Babies born ~ September 16-30th 2010 #2

Thanks Connie :)

Ohh yeh I'm loosing hair too! Thought I was going crazy but funny u guys are too maybe is a hormonal thing.??

Connie - yay for George rolling!

Buzzie - you vixen you, a birthday and you didn't announce it? Hope you had a nice day.

Fuzzy, Buzzie - about the hair me too - apparently it's common. Someone medical told me, it's not so much that you're losing extra hair it's more that when you're pregnant you don't lose any and now it's more losing the stuff you didn't during preg. Some people do lose a lot though.... something to do with the hormones.... anyway here's a gross story - I saw one of my head hairs in Hannah's poo today! I always check her efforts to see what they are like, and I almost fell over when I saw the hair. Guess I shouldn't let her grab my hair? She absolutely loves the feel of my hair on her face. Always brings a smile or laugh.

Pretty excited - got a bumbo today... Hannah thought she was all that sitting in it. So cute.

Thinking of you all especially those who we haven't heard from -

Pantha hope you're ok with the flooding and not isolated anymore. If you have been affected and need something ( a power point to charge up your phone etc or a hot shower and a place to crash or chill out let me know... PM me - though I have a vague idea you might be on the northside?)

Deana - how's Blake's reflux going and introducing him to solids?

Kirsten - saying hello to you and your clan but especially Sam.

Apes - how is Isla going? And you of course.

Belfie - hope you're ok.... how is Annika?

Bec - how is Isaac? I am hoping to go back to learning a language when the courses all start up this year, so chalk up another one you've inspired. I was thinking of updating some of my qualifications but the one I was thinking about I really need to be working when I do it... or maybe not...will look into it. But the course I am thinking of doing is only offered every couple of years. It may not be offered this year.

Looks like Catherine was true to her word and has dropped out. Sad she felt she had to go... she was probably affected by the floods... I think she lived on the Darling Downs. Not sure though.

Thanks for the cheer up about the blood tests. I am not too worried by the tests or what might be causing the symptoms. I just hope it's not something nasty. But not much I can do about it right now, so best just to focus on the good things - like Hannah Bear.

Me again - Bec - OMG your photos are amazing...... of course I love the ones with Isaac but the shot of the rain drop splashing and the one of your lettuces... just brilliant. I am more of a point and shoot type of girl but I an appreciate the amazing skill you have. Keep it up.

Belfie - I am yet to check yours out.

Thanks dory :) - I don't ever mention my bday :) even at work but someone always manages to remember, I'm not the like being in the spot light person lol
Internet is ok tho :P

Oh and Catherine is on FB and seems to be fine with the floods. Yeh shame age doesn't post tho..

aww thanks Dory! I just love photography, and couldn't pass up the 365 challenge. I'm doing it to improve and to learn how to use my camera properly but I'm a bit worried I'll run out of ideas as the year goes on.. if that happens there'll be lots of photos of Isaac on there, he's a good back up model for uninspired days :)
What language are you thinking of learning? I'm terrible at languages but tried to learn french once, waste of lessons as I don't remember any of it now. I've surprised at how much swahili I remember though, I never had proper lessons just learnt by talking to people.. I often find myself speaking a bit of swahili to Isaac lol.

I hope everyone is well. I've been soooo tired this week, no energy at all. Not sure why. Isaac has been going to sleep earlier the last few nights. I've been putting him in the sleepywrap after dinner and he goes to sleep, after a while I transfer him to my bed and he settles back to sleep. I thought I'd see if that gets him into the habit of going to sleep at a normal hour, so I'll keep doing it and see how it goes.

I've been feeling a bit isolated lately, well mum comes over every day but as mothers group was cancelled last Thursday and as that's our only social thing for the week at the moment it feels like I haven't seen anyone but mum and Isaac for ages. I still haven't made proper friends with anyone here yet which is kind of depressing. I got a text today from one of the mums asking if we want to go to the pool after this weeks play group, she sent it to everyone but it's a start I guess!

Hi everyone!

My silly computer/account has not been sending me notifications of updates, so here I am thinking everything had gone quiet, only to find out you've all been chatting away! Stoopid machine lol

With the floods - I'm in Caboolture. It's an hour north of Brisbane. On Tuesday, my Mum left for work in the neighbouring suburb at 7.30. She tried to come home at 9 and the water had some up so quick that she was cut off and stranded. Managed to get my Dad back from the city, and I drove out to my parents place to get my brother. By the time I got back with my brother... their place had been cut off. Was a pretty scary and stressful day. Fortunately, neither house had any flood waters through it and we were able to get my Mum out on Tuesday afternoon.

