PPCHAT Monday 6/15- sunday 6/21 - Page 4

[ShineliketheSon]

Originally Posted by laurilj

I'm going back to work tomorrow. I'm so sad. I know it's not going to be that bad, I'll see my baby at lunch and the time will go by a lot more quickly than I'm imagining, but I feel terrible anyway. My husband is going to be a stay at home dad, so at least Ryan will be with a parent. I just don't want to leave him. The longest I've ever been away from him is about three hours, and it hasn't happened very often. Now everything is going to change and I feel like our special time is coming to an end.

AFwife: so glad DH is back and it's helping you!

I decided to blog. I"m such an emotional person it'll be good to get it all out. For those who were following my other one, it's now just for pics on here and diaper swappers....here is my new blog.

http://shineliketheson-mymotherhoodtrail.blogspot.com/

[nancy11]

Originally Posted by laurilj

I'm going back to work tomorrow. I'm so sad. I know it's not going to be that bad, I'll see my baby at lunch and the time will go by a lot more quickly than I'm imagining, but I feel terrible anyway. My husband is going to be a stay at home dad, so at least Ryan will be with a parent. I just don't want to leave him. The longest I've ever been away from him is about three hours, and it hasn't happened very often. Now everything is going to change and I feel like our special time is coming to an end.

new special times will come from new situations and with time

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by nancy11

Oh, and EBM... is like water for this guy -- he'll take at least 7-8 ounces of that... >.<

Glad it's not just us!!

[michanders4]

Cooper usually taked 5 ounces of EBM. I have some drinks after I feed him or pump. I usually give him a bottle for his next feeding.

[racie0417]

AFWife, I am so glad your DH is home. I am hoping that his help and presence helps relieve some family stress. Where will your first base be? We have been to Hurburt Field (in Florida), Mildenhall (England), and are now at Maxwell (Alabama).

I drink wine more nights than not here. When I have craved beer, I've had it--just had a good English beer on Monday after doing bedtime alone.

Shine, I read your blog and have some PP blues too. Sending hugs your way.

Kate, my two cats ignore Ben, but are terrified of Liam. When Liam was little, they were curious about him and sniffed him. I think they ignore Ben b/c they know he'll grow into a toddler tornado, like Liam. Liam is very gentle with them, but his shrieking scares them.

Me.....after a roough Monday and LO catching big brother's cold, I am doing better. I feel like every Monday when DH goes back to work, I fall apart. By Wednesday, I am better. By Friday, I found a groove. The weekend goes well, and then Monday destroys me again.

Today, I braved taking both boys to the pool by myself. It took me an hour to pack the bag, get sunscreen on everyone, get everyone dressed, and get us out the door. Then got to the pool and left the car running while I unloaded the stroller, put our towels and diaper bag in it, and loaded the 22 month old. Then I got the 2 month old, grabbed our HOA pass and turned the van off. I took ODS out of the strolle rand put LO in it, and he cooperated and fell asleep. I had a carrier for him (a buckle tai) but with 98 degree weather and 110 heat index, we were both too hot for me to wear him. So he napped in the stroller while I played in the splash pad with Liam and watched him in the baby pool. Some teenager came to the splash pad and let the 22 month old play with their ball and he thought they were his friends and kept tilting his head, smiling at them, and babbling baby talk. : Then we went to the baby pool and LO woke up so he went into the carrier and nursed while I kept an eye on Liam. Then I put Liam in the stroller kicking and screaming and left.

When we got home, Liam took a long nap, but Ben wouldn't settle, so I nursed him on the couch and he napped in my arms. Both are asleep now and if I can find my DH, I want to snuggle him too.

[emmaegbert]

ah, I see, perhaps I should go as much by size as age I guess for how much to expect her to eat at a feeding. Too bad I don't know how big she is... I have my last PP visit (will be 8 weeks) next week at the MW's office, so I'll find out then. She was close to 10lbs at 4 weeks though and she started out bigger than my son who was 12 lbs at 2 mos, so I'm guessing she is at least that big.

I'll try for 5 oz next time and then there is some frozen BM that can be thawed as needed. I'm not expecting to be gone for more than 2 hours until next fall, so the worst that would happen is she'd drink a whole bottle and then be hungry for a little while...

I never worried too much about alcohol (or caffeine-- though I know some babies might be really sensitive to it I haven't noticed it) while breastfeeding. But I've had no desire to drink alcohol. My understanding is that the BM has the same alcohol content as your *blood* so its really pretty low. Still, probably a good idea to wait a little bit after downing a big serving.

racie... I'm impressed about taking a toddler and infant to the pool. I am trying to figure out how we will manage that.

