Fab Feb 2009: when they're good they are very very good, when they're bad they're todzillas...

[dinkystinky]

New thread for us to chat about our little jekyll & hydes...

Danny is currently stood next to me rearranging my DVD collection - I will be doing a work out to charlie & lola tonight apparently, while DS1 will be watching Billy Blanks Taebo with his pre-bedtime cup of milk and DH's history docu is hiding out with Diego in the city of lost toys...

So sorry mslucy hope your ok sending you big hugs xxx Never been through it myslef but can only imagine, hope your birthday was ok

Mrsy hugs for you too! I don't know what to say really just wanted to post something xxx

Just dropping in quickly before bedtime.

MrsY so sorry to hear that M's heart condition was worse than you suspected - can't imagine how tough it was to hear that, especially as you were there on your own. I second all the things the others say about medical developments over the next 20 years, there are huge breakthroughs all the time that could make all the difference for M.

SM I got rid of Lilian's dummy when she was about 14 months - she was obsessed with it and I had to keep finding it in the night when she'd lost it somewhere in the cot. I just got rid of them all one day - we had a couple of nights where she was very cross with us and kept crying for the dummy but then she forgot all about it, so it was quite simple really and I'm glad I'm not constantly hunting for dummies now....

KBN what a brilliant birthday for your DD - sounds like it was a perfect day. Good to know that things get a bit easier after toddlerhood!

DS just spilt a whole cup of milkshake in DH's car.....I've mopped up as best I can but do you think he'll notice the sour milk smell in a few days??

Calico Yuk!!!!
KBN Your dd's birthday sounds like it was great fun.

I think re the dummy I'm going to take it away all through the day for now and allow it for sleep times, and in a while, take it away completely.
It's so hard though, a big part of me wants to leave him be because the ezcema is really bad on him so I am happy for him to take comfort in anything, my problem is just ds1 wants everything Luke touches.

~Hi.

Thanks all. Still processing it, but so busy working with J atm, it's allowed me to focus on something else which is good. And yay! I got the job at M&S, so we can upgrade from bread and gruel!

KBN love Giraffe. Very jealous of your dds lovely birthday, I would happily do that for mine!

SM I think that either take dummy away when under 1 so they don't really miss it, or wait until they are old enough to get concepts such as dummy fairy, giving them away to 'new babies', swapping them for eggs at easter etc. Making a thing if it helps them see it positively, helps them remember that they don't need them anymore and giving them toys/chocolate is a pretty good distraction.

Can you not highlight the fact that he is a big boy now and doesn't need a dummy, but Luke is still little so he does? Maybe ds1 can have a special toy that Luke can't play with?

MrsY Well done on getting the job.

Luke just came over to me with both hands on his bum saying "mamma, poo-poo" and he had!

Anyone else notice that we always get really quiet when dinky is away?

it does get a bit tumbleweed around here when she's gone. she's the glue that keeps us all together.

so cute? that luke has learned poo-poo. my ds has also mastered the word but doesn't use it exclusively for poo, it can be he's farted or anyone else has farted (not that i'd do such a thing, you understand).

i probably wouldn't try and take the dummy away completely at the moment unless the daytime ban works so well it seems like a good time. if you can bear it i do think it would be better to deal with jacob on this one.

Thanks KBN Today I have taken a favourite toy away everytime he has taken Luke's dummy. I'm hoping that will take effect in the next few days when he realises I mean business.

SM... A does the same, minus the speech obviously but he come up to us patting his bum when he's dirty

I agree with the others... it's not really fair on Like to be punished because J is snatching the dummy. When ds1 was a newborn and dd was 18/20 months she used to steal his dummies (to put in her mouth next to her own the cheeky minx!) and we deterred her by taking hers away whenever she did and giving ds1 back his. In Jacob's case I think taking a toy is an excellant approach. He'll soon learn he's the one that loses out if he steals... good luck!

Thanks SR I hadn't actually thought about it being a punishment for Luke, I was just at my wits end with the screaming and fighting! But think the toy removal may be the way forward.

re poo!

Izzy says poo poo too sometimes when she farts also [giggles] and bum pats. ewww gross the other day mid nappy change she put a small piece, that i managed to miss,on my arm and said poo poo. urrrghhhh

re dummy

Isobella only has it for bedtimes, just taking it away recently for naps too. Its been hard, I feel guilty as she cries a little before going to sleep nothing major just a whinge but I do feel like its ok for her to start learning to fall asleep without it. Its stayng for bed time for, well forever! Im not messing with that sh has just strated sleeping through 12/13 hours sorry to be so gloaty but i have had 18 months of sleep hell and now i am enjoying my sleep filled nights while i can

Hope your all ok ladies, where is dinky, somewhere nice I hope. Im going off late september somewhere hot ut not sure where neeeeeeeeeeeed some sun FFS its just rain all the time so depressing.