Had Charlotte's 4 month needles/check up on Thursday. She's now 59cm long (+10 since birth), Head circumference of 39cm (+5 since birth). However she hasn't gained ANY weight since her 2 month needles. She's still 4.4kg. So... I've had to put her on formula and we're going to have to go for weekly weigh-ins. Seems my milk is drying up/disappearing/not keeping up with demand. So she's been mainly formula fed since Thursday, with 1 breastfeed overnight... and my boobs aren't sore at all. She's so much happier and more talkative now. She's also sleeping a lot better too.

I keep swinging between relief that she's now happier and getting fed, disappointment that I wasn't supplying enough and great big dollops of guilt thrown in the mix. I'll get there lol

DH's anxiety/depression is still bad. So much so that he hasn't been able to go to work this year yet. We've adjusted his medication and hopefully he'll get there tomorrow.

Will come back later and do personals... at the moment, bed and a good book are calling!!

Big hugs and baby slobbery kisses to all!

ooo PS... hair loss - oh my god, yes!! So much... like HANDFULS every time I shower. I have to clean out my brush every time I brush my hair (I used to only have to clean it weekly). It's crazy... and because it's long - it gets everywhere! In nappies, all over the floors, all through the sheets. Glad to know I'm not the only one loosing though!

Pantha - I so hear you on the guilt about lack of milk supply, I have walked and continue to walk that path. Just remember that you have done the very best you could for Lotte including putting her on formula - she does need to gain weight. You managed to exclusively BF her for 4 months! Take comfort in the fact that Lotte is sleeping better and much more settled. You've done the right thing, and she is telling you that. But I do understand there is a greiving process for a dream strongly held. Sorry to hear DH is still not well enough to feel he can go to work. Hopefully the change in meds helps him get a little mojo back.

Bec - ahhh chin up, I know it's easy to feel isolated... why don't you send a txt to the group or just one and invite them over for a coffee?... be proactive and you'll surprise yourself. French is the language I'd like to study but I've studied Indonesian ( Bahasa) and Russian in the past. But swahili sounds so much cooler... how do you say hello in swahili?

Hmm I had better get Hannah's 4 month check organised, and swimming lessons ... seems I dropped the ball on that one.

Chloe had her shots on Fri and screamed the surgery down. But was fine afterwards.

Still struggling with sleep at night here. She goes until midnight but after that is up every 2 hours. I am wondering whether shemight have reflux? She spews up lots and often and a lot of the time it is thick and watery with clumps of white in it - really gluggy. And at night when she wakes she is doing the arching her back thing and pumping the legs. I thought it was just wind but with all this throwing up (seems to be getting worse) I am wondering whether it is reflux. She is putting on weight though (she is just over 7 kg now). Thoughts??

Fuzzy - I can't help but just wanted to send you some hugs... it's hard, the continued sleep disruption to you both and then with lots of vomits. Hannah has started to vomit a bit more to and it looks like what you describe but no back arching and leg pumping. Maybe see your paed? Or GP or Child Health Nurse? I suppose the thing that says to me to do something is you say it's getting worse. Hope you find some answers.

My little blossom is having a big day time sleep at the mo - after so many weeks of wishing she'd sleep longer during the day she seems to have found out how... dare I say it, I am now bored without her and hope she wakes up soon...

Fuzzy - super quick ersponse. Ages ago I posted all the symptoms that Annika had reflux and the traditional "symptoms" listed on websites. Gaining weight doesn't necessarily mean they don't have it - Annika is 7.4kg after all. I reckon the key thing with picking it up is timing - if they vomit (or just burp) and then cry/get super distressed right after that's happened. Is that what she's doing? The arching back/pumping legs CAN be reflux but it also can be wind. It's tough to differentiate. That sleep sounds like super hard work too :( Apparently spewing often peaks about now too. I'll be back later, just yell if you've got more questions. GL

Thanks Dory, Belfie

Belfie - the vomiting doesnt bother her at all. In fact I think she doesnt even realise she does it.

fuzzy - I hope you find something that helps Chloe soon.

