MAY 07 Post natal - This time a year ago it was all just beginning, look at us now...........................

[Mrsjaffabiffa]

Morning........

SOH - I think you're amazing. I can't believe I've been freaking out over a bloody rash. I know exactly what you mean though, I sat in A & E for two nights thinking, I can't do this, I can't do this. And then looking at this little person relying on me to be strong for her. I even took my mum with us last night, dh not impressed at all and is still refusing to speak to me.

My Health Visitor says that every time you go through a little illness or injury you get a little bit stronger and a little bit more confident. I hope that is the case, not sure its good for any of us if I walk around with this knot in my stomach for the rest of my life. The rash has made me so paranoid, and being in hospital (albeit we weren't kept in) made me terrified of all the things that could happen to her.

I guess we've just got to think, sometimes bad things happen, but mostly they don't. I'm sending you enormous hugs and kisses and wishing we lived closer.

Hoping some more experienced mums can give us some perspective. And remember, how we worried during our pregnancies, how we worried over the birth, how we worried when they were tiny, we've got through it all.

So good to hear you sounding much more positive SOH, what I want to know is how do you manage to write so much into such a tiny message box Its good news that M is feeling better and I hope you start to feel 100% very soon. You too Pink, I'm glad Lexie is on the mend.

It is exhausting this parenting lark and you will always be worrying about your child, whether its their health, their development, their education it never stops, but there are plenty of wonderful moments between you (when they say I love you mummy for the first time - I always well up) that makes it all worthwhile and makes you realise that it doesn't matter if you can't get it right as a parent all the time. I'm sure you are both doing a great job, i wish I had tried to enjoy dd more when she was sooo tiny, instead of worrying quite as much as I did because they don't stay tiny for too long.

Now I'm feeling all emotional

I also wanted to say, that when it comes to weaning, unfortunately there really are no sure fire signs, apart from more frequent feeding, but as you say, SOH, she could be feeding more frequently as she has been ill and needs comforting. Go with your instinct and if you want to try her with some food, go ahead and see how she reacts, you can always stop if you are not happy with her reaction. Are you still co-sleeping? She may well sleep better at night if she is in her own bed or room. Have you tried leaving her a little when she wakes to see if she will settle herself without a booby?

LG&T - apple went down stupendously well, much better than the carrot and a darn sight less messy How did Beau diddly do?

How are the lumps today TYG?

Good to hear from you SOH, so glad things have improved

SOH - Let's imagine for a mad minute, that you had decided to formula feed M. If the guidelines said that she should be having 6 feeds of 5oz and she was screaming hungry; you wouldn't say that she couldn't have more because the guidelines said not to. So I think you need to think of the weaning guidelines as just those - guidelines.

It does NOT mean you're a failure for weaning before 26 weeks. It means you've got a hungry (and ready) baby, nothing more, nothing less.

I think it's fairly clear that M is very advanced, particularly with her mobility development. There's no reason for you to think that at almost 20 weeks (is that right?) that she won't be able to cope with some food.

Try her on a bit of rice or carrot or whatever. If she near has your hand off for it, then off you go and puree to your heart's content. If she screams as if you're trying to poison her then leave it for another while. If she seems nonplussed, then give a little encouragement and take it from there. Seriously - you're not giving her dairy or gluten or anything she could be allergic to. It really, really can't do any harm. She might settle down, she might not, but it won't hurt to try.

I concur-give her some rice..whats the worst that can happen?She spits it out?But she might wolf it down and then sleep for 12 hours..( but you never know..glad to hear she is on the mend though..(BTW M ate some play dough courtesy of Lily today and no ill effects yet, so a bit of rice cant do any harm!)

Its true there is always something to worry about..I personally am looking forward the the teenage years of underage drinking, going out with the wrong sort etc type shenanigans..what fun I have in store!

Well both M and L woke up at 4.30 am this morning..sleep has gone totally out of the window in my house..its so annoying when we had it all sorted, both sleeping through, and morning naps-we had it down!For all of three weeks.. and now its just chaos and one despairing Mummy
Plus I have a house to pack up and a drive to Derbyshire to drop kids off at Nans so they are out of the way for the move on Friday, to face...
oh sod it.>>gets into bed and puts duvet over head

oooo Scoot, how exciting, good luck with the littlies and the packing, enjoy your new 1940's mansion house.

