2003-Nov./Dec. Mamas and Babies (New Thread) - Page 8

[Plaid Leopard]

Felix is 2 1/2 months old! I can't believe how fast time is going by.

He actually has a pretty predictable schedule. It takes him a while to get to sleep at night, but then he usually sleeps for 6 or 7 hours straight - sometimes more. In the morning he wakes up for a diaper change and some boob, then goes back to sleep for a while. He sleeps off and on until about 2, when he goes down for a 3 or 4 hour nap - usually in the sling at the playground for part of it.

He's such a sweet, smiley guy. And he LOVES his papa. He sometimes cries if he sees DH but DH doesn't stop to at least talk to him.

[WickidaWitch]

Hello all~
Sounds like all is going well for all of us with our babies. Some problems but from what i've read things have been working out for us.
Angelica is doing some serious drooling these days. Always trying to suck on her fist or thumb. I am trying to get her to like her binky some more because she has turned me into her human binky and i'm not always crazy about that. I will try to find others ways to make her happy but when she really wants my boob she will scream at me till she gets it.
got to go, shes up

[1jooj]

well actually...

meryem has a bad bad cold. she caught it from ds--complete with lots of snot that has to be sucked out, and a nasty cough.

[WickidaWitch]

So sorry to hear that 1jooj. It can be do tuff when they have a cold. Hopefully it will go away quickly.

[3 Little Monkeys]

I've been pumping for Jessica - I don't have thrush but there is some serious pain when she nurses so Im hoping that pumping for awhile will let the traumatized nipples get better. It's a good thing she takes the bottle so well. I still nurse a couple times a day so she doesn't get too dependant on the bottle but I have to make sure I'm not too full when she does or it really hurts! My babe is 3 months, 1 week and 3 days - she weighed 12 lbs 2 oz a week ago. She's so happy and alert, always smiling and she's discovered her voice! It's so cute the way she looks at me and just babbles. She's trying to reach for things but just can't quite connect - you should see the surprised look she gets when she does connect though :LOL

[Christy1980]

you guys remember all the problems i had with my job when i was pg? remember how much i hated my boss? well, i'm not employed there anymore.

I was scheduled to work 8am to 5pm. I fed sage at 6:30am, then i left for work. i got there, the day went well until 4pm. josh called and sage had not eaten since i fed her. she was screaming and josh was crying because he couldn't get her to take a bottle at all. I asked my boss if i could go home and this is what she said:

"This happens all the time with you. I hate for you to have to lose your job over this, but I'm going to have to replace you. so clock out and go home."

first of all, this was only the 2nd time i left early, (the 1st time was at her insistance b/c she sould hear sage crying on the phone). secondly, I'm not going to let my child starve just so i can work.

I called back later that night and talked to one of the asst. managers, and she said that my boss was just threatening me, not firing me. I told her to tell the boss that I quit if I'm not already fired because no one can force me to choose between my job and my child and expect me to choose my job!!

so now i'm a SAHM, we'll see how long we can make it without any money. I'm working on making some stuff to sell online, (this is not spam, btw), so hopefully i can make some money that way. I'm relieved to not be working there anymore anyway. i bet my blood pressure is better, lol.

[3 Little Monkeys]

Christy ~ Good for you, telling them just where they could put it. I can't believe she said that to you! I hope things work out so that you are able to stay home with Sage. Poor baby girl, and poor Josh. Sage just knows it's better right out of the package than in the bottle :LOL You are better off without that job, it was just one huge stress maker foryou. Good luck mama!

[WickidaWitch]

Good luck to you Christy. You sure didnt need the stress that job gave you. If you need to get another job now you can make sure it'll be closer to home.
Hugs for Sage. s

[1jooj]

Were you FT? Can you collect unemployment? Can a boss actuallyfire you for having to take care of your baby??? I hate your boss!

I am having trouble with my job, too--I don't make enough to afford anyone other than my sister (nor do I trust anyone else) with ds...and dd can only handle 3-4 hours in the office at a time. Working at home is not working well right now, but I am hoping warmer weather changes this. A friend has propositioned me to stay home and care for her children...it would be great to be home and kid-focused all the time, but I don't know whether I am really suited to that--besides, this would take me totally out of the professional world, and when both my kids are school aged, I'd have to start completely over again. Advice?

I actually applied for a few sexy FT jobs. Doubt whether I'll get any offers, and I am not sure what I was thinking. Dh agreed to try to switch shifts if I do find something, but I amso torn. I hate to think of running ourselves all ragged like that over $$.

Meryem's bad cold is better...but she's still pretty snotty and she coughed and lost her whole breakfast this AM. Her 2 month check is today. No shots for my little dictator.

