April 2009 - Chapter 4 - Rollin, rollin, rollin............and they are over but the arm is stuck

[PuzzleRocks]

12 Feb: Skiingone: MARIANNA 4lb 4oz
20 Feb: Glaskham: RUBY MARIE 4lb 3oz
04 Mar: Barbarella: ESTELLA, ROSANNA, OTIS
05 Mar: Kazkiss: ISABELLE FLORENCE 4lb 6oz & OLIVER THOMAS 3lb 7oz
15 Mar: Babypringle: OSCAR WILLIAM 7lb 2oz
28 Mar: Claireykitten: VIOLET ROSE 7lb 9oz
31 Mar: Mumblemum: ORSON XERXES
02 Apr: Oddeyes: ELEANOR 9lb 8oz
03 Apr: Bleuravin: MEGAN LILLIAN CONSTANCE
03 Apr: Bumpalump: JACOB 8lb
04 Apr: BabyBolat: KARAHAN 6lb 5oz
05 Apr: Mrsfossil: ISLA LILIAN 7lb 10oz
05 Apr: JumeirahJane: MILLICENT ROSE 5lb 15oz
06 Apr: BoffinMum: FELIX DAVID GORDON 7lb 9oz
08 Apr: girlylala0807 JAMES EUAN
11 Apr: SpringySunshine: GEORGE NATHAN 8lb 15oz
11 Apr: RachelinScotland: CLEMENT JAMES 8lb 14oz
11 Apr: Lou031205: ISLA SOPHIA 7lb 9oz
11 Apr: Electra: ISABELLA CAROLINE 6lb 3oz
11 Apr: AuldAlliance: ALEXANDRE 7lb 6oz
12 Apr: Phdlife: Name TBA GIRL 9lb 3oz
12 Apr: BethDivine: Name TBA GIRL 9lb 9oz
13 Apr: MathsMummy27: AMELIA CHARLOTTE
14 Apr: Purlease: ADAM 9lb 2oz
15 Apr: Juwesm: HUGO GEORGE 9lb 2oz
15 Apr: Bronze: ISAAC JOHN
15 Apr: HeidiT: HEIDI
15 Apr: Kalikaroo: Name TBA BOY 8lb
15 Apr: Minush: ZAFIRAH ROSA 7lb 12oz
15 Apr: FatandFedup: EMILIA ROSE 7lb 6oz
16 Apr: PuzzleRocks: HOLLY ELIZABETH 8lb
16 Apr: Brettgirl: HANNAH GRACE 6lb 15oz
16 Apr: ReallyTired: Name TBA GIRL
17 Apr: DungunGirl: ADEN LEE 9lb 4oz
18 Apr: Staryeyed: Name TBA BOY 7lb 11oz
18 Apr: Dawntigga: SAMUAL 5lb 11oz
20 Apr: LuLuBai: SEBASTIAN 9lb
20 Apr: Swaliswan: BETH 7lb 9oz
21 Apr: Kittycatisgettingfat: GABRIELLA AUDREY BIANCA
21 Apr: B52s: SAM MARTIN 7lb 9oz
21 Apr: Schulte: HAZEL LOIS 7lb 9 oz
21 Apr: Mrsgboring: EDMUND 8lb 12oz
23 Apr: Tristaleejac: LEWIN 8lb 4oz
23 Apr: NuttyTaff: TIAHNA SKYE 8lb 8oz
23 Apr: Purplemonkeydishwasher: ISLA ELIZABETH 8lb 14oz
24 Apr: Soon2befamilyof4: TALIA 7lb 6oz
26 Apr: Carameli: THEO LAURENCE 7lb 6oz
26 Apr: Surprisenumber3: EVIE ANNE 8lb 2oz
26 Apr: Bicnod: OSCAR MATTHEW 8lb 1oz
27 Apr: Lauren61: OLIVER STEPHEN 7lb 7oz
27 Apr: Gingersarah: VERONICA ROISIN 9lb 1oz
30 Apr: MegBusset: ARCHIE 8lb 15oz
01 May: Satheresitting: Name TBA BOY
03 May: Conkertree: Name ANGUS ANDREW 8lbs 8oz
06 May: Frekkles: HARRIS MERLIN 8lb 5.5oz
07 May: TarteTatin: ALBERT JOHN
10 May: Ilovesummer: Name TBA BOY

Here's a novel thought.
Why not make all parking at hospitals disabled/parent and child parking.
That way car park management staff would have to cycle to work and see what it's like being disenfranchised.

