chat for Monday/22nd through Sunday/28th - Page 2

[Lindsay1234]

Ugh, Im exhausted, I didnt even read the thread! Ill get to it tomorrow definitely.

Dd1 started a week of summer camp this week, she had a blast and it let me be with the baby for hours uninterrupted.

Baby is doing really good, they are weaning her off sedatives and making the rest of her meds go by mouth so if needed, I can take her home with meds! (whatever lets me take her home faster!)Shes breathing great and is in an amazing mood these past 3 days.

She SMILED at me and her nurse Angela today, she looked back and forth at us like she was proud of herself!! (she should be)

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...h/kdk_0495.jpg Heres my new favorite pic of her. This is how she looks all the time, very sweet and calm.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...h/kdk_0492.jpg
My friend saw this pic of her napping under fresh, warm towels, toys and pacis around her, and said "Diva! Move over Mariah and Whitney, Sophias going to be top diva now!"

My hope of getting her home soon is wavering a little but Im trying to be strong.

Is it hot everywhere else? Im melting here!!!!

[fairymom]

I"m still here.I haven't been posting much (so hard to catch up) w/all the kids home from school and our laptop being down (home computer is kinda the kids' and is like 10 yrs old= very slooooooooow) it's hard to get on for more than a few mins.FB is easier for me to keep up with-less time needed.

Lindsay- you'll have her home soon.did I ever mention I have an Isabella too?mine's 7.

And yes its extremely hot here too.here in mn it was 95 and 87% humdity yesterday! we were sweating sitting still!

What kind of pumps are you guys using? I am looking into getting one but can't afford the "good" ones.I just know I want one that's electric.

Sick babes- Caleb got a cold at 3 weeks-he was the 1st lo I've had get sick that young.I think each child is so different.

Here on the home front- dh is so grumpy all the time finding it hard to live with. didn't help someone stole the lawn mower from the yard yesterday afternoon!: Really dislike the area we're living in but can't change that anytime soon.Also it's looking like no camping this summer for us- dh can't take the time off of work. Can you tell I'm feeling discontent with life right now?!

Ok I am going to vow to try and keep up here more.I've missed you all.

[momma2be_k]

Originally Posted by fairymom

What kind of pumps are you guys using? I am looking into getting one but can't afford the "good" ones.I just know I want one that's electric.

I have a Lansinoh double electric pump. No bells, whistles or "travel bags" - I think it was about $150 which is still pretty pricey, but far off from the 250 or 300 of some of the Medela. I originally registered for an Ameda.. but after bit of research, I found that the Lansinoh and the Ameda are made by the same company, with the same parts. I ended up going with the Lansinoh because they sold it at babies r us and I had a bunch of gift cards that I wanted to use.

It's a great pump (although I have nothing to compare it to). It works great and is easy to clean.

HTH!

[momma2be_k]

more news on the stuffy nose....

it's not as bad as it was last night... Parker has had a tendency for boogers since birth. So I'm hoping that last night was a fluke and will pass....

(crossing fingers)

[momma2be_k]

Originally Posted by Lindsay1234

Ugh, Im exhausted, I didnt even read the thread! Ill get to it tomorrow definitely.

Dd1 started a week of summer camp this week, she had a blast and it let me be with the baby for hours uninterrupted.

Baby is doing really good, they are weaning her off sedatives and making the rest of her meds go by mouth so if needed, I can take her home with meds! (whatever lets me take her home faster!)Shes breathing great and is in an amazing mood these past 3 days.

She SMILED at me and her nurse Angela today, she looked back and forth at us like she was proud of herself!! (she should be)

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...h/kdk_0495.jpg Heres my new favorite pic of her. This is how she looks all the time, very sweet and calm.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...h/kdk_0492.jpg
My friend saw this pic of her napping under fresh, warm towels, toys and pacis around her, and said "Diva! Move over Mariah and Whitney, Sophias going to be top diva now!"

My hope of getting her home soon is wavering a little but Im trying to be strong.

Is it hot everywhere else? Im melting here!!!!

Lindsay - I just cannot get enough of ALL THAT HAIR! I giggle every time I see a new pic of her.... she looks so gorgeous and STRONG! You'll have her home soon for sure.

[ShineliketheSon]

Originally Posted by emmaegbert

I like the (unintended?) pun here.

I need to sew up a mei tai. Its something I want to do when I get back from a trip next weekend. I want to sew them up for a couple of other friends as baby gifts too, so I hope I can get that going.

Thursday is my birthday...
I need to find someone AP-oriented though.)....

