January 2009 - "This is halloween, this is halloween, babies wake in the dead of night..."

[VerySpookyLennipillar]

A homage to the Nightmare Before Christmas song. DH obsessed with that film, we all (DD included) have to watch it on Christmas Eve.

Just back from Chiro with dd1, her neck was well out so am really glad we went. Her bowels have been trickier this week - there does seem to be a real relationship between her neck and her bowels. Looking forward to a week of no poo hassles for her. See how dd2 gets on.

Just in with bacon sarnies from the bakers, then off to a birthday party. Have a lovely day one and all.

morning

bought dd1s new school shoes this morning got brown ankle boots she is now a 6.5f so need to get her new boots and trainers in 2 weeks time

Tree, have just posted some info about that psychologist and 'The Good Enough Mother' on the other thread.

Slept in till 12.00 today! Not sure if I feel better or worse for it to be honest.

Ds2 hasn't been sick for over 24 hrs now! Yay! He is a bit brighter and has kept down a slice of toast. He has some strange marks on his chest though and I was stoopid enough to Google. They look horribly like the herald patch for Pityriasis Rosea. If they are, he might be just about to come down with a rash all over his chest, back, arms and legs that will last for up to 10 weeks! Self-limiting with no treatment, but possibly really, really itchy. Really hoping its not that, but don't have a clue what else it could be - some strange virus perhaps?

Good grief, this had fallen off my threads....................i am terribly bad at catching up at the moment so please don't hate me. just checked through to see all babies and ladies appear to be fine. Too much talk of xmas though (having a november birthday i have NEVER bought a present till my birthdays over!!).

Actually went out last night and had a damn good time and got back at 1am!!!!! And fitted in my size 12 dress. Probably won't now though as it was all you can eat indian and thai.

DS walking further everyday and DD still henious, except when practisng songs for her nativity which is rather cute.

feeling rather spoilt today as the DC's have bought me some birthday gifts (including new boots, hurrah!) and DH did all the housework bless him. Taking me for lunch tomorrow...........almost worth turning 30 for!

Feeling the pain of all those going back to work and/or being skint. Unfortunately i appear to be working for -12 quid a month at the moment, bad times!

I do love wheelybugs!

HKZ- my thoughts are with J, glad it was decent news but how very stressful for you all, sounds like he is taking it all in his stride x

have a good night Dog, and don't lose anything!

Moose- parents evening sounds good, hope the temp teacher sticks around for a while.

Tink- Brackens feet are weeny! Z's are small and he is at least a size 3!!

MissJ- it sounds like high time you were pregnant again (although don't follow the advice on the january2010 thread........that won't work).

I want to see a famous baby too!

Enough of my ramblings, off to have some cake..........

evening all...Tree, just had a quick skim of your other thread and you sound like a perfectly sane mother to me...I spent half the time feeling guilty for not having enough patience or thinking other mum's must never get cross/shout etc etc It's hard work being a mum.
Moose, can't help you out with DS, have you taken him to the Docs or tried NHS direct....never google...its a nightmare!
Happy birhtday Pat! Are you 30 yet? I turned 30 just after J was born...twas a very memorable occasion, I was drunk afrter half a glass of wine, with leaking melon tits in a posh restaurant and DH proposed...ahh makes me go all teary. Hope you are being spoilt rotten.

Jude had another MRI yesterday, it all went smoothly and we wewre home by one, but as we got in...the phone rang...with the hospital, saying AGAIN, that we shouldn't have been discharged and they wanted us back in. So we went back and they took some blood and urine and did an xray and ultra sound. The tumour showed up larger than they thought on the MRI, so they retracted last weeks diagnosis. It is quite entwine with one of J's major blood vessels and spine, so not just a case of cutting in out.
All other tests have come back clear at the moment, but still waiting for results. The Pead said even though it is prob benign, because of its position and size he might need to have some chemo to reduce the size So we were a bit ...I think it was this point I turned into a snivelling wreck.
They kept us in overnight to monitor his breathing, which is fine and said this morning he is healthy and fit in every way apart from his arm and the fact he has a tumour, so this kind of rules out a lot of nasty childhood diseases/cancers.
So we are back in on Tuesday to see the Pead and Neuro at Royal London, then to meet with the neuro team from Great Ormomnd St and decide where to go. They will prob do a biopsy before they make a final decision.... So the HackneyZoo house hold is a bit knackered and worried, the DCs are completely oblivious though and fine.

