June 2008 - The Olympics are here and Mums deserve gold medals

[ThePenguinProject]

Thought I'd start a new thread before we ran out of space! Couldn't remember the exact name suggestion so have paraphrased, the sentiment is still the same though...

Essie - if Ethan pulls off and screams it's usually wind that's the problem, I'm not great at winding him so it's like a reminder for me !!

Morning all.

Smug mummy alert, Sebastian slept from 7 until 6, now must go cook breakfast.

morning all. wishing everyone a good week. i can't come one here at w/e and Monday's always too much to catch up on.

Got to take ds1 to hopistal this am for pre op appointment - has to have op on Thursday. I reminded dh he'd have to take ds1 to hospital for the appt on Thursday, as I won't be allowed to accompany his with baby, plus have to take ds3 to Kindergarten ( he starts on Wednesday - yippee!!). Big pause. follwed by dh saying - "does it make me a bad father if I don't know why he's having an operation?" - Er - yes!

Might be a bit morbid, but I've started to wonder about how he'd cope if I died. Honestly. He doesn't have a clue, never buys any birthday/christmas present/takes them to doctors, doesn't even know where the doctors are. Anyway, he's in Italy now, so just me & the boys.

Have a good day everyone

Hope it is nothing too serious Ernest and wishing your DS1 good luck on Thursday.

hello all

Thanks alll for comments, the wkend wass better than during the week only a couple of screaming sessions but Dp was here so was able to calm both of us down!!

On own again today, so far she has fed well but its normally ok at night, so going to try BF and top up with FF.

Essie- jealous bout your cleaner, DP refuses to get one, he does alot of the cleaning cause im looking after Fleur so he says but now he is back at work think he will have to rethink!

Amber- hope it goes better today, 3 mths seem to be like the terrible twos time for babies!!!

Glad work went ok +alipali* and have fun in devon

Debs - good luck with police!!! spanish are just the same loads of paperwork for everything dont think they know its the 21st century!!

aaaaah 5gomad you jammy so and so though I cant complain Fleur slept from 8pm to 5am back to sleep til 8am (dream fed at 10.30pm and woke at 3 but just put dummy in)

Thanks to BDQ for the above sleeping i tried what you said and its working so far

Hope op goes well ernest and gggrrrrr at your DH

Well goign to play or rather exercise on my new wii fit. Its fab Do any of you have one!!!?

deb - thank you so much for posting about a bad night - it's so much better to know I'm not the only one. We've realized that Fraser's not hungry most of the time when he wakes, but just wont sleep on his own. Dummies don't work because he spits them out and wakes himself up after 20 minutes so we're desparately trying to teach him to go back to sleep on his own. And desparate is the right word! DH is away again W-F this week and the nights I'm on my own are really tough.

Good luck with the police! We had a similar experience getting DH's spousal visa extended to stay here (he's not a citizen, but I am). They needed to see all our bank statements and 20 pieces of evidence that we were really married. (I sent in DS1's baptism & birth certificates with both our names - obviously we're really married).

hugs ernest! Hope DS1 is okay. Now that my DH is travelling more he's getting more useless at home too - I think they have trouble multitasking. DH has already said that if I died he'd just pack up and move countries to live down the street from my parents as there's no way he'd manage on his own.

Paro - is the Wii Fit worth it? I was dreaming about it yesterday but we don't even have a Wii. I'd really like to start exercising but I don't get much time on my own.

morning all
paro DH is desperate for a wii fit but they are in short supply over here!
deb sorry to hear about your nights, hope things start to turn for the better soon.
ernest hope ds1's appt goes ok.
essie and pp since Isaac came along DH has got a taste for ironed shirts for work, I blame my DM who ironed for him when she was here, I do oblige but when he seems unable to even put his own laundry away I do wonder.

Did have to rant at him when he came home from work yesterday - first words out of his mouth 'where's my dinner', after dinner 'right just going upstairs for a lie down', then when I woke him up to bath Isaac - 'can't you do it'
Now I do appreciate that he works really hard but he doesn't even want to give Isaac bottles of EBM due to the hassle of sterilising everything but doesn't seem to appreciate that I would like to be able to have a bath which is not disturbed, add to that the fact we are going into London for a friends 30th in a couple of weeks and will need to leave Isaac with MIL who will need to feed him, but he (isaac) is not used to bottles.

