Dec 2008 - Hello 2011 the Year of the Toddler!

[DeidreBarlow]

Totally unispired but hope you all find it...

Hi all, sorry have not been on, am lurking but reflux and rooting and tooting boy has me tied up most of the time. He has something called laryngeal stridor which basically makes him sound like a whole section of the zoo. It is literally impossible to sleep when he's in the room, even with earplugs, so DP and I are taking it in turns to spend parts of the night on the sofa downstairs, but that's not going to work when DP goes back to work next week. Feel awful at prospect of bunging him in his own room (would have to be DP's study) so soon, but can't think of any other way round it. Went to see cranial osteopath yesterday, no great shakes but I think a lot of the problem re- his sickiness is wind. Have tried the comfort formula, maybe need a few days of it to see if it helps, but as am combining with BM anyway not sure if it makes a difference. Was determined not to overthink these problems this time round, so will stop googling solutions and repeat mantra "it all gets better at 12 weeks".

Am also going to try and sneak T into nursery for another morning - and justify it by doing a bit of easy freelance work to cover it (I think you can work for 10 days while receiving MA, is that right Lady?). Feel bad as he already feels pushed out already, but it would only be for a few weeks until I get little B into something of a routine and can give T the attention he wants. Would only be 2 and a half days in total, but it's hard to justify when we're skint already.

BEans so sorry to hear about your dad's leg. That's a big shock. I'm glad you are able to talk about it as a family and share how you're feeling.

Rubes my sympathies for poor DS's ear infection. It's so grim when they're in that state, I really hope he gets better soon. He must have a pretty good immune system to have not had ABs before, so hopefully this should really sort him out.

I"ve been watching stuff about the floods on TV, bloody hell it's scary. I have a friend with family over there.

Happy Birthday to your William, Indith!

Lady I can just imagine the hideous party situation. Well done you for even considering it, I have to say. Sorry to hear about the row, I totally empathise with you wanting change rather than contrition though. You always sound very even handed and reasonable when it comes to your relationship and I hope your DP isn't taking that for granted.

Sorry to hear DS is unwell, but I'm relieved it's not the dreaded flu that everyone has been getting so ill. Thank goodness you got him to the doctor snel. Hopefully there is a big improvement by tomorrow.

Indith DS2 has dropped his naps, quite abruptly. He will have a catnap if the situation allows it, ie he is in the car seat, pushchair or bike late in the afternoon

Oh gotta go.

Right Im back. Just add to the no nap thing. It has been good as it was taking quite a while to get DS2 to sleep. However, he is back to falling asleep on the boob. He was getting quite good with self settling. He would have a couple of minutes each side of the boob, then announce "done! Moo Moo melk now." Then drink his cows milk beaker then eventually off to sleep. Oh well I guess we'll get back to that once he's gotten used to the no naps. I also wander as it starts to warm up (one day) and we get outside and a bit more active if he might go back to naps. On the boob demanding front things have definitely settled down. Even though he's not napping I still let him have one feed during the day, which usually lasts for about 5-10mins but if we are out or its not convenient he is usually happy with a milk beaker. It's nice to think I should be able to let him self wean after all. Kiwi if your around, how are things with DDs feeding. She was so cute in that FB video.

Oo that was a long paragraph.

PD your DIY store agro made me giggle, how do you get on in IKEA?

Sorry Spot, cross posted. I think you might need ear plugs. Are they concerned about the stridor? Or just a problem from a noise perspective.

Also meant to say I.had a fitness assessment today at the gym, it was all bad. I'm in the obese category!!! I knew I'd put on a little weight but Crikey. Anyway I put goals for my training as, lose weight (obviously), go to gym three days a week, and run 8 km in 40 mins. I think he neatly fell off his chair laughing at the last one but he kept composed bless him. I used the pool for the first time and its lovely. Has lots of deck chairs on a bit which has Windows looking out over the city, nice. Some weekends I'm going to go and just use the pool and steam room, sauna bit.

Spot I was doing the exact same thing. Comfort formula and expressed breast milk. She had that pretty much all of month 2. She reacted badly everytime I gave her the BM and I was told by a top paed consultant that although not many will say it - babies with reflux, colic or any type of stomach troubles don't react too well to BM as it'a too thin. Just passing that on thats all so take it with a pinch of salt. the comfort formula does take about a week for them to adjust to, and again it's best to stay on the one type. ie either straight cartons of the regular stuff, straight powdered formula or straight comfort formula. Have they suggested that infant gaviscon at all? it can only be used with the regular formula's though as it makes it quite thick. I must be honest, dd only showed improvment when I had her on the straight formula. She just didn't do well with switching from BM to F etc and threw up all the BM every time. I started mixing it half BM and half F and that helped a bit. I'm not trying to steer you one way or another - just saying about my experiences. As you know they are all different. It DID all go away at around 14-16 weeks though, so hopefully in your case too - hang in there! Oh and I'd put him in his own room too.

DS is feeling really sad and sorry for himself. didn't eat a thing and had maybe 2 cups of milk all day he just folled me around and wanted to be carried ALL day. Got upset if I even stopped to feed dd. it was a long day. He was happy about his nap and he wanted to go to bed tonight so they both went off at 630pm.

