Lovely December FLY thread, for Wendys baby to arrive on

[Jas]

Hello.

I am a rubbish FLYer again, lately, but keep checking for the birth announcement.

It will definitely be on this thread somewhere....hopefully near the beginning!

Good luck Wendy

OFm yes my two love to make paper chains. The paper chains the school want the children to make are individual ones to sell at the school fair. Didn't get any done today though, had a farntic day the class teacher couldnt get it, still too much snow etc about where she lives. SO with ta we worked on our display we need to put up in hall. Then after lunch class was split and spread to other classes. I was deployed to reception to help with staff issues there.
So my observation didn't happen. The assessor from uni met with my mentor and agreed due to weather issues she won't need to observe me anymore and I don't need to repeat missed days . So relieved ].

OFM hoep dd2 is recovers quickly. Its so hard juggling so much isn't it.

Swan good on you perservering with no screams despite raging and ranting ds2

Hope Wendy is doing ok :)

My two are full of coughs and colds. Taking DD2 to GP again today for continued wee problems (although not uti or thrush according to tests).

So busy this week. It's ridiculous.

Morning all
Well from bad to worse this morning...
DD2 seemed better....managed to struggle through ridiculous roads to almost as far as school, DD2 started saying she felt bad again, then DD4 threw up all over the back of the car. I gave up, turned round and came home. Enough is enough!
HAve all DC at home now, as couldnt face dragging sick children out through snow chaos to collect others later.
Have rung in work - not sure theyre imressed but hey! Can't wait for new Nanny to start - awill be so less stressful in these circumstances!
Have emailed DH to warn him to prepare to have day off tomorrow as I CANT have another day off - he wont be pleased either!

Will be doing crisis management today only...no will to tackle anything else...

BBL

Hi all
Breastfeeding not going well at all , milk is coming in but not enough of it (same last two times!) and Arthur (not into calling him DS2 yet!) very bad at latching on. Trouble is he hasn't got a floppy newborn head (like my other two as well) so you can't manipulate his head into the correct latch on position, so it's several goes at getting it right all absolute agony. he can support his head and even move it back and forwards, midwife says she's never seen anything like it usually about 8 - 10 weeks before babies have that control. But it means I can't just move his head into the right spot. I am in agony at every latch on. Trying hard not to show it to the children but they can see, can't bf in front of anyone else either plus every feed is over an hour an a half then I have to do it all again as he is already hungry again Sorry, I know I should be posting on another thread for this but you are all my friends and just needed a rant. don't be surprised if I've not given up in a few days. I am dreading every feed and not enjoying him at all - I just want to enjoy my last baby . AND he has turned yellow again, hasn't pooed for two days and only did 2 wees yesterday!! The things you worry about.

Sorry everyone, have read thread but need to wake him for feeding! Will be back to being Flyfriend soon

Hope all with sick little ones are doing ok.

wendy - it's normal for breastfeeding to take time to establish so it's not you that's failing - it's just something you both need to work out. I found lying down a good way to feed when getting established - much less fighting over the latching on as they are in a better place if that makes sense. Have you tried the bf topic as there will be lots of advice there.

Oh wendy big un mn hugs!
BF can be so hard. I have a mixed BF record. DS1 got 6 months, but I found it V hard and never really enjoyed it. DD 1 and 2 got less, and dd3 got hardly any at all
But I made a decision that I really wanted to persevere with DD$ (for various reasons) and managed to BF her till she was 2!! The first month or so was hard, but once over that it was fab, and I was so glad I persevered.
No rights or wrongs really - you have do do what is right for you and your family.
Have you tried contacting a BF counsellor? sometimes an expert that can help in real life is just what you need - yor MW may be fab, but I always found my MW's a bit useless at BF advice...
It is hard with other DC as well, but as much as possible try to prioritise yourself and baby for a bit.
Hang in there , things will get better.Don't forget your hormones are still all over the place too, and things will seem better as they start to settle.

well, have managed to tidy kitchen, empty bins and clean bathrooms, oh and empty the sick bucket 3 times
Not good.
Have emailed DH my finalise Christmas list...have been VERY specific...fingers crossed

right BBL

Wendy I think the first weeks are always very difficult. There is no getting away from it. Friends who started on formula found it no less difficult.

