June 2008: birthdays, bunting and bumps make mummy a little bit tired!

[pureeandpearls]

Bring it on!!!

Hello everyone,
Had a good weekend. I'm sure all my friends are very suspicious now after I didn't drink anything at the hen party (unheard of!) but they didn't say anything.
Me and J have both been ill with colds and coughs, poor little man was feeling very sorry for himself over the weekend, even fell asleep on my knee at one point, I felt rubbish yesterday but am a bit better today.

Haven't had any more spotting or anything and haven't pushed for a scan, mainly because my mum is coming to stay this week and I don't want her fussing about me so going to see how I feel once she has gone.

Essie - sounds like a horrible trip, am a little embarassed to say I've not even tried getting on a bus with J, his push chair is bulky and heavy, keep meaning to get a lightweight one then I might feel a bit braver.
Good tip on the oven thermometer, I will get myself one, hopefully before the big cake bake at the end of the week!

Aberdeen - how did you get on with your meeting etc? How is the chicken pox? Sounds horrible.

Neenz - hope your day improves!

As far as working goes my decision to quit wasn't too hard as when I worked out how much money I would be bringing home and the hours required (with the commute and dropping off J at nursery, then having to do shopping, cleaning etc in the evening) it just wasn't worth it. Got to say I have a lot of respect for people who do go back, it can't be easy.
In some ways I'm quite glad I didn't earn much more as then I would have felt more pressure to go back.
Plus my job as a scientist isn't very well paid but they expect you to put in a lot of extra hours and they expect you to be eager to do a lot of foreign travel and time away on courses and at conferences etc, which I would have been more than happy with before but now would not want to do.
Felt a bit crazy in the middle of a recession to be handing in my notice but haven't regretted it at all.

Debs and Sybil - that is so cute about the teddy on the carousel and mr monkey.

Better go, J is trying to snap off the CD drawer from the laptop.

DS1 has chicken pox now too. So far he's no where near as bad as Fraser though so I'm hoping he'll be okay. Fraser ont he other hand is miserable. I am taking him to the doctor today to demand a prescription for piriton and information on the maximum dosage I can give him. I tried medised last night but it might have made him agitated. Either that or it wasn't nearly enough to calm the itching. He's mainly scratching around his neck (there was blood on his sleepsuit) but I've no idea how I can stop it when he's so miserable.

It feels like it's just been one tough thing after another. I know that nothing's been horrible and we're actually lucky, but all these little things are really wearing me down. DH called my mum last night and asked if she could fly out to visit but it turns out she's got another lump in her breast (they've happened before and always been cysts) and has a specialist appointment on friday that she can't cancel (in case it wasn't a cyst) and couldn't get here until Saturday. By then the boys should hopefully be on the mend so it would be a wasted trip.

DH ended up taking the day off yesterday so I could go into work which will cost us around £200. Since after fuel, my net profit from work in a year is £400, I am thinking this just isn't sustainable. ktpie I forgot you were a scientist too. I'm struggling with the same pressure to travel overseas and work extra hours. My problem is that I like my job and am very upset to be forced into giving it up. There doesn't seem to be any option though and it's causing so much stress that it's making everything that much harder.

anyways, another self-centered post. I've just yelled at DS1 and he's crying in his room so I guess I should go and be with him. We only had about 4 hours of sleep last night so I'm not exactly at my best...

Sorry for sick babies.

Quick post as very busy, we are sleep training DS as he always cries when he goes in his cot at night, however we think he doesn't like his cot and loves his travel cot as he can't hit his head (he ie very restless sleeper and this morning he did an Independent Two Step Stagger

Hope you all have a good day, rooms and bookwork for me.

Ow, really sorry to hear about the sick children and stresses, Abdn. (And also Neenz.) Will be thinking of you.

Also feeling sad for MJ, despite not being a fan or particularly interested. But I watched lots of tribute shows, and there he was in the Jackson 5 singing 'Blame it on the boogie', so young, so talented, and so handsome too, a really good looking young man. Something went very wrong.

