Fab Feb 2009: baby coos, stinky poos - three months on...

[dinkystinky]

so here we go again

Spotty, sorry to hear about your dh, and what a horrible waiting period.

LBB, it took ages to settle Conor tonight too, I thought he never would. He may well wake up again in a minute but at least I've had a short rest and dp is down from settling Danny.

As always haven't been able to catch up properly but have read enough to see that both Spotty and MOS have been going through the mill, hope you're both feeling as ok as can be.

We had a lovely weekend away in Devon and went out on a 'date' on Sunday afternoon while my Mum babysat. It was great, we went to the cinema and out for a meal. Lovely.

Now I'm slightly worried that Alex might have an ear infection. I'm probably worrying unnecessarily (I tend to do that since his hospital stay) but he was really, really upset this evening (not like him to scream, he's usually very calm) and we've noticed that he keeps putting his hand up to his ear today. His ears do tend to get waxy and I try to clear it out with a tissue. It's so typical that something like this should come up on a Friday evening. Any other day I could just get a doctor's appt for tomorrow and get it checked out. Now I'm not sure whether to leave it or to call the out of hours doctor tomorrow. He's on antibiotics for his kidney reflux so part of me thinks it wouldn't be possible for him to get an infection but what if?

Thanks dinky. Hard this isn't it?
spotty OMG, you and dh must be so worried right now.
I read that it takes your body 2 years to fully recover from pregnancy and childbirth, and I do think hormones are still a massive issue atm. Plus lack of/distrupted sleep and little ones always plays havoc. I wouldn't worry about shouting at them today, as long as it doesn't happen all the time and the rest of the time they are spoken to positively, I don't think it'll have any lasting effect. Dp has been a bit shouty at ours today, even at Luke. I've tried to take a little step back where the boys are concerned this week in order to show dp just how tough it can be dealing with them never mind anything else, and clearly it got to him a bit. Sometimes I have to repeat out loud that they aren't getting upset/unsettled on purpose, but doesn't really help. I'm sure you're doing a great job. I think most if not all of us are finding it a struggle every now and again, is normal, don't beat yourself up. The way I see it, is I don't even want my boys growing up thinking I'm some kind of superwoman or else no one will ever measure up iykwim, so I figure we're allowed to lose it every now and again and I do think it also helps them learn about different emotions and how to deal with them.
QK Certain AB's treat certain areas, so yes, I think it would be possible that the ones for the kidney may not treat any possible ones to the ear. Can you look on the label on the bottle, see what other areas the AB's treat?
There are lots of bugs and things around atm, and I know lots of lo's who have/recently had ear infections. If he's had a bad night tonight, I'd prob give the doctor a call, just to be sure. Hope he's ok and gets better soon. Remember it's better to be paranoid than negligent anyway, so don't worry about worrying, we all do it. I'd be at the docs every day if dp didn't talk me out of it!

Luke finally managed to stay asleep from about 8:30. Me and dp went to bed after BGT, but think dp has been up since then with him as dp's in a foul mood and when I just got up to feed Luke, dp said "I might get an hour now then". I have told him if the boys waking doesn't wake me, then he can especially if he has seen to them the previous night, but after recent issues, he thinks I'll wake up with the ump and have a go. Can't blame him for thinking that, can I?

Morning all. Managed a lay in till 5:30 when ds1 came in and got us up. Us being me and Luke, not dp.
Dp's off to my dad's today for the cup final and is staying overnight, so I'll be all on my own from about 1pm! Arrrggghhhhhhhh. Not even going to tackle bedtime. I'll bath ds1 early and dress them both for bed and they can stay up late tonight.
What's everyone upto today?

spotty, huge hugs to you and DH and of course your DC. That is fucking ridiculous that you have to wait 6 weeks, surely it can be done quicker than that? It is unfair to keep you hanging on for that length of time.
I imagine you will want to rant and rave so please use us for that. You lot have been so good to me over the last few days, don't know how I'd manage without you.

QK, I'd take the little chap to see a doctor to be on the safe side as if it is an ear infection he will be in so much pain poor little thing.

LBB, Harrison has been just how you desribed with Luke, really ratty and hates being put down so I have spent most of last night holding him and feel even more like a zombie than usual.

still feeling so bloody helpless about my mum but on the positive side, my brother finally managed to get the certificate yesterday that we need to start making proper arrangements for her funeral and the planning is keeping me busy which I guess I need. I still can't help wishing she could have hung in a bit longer. I'm back in the UK for 13 weeks and we'd planned to do so many things together

Right, off to take G & H out to mums and tots so at least she can have a little play with her friends and I can drink my body weight in coffee

Morning ladies! I seem to find myself and DD up early this morning. She has the snuffles and for the past few nights we've not slept well. Another bad night last BUT she woke up all smiles this morning and her nose doesn't seem as blocked and snuffly!

