March 2005 part 6 - Toddling towards summer!

[leogaela]

And her it is!

Hooray, Harrison's sleep seems back on track - although I'm bound to have brought the MN curse onto myself now Yesterday he slept until 7.30 and this morning 7.15. He's also only had one nap both days so hopefully, he'll settle for good soon into a one nap a day, sleep until a reasonable time type routine

Hope everyone has had a good weekend. We've been out and about whenever it hasn't been raining, trying to make the most of the sunshine (when it's appeared). I've been running, cycling and walking with Harrison in the buggy so feel fully justified having a bar of chocolate tonight - sure I won't feel like that on Tuesdays weigh-in.

How's your diet going Jambot and how is Lauren's sleep - is she more settled now?

Hi all.

Umum - Iris does the same thing, lies down on the floor, kicking her feet and wailing. Bit of a shock as dd1 never ever did tantrums! Anyway, at this age, I pick her up, cuddle her and try to distract her from whatever it was she wanted and couldn't have. E.g. today she was intent on clutching the kitchen scissors, and very indignant when they were removed. But a slotted spoon proved an acceptable replacement toy! Not always that easy to find an alternative, but distraction usually gets us there in the end.

Like Busywizzy says, it's so hard for them to figure out what's going on in the world. Also they have very little control over their lives - stuff just happens to them, and they're shipped here and there. No wonder they get cross sometimes.

We've had a great day - tracking the enormous \link{http://www.thesultanselephant.com/\elephant} round London. One of the best days out ever. And Cleo and Iris just adored it. Iris was doing her elephant trumpeting noise the whole time!

Did my first ever 10k run on Saturday morning which was also great fun. A couple of friends did it too, and afterwards Cleo and loads of her friends were entered in a 100m dash for charity!

Busy - Won't tell you about the diet. Shocking weekend of eating, but must say that this was the first binge DH and I had had for a month, so things have been better. Haven't weighed for a few weeks. Must get back on the straight and narrow from today!
Lauren's sleeping is weird right now. No problem with her day sleep and going to bed, but she is waking up crying every night. Strange sort of moany crying that is normally very short lived. Luckily I've only had to go in to her a handful of times but it's very strange for her as she normally goes through without a wimper. Only good side to this is that she's sleeping later. Only woke up after eight yesterday, having gone down at 6:15. That's a lot of hours asleep! Must say, now I think about it, she's been sleeping later ever since she dropped to one sleep a day.
Glad you all seem to be enjoying your warm weather. We have started with our rainy season and it's really cold this morning. No such thing as central heating in this country so you have to dress warmly and put on lots of heaters.
Well done on your run Pidge.

Loads to catch up on! I have been away for the weekend and not checked messages for ages. I was away at a netball tournament and had a fantastic time. A great weekend, and we also played some great netball - we were losing finalists in extra time which was kinda disappointing but still a fab performance. Came away with prize money for a new kit which can't be bad, and since there were 108 teams taking part I think we did ok! The only downside is that Freya is very clingy today and she won't let me out of her site for fear that I may run off and leave her again! i'm sure she will be back to normal soon.

Pidge - Glad to hear you 10K went ok, maybe a half marathon next? It is lovely that the light evenings are here and it is much milder for going out for a run.

Glad to hear that everyone else seems to be suffering with the tantrums already! Freya is a total stroppy pants if she doesn't get her own way at the moment. I think that it is due to a lack of communication and control over their lives as Pidge mentioned. I can't remember who is doing the baby sign language, but do you think that this helps? Perhaps if they can get their point across then they won't get as cross?

Hope Harrison slept ok last night and the curse of mumsnet didn't befall you!

Must go, loads of washing to catch up on while Freya is asleep.

OK, a shameless bit of touting coming up now. As you may recall, I have lost a number of close friends to cancer over the past 12-18 months and there have also been a few mums and teachers at Hannah's school who have been affected. As a result, Hannah and I are running the Race for Life in June in aid of Cancer Reserach. Please, please, please don't feel obliged, but if you'd like to sponsor us (or just see what I look like ), \link{http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/suzannebyrne\here}is our web page.