Sorry rant over. Weather here is rubbish today although think I will wrap up warm/waterproof and take the 2 mile walk into town just to get out of the house

Amber so sorry about your sister. I've had two m/c's myself so I know how hard it is.

Hedgehog that's awful re kids and police attitude. Glad they came out eventually and no-one was hurt.

Welcome back whinegums - am looking forward to Glasgow meetup this Friday. S can go from 11pm ish till 7am without a feed now, but I think all babies are different and whether FF/BF can make a difference too. S is the only one in my NCT group sleeping through the night despite being the youngest but he's the only one FF.

G43 - what a fright you must have got. Hope your ok.

PP - my iron is gathering dust in the kitchen . Ironing now only done when absolutely necessary. However, clothes that haven't been ironed take up much more room in drawers which is a bit of an issue

alipalli glad work was ok and great news about your colleague.

Deb hope trip to police ok.

Paro glad the sleeping is getting better.

Sorry for everyone having BF problems - hope you all work them out.

Hedgehog my understanding is that equipment used for EBM doesn't need to be sterilised. When I was expressing I washed everything in hot soapy water, rinsed and let it air dry. Sorry your DH was a bit rubbish yesterday - sounds like you've earned your rant. I had a good hours walk this morning and really enjoyed it.

Right, that's me caught up I think! Taking S for his jabs today so wish me luck.

London Ladies advice needed please! Am off to London in November for a few days, and although I used to live there I've no idea about 'baby friendly london' - I had very different priorities! DH is working so plan to catch up with friends, many of who dont have babies either. Any suggestions for good baby friendly places for lunch/coffee/glass of wine etc that aren't too scary for non-parents? I'm staying just off trafalgar square so anything central/south bank (i.e. anything that minimises time spent on the tube!).

Hi Everyone,

We finally gave up bf on saturday, was really difficult decision, but our latch has been really bad since she was 3.5 weeks and despite seeing every bf counsellor we haven't really managed to improve it. Mia never has a contented feed and it was getting to the point I was thinking she would have strange associations with feeding, so conbined with the fact her weight gain is shit and I feel like I am neglecting my ds I gave up, was heartbreaking but I think its the right choice for me.

Paro I'm glad things are improving for you, ds used to have feed from me when I got home from work (I was so full deperate to feed him) and I used to give him a dream feed in the evening so along with the morning feed I only used to express for one daytime feed but he was 7 months and eating solids at this point. But I would think it work just as well giving a couple of bottles of formula during the day.

Essie I saw an article the other day that said in LA one of the firms hires out wet nurses as well as nannies to the stars! It is a closely guarded secret which stars, I thought it was something that went out with the dark ages and is a little strange but I wonder which stars do it?

sponge pp I love that reading my sister made it for me in cross stitch when ds was born and it really helps put things inperspective when I am sitting rocking little ones and thinking I should be hoovering and ironing, unfortunately those jobs are never done but raising a baby is much more rewarding and they don't want to be cuddled and rocked to sleep for very long.

quick question to all those who have given up bf, when do your boobs stop hurting, I'm in agony, finding it hard to cuddle Mia as they are rock hard.

Hi everyone - The electrics in the main bedroom have blown and I can't reach the fuse box so will have to wait for DH to come home from work. How annoying.

Ryder is not happy in his moses basket anymore. I don't know how he does it, but he manages to wriggle to the top so that his head is pushed right up. Part of me is impressed with his ingenuity, the rest of me just wishes he'd just go back to sleep at 3.30am! Ended up with him sleeping btw us in bed last night because we couldn't put him in cot because it was full of too many teddies. I've put him down for a nap in his cot today so hopefully there will be no dramas about it tonight.

Deb - 'pulling off and then screaming' sounds like Ryder. Like you, I'm not great at winding him so it'll be a reminder for me too now!!

Ernest - Grrr at your DH.

