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Original poster

A thread to share the high's and low's of x-mas.

27 replies

Marne · 26/12/2009 17:32

Hope you all had a lovely x-mas.

Just thought i would share with you the high's and low's of our x-mas with the dd's.

We had a lovely day, it was our first x-mas day away from home (we went to my dad and his partners house).

The week running up to x-mas i was getting really anxious, i though dd1 would be hyper, talk non-stop, be ungratful and refuse to eat x-mas lunch. She was well behaved thanks to a mosaic making kit (from dad) which kept her quite for 2 hours, the only problem was lunch when she got upset, dad had made her a starter (so she would'nt feel left out) but dd1 was upset by the sight of prawns and cried until the roast potatoes came out for main course she then said she would eat a potato as long as tomato sauce .

Dd2 was a star, this was only the 2nd time she had been in my dads house but she settled in well (made herself at home and found the stash of chocolate), she sat to the table and was well behaved.

They both loved opening presents.

I made the mistake of buying dd2 3 of the waybuloo characters, i forgot that she has to have the full set of things and she spent the whole day asking for Lau Lau (the 4th character), i felt really guilty so i have now ordered her Lau Lau (luckily the sales are on and i got it cheep), i will just have to put up with listening to her say "wheres Lau Lau" until it arrives in the post .

OP posts:
glittery · 26/12/2009 18:53

High Seeing Glitteryboys face when we opened his last present.....the 2009 Formula One Season review DVD

Low Having to watch the 2009 Formula One season review DVD from beginning to end at least twice a day so far.....its only 4hrs 34mins long!!

feelingbetter · 26/12/2009 20:29

Well, hopes were low after DS vommed over me five times xmas eve, but it's been OK since.

High DS and the beanbag.
He loves it! Bit too much really as a nods off after a few mins in it. And he can climb out - learned that remarkably quickly

Low DSs 1st xmas dinner.
He loved that too, but the nappy after duck and sprouts and Mums gravy was the stuff of nightmares.

Hope everyone else is safe and well xx

coldtits · 26/12/2009 20:49

highs

Ds1 discovering that in his new diary, he can write things down, and he can check them as often as he likes without having to ask me

Ds1 using his Hot Wires set to make Things That Really Work

lows Ds2's behavior. Just shocking.

5inthesleighbed · 26/12/2009 22:17

Marne, sounds like you had a lovely Christmas. Glad your DD's weren't too overstimulated

Christmas eve was a bit of a bad time, as DS2 kept repeating "no Santa my house" . I think he thought he would have to see Santa, and he is quite scared of new people and men of a large stature. Luckily he went to bed ok (after 6m of melatonin)

Highes DS2 opening his presents and getting excited for the first time. Squeals of excitement about his Little Einsteins Rocket. It is the ony toy he has played with though .

Lows DS2 vomitting most of Christmas day. He complained about feeling sick when he got up, but because he uses this as a get-out-of-activity card, I made him get out of bed and take part. He vomitted in the ar on the way to MIL's and a few times at my mams, especially when the food was served. Still not sure if he was genuinly ill as he was fine when we got home. I can kind of remember vomitting last Christmas as well, but had a 5 week old and lack of sleep so cloudy. Will remember for next week though.

Glad everyone else so far has had at least one high

sarah293 · 27/12/2009 07:57

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Original poster
Marne · 27/12/2009 08:56

5inthe- we had the best x-mas so far as it was the first x-mas that dd2 knew what was going on. Dd2 has only really played with her Waybuloo toys although she likes dd1's Hot potato game .

Riven- well done for getting through the day with no screaming, i was thinking of you x-mas day, i hope all went ok.

The main low's for us was dd2 spent most of x-mas eve night coughing and wouldn't go to sleep (now they both have coughs and snotty noses), dd1 has hardly eaten anything for 2 days (we are taking her to McDonalds today for some chips to fatten her up). Boxing day was hard work as we had the 3 step children over, dd1 wanted to get everything out but our house is just not big enough for 5 children to play in (not even enough room to sit down), dd1 couldnt understand why she couldn't have all her toys out on the floor.

OP posts:
5inthesleighbed · 27/12/2009 11:55

You had no joy with the hpousing I take it Marne?

Riven, so sorry to hear about DD . IS she going on it for 24 hours or just when she sleeps?

sarah293 · 27/12/2009 13:03

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bubblagirl · 27/12/2009 13:12

highs the joy on his face the fact he opened and enjoyed his presents

lows the constant anxiety and question asking all the time

hasn't helped that we both had virus over all though its been fairly stress free

mamabell · 27/12/2009 14:27

Glad to hear that most have had some positives this xmas.

5intheleighbed - DS will make himself sick and feigns illness to get out of activities as well so feel for you.

Highs - DS was pleased with most of his presents and has played with quite a few. Enjoyed Xmas dinner although refused to eat any roast potatos for some bizarre reason (usually his favourite thing!)

Lows - DS's worst behaviour for 6 months building up over the whole month of December. Contstanly on edge waiting for the next meltdown.

Mistake of xmas - grandma accidentally brought the wrong present for DS - a present for baby cousin (something from In The Night Garden - DS, 6 went balistic!). Cue mega meltdown. Grandma drove home to pick up the right pressie and when she got back it ended up in the bin!! DS calmed down later and enjoyed playing with it!

