Sept '07... I'm forever blowing raspberries and my cheeks ache from smiling so much....

[PurpleLostPrincess]

Here we go! (or should I say here wii go!?). I'll try doing a link too...

Incidentally, I had a dream last night that Cerys suddenly learnt how to blow proper raspberries! Don't know where it came from but it could be that she has been trying since she was about 4 weeks old and did it entirely by accident yesterday!

PLP xxx

Great post Lolly.

Kink - it is easy to look at others and think that they manage a lot better. No one ever knows what goes on behind closed doors.

I have said it before and I will say it again. I take my hats off to all of those with more than one DC. I would love another one, but to be perfectly frank, am petrified about how I will cope. It is challenging enough with one...forget three!

As for not playing with Liam enough? Well Ryan is in his cot at the moment entertaining himself. So does that make me a bad mother? I dont think so.

Do you know what touched me most the day I met you? When I saw Ryan hugging Liam. Your DC's love each other a great deal and that is not an easy feat to achieve either.

You really have done so much, you have to be able to see it! Get thee in the car and come round for a cuppa - I'll set you straight....a few knocks to the head should do it right?

On a serious note....you have to get back to the docs and tell them what is going on. If they dont take you seriously, change GP until you find one that does. If you keep not sleeping Kink - it isnt good news. You will never be able to put things in perspective on no sleep.

Re the other peoples DH's? Well I second Lolly. Mine is a lot more supportive. He is tired after his days but he makes sure I rest and he takes his fair share of the load on weekends and in the evenings. I am very lucky - our views are that Ryan is his DC aswell and not mucking in is not an option.

Please go back and see a doc. Hope today is a better day. I have been struck down my a nasty nasty cold of sorts so shopping has been cancelled. Just waiting for DH to get back from his haircut then a long bath beckons.

Hugs to everyone else.

Arbensmum - thinking of you too.

Ahh my mindis put at rest a little, was about to post again on how I was probably being unreasonable on some level (once I start ranting I can go on a bit too much) but both Dal and even my DH are in agreement with me (my ego's going to go through the roof at this stage, first diagnosing Arben then this, I should look into becoming a freaking GP or something at this rate! )

Kinki please please just write it all down, even if it's just for the sake of your doctor's opinion on the whole picture. . . and it may even help to, convieniently, leave it on the computer in a place where your DH might be able to see it (maybe in a document marked "diary" or something, you know he might get nosey and read it with any luck, and realise just how much things are getting to you lately)

On a whole different tangent here, I'm feeling a little lower this morning mentally (after finally feeling like the poorliness is leaving my tummy) Lolly just did not seem satisfied at all with bf this morning and I'm quite upset by the fact that it's now getting more and more obvious that my milk is diminishing and I'm probably going to have to start giving her a small bottle after bf, (as well as having to drop a bf, now going down to just 2 bf's per day, once in the morning and once before bed ), I just don't want to give in I fed DD1 until she was 9 months, (bf 3 times per day and ff 3 or 4 times a day), and even then felt like a bit of a failure as I wanted to feed her until she was at least 1 yo but it was her choice (I don't think my milk had even totally diminished at that point she just decided that she didn't want my boob in her face and would push me away but still indicate that she'd be hungry).

I know I've done really well and have stubbornly persisted (at the expense of Lolly's weight gain? I'm not sure but it'll always be in my mind!) and I should be proud but was hoping to get to 9 months again to feel a little like there's at least a bit of consistency in my life right now, just something along the lines of regularity would be good, but no!

HuffPuff here I go again!
I'm going, going to see what nice little treats I can cook for Loll to try later, (at least I can still feed her in one sense!)
I'll come back later when I'm a little more chilled (with any luck!)
Arbensmum Hope you're doing Ok, haven't heard from you in a while x x x

Kinki, can only second what others have said. I'm glad you posted.

I TOTALLY agree with dal, I think a second opinion is needed regarding ADs. I was given Citrapolam (SP) when I was still BF Niamh, my GP said it was completely safe. Insomnia is a VERY typical symptom of depression. I was suffering with it, I would wake at 1 or 2 in the morning and just lie there wide awake. I hope you don't mind but I read your posts to my DH and he said it sounds like you are so so tired.

RE morning routines, I can be terrifying sometimes , just like you I can often pack DS1 off to school feeling miserable because he's been shouted at. I have to say I've got them into a fairly good routine, when they come home from school they empty their lunch boxes and make their lunch for the following day, so in the morning they just grab their boxes from the fridge. They sort out their own breakfasts , have a wash, get dressed etc. Sometimes I need to gee them on a bit. I know your DCs are younger than mine, but I'm sure your DS1 could manage it?? Tell me to bugger off pleeease if you want . I find the more parents I speak to, the more I realise that their morning routines are fairly hectic too!