When you have had a very bad breastfeeding experience in the past it takes a lot to overcome the emotions. Having let one child go hungry because he wasn't getting enough, I was determined not to have the same experience with the twins, passionate as I felt about breastfeeding. I gave them formula as well as breastfeeding them. And continued breastfeeding, as I had done with ds1.
I was desperate for help from someone who knew what they were talking about. It took me about 8 weeks to find that bfc who corrected the latch on ds1 which made feeding hurt so much. No midwife picked up that I was feeding him wrongly, too long on one side, not deeply enough, I could go on...
I was also desperate to talk to someone who knew how bad it felt to "fail" your baby. I think when I did it was a turning point. A kind friend who had been through the same experience (but not told me at the time) shared what had happened to her, and I realised that I did have enough milk - it was just a question of getting it to the baby in the best possible way. And that included me resting. And not feeling bad if I had to give him formula. Our whole breastfeeding relationship changed for the better when I started mixed feeding.

Spent the morning taking ds1 to physio for his leg (still limping slightly)
buying some things from WHSmith including slow cooker recipes to organise myself, and presents from ds1 to his siblings (ha ha)

Am I mad to buy some stamps for ds2 - might he start stamp collecting Do people do that nowadays?? Or is it just trading cards [sigh]

Time is now short..[ahem] preparing for the afternoon now. Three Evenings Out [two parties] this week - need to focus.

Wendy I've just remembered a practical tip for ds2 who was struggling a lot at the breast. I used to stroke his head and talk very calmly to him, and avoid talking to other people at the same time (you are quite right to not want to feed in front of other people - it really doesn't help at this stage - in fact I found it disastrous trying to combine with visitors/officious helpful rellies) And if necessary squeezed some milk into his mouth before I brought him to the breast so he felt reassured. And never held him by his head, always palm over his shoulders ifysim, body along my arm.
And kept turning out his lower lip which in ds1 and ds2's case was always tucked under in an agonising fashion (though no-one noticed this

Also Wendy, with DD1 I used to sit with a pillow on my knee and her on top of that iyswim.

And without being too nosy, are you large of nork? That can make positioning difficult.

Oh dear

ofm sympathy for your pewking Dc (and all the chaos caused). Get that nanny employed!!

wendy Hope things improve and you can get into a rhythm with Arthur.

Hi swan, satin and dyl good luck with your busy weeks.

Managed to get my car out for the first time in 10 days! Very hairy driving around the school though, not helped by Ds asking 'if we crash will we die?' TSK! Thankfully have a day off tomorrow .

To do:
laundry
wash up
more banking
money on phone
clear particularly bad hotspot (make way for Christmas decs).

I've not caught up on all the news, sorry .

My routine has gone to hell in a sleigh with Christmas concerts, 2 birthdays and it just being too darned cold!

I've tackled the washing mountain pile today and people are being fed. Mind you, ds1 has his party on Saturday so I'd better do some cleaning .

Sorry to hear about sick children .

evening all

swan 3 evenings out is very brave! I can only manage about 1 a year LOL

wendy how's today been?

scatty well done on getting car out, my DD3 makes comments like that all the time not helpful is it LOL

funtime my routine has been messed up for so long now Icant even remember what I'm meant to do when LOL

well...day was dismal. DD2 and 4 both vomiting on regular basis.
DS1 was at home, because buses still so bad it took him 3 1/2 hours to get home from school last night and was SO cold when he got in. [fshcok] I was so worried about him, and banned him from going to school today (his school is quite a way away, 1 bus into town and another out) and he reported less than half DC went yesterday anyway(even though most live closer than him!)But then he started feeling ill any way and spent the day under a duvet on the sofa
DD1 and 3 still holding out, but no doubt they too will go down with it, and ds2 too...sigh...just hoping it is all out of the way by Christmas!
DH has arranged day off tomorrow...who knows what we'll do after that...

BUT new Nanny is coming round on Sat to sign contract, and will start Jan 4th
there are downsides, but on the whole think it will make being a working Mum with 6 DC much simpler...

am now going to have a glass of wine...

BBtomorrow

Sick bugs are the pits :(

So is breastfeeding a newborn.

Lots of sympathy all round.

DH is late again so I have to bedtime on my own as usual.

was hoping I could stay in after all as party people did not answer doorbell, but they have just phoned me to say they are there after all! Rats! (very sedate eve ahead

OFM I don't think they are really eves OUT ifysim, only one is a real party (the kind with drink, decolletes and flashinglights Tonight is Beavers [sigh] OUT

Hope dh is surviving the sickly kids, it does seem fair that he shares some of days off for sickleave.