PS - send Mr McAvoy over when you are finished with him.

Hi all, havent totally caught up and am probably not going to be able to - we are being cut off tomorrow - said we would pay them in 2 weeks but nooooo they are having none of it, and as it seems a little more important to try and raise the rent 1st which isnt going well either as the landlord wants half the back rent we owe all this month and we are nowhere near, so i will hopefully be back soon, AM please keep me updated by the occasional text or a phone call pls maybe meet up for a KK if your in town soon, SOH give the weaning a go she sounds more than ready to me, take care all will be back as soon as possible xxx booo hooo am going to miss you all

SOH, you have an amazing deep perspective on life. Where do you find the energy for it. Glad to hear you a feeling a little better and that things are improving with the tank. Harrison also sat unaided at 4.5mths, crawled at 6 and walked at nearly 10mths. You are going to have a moover on your hand there. She'll be running Marathons at 3. Good Luck. Maddie was much more "normal", hehe.

AM is OK, she's had a better day today with Jack, I spoke to her on MSN this evening.

I on the other hand have had a terrible evening. Our new kitten had an accident, we don't know what or why but he couldn't use his back legs or tail. He was screaming and crying and wriggling around. At first he was crawling like a seal but he deteriorated quickly poor thing. We rang the emergency vet who saw him within the hour but sadly their was nothing they could do. He had broken his back and had internal bleeding filling his abdomn and lungs. We had to have him put to sleep. He was in so much pain and the vet said he wouldn't make the morning. We are all very upsett and have all shed a few tears. He was practically ordered to spec before he was even made and he was born the same day as Jorja. He was a real sweetie and we are going to miss him. [crying emotion] Even dh and Dad had a cry, is that sad? But reading tonights posts has put it into perspective, we all worry about our children and so we should really they are the MOST precious things in our lives.

Hope everyone has a good nights sleep. xxx

Lupins we will miss you too. xxx

Mrs JB - so sad for you, what a horrible evening.

Scoot - sleep has also left the building in my house, and I pue L back in with us cos of the rash so we are well and truly back to square one.

On a positive note, the rash has gone and she is back to herself today. Bonkers. Just trying to think of something to do today. Dh not happy with me shopping every day. Ha ha.

So sorry about your kitten MrsJB .

Oh Mrs JB what an awful thing to happen. I'm sos orry about your little kitten. It's not sad to be upset, especially when it had so many other special things about it.
PJ glad L is feeling better and the rash is gone.
Lupins we will miss you.
C is at the cm today, R has gone back to sleep (in bed!!) and dh is out all day for work. Hurray!! At last I have some time to myself for the pc and of course the more mundane 'housewife' type activities. I think I will take R shopping later over to the big Next. She needs a winter coat and both of them need hats and mittens, it seems to have gone really cold today. On the subject of coats, are you lot buying coats for your los for the winter or all in one suits. C had a snowsuit but he was born on 19th December so he was tiny when it was really cold. I don't know which to buy for R.

Morning everyone,

Mrs JB what an awful thing to happen I grew up in a house full of animals and we were all very upset if any of them died. So it is perfectly normal to be upset.

PJ yeah for the rash being gone.

SOH glad the tank is feeling better now I wholeheartedly(sp) agree with everyone else give the weaning thing a go if you feel she is not happy about it no harm done try again at 26.

Lups am sure we will see you back again soon.

AM hows things going?

oh also the coat thing - I am going to get A a coat - well I have already ordered one from Boden but it is on delay hoping it gets here before the weather gets too chilly.

also whispering as scared if said out loud it will all go tits up A slept through again last night

Well dopne A on sleeping through. Long may it continue!

Lupins - I'm really sorry. Hope you're back soon and everything is sorted out at home.

MrsJB - You poor things. How sad.

