Babies Born June 2006 #11

PML IK ...here we go... another day.... scary isn't it? When you regularly miss sleep at night the endless nature of parenting really hits home... still it's good we can both see the humourous side... last night I was oscillating between being seriously annoyed and hamming it up... 'pute still seems to have issues but it doesn't really matter...

I really wanted to go to a work reunion today with all my colleagues from the ELC I worked at for 5 years... but it's in Brighton and no where near a train staion and just too logistically hard... and I really need any spare money for Wade's party... still I feel a bit sad about missing it. It's like you move towns when you cross the Yarra.

Oooh milk's just come in and Thomas The Tank engine is on soon.... God forbid we miss that!

Back later!

ETA: Ali... forgot to say that the photos of Tori and your family are lovely... sepia works well too... and you've got some very photogenic relatives sitting on that ute :)

ETA #2 Verity has decided to turn over a new leaf... she's currently doing the ironing (just pillowcases, tea towels, Niall's sheets etc... but it's a help :) )

hey there,

IK - you poor thing, i hope things improve for you soon. as for the DP side of things - i completely understand!

Ali - so sorry to hear about your friends godson. Its something thats constantly on my mind. I am always checking lachlan when he is asleep (so not very often ha ha) but people think im mad for doing it but i just need peace of mind before i can rest!

Nickers - glad things went good for you in sydney. i thought you were coming up for the long weekend? Let me know if you are, i cant come for the weekend but im free the week after if your still there. I sent you a text yesterday too. Oh how does Nixon like the rice cereal??

Well as for me i had a great day yesterday. Lachlan was up for an hour and a half to play and then would sleep for two hours in the day which was excellent but come last night he was up 7 times!! i get a couple of feeds in but after the second feed (about 4 - 4.30) he is up every hour after that and its driving me mad. He isnt hungry cause as soon as i pick him up he goes to sleep on my shoulder but if i leave him his cry escalates to a scream and its harder to get him back to sleep.
Im wondering if the bottle of formlua im giving him before bed might be upsetting his tummy? hmmmm

Oh enigma - im so jelous of your 11 hour night! i would give anything for even three hours in a row of sleep!

Anyway best go. its 10.30am and im still in my PJ's!!

I reckon at least half the Junies would still be in their PJs Dee :) I only got dressed about 5 mins ago... too busy folding washing/feeding Wade and rocking Niall in the pram oh and trying to have a cuppa at the same time. That definately sounds like Lachlan is experiencing a reflux/heartburn issue... are you still propping the end of his cot up?

Hi all, I'm feeling much more civil this morning, even though I am running on a sleep deficit. My munchkin definitely has a cold again - he was so snuffly this morning :(
I'm on the more cheerful side of the middle-of-the-night melodramatics - how come everything is so much more amplified at night? I mean, I still could have clocked DP, but the remarks for him that I had running through my head were savage - glad that I literally couldn't voice them or there would have been a mighty clash!
I have a very limpy voice back - I sneezed and loosened up some gunk that was obviously lovingly wrapped around my larynx and it came out with a blow of the nose...and I could sqeak out some words! Still can't talk properly, and being a singer I'm too scared of doing damage so I'll save my voice and whisper again today. Yay for the dislodging of gunky stuff!! My cough has diminished since then, too!
Dee - that paed appt couldn't come quick enough, huh? I know the feeling - I had it when I was strung out to get Oscar's tongue-tie snipped once and for all! I hope I'm wrong, but I have a feeling that Lachlan's main problem is not your breastmilk. It sounds like (warning: armchair opinion imminent!) he needs to be held close to you (hug a bub style). Also, have you tried chest-sleeping? I know this idea horrifies many people, especially fans of separate sleeping, but if it is all that will settle a baby, why put you and the baby through the angst of doing the opposite of what the baby wants? Doesn't sound like it will interfere too much with your relationship with DF anyway (and he has fabulously failed to come up with any solutions himself, hasn't he?), so why not take a leap of faith? JMO though. You are in my real life thoughts, believe me, Dee :) This kid's gonna bring you so much joy to make up for this time! I am sure a hug a bub would help you so much.
Bath - glad I could provide some entertainment with my misery ;) Maybe Ive been reading too much Marian Keyes, or maybe I like her so much cos her writing resonates with my thought patterns - take an unpleasant thing and make it ridiculous to save me from spinning into the path of negativity and unpleasantness.
gonna see if oscar will sleep while i shower with my MooGoo!!!!

Bath - yep i still have his cot propped up at one end. But it just doesnt make any difference.

IK - i have tried to have him sleep in my arms etc but he still wont stay asleep. Yes i am counting down to my paediatrician appointment thats for sure even though i have lost all faith in him too, last time he told me that babies cry and i should leave him to cry himself to sleep! (he was only four weeks old at the time!)

Guys - i have just had enough, i dont know what else to do. Sometimes i feel like he is changing and settling and then i have a day like today where he just wont sleep and i have just had it!
I try these new techniques etc and i really get my hopes up with them but then they fail and i just loose all hope.

I bought me and DF tickets to go and see Billy Joel in november thinking that surely lachlan will be settled by then and i can leave him with mum, but now i cant go to that. We also have a wedding to go to in november and once again, thinking lachlan will be settled i would leave him with MIL (she lives near where the wedding is) then i could go back between the wedding and reception to feed him then she can give him his night time bottle and then i would be home for the next feed but no, now i cant do that either seeing as i have to feed him sometimes every three hours, sometimes two sometimes one, i just dont know how he is going to be!

Ok I’m starting my replies from just after my announcement because I’ve been AWOL and I know I’ll confuse myself if I start beforehand.

Ali – It was a “we” but mostly Matt picked it. I had spotted a different one that I liked but he was in love with this one and it was a darn fine choice  It would be good to see the Swannies beat WC again in the final. Especially with it being the day before Ryan’s naming day! The pictures of your family are beautiful too hun! I regularly play around with the colours & stuff in pictures. And congrats on the anniversary!!!!

