Experiment!!!

This is a sort of test...I've loaded the app onto my phone so now I can blog when and wherever I want too!!!

My main problem is I have no idea how to post this...
Probably time to press everything on the screen to see what happens!!!!!

Crash Down

Today has been a day of extremes...I started of apprehensively as yesterday with Mikey was best described as a total nightmare. But today he was a totally different child, cute, smiley and cuddly. I put the change down to him realising that there won't be any massive changes and possibly he had picked up that the changes may not happen until next week.

But as I found out earlier this evening there are not going to be any changes at all. My agency called to let me know that they have been having a major row with Verifone who have decided that the job they offered to me on Friday has been subsequently offered to an ex-employee who had resigned to go and travel. Also the job has altered to a 3 month probation which will then turn into a permanent role. Apparently this person has stayed in tough with their previous manager (not the credit control manager) and they handed them the vacancy without checking with the Manager handling the appointment. Paul who looks after me at the Agency is furious as they messed me around a few weeks ago by fibbing about calling me when they didn't, and then they offer me the job very quickly following my phone conversation but also demand a basic CRB check and a credit check as well to be done prior to me starting. I was also asked if I would commit to staying for at least 3 months as recently they have had a couple of temporary staff walk out after 1 or 2 days. I agreed to all this and have been sending scanned copies of forms and proof if ID all over the place!

I was very calm while I was talking to Paul, but if I'm honest I am tempted to go and put a large stone of brick through as many of their windows as I can (but then again that would bugger up any future CRB check) He is almost as angry as I am and has told me that I have acted professionally throughout this fiasco and he is now searching even harder to find something for me. I have used this Agency before and they have always acted professionally on my behalf, it is just a shame that some of their clients find it impossible to act ethically. Having worked for a couple of US Companies in the past I know how keen most of the reputable are to show their ethical work practises and how they care about the people they employ. It is a shame that VERIFONE aren't one of them. Personally I hope that Michael Page International aren't left out of pocket for the work they have done on my behalf...and maybe I have had a lucky escape as they really don't like to treat their temporary staff well - maybe I should have picked that up from the 2 before me who walked out so quickly...

Just a thought, they are opposite a pub...maybe someone will do what I'm not brave enough to...

All change!

When I left CSL after being made redundant I sort of decided it was going to take me 3 months to find another job. Finding the job at CSL had taken me less that this and I can only think I was making an allowance for the downturn in the UK's finances. I know from experience that when times get tough credit controllers are usually sacrificed early as although we collect money, we don't actually generate any extra income personally. This time it has taken me 3 months and 1 day - I am taking this as a success as February only has 28 days and I was interviewed and got the job on 1st March (also my Mum's birthday, another good omen I hope)

I will be working for Verifone, provided all my credit and CFB checks come back ok, I am happy that I'll still be in Ashford rather than on the other side of Maidstone in the middle of nowhere. Since 2008 my priorities really have changed and I really want to find that illusive state known as work/life balance. Even more so since Mikey's arrival...I've had my time dashing around and putting work above everything else. I have finally accepted that I'm not irreplaceable, I am not essential to a large, international company and if I am not there it is easy to replace me. But replacing my son...not possible.

Although the last 2 days have not been easy with Mikey, we are well into the 'Terrible Twos' This morning I had a wooden car track and a basket full of cars and various crayons thrown at me. Hopefully the fact I haven't taken my blood thinning tablets over the last few days will mean I won't get too many bruises. In the end after moving most of his toys to the kitchen I decided we both needed a time out so I somehow got him up stairs (thank goodness my hair was tied back as he was trying to grab a handful or 2 while also kicking me. I'm also relieved I hadn't put his shoes on earlier, he got dumped into bed rather unceremoniously and the gate on his doorway was shut so he couldn't escape. I went up to check on him once the yelling had quietened down and he was fast asleep. It seems now he can get out of bed himself he's getting himself up far too early. He already has a blackout blind, maybe a gro-clock is a good idea as it shows him clearly when it's ok to get u and when he should be asleep...

