Changing our lives....

Sessie

Doh!! What a day!!

Boychild was really sick (physically) a couple of hours after we put him to bed last night. He had said earlier that his tummy hurt but then was running around, laughing and playing (rough and tumble stuff) so we thought he was OK. So 10 pm he is crying so I go into him and can't settle him so I get him out of his cot and sit in the nursery chair with him. He has some water and settles quite quickly so I get up to put him back to bed when he BAAAARRFS just as I'm lowering him into his bed. It. Goes. EVERYWHERE!!

Had to strip him totally, the bed totally (including blanket underneath sheet), all blankets on top, half his toys, pillowcase AND pillow ... remake the bed etc....

Sat a while longer with him but he was just talking and laughing like normal so put him back to bed and left the door open but heard nothing more all night.

He's been fine all day today, not eating much but some days he doesn't, playing, running around, seemed to be over it. I did three full loads of washing, drying, airing etc... remade the cots, moved all the furniture in the nursery, hoovered and cleaned it all out, tidied toys away etc...(not to mention washing the kitchen floor, going out with them to the shops - walking - to get food for tonight's meal and then a nice walk to give them some fresh air, cooking when we got back and actually spending some time just sitting PLAYING with them! Yes, it's such an easy life being a part-time worker and a mum.) But yeah, the nursery looked like new. (you can see where this is going can't you....??).

Until we put him to bed tonight. Fifteen minutes later a big cry and we go in and he's done it again. Poor mite. I am obviously genuinely sorry for him and more bothered about him than anything else but AAAARRRGGH!! The place was spotless and beautiful!! Waah! Again, within a few minutes and a small drink of water he was asking to go back to bed and haven't heard a thing out of him since! Can't understand it. Can't work out what might have caused it. He's eaten and drunk the same as Girlchild and she's fine (apart from a snotty cold like me).

So I'm going to sit and surf upstairs tonight rather than downstairs so I can hear if he's upset again.

Have been spending a lot of time on the "Special Occasions" board to get ideas for more home made stuff for Christmas and birthday presents etc.. it's such an addictive board!

So if anyone wants me, I'll be over there munching home made truffles and chutney with one ear at the nursery door!

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Sessie

Have had a busy week or so, much tidying and sorting things out, nothing much to report having happened though.

Am helping my sisters and parents with a car boot sale tomorrow, though they gave me THREE DAYS notice so I haven't had time to sort stuff of my own out to sell!! :mad::mad:

Might just have a big sort out over the next few weeks and then make them come and help ME with a sale with three days notice, see how they like it!! Plus, I am being picked up at 6 AM tomorrow morning!! That's before the CHILDREN even get up! :eek:

Can't remember if I said I had told my doctor I felt able to come off the antidepressants but, having tried it for a couple of weeks I think I'm being a bit premature... my mood has dropped again and all I can do when the children have gone to bed is... go to bed myself as I'm so tired and "can't-be-bothered"ish!! So, I have some left and am going to carry on with them a bit longer.

Every night I think, "I really should go on MSE and post some stuff and make some more plans to get more organised" but the "not tonight, think of that lovely warm bed... that soooooft duuvveeeet" voice wins.

On the plus side, have decided that each time I go to or past Tesco (which is quite a lot, the children's play place (Wacky Warehouse) is five mins away and we've been going there a lot lately) I'm going to pop in and get a few savings stamps and collect them up for our 2011 Christmas grocery shop. I know!! I know .. that must the earliest mention of the C word EVER... but if I start doing it NOW I'll hardly notice a few pounds here and there but they'll soon add up!!

Got £4 worth the other day (only had four pound coins on me!) so that's that started!!

Yesterday, washed the kitchen floor and tidied all the surfaces, hoovered upstairs and down (the hoover then cut out JUST as I'd finished so waiting for Mr Sessie to have a look at it, hopefully it's not done in), mowed the lawn and did four hours at work.

Just finished a great book called "The Pile of Stuff At The Bottom Of The Stairs" and hoping to FINALLY finish my audiobook over the weekend. Am working my way through my huge pile of "unreads" now, though not doing so well at not buying any more until they're read!

Going to look up the rules for a competition to write a short children's story and win a grand! Fingers crossed!!

*Edited to add that I put my request to change my working hours in the internal mail to HR on Friday night. Just so I remember to chase them up about it.


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Sessie

Did a car boot sale with mum and my sisters on Sunday - had to get up at 5.45 AM!!! Uuurgh!! Given that the clocks went forward that night it was technically only 4.45 am!! What was I THINKING??:eek:

It was darn cold too - my back hasn't thanked me for making it stand in 1 degree temperatures OUTSIDE for 5 hours, still stiff and hurty today.