[Peony]

Julian has decided this week that he won't sleep unless I'm holding him. He has always preferred that of course but I could put him down here and there for short naps and once in while he'd sleep in hour in the swing. He wakes up the second I stick him down, which I was expecting, both the girls were like this, but hoping he'd nap every now and then out of arms. We are so busy and I'm always on the go that having him sleep peacefully while I'm driving to yet another gymnastics class or something was nice. Sigh.

[Murph12334]

Oli has finally gotten much better about me putting him down. It's so nice not to have to hold him 24-7 now. It's only 30 minutes here and there, but it's still nice to set him down and not hear screaming!

[momma2be_k]

Originally Posted by nancy11

replacing beer with weed??

:

girl... you totally CRACK me up....

I just saying....

[Murph12334]

anyone know about unemployment?

So how does one begin to try to figure out how much you'll get for unemployment?
before taxes he brought home 730.77 - after taxes/etc taken out- 543.07

If dh did freelance work, would he no longer get unemployement?

If I got some crappy job like at a pizza place in town, would he get less money from unemployment?

How does taxes work for unemployment?

He's got 4 weeks severence and 2 1/2 weeks vacation - so we have 6 1/2 weeks before we have to worry how we'll pay the bills. Obviously I don't want to wait until then.

Cobra - the kids have medicaid, i think me and dh should probably get the cobra, Medical & RX only = $243.71; with Dental Optical = $253.39. That's per month i believe, but i want dh to make sure on that... With our fabulous luck if we don;t get it one of use will get hurt and we'd really be screwed with

[wobblykate]

Originally Posted by momma2be_k

:

girl... you totally CRACK me up....

I just saying....

watch out...you'll bring the DEA down on the DDC and CPS will put the SMACK down on us!



Murph, I don't know about unemployment. Is there someone at the office who will talk to you? You can call up and ask anonymously if you don't want the questions associated with your claim.

[Lindsay1234]

Sophia takes 3oz EBM every 3 hrs but sometimes its every 2 hrs if shes super hungry.

Murph - can you go onto your states unemployment website? Normally they have lists you can download to see if your eligible. As for freelance, if it was only cash that exchanged hands (not a check, no receipts) then I wouldnt report it. But thats just me.

Sophia was taken off the ventilator today (from surgery) and is doing great!! This means I can hold her again. (been 6 days They are weaning her off the morphine and shes doing great with that too. Her heart surgery scar was closed with skin glue so it barely noticeable. (Ill post a pic when I find one thats not going to scare everyone) Today was a good day.
Found a decent pic. Dont be scared or worried. The big white tube in her mouth is the ventilator, the one in her nose is her feeding tube. Her forehead looks huge because they had to shave an inch of hair off for the forehead monitors. The gauze in the middle is just covering the place where a drain tube was. The scar is the least noticeable thing in the picture! I just remember that every single one of these things is doing its part in saving her life and then they dont seem so scary! http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...h/kdk_0437.jpg

She has the WORST baby acne I have ever seen. They think its a combo of being sensitive to the tape the picu used (to hold down all her tubes) and plain acne, its horrific. I guess my bro had the exact same thing when he was a newborn.

In a few days we will start teaching her how to use the bottle. The guilt of having to bottle feed and use formula is completely gone and Im just willing to do anything to get her home, kwim? After a lot of guilty and disappointed tears I realized that having to give a bottle of formula to her is a small price to pay to have her home and in my arms!!! Plus, Im still pumping a third of her feeds and thats something.

Sorry to hijack the thread with updates

[nancy11]

Originally Posted by Lindsay1234

In a few days we will start teaching her how to use the bottle. The guilt of having to bottle feed and use formula is completely gone and Im just willing to do anything to get her home, kwim? After a lot of guilty and disappointed tears I realized that having to give a bottle of formula to her is a small price to pay to have her home and in my arms!!! Plus, Im still pumping a third of her feeds and thats something.

Sorry to hijack the thread with updates

It's all good. We're fortunate to have the option of formula when it's necessary. I keep reminding myself that I was formula-fed and not only do I have a terrific immune system, but I'm no worse off than I would have been on EBM. How different would I be? Who knows and who cares! I hope Zack ends up just as healthy and well-rounded.

And, certainly, we all are happy to read your posts -- especially with good news!!