Wimbledon - now having a crisis because my sister and I haven't got tickets, and we're going to have to queue. It's sort of a once in a lifetime chance for us - my sister has a week off but she's qualifying as a teacher (any day now) and has her teaching post for September so won't be able to take the time off again, ever. And it all depends on Andy Murray now - if he gets through, he'll be playing on Friday and we won't get tickets!!

Abdn - your mums news is all you need on top of everything else. I will keep everything crossed that it's good news for her. Have you tried long sock on Frasers hand in bed? Under the sleepsuit, might stay on whereas scrathmitts would be way too small now? Also I've heard about putting oatmeal in a linen/muslin cloth, tied under the running tap in the bath then bathing baby/child in the milky/oaty water - have you tried it?

Neenz - hope E improves too.

ABDH - we used Aqueous Calamine Cream when the older two had chicken pox to help with the scratching and it was really good. DS had it really badly and we were a bit tied with what we could use due to his ezcema, but I would recommend this. You can buy it in little tubs from Boots.

Oh Abdn you have got a lot to cope with right now . I hope your boys get over their chicken pox quickly and you get some sleep. and hope your mum is ok. It's such a dilemma about your job - no easy decision.

Neenz I hope your two are more content today.

No sign of the plum stones but she's done a few more big poos (which I decided not to sift through!) and seems perfectly comfortable.

Essie your journey sounds dreadful. Poor you. I chickened out of going on holiday last summer as it would have meant 3 or 4 trains with Thea, and then at the last minute DH needed to fill the car with work papers so I'd have had to bring Thea and the boys on the train with me, and I just couldn't face it .

You have to get that new car Rolf! How is the f&m? Are you still having the party or was it last weekend?

Abdn, that really sucks, sometimes you just really need your mum don't you. You make even less money than me. I definitely would give up if I were you. It doesn't have to mean the end of your career even if it will be hard to get back into it at a later date. You have all your life to work but your kids will only be young for a short time.

The DTs are a lot happier today tho it is a lot cooler, it has rained all morning but it seems to be brightening up now. They went down for their lunch sleep no problem [phew], after the histrionics of yesterday . I also dug deep into the bottom of the toy box and pulled out a load of toys they haven't played with for ages and they are loving them, like they have never played with them before. They were getting a bit bored of the other toys I think so I have put all them away and hopefully I can pull them all out in a couple of weeks and get the same effect.

OK....I'm shit at keeping secrets, and I've 'fessed up to my mother, so I'm fessing up here too:

BFP

AH hope your mother is OK

Neenz glad you are having a better day.

P&P congratulations

Puree hooray . I'm twirling around

Ok, need to change my name but first:

P&P . When did you get the BFP?

Sorry for not posting post holiday sooner. The trip back was fine (we liked the outdoor museum Deb). Sunday was washing, then yesterday was a bit berserk compared to normal. I ended up having two different sets of friends over, then babysitting one friend's three year old for a bit. I was so knackered by the evening that I had to go to bed in the middle of Andy Murray's fifth set.

Today Peter has had his 12 month jabs, so a very quiet day at home. He is fine, asleep, but sweaty. Does anyone else have a sweaty baby in this weather?

Deb Thanks for a super week. Everyone Else - I would definitely recommend a visit. You couldn't ask for nicer hosts. I welled up when I just read your post from Saturday saying that Ethan kept looking at the big apartment door . Hope he has forgotten about us now

Aberdeen I really feel for you and your family. Hope that the boys recover soon. Fingers crossed for your Mum's (or was it MIL's) appointment. We are here to listen if it helps at all.

Essie sorry to hear about your travelling woes. Tim sounds like a star.

Amber I am still liking your "more upset than about Princess Di" comment.

Whinegums Peter is a very physical baby, and was very wriggly on the plane on Saturday. I have no desire to do a long haul trip for several years. However, I think most babies would be much stiller. I would recommend keeping lots of little snacks handy, plus drinks/BF to suck for ears. The laminate card with the safety instructions was also very pleasing for at least 30 seconds.

Have to tell you all our near disaster. James left the front door wide open on Sunday (don't ask why, it's not the first time). Of course Peter sussed it out before we did, and went straight out. Luckily he stopped on the pavement and was happily playing with a stacking cup when I found him a couple of minutes later. I felt quite sick after that.

