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

hehehe mrsf, love the ninja image!! I'm sure I wake Luca up too much, esp as he's lying right next to me in bed, it's too easy to try and shusssh him when he stirs and I'm sure sometimes I react too soon. I need to learn more than he does, mind you last night he did 11.30pm to 6.30 between feeds, which is the best it's been for a while.

Dal, was it just the rotavirus jab that Ryan had? Luca had his three month jab on monday (a bit late, oops) and he's had a bit of a dicky tummy today... grizzling through feeds, occasionally squealing with pain and bringing up loads of curdled milky bits after each feed. I wonder if all jabs cause a bit of a tummy upset. As far as I know he just had the normal jabs, diptheria polio and hib.

Hopey - good luck and hats off to your dh. My dh has been trying to get a London marathon place for ages, been rejected three times already so I think next year they have to accept him. He has done the dublin marathon before and his face when he finished was a picture. It's not something I think I could do, it looked agony. Mind you I did chuckle the next day when he couldn't walk down stairs, he had to go down on his bottom like a toddler!

Laksa, does your local pool have a baby pool? Ours does and it's always really warm in there (full of chlorine too though cos I imagine that otherwise at that temperature it just becomes bacteria soup!) this sort of thing might help.

plp - sorry to hear you've been having a rough time but so glad to hear cerys is growing well and is bonny! wishing you all the best for her op and a speedy recovery afterwards. Thanks for interesting info about weaning before 6 months. Luca really isn't showing any need for food, but it is really tempting to sneak him a bit of banana or something. He's just so into new things, I think he'd really like it.

Kyala - I hope your dh isn't too down about work, never nice getting a bollocking.

Nice to see you back MMooMar!

Those of you who have other little 'uns. What age did your other babies sit up right and when can you stop using any kind of bath seat thingy? Is it once they're able to sit up? Luca's pretty close to sitting up, he's a bit wobbly still but I reckon he can't be more than a few weeks away from it. I've got a friend who's due to have her first baby in four weeks, I was wondering if I'll be able to give her my bath seat, bearing in mind her baby might be a bit later than four weeks and she probably won't need the bath seat until her baby's a couple of weeks old. I'm just wondering how likely it will be that I can give her my seat.

Anyway i'm off to rummage through all Luca's clothes he's outgrown so I can pass those on to my friend too. Take care everyone xxx

PLP, that babygrow is FANTASTIC, I've just ordered one! You're a star!

MrsMar, my DH got rejected about 4 times, I think it's the 5th you get a guaranteed place, that's why it was such a cruel irony him finding out he'd been given a place just before his accident. DH ran the Edinburgh marathon the day before my 30th birthday,. I wanted to go to New York or Paris or do something really special, but whoops, DH booked a place for the Edinburgh marathon 'and it's only the flipping day before your birthday! I'm really sorry' GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. Anyway, your post made me giggle because I went shopping on Princes St whilst he was running and made it back for the finish, making my way through men sitting down on the floor crying their eyes out. DH ran through the finish line and I said well done and he he, there's grown men crying over there, to which DH replied, actually I feel a bit emotional too! DH NEVER cries! On the day of my birthday I had to really try not to giggle at all the people in the shops who were struggling with the stairs - oh there goes another marathon runner! I'm with you though, I have absolutely NO desire to run a marathon, definitely not one of the things on my to do list before I die etc.!

Night night ladies, just off to give Niamh her last feed, bit late tonight but she was cuddling with Daddy and fell asleep and I didn't want to disturb them. She's just lying next to me now chatting away! Cute. x x x

HOPEY - [waving huge strong arms from carrying bloater DS icon] - Glad to see you on here, had a bit of a lurk a while ago and saw you were having a tough time. Hoping things are going better now. I got DS2 weighed last week for 3rd time since birth and he's over 90th line - there goes my tiny baby hopes! He's just about to grow out of 6-9 month clothes so not getting much wear out of anything. Your photos are lovely too - looks like dd has got very proud brothers!