Neeny – hehe were you getting Amanda’s boys all sticky & dirty with ice cream?? I think Aleise and Ryan should meet. We went down for his weigh in yesterday and all he did was look at the chicks  I’m glad you had fun though! The photos you sent both of your day out & Matts birthday were beautiful! I’m glad Aleise is going ok in care & hopefully you’ll enjoy getting back to work too! Hahaha re the AJ comment!!!! Could be worse, you could have married a “pusser” ;) in case I haven’t said it yet, congrats on your new niece!! Your cooking efforts sound so yummy!!

Rory – There’s nothing much to tell!! We were watching they footy, I was lying on the couch, he got down on one knee :) with the hereditary diseases / conditions, I hear you is all I can say. All the women on my mums side have had breast cancer & mum has had 2 major scares now :( All anyone can do is think positive!

IK – these aldi nappies are sounding like I need to try them. I’ve just started putting Ryan in the crawler size of babylove over night because he’s starting to over flow the infant ones with wee. Are you feeling better now? Losing your voice can be such a pain. I hope your mum behaves while you can’t speak! Your highchair sounds good. I realy need to get in lay buy one on these!

Enigma – welcome back!! We’ve missed you Nerdy :P

Rac – thanks for the congrats. I still can’t believe Ronan is 6 months already!!!! And that you’re thinking of #2. you go girl!!

KL – I can’t really say anything about your incidents because others have already said everything I think!

Amanda – yay for school holidays! Warm weather never goes astray either (unless you’re like Bath & love cardy weather ;) ) your boys look like such dolls! I hope Kailens op goes ahead!!! I think everyone loves colouring in. its very therapeutic!

Bath – how do you go with soy in your coffee? Its taken me months to readjust to soy. To bad Goodes beat West for the brownlow. Although you have to admit Goodes has had a dynamite year! I agree with you re baby bath products. All Ryan has is warm water. I just don’t see a need for wash’s & lotions yet. Is your day better so far today?

Karen – how are you going sweetie? Taking it easy I hope?

Nic – I hope you’re having fun in Sydney? Are you looking forward to Sunday? I know I am!

Dee – nothing wrong with still being in PJs. I would be too if I could be!! He might be getting more wind with the bottle too that’s hurting his tummy? I’ve got my fingers crossed Lachlan will be settled in time for you to go to your events. Don’t completely despair yet hun!

Me – well being a control freak I have started planning & organising already. 12/01/2008 is the day, 5pm-ish ceremony. I’ve chosen the dress, Calla Lily theme. Chosen a reception place. It will be a beach / park wedding in Wollongong  I had another job interview yesterday that I am really confident about so here’s hoping! Ryan was weighed & measured yesterday. He’s now 6.8kg & 63cm long. And speaking to my sister, she’s already putting gravy, chocolate topping and a wide array of things on her 10 week old’s dummy!!!!! GRRRRR silly girl!

I just wanted to say Hi , I still exist, just don't get much of a chance to be on the internet any more. But I am trying to change that, maybe I need to save up for a second hand laptop so I can use it in the lounge.. Caitlyn is going well but hasn't really put on much weight ( she is only around 5 kilos) I will get her weighed at mothers group tomorrow.
Candy congrats on the engagement that is so exciting. I love the ring..

Okay I will be back soon to start keeping in touch again..

Emishka!!! Great to see you!!! We 've been wondering where you were... good to hear everything's going ok :)

Candy: reading your post now.... i just wanted to catch Emishka before she logged off.

Yeah, having a calmer day today... dealt with the mess fairly early and that's helped to make the whole atmosphere around here a tad more serene. Verity is being delightful after being sent to bed very firmly at 8pm last night. She was out of control... repeating over and over "I want to watch TV" until she was almost hysterical... this is her 3rd week of school holidays and all the late nights have caught up on her. She's also just finished patting Wade to sleep (I don't do that anymore) which is pretty special... she's earned her screen time back for this evening.

Soy milk: it was going well until the kids decided they really liked it.... now I've run out and need to get more. I realised that soy in coffee could work when I was with a friend who ordered a soyachino at a cafe one day... now they are available everywhere and they taste great. I certainly am less sneezy since using it. Apparently my blood type (A) doesn't cope with dairy too well and some hereditary diseases like cancer have resulted in families with A blood consuming too much dairy (amongst other risk factors)... I know my nana loved adding cream to everything and dairy in general and she died of complications associated with breast cancer and she was type A... so that's put the wind up me and motivated me to do something about my diet. I'm not excluding it altogether... just limited my habitual consumption of it... on my cereal and in coffee for example.

back in a sec... just quickly got to hang my last load of washing before the change comes...

Bath - i think you might have to send Verity up here to pat lachlan to sleep for me. she sounds like an angel (apart from the "i want to watch TV episode) but hey, thats to be expected from kids! You are very lucky (oh and i still think you are wonderwoman, being on the pute so much, i wish i could get that much of a break)

Emishka - Hey there, good to see you. HOpe all goes well with Caitlyns weigh tomorrow!!

Candy - thats funny that you have all that planned already. I still havent gotten around to organising anything with mine and its supposed to be in September next year!
Anyway, Wollongong is only 1 hour from me so if the ceremony is in the park i will definitely be having a sticky beak at it!!

Well, i called the paediatrician and they are going to call me if they have any cancellations! hopefully i can get in earlier.

Emishka!!!! YAY I thought you'd gotten blown away by the canberra winds!!!! It's been really windy over northside!!!! I hope Caitlyns weigh in goes well tomorrow!!!

Bath - Calmer is good. I'm glad to hear Verity is earning her screen time back. I wonder what she's scheming ;) I'm an O. I don't know what I'm meant to avoid :) I just have no choice but to avoid dairy. I miss my ice cream some days. And choccy :( Sorry to read about your nana.

Dee - do you have an idea of where you;ll be getting married? I'm a bit of a control freak so when Matt bullied me into buying a wedding mag on the saturday, that was it. I was off a planning rampage. Just today I've found the ideal design for bridesmaids that will suit all shapes! You're more than welcome to come up for a sticky beak :) It'll probably be in stuart park if you know where that is? Not far from the light house. Gosh I hope the paed can get you in sooner!!! And has more useful info this time!!!!

