Babies Born ~ September 2007 #68

We would have loved watermelon too but we really don't have anywhere suitable to grow them atm. I think when some of these new varieties actually do manage to propagate that they can get some pretty funky genetics making them grow different to what you'd expect them to grow. The recipe I used was dead simple and was actually for a completely different biscuit - it's just one of those ones where you have a good 'base' and then you can add different things to it. So it wasn't specifically a rainbow cookie recipe - I just added the colours. I'm going to make them again in a green and red christmas stripe for the kids christmas parties at school. And they certainly aren't hard to make, it is just a bit time consuming. I'll post it for you tomorrow when I have a bit more time - I'm really supposed to be writing my position paper LOL ;)

I'm not sure if they were a new variety. I have a very dim recollection of buying some heritage seeds at a flea market a while back and I might (in a fit of chemobrainness) have jammed them into the soil and forgotten (because lots of strange things I couldn't account for like that were happening for a while there :redface:). Either that or they might've been one of the cultivars from a butternut pumpkin (cos I buy a lot of those so plenty of seeds in the compost) but I haven't been able to find any info about what specific cultivars that are crossed to get butternuts. The weird thing (that makes me wonder about the chemobrain element) was the fruit was really consistent across several vines but when I've had feral pumpkins before they've produced lots of random shapes.

That recipe would be great, I have a die-hard honey biscuit that ices up nicely but I've done that to death now.

Trill, not long to go now! You won't know what to do with yourself with all the extra time you will have over summer :)

MD, thanks, the family visit went well. We stayed by the beach and the weather was fine with no wind and it was great. The kids had a ball. I organized a family BBQ and everyone came! And they all stood together for a photo for me - I hope we got a good one.

Poor Erin has another snotty nose! Poor little chicken is only 7 weeks old and has had 2 colds and a vomit bug already :( The other two kids didn't get sick until 7-8 months old but with all the world cup tourists this year there are a lot of extra bugs around. So not much sleep for me the past two nights - now that nights are so good around here it is a real strain to have to get up 2 or 3 times! E usually only wakes once.

The only downside to the weekend was that W got bitten by some sort of bug at the beach and he had a reaction to it - was all swollen and sore where he was bit. I kept him back from kindy today because he woke up with one eye swelled shut.

Arte - oh dear, 2 little sick kiddies for you. Glad that your little family break went well.

K managed to scratch her throat quite badly this evening from a nacho chip. And on Friday night (while we were out for dinner) she did two massive poosplosions. Luckily it was all over in less than 45 minutes, but th epoor little thing was so upset. I suppose I can put that down as her first diarrohea experience. Can't believe we got to over 4 before it happens (still waiting for that vomit bug to come through)

Trill - wow, so close to the summer break for you! What are you going to do with yourself?

On the vegie front, I've just got capsicum's in and we tried some carrot seedlings which seem to be going OK. K is very impressed with them, they're getting plenty of water!!

hi guys!

Sorry for the one line responses lately....hectic times, sleep deprivation have become the norm lately...urgh!

Arte: holy moly! I hope W is ok! poor man! do you have any claratyne or something for him? I hear you on E the crapness of little babies being sick. Miss M was sick for the first time at 3 weeks and then since has been afflicted almost constantly by the snot monster. I guess for us, it comes with the bugs that Miss L brings home from kindy.
Your family visit sounds great. I love any time away as long as there is good weather and an ocean to view....ahhhh i want a holiday!

Cally: our carrots have been very very slow to mature this year. i have almost given up. not helped that i didnt spread them that well. we have had great success with the silverbeet and broccoli, but the beetroot has also been dormant pretty much :dunno:
You have done awesomely to reach 4 years without gastro! but commiserations on a sick kid. not much fun, and they can get so upset about the runny bum :(

MD: can you share your biscuit recipe????? mmmmm mm mmm. i have one, but i dont get the 'snap' in my mine....

Trill: ok, i have DECIDED. we MUST have our Sept 07 group meeting at your house.....your baking is a WINNER lol!!! mmmmmmmmm.

JM: i just wanted to pop in here and say CONGRATS on the fundraiser!! bummed that i missed out on the pillow, but happy as a pig in mud that it went so so well!

G: miss seeing you in here!

MP: miss you too!