Thank you

I think Harrison's MMR vaccine is working it's way through his system. So far today, we've had three of the most disgusting nappies I've ever seem him produce in his short life. And last night in the bath, he managed to do a poo whilst I was getting a clean towel out of the drawer (about 10 seconds) and eat it Turned round to see poo floating all around the bath and bits hanging out of his mouth. As if that wasn't bad enough, just as I was leaning over the bath to get it out of his mouth he decided he didn't like the taste (can't say I blame him really) so he spat it out by blowing a raspberry and it went all over me

Yuk Bizzy! Luckily Lauren hasn't done a poo in the bath yet. Not really her poo time, luckily. Morning and lunch are her times. For some reason I imagined you darker. Thought you would probably be curly, having seen pics of Hannah, but imagined it sort of dark brunette. Who knows why.
Jo, you really are Miss active! Very impressive.
Lauren is strowing a strop at the moment because her toy isn't doing what she wants. They suddenly all seem to get very frustrated. Now she's bashing the heck out of it and wailing at the same time. Quite a little temper rearing it's head here!

Forgot to mention, while away for the weekend I realised that I am a true mum. Let me explain. I was sharing a chalet with 3 other girls, none of whom have kids. Between they had brought along a crate of beer, 6 bottles of wine, some pringles and some chocolate. What did I take? Tea bags, bread, milk, butter, cereal, bananas and grapes. I am definitely my mother now! We were all sitting outside on the grass on Friday afternoon drinking beer, and they kept on asking 'Wouldn't you prefer a cup of tea, Jo?' Ha, ha! Must say I got the last laugh though when, on Saturday morning, they were all desperate for a cuppa and a piece of toast - mums are useful after all!

And what's wrong with being a mum Jo I would have been the same except I'd have had a packet of wet wipes with me as well

Pidge, meant to say a huge well done on completing your 10K run, you must have been really proud of yourself

Have just bought the cutest little waterproof suit for Lauren. You can't get anything like that out here, and judging by how wet she got crawling around in the mud outside today, she's going to need it. Just battling to find wellies small enough for her. They all seem to start in much bigger sizes.
Yes, well done Pidge. The furthest I ever ran was 10kms, but that seems like another lifetime ago right now!
Lauren has a raging appetite at the moment. Maybe she's going through a growth phase and this explains her funny sleeping.

busywizzy - yeuch! Have only had the 'poo in bath' scenario once in my parenting career, and it doesn't come close to rivalling Harrison's achievements!

Speaking of bath ... dp suddenly noticed during bathtime tonight that Iris is covered in spots. Only tiny, so maybe a rash, .... or maybe not. Neither of the girls has had chickenpox yet .... oh joy. Anyway, hopefully by morning they'll have disappeared.

JoPG - well done on the netballing. One of the reasons I run is that I am spectacularly useless at all other sport. Anything requiring any skill or hand-eye coordination is a non-starter!

Oh no, not chicken pox! Can you catch it via the computer!? Must switch off immediately
Hope Iris is ok by the morning, has she been in contact with anyone who has it?

Well the spots are still there, but very faint. So definitely not chicken pox. Funnily enough dd1 had something very similar at almost exactly the same age. I'm guessing it's an allergic reaction to something. can't think what though. No new foods. Anyway, other than a snotty nose she is perky as anything. So I'm at work, and dp was going to check with the childminder, but I'm pretty sure she was going to go there as usual.

Phew!

Busy yuuuuuuuuek! I bet it put you off letting Harrison give you kisses for a while!

Niklas also has temper tantrums. Depending on the situation I usually leave him until he has forgotten why he is screaming, then he will come to me and want a cuddle and comfort. Not sure if I am making it better or worse. I have to think a bit more about this one.

Well done on the 10K Pidge!

Oh, I hope Iris doesn't have chicken pox. But is it better or worse for them to get it so young?

Wow, we are becoming a group of runners! Just got persuade Jambot to get herself a pair of trainers now :o!