Shine: I hope you get a good answer about BM. I bought a stack of those BM storage bags

Happy Birthday Early Emma!!! If you sew the mei tai, consider making the top curved like the kozy, it's sooo great for a head rest then you can just fold it down and it's like a regular MT. Hope you find an AP therpist...I think evyerone could use a little therapy now and then! I have!!! I'll just buy some bags. Thanks.

Originally Posted by goodmomma76

oh and shine...i feel the same way about having BM in the freezer. At least she could eat until someone thought to get formula...lol not funny, but i did think about it too...

Glad I'm not the only one!!!

Originally Posted by racie0417

I have been having major problems getting the LO to nap. I think I figured out the problem--he wil NOT nap if I put him down. I've tried the carseat, bouncy seat, swing, nursing down on the bed, the pack-n-play on vibration, and the crib. He will nap in a carrier, but will only stay asleep for 5-10 minutes at a time if I talk, if ODS is awake, or if I bend or reach at all. So with a 22 month old that sometimes refuses to nap, what do I do? I have been stuck walking the house or swaying during ODS's nap and got nothing done and couldn't even eat b/c anytime I went to reach or bend for food, LO cried.

So sorry about the sleep thing! DD1 was like this, she only slept if I was really still in the rocker...It took forever to get her to sleep and she HAD to be rocked, then if I moved to get the remote or a drink, she'd wake...so I learned to have everything in the chair with me and just spent hours in that chair...I HATED that chair after 4 months! Then we did a modified ferber for a week at 4 mo and she's slept really good ever since. Though not sure I'd do the ferber thing this time around, we co sleep anyway and I'm not concerned about getting her to sleep on her own...she doesn't need to under age 1 in my view. Anyway this senerio doesn't work when you have another child...I hope you find something that works soon!

Originally Posted by emmaegbert

Also she said- and I've heard this before- to try and avoid using those bulb suction things for stuffy noses and instead to use a few drops of saline solution or breastmilk to help clear it up.

Well I"m a user of the bulb...LO has massive boogers that block her breathing and she fusses like no other till it's out. It's so cute to see her just lay so still after it's out like ahhhh I can breathe! Anyway we were just told not to abuse it, so we only use it when she's really fussy and we use saline solution first to loosen it up.

Originally Posted by Peony

So DH left at lunchtime for a 9 day trip with my dad. I will survive. Right? The baby isn't the problem, neither is the 2.5y old, but the 6y isn't an easy child. At the end of the day, I'm wiped out and needing a break from her. I tried to beg my mom to come and spend a few nights with us but it was a no go. Sigh.

YOu WILL survive! I pray you get some moments to yourself when needed even if it's just while going potty!

Originally Posted by michanders4

s to all the Mamas starting work. I'm very fortunate to be able to take the summer off and be able to look for part time work at first.

I second this! I'm fortunate to be able to stay home, though some days I really miss adult interaction.

Originally Posted by Lindsay1234

Ugh, Im exhausted, I didnt even read the thread! Ill get to it tomorrow definitely.

She SMILED at me and her nurse Angela today, she looked back and forth at us like she was proud of herself!! (she should be)

My hope of getting her home soon is wavering a little but Im trying to be strong.

Is it hot everywhere else? Im melting here!!!!

YES it is HOT here! felt like 102 yesterday...UGH! Lindsay you are doing so great! I'm so glad that you had some uninteruppted time with LO and DD1 had fun at camp. I'm sure it's hard to balance your time betweeen them and get rest, I'm sure your exhausted!. How GREAT to get a smile!!!! It may not seem like it to you but from this side of the computer Sophia's is recovering remarkibly and quickly...to have had the birth she had and then open heart surgery and be not even 2 months yet, this is AMAZING. And that tubes and meds are allready changing for home use...this is major progress LIndsay! I'm sure in it it seems so slow, but she will be home with you soon!!!

Originally Posted by fairymom

IHere on the home front- dh is so grumpy all the time finding it hard to live with. didn't help someone stole the lawn mower from the yard yesterday afternoon!: Really dislike the area we're living in but can't change that anytime soon.Also it's looking like no camping this summer for us- dh can't take the time off of work. Can you tell I'm feeling discontent with life right now?!

Ok I am going to vow to try and keep up here more.I've missed you all.

Sorry about the discontent...I have my days too you can read them in my blog...I usually only write when I'm feeling crummy!

I'm so not a morning person, was so mean to DD1 this morning, not fair to a 4 year old! Going to the coffee house this morning, have to firm up plans for SIL baby shower there. Found the kiddop. swaddle, she's too big for it, will HAVE to go get the larger size, she sleeps soooo good in it! last night I finally cleared the clutter in this house...I have a hard time getting rid of stufff, especially toys, so DH said just put it in tubs in the basement for a while and keep or get rid of later...How Smart! I feel soooooo much better!