Sorry this is all a bit me me me, but its quite good to get it off my chest as I don't feel much like talking about it in RL until we know the score.

Right, a bottle of wine is called for I think...

HKZ - have no words that don't sound like crap. Except I am amazed you are able to find the head space and heart space to address our other posts and threads! You are such a warm hearted selfless person.

Am shocked by your news and obviously concerned to hear all this. I'd be spinning on the spot in blind panic and am in awe of your good sense to hear the Dr's so clearly and hear the reassurance they are giving you.

I hope you have a bottle of lovely wine and some rest x

Hey all.

Have been extremely poor at keeping up on here.

All is well here.

Seems like all your bubbas are mobile, Esme isn't even crawling, let alone walking. If she REALLY wants something she'll commando drag herself to it. Very funny. Not concerned, i didn't crawl until 14 months, and didn't walk until 18 months, so shes obviously as lazy as her mother (Her father walked at 8 1/2 months!!!)

Getting a bit ticked off with people's astonishment that she isn't crawling. She is a very happy baby, who is more than ticking every other box.

Hkz bit out of the loop but sorry to hear Jude may have to have Chemo. Such a lot for you to go through - sending a virtual hug!!

xxx

hkz, i am sorry the news is more worrying today; i am sure they will work a way out of addressing it, but i know that it must be outrageously stressful. as many glasses of wine as it takes this evening, and as much offloading here as required x

HKZ, so sorry to hear the diagnosis wasn't as simple as they thought at first. You must be so worried. He sounds like such a little star though, taking it all in his stride. Children are so resilient aren't they, it never ceases to amaze me what they can cope with. Please do come on here and let it all out whenever you need to. You are not being me me me at all, I can't believe you even managed to read the thread, let alone take time to think about my ds. Hugs, wine and plenty of virtual chocolate on its way to you.

God. so much a word you did not want to hear was chemo . I suppose it is the position of the mass that leads to it being awkward, but it sounds like they are investigating all possibilities. I second tree that I admire your straightforward posts, I would be an absolute mess!! Hope everything starts to get a little easier soon

p.s am ,30 on monday but fully milking it this weekend as will rather depressingly be at work on monday, worst luck!

Soccer- Perfectly normal for Esme to not be crawling yet, lots of DD's friends did not crawl till roundabout a year or so, and some much later than that. They are all exactly the same physically now as her that walked at 9 months so it makes absolutely no difference. As you say, if your baby is perfectly happy there is no point worrying about it.You should just be smug that you can enjoy a few more months without her being mobile and wrecking everything (like a certain bald little demolition man in my household)

soccer - c isn't crawling yet either, my family were all a bit slow to get going so i guess she is taking after my lot. i consider it a boon, haven't had to think about where to put everything in my house yet

(she is up on all fours but has no idea what to do when she gets there...)

pat - happy birthday! (a bit ealry but no, you can't have a proper birthday on a monday)

Awww you lot are lovely . Think that in RL I am totally but DH and I are trying really hard to keep it together until we know what the final treatment, diagnosis will be...and its completely impossible when you see three diff docs in the space of an hour who all tell you different things etc. But for the sake of maintaining routine (that's a laugh as well...we never had a routine int he first place) or keeping things normalish for the DCs I think we just have to get on with it and allow ourselves to fall apart once in a while.
Poor DH was just updating his mum on the phone and his eyes were all watery, I was the same at work last week, but have come to the conclusion that we jsut have to get on with it and vaguely smile on the outside and let our inner turmoil out with each other (preferably with a large glass of red in hand)
I'm really grateful to have this thread as an outlet cos its hard telling people in RL and I don't feel like speaking to anyone outside of family and close friends a) until I know what is going on and b) because I am liable to turn into a large jibbering wreck.
But J is so oblivious and sooooo loving all the nurses and other mums cooing over him it just makes me well up thinking how oblivious he is.