Fio - Ah - so that's how old your baby is! I very nearly slipped over to this thread as DS2 was 28/8. Well back to my muchrooms.......

Oh Hopey, I'm so glad you bought one, I thought you would!

My uncle is a runner and we used to take a trip to London every year to meet him at the end of the marathon. I remember it was before the London eye was built because they used to use Jubilee Gardens and each tree had a letter of the alphabet on it to represent the first letter of the surname. He always did it in just under 4 hours and we'd meet him under the tree - he always cried and said he would never do it again but every year he went back! He did lots of other marathons and half marathons and he still runs and goes to an athletics club now. It was actually him who cut Cerys's hair the other week!

I'm well chuffed - I just bought a purple bumbo chair for Cerys on ebay - yay! She too is not far off sitting up on her own but I thought this would be handy (and it is purple after all!).

Thank you all so very much for your kind words and hugs (yes I am a huggy person, when I can get them). It's been hard to talk to anyone in rl. Dh is back on Friday, and he's arranged to be with me next tues, when I have the bronchoscopy. I'm still worried about it all. Working in healthcare, I know they don't act this urgently unless there is some concern. I just need to keep it all in proportion for a few more days.

The choking incident happened when I took a puff of my ventalin inhaler. Something must have been in the mouthpiece and got shot into my mouth when I activated it and inhaled. I felt something hit the back of my throat and I choked for about 5 mins trying to cough it up. You could hear something flap in my gullet for a few days. All the doctors told me this was improbable, and what I was describing was in fact a violent asthma attack, where I managed to tear some tissue in my throat - this was the flapping I could feel/hear. This happened a few days after concieving Liam - I didn't know I was pregnant yet. Dh took me to hosp on the day it happened, this was the first of 4 visits to a&e - twice because dh was so worried, twice because the gp wanted me investigated. After a week, they put a camera into my throat but this one only went as far as the voicebox. A couple of days earlier, the flapping sensation went, this is when I think it went into my lungs. And this I think is where it has stayed for over a year, causing a stagnant build up of bacteria that I just can't shift, including that nasty bout of pneumonia.

So for the last year they have been treating my asthma, and all the associated infections I've been getting. Been on steroids since march, and on my about 16th course of ab's. After much insistance on my part they are finally taking me seriously, but only it seems, after I report my mum and nana dying early of lung cancer.

Btw, I think the fb was some debris from my pocket that had found it's way into the mouthpiece of inhaler. It felt like thin plastic, or cellophane or something. I had some lollypop wrappers in my pocket at the time (as you do) and I wonder if it was a piece of that.

So the upshot is I finally get the bronchoscopy next Tues. And quite frankly I'm shitting myself, but I'll be fine.

A quick question for everyone. I'm trying to store up some milk for next week. I've got some little pots which hold up to 6oz. How much do these los take in a feed? I've no idea at all. Is 6oz about right, too much, too little? I collected 4oz yesterday without pumping. It would be ideal if that would be enough for each feed.

Morning all

Hopey am soo glad that you are feeling a lot better. I heard from Holly yesterday - we have all been fairly manic and we are going to try and meet up again at some point. You should head into London when the weather gets better and come say hi too!

Laksa - re the spices and chillis. The way I cook indian food (well especially lentils/ saag etc is to cook them separately in a pressure cooker) then they get added to the base which consists of chillis/ ginger/ garlic/ onions and all the other good stuff. Initially - I plan to give ryan the lentils minus them being added to the base (so around 7 months) - but as he gets a little older and defo by 12 months, intend to give him our food (minus salt). Am hoping that he will be used to the tastes somewhat considering I have eaten this food throughout pregnancy and bfeeding - lets wait and see!
Also re the expressing at 4.30. IMO you should stop as it may just exacerbate the problem. I remember when Ryan dropped night feeds, for about 2 days I was in such discomfort - I would lie there awake and not be able to go back to sleep. But I thought my breasts needed to get the message that milk wasnt needed at 4am anymore. So for 2 days - it wasnt pleasant, for another 5 days, it wasnt anywhere near as painful - but would still wake up engorged. So took about a week for them to settle (but Ryan was younger - apparently they should settle a lot sooner the older your bub is).

