July 2009: Toddling towards 2 and a full nights sleep!

[Phoenix]

Good one QueenFee :o

I had a few mins at work so started it :o

Home from work now so can post.

I've decided Saturday night is night number 1 of operation get Noah to stay in his cot. And after spending another back breaking 50 mins bending over his cot shushing and patting til he fell asleep then I'm going to tackle the getting him to sleep part too.

Wonder if JetLi has had the baby yet?

Phoenix we are on the sofa bed tonight. Just can't handle another night with broken sleep.

I'm still here

Am getting very hormonal upset about being wasteful with threads ladies - pleaaaaaaseeeee can we at least try & get near 1000 posts sometime? I'm the type that cuts open the toothpaste tube & rinses out the shampoo bottles to drain every last drop (tight fisted Yorkshire-woman) so this is vexing me

Rant over.

Absolutely zero hppening here but in fairness I have another week to go at least. Still at work but finish next week. The "farmers" are bloody horrendous but the madwife gave me a script today for some steroid ointment & suppositories. DP is standing by with his catapult

Baby is head down according to my barmy MW but she is menopausal and freely admits to being crap at telling which way up they are. God love her, she makes me laugh. Ironically the child seems to have stopped having hiccups so often now, so maybe she is right.

Am blessed with a good sleeper here TBH so can't provide any help in that department. Needless to say I shall probably give birth to the Demon Child From Hell in the next couple of weeks! She is still in a cot in with us though - can't bear to part with her It'll be a laugh when there are 4 of us all in one bedroom

MissP - the trip sounds fab to SF - really hope the HT isn't too arsey about it - it's a very special occasion after all.

ooh I feel honoured thank you
Jetli do we also need to fill the text box to be less wastefull? You know I could fill it with drivel! Is that even a word?
Had a good day as I organised my local areas very 1st sling meet and 8 people turned up. It was a total success
Alfies sleep is improving generally it just goes downhill when if is poorly. He is still going to sleep without me on and off. Next fri i'm off out with the girls so will be a true test of how he does without me completely. He actually wakes less if if is in my bed so I feed less which with us still poss ttc then is am advantage. Still think if looks dead cute in his wee bed next to Fin though. He starts the night in his bed then when he comes through after i'm in bed I jtru keep him there. Works for us at the mo. It is getting later that he comes through too. Admittedly 2am is the latest so far.

Having issues with fin though at the mo I just don't know how to parent him at all. i don't give in to whinging but he just totally ignores what you say and repeats and repeats till yet again he ends up on the stairs till he gets over it. I am open to suggestions. :(

jtru is just stupid autocorrect. Jtru isn't even a word so why it changes it is beyond me!

of the sling meet QF - nearest one to me is Huddersfield which would be a complete pig to get to. I want a new one for when the baby comes. I did like the Baby Bjorn one to start with because I liked the safety & reassurance of clips rather than ties. But it was pretty shite in the end and I couldn't carry DD after a few weeks because it killed my back. Then I switched to a hip carry in the peanut shell which was fine. But I do feel better with clips & buckles.... Can't remember who had the Connecta - didn't someone? Or something similar? I have 2 lovely Mai Tai's that I got off ebay but just don't have the confidence with them really.

where about are you Jetli I may know someone over you way that can help?
I love stretchy wraps for newborns. I taught myself everything I know using youtube videos and the natural mamas forum. The connecta etc is exactly the same as the mei tai but uses buckles instead of ties. However you would need am insert for a newborn. I know ergo do one. I can do a skype demo if needed. :)

hi all. Thanks for the new thread. I get twitchy when the title no longer makes sense. think this thread has been quieter of late due to Christmas etc. Maybe this will be longer.

Had a moby sling with becca (stretchy type) and was really good when she was little but she didn;t stay little for long so I sold it.

New tumble dryer here. Bought it locally so got free delivery a day later. Much better than currys where you have to wait 3 weeks for free delivery.

Beth has a UTI again. Got antibiotics but she's back at school. Never mind.

QF how old is fin? Beth is spending a good deal more time on the step than for a long time of late. She also ignores instructions etc. Feel like I'm nutting a wall occasionally all the time

Hi everyone, love the new thread

Hope you are ok Jetli not long now lovey. I share your piles pain, I have never been quite the same since having the kids, a right pain in the arse!!

