June 2008: New Year, new thread, new names, new words, new goals, but no resolutions!

[abdnhikinginawinterwonderland]

New thread since the last one's at 997 posts...

Amber fraser had these ones - there's just not that much choice in boys shoes is there?

I'm off to bed - hope everyone has a good night. Fraser's still screaming his head off when we put him to sleep but he is doing better through the night so fingers crossed (and DH has been wonderful at getting up with him).

Amber - meant to say before, we got J's last pair from Brantanos, it's easier to get to than Clarks for me and sells Clarks shoes, the last pair I got were half price. They have the measuring facilities as well. He's not actually wearing them yet, he's still in his first pair when not stomping about in his moon boot things that is!
Thanks for the gap tip for slippers.
Will you bring the kittens in at night when you let them out? Would foxes cause them any hassle during the day?

X posted before Sponge, I feel like I have been whinging for the last 8 months! I warn you all it will only get worse over the next few weeks.

That lodge looks good Biscuits - I see it has underfloor heating, bliss!

UDC that is strange psychicness indeed! Hope your two are ok. And Biscuits, I now remember you posting about having the jabs. I'll wait for the docs to send something out.

Ktpie, goodness, any time now! Good luck!

Yesterday was the day that B managed to climb onto the sofa by himself. And the coffee table. He also has an obsession with switching all of the sockets on and off. Gah.

Been up since 6.30 - a slight improvement on yesterday's 6am. Goddess, I feel your pain!

Bugger - J is adept at climbing onto anything, he loves bouncing on our bed which is fairly worrying as it is in a very uncontrolled manner.

Sponge - didn't mean to imply with my last post that you had been whinging, just that I have! You've been so unlucky with illness recently, I hope you shake off this bug and get better soon.

My surgery have taken the policy of not contacting anyone about the SF jab but waiting until you contact them. I was keen on having the jab back in November but when I found out that was the policy (which I assumed to be nationwide) I took the view that if the doctors didn't think it was important enough to contact us then perhaps it had been blown out of proportion by the media. I have since found out that most surgeries have been contacting patients at risk and booking them in for a jab so to be honest I'm a bit annoyed with my surgery. Seems a bit late for me now, particularly as I am barely leaving the house. Not sure what to do about J, of course the surgery haven't been in touch so the first I knew of getting the LOs vaccinated was from here, I can't see us getting out much for a while once baby is here so he shouldn't be at too much risk of exposure. Not sure whether to leave it for a bit and see what the situation is once we are getting out more or just to get it over and done with.

What an odd policy ktpie. Health is a devolved matter and the Scottish government have decided to offer the jab to all cildren over 6 months and under 5. I'm still waiting to hear from my GP. I might give them a call actually to find out when they're doing it here. S will def get it.

On climbing - our sofa is a bit high but S can get on our bed with ease. He loves jumping on it too ktpie. We have a small table and chairs set for him and he's quite keen on using the chair as a stepping stone to climbing onto the table. He's a lightbulb moment away from realising that he could drag the chair around the house and using it to reach all those out of reach things. He has been trying to stand on his trike today to reach the tv (which is also on a quite high cabinet).

Our nightmare sleep phase continues. Essentially he wakes up and screams (not cries IYSWIM) And kicks his cot until we give in and bring him into bed. I did a fairly pathetic attempt at CC earlier in the week but tbh, as he's not actually crying I'm not sure the usual 5, 10, 15 min routine will work. Any suggestions? I was interested to read the more instictive crying tactics emploed by some of you, only going in depending on the type of cry.

Oh, lodge looks amazing biscuits

I've just gone on ravelry and added ktpie and is it biscuits? as friends. Not that I've anything I'd be willing to show on the site as a project, but the free patterns and pics are great. I did manage to knit DS1 some ribbed wristwarmers that he's very proud of though and can now purl and add stitches so I might be able to start tackling some for me... I'm loving these. (Trying to convince myself to stay away from the brora sale tomorrow and make things instead....)

Fraser was up in the night but I totally forgive him because he slept in until 7:20 so we got more sleep than normal, even with being up for 40 minutes listening to him holler.

Hope everyone's doing well Hope sponge is feeling better...

Goddess, I think you just have to not give in to the screaming and kicking - if you refuse to take him into your bed eventually he will realise and will stop. it might not be pleasant for a few nights though.

If it was T or E doing that I would go in and say very firmly 'stop that' because kicking the cot is not acceptable IMO (I sound like bloody supernanny now). And then say time for sleep, and leave the room. Keep going in every 5-10 mins or whatever feels comfortable for you. Good luck, you really have to be consistent.

