Through the eye of the storm

Ok I'll admit it, having 3 children under 4 years was ambitious. I'm reminded of this every time I leave the house as I have numerous comments from people about the amount of tiny people in tow. I'm never quite sure how to respond to these comments, my latest response has been "yes I'm a glutton for punishment!" 

There is a children's book called '5 minutes peace' however this morning I find myself muttering 'I just want 5 seconds!' 

**(this is as at 10am, 3 hours after the children have had their breakfast, my breakfast has burnt because after finally managing to get our baby Pip down asleep Pebble has announced loudly 'Mummy I need a poo' then subsequently has thrown a tantrum when I put her on a potty)**

Even I as write this I am breastfeeding Pip who slept for a grand total of 3 minutes before waking up when I attempted to sit down with my first tea of the day.

I would console myself that I am burning of lots of calories running round after these 3 tiny dictators however I'm pretty sure I'm just stress eating any burnt calories! Instead I console myself with the fact I am looking after the 3 most awesome small people in the world. I find parenting a experience of extremes, there are so many moments where I desperately want a break and yet at 8pm I found myself putting Nemo and Pebble to bed late as we were having so much fun dancing to Roxette and Ricky Martin! 

Potty training Pebble utterly failed, unusually for me I finally admitted defeat after 2 weeks of no nappies as there had been no success and we had to travel down to Newcastle for a hospital appointment. In hindsight this was a good decision as on Friday my poor little Pebble came down with a nasty chest infection. It was all very dramatic as she was taken from the Doctors to the hospital by ambulance where she stayed for 4 days. Of course me being the transportable baby feeding device meant both the girls and I stayed in hospital. Pebble's oxygen levels were very difficult to keep at acceptable levels during the night and this alarm went off every few minutes. Of course there were the frequent visits by staff to do Pebble's obs. This woke up both of the girls meaning I was almost permanently feeding Pip! At one point both Pebble and Pip were so upset that I ended up in bed with Pebble with Pip between us feeding! 

I feel very lucky to live in a country where there is such good healthcare, I couldn't imagine how stressful it would be having an unwell child and either having no access to good healthcare or having to worry about the massive bill racking up. 

The 4 days did give Pebble and Pip some lovely bonding time. The two girls spent many hours just laying in bed with one another watching CBeebies (something else I am very thankful for!) 

We are back at home now and with Nemo soon going to school in the mornings and afternoons things seem to be settling down a bit. 

*****

Ok I am now writing this a week or two after I saved this draft. Seems I spoke too soon as shortly after writing this blog Nemo came down with a projectile committing bug. I'm sharing this photo as he managed to throw up on the slide which then ran down. (Seriously don't complain about the photo I have no sympathy you didn't have to smell it!) 

As hubby was away I had to manage it all myself! Then of course the inevitable happened, I then got the bug and felt totally rotten with it. 

I've worked out that in the past 4 weeks as a family we have been to the Doctors or the hospital 8 times (this doesn't include the dentist!). 

Highlights include my 

-smear test (mercifully my friend last minute rushed to the surgery to watch the children for me in the waiting room. This was a bit of a life saver as it took a rather a long time and some compromising positions to find my cervix. You can bet Nemo would have been very curious and given a detailed account to his school teachers the next day!) 

-immunisations (these have broken Pip's good sleeping, she now wakes a million times a night) 

- Pip's gunky eye (which she's had since birth) which after a swab turned out to actually to be infected with two different 'bad things' - oops - probably shouldn't have ignored that for amost her entire life.... 

Ok so it's been a bit insane, and I'm not going to say it should be getting easier now, because I'll jinx it, but it should get better, but I'm not saying that it will....(please nothing else happen, please nothing else happen.....) 

So I will go on to the big news of this month. My little baby Nemo is now a school boy. 

Here he is on his first day! (And no he wouldn't stay still!) 

Nemo is now at school full time and having 2 rather then 3 children at home for most the day feels much more manageable. Thankfully at 4 months and 2.5 years Pebble and Pip don't fight over toys. The peace is lovely! 

Nemo seems to really enjoy his days, he particularly enjoys his school lunches. A few days he got stickers for eatting all his lunch but he's stopped getting them now, I think the lunchtime staff might have cottoned on to the fact that Nemo will always eat all his lunch!

Hilariously the other day my brother and his wife and twins were visiting. He came with me to pick up Nemo. As Nemo comes out the door there is something wrong. I go and find that the teachers are pulling up his trousers which have fallen down. Then I notice that Nemo has one shoe on, then I notice he has no jumper on that his polo shirt is stained and twisted. It was hysterical. 

(Here's a photo my brother took which gives you a little flavour of his disheavelment although it doesn't capture the full glory!

It's weird not having Nemo around during the day and I've found it hard to ascertain from Nemo what he's been up to. I have a new tactic of bribing him with a tea if he sits down with me for 10 minutes whilst he drinks it and tells me about his day. 

As my Brothers family visited we were able to get all the children dressed up in the outfits that were for the missed birthday party. We got this photo which is pretty good for 5 children aged 4 and under! 

I've been quite busy with my sewing machine again.

Enter matching romper outfits for Pebble and Pip. 

(Pebble didn't want to pose!) 

I've also for the first time tried to make some clothes for myself. 

I made this dress but it came out pretty big. 

I shortened the pattern and did a smaller size to make this tunic which fits better. (I also love the panda theme!) 

Anyway that's a bit of a flavour of my goings on. 

I can't go without mentioning my husband's amazing achievements. His ethical investment solution was nominated for a best ethical investment provider prize competing against other giants such as standard life. As someone who started these up a few years ago on his own this is an amazing achievement. He is also an amazing Daddy and husband to boot. 

So I'll leave you with the usual photos of my amazing little people! 

(Classic I don't want to walk tantrum!) 

Cheese fondue was a big success, Pebble ate asparagus (admittedly covered in cheese...) and Nemo asked not to have pudding because his stomach was full!!!!