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...

Hi Rolf, good to hear from you - I'm not surprised you've got your hands full with 4 DCs!

Amber, no routine at all - but then does 10 - 6 count as 'sleeping through' or do they have to be going 7 - 7? I don't know.

We just let Alex do what he wants - he sleeps when he wants, feeds when he wants, plays when he wants. Obviously we won't always let him do this in case you think we're going to turn him into a totally spoilt brat!

There's no pattern really - last week he was very awake during the day and slept from 10 - 5.30am, the last couple of days he's slept alot during the day but also in the night.

I think it probably just depends on the babies doesn't it, but I'm no expert. Some babies sleep through at 6 weeks, others don't do it until 6 mths. Sorry if that's no help.

HI everyone

Josey - Olivia sounds like she's doing really well with her mobility. Ethan isn't anywhere near rolling (thank goodness). He can get his hand to his mouth but I think it's more error than judgement.

Hectic day here - tennis lessons, swimming,washing and tidying up for an estate agent valuation tomorrow. I should be in bed as it's 11.30pm here and Ethan's already been asleep for 2 hours but I still have a few more bits to do.

Nowhere near sleeping through, pleased for you though Neenz - must make such a difference , especially with twins. Ethan doesn't settle in his cot until 9.30 ish either and I need him to go earlier than this in September when the boys are back at school. When you crack it let us know how you did it.

No sleeping through the night for us here. DD1 slept through from 6 weeks, DD2 from day 1 but then it all went wrong at around 3 months! DS will do it when he's ready!

Deb, what's the housing market like in Austria at the moment? Are you planning to buy something back here? Don't know whether you've heard about the talk of suspending stamp duty for certain houses? Don't know how much truth there is in the rumour though!

Thank you sponge the page was actually set up by an ex neo nat with cerebral plasy he is now 12and has just learned to ride a bike!! so its just connected straight to the Specially Nursery and we dont have a comment page. I will pass on your wishes though.

On the rolling she isnt that clever she has to have one arm under her then she crosses her legs and twists right over but she cant do it unless that arm is there. I have to do alot of positioning with her so it started on her side...she happened to go onto her tummy then flip back again.....for a quadraplegic its pretty good though. The finner motor skills with the arms to face etc are very limited she doesnt have a full rage of movements at all so I have to teach her she has a face/chest another hand.....so when I said you can see her fighting the resistance, one part of her brain knows its there because I have showed her...and she wants to do it.....but her brain cant make the moves....she is FKN stubborn though she gets one arm half way up and you can see it shake under the strain then she brings her head forward as if sod this im not giving in!!

We have a routine as such and I hate it....8am Drugs and feed, midday feed, 4pm feed, 7pm bath/physio/massage 8pm drugs and feed...12pm feed....then its just hope for the best during the night hit or miss really if she wakes that will be her for 4hours or so usually 2am till 6am but thats not every night.

I know I should probably should talk to someone but I dont think I can, I know what I said sounds awful and if someone did turn up and my door and say its a mistake here is your baby I wouldnt let them take my Oli Bear away as I love her so much..DH is away and DD1 also hasnt been sleeping so no sleep ontop of it all makes me black.

Poppy if he sleeps sitting have you proped the cot & mattress? I have books under one end and a towel under the mattress its the only way she will sleep in her cot.

TGF I have a vibrating chair and it just makes sick in this house...chair is ace bar the vibrating bit.

Debs I must have missed it are you moving?

OK away to do the last feed thank you all for making me feel un ogar like

josey You must be so proud of your little girl. I am crying as I type this. She is amazing - and so are you.
sorry the vibrating chair's a sick machine - but they are v comfy anyway I think.

neenz thanks for sharing your routine. I think we are in catch 22 - storm is certainly big enough to sleep through but because she wakes at night I'm tired during the day and then when she naps for ages I can't face waking her for feeds - especially because she feeds for so long.
I tried the breast compression this evening and it seemed to speed up her feeding a little - but she'd had 6oz of hungry baby stage 2 feed, and then fed from me for 15 mins half an hour later!
went to baby clinic today and she has stabilised on just under the 91st centile for weight and over the 91st for height! bearing in mind she was the 9th centile when she was born you can see why i've been having feeding marathons. but it means when i can get a break from feeding i get greedy and don't wake her up. today i fed her at 4am, 9.15, 1, 4.30, 6.30 and 10 (which was the FF with my BF top up which took till 11.45 as she kept needing burping). We'll see how long she goes for now.
It doesn't help that my breast which has had the mastitis in it is currently producing half the volume of the happy breast as i still have blocked ducts which i can't seem to shift.

still, wtf am i whinging for? josey, sometimes i feel like essie, that i should just shut up and be grateful!

