Von - Pip is currently running in and out of his bedroom with every excuse to not sleep, and he's way overtired!!!!! I tried sleeping with him once, all that happened was that I fell asleep and he climbed over me to get out :rolleyes:
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Von - Pip is currently running in and out of his bedroom with every excuse to not sleep, and he's way overtired!!!!! I tried sleeping with him once, all that happened was that I fell asleep and he climbed over me to get out :rolleyes:
OMG Kaz and Von you guys are making me feel so much better, unfortunately it's because your boys are playing up too! Yep, Ben has changed a lot too. We still have good days, but sometimes I wonder where that sweet little boy has gone.
Von, I hear you on the penis thing. Ben has started just walking around holding it. We ask him why and sometimes he says it's because it's tired :lol: No idea where that came from! He went through a phase where he was hitting it to make it go hard, so at least now he's just holding it. We thought he was going to himself some damage. I'm pretty sure he did it because it was the only way he knew how to make it hard which felt good. He doesn't do it TOO much in public because we've drilled into him that it's private but he's still learning. Fun times!
:rofl: Jen, that's too funny. DH is peeing himself laughing! The only thing Pip is doing is *not* touching his "bits" when going to the loo so he doesn't have to wash his hands. Dunno where that came from! So what he does is pull down his pants and rest his penis on the porcelain (ughs!) - although he did drop the toilet seat on his penis the other day!!!! Was the lesson learnt? Only for 10 mins or so :rofl:
Oh Kaz, I am :rofl:....that's so hilarious that Pip won't hold his penis to pee, bahaha, and then dropped the toilet seat on it, omg!!! Poor little man, ouch, but it's sooo funny! Though it's gross to think if he goes to a public toilet and does it, but I'm sure you tell him not to!
And Mel, Liam makes himself hard too...:rolleyes: DH is mortified that he does it "already", being only 2 1/2, but I know it's totally noraml. If a little confronting to see your 2yo walking around the house with an erection...ick! But hey boys will be boys right?? Now I have another to look forward to doing it as well!
And I'm with the rest of you too, Lily is pushing boundaries she hasn't tried to test before. She's being a right little b!tch some days, and is spending more and more time in her bedroom in trouble. I sent her in there this morning and called her to come out so I could talk to her and she said 'No I won't, I'm reading my books'. Fat lot of good that did then hey? Seh's backchatting like she thinks she 13 and is hitting and snatching off Liam all day. It's driving me insane and all I do all day is yell at them from the chair while I feed Caelan. Little *****s know if I'm feeding him, I will try not to have to get up to them.
But then, some days she is a little ray of sunshine and I am so totally in love with her, like yesterday when I walked past her bedroom, I said (to noone in particular) "omg, what a mess!!" next time I walked past it, it was immaculately clean again. She did it all herself, put everything where it's supposed to go and even tried to make her bed. Awww, my precious girl! I have to try to remember these moments when she's rummaging throught the fridge getting out the yogo even though I have told her not to 5 times and she know's I'm feeding the baby and she might get away with it if she goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on............................about it long enough. Then screams to my face 'NO I WON'T!!!' when I tell ehr to put it back or I will smack her AND she will stay in her room for the rest of the arvo.
Von, welcome back, so good to see you here again!! We are still ahving to sleep with Liam too. It's not easy when I am sleeping with DS2 and DH is on night shifts. Makes for a terribly sleepless night for me. I have just had 5 nights of DH on night shift and I think I have had on average maybe 4hrs broken sleep each night, if that. One night I think it was only 2. OMG, sooooo tired!
Iona, yep we're still around!! Don't post so much as we used to, but we all still catch up when we can! Would Love to hear how you're going!
Ok I know I've missed people, but my little man is calling me....
Kaz-That’s why DH has to lie with James until he falls asleep …
That is sooo funny holding it because it is tired…At least Ben gave you an answer I get “because”
Kellie-I don’t know how you do it when Dh is on night shift….My dh went out one night and I nearly had a nervous breakdown lol..
Well this has been one of the most painful posts ever…I have been getting bitten by our new addition Benson…I never knew puppies were like having twin toddlers in the house….
Aww Von, a puppy!!!!!!!! Spill!
Kaz- he is a Cavalier he is 11 weeks old and is just so damn cute which is why he is getting away with so much right now:D The first 3 nights I was getting woken up every 3 hours by his crying and silly me was going in and rocking him back to sleep:redface: (can you see why James has sleeping problems now :p)...The fussy eating and TT and biting is driving me insane now though
Busy busy in here tonight!!! So good to hear from everyone!
Ouch...hurting to type - I cut my finger pretty bad when I was making dinner goose that I am!
Iona - Good to hear from you!
Mel - Big hugs...I think we all have those lose it moments...It's so hard when we feel so out of control with their behaviour - add in tiredness and other kids to look after and all the rest of it and it's bound to happen!!