Me and hubby are back on track, he decided to stop drinking and has been a month or so now quite lovely I must say he just seems to act more responsibly all together since our little separation. We have been making time for us too like little things like back rubs and other naughtiness

hope your ok msry and mslucy xxxx

littlesez that is just lovely to hear. sounds like you're maybe feeling a bit more comfortable with intimacy too so hopefully you're able to move on from some of the birth stuff although i'm sure having a bit of sleep must be helping your overall energy levels. i've been very lucky at having mainly 12 hour sleeps from ds for a while but if there are any setbacks/illnesses it knocks me for six and certainly doesn't make me feel like indulging in naughtiness. i'm also really impressed at your dh for really making such a big change.

and how, erm, charming of izzy to explain what she'd just shared with you. aren't they little darlings?!

sm sometimes when the kids are fighting and screaming its hard to see where it all started and how to deal with it so its not surprising you wanted to remove the object of the fights. even with a bit of a bigger age gap dd and ds manage to get into some lovely push me pull me scraps over some toy that dd hasn't wanted to play with for about 3 years.

Merry says 'poo poo' and 'wee wee' and 95% of the time, she's right. She's awful for scratching herself when her nappy is off, so nappy changes can be a bit of a nightmare!

Glad to hear things are going well, littlesez well done to your husband for stopping drinking.

Sounds like the right way to go with the toy removal, SM. Give it a day or two, and Jacob will get the message!

I'm off to Brugue for the day tomorrow, which should take my mind of tings somewhat. A day off moules, beer and chocolate is just what the doctor ordered!

Morning all. Sorry it has been ages since I last came on and the following post is really going to be all about ME... But need some thoughts about what you would do...

Ok so you all know about my 6 year plan.. The end would see me in my Dream Job, which really is my Dream job. However I am really loving my current job. I am getting really good feedback from the office and our clients. And Yesterday the owner of the company took the time to tell me that she did the same round as me yesterday (I had done it the night before) and everyone reported how lovely I was, how I put them at ease and how well I did the job... I was so chuffed.. She also said the way I filled out the care plans was accurate precise and well written...

I look forward to going to work and meeting the people I care for. I love the way the 26 year old with MD face lights up when we walk in and how we can fall straight in to football banter while doing the most private care. The way we joke how about how many times we are going to wipe his bum once we have hoisted him to the toilet.

I love the fact I give some old people company in what would be a very lonely day. The endless chatter about the war and "in my day"..

I love helping the ladies and gentlemen with cancer to fulfill a normal life. Helping others to maintain some dignity and normality in the final days

I love the fact that my actions are having a positive effect on the people I care for but most of all I love the effect these people are having on me... I feel that I am a better person and for the first time (career wise) I feel fulfilled..

So now I am worried that while striking to archive me dream job and using this one as a stepping stone, that I have actually overlooked my Vocation...

I will never have the job prospects or the money that a trained midwife would have if I did stay in Care... Which would mean that dp would always have to work ft and i could only ever work pt. Is this enough????

bumps It's great that you are loving your job and that you are making other people's lives better.
In regards to working towards your dream job, plan can and do change and that is ok.
I'm sure there is as much joy in midwifery as there is in the care role you are doing now.
Try not to worry too much about your plans, just enjoy things whilst they are good.
Even if you train as a midwife and decide you want to go back into care, nothing will stop you.
FWIW, I'd rather earn less money and be happy with my job than earn millions and hate getting up in the morning.
Life has a funny way of throwing things in our way and knocking us off track, but that is noty always a bad thing, all you can do is what you feel is right at the time.
Personally, I'd love working part-time and having the best of both worlds (am I very niave?) and as long as my job made me happy, I think that would be enough. For now. But in 10 years time, who knows. You just have to pick a path when you reach a fork in the road and have faith that if you pick the wrong one, you will come across another opportunity to change you route.

littlsez... i'll join you in gloating, A has only recently started reliably sleeping through the night and i'm feeling fabulously smug that my patiance paid off and he learned to do it all by himself with no fighting from us (despite dp giving me grief and wanting to force the issue a few months ago)

I'm so glad you and your dh have sorted things out and he's been so strong about the drinking. I hope everything continues in the same vein.

bumps.... I'm a firm believer that it's more important to do a job you love and makes you happy than how much you earn. If what you do now makes you happy then it could very well be the right oath for you... do you think you'd get as much daily pleasure from midwifery? If so then go for the 6 year plan but if you think it would be compromising your job satisfaction for higher pay then maybe it would be best to continue in your current role? Keep in mind, once the kids are in school you may well be able to manage ft hours

Hi long time no post, I've been spending hours talking about books on LibraryThing instead, and reading/writing reviews.