Candy: Caucasian type O's are meant to avoid dairy too... even more so than type A's... however butter, feta and goat's cheese are ok. Highly beneficial foods for type O's include olive oil, walnuts, garlic, parsley, plums, pineapples, curries, ginger, and peppermint tea (just as examples... there are heaps others) these foods act like a medicine for your system... type O blood is the Original blood type so think "caveman" food ie you also digest animal proteins the most efficiently. Whereas type A blood first arrived when man's diet became more based on the products of Agriculture... anyhow I won't go into it all again... but these are the basics. How come you can't deal with dairy Candy?

Dee: I'm thinking of you as I potter away here in my kitchen cooking a curry for dinner... I really don't know what to suggest but I also hope you can get an early appointment darl... wish you lived in Melbourne so you could come over and chill out here... wouldn't bother me if Lachlan cried but at least you could hand him over to me to hold him for a while while you could at least have a cuppa! Hang in there and vent here as much as you need to darl (((hugs)))

thanks for that Bath - its weird, i dont even know you but if i could i would get on a plane tomorrow and happily hand my son over to you while i have a cuppa. Strange isnt it!

Candy - i kind of know my way around wollongong so i would surely find the park. Me and DF are in debates about where to get married, i would like to get married close to home somewhere on the beach etc but he would like to do it in sydney so its more convenient for family and friends etc. The problem with having it near home is that everyone will want to stay at our place (rude i know) and there really isnt anywhere for anyone to go out afterwards so i guess in sydney, people can either party on or go home and not have to pay for accomodation. Hmmmm decisions decisions!!
I already know what type of dress i would like and also how i want my hair done etc (even though i chopped it all off on monday!!) but just organising it is hard. I will have to set some time aside!

Yeah I know Dee... I think we all know that we're honest, trustworthy people because we've almost known each other for nearly a year now! We've known every detail of each others lives... know that we haven't had time or the ability to be off doing dastardly deeds! Confessed all our sins to each other! LOL

I've just posted a piccy of one of my fabric nappies showing the triangular nylon liner... I know not many are using clothies but I thought I'd show you what i've used with all my babies... I'll kind of miss them too! (piccy in Niall's site)

Wade and Niall slept for 4 hours straight this afternoon!!! WooHoo... got that curry finished and also made a pineapple cake from scratch and folded all my nappies! Pure bliss.... what a contrast from yesterday!

Hey Girls,
IK i also started a psychology course but couldn't continue because of the above mentioned situations.
I know i should talk about what happened to me but i just Can't i can't bring myself to!!! The stuff that happened to me when i was real youung like from 18mnths till 10 i have blocked out what happened and therfore now i can't remember anything that happened in that period of my life....NOTHING,...b'days,christmas anything its just blank. :confused:
I won't have to worry about Tee thinking it's wrong to talk about it because she will never know it happened to me....thats is for damn sure.
I cannot go to councillers as 99% of the time it is just straight textbook **** and you can tell. Plus one of my bad incidents happened to be when i went and saw a counciller.....i would try and talk if only i had someone who i trusted and actually took an interest but then again i'm not sure.
I think i don't talk about it because my mum told me at 12 that i was just ***ing lying and stuff. Plus that sent me into self mutilation so at present i have 218 scars all over my body. :crying:

Just finished reading all your posts.....so exciting organising weddings but stressful at the same time....i think i have my dress picked out, i have my junior bridesmaid's dress picked out other than that i'm stuffed i basically know the colours and have to go from there....doesn't help that half the bridal party is from here to timbukto!!

Tarleha has been sleeping for at least 11 hrs a night too. it's so good. last night she slept for to long though....she went to bed at 12:30pm and didn't wake till bout 11:45 this morning. mummy's girl that one sleep all day!! And PJ's sometimes if i don't have to go anywhere i will wear them all day as they are so comfortable. :p
Anyway betta go.

Kristee-lea - 21
Tarleha Maye - 29/06/06
Tying the knot 7th April 07
TTC March/April (unofficially Dec onwards)

hi girls,
just a quick one to say hi, I'm returning home from holidays with the folks tomorrow, I need to go back to page 2 to read all the notes.. just wanted to say Hi, let you know all is well and look forward to catching up with all the gossip tomorrow - or as many days as it takes to read 9 pages!!!!!!!!!!! (back to cloth nappies tomorrow, Mum had bought me a box of Huggies for the holdiay, dam they are easy, I will miss them)....

KL, I am with IK and really hope you can talk through your past with someone. My family has a history of abuse and awful stuff happening so I kinda know where you are coming from. My mum always says "what's the point of talking about stuff - it doesn't make it go away or any easier to deal with", but I think it must. Big hugs to you, whenever you need to talk we are here :hug:

Bath, I heard from someone that the triangular fold on Niall's site should not be used in a car seat - apparently it is a Vic Roads directive - that type of fold can cause pelvic damage! Maybe you should check it out? Have I mentioned this before? I am having dejavu....

Had another good day, but a little lacking in the "work" department (at this rate I am going to have to do my 7.5 hours for this week all in one hit, rather than nicely spreading the hours out over the week). Work is just cutting into my social life too much (LOL!!) Today was mothers group and a nice walk, tomorrow I am going to the show with my mum and a friend and her daughter, Friday.....hmm, maybe should do work then.

Flynn has been a fake baby again - last night he slept from 9pm till 5.30am (he did stir at 4am, but briefly) Absolute bliss!! That said, a woman at mothers' group has a daughter (5 months) who slept for 16 hours!!! (bed at 8pm, woke at 9am for a feed and slept till 12 noon) where the hell do I order one of those???? sounds like Tarleha is a good gril like that!

better go - wana get some sleep before Flynn's rollover feed at 11pm......

ciao bellas

Emishka good to see you back, can't wait for a catch up of what you've been up to, don't worry to much about Caitlyns weight, I think Cody only weighs 5.5kgs but he is quite long also.

