Fab Feb 2009 - 9 months in, 9 months out, now they're sitting, standing and crawling about

[TheHAUNTEDHouseofMirth]

Here we go again!

Hurray, Danny slept most of last night (woke several times but put himself back to sleep mostly) and only demanded one middle of the night sleep. Fingers crossed the monkey is finally on the mend.

Was remembering this time last year last night when I met up with some very lovely and pregnant looking Fab Febbers for a pre xmas curry... any one up for a post xmas evening meet up (perhaps a curry for old times sake) in the new year?

oooh, a post christmas curry
I'm back in the UK from 28th Dec to 6th Jan so if there is anything arranged during that window I'm up for it. DH will be back the whole time so he can make himself useful and babysit

Hello everyone.....been AWOL for ages.....on my very last day of maternity leave and at home with 2 poorly DCs

Right, off to catch up.....

Oh LMN, sorry your last day of maternity leave is illness ridden. Here's an idea - make it a duvet day to remember and all get into pjs, stick a kids dvd on, pop some popcorn/make snacks of your choice and snuggle under the duvet with DD and DS and enjoy...

Glad you're up for postxmas curry MoS - any other takers?

dinky - hope all are well in your house atm....sounds like you've really been through the mill recently and about planners. Have you decided what to do yet? Santa visit sounds very stressful. Incompetent people like that really get my back up. Busybees are my current favourites!

KBN - sorry about hear about your ex and hope the funeral went well. My friend's brother died in similar circumstances recently. Its so and such a waste...,

STW Hope you've sorted out your childcare - what a nightmare. I've just had my first nursery bill for my two next month (mine go 3 days a week) and its £1012 ...that's bad enough. Can't believe your old nursery was £2,300!

Hows the parties going LBB?

It would seem I'm not the only one with strange MIL then? My MIL forgot my DDs birthday and has only seen DS once when he was a week old and we have the pleasure of her company this Xmas (our turn!)

We've all had a relatively mild cold virus here but has gone to DSs poor chest. His breathing sounds like an express train . Its horrible to see and I've had to cancel his nursery settling in visit today. I just hope the ABs work quickly.

Yes Dinky today is a jammy day and Toy Story 2 all the way

America - good to see you but sorry you're having a tough time atm

Hello everyone else - sorry if I've missed anyone - mind like a sieve atm!

Any day should be ok for me to make a curry meet up. (mos you miss just miss my birthday, 7th Jan)
LMN Sorry your 2 are poorly. Horrible isn't it? How are you feeling about returning to work?
dinky Duvet day sounds like a plan. I'm gonna do it here after we've been to Tesco. Jacob has the runs so I'm keeping him in a nappy until it clears as he is getting quite upset when he can't make it to the potty in time.
LMN Parties are a bit slow, but I have a few in the diary for the next few weeks, so fingers crossed I get some more from those.
I have dropped hundreds of fliers door to door and put stuff up in shop windows etc and nothing. Not really sure what else to do really. Maybe no one's interested in Ann Summers anymore.

OMG, I lost Jacob yesterday. I have never been so scared! We got into the block, I got him out of the pushchair and I started o carry the shopping up the stairs. He started to make his way up behind me so I carried on like normal and got upto the first floor and opened the flat door and left the shopping just inside. As I walked back to the stairs I heard the main door close, so I called out to him, he didn't reply so I legged it down the stairs and he was gone. I went outside and he was nowhere to be seen. I started screaming his name and I ran up the drive and looked both ways up the road and still couldn't see him. I'm still screaming so all my neighbours have come out to find out what's going on. I started to think he must have been snatched coz I didn't think he could get far in the 30 secs that I'd left him. I found him right out by the main road waving at the cars. terror

God LBB - that is terrifying. Glad J was ok and hope you've recovered from the shock. Hope J recovers from his bug soon.

quick dash onto here before i get stuck into work.

lbb how hideously scary.

dinky hope danny is continuing with the better sleeping.

lmn oh i so feel for you on your last day of maternity leave. cuddle, cuddle, spoil and kiss the day away with them. m&s have got some great toy story outfits (pretty expensive though) so i splurged on the green aliens with 3 eyes outfit for i's christmas.

i'm definitely up for a curry...turkey?

funeral was weds and i took yesterday off too. it was horribly upsetting but also lovely to remember him and catch up with people. his family were lovely to me and i was so glad i went. i spent a lot of time talking to his mum so found out some horrible details about his last year and last moments but i sometimes think it's easier to know than let your mind run away with itself. i allowed myself a big crying wallow whilst listening to music, looking at photos yesterday and now feel much better. thank you again for all the support on here.

