2nd half of May chat thread - Page 2

[NicoleS]

Originally Posted by Katie34

how much help do you all get with your babies?

Pretty much none with the baby. I had a mother's helper a few hours a day the first week home from the hospital because DH had to go back to work, but that was it. My MIL will take the girls out for a few hours once or twice a month, leaving the boys with me.

With DH, with Caleb I'd say it's about 90% me/10% him. Especially since I'm BFing. I don't think he's even done one of his diapers yet. He will hold him if he's upset and I'm busy, but it doesn't last long.

With the older three I'd say it's more like 75% me/25% him. I am lucky in the fact that he gets home mid-afternoon, so there is a window of time that I can go out of the house and get errands run without taking all four - I always take Caleb and usually take one other. For example I had a doctor's appointment yesterday to get my wrist looked at, so I just took Caleb. When I do grocery shopping I take Caleb and one other, tomorrow it will be Shane's turn. For things like baths, feeding, etc. around the house it is 90% me.

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

Other than DH, who is home at about 4:30 pm, I don't have "help". DD goes to school in the mornings, so we get up, I get her fed and dressed an on the school bus, then I have the mornings with just me and DS, and then DD comes home at 12:30 - it's just us until DH is home. Our closest relatives, my parents, are a 45 minute drive, and they only live here May through October - otherwise they're on Vancouver Island.

So I'm pretty much on my own from the time I get up until about 4:30-5pm. I have to be honest, I don't find it that difficult. Some days we all stay home, and other days I'll run errands in the morning - much more difficult with a 4-year-old in tow. I find the days speed by, and when DH comes home, he hangs out with DD and/or makes supper about half the time.

Disposable diaper smell makes me gag. I use a sposie on DS at night about half the week, if he needs slathering with barrier cream, and blech. I can't even have Pampers in the house, the perfume is so strong, but they all smell pretty gross after they've been used. We are carting our stash of cloth down to our IL's when we visit in a couple of weeks - I can't stand using sposies.

[NicoleS]

3 month professional pics:

visit http://www.collages.net, and fill in the following information:

Username: Caleb Month 3
Password: 6223

[busymama77]

Originally Posted by NicoleS

3 month professional pics:

visit http://www.collages.net, and fill in the following information:

Username: Caleb Month 3
Password: 6223

SUPER cute!!! I just love that little outfit you've chosen for him. I scheduled W's 3month pics the other day for June 6th. I can't wait.

[aramat]

Juju is getting so FAT, I love it. It's from formula, but I'm just so happy to finally see her growing. She is 5 months old today, and I'd guess around...13ish lbs? She is wearing size 6-mo clothing, but she definitely looks and acts like a 3-mo-old--perfectly in-tune w/her developmental age. Sometimes I get teary-eyed when I remember how tiny and skinny she used to be. Now she's sturdy and round--a real butterball. LOVE this little girl!!

[HappiLeigh]

always nakking, having trouble posting, but loving to read about the LOs

worth is turning into a chub, all thighs and squishy cuteness i feel like i'm eating like a horse but i'm hungry all the time, and i guess he's just sucking up all my calories. here are some recent pics on blog.

nicole i could only see the first pic w/o typing in all my info, but it was a cute pic! i'll look at the rest when i have 2 hands.

re: help. my parents live nearby, so i feel like i have lots of support, but not in the someone-holds-my-baby-while-i-do-other-things way. i do get babysitting for my older kid, though, from my dad. for when i have appointments or what have you. he's been watching her for a couple hours 2x per week, once while i take ds to a new baby playgroup and once while i drive refugees to medical appointments (i take ds w/ me).

[NicoleS]

Thanks guys. I think he looks like a little old man still, LOL.

[Snapdragon]

aramat Iam so glad Juju is a chubby little baby now! Because of following your story and her birth story, even though I don't know you guys IRL I feel a special fondness for her! Such a trooper and it is so lovely that she is turning out so good and chubby and strong. I am so happy for you


So my MDC friends- let's make sure we start a thread in Life with a babe and that everyone knows how to find it so we can all keep in touch still!

