May 09 - The Sleepless Babies Club, All Dubious Fashions Welcome

[Grumpyoldcaaaaaaaa]

Ladies.

Hello again! Of course you are welcome here. It is lovely to see you and I'm sure we'd all love to hear what has been going on with you.

Spangle that is exactly what it has been like for us, only the evenings have got better this week. The last month or so has been horrendous. After midnight I just bring G in with us and whilst he might feed for ages, at least I am lying down and dozing. I haven't tried putting him back in his cot for months as it all got too knackering. In the evening all we did really was to keep re-settling every hour. I remember DS1 going through the same phase.

spangle- hope your nights get better soon. No wonder you are exhausted. I was feeling knackered and S is usually OK in the evening, but is waking every 1.5 to 2 hours in the night, and I am so tired i just feed each time, fall asleep with him either next to me or on me, and then when one of us moves and wakes the other, the cycle starts again. So he's feeding 5 times a night .

muddled- we tidy before our cleaner comes too, so it still involves some effort, but without a cleaner our floors, kitchen surfaces and bathrooms would be very grotty . We also pay for ironing now (work shirts) which frees up DHs time as he always did his own.

emmabemmasmom- welcome back. Congratulations on the new job and well done for getting it when you have been out of the jobs market. How's things with your DH?

Oh it is like a big web world hug being welcomed back! lol

With over 500 posts I cannot possibly remember who said what and when. However...

Jael I don't know if you are still around. However I had seen a few of your facebook posts and had been thinking about you. Then I just caught up and read a post you did awhile ago. I just wanted to let you know, I have been there. Reading that...it was all to familiar. I ran away from home at 13...was living with my dad. Did not speak to him for nearly 2 years after. I have cut quite a few family members out of my life for various reasons too. I know how it gets...and you get to a point where you need to surround yourself with people who love you and help you rather than ones who knock you down and hinder you. It is not easy but I commend you for your strength.

I am amazed at how all of your babies are doing. Re eating S hardly eats at all. She loves everything I give her...but to be honest (and this is horrible) sometimes I forget to feed her food! She usually has cereal of some sort for breakfast and maybe a few bits and pieces through the day like toast, fruit puree or whatever I am eating and then dinner but sometimes not a lot. She won't really feed herself yet but she seems focused and determined lol

pula Thank you so much! I am very excited and proud of myself! I have not had a full time job since I left the States in Jan 2006 as I got preg with DD1 in Feb and nobody would hire me here I can't wait to start now. DH will be staying home with the girls for now as I don't want them in care if we can help it and I will be making more money than he was so I know we will be ok. He lost his job the week before xmas...cheers right? Also loving the idea of getting 'me' back!

DH and I are doing well. One day at a time. We seem really good right now. I do feel however that I thought we were fine before, so the feeling of 'ease' freaks me out like I am waiting for the other shoe to drop. I do look at him sometimes and want to yell and scream as I remember some things he said or whatever. I also did something not to bright during the 'were not together' period so we have both been trying to forgive if not forget things. I am not perfect in this either, however my stupid thing was not when were were together OR talking about getting back together so I don't feel like it is earth shattering. However, I have to try to understand his feelings too (I guess). We ask questions when we have to, but other than that we made a new years pact to move on and make this year better. So far so good!

Sorry so long lol been awhile...

hello all.

spangle, are you feeling better? poor you re: sleeping. at least you're on the right thread (title appropriate!). a lot of us know how you feel.

in our case, Harper is sleeping perfectly 7.30pm-7ish am... but dd1&2 are waking at least twice an hour from 1-5am. I have no idea how to stop it because dd1 usually wakes in her sleep (i can't help that) and other times has trouble getting back to sleep. i'm going to peruse or post on the sleep/behaviour threads.

emmab'smom, so glad to see you back! your MN return is a good sign that you're better (right?).

tumm, was it chick pox? when H had it, it was really mild and I can't remember if she had a temp.

llare, [melt emoticon] at your ds' comment about your looks, awwwww.

muddled, re: lower abd pain, I have had mild but constant pain/discomfort since about a month after H was born. it comes and goes and I'm not sure if it's tied to my bowels or to my cycle. have been to doc who thought it could be tied to back pain but the exercises she suggested didn't work. am going to get a 2nd opinion. how long have you had it? was it right after you got the coil fitted? do get it checked out.

flippin, sorry you're feeling unwell. hope you're better soon. pula, how are you feeling?