I didn't have anything to sell as I'd only been given a few days' notice and hadn't had time to sort things out but mum made £60 odd in a few hours so that's given me some incentive to get some things together and do one when it's a bit warmer.

Need to go through the childrens' clothes - I know for sure there are loads of things at the bottom of drawers and in the wardrobe that no longer fit. Also, some of their older toys that they are growing out of now. Need to clean down the highchairs and the booster chairs for the dining room chairs (which they used for all of about three weeks before announcing they were "too big" for "baby chairs" and have sat at the table properly ever since!).

In two minds about CDs as I didn't see ANYONE buying them on Sunday although most stallholders had some on sale. I've not heard great things about the online "we'll buy your CDs" sites either so might try them once at a boot sale and if no joy, will just have to sling them. We have LOADS.

Have just seen an ad for the local College who have a "training restaurant" for the catering students. You can go and get a restaurant style meal for a fraction of the price as it gives the students experience in cooking for numbers, timings, presentation, running a kitchen etc... Two courses (menu looks YUMMY!) for £6.50 isn't to be sniffed at - plus, as we NEVER get out on an evening so it would still be a real treat for us. Think we might be making a booking there...

Need to go and get a new mattress this weekend as the one I've got is not helping my back at all. Am a bit disappointed actually, after the treatment it seemed it had done wonders but lately it has gone back to being pretty painful if I do anything remotely strenuous. I'm not saying it's as bad as it was before but.... it's not great either. Waaah. Now I wish I'd waited for the £200 treatment.

We also need a new oven as the one we have just... doesn't cook! You put it on to pre-heat (waste of time in my opinion, I just put food in when I turn it on!) and an hour later it's barely hot. We won't be getting anything flash as we hope to move in the next year or so - not paying for an expensive oven to leave for someone else!!

Financial Advisor rang last night to say Zurich have got my medical report and the potential Life Policy is now with Underwriting to let's see if they decide to cover me and if so, how much they'll charge I just KNOW they're going to put all sorts of disclaimers in the policy relating to my back and if I ever WAS ill, even if it was with a recognised illness, they'll find some way of linking it to my back and refusing to pay out.

I also told him we'd arrange to see him over Easter week as we still have to sort out the ISA, pensions etc...

Almost time to start work so I'll be off for now.

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Sessie

Yesterday as my younger sister was with me, managed to both entertain the children AND sort through their clothes and wardrobe so have a box full of clothes to sell at my car boot.

Still need to clean the highchairs and booster seats but the weather hasn't been nice enough to get them out on the decking and do it.

Still need to sort my own clothes (and Mr Sessie's although may do this when he's out at work otherwise it'll be, "I might wear that again... no no I do wear that.... even though it's five years old and I've put on two stone since I bought it...". You know the drill ladies, what they don't know never hurts them eh??

There is a bin bag full of soft toys in the garage that's been there for ages but I daren't open it and bring them in to put through the washing machine as I am TERRIFIED of those horrible things that have too many legs and will probably have climbed in there over the last few months. Absolutely terrified. I know it's probably too early for them anyway as it's still cold but I'm not prepared to take the risk!! Will ask Mr Sessie to empty the bag outside over the weekend and shake everything and THEN bring them in and wash them (the toys not the spiders! :rotfl:).

Finding myself lying in bed on a night going through the house trying to find things to sell!! Think I'm just going to charge 50p for all the clothes (each!) and get rid rather than aim too high and end up bringing half of it home again. Probably only charge a max of £1 for the toys too.

Have also done a "tide us over" shop this week - at £85 - got a lot of "buy one get TWO free" deals (at Tesco! Usually that's a Morrison's thing!). Got three Cathedral City cheeses for the price of one, three Tesco gold coffee jars, cereal and a few other things. Spent ages in the shop and my sister kept saying, "what are you staring at?" and I had to explain I was checking whether it was worth buying the multipacks or single items -(ie; I was checking -the price per 100g or kg on each). She was amazed, she never does that but when I pointed out the difference I think I've converted her! Some things it was worth buying the multipacks but on other things, it was cheaper to buy four single items. I knew this, she just believed the supermarkets that "more = cheaper". Pah!

Also got another few Tesco savings stamps for my book. It's already starting to add up and it's only March!! Ooh wait, it's APRIL today!! Blimey, where's the year GOING??

