Weekly chat Dec 20-26th

[sonshine_rae]

Hey where is everybody? Must be doing last minute shopping or something....

: It sure is cold where I live today.... and only supposed to get colder this weekend!! Brrrr

Quick update on our sickies: My oldest (4yr old) is back to his full of mischief self, the baby (Samuel/11.5 weeks) is back to eating and sleeping better his fever is gone but he still has diarrhea, and my middle child (2 yr old) is still in the beginning stages of it with a fever and lots of diarrhea.. poor thing.

So far the adults are surviving without catching it.... but who knows if we'll get caught in the end or not .

How is everyone else????

[Baby_Cakes]

I'm here!

Rae, I'm glad your kids are on the mend, and hopefully the grown ups don't get it. That would be no fun, especially over the holidays.

AAM - I'm up surprisingly early (7 am) and Nora is sleeping soundly next to me on the couch. She slept from 1:30 am till now, and she's still out like a light. Her sleeping personality is so much like mine it is uncanny. I have so much trouble going to sleep, but once I'm out a herd of elephants couldn't wake me up. She is the same - so hard to wake up in the morning!!!

I have a bunch of shopping left to do, but no ideas for what to buy for people. Not looking forward to that over the next few days. DH's gift didn't ship yet and I'm kinda thinking it won't be here in time (even though I ordered it on the 15th)! That makes me upset. I wanted him to have something fabulous to open on Christmas, but it isn't looking good.

I'm so frazzled that these are my last 2 weeks of maternity leave. Nora is still so small! I don't want to go back to work at all! I need to win the lottery -- I guess I should start playing.

[mamanurse]

: I'm here too.

I'm so glad Samuel is on the mend Rae and I'm hoping your middle boy heals quickly. It'd totally be the pits if you and your dh get it.

Two weeks of maternity leave Carrie! I'm sad for you as well. I have 4 weeks from Monday left. Drats about the present for dh. I hate it when online companies say things will ship in time and then they don't.

Me: Portland got about a foot of snow yesterday and we're supposed to have sleet and freezing rain all day long today. The city is pretty much shut down and we're probably not going to go anywhere at least for today and probably for tomorrow. My shopping is done, though. I just need to get a roast for our dinner on Wednesday.

Dh stayed with Hazel while she was napping yesterday and I strapped on my snowshoes. My sister and BIL live nearby and I shoed it to their house for a cup of coffee last night. It was nice to have a little time for myself.

I have a headache today and my eyes hurt. I'm thinking my body aches, but it's hard to say since I went nordic skiing in the morning yesterday and my muscles aren't used to it. Thinking it might be the flu, though.

I might not be online for the next couple of days with Jew Fest and Christmas going on at my house, though. If not, have a great holidays lately and take lots of pics!!!

[Changed]

Not much going on here... getting ready to work out with DH and waiting on yet another pot of coffee to finish. Good morning!

[NDFanatik]

HOLA!! I'm here... I'm more of a lurker than anything and often feel bad about not posting more So sorry, lol.

Rae, glad you kids are starting to feel better. Hope your yo gets better soon and ya'll don't get sick!

As for me... Life is life. All my shopping has been done for over weeks now. Just waiting for Christmas morning! I'm sooo excited! I love Christmas! I have songs playing all the time and am anxiously counting down the time, lol. YAY!!!!!!!!!

I recently had someone who hurt me really bad try and get ahold of me. After 4.5 years they want to apologize. I'm gonna suck it up and listen to what they have to say, but they very well should know that I'll never forgive them. I pride myself on being able to forgive those who have done me wrong, but what they did hurt me sooo much and I will never get over it. So I'll listen to what they have to say and thank them for at least doing it, but that's about all I can do. I do want to know WHY though... why now after all this time... Oh I dread the conversation that we'll have. I already feel nauseous.

But other than that, all is fine & dandy! My children are happy and healthy! My husband is an amazing man and working his butt off for us, and I'm trying to better myself and am getting ready for New Year's so I can start my new year's resolution: getting into shape. Not expecting miracles, but I at least want to drop about 20lbs in the next year... Should put me at a good and healthy 135lbs.

Well, my little miss is calling me for some boobs milk!! Gotta run!! Hope ya'll ldies have a WONDERFUL week! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

[Amber Lion]

Hi Ladies!

Rae - Glad to hear the sickness is running it's course and kids are feeling better!

Carrie - I start school on the 5th of Jan and am anxious too! At least I have online classes, but Addie still seems so small and needy all the time I can't imagine how I'm going to do it.

Amy Lynn - you're a brave person. After that long I think I'd leave that person out of my life.