Fi, ironically, I'm watching Friends right now because there is nothing on telly and I need something really lighthearted to watch(can't bear to watch Day after Tomorrow). I try to avoid friends (it's so american ) but actually finding it cheerful tonight.

Belg, sounds lovely, bath with C. hope she settled down nicely tonight.

Hi emmab Glad to see you back and glad to hear your life is starting to get back on track with a new job and your DH being back Don't worry about catching up. Nearly 8m is far too much, just jump in and enjoy the fun.

I've been wondering about jael too. I hope she's not feeling bad about confiding in us.

muddled pula Once upon a time when we had a cleaner we also used to tidy before she came I think it's a very common thing. In a way it was good, because it made me tidy the house at least once a fortnight

spangle Hope you're feeling better soon. Ds had a stage like that too. He's the only one I had to properly sleep train so far. It culminated in waking every 45 min. C had a bad month over christmas, waking every 1.5-2h (like pula's S), but she's settled naturally now she does a 4h and 3h stretch. Hang in there, it wont last for ever.

I've got a terrible headache and feel really tired, so I'll say goodnight now, relax for a bit and have an early night. Night everyone.

x-post younger My bath with C was lovely. It was a morning bath and she had one of the best naps in ages. I just can't get the timing right for evening baths. C's usually tired by 6.30 or so and at that point we're still clearing up from dinner, so she tends to get bathed in the morning. H sounds like a great sleeper

I forgot muddled I had some lower abdo pain the month after my coil was fitted, but never again after. Occasionally I get some periody type pain, not sure why though.

belgina- I don't know if you are FB friends with Jael but I think she is quite low ATM judging by her FB status - fi said to come and chat to us, but she says she is hiding as she felt someone was criticising her parenting skills . I am going to message her on FB to see how she is as I am worried about her. I will tell her you and EBmom have been asking after her.

Sorry you are feeling poorly flippin. younger- thanks for asking how I am. I am getting a bit as I have been feeling queasy/had stomach pains for 4 days now, and although i haven't been sick or had loose stools, it is getting me down as I'm not sure when it will stop. I am seeing my GP next Weds re. my ADs, but I also want to mention the back pain i have when I go from siting to standing at work, and if i'm still feeling sick I will mention that too- hope she doesn't think i am a hypochondriac!

Going for an early night tonight as DS continues his way to early to rise am's atm.. our good days are when he sleeps past 5.30am.. thankfully G normally goes through to 6.30am min so we only have DS to try and settle back in bed.. usually to no avail.

hoping everyone manage to have much improved nights tonight and the germ goblin goes on permanent holiday far far away!

helloo Ebmom welcome back and great to see you here and hear things are getting there bit by bit..

just found rob brydon at the apollo on bbc one.. he makes me larf

oh, Eb'smom, I'm momino, btw, your fellow american. recently namechanged.

off to bed now. just got off t'phone withs sis. very tired. expecting to wake for one of the DDs in an hour.

Morning!

Spangle- you may be interested to know that "Operation Sleep Training" started in ernest last night in the pula household and although tough, seemed to have some impact.

S woke and had a feed at 10pm, back in his cot at 10.15. But was awake again at 12.30am. There then followed 45 mins of angry crying as DH tried to get him to go back to sleep in his cot. In the end i fed him as he was very cross and it was 3 hours since the last feed which was what we thought was a good starting point. Finished the feed at 1.30 and he was still wide awake. Did some more pickup putdown and he was asleep by 1.45. He then slept til 6.30 . So we all feel much better for having some solid sleep.

nice one pula sounds like a definite improvement.. DS slept well & we got a long lie this am until he came bouncing in at 6.30am. so an improvement here too! G woke when DS chatted loudly.. but we were awake anyway.

