May 2009 - A new start. Mine's a large gin please.

[runningmonkey]

Here you go ladies.

I did go to bed between posts! Morning all, hope all ok.

Night not too bad in the end, A was only a little bit unsettled in the end.

Hope everyone has exciting days planned! Nothing here, I might go to Clarks in town today, and I need to find more very small treats/presents (not edible stuff) for DD1 as toilet bribes incentives.

Flippin glad your night wasn't as bad as your feared.

H was snotty and coughing last night but he managed to settle himself a few times. He was up between 3 & 4am and at 6.30 for the day . Definitely a cold rather than teething though as I've had it too. He's doing another (short) day at nursery today so I have a few hours to myself to snooze MN catch up with housework.

Hinny I fear you may have to change your name to sinnin'hinny

spangle like the sound of your day with DH and glad to hear H was fine at nursery. Get some zzzzzzzzz in. Sod the housework.

hinny oh god your cake is making my mouth seriously salivate. I adore cream cheese icing.

flip glad you had reas night. Update us on your shoe purchases ( its a recurring theme on this thread isn't it )

belgina good news on your house sale. You will consult us over every house viewing you have though. Clearly you can't make a decision as important as that without us being involved!!! Do you think the forth coming clock change may help with wake up times? I can never remember whether its forwards or backwards but have a vague feeling that this one may assist those with the early risers.

llare come on with your TTC. I don't want to be the only one at it!

Headless, I picked up my super strong folic acid today!

lol at sinnin'hinny! TTC - exciting stuff! One of the girls from my RL ante-natal class (from DD1) has just told us she's pregnant with her third, her oldest will be 3 and a half when number 3 arrives.

spangle - hope you are having a nice day!

Back later. Off to visit some ducks now!

Hellloooooooo

Gah.

I have progressed from zimmer frame to crutches, although sadly not whizzing about just yet. My parents brought M in earlier and I cried when they left as I heard her wo'ing down the corridor.

So. Here I am, in a hospital bed in attractive stockings, a vesty top thingy and pyjama bottom shorts things. No knickers, as they cut into the MAHOOSIVE bruise I have which is gradually making its way across the top of my leg. Surgeon is fairly happy with what he did, said he scraped a lot of bumps off but sadly found more arthritis in there than he thought I had, which he couldn't really tell by x ray or MRI, so he said basically my hip is beginning to fail and this op should buy me some time before a hip replacement but he doesn't know how much. I'm so effing miserable about it, I can't begin to explain it. I've had problems with this hip since about 1978. I now can't look after M properly and we really do want to go for another baby, TTC later on this year.... I don't think I will be able to do 'it' for a while though, physically .... I've left it all too late, just spent all my adult years studying my arse off for nothing, and now I've got a gammy hip and waaaaaahhhhh

Sorry. I'm just really fed up, in shitloads of pain, and when they give me the strong morphine painkillers I am practically tripping (which may not necessarily be a bad thing with my parents here, come to think of it) so I then need some anti-emetics.

Sorry not to NC - I'll be back later and be more chatty. Just miss M and am fed up

Toodle oo for now

Aw saus I wish there was somethin' I could say or do to make you feel better.

but not too hard because of your poorly bruises

I put some photos of a mini-meet with formerly momi and pula on my fb. Twas luvvurley

saus gentle hugs for you my dear. Like hinny I wish there was something useful I could say or do. Hope you will be home soon and have lots of cuddles with M.

I'm afraid its going to be a bit me me me...

I have come home from picking up A in tears today because my CM has just told me that she can't cope with A's separation anxiety - apparently today she cried all day if the CM tried to put her down or moved away from her at all. Apparently it is affecting the CM's own children as they are really upset by the crying (they are school age).I have agreed with her that we will see what happens for a few weeks after the Easter hols but she has warned me that if there is no improvement, we should probably start to look elsewhere. I feel v sad about this as she is lovely but I am also a bit shocked because I really got the impression that A was settling ok despite a little clingyness - She has only been going for 4 weeks, 3 days a week although one week was only 1 day as DD was ill. Its not enough time for her to have settled in is it?

