May 09 - Six months on. Sleepless nights, hen nights and a sexybuilder.

[HeadlessLadyH]

Over here!!!!

morning

really windy here today again! i have to start icing the 16th birthday cake this am while ds is at pre school.. got to get as much done while he's not around as possible!

Morning everyone,

Yawn here too. Not due to a late night, but to C waking up screaming at midnight and crying for nearly an hour. I really don't know what was the matter with her at all. It wasn't hunger, as she'd woken when I went to bed too and so I fed her around 10.45. I tried taking her into bed with me, but she didn't settle. I tried cuddles and rocking and nappy changing, none of it was successful. So in the end I gave her some calpol, because she was so upset that I thought she might be in pain or something and she settled within minutes of that, surely well before the calpol could take any effect. It's the 1st time in her little life she's ever done anything like that. She normally wakes, feeds and goes back to sleep. One day I'll get a good night's sleep. Don't think it'll be tonight though as DH is coming home and I never sleep well when it's his 1st night home.

The big plan here today is to go swimming and after that grocery shopping. I've also got to see the drs. Unfortunately it looks like I'm going to have to wake C to go swimming. Poor thing wont be very happy about that.

Morning!
O had his longest ever non-stop sleep last night. After struggling to get him down, he slept for 5hrs til just gone 1am! Maybe we are making progress!!
I'm still jealous of all the babies that have slept through - even if they've only done it once!!

Belgian - good luck at the Drs. Hoep C enjoys her swim after the shock of being woken up!
Sorry to hear your news about your GM. Hope you get some better news and that you manage to arrange a visit.

Spangle - know just what you mean about DH. I've had to ask mine to now start doing at least 2 of O's baths per week as he hasn't done one at all in the last 5 months. I'm a bit disappointed as I'd have thought he'd like to spend some nice time one-on-one with O.

Tummum - I emailed my form on 3rd Nov and had an email back acknowledging receipt but nothing more. That's only 16 days though and I think they have 28 days to respond.
If I were you, I'd write to them stating the date you put your request in and explaining that you need to organise childcare and give them a further 7 days to respond.

good morning all.

DD's at nursery, feeding H. another fun appointment today after yesterday's pleasant dentist trip: smear test. oh, i do know how to have fun .

belgian, sounds like a busy day. good luck at your dr. appt .

ses, well done to O on the sleep!

off to call HV now as nursery are concerned about dd1. she's v shy and takes a while tosettle at nursery (though she's been going there for 3 yrs). lately she's been crying more and not eating much. yesterday, they couldn't console her . i tried to talk to her and all she said was that she wanted water (they'd given her some), she just wanted to be home with mummy.

it makes me very sad as I want her to grow up outgoing and confident. i'm afraid my insecurities may rub off on her (eg PND) so I'm going to be extra careful about how/what I say about myself as well. yesterday she was talking about someone on tv who is clever then she said, 'im not clever, am i?' . I of course said she was very clever and listed all the things she's done lately to be proud of - drawing, making H smile, singing, etc. I think I'm going to post on behavioural threads about this.

it's a tough job raising children, isn't it?

sorry to go on about my DD's. but another strange thing is that dd2 is so Happy. she's very outgoing, confident, jokes a lot. she does seem to have a more upbeat personality than dd1.

and she's clever in an obvious way - her language comprehension makes people comment a lot. I think I need to be sure we tone those comments down as dd1 listens. or at least try to praise dd1 for her accomplishments (we think we do ).

ok. to call HV.

Morning folks,
Am not going to mention SW other than... It. Was. Not. Good

ses excellent sleeping from O, lets hope it is the start of things to come. A seems to be regularly going about 5 hrs now and I think we had sim issues so hopefully he will do the same. DO persevere with DH and bathtime. Mine does it every night now as he really enjoys it, it took him a while to admit that he was a bit nervous handling A on his own in the water so perhaps your DH feels a bit the same?

belgian sorry to hear about your GM. Hope she gets some good care whatever the outcome. ENjoy your swim and hope the Dr appt is ok too.

tum I had to email my head a reminder after a month of putting in my request and not hearing anything. I should hear today for definite. If I was you I would call the sympathetic HR person. They don't know (or need to know) that you have flexible childcare so you could play the card that you have to know at least a basic yes or no so you can sort out home. Its not on the way they are treating you.

fi haven't had chance to look at your photobook on fb yet but will try to, am sure its fab after all the time you put in. Hope the cake decorating goes well.

