December 2007 - Not Quite Two, Already Terrible ;)

[claraquack]

Just checking that this worked....

Clara, sprinkles sound a good idea! She's only got one dose to go now and I've been administering it via syringe so I'll finish the course that way but will have to try sprinkles next time she needs medicine

Insy poor Bear, I hope he is indeed on the mend now, it sounds like he could be. I remember having to bath DS2 in the night with the bicabonate of soda to ease the itching, he would then have a couple of hours sleep before waking again and needing bathing again - not fun. I'm glad DH has come back home and it sounds like he's being great! Hopefully the other 2 won't get it as badly, as I said before, all mine were very different with it and DD came through it quite easily in comparison to the boys.

Insy how is Bear now? Are the other two still ok? I was a nervous wreck the whole time my two were ill.

BT good luck with that-ds still pulls at my top and tries to fondle my boobs and he hasn't been bf since august!

Clara I think her blog is such a good idea, my tendancy was to think I'd exaggerated things once the storm was over but she has it there in front of her if she ever starts to waver. I am also quite bored at the moment...I think I am going to do a course before my brain dissolves completely. Can only find OU ones that interest me though which is annoying because they are so expensive and I'd get a college course reduced due to being on IS but already have a degree so am not eligible for help with OU costs (see what I mean - my sentences don't even make sense anymore)

Oh Clairey what are you going to do a course in? I was thinking of doing a counselling course when I return to the UK. Apparently there is a need for counsellors and I thought it might be something I could fit in round the children.

Um am undecided. There is a child development one that looks really interesting (covers all the language acquisition stufff that fascinates me so much) but then I thought that seeing as my first degree was completely pointless I should maybe do something useful and more skill based so was considering a Cert of Business...

Will prob start in Oct or maybe Jan after ds starts preschool (when I am also planning to pluck up the courage to learn to drive...)

Bear is doing ok now, was rubbish last night but guess as the spots scab they get more itchy?? Still not taken him out to playgroup, will give that another day I reckon, worked out ds's should get it next week...

clairey - what was your first degree in? what about teaching? I've been thinking about doing a C&G teaching cert and try and get into teaching at local colleges, I thought it would fit around ds's, I'd love to do PGCE but if would mean being full time and my work will let me go back part time for time being

insy - oh my gosh, poor Bear - sounds horrendous. It is so scary when they are really ill, isn't it? Sounds like the worst is over at least

beckle - poor all of you too - are you all ok now?

clairey - how exciting re window cleaner!!!! Any more developments? He DEFINITELY likes you Can't remember why you think he's with someone - could you be wrong? If he is with someone, he is not being very loyal to her!

About courses - are you interested in astronomy? I did an online course at Jodrell Bank a few years ago which I loved and it only cost £300. Or would you consider an evening class? That would probably be cheaper too. You could also apply for funding to do a Masters plus PhD (could stop before the PhD if you didn't fancy taking it that far) - loads of interesting stuff to do in language acquistion... feel quite excited for you at the prospect!

clara - I can't read much of your friend's blog without getting upset - it is just so awful that she, or anyone, is going through that and that she can;t get away - for now at least. Really hope she manages to leave him and start again

Anyone else getting election fever? I think being up in the middle of the night feeding and reading every section of the newspaper has made me particularly interested in it - imagine if the Lib Dems got in ...

Oh poor Bear Insy, hopefully that's the worst over with.

Definite no to teaching! I have never really known what I do want to do but have always known teaching was not for me (confirmed after working as a language assistant for a year in France). My first degree was French but I haven't used it at all since so my french is pretty much non existent now

I dunno, I just feel a bit useless at the moment employability-wise. I had a good job in England (though nothing high flying)and jacked it in to go to Botswana where my confidence took a serious nose dive because they are so skill focused and I applied for hundreds of jobs only to be turned down for all of them. Then got offered a pity job by a family friend which I absolutely hated and was rubbish at but had no other choice. Then of course H was telling me how useless I was as well so I still have all that in the back of my mind...And now I haven't worked for 4 years so feel like my chances are pretty slim.

