go, she only realises when she feels it in hr knickers which is worrying given my family history of spina bifida.

just ordered a couple of tops for aaron from monsoon for the wedding, they didn't have 6-12 months so i bought 12-18 and figured i'd give them an enthusuastic wash and tumble dry and hope they'd shrink a wee bit.. tried one on him just there and it's loose but it's certainly not much too big for him chunky little monkey

bump, sorry owen had a rough night again... hopefully he's starting to turn a corner though and things will gradually improve from now on.

PT.. good luck at the docs, I do hope it is nothing too serious.

Bump.. hope Owen is better tonight... hope your nights start getting better... and for you too Dinky hope you get some decent sleep! by the way.. with DS, I always found the exercise classes a lifesaver after a bad nights sleep as it did actually make me feel better.. but then i am someone who has not been to a class since and am piling on the pounds to prove it..

.. about the meet up, i can't do the next week, as I start work on the 29th, but completly understand if it suits more people better.. not really looking forward to going to work, but since everyone in Zambia who had our age babies had been at work for weeks if not months.. i really shouldn't complain!!

hi to everyone else.. got to go and entertain the little ones

Hope everything is ok with your dd Pink.

Nkweto - wow, back to work so soon! Lets stick to meeting up next Wednesday then - the choice of venue is yours though. Would you like to check out Corams fields as you missed the last meet up or want to try serpentine lido if more convenient?

ugh sleep deprivation strikes - meant week on wednesday not next wednesday!

afternoon all. I am coming to the meet and was wondering if anyone could let me know how to get there. I will be coming into victoria!

Hello all, just checking in. I'm back in my own place so should be online more now.

How are we all doing?

dinky The folloeing week would be ok, pref not tuesday for me.
I don't like grobags, I get too worried about them getting too hot and can't manage to sleep (I only used it for a few hours on ds1, made me too uncomfortable). I have some fleecy sleepsuits so if gets really cold will use those.
mslucy I was in Peacocks the other day and picked up a nice top in the sale. Both my ds's are like Stan with the shopping, think they must be letting us know already that they aren't the retail therapy types!
PT Hope all goes well with dd.
bumps Last time I went in to Waterloo, and got the bus from there, will be doing that again this time. Not sure how to get there from Victoria.
TBM Hiya. Long time no see, we're all ok, tired mostly I think! Suprised at how quickly these babies grow, flying by isn't it? How's the new place?

morning all
PT, I hope your referal appt with paed dr comes throuh quickly and that everything is ok with your DD

dinky & lardy, sorry you are having bad nights, we had a shocker of one last night. DS and DD have both got colds (can't cope with this english summer!) so lots of snuffling going on.

ref meet up, we are still up for it and we'll be coming from Victoria too if you want to meet there lardy, sorry bump. can't get used to name changes, brain can't cope with it.

Am dreading today. Driving down to mum's to pick up some clothes for her to wear and also some other bits and pieces that are sentimental and which I want to rescue before my brothers throw anything else out. Then down to the FD's in Portsmouth to spend some time with her and see her and say goodbye. Was all prepared for this but got a phonecall from NB (normal/nice brother) yesterday pm saying that he had a call from the FD's who are now advising against it although on Monday they said it was fine NB was quite shocked I'd planned on seeing her as I'd originally told him I wasn't going to. He strongly advised against it and got quite emotional (and this is a roughty toughty guy who doesn't do emotional) and said he is struggling to forget the image of her as he was the one that found her and said he will never forget that. I then got emotional and started crying in Debenhams saying I felt I had to see her to say goodbye and say sorry for not taking Harrison. NB and I had never been particularly close as huge age gap but think this has brought us closer together. Shame about TB.
I am still going to the FD's and am going to spend some time next to her coffin and take DD2 and DS2 in so they will at least be with her if that makes sense.

Went to DD1's school yesterday as it was her 13th birthday. She had no idea we were going but we'd snuck in just before the end of school and left a huge M & S personalised birthday cake and some presents on the table in her dorm. When they all trooped in after school lots of her friends ran to find her and were calling her and she walked in and saw it and was just staring at it and then she saw DD2 and started sobbing Her housemistress said she'd found her crying at lunchtime looking at family photos. So glad we went to see her. Took her out for pizza and then back to school and had a lovely few hours. What was nice, was that she asked me to pick up one of nanny's rosarys when I was at her house today and she told me exactly where they were (assuming brothers not thrown out) and I was going to look for one anyway to put in mum's coffin. Thought it was nice that DD wanted to keep one.