Jenn - we're getting sleet here too. After being so excited about the snow I'm kind of hoping it's gone by this afternoon b/c I don't want to drive in it to my friend's holiday potluck! It's really slushy at least and I have AWD, but I'm not used to driving in the snow at all.

AAM: Day 2 of no Dh. Last night was hard. I don't know if she was waiting for her Daddy or what, but she wouldn't go to sleep. She was totally tired and cranky and nursed for 2 hours straight in bed! I was catnapping, but she kept popping on and off and being really mad about it, but wouldn't be happy without the nipple in her mouth either. I managed to get a shower while she was in the swing this morning though. That was nervewracking b/c I couldn't hear her when I was in the shower, but she wasn't screaming when I got out so I figure she probably wasn't while I was in there either.

Addie has outgrown her prefolds! In two days! Seriously, it went from "I think these might be getting small" to "I can't even get it on!" in 2 days. So she's in sposies until we can get some bigger cloth diapers. I thought we'd have more warning, but this girl has got some chunky thighs! I'm hoping Grandma and Grandpa get her diapers for Xmas!

Is anyone else poor? I've never been in my whole life, but we are now. We had to go to the dollar store for x-mas gifts; bought pic frames and just printed pics of Addie for our families. It's really hard to adjust to this way of life. I can't buy Addie clothes or new diapers or even buy clothes that fit me! It's not how I imagined when we decided to TTC for her, but then a lot has happened this year (the economy) that wasn't in the planning. I know all she needs is Mommy, boobs, and *some* warm clothes - which she has, but I still feel like we're failing somehow since we planned this; like if we'd planned it we should be in a better place or something.

[PassionateWriter]

im here but just came back online yesterday. we lost our power for 9 days...we are in the part of the northeast that was hit really hard w the ce strm....it was crazy. since te ice storm we've has 2 other snow storms and are bracing ourselves thru another one right now.

thank G-d we have a denerator....im not sure what we would have done otherwise.

now im running around trying to take toy donations 1/2 an hour away and im honestly not sure how im going to do it. i have AWD but hte roads are bad. argh!!!!

being without internet and electricity for so long has really made me realize what the important things in life are....i was stressing about the holidays here and now im just glad that we are all healthy and happy and have our power back on..and aren't one of the families having to ask for donations. times are so tough right now for so many in this economy.

one great thing is that my SUV is FULL of stuff so when i do get to where im going, there will be lots of happy kids on xmas day...simply due to a friend of mine and myself giving up so little of the stuff we have. that makes me feel good .

baby seems to be hanging in there with all the running around. i cant wait to stop and relax though. i think ive washed 8 loads of laundry since the power came on yesterday. i still have a good 2-3 loads to go. crazy!!

hope everyone has a great week and happy holidays!

[sonshine_rae]

bleh... it's my turn to be sick after all......

Oh and DH admitted that he had already had the sickness.. just dealt with it himself I guess. Ugh my stomach is cramping sooo bad..... yucky

[HeddyBee]

^ Hope you feel better soon!

We are traveling to Charlotte for the holiday; my mom, sister, and
Grandparents will be there. First time for them to meet
Helena. With baby still having her days and nights mixed up, I am nervous about having to get all of us some sleep in a different environment. I'm still too sleep deprived to be much fun, anyway. ;-)
She is doing well with her corrective shoes but babywearing is a conundrum.

In my house we love to celebrate solstice even more than Xmas...so happy solstice all!

[crabbyowl]

Hello! I too am getting over being sick, although in my case it was just a head cold. Still, no fun - it's hard to get a baby to sleep when I'm blowing my nose every ten seconds! So far she doesn't seem to have gotten it, thankfully.

We had our pre-Christmas dinner with seven (!) friends on Friday, and Eleanor was just perfect! : She was the belle of the ball, and even "helped" a few of our friends with their strategy in cards. I love how it's our unmarried, childless, male friends who especially enjoy being with her and holding her. :

Also, we have Christmas photos! http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...8d&id=60508619
We got a really great family shot: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...a5&id=60508619

Hope everyone is doing well so far this week.

[myrmom]

it is very very cold here but we are trying not to let us stop us. We were at my SIL's tonight for our annual solstice party it was a lovely night though toboggoning was cold.

It's dh's and my anniversary today....6 years ago today we were married...hard to believe, where did that time go and WOW look at the changes in our life since then!!

We are all excited about christmas and almost completely ready for it.

Keir is 2 months old today and growing like a weed...he is 13lbs 5oz as of wednesday..I think he is going to be my biggest baby. He is such a content little guy...hardly ever cries and makes like so easy. He is getting better at sleeping and is putting himself to sleep about half the time.

