June 08 - New Year same old sleepless nights

[hedgehog1979]

Bit bored so thought I would start the new thread

Lol! Yes, it does doesn't it?! I didn't read it like that originally - but yer all that soft play works for me too!

On work - what Essie said - with the addition that I deliberately chose academia because I could see how I could fit a family around it. Though I'm lucky to be in a dossy non-teaching research position at the moment - it would be harder if I was lecturing (which I can avoid for only a couple of years longer I think!)

Went to the wonderful wonderful allergy specialist with ds yesterday and he had a skin prick test - so brave!! he didn't flinch! (It helps that he has been conned thinks going to children's outpatients is actually a special day out for him in the big playroom - the screams when we left were something to behold - 'I not WANT to go home!!' )

Turns out he is probably growing out of his egg and tomato allergies but is strongly allergic to house dust mite. So my slatternly ways must change! This does explain why his eczema flares up at his grandparents' - their house is pristine but is also wall to wall carpeted, while we're all cheap laminate and vinyl here. Just hope it doesn't develop into asthma, which is apparently possible. Will be another thing to consider in the housebuying process; anything covered in fluffy carpets would mean having to rip them all out.

On which, going to see the Victorian do-up project again today [completely crazy emoticon]

Oh and Essie he saw ENT yesterday too - the consultant said at the moment she wouldn't recommend surgery for him as he looks OK on exam and his middle ear pressure was fine, but to keep his nose decongested with saline drops 3 or 4 x a day to try and minimise the amount of infections he gets, and she'll see him again in 6 months. Does this make sense in relation to what you've said about such things before?

Both ENT and allergist said the ear infections are linked to the allergies too - causing runny nose and dysfunction in the Eustachian tube - so housework really does have to move up our list of priorities now.

to keep it post-natal, Caitlin enjoyed both appointments too

Essie & systemsaddict yes, after all these years it's easy to be emotionally attached to my research! I'm not in academia anymore but running research programs in a government agency. It's a permanent position which is why I made the switch and it's still research based. I find it's much better than a faculty position for family life. (I was a sessional lecturer before this). I don't wear a white coat though - am a physicist by training and do numerical modelling at the moment or field work in small boats (where I wear a very non-attractive puffy red suit!).

essie one of these days I'll be back your way for work I'm sure - wish I'd known you a few years back when I was over at menai bridge for meetings, I had some dull nights in a hotel by myself.

systemsaddict we suffer from allergies so are pulling up all the carpets in our house and putting in bamboo flooring. Have just started a thread about what colour to get here.

sponge unfortunately it sounds like it really will be tough. I found pregnancy + full time work + toddler really exhausting and I have no idea how tough an IVF cycle is, but I imagine it's emotionally draining. Sending hugs!

As for nursery vs. childminders - I picked nursery because DS1 was so active, I feel exhausted after a day running with him and most childminders are older and not in as good shape. The advantage of nursery for me was lots of young and energetic staff.

I can see how a CM seems better/nicer etc than a nursery but just thought I'd share this about my SIL's baby (Z). He goes to a CM who also looks after nursery and school-age kids, so at 8.30am Z gets in his coat, gets in the car, goes to school, gets in the pushchair, goes to the school to drop kids off, Z goes back in the car and back home. The whole thing is repeated at midday when CM goes to pick up nursery kids, and then repeated again at 3pm to pick up school kids. Z hates the car and pushchair and screams pretty much all the time! So I think you have to choose carefully with a CM. Nurseries seem to me to be more set up to accommodate kids eg with lots of activities to do and staff who are there ONLY to look after kids ie not doing their housework or on MN!!

Horrific night here - had about 3 hours sleep in total with much crying. (Iestyn, not me.) Tim was away last night, but he's back tonight.

Systems the ENT advice sounds good. My opinion - not a medical one - is to avoid fiddling any more than is necessary, as glue ear (and that kind of congestion) does pass, that in itself doesn't do any damage and the repeated operations and grommets I had did do damage. However, that was the 80s and I suppose they were quite keen with their new technology!
Is he dairy free? I vaguely remember that that could help with mucous anywhere in the ENT region (!), and as a child I drank pints of milk endlessly.
With the infections, the key is to be vigilant and catch them before they burst, and get antibiotics straight away. I'm now in the position where if I have an infection coming (I know the signs - but they're v. rare thankfully) I'm allowed to go straight to A&E because one more burst infection would take away my eardrum. When I was little, I used to complain about the 'little drum' in my ear, and that meant infection. (It's my heartbeat which I could hear in my ear, presumably from throbbing?) See if you can get DS to talk about any signs like that.