Have also tidied up the big cupboard (floor to ceiling) in the kitchen as I'd lost track of what was in there, found quite a few things I thought I needed more of so there's another saving.

Finally, after all the moneysaving mentioned above, I have - rather contradictorially (is that even a word?) - left a message for the lady who sometimes does my ironing to come and get another load. It's been in the kitchen for over a week in the basket and I'm just not getting to it. I figure I deserve SOME treat (if you can call paying someone to do a household thing a "treat"!) and I want rid of the basket back upstairs! Every morning I plan to do it but it doesn't happen due to the children or my back playing up so you know what? Farm it out, get it done that's what I say! It's getting me down being in the way all the time.

Okay, time to go and read "Listen Little Dog!" for the billionth time! To the children I mean, not myself!

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Sessie

Oooh what a lovely day!!

Managed to get both the highchairs scrubbed down spotless today (with Boychild's "help" - meaning he swished a few SOAKING wet cloths about the place, drenched himself and me but had a lot of fun doing it and that's what counts!).

A friend came yesterday and gave me a load of clothes for Boychild (her son is about a year older than mine, she comes sporadically and leaves me with a binbag full of stuff, nearly all of which I keep). She had also brought a smaller bag full of things from one of her friends who has a daughter who is nearly 5. A couple of the things will be OK for my daughter but the majority are about two years too big for her. Had a brief thought of keeping them for her as the stuff is quite nice but decided to add it to the car book sale pile as one of my big plans (as part of this diary) is decluttering and stashing yet another bag in the loft is hardly in keeping with that.

Have been chasing my own GP all week as he has STILL not sent the docs back to the Life Insurance people. I went to my medical WEEKS ago! My financial advisor is chasing, me, I'm chasing the GP - whose receptionist comes up with a different excuse every time I chase, TOTALLY caught her out with her lie yesterday and then left a nice long silence for her to realise it. Ended the call by saying, "who do you think my family would be looking to if something happened to me now and my life insurance wasn't in place because of your delays?". What's the betting it gets done and sent back pretty quickly now?!

Got a letter from Barclays confirming the actual value of that old pension I mentioned a few weeks ago so need to see financial advisor bloke about transferring that into whatever new one we decide to put me with. I've had another once since the Barclays one that I only stopped paying into when I got pregnant so in effect I've got two good pots to put together and then put in a better place to make me a pensioner who can afford a rug and cat for my knee.

Can't think of much else - am about to go into a meeting at work about changing my hours but had a long call with a colleague last night who pre-warned me about a whole load of changes to our job they are going to spring on me in this meeting so it could be... fun! I'm going to go into the meeting as though I know nothing and see what happens. Really need to sort my hours out though so I can get the children down on this school list for September.

So, time for a coffee and a "compose myself" few minutes...

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Sessie

Just a quick one before work to say there's a new addition to our family... no no, I'm not pregnant (HECK no!! I love my two but NEVER AGAIN!!)... I just bought a beautiful soft toy white bear carrying a bunch of flowers from a local small Sainsburys outlet for..... 59p!!!! Had to get the assistant to double check the price as I was SURE it would be wrong but it wasn't! :j

He's about ten inches tall, a really good fluffy lovely toy. Would easily cost £10 in big shops. Apparently they are leftover Mother's Day stock but he will do nicely in the basket of things I'm preparing for the children for Easter rather than chocolate. I know they'll get chocolate eggs from their grandparents so rather than them be overrun with sweets I'm giving them other things as I see them.

Had my meeting at work on Friday but it was a bit pointless, it was really just me saying out loud what I'd requested on the paperwork. They then said they'd go away and speak to various people and come back to me today. I've got a feeling I'm not going to get the extra hours but they may well agree to my changing my days.

Here's hopin'....

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Sessie

Oooh and forgot to say I sent off for some free potato tuber thingies and a grow bag and they came on Saturday, with a LOAD of free packets of veg and salad seeds.

Am also collecting the tokens from the Mail/Mail on Sunday this week as next weekend (or maybe the following one, 30th I think!)they are printing an address where you can send off for 13 more packs of seeds for veg and stuff. Just pay postage.

I'd really like to have a go although I've only got pots (tons of them!) to do it in. Think it will be really good for the children too, to see how things grow and maybe (just maaaybee!) make them more likely to try something if they've grown it themselves!

Off I pop again!

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Sessie

Hurrah! Work have agreed to my increasing my hours AND given me the days/shifts I wanted! So I will be bringing in technically another week's wage from just after the May bank holiday.

