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.

Okay now, was a bit scared when my inhaler didn;t work on the wheeziness and was contemplating calling an ambulance (I only didn't because we had friends over for lunch and I didn't want to make a fuss ) but I had the presence of mind to take some of the dcs' piriton which worked after a while. Got a bit told off by the GP for not calling an ambulance but hey ho.

However, I am now absolutely paranoid about eating anything in case it happens again so I'm not enjoying food much. Hopefully I'll manage to lose a bit more weight though .

The time out sounds great AQ

Oli how scary! I expect you'll get your head round it after a while and also find out what you can and can't eat. Pretty much everything has "may contain traces" on it to cover the manufacturer's arse. I've found when it comes to dealing with Guides etc with nut allergies they and their parents are very clued up about what brands actually do and don't have traces in. I bet you'd find advice on the allergy boards here or there must be an allergy type forum somewhere on the web!

Your cakes look wonderful as ever

Lenni Such a shame, I hope something else turns up for you.

Another one suffering here. The D word has been creeping back into my life recently. Had such a bad anxiety attack on the school run that someone asked me if I was ok After taking DD1 to the GP this morning to have a mole checked on her head, I couldn't face taking DD2 to nursery so she is at home driving me even more bonkers . Am clinging on to the thought that DH (hopefully) will be resigning tomorrow and be on 3 months gardening leave.

AQ, Happy Birthday. The only way is down up from now on

Lenni, sorry about job. Hope something else turns up for you soon. Glad you are feeling better though.

Oli, about nut allergy. I think I may be developing asthma or at least some sort of severe allergy as I have nasty daily reactions/breathing trouble, though that could be the anxiety of course

Hope all the other lurgies are clearing up. My niece has just come out of hospital after a nasty stomach (vomiting) virus and they live in ME so not sure your plan to decamp to Australia/NZ will work Indith!

Hi All

Too much to catch up on. Saw something about growing pains - both my dds had them a lot but calpol would often help.

AQ, very of your trip! I'm glad you had a good time.

oli, cannot imagine how scary it must be to develop allergies like that.

I wonder what it is that so many of us are having depression episodes lately? I had a couple of really shaky days recently and have kind of chocked it up to being so ill but I did take it upon myself this morning to take a wee bit extra dose of synthroid I figure being sick can mess up my thyroid so surely a few days to a week of a bit of a boost can't hurt...

Oli, that sounds more than scary - and as its ongoing, I imagine also a lot to get used to. I didnt' know nut allergies could spring up in adulthood (though as dh developed asthma last year, I should have guessed). I have two friends with nut-allergic LOs, and they definitely went through a whole process in terms of learning how to cope with it, before being able to relax.

Happy birthday AQ, you spring chicken you, and glad you had a great weekend! Yes, have house hopefully (not exchanged yet, so don't trust it) and yes, do like it.

I'm very sorry that there are so many lurgies around, puts dd2 and dh's into perspective - I used to like winter pre-LOs, now I see it as a sort of viral soup that has to be survived Not very seasonal-cheery, eh?! No wonder so many of us have the blues...I've had dreadful IBS recently, same sort of thing, for me.

LenniEd, am extra sorry about the job, and the friend - I have had a couple of experiences of the latter, and those situations do seem to wrench a lot of feelings around

Jabber self-medicating is my middle name or I'd be wagging a finger - but am sure you know what you're doing. Sounds as though you've had a lot of illness in your house (not to mention in your own body, you poor love) and hope all better soon. I wouldn't worry about potty training mid-viral soup, would be doomed to failure anyway!

oh, castles, really sorry the D bit arriving back in your life. You sounded really perky over summer. Anxiety attacks sound horrible, god it's just impossible to function when you feel like that (I had several a day a few years ago, had to do CBT before finally getting rid of them). Is there a chance during the week (dd2 at preschool?) when you could go swimming/yoga/pilates something relaxing & calming that might help? Are you still having counselling? I know you don't like hugs but thinking of you (and your dh). Did love the summer photos btw, dc's looked so happy.
oli, that sounds terrifying, you're underplaying it. I couldn't breathe last night from asthma and it's hard to control the panic isn't it? I didn't know that you could suddenly develop nut allergy, hope you start finding out more about it and it doesn't stay so scary for you. hugs for you cos I know you like them! Must go look at cakes when I get a chance
lenni, I really hope something else turns up for you and glad you're feeling better. This time of year, it all hangs about for weeks. I'm determined to get better before december so must go to bed early tonight!