Josey or anyone else with experience.. how on earth do you put your kid to bed with the baby screaming when your DH is away? We had a crap night last night, it took me two hours to get Duncan and Fraser asleep and then F was up at midnight, 3, 5, 7, and finally 8am for good. (Duncan woke up at 7 so I wanted Fraser to go back to sleep so D and I could have some time together).

I know I can't complain because I'm hoping to go part time and the only way I can do that is if DH goes offshore sometimes in this new job of his. But right now it's just so hard. I feel like I'm definitely earning my share of the family income these days.

Tips and hints are very very appreciated.

Josey, like TGF I was very moved by your post - Oli Bear sounds like an absolutely amazing little girl who will astound you all her life with her determination! Well done for all your hard work - I'm sure your pereverance must account for some of Olivia's amazing recovery.

PS just like I said - the night nanny came and Luke slept 11.30 until 6.15 - WTF!!!!

Amber - how typical. Mine used to do that when mum/PILs was here to do night shift. I'm sure they thought I was making it up when I said DTs kept me up all night.

Greenfairy - I think as long as you give five full feeds a day it doesn't matter if they are not every 3 hours on the dot. 91st centile from the 9th? !!!! Esther was on 0.4 centile at birth but is now on 9th - she is still only 9lb 4oz and she is three months old.

They slept through again last night - Theo from 10.30-8, Esther 11-7. Another thing that is helping them sleep through I think is they are in their own room. I usually have the doors closed but DH left our door open last night and I did hear Theo stirring at 4.30am, but I just ignored him and he went back to sleep. Same at 6.30am... I am keeping the doors shut tonight.

Even though they are sleeping all night I am not... I still keep waking up at 4am and 6am.

And I have started waking up searching for them in the bed again... Last night I was searching and DH woke up and said 'there are no babies in the bed' I said 'I know'. So I don't know what I was looking for!

suddenly loads to catch up on!

whinegums KatyJo BDQ would love to meet up in RL where and when suits everyone. Could also do Perth at some point for a Scottish wide meet... although know nowhere in Perth at all so someone in the know would have to suggest a place!

KatyJo I start the exercise class next Friday, will you still be there then?

BDQ I have also started using reuseables this week and managing quite well, although still using disposables at night too. I am using the clothes one size up to counteract the big bum syndrome!

Batman was great, but should definately not be a 12A, so violent. I'm sure Heath Ledger will get an oscar nomination... not getting to the cinema this week, but they're showing Dirty Dancing next week!

Josey I think you are amazing, and it's natural to have sad/low thoughts at times, you are doing an amazing job. ove Oli-bear as a name

Rolf hello! you won't know what to do with yourself when the older ones are back at school!

hi josey, i'm new so don't know you but i find your posts really moving. it must be such a struggle. certainly helps put things in perspective when whinging about the trials of motherhood. speaking of which, anyone read this thread? I've just read my way through it (supposed to be writing an article while DS naps) - it's brilliant. It's put me off having more than one child, that's for certain!

re: tummytime - jimmy is asleep beside me on the bed on his tummy for the first time in his little life! i figure he surely can't die of SIDS if i'm right here all up in his grille. normally he arches his back during tummy time, lifts his head up for a while and eventually gets frustrated and starts to cry. but today he decided to nap on his front. i do hope i'm not doing him permanent damage! still, we all slept on our fronts and most of us are still here... right?

reaches out, flips DS onto his back

Morning all, have just been catching up but head too foggy to respond or comment on any posts - I have a hangover!!! DH off today so am off duty as it were.

S is now going a bit longer without a feed in the middle of the night and only takes half of what he has the rest of the day. Last night he didn't get up till 3.40am for his feed. His nap times during the day can be quite erratic, but he feeds (roughly) at 7am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, 10pm and then once during the night. He usually goes to sleep quite easily after his last feed (but all that evening screaming must be tiring )

Laura I'm going to try the reusables again next week. They weren't a hit yesterday S screamed blue murder as soon as the nappy was the slightest bit wet and we went through about 10 nappies between 8am and 3pm. I put a thread in the nappy section and someone has suggested fleece liners so I might give that a go. You're using bamboozles too aren't you? Which liner? I ordered some clothes from frugi/cut4cloth who make clothes for those in cloth nappies this week. Very expensive but great sale so got a few bargains.

