February Chat - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[Lynann]

FB is really useful for me to stay in touch with my family and friends back home, as I'm the immigrant. However a lot of discussions seem to happen when I'm not online.

I only have the laptop and like it that way. Neither of our phones do anything except make calls as we have texts barred on the contract phone and our second phone is a pay as you go so everything costs money and we only use it for emergencies and getting texts from my family to ask me to Skype if they need to talk to me at a time other than our weekly chats (like right now I am getting texts with updates about my sister.)

I try to limit my time online to nap time for DS1 and nap or nursing time with DS2, and only occasionally come online when DH is home, as I'd rather spend the time with him.

DS2 is now sitting up and will play with a toy for several minutes at a time. It hardly seems like he is old enough already, as it feels like it was just a few weeks ago that he was born.

The only reason I'm online tonight is because we were on the computer finishing up our tax return and now DH has gone to the post office to send to our CPA, so I get half an hour to myself.

I know I'm nuts for thinking about getting pregnant again so soon. Part of me wants to wait a little longer and enjoy the boys and the other part of me (biological clock) wants to get pregnant straight away so we can have more before we time out. I'll be 40 in August so I know we only have a few years left and I've always wanted lots of children. I've always dreamed of 8, now I'd be thrilled if we managed 6 and part of me thinks we'll be very fortunate if we get to 4. Then again if we don't manage any more the 2 blessings we have is 2 more than either of us thought we would have just 6 years ago.

[Italiamom]

All you mamas are crazy wanting more babies!!! Crazy wonderful I very much look forward to seeing some of y'all with more blessings. I love pregnant ladies!

As for us, no no no no more. DH has his big V scheduled later this month, and we are both very much looking forward to worry-free lovin' of a different sort. I've got plans to barricade him in the living room post-surgery with plenty of baked goods, frozen peas, and as much Top Gear as he can stand to watch. And maybe a few reminders about the two children I bore him sans any pain meds, should he get too whiny

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by Italiamom 

All you mamas are crazy wanting more babies!!! Crazy wonderful I very much look forward to seeing some of y'all with more blessings. I love pregnant ladies!
As for us, no no no no more. DH has his big V scheduled later this month, and we are both very much looking forward to worry-free lovin' of a different sort. I've got plans to barricade him in the living room post-surgery with plenty of baked goods, frozen peas, and as much Top Gear as he can stand to watch. And maybe a few reminders about the two children I bore him sans any pain meds, should he get too whiny

This cracked me up in such a good way!!  Especially the Top Gear!!  One of DH's favorites as well!  Congratulations on all accounts, I bet it feels so good.

I wish I felt that 100% certain.  I was watching a Cake Boss marathon yesterday on netflix and saw the baby special.  I just couldn't imagine never having another baby again.  Sigh.  Damnit.  I want to be done!!   In my mind I am, but in my heart I guess I'm just not.  

In Finnley news, I swear he put his arms up for me today.  He was fussing a little so I went into the living room to pick him up and I swear he raised his arms for me!  

[Peony]

DH is getting his V when snowboarding season is over. Wait, we are gone for 3 weeks right after that, ok so May then! He is strictly on limited activity until we get the all clear afterwards, I  really am done. My heart wasn't done until this last one and now it is full and I never ever want another child! It was logical to stop at 3 but sometimes logical doesn't win.

Dominic practically jumps out of other people's arm when I pass near, he leans over the over trying to get to me. He has separation anxiety already and cries if I start to move away, he has doing that for a few weeks now. Hw managed to fall out of his bucket car seat the other day. I just lay him in, turn around and snatch my 2 year old so he won't dart out into traffic, buckle him, and then buckle the baby. Only when I turned around to reach for the baby I caught a foot as he was tumbling over the side of the seat. He is so grabby these days, and wants everything. He has knocked my coffee cup of the counter twice, he reaches for it while on my hip. I have to plan ahead now when we are eating out and make sure I have things he can "eat" (gnawing on toys or straws really) so I can actually eat my food with minimal baby hands in it. 