On the brightside, DS1 had his last exam this morning. Was on the phone to him at 4.30am UK time to check he was up as his exam was 8.30am KSA time (6.30am here) So very relieved

mos Hope today goes as smoothly as it can do. Must be awful for your NB as well, being the one who found her, I've been told it gets easier in time and gradually, your mind naturally starts to remember happy times and slowly pushes those less favourable images to the back of the mind. Hopefully, after you all have the closure of monday, you can begin to grieve properly without the worry of planning the funeral iyswim.
Will be thinking of you today (and monday). x

Still not smoking. Yay me! The thing is, now I'm actually managing it,m I'm feeling much more guilty about continuing to smoke through both pregnancies, but suppose it's easier now because I'm ready now. Can't change the past so trying not to think of it and punish myself, I'm doing really well now so that's what I should be focusing on.

Can't believe it's friday already! Where has this week gone?
Going to spend the day at the children's centre so dp can get some peaceful rest. Hope you all have nice days.

LBB - congrats on the no smoking - you are doing so well. In a few months time you'll be wondering what you ever saw in the evil weed and cringe when you see smokers in the street.
Having said all that, I went to a gig last night (don't laugh) and was quite blown away by the clean, smoke free environment.
It really seemed quite bizarre.

re: Stan and shops. He hates supermarkets much more than clothes shops, unlike his big brother who ADORES supermarkets as they sell mountains of naughty food.
Maybe Stan will change his tune when he starts eating!

mos... in my experiance it's very differant seeing someone in a sitution like a funeral home than to see them recently deceased at home (especially if like your brother it wasn't what he expected to see)

2 of my grandparents looked quite differant to how they had in life... my grandfather was a big burly man his whole life, overweight and loud and a big presence. when he died though he'd been worn out, first by caring for my grandmother with alzeihmers, then by kidney failure and his entire body just giving out. when i saw him in the funeral home he was tiny... very thin and and gaunt and not like i remembered him at all. my grandmother died of very progressed alzeihmers... at that stage in the illness the body shuts down, the jaw locks open and other quite horrible physical changes.

awful as it was to see them in that state, those memories didn't overshadow all the good memories for me, and i was still grateful to see them one last time.

i think bringing your dd2 might not be a wise idea though, i have very vivid memories of being her age and it's the type of thing that could stick in her mind for a very long time. i think bringing H is a lovely idea though.

i cried reading about your dd1 and her cake btw.. what a lovely surprise for her

MOS I hope today goes well.. I would love to meet you at victoria for the meet up if that is still ok...

LBB well done on not smoking... You are doing so well..

Hi to everyone else!!

MOS just a quickie to wish you all the best with the next few days.

your story of dd1's reaction to her birthday surprise made me cry too...can't imagine what all the emotions are doing to you.

Hello, haven't been keeping up very well, as I'm revising madly for my OU psychology exam on Monday. Will be so glad when it's over, its killing me looking after the dcs all day and revising all evening. Esp when DS has started waking at dawn - 4.15, and playing noisily, though he does go back to sleep eventually.

I've only skimmed, so sorry, I'll have missed loads of stuff, but

LBB DS is drinking hungry baby formula, I gave it to DD2 too from 9 weeks (when I stopped BFing).

Have been weaaning DS off the bfing over the last three weeks, I always planned to do four months (it's not really for me, I find it really difficult and unpleasant - so four months was compromise).

MOS what a horrible time for you; I'm inclined to agree with PT re DD2, though you must do what feels right for your family. The cake and visit must have been such a lovely surprise for DD1, what a lovely story.

I've got maybe 1 days worth of powder in the current box and then am moving onto hungry baby. I think I should have done it a while ago tbh.

Evening all. Welcome back TBM - hope the move wasnt too fraught and the girls are settling in well into their new home. How is Fifi doing now?

MoS - am sending you huge hugs again. It sounds like a lovely time was had by all for DD1's birthday and I hope DS1's exam went well today. Is he flying over to the UK now? Hope all goes as smoothly as it can for you over the next few days and you find the strength and support you need to get through them - I'd probably echo Pinktulips in suggesting you just take H with you to go visit your mum as 2 year olds can be pretty attention demanding and you may feel you cant properly say goodbye if DD2 is acting up at all (which she may do - I find DS1 tends to get quite anxious in quiet dark places and acts up accordingly but maybe that's just my unruly son) or maybe having your DH there to take DD2 out to play outside if she is acting up.

Coco - wow, am impressed at the OU course AND dealing with 3 kids. You and Pink are superwomen! How are you finding the transition from bf to bottle? I found I was really weepy when I had to transition during the day for DS1 (but fine when we mutually decided to call it a day on the night feeds when he was 16 months). Will have to do bottle or cup battle with Danny in August as back to work in September - really not looking forward to it...