March 2005 part 6 - Toddling towards summer!

[leogaela]

And her it is!

Alexandra - well the spots are still there - very faint on her body, but quite clear on her face. The thing is she is totally well otherwise, so it's obviously nothing serious. The childminder is happy to keep taking her. In fact she said maybe it is an allergy to cows milk as Iris has just stopped having expressed breastmilk from me in the afternoons and has switched to cows milk. But I don't believe that is the problem - she's been having cows milk in food for ages, plus the rash came up on Monday night, and that was after four days with me when she does get breastmilk in the afternoon (she only gets the cows milk on her days with the childminder). So it's a mystery. If it's not clear tomorrow I'll take her to the doctor, though it feels a bit of a waste of everyone's time given how well she is otherwise.

Leo - I'm guessing Niklas is on Ventolin? If it's any reassurance, I've had asthma all my life and have used ventolin extensively with no (obvious) terrible effects. I use it much much less now, as I take a preventative steroid inhaler daily, which keeps the asthma under control and lessens my need for the ventolin reliever. Hope Niklas is on the mend soon.

Pidge, yes Niklas is on Ventalin (and cortisone), I think that ventalin creates some kind of dependancy (explained by a long term asthma suffering friend).

Well done for running despite having asthma :)!

Leo - the recommendation at the moment, at least from my GP and asthma nurse, is to minimise the use of ventolin reliever inhaler by the use of the preventative steroid inhaler. But using ventolin to relieve symptoms when necessary, is much less bad than struggling for breath or coughing fits. I'm lucky, because my asthma is really well controlled these days. I know my triggers - cats, pollen, dust, some red-wine, exercise in cold air - and I can avoid them (or just put up with the consequences in the case of red wine ). But really the only time I get into trouble is after having a chest infection, which is a danger whenever I get a cold. That's the only time I've been hospitalised with asthma, and it's now 15 years ago. I'm just really careful these days to up my medication when I get a cold.

Anyway, the long and short of this is that although you're understandably nervous about the effects of the drugs on Niklas, they are getting very good at controlling asthma / chest conditions in most cases. I guess he's too young to have an asthma diagnosis. Also the worst time of year for many people is nearly behind us. Hopefully he'll shake off whatever bug has been causing his coughing soon and enjoy the summer months.

THanks for the info Pidge. I think if he has this problem again, or it turns out that he has asthma I will see if the doctor will give something different to ventalin. I hope this doesn't turn into asthma :(!

Leo-here in Ukraine we buy goats fat straight from farmers coz it is very small amount of fat comes out from one goat and here it is quite expencive.and the mustard.my mum used to put my feet into very very hot tub with added mustard and add some to my socks but you gotta be really carefull wtih mustard in socks coz it can give little skin burns.

Pidge-Ksenia had a little rush.Apparently she had too much protein in her food, so once i reduced the amount of protein the spots were oall gone.and before they were on the belly, back.well mainly evevrywhere.

Hope you all well.It s a horrible weather here.one day sunshine next rain.BRRR!but we are lucky.My dad went to very north of russia for my cousin's wedding and there it is still around -15 and snow up to waist!what a nice spring,isn't it?

Pidge-forgot to ask you about your way of BF.Did you expressed milk all the time since very beginning?And if yes wow!!!!Ksenia refused to take my breast complitlly(mistake here,I know).She never had at least one complete feeding from the breast so as trying to be a good mum i decided to feed my baby with EBM.I could only last till she was 8 months old.Anfd after that i swithch to formula.I was like a cow milking myself 3 times a day.And i had so much milk.At least 1200ml a dat.

Hello everyone

Been really busy this week trying to catch up afer last's week's fantastic time off. I'm away for most of next week as well (going to a spa hotel with my boss and team I work with) so lot's and lot's to do and just time for a quick post to say hello

We are all well and Harrison is being a darling. He's sleeping properly again now, happy and gorgeous all the time. Hannah seems totally over her spell of poor health and I'm getting much better at running. Can mostly do 2 miles without stopping now, I have a short walk and then run the rest. I'm feeling really great as a result, lots of energy and sleeping like a demon.

Life is good

Hope everyone is OK and babies are healthy. How's the visit going Leo?

ukrainianmum - I just breastfed Iris and really only expressed once I went back to work when she was 10 months, at which point she would have a bit of my milk in a cup in the afternoons. Actually I did express once a day before that, but that milk got donated to the 'milk bank' at our local hospital to be used for premature babies. Do you have breastmilk donation schemes in the Ukraine? They're pretty small scale here, but it was a nice thing to do.

I really admire you expressing all that time - it is such hard work, and what a lot of hassle sterilising all the equipment etc. What an achievement.

Busywizzy - well done on the running. I find it gives me masses more energy. No way could I have survived on 6-7 hours sleep night after night before I took up running. Having said that, I'm absolutely finished tonight, and about to crawl off to bed at 8.20pm. Think I must have some slight virus as even I am not normally this pathetic!