Swali, good news about harness free time. I do feel sorry for your little one. I was thinking about her yesterday in relation to the massaging of chest thingy. But at least they are sorting her out. My great aunt had this but in 1907 tey weren't so clued up, so she walked funny her whole life.

Swali - yay for four hours harness free

Boff - and for you

Tigga - had enough chocolate?? Are you quite well?!

Oo Schulte weekend away. Hope it's a good one. Where are you off to? (sorry if you've said and I've missed it). I am guessing you have forgotten a teatowel. Or at least that's what I always forget. It seems to be essential on all trips away nowadays, since we inevitably end up feeding DS1 some kind of extra meal. Gone are the days I suavely boarded the Eurostar looking perfectly groomed and carrying a tiny bag. (This NEVER happened btw, I needed a child to blame my general baglady appearance on). But I digress horribly.

DS1 and I used up the butter for tonight's mushroom sauce making flapjacks - anyone want one?

Boffinmum - at my (otherwise pretty sorted) hospital we have about 20 disabled spaces near the main entrance, arranged in a horseshoe type thing, at the centre of the horseshoe (so as close or closer to the building than the majority of the disabled spaces) is........the consultants car park! Supposedly it's going to all be turned into disabled parking but that's been the plan for at least three years and we are still waiting

Newcastle, for a wedding. At which, no doubt, I will be the one looking after both kids while DH gets drunk with his pals.

Stopover at my PIL's both ways though so hopefully I'll get some quiet time too. I have very optimistically packed a book!

Ok that's enough now. I have milk in my boobs but the little sod won't work at getting it!!!

Have you noticed how nobody on mn ever has really crap let down? It's all 'when my let down kicks in there are floods in Norfolk and it gushes out of the side of my dc's mouth to run out to sea'. I'm here to stand up for the women who have the most rubbish let down ever - I'm one of them. It's not a let down it's a trickle.

HadEnoughOfThisBreastfeedingMalarkeyTiggaxx

boff - sounds like a horrible day. I think these days of just not being able to put up with the stupidity of things are much more common now with two children - so I imagine its even more so with 4. Agree that physio should have been much more helpful rather than just add to the stress.

Packing for holiday with two is a nightmare. Feels like I havent stopped for about three days - although since I'm on here, it cant be that bad.

Tigga - I have met people in rl with slow let down - but I'm afraid I dont know what helps.

People are talking about 4 month growth spurts - think Angus is having a three month one - before he's three months. Gone from waking once or twice to waking three or four times.

Frekkles - did you decide to go camping (stupid question if you did as you presumably wont be on here). We are thinking of camping tomorrow night, but wont if it's pouring.

anyway - Angus is calling. And the packing.

Tigga not sure if I have a slow letdown but I definitely have a shy letdown - I basically can pump nothing unless I can be totally oblivious to the pump's presence. If I even look at it, or think "ooo I hear milk dripping maybe I'll get loads today" it will stop instantly. Coupled with a baby who will unlatch and refuse to go back on at the slightest provocation and an older son who occasionally likes to try and pull him off, bash him or shriek in his ear while he's feeding and I'm totally fecked off with this breastfeeding lark at the moment. I too am pig sick of hearing about milk floods btw - who cares? Wear a dark coloured t-shirt, sleep on a towel and shut up. (sorry rant over)

Schulte Enjoy Newcastle - I love it there. I'm from the North East and also spent a while living in Durham so I really miss it.

Conker enjoy your hols.