Dd is off today, very snotty and miserable, I think just sleeping in did her good this morning...

Loads to do, so need to get cracking.

Wendy - ds1 fed very much like you describe so sympathy there.

OFM - hope that the bug is easing for you all.

Ds1 in school this a.m. and at his Grandparents' this p.m. so I've roused myself and had a general blitz around.

Tidy kitchen and load dishwasher done
Tidy bedrooms and make beds done
Feed birds done
First load of washing in the machine done
Towels wash
Washing dried/on radiators
Begin to write Christmas cards
Chase up missing parcel

Oh and remove ds2 from the cat's food bowl .

Cats food bowl funtime LOL!

Am just back from DDs nativity . I do love a nativity [sigh]. She was a very enthusiastic duck .

It is very very cold so will hunker down a wrap presents today .

ofm hope things are looking up!

Dd is putting makeup on me! I look like something from Twilight now

love the duck Scatty

Morning just a cuppa before I go to work.
Snap Scatty I've just got back from Ds's nativity. It was lovely but I was hoping to record it for DH on our Camcorder BUT we haven't used it for 5 half years, too busy living the moment instead of recording it. But the battery has died! Now need a replacement before any other event I DO want to record such as Rugby or any sporting event that DS takes part in. I hate watching sport so I wouldn't really be enjoying or 'living' the moment so I might as well record it for the boys to enjoy another time.

OFM great new about the Nanny, with 6 kids and work I would have gone for promotion just to hire a Nanny!
swan can she do your make-up again if we meet-up I would love to see it.
Fun thumbs up for grandparents I'm going for a blitz around tonight so I can do some Christmas shopping tommorow in a relaxed manner.
Right now off to check train times. Have a good day everyone hope those that are sick get better, chicken soup I say!

Ooh, I'd missed the bit about the nanny OFM, great news .

Ds2 (12 months) has been into absolutely everything this morning! Apart from the aforementioned cat's bowl, he's tried to engage a full laundry basket in mortal combat and thoroughly enjoyed shaking the clothes airer to make everything fall off (see mummy sprint across the room before it falls on top of him, what fun ). I think that I've pulled something!

Progress has stalled but I'm trying to persuade ds2 to sleep...
Tidy kitchen and load dishwasher done
Tidy bedrooms and make beds done
Feed birds done
First load of washing in the machine done
Towels wash
Washing dried/on radiators in progress
Begin to write Christmas cards
Chase up missing parcel done

Right, off to find my address book.

Oh and congratulations to the nativity duck !

Fun Did he sleep? It slowly dawned on me when DS was about 2yrs that it was taking longer for me to persuade Ds to sleep than he slept
Right Going to dash around the house trying to do as much now so tommorow will be free to do Christmas type things. Oh! Yes the cards.

Love you lot loads - thanks for all the help and support.

Had a nightmare of a day yesterday. DS dehydrated (no wees for 24 hrs) advised by GP to top up with bottles; also cord infected and sticky eye infection, and becoming very jaundiced! Breasts and nipple agony, pouring blood and totally blocked. Saw GP who said one breast EVERY milk duct was blocked (the examination was AGONY) and no milk at all was coming out and in the other one more than half the ducts blocked hence very severe mastitis. She said I couldn't feed through it as normal because of nipples bleeding and general agony and actually advised me to stop breastfeeding for my own health and DS's too.

Of course I wept all day long and felt awful. Now I have made a decision I do feel better but am still in boob agony with the engorgement and mastitis - have flu symptoms and can't bear even my bra next to my skin let alone the thought of a baby feeding.

As soon as I introduced the bottles he started weeing and has even had a poo (nothing since Sunday!) today. Jaundice nearly gone.

What a nightmare, after successfully getting through the horrid first 6 weeks of bf with DS1 and DD I knew that this experience was above and beyond the normal 'persevere it gets better'. The doctor and midwives have been really nice and said how I have done well to get so far but that I need to do what's best for DS2.

Thank you so much for all your help ladies. I am trying to draw a line under it and enjoy him - he is so much more contented now, not just screaming or feeding and is obviously not hungry anymore. Us mums lay so much guilt on ourselves.

Hopefully I'll be back to normal flyfriend soon.

[hugs] (if I could hug without screaming!!!)

WEndy sorry you have been through such a rough time with the breastfeeding. Glad you have settled to a decision and ds is seeming much better. You have to do what is right for you and your children. Hope you are able to enjoy him more now.