We are also still having fun with food...or a lack of food if I'm honest! He will still happily eat microwaved french fries with a side of Ketchup, spicy couscous, and spaghetti or beans. Fromage frais is also still a big favourite, both for it's taste and the mess it can create. But as for protein from meat - not happening at all...on a really good day he might eat a quarter of a fish finger (provided it is smothered in ketchup).

I'm sure he is going to love being back with his childminder, it gets him away from his terrible mother who seems to spend most of her time saying No to whatever he wants to do...Plus he'll have a whole conservatory full of new toys to play with. And being next door to the playground is even better - for a 2 year old it is going to be heaven!

Catch - up Feb 2013

I have been meaning to update for ages, but as usual I didn't quite get round to doing it.

Mikey has now finished his 6 weeks of speech therapy, and I have learnt that speech therapy isn't exactly about his speech...instead it is looking at his social skills so we've had lots of games where he can't just grab any car/toy he wants, especially if someone else is playing with it at the time. I have noticed an improvement is the number of tantrums but when he does decide to have one it can take a while to calm him down again. We have a review in May to see how he is getting on - provided Mummy has survived the time between now and then! We have also seen his developmental consultant who seemed quite happy...he asked Mikey to draw a variety of lines and shapes, the first 2 were repeated nicely but then I saw a look I recognised!! When Dr Freiburg drew a circle, Mikey threw the crayon at him! He then moved onto rolling a ball towards Mikey, who threw it straight back at him with some force (while Mummy tried her hardest not to collapse in a fit of giggles) Mikey was doing his normal way of walking, basically at a high speed run! But he was also pleased with the way he runs, last time we saw him he was saying Mikey wasn't really walking properly - but there was no mention of that this time. I felt much happier as I got the chance to talk to him about my fears with his eating (i.e. he only wants junk) but he told me that Mikey is a well proportioned, happy little boy and  all that I'm doing is increasing the stress on me - and I should ignore all the advice I get from other people as he will eat when he is ready to. I was also told that I should be proud of my son and proud of what we have achieved so far with him. I have never felt that good after seeing a Dr, and at least I know now that I can feel proud of what I've done so far...just need to keep it up for a few more years!!

The day after the last speech therapy Mikey and I were happily considering hibernation due to a rather grey and cold day...thankfully after lunch my phone beeped to remind me that Mikey was having a hearing test...I had totally forgotten about it and Mikey was wearing most of his yoghurt from lunchtime! There was also a strong scent arising from his nether regions, so it was a trip upstairs and a very quick stripping of a small person and then a dash down the the Rainbow Centre. I should have been more relaxed as like any other NHS appointment they were running late and Mikey had time to have a good play with the toys in reception!
When we got in it was far more high tech than I have imagined! We decided it might be easier to have him sat on my lap while the test...he had 2 tiny plugs in this ears and when a sound was played in each ear a box on that side of him lights up. On the right we had Piglet and Roo and Pooh on the left. He actually was very good and the test itself didn't take too long, it finished up with an ultrasound drawing of each ear (at least I think that's what it was). The official report will be sent to the GP I believe but the testers were quite happy to tell me there are no problems or issues with his hearing and the heavy duty antibiotics he had in his first week have done no damage at all. (I believe it was Gentomiacin he was given - probably not spelt like that)

On Wednesday Andy had the day off and we turned the nursery into a big boy Pirate room! Mikey was at Debbie's for the day so we took the drop side off his cot. changed his lampshade, put his skull & cross bones rug down and Mummy got artistic with a load of pirate stickers!!

As soon as he saw it Mikey was trying to get into bed, still with his shoes on! So far he has managed 1 night without falling out! The first night he managed to roll under his bed which scared both him and me as I heard him crying but when I walked into his room couldn't see him until a small foot appeared! We then called for Daddy to lift the cot/bed so we could drag him out without bumping his head! Friday and last night he just rolled out in his quilt as stayed asleep on the floor!I think it is safe to assume he likes it, most of Thursday was spent dashing up and down stairs to check it was still there! And often it is called a 'Party Room' so I have no idea what he is planning to do in there and to be honest I probably don't want to know!!!

