August 2007- Half a year of sleep deprivation later... (but we're finally back in our skinny jeans!)

[JamesAndTheGiantBanana]

New thread! Whoop whoop!

Hi folks, ooh you've been chatty (pot, kettle) where to start?

I'll start with conker's kilts: Have you actually clicked on bareknees.org? I did out of curiousity! It's actually not currently a porn site. It has an introduction page which looks as if it is a porn site, but when you enter the site, it's a holding page (a holding page simply keeps the domain name for you until you're ready to launch your website properly- it just contains adverts right now)

The good news is that my dp says most holding pages never come to fruition, so if you really like that business name, keep checking bareknees.org for a few weeks and if it doesn't turn into a proper porn site, it's likely to disappear altogether, and then you will have the option of buying the .org for yourself as well as the .com or .co.uk, should you wish to. Good luck with it, if you need any help with photo manipulation to make your kilts look their best in pics for your site gimme a shout, it's "what I do" (apart from type epic posts on MN)

Tasha, you wouldn't be giving up on lo if you did do tubefeeding- it's not like you'd be content to tubefeed him forever more, is it? You have a lot to cope with right now, if you feel like it's the best thing to do for your lo, then do it. He wouldn't be the first premature baby to need a little help with feeding etc- why don't you start a thread and ask other mothers of tube-fed babies what they think, and how their children have progressed and coped since? I hope your morning sickness calms down too hon, have you tried sea-bands?

Tash, yes I did buy a walk-o-long from a nice MNer in fact, which saved a few quid! Haven't had a chance to use it yet as J is just starting to take steps when we hold his hands, he's not ready to walk at all yet, but give it a month or two and it'll come in handy, I reckon.

Did anyone buy anything totally useless for their babies? The tummytub everyone was raving about got used about five times max, James was soon far too chunky to fit in comfortably. I daresay he could fit in -just- but not sure there'd be much room for water in there! Bit of a waste of money to be honest, much prefer my 35l box which is working out beautifully! lol

Oh that reminds me... when I was undressing him for his bath tonight, J was sitting naked on the floor for a few seconds, and suddenly discovered his willy and tried to yank it off to see what it was! glad I'd trimmed his nails earlier! (this is the beginning of the end btw, he'll never leave it alone now he can reach it. Drat)

hi everyone, i just fainted and banged my head-it's just the heat, it happens to me every year. We've cranked on the ac in the house now.

We already use doublebase(in the bath and twice daily), diprobase(after bath and 4-6 times a day) and between 0.5% and 1% hc cream(if eczema is v.bad). I also have to trim his nails every day and he used to have to wear socks on his hands at night but he's too big now and pulls them off, so i just have to hope he doesn't scratch his face to bits!

As for night time-we've got Callum a 0.5 tog grobag and he sleeps in either a short sleeved body suit or romper suit in it.

James-lol and James and his willy antics! I think the most unused thing we bought has been his doomoo beanbag-he used to use it whilst i was in the shower but he's too big now and he can tip it over . When he's a bit bigger he can use it as a seat without the harness but not sure it was worth the money.

Gill-hope ds is feeling better soon.

Tasha-echo what James said about the feeding-tube feeding wont be forever and if you can keep him at home it is better for you all. I used to look after a girl who was tube fed between 1-2 months every 6 months to help her and she put on the weight consistently.

HV came round today to weigh C-not an official check as they don't do them till a year-he's 19lb 14oz. She was pleased with his walking and talking and understanding so that is reassuring-he just likes watching people and he copies things he sees and hears, i think thats all it is. SORRY I didn't mean that to be so me me me

conkertree-well i'd def be interested in a kilt in the thistle dubh tartan from you

hersetta-Caitlin sounds such a gorgeous, bright wee thing. Glad she's so happy-a happy baby makes a happy mummy

Ds still has his temperature so I'm starting to think I might have to take him to the docs. He's had it since Wednesday. I still think it's related to teething as it's been accompanied with all the other symptoms. He's not shown any signs of illness apart from a few slightly looser nappies (is that teething?). He's not been his normal self but who would be with a tooth cutting through! What would you do?