Hi all

Tummum, hope it isn't chicken pox. Flippin and Pula, hope you both feel better soon.

F, DH and I all have a cold type lurgy that F brought home from nursery over 2 weeks ago. I feel like I've been run over. Poor F is struggling to breathe and has been up 3 or 4 times every night for the last 3 weeks. DH and I - like so many of you - are shattered. We don't want to start sleep training until F is completely better but I'm gutted as he was doing brilliantly before and going through from 7pm - 6.30am.

Pula so pleased you had a better night, and Fi too. Might try for a nap when F has his sleep this morning. He fell asleep in his dinner last night because he refused to nao in the afternoon, poor thing.

Emmab - it's fab to see you back and I am so pleased that things are getting better for you.

Momino you def need a second opinion, you shouldn't have to put up with pain all the time.

right, we're all spending the day snuggling up in front of the fire. Except that F has other plans and keeps crying because he's so desperate to crawl and can't quite do it...

So sorry everyone, haven't been on for a couple of days. I ended up with really bad tonsillitis and have been in bed with temp. On antibiotics so should be better soon. Haven't managed to catch up with all posts, but will try over the next day and hopefully will be back to full health soon! Haven't been ill at all since before I was pregnant so think my poor body doesn't know what has hit it, has been 10 days now of getting progressively worse, but definitely feel am on the mend now. At least I can't eat much because my throat is so sore! MIght lose some weight! HOpe you are all well
xxx

HtheH ReeBee and others feeling poorly - snuggle up, keep warm and get better soon!

Emmab great to see you back, and to hear things are on the up . My H is another one who doesn't eat very much - I had to make a new year's resolution to remember to offer him three meals a day!

Pula glad you had a better night. Hope the sleep training continues to be successful - I shall be taking notes!

Thanks for the reassurances about H's sleep. Sorry to hear some of you have had similar problems but in a way I'm glad it's not just H, it gives me faith that it's just a phase and he'll grow out of it... I hope. It's been going on since Christmas - surely due for a break soon??

Last night was not great - after going to bed at 7.30 I had to re-settle at 8.30, then at 9.45 but he wouldn't settle at all so we gave calprufen & brought him for a snuggle on the sofa until we went to bed at 11.30. He was then up at 2 (for 45min), 4, 6, 7.30 and then dozed on me until 8.45. He's all snotty this morning so maybe it was a combination of a cold & teething. I think I ended up with a total of 7 or so hours' sleep but it was in so many bits I still feel exhausted. Guess I'm lucky we don't have any other DC to get us up!

Oh yes, in other news, H crawled for the first time this morning - and eeek!

Hi all!

Thank you again for all the 'welcome backs'! Means a lot

Sorry to hear that some of you are sick. It is not easy being sick with kiddies so try try try to sit and relax at every moment you can!

sleeping I noticed a lot of you are talking about sleep patterns and what not. I thought S was not great, but after hearing some of what you guys are going through...well I feel awefull and tired just reading about it! There are nights when S sleeps through (rare) and when she does wake up (once a night usually) I usually give her a bottle. I don't want to be in this habit but she is in the room with DD1 now and if I don't get S settled quickish then DD1 wakes up and is all 'hi, whatcha doin?'. It is cute though as they go to bed at the same time so most nights S moans a bit but I can hear DD1 telling her it is ok and she has gotten into her cot before to lie next to her! Not safe but oh so cute...I guess I cannot really complain as both are in bed by 6:30 and sleep until 7 or even 8 some days. God...why do I even moan about it?!?

Just made some spinach cannelloni's for dinner so got to go get that in the oven before the troops are back from watching football at FIL's. I actually got to watch a movie in peace today! Yeah. Feel like a new person lol

Emmab Hi!!! Glad to here you are happier. My 2 are sharinga room now too and they also go to bed between 6-6.30pm and sleep through until 7 or later so I feel very lucky too. R wakes most nights once and I do feed him but I have noticed that he has not really needed it so I might just give him a cuddle instead of a feed soon. R has improved so much in the past few weeks. Before Christmas he was waking every 2 hours!!! So good luck with the sleep training Spangle and Pula.

