FEB 2010 Coming on in leaps and bounds and little steps

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Where did our babies go?!
Anywhere and everywhere, the moments our backs are turned!!

IC we had no problems with the jabs, although if she were a bit ill at 10 days we would have probably not remembered. She had chicken pox and a few others as well. I'm always surprised that they focus on the weight of your DD, from the pictures she might be short but not underweight. DD is average height but so skinny.

.....I just wanted to pick up on what CS said about her DH. I have many a grumble at my DP. As I see it I am now wobblingly, weeblingly pregnant and yet I am working full time and doing all the nursery runs. This means I have to get DD ready in the mornings - we have a lot of stairs in our house, three and a half flights - take her in to central London on public transport then walk 15mins into work and then do the reverse journey every day. Admittedly DP does the evening feeding and putting to bed shift - but only after I've organised the food, bedding, cleared up after him etc etc. He then cooks my meal - but only after I decided what we're going to have, bought the ingredients etc. I do all household admin and social arrangements and am having to do all the new nursery finding/visiting etc. I also do all the taking DD to doctor and from nursery early if she is ill. This doesn't make any sense as it is far more important for me to keep my job as I earn much more than him and we could survive on just my wages but not just his. As a final straw he often has to go and work in France for a week at a time leaving me to do absolutely everything. I've told him that when I return to work after this maternity leave I shall be expecting him to do at least 50% of the nursery runs and he'll just have to arrange it at work - he's a bloody company director and should be able to do this. Ah, rant over, that feels better........
PS I didn't mention cleaning cos both DP and I are complete slatterns and having a cleaner once a week does us fine.

IC dd2 was fine with her latest jabs ('only' 3) but the first night had problems sleeping because she didn't know how to lie (jabs in both arms and one leg). Ended up with her draped across me to keep her arms and legs free. Oh, and Rosie isn't that short... i think dd2 is only about 76cm but 'fat' at over 10kg

chinook I am surprising myself about being upbeat but I guess our holiday is so unexpectedly awful that all I can do is laugh about it. Oh, and I am steadily drinking my way through a very interesting selection of beers dh got for himself to try just before he got ill . Told him earlier I am entitled to time off and he just went ...

I'm starting to bore myself with D&V stories (things seem to be improving though) but have another question... Have any of you experience with bitten tongues? dd2 prefers walking to crawling now and fell over my foot yesterday [guilty mummy emoticon but then again I just happened to be in the way] and fell really awkwardly, biting her tongue in the. She had a mouth full of blood and was quite upset. Even now it keeps bleeding on and off and one corner of her tongue is swollen and dark. I noticed earlier it looks as though she bit through her tongue (is that possible?). Does anyone know if this heals itself? (Have never heard of stitches in tongues )

IC my DD didn't really react to the imms either - in the UK they have the same but not the chicken pox (so just three). There can be a reaction up to three weeks later because of the MMR, as the different elements have different incubation periods and if they do get anything, it usually resembles a very mild form of the illness. Other than that, it's the usual fever/sore injection site/slight swelling story.

I'm sure she'll be fine. Like PA I have a very long but skinny DD (she's still only 8.6kg - not heavy enough for the next car seat but she can't straighten her legs in it anymore), who had the jabs just after her first birthday and she was fine.

stan I thought you had stolen my DH for a bit there, but then remembered that mine earns substantially more than me. He would be very happy for me to give up work, but I'm scared I'd disappear and lose my identity even more than I already have.

BC all fit and healthy at your end now?

scones I really hope you've had your lunch by now...

Soc x-posted. Yes, tongues heal themselves, usually within a couple of days. The dark bit will go white, then pink and raised and settle down in less than a week. Poor little thing. Maybe avoid acidic foods as they will sting, and stick to bland, plain things for the time being?

But good on you for drinking your DH's beers!

I have husband issues too - I'm still poorly (but got a good GP today who seemed sensible and sent off throat swab after more than a month of my throat not being right) and he doesn't volunteer to do anything. Moans that he has work to do (even though he manages about an hour's run every day - but won't stop eating fattening food so what's the point?) when I ask him to do anything then when he does do something never tidies up afterwards - ie he gave DS breakfast and left highchair dirty and bowls out and when I asked him to tidy up he moaned (and still managed to leave the porridge box out of the cupboard).

