April 2007 - The one where we despair about coughs and colds; sickness bugs; cheeky behaviour and the amount of tinsel and fairy lights ALREADY in the shops!!

[CaptainDippy]

Should have been a comma after OR.

Hi all

Yes it's different with number two onwards. Doesn't mean you love them more - just that you've hit your mothering stride now and not even a newborn can phase you! I found having number two and three just lovely and it made me realise how much harder dd1 had been even though it didn't feel that hard at the time!

All ok here but very busy. We went up to Scotland over half term for a thanksgiving service for my lovely little niece and then last Saturday I had a ton of people round from church. Also dh and I have been working on planning the Christmas Carol service and work of course continues good but busy. I tried really hard today to get some stuff off my to do list - which I did manage but then I added as many thing back on!

Yesterday I had to take dd3 to A&E to be checked as dd2 'helpfully' lifted her on to a wall outside - from which she promptly fell off backwards on to concrete, hitting her head. Thankfully she was fine but I felt I had to take to hospital just to be sure, couldn't live with myself otherwise! Poor dd2 was very upset (and I was horrid to her because I was scared) so on the way back to work after getting the all ok and taking dd3 to nursery I stopped at school and left her a message - she was very relieved!

Starting to get excited about Christmas here - we are staying at home for the first time in 9 years!

Oooggs - hope your career 'break' is approved
SPB - gald to see you're joinging us in the aged and wise camp
SB - Grrrh to your mother
Bramshott - I know somebody with that I think (not totally sure it's the same diagnosis but similar thing) Also a little girl and she's had a tumour growing (and breaking) her leg basically since babyhood - she's 4 now. It's an absolute bugger of a thing. I think people tend to think 'oh it's not malignant so it will be ok' but an illness like that will have a huge imp[act on the family and they are so much making their way through the unknown. I feel for them but I'm sure you will be a great support.

Sad news here last week - a lady down the road (my age) has died from cancer leaving 4 small children who play with my girls. So awful My friend with cancer is getting on ok but some other people at church are having a rough time. We're all hanging in there but I will be glad to see the back of 2009 - it's been a tough year!

glad B is OK - how scary!
I thought you were younger than me??

Oh NL, that is so abou the lady whose children play with your girls/ Does she leave a partner? So young to die Prayers for them all.

NL, what dreadful news How heartbreakingly dreadful. Hope you are ok.

How is B today after her humpty dumpty re-enactment? Poor love.

Oooggs, 2013!!! Or not at all by the hope detected in your post

SPB, ikewym re not remembering being a certain way with dc1. I have enjoyed being a mum so much more second time around, even to the point of people commenting

Right, need to go and do a million things before school run.

Back later. x

morning everyone

katy - I know what you mean - I can hardly remember ds1's 1st year - it was hard. Dts were easier and ds3 is a dream and I am enjoying it so much more (but after twins anything was going to be easier )

sol - hope you managed to do you million things

NL - that is dreadful those poor children and her dp . Hope B is ok.

dooby - my 2nd born isn't chilled (dd) - MAY BE ITS A LAST CHILD THING COS DS3 is (ooops doing a 'dooby')

dippy - how are you? has dhs work calmed down?

weather awful here, twins club this afternoon - life is all go

I am ok, but shattered already today - it has been a busy one, whizzing here, there and everywhere. Work is very hard for DH atm and he is extremely stressed out, which is hard

for all my fave April ladies

Sorry to hear dh is having a hrad time Dippy.

Yes B is fine - very relieved about that!

The folks down the street seem to have a lot of family support and to be doing ok. I went over on Tuesday and just tried to express my shock and support. The kids dad said he was ok with laundry etc at the moment - he liked to be busy. I'll go back in a few days and just keep checking in and make sure he's ok to get Christmas stuff in. That must be so hard to face but I know they will want the kids to have a usual sort of Christmas so it's got to be done. Ho hum

good for you NL, must be so hard for them all

NL

NL so sad

NL, that is so sad
Glad B was ok, not surprised you reacted angrily to dd2, I would have done the same thing at that moment.