I have such a sore throat and am achy. I feel like I have been sick forever!!!
I have been lurking and reading but haven't had the energy to post so I'll try and remember some of the things I wanted to say.

Teenbooks I have enjoyed seeing all your much loved books and authors. I LOVED reading as a teen and still do although I don't get to do it as much anymore. One of my favourite authors is actually a NZer Maurice Gee. My fav is The halfmen of O. I have read it over and over again. I also like Jeffery Archer -Kane and Able, and everything basically.....

Ses That BF clip was shocking!!! To compare BFing to Coke is outrageous. It had started a bit of a debate at our house as DH said that feeding after 12months (as I did with DD) is too long. I said that I wouldn't necessarily stop at 12 months with R as a) I'm not PG this time b) I am not working basically fulltime this time and c) each baby and experience is different. I think he doesn't have an issue when I explained it. I doubt I'll be feeding when he is 4 though. I plan on ditching the kids on their GPs when we see them and going away for a few days .

I can't think of anything else now. Hi everyone else...

Hi all,

febes- I am hoping that S will follow R's lead and improve his sleep like R has. He has been poorly which has affected his sleep, but is so much better now so i am keeping my fingers crossed for a good night. We will also continue to sleep train if necessary.

ses- I too was at some of the comments on extended BF. I would like to continue past 12mo with S if he is still interested and as he rarely feeds in the day it is something that noone will know about anyway. I am hoping it will keep my periods at bay too

Pula Keeping my periods at bay is one of my main motivations too . I had it back at 7 months last time but as I said I was back working 4 days and mix feeding so feeding a lot less than this time...

bf I bf for >12m twice now, but unfortunately it never meant my periods stayed away for an equal amount of time. DS 4m, dd1 10m, C still no sign of periods, so I'm hoping I'll get to the 10m mark and hopefully even beyond that. I think my main reason for extended bf was laziness, TBH. It's just easier to continue until it fizzles out, than stopping and introducing bottles/cups of milk, IYKWIM. It had also gone to just mornings and evenings by the time they were 12m with the other 2. The way C's going I have a feeling that wont be the case now. It seems like BF is still her main source of food, though she does eat a little every day nowadays.

spangle Yay on the crawling. Clever boy!

C's newfound mobility is a bit of a shock to the system for the dcs. They're forever having to rescue toys from her little hands. She doesn't take well to having to give up her treasures too and does 'angry' very well. The funniest thing is that she gets angry if she drops something herself e.g. if I'm holding her and she can't pick it up again. She calms down quickly though if I give it back to her. But, oh boy, can she have a little temper!

I also tried her in her cot for her nap today and it didn't work. She'd gone to sleep during a feed, I transfered her and she woke. I sat with her stroking her cheek. Then she spent an hour alternating between trying to charm herself out of the cot by giving me big beaming smiles and crying. In the end I gave up because it was getting late and I did the usual lying with her. She was asleep in 5 min. How, oh, how will I ever solve this problem.

belgina- we're having similar issues with the DCs now S can crawl. DD is used to DS1 taking her toys/disrupting her games, but it's all new to DS1 who tries to push S away or snatch his toys back.

Well S has definitely got his appetite back so i am hoping for a good night's sleep without the need for constant feeds. But just as one DC is better, another gets poorly. Sounds like DS1 has got croup tonight. He's honking like a seal and crying out a lot so we've been up and down the stairs this evening. I've read up all the guidance on the NHS website as I remember my brother getting croup a lot as a child and he had to go to hospital on a number of occasions when it got really bad.

Pula croup treatment is either cold air (wrap him up then go for a walk / cuddle) or steam (put kettle on in bath, take lid off and boil constantly to fill room with steam.) That helps relieve the symptoms, but the it's a virus so can't really treat it IYKWIM. It's really very horrible, so you have my sympathies. Be prepared for it to get very bad at 3am...
to DS1

P, forgot to say that NHS direct were great with me. I phoned them loads () because I was worried about G's breathing and they were very good at talking me through what I needed to be looking out for.