Josey I can only really echo everyone else's sentiments and send big hugs your way.

RL meet up in Glasgow would be fab. Tuesdays are out for me but pretty flexible otherwise as long as its easy to get to from Queen St.

Hello all

Just caught up on everybodies posts!

Josey - echoing everyone else i think you have amazing stamina and are a real example to us all, Olivia sounds that she IS making some progress despite her problems and hugs to you to carry on how you are doing. Re donations page, I dont think i can donate which is a shame as you seem to need to be paying tax in England no? which obviously i dont. If there is any other way i could help i would love too

Couple things to say!:

1. re rouutines Fleur has a routine and is kind of sleeping through but not when i want!!!

She goes from 7pm to 12pm and then 1pm to 4/5am . The 7 to 12 strech is fab and i know some of you are dying for your LO to do this, however I cant sleep then I need an evening first!!! We have tried dream feed at 10pm and at 11pm but nope she still wakes at 12 or 1!!! Oh well time will tell

1. Re jabs, Fleur screamed the place down so much that the nurse was really worried she had done something wrong!!! but she was fine no fever or after pains.

I think i asked this before and have seen that you Neenz have mentioned 12 week jabs is that the new pneumoocom(whatever!!9 jab? Drs here say she should have this jab at 3 months and then again at 6 etc TGF you asked if it is MMR its related but also includes colds etc Are any of you having it and is it worth it now? drs say yes if Fleur going to Nursery at 4months? This is the one they reccomend Fleur has Pneumococcal Immunisation Trouble it seems the earlier you have it the more jabs you need and herre they are 50 pounds a shot

Ok thats enough rambling oh and for someone asking for blog details think it was amberc or ampster cant remember here you are Fleurs blog

Just telling DP about routines and he thinks we should all combine babies as ours is doing 7 to 12 and others 10 to 5 etc maybe combining them somehow will work!!!!

HI everyone - yes Sponge we are considering moving back to the UK,dh has the opportunity of some music work in the UK which is more his cup of tea than diy and cleaning these apartments . Plus, having Ethan I feel so much further away from family and friends - it's unsettled me.

So - estate agent came, looked round house, looked at plans, asked questions then announced that it was 300 euros for the valuation which was refunded if we used her to sell the house. I don't think so!!!I explained that , we wouldn't be paying for a beautifully produced document about our house - we just wanted a price - so eventually she agreed to call us with a rough price over the next few days. So now I need to call the agent coming tomorrow to make sure that she doesn't think she's going to charge us 300 Euros either.

ho hum!!At least I have a tidy house, well apart from the Stargate centre which is being set up in the corner of the living room!

Amber, how bloody annoying! But on the plus side, maybe he's turned a corner and will start sleeping longer generally now. Alex just suddenly started sleeping from 10 - 5 ish last week and appears to have knocked his 2am feed on the head, but babies are nowt but unpredictable!

TGF - wow! That's an amazing growth spurt! No wonder you're exhausted from feeding all the time. I was impressed that Alex had gone from the 25th centile to the 75th but 9th to 91st!

ampster, I often let Alex sleep on his front if I'm awake and sat next to him all the time. It really helps him if he has bad wind. I would never leave him like that, even to go to the loo, but I'm sure it's perfectly safe if you're there.

All those using reuseables - do you have a tumble dryer? I was dead keen on using them before A arrived, but the more I read about them the more rapidly I go off the idea, and I just don't know where I'd dry them all. I struggle to find space to dry all his laundry at the moment, esp in this weather! What does everyone else do?

josey, I was impressed with the website before you told me it was put together by a 12 year old, but now . . ! What an achievement!

I was reading the Guestbook yesterday - humbling and inspiring.

oops, deb, cross posted!

cheeky estate agent - they're clearly just the same in Austria as they are in the UK then!

hi all.. deb 300 euros.. talk about money for old rope!

ampsteredie seleeps on her tummy all the time on me - read somewhere that if you are with them/near them they can regulate their breathing to yours ... I just wouldnt leave her in her cot to do it (plus if she is in any other position than on her tummy monkey style on me all hell breaks loose ).

josey good idea re reaising the cot.. did that with her moses basket adn worked a treat. and thinking of you today ..

amber no particular daytime routine but at night try to do bath/quiet feed at 7 (she never goes down! but will persist).. usually falls asleep somewhere between 8.30 -9.30 on one of us or next to us..then waks about 11 -11.30 for dream feed - then again usually around 4/5 (has slept through til 6 a couple of times)... feed/play at about 7 then sleeps thorugh til about 10 for feed. will take anywhere between 2 - 4 feeds between 10 -5 and usually a couple of naps although not yet mastered getting her in her cot (not helped by fact builders in next door room whacking merry hell out of the bathroom)

Josey, I thought Oli-bear was lovely too. I can't believe how well she is doing.

