Just popped in for a quick brag. Jess came home from school today with a letter to say that she will be receiving an award on Friday at a Presentation Assembly for Term 1 Awards. It doesn't say the exact award she will receive, but I'm very proud. I'll let you all know what award she does get on Friday!

Jess had her check-up with the paediatrician today & has been given the all-clear - yay! She still complains of a sore chest, but the doctor said that is normal due to all her coughing (which I told her anyway). She's pleased as she wants to get back to school. Yes, that's right, a kid who wants to go to school, lol. Well, she had the last 2 weeks of term off & has missed her friends.

Today was a pupil free day so the kids had an extra day holiday but it's back to school tomorrow. I'd say 'yay' but I'm not looking forward to having to get up earlier cause it's too damn cold! lol.

The winds came up today & it was a cold! Tomorrow will be the same. Well, reports earlier in the year said that it would cool down quicker this year. They said it would get colder in April. It's like winter already instead of autumn.

Since I have to get up earlier I better toddle off to bed **yawn** I'm rather tired anyway. Have a good night all. xx

I'm happier tonight as the kids have improved a lot. The medication Lauren is on (one she started yesterday) obviously works fast! She hasn't had a fever since starting it, slept better last night, and ate well at dinner tonight (roast pork and veg). Ben's appetite is back, too. He doesn't like pork (he's  strange with meat, lol) but had a good feed of veges and then wanted more to eat afterward.

They haven't been eating much at all, usually wanting something like watermelon, rock melon, oranges, or mandarins (cold things on their sore throats) and wouldn't eat a lot of whatever they did have, so I was really happy with them at dinner.

I'm still tired, still feel run down, but am happier! It's good to see improvement in the kids! Yay!

ARE YOU READY FOR CHILDREN?

 

Are you considering having children? To determine whether you are truly prepared for the experience, we suggest you take this set of simple tests...

MESS TEST:

Smear peanut butter on the sofa and curtains. Now rub your hands in the wet flower bed and rub on the walls. Cover the stains with crayons. Place a fish stick behind the couch and leave it there all summer.

TOY TEST:

Obtain a 55-gallon box of Legos. (If Legos are not available, you may substitute roofing tacks or broken bottles.) Have a friend spread them all over the house. Put on a blindfold. Try to walk to the bathroom or kitchen. Do not scream (this could wake a child at night).

GROCERY STORE TEST:

Borrow one or two small animals (goats are best) and take them with you as you shop at the grocery store. Always keep them in sight and pay for anything they eat or damage.

DRESSING TEST:

Obtain one large, unhappy, live octopus. Stuff into a small net bag making sure that all arms stay inside.

FEEDING TEST:

Obtain a large plastic milk jug. Fill halfway with water. Suspend from the ceiling with a stout cord. Start the jug swinging. Try to insert spoonfuls of soggy cereal (such as Fruit Loops or Cheerios) into the mouth of the jug while pretending to be an airplane. Now dump the contents of the jug on the floor.

NIGHT TEST:

Prepare by obtaining a small cloth bag and fill it with 8 to 12 pounds of sand. Soak it thoroughly in water. At 8:00 PM begin to waltz and hum with the bag until 9:00 PM. Lay down your bag and set your alarm for 10:00 PM. Get up, pick up your bag, and sing every song you have ever heard. Make up about a dozen more and sing these too until 4:00 AM. Set alarm for 5:00 AM. Get up and make breakfast. Keep this up for five years. Look cheerful.

PHYSICAL TEST (WOMEN)

Obtain a large beanbag chair and attach it to the front of your clothes. Leave it there for 9 months. Now remove 10% of the beans.

PHYSICAL TEST (MEN):

Go to the nearest drug store. Set your wallet on the counter. Ask the clerk to help himself. Now proceed to the nearest food store. Go to the head office and arrange for your paycheck to be directly deposited to the store. Purchase a newspaper. Go home and read it quietly for the last time.

FINAL ASSIGNMENT:

Find a couple who already have a small child. Lecture them on how they can improve their discipline, patience, tolerance, toilet training, and child's table manners. Suggest many ways they can improve. Emphasize to them that they should never allow their children to run riot. Enjoy this experience. It will be the last time you will have all the answers.

I took Ben and Lauren back to the doctor today. They had been on Monday and given antibiotics for throat infections. I went back because they sounded worse and I want to keep close tabs on them after Jess's episode. They've had all the same systems as Jess. I thought Ben seemed the worse but his chest was clear. Lauren is worse - her chest was very rattly so she has more antibiotics to take on top of what she already has. One is 3 times a day and the other is 4 times a day. Poor darling can't stand the taste of either of them.

It's now been almost a month of sick kids and I've had it! I'm just so damn tired, stressed, just really run down. Oh, the joys of mother-hood! It's just as well I love them all so much, lol.

Jess still isn't completely well but I do believe it can take quite some time to get over pneumonia. She has her appointment with the paediatrician on Monday so will see what he says. Oh, please, let him give her a clean bill of health!

