FEB 2010 Two and a half to three...the "contrary age" (no it isn't! yes it is!)

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Come in, sit down, fresh coffee is brewing, Prosecco's in the fridge for later and there's a bumper box of Lindt chocolates for all....

we have that trap as well,

pretty sure DD has a ear infection, last night was fun.

DD woke every 45 mins for the first half. DS awake 11-12:30, DD awake 2-3:30 (this was when she slept in 2 two hour blocks). DH then had DS after that. I didn't get until 1:15 after dealing with DS.

have climbing tonight after two weeks off, looking forward to it. I think I will ban internet on nights both me and DH are in the house all evening. So Wed/Thurs/Fri. Just told DH and he agrees

We had a proper look at the finances and I illustrated to DH how our 'cushion' would only just cover the cost of a move. We soon realised it would only just cover it and we could do with more. Was more sobering for me than I expected, despite the aim being to show DH we couldn't touch it what was left.

Internet free evenings?

Stoof Impressed by your lists and organisation. We have serious head in sand syndrome and realised yesterday we should have done a tax return for renting out our old house in October last year...

dd2 appears to have a raisin in her ear. She's complained about something in her ear for a few days to be fair to her but we didn't think of getting a torch out to check. Would I be unreasonable to leave it where it is until I have a GP appointment for her anyway?

(GP appt on Friday)

Can you get at it (will DD2 let you?) SC? It would be good to remove it if you can.... On the other hand, the general advice is not to poke things into ears, so if it's anything less than straightforward to reach, I would wait for the GP (but it will cause/aggravate an infection....)....

Oh CP what an unbelievable bad run of ill health your family's had. Here's hoping this latest bout passes quickly....

Only a couple awakenings from DS last night - shame both involved a nappy change but still an improvement. We're in the eye of the storm wrt the 4-6 month sleep regression at the moment. I calculate we've got about another ten days or so of respite before we start heading into part two.
Meanwhile, I'm taking him back to the GP tomorrow for his eczema. And I'm going to invest in some Calendula cream too. Handy stuff to have around and I'm prone to cold sores, spots and an itchy bum (!) so even if it doesn't help DS, I reckon I'll find a use for it!

DD was terrified of the Three Kings yesterday at the Fiesta de los Reyes Magos - she only stuck it out because of the presents. Once they had gone, she enjoyed herself again (she was similarly scared of Santa when she met him, too).
Still, on the plus side, she's conquered her fear of one of her jigsaw puzzles and it's now her favourite.

IC I feel terrible because she has complained about something in her ear for days... Whatever it is is right in because she's poked her finger in so much to try and get it. I would probably attempt it myself if I had the right kind of tweezers. Sigh. You are right about infection. I'd better take her tomorrow or get dh to take her on Wednesday.

do get something stronger. Diprobase (well none of the non steroid creams) ever improve the situation, more keep things running smoothly between flare-ups or stop skin drying out between steroid applications. If it isn't improving, or getting worse, then more help is needed.

I had stuff syringed out my ear at AnE as a kid

right I need to shower, think I have sorted babysitters so I can go with DH to the funeral next week though

ahh think I hear DS and DD

nite all

all good, DD quick cuddle, DS asleep straight after feed.

SOC I wouldn't wait either for the raisin. Do you have an OOH doctor or a minor injury unit? I would try there first. (call they will tell you if they can't do it)

IC Diprobase, oilatum, E45... never worked for DD1. The problem with eczema is that creams suit different people differently and it can be a longtime before you get the right one. (don't be afraid to use the cortisone one when needed).

SoTU In France post-op they recommend Ictyane (ducray), Aveeno or Biafine (all creams not the lotions). I would try "8h cream" (elizabeth arden) first when it is really bad though (but only if the skin is completely healed, i.e. no cracks). There are not "scar cream" they just really good emolients. Science probably will have good knowledge.
IC for DD1's eczema aveeno was OK but I had to reply almost at every nappy change for it to work, we swapped for Ictyane and we are still there 7 years later (once or twice everyday).

I used Aveeno bath/wash oil on DS eczema when he was younger. It did calm the eczema down.

I've been up since 5.15am today and I can't even blame unsleepy children Just too much stuff in my head + wondering how to get my way out of explaining to my retiring colleague why he's not receivnig a present as Amazon has messed up

SC I would go to A&E to get it removed.