AFM: well, as i mentioned we have been hit hard by Miss Ms sudden desire for midnight parties. i cannot get over it! 3 hours the other night and constant wakeups (every 20 minutes the night before). this has been going on for almost 2 months to varying degrees. thankfully last night she slept through without incident :dance: (had also coincided with her walking full-time....could be related?

Oh, and has anyone else noticed that their 4 year olds ears have fallen off?? we are having pretty major issues with it ATM, and that is coupled with her having meltdowns and bad moods in general. i am perplexed (and a dash frustrated!).

Cass, this one doesn't really have a snap but they're quite good for doing biscuit cutter shapes, and the icing dries hard so you can pop them into cellophane bags or whatever and they stay nice. It's out of the Woman's Day ABC of kid's cooking:

125g butter, room temp, chopped
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 egg yolk
2 cups plain flour
1 teasp. bicarb
1/4 cup of honey

Heat oven to 180 degrees. Grease and line trays. Beat together butter and sugar for 2-3 mins until creamy, add egg yolk, and beat well. Fold in combined sifted flour and bicarb.
Heat honey in microwave on high for 20 secs. Stir into dough. Mix well then cover in wrap and chill for 30 mins. Knead gently on a floured surface. Roll out between 2 sheets of baking paper until 0.5cm thick.
Cut out shapes using cutters. Bake for 15-20 min until firm to touch, allow to cool on trays.

ICING
Beat 1 egg white with a spoon until frothy. Add 1 1/4 cups of sifted pure icing sugar, 1 tblesp at a time, beating well. When icing is piping consistency add a few drops of lemon juice. Add colouring of your choice.

Easy peasy, but the few times I've made it in hot weather I've had to divide the dough, keep some in the fridge and roll out small batches at a time.

hi girls
i know I've been mia!! just super busy. getting L's hearing tested today to see if he needs grommets at the same time as tonsils/adenoids. then off to sydney on tuesday so feeling stressed and busy! then when we get back its only a couple of weeks until L's surgery. I'm really anxious :(

Hi all - sorry I am also mia most of the time these days! I do log on to see how everyone is but its hard to find the time to post properly..
G - how did the hearing test go?
Trill - bet you can't wait for it all to be over...
Md - love that recipe - may have to whip some up with the boys soon - just got my oven serviced today
Cass - thanks for missing me!
Cally - amazing you made it this far without a gastro bug...lots going around ATM, I am glad we have bern spared so far
All is well with me. We are off to syd this weekend for my aunts bday. I hope j sleeps ok - he is a nightmare at the moment and we are beyond exhausted!
Arte - am so glad e is a sleeper!
I just finished enrolling for uni next year. Yay!
We are selling our house in Canberra (auction later this month) so will prob go up for the day - have to rush back as bil bday that night... Bit ofna bummer as I would have liked to staymlonger and catch up w people.

hearing test went 'as bad as it could be'- those are the audiologist's words, not mine. apparently he is so blocked up with fluid that he can hardly hear. feel so bad. i feel like he's basically missed a whole year of kinder not understanding anything :( oh and to make matters worse, we might not be able to fly to sydney on tuesday.

G - stop feeling bad! You are doing the right thing sorting it all out. Poor little guy - he will feel lots better when it's all done

oh far out G! thank goodness that you got onto it and persisted! :hug: what a shock. What is the fluid from???

Ginger don't feel bad. It can't be helped, and they may not have been like that for very long anyway. He's a bright kid, and he'll come through the op just fine and bounce back in no time. The hospy people are very nice and they're especially gentle with kids. I had the adenoids/grommits/tonsillectomy shebang when I was a kid and I turned out smart and educationally well-rounded, if I don't mind saying so myself ;). The not being able to fly thing is a bummer though, what's the plan there?

Arte, your beach and BBQ weekend sounds great! Sorry to hear little E is sick again. :( Funny though how much of a strain the extra wakeups are when the sleep has been so good lately LOL. Has W's swelling gone down?

Cally, aw that would've been a bit scary with the nacho chip? Poor little mite. H was 4 and a half before she ever got any type of gastric disease.

Cass, yes my 4 year old's ears have fallen off. We had a protracted period of considerable naughtiness and our evenings went to **** because she would spend the entire time bellowing/complaining/crying about some frickken insignificant thing, then refuse to eat her dinner, etc etc etc. GAH. Seems to have improved this week, I no longer want to leave home...

ETA: which reminds me, I was reading about some testosterone spurt they get (in relation to growth spurt, which E has been having) so I don't know if this applies to girls as well, but if it does it could explain the added aggression/moods etc.