DQ - I've only really stuck to the South Bank so far because it's easily accessible for me without needing to get the tube. Also it appeals to 30-somethings without babies with all it's restaurants and bars. I can confirm that the following are baby friendly: Canteen, Giraffe, Wagamamas, Nandos, Eat, Pain Quotiden, Ping Pong (outside) and there's lots of places within the Southbank centre itself - also good for beers and wine only. I'd also recomend the Tate Modern if you were thinking of meeting for drinks only. I'm sure there's loads more, but Ryder's only 10 weeks, so we haven't been able to try them all - altho we have tried, as you can tell! Are you going to try and come along to a London ladies meet up as well?

I didn't know that about EBM not needing sterilizing. If that is the case it would make my life so much easier! Off to google it now.

Hi everyone

I hope you are all well. I am too busy with move to read the posts or post properly.

I just wanted to say that SJ has his first little tooth coming out at 11 weeks! Can't believe it! He won't look like a baby anymore with a tooth!

GF I e-mailed you my mobile numer a couple of days ago. Did you get it

Hi all, back from hospital. Ds is 2nd in line on Thursday morning, so hopefully he'll get done reasonably early. He's got a leaky tube going down to his testicles, so one has swollen up to about 3 times the size of the other . looks pretty scary and can be dangerous. He should have eveb goolies as of Thursday. All you with ds you have all this willy-goolie fun to look forward to

Deb, hope you got on ok with police.

PP am amazed Ryder still in moses basket! Adele got fed up in hers after about 4/5 weeks. Is he in his cot in his own rooms (minus teddy mountain) now then?

katyjo I'm not an expert, if you are giving up on b/f you should express of a little bit just to take the edge off - you'll do yourself a mischief just going cold turkey. I think you ca get something from the gp to dry up the milk? But if you just leave it you'll be looking at blocked ducts/mastitis/lots of pain & discomfort. good luck with that.

Gave Adele 1st bottle of ebm at the weekend. She wouldn't have 1st but took 2nd no bother. Am looking to start a German evening class in a few weeks, so it will be good if she'll have a bottle.

Hedgehog you need to sort out your dh. I'd have more than a rant. Demanding dinner then going for a nap !!

Paro, yes we have a Wii Fit and AH, I would highly recommend it - absolutely fab!

katyjo, took my boobs about 48-72 hrs to go back to normal after I gave up bf, but I gave up much earlier than you .

Just a quick post - all fine with police, they awarded ethan with his registration document but said that we don't earn enough to keep us, but they had to accept him as we are already here!! Was glad that I had my friend with me, then did more paperwork, jobs, shopping, few days out with boys now this week before school starts again, so won't be posting much.

Hi all.

Ernest, good luck with DS1 at hospital.

Penguin, Barnaby managed to wriggle right up to the top of his cradle last night too - no idea how he managed it, he's in a grobag as well.

Katyjo, sorry to hear about the bf, hope your boobs settle down soon.

DQ, am sooooo jealous of an 11pm - 7am sleep!

We also have random breast screaming here, so glad to hear it's not just me. I have found that stopping, giving B a dummy for a few mins and then trying again works. Although I am useless on winding front, so maybe will try harder there as well.

Needahand, wow, tooth! GF, didn't you say that Storm had one coming in as well? Or was it somebody else?

Josey, are you around, and any chance of you making Glasgow meet up on Friday? Are the rellies taking up all of your time?

Laura, ta for parking tips - yes, lots of cars in parent spaces look suspiciously child free to me too... If only you had to have an official sticker like for disabled spaces eh?

First jabs for us today - B did well - although I had to get his Dad to hold him for them. He has been asleep ever since, apart from waking for a massive feed. (B, not his Dad!). Seemed quite cheery during the 20 mins he was awake! DQ, S was getting his today as well wasn't he? Hope you've got on ok.

Think I am going to make the most of B's post jab sleepiness and grab 40 winks myself.

F$k, F$k, F*$k. The company I work for has been bought by a rival today. Looks like I may be made redundant next year... I was planning to go back to work at Xmas when DH would give up work and be a SAHD. However I was beginning to worry about that anyway what with the credit crunch (we took on a new mortgage just 3 months ago). And now this. Aaaarrrrgggghhhh.