I re-read my comment about Aveeno and I wish to add I used it while bathing DS not dry

Survival when I was a kid, I got creamed with Biafine to help with scaring. Fx he gets sorted soon and that if they finally help his head scar

I had no idea how much eczema knowledge there was on this thread...!! Thanks again for the thoughts.

The GP (who has three very young children of his own) was sympathetic but wouldn't prescribe anything else - probably because DS is under 6months old I'm guessing. He suggested using olive oil and making sure the patch is exposed to the air - especially outdoor air - as often as possible, avoids contact with things like wool and isn't allowed to get too hot. When I mentioned Calendula he had no objections to my trying that. The Oilatum/coconut oil combo seems to have largely done the trick for the patches on DS' legs (GP checked him all over and he's got a few patches on his arms too - but like the leg ones, very mild). It's just the patch in the middle of DS' forehead which stubbornly refuses to get better on the current regime. DS was very itchy and uncomfortable again in the early hours. It's a bummer, because in other respects his sleep is much better (and no nappy changes required until 07.00 either).

IC Is it red or just mainly dry?

Did you ask how long to try before coming back again?

We are having a odd sleep day here.

DS awake 4:30. DD awake 7:15
DS 25 min nap at 9:30
DD nap 1:30 - still going
DS nap only just got down at 4

It's red and dry CP - unlike the patches on the rest of his body which are just dry (and virtually gone now). No, I didn't ask. I suppose I should have done. I'll see how it goes with the olive oil/calendula (when I get hold of some) regime and how badly or otherwise his sleep is affected....
Flip-flop napping, huh?!

IC can recommend calendula wind and weather cream for babies. Both girls used to get dry red patches just from being outdoors and windy even if it wasn't particularly cold.

Argh, the outdoors being windy, not the babies... Coffe hasn't kicked in

SC is the raisin out?

CP Sorry to hear about DH's grandma, glad that you are able to go to the funeral with him. How is DD's ear today?

DS seems to be a bit less tatrummy recently... hope I haven't jinxed things by saying that. I'm quite glad we are back at nursery this week, it's nice to have the structure back to things - saw my ususal friends yesterday morning and ended up staying out til 2pm as had lunch out and then went to city farm. Had a lovely day.

DD was poorly last week whilst we were visiting inlaws. Fine during the day and bad both nights. Temp of 41.1 at one point (I was really quite worried). Turned out to have been her ear, I noticed thick horrible gunk coming out of it over the weekend but she was ok by Mon, but I got the GP to look at it anyway just to be sure.

She still only sleeps pretty much laying on top of me and latched on most of the night. If I try and disengage and creep to the other side of the bed she shouts. I am a bit at a loss. With DS at this stage we did CC but I'm not feeling that terrible and sleep deprived as I'm able to sleep as well (just not as comfortably as if I didn't have a 9 month old baby on top of me) and I feel regretful for doing it last time as I don't really agree with it. I don't mind her waking a couple of times a night to feed if that's what she needs (it's normal for bfing children I think even if they don't 'need' it nutritionally) but I would like to just be next to her and not have her on the boob continually. Any suggestions or experience?

Oh DS told me a story last night. See if I can remember it...

"one upon a time there were two robots and a dragon. It was a bad dragon and it roared so I put it in the bin. Then there was another dragon and I put it in the bin. Then there was another dragon and I PUT IT IN THE BIN!".

Happy new year to all! This is the first chance I've really had this year to sit down with the laptop undisturbed. I can hear that DD2 has woken from her nap but as she's only been down for an hour I am going to ignore her for as long as I can. She sometimes goes back to sleep

CP glad you can go to DH's nan's funeral. How is DD's ear? What is happening with DH's job/a move?

SC I hope you are feeling much much better after your flu. It sounds dreadful. I have to say at your 5.45 alarm this morning. I honestly don't think I could do that. I hope work hasn't been too draining (while realising that is probably is). How is DD2's ear?

stoof love the idea of net-free evenings. It's just that when DH and I are piling through our to-do lists, most of it seems to involve the internet But that is looking at things together. I hardly ever sit down and just have browsing time

that was a really high temp, did you take her to AnE or ring NHSdirect?

Scones I didn't know DD2 had a hospital visit with CP

DH starts his job week after next (no time off in between). Only going into london twice a week so we will stay put until we know what is happening with my job situation. At least I don't feel I have to get a job local to here if looking at industry options.