I've never had any luck with growing carrots. We did have one tiny patch of baby ones that turned out ok, but hardly enough/big enough for any real sort of eating. And weird shapes.

G, when I was getting A checked for glue ear, the nurse that was testing told me that her daughter had glue ear when she was 3 and she didn't know - it was only picked up during a routine check and she only had 30% hearing at that stage. Please don't be hard on yourself, it can be symptomless enough that even a person diagnosing it for a living can miss it :hug:

MD, I have just been reading about the testosterone surge at 4. It is obvious that W is affected atm - even looking at him he has suddenly muscled up and squarer around the shoulders. Behaviour-wise he has in the past couple of weeks started being more aggressive with A (pushing her, snatching etc), competitive - everything is a race and he cracks it if he doesn't win, and he is yelling at us - often it is just yelling for the sake of yelling, like answering a question "IT IS OVER THERE!!" instead of talking normally.
Glad the dinner tanties have reduced. W had a big one tonight and it was the first in ages. Brought back the memories of the months that we spent listening to him yelling/screaming/crying through every dinner. Ahhhh the good old days lol

Cally, bummer about the gastro - you jinxed yourself by saying that she hadn't had any V or D bugs a few weeks ago!

Cass, sucks that M is sleeping badly. Sounds like I have kicked the crap sleep fairy over your way! Hope the walking exhausts her into a better routine xx. That is bad timing with the start of your new job

Vanilla Ice is on T.V lol Ice Ice Baby :) What a lame video clip. It is on a segment called Hall of Shame. Before that was U.G.L.Y (you ain't got no alibi)

The random spammer thinks I am lovely lol

I sickked the mods onto that post, I'm surprised they haven't taken it down yet. (I'm such a dibber dobber). Don't worry, we think you're lovely too.

If you want to see somethink BEYOND wikked - google Jedward and Vanilla Ice. They reach such depths of lameness VanIce actually looks pretty cool all of a sudden LOL.

Did your testosterone reading refer to girls as well as boys?

Went to the speech pathologist today. She said there are a couple of small issues with some of her sounds so we've got a block of 6 sessions to go through. Also have to arrange an audiologist appt to get her hearing checked. Unfortunately, the closest place is 1.5 hours away! Will have to follow that up tomorrow as to when we can get in.

G - Oh dear, are you having to revise your Sydney plans? Poor little L, he will feel so much better after his op. I know you're anxious about it, but don't forget we will all be thinking of you on the day. Will your DH be able to come too? Can your Dad look after J so you don't have to worry about him?

We get waves of 'issues'. I've been tending to put it down to nap/no nap days, but maybe there is something else.

MP - hope your auction goes well, which day is it? We're up for the Wiggles concert on the 26th. A brand new place a couple of doors down from Mum and Dad's got passed in on the weekend (for an obscene amount!).

So DH is moving schools next year, he'll be heading 15 mins north while K and I go 10 mins south. Means I'l have to do all the K drop offs and pick ups next year. Also means my twice weekly gym visits go out the window. Oh well, at least DH won't be having to look after all the computer networks so he won't have to do the whole weekend server replacements like he has this year.

Cally I can't remember if you said why you thought to go to the speechie? Was there something in particular that you noticed? Bummer for the end to your gym visits, maybe you'll be able to squeeze one in during all that time that DH is slaving over the network?

MD - DH was more concerned over her speech than I was. He jus thought that she should be speaking more clearly by now as we still have occassions where we don't know what she is saying. There are also times that we feel like we have to 'translate' (ie I when she came to the beautician with me, I had to repeat most things she said because the girl couldn't understand - that would be partly because she doesn't know little kids, but we have to trasnlate for the grandparents a bit too). We just mentioned it to the MCHN at her 4 year old check up and she said it wouldn't hurt to go and see the speechie. The upcoming audiologist visit is just a double check (she's had no ear issues whatsoever), but the fact hat DH's uncle was born deaf makes people automatically think hearing issue.

Well I reckon it's better to err on the side of getting it checked out anyway. We have to translate for the grandies sometimes too - but in our case I think it says more about them than E LOL.