Original poster
Marne · 27/12/2009 14:43

5inthe- no luck with the housing yet, its starting to get to me now, i wish dd2 had a room to put all her new toys in , i keep seeing lovely lights/lamps that she would love if she had her own room, hopefully the new year will bring us some luck. Dd2 has a appointment with the pead on Tuesday to hopefully get something to help her sleep (fingers crossed).

OP posts:
mysonben · 27/12/2009 16:17

For us Christmas morning started off ... with DS not showing a bit of excitemment in front of his presies from santa. I think he still doesn't get it yet the whole santa brings presies story.
He was better when we went downstairs and opened the presies under the tree.
But he quickly got overloaded and by midday he was having mini meltdown every 5 mins.
He was an horror during the xmas diner at my SIL, but calmed down when the diner ordeal was finished.
Then it was a mixture of 15 mins of good interaction with us, 15 mins of playing with toys and 15 mins of stimming and noise making in the hallway by himself...
He seemed to have found a combination to keep himself calm!

mysonben · 27/12/2009 16:32

Marne, just clicked on what you wrote about your dd2 wanting to have full sets of things.
My sis who has bi-polar and ocd dx, (but plenty of AS traits , i secretly thinks she was mis-dx), has always been like that, she always buy stuff in pair or in four. If anyone buy her anything (from books to cups ...) she goes to the shop the next day to get the matching one or the whole collection! And hell breaks loose if she can't get it, she also buys all her kids'clothes in pairs and if one set is ruined or has a hole, she throws the other one away too!

coppertop · 27/12/2009 16:55

The highs:

Ds2 is finally happy again after almost a month of tears, stress, and what seemed like depression.

Ds2 actually playing with toys.

The lows:

Ds1 is still hardly eating at all and looks pale. It started about a week after his brother's stress did so I suspect it's a reaction to the run-up to Christmas. No sign of it easing off yet though.

Original poster
Marne · 27/12/2009 17:47

coppertop- dd1 is still not eating much, we took her to Mcdonalds today but she still didn't eat, i managed to get her to eat some strawberries earlier but she's still not eating much.

OP posts:
ilovepeppapig · 27/12/2009 18:40

for us:

highs -
dd being well enough to enjoy christmas and do everything that she wanted.(She is ALWAYS ill in December for her birthday and christmas and usually just has to sit and watch everyone else enjoying themselves.

Also the best christmas day ever at a very kind friends with a magnificant dinner (usually is me and the kids on our own)

Lows - taking the kids to their dads on christmas night. they are not back until 30th.

SantaWears2SnowShoes · 27/12/2009 19:10

highs dd loved her presents ant they were all a sucess, she love mil being there and didn't pick up on mil being patronissing(ds did though)
lows she is now unwell

CardyMow · 27/12/2009 20:03

Highs no meltdowns on Christmas Day, was sooo happy and relaxed, spoke too soon though....

Lows 26 meltdowns between DD and DS2 on Boxing Day, should have known better than to crow about my lovely Christmas Day on MN!!

sphil · 27/12/2009 20:05

Highs - DS2 playing independently with his light-up bubble gun after only being shown how to use it once. Showing an interest in Wii bowling and ski-jumping and letting us show him how to do it (hand-over-hand). Playing with his teenage cousins and them all being really good at getting him to say 'I want.....jumps....preeze' before swinging him above their heads .

Lows - realising the Christmas show (When Santa Fell To Earth) was a mistake when he sat with his fingers in his ears, jiggling his legs all through the first half, then burst into sobs and wouldn't stop. Brilliant show (for anyone in reach of Taunton) but mega sensory overload.

cloelia · 27/12/2009 20:23

Riven, so sorry to hear yr dd is deteriorating. have you considered night time ventilation for her at home via a ventilator and a mask? My dd had this from the age of 2 till this year (now has a trache); we have a respiratory community nurse at our local hospital; perhaps you have considered all this. Also you can have these oxygen concentrators at home to deliver oxygen instead of unwieldy cylinders so it is quite possible without too much palaver; but would she wear a mask? My dd got so used to it she could not bear NOT having the mask at bedtime.
Our high was definitely dd having a normal day instead of most of it being on the sofa; also she now eats normal food which is a fantastic change (hardly uses gastrostomy tube nowadays).

bubble2bubble · 27/12/2009 20:24

Highs - sledging in the garden on Christmas day!

Lows - DD didn't remember it was Christmas Day when she woke up,despite being so excited the night before

MABS · 27/12/2009 21:20

so sorry she not so great Riven

MavisEnderby · 27/12/2009 21:26

Oh Riven,sorry dd isn't well

I don't know why I bothered getting dd Christmas presents.Though she loved her ITNG ninky nonk the highlight for her was the small reading light for the top of books that came out of my Christmas cracker and the two melamine bowls dm bought her to put her Christmas dinner in (They had a festive design)which make a great banging sound when clashed together!!!!

Arabica · 28/12/2009 01:13

Lows: Went for job as keyworking coordinator, thinking my experience as parent of child with complex needs would be a deal-clincher. Job offered to internal person aged 15 with no kids. Discovered that not nearly so important as being available to work full-time (which cannot as DD's nursery 2 miles away and no breakfast club).

Highs: For the first time ever, DD deliberately picked up one of her cuddly toys and sat it on the sofa to show it a book!

I am sorry to hear Riven's DD is unwell.

Arabica · 28/12/2009 01:15

Sorry that should have read, 'discovered that my experience not nearly so important...'