DD is better, DS was feverish last night. Seemed just grumpy this morning, so I dosed him up and sent him to nursery. DD still more tired otherwise fine.

I disengaged DS when I felt I couldn't spend the nights awake anymore. You know when you have reached that point. I feel there is a place for CC but we didn't get to that point with DS. I do think there is a price to pay for it so the situation has to warrant it. Also there is a time for it, when you think your DCs could calm down after crying. DS isn't there yet, but we are more than happy to lie with him and just relieved that this is all we need to do.

I can't get DD to have quiet pottering time anymore, even TV won't quieten for 20 mins while I eat and drink at lunchtime (luckily she is napping atm, one thing illness is good for)

My insomnia was never as bad as the sleep deprivation experienced as a parent, Scones!!

Bc you're in sleep regression territory now, as I expect you're only too well aware! So I would leave any sleep training until you're through it. Meanwhile, you don't have to do cc - try a less brutal Andrea Grace type method perhaps - gradual withdrawal, maybe.

I was very dubious about cc until it got to the point when I just couldn't unlatch DD from me at all or she would wake up. I'm not great at co-sleeping in any case and with a baby attached to my nipple, forget it! It wasn't actually that traumatic and was done in three days. We repeated cc about a year later when DD started having longer and longer night wakings. Given that she was awake for 2.5 hours then the following night (when we started cc) for 45 mins, it was clear to us that our presence was actually stimulating her into wakefulness. Once again, by day three it was all done and she was sleeping through. So, like Scones I'm inclined to be a convert to cc - where it's necessary (and of course it doesn't work on all children). The older they are, the better and quicker it works, apparently! Anyhow, you've done it once so you know the score - it's up to you whether you reach a point where sleep training becomes more necessary than NOT sleep training....and then decide how to do it! CC tends to work quickest but it's not the only way...

Re DS' eczema, I'm trying this salve and it already seems to be calming it down. We shall see. It contains calendula, as well as other things. I've got a calendula cream too. As I said, even if they don't work on DS, I'll find a use for them, so the money won't be wasted!

DD was on great form at Spanish playgroup today - she's been talking loads of Spanish at home with DH and the other mums find her enchanting - their own children seem to speak a lot less Spanish than she does!
It's also great watching her do proper interactive play with other children now - throwing balls between them, running around and giggling. It also means I can sit down and have a cuppa and biscuit, yay!

PS LOVE DS' story, Bc!!

How's your DD2 SC?

i'm not really sure of the words but DD has a song that starts off 'twinkle twinkle little star, ..... chocolate bar ....... driving a car'

"Twinkle twinkle chocolate bar, my Dad drives a rusty old car. Push the button, pull the choke, off we go in a cloud of smoke! Twinkle twinkle chocolate bar, my dad drives a rusty old car!" Hope that helps CP!! I'm still getting a very noisy rendition of Jingle Bells at about 3a.m. Sometimes it's on the monitor and sometimes, when I'm deeply asleep, in my ear when he's crept into my bed (having sent DH into the spare room as I'm knackered and he snores/shuffles/talks/hunts for spiders under the bed in his sleep!) I don't really have a hope of good sleepers with him as their father do I?!!

CP I'm glad you said that about the spell in hospital for Scones DD2 as I wasn't aware either.

Liking the story BC and yeh for the calmer times with DS. I've felt awful going back to work as DS2 is not happy to go to nursery.

SC how's the ear adventure? Hope the object is now removed.

IC DS2 has eczema all over his bottom at the moment although it doesn't really seem to bother him. I keep pondering a GO appointment but unless there's a fingernail missing or a head requiring stitching, I'm trying to keep away from the NHS for a bit!! (And poor DS2 is so happy go lucky that he wouldn't complain, while DS1 would probably be complaining bitterly) .

DS2 had his first experience of flying a kite a the weekend. He looked completely non-plussed! I thought it was great though, so we will be repeating the activity. (In fact, having spent ages helping DS1 to write up his holidays and glueing in pics, the Head teacher saw him first thing yesterday morning and asked if anything good had happened over Christmas. You can guess DS1's response!! Luckily, I whipped out the homework to show him!!)

And finally, before bed.. I had a cleaner over for two hours on Tuesday. House done from top to bottom for the price of £20. As DS2 gets his 15 free hours in April, I reckon I can justify the cost. I feel that I will never look back and wish I'd done more cleaning, but will definitely look back and wish I'd spent more time with the boys.