Merry Christmas!

Husband is out at the Bullring doing last-minute shopping, I've spent an hour washing up, cleaning the 'blast zone' around the high-chair, sweeping the stairs etc etc and now I'm reflecting in the last bit of peace and quiet before the festivities commence.

We had Elizabeth and Edward's Christmas party at 'slippery road' group on Thursday. They met Father Christmas for the first time, and Elizabeth couldn't believe it. Usually she is quite shy and won't speak to people, but when Sally said 'Say goodbye to Father Christmas' she was gazing up at him saying, "Bye... bye.... bye". She tentatively approached him to get her present too, and clutched it all the way home before finally opening it up in the privacy of our own home with Edward at her side!

We've been to the doctors today. I thought she might have had some sort of urine infection as she's had a couple of accidents and last night woke up wanting to go to the toilet. She tested her urine but said it seemed clear. I also asked about my hands - the dermatitis is back on the backs of my knuckles, and they keep cracking and bleeding, so I've got more Dermol and some steroid cream to try.

The big news this week was that we commenced 'ttc'ing again. That was on Wednesday night (Wednesday 16th)... supposed to be going again tonight but husband might well be back late. He's finished work now for Christmas, and Edward's sleep programme has been in operation since last Friday (11th December) so the odds are in our favour. This is all so that our grand plan to hatch a third in Autumn 2010 can move forwards, allowing perhaps to take a break if we need to before deciding if we really do want to try for number four. I've been trying to take Pregnacare, and am trying to be laidback about this, but no doubt I'll go crazy at some point soon!

Have been absolutely shattered as Edward's sleep programme entails a couple of hours minimum of him screaming and not settling, and whereas husband can fall asleep straight away, once I'm awake I tend to stay awake, and she has been waking up too - nightmares, wanting blue starbie, needing the toilet (!) the list goes on...

Counselling continues... Last week's session was quite interesting - there's something missing from our task-focussed lives, and we need to re-discover what it is that energises us. Have been thinking about it but so far can't think of interests for myself - I'm so used to thinking in terms of my overall 'job' of being a Mum. Everything I seem to do revolves around that. Will keep thinking.

Haven't heard back from work about my return to work date yet. Tried again in vain to contact them today.

Tree is up - finally. Finished decorating it last night. Have got most things sorted now, just the usual (our presents to each other) to get. We're hosting a meal for Nic, Bryony and Adrian tomorrow night, so I'm hoping that will be enjoyable. Mum and Dad are off down to sister's, and we've got a few visits (Aunty Mary, Gran etc) to do, plus we'd like to see Dave and Claire who've just had baby Iris, and Anna and Sanjeev.