Well now to my saga! Having said I was better I went rapidly down hill and was in bed for 5 days. DH tok over the kids and i have to say on more than once occasion I thought I was going to die. It turns out it was swine flu, it went straight to my chest and I really couldn't breathe. I had anitibiotics and then steriods and they sorted me out. it was really scary and I am now a fu/swine flu vaccination convert, my advice to you all is get it if you are eligible, if not get it at sainsburys or one f the placed that do it, in October at the start of the flu season. It is so worth it. I have never been so ill and would not like to get it again.

I am on the mend now, still struggling with my breathing a little and very tired but getting there.

As a result I don't have anything to report, DH has gone to work today so I have taken over from him and am ready for my bed now!!!!

Ali I hope that Beth is ok, poor little love
I hope that you are all ok.
xx

patchy I agree. It was swine flu we had before christmas and I felt dreadful. It has left me with a nasty cough I can't throw off. Dh was almost comatose with it :(

Fin is 4 and a quarter. He has always been a difficult child but recently I feel like I am really not making any progress :( school say he's fine though. And I suppose ap am august baby school takes a lot out of him. i have come to the conclusion that any given time one of the 3 will be going through an annoying patch.

Back to square 1 with Alfie and sleep. How do they do that. You get it sorted then they are ill or something and all your hard work is undone.
Oh well i'm off out with the girls on fri so dh will jtru have to work something out.

Patchy, that sounds awful. Glad you are finally feeling better.

Sleep training is going great here (hopefully i'm not speaking too soon ) Saturday was night no.1 and it took 50 mins for him to calm down and sleep. I expected it to be worse in the middle of the night but i accidentally woke him up, by covering him up, when i went to bed at 10.30pm but i just laid him down and walked out and he was straight back to sleep and again at 1.30am he went back to sleep after crying a bit then me going up and laying him back down and walking out. He was allowed into our bed when he woke up at 6.30am. Night 2, dh took him to bed and he cried for a few secs and went to sleep without dh going back to him once. When he woke in the night it was just a case of going him and laying him down and walking out again. Monday was asleep quite easily again with 1 wake up. Last night he took a bit of dropping off but we didn't have to go up to him and he didn't wake up once in the night :o. Tonight, dh is back on his night shift so it was all down to me, after i finished work and picked my boys up from my parents. I took them both up to bed together and left the room as usual and although i could hear Noah for a while after i didn't have to go back up :o

Sorry i'm rambling again !!!

Jetli - I'm going to ask THE most annoying question ever. Have you had the baby yet?

Phoenix Hooray on the sleep training. We are considering moving Tristan in with the older DC's (who bunk) until we move (who knows when that will be - probably another year!). Some nights he sleeps through but on the most part he wakes all the time. I am tired of being the one to always deal with it.

Patchy I had the swine flu over Christmas and I never knew how much it could take it out of you. 3 weeks of temperature, severe tiredness and nasty cough - which sometimes was so bad my pelvic floor would let me down if you know what I mean . I am glad you got through it ok. I am asthmatic and definitely getting vacc'd next winter.

QF re your older DC they sometimes save their naughtiness for home. It can be annoying but at least you are not having to deal with misbehaviour outside the home. I also find my patience with DC1 (5 1/2) a lot shorter than with DD and Tristan because he "is the older one". Every now again I remember he is still so young himself and is still learning the boundaries.

Jetli hope all is well. I can't wait to hear what you have!!!

MissP It is so nasty isn't it, the temperature was the worst. Strangly I still can't drink tea or coffee, I don't like the taste, its just like being pregnant again, although I'm not! Weird! Still very tired, by the time the kids go to bed I am exhausted.

Phoenix glad the sleep training is going well, it will be so worth it in the end.

QueenFeeI hope things with Fin are improving. I find they do go through phases of bad behaviour. My ds1 can be a total space cadet sometimes and I just want to scream! I am sure he would still let me dress him if I would!!! We are starting to get them to do more chores now as I realised that I was just a glorified waitress. They now lay the table, clear the table after tea, take their pj's upstairs in the morning and put their washing away at weekends. A small step but a lovely one!! They have always put their dirty clothes in the wash basket and hung up their towels after their bath. I also get them to bring laundry downstairs for me to put in the wash. What do all of your bigger dc do?