Aberdeen I suppose if you're doing anything marine related then this area is a destination, because that's a specialism in the University. (As you know!) And Menai Bridge - well, if you're coming this way again, don't stay in Menai Bridge, stay with me! I'm 5 mins from Menai Bridge. (Closest village to me is Llanfair P. G., and then Menai Bridge is the closest town.) I occasionally find myself in Aberdeen because there is a Celtic dept there but all sorts of weird things went on there (job losses, hate campaigns...that's Celtic for you! Pool is too small.). I'm also in regular contact with the (excellent) medieval Celtic History folks there - that's the dirty old man esteemed professor.

Academia certainly works for me, but I also adore my subject and my work. But it is convenient - I have a totally dossy teaching job at the moment, plus no office yet; I'm not that desperate for an office because no office means they can't expect me to do any admin!

Aberdeen wish I'd remembered that DIY/decorating board. We've just bought tiles for our kitchen, and also flooring - and it's dark! It's this but from Carpet Right and therefore dirt cheap. The thinking was we're having a white kitchen, with slate-effect worktops; so the floor in the kitchen will match, and we're carrying it through to the tiny hallway. Kitchen floor is around 2m sq, and hallway is a smidge bigger but only about 2.5m sq. We were concerned about making rooms look smaller, but then everything else is light coloured (walls, decoration, woodwork), and we didn't want different flooring in the kitchen and adjoining hall because that would make things smaller. Anyhow, it's only a kitchen (where we don't hang out - too small) and a hallway. And I don't think dark shows up marks - we have white floor tiles in the bathroom and the hair and dust which gathers on that is quite shocking.

Can I add that I don't want to start making people feel anxious about their childcare provisions. I'm only going on about nursery because it's worked out and I'm happy - and I've discovered that happy about childcare = life is ok! Mind you, I've still managed to find something to worry about - nappy changes! How many would you expect in a day at nursery (dropped off 9.30, picked up at 4)?

MASSIVE post - oops! Now I have to go and get my bin which blew all over my garden last night. Could have done it at 3am frankly, because I wasn't allowed to sleep then!

Essie yeah! Will not try to avoid travel in your direction then It's a pain to get there from here (I fly to Manchester and then take the train!) so I have sort of been avoiding it!

Is Iestyn getting teeth? That screwed Fraser up for a couple nights.

Nappy changes - DS1 used to be changed a minimum of three times a day, more often if they noticed he'd produced a poo. They would change them after snack, lunch, and snack as eating tends to stimulate the bowels.

And I don't think nursery or childminders are bad choices - each kid probably would prefer something different too.

Iestyn seemed to have wind, actually; it was odd. He was pulling his legs up, and his tummy felt quite hard. But I could do nothing to make him burp. In the end, we lay down on my bed exhausted, he fell asleep, and I put him in his cot.

Hm, concerned about nappy changes now. They do three at nursery (but don't know what happens if a baby is dirty - presumably they change him; will ask): 10, 12.45 (after lunch) and 3.30 (after snack). Yesterday, he was dropped off at 9.45 (they probably assumed he was fresh in his nappy, which he was), was changed at lunchtime, but then wasn't changed; but when I picked him up at 4, three girls asked if they could change him for me. Mum wondered whether he had fallen asleep at nappy change time (he had the other day). Will now scrutinize his book and take notes.

I would expect at least two nappy changes between 9.45 and 4. I change mine at 8am, 11am, 2pm and 6pm (bathtime). Sorry you had a bad night Essie

Lol at Essie, not remotely bothered about what other people think about my childcare options and Neenz, I didn't say that CM was better or nicer than nursery it's just what I would prefer!! As I say horses for courses - most people do go for nurseries, it's just not for me.

Totally get all the faffing around that's possible with a CM, but I came from a family of four with a three year age gap from oldest to youngest so totally used to going out and about all day to fit in with other kids' schedules!

We also wanted four kids very close together and for me to be a SAHM (best laid plans! ) and if this had happened, my children would have had to fit into their brothers/sisters schedules so just re-creating my family really!

Also, Alex is the most chilled out, laid back kid you could want to meet and pretty much takes everything in his stride so no problem on that score.

Talking of which, he's just woken up!

Feeling rough here with another blocked duct ( Poppy are you sorted now?) aching all over, sore glands, VERY sore boob and nipple as to be expected, but I have realised what triggers it. The last time I had it this bad was in the summer the day after I was pushing the pushchair off road in the mountains, yesterday I was pushing it through deep fresh snow and it was a bugger - I think that must be it, must be squashing boob as I grip onto the handles - sounds weird doesn't it!

Afternoon all

essie Having worked at Head Office and seen other branch staff they all seem to be size 6 and so think that the sizing is off rather than me being huge as my current size 18 jeans are hanging off me at the moment.

neenz Isaac is going to be the only kid my childminder has as she has only been registered since July and her two girls are 3 and 15 months (so there will be drop off for nursery etc)

Was at mums and babies this morning and one of the mums was saying that you are not supposed to introduce Gluten til a year - has anyone heard this. Am now feeling slightly paranoid as Isaacs first food was toast.

