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!!

Atticus Edward Samuel was born on Monday at 9:35am weighing 8lbs 12oz via elcs. Unfortunately immediately afterwards the surgeon realised i had placenta accreta and the placenta could not be delivered. It was sheared off and 4 consultants operated for an hour and a half with my uterus outside my body to stem the blood. I was conscious and was told an immediate hysterectomy was likely. I lost 2.2litres of blood and had a blood transfusion. The anaesthetists pumped me full of diamorphine and I was very very sick. All ended well with uterus intact and me bfing LO in recovery room after 2 hours in OR.

Now discharged and all well at home. Atticus is perfect.

Oh stan. I'm so glad you had a happy ending. Take care of you and your LO

Stan glad you were in the right place with the right surgeons and it all turned out fine . Make sure you get plenty of rest and try to take it easy (thinking of all those stairs in your house....)
How's Winter reacting to her new brother?

Phew Stan congratulations and phew phew. I hope your hospital stay is restful, or as restful as it can be, and that you are well looked after when you go home.

Looking forward to the pics when you're ready!

Blimey stan that sounds pretty scary, but glad it turned out OK and that you and Atticus are well. Congratulations (and what kind of superwoman are you, managing to post just three days after going through that?)!

My DD2 finally seems better today - it's been nearly a week of her being non-specifically off-colour (she was very listless and off her food, but sleeping a lot and had no fever or any other symptoms). Anyway, she's crawling and playing as normal today. Thank goodness.

I, on the other hand, discovered that something from our bathroom is leaking into our kitchen last night, so have to wait for a plumber to come and sort it out. DD1 is being a pain in the bottom delight, for no apparent reason as well. I wish she'd stop shouting at me! DH cooked dinner last night (at my insistence as I came home from work, put the kids to bed, then had some freelance work to do), and is being a bit nicer at the moment.

As for teeth, I let my DDs brush their own. DD1 is pretty competent, but I still insist on doing a "brushover" a couple of times a week to be sure they are clean. DD2 is obsessed with brushing her teeth, but I give them a go myself morning and evening. She doesn't seem to mind.

Well we had a good night last time.

BBB glad to hear your DD2 is on the mend. DS stye is gone.

I've been offered a job which doesn't really exist yet (they're thinking of creating it but haven't finalised all the details). I've said maybe and told them the salary I'm aiming for! Will see if they were serious or not!

I cut DS fringe earlier today, it's not perfect but at least he doesn't have hairs in front of his eyes; thankfully he's got curly hairs as when they're wet they do a mullet at the back

We've nearly filled another thread! Waves to you all

Just for a laugh, messy mealtime She was pretty good with the spinach but much preferred the vanilla drinking yoghurt.

Hi again all. Recovering at home since Wednesday. I'd forgotten how bloody painful the first few days are - regardless of how you gave birth. If I'm not screaming trying to sit up it's yelping with early breast feeds (DS has tongue tie which doesn't help).

Anyway - introducing DD to DS was far from smooth. She took one look and burst into tears. She has improved a bit and will give him kisses but is obviously upset by the new arrival and keeps looking at him daggers. DD at nursery today so we'll take out DS for first outing (I'm thinking a Michelin starred restaurant for lunch - obviously more for me than him) and tomorrow we all have a christening to attend so hopefully that will cheer DD up as she likes the other toddlers who are going.

Blimey, Stan, that sounds very scary (the birth) - I'm so glad you seem to be recovering so well. I'm sure your DD will get used to her new brother after a while, but I guess it's only natural her nose will be put out of joint for a little while.
Michelin starred restaurant!

Out of interest, given your concerns when you discovered you were having a boy, how do you feel about him now? (Early days, I realise!)

I'm glad your DD2 has perked up now, BBB. I wonder what it was? Some virus or other, I s'pose.
It sounds like simply telling your DH to get on with stuff may be an effective method of getting him to pull his weight a bit more. I hope he remains more helpful and starts thinking of things he can do without being told.

Gorgeous pics of your DD2, Soc. I'm so envious that she tucks into her veg with so much gusto! The closest DD will go to spinach is green pasta.