ETA, I'm kinda freaked out about how big our kids are getting...and how close they are to being big school kids!!!

hi girls
sorry I'm being a selfish belly buddy atm and posting all about me, but just needing support. sydney trip is still ok, spoke to surgeon today and we are fine to fly. i know i haven't really noticed that L has hearing issues, but do you think this is something that his kinder teacher should have picked up on and alerted me to?

cally- congrats on dh's job :)

Ginger, no not really. Hearing deficiencies are notoriously difficult to pick up on, that's why they always send kids for checks whenever an ENT thing is picked up. Totally normal to have missed it and he must have some hearing because he's obviously been compensating well.

Ginger - no problem, glad that you can still fly up there, hope you have a good break.

G, they only would have picked it up if he was showing definite sighs that it was affecting him - like not listening to them at all and if he appeared to have absolutely no comphrension of following orders/doing tasks etc. Like MD said, they get really good at compensating and working things out their own way. I'm sure once he has all this done you will notice a huge improvment in him generally and I don't think this year at kinder has been a waste of time :hug:

Cally, I find I have to do that with A when he's speaking to new people too, but after having problems with P's speech and how bad she was, A's problems are nothing! But I reckon it wont hurt to have her assessed anyway.

MD, it's something I think about all the time. I think it will take a lot for me to prepare not to have him at home anymore once he's at school. I've not been without a child at home during the day so it will take a bit of getting used to I reckon. Plus there is the whole thing about not having a 'baby' anymore kwim? I still pick him up all the time for cuddles and DH often jokes that he's too big for that now, but I just tell him he will only be little for a little bit longer and big for the rest of his life so I'm making the most of it - there wont be any more babies to pick up!

As for me, only a few more days and the year is over! I've had nearly 20 years of continuous study and I'm really looking forward to the break. I have heaps planned - sewing and a few other projects around the house.

20 years Trill? Was that a freudian or have I missed something?

:rofl: it sure feels like it sometimes!! See! That's how tired and overworked I am LOL. It should only be 2 years!

:rofl:

You have done so much awesome work in that time, Trill, you should be so proud of your achievements and you will be reaping the rewards in no time! :cheer:

ok, so I'm being too hard on the kinder teacher? there is a lot of issues with her atm, tbh, and i guess this is just the icing on the cake for me.
i promise after sydney i will return to being a good baby buddy! i am so stressed out! and upset and anxious about L's surgery. thank you all for supporting me.

on the upside, we bought the kids leap pads today from myer and they are awesome! anyone looking for a xmas pressie they are on sale for $169 and the kids love them.

G, I hope Sydney is a good trip for you and you don't have to spend too much time with the MIL. What is bugging you about the kindy teacher? Feel free to vent away :hug:

Cally, hope the speech sessions help. Bummer about your gym time, but yay for your DH's promotion!

It is freaky to think how big our bubs are now - I look over at the school playground from kindy and it weirds me out to think that next year my baby boy will be over there. At least I still have other babies - I can't imagine how it must feel when it is your last child.

MD, OMG - I just saw in another thread that H is 13 now! Far out! Talk about kids growing up quickly! She was just a little girl when we started chatting, is she going to high school next year?

I know!! I've known this all year and I'm STILL freaking out! LOL (Not to mention the extreme upcoming financial duress of those school fees that have crept up a couple of thousand since we first enquired about the schooll...). I often feel the same way when Trill or even Leemar post about what their kids are up to, cos I remember how little they were when we all stumbled into this place together.

Thank god for the september 07 mummies. This probably reflects sadly on me, but you've been such a constant support over that whole time and I'm not sure you'll ever know the extent that I leaned on that to get me through some dark days. I'm aware our little posse is dwindling, life is moving on, but I will always treasure each one of you and this crazy screen-based friendship we share. xxx

Oh MD! i hear ya sista! sometimes i look back on the last 4 years and go: 'far out...without the 07 group, where would i be?!'. And that is NO exaggeration :o.

you girls have been my rock many many times :grouphug:

Me three! You guys (and DH) are my entire support network and the only people I know that I can get kid advice etc from. I would be lost without you all, my life is definitely better for having 'known' you :grouphug:

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You guys (and DH) are my entire support network and the only people I know that I can get kid advice etc from. I would be lost without you all, my life is definitely better for having 'known' you :grouphug:

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Exactly that!

Awww :grouphug: Sept07 mummies love-in! :D

Hey, quick question for Sunday - is mine the only kidlet that's still not dry overnight? We stopped putting her in pull-ups about a month ago, and she's still wetting - doesn't even necessarily wake up for it.

Leila is now pretty much dry. (bar the occasional slip-up if she is sick or has gone to bed waaaayyyy tired).

that said, that took awhile after we stopped the pull-ups...