[KindRedSpirit]

Good for you,Christy!I think just knowing you don't have to go back there has lowered MY blood pressure!:LOL
We too are going thru some $ tightness issues,and how to get through them.So I have been brainstorming a lot on the subjest,here are some ideas;
Invest in something and/or save to-fixing up houses to cars to furniture to clothing...and returning them to the world renewed(saves room in landfills and recycling centers)
invest your time in your self and home-I have currently found the joy of making food from scratch,and the satisfaction of saving tons on our grocery bill-tortillia shells,crackers,breads,cookies,all kinds of stuff,it is amazing how thhis can improve your health too!(DH has lost 5 lbs from not being able to afford soda and candy!)and I am already starting to invest my time in the garden-you can plant in your home if you have no land,or at very least start sprouting.
invest in your talents-I have made an outline for an alternative home preschool(teaching music and knitting as seen in a Mothering Mag article,instead of abc's....) and a family birth/positive sex ed class....(Still no takers,but it's there!)
Sales-tupperware,hepa-filter vacumes,avon,marykay,those sorts of things...
There is a ton of opportunity!!
Good Luck!

[Christy1980]

i was not full time, i was only working 2 days a week. so i don't qualify for unemployment but i think i do qualify for food stamps I already get WIC so that's a big help. my medicaid runs out on the 29th, but i'm going to re-apply and see if i can get on it again. i hate being without health insurance, and since DP and i aren't married, i can't get on his insurance.

the good thing about me staying home is that Sage seems happier, and josh is definately happier since he doesn't have to sit and listen to her screaming for several hours on his 2 days off. i think even though we're stressed about money, we are both relieved and happier than before. weird, huh?

[beanma]

christy, congrats on getting rid of that job! i think you and sage and dh will all be a lot happier, even if you are a little poorer. they just sounded like awful people to work for. i did my stint in retail and they don't all have to be jerks!

sherri, hope the nips feel better.

1jooj, hope meryem feels better.

bec, how are things going with you and your little one?

ellie is fine and dandy here and very smiley these days. she's loud, though, when things aren't going her way. loudest baby i ever heard! cutest big blue eyes that love to look into mine and dh's and dd1's. still tandeming, but it's a struggle some days. poor dd1 is sick today so she's been wanting to nurse a lot and i'm trying, but feeling bad that i can't give her as much as she wants. hope it's just a 24 hr thing...

hope everyone else is well.

[bec]

Christy - I know why you can't get on dp's insurance, but Sage should be able to as his daughter at least. Good for you on getting rid of the job. That must be a huge relief for you, for all that it brings more money stress.

Beanma - Thanks for asking about Emily! She's doing great. Katie had a bad head cold two weeks ago, and lovingly gave it to her sister who was sick last week. But, through the magic of the breastfed infant, she didn't suffer very much and threw it off very quickly. I was worried that she would get an ear infection, but it looks like not.

She's gaining beautifully (she's 10lbs, 10.5 ounces now), and I have a fridge and freezer full of pumped breastmilk. I'm pumping about 30 ounces a day! I'm producing about 6-8 ounces more a day than she consumes, so I'm getting a nice stash.

Although with that, I am also having to be careful about the quality of the milk. Because of her cold, I've been feeding Emily mostly from milk that had just been pumped so she would get whatever cold antibodies I had built up. This left some in the fridge sitting for a little too long. I had to throw out about 10 ounces of milk today because it had gone off! I was so sad. I work hard for this milk. One more reason that nursing at the breast is better.

On the plus side, Emily will still latch on pretty well. She likes to chew a bit more than I prefer (that's the technique she's worked out with the bottles), but she has a good tongue motion when she's on. All that's missing is the suction. I'm becoming cautiously optimistic that she might be able to return to nursing after her surgery. We go back down to Children's Memorial to meet the surgeon next Wednesday, so we should have a better idea as to when surgery will be performed.

My older daughter is going to be turning 3 on the 11th. And it is looking like she is going to wean herself any day now. She's had a couple of days where she didn't nurse at all, even to go to sleep at night. Then she'll have a day or two where she will nurse a couple of times. But I know I could easily put her off if I wanted to. I'm trying really hard to make this as much her decision as possible. She's already limited in when she can nurse, because I only let her nurse right after I've pumped. It's such a bittersweet time with her right now. She's growing up before my eyes. She's also on the verge of potty training.

Sigh, well, I'm off for bed while I can.



Bec

[Christy1980]

beanma~~I'm not really that worried about money. My baby is more important. and if worse comes to worse, DP's mom is our landlord, so hopefully she will let us slide some on the rent if we really need it.

Bec~~that's great news about the weight gain!! maybe Emily will still be able to nurse since she has the desire to try to eat on the breast...YAY for both of you!!

