January 2014 Thread 17 - and the final babies will be here any day now!

[Frizz1986]

Thought i would start up the last thread before we move over to postnatal thread.

Poor Sylvie :(

I made cake too. Apple and maple syrup traybake. It was bloody delicious.

felix that was why we stopped using it with DS. He was always very sicky (until 15 months or so) but was never in pain so although gaviscon reduced the 'mess', his poos went hard so I decided to just go with the endless washing. (I usually need 2 outfits and he would have up to 5 a day). Not an easy decision for you if she's in pain without it.
Can you reduce the dosage?

toby you are some kind of domestic goddess! I've reverted to only essential, in bulk cooking. Love making cakes but have bought a stash of biscuits for any visitors. Tray bake sounds delicious! Might google the recipe as love things with apples.
Chilli was a success! Love my slow cooker!

Anyone got any easy but yummy slow cooker suggestions?

It's a Mary Berry recipe, pidgy. If you can't find it, I'll type it out for you.

I use my slow cooker a lot, but I'm about to go back to sleep after feeding M, so I'll have to give you ideas later :)

Yesterday was the day from hell. Felt like both boys were tag teaming to destroy what's left of my sanity. When one stopped whinging/yelling/clinging the other would start. DS1 also threw an almighty tantrum in the hairdressers when I went in to book an appointment to wax my monobrow as he was convinced he had been taken for a haircut. ("NOOOOOO MUMMY NOOOOO! My Hair!! NOT MY HAAAAIIIIIR!!!!") He also attempted to be the world's tiniest shoplifters in the local corner shop when I stopped to buy some bread.

felix going to book mine too, I can recommend a great app for practicing with if you like. . Hugs for Sylvie, poor little thing

No baking here. Have managed soups and bread (in my breadmaker) though.

Anyone else awake right now?

I'm awake now ! Lara just won't settle from 4 onwards!

enourmouse sounds like my afternoon! Hard having 2! We went to the doctors as DS eyes were still red. DS ended up walking into a consultation room with another family, Lara had a meltdown, and we then got fast tracked I think but whilst waiting in the consultation room (doctor swaps between rooms weirdly!) DS decides to run into a wall because he's not looking where he is going - cue lots of crying just as we're about to be seen. Eyes then look VERY red!! Whilst at the chemist I turn into one of thoes 'stressed and sweaty' mums! DS is in his element- I'm running round trying to replace shampoo bottles, nurofen and expensive face creams he's grabbed in the 20 seconds to give the prescription in. He then decides to have a mini tantrum on the floor. Again, the '10 min wait' turned into a '3 minute wait'. Has to be some advantages, hey?!
Ended up buying some lime green herbal essence shampoo as DS took a particular liking to it! Did need some new shampoo and it was half price...hoping it takes me back to my youth as don't think I've had it since then.

Attempt 5 at putting her down. Got to get up soon tho! :-(

Found the recipe thanks toby!

Pidgy im currently giving her a quarter of the dosage it says and she's not any better going to see if I can get her in at the doctors again today. Even half a sachet of the stuff makes her formula so thick that it took her an hour and 10 minutes to drink 2.5oz at her 3am feed! I gave up trying to wake her when she fell asleep for the 7th time.

We started using our slow cooker loads when I was pregnant but haven't had it out since we moved. DP has bought some pork shoulder to do his pulled pork recipe which is INCREDIBLE. He also does pulled jerk chicken which is amazing too. I'm rubbish at slow cooker stuff, it always comes out shite. Except for when I did a saucy chocolate pudding in there which was very good and so easy. I dunno how to post links on my phone but google 'slow cooker self saucing chocolate pudding' and it should come up. The recipe may call for it to be done in a pudding basin but you can do it straight in the slow cooker crock pot thing. It's like a giant one of those chocolate sponges with the chocolate sauce in the middle. Mmmmmmm

Enormouse I have downloaded the DSA app which is good! I'm rubbish with stuff like this though and I'm convinced I will fail. DP is going to take a week off work so I can do an intensive driving course and get it over and done with. I'm so impatient...

Forgot to say I don't know how you lot with toddlers do it! I can barely cope with a baby never mind a toddler too. I doff my hat to you all.

Henry slept through!

In his Moses basket as well!

Went to sleep at 8.30/9ish, woke up at 5.40, i put his dummy back in, he's just woken up now.

Hopefully it's the start of something. Tonight he'll probably not sleep at all.

theory test stuff - just get an app and do the tests over and over. 2 days before the test i kept failing the practise tests, then i got the app and just kept doing the tests and i passed on the day with 2 questions wrong. Its the hazard perception which really needs practising because you have to click at the right time to get the most points.

i was supposed to book an intensive driving week before i had Henry but things kept coming up. Will be doing it soon i think

Frying that is ace! Hopefully it will become a regular thing.

The app is good, I practiced loads yesterday. I agree with the hazard perception. I find it really difficult to time it right. It doesn't help that the videos are crap quality so you can't really see what's going on very easily! I have until 29th March to practice anyway so I'm sure it will be fine

I know felix! We didn't have ds1 last night either so i got a full nights sleep. If it doesn't happen again for a while that's ok, I'm feeling good!

