July 2008 - Living in the Twilight Zone of never quite enough sleep to be compus mentus

[libralady]

Just thought I'd better set up another thread as the old one is just about to run out.

Managed to get P off to sleep at half 10 and slept til 7...feel like i can face the day when she sleeps through, which thankfully is most nights! She is just having a nap now! What do people do with LO's when they nap during the day, Phoebe usually naps in her rocker when she has had a bit of a play and a chat! If I move her she wakes up and screams and then I get nothing done. I do eventually want her to have a afternoon nap upstairs but it is hit and miss as to whether she will go down and do that. Although have found the baby sleeping bag a godsend as I used to wake her up tucking her in!!! Just really not sure what to do?!?!

momma23 - how annoying about DD1 and 2! When my other two were little DD slwpt through quite early but was still getting up with DS1 who was 20 months older 3 times a night until he was 3! -R is already better than that (twice a night usually) and he is only 10 weeks!

bebejones - lucky you with sleeping through. Not there yet - was up 3 times last night - but then he did have his jabs yesterday so I guess was feeling under the weather. He seems happy enough this morning though.

TMI I'm sure but his poo was a slightly different colour this morning - not exactly green but greener, if you get what I mean, and it smelled different too. Any ideas as to whether it was the calpol (only had 1/2 a spoon, if that as spat most of it out) or the immunisations, or just coincidence? Anyone else had this after jabs?

EEC
L poo is very like that. One green and one yellow kinda thing. I would think the jabs may have done it. Nothin to worry about i'd say. Just keep an eye on his next poo.
I find with L, her nappies are runnier then DD1 and 2. Why i dint know.

Cleaning out all DDs cloths!! OMG so many it just not funny. They have more cloths than i have... and shoes..

Doing a big clean out to make room for use to live in!!! Need to get a move on with the building badly!!!

Hi everyone

It has been ages...have been lurking but have been so busy and exhausted...like the rest of you no doubt! Between school run, colic, ballet, gym, osteopath(also have serious back issues from feeding and lifting) and baby groups felt I needed to get myself off the computer (almost addicted!). It has certainly helped me get more organised. Am now rationing the use!

Went to Paris on weekend - it was lovely, but that romantic buzz certainly goes with two children! Was still ok with one...

Anyway a big hello to everyone!

CilC, I know what you mean about computer addiction, I keep thinking that I ought to cut down on my online time too. The thing is, I did this with TV a couple of years ago, but I found that I just ended up doing more housework, which I hate, rather than watching TV, which I enjoy! I now feel I spend enough time during the day looking after everyone else, I deserve a bit of time to myself to do something I enjoy!

Bebejones, Bryony very rarely sleeps in her crib during the day, she's usually fallen asleep on the move in the carseat or pushchair, so I just leave her in it. She never falls asleep without being rocked or pushed around during the day - I'm very envious of those whose LOs fall peacefully asleep on playmats or in bouncy chairs. If that ever happened to me, I would give grateful thanks to the gods of sleep and under no circumstances disturb the sleeping baby, for fear she would wake and scream, as you've found!

After posting yesterday that B wasn't sleeping much during the day, this afternoon she fell asleep for 3 hours, and there was no waking her, she slept all the way through the school run and dd1's swimming lesson. Annoyingly, it meant I wasn't able to get on with anything useful as we were out of the house nearly the whole time. Then she was ravenously hungry on waking, so fed for ages when I should have been cooking dinner, and I also failed to get dd2 to the toilet in time, so had a big wet patch all over the cloakroom carpet . It was the final nail in the coffin for that carpet, it's been put in the bin and I will get something easily washable in its place.

Morning..been up since 4am with Aidan. Lord have mercy. I have no idea what this is all about. He's been sleeping through from 9-5/7 and now this for the last few days. I've only just managed to feed him off to sleep this morning enough to get him to nap on the couch next to me. Wish I could curl up next to him, but not entirely safe and no room really. I left DH in our room to get some rest as he is wfh today. Aidan is 3 months today, growth spurt maybe?