Any suggestions for things I could make to try to make it easier? I was thinking of maybe suggesting that DD does some shorter days on the days I am not in work for a few weeks to try and see if that makes her more settled there? I could try to get home a bit earlier to pick her up too if nec.

saus- ouch. sorry to hear about your hip problems- i am not surprised you are about it all when you have suffered for over 30 years and you still face more problems . Big hugs. Hope you will be back home with M and DH soon.

running- sorry to hear A has been unsettled at the CMs- she really should have told you sooner. I would say it takes at least a month for a LO to get used to something like nursery or CM and if A was poorly one week, then I think you do need a bit more time to see how she is. 9-12 months is a really bad time for separation anxiety. S gets it worse when he is tired and/or hungry and/or poorly- do you know if the CM gives snacks or puts A down for a nap to see if that helps? How is A with you at home?

llareggub- ooh TTC too . Good luck. As for getting G out of your bed, I go through phases of getting S out of my bed, but then he comes back when he's teething/poorly or if i fall asleep feeding him. At least for the last 5 nights he's been in the travel cot in our room. One day he will sleep through in his own room- I will be breaking out the champers when that finally happens .

singinhinny- it was lovely to meet you and S (and momi and H too of course) - just visit the FB group if you want to know more about the midlands meet-up next month- would be nice if you are able to come .

Evening ladies.

I have to get it off my chest. WORK . What a day !!

Sausage You poor thing. Sending you (gentle) hugs. Tis crap. Don't know what to say. xx

York girls how lovely to meet up. Hope you had a fab time.

Running Oh no ! I agree with Pula that your CM should have said something sooner. Your CM should be coming up with alternative strategies and solutions to help you out really. Had you considered an alternative environment like a nursery? The fact that A is in a home environment might be reminding her of home IYKWIM. Or I might be talking bollocks... it has been known ! Anyway, have some hugs too.

LadyH and Llare . Have fun trying !

I have bought myself a pair of ghds, and am waiting for my hair to dry before I attempt to make myself look less poodle-like. I shall keep you posted. I've been really grumpy all week and have realised today it's cos I am really uncomfortable with my hair cut. Bloody hair, pain in the arse.

tummum- sorry you had a bad day at work . I think you may be talking sense not bollocks . running- does your CM have other children in the daytime (whilst her own DCs are at school)? S is definitely much happier when there is lots going on, as distraction is great for clinginess. He took a couple of weeks to get used to nursery (3 days a week too) and only in the last few weeks has he been really settled, and he's been going since January.

Thanks pula and tum I agree that she should have said something earlier. Yes she has 2yo twins for part of the day as well. We did look at a nursery but because I only need term time care, its just not financially viable for us. I think tiredness/hunger might be a factor so have suggested and extra nap and/or a snack after school in the highchair while the CM is preparing dinner might help. Have had a long chat with my Mum about it and am going to see if she will see me on Monday morning so we can talk about strategies without the other mindees being there. I would like to keep her there if the CM is happy to have her obviously!

Running CM sounds like a bit of a PITA!! It's her job to settle A and shouldn't be stressing you out over it. 3 or 4 weeks isn't really long enough to know whether it is a phase or not. I'm sure she will settle in time. Would she consider putting her in a sling in the afternoons when her DCs are home from school?

Tum Let us know how the GHDs work on your hair. I have recently started using them and I am really pleased that they make my hair look much better.

Ah bless thank you ladies! Nice to get some virtual non hurty hugs. Means a lot

DH has been to visit me this evening, but said he won't be coming to my parents this weekend (I'm off there tomorrow after being let out of here to recuperate and have help with M) as my Mum is doing his head in! Both my parents are at ours this evening, and he said he will talk to my Dad but not my Mum. Apparently his Mum called last night (DH was here again) to ask after me, and my Mum was terse with her (she can't stand her). So of course, MIL tells FIL, who emails DH saying that my Mum has upset MIL.... oh bollocks to it all, I'm so about it all, such pathetic squabbling about nothing and crap and I'm laid up in effing hospital..... AAARRGH. Grow the F UP!!!

Anyway. DH says he will come this weekend now, but only to see me and M (erm, like what other reason?!) but won't come the following weekend. God he can be a miserable knob.