That is about it for me and mine right now.

[mkmb129]

Rae, I'm glad that your little ones are feeling better and I hope that you feel better soon. I was sick a few weeks ago and it was not fun, I had to have my sister come help me the first night because I could hardly get off the couch (seriously!) let alone take care of the kids!

Carrie, I'm sorry you're feeling frazzled. I cannot imagine leaving my baby so young, I'm sorry that you have to! But Nora will be just fine with Grandma!

Amberlion, being alone is no fun, but once you get into the groove it's much better. I know my main problem was at first that I didn't feel capable of doing it without dh. Knowing that I can is a great and empowering feeling, though. You're doing just fine! And I was "poor" (in quotes because we had food and a home, just not a lot of extra money for stuff) growing up, most of our everything came from walmart, I'm sure mom got some dollar store stuff, too. It's okay, you do the best you can, Addie won't know the difference. I'm not big into Christmas for little ones who don't know any better or tons of clothes for small children myself, but we're not bad off money wise (we're not well off, either ).. I just think it's a waste. And about the nursing thing, that is Ainsley EVERY NIGHT! Some nights I just have to put her down and walk away, because seriously 2-3hrs of that before she will go to sleep (and if I start earlier, it just lasts longer) is driving me absolutely insane!

Heather, Ainsley had a heck of a time adjusting to being here rather then home, even though she's so small, I dread going back home and having to do it all over again without dh's help! I didn't think it'd be so difficult. She was a PILL for 5 days, screamed every time we put her in the car. Ds never had trouble adjust to traveling, though, so your little one may not have a problem at all! I hope it goes smoothly for you!

Maggie, happy anniversary!!

AAM: Not much going on! We got a little dollar store Christmas tree and decorated it with cheap & cheesy ornaments, oh the poor thing is just pathetic, but ds doesn't know any better and thinks it's pretty, my sweet boy! My sweet Ainsley is a pill.. she's sleeping 7hrs most nights (on me.. with me sitting up and it's lovely to get some decent sleep. She'll be 2 months old tomorrow. Wow!! Still not even the flicker of a thought of another, and I refuse to dtd now that I know what it causes We're going to visit some of my family in WV next weekend on the way home and I'm so excited, I haven't seen them since ds was four months old!

It's beautiful and sunny here, clear skies. I think we'll take a walk on the beach

[sonshine_rae]

Thanks for the well wishes,
Thus far I seemed to have only had 1 afternoon of sickness myself then was pretty much over it shortly after dinner time. I hope it doesn't come back lol.

The younger two boys are still pooping a lot, and a bit extra whiney but getting better. Samuel is irritated that my supply dropped (duh kid you didn't nurse as much.. so I didn't produce as much). He was always a one boob kid before, but now sometimes he'll insist on two.... or sometimes he'll nurse for a long time switching sides at different points (like most of the night last night... ). I decided to drink some mothers milk tea today to try and 'help him' bring my milk back up to a level he'd prefer. I think he can do it himself.. I just don't want to go through hrs and hrs of nursing to get there LOL!

My 2 yr old is starting to insist on being held anytime the baby is out of my arms, and I've even resorted to putting him in a wrap once, and today at lunch I HAD to get out a ring sling to carry him because my arm was literally DEAD from carrying his 31+lbs around! Sometimes he even insists on being in my lap while I'm nursing.. that can be tricky (have to do a football hold on the couch with baby to nurse that way).

Ugh I'm so tired.... I quite literally Fell Asleep at the Lunch Table!!!!!!
DH tried to tease me the other day about how tired I've been (come on I've got all these sick kids and fighting it off myself!).. saying 'if this keeps up you might have to take a test' ..... it kind of upset me. I laughed at him and said this time I would only mock him for saying that.. but if he said it again I'd probably glare at him!!!! I sooooo am not ready for another baby yet :!!

[sonshine_rae]

Oh and Carrie and all of you who are going back to work soon..... super big hugs to you ((((((working gals)))))))) I cannot imagine having a full time job AND the full time job of motherhood. Take care of yourselves!

Anybody else NOT ready for Christmas??
Somebody PLEASE get me in the Christmas mood!! I've got presents for two of my boys (not sure if I'll do anything for the baby) but they aren't wrapped. And I haven't got DH anything yet (and his gift for me just came today.. though I didn't open it lol)!

Plus we are supposed to 'have Christmas' at my house this year my MIL, FIL, and BIL will all be coming to my house for lunch and gift exchange, scripture reading etc, and I haven't decorated or done ANYTHING this year.. between the new baby and 2 weeks of sick kids... I haven't had time and haven't cared. Ugh.... help me....

