May 2009 - one year on

[Tummum]

Here you go ladies...

Just had a quick read through...

Blotted lovely website - love the bright picture on the home page.

ses cherrytom (any others I've missed?) good luck with the TTC!

belgina sorry to hear about the sad situation at work. You must be faced with some tragic stories, but hopefully very rarely.

Momino about your tyres.

Tummum your DH has been in the wars lately hasn't he? Hope he recovers soon. Any news on California?

Febes well done on the weight loss! Glad your 2 are getting on well, even if it means double trouble for you . Remind me what the age gap is? There'll be about 20m between H and #2 and I hope they'll end up being close.

to Fi, flip, saus, smokey, llare and everyone else I've not mentioned.

Quiet evening tonight as DH has sloped off to bed early. H brought a sickness bug back from nursery last week. He's now mostly better but it hit DH & I yesterday, we had hardly any sleep last night (although H was partly responsible for that) and are both exhausted today. Somehow I am still up tidying etc while DH has been asleep all evening. But then he, of course, has the man version .

I've been distracted on t'internet lately looking at camera stuff and wedding photography. My step-sis's best friend is getting married next month and I've been talked into doing photos as she has absolutely no money, can't afford to pay anyone and doesn't know anyone else with a decent camera, so it's either me or no-one. It won't be a formal wedding though - quite the opposite - a 'humanist' ceremony with guests sitting on hay bales in a field, then musician friends providing entertainment and a hog roast in the evening. She's putting no pressure on me to do anything special but nonetheless it does feel like a hefty responsibility! Anyway, I've used it as an excuse to get a nice new lens so I've been geeking about on flickr reading lots of techy discussions. I think DH would prefer me to be on MN

We've got a dietician appointment for H tomorrow to talk about his dairy allergy. It's only mild, and he does eat some cheese from time to time with no real ill effect but I'm concerned he's not getting enough calcium (it's not like you can feed a 1 year old masses of spinach!).

Right, better get to bed myself I suppose! Night all x

Have I killed the thread???!

spangle, just saw our FB photos of Italy - gorgeous! H is so gorgeous too . it really reminds me of the place we stayed, Selvapiana. wish I could go back

NC amnesty here, too. Hope everone is well. much better day here, no Evil Queen from Sleeping Beauty today. but then, Grandparents were here to take out dd1 to lunch (last day of preschool!) and dd2 and H were in nursery! a lovely day.

time to go to sleep though. sleep well and sithee soon.

I just bought a mai tei sling! I know I know I'm a bit late in the day but I did use my Kari me when R was younger but he is way too heavy for that now and DD is brilliant at walking now so I can hopefully do stuff without the wretched buggy.

DD has diahorrea

Spangle My DCs are 18 months apart and it is a great agegap although tough in the early days. Your DCs will be great friends .

Hands Febes a cider.

Spangle How did you guys get on with H's allergist? If you need to chat, give me a shout - my 3yo DD is atopic so I understand the allergy chat!

We've been down in the shop all day and it's filthy! We've cleaned up most of the front, the staff have already painted and we're hoping to get our leccy back on sometime this week. It's all so exciting!

blotted - sounds very exciting indeed!

febes - yay! what tok you so long?! Boo to the d word (won't type it cos I can't spell it, especially after 2 glasses of wine!)

spangle - hope you're all feeling better now. How did the allegy appt go?

Estate agents? . But moving quickly o far.

Hope all ok out there!

Evening all,
on phone so gonna be quick

blotted just read your blog post on elc but can't comment on my phone! I am sooo with you. My most recent bugbear was buying A a trike why do they have to be either pink with 'i'm a princess' on or blue with racing cars? We eventually tracked down a nice plain primary coloured one but got v annoyed in the process

hi to everyone else, off on hols tomorrow so won't be around much over the next week. Have a good one all x

Oooh glad you have all come back

The dietician appt was quite useful. She went through H's diet, how much he bf-s and what other milk/dairy substitutes he generally has (not much/many) and concluded he's unlikely to be getting enough calcium. And given the fact his weight is below the 0.4th centile and hasn't yet stabilised (tho he's had quite a few bugs over the last few months) she thinks he'd benefit from more fat in his diet too. So she gave us a note to ask the GP to give us a prescription for a calcium supplement and a soya-based formula to see how he gets on with it. She said we could also try him with shop-bought soya milk but the formula will have more calories in it.

Alarmingly, she told us there's been a bit of a scare recently about rice milk - which H has on his cereal - as it contains arsenic - eek! Only a minute amount and not enough to do any harm I'm sure but good to know not to give him too much.