Thanks tasha. It was easier last night and he gave in a lot quicker. I know it seems a bit cruel to carry on with cc when he's a bit poorly but if we stop now and start again it would be worse. I think the tooth is nearly through but it's hard to tell when he won't get his tongue out the way.

I agree tube feeding is not giving up on him. If that's the only way to get him to feed properly put on weight consistently then I think you should go for it. If he's hungry but gets too stressed when being bottle/syringe fed then it's got to be for the best. Did you post for advice? Let us know what you decide.

James - ds always grabs his willy as soon as I take his nappy off. Often he laughs when he does it.

My useless item was a sling. I bought it thinking that ds would be clingly like dd and wouldn't want to be put down or go in the buggy. He hated being in it (if he was awake) and I was constantly worried that he was going to suffocate. The few times I used it it killed my back and shoulders so I had to make dd get out of the buggy so I could put ds in. Apart from anything, I hardly ever walk anywhere anyway. Most places I go are not within walking distance, not even the closest park. Another waste of money was 0-3 months shorts but I guess we weren't to know it would be so cool in August.

Woops. Sorry Helibee - just re-read your post. Hope you're ok. AC is a god send isn't it! We've got a unit we use in our bedroom for an hour or so before we go to bed when it's really hot.

Helibee, don't worry about being me me me, it's good to hear people's news. Hope you didn't hurt yourself too badly when you hit your head! It's been SO warm, but it's actually a bit rainy and grey here today, don't know if it'll brighten up later.

Gill, ditto the sling, I sold mine on ebay recently. James didn't like being in it much, and he was soon far too heavy for me. I can't hold him for long at all, he's just killing my back. I wouldn't mind J being 19lb, helibee! I reckon he's nearer to 25lb now, it's like hefting a cannonball around.

I'm thinking about putting James in his own room today, has anyone else done it? I think I'll be really sad at first, but he's sleeping well, he can turn over and move if he gets stuck, and it's not cold anymore, so seems like it might be the optimum time to move him. Feel like it's the last bit of my "little baby" going though! He's almost a toddler now.

ouch Helibee - hope your head's OK.

Thanks so much. She is such a happy thing - we're so lucky. It does make it easier for me being at work full time knowing that she is happy with either my DH or our childminder.

Gosh i bought loads of stuff that i never ended up using. Used my sling twice - she liked it but i found if really hard to get her out of it so gave up on it. Loads of baby girls summer dresses in 0-3 size. Weather was so crappy we never used one of them. Cot top changer - used twice. Intended to use it during night time changes after breast feeding but as I had to give up breastfeeding within a few days as i was rushed back into hospital for 6 days i never got to breast feed afterwards and so all changes where done downstairs when i bottle fed. Ditto glider chair - used 3/4 times in total.

lol at all the boy's playing with their willies!!

James, Caitlin has been in her own room for ages - from 5 weeks in fact. Thank goodness if you ask me - she snores terribly sometimes!!

James

Lexie been in her own room since she was 8wks (as was Lizzie) as she out grew the moses basket and we don't have the space for a cot. We barely have space for a double wardrobe.

Helibee hope your ok.

I don't think i have got anything that was a waste, but then i don't think i bought anything new anyway.

Alex was 23lb 6oz a few weeks ago so is probably getting on for 24lb now. I have to hold him with 2 arms or I feel like I'm going to drop him, especially as he turns around a lot and bends down.

Ds is still in our room and will be until we can do something with our back bedroom which is currently the computer/washing room. Dh tells me that he needs to take the ceiling down, insulate, put a new ceiling up and then get someone in to plaster all round. We can't afford to do that at the moment though unfortunately. I don't know where his cot will go mind you. It's small and a funny shape. The only obvious place to put it is along a wall which has a long radiator which isn't ideal in the winter.