Kelm - absolutely fine to freeze purees. You cool them down and freeze right away - my pear puree is ready and waiting to go!

PLP - hello! great to see you back also. Not surprised everything got to you! You and little Cerys seem to be doing spectacularly well. Thanks for sharing your info on weaning etc. Also am glad you have the date for your OP - hope all stays well in the lead up to it, am sure it will. How is Cerys coping with the extra bag changes?
Let me know also how cerys finds the bumbo - Ryan hates his with a passion. He is constantly kicking his legs though, so wonder if he hates his legs being pinned in.

MMoomar - of course we remember you! Welcome back. Glad you are also having discussions about another one. It keeps coming up with us - but I know that I want a chance to lose every bit of my baby weight and get back into really good shape before going for no.2. Also more importantly want to enjoy Ryan. Am enjoying bfeeding so much now - not sure when I plan to stop but at this rate I'll be preggers again without having my body back totally. Blimey - with the exception of a few glasses of champers recently, that may mean my abstinence from alcohol may stretch into years!!

Kyala - sorry to hear about your DH and also that your friday has had to be rearranged. Hope DH is ok.

MrsM - Ryan had all the other 3 months jabs plus the rotavirus. He bought up curdled milk yesterday afternoon too but am persevering with the babyrice at 11am. It is only a tsp and he isnt remotely distressed or unhappy when bringing up the milk, so will keep with it. He did do 3 poos yesterday (when he normally does one a day at most, but can now go 2 days without one) - so am inclined to think it was the virus leaving yesterday. Bizarrely enough, he is sleeping better than ever now - so goodness only knows what is going on!

Wowser - mammoth post! Hello to everyone else - great to catch up with everyone.

Xpost Kink - blimey! Am sending you lots of hugs and positive vibes.
6oz sounds spot on to me. Thats how much Ryan can average per feed. But if you are freezing some of it - maybe freeze it in portions of 4fl. oz so if less is needed, you dont keep wasting a few ounces.
What are you using to express? If you have a few days - have you considered renting a hospital grade pump to help you get lots out in a short space of time?

Dal, I used breast shells yesterday to collect from the other side while feeding. A bit of gentle pressure causes me to leak, and during the day I got about 5oz. It's not coming out so easily today though. I have got an avent hand pump, I could use that. In the past I have hand expressed, but I bruise easily at the moment and I'll probably end up with 2 black and blue boobs. Good idea about renting one. I'll see how I go over the next few hours and go down that road this afternoon if I need to.

Laksa, I agree with dal about the expressing in the night. If you keep expressing, your body will keep producing during the night. It might be uncomfy for a few days, but it should get better. I didn't/don't get engorged as such, but I am very full in the mornings. How did the appt go, is Bella's ear any better?

Wow, I'm impressed with all the running going on round here. I'm so not into running! But I do like to cycle, but I've not been out in over a year. I used to go for a ride in the mornings before everyone gets up, maybe when my chest is better I'll start up again.

Hopey, lovely to hear from you, you too Mmoo. Hopey, you sound like you are doing brilliantly and Niamh sounds an absolute dream of a baby. Shame about ds's ear, hope he's better soon.

MrsNinja, I mean MrsFish, you conjure up a very funny image!

Kelm, typical man not telling you about the roll. When the time comes Arben will do his first steps for you and then you can forget to tell dh. See how he feels! Liam's not rolling yet, he really can't be bothered I think. He seems to be taking after ds2 who has always been very laid back about trying anything new. Whereas ds1 was and still is always in a rush to do anything. Funny how they are all different.