Puree - CONGRATULATIONS

Ali - so glad you're all OK, we haven't had a completely dry day yet, but it must be our turn soon - surely!oops at Peter out on the pavement, you'll have to install a buzzer like on a shop doorway when the door's open.Hope the injection doesn't have any side effects.

Abdn - how's it going?

Neenz - glad the dt's are feeling better

Ktpie - so pleased that you've had no more spotting, enjoy your time with your Mum

Hello to those I've ignored but internet time is limited today, we're actually taking down cupboards in the kitchen.

Abdn - us scientists don't go into it for the money do we? I'm fairly early on in my career (although it took me ages to get a proper job after uni) so I don't feel like I have a huge amount to lose careerwise.
If you do finish work can you think of it as a break for a couple of years? When I told my employers I wasn't coming back they wanted to know how long I wanted to be off, think I could have come to arrangement if I knew it would just be a year or two so you never know.
Hope your mum is allright and that the chicken pox calms down.

Five - love the sound of the independent two step stagger! Sounds like an intricate dance move.

Essie- hope you can manage to get to Wimbledon, my MIL went last week and loved it.

Rolf - you do really need a new car, even if it is just so you can go on holiday!

Neenz- wish it would rain here, the garden could do with it and it is way too humid for me. I need to do that toy shuffle too! J got very upset this morning after he climbed into his toy box and got stuck.

Purree - brilliant! Are you due in feb as well? Maybe I will see you on the feb 2010 thread.

Ali - glad you had a good holiday.

My mum is coming to visit this week so you might not hear from me. Maybe a few very tense posts! I love her of course but when we spend too much time together she somehow manages to really wind me up. Last time she came to stay we had some massive arguments, and I'm not normally argumentative at all, honest!

Puree fantastic news Congratulations!

Where is everyone?

Yaaay Puree!! Keep us posted! Been thinking about you all week.

Puree that's brilliant news. That's what, 3 pg folk on here now? Hats off to you all ladies, you're made of stronger stuff than me!

aberdeen - I'd absolutely hate to be forced into giving up work, because I do really enjoy being back at work, but I can see how you must really struggle to reconcile the stress its causing with the financial gain. Although, work isn't necessarily about money, so I can understand it must be a really tough decision. Could your DH not have taken a days holiday on Monday? (Presumably not, and you've probably already explained this). So sorry to hear about your mum too.

Good luck with the sleep training 5

WAs very excited today as jungle decorations for S's 1st bday party arrived in the post .

We've (foolishly) decided to do a 'birthday tea' of sorts on his actual birthday. Need to feed 4 adults, S and a 20 month old. Would like buffet style, needs to be PFB toddler friendly but also substantial enough for the adults. Any suggestions? So far I've got my home made chicken nuggets, tuna sandwiches and erm, bread. We'll be pretty busy right up to the tea so needs to be easy to chuck together or prepare-able a few days in advance.

Neenz sorry you had a rubbish day yest.

Waves to everyone else, because it's so way past my bedtime!

Has everyone moved to another thread and not told me?

BDQ - mini sauseages, cucumber sticks, cherry tomsatoes, mini muffins, chocolate brownies, smoked salmon sandwiches, spring to mind.

Verrrrrrrrrry quiet on here at the moment. Where is everyone? Its so hot. J is fed up and a bit whingy, and so am I!

Cheese straws

tzatziki and hummous

Mmm, I want to go to a tea organised by five!

Decided to go retro and return to my original name.

Just had P's 12 month check. All uneventful apart from me crawling under the desk to retrieve P from the cables. He now weighs 27lbs, and has dropped slightly below the 98th centile. I am thinking that this is probably a good thing.

The major excitement here is that I am going to Westminster this evening for a drinks reception at the House of Lords. It is a fundraiser for my old college. No doubt they will be after donations, however being unemployed a SAHM I'm not feeling especially generous. It is a bit hot for going into London, however I am sure a few glasses of champagne overlooking the Thames with one of my college mates will be fun.

uh oh... just found bejewelled blitz on FB. This could be time consuming.