Sponge my sister says roughly how much is Zita West's system?

Not read anyth posts yet - have been trying Gina Ford's crying down method and I now want to kill her and the baby is probably scarred for life.

PP, so sorry to hear about the possible redundancy - just what you don't need right now.

deb, glad the police let you stay!

I got a stung by a wasp today, on my finger. It hurts sooooo much! Thought that once I'd been through childbirth that my pain threshold may be higher, but no, my finger is throbbing like mad. Ow, ow ow!

Amber, it wasn't me that used Zita West it was poppy. We did toy with the idea but the IVF was costing us so much that we decided against it in the end.

Sorry to hear about Gina Ford - never read the book so don't know what that is .

PP - crap news! sending hugs, that's horrible.

I have just about recovered from 2, yes 2 hours of crying down. According to the book it should take 10-30 minutes for them to get bored of crying and go to sleep. In the end, Luke was so traumatised I had to rock him to sleep WITH a dummy (just what Gina who does not have any children says you shouldn't do as it creates sleep associations.). Those of you who have done this (I remember someone saying they did and it worked well with all their kids) I salute you but I don't think Luke has read the book and doesn't realise he is meant to stop crying at any point.

Also now can't get him to go 4 hourly so we have gone back to 3 hourly instead. He's less grumpy so again Gina can stick it up her arse!!

RANT OVER

PP- sorry to hear about the job - you will hopefully get a much better one which pays double what you gt bfore and you'll get a massive redundancy payout!

Needahand - tooth already - wow!!!! put up a piccie when it comes through!

Everyone else - hello and hope all is well.

Going to put Luke in a creche tomorrow and go to they gym - quite scared but realise I need to get over it. Thinking about putting him in nursery too for 2 mornings a week instead of night nanny. Not sure though as he's only little and the bigger babies might pick on him . Serioulsy need some me time though and currently I get none.

yikes amberc, given that we weren't even allowed to mention old GF a short while ago, maybe our opinions ought to be slightly more measured sorry Luke didn't read the book.

pp sorry you've had worrying news

Katyjo - Have you tried the cabbage route or those thermal pads you can get? Hope the pain goes soon!

PP S has started doing exactly the same thing in his moses basket. He usually sleeps through now, but a couple of times over the last few days he's woken up and I think its because he's squashed up at the top of his basket. Unfortunately the curtains still aren't up in his room so cant transfer him to his cot just yet, but it's on my to do list this week! Thanks for all London suggestions - if you find anywhere else between now and November let me know! It would be great to hook up with a London meet-up but it may be a bit tight time-wise this trip. I'll know a bit more nearer the time re: schedule so will give you all a shout if its looking feasible. Fingers crossed!

Ernest hope your DS gets on ok with his op. It has just reminded me though that S was yanking at his man-bits the other day. DH and I were in hysterics.

whinegums Glad B got on ok. S was fine, he cried for a few minutes then went to sleep. DH held him too! He keeps waking up and then when he gets a cuddle goes straight back to sleep. He was due a feed shortly after his jabs but only had a couple of oz's. His next feed due around 6 so hopefully he'll take a big feed then.

PP Just saw your second post. Really sorry that you're facing this uncertainty at the moment. No advice really, just to say thinking of you.

Amber sorry Gina didn't work for you. Cant you get him to read the book ? Re: going 4 hourly, could be worth trying to increase gap by about 15 mins every few days until he stretches back to 4? But only if its important to you! You're right to pop him in the creche if you need a break. Am very lucky in that DH looks after S every Tuesday. Although I have to study on that day .

Right, some housework and tea I think. Sorry, second big post today!

Katyjo - sp sorry that the bfeeding didn't work out for you, but if you are both happier then you have made the right decision.

Kids back to school tomorrow and is dd first day. I have very mixed emotions about this, as on the one hand I will really miss her, and on the other,it will be much easier to just have Jamie. I just need to not embarrass myself by crying at the school gate tomorrow, as a good friend of mine did last year when her dd started.