[Ambystoma]

Originally Posted by Katie34

how much help do you all get with your babies?

None. We have no family in town. Actually, our immediate families are 16+ hours away. Not that I think I would get real help if we were closer. Lots of family came the first 2 weeks after he was born and just created more work for me to do after they left--extra linens to wash, etc.

Originally Posted by Katie34

So my MDC friends- let's make sure we start a thread in Life with a babe and that everyone knows how to find it so we can all keep in touch still!

We need a thread. I don't feel like I'd be able to maintain one, but if no one else starts one before we get booted, I'll make one in Life with a Babe.

[Lauren31]

Originally Posted by Ambystoma

None. We have no family in town. Actually, our immediate families are 16+ hours away. Not that I think I would get real help if we were closer. Lots of family came the first 2 weeks after he was born and just created more work for me to do after they left--extra linens to wash, etc.


We need a thread. I don't feel like I'd be able to maintain one, but if no one else starts one before we get booted, I'll make one in Life with a Babe.

I can help maintain it


OH and no help here seeing as my family is thousands of miles away!!!

[jul511riv]

Originally Posted by jul511riv

reposting from the old thread:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-L-F...next=1&index=2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXkM11kp_tg

I'm posting this again, cause it seems no one saw it and I think they are really important to watch. This is in response to the comment about breastfeeding on sesame street, back in the day...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-L-Fg7lWgQ

[SunRise]

Originally Posted by jul511riv

I'm posting this again, cause it seems no one saw it and I think they are really important to watch. This is in response to the comment about breastfeeding on sesame street, back in the day...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-L-Fg7lWgQ

I checked them out. I think I remember watching these episodes as a kid. They seemed really familiar.

-----
I'll expand on my breastfeeding experience. I have and do breastfeed in public, but I prefer my privacy. But one cannot always predict / plan when babe will be hungry. I have had to sit down in an aisle at Target.

I am rarely prepared with a cover to cover up, but do not feel like I should cover up. But if I did have a cover, I may even walk around and continue what I was doing as opposed to sitting and feeding.

On an airplane, I would bring a shawl to cover, to offer some privacy between me and the stranger sitting so close. This is for the benefit of my comfort level and secondly, the stranger.

If/when in a park, with lots of parents/kids, I would just prefer to sit further away and have some privacy.

I do not like my stomach showing, or my back, or what ever gets exposed when I lift my shirt. So I wear nursing tank tops. More selfconscious about those exposed areas, then the breast and nursing part.

I am at work with my babe and there is one other employee. I seem to be more comfortable nursing in public around strangers, then here at my desk in view of the other employee. HE is a male, so that may have something to do with it. I go to the kitchen to nurse.

I seem to live in a pro-breastfeeding, natural type neighbourhood - my sons teacher gave me an article from the newyorktimes - the breastwhisper. The moms of my son's (7yrs) friends all mostly breast fed there kids, but I have noticed that when I am feeding, they do not look me in the eye when we are talking! They look down or away. There seems to be some kind of akwardness or privacy matter.

[aramat]

Originally Posted by Katie34

aramat Iam so glad Juju is a chubby little baby now! Because of following your story and her birth story, even though I don't know you guys IRL I feel a special fondness for her! Such a trooper and it is so lovely that she is turning out so good and chubby and strong. I am so happy for you

You're so sweet, Katie; thank you!

Originally Posted by jul511riv

I'm posting this again, cause it seems no one saw it and I think they are really important to watch. This is in response to the comment about breastfeeding on sesame street, back in the day...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-L-Fg7lWgQ

The first link didn't work for me before, but this new one does -- and it made me teary-eyed! LOVE it! I am going to go post it on my Facebook.

------

Y'all, I don't want to have four children, but what am I going to do when Juju isn't a baby anymore? I am so addicted to her tiny face!!!

[Keeta]

Reposting from other May thread - didn't see it first!