Winter has arrived...

Today winter 2013 arrived, the forecasters have been going on about snow all week, we did have a little on Monday morning, Mikey got very excited that it was 'Nowing' but wasn't too impressed when his hand came into contact with some of the white stuff. Hopefully tomorrow we will have slightly longer/more contact with the stuff...

I had a job interview this morning, I tried to be enthusiastic and excited, but it was tough when I got no reaction from one of the interviewers. The more I tried to involve her etc the less feedback/reaction I got. I haven't had any feedback from them yet, but I have decided not to think about it anymore and enjoy my weekend with my family, they are the important people in my life right now.

Mikey's speech therapy is continuing, so far we have had 2 sessions and I have noticed a major reduction in tantrums since we started. He must feel he can communicate with us more easily so doesn't need to yell, scream and kick out so much! He has been a really good boy this week and I am seriously impressed, he has been moved around to various people while I've been trying to see Dr's, register with agencies and go for interviews - and he has just accepted it without any problems or worse. Hopefully we are on the way to 'produce' a happy, well adjusted little boy - which is my aim right now!

This evening the BBC encouraged the typical English panic over the few flakes of snow we can expect. Fiona Bruce advised we mat get 'up to 25cm' in seriously shocked and hushed tones...a friend has posted a photo of snow along a road in Norway, the snow is higher than a coach parked on the road, and the BBC are worried about 25cm....You would have though that seeing as we have had snow each winter since 2009 we would have learnt how to deal with the stuff, the usual English attitude of ignore it and it might not happen really isn't going work or help us deal with what is starting to become our regular winter weather!!

This is a tad shorter than I intended...we saw Les Mis last night and I didn't get to sleep early enough. The film was amazing, and Anne Hathaway really deserves an Oscar. She is only on screen for about 15 minutes in the whole film, but when she started singing 'I Dreamed a Dream' I had tears streaming down my face and there was no way I could stop them, I did manage to pull myself together until the end of the film, than the challenge was not to sob. I really want to see it again, so it will be on my Amazon Wish List asap!!!

Can we start again?

So far 2013 has not been exactly fun or successful. New Years Eve and the 1st were both OK and I loved the fireworks from London and the look back over everything that has happened last year was suitably emotional and I was happy snuffling to myself whilst downing my sparkling Grape Juice...considering the number of bottles of the alcoholic stuff we have I do wish my other half liked it as I probably could do a bottle on my own, but the following day I would be in hibernation threatening death to anyone making a noise!

On the 2nd Mikey was back with Debbie and after I took him up there the decision was made to take the tree etc down. I started with Andy's help to get the lights off and then started trying to take everything else off in some kind of sensible order! I was fine with the stuff at the top, but bending down to the bottom was leaving me feeling a tad dizzy for some reason (and I didn't have the option of blaming a  hangover) Between us the tree was undressed and dismantled and 'normal' ornaments retrieved and the Christmas ones carefully packed away. Once that we done I headed for Sainsbury's to get a few things we wanted/needed.

As I drove there my head was spinning a bit, I just assumed I was getting hungry as it was after 11 and I'd missed out on breakfast as usual! I parked the car not too far from the entrance, as Mikey wasn't with me I was around the front, not in the parent/child spaces - a lucky move as it turned out! I went across a zebra grossing and the dizzy feeling started as I was nearly across, I could see the bollards on the other side and was aiming for one of those to grab onto to stay upright. As I thought I had got to one I reached out for it as it all went dark and I ended up on my hands and knees - feeling decidedly wobbly and rather sick, seasickness has nothing on the feeling I was experiencing right then. The next thing was a very helpful Store assistant was helping me up and insisting I sit down for a while to recover... Heaven only knows what sort of state I looked as the entrance was at that point was whizzing around my head - or at least that is how it looked to me! I would like to point out that I had asked Andy to go with me, something I don't usually do, but he was too busy.  One of the supervisors appeared and asked if I wanted an ambulance...by that time I'd got to the 'feeling bloody stupid' state and the last thing I wanted was to spend hours in A&E for a couple of bruises. So I thanked her and then decided a trolley should help keep me upright so headed into the store as Andy would still need lunch and milk etc. Luckily I had made a list for once, so I managed to get everything I wanted plus a Disney Junior comic plus a couple more cars (that were in the sale) for a certain young man. My luck continued at the self checkout as it decided to be as contrary as possible and I ended up with my own employee convincing the machine to work!