Right must go, a asleep after another early start (5am) so should be using this time to pack for our trip to bonny scotland for wedding and friend visiting this weekend... am beginning to think driving there is not the best idea I ever had

Have a good day all.

momi x posts. No advice from a parenting pov but have seen a few kids like this in school. Some education experts say that you need to have at least 3 positives for every negative thing a child hears so that their self-esteem isn't damaged so your listing of all the things she is good at and praising them as well WILL help. Hope you get some good advice from your HV

Not saying that YOU have been negative tho!!!

running, thanks for the advice. Just got back from HV and set up an appt for her to visit us next week so she can chat informally to dd1. she said the same about complimenting as much as possible on her achievements.

i've got a couple of books out from the library on 'raising happy children'. both have very good advice as well - the tough part is remembering and putting into practice the advice every day.

ok, off into town.

Hello all,

Lets see if I can name check all I need to!

pukester any improvement chez pukester yet?

momi your poor DD1. Its sounds like you are on top of it though, HV, books etc. Has sshe always been like this or could it be "just a phase"?

tum sounds like your work need a good kick up the ass! But dandy has excellent advice! Hope you get some response now.

running are you allowed to share your SW experience or is it like the masons? I must admit, I could not go on scales with an audience ( I assume thats what they make you do?), so you are brave!!

dandy good response from your DDs school. As someone else said, it shows there is good communication between the staff, and I think they dealt with it all appropriately.

How cute are all those Christmas outfits? I have to admit being a sad sucker for all this stuff too and I got R's Christmas outfit(s) a few weeks back. pjamas and but not the red trousers

Hello folks. Still got nasty nappies here. If it were dd2 then it would be easy, but ds doesn't like having it changed and wriggles and reaches down and then sucks his thumb before I get the chance to wash his hands. Another task that is done with kicking and screaming.

poor pukester, the end must be close. hope you're ok.

ladyH, dd1 has always been sensitive, clingy, weepy. she is also happy, funny. just very both extremes (she'd be great in drama). when she was 2, people kept saying it was a phase she'd get through and same again at 3. i just want to do what's best now as these are the years that will shape her.

i love the polar bear suit!

back from smear test. awful. awful. awful.
but finished, phew.

belgian, how'd you get on at doc today?

off to walk the dog. river ouse burst it's banks so will be a short walk today .

ladyh lol at comparing SW to the masons - if I ever see anyone with lots of muller light yoghurts in their trolley in the supermarket, I do always wonder if they are doing it too, guess its the equivalent of our secret handshake Its not too bad as no-one sees your weight apart from the lady doing the weighing. They do have a bit where they go around to each person and ask about how the week has been and if you've lost they say how much you've lost. If you've gained you don't have to say how much. Whats more humiliating is that I burst into tears last night as I put on weight in my first week Am ok now. Think I haven't been too rigorous about it tbh but am on the wagon now.

momi glad your HV was supportive. ew re the smear, I need to go for one and keep putting it off

I'm a bit keen on the today aren't I?!

Oh yeah, according to A watching mum do the ironing is absolutely hilarious. Probably because it is such a rare occurence in this house

Oh sorry, pukester really hope this latest bug gets finished soon. You really do deserve a break.

Hi everyone,

running at your A laughing at you doing the ironing. C finds headshaking the most hilarious thing in the world for some reason SW: Better next week, right? It must have given you some motivation to get stuck into it a bit more, lol.

tummum Lots of great job advice. Hope it gets sorted soon.

jenn I feel for you, having these non-stop bugs in your house. Hope this new one goes soon.

momi Things us women have to go through, hey? Childbirth, smear tests... At least that's that for another 3 years (or is it 5 nowadays?) I hope you can come up with a plan to help your dd1. My 2 are also very different. Ds takes negative comments much more to heart than dd1. All I can do is second the advice re giving lots of praise. Oh and someone I know her ds had self esteem problems and he benefitted a lot from stage school/acting classes. I think he must have been about 5 at the time, a bit older, but it did help a lot.

Anyone having any trouble with the weather?

Well my drs visit went OK. He confirmend my google diagnosis, i.e. sciatica. He didn't have much helpful to say about that, just to take pain killers and watch my posture, but as it isn't acutally hurting, the painkiller advice is a tad useless. I'm looking forward to monday's osteopath appointment. I'm sure they'll be able to do something about sciatica.

No further news about my gm. But no news is good news IMO.

Bedtime for dc1&2 now.

momi much sympathy for the smear. Reminds me to book mine.