Sorry I've been away so long..just lurking not sure what to say and TBH feel I might have a bit of PND. Major anxiety attacks and have not been leaving the flat much. I did go to the NHS new mums group yesterday so that's something I can do for 5 more weeks. Maybe I just need to keep busy..or maybe I just need some sleep.

Disney - sorry have not made it to the post office yet, but I will do. I think your routine sounds great. I still find myself saying yes ma'am and sir and I don't think it hurts at all to be brought up to say so. Our house growing up was a tip and very unclean so of course I am quite the opposite. It's not perfect, but it's clean.

Tjuice- def losing hair over here. Not just in the drain but the baby is pulling it out of my head. Need desperately to get it cut. I am well up for mum and baby yoga. I'm starting to cut out the sugar.

I'm trying to catch up on all the posts..am I reading right that there are teeth coming in?

mcchesers - poor you, try and get some rest later. I have never had pnd, but I know that going out to groups really helps me feel happier. Also wearing make up and getting out in the fresh air everyday, even if it's just to the corner shop! It is hard spending your whole day and night with a small person who cannot talk to you, demands milk, sleep and cuddles on a seemingly arbitrary basis, and hinders you in doing other stuff like housework and reading.

I met up with some friends last night and one of them said caffeine is linked to depression, so if anyone's feeling low might be worth avoiding too much tea, coffee, coke etc.

I'm a bit fed up today. The house is a tip, no one puts anything away. I am on ironing strike re DH's work shirts because he won't do them on his days off, just complains at 6:30am that he hasn't got one in the wardrobe. Also the MIL is coming on Sunday, so I have to make everyone Sunday dinner, which means I have to make the dining room look presentable.

Well, gotta go. Poppy just pooped. Again....

Morning all - Abbie not sleeping at all well this week which is a bit annoying since she has been sleeping through for quite a while. I think it is a growth spurt as she wants to feed lots day and night. Still struggling with her taking a bottle but new teets did help a bit....think she now just realises that mum is giving her a bottle and that's NOT RIGJHT
ds4 was 3 yesterday ...can't believe it ....but he slept last night for 12 hours and the night before for13 hours.....fantastic since he has hardly slept a full night in 3 years....hope it lasts

Ponto
So feel for you on the "not getting them to the loo in time" i have bout 20 sec with DD1.. Getting there but it sure as hell was not easy! I am letting L sleep where and when she like at the mo, its to hard with DDs and L to be in routine full time.

mcchesers
The day groups are a help and getting you out of the house. Dont worry bout the state of the house as mine is like a disaster zone but were all healthy and thats the main thing. I do a quick tidy every evening and sit and relax and have me time and it makes me feel alot better. During the day i would do one thing like change bed sheets or clean shower but only one. IF you feel you have PND talk is the best thing.

isaidno
Wel done you on the iron strike i refuse to iron anything if i started i dont think i would ever stop with all i have of it! Really dont envy you on cooking Sunday dinner, But you will be grand once you get in to it. Multitask is what were best at

L is a little off today. DDs in creche so have a little peace, god i love this time, when i get a chance to catch up with myself. Off to the shower as i look look like a trashy mammy all week!!! real bad! Do you know i bough the DVD of "sex and the city" 2 weeks ago and STILL havent watched it!! very Might bring the portable DVD thing and watch it in the bath tonight thats a plan.

Hopr you all are well.

minipink - that's great about ds4. My DS1 was 3 before he started sleeping through - he used to wake crying 2 or 3 times a night - just needed reassurance, but you still have to get up! It's exhausting isn't it? In the end it was sticker charts that worked for us with the promise of a toy at the end of 10 consecutive nights with no crying. It's hard when you have a baby too - I used to be up 5 or 6 times a night when DS1 was 2 and DD was a baby . That's what put me off having another one for so long! This one is a dream compared to DS1 though, so perhaps I needn't have waited!