We had a good weekend, great weather. On Sunday we went inline skating with Niklas in the pushchair for the first time, he loved it! We have a 15Km road closed to traffic which takes us past lots of farms so we had regular stops to look a the cows, sheep, horses, goats.... He is crazy about animals at the moment, he is particularly fascinated with dogs and birds!

Unfortunately Niklas is still not well. He is still full of energy and chatter, but has bronchitis. THe doctor has put him on Ventalin and Cortisone, which we have to give to him using an inhalator (not much fun :(!), last night at one point we got really worried as it seemed he was hardly able to breath at all, but he seems better today.

My mum is coming this week. I think most of you know that our relationship isn't the best at the moment, I am looking forward to seeing 'my mum', but also getting nervous and edgy thinking about how it is going to go. She is just great at being insensitive and saying the wrong things and I can be a little bit sensitive . And she has already started winding me up before she gets here... her comment on the phone yesterday was - Your cousin's baby is always ill as well, I wonder if its because they were both born by C.S. !!!!

Pidge, it could be a post viral rash. I didnt' know it existed but it seems that Niklas had one last week.

I actually have a very expensive pair of trainers, or 'takkies' as we call them. I bought them the last time I had visions of getting back into running, and they have actually nearly been worn out, but just by wearing them generally, not by running a single km!
Lauren is at Granny today. Dropped her off and came home, put the electric blanket on, made myself a cup of tea and got back into bed with my book, a about a couple who do up an old house in Marrakesh. I love reading these books about people who have bought old houses in France, Italy etc. It is our dream to do the same one day. Now that our house is finished - ok no doors on cupboards yet - my DH is looking for another project. I have a very 'ants in your pants' husband who has to be designing something for someone, but when I want him to put the doors on cupboards to prevent Lauren from destroying the contents, he can't quite get himself to do it!!!:) I nearly freaked when the girl who works for us as our Sales Manager mentioned that he had offered to build her new kitchen for her!! No way, until he has finished every single little thing on our house. Otherwise I'm threatening to get the Yellow Pages out, which normally means great expense when someone else comes along to finish the work.
Poor Niklas Leo. Thinking of him.

Leo - sorry to hear Niklas is still poorly. Can't believe your mum's comment about the CS. Hope her visit is not too stressful. I find trying to be selectively deaf is the best approach sometimes.

Your idea of a post-viral rash is a very good one. She has been very snotty for the last few days, so that would fit. And it was much more of a rash than I imagined chicken pox would look like - lots of little spots all over her. Anyway, just phoned dp and she was merry as anything this morning - smearing prune porridge all over herself and him! And the spots have really faded to next to nothing.

Sending calm vibes to Leo. good luck with your mum's visit.
Must be hard that when you meet up it is quite intensive and is for a long visit, rather than just for a couple of hours.
Hope it goes ok.

Leo, sorry to hear about Niklas - poor baby I hope he gets better soon and that your mum doesn't add to your worries.

It's official - Freya is a complete pain in the bottom. She had a complete temper tantrum today because I first stopped her emptying the food cupboard of all its contents, and then I prevented her from going into the utility room and annoying the cat. She was screaming and fighting me so much that I laid her gently on the floor so she could calm down, and she deliberately banged her head against the floor which resulted in loads more crying and a cut lip! She is so feisty! Obviously I don't want her hurting herself, but I'm not about to give into her every 5 minutes so I think I will try sitting her in her high chair when she is cross so that she doesn't hurt herself. Any other ideas - padded cell perhaps?!

Jo - Niklas has also banged his head on the floor in a tantrum. I thought about putting him in his highchair when he was having a tantrum but I was worried it would then become a negative place for him to be, but I have no idea.
Yes, the longer intense visits with my mum definitely make it harder (which is why I told her to only come for 4 days, she booked flights from 10th - 17th, so I am guessing she can't count!). At least we have a guest room in the basement now, whereas before she was sleeping in our living room, hopefully she won't come upstairs where our bedrooms are at all and we will have our space and privacy.

Niklas is still not that much better, we had another bad night with him last night, he is still struggling against the inhalator :(, however he is happy and cheery when he is awake :), he is still going to the nursery and they seem to be happy to have him there.