DD is still in her moses basket but is getting much to big are you all moving the cots into your own room until the 6 month point?

MoS Can't begin to imagine what you're going through. I remember a few years ago watching my dad when Nan died, he really struggled, they were so close. This was 8 years ago, he still has really bad days where he misses her like crazy but he says over all it does get alot easier with time and he now likes nothing more than sitting with some of her old photo's and laughing at old stories. We have a tape of her singing Unchained Melody from when my parents brought me and bro a karaoke machine, she sounds awful but it really makes Dad smile, especially when she says the f word halfway through when she losses her place.
McDReamy Glad dd seems to be a bit better this morning. Hopefully you'll at least have a nice day.
Luke's been in his cot for quite a while now. It's in our room, but because he'll go into ds1's room, I've decided to wait until he is sleeping through. Could be a while!!

Feeling a bit better this morning, took Sam into bed with me most of the night so stiff as hell but feeling slightly more human.

I have woken up to my 1st period though which might explain my hormones! Can I ask what you all use? My mooncup fair slides out lol and i'm using whats left of my PF to keep in a tampon. I'm walking round on tiptoes with a constipated look on my face God I wasn't expecting it yet - it was 11mths after Harry.

Looks like the Morning after pill was a good idea then as I was likely ovulating knowing our luck it would have been triplets or something !!!!

Thanks LLB think I will have a sort out in or room and make a space for her cot. She really is too big for the basket but she does seem to like sleeping there. She wriggles around until her face is brushing the side of the basket so I don't know how she will deal with the cot!

SS I know what you mean about feeling stiff after having them in bed with you, at least you got some sleep. Makes the day ahead seem a bit more bearable!

Oh gosh - just read about your DH. Really sorry to hear what you are both going through. 6 weeks - what a long time to wait

McD If she feels a bit insecure in the cot, you can make a little nest in there for her with another sheet. Roll the sheet long ways and put it in middle of cot rolled round into an ovl like shape, lay her head just on the top part and have her legs hanging over the bottom and it might give her that extra secure feeling.
spotty I just use towels now, I can't work tampons anymore either.

Eeew - towels are yuck.

Hope things are ok Spotty. Thinking of you all.

We're for a picnic. I'm going to eat and sleep and my mum is going to look after M. Nice work if you can get it...

Well Alex slept from 7.30 last night til 6.30 this morning - that doesn't sound like a boy with an ear infection does it? I've decided to keep an eye on him and take him to the doctor on Monday if I've got any doubts whatsoever. He is still a bit cranky this morning, but is currently peacefully napping so I really think I must've been worrying unnecessarily. Putting his hands up to his ears could mean that they're itchy couldn't it? I'm thinking a dr appointment on monday just to get him/her to have a look in them is probably the way forward. He's also very dribbly and got some runny nappies so this could all possibly be down to teething? If only they could TELL us what's the matter with them, if anything.

I'm also finding tampons a whole new experience since pregnancy, and not the most comfortable one, but am persevering as I can't bear the thought of using towels. My dr has put me on the mini pill because my BP and weight mean I can't go back on the combined pill, and I must admit I'm hating it. I'm definitely moody (DH seems to bear the brunt of that) and seem to come on about every two weeks. I'm hoping it settles down, if not, I'm coming off it and DH can put something on the end of it despite the fact that he tells me he hates them. I don't care!!!

spotty {{{hugs}}} to you and your dp. you must both be so frightened right now. i hope the nws is good but for you that you have to wait 6 weeks.

i had similar probs with tampons after ds1, had to use towels even thogh i detest them.

MS.... the washing machine pipe was blocked and spewing water all over a plug socket, i got electrocuted before i realised the plug was wet, hadn't even touched it yet and the power jumped and got my hand... thank god for breaker boxes or it might have been serious

dinky, i've been on a few unconditional parenting threads lately and i'm trying out a few of the ideas from them. basically no punishments and no rewards, no praise that isn't information ie, saying good girl is pointless but telling them they did X well is ok.

it seems to be working well and most importantly there's alot less shouting and angriness in this house now. it's hard completely changing your mindset though and we're still slipping up a bit like last night when they just pushed me too far and i ended up screaming again but they seem to be responding well to it, ds1 especially and he was the one i was having alot of trouble with lately.

PSL I know, I don't like towels much, I normally used tampons but there's too much leaking now (TMI)
Have a good day.
QK Ds1 plays with his ears when he's tired, so it might be that Alex is just finding his own comfort? But like you say, maybe get it checked on monday just to make sure.
Luke tries to grab his whole face when he's tired.......freak!
It is tough that they can't tell us what's wrong and sometimes it feels klike I'm continuosly playing a guessing game, but it does get easier.
PT Glad the new parenting technique is going well.