Just wanted to update. The good news: August gained 10 oz in 6 days!!! Woo-hoo! No more worrying about his lack of weight gain. Basically I just stopped using the nipple shield and kept doing the herbs (fenugreek, 3 caps 3x a day, and blessed thistle - 2 caps 3x a day). I am so relieved.

The bad news: Apparently all the stress has wreaked havoc on my immune system. I've gotten a cold sore on my lip - once a month since August was born. Then I've had this super sore hip/back that broke out into blisters, which I thought were spider bites (EWWWW!) since I found a spider in my bed (EEEWWW AGAIN!!). I had the dr. look at it yesterday when I took A in for the weight check and she was like, "No, that's not spider bites...that's shingles." UUUUGGHHHH. It hurts SO MUCH. Like red ants are biting my back constantly. It hurts when my *clothes* touch it! It's right on my lower back above my butt and on my left hip - which makes rest really hard since I'm always laying on it. She gave me a B12 shot in the office (which also really hurst BTW!) and now I have to take:
2000mg C 3x a day
2 ViraCan caps 3x a day
500 Lysiene 3x a day

plus all the other breastfeeding herbs, my multi, fish oil and vitamin D. I feel like a freaking old lady! I have to take a handful of pills 3 times a day! I'm waiting for UPS to deliver my topical ointment for the shingles - from a compounding pharmacy out of town. It really sucks! Apparently my body is just wrecked from exhaustion, stress, whathaveyou. I think stressing out over the baby's weight gain was kind of the last straw. Oh, and apparently shingles lasts 2-3 weeks. Grrrreat. On the bright side, it's already been hurting a week, so only 1-2 more to go, right? Blargh.

As far as help with the babe: DH is helpful when here, but he works 8-5ish, so...my parents - who are the best grandparents ever! - live 3 hours away, so when we can get together, my mom is SUPER helpful. We'll be going down this weekend (3 hour car ride with a blistery back? Yay!) because honestly the help and the break it gives us is so crucial to recharage our batteries. We're either bringing my mom back with us for a few days or we will stay down there for the week (minus DH) so that I can get a hand and rest while trying to get my immune system reboosted.

[Snapdragon]

Keeta sorry to hear about all those health things- ugh! Glad you will be spending time with your mom to get help. I will testify that almost a week into being here with my parents I feel like a different person. I went from overwhelmed discouraged and exhausted to actually enjoying this baby thing- they help SO much like right now Teo is out on a walk with his granparents and I am chiling out. To be honest I want to stay longer- other than missing my dh! I am having some anxiety about going home in 2 days. Heck, maybe I should have dh come here to visit for the wkend and then stay another week! It is a 6 hour drive. But my parents might not want me to stay THAT much! But Teo is having so fricking much fun here- way more than he does with me alone.

[flavorfull1]

ooo keeta I am so sorry! Shingles are bad. Did they say anything about the possibility of giving chicken pox to your kids from shingles?

As far as help. DH is my help and he is very helpful when we are at home. His helps i going to go way down soon though since he will be studying for the NY bar. Fun times.

[aramat]

((Chessa)) Hugs! Great news about breastfeeding, though--congrats!

[linchi]

Originally Posted by Keeta

Reposting from other May thread - didn't see it first!

Just wanted to update. The good news: August gained 10 oz in 6 days!!! Woo-hoo! No more worrying about his lack of weight gain. Basically I just stopped using the nipple shield and kept doing the herbs (fenugreek, 3 caps 3x a day, and blessed thistle - 2 caps 3x a day). I am so relieved.