Blotted how severe is your DD's allergy? Has she any signs of growing out of it? H's allergy - which we accidentally found out is cow's milk protein rather than lactose - is a type 1 reaction but quite mild: he gets a blotchy red rash and hives from skin contact which usually disappears in about half an hour; he also has v v mild excema (just a bit of dry skin really, though it flared up in the heat on holiday). No other symptoms are apparent. The dietician says if we want she'll refer us to the allergy clinic so they can pinpoint exactly what it is and monitor as he grows up... I guess we may as well have the tests if they're being offered.

Febes ooh I googled the mei tai and they're gorgeous. I might get one or a connecta for #2... I didn't really get on with my wrap sling, too much of a faff, and the Baby Bjorn is a bit uncomfortable.

momino thanks for the comment about my photos. I've not been to Selvapiana - I'll look it up on the map. Umbria is such a beautiful part of the world.

running enjoy your holiday!

spangle, ARsenic ? really?

ours our 20 mos apart and they're all good friends (though H is only starting to become 'one of the gang'). Febes is right that it's tough work in the early days but will pay off. dd1&2 are best friends (and enemies at times)

running have a great hol!

hi everyone else!

rant before I go: inlaws have been here and took dd1 out to lunch yesterday after her last day of preschool. she had waffles, ice cream and strawberries. for lunch. i was quite annoyed but laughed it off. that's not a Real Lunch. i suppose strawbs are one of the five a day... but ice cream? would you be annoyed? MIL has also brought biscuits, scones. I've already asked her not to bring anything sweet and will have to remind her the next time.

I hope I don't sound ungrateful but think my girls are eating too many cakes, puddings, etc.

Morning everyone.

Things calming down (sort of) in the Tumm household, and DH on the mend. He's starting to talk and eat, so must be feeling better. I've banned him from ambulances and the general hospital for at least 6 months from now

Main news is that I'm interviewing some nannies today. I have been unhappy with our current nanny for quite a while, and it came to a head yesterday when I realised she's pulled a sicky today . I am absolutely terrified at giving her her marching orders because she has been with us for 3 years and I know is looking to buy a house shortly, and I feel so guilty about letting her go, but at the end of the day I really need someone I can rely on when I am starting my new job. [I am conscious that I sound dead posh and rich talking about having a Nanny, but the actual cost is less than 2 lots of nursery fees. Please don't think me posh...!]. So I am excited at the prospect of a change and not having to come back to a house that looks like a bomb's hit it when I come back from work, but crapping myself about having a very difficult conversation.

California.... well Paul is off to San Fran for a week in August. So we shall see.

Had my first double vomit incident last night, with DD1 throwing up in the top bunk, making DD throw up in the bottom bunk. Niiiiiice.

Short name check

Fi amazing and gorgeous cake making skills (from FB) - you are so talented
Momi I'd be a but too. It would have been better if they'd asked you 1st
Spangle lovely holiday photos, and glad the dietician was helpful
Running have nice holiday
Blotted so glad you have the shop keys and very exciting times for you
Flip estate agents
Febes hope the d has gone away from your household

Hello everyone else that I've missed

Morning

My friends DD has chicken pox and I'm thinking of taking my 2 over too see if they can get it over and done with too. Am I crazy to even think of it?? We move house in 2 and a bit weeks but the same friend is the one who will look after the DCs for me for the day. I'd rather they get it now than when we are in South Africa .

Flip I have been thinking of getting a mai tei since seeing Belgians at our meet up and also when Fi was designing her pattern for one. I guess DD still needed the buggy then though so I wouldn't have used it as much but now she walks for a good hour to the shops and back. It will mean we can go on lots of country strolls where buggys can't really go.

Tum Nannys are definately the better option when you have 2+ DCs as nursery fees are so expensive £50 or more a day down here per child and they have limited hours. Difficult if you have to deal with problems with them though.

I'd totally get the kids to a chickenpox party, better getting it out the way. Greer is my only one who hasn't had it yet and I'm desperate for her to catch it!

Tum I'm considering a nanny too, I pay £1000+ pcm on nursery fees for my three. It's extortionate.

Momino I wouldn't mind as a treat but not as a regular occurrence.

Spangle She has type 1 reaction too - she has something called Atopy so referring her for allergy testing right now is pointless because what she's allergic to right now isn't necessarily what she'll be allergic to in a month. Her reactions differ depending on the allergen, she had an anaphylactic reaction to pineapple but isn't that severe with dust - it tends to just be a rash & a wheeze. Erica will very probably grow out of her issues.
WRT allergy testing, I'd advise you to hang fire. The testing isn't nice and they can only test for allergies you already suspect, they can't test for random things. xx

Blotted, how old is your eldest? will you get a break on nursery fees soon? £1000+ is .