With regards to your DH, I really don't know what else to suggest apart from the counselling. Someone I know went for some counselling and one of the 'projects' they were given was to arrange a 'formal' meeting once a month so that they could sit down together, tv off and discuss the month that had passed, they could bring up issues that they were unhappy with and address them. The tricky bit is doing it in an un-accusing tone. I'm lucky that my DH is pretty laid back.

Is your DH taking his ADs again yet? It does sound like he uses you as a proverbial punch bag. He needs to know that it isn't acceptable. You are a human being with very real feelings, and it hurts. You are also in a pretty vulnerable state right now with your health issues. He needs to acknowledge your feelings right now. Have you ever considered writing him a letter? I know it sounds daft, but if he won't give you the time of day - it may be worth a try?

PLease keep posting kinki.

We're all thinking of you x x

Just popped on and uploaded some more pics of Lolly, someone give me their opinion, she's so tiny but is she too tiny? She was massive when she was born (8lb 12oz) and I keep getting asked by people if she was small when born and get mixed reactions when I tell them how big she was, (sometimes they just go really quiet, like they suspect I'm not feeding her or something ) She's a really happy baby (as you can see) but she's just such a little dot, it's scary cos both DH and I are quite large! (DD1 is petite too)

Hopey: Citalopram, my DH is on those too.

Forgot to mention Lolly's only 13lb 2oz at last weighing on Thursday.

Did carboot this morning, slightly disappointed, got up at 1/4 to 6 this morning, DD1 is now very grumpy (well, actually she's now very asleep! ) but Lolly was very well behaved, but, in all, we only made £20 Still better than nothing I suppose!

Can't see you pics Lolly??

Afternoon!
Hope you are all having good weekends!
We are getting on ok. Still waking in the night twice for feeds but managing to settle him if he wakes earlier than 2.30 with cuddles and bum patting. Dh has done a night which revived me no end and plus having extra family around has meant i can rest more during the day which has also helped my tiredness. Arben is slowly taking more 'food'. Some days he takes it really well and other days he just isn't interested. We have also started giving him 'night milk' which is meant to help them sleep for longer. Hasn't helped much so far but not expecting instants.
Kinki - how are you doing this weekend. I am really sorry you are having such a rough time at the moment, i can only reiterate(?sp) what the others have said. You are amazing to cope with three kiddies plus your help problems with not much support. You are a fantastic mum with gorgeous kids, you should be very proud of yourself and them
Lolly - I cant see any pics either, where you put them??
PLP - how is Cerys, is she ok?? Why was she in the hospital??
Dal Hopey Hammer and everyone else - Hi and thanks for the support
Anyway had better go and entertain the family

Kinki - i meant to write health problem not help problem tho it is also true

There we go! I don't know why that happened, I had it on open to my MN mates and listed everyone here, it just must've had it on a private setting instead!

She looks just fine to me

My friend has a ten month old boy who is really petite too, in fact Ben weighs more than he does and he is 5 mths younger. You really have nothing to worry about. She also looks the spitting image of her sister

She looks fine to me too, a little cutie
Arben weighs more than his cousin who was born in June!

Quick question: anybody had to give their LO antibiotics?? Arben has just finished his second round. He was on Cephalaxin which says on the info sheet it can make children hyperactive surley it will have the same effect on a baby. He has been rather excitable and not sleeping in the day either since being on them.

Ben has had two lots of antibiotics, but it wasn't the type you have doesn't really help you does it

Morning all!

Can't believe my little Millie is 6 months old today - how on earth did that happen?

Hopey - happy 6 month-day to Niamh too - to think on this day 6 months ago we were nervously waiting to go in for our sections.

Realised that I must get off my arse and think about weaning - went out of my head when she was poorly but is slowly on the mend again though still covered with crusty pox! Gave her a bit of buttered crumpet this morning as she looked very jealous of the DTs breakfast and after shaking it and realising it was a rubbish toy tried eating it instead and felt very pleased with herself - think I will continue with finger foods and also bits of mush and see how she gets on.

Kinki - thinking of you often and wondering how you are, please check in when you have a mo' if you feel like it.

Lollypopz - love the pictures, she is gooorrrrrgeous, doesn't look tiny at all.

Arbensnum - good to hear things are slowly starting to settle for you regarding nights, though the antibiotic hyperactivity malarkey sounds tough - hope Arben feels better soon.

PLP - hope little Cerys is feeling better now, I just love that picture of her with her little bunches, she is yummy!

Waves to dal, Mrs Fish and everyone else.

