“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”

PositiveBalance

I'm sorry that Littlest Small has got poorly again. I hope it is just the tail end of the bug.


What have your other two put on their Christmas lists just in case anyone spots anything online at a really good price that might do the job? X

WannabeFree

Meal plan/shopping list so far. I haven't finished main dinners yet that will be with my next coffee. Is this really boring? Maybe I shouldn't post it. But I thought it might help someone else struggling.

28 Days Breakfast.
Porridge. 100g made with water feeds the 3 of them.

3 x bags of 1kg porridge (£2.25) some left over for baking

28 Days lunches - Sandwich, yogurt, sultanas (maybe something baked)

12 x wholemeal bread (6 Slices a day) £6.60
30 cheese slices £2.97
800g wafer thin ham £2.98
84 x Fromage frais (1 each a day) £5.60
Sultanas x 2 bags (15g each a day) £1.98 some left for baking.

Snacks (baked biscuits etc)
SR flour x 2 90p
Plain flour x 2 90p
Sugar £1.28
Eggs x 30 £2.36
Jam x 2 56p (sometimes used on sandwiches or porridge too)

Total so far £28.38. (28 breakfasts/lunches/snacks for all 3 smalls)

Back again once everyone's quiet x

WannabeFree

I do go home to do washing and make pack lunches etc and sometimes dinner for them. I haven't been shopping though so need to now they've had bought food a few nights when there just hasn't been time. I don't know why they think the dinners are so disgusting because as I say they aren't usually fussy. I'm not the best cook around

PB thank you. I've got DS a board game and a jacket and I have got DD a watch and diary The 3 of them also have books to share x

milann

If that’s what the smalls like there’s nothing wrong with repeating it. You are so organised even in such demanding circumstances.
Just wondered if you have an Aldi near you - they do packs of ham trimmings - sometimes I wouldn’t touch them with a barge pole but sometimes they’re as good as ‘proper’ ham. They are Under £2 for a big pack.
Hope there’s some improvement with little one soon.

WannabeFree

28 days dinners
1kg mince
1kg chicken
20 sausages
5kg potatoes
1kg onions
4 x 1kg mixed veg
6 x chopped tomatoes
1 x kidney beans
4 x baked beans
1 x tin spaghetti
1kg dry spaghetti
2kg pasta
2kg rice
1kg spread

This will make Bolognese/lasagne/curry/casserole/toad in the hole/cottage pie/mash & sausage. I will batch cook and portion it out into 28 days and then into 3 portions.

Other things
Squash x 2
Washing up liquid
6 toilet rolls

Total for the first post and this is £50.53. I can deal with 53p over

Youngest nappies etc order came out today I forgot so the £25 for everything else and a bit more has gone

WannabeFree

milann wrote: »

If that’s what the smalls like there’s nothing wrong with repeating it. You are so organised even in such demanding circumstances.
Just wondered if you have an Aldi near you - they do packs of ham trimmings - sometimes I wouldn’t touch them with a barge pole but sometimes they’re as good as ‘proper’ ham. They are Under £2 for a big pack.
Hope there’s some improvement with little one soon.

I do have aldi a bit further away. But Mr A sent me a free months delivery so was going to do it online this time so I can make sure I don't forget anything/can sort it while youngest is still in and just be there for the delivery. But it's definitely worth looking next time thank you.

SusieT

WannabeFree wrote: »

I do go home to do washing and make pack lunches etc and sometimes dinner for them.

I am well out of what happens with children in hospital, but do you stay there nights with the other 2 in a family room, or do you get kicked out at 6pm or something so that the hospital can get the children to sleep? I cannot work out if you actually get home before 10pm and how you fit in feeding the older 2. Sorry if its a stupid question

WannabeFree

No Susie they expect a parent/guardian to stay. Youngest has a side room as she can't be in the bays as shes immunocompromised along with certain meds means a lot of other 'childhood illnesses' are a much higher risk. The older two shouldn't stay in normal circumstances but we have social services backing they can stay as long as they attend school and breakfast/after-school club. So it sort of works like 6am older two start getting ready for school. I drop them off at school around 7.15am. Get back for 8am when youngests 'day' schedule starts. I'm then here until 5.30 when I go to pick the older two up. Go past home on way for them put a wash on. Then collect them it can be anytime from 6-6.30pm go back past home to swap the wash into dry and back to the hospital by 7 before the night schedule starts. Older two are understanding they have to be quite and settled down and so far haven't caused a problem.

When I leave in the morning youngests asleep and there is nurses watching/checking on her. In the evening the play team are with her as she's awake then.

The day after I'll pick the washing that dried the night before up and do the same thing with the dirty (no ironing gets done ) and the kids dinners are either a meal deal from the shop or something quickly from the microwave

That turned out really long sorry x

SusieT

WannabeFree wrote: »

No Susie they expect a parent/guardian to stay. Youngest has a side room as she can't be in the bays as shes immunocompromised along with certain meds means a lot of other 'childhood illnesses' are a much higher risk. The older two shouldn't stay in normal circumstances but we have social services backing they can stay as long as they attend school and breakfast/after-school club. So it sort of works like 6am older two start getting ready for school. I drop them off at school around 7.15am. Get back for 8am when youngests 'day' schedule starts. I'm then here until 5.30 when I go to pick the older two up. Go past home on way for them put a wash on. Then collect them it can be anytime from 6-6.30pm go back past home to swap the wash into dry and back to the hospital by 7 before the night schedule starts. Older two are understanding they have to be quite and settled down and so far haven't caused a problem.

When I leave in the morning youngests asleep and there is nurses watching/checking on her. In the evening the play team are with her as she's awake then.

The day after I'll pick the washing that dried the night before up and do the same thing with the dirty (no ironing gets done ) and the kids dinners are either a meal deal from the shop or something quickly from the microwave

That turned out really long sorry x

Woah, thats one hell of a schedule, you must be superwoman to do all that. I had guessed it was tight timings, but thats crazy :A:A

WannabeFree

Still time to fit a coffee break in too

Anyway have ticked the meal plan off.

Have got it in the basket ready to check out when I can make sure I can be home for it. Will then need to plan in trying to batch cook into 'ready meals' (maybe the slow cooker?) Have asked the neighbour if she will take in the Amaz0n delivery of nappies etc.

Feeling organised. That makes me feel better.

Susie it's actually easier timing wise than at home As here I'm not responsible for meds and things and there's other eyes keeping track of numbers and doses. At home I always doubt myself if I've give x or have I forgot x etc. So as awful as it sounds even though it's inconvenient and expensive the worry side is easier