Dory - Mambo! (or Habari yako! or Shikamoo! Jambo rafiki!) Haha there's lots of ways to greet in swahili depending on who you're talking to, their age, occupation, time of day etc etc. It's funny in Tanzania, people actually tell you what to say if you forget what the correct reply to a greeting is. Good luck with learning french, it's such a beautiful language. Thanks, I'll try to organise something with the other mums when I see them. It's hard though, the first mums group back after the break only three others showed up.

I am exhausted. Isaac hasn't slept for two nights. Last night was the worst, he woke up crying every hour. He never wakes up crying. He was pulling up his legs and sounded in pain, so I know it was wind but I don't know how to get his wind out. I pumped his legs, held them up, bicycled them, held him over my shoulder while I gently bounced on fitball or walked around, held him on my knee and rubbed his back.. I don't know what else to do. I've tried Infants Friend (doesn't work for him), gripe water, and Infacol. He won't sleep today lying down. I've just put him down, but I'm guessing he'll wake very soon.

Oh no not poor little Isaac too! I have tried all of that as well and nothing seems to work. The only thing that sometimes works is if I hold her feet and push her legs up so her knees are up at her chest and just hold her feet in that same position for a while until she falls asleep then I can let go of her feet and she seems ok. Funny the sore tummy doesnt bother her as much when her feet are up near her bum.

I am going to try a new method tonight to see if she will sleep a bit better. Rather than letting her try and re-settle by herself I am going to go to her as soon as she starts to wake and settle her back to sleep so that she doesnt wake up properly and it then take me 30 mins. Sounds good in theory but will see how it pans out at 2 in the morning when I am a zombie

We had a couple of nights where George was fighting sleep and wouldn't go down until 7:30 - 8pm (he is usually down by 7). Today we tried 2 things: 1. We didnt let his afternoon nap go past 5pm. 2. We took away his sleep positioner. It seemed to work - yippee!
Last night we also brought his dreamfeed back to 10pm (trying to phase it out slowly), and he slept in till 8am this morning :) :) Sorry, don't mean to gloat, just excited!
In all honesty, early on, we endured a bit of crying to teach him to self settle, but it has definitely been worth it in my opinion. He now goes straight to sleep for his day naps, and sleeps brilliantly at night - touch wood.

Fuzzy - I def think you should take Chloe to get checked out, there's no harm in having a professional weigh in on the situation. Just like Annika, George didnt have any weight issues, but he had silent reflux. Putring him on the meds turned him into a totally different baby, and now he has grown out of it, and with the solids he doesn't need the meds anymore.

Pantha - don't feel guilty, you did sooo well to get to 4 months. I only got to 3 weeks, and even then, I didnt feel guilty because I knew I had done everything I could, and my body had made the decision for me. I dont know why people are so judgemental against formula, there is NOTHING wrong with giving your baby formula. George has been on it since he was 3 weeks old, and he is a healthy and happy little boy, even after all the health issues he had at the start.
I know mum's tend to be too hard on themselves, but please dont... 4 months in my eyes, is the work of a super mum!!

Pantha - sorry to hear about Charlotte's lack of weight gain. I hope things improve, let us know how she goes at the next weigh in :hug:

fuzzy - holding their legs up like that works for Isaac too, shame I can't do it all night! I found what works too is giving him free boob access when he's crying from the belly pains. A quick feed seems to comfort him and he falls asleep, but then its a vicious cycle.. that probably causes more wind because I have trouble burping him! Praying for a better night tonight, for Isaac and Chloe too :)

I was just lying in bed with Isaac feeding him to sleep, and he started smiling at me, and talking to me (he always gets distracted from feeds and starts talking!) so I talked back as usual, and he started giggling!! It was sooo cute. He hasn't properly giggled yet (except once in his sleep), the closest he's gotten is making noises with his mouth wide open in a huge smile, but this was a real giggle! Haha so cute.

wow. I think I have done something right! I think I mentioned that I've been 'wearing Isaac to sleep' after his nightly bath/massage/feed to get him used to going to sleep at a normal time again.. I've done that for three or four nights in a row I think, and well tonight he just went to sleep on his own after his feed! At 6:15! It's only been half an hour, but a very quiet YAY from me!

Good job Bec! I hope he stayed asleep for you!

thanks Connie, but he woke up 15 minutes after I typed that post haha.

Oh well. I think it was still an achievement though, as he was tired at that time instead of being awake and talking, smiling and wanting to play. I'm so happy I was able to change his sleep pattern a little while sticking to the 'gentle parenting' thing.. no stress for either of us :) I'll see what happens tonight though before I say I've actually changed his pattern, I seem to jinx myself a lot.