March 2012 - Brewed to Perfection!

[TroubleAndFyfe]

Hello all, come and add your babies to the list and let's see what adventures they bring!

Oh bee poor baby bee :( hope the blockage clears soon poor mite :( very jealous of the 2 years off though!!!

I really need to sit down with DH and work out how many hours we could afford me to do, I went back on 20 over. 3 days with DD1 which I increased to 23 over 4 mostly to keep up with the work load as inevitably I seemed to end up doing a ft role on pt hours DH has said he would be happy for me not to go back but I would worry if something to Happened to his job? Also Im not sure it would be so easy to get back into my profession after a career break having said that with my baby brain I probably won't be able to cope with the law when I go back he he!

I am very lucky in that we live in a rural area in a lovely village by the sea with a traffic free ten minute drive to work though so must look on the bright side!

bee I'm still bf even though dd is being weaned - AF arrived three of four days before we started weaning, so I think that's why it caught me off guard! I never got on with expressing so we make her porridge with formula. She will be given mashed potato tonight with it in tonight.

Re work - I'm not going back. Mixed emotions tbh. I absolutely love the team I work with, we are quite close and genuinely all get on. We're an offshoot of a very well known nursery chain and there's only 20 of us in our part of the business so we know each other well and most are good friends as well as colleagues. However, I have a commute of over an hour to get there and I'd only want to do two days a week so although my salary is great, and i love my job, is it worth the faff of getting dd into nursery - £££££££ - then driving over an hour away - ££££ - for just two days? Prob not. Instead though, I will be setting up my own consultancy so I can still work and earn good money but with loads of benefits (spend quality time with dd, never have to worry I'm so far away if she gets ill at nursery, no petrol costs, take on the work I want to, be with DH on his days off.... continue with our busy baby social calendar )

Forgot to say bee that instagram is a free iPhone app - similar to twitter, you get the app and follow whoever you want to and you'll see any photos they upload through the News Feed. You don't need to upload any pix yourself to see anyone else's, just join and follow. You can also take pix using it or open an existing pic you've got on your phone and edit it or apply filters so they look older, brighter, black and white etc and save it. It's quite a nifty little app really!

There was a groupon we got the other day where you can print any of your instagram pix onto canvas. And you can even make an iPhone case with your instagram pix too!

Ok enough already, I sound like a pr for them!!

Thanks for all the sympathies! I'm finally feeling a bit better, and I hope I didn't overdo it today. Ended up at the ENT's earlier in the week, and spent nearly a whole day there waiting, getting looked at with a microscope, hearing tested (currently sucks! But they say it will come back, although not for 3-4 weeks). I'm not sure if DD has been sleeping better, or if I'm just not hearing her in the middle of the night, but we've had some 6 or even 7 hour stretches. At least if she wakes she must not get too upset, because I can hear her cry, just not the little awake noises I used to. The world on low-volume is weird.

So, I've been back at work since Aug. I'm lucky, though, in that I can work from home and that DH can look after DD a lot. I'm working in the kitchen on a personal project and go in once or twice a week for seminars. I take DD with me on fridays for the informal seminar, and DH takes her for other meetings. Went in this afternoon and DD was a bit fussy about 40 min into the 50 min seminar and I had to leave -- but even so a Prof complimented me later on how quiet she was! But it is hard. I pay attention to the time try to make sure I get 8 hrs in each day, and make it up if I don't manage (except this week, where I decided was "out" sick on Tue-Thu, which I hadn't done yet, and perhaps that contributed to me getting better! I should learn from that...). I tend to start work around 7-8am and finish around 6pm, so obviously it's very broken up. DD has recently gotten a lot better at entertaining herself making things much easier. I'd have preferred more time off, but I'm our only income so there wasn't much choice. (Actually, my current biggest problem is that I chose the kitchen to work in and have absolutely no self-control when it comes to munching and working at the same time. I really to have to stop that!) Oh, and I'll be going on my first business trip in a few weeks! DH is coming to look after DD, and I'll plan on popping out to feed her on occasion. It will be interesting.

And, eek, broody, periods already? I'm not ready for that... nothing yet here.

broody you've sold me on instagram. I've signed up.
Glad you're getting better mad and you're getting so much sleep!

broody, poppy is so cute!

Aaah thanks we just need to crack this sleeping issue and she will be a corker
Fyfe looks a gorgeously happy little boy. I love the pics of him with his dog - so sweet!!
And it's so weird we were in Krabi at the same time last April/May! V small world eh? Xx

Having a dreadful time ladies. And feel like absolute shit. I just cannot get dd to sleep for love nor money. She's fed, clean, warm but nothing is going to get her to sleep. I've had nine friggin weeks of crap nights - often its been 30 mins sleep then 30/40 to get her back down again - and it's shaping up to be even worse tonight with just no sleep at all. I feel like I'm such a failure that she won't sleep and as I'm exhausted I am getting angry and then very upset with and for myself. She is only six months and I've obviously already given her a shit start in life in the sleep department or she'd nod off like all other babies. I just can't see a way forward right now that doesn't involve DH or me sleeping in separate rooms with dd on our chest as that's the only way she will sleep. This is the only time I've ever considered controlled crying but even in this very low haze I'm in, I know it's not what I want to do. I'm just so desperate

Oh, broody :( It's not your fault! Babies have distinct personalities and you got one who doesn't want the world to fade away, is all. If she will sleep on your chests, perhaps you can work with that? Maybe build up to something -- like have her sleep on your chest at first, and then on a folded blanket on your chest, and see if you can slide the blanket off with her on it once she's asleep? Just throwing out random ideas here.

