Nov 2008 - because there was no thread space to think of a clever title!

[Yorky]

Had to be done soon, hope it works!

barbareebaa how did the docs go? didnt miss ur post did i? DS birth no was induced. He was 13 days overdue.
ladybuzz glad you have made your decisions. you will be a lot happier. It seems like all our DS1 are bearing the brunt of our upsets. Poor loves. Even if they are little s**ts at times. So hard to remember we are the adults when they are arguing isnt it.
my work they have responded to my change of days and hours email. Basically it is a drastic cut in hours. They have said I need to apply "officially" with how it will effect work and how they can handle it?! Then we will arrange a meeting to discuss . I am so stressed about the whole thing. In my heart I dont want to return to work but I could cope with the 1&half days I was suggesting as NEED the money. But even if I wanted (and dont want to) do more hours I cant get the childcare place at the private nursery and what I have suggested is all I can do around DS 2&half hour at school in AM. I just know work wont be happy with the hours but I cant do more. So no job but need the money. If I did any other work I would have to prob do double the hours for the same money.

Had a lovely afternoon with barbs and daisy and their gorgeous babies. They played together so nicely!! P very bored now we're back home though, think he wanted to keep all W's lovely toys! Thanks for having us barbs.

Hi ladies

Arghhhh so much I want to say but Becca at the fire place again

Be back....

Glad the meet up went well.

LB wow big decisions! MOving house sounds quite exciting, actually. Sorry to hear the couselling hasn't helped.

VBABhope you find a way through your work dilemmas.

THings beginning to settle down here,the DC are getting used to having each other around. Playgroup was quite bonkers this morning with the older siblings there too, very funny- all these older children trying to play 'proper' games with little toddler-zillas bombing everthing in

Just checking to see how the Hamster got on at nursery, ceebee, and also to see how you got on without him!! Hope he had a nice time.

Yay to barbs and W for entertaining us in the drizzle today; it was lovely to finally meet you barbs, and now we know how close you are we can do it more often

LB, even if the ADs just get you past this unsettled time it's worth taking them. And good luck with the house move, brave thing you!

Aw for missing the hamster ceebee . Just think that when you are back at work though you won't have time to miss him.

vbab....have a look HERE for advice on putting together a proposal for your employer. I would have thought that in the current economic climate employers would be biting the hand off staff who want to cut their hours!

Got a letter from work today regarding my resignation and accrued holiday pay. They say they owe me 31 days, but my reckoning has it at 34 days. either way, it's a huge wodge of cash which takes the pressure off a wee bit

DH is pissed off; he agreed to take a company car when he started his new job, but just after he started they announced they were reviewing the company policy. He has now had a letter saying that he is not an essential user as he will do less than 10K business miles a year (which he reckons is wrong) and they are strongly encouraging him to take a car allowance. He can have a company car, but at a lower grade than the one he has, so an astra or something equally too small for a family of five. They also stipulate that if he takes the car allowance, any car he has to buy has to have less than 15000 miles on the clock, have at least 75% of the manufacturer's warranty and be fitted with a completely hands free bluetooth system...tossers. We ow have to find a deposit for a car, which is a pisser as if he'd known this when he started the job last December, we could have used his existing car as a deposit. He, and hlaf of his office are spitting chips.

And I found out, at 5.30 when I phoned DH to ask if he was on his way home, that he is fishing at the side of the Sibsey Trader canal in Lincolnshire! He did tell me about it ages ago, but he neglected to remind me this morning.....if I'd known he was going to be out all evening I'd have lain in some wine

Glad you had a nice time at Barb's.

Ladybuzz, will moving house solve any difficulties you are having or would it just paper over any cracks that could reappear. Do you feel you are depressed about yours and DH relationship as I know you had a tough patch. Have you or would you consider going to counselling together? Oh and an apology as when your on farm town its my DH and DD that are doing it! He is starting to piss me off with it now and I wish he would get his own account!

Barbs hope your feeling ok today.

Obs sometimes I snap to, yesterday I was dishing up dinner, Becca was crying, the Kettle was boiling DD1 was moaning at me about something I just shouted Shut up, I was cross after and DH told me off but I told him he p'd me off not coming to help when I am sorting dinner, its like he does not here the caios.

Becca sure is moving about now but not up on all fours just drags herself. I would not mind a pound for every time I have removed her from the fire place. We never have the fire on but I need to move the photo's from near it! Had her weighed today and she is 18lb 1oz so def not using the next stage car seat.

Weather been shocking today, hope its better for next week.