I am knackered and totally fed up with swine flu siege. We've already used up about half my summer holiday art supplies, we have no food as I'm not taking the kids to the shops and I have become totally OCD-like in my obsession with hand hygiene when we do venture to the park (though DS1 had a fab time this morning). I know it's almost certainly fruitless but feel I have to try because of E's vulnerability.

Feel doubly useless at not being able to cope in a well equipped modern home because I've just finished reading Little House on the Prairie, which I never read as a child. They just build a house, cope and carry on. And they don't allow any rudeness or disobedience in their children either. Hey ho, we do what we do I suppose.

I know some of you on this thread have real problems so shall shut up now. I am really enthused about the book though

mrsgboring, aka sling queen, can you help me with a query? I can't carry Orbit in the Baby Bjorn, it makes my neck and shoulder ache like mad. I also have a Kari-Me but he's so heavy that it stretches loads and he doesn't seem that happy in it.

Was considering a Baba Sling instead, do you have any experience of these? I guess they're kind of a hammock/ring sling type thing, do you think that would help?

DH has got unexplained chest pain that did not respond to Rennies (what is it with men and stoopid home cures in the face of obvious problems???) and been taken to hospital in an ambulance, albeit without blue lights and sirens. I have to stay here apparently, to avoid getting swine flu and giving it to all the kids.

I only hope the flipping ambluance can park. Perhaps one of the tea ladies will move her car for it.

He has to be there for four hours and have blood tests apparently.

I need a holiday. Hopefully with a living husband.

Blimey Boffin, you are not having a good time! Really hope your DH is ok

xxxxx

Hi WFH no personal experience, but a couple of friends have found them uncomfortable - it's because the buckle that adjusts and holds the weight concentrates the weight over one shoulder.

Ring slings and pouches are a similar shape but don't have that problem. But they do very slightly restrict the movement in one arm to be worn most effectively.

Tell me more about what you want out of a sling and I'll try to help more. (But am being told off by DH for using my babyfree time to post on t'internet instead of cleaning my teeth so will probably be tomorrow before I can reply)

How long do you want to wear? What do you want to do whilst wearing? Do you want to be able to transfer Orbit in or out of it while he's asleep? Feeding? gotta go sorry

Cheers WFH.

He was protesting we were all making too much fuss, etc, so I live in hope.

Mostly want to be able to walk a decent distance without having aching neck or shoulders - don't need to feed in it, but getting Orbit in and out while sleeping would be good. He's too long to lie down very comfortably across me any more, so it needs to hold him upright or on one hip.

We have a frame carrier for long hikes, but he's too little for that at the moment, and I want something that I can carry around easily - one of the things I like about the KariMe is it fits in my handbag!

Probably the sling that does all this doesn't exist

thank you for any suggestions you can make!

Shit Boff, what time did he go? Have you heard anything?

Yes Boff you need a holiday!

Ok - so the ambulance is a good thing - gets dh to hospital in a quick and convenient manner. Hope he is doing ok - you can ring A&E and enquire after him way before the 4 hours is up. I suppose they'll be doing an ECG first thing?

Just to say BoffinDad is fine - it was apparently acid reflux (you know, what we all got when pg and were told to put up with).

That having been said, I think the poor chap is flogged to his knees by work and I feel very sorry for him.

Now determined to take control of my physical state instead of sobbing in car parks in front of strange men, I have booked myself in for some specialist rehabilitative exercise this morning. I am so fat I do not fit any of my fitness clothes so I am wearing some of DH's pyjama bottoms and an old vest top that looks pretty grim. Any ideas for stylish size 18 plus fitness wear for me?

MN is so great. You can flip from worrying about whether you DH is going to die to the size of your arse in a couple of posts. I mean, where else can you do that and be taken seriously???????

FFS - is my son EVER going to be well again he had the tummy bug last week and now he's had a stinking cold for four days - temperature, blocked nose, choking while feeding and now a hacking cough. Poor little bugger, I feel so sorry for him and because I'm at my mum's without DH I've been doing the night shift on my own so no sleep for 3 nights. I am the walking dead.