As for glider chairs, it was one of my best buys. Mine is well and truly used with both dcs, although not so much with ds. I've always done all night feeds in my bedroom and up til dd was 2 and got her own room she had her last bottle upstairs so she could wind down quietly. Ds rarely wants a bottle before bed now anyway so it's a bit of a dumping place for clean washing at the moment. Might have to put it up in the loft soon.

Just read that back and it doesn't sound right. To clarify, the room is small and a funny shape, not the cot

hiya, thanks, my head feels a bit better this morning!

we have 3 slings-Callum loves them. i use them when out in the whhelchair or dh uses them when pushing me. The closer one was brilliant as it doesn't hurt my back.

Gill i really hope ds is better soon. Callum has a slight temp with his top 4 teeth at the mo and the doc said to give him medised(this also helps ease his itching with his eczema). Keep an eye on him though and if you're worried it'll give you peace of mind if nothing else to get him checked out-he may have a wee virus too?

James-thanks, also C is still in with us, i know we have to make the break soon but i like having him so near (daft mummy), i know what you mean about holding on to that last bit of babyness.

helibee, I used to love co-sleeping when I was bf, J would still be in with us if he wasn't so big and sweaty and fond of pulling hair and kicking now. I hope the switch goes ok- I'm tempted to move our bed into the other, bigger bedroom actually, and leave him in the front bedroom since he's used to it. Do you think he'd feel abandoned, though?

How are you and lo doing today, tasha? How's dd2's arm, my2weegirls? Hope alex and callum are better with their teeth soon, it's a miserable business, all this teething.

Off to do some more tidying. x

James-we do have the cot in our room too and he sleeps in there till dh goes to work and then comes in with me till lunchtime (as he goes to bed at 10pm though-lunchtime isn't that late up!)

I'm plucking up the energy to do some tidying soon but there was a big spider in the conservatory yesterday and dh plugged the hole so that it couldn't get back in but i have a pathological fear of them and i don't want to see it and scare C IYKWIM so may use that as my excuse for dh to tidy conservatory tomorrow

hi all

dd2 got her stookie well and truely soaked in the bath tonight - that was with a polly bag over it. hoping that it stays on until wed! if she didn't have so much hair then i maybe wouldn't bother bathing her but after a couple of days her hair starts to look greasy. she's started putting weight on it today - so that's a good sign . and also waving it around trying to bop me on the nose with it .

tasha - it most certainly isn't giving in. might make it a bit easier on both of you if feed time wasn't this big battle that it appears to have become. did they teach you how to insert a tube and test that it's in ok?

heliee - poor you! hope the head is ok. you must have had much better weather than us - dry at home but pouring down at airdrie.

tidying - whats that? my house is a tip!

conker - how's the chickens? are they laying yet?

gill - the temp, crabbittness, squidey poo, fingers in mouth and at ears, wee squeals of pain are all dd2 signs that teeth are on their way!

my worst buy was - sling - never used and summer clothes - still with tags on.

Hi guys,

Just thought I'd catch up as I haven't been on here for a few days.

Gill- really sounds like teething to me. Ds doesn't get the temperature (but i know it is common to have one) but his nappies are always a bit messier when he's teething.

James- Joe has been in his own room since he was 5 months. He was getting woke up when we went to bed and also everytime he moved or rolled over, I was waking up! I'm one of those people who once I'm awake, I stay awake and find it really hard to go back to sleep so I was knackered even though ds was sleeping well. It didn't seem to make sense!

Having said that, he was a git in the night so I'm still knackered today. He keeps sitting up and crying for us but when we go in to lay him down he just wants to be cuddled. As soon as I pick him up he goes back to sleep but putting him back down in his cot always wakes him up and cue more crying and sitting up trying to get to us! Any advice ladies??? At the moment we have been picking him up to calm him down, laying him back down and holding his hand or keeping a hand on his chest til he goes to sleep and we can sneak out. It rarely works though and he usually wakes up again. I'm worried as he's always been so good at night but I guess it's my turn to be sleep deprived! I can;t just leave him to cry either as he just sits himself up now and gets too upset and won't lay down. Help!