Plp, great to hear all about Cerys. She seems to be doing very very well. Good on her. AND good on you. It's no wonder you've been a bit emotional - you're juggling a lot of balls. You come across so grounded and in control - you're an inspiration really. Best of luck for the 19th. Yes it's an end of a difficult chapter and also the start of a whole new one. But 20 nappies a day though? Poor little thing, poor you! I hope having been through so much, she doesn't get a sore bum thru pooping so much. Is there anyone on mn who has had a lo with the same condition?

Mmoo, you do know, don't you, that if you go for a 3rd, it'll be another boy (speaks from experience) and then you'll have to have a 4th. My mil wanted a girl, she stopped after her 5th boy, Between her and her sister all they wanted was a girl, but they got 11 boys between them instead!

Kyala, sorry to hear about dh. It's all happening your end at the moment. I'm impressed at your forward planning for June. I'd be doing it the night before.

Big hello to everyone else!

Afternoon all,

kinki, ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((BIG hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) to you. It must be horrid for you having to wait until Tuesday, v scary with your family history. It does sound a bit suspect that the problems started around the time you inhaled that foreign object. I'm routing for you girl. x x x

MrsMar, I had a look at that baby wetsuit, what a great idea, I'm going to order one for Niamh when they're back in stock.

dal, I'm glad you heard from Holly. From what I remember she was having a bit of a tough time too. We MUST do that and arrange a meet up in London. I'd love that.

I have to confess to feeling v sad about not breastfeeding, I know you'll all tell me to shut up because Niamh is thriving but I've never made a success of it, didn't with the boys either. I can't help but feel a bit disappointed as I've never really experienced 'proper' bfeeding. DH (quite rightly) gave me a bit of a lecture when Niamh was about 2 weeks old and said I couldn't do it as I wasn't eating anywhere near enough at the time. I'm not blaming him, but it kind of drew a line under it there and then. I guess I should be happy that she had the early milk. Right moan over!

My Babycook thingy has arrived today - yay! Can't wait to try it out. I made some carrot for Niamh yesterday and she loved it, I was so proud!! I'll let you know how I get on with it.

Hello everyone and thanks for the wedding style tips - I've got my own Trinny and Susannah's on MN !!! Kyala - i forgot you were a dressmaker - think I've left it a bit too late to get anything made but will probably go for the wrap dress idea (definitely won't get strapless laced up Laksa !!)

Hopey - so glad you are feeling better and that Niamh is doing so well - don't beat yourself up about the BF - we all do the best we can for our babies don't we ? Great news about your DH doing the marathon!

PLP - sorry you've been feeling low - its not surprising with everything you are dealing with ! Glad you've got a date for the op - isn't that Half term week ? will that be easier for you - not doing school run etc ? Thought of you as I've just had Vertbaudet catalogue and there is a purple and white nursery - lovely quilt with purple and white flowers - you've probably got it already !?

Dal- glad Ryan is better now ! Eloise had a funny tummy after her last set of injections too but I just put it down to catching the tummy bug that my DD2 had at the time Have you been to the gym ? I took Eloise to the gym creche for a trial the other day - and I felt really guilty - she looked bereft when I walked off !!

Canadianmum- how is Anna sleeping now ? ANy better ? Eloise is still getting up once or twice but I have started her on Baby rice this week so am waiting /hoping for a change !(fingers crossed )

Kinki - thinking of you and so sorry about all the anxiety you are going through with your family history and everything. Why didn't the Doc's believe you about inhaling the cellophane at the time ? Will they be able to see if anything is in your lungs when they do the bronchoscopy ?

Love to everyone else too !! xx

Hi y'all!

hopey, my dh was a total baby when he finished the dublin marathon... blubbed his eyes out, I think it was relief! Isn't it funny how they always swear not to do it again but they get all boy competitive and want to do it faster next time, like PLP's uncle. Hmmm I can do it faster... in a car!