[Baby_Cakes]

Reading thru the old posts made me realize how many mamas were regulars here and then drifted away.  Anyone in touch with Greencarnation?

[cat13]

I was wondering the same thing! How about Mamatoabunch?

[noorjahan]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

Reading thru the old posts made me realize how many mamas were regulars here and then drifted away.  Anyone in touch with Greencarnation?

I know it seems awfully quiet comparing to last year! I used to read every post religiously, though didn't post much myself. I was wondering abt GC as well..she was my ddc buddy for that labor announcement thing. I've her #, but for some reason my texts don't make it :(  tried texting my frnds in the US and none of them got it. If anyone wants I can give her # in pm, may be you can send a text...I dunno..one way to get an update on her. Hoping she and fam doing well.

It's about to be Spring in here, okay in theory only. In reality it'll be full blown Summer, which is couple of weeks away...so. right now it's that awful weather of neither hot nor cold. Still sick...can't wait for Summer to come soon....the mosquito bites...omg...i'm dying!!!!!!!!

[Italiamom]

DH left today for a business trip. It's late, and the anxiety is setting in. I seriously don't understand how single parents do this gig. It just amazes me, because it's been less than 24 hours, and already I'm losing my mind! DH and I haven't been apart in almost 3 years. Sigh.

Noorjahan, what part of the world are you in? Summer sounds great, but no thanks on the Mosquitos! I am SO allergic to them, to the point that I get huge hard welts, and even a fever if I get more than a couple bites. It has sadly kept me from much of the travel I've always wanted to do. I've heard that putting tea tree and lavender oil on babies is a decent deterrent for Mosquitos, but I'm curious going in to summer if anyone has tried it first hand?

[noorjahan]

Italiamom, I'm in Bangladesh now! Not a great place to be in during Summer, it gets really hot and worse humid! I brought California Baby brand mosquito repaller and I used it on me yesterday for the first time. Not sure if it helped or not since I was itching from previous bites...and poor Eliana is getting bitten on her face mostly...I just don't feel comfy using that on her yet..specially face!

And it says on the label to ask doc before applying that on babies under 6 months (though she is now 6 months!).

Sorry that you are feeling anxiety. BTDT! Not fun! I'm here cause of my husband and he is no help most of the time anyway. So, I still feel like a single mother...!! He stays at his house (by his means his parents) and I stay at my house (by my I mean my parents)...he comes over at night and leaves in the morning...so, I don't get to see him much anyway....and we have been maintaining this relationship from 10,000 miles away for the last 5 years(we've been married for 12 years)! Before I didn't care, now with baby it's really hitting my nerve (him not being around). But oh well.......cest la vie for me!

[Peony]

California Baby is the most gentle product out there. I love their stuff, I don't use it anymore except on the real babies since we go through sunscreen/bugspray like crazy and it is $$. The only thing that would be gentle is doing essential oils to keep the mosquitos away. I used to make up my own stuff way beck when it was just DD1. Honestly though, I think California Baby works better. We have West Nile here very frequently in the summer so I try to be good about mosquitos but we don't have many, especially compared to you! Just personally, I wouldn't have a problem using it now on Dominic. 

IM, How long is he gone for? I hope it passes quickly. I dread when DH is travels because of the putting 4 kids to bed part. Well, I still put them to bed alone most nights when he is here but at least when Dominic wakes up while I am lying with the 2y, DH can pick him up instead of him screaming all alone until I can get out of the room. Other then that, DH isn't around much and can't help out, the kids see him for maybe 30 minutes a day. I wish it was different. It is his work mostly, he works a lot and that will never change. He does snowboard on the weekends from Thanksgiving-April, the rest of the year he will be home about 1 weekend day. 

Noor- That sounds like an interesting arrangement! It is always amazing that things that worked before, become less tolerable once there are children. Best wishes to you.