It is most definitely not your fault broody! You have not given her a shit start in life for sleep, the way a baby sleeps does not affect how they sleep as an adult! Neither of you will even remember this in a year, hard to believe now, I know! There is nothing you could have done differently, you said before about regretting feeding her to sleep as a newborn but please don't have regrets, if you hadn't of fed her to sleep you'd have had battles then instead of now, I can't think of a better way to get a newborn off to sleep!
Also, whilst you have it really bad, Fyfe woke 7 times last night between 7.30pm and 6.30am and almost all the babies I know are waking frequently at this age, regardless of how they been raised, breast/formula fed, dummy using/not, own room/co sleeping so unless 85% of us all happen to be doing a different something wrong I'd say it has to be an age thing and therefore they will get over it!
Does she sleep in the day at all? Fyfe has two naps and I've been trying to take them with him since he's been waking so regularly.

Oh Broody, you poor thing. I second what Trouble said- you have absolutely not given her a shit start and this is not your fault. From talking to friends, I've really come to believe that the baby you have is very much luck of the draw when it comes to sleep and temperament. People who say otherwise are a bit naive, IMO, and perhaps just a bit smug.

All of your posts about Poppy just glow with love and anybody can tell just how muh you adore her. This horrible lack of sleep is far harder on you than it is on her, so any shitness is only really felt by you, not her.

I've no advice, just sending you all the best vibes and hopes that this stage will pass soon for you and just want you to remember what a fab job you're doing in very difficult circumstances.

Meant to say, though, a lady I know has a baby who was having problems sleeping and would only sleep on her husband's chest, nowhere else. This was when her LO was a month old though, not as old as Poppy. Anyways, they went to see a cranial osteopath (the same one who sorted out Erin's colic, as it goes- people in this town swear by him) and some of her vertebrae were out of line, so she was having sleeping difficulties and favoured one side for some movements. Anyways, he manipulated her and her sleeping got way better within 24 hours. Since then she's been down to one night feed and otherwise sleeping through. Could it be worth asking around to see if there are any good, recommended practitioners in your area? I know it's not traditional medicine, but might be worth a go?

Is anyone's LO crawling yet? Tessa is getting dangerously close, but I'm hoping still has a ways of practice to go! She sort of shifts around on her stomach now, but only a few inches at time, and spins in circles.

And I think I am almost over my ear infection. My hearing is still depressed, but much better, and it doesn't really hurt anymore. I can't believe this went of for 4 weeks!

Fyfe is doing exactly the same as Tessa mad!

Aw my little munchkin is so close to crawling she gets up on her hands and knees and rocks! She's been shuffling on her tummy for a few weeks and can make it right across the room backwards much to her dismay! She 'shouts' in frustration as the thing she's trying to get gets further away! I'm thinking she will be properly crawling any day! Can't believe how mobile she is DD1 didn't crawl till she was 9months I was hoping for a few months before I'm chasing two of them around eek!!

Aaah thanks trouble and bee. I'm still feeling fragile but today has been better - she even took three naps!!
We are taking her to see a cranial osteopath tomorrow. I'm hoping something will seem obvious to the CO so we have a reason and not just she's a crap sleeper. My suspicion is silent reflux...

Oh best of luck tomorrow, Broody. I have everything crossed that the CO will find something, fix it and her sleeping will improve. Let us know how it goes, yeah?

SciMum - nowhere near crawling for us yet, I think. She'll go too her tummy and she will pull up her knees, but she's not lifting off the ground or anything. I think she'll be happier when she's more mobile as she just seems to get so frustrated when she can't reach whichever toys out of arm's reach but she'll get there when she's ready, I guess .

Absolutely knackered today. Last night we got a knock on the door, asking if we had a cat. We don't but somebody had knocked over this cat at the top of our driveway and left it for dead. Poor little thing was struggling for breath and was obviously in a really bad way. Ended up ringing the out of hours vet and taking it there. Didn't get to bed until nearly midnight and then LO woke at 1.30 and was up at sparrow's fart, as usual. If I never have to see an animal in that much pain again I'll be grateful

OMG!! It could still all fall apart, but that's getting more and more unlikely: it looks like we're going to buy the new house! DF swooped in with enough help that we can wait on selling our current house until we move -- I'm eternally grateful and still can't quite believe it. It'll be tight with two mortgages until we sell, but I figure that's good incentive to get stuff done. We're just waiting for a few more formalities. I've been trying to not get too excited in case it doesn't work, but I think I'm finally allowed to be. We'll have the house in Nov, but I expect won't move in until Dec as we have the US baby-tour planned end of Nov and we'll want to do some painting, etc. Trouble, you moved right before LO or right after, right? Any advice on a new house with a baby?