We've had a lovely day. We went to Moors Valley Country Park in Bournemouth and the sun was shining the whole time we were there. Took the bikes and did one of the cycle trails (about 5 miles) and Harrison was really good and Hannah hardly moaned at all - a modern day miracle really

Afterwards, we had a picnic and an ice lolly and fed the ducks. Harrison gets so excited and points and shouts like a madman. He was also very impressed with the little steam train that runs round the perimeter of the park and waved at everyone each time it went past. Gorgeous

Did my Race for Life training when we got home and now I'm off to have a nice hot bubble bath to soothe my aching muscles.

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend

Pidge, thank you for sponsoring me. I laughed out loud when I read your comment

I have ben pretty quiet this week as Freya has been a total grump! Last week was a tough week, she was really whingy all the time - cried if I was holding her and inconsolable if I put her down. I couldn't really work out what was wrong, but she seems more like her old self today so I have put it down to teething! Thursday in particular was totally hellish and I was nearly in tears by the time DH got home - so I gave Freya to him, told him where Ethan's school book was and then I escaped for a quick run to clear my head. By the time I got back both kids were in bed, dinner was being cooked and there was a glass of wine waiting for me - bless him.

Anyway, new week. We ordered a wooden play house yesterday for Ethan and Freya. Should be delivered in 2 weeks (hopefully before half term). It is really cool and has a little step ladder and an upstairs platform that Ethan can get to, but at the moment Freya can't. Should keep them both quiet for a bit.

Good to see Leo, BW and Pidge over on the running thread. I am looking at signing up for the Sport Relief mile on July 15th with Ethan. Anyone elase fancy it? Somewhat less distance than my best effort, but should be fun and Ethan will love it. He really wants to do the whole sponsorship thing, and I think it will be good for him. Also I have the Playtex Moonwalk this weekend, went to Hobby Craft yesterday to buy stuff to decorate my bra with, should be a good night.

Anyway, this has ended up a long post since I was so quiet last week. It has been good to catch up on everyone's posts, sounds like the litle ones are all developing strong characters.

Hi everyone,

Niklas seems to be much better now (his breathing still isn't 100%, but better), he is really happy and funny. He shouts all the time though (to add to all the other banging, slamming doors noise), which is quite deafening! And he wasn't so happy for us to leave him at nursery this morning :(!

We rented a bike trailer over the weekend to try it out before buying, it was a success, we bought one yesterday :)! Niklas loved it and climbed in it himself on Sunday, couldn't wait to get going!

I am very happy (and relieved) to tell you that the week with my mum went very well :)! She was helpful :o, in that she played with Niklas while I cooked etc so I didn't have him hanging on my legs all the time. She kept her stupid comments to herself and apart from her expressing her unhappiness at me not being a SAHM didn't wind me up at all. I think it helped that we have more space now and had great weather! By the end of the week she was almost sympathising how much hard work Niklas is and i think she understood why I like to have days away from him and go to work !
Her only hiccup (which I overlooked almost completely) was to ask an 8 month pregnant friend (a complete stranger to her and someone I don't know well) if she had her first baby by caesarian or natural (nosy cow, too personal question) aand when the answer was 'natural' she said 'ooooooh, lovely!' in surprise and she asked if she knew if the baby is a boy or girl (yawn, what a boring annoying question to ask a pregnant woman).

I am actually hoping and looking forward to her coming back in the summer. Can't tell you what a huge relief this is to me.

Jo - you asked about the weather before, winters are usually a bit colder and snowier that in the UK and summers a bit warmer and sunnier, but this year we had a lot of snow and a lot of cold, no spring and dived straight into summer. Although we are having lovely weather during the day and rain in the evening and over night so it is spring like. The nice weather may not last though.

Alexandra - also very impressed with your expressing milk for 8 months. I gave up with it after a few attempts as I found I was getting more milk sprayed everywhere except where I wanted it (when hand expressing) or dribbling all down me (when machine expressing).

Cristina - how was your visit from your sister?

Jo - I hope that this week is better than last and that Freya is only suffering from teething and is over it. The playhouse sounds great!

Busy - well done on the running!

Jo - v. jealous of the playhouse! It sounds fantastic. I was just reading a review of playhouses plus slides in the Guardian at the weekend, and thinking how dd1 would be in paradise in one of those. Our garden is pretty miniscule though, so don't think we've really got space.

If anyone is thinking of outdoor toys for the kids, last year we got a small sandpit on legs from Argos, and it is worth its weight in gold! Both dd1 and Iris spend ages out there playing with it.