Nice sleeping work flying hope you get similar tonight

Am being brave this morning and instead of going to usual breastfeeding advice session meeting two of the other regulars and going to Buggy Runners in the park. Having put my gym kit on I can only conclude that the new washing machine has shrunk all my clothes... Or I really need to start running again...

Hopefully I will return in one piece later. Then my slow cooker will be on and I will be baking a cake. Catching up on this thread has made me hungry who am I kidding am permanently hungry these days

Have a good day all

Sorry for the me me me post but dh has just called. He's decided to hand his notice in at work. I'm really worried about him. I'm sure he must be depressed. Is there anything I can do to make him get help?

MrsV it definitely sounds like he could well be depressed from what you've said over the last few days I think the only thing you can do is try and support him and encourage him to see the GP if you can. He probably won't be willing to see the doctor so I'm not sure how you could persuade him, hopefully someone else will have some ideas? I'm sorry, it must be so hard for you.

Sunshine you're very brave!! Go you! I need to start exercising but I am so lazy and unfit and I generally can't be arsed. It sounds fun, you'll have a great time.

Just spoke to a lovely doctor and he's doing Sylvie a prescription for something to help her poo, so we can carry on using the gaviscon. Yippee!

felix I believe in you, you can do it. Positive thoughts. What's irritating is I took the theory test before but it lapsed. And I can actually drive (I learnt in london). My own stupid fault for not being more proactive but now I really need to pass as we're so isolated in NI. Also going for a semi intense course once theory is done.

MrsV he has to want to sort himself out so to speak. All you can do is support him in the right direction.

sunshine you are really brave. I want to get back into exercise/gym but to get fit and healthy not losing weight. Is buggyfit any good?

So much to catch up on. Hope everyone is well and babies are behaving or at least not wanting us to send them back.

MrsV I'm so sorry that all sounds awful, second him maybe seeing a doctor but its one if those things he needs to want to do it, does he have any family or friends that could talk to him? I know your reluctant to let people know but it may help, him and you. People will want to help you and I'm sure they would hate to think your struggling with this on your own. Maybe your health visitor would have some insight or resources he could look into.

Enormouse and Felix what theory apps are you using, I'm in the same boat going to start driving again, stopped when my theory lapsed and didn't start again. Been 8 years, since I drove. Kept failing my test so confidence was shattered. Could drive great but as soon as I went to do my test I turned to mush. My mum has offered me money for lessons and stuff so have no excuse now. Now the second thing people ask me after asking how the baby is, is "when are you going to start driving?" So pressure is on.

Baby's hair is falling out now, google assures me that its normal, but I miss her full head of hair!

Always feel like cake after catching up on the thread...no idea why...

Band there's an official DSA one I'm using which is really good. £4.99 but totally worth it! I think if I had it on a PC cd thing I'd never use it..

mrsv thinking of you. No advice I'm afraid though.

band Olivia's hair is definitely thinning as well

I'm also thinking of buggy fit. think I'll give it a go one week and see if it is for me

I use one called driving test success 2014 - theory and the same one for hazard perception. That's on kindle fire.

Like felix says if it was on pc I'd never use it but I do always have my kindle with me.

felix think you might need to go up a teat size for the thicker milk. When we tried 'goodnight' milk with DS we had the same issue. He was almost one then so bigger and stronger I imagine and he even gave up as it was so thick. Got a size 4 teat which had more, larger holes and it worked a treat.

I have a pulled pork recipe in the little recipe book I got for Christmas with it! Do you get the pork from a butcher or would a supermarket do it too? (Don't really buy pork, except sausages and bacon, so not sure what cut that is!!)

mrsv it does sound like he's having some kind of breakdown/ depression. It's very hard getting someone to accept they have depression...I think that is part of the issue. You can only suggest it, explain why you think that and support them. Can you suggest he sees a doctor urgently? Would he let you go with him?

frying wow! Give me some tips!! Remind me, are you breast or bottle feeding? I feel like a good night sleep is soooo far away. :-( Can't wait for her to go in her own room. Lasted 12 weeks with DS and he was too big for the Moses basket so had to move. Think everyone slept better! I do have an angel monitor to use as I know guidelines are 6 months and my doctor sil was horrified.

Pidgy I've just been looking at bigger teats great minds! I've realised I can mix it with water and give it her half way through a feed so I'm going to try that. I'm worried as she's only been drinking about half of her bottle as she's getting frustrated it's not flowing fast enough.

Yes pork from the supermarket is fine. We have just got some pork shoulder from Ocado as it's on offer. It's lovely with belly pork too! Aldi are good for pork joints if you're near one. All this food talk is making me hungry...

mrsv. It might be a good idea to talk to your gp yourself about dh. It does sound like he is struggling and it's getting worse. does he use alcohol or drugs (these can be legal ones like codeine based medication). xx

bunt he has the odd beer but no drugs or anything. I think it's just the stress of living in an unfinished house, more stressful job etc. thankfully his boss talked him out of handing his notice in so buys us a bit more time. Ill talk to him again tonight about going to gp. Thanks for help everyone.

Thanks Felix and Enormouse it's on sale just now so got it half price...bonus! On the iPad failed the first go, way more questions about fuel economy than I remember last time.

There's a whole massive section about what to do if you come across an accident, and it goes on about reviving people and stuff and it's proper freaked me out! A lot of the questions are funny though as the answers are so obvious and just common sense. I bet there's tonnes of people who get them wrong though