April 2009 - Episode 10 - Christmas time!! we can all drink wine, while children gurgle nursery rhymes, with logs in their nappies, and pee by the tree fun will be had by baby and me!!

[SantasNutts]

here we go then Merry Christmas One and all!! xxxxx

Morning! Thanks for good wishes, all, especially about mum. Am feeling more positive today, fingers crossed.

Am holed up upstairs while the carpet man does his stuff - Orbit is playing in his cot and we're watching Friends on the bedroom telly! Apparently it will only take an hour and a half, so I thought we might as well stay here in the warm rather than go out somewhere. Then we can walk on it in slippers, so that's ok, and we should be able to put things back this time tomorrow.

I am feeling more in control as I got up at 6am, washed my hair, took DS1 to nursery, expressed 6oz (a personal best ) and therefore feel like today might actually be achieved with minimal bloodshed. DP muttered this morning about possibly not going away tonight, and I resisted the urge to cling to his ankle yelling 'PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DON'T GO!' but merely mentioned that it would be really nice if he didn't go away.

Auld poor A - and poor you! Must be frustrating to have all that pain and no actual teeth yet. Do they not sell Doliprane liquid in France any more? Have fond memories of the pink stuff from holidays with teething DS1. I am longing for Medised - we used to dose DS1 up with that when he had a cold and it knocked him out beautifully. We still have some in the house with the old label on it, but it's been removed from sale for under 6's hasn't it Gui? Is it because it's actively dangerous, or because people were daft and gave it on top of Calpol? Orbit could really do with some, he's all bunged up and I'm wondering if that's why he's sleeping so badly.

Have decided to buy some formula to have as a backup, just in case. I'll try Orbit on a bottle tomorrow, and if he takes to it then I might be able to make it on Friday, would love to have a proper night out and DP is away on Saturday night on a jolly so it would make me feel a whole lot better if I could have one too! One night away and Orbit on bottles wouldn't ruin my supply, if I pumped the next morning, would it?

Bauble - poor toothy O, too!
Tigga, love the sound of bottom waving. Orbit is cruising round furniture now and causing complete chaos by pulling everything down off tables and shelves. He also does some daring one handed moves and often comes a cropper, I spend most of my time soothing bumped heads at the moment.

Off to change the bed sheets, might as well do something useful while I'm stuck on the top floor!

King - How did the driving lesson go?

Oddeyes - Goodness me, how exciting. Have you done a test yet?

Ok, the chocolate rustling is getting serious. Ellen was just so preoccupied with stealing my calendar chocolate that she just wee'd herself.

Auld - You pooor bugger. Wishing you all lots of healthy vibes across the water.

Hello!

MY SECRET SANTA HAS ARRIVED! WOOOO!!!!!!!!

Big sympathies to everyone with ill and teething babies. Auld - you are doing the right thing. WFH - I believe when your baby is over 6 months your supply is very safe. Does this mean you are coming out on Friday? Hurray!

I have so many things to do for Christmas, even though we are going to my parents and only have to buy presents. Still, I am in a good mood because we are all well at last (I am a little bit coldy but not enough to count) and that makes me feel very lucky. Sorry if that sounds like gloating to those who aren't replete with good health.

I am determined to enjoy this time because when I am back at work in January I will wonder what on earth the problem was.

Sending good thoughts for robust health and long sound sleep to all of you

WFH - Sorry, I crossed posts with yours. All the very best to your Mum. I shall think of you tomorrow.
Glad to hear you are getting on top of things again.

WFH - I was told by my GP that medised is fine as long as you don't give it alongside any other paracetamol containing medicine. I've used it with O when he's really really bunged up and it seems to help. Fingers crossed Orbit will take the bottle - I want to meet you [selfish emoticon] I make O's formula pretty warm and warm the teat as well to help persuade him it's a good idea... although after last night he clearly doesn't need much persuading. He did bf at 11pm though thank goodness - I thought he might never feed again...

Auld - do you want me to post some calpol to you? FB me your address if so x x

Puzzle - O is much better thanks, but still coughing. He doesn't have a temperature though so that's the main thing.

I'm in two minds about whether or not to take him swimming on Friday. We missed last week because he was properly poorly but he's definitely on the mend now. I wish you could get ear plugs for babies then I'd definitely take him.

Off into Wimbledon to do some chrimbo shopping today... NOT looking forward to it... but it is SNOWING here

Puzzle - LOL at chocolate rustling

Morning

WFH - thinking of you and your mum. Hope everything ok tomorrow.