Have phoned the really close to home local preschool today and both children are booked in to start in September, doing Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings (they already go to a playgroup on a Tuesday morning). I know they can have 15 hours per week and they're only booked in for 12 but that will do for a start until they get used to it, I can always increase it in the January term.

Need to book the second Tuesday of May of work so I can go and meet the owners and have a look round and talk about my questions etc...

Yesterday was very MSE ....

I got my last token from The Daily Mail for their 13 packs of seeds offer. Have filled in the info and am sending this off today. So am going to have a go at growing a few veg which should be fun, educational for the children and, if it works, moneysaving and yummy!

My sister bought me some buckets from Morrisons, the ones they had displayed the Mother's Day flowers in - I got 18 yes.. EIGHTEEN!! for 99p!!

I had seen both of these offers on the Greenfingered Board and now have somewhere to plant all the seeds when they arrive.

Had sandwiches for lunch made with a knockdown loaf of wholemeal bread and knockdown coconut cake (which was TRES yummy and for 40p even MORE yummy!).

My sister also got me 2 boxes of new Pampers nappies from Morrisons for £15 (that's a good offer, most supermarkets do it for £20) and she also turned up with a whole carrier bag full of stuff for the children. She had gone to a local newsagents (local to her that is!) and bought them a small toy and got talking to the shopkeeper about my children. The woman asked how old they were and produced a huge box of the free gifts that come on the front of magazines which she gave to my sister!! Apparently when the shops send the unsold magazines back, the wholesalers don't want the free gifts so the shopkeeper just keeps them and gives them out to people she knows and sends some to charity. Woohoo!! Kept them quiet for ... oooh... at least twenty minutes!! I've kept some back for a whiny day where I can produce some surprises to distract them.

She'd also got some gifts from the card making magazines for me so it was a bit of a win-win day really!

Only one thing to offset all this moneysaving is that I've let my audiobooks go overdue again ... grrr... need to take them back, just am not getting the chance to listen to them at the moment.

Oh and I phoned Sky yesterday and spoke to Matthew in Downgrade Dept (uh huh... really it's the Retention Dept, do they think we're stoopid?!) and Sports will be cancelled from 15 May. This was the free 2 months we had so we got to watch The Masters free!

Still waiting for those Daily Mirror free books to come... 19 of them. It did say allow 12 weeks though so they've got a bit yet.

Going to B&Q before work this afternoon to get some compost and other bits so I can get these seeds in. Can't remember if I said I've got strawberries growing in pots on the kitchen windowswill for the children and have also got some sunflower seeds for the children to grow too. Already have some free seeds from another magazine so hopefully the weather will stay good and I can get them all planted out.

Laters!

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pennywisepoundstupid

Fantastic news about the job, glad it all got sorted and you have the hours you want.

Goodluck with the veggie growing, i've got strawberries that always do well but anything else i manage to kill, really not green fingered at all.

Sessie

Grrr... as they say... in one hand, out the other!!

All this saving and sorting was making me feel quite good... until we got home from shopping on Saturday lunchtime to find the fridge totally kaput and had to go out immediately and buy another one as there was LOADS of shopping that needed to go in straight away, especially as it was so hot!

Still, we got quite a good one for £140 and none of the food spoiled so all's well that ends well.

Started to plant out some of the strawberry plants and some of the flowers I got on Friday but still have quite a lot to do but need Mr Sessie's drill to put holes in the bottom of the buckets or they won't drain and the roots will be sitting in water.

This week I want to :

FINALLY sort through Mr Sessie's and my clothes for the car boot pile (I know it's been waiting for a while this job but it's hard to fit it in with inquisitive toddlers throwing tshirts down the stairs every five minutes!)
Sweep all the front of leaves etc... wash the porch, front door and garage door, put my new trough with flowers in at the front, tidy all the stones up etc...
Get the washing done and line-dried so I can do the ironing myself in the daytime before my back gets too bad.

Sadly, my back has almost gone back to how bad it was again. Saw the Consultant last week for a follow up and he says the next option is to burn the nerves at the base of my back where I feel the pain so I don't feel it any more. Sounds quite awful and it's a bit worrying - fine, I won't have this constant pain but also if I do something really bad to my back and make it worse, I won't know and that can't be good either. Need to see my own doc about this and talk it through.

Oh, had a LOVELY day at Brimham Rocks yesterday (membership of the National Trust pays off again!), picnic on the grass, much clambering of rocks and hills by small people meaning they fell pretty much straight away to sleep and slept well last night! Hurrah!

Just another quick update so I stay focussed and am at work today so need to get back to it!

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