[Baby_Cakes]

DH is gone a lot of the time too, and it IS hard.  Idk how single mamas or mamas married to men who are deployed do it for months and months at a time.  ((hugs)) michelle!  You can get thru this!  I know you've got a stash of chocolate and some wine somewhere!!

Mosquitos.  We had issues last summer.  California baby did nothing, I swear it made them attracted to DD.  I found the only thing that worked (and I tried EVERYTHING) was Off brand.  I hated spraying those chemicals, but DD is allergic like you are, Michelle.  She gets dime size or nickel size welts and is feverish with only a few bites. ntm uncomfortable.  We live outdoors in the summer so i saw no other option.  

DH left for the day, trying to decide what were going to do today.  Anyone have fun plans?

[Lynann]

My in-laws are arriving later this afternoon for a 2 night visit, so I've been cleaning like crazy and baking bread, cookies etc. I'm working on a lemon cookie recipe, trying to make one like I used to be able to buy back home. The batch today worked pretty good, so I think that is my recipe set. I was plan on making mini chocolate cupcakes too, but DS2 is up and DS1 is due up from his nap in about 10 min. I am glad I got dinner in the crockpot at the start of DS1's nap today.

While our routine is still very fluid and Seth doesn't seem to be showing the same desire for a definite routine to his day I do feel like this last couple of weeks has seen me come out of the postpartum fogginess. I'm back to having dinner organized every night, and I'm doing better at keeping on top of the chores. I have a 3 page chore checklist on my fridge that I tick the box when its done. Its great to be able to check those boxes every time I complete something, and I feel good that DH can see that I have been doing stuff during the day.

Time to go and get DS1's snack ready before I get him up from his nap.

[cat13]

We get pretty bad mosquitoes all year long, so I'll have to check out the Calif Baby stuff you all recommend. DS always seems to get bit on the face too, and while all his other scratches and scrapes heal so quickly, it usually takes weeks before the mosquito bites are fully gone.

Sorry for those of you ladies who are caring for the kiddos on your own so often. My mom was a single mom, and I have a while new appreciate for what she did for my brother and me!

AFM, I've had this same cold for a week now and it's totally kicking my butt. Yesterday I finally felt normal, but still had the congestion & cough, then I couldn't get to sleep because of the cough. So, now I'm a wreck today. Ugh. Oh, and River is getting super annoyed at me. When I lay down to nurse him to sleep, if I cough he just looks up at me and tells me to shut-it, mama! Or cries. I keep trying to will myself to not-cough in those situations, with no avail.

[Peony]

Nothing fun today here. DD2 has had pneumonia this week so we've been lying as low as we possibly can. I've lost count at how many times this is now, a dozen maybe? And I'm getting ready to go crazy if I have to watch one more cartoon, I did manage to escape late this afternoon leaving DD2 with the sitter to take DS1 to speech therapy, DD1 to the dentist, and then to snowboard practice while I hit the grocery store because it has been two weeks since i had gone with all this sickness. Tomorrow if DD2 feels up to it we are going to open gym, we do have to pick DD1 up at lunch and drive her up to the mountain to board with a friend, and then back to hanging low again. And I might make a real dinner tomorrow now that I have fresh food instead of digging out mystery packages out of the freezer! 

Cat- I hear you about the coughing! I finally got baby to sleep today only I had to cough then and there went that nap. 

I always greatly appreciate single moms. I'm friends with several and whatever bad day I am having, and as little as DH is around, at least he is around some times. They are rock stars! 

[cakemama579]

Michelle, I hope you're getting your flow and routine down after a day or two of hubby being gone.  My DH rarely goes out of town, but has a trip coming up soon and I am dreading it!!  It is hard enough when he takes his long day trips for work every now and again.  What kinds of things are you doing to manage?

noorjahan, that sounds like a difficult living situation.  I don't know how you manage living in separate houses from your hubby! 

Lynann you sound like such a fabulous host.  Oh to go visit someone and find that they'd baked a bunch of goodies for us! yummmmm.  I hope the visit is going well.

