Babies born~ May 16th-31st 2009 #9

[Snacks]

BG: What a frustrating drs visit. I take it that's not your usual GP? Sounds like a moron. Hope that the arm is feeling better soon and whatever else it is that's going on resolves itself.
Nay: I have seen that book before but must admit I haven't looked in it due to the title, LOL! I am glad it has been helpful, perhaps I will borrow it as I saw it at a friend's place. I have found the Mighty Toddler helpful, although it was a long time ago that I read it. I am really unsure what's going on with P's bedtimes though, unless it is that she is overtired (which is definitely a possibility). She has been on 1 nap for ages now and it seems to be getting shorter The norm is 1.5 hours these days. Although today at CC she slept for 3 hours apparently!

We are looking at a new place to rent on Thursday. I am hoping it is suitable as it would be the perfect location and the price is within our range. DH is desperate for N to go to school where we grew up, and if we moved here then she would go to the pmy school I went to, LOL!

ETA: Forgot to mention, P seems to be a bottomless pit atm... I think she is having a mega growth spurt? Does anyone else have insatiable hunger? This morning she had a handful of cheerios while she waited for her weetbix (otherwise she screams her head off while I am trying to prepare it because I can't hold her and pour the milk & fruit at the same time then she had her weetbix and fruit, then a piece of toast. Then we went to CC and we arrived at morning tea time and she had some more toast! I don't know what she ate for lunch and afternoon tea, but she ate a couple of slices of ham, half a bread roll, 3 cherry tomatoes and 4 slices of cucumber for dinner, then went off her nut when I lifted her out of her chair! So I've given her a slice of cheese to munch on. LOL, she is soooooo hungry these days! Makes a welcome change from little miss I'll-eat-when-I-have-no-other-choice. I have no concerns for P's nutrition...

[briggsy's girl]

E is a bottomless pit most days - it's impossible to keep food up to her! She is telling C off at the moment cos we only got home a little while ago and her dinner isn't on the table

Amy - it wasn't my normal GP - normal clinic, and the only doctor i didn't get to check out with friend (practice manager) - she is on leave - how rude! i've started taking multivitamins again in the hope that things are going to improve. not sure how i will go but i gotta try lol

i am feeling emotionally exhausted. our call centre has become "ground zero" for payments for the disaster grant payments. every call i took this afternoon was someone directly impacted. is so hard! i think it's hitting me more because a couple of them were "i don't know if i have a home to go back to" kinda calls - and i remember all to well that feeling when the fires went through... i have been in a weird headspace for a while now, and i think this is going to be the thing to either make me snap out of it (c'mon Lee, suck it up ffs!!) or tip me over into a complete meltdown. to be honest, i HOPE for the first, but think the latter is more likely. maybe if i DO meltdown though, i might cope better - maybe i need that nasty purge kwim?

[MummyNaomi]

Amy - Yeah, I must admit I probably wouldn't have bought it myself - 'taming' or 'training' babies/children aren't really catch phrases for me either. Aparantly he rewrote his whole book a few years back more in line with the gentle parenting - baby/toddler led type of philosophy and he has the philosophy of enjoying and making the most of the toddler year as they are quickly over so I identify with lots of the advice

BG - Hearing you babe. I manage the Hardship team at Optus and the vast majority of the Flood Victims will be referred to us for pmt assistance etc. My team are fielding lots of calls, making sure overdue customers are left on etc so they have phone access etc and giving long term payment arrangements, we expect that we'll have a massive influx of referrals over the coming months. Although its difficult, my guys are finding they like the opportunity to help too - it makes them feel like that are doing something positive to help those in need. I had a bit of a cry today when I was watching the news as apparantly two babies were killed as their parents couldn't get to them, it just made me think of Bailey and how I'd just want to die if that happened to me Hugs to you babe, Let it out and vent so you can cope with it all - better out than in my friend (you know my number )

I dont know if you girls have read Krystie's post in her BA but Shayla may have to have some surgery due to a heart murmur which must be devastating for her, sending them all my love and hoping all will be ok without surgery. If a mothers unconditional love was enough to mend a heart murmur Shayla would be fine with a Mummy like Krystie

....we were all set to go home and was just waiting on the Paed to come give the all clear. Unfortunately our plans were dashed when he heard a heart murmur. Luckily the cardiologist was in the hospital and able to do an ultrasound and echo straight away. He found a few things with her heart that concerned him. Shayla was admitted into the SCN for monitoring. I was shattered and was a blubbering mess all day and night.

As of this morning Shayla has had another ultrasound and things are looking more promising at this stage. We're basically faced with 3 scenarios, with two of them leading to surgery (one fairly mild, the other more major). Shayla is still doing amazingly well though, and with great observations all last night and today's better news they have let me bring her back to my room with the monitoring still running, and she is currently snuggled in my arms having a feed. She's a great little breastfeeder like her brother

Fingers crossed that things continue to look good and that we can avoid any surgery!

[wysiwyg]

Thanks for pointing out about Shayla - Naomi, I hadn't seen it. Sending all my love and well wishes their way now. Fingers crossed all is well and Shayla opts for the 3rd scenario with no surgery.

Amy - just seen your pics of your holiday - wow look at Phoebe's hair - she looks so grown up now as well.

[Snacks]

Ooh, I hadn't realised that either. Poor Krystie - sucks to have to worry about health probs when you just want to enjoy your new addition.

Vic, she has had a bit of a growth spurt I think. Must be the reason for the hunger of late.