Better go, off to the MIL's for chicken dinner!

Can you come visit for a few nights neenz . The biggest problem is that when we go in he gets much worse . I keep hoping that he'll just go back to normal soon which is what has always happened in the past.

That said, he's just had a mammoth 3 hour nap sprawled across me and DH on the sofa. It was particularly welcome because we were at a party last night and both feeling a bit fragile today. We weren't out late though, I guess our tolerance levels are just a bit low!

As a result I haven't done anything today - not even get dressed

Mygod ktpie. That is quick - will keep fingers for good weather for you for the grandparents travelling. And your doctors just sound crap re swine flu - that sounds inept .

sponge sorry you are under the weather - looking back I felt shite on and off for six months after Edie was born. And neenz sympathy as 8-11 weeks were
my worst bit of pregnancy for tiredness if nothing else.

domestic sorry about sleep issues but would agree with neenz about being firm but fair when kick cot. Although young they definitely understand getting a reaction and trying to do stuff for effect (eg kick cot, Get to go to big bed). Also does he nomally have such a long nap? Have cut e's nap as think definite link between 2 am playtime and too long a sleep in day. That said she has been up since 6.10 (Buddha shame they can't play together ) and thoroughly divaish at times - loads of nos, arched back , kicking and tears mainly at me so tomorrow could be a long day and sh away on Tuesday which will defo cause kickig off as he likes her routine and BOTH parents must be checked in before bed.

Weather improving here - anyone else had more snow?

poppy no its very rare that he sleeps that long. He's never been a big day time napper. It's usually the sign n that he's not well. We're going to see how he sleeps tonight and if it's the same we'll be more firm from tomorrow. We're both too knackered today to even contempate it. Thanks for advice.

Meant to say earlier about slippers, we got some slipper sock type from boots - I think the were about £8. We have laminate throughout downstairs but S can fun around fine with no sliiping (well, no more than usual)

It's tough Goddess but you just have to be consistent. T and E both get more worked up when we go in - I think most kids do - it's like it gives them a second (and third and fourth) wind, but they soon calm down again. Even though it winds them up I think going in is an important part of cc, because it lets them know you are still there, but that you are still not getting them out of the cot.

Yes, mum .

Am pleased to report though that S slept all night in his cot. Fingers crossed it's not just a blip!

hoorah goddess I'm sure it's not a blip

That's fab, Goddess!

Love, mum

Oooh Goddess how marvelous - you must feel like a new woman!

It's Luke's first day at nursery proper today. I feel terribly guility. He didn't even cry when I dropped him off and I looked in the window and he was scoffing weetabix so perfectly happy. I am sitting here on my backside watching telly which feels very odd indeed. I have had Luke home for 4 weeks so now it feels very quiet. I have unpacked the cat things, installed norton antivirus, booked my app with the fertility clinic, tidied the kitchen and am going to put a casserole in the oven. I should be lapping it up - why aren't I? I think I miss my monkey and it's only 10.30 and it's making me tearful just thinking about it - what's wrong with me?!

Shit now I'm properly crying. You'd think I would enjoy having some time to myself. If I'm this emotional now what am I going to be like when pumped full of hormones?

My post disappeared, but it said something like...

Amber, give yourself a bit of time, it is only his first full day. When dd had her first day at pre-school (she was 2.9 years) it was my first time home alone in over 5 years. I spent the whole 2.5 hours cleaning toilets to 'take my mind off it' and sobbing. A few weeks later I would drop her off and rush off to read a book/meet up with a friend/go clothes shopping for me. In a couple of weeks this will be you too.

I have a stinky head cold and feel terrible. DH has broken a knuckle/finger and is miserable and in pain. J has twigged we are neither of us on top form and is running around like a whirling dervish creating havoc and destruction wherever he goes. I only haved the energy to watch him at this stage.

I have however managed to get a sausage casserole going in my new slow cooker for tea and am feeling a bit domestic goddess-y about it. Fingers crossed it turns out ok.

Goddess hooray re god night. Sybil an sorry it's not good times in your house- does cbeebies focus j's manic actions any?

Amber am sure you will get used to it and sounds like luke likes it. Sybil is right...

I know Sybil and Poppy - day one I guess. I know I'm being silly. I have busied myself with cleaning the oven and the grill trays which were so burnt on with grime that I had to scrape everything off with a knife after even brillo pads wouldn't do it (Mark cooking without foil ). I am feeling mucho better now and funnily enough have made a sausage casserole!! There is a spa 1/2 a mile from the nursery so I'm going to go and have a look at it. My redundancy money will soon be gone at this rate!