Mcchesers - I agree getting out of the house and making yourself look half decent helps., but it is easier said than done, isn't it? I still haven't got round to going to any baby groups yet and know no-one around here. I guess I'm still worried that I will be so much older than everyone else. Perhaps I will go this afternoon.... R was up at 4 this morning too thinking it was time to get up and decided it was time to go back to sleep at 8 when I had to get hime up to take DS to school. Lucky for him he's tto cute to be cross with

I'm with you on the non ironing - I don't touch an iron - DH doesn't either so he goes to work in un ironed shirts! But that's his choice - he could iron them. Fortunately he agrees with me that life is too short... I do just about manage to keep the loos and kitchen clean though.

Anyone else still got linea nigra?

EEC
Never had linea nigra with any DC, however i did not get away lightly on the strech mark front!! Covered in them and all the creams in the world will never get rid!

Off to bake some fairy cakes. Keep DD1 quiet and a nice treat later

Lurking, v busy but just had to drop in to say yes, EEC, I still have linea nigra. It's getting lighter but is still v noticeable. Mind you, I don't generally expose my belly anyway as it's fit to scare the crows!

Ponto, re keeping the house tidy, I just lowered my standards . Also, I cheat in that DD1 and DD2 go to my childminder 3 days a week (otherwise I would lose my spaces for when I go back to work).

Mcchesers, second getting out of the house even for a little while. I walked miles with DD1 when she was a baby and it saved my sanity, and incidentally my waistline.

Finally, a bit of an aaaargh - Orlaith slept from 9-4 last night, but DD2 decided to get up to the toilet at 2.30am. Why is it dhs can sleep through a child shouting at the top of her voice 'I need a toilet!!'

Poledra
LOL at your DD and DH.. We have that in this house too. DP never hears them waking sleeps right through!! I know its the medication he is on for seizures but still!!!

Weather here is soo cold, wet and horrible !!!

no one irons in my house either - life is way too short! Lots of my friends are a bit about it but I don't care.

Huge sympathy to everyone with babies who won't fall asleep by themselves. DD was like that until she was about 18 months old - needed to be rocked/cuddled to sleep during the day, then she suddenly said 'night nights upstairs' one day and ever since has happily toddled off to her cot for an hour every afternoon! It is knackering when they need coaxing to sleep.

DS is a dream and is currently snoozing happily on his changing mat, where he drifted off to sleep after a bum change, bless.

We have teeth here at 10 weeks - just broken through, poor little man, am using lots of bonjela which seems to help.

WOW Teeth DDs 1 and 2 were 6 months when they got theres. But DD3 is teething mad already.

Hello,

Minipink- Sounds like being 3 def agrees with DS

Mchessers- I too find getting out and about helps to make you feel more human again.

re Ironing- I only iron on demand..Thankfully DH doesnt wear shirts to work so dont have to worry about that. I only iron things if /when they need doing but thats not that often. Lazy mummy here... I try to buy non iron bed sheets ect. Totally agree that lifes too short!

Abigail has recently decided that she will only catnap during the day for about 30mins at a time but when she wakes is still grumpy and tired. Think shes become a light sleeper and wakes easily and finds it tricky to settle herself back off. This has meant she is really grumpy by evening time.
Last night we put her up to bed at 8.30 after a feed then a dreamfeed when we went to bed which meant she wasnt grumpy all evening. She then woke at 3 so not too bad.
We used to do 11 till 5/6am. Will continue this new bedtime and see how we go.

Had my mum up for a few days to stay. Yesterday went had a mammoth shopping trip! Shes like a dog with a bone when she wants something!- Dragged Abigail and I into EVERY clothes shop in town looking for a new cardi.
Took my own back today and made her walk round the park. She hates exercise but prop walked an equal distance around the shops yesterday Been a lovely sunny day here today.