[bodhitree]

Originally Posted by ShineliketheSon

Anyway how important is it to buy the actual EBM storage bags? I pumped into a bottle with a drop in liner, can I just twist tie the liner and seal it in a plastic bag and put in freezer? How long can EBM be stored? Any other info I need to know. Oh and I feel sooo good having my breasts fully emptied, I'm not sure LO ever fully empties them.....

I pump into the bottles that go along with my Medela pump, then I pour the milk into an ice cube tray, cover it with plastic wrap, and freeze the milk in that. Then I transfer the cubes to a normal freezer bag (labeled with the month so I know how long the milk will be good for). That's what was recommended to me by the LC at our local breastfeeding store (yes, we have one, I'm so lucky!). I really like this system because when you go to use the milk, you can pick how many cubes to thaw based on how hungry the baby is. Also, you don't have to buy special bm collection bags.

For those who've been discussing tightening up the lower abs after a CS, I've been curious about the same thing. My MW said to do plank position (10 secs at a time, work up to 10 reps) but I'm not sure how much that does for the lower abs. I'll have to ask my friend who's a yoga instructor.

Originally Posted by Peony

So DH left at lunchtime for a 9 day trip with my dad. I will survive. Right? The baby isn't the problem, neither is the 2.5y old, but the 6y isn't an easy child. At the end of the day, I'm wiped out and needing a break from her. I tried to beg my mom to come and spend a few nights with us but it was a no go. Sigh.

That sounds tough. You'll make it through, though!

Lindsay, Sophia has some amazing eyelashes!

River woke me up at 6:15 today and was wide awake, while I'd hoped to get another 3 hours or so of sleep, but she was so happy I decided to just wake up and enjoy her. We had a really tough day on Sunday (involving at one point both of us crying simultaneously, her because of her teeth and me because I couldn't help her feel better). Yesterday was much better, luckily. And this morning is awesome. I just played with her for like two hours and she kept smiling and trying to stuff her fist in her mouth.

[ShineliketheSon]

Originally Posted by bodhitree

I pump into the bottles that go along with my Medela pump, then I pour the milk into an ice cube tray, cover it with plastic wrap, and freeze the milk in that. Then I transfer the cubes to a normal freezer bag (labeled with the month so I know how long the milk will be good for). That's what was recommended to me by the LC at our local breastfeeding store (yes, we have one, I'm so lucky!). I really like this system because when you go to use the milk, you can pick how many cubes to thaw based on how hungry the baby is. Also, you don't have to buy special bm collection bags.

WHAT A GREAT IDEA!!!! I'll do that! I even have popcicle makers so I'll do some EBM ones for teething!

[michanders4]

About storing BM I just bought special one ounce bpa free bm ice trays off amazon. I forget how much they were but I think around 10 dollars. I saw them in a store once and thought they were a great idea! I'm super paranoid about bpa and try to avoid it.

Lindsay - great update about Sophia!

It has not been hot out here and the sun has not been out much in weeks it seems, ugh! Its supposed to come out today and we are going to go to the beach!

[MelW]

I'm leery of the bulb suckers, too. The ones I've seen seem to store the snot and seem hard to clean, so I worry that they would be a nice damp dark breeding ground inside. Not to mention the difficulty regulating the pressure of suction on the nose. I use a steamy shower and breastmilk instead.

Lindsay, what beautiful photos. Even her eyelashes are amazingly long!

Peony, good luck with your time alone. You can do it- but it sucks that you have to!

We've been doing EBM cubes for teething. They're great to have. Nora's two bottom front teeth are through the skin now. It's been a tough couple of weeks, and nursing has been challenging. Yesterday I woke up with strange breast pain, but continued on with my very busy day. My husband had a ton of grading to do, so I took the girls out all morning. By evening I was feeling kind of flu like, and after dinner looked at my bright red breast and realized I have mastitis. I sent Neela to daycare for the day, my husband is at work, and I'm spending the day in bed sleeping and nursing and using every other remedy/treatment I can trying to avoid antibiotics.

Yesterday I did a series of photos all day to document "a day in the life". I did this once before with Neela, though it's harder with a baby in arms. It crumbled a little in the afternoon with the mastitis, but I hope to upload them soon to share. Nora's contribution is a little boring- nursing, sleeping in carrier, awake in carrier. And then a couple with dad or on the floor so I could actually get a shot of her!