Oli, am going with the sheet cake/star wars seen that you linked. Ds2 keeps asking when his birthday will start, lol.

I think I'm going to go to a wine tasting tonight! Dh raised his eyebrows and gave me a "Are you sure you feel up to it?" lecture but I'm thinking it will be quite, errr, restorative to hang out with a friend for a couple of hours

AQ, thanks my dear cyber friend would love to hear more about CBT as my friend recommended it this morning. I was so bad today I was throwing up before leaving the house, then got massive shakes in playground and developed a weird stutter when someone spoke to me. This is the woman who travelled alone round the world and has fought off a whole host of baddies so am completely flummoxed by the whole thing. Can't eat either ... which probably isn't a bad thing

Sorry for totally focussing on me but am in a rush and will call in later.

Castles, must have read too fast before, because didn't realize you felt that bad...is there anything I can do? (unlikely, I know, but if there is you know where I am - or actually, you probably don't, but its not far from where I was before!). FWIW, in my own experience I think coping and surviving can go very much hand in hand with depression and anxiety...I guess our bodies/minds have to go to whatever lengths necessary to get our attention and care (not least, in your case, because you're so good at looking after others). Though I know biochemistry plays a big part too...

oh god castles, it's worse than I thought from your post before. Did dh resign today? Will he be around? I'll email re: cbt, is it still same email? I got it via my gp, they had psychologist at surgery. I'll admit I was on ad's to try and calm down as well before it started working. Some are more for anxiety than depression. Are you still on ad's?

CBT is awesome. That's the only reason we were able to have ds2. My wonderful therapist helped me recover from the PTSD of ds1's birth.

Thanks and thanks for offer of help Eli am very touched. Yes, AQ, same email address as before DH has resigned (yeah) which has certainly made me calmer. I could not have done the school/nursery run today without him especially as DD2 had a meltdown and refused to go. He handled it brilliantly. And brutally I am still going to pursue the CBT as he is only here for 3 months and I am terrified of it happening again.

I think your explanation is spot on Eli.

Phew. Well done DH...FWIW, when B is under pressure and apparently handling it (well, he really is, but in a male not-so-emotional sort of way), I often seem to cope less well myself. I suspect I'm carrying the emotional side of the stress for both of us at those times! So maybe your DH resigning will take pressure off both of you in more ways than one...though I'm sure there are other pressures as a result.

I do mean it, though admittedly am better at the listening/chatting sort of help than the very practical sort . Always willing to attempt the latter too, though, if you're willing to risk the outcome! xx

Aw castles - my DAunt has just been diagnosed with depression. She had my mum in tears when she said she didn't like anything that mum suggested. I told my mum that Da needed our patience to get throught this. She lost her ex-h last year (amicable tems) but I think she's found it hard to resolve her feelings towards him.

Castles, you've had so much to deal with too. It's been unpredictable with your DH and his job for a while. I can completely understand the weight being lifted off your shoulders once you have resigned. Our household has been much happier generally. (although I'm still a little worried about making ends meet but IMO that's a small price to pay).

Oli - I never fail to be amazed at your cakes. I have tried to emulate your style but I have a long way to go!

Eli- I still haven't caught up with your house move - goodness knows how you do it.

I have only a few weeks left before I'm a free woman(work wise)!

Indith - I love it when they're just soo loveable. I do wish she's sleep a bit more for you.

Lenni - these things happen for a reason. It's hard to think that there will be a better job out there for you but trust me (- I'm a soon-to-be unemployed MNer ).

