December 2006- Here's to pre-school newbies, business starters and twin survivers.

[Indith]

Oh go on then.

I'm rubbish at titles though but I bow down to Oli's cakes and supermum.

at your brownie evidence disposal Indith, sounds like just the kind of thing I would do!

Poor AQ, must be awful although I also half envy you, and Lenni, looking or going back to work IYKWIM. Case of the grass is always greener here I think! Good luck with the job hunt Lenni. What are you looking for?

I heard from Oli too. Think she has been internetless for some time.

Spa was great thanks. Major detox and beautification and relaxation. Highly recommend it, although I really missed my DCs.

Indith, good news on giving yourself a break from some of your commitments. I did that recently (cut my 3 days at school down to 1) and it has made a big difference esp re my anxiety.

castles

I agree with castles, Indith. It's just too hard with two little ones. I gave up handbell choir in the fall It was definitely the right thing to do and I know I can always go back someday. But it's healthy to know when to say No.

AQ, I hope the new AD's kick in soon. I'll bet once you get back to work it will be more enjoyable than you think. It's the thought of massive change that's probably the worst of it. Remember when you couldn't imagine taking the time off for maternity leave?

Off to work myself. Enjoying the new office quite a bit. Can't imagine why I didn't do this years ago

errr, I realize my last comment was somewhat inappropriate...

Hope I didn't offend.

Why the hell won't dd sleep?

We did a little CC a few days or so ago and it didn't work for her, she settles much better with dh going to her and staying with her as she cries. We had once good night, just one, where hse woke in the evening and allowed dh to settle her then woke at 12 and 3 for feeds. Fine, back to where we were before Christmas so I start feeling hopeful that we can improve but no, the next few nights have been terrible again. She was a grump yesterday and had flushed cheeks but no sign of teeth in mouth and no teething symptoms today I want to sleep! Have been hitting the chocolate and the cake again this week, this after saying "no" to the overeating question at the Dr

We have been for a walk this morning, one where ds could actually walk without falling over or getting stuck, he was racing ahead and chatting away very happily, hope the snow continues to melt!

Indith, how old is DD? Must be bloody awful. I'd hit the cake and anything else you can get your hands on and just ride it out. Have you tried dummies and leaving something smelling of you near her etc etc? Earplugs, expressed milk (think you are still bf?) and leaving it to DH also a good idea. He sound's more than capable Hope you are ok otherwise.

Jabber trying to find inappropriate comment and failing dismally

Indith, many sympathies on the sleeping. Neither ds1 or ds2 slept well until they were close to 2 but it did eventually happen.
(did that make you feel better or worse?)

lol, castles, just thought I shouldn't be talking about work going well when others are not in a good place aobut it iykwim.

Aaa, had wondered what the comment was. Jabber I'm not sure you could offend a bunch of sarcastic Brits (and an Aussie) we're made of stern stuff you know - tis the weather that does it.

Posting from phone so will be quick but wanted to send virtual hugs to Indith. Is crap when you don't sleep, nothing else like it for getting you down. I think it might be worth a trip to a cranial osteopath, gp might be able to put you on to someone reputable.

Talking of bf I'm not sure ifi mentioned but we stopped
last week - ds had been teething and was on nursing strike over Xmas/ny except at night and then he started biting a lot during feeds so I was getting twitchy about feeding him and I think he sensed it since he started refusing night feeds too. Has put his sleep back as now waking and doesn't know what to do with himself and refuses bottle even though hungry. Am glad to have my brain back but do miss the nice snuggly feeds.

god indith, how do you keep going? At least I get sleep most of the time (it's insomnia that stops me, not the kids). CC has never worked well for me either, you end up having to do it over and over anyway. Have you started a thread on sleep to get some further help?

jabber, no offense at all, you had a horrible time of it last year so v.glad you're enjoying work again (I want to say you sausage but seems a bit silly for women of our age!).

Indith, Lenni are dd & ds using cutlery/not throwing food around now? DT's are nearly 16 months and I am nearly crying some days at their throwing everything from tray on the floor. They are horrendous. DS3 is using cutlery, he's quite good but dd doesn't even try, she just chucks it on the floor. Just wondered whether I was expecting too much, it's doing my head in cleaning up after them all day. Thank god they're at nursery for the day (trial run for next week, day off!)!! I shall b very pleased to leave the feeding of the animals to someone else for 2 days a week if nothing else.

Feeling calmer, ad's obviously kicking in

Sorry, Lenni, did'nt know you had given up bf, doesn't sound like much choice but it's hard at first isn't it? I felt like that with ds2, cried for a week! And yes I am sarcastic Aussie!

I like my stern, sarcastic friends

lenni, sympathies here on missing snuggly feeds. It was soooo hard to stop with ds2.

CC didn't really work that well for us either. Not sure why dh and I breed such bad sleepers. Ds1 takes melatonin now. Ds2 has done better dropping off since I got the Calming CD from REI institute. Perhaps worth a try Indith?

Sorry, went awol with sudden run of migraines - very odd, not had any for ages. Think my back is a wreck or something.

Big belated hugs at AQ (glad yo'ure feeling better, so they may be moot, but what the hell I like hugging ) and sympathies to Indith with sleepless dd....dd2 has only recently started sleeping through the night aged 3, though possibly a hangover from reflux days.

