November 2012 - The new quiche sleepy dust crop-sprayer plane seems to be working

[StuntNun]

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/1725957-November-2012-Poor-sleep-deprived-mummies-and-daddy

Just reading backwards through thread & all the talk of Luis not being a quitter I assumed he had announced he was giving up being a SAHP and going back to work! What you are doing right now Luis is stepping up to the mark, not quitting - quite the opposite. You're being a great role model for your kids and normalising the idea of Dads/men as carers which will give them a more balanced viewpoint of how life can and should be.

Btw my friend's boy didn't speak till he was three and then started in complete sentences. He's still a quiet chap but definitely more going in than coming out! Just keep chatting to J normally and don't force it.

Our nights are slowly improving (at 24 wks). 10-6 with a bit of awake time at 3am but no feed. Maybe by 6 months he'll sleep through? Go on just once little L!

So M did two 4 hours stunts for DP . I slept 9 hours straight . He put a nappy on backwards and got covered in wee at about 3am . That was basically our night. And formula doesn't seem to be poisoning her, but she was most pleased to see my boobs again this morning and is currently slumped cuddling one . Formula is daddy milk or so I try and justify it to myself

Luis you are a true inspiration. I have taught 3/4/5 year olds with no speech and the fact J knows his letters and can sign (all testament to you!) is bloody amazing!! Be kinder to yourself; you are doing. grand job. The hardest, most challenging,underpaid, undervalued job in the world.

not stunts, stretches....

Looks like there was lots of quiche love overnight - for all of you.

Luis my DBro was a late everything, and I remember my mum being worried that he wouldn't be dry or talking before starting school. Somehow everything fitted into place in time. He's in his mid 20s and just started med school as a mature student now. So even late deciding on a career, but got there in the end.

Whereas I was the quick one that everyone had massive hopes for and no-one ever worried about. Straight A student, turned down Oxford and other top uni offers and wasted my late teens and 20s with nasty men, never got my degree. And it is now too late.

Happy Monday everyone.

luis don't look at it like that. You have done an amazing, selfless thing by being a SAHP. Your DC will benefit from all that time with you, and, if my family is anything to go by, your DC will have such a close relationship with you. My DD absolutely worships DH. Their relationship is a joy to behold, and I'm sure a massive reason for that is the 18months of SAH time Dh had with her. It's about to start again, and I am grateful to DH for taking that role, and value his contribution to our lives. SAHP is a hard job. I've had a real insight on this mat leave.

lily I think you are very brave and how you cope best is probably an instinctive, self-protection thing.

On the bottle warming thing, I am always surprised when places microwave a bottle. DH is a chef. They categorically will not microwave bottles on the basis that ( a) the commercial microwaves will nuke stuff in seconds, and (b) it's a health &safety, not-wanting-to-get-sued thing. They don't hand the hot water out either, the bottle stays on the counter. DS likes it hot, so I tend to give it usual time plus 30 seconds, stick it in warmer, and when he drinks later its usually a bit above room temp but not so cool he won't drink. Heating cold bottles in warm water takes too long for impatient DS.

DS, DD and DH have left the house. DS has first full day at nursery today. I am full of mixed feelings. Last night I cried because he is still so little to go to nursery (even though DD went at the same age and has always thrived there, and its only 2 days pw), I cried because starting at nursery signals the impending end of mat leave. I cried because I'm going to miss our days just DS and me, the only days I feel like I give him any actual attention, even though he patently prefers the days DD is here to those when she is not. But I am also gearing up for my return to work, I have enjoyed my KIT days, I am looking out work clothes, I have seen clients and colleagues recently and am reminded of my enjoyment of work. I am also desperately in need of these couple of days at home alone, to rest, and sort, and have some me time.

Gazelle he will have a ball at nursery. Lots of toys to play with and people to watch :)

Talking of slow development, LO will be 6mo on Friday and seems to have finally rolled more than once, though it still doesn't look very deliberate :o judging by the screams each time.

A really good friend of mine was due her first baby around the same time as us. She mc'd unfortunately but has just had a wee boy I am so happy for them!

Oh dear, I seem to have developed a life, quite accidentally, and been running around all over the place and too busy to post. Apologies. Hopefully the dull existence-normality will be resumed soon

So, in lieu of catching up, can I ask quiche advice?

If your LO had been b-feeding normally, maybe a touch more than normal, no fever, slight runny nose and seemed to have a v waxy ear this morning - lots of pale yellow around the ear canal entrance - would you worry he had an ear infection?

He had a really fussy time yesterday evening, and wouldn't settle, seemed in pain, but calpol, and going to bed, seemed to work. He had an ok night sure someone mentioned a 5mth sleep regression recently and seems absolutely fine this morning. I just noticed the ear gunk & was a bit It doesn't smell icky or anything & he hasn't had any calpol since 8pm-ish, so I'm sure if it was an ear infection, he'd need it right? His temp (just after undressing from his 2.5tog sleeping bag) was 37.4 so not a fever. He seems happy now though

Should I see the GP?

Chunky best get it looked at. Sounds a lot like an ear infection or perforation.

311 done thank you x

Congrats on your life chunky

Sorry for the poo night dixie you never know things might take a turn for the better today.

Enjoy mm that is a good way of looking at. I am so full of admiration of all of you who continue bf'ing I was so rubbish at it and tbh I wonder if it is because it just wasn't my bag, if it was I would have had the perseverance some of you have had . Anyway you are all marvellous to me and I am

chunky get it looked at. A few weeks ago I posted a pic of a perforated eardrum on FB. LO was much better after hers perforated, and just the day before the doctor had ruled out ear infection as she had no visible symptoms or a temperature...