Sorry - not very happy

Boff - so pleased your DH is fine. about the hospital scenario - what a pile of shit.

Everyone else - hugs, but not too closely as don't want to pass on DS's germs.

Okay WFH sling thoughts:

A ring sling and a pouch will both fit in your handbag. You can very easily hold Orbit upright in them, either on hip or, probably better at his age, on front. A ring sling is easier to get baby in or out whilst sleeping as you can loosen it, but it is too floaty for cooking.

A thin, gauze wrap will fold down smaller than a Kari-Me and last longer - the GypsyMama design (now called Wrapsody but GM is a better name and lots of people still call it that) is very pretty and has a pocket at the end you can stuff all the material into. However you do need to wrap it reasonably competently to avoid pressure points on your shoulders - not much harder than a Kari-Me but a little bit. It's a teensy bit of fiddle to get a sleeping baby out, getting in is easier.

I would also look at the "soft structured carrier" type - the best known is the Ergo but there is also Beco, Patapum, Yamo and many others. They wouldn't fold up as small but some (Beco springs to mind) have a feature where you can roll them up and wear them round your waist when the baby is out of them. I have personally tried the Ergo and the Yamo - Ergo is more supportive but Yamo folds smaller and is more adjustable if you did want to feed. Ergos are bulletproof, will happily carry a stonking great child (it's the only one I'd use on 18kg of DS1) and have such resale value they're effectively free. To get a sleeping baby out or in is really easy as you press them to your front and then fold the carrier up or down - it's not round the child at all.

I have to confess though that whenever I have someone round to play with my slings, I make a private prediction about which one they'll prefer and I'm almost never right, so maybe I'm not the best person to make recommendations. However, I'd suggest your next move would be to look on YouTube for videos of people using the carriers you're interested in. It gives you the best idea (short of borrowing one to use in the flesh) of whether the particular method of in and out will work for you.

WFH, just to butt in and add a few thoughts on slings...

If you are finding that the Kari-Me stretches too much, you need to tie it tighter. I found that happened the first few times that I used it. I would second the idea of a guaze wrap - perfect for summer. I have a calin bleu that is brilliant and easier to get hold of than the GM. It is much easier getting a sleeping baby in/out of the guaze wrap because of how you wrap it around the baby rather than wrapping it before you put the baby in.

Hey, pig-fans! So, the dilemma: someone who my Dad works with has swine flu. Should we not take Hugo up to my parents this weekend? My inclination is to go anyway. As much as it terrifies me, I would also like to get it over and done with, IYSWIM. WWYD?

Waves to all.

Have my equilibrium restored today However, as I've just spent 4 hours travelling home from Blackpool it may just be that sanity is a distant spot on the horizon behind me

PossiblyInsaneTiggaxx

Bicnod - Well wishes to little Oscar

Boff - I so glad it wasn't anything serious. Thank goodness.

I am enraged right now. I quite possibly would have had a nights unbroken rest were it not for the damn fool who delivers my paper. Forced me to fire off this missive.

Dear Sir/Madam

Good morning. Or rather not, as I was woken 20 minutes ago by the delivery man playing loud thumping music. I am furious. As a mother a toddler and small baby my sleep is precious and I do not appreciate beng woken by an anti social fool, too ignorant to realise how selfish he is being. The music was loud enough to be offensive at any time of the day, but at 4.50am, it is disgraceful behaviour. This is most certainly not the first time it has happened, far from it, and I have in fact complained before after having angry neighbours on my doorstep asking me to cancel my delivery service.
What's particularly galling is that it wasn't even my paper! We no longer have a Saturday paper but for some reason he has delivered a newspaper intended for someone several streets away. This too has happened many times before.
I do still have a Sunday paper, having recently cancelled Monday to Saturdays. Should I be woken by that blasted man again I shall be forced to cancel that too. I really am utterly fed up.

Do you think he is going to scratch my car?