I had sent Andy a message telling him what had happened, and I was lucky that the roads home were fairly quiet as by the time I got home my head was spinning, he appeared shortly after I had parked (I am so pleased my space is straight ahead as you drive into the car park) and carried the bags in, so I just limped after him with a decidedly painful gait. My right knee felt worse so I went up stairs to check out the damage. I had stuck a pair of trousers on so at least my knees were protected as if I'd cut them getting them to stop now is quite a job thanks to the blood thinning drugs I'm on, but both knees were swelling up nicely and various other parts were throbbing and not feeling how I thought they should! since then I've found that my right elbow and the bottom joints of the fingers on my right hand are all rather bruised and painful and the base of my left thumb is also a little tender...this morning my knees still look extremely bruised, than goodness for the good old fall back of thick black tights! Mikey has also decided that the best way to make Mummy feel better is to hug her around her knees, very sweet - but it does have the effect of almost putting me into orbit with the pain, but he does mean well and it is very cute!!

Yesterday was another bad day...it started up with a rather upset stomach and ended with a phone interview where I feel they decided I'm likely to go off and have another baby...Stupidly I told them my date of birth when they asked - which I believe is actually an illegal question to ask a female candidate.

So based on 2013 so far I would like to stop and either start again...or maybe skip 2013 and move straight onto 2014. 

2013

I must be getting older...the years are whizzing past far too quickly now, my baby is 3 in 6 months time, how did that happen (I have enjoyed making the most of loads of cuddles over Christmas, he normally is far to busy to bother cuddling Mummy)

New Years Eve was very quiet for us - probably a good thing as I have a lovely cough and my voice seems to be playing hide and seek. My first resolution is to feel 'normal' again, whatever normal turns out to be for me!! Mikey went u to bed at his normal time but didn't appear to be in any real sleep ready mood! He kept filling his cot with everything he could reach and claimed at one point that his football book (complete with sound effects) was essential to his going to sleep! I thin he was asleep by 10 (ish) but woke up this morning full of beans! Tomorrow he goes back to Debbie, it is going to seem very odd not to have him around.

Andy is still off tomorrow so I have been advised the decorations are coming down. I always hate this as it seems far too dark and depressing without them. I keep threatening to put some fairy lights somewhere in here to help keep my spirits up and right now it is really tempting...

Next week Mikey starts his speech therapy, his speech has improved but he has just come out with quite a long statement in 'Mikey' and I honestly don't have a clue what he has said, but it does sound like it all means something important - in fact you can tell when he is saying something really important as it gets repeated over and over. He must be getting rather frustrated at Mummy's inability to understand what he wants or needs and respond as he would like.

The Christmas tree has more or less survived, there are a few decorations that caught his imagination, but eventually he learnt to leave them on the tree, I'll have to have a hunt for some of the hangers as the decorations didn't always go back on the hangers!! Next year I would love a real tree..but no doubt that won't be allowed :(

It is safe to say that the youngest Zerfahs has loved Christmas, he mastered parcel opening with ease, OK - not always his parcels, but he loved it! I think he also enjoyed seeing Grandparents from both sides - he wasn't always sure which ones we were talking about, but once he was on the way he quickly worked it all out!! He has also face timed his family who were visiting Mickey in Florida and chatted with various people on the phone. My baby is growing up too fast!!