I totally understand the freedom and relief that come with resigning - not unlike what I felt at selling up and moving into a rented house, in a way (the feelings, not the practical implications, of course). Hats off to you, DM, and also to your dh, Castles. Healthy choices

As for my house move...omg, what a saga its been these past few weeks. Man selling this house is very odd (polite version). But in theory we exchange on Monday and complete on Friday. Still don't believe it.

Had a whole morning at GP surgery today: dd1 (needle phobic) for her second SF jab, then to pick up dd2 from dh after her second SF jab (and before dh's appointment with doctor for asthma review); then me for weeks of nagging lower abdo ache, now facing eventual joys of a colonoscopy...am almost sure its just stres related, along with sacro-iliac backache on that side, but suppose its best to be safe, right?? Can't think of anything I'd less rather do, though!

Boo

Hope we are all enjoying the fact that it is the weekend and relaxing ahead of what will, of course, be a far better week than the last.

My kitchen maid arrived today, it is a Christmas present from MIL, she has her uses . we've even managed to put it up without the ceiling caving, we'll turn into diy enthusiasts I tell you! Have put a picture up in the dining room too. One day this house will actually be properly unpacked Dh has been using a packing box as a footstool so now that he doesn't need it we have a random box full of random odds and sods left to unpack. It is very tempting to throw the whole thing out without opening it, if we've not missed it yet it can't be that important! Unless it contains the paddle for our ice cream maker.........

lol. Indith, we are still in the same boat re: unpacking! It's soooo different after children The Kitchen Maid looks cool. I don't know if we have anything like that here. I do a lot of hanging over chairs and railings

Ds2 is having his Star Wars Birthday party tomorrow. Thanks loads to oli's suggestions for the cake. And toys r us for the gifts. He is currently in bed singing "We will. we will rock you!" I had no idea he was so into Queen...

Was beginning to think I'd killed our thread, talking about bowels...

...Indith, my mum had one of those when I was little, and it was great. She gave it to me when I got my first place, and I used it as a plant rack (clearly single and no LOs then), nailed plant pot saucers to it and heaved plants up and down to water them. Did look wonderful. Now I no longer have it, and would love another one for new house..this time for Genuine Laundry Purposes...

Get one Eli! They are pretty cheap really, especially as the site has 20% off at the moment. They even promise to give you new fixing do das for life should you ever wnat to move it/move house so you can take it with you. I'm in love, things are drying so well on it.

I love the whole of that website. It is the vision of a farmhouse kitchen with racks all over the ceiling, butchers hooks to hang all the pans (which would be copper obviously) and bunches of herbs drying. Bst start playing the lottery.

Ds is in his element as BIL is visiting and BIL is very good at building with duplo and drawing cars. They have all gone for a walk leaving me to plan Rainbows which I have done like a good girl so now Iget some lovely quiet MN time. Bliss.

Lovely quiet MN time

RL stolen me, will be back soon

Hope party was a success Jabber. at the start of the 3 year olds though!!! Madness.

Happy Birthday NotSoLittleJabber. Hope the party and cake were a huge success.

I'm overrun with cakes atm, 2 birthday cakes for this week, plus 6 mini christmas cakes for the school Christmas fair on Friday (WHY do I agree to these things?).

Lenni, hope it's good RL stuff, not lurgies or business stuff.

Eli, do you have house news? Have had fingers crossed for you today.

Hopefully Castles isn't here because she's having nice time with her DH. Hope you're feeling a bit better C, or getting some help of some kind.

FWIW ,I'm back on the ADs. Totally lostit with the dcs on fri am and decided it needed nipping in the bud before it got ay worse. GP and Relate counsellor both agreed it was a good idea so I'm waiting for them to kick and and the foggy, dead feeling to lift a bit.

On the plus side, my dad came home from Singapore this weekend so he's in the UK for good now. It will be nice to see him more than once a year but I'll miss the holidays .