My friend had her baby lastnight. a girl, 7#13oz, 19in, naturally born, with the help of a little pitocin when mom's labor stalled. She was 4 weeks early and was only that big because of steroid shots. they knew she was coming early afew weeks ago when her mom's outer water bag broke. She's in NICU right now because they couldn't get her breathing regulated, and she was lethargic, so they are testing her for infection. (poor baby had to have a spinal tap ) but she should be fine, and hopefully she can go home with her mom on tuesday. YAY! I didn't get to see her, though, since NICU is closed off from the regular nursery.

Well, i hope everyone is doing well. there's more going on, but i think i will post in the main forum (it's an angry rant...but isn't everything an angry rant with me, lol)

[Christy1980]

bumping!!

Sage rolled over onto her side today!! and she is chattering and cooing more and more everyday.

gotta go...my home-made chocolate chip cookies are done

[WickidaWitch]

Today Angelica found her fist.
She keeps putting it right in front of her face to look at it.
She loves to talk loudly.
She likes to watch Jonathan run around and play.
Jonathan hid her yesterday while she napped in her swing with his sweater and her bunting. He came out saying "mama, baby hide".
When we are nursing lying down she'll get the boob in her mouth and look up then loose the boob. So she'll look back down and get it in her mouth again only to look back up and loose it again. It's so cute to watch.
Babies are so cool!

[1jooj]

It's so awesome to hear about how they are hitting milestones...yeah, babies are so cool!

I am so happy to have a cold-free house for the moment. I am also happy that big brother still loves his sister. I keep waiting for him to totally change his mind. He's had moments of doubt, but it's still good. In fact, she seeks him out in a room, and smiles so big at his voice!

I've been freaking out lately about my work situation, but I have decided to wait things out and not make any drastic changes right now. Spring fever is coming--we're still in a painting frenzy. I think the bathroom will be next, then the downstairs bedroom, and I have an awesome idea about the kitchen. I think I'll ask my mom to help me do it in the spring.

I am still waiting on Meryem's second tear duct to totally clear up. She is amazing, though--she seems to now bemoving fast out of that larval stage. She's already asserting her individuality! I love it!

[KindRedSpirit]

Eve can officially roll in any direction now!front to back,back to front,left or right...and yesterday she moved her legs like she was crawling(or swimming)! She's only 4 mo.old!But I knew from the first few mo. of pregnency she was a very strong,active baby ahhh,the memories...

Last Saturday we watched my 6 or 7 mo.old neice.Eve is wider,both the same length!But my neice is so floppy!She was like a little frog,her legs would just bend and flopEve has held her legs out-stood since she grew them!(you have to coax her to actually sit on your lap,she really loves to stand!)I was in awe at their differences!

[sagewinna]

It's amazing how much Iris has changed, it's very cool.

She just figured out how to get toys to her mouth... and she has been wringing her hands for a week or so. She is a drooly mess most of the time, and has either her fist or my fingers in her mouth! My other kids got teeth in their 4th month, so I guess she's on the same track.

I love reading all the updates, I don't get to respond often though, usually have the babe in arms.

[3 Little Monkeys]

KRS~ Jessica likes to stand too, she makes herself stiff so you have to stand her in your lap, she won't sit down until SHE'S ready to sit. It's funny to watch her. She found her fist awhile back, of course it's hard to miss since it seems to be constantly going to her mouth. Neither of my other two girls were thumb suckers so this is something new for me. I try not to let her suck on it too much, and when she does I will cuddle or try to nurse her. At least with the pacifier I could take it away, but the thumb is another story. I know she's too young to be forming a habit of it, but I don't want to press my luck. She totally hates being on her belly, immediately starts fussing. She won't roll over though. She can go from her side to her back and to the other side, but not all the way. Danielle was late at that though too. She didn't roll over until she was about 6 or 7 months old. Jesi is such an amazing little sleeper! She sleeps between 7 and 9 hours at night. I'm getting more rest now than I did when I was pregnant!

I contracted Spring Fever earlier this week - when the sun finally came out. Sunny California my foot. Anyway, I spent most of yesterday re-arranging Danielle and Jessica's room - still have to finish it. Dh is going to start building Danielle's big girl bed this weekend so when we are ready to move Jessica to the crib from the cradle in our room we can.

Jessica loves watching Danielle, but sometimes Dani moves a bit too fast for Jesi's eyes to keep up with her. It's funny when it happens because Jesi starts turning her head looking for her. When Danielle starts crying, Jessica sticks out her bottom lip (makes her boo boo face as we call it) and starts crying with her. It's kinda funny when it happens. Sympathy tears I guess. Danielle is a great big sister. She hugs Jessica and says "she so cute, I really really lub her" Of course we also have those days where she wants me to "put Jessica down mommy. I wanna hold you"