DS's conjunctivitis is 99% cleared up.

I HATE being ill. It's so boring. I can't see any mum friends because I don't want to spread what I've got to their babies.

Soc Sorry for moaning when you all have it a lot worse your end. Poor DD2 with her tongue.

Likewise pregnant/working ladies - it must be exhausting. At least I only have the one child and my mum has been coming and taking him out for a couple of hours nearly every afternoon this week. That plus (usually) a two hour nap in the middle of the day is leaving me with quite a bit of time to rest.

I miss going out with him though and I miss seeing people who aren't DH or my mum. I know I've moaned about her on here but she has been a total lifesaver this week. I just hope I'm a bit better before she leaves for her holiday on Saturday and that I haven't given anything nasty to her.

We are booked up to go to Italy mid-May to see my dad and his wife. They've not seen DS since Nov last year so it will be great to catch up.

soc I completely agree with CS about the tongue. If I remember correctly it it hurts a lot when it happens but not afterward. So your DD should be OK now. poor thing.

I do everything at home (well almost, I am not giving my "CSection" cleaner away!) including finances, bills, sending reports on the children to MIL, picking up socks , DIY, docs, school screening, most school runs.... if I was working as well I would be fuming! So fight for it girls!
DH is working very hard so I am not too upset, but when he share he can't do anything without asking me first and he can't tidy or clean either . The only thing he has to do is give me (us? I do everything on line in his name ) the money and put the bins away (I am scared of the dogs and can't go down 4 flight of stairs holding DD2 and the bags), both of which he forgets equally.

IC DD2 was fine with the vaccines but had them in 2 shots, plus I didn't do chicken pox, so just 3 in total. She looks fine in the pictures, in proportion with the family too.

I had a nice time away for a few days a the beach. I miss the seaside < seriously envious about SB position>

Also had a kindle for my birthday, thanks to "gentle" hints from a mutual friends. OK, not so gentle then! He likes it too now, and thought it was a good idea .
Anyway any ebook recommendations?

DD2 still running all the time, still bullying me. Last she managed to flood the bathroom with the "bum"shower while I was having a shower. A very charming handful.
I went to the doc today for DD2, who diagnosed "prickly heat" , I am sure she had it last year too [muppet emoticon]

prompt recovery to all.

CS thanks, that is reassuring. She's not been keen to drink but I have tried various cups, glasses, sippy cups and even a baby bottle to get liquid into her. She also didn't want warm food but was happy to eat something cold.

Well, things still developing here. My mum now has a fever..... so the only one still well is me!! I am not sure my parents are keen for us four to visit again any time soon... [chmm]

schro glad you are back, you really cheer me up with your posts

mousquetaire Welcome back. We may have the seaside but at the moment it's windy and therefore cold (13C) comparing to last week.

Stand your ground girls.

bc poor you, hope the test will permit to find an answer.

IC if I remember well (it was 2 months ago) DS had a fever about 10 days after the jabs. No chicken pox here like in the UK.

Waves to everybody else

PA whereabout in the UK are you heading to when you get back [mumbles about we should really rent out our ''weekend' home in the Midlands sometimes soon...]

SB I had all my childhood holidays across the waters from you (a bit south true!) . We had 10 to 15C and a LOT of wind still nice, 1st time on the black sea, I miss the smell.... aaaarrrghhhh.
Even DD2 wasn't running all the time like a nutter, she actually sat down and play with (eat?) the sand.

PA I have a house to rent/sell between cardiff and bristol!