Poor Kinki -your story really made me shudder, I once found a sewing needle stuck inside my inhaler (must have just had one rattling around my washbag!) I nearly fainted when I thought what I could have done. I can't believe you've had to push so hard to get some proper investigations. I hope the bronchoscopy goes well and they find nothing sinister. I think 6 oz sound ok for a bottle of ebm... I had to go in to work for a meeting the other day and Luca had a bottle of 6oz of ebm while I was out, and he lasted four hours until his next feed which is about normal for him, so I figured 6oz was about right.

dal - I hope ryan's sicking up has finished... great that he's sleeping better though. Luca did crash out without a whimper last night and I thought that might have been cos of the jabs.

hmmmm I've just made some yummy soup so I'm off for a bowl now. I've been so busy trying to organise Luca's christening I haven't had a chance to eat yet!

Take care everyone xx

Morning!

Well Ryan slept through from 10 til just now for the first time in weeks. He was still bringing up a little curdled milk yesterday, but nothing near like the amounts before. I am planning to move the baby rice to 6pm today, so if he does play up after having it - DH will also be able to help the next 2 nights if he is a little unsettled.

Hopey - well you name the time! I am in London fairly free now that mum is back to normal. You really shouldnt feel so sad about the bfeeding though. I dont really know what else to say to you. Niamh sounds like an absolute joy. And you have been a fantastic mum to her to cope with everything you have done. Please dont give yourself a hard time about that.

AmyClaramum - nope, havent been to the gym. Our gyym is in our house (garage was convered by previous tenants) - sounds a bit much I am sure, but with the cost of DH and mine gym memberships plus parking - it all paid for itself well within a year.

Hello MrsM - I am off into work today, feels quite weird. Taking Ryan with me though as one of the PA's will look after him. Am sure all will go well.

Have great days all.

Oh and did anyone see what annabel karmel said yesterday? She went against all current guidelines and basically said you shouldnt wait til 6 months to wean and that bmilk was not enough to sustain babies. Am off for a quick looksie on the bfeeding board, but they not happy about that!

Morning!

dal good luck today at work, must seem quite surreal going into work! Thank you for your kind words re bfeeding, you're right, we're a nightmare us girls, always 'trying' to find something to beat ourselves up about! (tut tut). We'll definitely arrange that in a few weeks, it would be lovely to meet you in person (and your little man)! I too have got a gym in our garage, well it's a treadmill and exercise bike, but our garage is a tip at the moment. Got my Dad and stepmum coming up tomorrow from London and he's itching to get it all set up for us, think I may indulge him on that one . I think it's fab that Annabel Karmel said that , there is absolutely NO way Niamh or my boys could have waited until 6 months for solids. Niamh is tranfixed when we're eating. Like you say, bet there's some heated words on the bf thread.

MrsMar, you made me giggle, I said exactly the same thing about driving a marathon, know I could manage that! Hope your soup was nice, what flavour? I'm all geared up now for low fat recipes, I'm quite traumatised by what the scales said this morning, I need to lose 2 stone - ouch! Ahum meeting a friend for lunch today, so the diet starts next week.

ps, Babycook is FANTASTIC, really it is! I've made two big batches of carrot and sweet potato and parsnip and sweet potato, it really does blend it down to a completely smooth consistency. I'd highly recommend investing in one!

Canadianmum: It is great being able to make stuff, it's having the time though, although I have just finished an absolutely gorgeous star outfit for Lucy, it's all pink and stripey!! Will post a pick when I've washed it and put her in it!

Kinki: Your experience sounds horrific, you must've been terrified, as if it's not bad enough that you'd be having an attack in the first place but to feel something shoot into your throat like that must've made you panic slightly!! I really do hope they are able to sort it for you.

Hopey: What's a babycook? (Had an image of you getting the LO to start cooking for you already!! lol) Is it a hand blender type thing? I've been thinking of getting one (they sell the Annabell Karmel range in our local Boots)

Anywhoop, DH got home yesterday, after having had a rather hectic day and made a decision that he wasn't going to go in early today (he usually starts at about 7:30am) so he got a bit of a lie-in this morning (considering it's meant to be his day off he should've been able to sleep all day lol). Also, his friend's husband works on the local train service and is going to put DH's name about and see if he can get DH a job, the money's a lot better apparently which would be a huge help, especially as I'm thinking about starting work (if I'm going to start working I need to make sure all costs are covered, including the HB that we get otherwise it's obviously not worth doing, and I'm not qualified in anything other than retail, which pays naff all!)
Any suggestions what I should turn my hand to? Am thinking of getting in touch with the local hospital and see if they've got anything going as they have their own nursery care onsite which would be a bighelp because I wouldn't have to travel to/from a nursery before/after work.