You must all make this weeks recipe of the week, the most divine chewy cookies ever. I made them yesterday and they were quick and easy and totally delicious. Have a look under "recipes"

Hope you are all ok

Jetli I hope you are ok xxxx How exciting for all of us virtual friends, a new virtual baby!!!! xxx

Still here all - and starting to freak out a little bit
Went to a bloody BF peer supprt networking event thing today and one of the PS's that works on the ward (whom I've met before) started banging on that they'd keep me in hospital for at least a couple of days to make sure breastfeeding is established. I flipped TBH. I want a 6 hour discharge (all being well obviously) - she has made me so I want to cry. There is no way on this earth that I am staying in hospital, its so bloody ridiculous. On previous experience they don't help or look after you. Visiting even for partners doesn't start until 12 and finishes at 7:30pm. Aaaaaargh!!!! I told her I'd just bloody well discharge myself & no-one would bloody well stop me. Really pissed off now & dreading the whole bloody thing Stupid woman . Have canvassed a few opinions from other local Mums and they reckon she's talking out of her arse anyway, but it's niggling me now.
Sorry - feeling a bit over-wrought....

Jetli I am sure they won't keep you. Don't worry. Hugs (( ))

Chores I am starting that too Patchy. DS1 is 5 1/2 but he and DD (3 1/2) set the table and always clear their plates etc to the side of the kitchen sink. Occassionally they will put their laundered clothes away if I happen to be doing it when they are not at school. They of course have to clear any toys from my lounge at the end of the day. Funnily enough they see it as helping me and get quite competitive about it - the chores aren't quite a chore yet.

Thanks MissP - feel calmer tonight... but the (( )) is most gratefully received

Went to a soft play place today I think a wet Saturday morning was probably not the best "first visit" - it was bloody mental. Hetty had a brilliant time & slept for almost 3 hours when we came out. I may never sleep again, having witnessed such utter chaos!! It came as quite a shock after the relative gentleness of the local baby group

Have done a major de-fuzz tonight - if the baby doesn't come then we're going swimming tomorrow

Chores - Hetty does a tiny bit of occasional tidying of toys/books now - more because of nursery's influence than mine though. I think its A Good Thing & can't wait until she can cook tea Mum bought her a hoover, mop, sweeping brush set thing for Christmas which pee'd me off quite a bit - especially since the hoover was bloody pink

Swine flu - glad everyone is getting over it. I ended up having the jab twice - once before we TTC & then again in October as they had combined it with the regular flu jab. DD had hers in April but I'm sort of imagining it will only last a year... Am seriously looking into the chicken pox vaccine too, although it would have to be done privately. I reckon its only a matter of time given she is in nursery & I think it's a very unpleasant illness, all told.

Naughtiness - at 18 months old I know it's not in the same league as the older ones, but she has been a little beast the last couple of weeks. I think its my fault TBH - too much plonking her in front of the telly but I'm too shattered for much else. Anyway trying to break the cycle so hence the soft play today & swimming tomorrow. Its the same with wondering what to cook for tea every night - I get stuck for things to do with her, other than the Surestart playgroups we go to.

QF - hope you had a good night out with the girls last night How is the pastor's daughter? I'm in Rotherham. I signed up for the sling meet chat group thing but there never seems to be anything local. No Skype either I'm afraid. I'll have another faff on Youtube I think.

Phoenix - yay on the sleeping! Hope it continues!

Ali - hope Beth's UTI has cleared up.

The piles have cleared up Patchy - the madwife gave me some industrial strength stuff. But I imagine they'll be back soon enough

Chinese tonight & then I really must pack my bag & write something on my birth plan think I'm in denial

Hi to all the lurkers

just a quick one to say there is sheffield Sling Meet on Monday (7th Feb). It's 10:30am at Megakidz soft play, just off the Parkway, so pretty easy from Rotherham. Apparently they do meet up fairly regularly. Hope that's of some use!