A restless couple of nights for us, too SB. Two nights ago because (we worked out eventually) DD was too hot. Last night she was fidgety because it turns out she was going down with a cold. She's been pretty cheery today, but absolutely streaming clear liquid from her nose and one eye. I'm hoping the inevitable coughing won't wake her prematurely from the nap she's having at the moment - or the hammering going on next door in the room directly adjacent and below her bedroom.
DD's asleep in her buggy (as usual), but I haven't dropped it flat as I usually do in the hope it will help ease the coughing a bit. FX.

DD had her first UK check up and the health visitor was lovely. DD is now 8.6kg and 75cm tall - which is dinky, but heavier and taller than three months ago, so that's all fine. The health visitor rolled her eyes when I told her we had been told off for giving DD a veggie diet back in Spain.
We got all the bookstart books (8m and 2y) and DD has fallen instantly in love with "This little baby..." and "Tickle, Tickle".
We've also been busily attending numerous toddler groups, including a hispanic one in an attempt to keep our hand in at Spanish. Coincidence that DD's gone down with a cold after being germ-free for months? I don't think so!

Other news is that DD has just started using a spoon and fork to eat with. Her accuracy is a bit hit or miss, but she's improving all the time. She's not always in the mood to use the utensils, but seems to enjoy herself (and eat more!) when she does.

Scones We've just got DD her first proper bristle toothbrush (she was using silicon teething brushes before) and she loves it - and adores the taste of the fennel toothpaste I got her. She now allows me to "help" her do her teeth, which I do after giving her some time to prod about with her brush on her own.

Bc your woodland walk with your DS sounded idyllic! How do you stop him wanting to grab the Kindle all the time?

Abs, what a nightmare the whole house thing is. Bah. Thinking of you - and very glad you checked in.

How are you feeling today, LBH?

Coping in the heat, Mous?

scones DS chews on his toothbrush and from time to time, allows me to brush them.

mous did you go to the Ambassador's party?

LBH how are you?

bc on quiet time in the wood! DS would grab the Kindle (in my case ipod touch) and scream when I would not let him have it.

Abs good luck with the house.

stan take it easy. x

Wonder how fc , chinook , stoof are doing?

Forgot to ask soc is your DD1 more settled?

Hi all,

Have been reading mostly. Too tired to post. DD has had a bad week sleeping and what with work I am shattered. DD is throwing tantrum after tantrum. She has top molars showing and bottom back gums are swollen. She has had 5 poos today, 4 yesterday so I assume it is teeth. No temperature though. She has been snotty too.
Have councelling session tomorrow morning..

Stangirl You are made of strong stuff! Amazing. Congrats again.
Hope everyone else going through a rough patch is ok.

Un MN hugs to all.

Good luck with the counselling LBH I will be fine. I hope your DD is getting better soon.

Oops should read It will be fine

Evening all.

Congratulations Stan on the arrival of your 'little' man. Try to take things as easily as possible to give yourself a chance to recover physically and be very gentle on yourself and your DP re the trauma that you have both endured. Hope the meal out was good.

LBH my sympathies. We continue to have mixed nights here, but worse rather than better at the mo. I'm kind of really looking forward to the Summer hols starting for me next Wednesday, but I'm under no illusion that it will be a holiday! I'm always considerably more tired when I've had the boys than when I've been at work. DS1 will go to nursery one day a week but I will only have one day in he 6 weeks without DS2 as the childminder has given the place away without consulting me. Good lluck with the session in the morning LBH.

Abs that doesn't sound like much fun. I hope it all gets resolved soon.

BBB glad that your DH has been a bit more useful. Do keep up your expectations so that he doesn't get the chance to go backwards again.

PA I'm afraid I haven't had a chance to look at your blog yet but hope you are having a great time. Hope your old boss is realising how talented you were in your absence!!

IC Sounds like you are settling in well. I think I am up for meeting up in Bristol. To be honest, plan on as you wish and if I can manage to work the routines of my two and the journey in then I'll try to come too. I am starting to brave open spaces with both on my own.

SB the job sounds interesting - want to know more.