Ah, thanks for all the vacinations anecdotes fellow Feb-ers! To be honest, I felt more worried about the actually administration of them than the reactions (I knew it would be over quickly, but four seemed like a lot! All in DD's legs, though and they don't seem to be bothering her thus far) but it's useful to know whether others suffered much post-jabs. Most reassuring, cheers.
Apart from being a bit grumpy post-nap (not unusual!), DD's been fine and went down fine at bedtime, so FX for the night. I've also upped her breastfeeding from her usual bedtime/first thing feeds to a comfort feed or two during the day. I have a theory (possibly rubbish) that my own antibodies may help her cope with the viral load - but at the very least, it's a good way of calming her down post jabs/nap tantrum.

Hmm, Stan, CS, mous, Bc sounds like your DHs need to seriously shape up wrt the domestic duties. [cangry]
Did any of you read that Guardian article by the woman who suddenly realised the true meaning of inequality of the sexes when she became a mother?
My DH told me he was a feminist before we got married and at the time I didn't think much of it. I'm bloody grateful to find out he's not all mouth and trousers now, though!!

I'm so sorry there's so much poorliness going on. Poor old Soc, it's great you can laugh about it (the beer probably helps!) but what a nightmare.
And Bc sounds like you've been having a rotten time too. I hope everyone gets well soon.

Kindle recommendations mous - any classics you've never got round to reading! They tend to be free. I've got a growing pile downloaded into my Kindle and am looking forward to wresting it from DH's hands to start enjoying them. (DH is catching up on the Brontes)

Stan sorry, only just saw your post. Definitely put your foot down after dc2 because it really isn't fair on you to deal with two dc and everything else. My dh is going to be in for a shock once I start work again because I will expect him to do his share of nursery/school runs etc. When I went back to work FT after dd1 I did just what you do now with all nursery runs, docs appt, collecting dd1 early when she was sick etc., even though he actually passed the nursery on his way to and from work. [Wonders whether men need written invitations to do anything house or child related.... Remembers PA has a stay at home dh and IC has a very hands on dh, so they do exist ]

IC I adore the pic of your dd on your blog where she is walking on what looks like a table. Gorgeous

IC loves the pictures too!
stan when I was pg with DD2 DH had to do all the dishes, cooking and shopping as I couldn't stomac it, if DD1 was in nappies he would have had to do those too

DD2 has teeth 15th and 16 th through, but 14th still missing and still makes the gums bleed.. Ah well...

Think I should add my DH to the short list of goodies, although he still has the capacity to drive me mad. I do feel a lot like I manage the situation and he gets very cross when I ask him to work the answer out, rather than just expecting me to give it to him all the time. I'm sure this sounds a bit pathetic to those of you who don't get much help at all, but if I have to think it all through, the mental effort is still there and I may as well do it myself! he is currently standing ironing while I'm on here so the chat must have had some effect. Mind you, I have been to work today and he's still on holiday!

Lovely to hear from Schro (are you trying to lose me entirely with another new name?!) DS2 is now running too and eating sand daily from the sand pit. More worryingly, he now likes to suck stones form our gravel area in the garden. Holds them between his teeth, shows me with a grin and charges off waiting for me to follow in a panic - whih of course I need to in order to try and get the sotne before he chokes on it. Feel great affinity with you, your girls and your life and it's refreshing to hear that girls can be totally mental/exhausting too .

IC there is so much going on in our household and with so many disturbed nights that I couldn't even begin to hazard a guess about the effect of the jabs on DS2!! . I just hope that means he was fine.

SC Bizarrely, DS2 has bitten his tongue too (don't even know how/when etc..)and has bleeding gum around a new pre-molar on the other side. Unsurprisingly, he has not eaten or drunk much today, but I'm working on the theory that it will mend quickly (and have drugged him for the night). In my defence, I ran straight into a very solid flower pot this evening in a vain attempt to stop him falling off the (half a foot of) decking. He knows how to turn round and come down backwards but much prefers to copy the rest of us and step off and hope for a safe landing. In fairness, he managed it this time and walked off giggling while I clutched my shin... Probably only fair in the 'getting his own back for all the uncaring mummy moments' stakes!!

Hi to all others I haven't named. Pelvis exercises await (and I'm not being rude!).

even when he was working DH still did his fare share (maybe more as nights are pretty full on for me then).

DH does no housework in the day except for laundry.