Sybil - hope you feel better soon. How did DH do his finger? Or shouldn't I ask. Kids always play up when you don't want them to little blighters. Hopefully he should be going for a nap soon.

Amber glad you're feeling better now. I echo what Sybil says!

Sybil hope you and your DH are better soon.

Goddess well done on the good night's sleep . Mine was awful but we've had some good ones recently.

Sponge how are you feeling now?

Neenz how are the pregnancy hormones?

Well, I have had such a positive day but it is going to look so tragic to type it out. The children were all back at school today. I had an appointment to get my v veins looked at, and after a nice easy train journey (platforms gritted, train on time) and walk through the hospital grounds (also gritted) I was seen v quickly by a v nice consultant who is happy to operate on them. I'm going to get the consultant doing the op himself because there was something complicated about my particular spaghetti junction, so I'm expecting lovely neat stitches. I should have a date in my diary for some time in the next month or so. Sometimes I just love the NHS. How great is that - nothing life-threatening or painful, in know, but they were so efficient about it. I bet now I won't get a date and will have to chase them and they'll operate on the wrong leg . All I have to do now is break the news to DH that he'll be in charge for 24 hours . This is a HUGE deal in our house, with lots of brinkmanship, claims that it will all have to be cancelled, blah blah. Thea was really good in the hospital and on the train, and fell asleep whilst we went into town afterwards.

See, that was so boring wasn't it? I'm becoming one of those people whose live revolves around minor medical matters. Tomorrow I'm seeing someone about my hernia . Hope you can contain yourselves!

Good news about your op Rolf. Its always nice to get a good result, and I bet you'll get super-fine stitches too, which is ace.

DH broke his finger beginning of last week but then had to go to dubai so has waited ages to see the dr. He was coming in the front door and slipped on the ice outside the house. He then tried to grab the house to steady himself and ended up punching the wall instead. We think its a broken knuckle rather than finger but have to wait for the hospital appt. to be sure. This sort of extreme clumsiness is typical of dh though, a man who once broke his foot dancing (I kid you not)

Hello, I'm here and lurking - went to a wedding on the weekend and what with the weather and everything it was like an arctic expedition!

I'm going to post and run . Having a major wobble because I found a lump in my breast. It's probably nothing, I've seen my GP, and I'm waiting for a referral to the breast clinic. But I'm still in a flat panic.

Tedi, how frightening. You know it is probably nothing - at your age, your risk factors are very low (and you BF'd) so try not to worry. Do you have breast cancer in your family? Hope you get seen soon.

Rolf, loving the v veins story! That is the difference with the NHS under Labour IMO - under the Tories you got seen quickly if you were dying, everything else you had to wait two years for! I hope your DH can suck it up and take charge and not give you stress.

My hormones are raging . I am feeling quite on edge at times, like I am very angry at someone but I am not sure who, or I fear I have really upset someone, and I'm not sure who! I am tired too, but it is all reassuring. I just want 12wks to come (am 9+1 today) I keep telling myself that MCs are actually quite rare at this stage (usually they happen at 6-8 wks I think) and that I am feelign so ill and tired that it must be going OK, but after a previous MC I don;t think you ever really relax. I am much more relaxed than I was when pg with the twins though!

I have already got a bump, my DH and MIL both commented on it yesterday . But it is only because I can't stop eating. I have ballooned from the bottom of my ribs to my pelvis . I couldn't do my jeans up yesterday, and today I thought I might have to dig my maternity trousers out, but I found some stretchy jeans that fit me .

Amber, perhaps you could take Luke to nursery later in the morning and pick him up early, then you still get plenty of time with him but also time to yourself, or cut his days down each week? I think you should listen to your instincts - if they are telling you you should be with Luke, then you should be with him. You are so lucky to be in a position to afford childcare when you are not working (I know you are doing this in preparation for IVF) but loads of people must go through IVF without the childcare there? You can make it work.

Crikey, tedi I can completely understand why you're panicking and hope you get the all clear. You won't have to wait long for an appt will you?

Thanks all for sleep comments. Got everything crossed for another good nght here.

Amber I think your feelings today are completely understandable and you probably just need to give it a bit of time. Have you got any 'projects' to work on. I think you need to make lots of plans over the next couple of weeks to give you something else to focus on.

Sybil hope you feel better soon and that J hasn't trashed the place!

Sponge, if you're lurking, I hope all is well with you.

Now can someone tell me about purée? Is she still having MN problems or has she ditched MN altogether because they were rubbish at sorting out her MN problems?

Also, deb how are things with you? I was glad to read of your dad's apology - how did DH take it?