Wow three junes planning weddings how exciting. It's funny that it was mention by Dee and Bath I would trust all you lovely ladies with my kids, even tho I haven't met you in real life.

Candy thanks for that, they are cute if I do say so my, but I'm bias.

Well I've just finished feeding Cody so I'm off to bed for the night.

hugs xoxo

Well hi all!

It's pretty late and I'm just posting a quickie..

Had Aleise weighed today she's 6.180kg (about double her birth weight)
Head is 42cm (I think) and Length is also 63cm! So apparently she's average. So much for SILs comment about being chubby!

KL: No matter what you think those things that happened to you (whether in your childhood or recently) NEED to be dealt with. Depression is in my family and I've had to seek medical help for it for a while now. Even though no violence has occurred in my life I have had counselling and from time to time been on medications. No one can carry all that weight alone and still come out fine - you're NOT wonder woman darls! We're all very concerned for you and I think you know that. Remember we are only human after all!

Aldi Nappies: Cost about $17.00 for like 56 and they last me almost two weeks. That's the same price for all sizes.

Nickers; Happy pregnancy anniversary! Mine is 29th of September but I suspected from 25th (matt's birthday). So Aleise is Matt's birthday present (conception I mean).

Sorry no more personals its nearly midnight. Aleise has daycare tomorrow and hopefully it will go better. She's enjoying the roll to the side and nearly rolled on her side by herself today. She's on tummy time for a whole minute now and she raised her head and bum yesterday!

Well that's all for now.. nightie night all *Hugs*
Neeny xoxo

Neeny - good luck to Aleise for daycare!
KL - yep, it's me again. Sorry, like I said, I'm a lost cause for wanting to help (I have chronic volunteerism, I think it needs to be recognised as a disorder). Listen up, sweetheart, you would not have lasted this long (no, not even to 21 years of age) if your brain didn't do something creative at that age and put those memories somewhere you couldn't reach them for some time. No child could ever survive if they realised what was happening, so the brain is quite a life saver really, and puts it all away...but not forever. Trust me. The fact that you are acknowledging now what happened then probably indicates that you are ready, or will be soon, to take those memories from wherever they are and to do something with them. Acknowledge what happened, go back to it (in a safe and trusting environment, of course) and take control of it before they decide to take on a life of their own. And they will. Don't think you can fool yourself into believing you can control those powerful memories indefinitely. Early childhood sexual abuse ALWAYS alters brain chemistry - empirical research shows different chemical activity in sexual assault survivors from control groups (of people who have not experienced it). It HAS to, or like I said, no kid could continue to live - classic survival mechanism. It doesn't surprise me at all that you couldn't get through a psych degree, but you probably could if you dealt with it. And if you wanted to. But it's probably wise to avoid this career! And you know what? Do Tee a favour, and tell her one day what happened to you. Don't cheat her - she'll grow up and know, even if only at the back of her mind, that something is up with you that you're not telling her. If you tell her when she's well grown it will put together a few things. If you tell her too soon it could cause her anxiety, so I would wait for mid to late teens, unless she asks questions before that - especially if she's showing signs of risky behaviour earlier. Kids pick up on things you think you've got a tight lid on. Anyway, we like you and we're concerned that you're trying to cheat yourself (and you always cheat your kids if you cheat yourself). Give yourself more credit, girly! You are worth fixing, beautiful mummy. This is probably bugging you by now, but just remember that this is a virtual community so you can say anything you like about what you now remember and how you feel about it. I am SOOOO sorry that a counsellor is part of your trauma, I just wanna cry (actually, I already did that). Read this very carefully: if you need someone to talk to, let me know and we'll find a way for me to refer you to someone. I've got resources ;) Do you think you could trust enough to consider my proposal? Anytime you decide, let me know and I'll do some groundwork to find someone who can refer you. Kristea-Lea, you deserve better than this, especially as you enter a new phase in your life - a mummy, and soon a wife! Please give yourself a chance to be the mummy and wife you WANT to be by facing the past, giving it the finger and a proper place to reside so that your future is freer. You hurt yourself, Tee will ask about that - what do you plan to tell her? Believe me (my mum proves this to me all the time and she doesn't even fully realise it), you can run, but you sure as hell can't hide - it follows till you stop, turn around and say "I know what you are, I'm not afraid and this is MY life, dammit". I don't know if you are familiar with Sue Ann Post's life (the lesbian, mormon, recovering alcoholic sexual abuse survivor comedian...that's her self-description!), but I went to a workshop she gave recently about damage. She has a book about 'stuff', I'll try to find the details. Even reading that might give you a bit more freedom. You know you are damaged, and damaged people affect other people until they learn to live with what's happened to them. You don't just deal with it and get over it, cos it doesn't just disappear, but you can learn to put it in a better place. Sorry for the lecture, you've probably heard it all before and now I've gone and said it all again. Honestly, do it for yourself and do it for your daughter. You need to believe that you deserve better, ok?
Sorry Kelly, I've hijacked your forum and turned it into a Dr Phil moment. Promise I'll try to stop this caper:doh:
Goodnight girls, I've foolishly gone on too long and it's gone from being midnight to past 1am...
ETA: Sorry, Sue Ann Post is an EX-mormon etc...!

Nah, you don't need to apologize IK :) You honestly deserve a BB award for the most caring and well written posts. How come you don't seem to suffer from Mushy Mummy Brain? LOL If only I could think with such clarity these days... all my thoughts just seem to get lost in the noise and chaos generated by my children! Speaking of which I've got a few issues to deal with here ATM but I look forward to getting back here soon...

Oh and Dee: I'm not online all the time as my green light seems to indicate... I usually log on at about 8-9am and stay logged on all day (we have broadband) until my DH switches the 'pute off at night when he comes to bed. I kinda keep an eye on BB throughout the day inbetween doing my jobs and dealing with the kids... I sometimes even leave BB logged on when I go out!