So although I would LOVE to do the language stuff I'm not sure it will help my employment prospects.

Don't think I could do an evening class-couldn't rely on H to have dc and would hate to miss classes etc because he had let me down. Plus the ones local to me are pretty uninspiring!

RE window cleaner I think he has a gf because of the IF I was single text he sent me. Also because he sat here drinking with me for a few hours with dc fast asleep in bed and he didn't so much as touch me Oh and also he is supposedly staying at his nan's but only actually seems to be there the nights he has his dc so I think he is mostly staying elsewhere.
Nothing else to report from that, have had a couple of texts but that's it.

Skid very impressed at you reading the news whilst feeding, I think I only managed trashy novels!

Clairey - what about Surestart, my Surestart centre has various courses which come with free creche places. I'm starting a Basic Counselling Skills one in 2 weeks (my BF co-ordinator recommended it as part of the peer supporter work).
There are a variety of courses on offer.

If you do courses at your local college are you able to get help with childcare costs with you being on IS? Might be worth looking into?

what about a course in translation/interpreting?? LOADS of money to be made there although I suppose you would need to brush up on your francais a bit (and maybe learn another language...)?

Insy So sorry about Bear and the CP - horrible disease and I really wish they'd vaccinate against it over here.

Clairey Sorry nothing helpful to add about jobs except that you clearly have a lot to offer an employer. You're trustworthy and tenacious and able to deal with crises. I'd employ you. (If I worked and had any money either!)

BOUNCING TURTLE Happy birthday lovely lady ! Hope it's been a glorious day oop north and that DH and DS have spoilt you rotten.

Eek! Had call from Hospital a couple of hours ago...I'm having my op on Saturday! Short notice is good, no time to panic (in theory)

Insy, how is Bear now? Hope he's much much better, any signs in the other 2 yet?

Happy Birthday for yesterday BT!

wow beckle! thats fast work, all the best for Saturday - do you know what the recovery is going to be like? x

arcadie - no its not a nice thing for them to have and so far no symptoms in other 2, I'm glad theres no vaccination tho, there are far to many already imo. I'm really behind with ds1 and ds3's, I was waiting for swine flu season to pass - that didn't come to much did it? - and had them booked and then Bear got pox... aiming to have them all upto date by Sept!

clairey - not teaching then language is a great asset, def heard there is money in translation although as a typical brit I have no idea how you would find out more about it!

skid - def starting to get election fever, was v proud of taking ds's to polling booth other day (only for small local poll to decide how some of our parish funds should be spent) as I remember my mum and dad taking us and hoping that they'll vote too one day, must start getting papers tho and making an informed decision as to who to vote for!

Wow Beckle! All the best for the op, try not to think too much in the meantime. What is the recovery like?

Bless you all trying to help me get my life together Really appreciate it

BT your sure start centre must be really good. I'm not allowed to go to groups at mine because I don't live in the right area (have to live on one of 3 rough estates). Also they only offer courses to people with no existing qualifications.

I have a window cleaner update. He DOES have a gf, we were chatting for hours last night and discussed that. He's only been with her a couple of months but it's going well so far. We kind of got all the it's a shame, what if stuff out the way and have agreed that we have both found a good friend in the other. Despite me going on about how fit he is for the past couple of months I feel quite relieved, this way I get friendship (and yes a little bit of light flirting!) but without the pressure of a relationship. (Although I might be a little less relieved in a couple of weeks when I am ovulating and gagging for it ). I'm finding it quite wierd how easily and openly I can talk to him though, on here it is easy because noone really knows me and can't see me plus it's typing not actual talking but I can talk to him in pretty much the same way and there aren't many rl people I can do that with...

Whoops beckle just saw I copied what insy said, wasn't intentional!