Ceebee hope Hamster got on ok and you are having lots of cuddles. You certainly did not look over weight to me when we met. Pleased doc made you

Rosa bugger about your car seat, hope you get something sorted. Enjoy your curry!

Apologies to those I have forgotten. X

Evening all

LB a new start in a new home may be what you need (but maybe not) - but probably worth a try I guess. Hope the AD's help - but as others have said, we have all been there with our older DC's so don't feel too bad about it.

Glad the Harrogate meetup went well - wish I could have gone but twas just a little too far for me.

Vbab that site Daisy has given you is good - with flexible working, the onus is on you to explain how your proposal will work in practice and how your employers can manage it so their request to you, whilst annoying, is perfectly valid. Hope you get something sorted that suits you

Well the Hamster had a really good day today - his key worker (who has also been one of DS1's key workers in the past so I already know her) said he was a complete dream He ate everything they gave him, went to sleep happily in a cot without a murmur when they put him down for a nap, barely needed his dummy - a huge sigh of relief here as I was quite worried about him (but obviously he saves all his demandingness for me!) Maybe he is just bored at home with me all the time.... Anyway, he has been in a very happy mood since we got home so clearly not too upset with me for abandoning him

As for me, I had a very lazy day - after going to the hospital, I had lunch and then lounged around surfing, reading Closer and having a nap - twas lovely but have promised DH that I will be more productive with my 'day off' next week

vbab just a quickie will catch up properly later I used this form was really easy to fill in and they HAVE to give you a valid reason for denying you this one my union told me it was the best way to go about things and they have a legal obligation to consider your proposal of change of hours and respeond to you. Hope you get what works for you.
ceebee how did hamster get on??
Glad the meet up went well!
ladybuzz Good luck with the house hunting, and well done for deciding to take the AD's.
obs how are things today?
rosa glad the weather better where you are it has p**d down here today.
Daisy yay for the holiday pay, could it finance a little venture lol
coolkat huh MEN!! They never seem to sense when they are needed.

Didnt turn out such a quickie after all

Hello again

Ceebee glad hammy likes his nursery- thta must be a big relief!

My son is eating me out of house and home! Day 2 of the holidays and I need to order more shopping in!

pinky thanks for your good vibes.
lacks & ellie thanks for your links. will have a look. like you say lacks i would expect my work would be glad about cutting hours especially as the guys in my team recently have had their working week cut by a day to avoid redundancies due to less work. WOW long sentence . But my proposal is only 30% of the hours of what i was doing before leave and due to the type of work (software programming) would probably mean i get the st little fix it jobs rather than big and new exciting bits of work. I would completely understand if work said get stuffed not possible. But even though I dont want to work as I want to be just a mummy for a while especially with DS going to school. I can also imagine all the upset due to change for kids and running high emotions due to the organisation involved and so on to make it work. BUT WE NEED THE SMALL CUSHION of my wage even if it is VERY SMALL after the childcare is taken off. ARGH. I am terrible at making decisions as I always think too much. You would never have guessed would you .
lacks also st about your DH company car and the lack of wine.

TMI ALERT! Anyone else being constantly pestered by DH for sex?! Really putting me off more than I am already. Told DH this after he apologised for storming out of bed last night after I got pissed off and told him "no". I TRY to go to bed to chill then sleep. Am i a bad wifey? I should be pleased I guess that he still finds me attractive after 13 years, 2 children and 2st heavier but it just ends up pissing me off. Feel like any help or affection has the ultimate aim. Then the majority when he asks I dont want to or I think "is it me he wants or just sex".
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On a completely diff note with have gold fish no 2 ... Lola (Charlie and Lola) as decreed by DS to be Nemo's friend :-). Although she has had many names and this one isnt for certain. At one point both fish were renamed to Big and Small like the TV program.

evening!
WAs so lovely to see juanita and daisy today! Thanks for coming all the way over here in the drizzle - W had a lovely time too
vbab hope you get your work issues sorted darlin.
ceebee glad hamsters first day at nursery went well - I don't see why you shouldn't have a day off- stuff getting anything done I say
lb A house move sounds like a great idea - fresh starts and clean outs - I love it! Good luck with the househunting!
obs how are youtoday?
pinky glad the hols are off to a good start
Sorry to everyone I've missed...
Went to see allergy person at hospital today and they did the prick test (is that what it's called? looks dodgy written down...) Anyway he is allergic to cows milk, eggs, fish, wheat, walnuts, peanuts, soya and I think that's it but enough for now. They are going to test for tomato and pineapple next time. (I am suspicious)
Oh well. I knew it really. The bummer of it all is the time it takes to cook a meal every day (am doing roast dinners every day) May pop to weaning and allergy topics to ask for blw ideas for multiple allergy. Yikes.

aw barbs . Poor W. There is lots of good advice on the allergy threads; I often pop on there to talk about coealiac disease.