I was going to tentatively suggest something like the acting/dancing classes for your DD too, like belgian. A little girl I know who was very very shy started ballet, and is now much less shy and more chatty. No idea if the ballet helped, but the timing suggests it did. And little girls all love the pinkness of ballet, don't they???

belgian sciatica sounds painful but something that can be dealt with?

Hi all
Been a bit under the weather here so feeling a bit sorry for myself. I think I'm on the mend now though and DH is off for the weekend after a night shift tonight. Its DD 2nd birthday on Sunday so we have been busy getting bits for her party. We are just having an afternoon tea and cake so pretty low key.

Jenn Poor you!! I hope all your DCs are back to full health soon.

Tum What a pain your work are being. Good advice from dandy. Let us know how you get on.

Momi It's interesting how our LOs personalities develop. I'm sure with lots of praise your DD1 will gain confidence.

headless I always thought sciatica was a painful condition, but it really isn't hurting. My worry is, though, that it might develop into something painful, so I'm hoping the osteopath can do something to prevent it from getting worse.

febes Glad you're getting better. I've got ds's b'day coming up next week. Yesterday I got really annoyed when trying to find him a b'day card. Xmas had just overtaken all shops and I had a hard time finding a card he'd like, but got there in the end.

Evening all!

momino - sorry to hear about your concerns for DD1, sounds like you are taking the right steps though. I'm sure it'll all be fine.

also momino - well done on your smear! I had one about 6 months after DD1 was born...lets just say it was not a fun afternoon !

pukester - boo to the poo!

dandy - the school handled the situation well.

running - I've never done SW, I did Rosemary Conley, but same ind of weigh-in/round-up thing. I hated that bt, but tbh it was one of the main motivators for me .

belgian - sorry to hear it's sciatica. DH and I both have sciatica, I see a chiropractor, DH prefers deep tissue (sports) massage but neither of us take painkillers. Mine is very random and intermittent but I've had it for years; DH's came on suddenly and was a constant problem for a while but has now completely gone. Not sure that this is any use to you at all, sorry!!

febes - glad you're on the mend.

Well, I spoke to the counsellor this week. But not for counselling, she called to tell me that I'm 18th on the list and will have to wait a while! I feel a bit disappointed tbh, I was hoping to get stuck in and try and move forward. This afternoon I was thinking maybe I should just go to see the GP as well.

We had the best night we've for a while last night, A slept until 4, had a feed and then went back to sleep (in my bed, but hey, can't have everything) until 7:30. She's been really happy today too, back to normal after a grumpy few weeks.

Thanks flippin I've only heard positive stories about sciatica so far. So I'm feeling a bit less worried. It just annoys me that I'm always getting things like that. I fear that I might end up walking with a stick like my mum by the time I'm in my 50's lol. No good about your counsellor though, you want help now. Hopefully seeing your GP will help get started

I've just backed 2 chocolate gateaus (genuine French recipe given to me by an ex ap and it's delicious). 1 for the cake stall for the school's xmas fair (early or what?!) and well, one for us, because I just couldn't resist it and otherwise I'd end up eating the school's cake, lol.

Well, bedtime again. Goodnight everyone. Wishing you all a long uninterrupted night

hope everyone is asleep .
just got back from an nct meeting where i kept yawning, eyes crossing with sleep, it was engaging .

when I arrived home, dh was frustrated with Harper who didn't fall asleep till about 9. then woke again at 10 when I got back. she screeeeams and screeetches, it's horrible. there's nothing obviously wrong with her so assuming it's teeth and/or weaning tummy. calpol hasn't worked though.

if she wakes tonight, i've already planned to just bring her into bed.

febes, hope you're feeling better an hope dd has a happy birthday.

belgian/LadyH, great ideas about the classes. because she is so dramatic, I thought acting classes would be so good for her confidence. She also has said she'd love to start ballet classes so I'm going to look into that as well.

belgian, I really hope something can be done about sciatica. at least you know what it is so can follow a plan of action.

flippin, 18th on the list . hope it moves quickly. what are you doing to cope in the meanwhile? I think you should see the GP if you feel the need. GPs can be a great support in the short term especially if you're comfortable with your gp.

running, very cute about A and the ironing. also, don't be too hard on yourself about the weight. little at a time.

ok, time for bed. night night all. sleep well.

Belgian I had terrible sciatica in pregnancy, and for quite a bit between the first 2 children. I paid a physiotherapist to massage, give ultrasound AND did the exercises she suggested. Loads of people say physiotherapy doesn't work, but that's usually because they don't do the exercises. I could describe what I did, but I think it's fairly individual. I didn't have to go for too many sessions and seem to have shaken it off.