If it has perforated they will want you to put drops in it and possibly antibiotics.

Sophia, I'm bfing because a) I've had no problems and b) i can't afford formula, it's so expensive, and c) I'm too lazy for all the faff of sterilising

Same with cloth nappies. I often get asked if i don't find it hard doing all the extra washing. No, i would find it much harder to load baby into pushchair, go to supermarket, buy nappies, carry huge box of nappies home, transport up stairs and find somewhere to store them. Possibly even an extra unnecessary car journey with a car-loathing baby. Or, i put dp puts an extra load of washing on every other day...

I have loved feeding M exclusively myself and wanted to do so until she was 6 months. She is 5 now and had her first taste of formula 2 days ago. I cannot express enough and I am finding it hard juggling bf'ing with working again. If she slept through it would be a different matter but I have hit breaking point with lack of sleep. She has broken me! So an occasional bottle of formula from dad is the solution. Like pidj I couldnt be bothered with the faff of bottles all the time.

If we ever have another I want to try reusable nappies. I might still with M... (who am I kidding, I struggle to keep on top of washing as it is!)

Sophia you are amazing. You may not bf but you have made the best decision for you and you are a fantastic mummy to all 4 of your beautiful children And you have a Matilda so you are instantly fabulous

Oh and dixie I had a wee giggle at your 2 year old teenager Sorry!

My gorgeous darling baby. I love you so much! Thank you for sleeping 12-8! Can you teach mummy how to sleep so long pls?

purple i am so with you with the cloth nappies. It is just so much easier to use them, I also have reusable wipes so apart from the odd pocket when we are out and about, I don't need to include them in my weekly shop. I still use disposables during the night though but it's only one per night.

I am giving up breastfeeding today. O has been mixed fed anyhow and my left boob dried up weeks ago as she refused to take it. The right one has a bit but she hasn't been on it longer than 2 min a time in the past week or so. I am glad I managed until now but feel sad for giving it up.

madamgazelle yes, it is a self protection thing. For a while I thought if I didn't admit it it meant it didn't happen. My resolution is that once I move to Hungary I will tell new people what happened. Maybe it will help me with the healing.

I thought about the jelly cat/kitten toys and organised the collection. Along with blankets, towels, clothes, they come and pick them up at the end of this week.

Thanks VQ & PR. And Sophia

Have looked at PRs photo. A's 'gunk' wasn't as widespread or as yellow, but was runnier & paler than normal wax. Will try to get to GP ASAP just to check.

Good meowning.

Black out blind ordered today. Nuff said.

DH got back last night. Hoorah! His colleague lost his jacket with his car keys in though so they had to get a train home so he was home 2 hour later than expected. Boo. Anyway, he got up with p this morning so I got a wee while in bed dozing and listening to p blethering to her dad.

How is LO doing today PR? Eating better?

I am glad to see you sharing a wee bit luis although sad to hear that you feel down about the situation. It's been said but you sound like a tower of strength. We can't do anything about our genes but we can be the best parents possible - I think you have that one sown up.

lilly I am glad you could at least share here. I know the next few weeks are going to be really tough so I hope you continue to find being here supportive.

Hi-5 to 9 hours sleep MM and to DP stepping up and giving you the chance. You must feel reborn! I won't tell you how to feel about giving formula - tis complicated shiz. I am glad you got some sleep.

Sometimes the gunk pours out onto the sleeping area too. Mght be worth checking? In any case best to get it checked. Ear infections are horrible.

And isn't is weird how alien other ways of doing things can seem? At the end of the day anything can become normal if you do it long enough.

7-3-7 Happy mummy this morning.

Luis I am surprised nobody has waggled the quiche fish in your face - you have done something selfless, and your reward will be seeing the firsts with both your children, and an incredible bond with them. Anybody who labels a SAHP a failure or a quitter can take a running jump off a very tall building and onto a train track

Lily I'm glad you had a better night. I wear earplugs anyway, but without, I'm certain LOs snuffling and grunting would keep me awake for hours. Not to mention the farts. Not that I would be able to hear any of it over dhs snoring

Well done MiniGT and MrMM (had a snigger about the wee though)

Madam I too will be a blubbering wreck when it comes to going back to work. Stupid, as I can't wait to go back. I just wish they'd let me pop LO in a sling and take her with me

So DH is busy sorting out the garden. I took him out a cuppa, and slunk back indoors - he asked what I was doing, as he wasn't going to be doing all the hard work this week. I told him I had highly important jobs indoors like washing and he couldn't disrupt my routine. Which is how I find myself on MN with a whilst F naps. Lurvely.

Yes thank you pass she is eating better. Almost 9oz already.

She is asleep and DD1 is hoovering. All is well :)

(She wants to hoover - I use it as a reward can you believe it?! Long may it last)

So much stuff going on!

MM glad to hear of sleep, hope tonight is better Kirrin.

Luis, mum or dad it's the same shizzle, it's hard graft and you sound awesome, I wish I'd had a dad like you. All kids will do stuff at their own speed in their own time. J and L sound ace.

Lily thank you for trusting us, take heart and support for the next few weeks, they will demand a lot of your courage which I know you have in spades.

MM I like pass shall not tell you how to feel about formula, is complicated shiz and involves much heartbreak usually but everyone will do what is right for them as both parent and baby. Same with nappies.

LO is a tired boy today, second nap in cot going on. I thankfully got some sleep from 9-5.30! Woooohooo

Today I'm off to get some more interesting fruits and veg for his mushy stuff. He loved the basics so now we can get a little more creative.

PR I need to learn how to make hoovering a reward?!! Tips please!