Leo - so glad the visit from your mum was not too fraught. It is so fab to get on with things without having a baby attached to your legs isn't it. Iris drives me nuts with that habit. She grabs my legs and then says "'ello, 'ello", which actually translates as "Oi mum, pick me up and give me some attention"

I did something so mean last night :(! I was at home alone with Niklas and tired, struggling to cook for him and carry him at the same time (otherwise he was hanging on my legs screaming), I put him in his highchair and ignored him while I did what I had to do , I was very proud of myself and him screaming ended up being less stressfull than trying to stop him pull boiling pans off the cooker while holding him and trying to stir at the same time!

Pidge - you are lucky that Iris hangs on saying 'ello, ello', Niklas starts by pushing me and then if i don't pick him up he starts screaming!

Leo - it's massively stressful isn't it. I find myself talking to Iris like she's a grown up saying "look, you want your breakfast, I want to make your breakfast, but I can't make it if I have to carry you round the kitchen at the same time". And she gives me this look, like what is mummy rabbitting on about this time?

And rest-assured - the "ello, ello" is merely a pre-cursor to shouting, and then ramping up to lying on the floor kicking legs and crying! It's like an early warning system. Intervene now ... your baby is a ticking timebomb, ready to explode

Pidge and Leo - You have described Freya perfectly. I have three choices while cooking dinner

1. Ignore her - very stressful and very noisy.
2. Pick her up - quite dangerous while trying to cook.
3. Feed her breadsticks - she won't then eat her dinner.

Juat keep repeating - 'it is only a phase' (while pulling your hair out and trying not to reach for the gin!

Oh, I love you all! its so reassuring to know that my little man is quite normal and not turning into a monster! Tonight when I am struggling I will think about you all, it will definitely make it a bit easier!

Jo - how long does the phase last????

Jambot is very quite this week!

I know - just haven't felt that I had much of interest to impart! Silently keeping tabs though.
Lauren is more a winger(sp?) than a screamer. Sometimes don't know which is worse. The winging is like a dripping tap and eventually drives me nuts. She's got a stinking cold at the moment and won't let me wipe her nose, so lovely rivulets of snot streaming down her face!! Besides the bouts of winging, loving her at the moment. Her character is really developing and she has such a lovely sense of humour. Other major trait is her love of music. At the mum and baby group, she's the one in the middle of the circle rocking to the music, while all the others sit quietly shaking their bells! She puts one hand in the air and really gets down! Has all the mums in fits of laughter. She's got a huge grin on her face while she's doing it, so knows already that she gets lots of attention from jigging around. Never shuts up either.
Luckily Lauren is in bed early so I haven't even given a thought to dinner until she's asleep.

Leo - How long does this phase last?, that's a tough one! Ethan is 4 and he doesn't do it now, if that's any help! He does, however, constantly say 'I'm hungry, is dinner ready yet?'. I guess that is what Freya is trying to say really, it is just very frustrating. I love it at the weekend when DH can look after them while I cook.

Jo - yup Cleo is nearly 4 and she doesn't do it either. To be honest she was always much more patient, and from very early on you could explain to her that something was coming 'in a minute', or give her something else to distract her and she was fine.

I feel bad for Iris because she just has no idea why she can't have what she wants all the time and right away. Not surprising she gets mad. This morning she was doing her shouting of "gaga gaga" and looking forlornly at the garden, but it was raining, so I really didn't want to let her outside, so she raged on and off all morning!

She's out playing with our sandpit with Cleo right now. Bliss - 2 minutes peace! Until someone chucks sand at someone else, then my refereeing skills will be called into service.

Hello everyone - I'm back I've had a fab week away with work, fancy hotel, a day of spa treatments (heavenly), off-road driving, archery and falconry (I got to hold the owl that was in the Harry Potter films). It was excellent. Lots of late night drinking (2am the first night and 2.30am the second ) but I still managed to get up at 7.30am and go for a jog. I was most impressed with myself but absolutely shattered now.

So glad your visit from your mum went well Leo, I was thinking about you.

Hannah's 8 and we have a conversation most nights that starts 5-10 minutes before tea's ready that goes, 'Can I have something to eat, I'm starving', 'No tea's nearly ready', 'But I'm starving now', 'No tea's nearly ready' But I'm starving now'. Repeat about another 5 times then much stomping and huffing. I wouldn't mind but she then frequently leaves half of what I've cooked saying she's full up!! IME all that happens as they get older is that one type of whinging replaces another

Thankfully, Harrison's favourite thing to do at the moment is push his highchair around the kitchen. It makes a hideous screeching noise on the floor but at least I get to cook tea knowing he's happily entertaining himself.

Do any of the babies have cradle cap? Harrison has it quite bad at the minute and I'm using Dentinox shampoo which doesn't seem to be doing much good. Any tips?

Jo, how's the bra looking

Bra is looking good thankyou! Blue sequins and feathers, look like the rhinestone cowgirl! Will post a photo of me wearing it on the night on the photobucket.

Jo, good luck tonight with the Moonwalk. I'll be thinking of you (not when I'm asleep of course though )