Sept 08: last year they were cute little bundles that smelt of milk and vanilla, but now they've been replaced with a babyzilla!

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

A new thread for us as the last one was running low.

Just had a google and I think it might be icing sugar?

Hey can I do the proud mummy thing?

Went to pick up DCs from nursery yesterday. DD is downstairs in the toddler room and I always collect her first and we go upstairs to collect DS from Explorers unit.

Yesterday we arrived upstairs, DD ran over to DS and gave him a massive hug, then she disappeared (there's no where she could hurt herself so I wasn't worried). I collected DS, signed him out, got his coat etc. and then we went to look for DD.

She was hiding in one of the little toilets and when I went in to see her she said 'poo'. I said 'have you done a poo?' and she said 'yes'. Bless her she had realised that she should be going to the toilet!

Bookingmarking as this has dropped off my 'I'm on'.

It's been a hectic week - M ended up at the hospital on Monday with Croup although she seemms fine (if grumpy!) now.

Oh Ninja poor you and poor M. Effy had a few bouts of croup which hospitalised her last year and it was really scary.

The thing is I feel like such a bad mum as she'd had it since Friday but we didn't take her to the doctor until Mon and they sent her to hospital straight away!

Sarting that she can't have been too ill as she'd been chasing her big sister around the house that morning.

No potty training here if I can avoid it, although I have had some friends potty train 18 month olds - but it hasn't always worked with subsequent kids so I think it depends on the child

Our washing machine's been broken for a week but we're getting a new one today. It was only 3.5 years old

Ninja You are not a bad mum, it is very difficult to know when littlies are properly ill compared to just a little bit ill. I have only taken DD to doc twice, once because she had very obvious conjunctivitis and the other because she had been really under the weather for ages - turned out she needed antibiotics and a cream for a bacterial infection, she had been ill for a week before I took her. it

I think there are two ways to go about it - either take them every time they're ill (and waste hours of your life being told to give them Calpol) or you wait until they have an obvious illness before you go. If you'd gone earlier they might not have diagnosed her anyway then you would only have had to go back again when she was worse, but whose to say that you would've done .... don't feel bad it's just one of those things, kids are always ill with something, most of the time it's nothing!

Thanks meglet Am going to try to make some frosted cupcakes

Hope your dd is feeling better soon ninja dont feel bad. They can so ill so quickly...one minute running around and the next in A&E.

ninja Hope M is much better now, you are certainly not a bad mum. I would have done the same as you. My dd has had a bad cough for weeks, we saw the gp a month ago(and that was because I was being super-neurotic and I had an appointment) - all fine, so I just thought her cough would run it's course and last until the spring. Last week nursery said she seemed to be coughing a lot so I took her to the gp's as it was my day off and she was diagnosed with a chest infection , no temp, no other signs of illness either and she was still tearing around like a maniac. Glad she's ok, but baffled as to why she didn't actually seem ill, I was nearly floored by a chest infection the other week. Funny things toddlers.

becaroo we need photos of your cupcakes. I haven't ventured into the world of cupcakes yet, I need to take the plunge.

I am considering changing my name to 'megletisseriouslypissedoffbecauseitsstillsoddingcoldouthere'. Where is spring? I'm still wearing my wooly hat and gloves . No daffodils yet either, and we're down south.

Ninja - the thing with croup is that they can be fine and even having mild attacks and then suddently it can become more serious - where they really struggle to breathe. And the other thing is that the steroid that can alleviate it can only be given at the hospital - GPs aren't allowed to administer it. Seriously do not beat yourself up about it.

DD's last serious attack was a few months ago now thankfully. When I collected DD from nursery they told me she'd been sounding bad but we were due to go to a concert that night we'd had booked for months. I talked to the babysitter (she works at nursery) and she said she was still happy to come. She came along and we gave her the instructions about taking her into the shower room and sitting in the steam if she seemed bad.

Anyway off we went. Just after Lenny came on stage the babysitter called me and said she seemed really bad and the shower wasn't working. I suggested she called NHS Direct - she did that, they listened to DD's breathing and sent an ambulance. We had to hare out of the concert after only 25 mins to meet them at the hospital. I felt terrible!

My little brother passed his phd viva today [proud sister emotion]

I just had to google that as I wasn't sure what the viva part meant. I have now learnt something . That's lovely news debi.

Are PHD's one up from a Masters? [never went to uni emoticon].

Thanks everyone - as I say she had had it since Friday, but seemed OK in herself (which I think is a big thing). I di agree that it's good to wait before going to the doctors and I'm sure that they were just being cautious.

I seem to have a child who finally sleeps through now. I hope it's not just the illness. I wake up every morning wondering what happened!!

Well done Dr Debi's Brother - what was it on?

Yes meglet it is 1 up from a Masters. He's now a Doctor of History. His phd was in something really exciting like 15th century Scottish history (yawn)

Hope the sleeping lasts ninja and hope she's all better soon. I don't bother taking them to the doc either unless it's something serious, always feel like I'll be told not to be silly and waste their time.