I hear you on "middle child" as well....Dylan was always a true middle but now that Jayden has come along I sometimes feel that Ethan is more that child...they kind bounce back and forth...Louis and Dylan are sooo close and now that Louis is at school Dylan and Ethan are having to learn how to play together on their own...
Hope your weight loss picks up again...such a bugger if your not seeing results
Disgirl - Hi! Oh yes...boys and hitting and fighting! My boys are great at it...unfortunately we do spill out these lines to the oldest...we've always put more responsibility on Louis just by accident...
You just reminded me I need to find a mchn up here...and book Jayden in for immunisations...
Sounds like Ben is a very clever little boy!! Dylan knows his letters and can write his name now...he's just starting to take more of an interest in actually learning to read because Louis is already a fluent reader and I think he wants to be able to do it as well!
Louis has started at the local primary school and I'm so impressed with it - they learn all about respect and values which is fantastic. They have vegie gardens and a snow skiing program. It's quite a small school as well - I think about 250 kids which is nice as well...Dylan will start there in 2013...I wanted him to be older as well...it sucks finishing year 12 and now having your license - I was a may baby and I had to catch the bus to work when I finished school! Also, it means the kdis are doing everything the kids a year older are doing...
Kaz - So glad you're going well! Dylans a little mother hen with Jayden..always picking him up and playing with him...I think it's that age...Louis is a bit over the baby thing and Ethan just loves having a little brother to take things off and boss around! lol!
Lol on not holding it when he goes to the toilet...the things boys do to get our of washing their hands! hehe
Von - Hi!! Dylans not that badly behaved but he is very away with the fairies...he just has such selective hearing and it takes him a long time to follow instructions like "pack up!!" lol...Now that Louis has gone to school though he's trying to be a bit more of a helper...
Our boys often run around without any pants on...we try and curb it in Louis now that he's a school boy but the rest of the boys often have no pants on! hehe
Lol at rocking your dog back to sleep - your a crack up! hehe...We want to get a dog but at the moment the dog down the road keeps coming to visit - we even bought it dog biscuits so she just comes and visits and we have a pat and a play and then she goes home! The easiest way to have a dog at the moment - lol!
Kel - Hi! Sounds like your busy busy with your boys...I don't know how you cope on such little sleep...you poor bugger...and to just have to do it so often on your own must be so hard...xoxo
Ok...must go...chat soon!
Von, each of my cats co-slept when they were kittens - across my neck!
Kris - that school sounds great, is it the "kitchen garden" program with Maggie Beer? A skiing program, how wonderful!!!!!!!
Well with Will, my bfing is still going - admittedly he's being sup-fed but I'm doing better than I did with Pip!
Wow good to see a bit of traffic in here! Hi Von... hows it all going???
PMSL at all the boys and their penis'! Obviously we have a vagina fest here, quite ofter both Liv and Bec will be sitting there legs spread open watching tv having a play! Unfortunately Miss Rebecca has found a few objects to touch herself with!
Good to hear Im not the only one with a back chatting almost 4 year old. It really is testing. Liv will do what she pleases most of the time, so I need to be very firm with her.
Kaz well done on the bfing. Am glad youre giving it a shot. I did 8 weeks of full time expressing. That in itself was enough for me to be happy with, even though I kept trying her til last month and would have like to have succeeded. All in all I am happy with the outcome!
Kristie... got to love your primary school with a skiing program... your boys are very lucky! Well done Louis on his certificate too:)
Hi Mel... ah bugger... girls wanting my undivided attention... bbl
Hi girls, got a babe in arms right now, but I just wanted to say it's great to see this thread so active again :)
Kaz, well done on the bfing. I'm hoping to make it to 18 months with Josh. Ben self weaned at 11 months and I weaned Jared at 14 months so I could get pg again. Fingers crossed this time. (BTW, I'm the other Mel :) )
Kris, that school sounds awesome!
Mel, LOL at the vagina fest!
Kel and Von - hi!!!
Hi girls... just thought I would bump us up seeing we are on page 3!
Its Olivias 4th Birthday tomorrow! Where has the time gone? She is so excited about her birthday this year. Shes been asking for a trumpet and a watch.... and thats what shes getting. We are taking her out to dinner too tomorrow. Im so excited!
How is everyone?
Hi!
Happy Birthday to Olivia for tomorrow! How exciting and crazy at the same time!!!
Dylans been talking about turning 4 for soooo long! He's very excited as well but he still has a few weeks to go!