Leo - Sorry to hear Niklas is still poorly. I can't believe your mum made those comments about CS

My sister is coming over tonight (my mum phoned me yesterday morning to tell me) and she's staying till Sunday. She hasn't been in a few years (they live in Cyprus) so I need to tidy up the house and make it spotless. I know she's only my sister but she's very organised herself.

Buzy - I'll sponsor you a bit later. You look very different to how I imagined you. I had you with dark straight hair.

Jambot - I love the Ergo carrier, thank you so much again. I used it for many hours on saturday and Sunday and a little bit yesterday and today too. I feel very comfortable with it. You know what? I didn't need to make any changes at all on the buckles, so we must be the same size. I'm on a bit of a diet now, I'll let you know when I need to do in the buckles, soon hopefully.

Glad you're enjoying the Ergo. Can't remember who last had Lauren in it. Think it was my Dad at Christmas. He's not very big, so don't worry!

Hi to all of you ladies.

Leo-so sorry Nicklas is not well again.cant stop picturing him with the inhaler.Poor baby.i/ve got to tell you something.And you gotta promice that you give it a try.This stuff is really working.althuogh its is not the nicest of them all but much better than the inhaler.you need to get somewhere a goat's fat.you have lots of farms around with goats.just before bedtime in the eve melt some of it in a spoon and rub into Nicklas's chest and back.the fat doesnt smell nice but it is not stinky.plese try it and let me know.but i know it will help.its an old method fighting with strong cough.it came from my greatgranma.

Busy-you are not the one with poo trouble.About couple weeks ago Ksenia did nearly the same.I was dressing her to go out for a walk and when ia got her out of tights my friend called me so i left my baby just bottomless.And i knew that it will be no surpruces coz she just did it in a potty.So after a short(20mins) talkwith my friend i saw some srangely smelling balls on the floorand Ksenia hands all in it and some of it just rubbed into the floor. But the hands was not the only part all my baby was in it.So instead of having a walk we had a bath and cleaned the room

Leo-about mum.I am living with my now.FOr a year now.After long and happy 6 years away.I understand you very well.|Good luck.you need all the power to bring Nicklas back to good health.

Pidge- do the spots go away?

I can see you all in sport.Need to forget how lazy i am and go back to gym.My dh so sporty.goes to gym nearly every day.Now 95 kilos.thats a lot especially it is all in musculles.And me?I looked much better before i had Ksenia.my resolution-next monday go to gym if only the snow can stop me:)

Guys you thoughts about tantrums made me think and I make a new model of dealing with them evrytime Ksenia is having one.It seems like what helped the last time this time is not working.she is sreaming like crazy and if im going to different room she follows me like she is saying "give me what i want and i stop this maddness."I am near to be short of ideas on how to stop her tantruming.I only pray it will pass so god give me the stength to cope with it.But still she is the best baby in the world.specially when she is asleep.I love to rock her little and play with her hair and smell her.So sweet.Recently i realized that i am no longer a daughter of my mumbut mum to my daughter.Here goes my world philosofy-time to go to bed.

good night to all of you and sweet dreams

Cristina - how nice that your sister is visiting you. Your family seem to be spread around Europe a bit.

Alexandra, I love the idea of the goat fat, I would much prefer to try it than give him the chemicals that he is taking now (he is on ventalin which I believe may cause more long term problems than it solves in the short term). I will ask dh if he has any idea where we may be able to get goat fat. I have also heard that a mustard poultice would also help but I am not sure I have the confidence to make it right and try it. It would be nice to find someone that really knows about natural and traditional healing. Hmm, I must look for someone.

i love your comment about Ksenia being the best baby in the world 'especially when she is sleeping' - I've often felt the same about Niklas :o!

Well my mum was on her best behaviour last night although we did have one discussion about me working though, thinks I should be staying at home. I tried to tell her that for me, Niklas and our situation personally I am very happy with the choice I have made to work 60%. She ended up shouting me down... but that I can cope with, she is entitled to her opinion.