Dp has driven over to my dad's so I'm here with both of them all on my own until tomorrow. Staying in this afternoon, too hot.

Yes towels are a bit yeurch but have had to go out and buy some. Tampons were actually quite painful hope I dont always have to use them.

Evening all! Spotty sorry to hear you're going through such a worrying time. I know with some cancer investigations they have to leave the cells to grow for a certain amount of time before they can test them but 6 weeks is an age to wait for that kind of news though.

QK ear pulling is classic teething behaviour. According to a dentist friend teething is also worse when babies lie down as the blood flow increases the pressure and causes more pain.

What a beautiful day it's been. We've had the paddling pool and water pistols out and eaten far too many ice lollies!

This is where I get a bit confused. I am convinced that when ds1 gets runny nappies, high temp, snotty nose and ear ache, it is all connected to teething, but our dentist says not and our gp says not. But is funny how these other areas only bother him when he has a tooth coming, so must be some truth in it.......

LBB, I thought that a lot of those things were symptoms of teething too, from what I can remember with ds1 (only 3 months older than your ds1 but most of his teeth came pretty early).

Spotty, hope you hear sooner than 6 weeks and that it's good news thinking of you x

We have been really busy today. Went to sister's wedding rehearsal, then to see little brother and spent an hour cleaning his kitchen, loading the dishwasher and emptying his bins while he played on his Wii with DD! Honestly, there were about 40 mugs with blue mould growing in them and that is no exaggeration. Ah well, at least it keeps me in my mother's good books too!

Then home and went to the pub to meet DH, stayed for one drink and came home to watch BGT with DD. DS has been so tired today he has hardly fed. Tried to feed him tonight and he squirmed and fought me and I was so engorged by this point I sprayed him all over, soaked his babygro and had to change him. Don't know what's going on there....

Oh and meant to add:

PT- glad you're ok!

And Spotty- mooncupping again here although technically now I am 30 I should upgrade to a bigger size! Was pleased I kept back some maternity pads for night time though.

elkie yeah, I'm not saying they aren't, I truely believe they are, it's just odd that you ask docs, dentists, hv etc and IME they all say that not linked
MS sounds like you had a busy day.

Well as I'm on my own, I decided to keep both boys up until they fell asleep on sofa, too much trying to get one to bed while the other one runs around/cries/generally creates. Luke fed at 5 ans fell asleep at 7 (and has only just woken ) and ds1 went about 9, but is now in my bed because he fell out of his.
Is odd, I'ver been tring today to stretch Luke's feeds back out to 4 hourly, and I remembered that ds1 also slept more the less he fed. I have weird children.
Ds1 was trying to dance along to stavros flatley. Was very funny, almost wet myself.

Grrrrr.Mr T's been saving up poo for the last two days so he can get me up at 4am to change him. we're both wide awake now. Still at least no poo in bed. Amazing what I'm grateful for these days...

morning all,
THOM, hope you and T managed to get back to sleep.

MS H has been a bit like that the last few days. He is clearly so very tired but the last few days has only managed a maximum of an hour during the day in little bursts. On the bright side he is still asleep although I fed him at around 6.15am.

spotty hope you and DH managed a good nights sleep, it must be so stressful for you.
I actually slept quite well last night, probably the first okish night in a week. Slept in spare room and although it took a while to get to sleep I slept through to just after 6am when DH woke me up as he was going to work. I slept so deeply I was having a weird dream when I woke up about DD2's 3rd birthday party next ok. Seems I'm planning a swimming pool party with an above ground pool and a dolphin theme

Keep having funny moments when silly little things remind me of my mum. Just made DD boiled egg for breakfast and we did our normal routine of 'one, two, three, off with his head' and it reminded me that my mum had started that one. Keep trying to think of the happy memories and am scared I'll forget what she will look like so have dug out lots of photos and am putting them everywhere.
A bit worried as it seems my two brothers have already descended on her home and are going through and chucking out loads of stuff and I'm worried they will throw out really sentimental stuff that means nothing to them but to me it is priceless. DH is going to phone them today and ask them to wait until I'm back.

Right, the nanny is here, DD is fed, H is asleep and I'm going for a swim. Its been ages since I've had a proper swim (ie without the kids) so it might be just what I need. Catch up later

Mos It's nice that so much reminds you of your mum, it shows how big a part of your life she was and will be forever. I hope your brothers can wait until you are back for the sort out.

Dp just got back and is heading to bed for a few hours

Morning all i had a lovely day at friends bbq yesterday. Day of housework planned for today!! DD is going swimming with her aunty so all good!