[briggsy's girl]

hope all is ok with Shayla

E has grown heaps in the past few weeks - she got a little outfit from her secret santa from the main BB site - the skirt was almost dragging on the floor when she got it - now it's a good couple of inches off the floor. admittedly it may have been sitting a bit low on her hips first time, but this was a significant difference!

oh, and she can steal food from the kitchen bench now too - c was cutting up carrot the other night, turned around to stir some food, and came back to find her munching on a bit of food. good thing he's already in the habit of putting knives into the middle of the bench...

[Snacks]

Oh wow! Yes, it is a whole new world of interesting when they can reach up onto tables.
DH often tosses his wallet and keys on a table we have in the entrance of the house and P can now reach it. (It's lower than a kitchen bench or dining table.) I caught her the other day and she had unpacked some coins from his wallet. Of course I told her she was a silly girl and should go for the notes but she outwitted me then by picking out the plastic. She is a clever cookie after all!

[briggsy's girl]

did she swipe his pin number too?? lol

[wysiwyg]

CJ can swipe off benches too, and has fascination with emptying wallets. I bribed her to be behaved on train other day by giving her a five dollar note - she was so pleased! Need to get her a piggy bank.

Any advice on sidecar or bassinet for new Bub, we are short on space and I can't cope with co sleeping full time mainly due to dh back. Bub will have to be in our room initially as only two bedrooms, but cj went straight into full size cot so a bit clueless. Also need to work out about pram/stroller that will take two fit in a corolla and go on public transport, prob am dreAming about tram but train at least. Will use a buggy board on back of maclaren for shorter outings and carry little one too but think will need something else? Any suggestions wise mums?

[*TripleJ*]

Wise? your not talking bout me then lol my pram would only fit on a train bus maybe tram no way I have a strider plus but maybe a phil&teds double pram will be not as wide basinet well jazzy refuses to sleep in hers I think it's just not comfy enough she sleeps in her rocker mostly but when we move I'm gonna try and get her in the cot coz she's decided 10-6 is a nice sleep it's nice for me too lol

Was thinking maybe a hammock if the cot doesn't work

[BeautifulMadness]

Hi ladies

just wanted to add. Andy is a climber and i learnt the hard way yesterday that he can climb to rech the sink, which had water in it...needless to say my floor was very wet lol

He also climbs on the table to sit in his highchair lol

[Snacks]

BG, he's wrapped around her finger. I've no doubt she will be able to get it out of him
Vic, Nat was still in the cot when Phoeb was born. I got a hammock for Phoebe and I'm glad I got it 2nd hand as she hardly slept in it at all. TBH, she was in a port-a-cot for the first 5 months of her life! She slept much better in that than the hammock so we just stuck with it. Then Nat transitioned to the bed so the cot became Phoebe's. We have another travel cot for when we actually wanted to sleep her somewhere when we were out (which was pretty infrequently anyway).
We have the P&T Dash doubles stroller. Just fits width-wise into our Corolla. Not sure of the width by comparison to say the strider, but would be happy to measure it up for you if that would help. I must admit I get stroller envy whenever I see a strider plus! They look awesome. But I'm glad I've the doubles kit and not only a skateboard - a toddler will get on the skate board if they are happy to... but you can actually strap them in to a toddler seat. They can't just wander off that way. I'm fairly sure the resale value is pretty good (hoping, LOL!) but the initial outlay was around $750 incl the doubles kit so not particularly cheap.

[Snacks]

Why is it that Phoebe can sleep in until around 8am on a school day or the day we have to drive the car to the mechanic early for it's service and yet on a Saturday morning when we don't have to be anywhere, and after she woke twice overnight requiring cuddles, water, cuddles, fan off, fan on, cuddles, etc, she wakes at sparrows fart and is immensely cross and cranky because of it?!?
Happy Saturday.

[*TripleJ*]

well we have no power here atm and i have been pinched scratched and yelled at all in the last 20 mins im with ya i swear tv calms that boy

[Snacks]

Ooh, yes. I think I'd be a bit stuffed without Nanny Sony some mornings. Hope it's all back on for you soon, chick.

[briggsy's girl]

E isn't interested in TV yet - she will jive along to music, but TV is meh - probably helps that we simply haven't thought to put kids TV on for her yet lol

[wysiwyg]

Thanks for the info Amy on the pram (useful info about the P&T just fitting in the Corolla) and sleeping situation. We don't have a portacot so still undecided about what to do I am now thinking maybe can fit the cot into our room, and put CJ into big bed a few months before this one arrives - that way don't have to decide on anything apart from what to sleep CJ in. My mum is going to come over for about 7-8 weeks over period new one is due, and she will have to share with CJ - will be good having her around for CJ but a two bed flat is not great for visitors - if my dad pops over to say hi to the new bub too will be very cramped! Oh CJ is very good at getting up early on days I don't work, and laying in when I need her up too (DH thinks should lie to her about what is happening the next day and see what happens).

J - thanks also for Strider Plus suggestion - I need to go somewhere and check these and the P&T's too.

Krystie - Great news about Shayla getting the all clear

With CJ I didn't buy till she was 10 weeks or so old, so did little pram research last time as I knew just wanted lightest possible and had heard good things about the Maclarens.

BG and Naomi - I hope the next few weeks do not drain you guys too much.

Hi to everyone else - and thinking of you Nicky with all the flood dramas.

[Snacks]

Our rolla is a 2008 Conquest (hatch)... Not sure if all the different models are slightly different sizes. No doubt hatch is less roomy there than sedan of course. The shop where we bought it let us take the display model stroller out to the car and make sure it fit! It literally touches the sides, it is that tight.
Your Maclaren is great! The P&T at least would be much heavier, sadly.
Don't know much about moving a 'littler' kid into a bed, although I know loads of people who've made that transition with a 1yo. Does CJ still not move much in her sleep? That'd work in your favour.