The bad news: Apparently all the stress has wreaked havoc on my immune system. I've gotten a cold sore on my lip - once a month since August was born. Then I've had this super sore hip/back that broke out into blisters, which I thought were spider bites (EWWWW!) since I found a spider in my bed (EEEWWW AGAIN!!). I had the dr. look at it yesterday when I took A in for the weight check and she was like, "No, that's not spider bites...that's shingles." UUUUGGHHHH. It hurts SO MUCH. Like red ants are biting my back constantly. It hurts when my *clothes* touch it! It's right on my lower back above my butt and on my left hip - which makes rest really hard since I'm always laying on it. She gave me a B12 shot in the office (which also really hurst BTW!) and now I have to take:
2000mg C 3x a day
2 ViraCan caps 3x a day
500 Lysiene 3x a day

plus all the other breastfeeding herbs, my multi, fish oil and vitamin D. I feel like a freaking old lady! I have to take a handful of pills 3 times a day! I'm waiting for UPS to deliver my topical ointment for the shingles - from a compounding pharmacy out of town. It really sucks! Apparently my body is just wrecked from exhaustion, stress, whathaveyou. I think stressing out over the baby's weight gain was kind of the last straw. Oh, and apparently shingles lasts 2-3 weeks. Grrrreat. On the bright side, it's already been hurting a week, so only 1-2 more to go, right? Blargh.

As far as help with the babe: DH is helpful when here, but he works 8-5ish, so...my parents - who are the best grandparents ever! - live 3 hours away, so when we can get together, my mom is SUPER helpful. We'll be going down this weekend (3 hour car ride with a blistery back? Yay!) because honestly the help and the break it gives us is so crucial to recharage our batteries. We're either bringing my mom back with us for a few days or we will stay down there for the week (minus DH) so that I can get a hand and rest while trying to get my immune system reboosted.

I replied to your post on the other thread, sorry!

Ok, mini rant:
Firstly I want to say I think we are doing an awesome job of being parents. Iago is a calm little guy and doesn't cry much at home. When he does we try and find out why he is crying and help him out. He goes to bed with us (normally at 11ish) and sleeps till about 7am, feeds and goes back to sleep until about 11. I couldn't be happier with this schedule.
We have friends here who we went to prenatal class with. They had their darling little girl a few days after Iago was born. Next to their baby though, Iago seems like a huge cry baby! We went over to their house for dinner and we have had them over (so it's not like it's because he is not comfortable in his surroundings) and it's been the same both times. The little girl eats, then goes to bed at 9! The first time we were there she CIOed for about 15 minutes, fell asleep then about 1/2hr later CIOed again. They didn't even go in and check on her. She sleeps until 6-7am. Iago on the other had eats a lot at night. When its just us it's not a problem. When we are having dinner with others he fusses a bit more. Their girl sleeps away...
As I said before, I think we do a good job, but I just don't feel like a good parent in public. Hmmpf.

Also, if one more complete stranger walks up to me in a store, or on the street and tells me my baby is hungry because he is fussing I am going to smack them. Babies cry for many reasons, and YOU aren't the expert on my kids cries. So please don't tell me that he's hungry when you have no clue. I need a snappy response in French to that so that people see how rude they are.

Hopefully this makes sense. Does anyone feel the same or know what I am going through?

Mini-rant over. Hope all babies and mamas have an awesome weekend in the sun!!!

[NicoleS]

Caleb has some nights where he goes to sleep just fine and then others where he wants to stay up all night - maybe you just caught her on a good night?

I must be pretty good at giving the "I don't need your advice" vibe, because aside from the stating the obvious kind of comments like "wow, you have you hands full" people don't try and talk to me too often.

[Snapdragon]

Linchi
sleeping 8 hr stretches? I am jealous!
typing 1 handed with baby in my lap

so you think cio worked for those friends of yours?
I wish my baby slept 8 hrs!
our schedule isn't that solid yet he is only 9wks old.
He goes to sleep around 7 and wakes once to feed and I usually change or ec him so it feels ike being up for an hour. then he sometimes settles easily or sometimes grunts and tosses and turns and keeps me up for a long time .
then he sleeps till 6 or so.
sometimes he wakes up twice in the night

How old was that baby when they let her CIo for 15 monutes? I am curious about this though I don't htink I could do it!
I am trying to set a schedule for Teo but not sure quite how yet