[ms.shell]

Lindsay, me and ds are praying you will have Sophia home soon. She is so cute!

I dont have a digital camera and so can never post photos. But when I developed the last roll, they gave me a disk. So I uploaded a couple of photos of Terran to show off: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30404588@N04/3653933027/

I cant believe it, but he is starting to talk already! He says Daddy and Hey (been saying hey for some time now), and almost since birth says "uh-nhuh" and mm-hmm for yes and no. I swear sometimes when he cries it sounds like he says "im crying."

I weighed him on sunday and he was 16 lbs exactly, not even 3 months old yet! My mom got matching shirts for my two boys. Terran's is size 6 mos and I put it on him and the arms were nearly too tight! Got a pic of them together- I dont think he will be able to wear it again.

I hope ya'll all have a great day today.

[wobblykate]

very busy today and just skimmed....

lindsay, she is gorgeous. the incision looks like it's healing really well.

shine, sorry about your rough morning

mel, ugh. sorry about the mastitis

ms.shell, he's soo cute thanks for sharing!

Eden's awake and hungry! later

[MelW]

I got some of our "day in the life" uploaded, but used up all of my free storage for the month. So here is our morning from yesterday- more to come next month

Terran is beautiful! What a big guy!

[fairymom]

MelW- I love the pics.

We went to the lake yesterday. The water was so warm I decided to put Caleb's feet in- he did this oh oh oh thing and looked as if he may cry but ended up loving it! It's been so hot here (for MN) in the 90s for almost a week- these temps are usually Aug temps for us. I hate to think what Aug will be like! We are going to the wave pool today w/my mom- the extra hands will be nice.3 adults for 3 young ones and 3 olders to help too.I hope I get 30 mins in the pool.

Baby talk- We swear Caleb is saying hi and hungry.Hi when he sees someone, like after a nap and hungry when its time to eat! He's such a happy baby- I feel so blessed!

Sun block ?- are you using it on your los? I know our ped said not to till 6 mnths and I didn't have to worry w/my others (all born in fall or winter so they were 6 mnths by their 1st summers)- but I feel like I should be using at least a little while at the beach/pool since the suns so much more likely to burn there. What's your ops?

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

[nancy11]

A day at the beach...
Z slept in his UV cabana.
I didn't need sunscreen.

As it turns out, Zack LOVES other kids. He met his cousins (4 & 8) from Indiana.
Every time they talked to him, he lit up smiling and nearly laughing, talking and all that.
I'm the only other person that gets the same reaction.
It was very cool and super cute.

His thumb wins out over the pacifier now.
He pulls his ear with his left hand while gagging on his right thumb. :-/

Need to get Zack his first shots.

[ShineliketheSon]

Originally Posted by MelW

I got some of our "day in the life" uploaded, but used up all of my free storage for the month. So here is our morning from yesterday- more to come next month

thanks for sharing...that was more than what we do in a typical day...oh and wish were wearing jackets it's stinkin hot here!:

Originally Posted by wobblykate

shine, sorry about your rough morning

thanks, day went better, coffee house was fun and nice to get out.

Originally Posted by ms.shell

I dont have a digital camera and so can never post photos. But when I developed the last roll, they gave me a disk. So I uploaded a couple of photos of Terran to show off: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30404588@N04/3653933027/
.

Cute babe!!!!

Originally Posted by MelW

. I use a steamy shower and breastmilk instead.

I have mastitis.

you put EBM in their nose, does it just break it up? would that work for daily boogers?
about the mastitis...hope your better today!


I have a confession...I know I love my child, but dd1 is annoying me so much lately that I don't feel that overwhelming love for her...It makes me so sad I've noticed I'm so short with her almost mean in my voice sometimes and am sooo glad when she's busy somewhere not near me. I'm also way more relaxed about things with her that I would have never done prebaby.
I also feel that way about DH, he pours on the love( which I should be grateful for) but I feel like its just him trying to get to DTD even though its probably not. I have such overwhelming love for LO even when she's cranky...why does it seem I only have enough love for one ?????

[nancy11]

Originally Posted by ShineliketheSon

I have a confession...I know I love my child, but dd1 is annoying me so much lately that I don't feel that overwhelming love for her...It makes me so sad I've noticed I'm so short with her almost mean in my voice sometimes and am sooo glad when she's busy somewhere not near me. I'm also way more relaxed about things with her that I would have never done prebaby.
I also feel that way about DH, he pours on the love( which I should be grateful for) but I feel like its just him trying to get to DTD even though its probably not. I have such overwhelming love for LO even when she's cranky...why does it seem I only have enough love for one ?????

novelty.