Hows your ds Tasha, is he eating any better? How's his chest?

Hope you are all well.

No advice I'm afraid meandmyjoe, I would've done what you did and stroked his back and snuck out. Will he go to sleep with music on? We usually stick a lullaby cd on for J, and I think if they go asleep when it's noisy they're much less prone to waking from you going to bed etc than if it's quiet when they nod off. My only other suggestion would be to try and associate sleep and naps with specific items, like a cuddly teddy or blanket. J knows when he gets his musical dog it's sleep time.

He slept ok in the other room actually, took a while to nod off but then he slept til 7.30am, and (I'm like you, meandmyjoe, I wake up at every little noise/movement) I had undisturbed sleep! Fantastic.

Bit grey here again, sposed to be going to a barbeque at my sisters today so hope it brightens up! She's bought James a little paddling pool, hope he likes it.

Glad dd2's arm seems better, my2weegirls! I'm sure she'll be back to normal in no time. Have a lovely weekend everyone!

sorry again havent got time to catch up but it will keep me from being bored later. had a quick skim though and my2weegirls im glad your dd2s arm is healing well.

ds3 has started to pick up on his feeding. the dietician is going to ring me tuesday to see how hes got on but i can see him starting to get back to himself thank god.

ive decided on having an abortion i know a lot of you are going to think 'is she bloody mad or cant she make up her mind' but its for the best on so many levels i am very sad but i phoned marie stopes and the handiest i think is manchester being only a 30min taxi drive from airport. gonna cost around 800pound inc flights so might have to sell my engagement ring. i have thought a lot about this and really think its for the best.

Oh Tasha how terribly sad for you. I'm sure you have thought long and hard about what you are going to do. It must be very hard. I don't really know what to say apart from I'm not sure I could cope with another child at the moment, not to mention the others aswell. We are here if you need to chat. Take care x

tasha, you've had such a lot thrown at you lately, it's a hard time and a very, very hard decision to make. No-one here thinks you're mad, you have to do what you think is best. I hope you have some real life support, perhaps from your mum (since I know your dp is biased)

This link might be helpful: CareConfidential pregnancy and post-abortion helpline (Freephone number) lines are open til 4pm today if you need to chat. They also have an online service if you aren't up to talking on the phone about it, do have a quick look at the website. Take care hon x

i havent told anyone else but my dp think im just gonna sneak off do it and say i lost it bacause all my family and friends know now and i couldnt explain such a drastic change in mind. i got my scan date through the post yesterday and near cried. where can i sell a diamond ring fast?

thanks for the link james

oh no i just realised that some of you may be offended by that and thats the last thing i want to do sorryme and my big mouth

Tasha

No one should be offended by your decision. I'm having difficulty in coping with my 2 (4.4yrs and 8mths) and i am a lot older then you. I realy don't know how you cope with everything.

I'm saying this as some one who found getting pg very hard. You have made the right decision for you family right now then it is the right one IYKWIM.

Tasha, please don't worry whether you've offended us! The most important thing is how you feel about this. It's a huge decision and you've had such a lot to deal with. Sending you hugs x

Ditto what the others have said. I also think you could really do with speaking to a professional on the line I've recommended so you don't need to have the worry of offending anybody iyswim. We all need somewhere to vent after all, and it is rather a difficult subject to talk about, especially as a lot of us haven't been through this personally. It's hard to know what to tell you, love.

FWIW, it's only my opinion but I really think you don't need any more secrets in your life right now, so perhaps faking a miscarriage might not be the best move, even though you may save yourself being asked some tough questions.

You desperately need emotional support to get through this rough patch, which you won't get (the right kind) if you don't let at least your mum know (only my opinion! all mums are different too, I know) because as I said before, your dp is biased and frankly, he's thinking of himself right now. He isn't in a position to give the balanced opinions and support you need.

Sorry if I'm crossing a line here- feel free to tell me to mind my own business, but I always feel quite strongly that since it's your body and you're the one who will have to cope with this physically and emotionally whatever you choose, your opinion and your needs are paramount imho.