Thank you all for empathy.
KBN, that sounds horrible. I obviously have been away for...about 6 months... and completely out of the loop on what's happening.

LMN, I'm sorry that your maternity leave is about to end. Hopefully you have found excellent childcare and enjoy your work. I've been back for three weeks and funnily enough, felt ok leaving the boys with a CM as they are (most of the time) very happy there.

And Dinky, how did you make your DS sleep through? We are still co-sleeping but it would be time to get some more space for myself in the bed. DS2 justs screams blue murder every time I try to put him to his cot and I don't want to wake DS1 up so quiet him down ASAP.

I also wanted to ask your view on this. I'm having ghastly time at work and am still waiting for a result on the grievance (which I had to raise when I was bullied by my boss) before they can make me redundant. Am I a horrendously treacherous person if I go to see my GP and complain about the stress? I'm hoping to get some sickleave and never ever to show my face in the office again.

America - definitely go see your doctor and get signed off. Its not like you're doing any work there and I think its appalling they're making you hang around in the office doing F A just because they cant sort themselves out before they can make you redundant - hopefully being signed off sick will get the company to get everything moving.

Re sleeping through children (bear in mind Danny has only actually slept through from 6.30 to 6 3 times in his little life) - I have a set bed time routine for him (bath, BF, story, put in cot, lights out) - if he cries I leave him for a minute or two and then go in and either roll him onto his tummy and shush pat him till he's calm and ready to sleep again or if he's throwing himself around/still wailing/been more than 3 hours since last BF or didnt have a proper BF before going to sleep as he was too tired or excited, give him a feed doing a lying down bf with him (helps there is a bed in his room) and then pop him in his cot to sleep. I try to keep the lights off at all times. If he's been fed and still wailing I know its something else - so will try calpol/nurofen and teething stuff which also generally does the trick. I'm also aware that when he's ill/teething he wants to feed more at nights which is why I introduced my 3 hour rule of thumb. Danny woke up last night at 10 when I BF him again, 11.30 (due to teething - DH shush patted him down without needing to resort to meds or BF though) and then at 5.30 this morning for a feed.

KBN - glad the funeral gave you some closure and helped you remember some good times with your exDH. Those M&S outfits sound cute - may need to get myself down there to find something for DS1 and Danny...

LBB bloody hell, how scary. so glad he was ok and hope you are over your scare now.

america go to the doctors and get signed off. Its not like you owe them any loyalty is it? You don't need stress

KBN glad you got through Wednesday ok, can't have been easy

I'm knackered. It was my turn 'on duty' last night so of course H was up all bloody night (slept from around midnight to around 3am then he was on and off feeding until 5am when I gave up trying to sleep).(its our sunday today)
DH slept in the spare room all night. He had at least 9 hours sleep and then this afternoon when I was practically falling asleep standing up had the cheek to say he was tired and wanted a nap. Twunt!
H has now been up since 5am (it is 3.50pm here) and still hasn't even bloody dozed!

I had a catch up sign language class just now whilst DD was sleeping and DH just sat on his fat arse on the sofa. He has just winched his lardy arse off to take H for a walk. Can you tell I'm pissed with him?

Sorry not been on for ages - been a hell of a week.... Hoping to catch up with y'all tonight!

Well, didn't manage to catch up last night as I was too busy being in a strop with DH .

Hope everyone is doing ok and lurgies are on their way out? Just had quick read of the thread and my memory is in trouble!!! MOS I hope you have managed to catch up on some sleep and America hope you get sign off so you can escape. Have you got anything else in the pipeline?