Got a lovely Thornton's mag in the post, am now totally put off going for a walk after lunch now and want to drool over lovely choccies!!

Righty, I'm off, going to try and do a bit more sewing whilst the girl's are taking naps!
Have a good one!
xxx

WOW! Just looked up the details of the babycook, that looks great!! Will start saving for it! Can't believe it defrosts/steams aswell as blending, and it's got a recipe booklet, that's great!

ok I am now feeling very tempted by the babycook !!! Although I am now picturing DH's face if I bring yet another baby product into the house . But hey it's not my fault that he got rid of ALL the baby stuff when we moved 3 yrs ago just because I said I didn't want another baby, he should know that females always change their minds right? .

amyclaramum - anna is not sleeping too badly, last night she went 11pm to 5.40am but I still feel pretty tired. I am definitely thinking she will need weaning soon, she is chewing her fingers all the time. This morning I let her hold a banana to see if she would put it in her mouth but she didn't quite do it.

hopey - please don't beat yourself up about bfeeding, there is always something to feel guilty about as a mum but that is not one of them!!! I had a friend who felt guilty for "only" bfeeding for 6 months!!! Seriously, there are better things to worry about .

off to check out the annabel karmel "scandal"

Hammer, sorry I forgot to report back this really important piece of information - but Gene Simmons does still do that tongue thing. Well he did 4 years ago when I saw him. We had ds1 with us, age nearly 4. Fortunately the first half of the show was ok. They had their make-up on but generally it was viewable for little eyes. In the second half it got a bit wild. Lots of tongues, screaming, fake blood, close-ups on the screens etc. I kind of knew it was coming so scooped up ds and took him to the foyer and kept him occupied with stupid-sized hot dogs, while I watched the show through the doors. Dh was all for letting him watch the whole show.

ACmum, hopefully the bronchoscopy will locate it if there is something in there. I really don't know why they haven't taken me seriously before now. Because it all happened at about the time of conception they presumed it was pregnancy related exaccerbation of asthma.

Hopey, I agree with the others' comments about bfing. To provide nourishment to a baby (be it bottle or breast) is the most amazing and giving thing we can do. Who cares how we do it. Or where the milk comes from. The crucial bit is that you are the provider of nutrition for Niamh. You have facilitated her growth and development. You have made her the little girl she is.

I'm having a down day today. I am worried about tuesday. I know it's stupid, but I can't get out of my head that my mum was dead 2 months and a day after her bronchoscopy. Then to top it all I was pouring some bm into a pot when I knocked it all over. I got so upset about that. I couldn't stop crying for ages. I remember when I did similar years ago dh casually said 'it's no good crying over spilt milk' before he realised the significance and irony of it. It was actually quite funny back then. Today I'm just depressed about it.

silly question, i'm very new to this and have no clue but when you have cook ed the veg do you mix it with anything before blending and freezing or is just oh natural???

I never did, I just blended as is

Drain off the water into a jug, blend the veg and add some of the water to make it into the consistency you require.

thanks

Canadianmum: Ooh what scandal?!!!

re: Annabel Karmel, there was an article in the evening standard (that I haven't read) saying that she thought babies should be weaned before 6 months. there was a bit of a kerfuffle on one thread about this, basically saying that she is not a doctor or nutritionist and she has no evidence for this. anyway the scandal turned out to be nothing because she has since retracted it and said she thinks babies should be weaned at 6 months unless there is a good reason to do it earlier. I am still firmly in the "do it when the baby is ready, not when the doctor/hv/world health org is ready" but that's just me .

how do you do fruit then?