Have a good one xxxx

Morning all

Lollypopz - lolly looks fine to me. I have to say that between your and kinkis story about HV's - I was beginning to feel guilty and thinking about getting Ryan weighed. Am really not going to bother.

Fairly uneventful weekend here. Weather was rubbish. I had leurghy which must have been some 24 hour thing as it passed quickly. But I made chicken stock - looked far too unappetising, so whizzed some of the cooked chicken into it and Ryan tucked in happily! So thanks all for the tips there.

Arbensmum - makes sense about the hyperactive part - especially if you have noticed a change. How is his skin? any better? so glad your dh took a night - any chance he could do that once a week?

Kink - hope you come and post again soon. Hoping all is ok and you had a good weekend.

Hammer - well done to your LO. Ryan just scrunches his little bits of bread up and makes a mess. Nothing makes it into his mouth of his own accord yet.

Hello mrs Fish - how go things?

Right am off to surf for a new mobile package - my contract is up. Just seen the iphone and no way am i paying £270 quid for a phone on a 18 month contract! am getting old. Wouldve wanted the latest gadgets a few years back.

Hugs to all!

Morning
Dal - His skin is soo much better. There is just a couple of marks on his cheek. I stopped the AB's yesterday lunch but you should have seen him last night, he was like a child possessed. he was laid on his tummy on the bed and for 1/2hr he rubbed his nose put his bum in the air squirmed around the bed non stop whilst squealing. It did wear him out mind you and he slept from 10.30-2.30, 2.30-5.30 and then woke up at 8.30. He had milk both times but after some encouragement to go back to sleep.
We gave him a rusk yesterday and devoured the lot. Twas very messy but he loved it.

MrsFish Everyone is saying that the more the days go on. The resemblance is more than a little bit weird, but I see her as a completely individual baby (love is blind and all that lol)

HHShark at Millie shaking her rubbish toy! Mmmm crumpets!

Arbensmum Glad he's looking better and at him lying squirming, high on AB's!

TBH, everyone, I might just, accidentally-on-purpose, forget to go to the weighing this week, I just can't be dealing with the extra stress (DH has been throwing up all last night and is now in bed, we're meant to be going to the Job Centre/CAB to talk about benefits until he gets a job )

I just can't seem to get into the swing of things with weaning (I know I should) I've been feeling so crappy lately what with being poorly and the money/DH job issues, I'm just so tired all the time (I can just about scrape together the energy to do the dinner and dishwasher every night
I'm now stuck with a, rather feeble, cough (it's very irritating and a little wheezy but sounds absolutely rubbish compared to DH's one, which has now taken a back seat to his tummy woes!)

Lolly's practically off the booby (it's only taken her a couple of days, I'm distraught and started my period, am none too impressed by the whole thing ) I'm still giving her bf's in the morning and last thing at night but am having to top her up with the ff It's just totally kicked home that this is the end of bf-ing for me now (sod her! ) one thing I am worried about is will I start to get broody again after she's finished and starts weaning and moving onto big people food? (I do not want any more babies, unless we win the lottery and I can afford a C-section/lipo! )
Have only been on my period for a couple of days and am totally fed up already I haaaaaate periods and would love to have something like the pill/injection so they'd be controlled but can't bear the thought of all those chemicals messing my body up (again!), oh woe is me!
Whole different subject: Told DH the other day about my friends DH who's had a vasectomy (sp?), as he was giving me feeble excuses not top go and see the doc and talk it over, and he's got absolutely nothing to say on the matter (makes me sooo , he was using his friend's Dh as an example as, over 10 years ago he was in the same situation, married in his 30's, 2 kids, end of family etc, and he didn't get his vasectomy until he was in his 40's, but when I give him an example of my friend's DH, who is my age (25!) he just shrugs it off! I know he sees me as a kid sometimes simply because I'm 10 years younger then him, that's right, I know f**k all right! )
Rant over (yet again, sorry )
Hope everyone else is doing Ok and I haven't brought the tone down again!
x

Hello everyone hope you all had ok weekends?

Alex was 6 months yesterday abd i agree with hammerheadshark where has the time gone!

Alex is doing really well weight is now 15lb 9oz or was last wednesday! Weaning is ok although i do cringe at some of your reports of gradually introducing different foods i suppose i've been a typical second time mum and Alex has had (all before 6 months) beef, fish, chicken, yoghurt (HIS FAV), cows milk, cheese, oh and gluten (accidentally as i didn't check the label of his 4 month plus cereal) Anyway now i've publically shamed myself but Alex seems to be fine and starting to really enjoy food and in the last couple of days doubling quantities!