I do remember someone telling me that whenever they hit a new developmental stage, their little brains are just too busy to sleep well: synapses forming, or somesuch?? No idea if its true, but it did stop me from murderous thoughts at 3am, on occasion

Life has been an utter whirl this past week, and the first few days I was so wiped out by the migraines I couldn't cope at all - just relieved to be back in land of the (chaotically, admittedly) functioning.

LenniEd, good luck with the ongoing job hunting - is it picking up again after the Christmas lull?

Indith - when you get a minute would you come over here please so I can introduce you to Tree? Her DD is about a month younger than yours and also doesn't sleep, I don't think she is too far away from you geographically either - halfway inbetween you and AQ I think . She is on DS's postnatal thread with me and is lovely.

We have started potty training two days ago with fairly good success. Was dreading this after ds1

I'm still hesitant to potty train dd2 after the first time. She's progressing but slow going

Migraines are a killer, eli no wonder you're wiped out. Any idea what kickstarts them? Don't most people have 2/3 triggers?
Wish i could find our potty, might be a start! DS2 still hasn't much clue and I haven't much enthusiasm. Surely 4 would be ok?

Hi everyone

Sorry to hear about migraines and sleepless nights.

DD2 here is potty trained. She mostly did it by herself and we are now over her poo phobia which helps. She is however getting very upset at leaving me to go to preschool or to go to sleep at the moment

DD was potty trained when she had chicken pox in April but we still have the occasional poo accident, she doesn't seem to get much warning. It is only one every few weeks so not a major issue and often when she has been eating something unusual! She stopped wearing nappies at night immediately she was potty trained and that was such a blessing with her 2+ years of never ending nappy rash. Her skin is sooooo much better now. I don't envy those of you starting, it is a horrible messy process. I was fortunate with DD that is was relatively quick, am sure that'll come back to bite me with DS.

Am having a bit of a nightmare with settling DD into preschool. There is a lot of crying. Haven't been on as makes me teary just thinking about it let alone typing best off before I'm in floods. Pick up time soon - she's always fine, just horrid to leave her screaming 'Don't go Mummy' every morning.

DD2 was also potty trained ages ago but we still have odd mishap a la Lenni's DD.

Lenni, that is hard. My neighbour's DD is the same. She can't take her to nursery now: she has to get her aunty to instead as it is such an emotional experience for her. I've been really lucky I have to say. DD2 is a breeze. At the moment

I am slowly getting rid of all the baby stuff. Can not believe how much stuff we have. Made me feel a wee bit emotional broody yesterday but when DH said "get your kit off and let's make no 4" I overcame it quickly!!!

Hope you are feeling better AQ & Eli. And anyone else.

Well, we're back in diapers today. Had lots of things to do and he had a wee in his underwear before we even left the house. So, this afternoon we'll give it another go.

Ds1 had an awful time at pre-school in the beginning. They were very nice about it and let me stay the first 20 minutes or so for several weeks.

Lenni - we're having the same problem with pre-school. She loves it when she is there but cries for a whole hour before going. It is heartbreaking.

She also whines all day about wanting mummy and wanting tv. I have re-introduced the naughty step (6 times since yesterday) and have banned TV. Drastic measure I NEVER saw myself taking but dd2 is pushing every boundary she can think of at the moment.

Pre-school says she is delightful. They have introduced a sticker chart so if she goes in without crying she will get a gold star. Lets see if it works tomorrow...

Pre school was a total nightmare this morning. Left DD hunched up behind the school door in floods screaming for me to take her home. The Headteacher and DD's teaching assistant were both with her but she was a mess. So was I.

She has her own TA to look after her. It is a tiny school of 30 odd kids and she is the only preschooler on a Thurs, one of two on a Tues and Weds. If she can't settle with the one to one attention they get there I don't think she'll settle anywhere. It is her primary school too - they go in with reception class and just do mornings so I don't feel like I can give up.

Lenni, I had a similarly awful time with DD1 and did give up in the end (I was paying for it so probably a deciding factor). She only did one year of pre-school nursery (all you get round here). She loved it from day one and school too. Never had any tears. Still loves it and is thriving. Also socially extremely outgoing and confident. It's done her no harm at all having only 1 year at nusery. I just don't think she was ready for it at nearly 3.

Lenni - we had our first day with no tears in about 2 weeks. The preschool have done a sticker chart and DD gets a gold star if she doesnt cry on the way in. She had to try really hard but she managed it. I have told her if she gets 5 stars then she can have a scooter (dd1s old one).

Lenni. I hate it when that happens (had a few occasions with dd1). Did they ring you later to say she was ok?

Migraines all gone (for now), thanks - yes, AQ, I think mine are sometimes hormonal, sometimes neck related, sometimes stress/neck related. This one was one of those, I think - lots of rushing around and a dodgy neck after my first belly dancing attempt

Mad day here, SIL in labour , uncle going for apt re probably prostate cancer , dd2's favourite pre-school teacher/replacement mum leaving and dh just had an infected wisdom tooth whipped out in emergency dentist apt [not sure what emoticon to use].

Think I need to relapse on chocolate to keep up with it all....