Oh and Rory: What????? a fabric nappy being a pelvic risk in a car seat? I'll check it out but geeze i can't imagine why... I use disposables when i go out anyhow so it doesn't affect me.

Bath, the cloth nappy thing is this. The 'newborn fold' (the rectangle with the triangle in it and the folded bit in the middle, is not safe for travelling in vehicles because there's too much gap between the seat and the lower back, creating an arch. They recommend you use an older fold for the carseat, like the kite or the triangle, both of which drive me nuts cos they tend to need fasteners (that I can't manage with flannies!). I think Rory either thought you meant the newborn triangle cloth when you were talking about the triangular shaped liner (which would be just one layer, not several, or it just reminded her of the warning about newborn folds and thought it would be a timely reminder. I got a weird look about it the other weekend when I said I had to change Oscar's nappy for the car (was very good, used 3 sposies and the rest cloth that weekend...used the house's well appointed laundry to wash them before I left for home, too!). One of the other mummies knew what I meant, but I had to say that I had sposies on hand in case no-one could figure it out while I was getting my treatments. It's a relatively recent finding.
My house is COLD! I'm trying to get a fire going.
I feel wretched - got an irritated throat again (maybe did too much yesterday), but I have more of a voice. Oscar is congested again and there's only so much those aspirators can do without me causing damage! Little mite just has to put up with hanging out in the HAB all day again to let him sleep it off as much as he can. I was engorged last night for the first time in more than a week - he's so off his feeding is irregular. At least I got to be assessed and I didn't have to use light speed to get out of the gas suit using Fire Ground Practices (was still quick an accurate though, cos I'm SO good!). One of the assessors had a panicked look on his face when I walked in after DP did. He didn't piece together that we were together and he was asking me if 'she' (I let it go) would be quiet while the 'guys' (there were 3 other girls there apart from me, and one more due to arrive) did their theory test. To make him feel better I took Oscar out again and got him to sleep in the HAB. When he was marking my paper he then asked how I was going to do the practical. I said "Daddy can babysit" and pointed outside - he seemed immediately relieved and was a lot more relaxed with me afterwards. He ended up being really nice, so I felt a bit bad about telling DP I thought he was an ignorant b* earlier in the night! Everyone else assessing has kids, so they had no problem. My biggest problem was feeling crap and thinking I should do the assessment another time, but then I thought I just wanted to get the damn thing over and done with. Plus, I romped in the theory and I never even looked at the book...somehow).
Believe me, Bath, I get mushy brain as good as anyone else can!
My afternoon with my mum was interesting. I fed Oscar before leaving for a hospital physio appointment and my mum came with me to mind Oscar. She did a good job, though if he's in a good mood he's anybody's (that's a bit harsh on my mum, actually - she DID do a good job!). Anyway, I suggested we go for something to eat locally. Oscar started to whimper and I said he'd be hungry. She asked if I was going to go home to feed him and I said 'no' in the tone of "that's a bit of a waste of petrol and time". She then asked, tentatively, "are you going to feed at the cafe?" to which I replied (wait for it...) "yes". She asked if I had some sort of towel or sheet to cover myself with and an 'discussion' ensued about being discrete, not being vulgar, having respect for myself, conventions of a society (I LOVE that one, cos she still thinks it's useful to use when trying to sway me her way of thinking!) etc. So, trying not to PML, I said that it was discriminatory to try to make me 'cover up' and she went on about how that's what she doesn't like about me, that if I CAN do something I WILL. Well, there are worse things to not like about someone, so this nugget never affects me adversely. ANYWAY, we get there and Oscar starts up again. So, I go to get him and she keeps hold of him and imploringly asks me "will you use a towel or something?" and I reply in the negative. She gives him to me and says (whilst grabbing her bag, half-heartedly) "Well, I'm going then, I'm not drinking that coffee, you pay for the coffee". She stalls, and then goes to rise again when I start to undo my top and finally just says "I'm going to be in the next door shops until you finish, I can't stay here". It was SOOOOO funny, I was laughing while feeding Oscar when she left. She didn't talk about it again (but did make up stuff about my sister being upset by my advice to be sure she was making informed birth choices - my mum seems to think I'm some kind of birth nazi, when all I'm doing is saying 'you have choices, avail of them'...it could be true though, they both do the opposite of what I merely suggest as if to punish me...no skin off my nose if they don't want to listen to how I manage to deal with things easier than they do!), but then we went to a recycled baby shop (something else she used to regale me about, but this one seemed to change her mind...funny that) and I met up with my GF. Because I was only able to whisper anyway, I told her what happened about the feeding while my mum looked at bassinettes to take to my sister - we had a hearty chuckle (well, I wheezed...) over that one.
OK, gotta clean up after brekky and get this fire going (yep, sunny and mild out, but I'm frozen and temp reads about 10 degrees inside...)

Geez this envelope is stretchy...here's me pushing it a bit more. KL - I was thinking, does your not breastfeeding have anything to do with how you feel about the intimate feelings associated with it? Forgive me if I'm way off, but I would suggest that not breastfeeding is an effect of your trauma...kids DO eventually ask about being formula fed, will you make something up, or tell her the truth? Remember that kids hate being lied to as much as they hate being called liars.
Note to formula feeding mummies - I'm NOT saying that formula feeding is caused by trauma! But it is well known that most sexual trauma victims in Western society cannot cope with the thought of BFing for very distinct and painful reasons. This didn't happen to my mum because she is from a continent where breasts are not predominately sexualised and her trauma didn't affect feeding...but it affects her ideas about 'nudity'!
Gotta go again...

ok i have to ask.......

all you lucky ladies that have babies that sleep long periods through the night, how long are their day sleeps for and how many do they have?