Kinki - really sorry for what you're going through i agree with what the others have said and please keep posting xx

Well i'm still feeling unwell - it's been 2 weeks now and i just can't shake it! I've got this really annoying chesty cough which is driving DP up the wall and ds1 has got an ear infection so it's all fun and games here!

Anyway i've got to go ds1 is due at playgp in 15mins i'll try and catch up properly later xx

Nooooooooooo I don't believe it. Just wrote a big post which disappeared when I pressed preview. It was the third time I'd written it, also happened at 4am and 6am. I think it's to to with our broadband. Can't redo it now as Liam's finished feeding.

So I'll precis. Had a crap weekend with dh. He's made it clear what he thinks of me. I asked him to support me. He's not going to. Doesn't want to touch me to put his arm round me even. Apparently he's the one that needs support and I should be doing more for him. I'm trying hard with the dc. But can't get out of the mindset that if I'm a crappy wife then I must be a crappy person in general. I know this is all wrong and untrue. Just feeling sorry for myself.

Hopey, sorry, only 2p credit left. Will be getting more this pm.

Kinki, please please please please don't let your DH destroy your self esteem, I know that's easier said than done. How long has it been like this between you and DH, if you were to ask yourself honestly? Has he always found it hard to show any empathy?

Have you made an appointment with a different GP about ADs, that's assuming you have more than one GP at your surgery??

God I don't know what to suggest lovely, please keep posting, we'll get you through this somehow.

Please keep telling yourself you are a good person and a brilliant brilliant Mum, this was SO obvious when I saw you the other week.

Happy 6 month birthday to Millie and Niamh, happy 6 month birthday to Millie and Niamh, happy 6 month birthday to Millie and Nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnniiiiiiiamh, happy birthday to you gorgeous girls!!

Hi everyone else, just having a VERY quick post, as am desperately trying to sort this tip out before everyone shits messes it up again

Hello to everyone, hope all those with lurgies get better.

Will post properly soon.

(whistle while we work, la la la la la la la )x x x

Oh Kinki I'm, so so sorry that you are having such a crap time at the moment. Rather than you being a crappy wife I think your DH is being a bit of a crappy husband at the moment, which must make it like having a fourth child to deal with - one that is sulky and spiteful.

Agree with Hopey's post entirely, and agree it is a good idead to see a less stupid GP re ADs, even just discussing it might make you feel like you have done something positive?

Would your DH consider Relate? A couple of my mates said it was fab to just get out all of their feelings about each other in front of a neutral person who would LISTEN which they felt their DHs weren't doing. Maybe you could both have your say and find a way forward?

I really think that you need to do something that makes YOU happy, aside from seeing to all your family's needs and coming bottom of the pile. Could you arrange to go out for a drink or a meal with some mates/pictures/shopping/pamper session whatever floats your boat, but just to get away by yourself preferably with people who know how fab you are, so you can have a break and a laugh, even if only for an hour or two. Surely DH can babysit for the evening, or could the in-laws have the DSs for a while?

Keep posting and letting us know how you are doing (arsey broadband permitting) - we are all here for you. xxxxx

Hopey thanks for the song, you have a lovely singing voice

Hope you got the house sorted - I have given in to living in a dustbin, like that creature off Sesame Street - was that the one that ate cookies too?

Sorry have realised I am talking the most dreadful shite today.

I luuuuuuurve the Cookie Monster, me want cooooooooookie !!

Kinki I'm not surprised you're feeling sorry for yourself, your DH is being quite selfish at the moment and it's not fair that he's, not only saying that he needs your support but, refusing to give you any support or even put his arm around to you WTF?!! He expects you to be giving and getting nothing in return?! That's just not right. (Am tempted to say "kick him to the kurb girlfriend" but that's cos Ricky Lake's on the TV )

Just cooked up some, well, what can only be described as, milk pudding with apple and pear for Lolly (using her milk, not dairy) and she pulled the most aweful faces whilst eating it (I tasted it, it's very sharp!) but she ate it without too much spitting (which can only be a good thing as I've frozen a load!) I might be inspired to cook her something nice for dinner too! (Alongside the blardy casserole that I've agreed to make have to start it in a minute so must be rushing. . .)

HHShark No, Oscar the Grouch does not eat cookies (that'd be the cookie monster ), I have a good memory for colourful puppets, ask me anything you like about Fraggle Rock!!

Righty, off to cook casserole!

Lollypop - thank you - it was driving me mad trying to remember their names - think I may be a hybrid of Oscar and Cookie Monster. Always found the fraggles a bit scary - they had lots of wispy fluffy bits hanging off them didn't they? My favourite is Animal the drummer from the muppets - pure class.