Clairey - that's lovely that you have found a good friend you can talk to. And perhaps it won't work out with the girlfriend and something will happen with you and him, or maybe it won't, as long as you're happy.

Beckle - good luck with the op!

Skid - I am battling to get my proxy vote (we have filled in about three hundred different forms but they take so long to go back and forth it's all getting a bit late....faxed off latest forms yesterday so here's hoping) as Cheltenham is a marginal seat and I really want our local Lib Dem MP to get back in. If Lib Dem's lose by one seat, and Cheltenham loses by one vote and that should have been my vote, I will be gutted!!!

Otherwise we're just in countdown mode until Sunday when we go on holiday, flying early morning. I can't tell you how desperate I am to get away from St Lucia.

Beckle hope it all goes well for you today.
Isn't it your birthday tomorrow? Hope you have a day of putting your feet up, will they need to keep you in?

Clairey - yes I agree sounds like you have a lovely friendship there, and you never know...

Beckle - good luck!!
Just dropping to say that I have been checking in on you guys but things have been very hectic chez buzzy recently and all boring work stuff But I do think of you guys most days. Isn't it funny how most of us have never met yet somehow we have this bond?

Hope the op has gone well Beckle.

Clara, BT yeeeeesss, just so long as he isn't being my friend to keep me as his back up plan iyswim. Don't think he is but you never know!

buzzy - I agree, its weird, we've known each other now for about 3 yrs!

beckle - hope you're doing ok and enjoy your birthday tomorrow x

ds1 ill with temp, it started yesterday at the end of his preschool session and he'd made me promise to bring his bike to school so he could ride home, so I turned up with ds3 in back pack, ds2 on push along trike carrying ds1's bike - no way I could get him home unless he cycled, he was so good and cycled all the way home slowly and had a full burning fever by the time we got home but over 24hrs on and no chicken spots... I thought he'd have some by now surely?? could just be virus from school I suppose?

clairey - wow sounds like you two get on brilliantly - 2 months isn;t a long time and it is very possible that his relationship will end. He sounds like like a decent bloke for being so upfront about it - what if he and his GF did break up - what would you think then?

beckle - hope it went well and you are feeling ok and getting lots of rest

buzzy - hello! Glad you're still with us!

clara - hope you get your proxy vote sorted - I have always done that when I've lived abroad - always feel teribly guilty if I don't vote (burning of bras blah blah). How exciting to be in a marginal constituency. Ours is fairly safe but is Lib Dem so that is fine (although Tories are 2nd so def worth voting...)

All well in the skidaddle household - can't believe how relaxed and lovely it is having 3 DC (so-far, touch wood, cross fingers etc etc) - I have never enjoyed ML so much - all 3 are a delight (most of the time) and I am loving spending so much time with them. Have even put DH's vasectemy on hold

crossed posts insy - doesn't the fever come 10 days before the spots? Or is that completely wrong? Does calpol keep his temp down? Could be another virus? Poor little thing, and poor you

skid - I have no idea how the chicken pox thing works at all! yes calpol and nurophen both work, once he's had a dose he's fine until it wears off, I'm bored of ill children tho, on plus side been planning week of quarintine activities for them in case we get stuck at home

Glad you're loving having 3, I have to say its a perfect number for us, just busy enough without being over whelming, I think dh and I are slowly coming round to sticking to 3 children, I saw friend today who has 3 and was telling me what a great dynamic it is which is lovely as everyone else keeps telling me about having even numbers, its nice to hear that 3 also 'works'

Skid if he and his gf split I would shag his arse off consider a relationship with him

Clairey -

Everyone with three, think it is easy etc - how how how do you do it? I am really struggling with two at the moment. Although this could be because of serious lack of things to do here and running around after them in a constant 30 plus degrees of heat just whacks me out,

But when I hear people say they find having three is easy I do wonder what I am doing wrong

PS Skid I read ML as Mother in Law and wondered why you were enjoying her so much this time round.....