November 08 - Say it LOUD.......We're shades of GINGER and PROUD :0)

[LackaDAISYcal]

This do??????

Hi all, havent managed to get on for a few days as we've had some normal days at last so made the most of it. Visted friends, my mum and went to story time at the library today. Soph LOVED it, squealing and laughing. People kept coming up to me saying "isnt she a happy baby" i was going "errrm nope, this is the best she has been since birth!" It was weird though because as soon as she is amongst other children she is so much more settled. Happy to watch them all. And i have decided that i much prefer doing activities with her than just mother and baby group. they all lie their babies on the floor there and chat whereas activity sessions means i can enjoy every second of sophie as well as meeting mums. Definitly a good week this end, i even have makeup on!

autumn so good to see you back but about your divorce.

daisy arghhhh you're trying to poison me thank you for the teabags, im desperatly trying to stomach them but i cant. i hate honey so thats not helping and i keep smelling of curry powder. ive managed a few cups but soph has also been feeding much much more so im not sure which is prompting the supply.

*drswife" how lovely to see you so much more happier this week! I agree it is so much nicer to do things with the kids rather than a toddler group where they just get dumped on the floor. In my experience, it is trial and error as some are excellent and some not so good. I only go to 1 toddler group a week now but it is such a good one as there is sing a long for all age groups, different areas for different ages (ie babies separate from 2-3s) and an art and craft area. I love it as can let DS2 potter around with his "pals" dressing up or building things and he has freedom to do what he wants in a safe and secure environment. Tiger loves the baby area which is divided from the rest of the group by chairs, she just likes "talking" to other babies and I can keep an eye on DS2 whilst giving the freedom to play independantly.

It's church run and only costs £1!

vbab can't believe your last few days, hugs to you girl, you are coping erally, really well!

As is daisy who amazes me with her tenacity to just keep on going - you are like the duracell bunny

hana have you tried nibbling DS's nails rather than cutting?? Best to do after the bath when the nails are softer.

zonedout are you ok?

Hello to everyone else, I can' t keep up or remember

Doctors Wife so glad you had a good time with Sophie maybe she just enjoys company ..you will have to have another .... quickly
Dd1 birthday today its piss**g down and 2 lots of presents haven't arrived - bloomin Royal Mail. I even went to the post office in the rain in the hope that they had arrived Anyway she is happy with her princess play tent - our living room is full now and this pm she is going to decorate her own cake !!!
Vbab - what a complete nightmare I would have been on a double gin in the evening after all that. Hope the test results are conclusive .
Daisy at period - just the thought of them coming back brings me into depression not to mention the hormones....

hello - we had a backwards up-three-times-every two and a half hours night, so I'm 'zorsted and Wee T is snoring happily in her swing. I keep thinking I should wake her so she doesn't sleep so much she'll be up all night but having a little time "off" is bliss. Does that make me a bad mum? She's had two long sleeps since she got up at 8 this morning - that's OK for 13 weeks isn't it? She tends to stay awake through the afternoon and evening unless we go a pram or car trip which makes her drop off.

anyway, nuff about me - vbab - poor you, that sounds so hectic! Hope you are able to get your feet up and cup of tea.

Daisy - love those booby bottles! We are having mixed success with closer-to-nature ones. Its def more successful than any other teat but she isn't a huge fan. In fact the best way I have found so far to feed her any decent volume is using the little oval flask that came with my steam iron (to fill it with water), which has a spout the right size and shape to act as a little cup for her. Am going to persevere with bottle though.

Have any of you ever done "tough love" with a bottle and just held out until they were hungry enough to take from it? Not sure I could manage, but am getting to end of tether with boob.

Hana /choc I snipped some of DD1's skin once- felt terrible about it, and it bled a lot. I get DH to do babies now as I am too much of a wuss.

Not time to chat as I have FIL here as well today.DD1 loves him. He will be shattered, bless him!

drswife DS1 was exactly the same - he absolutely loved being in the company of other babies - even at a really young age. Even though he was always a happy baby, he just seemed to 'come alive' (iyswim) - 2.5 years later, he is still extremely sociable and always wants company - he tends to 'befriend' strange (as it not known ) children at soft play etc and he adores his nursery friends. I guess some children are just like that

Have had a really busy day - went to work this morning for a visit with Sam, then went out for lunch with my colleagues, then did a mad dash back home for baby massage....Sam is now completely zonked in his cot

Is anyone else using a playnest thing yet? My friend has bought me one (we borrowed one for DS1 but have had to give it back) but not sure if Sam is a bit young to go in it - do babies need to sit up before they can go in? (Although I am certain DS1 would love it even we don't use it for Sam just yet )

I was looking at playnests but dont know if my living room could cope - its already looking like a nursery.

Henry the little monkey has worked out that if he leans really far over in his jumperoo and cranes his neck he can see the TV, went down to Brighton today to show him the sea and DH even collected a shell for him.