 

One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small boy into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, "Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?"

His mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. "I can't dear, " she said. "I have to sleep in daddy's room."

A long silence was broken at last by his little voice. "The big sissy."   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

A family took their frail, elderly mother to a nursing home and left her, hoping she would be well cared for. The next morning, the nurses bathed her, fed her a tasty breakfast, and set her in a chair at a window overlooking a lovely flower garden. She seemed okay, but after a while she slowly started to tilt sideways in her chair. Two attentive nurses immediately rushed up to catch her and straighten her up.

Again she seemed okay, but after a while she slowly started to tilt over to her other side. The nurses rushed back and once more brought her back upright. This went on all morning. Later, the family arrived to see how the old woman was adjusting to her new home.

"So Ma, how is it here? Are they treating you all right?"

"It's pretty nice," she replied. "Except they won't let me fart."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, "Why is the bride dressed in white?" "Because white is the color of happiness and today is the happiest day of her life." Her mother tried to explain, keeping it simple. The child thought about this for a moment, then said, "So, why is the groom wearing black?"

 

This is the last I will say on what has been going on. I just want to set a couple of things straight.

* The ONLY thing I said about this person is that she is not a parent. That is a FACT, NOT a put down.

* I NEVER said anything about her advice not being good. I'm sure she has plenty of great advice to offer.

* I NEVER called her a dumbarse, or implied that she is. Not long ago I sent her a 'wise owl' compliment so why on earth would I think she was dumb?

* I NEVER said it is wrong to boil meat. I simply pointed out that it is not necessary. I guess I should have worded things better. I didn't mean that what she said is crap, I just mean crap, you don't HAVE to boil the meat. I did not mean it in an offensive way.

It is a shame she took it all to heart because it was never meant that way. Saying she's not a parent was NEVER meant to be a put down, or any sort of implication that she does not know anything about kids. It is just that I remember what it was like when I first had kids - there is a lot to learn! This person already has a good knowledge of child-rearing and that's great. But that doesn't mean she knows everything, nor do I, noone really does. I only pointed out the boiled meat thing so that she, and others, know that it is not necessary, that's all. I cannot understand what was so wrong with that.

That's it now, no more on the matter.

Thanks to all for the comments and personal messages of support. I appreciate it. It just really gets my nerve when someone says that I've said something that I did not say (ie, saying she's dumb, her advice is not good, she does not know anything about being a mother, etc).

Thanks to those who have reassured me that my advice is fine and that I am not the one with a problem. I just want to help others as that's my nature without being run down for it. When I do write advice, I would hope that it would be read properly and not be accused of saying things I did not.

Anyway, I won't quit, thanks to all of you. You guys are great! xx

Think I'll just quit! If I'm going to cop shit for TRYING to be helpful then everyone can go get stuffed! So much crap is written in the comments on the report! I NEVER mentioned any names, I NEVER put her down, I NEVER said she did not know what she's talking about, I NEVER said or implied that she's a dumbarse (though I'm starting to wonder about that now!), I NEVER said anything against her!

I merely mentioned she's not a mum yet. So? Is that a bad thing these days? Geez, when I first became a mum a learnt a lot! I thought I knew things that I found out I didn't, and vice-versa! Being a mother is about learning. If I thought I had to do something and someone advised me it was ok not to do that thing, I would have appreciated it! What I said was meant to help and all it's done is cause shit because the person in question has taken it all to heart, has said I said things I did not say, and obviously thinks she do the mum thing all on her own, with no advice. Well, good luck to her if that's the way she wants to do things! I wish I had have been able to come to a site like this when I first became a mother - I would have appreciated all the help I could get! Noone knows it all!

I'm not happy! I recently wrote advice on babies and solids and, though I had positive feedback, my advice has been reported. Here's the report.....

"I find it very rude that this member has said that i dont know anything cos im not a parent yet. I really dont appreciate being told my advice isnt useful just beacsue im not a parent yet.Ive had alot of experience with kids so i think i do have some knowlege on parenting. I was only telling Cass that boiled meat is good for babies at 8mnths, thats what i did for my neices and they were fine and took it well."

This person has said that I said she knows nothing because she's not a parent yet. I'd like her to point out where it says that! I said she's not a parent yet, but never said she knows nothing! I just meant she does have things to learn, as ALL parents, esp new parents, do. It's a part of being a parent - learning! It's also called 'constructive' criticism - somthing everyone should be able to take in all aspects of life. It's how we learn.

Next she has said that I said her advice is not useful. Again, I'd like her to show me where it says that! I never said such a thing, nor implied it.

All I did was to say that boiling meat was not necessary. It was nothing against her (which I DID say). We are all here to receive and accept advice. I give advice based on my experiences as a mother and a child care worker. If you don't agree with what advice I give, that's your perogatvie. It doesn't mean you have to report me!

I had actually sent a compliment to this girl for being a 'wise owl' as I thought her to be a very mature-minded young lady who will be a great mother. But if she can't read what I write properly, if she wants to say things I did NOT say about her, then I'm sorry but this changes my mind about her.