Sorry no replies but have read, I am drained after a two energy 'summit'. Was great in the lots of ways but conferences are always exhausting (well IMO anyway). For those not on fb, there were three nobel prize winners (was just a one roomed conference) and I watched one pick his nose during a talk, I couldn't turn away . Females were very much under represented again, is worse here than the UK.

Oh we don't know where we'll be, no luck on jobs yet, but you'll be the first ones to know.

I think I was a bit unfair to DH. He does do the stuff - just needs to be asked, grumbles a bit and then has to be reminded to tidy up afterwards. I would like it if he would be a bit more proactive. He does a lot of the supermarket shopping but always forgets one or two key things off the list. He often puts DS's clothes on back to front. Once recently he put his shoes on the wrong feet.

PA Wow about the Nobel prize winners. I was once at a party with Stephen Hawking - when I worked at ITV we used to comply the Comedy Awards and he was there to give a prize to Matt Groening and he was at the after party (also I got Matt Groening to draw me a Homer Simpson in my programme). The worst comedy awards was when someone came on accompanied by a giant snake which was suddenly awakened by the hot lights, got loose and looked as though it was trying to escape... I had to deal with about 200 phone calls of concern/anger on behalf of the snake the next day with a dreadful hangover. That was a bit of a tangent, sorry.

Good luck to youand DH with job hunting.

IC I know you are into your parenting books - I recently finished this one and really liked it: www.amazon.co.uk/Everyday-Blessings-Inner-Mindful-Parenting/dp/0786883146/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303973297&sr=1-1

Luckily we had no reaction to the triple jab that includes the MMR. Booster is due mid May.

DS is getting very frustrated that he still can't really walk without holding onto something. He's pushing chairs or anything around to help him when he has to take a hand off the wall. At this very moment he has his high chair in one hand and donkey on wheels in the other.

Posting quickly before DD wakes up (FX).

No reaction to the (3) jabs here that we noticed. She wasn't even more sleepy this time round. Mind you we were in a dreadful sleep phase then so perhaps any reactions were lost in the general awfulness.

I really wonder how the division of work in our home would pan out if I were back at work. For sure if it was full time, I'd insist on half and half and I suppose that means half the weekend being taken up with doing washing and stuff (I'd get a cleaner faster than you could say yippee!). As it is I do all the housework, most of the cooking (DH cooks maybe once a fortnight) and most of the childcare even at weekends - I've noticed that when we're both sitting to lunch with DD, she sits next to me and I take care of her while DH enjoys his lunch. Now that I've noticed I'm making a big effort to make sure it doesn't happen!

It is a very difficult situation but esp. in the case of both partners working FT, I think there must be a way of 'waking up' the man to the fact that he has to pull his weight. The trouble is most men would take any discussion of the fact as nagging

Still here. Remebered what I wanted to ask you lot. It's about nighttime milk again, sorry. Do you give cows milk, if so is it warmed, if so do you sterilise the bottle? BF starting to really hurt.

I give cow's milk, room temp., sometimes fridge temperature if it is warm outside. No sterilisation of anything, she will drink from a beaker (recent!) a glass, a sport bottle but still likes the baby bottle (still less messy too).
I buy one bottle of growing-up milk (I found one brand without vanilline or added sugar) per week too.

scones same here too

what is the fascination with pull along toys, normally I see why toys are good, but fail to see why she loves pulling the pull along ones.

Thanks for the recommendation Bc....looks interesting!

Cow's milk...hmm. Still haven't managed to get DD interested in it, I hope you have better luck than me on that score Scones!

Impressive sounding summit, PA!

Ah, bethy, you do have it tough on the health front with your two. I hope they're okay (bitten tongues notwithstanding) at the moment.

Well, DD slept through last night. She wailed at one point, I went in to see her and she was clearly still asleep. I stayed in with her in case she needed me, but apart from a lot of fidgeting, she seemed fine. And seems fine, so hopefully reactions, if any, will be minimal.

She's getting into her teeny tantrums now, though! She's realised she has the ability to make her feelings well and truly known if things aren't happening to her liking....ulp!