Not sure who was asking but my dad is the minister of Sutton baptist church.

vbab - thats sounds like a nightmare

hi pinkglow, it was me asking. my dad is minister in tring, herts.

drswife, you sound like a devoted mum! i loved dumping ds1 down at toddlers and chatting to other mums, craved adult company but my dh wasn't home till late and all my friends were kiddiless.

barbs, we shd meet sometime soon...how are ya plans next week? thur or fri pms would be best.

fingernails, get dh to do them. he cut dds finger when she was a couple of weeks, he was gutted! i've got a massive scratch on my boob, think they need doing...

i've got a playnest. it's ok if you don't blow it up all the way, they can lie on it. but tbh think a gym is better at this age as lie flat and can reach stuff more easily. playnest good for sitting/ wobbly stage. i forgot and now it's all blown up i canb't be bothered to take it down again!

Yes I agree with Merry, they are good but only short periods at the moment and don't blow i up all of the way. Just a different thing for Becca to sit in at the minute as I am sure she is bored sometimes!!

Hi ya girlies.. am so sorry that I haven't been on for a while but just haven't had the time!!!

Dh has gone away until 4th August and I am left with 3 kids under 5!! I am not ashamed to admit that at times, I that I struggle and even have trouble getting out of bed! So.. went to the doctor and was diagnosed with hypothyrodism (I think that's how you spell it?)was wondering whether any of you lovely ladies are suffering with the feeling of being overwhelmed at all! The kids are all great, it's just me.. ds1 tries it on all the time and just doesn't listen at all, thank goodness he is at school! dd is just a madame but not as much as a handful and Jack who is now 15wks tomorrow is a stunner and the least of my worries... he sleeps through the night! I think I am starting to crave adult conversation... was wondering what you ladies think I should do???

Welcome to any suggestion... oh and I hope everyone is well???

bumble is definately getting bored sitting in his chair and wants to be on laps all the time so he can see what's going on. We tried him in a swing that we borrowed from a friend the other day; he liked it for five minutes then I think he got too stimulated and started howling. Maybe DD trying to swing him up to the ceiling didn't help. We thought about a door bouncer, but with DD around thay maybe isn't such a great idea......he'll be ricocheting off the door frames in no time!

Saw my consultant this afternoon, so am waiting on his secretary calling me tomorrow with a date for the op. What a difference an insurance policy makes though; he gave me his mobile phone number and said that if I get another bad attack to call him and he'll get me admitted as an emergency, get my pain under control and operate the same day. I will need to stay in overnight so it looks like bumble will be getting a bottle or two of formula after all as I don't fancy having to get up and down to him straight after an operation and I doubt I'll have enough milk expressed for DH to give him as I can't get more than an ounce or two at each pumping session at the minute.

lacks that is good news on the op front. Try not to get too stressed about the formula thing. Think of the bigger picture and the fact that you will be again well enough to enjoy things more than you have been able to. I know from having to do mixed feeding with M that you can end up feeling guilty about things that are out of your control. I tell myself that it isn't just M I have to look after, I have to take care of myself so that I don't lose the plot looking after him IYSWIM?

twinkle You're sounding very brave considering you are doing it all for the next few months. It must be tough and it's not suprising you struggle at times. Hope you have good support round you. Again, make sure you take care of YOU, or else you'll be good for nothing.

sausage I haven't personally had to do the tough love with a bottle, but I have a friend who had to get her DD to take a bottle so that she could go back to work. She struggled for a week before she managed it. She did it by initially turning her DD round so DD was facing out with her back to her mum so she couldn't see her. Bizarrely she then started to take a little when she couldn't see her mum doing it. As she got used to taking it, she was gradually turned round so that she could cuddle her and have eye contact with her again. It only took a couple of days.

twinkle shout if you want company i'm only an hour away and happy to make the journey. Sounds like you are having a tough time. You are also welcome here anytime.

Jay loves being in his door bouncer but I only use it when DS1 is not in .

Sorry haven't had a chance to catch up will do so now

Hi to everyone

vbab hows things?

A tip on the bottle thing. Have you tried getting your DH to do it? Some babies don't like taking a bottle from mum as they can smell the milk and want the boob.

DD was weird with us; she'd only take formula in a bottle from me, and BM from DH. If either of us tried it the other way she just wasn't interested.

Of course all this giving bumble formula is hypothetical...what if he doesn't take to it?

I agree with Daisy - DH gives P a bottle of BM once a week so I can have a lie in, but a couple of times I've tried to give him the bottle and he won't take it, just screams and screams.

By the way Daisy, I won't be at stay and play tomorrow (am quite disappointed actually, really like my Friday trip out!!) as am staying over night at mum and dad's - they are loving spoiling P rotten!!

ceebee, are you still thinking of getting that babycook thing? Now that I can see my wages dropping I'm starting to reconsider - think I will be on SMP as from next week so maybe it's not such a priority after all. Still really want it though!!

I won't be there either jaunita; still feeling really crap and in a lot of discomfort

ladybuzz I may take you up on that offer and maybe we could go to that soft play place that you mention???