I did NOT say anything offensive to or about her. I said in the article that I mean no offence to her. I did not even mention her bloody name! All I did was point out a fact that would hopefully help her and others in here. The only reason I said in the article, "someone wrote that...boiling meat..." was so that she will know, when her little dalrilng gets to the age of eating meat, that it is not necessary to boil it. It was to HELP her! And HELP others!

I took Ben and Lauren to the doctor today as both have had fevers and sore throat all weekend. They both have antibiotics now. Fingers crossed they don't end up like Jess! Poor kids haven't had a good holiday (it's school hols here). Apart from being unwell, it's been too wet & cold to go anywhere anyway! Last Thursday is really the only outing they've had. Today I went to the doctor just down the road from me so that wasn't much. Oh, well, least they are on hols so aren't missing school. The joys of children! One gets sick, the rest cop it!

Hope all of you are well!

Jess had a check-up with her GP on Thursday & he was very pleased with her. He said her lungs sound clear - woohoo! She still needs to finish the antibiotics & it will still take time to completely recover but least she's well on the way.

Ben & Lauren have sore throats now. Ben was quite unwell yesterday with cough & fever but today he says he's feeling a lot better, just throat sore. Hopefully neither will get as bad as Jess has been. I will certainly be keeping a close eye on them!

It's school holidays here so it hasn't been much of a holiday for them. The only place they have been is the shopping centre where the doctor is on Thursday. I let them have lunch after the doctor. Ben & Lauren had maccas while Jess had KFC - they enjoyed that. If they are all OK next Thursday I will take them to the movies.

The weather is crappy here. It's been raining & more rain is on the way. Plus it's cold. If the forecast is correct it will be raining all week - what a joy!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! xx

Any of you members of myspace? If so, let me know so can add to friends in there. If you're not a member, check it out.

See yas! xx

Thanks to all of you who left comments regarding Jess. I'm having trouble with my minti mail so thought I'd put this here instead of individual responses. I appreciate the well wishes. Yes, it was a horrible exerience & thanks for suggesting the flu shot - with all that's been going on, I hadn't even thought of that! I'll also ask about the other shot. I'll do whatever it takes to protect her - I sure don't want to go through another episode like Saturday night again! It will haunt me for a long time! It'll make me paranoid, too. Even this morning, when I got up & Jess wasn't up, I thought, is she alright? And went to check on her. Of course, she's just sleeping in as she's still very tired.

Anyway, again, thank you for your support & well wishes.

Luv Lee xx

Just a note to say that Jess is out of hospital now. She was allowed to come home this afternoon, much to our relief. She's feeling & looking a lot better. She's on 2 lots of antibiotics & has to see the specialist in 2 weeks.

I'm so happy my little girl is home & is fine! **does happy dance**

Jess is now in hospital with pneumonia. I called an ambulance last night after she collapsed & couldn't breathe.

It was a nightmare. Jess collapsed & went into a fit, gagging for air, lips turning blue. She lashed out at me, hitting & kicking me, looking like a wild woman! Then she calmed a bit, looking at me with a terrified look on her face. She hugged me & I put her on the lounge. While all this was happening I was on the phone to the ambulance operator. They arrived soon after I had her on the lounge. She couldn't remember a thing!

The doctor said that, with the infection in her lungs, she over-exerted them (she had been playing Singstar karoke).

She's in hospital, on oxygen. I was going to stay with her all day but she was very tired so I came home at lunch time so she could sleep (I'm very tired, too, might have a lay down soon myself).

It takes 10 days to recover but hopefully she won't be in the hospital all that time. It will depend on how she goes when they decide to take the oxygen off her.

Poor darling isn't going to have much fun for the school holidays!

Some of you saw recently that I asked for opinions (in the Q & A section) on my daughter. I then posted another entry saying thanks & that I took her to the hospital & she was OK. Well, she had to go back to the doctor again today. After putting the stethescope on her, he said to get a chest xray urgently. She has an infection in her lower lungs that could be the start of pneumonia. She had more blood tests, has more antibiotics (third lot over the last 2 weeks) & has to go back to doctor on Wednesday.

I know it's not the worse disease that one can get, but it's a worry. Hopefully the infection has been caught quickly & will clear up before it becomes pneumonia. Fingers crossed.

Well, the computer spat the dummy so I haven't been able to get online. I finally got it fixed so am back! yay! **does happy dance** I'm sure computers are male - temperamental things, lol.

Let's see now - we had a lovely holiday at christmas at my dad's new place, I have a new niece who is now 7 weeks old (and just gorgeous, of course), and I've started a course in Business (Medical Administration) which is keeping me busy.

The kids are all good. My eldest, Jess, is in year 8 this year and she was put into the Selective class at the start of the year (ie, the class for the smarty-bums, lol). Ben is in year 4 and Lauren year 3. With Lauren going into primary, I don't even have an infants child anymore - they're growing up too fast! lol. They are all doing well in their classes.

Hope you have all been keeping well. Take care.