Hi ladies, it's getting very christmassy though I *still* haven't wrapped prezzies - gonna have a blitz tonight (she says third day running LOL). Santa's running out of time.
Arte I love that you're including W in the wrapping - brave mummy! With little kids the rewards need to pay out frequently - I found smarties very effective to start with but ideally you want to get over to just having the sticker and then rewarding after 5 or 6 stickers - every few days. Remember intermittant conditioning lasts longer than constant conditioning (haha that's the only thing I think I remember from teachers college 20 years ago - that and pedagogies).
JazaH, I hope the funeral service went well today, and don't stress over holding it together - it's an appropriate time to express how you feel and no one there will mind one jot. Your Grandma was a special lady and they all know that.
Noni, hang in there sweetie. Hope the kids are feeling better and you're a bit perkier now.
Clare what have I missed - r u on holidays already? Did I miss you telling us that? Why the public kiosk?
Cally yay for finishing up work! Sounds like the getting out of bed thing is common at this age. We've still got Missy E in her cot (!!!) and she's going to stay there until i can carry her again.
AFM - drowning in my christmas preparations...tried to type a letter to send out with christmas cards but stalled after the massive paragraph about my own lil journey this year - have some good friends interstate who I haven't contacted because it's just so damn hard to ring up and announce that you're having chemo...bit easier now it's behind me but I do so want ppl to know because it's appropriate now, and important in case I ever have ot face a recurrence. ANYWAY we were going to do a photo calendar for my parents (combined effort with my sister) but we've kinda left it a bit late, we thought we'd do a digi photo frame instead but need a big one for stepmum who has vision issues and the affordable big ones are all sold out now. So having a last minute blah about that.
Went to see the surgeon for a follow up today, she is such a sweetie, she is so pleased at her good work but remembered to ask me how I feel about it. Most importantly I finally got the dressings off and the DRAIN out today - yeehar - not sorry to see that baby go tho i will prolly have to get some fluid syringed out of my back for the next coupla weeks. DD1 came with us and drank several heavily sweetened cups of tea from the free cuppa tea area at the clinic while she was waiting for us LOL needless to say she has been very perky all afternoon since.
LOL MD, I hope she doesn't crash and burn out on you. Great to hear that you got a good report from the surgeon and the drain has come out.
Arte, I hope the reward chart keeps working for you
Jaz I hope you were OK today. Im' sure you would have done her proud reading her eulogy.
AFM, well I think I might put the christmas tree up tonight. I have been avoiding it because once it's up, DH does nothing but whinge about it LOL so he will only have to put up with it for christmas eve as he is on nightshift till then. Presents are all wrapped - only had one each to wrap for them because I daresay it will be near impossible to wrap the motorbike and cubby
I dunno trill, with enough rolls of the larger sized paper and the right kinda gleam in your eye...LOL what's the name of that artist...Christo??...who wraps whole buildings. You aint' got no excuse lady.
BTW what's to whinge about a Chrissy tree? Does it get in the way of the telly or something?? Bah Humbug!!!
just had to come on and tell u all that Billy said his first word and its MUM!!! hahaha
he quite often goes mmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm so everytime he did ive been saying mmmmmum lol and he got it hahaha so cute!
Noni, such a clever boy - my DD1 said Mummmm first too - just a warning cos that became her favorite word as a toddler - Mummy mummy mummy mummy (*BANG!* - that's the sound of my head exploding after the 700th Mummy of the day) rofl!
Sorry I have been a bad baby buddy again. I have been trying to read and keep but its not working lol.
I am soooo excited about playing Santa tomorrow. I cant wait to see L's face in the morning. We have bought him a climbing gym for outside, he is going to love it.
Just incase I dont get back on tomorrow night, I hope you all have a VERY VERY Merry Christmas. Give all your little ones an extra squeeze from me.
I've just been sitting here, catching up while licking out the saucepan from a batch of fudge. DD and DH are fast asleep, curled up together in our bed. He's supposed to be out buying me Santa presents, but I think he needs the sleep more.
I braved town this morning for a beautician's appt - remind me not to do that next year!! We had a lovely morning down the beach too.
Reward charts - I made one up with little pictures of smarties for the first few days, then some blank and a chuppa chup, more blanks, another chuppa chup, then blanks and a Freddo. We were going to use it for good bedtimes, but I think it might be too long between the action and the reward. So might change it to having a daysleep!! I also got some lovely star stickers for her to put on every day.
MD - YAY for getting the drain out!!
Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!! Do you think the littlies will sleep in for us all?? LOL!!
Well I'm just popping in because Christmas starts in our family in a couple of hours with our Christmas Eve dinner...so, just wanted to say:
Every blessing and a very safe and happy Christmas to each one of my dear baby buddies (and happy hols to MP ) and your gorgeous children and your families. You know it's been a big year in this household and Christmas represents coming out the other end - so I really want to take the opportunity to tell you all how much your support and friendship has meant to me. I never could've imagined the first day I stumbled across BB the amazing people I would meet here. I consider myself so lucky to have been able to meet some of your IRL and hope one day I can meet the rest of you. So this year when you're enjoying Christmas remind yourself what an awesome person you are, that you light up someone's life (mine), that just by being yourself the world is a better place. xxx
Thanks MD I think that everyone that has been there for you this past year has taken something from it as well - your strength and humor during your journey has been amazing.
As for me, I have my Christmas wish already - my little boy is back to his happy little self! I have no idea what the problem was over the last two months, but finally he is fun to be around again. I am so happy to be able to enjoy the time I spend with him.
There are still 4 sleeps until our delayed Christmas, but I can't wait! (or as W says "William's not waiting until Christmas!")
3 years ago I would have never believed that I would have a bunch of internet friends that mean so much to me. I am a bit of a Nigel in real life and it really does make a huge difference to my life to have you guys here. Hope you are all having a great Christmas, this year is going to be great with our big 2 year olds!
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope we have all had a great start to the day and that all our little ones aren't completely overtired yet ROFL. I think Alister has another hr in him before he loses it because he slept in till past 8 and we wouldn't let the kids open anything till we were all awake and so he had to be woken before he was ready LOL
merry xmas everyone, we had a great day. the boys got spoilt rotten! wish my mum could've been there, would've made the day complete. hope you all had a great day xoxox love to everyone
thanks arte, i feel like such a loser sometimes that i can't talk about it IRL yet.is that a part of not being ready to grieve yet? IDK? so confused,
just know that mum loved xmas, and being pg with L 6weeks after her death is so bittersweet. i wish she knew he was here and he is dad's best friend.
Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you have all had a wonderful day.
Both my kids got spoilt especially L.
G. Dh lost his mum 5 years ago and Christmas is still hard for him. Your not a looser. I am sure your mum is watching over you all and and knows that L and your dad are best mates.
I hope you were OK today. Im' sure you would have done her proud reading her eulogy.
hahaha
Bookmarks