I managed to squeeze in a Play station workout - I had to make up one I missed. it kicked my arse. Vag you are doing really well, and that gym sounds nice.

I'm having a slight panic that I want dd to have the swine flu Vac after hearing that 3 year old's story dh, myself and ds have all had the vaccination. I wish you could get it privately.

Beans hope your Dad is feeling positive and the fam is doing ok. Oh and your mil too crikey.

Those photo's on the news of Brisbane is heartbreaking what a mess.

That is really interesting, Rubes, as it's what I was thinking - that the mixing of feeds wasn't really helping and he always voms after a BM feed. It's tough isn't it as my mind says that BM has to be a good thing, but it doesn't seem to be doing him any favours.

Am def going to GP anyway as I started another thread about B's noises and it's made me think he should get checked out in case he has ent problems. I was hoping that he wouldn't have the same urt weaknesses that T has, but of course it makes sense that he would as they're both my children! My mum says I used to vom up every feed as a baby, so maybe I had reflux and it just wasn't diagnosed then...

Poor your DS, it sounds like the ABs haven't quite kicked in yet.

V impressed about your fitting in a workout too. I think I will be bikini ready in approx 2012.

Spot, Gosh I can't say enough how it sounds exactly like my experience this time around with dd. (DS was totally different and a dream to BF) but initially she was attached to my boob constantly, but just drifting off to sleep after about 5 mins like it was too hard and she was hungry yet gave up. She was jaundiced, losing weight and attached to me all. the. time. but not doing anything much. Plus it HURT every feed. I was at my wits end as you may remember as I stupidly expected her to be the same as ds. They finally picked up the slight TT at 4 weeks and I begged them at the feeding clinic to get a Reg down to snip it same day, as they had already had me in doing clear catch urine samples and blood draws for jaundice screening which was stupid as she was just not getting enough to eat!
the TT snip helped the pain but not the reflux / wind and when I was told that about the BM I was shocked as well as you'd think it was what fixes everything. Sadly not the case here, but happily after bursting into tears at the HV appointment at their 'advice to stop' and going to straight Formula she came good and gained weight and I got to sleep -well 4 hours at a time which was a brilliant amount for me at that time. I'm not telling you what to do - I'm just saying, do what you need to do to keep you all healthy and happy. BM is brilliant stuff, but at the end of the day if something else works better for your situation, you will be happier, and so will the rest of you, and that's more important and this stage. As lady said to me back then. Sure it's not exactly the same as BM, but it's not Crack either
Again. I'm a little bit concerned that it might sound like I'm telling you this is how it is, and will be. Not the case, seriously. the moral of my speech is, just do what is best for you and your family, but don't feel bad if it's not the breast is best route, because it only is, if it works best for you, your littleun & your family.

Gosh - just got a message that a distant friends' husband just died on fri of H1N1 oh and I've found out I can get it private and it's also in this years season flu jab..... phew

Rubes that's terrible and so sad. Why do you have to get DD jabbed privately? Surely babies would be a priority for the flu vax. Unfortunately it does take time for her to develop the adequate antibodies so if you do want protection I would get it done ASAP. There dont seem to be any problems with it here. We still aren't immunized as we missed the campaign here as it happened just before we arrived. I was going to sort us all out in Autumn but forgot.

Spot, you poor old Bugger, what are you going to do when DP goes back to work? Will he be back over here? Does he get taxed in NL or UK? I really wish formula production and research was taken away from the food production companies and given to the drug companies. Instead of researching ways to put stupid additives in to make people think they are good for immunity etc, drug companies could actually develop milks that counter reflux. Babe, stop thinking breast is best, instead remember breast is normal, formula has disadvantages, but currently BF has disadvantages for you too. As with any decision you would make about DS2, way up the information you have and make a decision based on that. This is yours and DPs decision not anyone else's. Also I do think looking into this stridor thing would be good, I do wonder if there is something going on which may have, at a long shot, effected his sucking reflex or latch, or simply be causing this reflux. Sadly once you start expressing and additional feeding it is hard to establish BF, its not impossible but its a lot of hard work, you need to consider this in your decision too. Unfortunately expressing doesn't produce the same sort of milk either, it is difficult to get the heavier lipid rich milk. Every drop of golden stuff is good, but if the monkey isn't keeping it down what can you do.

Sorry I just read back and that sounded very defeatest. I'm sure if you wanted to work at it you could do it, maybe I'm thinking from my own perspective, I had to work very hard to feed DS2 and it was very difficult, but I had DH working from home a lot, my mum around for 2 weeks a bfn director on tap whenever I need her and the biggest difference DS1 was 3 & a half years old! What I want to convey I think (apart from that I'm a woose and may have given up by now) is that you shouks make an informed decision and take emotion out if the equation, if you can.

Yeah vag, the worst part is, the guy has been in and out of hospital and overcome a number of things recently, then went back in for a UTI when he picked up H1N1 and couldn't fight it..