My life is in a mess! These past couple of weeks at work have been so full on I just haven't touched the ground. I can honestly say I have earned every penny of my salary, and then some. Taking work home most evenings which means the house is a tip because DH is incapable of doing anything unless he is instructed to (and then I get accused of nagging). On a good day I have to do two loads of washing (Sam is still a puker) but I've fallen so behind I had to go to Next in my lunch hour and spend £50 on clothes for the DC's. I think the bedclothes will have to make do for another week..... There must be more to life than this?

Sleep has also been disturbed here - Sam has been thinking about crawling. He's still not quite there but likes to practise in his cot in the middle of the night!! He's #being adorable at the moment thought, but I feel awful - he fell off the bed on Thursday morning and has got a horible carpet burn on his nose . I just turned my back for a few seconds etc etc....

DH being a miserable sod at the moment - if he doesn't spend most of the weekend on any of his five bikes (motor and mountain) he is in a foul mood. We had lunch with my friend and her DH today - first time all together (they are God Botherers - his phrase) and he was such hard work. Tomorrow it's lunch with another friend and DH so he can't get out again. I'm thinking of asking him not to go.....

We have decided to give it a go following our current childminder back to her old nursery. Sam and O love her and her mum, so we feel that we should make the effort. Also, I've tried 6 local childminders and none of them can take both Sam and O, because they're so young the ratios are pretty strict. The nursery I looked around on Tuesday was really..... pikey, that's the best description.

Well, I bet you're all watching the X-factor at the moment . I recording Strictly as I've been to the supermarket and getting stuff into the slo-cooker. Off to watch it in a minute.

Hope all ok? By the way - I would also be up for a January curry!

Hope you've managed to catch up with yourself today STW - and I hope that staying with your current CM but at her other venue works out for you guys too and doesnt make your lives too difficult with drop off and pick up - and that your DH has started behaving himself now! Is work going to start getting abit more manageable now or is it going to be mad crazy all the way till christmas? Might it be worth getting in a temporary cleaner to clean the place and do a couple of loads of laundry and ironing for you guys while you're so crazy at work (at DH's expense of course seeing as he is doing nothing to help)? I know there are various cleaning agencies that offer that kind of service - so if it helps you stay sane it may well be worth it. Sending you strength and lots of virtual chocolate...

hello all.... vomit central here for the last few days, or as ds1 phrases it 'Smoothie came out of my mouth and I had a bath'

both on the mend now i think and luckily A, myself and the grown up baby (dp) seem unaffected. My poor couch will never be the same again though

Swine flu jabs for the kids tomorrow [eek], dp's just come back from his and seems ok though so hopefully the kids will be as unaffected.

hello all, where is everyone?
BRT hope you are all feeling a bit better now and that the piggy flu jabs went ok yesterday.
Having a quick 5 mins on here today as rushing round like a loony trying to pack for us all as off to Dubai this afternoon. Can't bloody wait, really need a break. Hoping to spend some quality (adult!) time with my best friend who lives there and who is DD's godmother. Hopefully its a bit warmer than here as its been a bit cool the last week or so.

Hope everyone is ok x

Morning.
Hope everyone's well.
My boys seem to be better although Luke is especially grouchy this morning.
I have the bug that ds1 had and am spending more time on the toilet than off (Nice, TMI), gonna give the imodium a go later.

I'm thinking of getting a kitten/cat - prob looking for a 3/4 month old. I ideally want 2 so they keep each other company when we're out and maybe they won't be so overly handled by ds1 if there's 2 iyswim. I'm getting mixed input from my friends. Most I know are pet owners anyway and think it'll be fine, but a few think it's not a good idea. Just out of interest, what do you think?
Jacob is good with other peoples animals now, but that's not to say it'll be the same with ours. I know he's young, but I think he'll handle it.......

Mos Safe journey xxx
BRT Hope all is better in your house and jabs were ok.