LG&T - Tried A with a little rice yesterday and a teeny bit of carrot creme today. She didn't spit either out - she tasted and swallowed, but wasn't really interested either. She shuddered when she tasted the carrot - the way we'd shudder eating a fizzy jelly. Thoughts? Should I leave her for a while or give it another day or so? (She's now eating the wings of a toy ladybird... )

I would carry on TYG. You must have tried her for a reason and I'm sure your instinct will be right. I'm really struggling to get R to eat anything savoury. She loves apple, pear and banana but at the mo will not entertain carrot or sweet potato. I think I willtry just mixing a little fruit in and gradually reducing it.

Please someone save me from this sea of screaming! R is having a really bad day today. She hasn't really had much sleep and is now screaming the place down because she is tired. I am trying to block out the noise and hope she settles. I have been in twice to calm her down. She is such a dram queen. She stops screaming the minuteyou go in and starts again when you leave. I'm sure my neighbours will call social services soon. I think they'll hold a street party to celebrate when I go back to work!

Have things calmed down AbbyLou? You do know that if your child is screaming you just ignore it? Stick it in the garden for 3 hours alone with the foxes and get pished. Anybody else watch that utter twaddle spouted by Claire Verity last night? No cuddles and kisses for a newborn and left to cry regardless? I am not ashamed to say I sobbed and turned the farking old witch off. DH found me about 10 minutes in trying to gnaw off my own arm to throw at the television. How is she allowed to spout such frankly dangerous nonsense and be paid for it? Honestly, fed to a strict routine, locked away for hours and dumped outside at set times of the day? It's prison is it not? I cannot understand how because a parent feels some kind of ownership over a baby they are allowed to take away its fundamental human rights- the right to a drink when thirsty for example. Denying warmth, affection, food and eye contact is abuse and I don't care how CV dresses it up, she's a dangerous old witch. I would rather gouge out my own eyes than leave a day old baby to cry on its own.

MrsJB lovie, I was so, so sorry to hear about your poor little kitten. Howl away, a pet is part of the family and such a poignant one too, born on the same day as Jorja. I really am sorry. When Queen of Sheba, our pretentiously titled moggy died last year I fell apart and sobbed for a ridiculous amount of time.

Lupins don't go. Gawd, will miss you but you had better be back. Ditto Scoot, hurry back, we slide right up the posh scale with you hear boosting the thread numbers. Toodle pip, wot wot and all that.

I really don't know what to do about weaning. The whole ishoo confuses me. The most calorific thing I have in the house is breastmilk and everything I read says that her gut isn't ready for anything but bm yet. So hungrier baby by rights should mean more breastmilk? Gawd, I don't know. I just don't want to do the wrong thing.

Bought myself two presents: this and this. I love christmas pudding almost as much as I love gingerbread. Never too early. And I hate to admit it but I have started Christmas shopping as come Christmas I will have precisely no money due to ending of OMP.

Desperately trying to think of an easy way to give up work but still earn money. I have precisely five free minutes a day so writing a book is not exactly forthcoming. What else can I do? Knit things from my own hair? Stick M up a chimney? DH said the other day 'when I'm in the police, you can give up work and we'll manage regardless'. What can I do till then? Anybody want to go into business? I think I'm going to become a baby guru to rival Claire Verity. My book 'Stick Your Baby In The Airing Cupboard Until It Can Do 8hrs Of Hard Work a Day and Pay For Its Own Miserable Existence' will be out in paperback in a store near you by Christmas. It comes with a free stick for beating your hideous offspring and some sellotape for shutting the bugger up.

Must go, The Tank is trying to eat the cat's tail and the cat, more surprisingly, is letting her.

Oh and I've wanted to ask this for ages.

WTF is Lazytown?

here boosting the thread numbers. Gawd.

The other thing with weaning is I wanted to wait until 6 months to do blw. If I start now it's all icecube trays and puree isn't it? See, I'm a lazy cow at heart and am so used to how easy bf is. Well, you know, relatively. Having a 19lb Tank suck on your nipples hourly isn't easy per se, but it's familiar. And it scares the locals, a pastime money can't buy.

Sportacus. Is that his name?

That's a lot of lycra on one man.

I shall keep posting inanely until somebody talks to me.