So does that mean she won't learn if we keep on with the pull-ups?

Its a tricky one to know what to do MD. I never used the pullups with any of mine - if they were still wetting overnight I used a nappy. I've heard mixed stories about them though - some say the pullups are a godsend and that they will learn to be dry in their own time, and others have said that it can make them a bit lazy and they know they will work like a nappy. But I don't reckon E is lazy. If she isn't waking when she wets then maybe she's one of the kids who will just get dry in her own time kwim? have you tried waking her during the night to take her to the loo? When mine were still transitioning from nappies at night to pants, I would cut back drinks an hour before bedtime, take them to the loo at bedtime and then again when I went to bed to make sure they had an empty bladder for the rest of the night. We didn't have many accidents at all doing that. Is E a heavy sleeper? I know one of my brothers had problems with wetting for ages because he was such a heavy sleeper that he just could not wake himself up to go.

And I totally agree on the support network we've created for ourselves. Honestly, you guys and the mods are the only reason why I keep coming back here. I've just outgrown it now and if it wasn't for the friendships I have with you all I don't think I'd come here as much, if at all. When I see people post that they are leaving because they don't 'fit' I totally understand that, but the friendships is what keeps me here. Yeah I may have outgrown it, but I wont have the contact with you all if I go. I can totally see us sitting in a park or a cafe and talking about the exact same things we talk about on here.

Well this maths exam is doing my head in! I would gladly swap this exam for a 4hour exam solving maths problems LOL. I've had too much on to be able to study properly for it too. I've been listening to lectures all morning and madly making notes, but it just isn't gelling! So I came on here for a quick break. Even if I fail the exam I will pass the subject, but that just seems like taking the easy way kwim?

MD, I think W learned alright in pull ups. He was using them at night and was dry most of the time and begged to wear undies to bed. He had a few accidents and I threatened him with having pull ups again and he stayed dry. I made sure he went to the toilet before bed and limited drinks like Trill. He was up umpteen times every night but never needed to pee or wet the bed. I think there is a correlation between heavy sleepers and taking longer to night train than light sleepers (which W obviously is).

Trill, I probably would have left BB ages ago if I hadn't had such an amazing 07 group. I love logging in and finding a new post in the thread :)

The kids are outside playing by themselves, and the baby is asleep in her cot, by herself! Good kids :)

I had a long talk with W's kindy teacher today. I asked for some reader books since he is doing really well with his reading - half way through reading eggs in a month. They have already been watching him and suspect he falls in the gifted category. I am still not sure if he is actually gifted or just very bright iykwim.

Hi All
Had to pop on and say I AGREE SO MUCH re the support in here. It is basically the only reason I log on to BB anymore, I have so little time but I have to come in and see how everyone is and I LOVE when I have posts to catch up on. As I have said many times I am so sorry I am MIA so much, but our friendship means so much to me. You guys have been a massive part of my life for about 5 years now – and you know so much about me, from the parenting journey to just everyday life. So thank you!
We are back from Sydney – had the most awesome time! Was quick but fantastic. Had a great family gathering on Sat – at a place in Putney – a long drive for us but so much fun. It is a massive park on the river complete with water park type thing (all free) – kids had a ball. There were heaps of us including about 12 kids 6 and under – FUN! Mum was with us and stayed with us so I got to go out fri and sat night with friends – perfect!
MD – re the night training… N never used pull ups so I am not sure. He asked for no nappy at night and we took it from there – so I never used pull ups day or night. We had a few weeks (maybe months) woth some wet beds ( I used a mattress prorectior and also one of those ones that goes OVER the sheet at the right place) and he soon grew out of it. To be honest, I think wetting the bed a few times maybe helped him be aware??? Now he doesn’t even get up in the night, he just goes first thing in the morning. I never did the wake him up thing either… but maybe I had it easy???
I am actually just thinking about toilet training J. to be honest I am scared of the hard work involved!!!
Ginger – are you getting to go to Syd after all?
Trill – is it 1 more year of study for you?
Arte – I meant to say, your family holiday sounded lovely – so pleased it went well. And I am thrilled all is so good with E too. YAY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY G!!

I am sorry I havent been able to keep up. Work is crazy and so are the kids lol. I hope that all of you are well though. I can't believe it is almost Christmas, I am so glad I put a layby on in the sales.

Happy bday g!