DQ, hangover. How wonderful! How much did you have to drink to get one though? (Probably about one glass if you're anything like me!)

Green fairy, stunning weight gain! That's amazing! Was she 9th percentile for full term or for her weeks? Glad the breast compression may have helped. It's really stunning when you're expressing, but I'm less sure about feeding.

All those babies who can cope with their tummies. I feel crue; putting DD down on hers!

She is slightly less unsettled today than she was yesterday. I am also very windy, so am wondering if it is a bug, or if I (and therefore) we ate something that disagrees with us. I hate the fact that they can't tell you what's wrong, and yet get so miserable. Off to HV today to have her weighed and to discuss her reflux.

Hi Rolf, the summer hoildays must be quite a trial. Are you enjoying it?

Hi UDC . Yes, I am enjoying having the children around. We're having a nice mix of things going on and quiet days, so we don't get too much cabin fever. And it breaks the children up too. I love love love having enough children to have that variety of grouping!

DD1 is with the childminder today (she's doing a couple of school-length days a week) which meant I could take the boys and DD2 to a cafe and then the library. Yesterday the boys were off playing tennis so I took the girls to a playgroup. I've got my head round my lack of transport by thinking of it as a fitness boot-camp. I had been getting very cranky about it, and wound up when DH said he could pick a child up then having to let me down at the last minute. The childminder is over a mile away and the pushchair is quite heavy with both girls in it, so I'm already feeling the benefit of all the exercise. Hopefully we're off on holiday next week although we've already had to put it back a week as DH got too busy to go this week, so we'll see what happens. We've got plasterers coming next week too and we haven't used them before so I don't really want to just let them run loose with our housekeys. DH is pushing for us to work to a really tight timetable with the rest of the work on the house, and I'm worried that we'll just create anxiety for ourselves.

Deb - good luck with the valuations. Whereabouts in the UK are you hoping to move to?

I feel at all this centiles talk. I haven't had DD2 weighed since the midwife signed us off and even then didn't know what centile she was on. She's growning out of her clothes, is happy and sleeping well so I assume all is fine . She can't have her 6 week check until next month as the only GP at our surgery who does them is away, and there's a huge backlog of appointments. She doesn't have her hip scan till September either but as she wasn't breech for long I'm not too worried about it.

advice needed want to get a sling which holds the baby sideways not upright (like how you would hold them in your arms). I need a recmmendation but wonder if at more than 13 lbs and very long, Luke is too big tio fit ones that way round. What do you think?

Debs, good luck with the valuations. Will you go back to the north west (I think that's where you said you were from), or is your DH's music likely to be somewhere else. Probably a good time to move to back to the UK with house prices and so on.

Neenz I do that searching the bed thing, really weird as I have never fed in bed and both our kids were in their own rooms from 3 weeks. Dh does it too!

Laura I won't be there this friday as I've noone to watch ds but will be there next week. I am the totally unco-ordinated one!!

Whinegums Mia and I went to see Mamma mia at the grosvenor this am!! We had a little 'mumma and Mia' time, well I thought it was funny, she was really good. We'll def go again, if you fancy it sometime!

I better go, lo is crying!

Amber you'd probably be OK with a ring sling - for a longer baby you could still carry him in a cradle hold with his legs poking out. You can pick up simple ones pretty cheap online if you do a search. Then when he gets bigger you can use it for hip carries too.

Just discovered I have been driving my car with no MOT since June - got it in for one today and discovered the brakes have worn out too again - how shocking a mother am I??? we've already done a motorway trip in it! So that's £££ but worth it to be safe. Meant a really busy morning though as Caitlin had her jabs (she was v. brave!) and also a physio check for her harness, so we were dashing back and forth in the rain with no car, growl.

No plans this afternoon bar an ASDA delivery so hoping to get something done in the house beyond just feeding!! Shouldn't complain about the feeding though as she has twice slept through the night now and I'm sure getting lots of milk during the day helps.

Josey you and Olivia are both such stars. Caitlin has pushed herself over from her tummy once, but I am too slack to do tummy time consistently with her; ds couldn't even wriggle around the floor till 3 months though so I reckon Olivia's doing marvellously well! Have made a donation on the site today.