Thanks for your advice about looking after me Afingeroffudge (loving the name by the way)

Managed to get all three in to bed so can have some time to myself but think I will retreat to bed for an early night possibly!!!

Its good to be able to get back on here....

hana - Dont worry about the finger nails. I've done the same with A twice now and once was tonight! Dont like that I do it obviously but not as bothered as I was with DS (1st child thing I think). Bad isnt it.
drswife - glad things going good .
twinkle183 - hugs. I think you are doing amazing. very of the sleep throughs but A is only up once normally so not too bad I guess. At the moment though she is really good at crying in her sleep. Teething?
ladybuzz - Any clearer thoughts on your situation? I will not ask again if you rather not answer and keep my MASSIVE ski slope nose out.
ME - ladybuzz I'm okish [trying to smile emotion] and had good day with DS and A. No appts today thank fk!
I am exhausted and seem to have got a very nasty, constant cough from somewhere. I always suffer bad with coughs and they take ages to go. Its awful, for everyone around me. It has even scared A a couple of times when I have coughed while feeding her. Also feel bad that sometimes I have ended up coughing on/around her as not got hand free to cover my mouth. Felt bad yesterday when I thought to myself (forgetting about kids) I could do with 2wks in the sun relaxing to recharge and become something like my old self or maybe even myself before kiddies. Although I am my own worst enemy as I have been shopping today with parents and also managed to tidy, dust and hoover the house, empty dishwasher and clean A's st covered items. Ohhh and looked after 2 kids . Sorry got a thing about listing what I've done. Something I do when DH comes home so I know he knows ALL what i've done. Not that he says anything.

twinkle - I admire you thats a long time with no dh .. I crumble when its 2 days!!!
We have been looking for a second hand high chair that we can wedge minirosa in as she likes to be up with us at the table - fine when there is 2 of us but when I am alone its not easy. She screams the place down if we leave her on the rocker. I have a door bouncer but it won't fit the door frames here .Our kitchen chairs are too low for dd1 and she can't kneel as she has wriggly bum disease and she does fall off !! The booster we have ( for restaurants etc )doesn't balance either !SO she has her chair up at the table.
Daisy fingers corssed they come up with a date soon for you -
Off to bed here as am still coldy and big day tom ....

Daisy hope you are feeling better soon, am glad you will have the op soon to make you feel normal again!!

hi all
Twinkle I don't envy you being on your own for that length of time. Do you have a good support network?

Daisy hope the op comes soon. I wouldn't worry about the milk, I would say it one of those decisons you have to accept is out of your hands to a large extent. It is not a failure (and you know I know what feelings of failure are like ).

We just put Immi in the playnest today, but unfortunately the dcs found it far too exciting.

Was lovely having FIL over today. MIL really enjoyed her day out with friends, too, which is fab. They are such lovely people.

OOH twinkle that is a long time I have alot of admiration for you, my DH is away a month at a time and I only have 2 DC and is alot of work I find by the time I am getting used to being on my own keeping house and amusing children he comes back and everything is chaos again but I love it when he does come back cos miss him loads. fudge is right you need to look after yourself and when the kids are in bed make sure you allow yourself at least half an hour to do something for yourself have a bath or something, I was trying to do everything while they were in bed and never had time for me but time for yourself is very important.
Hi Daisy sounds like you have a very good consultant and you deserve it you need to get better.
vbab pmsl at you listing everything you have done I do that to DH too find myself saying got up fed M, changed M, etc etc while he can get up at his leisure

I have put M in her nest but deflated as mentioned earlier, was thinking about getting a bouncer for door but never sure when they are ready for that? Was in a quandry when I had dd1 and ended up not getting her one but babies look like they have so much fun in them.

Hello to everyone else

I actually read the instructions for the playnest after I posted my last message and realised that you don;t fully inflate it for babies

Pinky that is exactly what DS1 would do if we did set it up - there is no way Sam would get a look in at actually sitting in it!! I think we will leave it until Sam is a bit older and try and get some more use out of the playgym first

Twinkle gosh, that is a long time to be on your own - I struggle if DH is away for the week but at least he always comes back at weekends. I read in a magazine that you need to make sure you have some 'me' time in every hour of the day - even if it is only 5 minutes how you manage this with more than 1 DC I have no idea!! Ds1 never leaves my side if I am in the house with him

Daisy sorry you are still suffering - I really think you need to ring the consultant and get yourself operated on asap.

juanitad I am still undecided about the Babycook - as much as I really really want it, I am in a similar financial position to you and my wage this month was quite a bit lower plus DH's work have cocked up his tax code so it looks like we owe the tax office quite a bit of money so common sense tells me not to bother.

twinkle, sorry to ignore you earlier.

I can imagine what it's like without your DH, but at least mine was only away for four nights a week, not months at a time....and I only had two not three. So actually nothing like your situation at all...but, ah well I'll shut up now!! You must be exhausted, especially with the thyroid problems.

Do you talk to anyone on the forces sweethearts board? there might be someone on there who is local to you who you can meet up with? your DH is in the forces isn't he?