Lachlan wont sleep more than three hours but this is very rare, he sleeps through the day for about 40 mins (sometimes one hour if we are lucky) then will be up for an hour and get really tired then only sleep for a short time again etc etc, then come the night time he usually will get up from a sleep about 6 or 7pm and he wont go back to sleep (last night it took us til 10.30 to get him to sleep) you would think he would be so tired he would sleep but no, up again at 12.45am then 3.30 then 4.30 then 5.30 then 6.35!!!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

Just a quick one Nathan is a bit unsettled today, can't complian tho, last 2 nights slept for 9 hrs. Boy my boobs are sore, so paranoid about getting mastitis again tho.
KL - I hope you take ik up on her offer. we all care about you here and want to see what is best for you.
Dee - my heart goes out to you i wish i could help.
Has anyone heard from Jess?
Nic - shame about dragons hey?
Hi to everyone have read posts and am thinking of you all.

Dee - just missed your post. Nathan will only have one good sleep in day 2-3 hours and then just catnap at other times during day. The last feed of the day can be anywhere from 7 to 10 at night and I keep him on the boob until he is out(this can take a long time). I suspect he is using me as a dummy .Have got a lecture from clinic sister about this but I don't care it works for me.

Dee - I hope this makes you feel better...here goes: Oscar sleeps for very short perriods during the day if I put him in the bassinette. During the night we average a 2 hourly feed, but sometimes it can be about 3-4 hours. Usually 2 hours, though. We'll have a feed in the early morning, he'll sleep, wake for another some time after 8am, I'll get up, change him, put him in the HAB, get him to sleep, then I'll put him in my bed on his tummy and he'll usually sleep for about and hour or two before waking up hungry again. Sometimes I'll only get about half an hour out of that sleep, though and I have to race out of the shower to feed him (I'll dry myself, but I'll jump into bed nekked with my hair in a towel!). With the HAB I'll get him to sleep for about two hours while I do stuff before he gets hungry again. Sometimes longer. Without HAB, much shorter sleeps. So, I'm probably not getting much more sleep than you are, honey. However, there is a difference. I'm not anxious about it - it's not going to last forever and because he falls asleep on my chest (or sometimes HAB and I gently get us to the horizontal position and him out of HAB!) and feeds whilst mostly asleep, I get a better sleep and feel well-rested once I'm up in the morning. I'm going with the flow and just letting Oscar's system guide me. Really, it's not going to last forever. It always helps me to imagine a point in time when the current issue is a thing of the past. Like when I'm at the dentist, I imagine myself projected a couple of hours ahead when I will have forgotten the discomfort! Can you find a mums and babies yoga class to go to? Don't worry if Lochie cries, that's what these classes are for - just bite the bullet and take him out, change his scenery, give him something to digest:) Yeah, he might be upset, but he will be anyway, won't he? And remember my 'bite me' mantra if you THINK you're getting looks from other people. If they really want peace and quiet they should find some nice corner of their garden, cos out in public is not a good place to look for it!
Take him to the beach, to a forest, to the park - somewhere you'll enjoy being. Give yourself a break, girly, try to work on happy mummy for Lochie to try to copy you, ok? That probably doesn't help, but I hope it does!
ETA: Karen - LOL, everyone in my local breastfeeding group has been told this at one time or another and we have a good chuckle about how we can get our kids to sleep without torturing either party with the whole self-settling regime. Feed Play Sleep...gosh, if that happens it just coincidence cos I sure as hell don't try to remember or even implement it! Go girl, work with your boys, not with the books!

Dee: Many parents believe if they keep their babies/toddlers awake during the day it will increase the likely hood of them sleeping through the night. I know it defies logic but this is not how it works. From my own experience, from working in a creche and from reading it in some books the truth is that if you try to keep a child awake during the day they actually become overtired and over stimulated to the point that they just can't rest at night. It's a little bit like when you have done a long interstate driving stint and arrive at a motel thoroughly exhausted then waking up in the middle of the night with insomnia.

The best way to ensure a good night's sleep for anyone, baby, child or adult is through routine. the boob, bath, bed one is good of an evening but a routine should also include day time naps. Niall sleeps in 3 hour lots... generally... sometimes he is more awake during the day but that rarely coincides with a good night's sleep that night... on the times he has slept for longer stints at night he has also had sleepy days.

When I was working at the creche we often had parents ask us not to let their children nap during the day. I have to say that on a few occassions these children were soooo tired that we had to show some mercy and we let them fall alseep. We lied and said that they didn't nap then asked the parents the next day how they slept that night. The parents would frequently say "good actually". Sometimes I would "confess" and say that their child did actually have a nap the previous day because I had forgot to pass on the message to the relief staff. Sad that we had to play these games but the parents just wouldn't understand or believe us that allowing the child to set it's own agenda in terms of sleep was going to give them what they wanted which was an unbroken night's sleep themselves. Also sadly, these were often parents who would work long hours and actually WAKE the child up at 9pm when they got home to have a play because they hadn't seen them all day. Grrrr. Kids aren't computers, you can't just turn them off and reboot them when you need to.... makes me so angry. Anyhow, I know there has been a lot of negative talk about introducing routines with babies but I have found personally that it does ensure the best night's sleep... or at least it helps establish a pattern so you yourself know when you can guarentee a rest.

ETA: I agree with IK even though it seems I am contradicting her! When I say "try a routine" I mean that it should be one based on the child's needs. NOT a Gina Ford regime. Every child is different and will create their own pattern. What all little babies love is to have a vague idea of what's going to happen next. This makes them feel secure. I also heartily agree with introducing a change of scenery! Fresh air is very soporific! But most of all try and relax and believe IK when she says "it's not forever" this is so hard at 3am with a wakeful baby... I know I've been there! I also co-sleep more with Niall than I did with my other two which I think has helped make this the easiest "newborn experience" so far with my 3.