Now you know, although getting to grips with all the allergies will be tough, at least you know that if you can avoid those things, then sorting meals out will hopefully be more straightforward iyswim.

morning all, not getting on much as kids home and dh has week off work

Barbs sorry to hear about W's allergies, that is really bad luck. As daisy says, it is better to know, I'm sure.

Quite busy here with DS home too but things are settling down now- DD1 is getting used to having him here. Got soaked in the park today, and DD1 splashed in all the muddy puddles!

Hi everyone,

Barbs what a bugger, that must be quite hard. Hope you find suitable solutions for W. But as others have said its better to know what to avoid in advance!

House is being valued on Friday so will hopefully be on the market next week and we are going to look at a complete wreck on Saturday - It has a toilet, walls and floorboards and that really is it! Really good price though so fingers crossed!

ceebee glad the hamster got on OK.

Just found out that DS1s nursery might be closing later this year, he won't be a problem to find another place for but J will be a nightmare - there are no baby places available anywhere round here and he will only just have turned 1 when I go back to work! grrr, there is always something.

Glad you ladies had a good meet up!

Buzz how frustrating about your DS1's nursery - I would be totally lost if our nursery shut down as, like you, there are no baby places to be had locally!

Barbs cr*p about W's allergies but at least you know what to avoid now and can maybe progress from roast dinners

The Hamster has not been very well today - he has slept a lot (had a mammoth 3-hour sleep over lunchtime), threw up all his lunch (although it was more of a mid-afternoon snack when he had it ) and was clearly not well. Also got nappy rash for the first time...am thinking maybe teething (although am sure that wouldn't make him sick )

Took him to be weighed this morning - he is now 20lb 2oz.

Hi everyone,

sorry to everyone that's really struggling just now. We are having a bit of a time of it too as DH has just been made redundant.
Came as a shock but trying to find the positives. Means he can retrain and do something he actually enjoys and no more 60+ hour weeks!

On a nicer note, got my trial pack of cloth nappies today and looking forward to putting one on DS tomorrow

Hi everyone, still shattered, feeling coldy or fluey and hoping its just tired! DH is signed off work till next week, he has lost loads of weight which he is kind of pleased about!

Pinky, puddles are DSs favourite thing!

Sorry about Ws allergies but I suppose the earlier you know the sooner you learn to adapt stuff for him.

Good luck with the nursery hunt, and the house viewings people, off to bed now

ladybuzz sorry to hear about your nursery woes. I have the same problem of a baby space for Alyssa in that they can do some days and not others so it is really restricting my options regarding going back to work.
ceebee hope the hamster well soon.

thinks ok here even if DS has been a right mare today. Must have been my DS's turn!

Hi ladies,
choc glad your looking at the positives, still a crap situation to be put in, what does DH fancy doing?? nursing lol only joking. oh guess what my cn phoned and cos I went from 30 hours to a meagre 8 I have over a hundred hours hols so its like a ridiculous 13 days!
Ceebee hope hamster better soon!
yorky hope you are better soon!
vbab did you look at that form?
I am very short tempered today I think my monthly's on their way

ellie yep looked at the form. going to use it just not had chance. i aim to do it and email it tomorrow. thank you it makes it a lot easier to put together.

ceebee It could be teeth, J threw up on Tuesday night and has been very very grumpy for the last couple of days - he was up every hour last night, I'm shattered I'm just not used to it (Apologises to those of you that still are). I think it is teeth also - finally poor little thing.
On the up side he had his bonny babies photos done yesterday for the local paper (sad I know - I just love seeing them in print ) and the were just gorgeous he was a smiley little star!

Yorky hope you feel better soon.

Choc sorry to hear about DH, hope he gets something he really wants to do!

Ellie make the most of those extra hols!

Hope everyone has a nice day, the weather doesn't look too bad here so I am off to walk nto town with my new pushchair

I love my children!
DD slept from 1030 to 430 last night! I cannot remember the last time I had more than 3hrs sleep as a oner! Shame DS woke at 405 but then he went back to sleep until 730! So apart from a brief feed at 430 I had the best night I've had since she was born! End result I feel human again today, snotty headachey but I can cope which I wasn't doing yesterday. Sorry for me post
Hope everyone's teething babies have little gnashers to show off soon
Sorry LB for boasting about my wonderful night when yours was so bad