Running - don't really know what advice to give re the CM, as have had no experience, but agree she should have told you earlier. We are getting our Mums to look after M when I go back to work for those few months - god, I am NOT looking forward to it - its like competition of the grannies. (Anyway, as you all know, my MIL is barmy - she has bought M a bag full of 'lovely' presents for easter (in someone else's eyes) - a china egg cup and a rabbit egg cosy from avon, a wooden xylophone for 3 year olds and above, a chick which quacks and moults, and is again for 3 years and older, a china peter rabbit mug with a little toy peter rabbit (after my mum said she'd get her a peter rabbit - my GOD I can't tell you how THAT has gone down) and a VILE dress with flowers and stripes and is aged 6 - 9 months. HELLO?! Which effing planet is this woman on? Doesn't she KNOW how old her grand-daughter is?!) (And don't I sound utterly ungrateful for not liking presents?! Sorry )

Sorry (again). I clearly cannot go on about this to DH, so sorry ladies, I'm taking it out here.

Gah.

Singin' - love the fb pics of your day out - looks fab. I'd love to do another meet up, it would be lovely if we could go somewhere where babies could crawl about like wot where you all went.

Get this for sillyness - my biggest bruise looks like a squashed chorizo! (a sausage!!)

I thought I was flying earlier. It really felt like it. I'm on some morphine based stuff. I swear if you shook me I'd rattle, I've taken that many tablets. The nurse has also asked me 3 times today if I've done a poo

running- have you tried asking a few nurseries about term-time only care? My DCs nursery offers this, which i was surprised about. Worth investigating?

Llare, headless, good luck on the TTC front - how exciting!

oh, saus, poor you, no wonder you're . Things probably feel even worse because you're stuck in stupid hospital lonely and hurting and vulnerable. Although you've painted such a pretty picture of yourself that I'm sure you're actually fighting off hordes of gorgeous men who just happen to be in the vicinity. You'll be at home in no time, keep your chin up and have some unMNy hugs xx

Running, I agree with pula and tum, your CM should have raised the issue -differently - weeks ago and suggested some solutions to try back then. Febes' idea sounds fab if the CM would be up for it?

Belgina, congrats on the house sale. Are you definitely going to buy somewhere close to where you're living now?

Tum, not good re work. Hopefully you'll have a better day the next time you're in. Might be worth remembering all the words of advice from the work / life discussion the other night as well - I think the essence was some of us don't care, some don't want to care, some aren't cared about by colleagues / companies, some care too much and we all care most about our families right now!

Pula we have the same with F - he used to sleep through in his room in his cot but now he ends up in bed with us every night pretty much because he's always blooming poorly / teething. Oh well, there are worse things than having a snuggly baby in your bed in the morning!

Hope all non-NCs are well.

Oh, and sinnin'Hinny, I also love love love carrot cake / cream cheese icing so save some for me please!

Off to watch masterchef on sky+ now; DH is in Edinburgh with work and I'm listening to F snuffle and cough over the baby monitor.

running- and i think the term-time only day rate at my DCs nursery was only slightly (like 5%) more than the normal day rate, so not too expensive as you save on all those weeks you don't need childcare.

saus- sorry but your post made me . Are you still on the morphine . Feel free to tell us all your MIL/FIL stories as they are very entertaining, and I am not surprised you are with everyone's behaviour. At least the vile dress is too small to be worn so you have a good excuse to never dress M in it. My mum tends to go the other way - get a size too big just to make sure they are big enough which often means that clothes are in the wrong season. She also informed my aunty that S was a "big baby" which meant that my aunty took back a 0-3m outfit when S was born to get a 3-6m one- just how giant did she tell my aunty he was .

saus, crossed posts. Bah, men. And mums (of both the M and MIL variety). Pah. I would suggest staying in hosp for a nice rest but as you're already seeing pictures in your bruises (chorizo? honestly? ) I think you should get out sooner rather than later!!