[emmaegbert]

Originally Posted by ShineliketheSon

I have a confession...I know I love my child, but dd1 is annoying me so much lately that I don't feel that overwhelming love for her...It makes me so sad I've noticed I'm so short with her almost mean in my voice sometimes and am sooo glad when she's busy somewhere not near me. I'm also way more relaxed about things with her that I would have never done prebaby.

Shine you are brave to be so honest about the emotions of motherhood. I think we all have these moments and are often ashamed to admit it. I hate the way I act towards my son sometimes... its not his fault that he's 4 1/2, and that I have a new baby to take care of. And that our family has financial stress, and whatever else is adding to my stress. I think I remember that you are planning to homeschool, but can you do some "drop-off" playdates once a week, or a play-based preschool a couple mornings a week? I find I do much better when I get a break from DS, who is a fabulous but very exhausting kid (extremely physically active, smart, verbal, and just totally full of energy, questions, plans, ideas... a great kid but I can get kind of sick of it too). We are lucky to have a few really wonderful friends who I can completely trust w/ my son, also that he goes to an amazing Waldorf kindergarten. I am leery of many more mainstream childcare settings, esp for him, b/c I fear he would be "in trouble" all the time.

So... I decided instead of taking the WHOLE family to the bay area (in the car... 8 hours drive or so) that I will fly up with just the baby, leaving DH and DS for 2 nights/3 days on their own. I hope that its fun and exciting and gets me psyched to get back to my writing and research. I think its going to be pretty informal, and Phoebe will just attend in a wrap or sling. We stay in sort of glorified dorms, and three organic meals a day are provided... that sounds nice to me! A couple of female grad students from my home dept are going, so I figure I can get one of them to hold Phoebe for 10 minutes while I take a shower on Saturday. Oh I feel brave or possibly foolish to be attempting this with a baby who is just turning 2 months old on Sunday. Oh, and my cousin will come out to meet up with me Sat PM and we might spend the night at her sister's place (who will be away), so I'll have a potential little break/help w/ Phoebe from my cousin too.

And I am the worst mom ever- baby got a sunburned cheek yesterday in the moby wrap! I had no idea she was getting that much sun, it seemed pretty grey and cloudy to me but there you go. Obviously I wasn't paying much attention. We were literally outside from 9-3:30, so there was plenty of time for her to get too much sun.

OKAY, gotta go do laundry, and then write a one page summary of my research (what? I do research? on something other than diapers and baby sleep?) to send in to the workshop organizers.

I'm getting my vitamin D levels checked. Have any of you done this? The ped NP Phoebe saw a month ago told me to supplement Phoebe w/ vitamins (I'm not taking that advice so far) and I decided to see what my levels are, and supplement her, possibly, if my levels are really low. (and increase the amount I take to get my levels back into a good range). meanwhile, considering she got a sunburn.... well. We are very fair-skinned and we live in southern California and are outside every day, so they shouldn't be low. BUT, my MW says she has been seeing tons of vit D deficiency in her patients- practically every person she tests is quite low. And they all live around here...

[ShineliketheSon]

Originally Posted by emmaegbert

Shine you are brave to be so honest about the emotions of motherhood. I think we all have these moments and are often ashamed to admit it. I hate the way I act towards my son sometimes... its not his fault that he's 4 1/2, and that I have a new baby to take care of. And that our family has financial stress, and whatever else is adding to my stress. I think I remember that you are planning to homeschool, but can you do some "drop-off" playdates once a week, or a play-based preschool a couple mornings a week? I find I do much better when I get a break from DS, who is a fabulous but very exhausting kid (extremely physically active, smart, verbal, and just totally full of energy, questions, plans, ideas... a great kid but I can get kind of sick of it too). We are lucky to have a few really wonderful friends who I can completely trust w/ my son, also that he goes to an amazing Waldorf kindergarten. I am leery of many more mainstream childcare settings, esp for him, b/c I fear he would be "in trouble" all the time.
..

thanks emma. I'm glad to know i'm not alone! i've always been an open book about my emotions which is both a blessing and a curse preschools here are structured toward school prepping and dd1 would be bored as she already knows what they teach. I have one friend I trust but she's 45 min away. dd1 does ballet once a week in fall and we are doing a homeschool coop with 5 other families 3days a week starting Sept...hopefully these things will help.... just gotta figure out this summer!

I was thinkin of checkin my vit d levels, wonder if insurance covers it?

on sunburn, was cheek covered in moby or open to air? i always wonder how much moby would block/screen sun

[ShineliketheSon]

Originally Posted by nancy11

novelty.

???