Tumm, it's too bad about your nanny but it sounds like a change is necessary. It sounds like you'll be happier and maybe your current nanny needs a bit of a 'kick' to get in gear (iykwim). she may be happier doing something else, that is.

febes, good luck with the CP party. all 3 of mine had them though when Harper had them she was just a few months old with a mild case so not sure if this means she's susceptable again . moving in 2 weeks!! that's going to fly! i'm so excited for you.

i'm just taking a break with a cuppa tea. girls watching Sesame Street in a trance (well, it's educational), H still napping, and I'm off now to make some bread, empty the dishwasher, do the laundry: all things i started this morning but have yet to finish one of them .

Hope everyone is fine.

tumm, more importantly, glad things are calming down and the DH is getting better! hope you're relaxed as well.

Momino My eldest is 9, my eldest at nursery has only one more year to go and then he'll be at school. Thank God!

Evening! Sorry, no NCing, I'm too tired. Just wanted to say hello to you all! Catch up tomorrow.

Everybody wants to move quickly - it's possible that the sale will be completed by the end of August

Hello Flip - I think I'm off to bed in a minute too. Amazing that your move could happen so quickly! Hope it all comes together smoothly for you.

Hello everyone else

Evening ladies,

S is determined to teeth in an unusual pattern. After having 6 incisors for months and months, he finally cut a molar on Friday night, and now a canine today! What a weirdo .

Just wondering if anyone else's LOs are having full blown tantrums already? S throws himself on the floor when he has a paddy about something he can't have! I just leave him rolling around until he calms himself. Also he's started the collapsing arm trick that they all learn - so when you try and pick him up, you have to get an arm under the bum to get a good hold. It's funny how they all learn it, but it just seems very early - terrible twos are going to be fun . As a result, i've started teaching him some signs so that he can hopefully communicate better and not get so frustrated. I've taught him milk, water, more, book, thanks (never too early to try some manners ) and he's picked them up really quickly. Hopefully it might calm him down a bit.

Ses I'm on day 31 of my cycle not sure whether that is normal for me as haven't paid much attention to my cycle before. So I am trying not to get excited...
Pula I know exactly what you mean about 'collapsing arm trick' usually accompanied by a scream!
Tummum glad DP is on the mend

Am slumped in front of telly- watching a programme about Amish teenagers. Will have to take day off work tomorrow as J has had diarrhoea and vomiting this weekend

ooh cherry - how exciting to be TTC. I found that after my periods came back my cycles were a bit varied in length and i had some cheap pg tests so i did a lot of testing . Fingers crossed for you.

I am still to have any periods- a mixture of minipill and BF twice a day. Not that I want them back - think 3 DCs is plenty for me - no broodiness here - funny to think DS1 was around this age when I got pg with DS2 .

cherry, saw the Amish program as well - very interesting and actually was a bit envious of the Amish no-frills lifestyle. I went into town today and was gobsmacked by the amount of jewellry, handbags, shoes etc that I wanted to buy but had no money. How lovely it would be to be in a community where such possessions meant nothing and I didn't have such a desire to buy! btw, good luck with your ttc! how exciting.

Pula, tantrums here! H screams, SCREAMS when anyone takes away toy/book/drink from her hands. she also flops on the floor when being ignored. it's almost funny. great idea on the sign language. I might try to do the same, maybe it will help.

Flip, good luck with the house transaction, it's all going fast!

blotted, forgot you had an 'older' one! 3 at nursery is a drain on the funds. at least your 3 year old will get some funding this year. I'm looking forward to dd2's funding as she turns 3 in aug. so we'll only be paying for H's nursery fees.

Ses, sounds like you had a busy, fulfilling day!

Hope everyone else is well. got to go up to bed now, had a rubbish night's sleep last night so hope to make up for it now. x

Blotted thanks for sharing your experience re allergies. I might not bother getting H tested then as I'm pretty certain it's a cow's milk protein allergy. As I said the symptoms are mild so I don't need to go to huge lengths to avoid exposure.

Tantrums oh yes! Usually if he can't have something or do something quite how he wants to - silliest one was to do with him wanting to eat a banana whole, and a piece broke off. Strange child!

Flip good luck with the house move. Hope it all comes together for you.

Had a busy few days here seeing family. Back to work tomorrow, boo! Up at 5.45am, bigger boo! Better get to bed I suppose.

hello hello

am bookmarking and will be back later for catch up.

Hello

Just about recovered from my lurgy but feeling very weak still. I've had flu, DS1 has impetigo and now DH has what I had. 'Tis hell, I tell you.

It took 2 hours to get DS to take his antibiotics and now it is time for the next lot. WOE is me...

Be back later...

oh, llare, hope you're all feeling better soon and hope you have someone to take care of you.

please could someone tell me if it is Normal to have crying, yelling, tantrums everyday (especially evening) with a 4 year old, almost 3, and one year old?

i'm really tired of all the crying and not sure what I need to do to get them to stop.