Time for a new start

Queen_of_the_Hive

Morning @Drawingaline, aw its great to hear things are going a bit more smoother for you. Cannot believe its the end of year 2 for your daughter. School / Uni goes so fast! and its fab the treatments are working for your son too. Who couldn't not love a trip up North (am a bit biased! )

At least working this week has taken some pressure off the finances. I'm sure the kids still had a great time. My two get sick of mummy dragging them here, there and everywhere!

Drawingaline

Well I spoke to soon, the boys skin has quickly gone downhill again. 😔 He did an online consult and the doctor who rang wouldn't give him another dose of tablets and went through the creams that should help. He is carefully following the instructions but I am beginning to think it may not be what we thought it was. His eczema had healed right up, but his legs are flared again, but he has used the steroid cream for the max number of days. 

He rang the doctors and asked to see the doctor he saw at his appointment as he was just so good and said to come back if it didn't settle. Unfortunately the thing we though it was is the kind of thing that does come and go, but everything says it is only mildly itchy, but he wants to rip his skin off. He has the allergy testing next week so will see if we get any answers with that. His doctors appointment isn't until 17th July, so 5 weeks! And going to push for a dermatology referral and see if he can get a test done today we if it is the specific thing we think it is.

And we have no idea why his eczema has flared so bad over the past year. He has had it since he was a baby, but it's generally been ok, with a few small flares, but it's so so bad now. Wondering if it's a hormonal change maybe 🤷 am researching private dermatologists in the area just incase, but even so, most are booked up for a couple of months. 

So I am back to feeling super stressed about it all. Finances are ok, have the money for the allergy testing.

Booked some tickets through kids week, just for a science show with the small two, but something to look forward to and the three tickets cost £36 all in. 

weenancyinAmerica

Can you change things like laundry detergent to make sure that isn't the problem? Or baths with oatmeal in them which is what me mother used to do for us when we had sunburns?

Drawingaline

weenancyinAmerica said:

Can you change things like laundry detergent to make sure that isn't the problem? Or baths with oatmeal in them which is what me mother used to do for us when we had sunburns?

He doesn't use any laundry detergent at all, he has an eco ball for his clothes. It's one of the things we will get tested this week to see if he can go back to using it as I think it's not assisting the secondary infection. He has oatmeal based emollients to use, but he has always found emollients sting and agrivate the eczema, which is annoying. It's just odd, as he suffered really bad as a baby and small toddler, took him off cows milk and it cleared up so we know some dairy is a trigger. Just no idea why it has flared so badly over the past 6/9 months after years of being ok 🤷

Drawingaline

Got the £100 from Nationwide, as did the boy and the smallest, the weird one didn't get a letter, but he has the same account as the smallest so odd if he doesn't qualify for it. 

I will be using mine for the boiler service. Wish I could use it for something fun, but needs must. 

joedenise

Does the smallest have a current and a savings account?  I think you need both to qualify for the £100 bonus.

Drawingaline

joedenise said:

Does the smallest have a current and a savings account?  I think you need both to qualify for the £100 bonus.

Ah that makes more sense, he has a junior ISA in his name. Damn, wish I had known this as would have opened one for the 15yr old too! The only reason the smallest has it is because he never got the child trust fund, so wanted him to have something similar for when he got to 18. 

Drawingaline

The boy had his allergy testing. He is quite allergic to dust mites (not a shock, I am too) but everything else came back clear, including cat dander and milk protein. The doctor said with his stomach issues with some dairy it would strongly suggest a lactose intolerance rather than a milk protein allergy. Nice to get it all confirmed.

So now I need to try and find money for measures to help the dust mite problem. I can hear him sneezing in his room right now. 

Skin problem, the allergy doctor said it might be a bacterial infection prompted by the fungal infection so gave a private script for a different body wash and cream. It settled for a bit, but seems to be spreading again now. Just at a complete loss now. Going to definitely push for a dermatology referral for him when he finally sees the doctor next month. 

The girl came home for a few days which was nice, but expensive, we ended up having an unprompted BBQ as the weather went so nice, so had to go and buy all the stuff for that. She got her final project mark for her second year and has done really well. She is on track for a high 2:1 but their is a possibility for a 1st. She is aiming for at least an A for her dissertation, which she is capable of, but the biggest module for next year is her professional portfolio/body of work which is going to be harder to grade. Fingers crossed she does ok. A couple of her friends haven't done very well at all, they are capable artists, but struggle more with the huge amount of research and writing that goes alongside the practical elements, whereas the girl flourishes at that part. I am actually in awe with the amount of research and writing each project needs, she has only written two essays so far, but each project has something like a 40 page research/critical analysis piece too. Bonkers! 

The weird isn't doing well at all, I have his parents eve next week, will be interesting to see what is said. Atm I can't see him passing any GCSES at all which is so sad as he is a capable boy, but just isn't built for school. He competed in sports day and ran with a buddy which was nice, but I know he was frustrated as he knows sports are not his thing. He also went on a field trip and coped well, he is really well supported by his peers, it's lovely to see, I don't know why they are all so good with him, but these are 14/15yr olds and they just look out for him so well.

Finances are not great still. Frantically saving up to cover the girls rent until October when she gets her next loan. (She only gets the minimum) She is off to Europe on a holiday soon and is so excited to properly fly for the first time (she flew when she was 3, but obviously can't remember that!) she is planing on coming to visit us for the day when we are on holiday too, hopefully the in laws can also come that day, she hasn't seen them in over a year!

Drawingaline

Been too long! Should have updated before now but everything just fells such a slog right now.

I started HRT this week. I know it can take a while but all I seem to have developed is a huge need to eat all the carbs 🤷😭 obviously I will give it time.

The boys skin has flared badly again, have an appointment on Wednesday. He was at his girlfriend's up north last week and she is apparently coming here for his birthday this week. It's nice to see him moving forward with his life, if we can get his skin a bit better I think I will be able to relax a bit. It's definitely affecting me and my mood, knowing how stressed he is with it all. Doing research keeps kicking up the possibility of topical steroids withdrawal which I am praying it isn't. He hasn't really used a lot of steroid cream overall, but over the past year it has ramped up a bit. But definitely not someone who has used it for years.........I know there are non steroids options for creams so will be pushing to get those tried first.

The weird one had his parents evening. Bar one subject he is doing ok. As in he might scrape a pass (so the equivalent of an old style E) but one subject it is looking like he may get an upgraded. I am going to attempt to meet up with the senco in the new year to discuss him not sitting the exams for that subject. No point tbh, it's not the teachers fault, he just doesn't understand it, I am not help and he has failed the first bit of coursework. It's not a core subject and he should never have chosen it as an option. But I didn't like to say no when he decided himself to chose it.

The smallest is doing amazingly well right now though.

The girl came home again this week as she has been ill. She had a few days off work due to how her shifts fell so she came home to basically get fed and nap on the sofa 😂 she went back feeling a bit better, but it was a nasty cold/virus. She even bought a COVID test just incase, but no. 

Finances are still not great, trying to scrape a bit aside for the summer holidays, but nothing crazy will be happening. Maybe some picnics and a couple of beach trips. I have one theatre trip booked with the small two, and am going to try and get Rush or last minute tickets for a show for me and the girl. 

Otherwise still just plodding along. Hoping the hrt might kick in and turn me into a new woman at some point. Although I think it's highly unlikely, but I would settle for less anxiety and less middle age inertia and procrastination/indecision!!!

Sun_Addict

Hope the HRT works for you 🤞 I’ve never had it but a friend swears by it. I’m terrible at making decisions now, always convinced I’ll make the wrong one 😞