On a different note,Soc and Stripe Jude isn't crawling either, he does a sort of yogic bouncing bum shuffle instead, which seems to be quite effective. I know a few babies who never crawled but walked, some who crawled very late, others who walked at 8months etc... Agree it is annoying when you get the 'ohhh, isn't he/she crawling yet..my DC crawled at..'Grrr. I did dream that J walked up the stairs last night though...hmm.

The dog is lying at my feet creating a revolting smell so am going to have to remove myself fromt he computer.... any recommendations for dog food that doesn't create this problem (he is on dry food...IAMs I think)

HKZ - I really don't know what to say. You are a very brave lady and I know you'll find the strength to keep things 'normal' for your DCs whilst you must be wracked with worry. Try to let the knowledge that he has no other symptoms reassure you. In a few months it will all be over, recovered from and lived through and we'll always be here for you when you need us in the meantime. Much love and many thoughts your way.

On the dog food - we use Royal Canin, it is expensive but it lasts us a long time and there is no smell.

Just seen your post Soccerette - lovely to hear from you. Glad all ok. DD and DS have both been crawlers, but I never crawled at all. They are all different, I wouldn't worry just enjoy the peace and quiet!

at Pat and "almost worth turning 30 for" I'm next y'know! Don't make it sound bad! Have a fab birthday on Monday and make the most of the pampering tomorrow.

Night all x

HKZ, the best easily available commercial dog foods are James Wellbeloved or Burns. Both are much more easily digested and less allergenic than the main commercial brands. (I did a project on canine nutrition when I was at college in Lancashire.) IAMs costs a bomb and is usually a bit ott in the protein department for most dogs. Mine are on James Wellbeloved now. They were all on the BARF (Bones and Raw Food Diet) until we moved back down to the Midlands, but we can't find a friendly enough butcher round these parts. Some people swear by Nature Diet, but that really is ridiculously expensive and it was a dodgy Nature Diet pouch that gave my Wheaten such a bad bout of food poisoning as a puppy that she has had colitis for the rest of her life.

Dd doesn't exactly crawl. She is mainly bumshuffling with a bit of sideways crabby-like crawling thrown in for good measure. She's fast though - especially when she want's to get to something she shouldn't have!

Little madam has only fallen asleep in the last ten minutes. She's been fighting us sleep since 7.30. Didn't want milk, cuddles or anything else, she was absolutely determined not to give in.

Pat, you are a spring chicken compared to me. My next birthday is the big 40! However its not until next June so I am currently in denial. 30 is a great age, more grown up and settled than in your 20's, but still youthful in mind and body and able to party on occasion without collapsing at 10 pm and suffering a from a week long hangover afterwards (like me ).

Enjoy tomorrow and have a lovely Birthday on Monday.

morning -

hkz - you have been through it good luck this week hope u work out what u r going to do

soc - hi bracken does combat crawling drags herself along by her arms everywhere doesnt sit still then sits herself up then carries on moving cant keep up with her!!

sounds like a great bday pat

hi mm glad ds on the mend

hkz really sorry to hear it's not as simple as just cutting the tumour out - but what good news that otherwise he is very healthy. Am thinking of you and sending you virtual hugs/ chocolate/ very nice wine. Sounds like you have full support of DH, and how wonderful you are to stay so calm on the outside.

Happy Birthday for tomorrow pat, sounds like you had a fun night!

soccer lots of N's little friends aren't crawling either, and a couple of girls that are 3 months older than him went straight to walking! If people's comments are upsetting you, just lie . That's what I have started doing when certain people ask how N is sleeping these days!

MM step away from the google bar! Hope the rash went away.

Hi all

Just flying through, battled H to agree to sleep. She has, but will have to get up in an hour and I bet she wants a big ZZZ now she has finally managed a big poo.

Have a lovely Sunday everyone.

morning

HKZ, sorry to hear your news.

has rl reclaimed everybody? i am at home with mrs grump, i think she is teething - whatever it is, she is not doing naps today. she is currently occupied with emptying a pack of wipes... it's all a bit really

hkz, hope everyone is doing okay at the hkz house

pat, happy birthday