Cat I hope you are feeling better.  I hate those lingering coughs!  

AFM, I think DS has fallen into the too much tv trap.  We got into the bad habit when DD was born and we needed a little distraction for DS sometimes.  Now I feel like he is a total tv junkie!  he probably watches 2 hours a day..sometimes more, sometimes less..  anyone have any pointers on how to break the habit?  i'd love to cut it down a bit.  Of course, I could just say no and tell him to turn it off, ha!

[Beckily]

Originally Posted by cakemama579 

Michelle, I hope you're getting your flow and routine down after a day or two of hubby being gone.  My DH rarely goes out of town, but has a trip coming up soon and I am dreading it!!  It is hard enough when he takes his long day trips for work every now and again.  What kinds of things are you doing to manage?

noorjahan, that sounds like a difficult living situation.  I don't know how you manage living in separate houses from your hubby! 

Lynann you sound like such a fabulous host.  Oh to go visit someone and find that they'd baked a bunch of goodies for us! yummmmm.  I hope the visit is going well.

Cat I hope you are feeling better.  I hate those lingering coughs!  

AFM, I think DS has fallen into the too much tv trap.  We got into the bad habit when DD was born and we needed a little distraction for DS sometimes.  Now I feel like he is a total tv junkie!  he probably watches 2 hours a day..sometimes more, sometimes less..  anyone have any pointers on how to break the habit?  i'd love to cut it down a bit.  Of course, I could just say no and tell him to turn it off, ha!

Would it be fun to get a big box and have him be "on tv" instead?

[noorjahan]

Thanks Peony for the well wishes.

Cakemama, it's hard, but I guess, by now I'm used to it. Today I'll be going to "his" house for few days...really not looking forward to it.  And most importantly, I really dislike most of my in-laws, so going there feels like a chore I've to do, but he also gets tired of coming to my parents house every night.   Well, my MIL is really nice (I mean just recently she told me whether I love her or not, she will always love me...can you smell drama queen..LOL ) and I know, good food awaits me..LOL but today I'm baking a yellow cake for her (though most likely I will finish it..hahahaha)...a recipe found on pinterest(really good!)...so, I'm excited about taking the yellow cake! She is always watching cooking show, and impressing me with all sorts of cooking, though according to my sis she gets A for effort...but for taste not so much :))

We have "our" condo, which is a bit far from both of our parents places, closer to the airport and I really love it. But that is rented out now, as we would rather have the money.

So how was your days without your DH, IM?

[Baby_Cakes]

I find getting outside is HUGELY important on days/weeks when DH is travelling.  Even if it's 15 min in the backyard, it breaks up the day, its fresh air, it's OPEN SPACE where I'm not tripping over toys, laundry, the kids.  It's important for ME, I think, just as much as for the kids.  

Keep routine.  Don't act like it's a "day off" unless someone isn't feeling well.  Run the errands, do the chores, etc.  It helps the time go by faster.

TV - we are a TV family.  For us, I don't even think about breaking the habit, but at times when it gets too much, I switch it to Pandora or put on something we can dance/move to while we clean up or do puzzles or something.  Or we just go outside or to another part of the house where there is no TV.

[Tear78]

Is everybody lurking like me? DD has had a nasty cold for almost two weeks now. Actually it's two different colds. The doc says no infection. It's just so hard to see her snuffle and cough and struggle with the mucus.

How's everyone else?

[cat13]

Poor girl! I am just getting over a 2 week cold but I was so thankful River didn't get it from me. I hope she feels better soon.

Today is his 6 month WBV so I'm leaving work early to go take him in a bit. I'm excited to see how big he is, but not too excited about interacting with the clinic staff. They aren't horrible, just annoying. I just have to put my big-girl pants on and be ready for the smile-and-nod. Unfortunately with our HMO, it's our only option.

On a positive note, today is River's half birthday, and this is the first year that I don't hate V-Day!