Medised - I think there was some publicity around it. It is so effective at knocking kids out that some (desperate sleep deprived) mums were using it as a regular sleep tonic, which can be damaging to liver I think (Gui- you there to clarify?) It is no longer recommended for under 6s for that reason. However I bought some at a local chemist when DDs molars were coming through and she had a hideous cold with it. I spoke to the chemist and said I was only using it once or twice in any 24 hours and only for a few days to tide her through the cold and the molars. He said that was fine and wouldn't do any damage.

RR - meal went fairly well thanks. Atmosphere was lovely - log fire, lots of candles, DH very happy and got all the presents he could hope for, children all giggly and happy. Lamb apparently very well cooked, but dauphinoise stubbornly refused to cook. I didn't realise they weren't cooked until they were served up and said no-one should eat them but MIL sat there grim faced sawing through the rock hard raw potatoes and eating them. Ugh!

Glad you had a good birthday too. Sounds lovely.

Interested in everyones approaches to night waking. I keep wanting to rock or cuddle S back to sleep, but DH insists I feed him. Mostly just to keep him quiet so that he can go back to sleep . But the last two nights he has gone on a feedathon from 2am till dawn.

Am thinking he might not be getting sufficient calories during the day and / or going through a growth spurt. So his meal times are becoming very Hungry Caterpillar as I raid the fridge for more random things to try and get him to eat.

OH WOW - I just looked out the window and I think it is snowing!

Oh X posts with errr - everyone.

Snowing where you are too Bicnod. Not my imagination then. Yay.

Chocolate rustling - and wetting self? V. funny RR. I can picture the scene.

Oddeyes - am very much in suspense for you. Kind of exciting but terrifying too.

Carpet looks AMAZING!

Got to go and take Orbit out for lunch - kitchen still got Christmas tree in it!

Hmmmmm, where shall we go? The Ivy? Hotel du Vin?

Oooooh flakes getting bigger. DDs face pressed to the window saying "It's snowing". Aaaaaw.

WFH - freshly cleaned carpets are bliss! Oh but yeah - not very BLW friendly. How about Ikea cafe. When DD was this age I used to find she ate really well in Ikea .

Aaaaw "It's not raining! It's ^snowing!!! I make a snowman?"

Sadly nowhere near enough for a snowman.

Howdy ho! We have Christmas tree, but requires decorating. Today I have to make granola, biscotti, panforte and hot choc mix for Xmas baskets.

Re: Medised - clueless! Don't work in community pharmacy, so don't really know (and very bad at reading my journals), but I believe the withdrawal was all to do with lack of evidence as opposed to proof of danger.

WFH - thinking of you and your Mum. The most important thing is that whatever the result, she has gone to the doctors, which is the first and most important step to getting all better again. My own Mother just never goes to the doc on the basis that if she doesn't go, nothing can be wrong

Errrrm.....what else? No snow here. Bloody freezing though.

Bicnod - parcel posted. Should be with you tomorrow

My DD1 insists it's rain, not snow! Now she's going on about pink monsters from the shop???

WFH good luck to your mum for tomorrow.

OddEyes how exciting, have you done a test yet?

My SS has arrived too and I've already admired the lovely wrapping paper

Must go give DD1 some attention... love to everyone...

Hello all.....

WFH - Hope youre mum is ok.

I don't think I'm going to be able to make it on Friday night. Have only got Iris back into sleeping halfway normally and have family xmas dinner on Saturday. Plus, DP is working late shift and my DS who I would ask to babysit for me is going out herself. My DM is babysitting for her 3 and my DNp as well...I know another to the 4 doesnt really make that much difference but /i cant bring myself to do it to her...DD is hard enough to put to sleep when I'm not there as it is let alone in a strange place with all her cousins around her!!

So....driving lesson went well, but far more terrifying this time around as I think I'm thinking too much of the dangers that can occur rather than what I'm doing and it seems like I'm driving far too fast to be able to stop properly and that I might crash....but it was my 1st in 16 years and have booked my next one for next week too....got to keep going this time and finish it!

Iris is (sort of) sleeping and eating a bit better. going to bed at her normal time of 7.30/8 and having her 8 oz bottle in the morning and evening now. Last night she woke at 11 and wouldnt go back to sleep, so, I brought her in the living room with me and she sits in her bouncer rocking herself to sleep. I did have to strap her in as she keeps getting out to pat the tv/pull the baubles off the tree/try and get to the presents to eat the paper and with a slight fight struggle persuasion she managed to fall back to sleep.

In regards to others sleep/feed problems...I dont know what constitutes as night waking....is it the moaning and then you lay them back down and they go to sleep or is it the ones where they wont go back to sleep after you do that that constitutes as waking only??

apart from the other night where we fed her at 4 am, I havent fed Iris since she was around 8 weeks in the night, but as I am on formula it might be a bit different. I think "they" say that if you feel like you'd like to stop the night feeds then to offer water instead and increase the food..."they" also say that an increase in carbs is also necessary...bring on the pasta and potatoes!