[CindyCindy]

AmberLion: I just wanted you to know that presents don't matter. . .at all. We don't celebrate christmas and our children have never received gifts from anybody. They don't care, they don't know the difference and they don't miss them. Children don't learn love through gifts that are given once a year. Do not beat yourself up because you can't afford to buy everybody nice stuff, or that your children are missing out on something. . .they aren't.

[heidirk]

Em- we're in that place this year too. I tell myself that the boys don't know any better, and so arenot expecting anything. my consistent care for them day to day is what they need right now, but i'd like so much more for them. we planmned too, but you casn never prepare for every variable.

sonshinerae- my ds1 is doing the same thing, but i refuse to get out the meitai for him. i'm so out of practice, it'd really screw up my back. here's some Christmas Spirit fir you. . .
I hope you heal fast.



AAM- i have a sore throat and i'm singing for the Christmas eve service. i've got a babe who has refused the breast several times today, and wants to be in my aerms with a nuk. and my cookies i was making for gifts didn't come out right. only two more days till Christmas, and i have a week and 1/2 of work to do. i'll have to bake and shop on Christmas eve, and i like to reserve that day for rest and celebration. and i stink- i'd kill fir a shower. end rant.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by mkmb129

Carrie, I'm sorry you're feeling frazzled. I cannot imagine leaving my baby so young, I'm sorry that you have to! But Nora will be just fine with Grandma!

Originally Posted by sonshine_rae

Oh and Carrie and all of you who are going back to work soon..... super big hugs to you ((((((working gals)))))))) I cannot imagine having a full time job AND the full time job of motherhood. Take care of yourselves!

Thanks, both of you. Yes, my heart doesn't really know what to do with the emotions I'm having about going back to work. I truly wish I didn't have to. I'm thinking about putting my notice in right away, but I think that's a little crazy and would be an emotional decision right now, not a well thought out one. I need to go back and see how "bad" it is, and then go from there.

I'm not in the Christmas mood either. I mean, I'm "excited" but really I'm just dreading going to my Mom's and having to deal with people right now. None of my clothes fit and I don't feel like faking being happy when all I want to do is curl up and cry.

And does anyone know or have any idea when this bleeding from having my IUD put in is going to stop? This is so stupid! I'm protected and we can't DTD b/c I've been bleeding with a moderate/heavy flow here for the past 2 weeks. And sometimes the strings poke me. Ouch.

Where has Tara been? Tara, I was thinking about you today! Hope everything is going alright!

Hugs to all the mamas that are sick, dealing with sick kiddos, or are just plain moody like me.

[sonshine_rae]

(((((((Carrie)))))))) I understand... it's the PPD hon... makes me feel the same way about Christmas/seeing people etc.

AAM: Ugh I just came back from Wal-Mart where I 'finished' my gift shopping and got some groceries/various items. Since I knew it would be a long trip I took Samuel with me, cause he doesn't go 'that' long without eating.. and doesn't take a bottle.

That was a terrible shopping trip.... apparently Samuel hates shopping?? I've only taking him on a couple of VERY brief shopping trips before so this was his first long (as in a couple of hrs) trip. And he started it out over tired of course (because I couldn't leave the house when I wanted to, my 2 yr old completely lost it when he realized I was leaving without him.. so I had to stay comfort him and wait till we tucked him in bed before I could go) which just made it more difficult.

I couldn't believe it but he didn't sleep but maybe 20-30mins of the whole shopping trip... despite being in a wrap (which usually puts him to sleep easily)!! He alternated being happy, fussing, and crying . I think it was overstimulating for him with all the lights/colors/sounds etc. I even stopped and nursed him part way through.

I never really was one to like shopping, but since I've had kids.. I pretty much hate it!

[mamanurse]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes

Where has Tara been? Tara, I was thinking about you today! Hope everything is going alright!

Been thinking about her and that sweet Ally Rae too. I hope she has time to check in soon.

[mkmb129]

Rae, my two year old is doing the same thing about wanting to be held as soon as I put the baby down, he's even asking my to wear him, but I didn't bring the babyhawk to VA with us because he hasn't wanted to be worn in months and months. He doesn't understand that he's just too heavy for the knit wrap And, my Ainsley hates shopping, too. Even in the wrap she'll fuss unless she was asleep to begin with. Leaving the house with her is torture, Colin wasn't like this at all so it's a bit frustrating having him to compare her to (though I know I shouldn't). Yesterday, however, she was sleeping, and I didn't bring the wrap.. and I left her in her seat on the cart (like a bad mommy) and she stayed asleep! It was heaven. Until she screamed her head off while we checked out

These little ones of ours will calm down eventually. That's what I tell myself, anyway!