Dee, Ryan only has 2 x 30 minute day sleeps. Has been that way for AGES and AGES though.

i am still in the process of reading all of todays posts but wanted to post now whilst i can.
because i have 3 kids under 2 at the moment ALL ASLEEP!! hehe very exciting... my sister is at work so mum was looking after the girls, she has had to go do some things so left for a while. My gf is coming over shortly with her 3month old so then there will be 4 under 2 and prob all will be awake then.
The christening is all set for sunday, weather is suppose to be good, looking forward to it.
Dee- i really hope u can still go to billy joel, would be nice for u to have a night off or even a few hours.
Candy- i hope Ryans christening goes well for you guys, how exciting to ahve set a date and getting stuff organised! i had so much fun organising my wedding day, u will too.
oh bugger Nixon is awake i boasted too soon!, be back later

Thanks for the welcome back. Ii am not quite up to personals yet but am reading away... Candy yes the winds were bad the house in front of us had some roof tiles dislodged and the trampoline and swing set thrown around the yard... (he doesn't apear to peg them down)..
We had mothers group today and Caitlyn got weighed she is 5250g so getting there, just a little on the low side for 4 months but I am trying not to worry.
As to sleep she cat naps during the day 30 -60 minutes at a time maybe 3 times. At night I feed her around 7-8pm and then she sleeps to 4ish and wakes again at 6.. So I am quite happy with her sleep..

ok now Nixon back asleep but Alyssa awake! dh just arrived so got some help if i need it.
Nixon must know its turds day today! after going almost 6 days without a dirty nappy he did a huge one yesterday and about 3-4 today.
Karen- yeah bummer re:Dragons.... isnt it funny afl grand final there is no melb teams and nrl grand final no syd teams!
Emishka- good to see u back on here, we were wondering how u and Caitlyn were doing.
i cat beleive our wedding annaversary is amost here, where di the year go... i was organising my wedding for 18months leading up to it now it was a year ago!
geeeeezzzz Nixon is fussing better get going.... he has only napped for about 30min so far today (was asleep until his cousin went in and woke him up earlier)
ok be back on again when i get a chance, sorry for lack of personals

Hey girls,
Today and last night for that matter have been hectic!!!! I have had my sister all night and today.....well i spose she is a help in a way. She helps look after bub, maybe i should rephrase that i don't see bub much when she's around!!! At the moment Tee is laying on the floor in front of me with a bad case of the hiccups (she ALWAYS gets them!!!).
Last night i enrolled and ordered my first module to study to become a doula....thats what i want to do and maybe later down the track become a midwife as well. Absolutely love the idea of being a doula!! Does anyone know how many people request them these days?
Tee slept another good night - Bed at 12 woke at 11. :p

Rory thanks for saying you are always there if i need to talk but i would feel like i am putting to much pressure on you guys when you all have family's of your own to worry about not mine.
Rory whats a social life?? Mine seems yo have disapeared!! LOL
Neeny its great to hear that Aleise is average in the weight, length, head circumference area.....see people don't know what they are on about most of the time when it comes to other peoples children!!
Depression also runs in my family. I have been treated for it before but thought the meds were making me worse so i took myself off them, Doctor knewbut nothing he could do about it because i seemed fine...on the surface.
IF ONLY I WAS WONDER WOMAN......Ahh a girl can dream.:rolleyes:
IK i am no where near feeling like i could deal with what happened...too many incidents. A safe and trusting environment you say, well as far as i'm concerned there is no such place!! i can't even be hypnotised because i have a fear of what will they do to me (have there way with me...always a possibility).
I will tell Tee one day when i think she is old enough and it is a suitable thing to bring up. I am worried the same thing will happen to her as half of the people that done this to me a relatives!!!
You like me...wel you haven't even met me...but thats a sweet thing to say. I have no friends except you guys, if you want to be classified as my friends.
I'm sorry i made you cry.....but that was a fact. See thats why people don't know because either they cry or laugh.
You are not bugging me it is nice to know at least one person genuinly cares. :hug: I don't self mutilate anymore because if i was i would loose my daughter, when Tee asks and is old enough to understand i will tell her the truth, i will not lie about that. It is hard sometimes as i suffer from bipolar 1 and 2.
No i am not familar with Sue Ann's stuff but if you could find out it would be great.Me not able to breastfeed is not anything to do with my past....i think, it was more that they thought it wasn't a good idea me being epileptic and all.
Dee78 Tarleha sleeps for 20 mins to 1/2 during the day and then her big sleep at night. Sometimes i'm luck and she will sleep 1hr-1.5hrs during day.

better go Tee is craving my attention again....

BTW tee is no saying 2 words....No and Mum :happyforyou:

Kristee-Lea - 21
Tarleha Maye - 29/06/06
Tying the knot 7th April 07
TTC March/April (unofficially Dec onwards)

HI again!

Well seems quiet in here no posts since KL which was 3.30pm! MMMM what is going on???

Aleise had a fab day at daycare. The day care ladies said they almost forgot she was there as she was very quiet - unlike two sets of twins who were screaming. One becasue she wanted attention and the other (from the other set) because it was his first day and it didn't make any difference that his brother was there! ONe lady said she like the name Aleise and is now convinced she should name her next baby (if its a girl) Aleise because mine is such a cruisy baby!

Dee: Aleise hasn't been sleeping all night the past 2 nights regardless of day sleeps. I think she's having a growth spurt. She woke at 2am this morning gulped her bottle and woke again at 7am and Matt was kind enough to do that. Then I had to wake her at 8.30am for day care. She was put down at 9pm last night. NOrmally she's down by 9pm and awake by 8am. There just isn't telling what babies do. Try bath, feed and bed it worked for us before she settled down - MW gave us that advice.

KL: I've Pm'd you. If you have BPD then you should stay on medication! That condition renders constant medical review and goes beyond a psychologist's assessment alone. Try to find a GP that specialises in that area. I know people with this condition so I have some knowledge on it. What IK has said carries a lot of weight though so don't brush it off! We're all very concerned about you and remember you are a youngin' at 21 so you have your whole life in front of you. What has happened in the past is now past and you MUST look forward! I bet your DP is a lovely man and makes you very happy. Concentrate on the here and now but learn from your experiences - don't dwell on them! Oh and I agree about what others say about children - lets just say my SIL is a major pain in the butt when it comes to unwanted comments! :confused:

Nickers: How's the holiday going? Can't believe you're babysitting darls! You getting paid for it then?