LBB, my kids are very good with the cats but it does take a lot of vigalance for the first few months to teach them how to handle them and not to be rough, and even now there is the odd time i catch them carrying a cat over their soulder into the playroom to be plonked in the buggy and wheeled around.

if you want the cats to be good with the kids though i'd suggest getting them a t 8.9 weeks old... there is a huge differnac in how tolerant the cats we've had since very young kittens put up with the kids than how the cat we got as an older cat does.

the ones who've grown up with the kids actively seek them out to play with and will sleep on their beds, even letting the kids snuggle up to them. they never scratch unless really badly terrorised, whereas the older cat i think would be far more likely to attack if threateneed... luckily the kids know not to go near her and have four others to play with.

MOS... enjoy the break

jabs went ok-ish... mad queues and dd was a bit sick last night but hopefully it's for the best.

A was the only one to cause a fuss.... predictibly enough. his leg seems to be very sore today so he's being clingy and refusing to go down on the floor at all

Have a lovely break MOS! You deserve it - am slightly of some sunshine.

Hope you are not feeling too rough today, LBB and that the bug passes quickly. Not sure about the cat thing - BRT's sounds like good advice.

Dinky - thnks! I enjoyed the chocolate! It's traditionally very busy around Christmas in the insurance industry so no surprise there, I just feel like I've lost confidence, plus we have a new computer system which has completely changed everything and is a pig to get used to.

I'm getting really excited about Christmas this year . Going to go to some church things with O etc. She started asking about "Farmer Shitmas" last night LOL!! And then tried to sing Jingle Bells... I think that's what it was.

She seems to be getting on much better with Sammy and generally seems happier so let's hope she's passing the "phase" she's been in since about 18 months ....

Very quiet on here - hope you are all well?

BRT Thank you for your advice. I originally wanted to get them the minute they were ready to leave their mother, but not only are we out of kitten season so they're thin on the ground or quite expensive, I was advised by a cat protection charity to go for a cat that was a little older and more capable to get away.......I thought it'd be better if they were smaller and sleeping lots, so they'd be boring and might get a bit of peace iyswim.
STW @ Farmer Shitmas! I'm trying not to make a huge deal as we're a bit skint. So far I have bought ds1 an etcher-sketcher thing and ds2 a plastic chunky car
Once I put the tree up and get the empty boxes I've been collecting wrapped, it'll look lovely and I'll get in the mood and will be hunting for pressies in the charity shop and poundland!

Evening all - hope all those suffering from illnesses (directly or indirectly) are feeling better now and that you have a fantastic time in Dubai MoS.

LBB - the only people I know who have little kids and cats already had the cats before the kids came along so they sort of had to get used to the kids over time. There were a few scratches along the way but they seem to be fine together now. BRT's advice sounds really sensible.

STW - glad O and Sam are getting on better nowadays - long may it continue. And know how you feel re work - it always goes crazy in the legal world before xmas too so is absolutely manic at my workplace too (though fortunately dont have a new computer system to contend with, just our old useless one...)

Hello everyone

LBB, I have a 9 year old cat that hates my kids and just buggers off on sight. I agree with BRT and get a tiny kitten.....believe me, they are not boring. It is great fun as they are so playful. You will need to teach the boys how to handle them, but that's good for them IMO.

Love the Father Shitmas....I am also looking forward to it this year.

Did any of you see this thread? Bloody good link! Send a good one to my DH

of your trip MoS

Well been back at work this week and I'm knackered. DS settled in fine at nursery. First day they forgot to give him his bottle in the afternoon though . I was very pissed off! And someone fed him a puree today instead of sandwiches I did point out that he has 5 teeth and is perfectly capable of eating!!!

Sent

told you I was knackered!

Hey all -

apologies for no personals, just wanted to show my face!

We're just back from a weekend in Paris, bit of a mixed bag, really, but a nice break away from M. I think I'm starting to show John just how anxious I get when I'm around his friends/anyone I don't really know well, especially when people are drinking. He has said he'll try an be more supportive in the future, so hopefully we can work on it together.

LMN brilliant link! Am going to do one to post on fb!