About Me

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I live in Kent with my husband, toddler Tilly (henceforth known as Monkey) and another baby due in November. We have two cats, Duncan and Lady Macbeth, and four chickens who kindly lay us eggs daily. We live in the picturesque seaside town of Broadstairs. I enjoy reading, knitting and cooking. I'm trying to be a bit 'greener' (not sure how successfully), and to be a gentle parent. Extended breastfeeding and co-sleeping don't freak me out, we use cloth nappies and try to follow some of the ideals of Attachment Parenting. If that sounds as if I know what I'm doing, I don't! I am also a psychotherapist with an interest in Focusing-oriented therapy, and I have a small private practice in the area.

Thursday, 3 September 2009

Day(s) From Hell

Okay, hell might be a slight exaggeration, and of course there are many people far worse off than I but crikey it has been a trying 24 hours or so. I am renowned for being calm under pressure, and five months of being in the house-buying process is pretty darn testing, but after three weeks of being told that we would have a date imminently I finally lost it. I need to know when we are moving! I wouldn't even mind if that date was two months away, I just want to know. As it is, we keep hearing soon, soon, soon... but no word comes. We are living in limbo: making preparations; changing arrangements for work; living amongst boxes of flat-packed furniture; lusting after interiors and beautiful Danish furniture on eBay; fending off endless "when are you moving" questions; vaccinating our cats in readiness for a stay in the cattery; Freecycling things, like spare beds, which it would still actually be quite helpful to have in the house.
We made our offer on the house we want to buy before Easter. In that time we have managed to sell two houses, completing on one and hopefully tying the other one in with our onward move. Our vendors haven't even managed to get their sodding mortgage approved and appear to be the last people you could possibly wish to find yourself in a life-changing house purchase transaction with.
Deep breath. This too shall pass.
The dishwasher has packed up, and fused the electrics in the process. I am now having to empty it and wash the contents by hand, which does have the advantage of at least ensuring that the dishes are clean, a basic requirement which said dishwasher appears not to be particularly fussed with.
I've got fleas. Well, not me exactly but the cats do, and yours truly is the only one in the house with bites. Lots. Of. Bites.
Oh yes, and did I mention that my baby passed out for a minute this morning?
Yes, this is now the third episode of breath holding, this time triggered by her being angry rather than having a bump or being in pain of some sort. It was a total nightmare, we were in a busy restaurant having lunch and Monkey was getting fed up of not being able to run around. I tried to pop her back in the highchair, she let out a cry and then... no breath. And still no breath. And floppiness. My friend and I are calling her name, shaking her, trying to rouse her. It's less than a minute and she comes round again, promptly projectile vomiting the contents of her stomach across me and the restaurant. Jeez. She was fine after I'd cleaned her up. I even managed to eat the rest of my pasta. Bless the waiting staff, they were very tolerant and kind, I was of course mortified. I got home and researched breath-holding spells in toddlers, which turned out to be quite reassuring. I learned that it is reasonably common, and that the child will spontaneously start breathing again in a minute or less. I learned that I don't need to rouse her, shake or splash her with water, and that I should just lie her flat until she comes around. I also learnt that it can run in families, and yes, I was a breath-holding toddler! It can also be linked to anaemia, so I will be taking Monkey to the GP to get her iron levels checked out and to get a second opinion. It aint easy being a parent, is it?
My prescription then...
DH is out tonight so I will be trying to relax by having a bath and casting on stitches for a new knitting project (not whilst in the bath). The diet has gone out the window and is legging it up the street so I'm treating myself to Indian food from Waitrose. The Monkey was gently encouraged to have an early night. Fragranced candles are burning on the mantlepiece. Tomorrow is another day.

7 comments:

Joxy34 said...

Oh dear, that does sounda very trying day. Breath holding sounds terrifying - at least you've found some info and know waht to do if she does it again.

Hope you hear something about the move soon too.

Enjoy the bath and your evening.
(Rye's in bed now too, bliss!)

Daisie said...

Tomorrow is indeed another day and I hope it is much kinder to you!
xxx

Emma said...

Blimey - what a day. Hope you have a non-stressful, chilled out evening.

...Nina Nixon... said...

Oh my - I would of totally lost it at the first hurdle. I hope all works out soon though I know how utterly frustrating it can be - house moving that is.

I can't imagine how your feeling with the whole breath holding thing though I'm sure she will grow out of it. I only have tantrums to deal with and a dose of ignoring usually helps - I guess this is more terrifying than stubbiness.

Here's hoping things settle soon,

Nina x

Antoinette said...

I'm a bit late in reading this. I really hope your days have improved since this post.

That's really crap about the house situation. It's awful to be in that kind of limbo for so long too.

And then toddlers, and dishwashers in the mix. I'd not only be in the bath, but so would the gin bottle.

Unknown said...

Yeah, house selling-buying-moving is usually an ordeal. Our last one, well, husband had to drive all our belongings across Europe.... and we hadn't completed yet! Anxious times, lol.
Here's to a quick resolution soon.

Did I tell you about the face blowing for toddlers who do this? You blow in their face and it startles them out of holding their breath. Workedon kids I've nannied.
Glad you were reassured, though still difficult.

Anonymous said...

That is indeed a trying day!

Flees: I hear you, three cats and a fortune spent on Frontline Spot On and we still get them. We now found a way, flea spray for the house from pets at home and a flee collar in the vaccuum cleaner! Should do the trick!