We plan to take Abigail swimming for the first time this weekend. Ive got a costume for her ( very cute pink frilly thing!) and a rubber ring thing to sit in but what about nappies? Does she need a special swim nappy? Can you get them in newborn sizes?

Pigley, yes, you can get either reusable or disposable swimm nappies. Our local pool will not allow your baby in witohut one - they also sell them on reception.

Pigley I have been taking Rafferty swimming for a few weeks and he has some disposable swim nappies. You can get them everywhere...boots, waitrose etc Raff loves it but the water needs to be warm as he gets cold so easily and I keep two towels close by so that they do not get too wet.

I am losing loads of hair...one of our drains got clogged!!!

Sorry to hear how you are feeling Mcchesers. I am like isaidno and find getting out really helps.

Tjuice we are visiting Copenhagen in a few weeks and on your recommendation we are also staying in Lund.

Night everyone!

Thanks for all the kind words ladies! Sometimes it all gets away from me and I forget to breathe and go outside. Must be the horrible weather we're having up here.

Glad I'm not the only one who's hair is coming out in clumps! Is there anything we can do, or is it just part of the process?

off to bed before getting up at some rediculous hour to get cleaning the flat like mad. Ok everyone work your positive energy that this viewer buys our flat tomorrow!!

Loads of positive vibes for your flat selling! Mcchesers we have had 2 buyers pull out amost at exchange and after 12 months have decided to take place off market last week. I found it quite stressful keeping everthing immaculate and found myself becoming a little obsessive with cleaning and putting everything in its place!!
No wonder you are feeling blue...awful weather, house selling, being far from family and a new one!
Anyway the best of luck...I sooo relate to waking up early and doing that cleaning blitz!

mcchesers
Lots of positive vibes for you cleaning and selling your flat. Thats major stress so hope it goes well.

Weather is terrible here, some sun and sea would be soooo soooo nice!

L went down last night from 8pm till 8.45am this morning!!! growing spert just love them! HAd a 3 kids in bed b4 9 and i didnt know what to do with myself! So i sat and watched TV and stuffed all the things i really needed to do! It was bliss

Cheers guys. Have just about got it all sorted, just the last minute hoover and sparkle. It's raining cats and dogs out here today.

CiLC- I have followed your house selling torment for months so totally feeling your pain..but TWICE?!! We just thought since we already paid the marketing fee that we'd just put it back up for the last quarter and see how it goes. If not then nothing lost but it can't sell if it's not on the market. I'm not aiming for immaculate, just clean and tidy.

I try not to sound desperate when the viewers come but this guy wanted to see the flat before the board even went up! So maybe he's keen after all. Fingers crossed.

Aidan slept from 9:30pm to almost 7am this morning yay!

Quick question: We have this graco petite bassinet and he's just about as long as it is. I've got him sleeping in a sleep bag, but he manages to shift clockwise about 90 degress where his head is against the side of the crib, but he never manages to wake himself up. So I wake to find him wedged sideways and he's fast asleep. Should I leave him? Is this bad?

Morning all,

Well the second night of the earlier bedtime went well. Bed at about 8.45 then dream feed at 11. Slept through till 4.30 then slept till 8.30 when she fed then fell straight back to sleep till 10am!
I layed in till about 9.15

Her daytime naps have been a struggle lately with her taking ages to go off and only lasting about 30 mins. She would usually sleep in her rocker or swing downstairs but today I put her for her nap upstairs in her basket. She took allof 5 mins to settle herself and is sounds asleep. Looks like that might be the answer- Fingers crossed.

for all you guys with bad weather. Its nice and sunny here again in the south east.

Re moving- What a stressful business! Last time we moved it was a nightmare and took ages!- Cant believe we are contemplating it again next year

Mcchesers, Rafferty seems to love wedging himself...where ever he is he finds a way to shuffle into a corner or up to a person or a side. Maybe some womb thing regression thing? (Just joking or maybe not!)
I tend to leave him... he seems happy and obviously likes squashing himself.