Your MIL sounds a bit of a shocker but I suppose she means well. It could be worse, I guess. And anyway, all MILs are given a list of every single button to press and nerve to jangle for all their DILs. Even the nice ones. Mine's nice and she can rile me to screaming within approx 40 seconds....

sausage - have some more hugs, and would a bottle of lucozade help too? Well, that's what you take people in hospital, isn't it - that, and grapes. Or we could smuggle some gin in for you? Gah at all the family stuff.

running - hope you can come to some kind of arrangement for childcare, everyone has said what I was thinking already.

tummum - sorry to hear about work, but hope the GHD do the business!

A is still ill. Well, she's been ok today, just snotty, but the coughing has meant that she hardly slept today, she just kept coughing herself awake, and it's happening again this evening.

My in-laws arrive tomorrow! Eek! The house is sort of tidy, and I've roughly cleaned the kitchen and bathroom, but I'm not proud of my house right now . DH isn't back until Saturday, so I have t deal with his parents on my own until then. Oh, and saus - they usually bring really bizarre presents too, jars of marmelade, bread baskets, tissue box covers, that kind of thing!

I've forgotten everything else I was going to say already, so there'll probbaly be another post from me when I remember!

Pula - yep, am still on the morphine - can't you tell?!

Other crappy thing MIL did the other day when we were at theirs. We were packing things up to go (hurrah) and she was carrying M about (oooh who's grandma's lovely girl, you're a right bobbydazzler etc) and she spotted a neighbour washing her car 100 yards down the road, and said 'ooh I'm just nipping over to see X to show my lovely grand-daughter' and off she whizzed. Sorry, but ?! I stood on the drive open mouthed, and DH and FIL just stood there like 2 sdoopid wet lemons. FIl said, 'ooh, its alright sausage, X is a nurse' WTF?!?!?! M then started crying. So MIL brings her back (she shuffled back in her slippers!) with M all upset (and bloody COLD, she whisked her out with no coat, jumper or hat or ANYTHING, and it WAS cold, you could see your breath and EVERYTHING) .... I took her off her and put her straight in the car, and said, right, time to go.......

Mum also said that one of MILs 'famous' home made cards arrived for me yesterday. DH has hidden it. Or chucked it. Honestly, the one she made for his birthday last weekend had teddies playing golf on it (with a special sticker on the back saying 'handmade by MIL' with a little star.) It's quite embarrassing. She means well, but they are truly awful.

Ho hum.

Flip - I asked DH to bring me in some lucozade - he 'didn't pass a shop' AND my parents visited at lunchtime with M, and they brought in her bottle, and their lovely Marksies sarnies, crisps and drinks and nothing for me. I have been drinking effing water all day.

I think I am deserving of a sulk!

Hello all!
Feeling v and with work but I think I just need to get on with it.
It really doesn't help that I'm trying to do my old job (that I used to do in 5 days and some evening work) in 4 days and no evenings. V difficult though and I wouldn't change it as I like the job in essence and don't want to work more than I have to! Maybe a move to Oman would be a good idea after all! (Still no news on that!)

saus - I think you need the morphine to cope with all your helpful relatives. LOL at "sausage bruise".
Have another virtual non-hurty hug.

running - sorry I don't have any experience with CMs but the advice others have given sounds good. Hope you manage to find a solution.

York meet-up - sounds great! V

ReeBee - my DH is also away (Paddy's Day piss up) and I'm sitting in bed listening to O's noises over the monitor! I'm hoping for a good night as I'm full of cold and could do with some decent sleep.

Hello everyone else!

saus - I really do believe your MIL and my mum could have been separated at birth . My mum does the "showing off" thing too, handing my LOs to various friends of hers but then leaving them to go and chat to someone else - not the best thing when LOs are clingy and don't know the person holding them . DH and I were very at my mum and dad's 40th anniversary party (at their church), when my mum took DS1 (aged 2) off to show him off to some friends, then let him skirm his way out of her hand whilst she chatted. We were over the other side of the room watching as he then legged it for the exit and we had to run after him - he almost made it to the (busy) road . grrrr

Anyway, I am one of the lucky ones who cannot say a bad word about their MIL or FIL .

Ah Pula am v But its not that I don't like her... she is just barmy!

Just took a picture of sausagebruise on my phone to put on facebook. Then promptly deleted it. Yuck!