Oh, bee, what a night! And how horrid to just leave the cat there :( I hope the kitty makes it...

So we've been to the CO and she couldn't find anything obviously wrong - apart from a slight blocking feeling at her oesophageal area which points towards reflux. Something I had suspected for the last few days. (The silent type of course, as she's only ever been sick once in her 6 month life!) We went to the doctors tonight and he agreed so he's given us a prescription for infant gaviscon and she's started that straight away. Fingers crossed.

While we were at the CO she asked what I do for a living and if I'll be going back. I explained I'll be taking the last three months of my leave (Jan-Mar) unpaid and then starting my own marketing and pr consultancy - to which she showed a lot of interest in and was asking a few more questions.....and just like that, quite by accident, I have my first client!!

Weeeee- that's wicked news, Broody (about the first client, not the reflux). Very well done!

How's Poppy taking to the gaviscon? Any changes? I found this website really cool www.cryingoverspiltmilk.co.nz/ when Erin was really suffering with reflux (not silent, like Poppy) and found that cutting out all dairy really improved things and within two weeks she was like a different baby. I really hope the gaviscon makes a difference for her and you!

SciMum - squeeeee! That's very exciting news! Everything crossed that everything goes through without a hitch. And that's very cool of your dad to help- families can be ace, can't they?! My folks helped us when we came to get our house out here as my old house in he UK was really slow to sell. Stopped us having to get a crippling ly expensive bridging loan, for which I was so grateful. Good luck and let us know how it goes! Is it Germany you're buying in or did I just invent that bit in my head?!

Oh, and after all the cat drama, it lived. I was so happy and very nicely surprised...I was sure it was a goner. Got away with a broken leg and tail and the owners came forward today and were really stoked that it was alive. I love happy endings!

Yay, broody, about the client! How is Poppy doing?

Bee, that's great to hear about the cat. I'm sure those owners are so glad that you helped out! I would be.

And thanks, bee, we're quite excited. Just heard my Dad will be visiting the weekend after we get the house, so he'll get to see it! We've only got him for half of Saturday, as he is on a very busy business trip: he's pathologically scared of airplanes and is taking a boat from the US! So he's fitting in a decade's worth of meetings or so in the UK and the rest of Europe. We're only moving 15 miles down the road (Germany is where we're headed for a conference in two weeks), but it will be a vast improvement in lifestyle. I'll be able to do things like head into the Uni for meetings and leave DD with at home with DH. And the extras like the livery next door, the bike path all the way into town, the high frequency bus service, and the bird preserve visible from the window are things that are so unlikely I would have never even included them in criteria for a new place to live. I'm still a bit disbelieving that this is actually happening!

We've had quite an adventure this weekend so far. DH is in hospital :( They think it is just gastroenteritis, but are keeping him for more tests and on an IV, as he can't keep down fluids. Spend the night first at Out of Hours Dr, and then took an ambulance to hospital, and DD and I finally got a taxi home about 5am. I was going to visit today, but the buses are so infrequent on Sunday that it will be an hour and a half trip and now I'm feeling a bit queasy. I was slightly worried I'd end up as sick as him on the bus or outside the closed bus station in the rain. So far I'm still just queasy. And DD seems fine. Fingers crossed that DH gets better soon and it's nothing serious!

Oh dear mad! poor your DH!
About the house though OMG! That is fantastic news!
We moved in two weeks before Fyfe was born! I would advise making a work plan and if possible getting very disruptive jobs done before you move your stuff in. For example, we had all the ceilings replastered (artex) and we had all new carpet laid upstairs. I think the only difference the baby makes is that you don't want to upset their routine too much so planning work properly so she doesn't end up sleeping in a different room every night will be the key. What sort of state is it in?

We have lift off! He's crawling!

That's brilliant, Trouble! Have you had to do much house proofing? Goodness, that's exciting.

Meant to ask how the BLWers are going with weaning? I'm loving it! LO is loving her food and I think she may have actually started to get some down her (not masses, but definitely moving into chewing and swallowing territory). Yesterday I finally got the porridge fingers to work - thanks for that, Trouble- and she loved them. For lunch she had cucumber battons with hummus and tea she had some vegetable nuggets (recipe on the BLW.com site), hummus again and pear pieces. She has two teeth now and she was really managing to chomp some bits off the pear and swallow . Hummus is her absolute fave and so cheap, easy and healthy to make. This year our lemon tree has gone nutso, so it's a nice way to use some of them too. Going to branch out and try making some different legume pastes for her to try.

Anybody else had any absolute fav recipes for their babies? It's nice to get some extra inspiration. LO seems to like most stuff at the moment, so long as she gets to feed herself.

Beens meaning to say too, Kiki and Punk, how you both going?