[bodhitree]

AFWife, so glad that your DH is home and that you have an extra set of hands to help with Franklin! Your middle-of-the-night poop story made me .

Racie, I am amazed that you took both kiddos to the pool without going bonkers.

Lindsay, Sophia is looking great! My brother, who is a surgeon, says that the surgical glue is the best way of closing incisions because you end up with such a nice-looking scar. And yes, formula is nothing to feel guilty about. It's there for situations where it's really needed, which it is in this case. Also, I think we'd all be pretty disappointed if we didn't get frequent updates, so don't worry about threadjacking.

I have to take River in this morning for an ultrasound to check on how her hip is doing. We might get to go down to wearing the harness 12 hours a day if it looks close to being fixed. : She still seems to be experiencing some teething pain off and on. I'm going to have to pick up some baby Tylenol or ibuprofen for her, since I can only give her the Orajel every 6 hours.

[nancy11]

I'm quitting the pump, kids. I've been lazy, busy and found the situation to be hopeless for me. I strongly believe I could have made it work, but I chose not to. This makes me feel badly and I just hope I gave Zack enough BM during the first month to make the effort worthwhile. He sure is doing well, but I still feel a bit like a failure on this since I know I could have made it work if I wasn't so concerned with myself.

I am somehwat relieved, but also kindof sad. I wanted to feed him naturally for six months.

On the bright side I am totally loving my new BG 3s at night. ... :-/

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by racie0417

AFWife, I am so glad your DH is home. I am hoping that his help and presence helps relieve some family stress. Where will your first base be? We have been to Hurburt Field (in Florida), Mildenhall (England), and are now at Maxwell (Alabama).

We're going to be at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. (Where he had basic training) We're excited because it's close to family



On the drinking: DS cant' handle when I have beer (he pukes a BUNCH after I drink it) I've had a couple of mixed drinks in the past few weeks and he seems to do okay with it...but we're talking a shot of rum in the whole drink or something...

[wobblykate]

Originally Posted by Lindsay1234

Found a decent pic. Dont be scared or worried. The big white tube in her mouth is the ventilator, the one in her nose is her feeding tube. Her forehead looks huge because they had to shave an inch of hair off for the forehead monitors. The gauze in the middle is just covering the place where a drain tube was. The scar is the least noticeable thing in the picture! I just remember that every single one of these things is doing its part in saving her life and then they dont seem so scary! http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...h/kdk_0437.jpg

She really is starting to lookj kgood. I bet the shaved head part was a bummer with all that beautiful hair! Thank god you can hold her again

Originally Posted by bodhitree

I have to take River in this morning for an ultrasound to check on how her hip is doing. We might get to go down to wearing the harness 12 hours a day if it looks close to being fixed. : She still seems to be experiencing some teething pain off and on. I'm going to have to pick up some baby Tylenol or ibuprofen for her, since I can only give her the Orajel every 6 hours.

have you tried the highland's teething tablets? everyone i know swears by them and says they work better than tylenol.

Originally Posted by nancy11

I'm quitting the pump, kids. I've been lazy, busy and found the situation to be hopeless for me. I strongly believe I could have made it work, but I chose not to. This makes me feel badly and I just hope I gave Zack enough BM during the first month to make the effort worthwhile. He sure is doing well, but I still feel a bit like a failure on this since I know I could have made it work if I wasn't so concerned with myself.

I am somehwat relieved, but also kindof sad. I wanted to feed him naturally for six months.

On the bright side I am totally loving my new BG 3s at night. ... :-/

well, like you said, Zack's a big healthy boy! He'll be fine.

I wish I had more bg! The other day I had $60 on a gift card to spend at target and i piddled it away before i remembered they sell bg on their website :.

DH and I got in a doozy. He said he doesn't understand what I do all day. I ran to the store when he got home from work and left him with dd (who was happy and recently fed) and he was able to send the two e-mails I didn't get to all day, so he surmised that i'm just goofing off all day. Anyway, we worked through it, but I know he doesn't get it .

i have had the most annoying fly in the house for like a week. it buzzes right in your ear all day long and it's too fast to kill. argh

[ShineliketheSon]

Originally Posted by racie0417

Shine, I read your blog and have some PP blues too. Sending hugs your way.

Me.....after a roough Monday and LO catching big brother's cold, I am doing better. I feel like every Monday when DH goes back to work, I fall apart. By Wednesday, I am better. By Friday, I found a groove. The weekend goes well, and then Monday destroys me again.

THanks...I feel inconsiderate somedays complaining when I have my baby in arms. I know about feeling defeated...I've felt this many a days, blogging my feelings out really helps! It will get better!