Oh I thought I would have to get the swine flu private as they won't give it to you unless you are in a high risk category, but apparently it's in this years general flu jab? So can anyone get the flu jab on NHS? I have to ask my friend as she is taking her kids into a clinic in London so I'm guessing you can't? I can't get dd done till she's 6 months so it may not be worth it this year.

ds in much better spirits however still woke upset at 430am but better than the night before.
Oops gotta go

Spot I think Rubes has some excellent advice there. And as Vag says expressing is much harder to carry on long term. The fore/hind milk issue makes sense as well. As you know I'm a big supporter of bfing if it's right for mother and baby, but it sounds like DS2 has some specific issues that need to be dealt with, plus you really need to get as much rest as you can. Before DP goes back to work could you grab a few nights where you leave him with DS2 and some bottles and get a reasonable night?

Back later but just wanted to share.

I came out the shower this morning and DS2 was filing his toenails just like I do with a bottle of nail varnish beside him. It was a fetching shade of red. I am sure it would have looked delightful on him.

Jam, you file your toenail, come on my matching undies is nothing compared to that! I barely cut mine. Man I need a pedicure. By the way I love red polish on my toenails.

Rubes I wonder could you go for the DH works in hospitals angle. I thought everyone had to be immunized against swine flu, isn't that what the campaigns were for last year.

Jam that is fab :)

I am amazed at finding time to file and paint nails though! My finger nails are a mess let alone toes!

Spot you have some wonderful advice. It realy does sound as though there are issues that need to be resolved. It is those that are important not pushing yourself to bf if it isn't working for either of you.

Dh's birthday today. Need to wash up and make his cake! Then tomorrow I need to get going on the cake for ds's party. No more birthdays for a while after that though thank goodness! Apart from FIL and BIL but I just have to poke dh until he sends cards for those.

Afternoon all. Hope everyone is well. Thanks for question about feeding, Vag - DD still basically wants to feed approx 3 zillion times a day when she's with me. I don't know that she will ever wean herself, I may have to do something about it at some point but I haven't the strength of will required now! Maybe if - when - I get PG again (fingers crossed ) - I'll do something then. Any tips in the meantime!?

Is anyone elses DO obsessed with Something Special/ Mr Tumble? DD is a Tumbleholic. And I'm interviewing Justin in a few weeks. Hooray!

spot I don't want to complicate matters by suggesting other things to try re wind, but have you tried anti-colic bottles? We had Dr Brown ones and although they were a faff to wash they seemed to sort out DD taking in too much air. Also the teat size can make a difference as they have to suck really hard from the first size ones and take in too much air in the process. Once we moved to medium teats (something ladyT suggested I seem to remember!) DD fed much better.

Back later.

Kiwi, I've just been tough on DS2 and said no and tried to palm him off with milk (occasionally laced with a teeny bit of coco ). I think the difference is (& I don't want to get in trouble here from DD mummies) she is a girl and DS2 is obviously a boy. While he is a determined little monkey, I don't think anything can beat a women's determination. Maybe just keep it up while you can and then go cold turkey when your ready. Save all the grief for then. that's probably not very helpful is it.

Kiwi, I thought you were a fashion journalist?

Vag No one on earth could beat DD for determination, that's for sure. It's quite scary, really. How can someone so little contain quite so much stubbornness? I offer her her other milk - she has oat milk - always too - and often she'll have a bit, say "thank you mummy, now more mummy milk please". Guess it just shows it's about far more that simple thirst...

Anyway yes, mainly fashion, but also features more generally. So this one is for the "family" bit of my site.

Kiwi you get to interview Justin? Cool!

Dd loves Justin and the Tumble clan, as did Ds (well he still rather does really). Ds used to sign quite a bit, dd doesn't but then there isn't much she can't say . Tell Justin we need a whole series dedicated to Grandad Tumble, he is dd's fave.

Gwandad Tumble mummy, mummy gwandad Tumble. Gwandad Tumble, where did gwandad Tumble go? Gwandad Tumble? Gwandad Tuuuuuuuuuumble, gwandad Tuuuuuuuuuuuuumble Gwandad Tuuuuuuumble GWANDAD TUMBLE COME BACK!

Indith DD loves her signs - and we love the Tumble clan for encouraging them! Her granny (DH's mum) is deaf so for us it's about encouraging her to keep it up and hopefully have her own communication with her granny, rather than for communication with us, if yuou see what I mean!

My personal favourite is Lord Tumble.

One.. two ... three.... MR TUMBLE!!!!

:) at determined Mummy Milk feeders.

:) and :( that I stopped feeding dd. At the time I stopped because I wanted to stop at night and she just seemed to be all or nothing, it was easier on her in many ways to just have it all go rather than wrap her head around being allowed in the day but not at night. So I got to leave her at night which was good but I do wish I was stll feeding in the day. I suppose I have rose tinted specs on though.

Oh that's fab Kiwi, must be great for her granny to have her signing :)

DS2 also a fan, though I am designated as Mr Tumble and he is Justin. He also keeps asking me to sign stuff and I am clueless! Anyone found a good book? He and DS1 also v keen on Captain Adorable (or Captain Bubble as DS2 says). If he doesn't appear on Gigglebiz DS1 gets all cross.