SC frightening off potential burglars sounds very brave - well done. I'd let the police know, but I am known as the unofficial neighbourhood watch!!

DS2's sleep study now delayed 'til October which will be a 7 month wait - and so much for treating people within 18 weeks!! DS1 is still waiting for his calcium prescription from the dietician we saw over a month ago too .

Got to plan our getaway plan for our holiday now. We're off to North Devon on Friday (having only finished work on Wednesday - think Thursday with two boys on my own could be hell if trying to pack too!) and need to get as much as possible ready/bought over the weekend. DH says he's retired from surfing so I've said tha is fine and he can sit on the beach wih the boys while I go in by myself!!

Will wave to IC and SC on our way down the M5.

Hi to Mous, Scones, BC etc.. and will catch up once I'm officially on holiday.

It's8.30am and DS is still asleep!

Day one of seven weeks of summer holiday for dd1... Sigh. It is going to be a long seven weeks!
More later when dd2 is in bed and can't keep pressing the interesting blue button that switches the computer off!

I wish to say that as much as I enjoyed this morning lie in, I didn't enjoy this afternoon overtired/tantruming child! DS only napped for 10mn!!!
He's now in bed and I hope the night will be kind with us.

scones good luck with your DD1, tell us what happened. (sorry I'm too curious)

my god, camping at low temperatures in a noisy campsite that doesn't get dark until 10pm is tiring stuff. for tonight

Stangirl that sounds like a very shocking experience but as always you sound really strong. I hope tongue tie doesn't do too much damage until it gets snipped. I hope the four of you adjust well over the next few weeks.

LBH Good luck for tomorrow and be prepared for a rough few days afterwards (get the choccie and wine in now). I really hope it is of some benefit to you even if it takes a while (plus remember it is no reflection on you).

DD has been quite good, we normally get to 6am although we've had some late nights and minus the camping normally only one or two resettles.

Note to self: do not give big juicy cherries while dd2 is wearing a white T-shirt
dd2 likes to 'count' things now but everything is 'drei' (3) . Well, that's easy then...
Waving at everyone and hoping our summer isn't officially over now. 13 degrees and rain are not really what I was expecting for July.

soc at your DD2 counting.

PA good luck with the weather

PA, the camping is very intrepid!

bethy have a good holiday, if you don't get round to posting again before you go.

Soc I sympathise with the computer and its attractive aspect to the LOs. I can only post when DD is asleep or being kept safely at bay by DH. Too many fun buttons to press!

Well, we've moved on from streaming nose and eyes to snuffling and a bit of a cough with DD's cold now. It doesn't seem to be bothering her overmuch and the nights have been good after the first fidgety one.
Despite my attempt to poison her with paracetamol on Friday. I'd mixed up the instructions for ibuprofen and paracetamol and gave her the wrong dose. I rang up my BIL (who's a GP) in a panic, but once he's ascertained exactly how much paracetamol I'd given her, he reassured me that she'd be fine, but not to give her any more paracetamol for at least 12 hours. She slept until 07.45 that night, after an initial brief wake-up 20 mins after going down. Maybe I should overdose her more often...

Last night, she was in her travel cot for the first time - a LittleLife Arc I got from eBay - and she went down like an angel and didn't stir unto 07.20 this morning. Bliss!

Eating with utensils is continuing to go generally well and seems to be reigniting DD's interest in food generally, which is good. I'm going to start trying her with more ambitious foods to see if the fun and novelty of wielding a spoon or fork will encourage her to be a bit more adventurous. One can but hope...!

How's it going, Stan?

PS any tips for helping ease coughs in small toddlers? I may put a few drops of lavender essential oil on the edge of DD's cot mattress if her cough/blocked upness seem to be bothering her. Any other thoughts?
Luckily, she mostly sleeps on her front, which is better for cough-prevention....

IC DD always gets a cough with her colds. I use Calpol eucalyptus vapour plug. It has camomile in which helps sleep.

I also put a folded towel under her mattress to elevate her. (She sleeps on her back/side)

IC DD2 (and DD1) always get nasty coughs when they have colds. With DD1, I put lots of vapour rub on her chest, back and a touch under her nose and that seems to help.