Will try and come back later.

hello all, RL has got in the way the last few days and its been manic.

littlesez so pleased that things are working out wit you and your DH

KBN party sounds good. Have to start planning DDs 4th birthday party which is on 1st Oct.

bumps difficult one and you've already had some good advice. I think the problem I can see is that if you don't go on to do the midwifery and continue doing what you are doing now, will you regret that in 5 or 10 years? Of course money isn't everything and I'm earning a pittance now with my signing classes compared to what I was earning when I was a lawyer but I enjoy it. That is what matters (saying that, am wondering whether to continue with/start new classes next month?) 2 students in one class of 5 have emailed to say they are dropping out and I'm not sure I can be bothered with all the rushing around (sorting childcare for mine) if only teaching a few kids.

Might get DH to put up a new poster back on compound before he comes back here NEXT WEEK and see if much interest and email all my old students and see if they are continuing.

Just so exhausted, just really want to sleep (and never do ironing again)

DD and DS at nursery today. It is a pirate and princess day for the pre-schoolers and thank god I had kept all DD1's old disney princess dresses and one of them fitted DD2.

Am very torn about returning to KSA. I know I need to, at least until next summer when DS finishes A levels but G seems really happy and has made a lovely friend at the nursery. A bit sad that she has been invited to Daisy's party but it is when we are back in KSA. Am hoping maybe I can speak to the mum and keep in touch so DD has a friend when we are back here. Plan so far is to apply this sept for a place for DD at the local school next Sept and we will find out in March if she has a place.

Completed (FINALLY!) on purchase of mum's bungalow yesterday. So relieved it is finally ours after I've done so much work on it. On Wed I drove down at 7am and cleaned the windowns, skirting boards floors etc so it looks quite presentable and hopefully DH and I can take the kids down for a few days when he is back if we can squeeze it in.

DS got his AS results yesterday and very pleased AAAB (suprised B in maths as had expected B in french and maybe pyschology. He is however going to re-sit one of maths papers in Jan and hopefully get that up to an A and get good predicted grades for UCAS. He is now (at last!) able to finalise his UCAS choices and has confirmed Cambridge will be his first choice! watch this space

hope eveyrone is ok x

MsLucy, very sorry to hear your news.

MOS, congrats to DS

elkiedee how are you? we were wondering where you had got to and thought I'd spotted you on an education thread earlier.

Good to 'see' you, come back a join us. How are things with your mother? x

Thanks for asking. My mother has been through chemo and has come off it as the side effects were so bad - she was having it as a backup for the surgery which they think had removed everything to worry about (often chemo has to shrink existing tumours etc which is worse). Now we just need to cross our fingers that they really did get it all.

fingers crossed for you and your mother elkie. will be thinking of you x

elkie Good to see you
Fingers crossed that all is well.

mos well done to your ds, those are fab results!

Guess what, remember that pushchair that was stolen? I saw it today in Tesco!!!!!!! With a pair of proper chavvies. Ok, I cannot be 100% sure, but it had a broken back support strap like mine did, it had the clips on it from the buggy board (no board though, but they are a PITA unless you have to use them).
The only way I would be sure is if I'd seen the buckles on the harness because they were a different colour because I had to cut one off my old pushchair, but the straps on this one had been removed and the child was in it strap-free..........but I'm pretty sure it was mine.
I was proper staring at it and one of the girls said "what's she staring at?" so I asked where they got that pushchair from, and she said "why?" so I told her that it is stolen, that I believe it was taken from my building a few weeks ago, and she then said she'd had it for about a year, I told her I didn't think so, but whatever, she then told me not to accuse her of stealing and I said that I hadn't accused her, I simply stated that the pushchair was stolen.
I didn't want to get too mouthy because she obviously knows where I live!

A friend of mine is moving in 2 weeks and has given me her dc's bunk beds! How lucky is that. they are fine too. Ds1 wants to sleep up high, but I haven't got the ladder or the outside high rim yet so have said no, but they will be a real space saver in their room