WFH- thinking of you

have bought the kit. feeling rotten today. tempted to go ahead and do it now both kids asleep. dh at work late tonight and would be a jittering wreck if positive and on my own. lets see if i can hold out.

go on OddEyes! I have done all my tests on my own. And in random places too. The one with S was in a public toilet on the way home from the shop where I bought the test. I couldn't even wait till I got home!

WFH - Hotel Du Vin!!!! for sure!! ooooohohh its lovely there!! i used to work in the building next to it and be in there for drinks and pistachios every friday!! ah them were the days

Nutts, thanks for your card, it arrived today and is decorating my mantlepiece.
The French don't do Christmas cards, so I have a grand total of....6 cards!

The Germans don't do cards either which I am quite grateful about to be honest. I've felt forced to write a few cards on behalf of DD1 today because she got some from her nursery friends so felt like I had to return the favour. She's only 2 1/2 fgs!

So people... how important are schools really? I know people move to certain places just so that they are in the catchment area of a good school - isn't that madness? We're currently near a great infant and a very good junior school but if we need a bigger house, we'll probably end up moving to an area with a so so school so is that a bad thing?

I went to a crappy school myself but that was in Germany and I don't know how crappy it can get in the UK...

I went to a bog standard secondary, and I am fine . Dunno what my primary is like on the desirability scale!

If, next year, you hear me saying anything along the lines of 'I'm doing homemade gift baskets for Christmas this year', please, shoot me then. I have made:

Elderberry jelly
Greengage jam
Jars of vanilla sugar
Sweet chilli sauce
Mincemeat
Piccalilli
Cranberry biscotti
Panforte
Peppery tree biscuit thingies
Granola
Sloe gin
Xmas pudding vodka
Herb rub
Peppermint bark
Hot chocolate

Plus labels for all of the above. So, whilst feeling very pleased with myself for being such a domestic goddess, I have now reached meltdown point trying to ice the bloody biscuits, get everything prettily bagged/ boxed/ bottled and labelled and then make up the baskets, wrap them prettily in cellophane and ribbon and whatnot....I have almost completed one of five and am ready to kill. I told DH just now 'never again'. His response? 'No, you don't want to become known as Gui who gives homemade crap every year. Homemade crap ? Homemade crap ???

He'll choose his words more wisely in future...

Bloody hell Gui, you actually are a domestic goddess. I am making christmas cake and mince pies and felt pretty smug about it until I read your list

Fei - where exactly are you looking to move? I would have thought even the 'bad' primary schools down that way are actually fine...

Oddeyes - any news?????

Kingbeat that you won't make Friday

WFH - will be thinking of you tomorrow x x

O is asleep. He is, yet again, maxed out on calpol and nurofen. I think he refused the bf yesterday evening because he was in pain with his teeth - I offered him boob after bath (usual routine) tonight and he refused it and wailed loudly, so I gave him calpol and gave it 20 mins or so to kick in, offered him boob again and he was happy as larry. Poor little monkey - teething sucks.

Just booked my cab for Friday night

I'll be there on time so I'd better not be billy no mates for too long

A has been squirming and crying on and off for an hour.
DS1 is still not right, crashed out on the sofa at 5:15pm and is in bed now, having had no supper. This happened last night and he woke me at 1am (in between A's 2 lengthy awake periods) to say he was hungry. I had to rustle up a midnight feast of madeleines and banana. Then he woke me up again at 3am, after going for a pee, to say he felt "funny".
If I have another night like that I may just flip.

re the calpol/doliprane, the chemist was reluctant to give me anything but suppositories for a baby, and I didn't insist too much as I have awful memories of DS1 trying to choke down a huge big dropper stick thingy full of sickly, viscous doliprane. A loves Calpol, which makes life easier.
I'll see what the other chemist up the road says, if I can ever get out of the blimming house . Thanks for your very kind offer, Bauble. Will sing out if need be!

For fellow BA spotters, did you see the thread where someone was moaning about how little their DH did, and BA replied that she needed to feel more relaxed about paying for outside help, mentioning in passing that she herself was getting a "maid" in to do cleaning/tidying/laundry over Christmas so that BA could concentrate on entertaining guests? I wish my bank manager felt more relaxed about that kind of thing.
I am plotting to organise a Paris meet-up one day, just so that I can see BA in real life. Last time a French one was mooted, she offered to host it. It would have been the perfect opportunity to find out if she is real, or a bored housewife in Dunkirk having a cynical laugh at our expense.