It's Sunshinemummy here. Am trying on a new name, do you like it [twirls]

A most excellent name, although calling you darstardly rather than sunshine seems a little mean for someone so nice!

I know what you mean about taking LOs to the docs. Last time I took dd it was coz she was wheezing and I thought I would be sent home and told to stop wasting their time, but the doc said she should sent her straight to hospital, but as she was such a happy wheezer it seemed ridiculous! Her breathing rate was through the roof, but you've seriously never seen a happier child. Thankfully the sensible doc phoned and spoke to the consultant who prescribed steroids and an inhaler over the phone. She was 2 1/2 though, our littlest ones are still a bit young so they have to err on the side of caution I guess. Hope all the poorly babies get better soon.

Well done DrDebisBro Three years studying anything on your own is worthy of a knighthood in my opinion!

Ds had a very out of character bad night last night, so we've not gone on a day trip with all our friends today, coz he and I are both too knackered! We went to the library this morning but he was a misery and has been put back to bed. If he sleeps for anything less than 3 hours I'll be cross! Dd has earned her tv rights back by keeping her pants dry. Seriously a year after potty training and she's still sooooooo lazy about it. Ds can stay in nappies til he starts school as far as i'm concerned

I've been googling easter crafts for the kids, and came across something so brilliant I simply had to share it
here

Will you be making the Easte bunny?

Hi all

The LEA advisor come and see Tom today to assess his progress since we took him out of school and give us some advice etc.

He was really lovely and was here for well over an hour. He looked at the work he has done, models he has made, art etc etc and at the end of the meeting he said "this is where I normally make suggestions for improvements on the education you are providing, but in this case I dont have any" !!!!! I think I have been more worried about this visit than I thought because I was so relieved when he said that. I think subconciously I have been worried that I have been doing everything wrong!

I am going to make encourage Tom to help me make easter cards this year....its great...its like I have my own little sweat shop!

Havent made the cupcakes yet as I have misplaced my piping bag, but have got 4 great recipes from the hummingbird bakery so will post them on here when I get time.

sunshine I couldnt possibly call you dastardly or smug!!!!!

Well, the ironing pile beckons....ugh.

ooh, and well done Debis dbro. Fab news.

Well done on your LEA visit Bec, I bet you're well chuffed. You MUST tell me about your cupcakes. Apart from them having a good sponge, I think the secret is good icing. Are you using buttercream?

Well done to Debi's db. I have never even heard of a phd viva!!

Hurrah on a sleeping M Ninja

I have just bought some hanging bag type things to grow some strawberries and cherry tomatoes in. The previous owners of our house seemed to bloody love hanging baskets so there are loads of brackets over the back of the house - which is south facing, hurrah!

Its called "frosting" in these recipes ILTMIMI I think its an american term?

Its basically buttercream but with milk and various added things like marshmallows and lavender...mmmmmmmmmmmm

Will post the recipes when I have the time x

Yes, frosting is an american term. Carrot cake with a cream cheese frosting... mmmmmmmmm

I had some lavender scones recently, they were lush. Not as strong as overpowering as I expected.

Congratulations DebiBruv!!
PhD is at least 3 years, usually after a Masters, and the viva is an oral exam where the examiners pick your work to pieces for a few hours. Gruelling!

And congrats bec on wowing the LEA guy.

Today has been quite a day.
Good news is A hasn't had any screaming fits at night since Tuesday.
Bad news - instead he's had one night waking with vomit, and last night had 3 bouts of liquipoo (did Wed morning, too). Yesterday he was right poorly but today he was full of bounce so figured would still visit parents.
Saw GP. Blood tests back - looks like I'm not ovulating at all. So referring back to previous patronising-but-expert gynae. A was fine all morning, but ended up throwing up 4 times and having a bout of liquipoo. Luckily my parents have a drier, a huge bath that A loved, and turned out MrNC had stayed working at home so I didn't need to rush back to let SIL in. It's clearly the same bug every baby in London seems to have had this week, but at least A seems pretty cheerful now as long as we don't let him see any milk or breadsticks when he insists on them and is then sick...

I'm looking forward to A enjoying Easter this year - gives me a proper excuse to make Bunny Cake. Easter seems to be almost the only time my American heritage shows through - growing up I spent about a month with family there every Easter. Might leave it a couple years before trying to dye eggs with A and SILds, though...

Hi girls. Hope spring comes soon. Anyone thinking of a funpod? DP and I both keen cooks (DP used to be a chef) and we'd love to get C to cook with us and funpods seem nice and safe, especially as she's quite small and not very strong. Link here www.thatcuteage.com/p1407-Little-Helper-FunPod
They are quite expensive though.

Off to library soon - just been refurbed and we've not taken DD in yet. Back later for some advice I hope as we have some discipline ishoooos here.

Where's starlight I wonder? If you're reading and not posting then and hope you're enjoying the sunshine!