Update: Well count down for me to rtw has begun - 3 weeks. Can't wait for some DECENT money to come in after 3 months of no pay and only Johnny's wage. I'd better go and try to take Aleise for a walk while sun is still out. Has been a lovely day but we're in for more storms apparently.

Take care all *throws chocolates to all in forum*.
Neeny xoxo :)

Afternoon all, well I went to the dentist today and got that tooth that I broke fixed finally, it cost me $165 but boy will it be good to chew on that side of my mouth again.The boys were pretty good while I was getting this done, DH took the day off today to watch them while I was getting all this done.

I've read all posts but my gums a bit sore from all the work done so I won't do personals today.

Hope everyones well and bubs are doing well.

*hands up here I'll take some choccies* mmmmm

hugs xoxo

KL - of course you're likeable...it would appear that you are also marriageable, too! Sue Ann Post's book is called 'The Confession of an Unrepentant Lesbian Ex-Mormon (or Hanging Out with Gay Mormons in Salt Lake City)' ABC Books, 2005. She actually has a couple of publications including her autobiography. She's not a social worker or mental health worker, but she has some interesting insights into damaged people, and damage control. She's pretty happy at the moment - lovely partner and in a generally better place mentally and physically. Type her name into Google to find her website - you may find some interesting links there.
Neeny - it's great that you're starting to feel rapport with the staff there, that will be most important for both of you!
Amanda - sorry about the dentist! Panadeine's and see if DH can help you off to bed super early :)
Good to see you back, Emishka!
Caught up with my mum again today. Today's lesson was in trying to be home when DP gets home, with some kind of snack prepared because he'd come home from work hungry. Yep, u-huh, in all seriousness. I need to be more attentive because men appreciate that. And do I make his lunch? Frown! No! It's important to show you care! Bluuuuuuuuuuurgh. Let me go cough my guts up now, please.
Oscar and I feel crap again. I might have already said that today. Well, let me reiterate!
I'm glad I cooked a slow cook yesterday for today - dinner just needs to be dished out.
Meanwhile, I'm going to catch a bit of shut eye while Oscar's asleep...I'm coming, couch!

Hiiiii Junies :-)

Hope everyone & littlies doing a-o-k...
today i did the unthinkable. I got into a bikini. ( sorry if anyone was eating while reading this hehe )...we wheeled Aneta out in her pram, parked it in the shade... and spent the day out in the garden tanning with DH...Aneta could see us so she was happy - and it was a kodak family moment ;)
TMI warning! - tonight for the 1st time since Aneta was born we are going to give dtd a go...*gasp* im so scared, i was getting used to being a virgin again :)

Morning all, had not a bad nights sleep last night, fed Cody a 6 he woke at 10 but only wanted his dummy, I then went to bed and he woke at 2:45 then had a feed and went back to sleep until 6 this morning so I feel rested.

Engima hope all went well last night with DH, lol at been a virgin again.

IK had to have a lol at your mum, I've only ever made lunches for my DH maybe 5 times in 7yrs, he's a very domesticated man, since he was in the army for 7yrs he knows how to cook, clean and sometimes look after the kids. He shares the cooking of dinner and also household duties. Long gone have the days that most men expect to be looked after, that is just not our generation maybe thats how she was brought up, but she shouldn't be telling you thats what you have to do.

Going to fold up clothes and clean the house so will be checking in from time to time today. Hope everyone has a good day and a great weekend.

hugs xoxo

Amanda- yeah, I just humour her and shut up - especially yesterday being too unwell to argue!
I feel the crappest I've felt since having Oscar. I tried to get DP to stay home ;) but no go. Oscar and I will spend the day wheezing on the couch. Was in bed for an hour at 9ish, up to wait for DP from a fire call a about 10, back in bed by 11, out by 11.10 and up till about 2 with Oscar who couldn't be put down due to discomfort from congestion. But he slept till about 4 after that, then till about 5.30. but i managed to keep him asleep on the couch from about 8-9.30ish!
gotta go again

Morning Amanda :) I'll be doing the same... pottering around doing folding and cleaning before our busy weekend.

Bit of a woohoo: DH rang from work at 7.30am this morning to say he's been given free tickets to the Melbourne show! We'd written the event off as being too expensive this year but it seems that Verity and I will be able to go afterall (the boys are too young and DH wants to watch the Grand Final on TV) so we are going on Saturday. Apparently ticket prices have almost doubled from previous years since they have done all the upgrades to the showgrounds. We won't be going on any rides... just watch the free events, checking out the baby animals and buying 2 showbags (I always get the Darrell Lea one.... ever since i was a child)... anyone else going? It's a bit much for a small baby though... will be a nice (and now fairly cheap) mummy daughter day though... her reward for helping me out this week with the boys and the ironing!

Gotta deal with Wade... I'll probably add to this post a bit later....

ETA Good morning IK :) Just missed your post... (sorry Wade had just sprayed apple puree everywhere) oooh get that house nice and cosy and rug up IK... our house is cold too ATM, I've just put on the heater... take it easy... drink some warm lemon juice... LOL as if you need another mother figure bossing you about! ;) Have a long steamy hot shower with Oscar if the congestion gets too bad (set up a cradle or even a laundry basket with lots of towels in it for Oscar when you get out if you don't have any help).

BRB

The Show - Yay!!!! I SOOO can't wait to take Oscar. Way too young now (and too sick BTW!), and next year is probably too young, too, but that's when I'm going to take him. Mainly cos I don't think I can hold out that long ;) Last time I went was with my sister 3 years ago - our last fling together before she got married (cos she went back to NZ after that and came back to get married) and it was the first show we went to as adults without my mum. It was also the first year we realised the true value and reason for the show. We got right into the agi bit (realising it's a fancy agi show...duh!) and loved the hall with all the country goods! Watched the alpacas and talked to a guy about his squaremeaters and another guy about his belted galloways...it was the best fun. No rides, just the agi show :) Have fun Bath! It was Mother/Daughter (x2) day for us too, cos my dad worked on ships and even if he wasn't away, it was OUR day! In my current misery your post has a feel-good effect!