Bramshott, I have left you a message on your other thread.
Tbh, nothing (on the unit I work on anyway) is really out of bounds. We would encourage all the children to bring in their favourite toys, whatever they may be.
We wouldn't frown upon cuddly toys, many have their bed covered in them!
Cleanable toys are great, but I would say if there is anything she particularly likes then go with that.
Hopefully she won't have to spend too much time in hospital, it is really dependent on the regime she gets. There are some therapies that can be given as an outpatient, but others that are much more intensive.
Hope she is doing ok just now. If you want to ask anything please feel free. I am not around every day, but will catch up eventually! Take care xxx

Ooops, posted before I had finished!

SOL, hope you are feeling better today, enjoy your night out

CD, did you get to Starbucks?

SPB, I am a much calmer parent second time around and have definitely enjoyed F's baby days more than I did with ds. That said, ds and I are very close and I don't think our shaky start made any difference to us now!

Right, I am off now. Meeting my mate and going to a psychic fair, then going for a pub meal later, yippee! See you later ladies xx

Blimey, no posts for over 24 hours!

NL, hope you are ok today.

SB, hope you enjoyed your night out last night.

Hope everyone is doing ok.

Dh and I had a great time at Michael McIntrye last night. Still feel pants though 2 weeks on. Hey ho.

K is still being a pita at night. She is settling reasonably ok, but wakes several times in the night and comes out in to ours. Dh and I are knackered.

What can we do? I know it's a phase, but has been going on for a lot longer than when B used to do this.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh screaming vomiting clinging tantrumming children
how long till bedtime

what do you do when theyre both screaming full volumr

ear plugs??

Hope you are ok.

I am at the end of my tether. K cries as soon as you leave the room and then comes out of her room. I have honestly had enough. I am sure this is why I feel shit still.
Sorry for rant

ahhh....peace, that was the storm before the calm, I hope
SOL, that is hard that's what T's like at the moment but he's ill. Hope you can deal with it - I am the last person to give advice on that sort of stuff

T doesn;t listen so we've started to be a bit firmer about making him listen, he now says "mama, i TALKING to you" in a stern voice

All quiet here now thankfully. I just wonder how many appearances she will make in the night. Last night at my parents, she was up at 1.45 and then went in to bed with them at 4.30! B and K were sharing a room as I thought/hoped maybe K would feel more secure if she knew B was there too. Poor B is knackered too.

K is also copying things she has heard. Mostly "B, stop being naughty!!" Can't think where she heard that from

SOL, does she actually need you for anything in the night or does she just like the company?
Do you use a night light in the bedroom? Wondering if that may help.

I remember doing the controlled crying thing with ds when he was smaller than K, but I think the same principle applies. It's really hard but did work after only three nights. Every time she gets up take her straight back to bed and say goodnight and then walk away. It is really hard to do, and I shed a lot of tears, but we never looked back after doing that and he is still a fab sleeper now.
The only problem is that I suppose K would then wake up B if she is crying, and it is tough to hold firm in the middle of the night when you just want to go to sleep. I know people who happily co sleep and that is fine, but I know it just doesn't work for me!

I agree - T has been in my bad the last couple of nights as he's been ill, sure I did shut my eyes at some point but it didn't feel like it at all

Morning.

Dh bribed K last night with the promise of smarties if she stayed in bed! And, she did!!!

SB, she just gets up and wants company. She has her light on in her room - dimmer switch on lowest setting. We also do cc at bedtime which works, but in the night, as you say, we fear she will wake up B (and does, even though they don't share a room). Can't keep having her in bed though, as sleeping is hard.

Let's see if the bribe works again tonight!!

Hope everyone is ok. Lots to do today so better get on. xx

SPB, I hope he gets better soon, it is horrible when they are not well.

I feel a bit rough today with a cold, sometimes I really dislike the winter months as they are just too buggy!

What a little bugger SOL. Think you just need to get tough and keep bribing - DH and I find that marble jars work a treat. We let them chose a toy they really like/want, then we put it up on shelf with the marble jar where they can see it and whenever they earn a marble (eating up tea, staying in bed, not wetting pants etc); they can pop it in their jar. When the jar is full, they get their toy

How is the SPB house? Didn't sound great in post before last!! Lots of yuk going round atm ....

Right, need to take DH back to work so I can have car and best press on with another busy day ....