Right need to go and clean Isaac up as we are having left overs for lunch - chicken Korma, Beef in Black bean sauce and jacket potato and he looks a right state now, and we are off to see the CM in a minute to talk about his routine and stuff

deb x post sympathies on the blocked duct - I really recommend olive oil soaked cotton wool in bra as it really worked for me

I had a rotten night too. Don't know what's going on. Got some home made puree down Luke yesterday which had cod in it and his nappy stunk of fish this morning - eugh. He's in a filthy mood today and I have pearls and baby pearls coming to visit - flamin' typical.

HH, gluten is a known allergen so if there was a history of it in family I'd hold off but if not then 6mths is fine.

Sponge, I never said you said CM was better or nicer, but as you have chosen a CM I assume you do think it is better or you would not have chosen it, which is fine. For some people a CM is better, for some a nursery is better, I was just saying about my SIL's baby cos it shocked me when she told me what his day was like with the CM, and I have a friend who said to me she had visions of her CM being like a second mum who loves her baby as much as she does and spends all her day pandering to his needs. I am not saying that's what you think, I am just saying it is a common perception. Everyone does what's best for them and their baby and I know that is what you are doing for Alex.

real mums don't pamper to their babies needs

Quickly checking in to say hi. SA - my sa1 is very allergic to house dust mites too. Once we replaced the carpeting, got a leather sofa and put covers on his duvet etc. he got much better.

Is everyone elsesbaby eating well now? From the sounds of it it is now just Jamie still struggling to get to grips with food (sigh). Tell me it will get better. I mean, I know it will, it just doesn't feel like it at the moment...

AH, lol, is that where I'm going wrong?!

Also Josey, not sure if I'm right about this but did you mention that you were advised to give cream to Olivia? I'm trying to think of ways to wean J from his yoghurt only stance and thought this might help but can't remember what the guidelines are for cream. Any advise would be ace thanks.

Sybil - Luke hardly eats anything! Unless of course it's yoghurt in which case there's no stopping him but clearly he can't live on yoghurt!

Jamie is seriously trying to live solely on yoghurt. Nothing else will pass his lips. He literally clamps his mouth shut and turns his head away if you try to put anything else in there. Then he starts crying - (still with closed mouth in case you try to sneak anything past him) and looks so sad I immediately give in. We are both in this together then! The yoghurt twins. I feel better for the company, thanks! If I find anything that he will take other than yoghurt I will let you know!

sponge sorry you have been pushed back to work. I used to like the idea of a childminder but when the girls do their agyer school activities there are oftern mindees stuck in buggies for half and hour and the cm's don't even get them out. I really think it depends how many children they have. I would also look into a nanny share.

Sybil&Amber Have you tried putting veg into plain yogurt or do they only like sweet ones?

DS loves bread at the moment so have had to try to be inventive with filings! We haven't avoided gluten or nut butters.

Hi all - haven't been around for a few days as I've been staying with my parents. Had a lovely time and A had too, playing with his cousins every day

Sympathies to sponge about the work thing, and for all others having to go back to work soon. I'm back in 2 weeks and am trying so hard not to let the thought of it ruin the time I have left. Part of me thinks I should have taken longer off, but then I feel like I should be keeping what savings I have in case either of us are made redundant this year

A is still not sleeping well at night at all. He refuses to sleep in his cot, although he sleeps well in his pram during the day. So we are still co-sleeping, and it is a killer in a normal double bed. Even when co-sleeping he still wakes constantly, often every hour. He surely can't possibly be hungry, as he has 5 bottles a day and 3 meals

amber I'm feeling exactly the same about weight and work clothes. I bought myself some new stuff that I can just about fit in, thinking it will look nice on me when I've lost an extra half stone before starting back at work. However with 2 weeks now to go, I haven't lost a single pound, and so face being extremely uncomfortable and with unsightly lumps and bumps on show

Allnew - was just sayong today that I am two different sizes, the bigger being round my middle so I have bought the smaller size and will have to breathe in all the time! I think going back to work will help shift a few pounds as a. you are more active and b. have less tempation of food around you (unless you work in a chocolate factory or a bakers!) and c. you have more impetus as you want to look better in front of all these people as opposed to being completely comfortable at home all day.

Going - I haven't tried natural yoghurt - personally I think it's vile and I can't imagine what it might taste like with veggies in it - would you serve it cold? I think it's the sweetness he likes. He did eat a couple of spoons of my home made mush today but only interspersed (sp) with spoonfuls of yoghurt!

Natural yogurt with veg does sound gross, but I am suprised when the DTs take a spoon of savoury then a spoon of yogurt straigh after and seem quite happy with the taste. So you never know Amber, it could work. I think Esther has cottoned on to my sneaky one spoon savoury, one spoon yogurt plan. She hardly ate anything at tea. Oh well I am told food makes no difference to their sleep so we will see tonight.

Did anyone see 90210: That Was Then This Is Now last night? It was great! Loved Beverly Hills 90210