Thanks QF I know the place so may pop along!

jetli they have a facebook page apparently.
The pastors daughter is doing really well she had the second op to remove the tumour which is also not cancerous :) she amazed the drs by being well enough to go home after 10 days! She will always have health problems as a result but her health is now so ouch better than before and she has more energy. Thanks for asking.
My kids do have some chores but we struggle to get homework done let alone anything else. I tend to get them to help with whatever I am doing for instance yesterday Fin was happily cleaning windows it helps that he likes squirting the window cleaner! They are still at the stage that they like doing chores. Alfie is a dab hand at emptying the dishwasher lol he takes stuff out and passes it up to me bless
Jetli take her swimming it's lovely when you are heavily pregnant ap you feel so weightless. I agree when when I stay in and the kids watch more telly they are always more hard work. Don't beat yourself up about it though I still clearly remember that feeling of utter exhaustion towards the end.

As for letting you out when it's not your first they are not so bothered ap you have been there done that. I was out next day with Alfie and my sister was in the minimum 6 hours.
Birth plans are a complete waste of time except that perhaps it gives the midwife an insight as to what you were aiming for. All of mine said no episio under any circ but guess what i've had 2!

Phoenix I saw on fb that your sleep training was going well :) long may it last. My weaning / sleep training is not going well. Oh well i'm sure if will do it in his own time.

I'm a bit gutted to have been diagnosed with a skin condition this week. It is linked to my underactive thyroid and my body is attacking certain parts of my skin. Have to use strong steroids twice a day for a few months so perhaps its a good thing that i'm not pregnant.

Hi all,

Very quick:

JetLI: Got out in 6hrs with becca. The only thing holding us up was ensuring the baby got checked over as you are at the mercy of consultants and their time scale. Quite keen to kick you out in bolton!

UTI: seems to be clearing up nicely. Got teachers on the case of making sure she drinks some water too.

Phoenix: also saw sleep training went well. Good on you. It's worth the effort isn't it?

Hi everyone, I hope you all survived the windy weekend, still blowing a gale down here. We went for a wet and windy walk at on saturday and came back totally soaked from head to foot! It was good to blow away the cobwebs but not good for my washing machine!!

Jetli Here (sussex) they kick you out asap. I hope that you get the birth you want. Yay to the de fuzz!! Re things to do with them, Max is a major telly addict, in fact it is a bit of a nightmare. He doesn't mind what he watches so i have a started putting the radio on (on sky) and that seems to keep him happy for a while. I make sure that we do something every morning, otherewise he goes mad and just trashes the house. Sometimes our outing is just tesco! (they have a costa coffee there for me!!) or to feed the ducks but we go out. We do a few activities too, swimming, tumble tots and singing.

QueenFee I hope the steriods work for you soon.

Sad news, my SIL has had another miscarriage, her 3rd. Poor love, she is in a bad way. I feel so sorry for her and my brother.

Anyway, hope you are all ok. Hi to everyone xx

Hi all. Still here....

QF - that is just fab news about the pastors daughter and so good that it's not cancerous either. Emptying the dishwasher is a top idea - if I open it when she is around, she tries to climb in anyway so she may as well help. We did go swimming yesterday morning and as you say the feeling of being weightless for a couple of hours was lush. DD had a fab time - it could have gone either way TBH - I wouldn't have been surprised if she'd screamed the place down and we'd only lasted 20 minutes, but after looking slightly scared at first she then relaxed and loved it. Soooo glad we went. Its a fairly new complex so nice & shiny & bright, and they had family changing rooms which were a blessing.

Sling meet - I haven't been sadly because my bone is so bloody painful today. It seems to come bad if I do any awkward lifting but I can't wok out how I've set it off this time. Usually in 24 hours it comes right again, so fingers crossed it will be better tomorrow. Am pissed off though. I didn't dare risk it as the parking at Megakidz is shite and last time I went I ended up parking at the Supertram stop & had to walk miles Oh well, next time.

Thanks Patchy & Ali as well - I'm feeling a bit more positive now about a quick turnaround in hospital. And feeling more that I will insist on discharging myself if necessary. My childcare arrangements for Hetty are a bit of a worry as well, so I want to be out as quickly as I can.

Quick question - is anyone still getting these babies weighed at all? All the clinics locally are on a Tuesday so whilst I've been back at work, DD hasn't been weighed at all...

only ever weighed Alfie when he had his jabs

Noah has only been weighed 14 times in 19 month. And 7 of those were between birth and 24 days old. His last weigh in was 1/3/10.