Originally Posted by Peony

Julian has decided this week that he won't sleep unless I'm holding him. He has always preferred that of course but I could put him down here and there for short naps and once in while he'd sleep in hour in the swing. He wakes up the second I stick him down, which I was expecting, both the girls were like this, but hoping he'd nap every now and then out of arms. We are so busy and I'm always on the go that having him sleep peacefully while I'm driving to yet another gymnastics class or something was nice. Sigh.

LO has also decided not to sleep unless in the wrap/mei-tai. Dh can get her to sleep while just holding but she won't for me. Glad I have the mei tai, as we were still pretty hot in the gauze wrap and she got heat rash back on her cheek! UGh! Might have to save the wrap for forward facing only till it cools off. She rarly sleeps in swing anymore but thankfully still sleeps well at night on the twin next to us.

Originally Posted by Murph12334

anyone know about unemployment?

Don't know about it but just sending

Originally Posted by wobblykate

watch out...you'll bring the DEA down on the DDC and CPS will put the SMACK down on us!

laughup Too funny Kate!!!!

Originally Posted by Lindsay1234

Sophia was taken off the ventilator today (from surgery) and is doing great!! This means I can hold her again. (been 6 days

After a lot of guilty and disappointed tears I realized that having to give a bottle of formula to her is a small price to pay to have her home and in my arms!!! Plus, Im still pumping a third of her feeds and thats something.

Sorry to hijack the thread with updates

: Yay on being so strong Sophia and Lindsay! Thanks for the picture and explaning it...I can't imagine how you've gotten through this, you are truly inspiring and Sophia is just so beautiful! I can't wait for you to have her home. So glad you get to hold her again!!! That must be such joy for you!! I'm glad your working through the guilt on formula, you are so right that having her home will be the best thing...you've done such a great job giving her all you could and even finding other BM to help too! AMazing!!! I LOVE hearing updates...keep em comin!

Originally Posted by bodhitree

I have to take River in this morning for an ultrasound to check on how her hip is doing. We might get to go down to wearing the harness 12 hours a day if it looks close to being fixed. : She still seems to be experiencing some teething pain off and on. I'm going to have to pick up some baby Tylenol or ibuprofen for her, since I can only give her the Orajel every 6 hours.

Here's to hoping things are fixing well!!! Have you tried hyland's teething tablets for teething, it's homeopathic, they disolve immediatly under the tounge...we used them for DD1 and they worked wonderfly. I hated using tylenol so only saved it for major need, and the orajel just washed right out. Find what works for you...

Originally Posted by nancy11

I am somehwat relieved, but also kindof sad. I wanted to feed him naturally for six months.

On the bright side I am totally loving my new BG 3s at night. ... :-/

Some moms don't even try BF so kudos to you for doing it for a month!!!
WE've been using sposies at night...how do you stuff the BG3? How often do you change at night?

Now I have a question... I havn't used gripe water much lately. When LO is really fussy/gassy and nothing seems to help I'll give her just a little and she usually ends up spitting up a ton, even out of her nose sometimes, a few min after but then is calmer. I'm guessing her tummy hurts and throwing up helps...but is this bad for her? It's happend probably a handful of times. She usually nurses about a half hour later.

Kate: Thanks so much for the stirrup idea on the mei-tai...Lo likes this much better, there isn't pressure on her legs/feet.

[ShineliketheSon]

My grandma is not doing well at all...I"m waiting for my mom to call and see if she's any better today. If not then they are stopping everything and just letting her go. She is severly dehydrated among other things and won't take her meds and they have a hard time getting an IV to stay in or in even at all. DD1 may have a hard time with this, she really loves her Great Grandma. But I've also been really open talking to her about death, so we'll see if that helped.

[nancy11]

Originally Posted by ShineliketheSon

Some moms don't even try BF so kudos to you for doing it for a month!!!
WE've been using sposies at night...how do you stuff the BG3? How often do you change at night?

one month >50% BM
second month <50% BM
then the other day i gave up

preemie prefold in the pocket. last night he slept long b/c he wasn't so wet (speculation)... changed into bg at 12am after feeding then a pf at 5am after he woke to eat. usually zack wakes cuz wet, then wants to eat -- anywhere from 2-4am. bg kept him so dry. tempting to use them all day, but i dont wanna buy them and i like the prefolds. he has a rash in front on top from prefold wetness that i'm battling, and i change him constantly. :-/ so, bg at night is nice for that.