The Ultimate Incentive Part 11 (or 10B) It's The Final Countdown

Lara44

Hey D, I just messaged the FB group admin lady to add you to the group. I'm not sure how these things work with FB - just bear with me.

Sorry to hear you're having a flare Sounds like it would be good to cut yourself some major slack!! You do *so* much....

xxx

Dinah93

NIM is saying he needs more sleep too as he's worried if he doesn't get enough he won't concentrate at work. We used to alternate lie in days but since he started the new job he's needed every morning as a lie in that he's off, we did try one morning me lying in but he only took Grace and Ben was crying beside me within 10 mins for a bottle, so I was awake then.

I'm really looking forward to the course, should be a lot of fun. Although we all have to teach a mock lesson and be difficult students for the teacher under assessment, I'm really worried about that bit, both controlling my 'students' but also how to pretend to be a naughty 5 year old! Also quite excited about 2 nights in a hotel on my own, praying I get some sleep and the other ladies on the course don't want to be out until late. Wild thing that I am I'm very much looking forward to some time with my kindle and my sewing.

Thanks Lara I got the invite last night

Grace had each of us up twice in the night, then I was up for good with her at 6.20. Not too horrendous unless you a - really need your sleep right now and b - she wees on your knee while cuddling on the sofa. I miss nappies.

Birdie85

It's a private selling group generally limited to the ladies who belong to the baby groups so we all 'know' each other and feel comfortable buying but I'll vouch for you, I know they've let other 'outisders' on in the past. Just don't take the pee and post 100 separate items/photos the minute you're approved.

Hope you enjoy the training course. Scary about the flare-ups, I guess there's not a lot to suggest as there aren't enough hours in the day but you do have to take care of yourself. Is there any way NIM can help out more with to-do lists so you're not up late every night? He can list things on ebay on his lunch break, book couriers on coffee breaks etc?

I still have no idea how you managed 2 under 2 CMD! There's a new wave of babies on the way in the above mentioned FB baby group and every pregnancy announcement brings me out in a cold sweat as I can't imagine being pregnant and having a newborn with Zach as little as he is!

Birdie85

Cross posted!

Sorry about the bad night and damp knee!! I'm sure the other women at the course will fully understand your need for an early night! I get enough sleep but I'd still be the first to bed if I was going away on my own for a couple of nights!

wendz86

Hope the course goes well Dinah and you get some sleep too.

Not sure i would have been very good with two under 2 but must be lovely when they are playing together.

Dinah93

Personally I think having them really close (within 18 months) or a 4 year + age gap is easiest for the parents in the early days, but when they're a little bigger having them close together means they have a playmate all the time. I found the first 3 months of having Ben home really really hard, I only got a tiny bit of sanity back when I quit breastfeeding, but I hope it will be good for them in the long run to be just over 2 years apart.

In my hotel, very nice room, have had a first read through all the course materials. Can't work out how to make the room thermostat work so now I'm wishing I brought a blanket. Text the other lady I know who is supposed to be on the course to see if she wants to meet for dinner, be nice to get to know her in advance as we've emailed a few times but never met face to face, if I have no reply by 8 then I'm going to just get a sandwich downstairs as I'm really hungry!

clearmydebts

Birdie85 wrote: »

I still have no idea how you managed 2 under 2 CMD! There's a new wave of babies on the way in the above mentioned FB baby group and every pregnancy announcement brings me out in a cold sweat as I can't imagine being pregnant and having a newborn with Zach as little as he is!

Lol - I don't know how I did it either Birdie! It was so hard cos OH was away from Monday morning (4am) to Thursday evening (11pm) so I myself and the kids basically saw him Friday morning to Sunday evening. It was very tough as I had nobody to relieve me, and no adult to chat to. But now I love the gap. The 2 of them play together so well and are very close. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Hope your training course went very well Dinah and you managed some much needed shuteye. Obviously you have to do what works best for you and NIM re: lie-ins etc but most people have responsible jobs and some have to do it with a degree of sleep deprivation. For example, I've had to set up a camp for children with special needs, induct 13 staff and work out medication, timetables, communicate with families on very little sleep (it has happened!). I'm not saying its easy on anyone but surely if you have a medical condition that is likely to render you potentially unable to mind your children then something needs to change to prevent this from happening. Apologies if I sound like I'm coming on strong but if your flare-ups are getting worse then maybe it is something you both need to address?

Birdie85

Hope you enjoyed your weekend Dinah. How did you get on playing the 'difficult to manage 5 year old'?!

Good point about the sleep CMD. I think everyone wishes they could have more sleep but the one with the medical needs comes first when it comes down to the argument over who gets the lie-in/early night. DH used to be the type who needed 9-10 hours sleep a night or he couldn't function, after so many months of night feeds etc he's now quite chipper after 6 hours and positively refreshed after 8!

Yesterday was interesting... we went to a friend's little boy's 1st birthday party/unofficial naming day. She didn't want to pay for someone to come and do a proper ceremony so just asked her FIL to make a speech and point out that the party was mainly about the naming day (despite the balloons and cake only saying Happy Birthday), I think to cover up the fact that they'd gone OTT with the birthday party (village hall, 70 guests, bouncy castle, soft play etc!). It was bizarre, the whole thing was just so unplanned and FIL's speech basically went (in a broad Yorkshire farmer accent) 'So... this is Baby's birthday and naming day... but mainly naming day. His name is XYZ... Y is a family name so we're really glad they've used it for his middle name... but his name is X... so lets have a toast on his naming day to XYZ!' All shouted over the drone of the bouncy castle! Very odd. They didn't appoint guardians either, which I kind of thought was the point of naming days? So yeah, word to the wise, if you want a Christening without the religion don't just fly by the seat of your pants because it leaves everyone feeling confused, and if you want a massive birthday party for your kids, don't try to hide it under another reason! I feel cheated out of buying him 2 presents and cards now! At least Zach enjoyed the soft play and I may or may not have spent a while in the ball pool with him!

Flower08

clearmydebts wrote: »

Hope your training course went very well Dinah and you managed some much needed shuteye. Obviously you have to do what works best for you and NIM re: lie-ins etc but most people have responsible jobs and some have to do it with a degree of sleep deprivation. For example, I've had to set up a camp for children with special needs, induct 13 staff and work out medication, timetables, communicate with families on very little sleep (it has happened!). I'm not saying its easy on anyone but surely if you have a medical condition that is likely to render you potentially unable to mind your children then something needs to change to prevent this from happening. Apologies if I sound like I'm coming on strong but if your flare-ups are getting worse then maybe it is something you both need to address?

Have to agree here Dinah. My OH has quite a stressful job and needs to be on top form, any mistakes he makes at work could quite possibly lead to instant dismissal. However there are a number of times he has had to drag himself through long shifts while sleep deprived because as much as we might like to us mummys cant do it all by ourselves. He regularly does a 14/15 hour day on 6 hours sleep.
Also if you do feel your condition is flaring up again you should definitely get yourself to your GP! Hope you managed to get a bit of a rest at the hotel and enjoyed your course.

wendz86

That does sound confusing Birdie, not sure the point in it really unless you want an excuse for a party.

I am always the one that gets up here but OH works such different shifts it messes up his sleep pattern. I do sometimes wish i could have a lie in but i always seem to wake up early anyway so doesn't really bother me.