We're all well - kiddies are going well - Jayden just turned 1 so that's it - I'm all done with babies now! LOL...I had a really emotional time with it a few weeks ago - crying and everything - mad woman that I am....not because I wanted more babies but I was sad that I wasn't going to..? Probably makes no sense but there you have it. I'm still bfing Jayden but I really need to wean him...we're just down to a morning feed and it's so nice snuggling in bed but...this is really gross...I have had a kind of tinea/athletes foot thing happening since just before I had Ethan (although I think it got worse after I wa sin hospital) and I can't treat it while I'm p/g or bfing so it's been progressively getting worse and worse....so basically I need to hurry up and wean so I can treat my foot...I'm really sad about it too because being my last baby I would have loved to have kept that morning feed for a while longer...
Anyway, Louis is doing super well at school - he's reading at grade 1 level and really enjoying it. Dylans loving kinder - it's only 1 morning a week so has been nagging me all week to go...lol...He's really gone through a developmental growth spurt lately...just seems a lot more grown up...
Ethan is good - terrible 2's but really he is just gorgeous - he tries so hard to be grown up like his brothers...has the most beautiful smile and is just so cheeky.
Jayden is gorgeous - has the worst temper but does seem to be settling down a little...it's crazy watching him walk around everywhere and he's really trying to talk at the moment...he thinks he's 3yo most of the time! LOL! He loves his big brothers though which is just gorgeous!
Anyway, enough of my rambling...hope everyone is well!!
Hey guys!
Happy Birthday Olivia!
Isn't it insane that our babies are turning 4? There must be a real understanding leading up to their 4th birthday because Ben is super excited too. To the point where we had to make a countdown chain to his 4th birthday party. We've invited all his cousins (he has 11) to a play centre for his party. No mess or fuss for me that way! When DH asked him when his birthday was, he said "Four days after my party" instead of the date :lol: He is just SO excited!
Kris, I TOTALLY understand where you are coming from with the not wanting more, but sad that you won't have any more. I'm on the same page there. I have a bad feeling Josh is going to be totally babied his whole life with me using the excuse "He's my last..." It's already started.
My lot are all doing extremely well too. We had Ben's parent/teacher interview yesterday and got a really good report from her. She's recommending that we start him in year one after next year! It seems too soon!!! Of course, that's if he keeps progressing at the rate he is now, but we have to get the applications in now to get him into the school we want. We are, once again, really please with our decision to make the sacrifices to send him to Montessori he has completely and utterly blossomed there. In the past few weeks he seems to have reached a new level of maturity and understanding in his schoolwork and emotionally as well. Geez, sounds like I'm talking about a teenager :lol: He absolutely loves learning and now gets really proud of himself when he can do or understand something new. As if you couldn't tell, we're extremely proud of him :D
Jared is still our clown and cheeky monkey. His speech has taken a giant leap in the past month or so, although he's really dependent on his dummy at the moment which we have to do something about soon. He also seems to have hit the terrible twos though and is prone to long bouts of crying if he doesn't get his own way. He is also a cuddly little boy and sometime every day he asks for cuddles with one of us. I hope he never grows out of that, although it might be a bit awkward when he's 18! :lol:
Josh is adorable and perfect. He sleeps wonderfully, especially for such a young, bf bub. I get at least one 6 hour stretch out of him every night, sometimes two and sometimes up to 7 hours at a time. It's a lovely change from Jared (my non sleeper). He has started laughing hysterically which sets me off into fits of laughter and tears. He's still a huge chucker and I go through so many clothes, but I'll take that as payment for the sleep I'm getting :) I can't believe he's almost 3 months old.
DH and I are still struggling to get enough rest though, and we will have to work on getting some time alone together. Even though Josh is a good sleeper, Jared still is not so often I'm up with him through the night, and with DH working nights, it's sometimes hard to let him get the sleep he needs throughout the day. Luckily though, our relationship doesn't seem to have suffered, except for physically. I'm just too tired to be in the mood and with him going to bed at a different time to me three times a week it makes it hard. I'm hoping that it's only because the birth is still relatively recent and my libido will return to normal sometime soon. Anyway, that's probably TMI!!!
Hope you are all well. I have to get three little monkeys ready for the school run :)
Isnt it crazy that 4 years has gone by so quickly. I cant say that I am there yet with Amy being my last. I wish I could but I still feel like I have room here for one more! I havent got AF back yet and am not on any contraception. I took a htp last week to make sure and it was negative. I stopped bfing just before xmas so it shouldnt be too much longer??? Olivia has had a great day, although she didnt want to be 4 because she knows she has to have her needles and she is so scared.... shes frightened of any blood or scratches so this will be a challenge for her! We are taking her out to dinner to souvalaki hut! should be fun!
better run, but its so good to hear from you on here. FB is a little different in that you cant talk about some stuff....
Hmmm, don't know about the AF issues Mel, both times after I finished BF I was pregnant a month later! I would imagine it will come back soon.
I use to want four kids, but Josh's birth did me no favours and I just don't like pregnancy either. I don't know that my body could handle another one. Then there are the finances.... I know you always find a way to cope with one more, but with a new car and house needed I think we'd be under too much strain.
Sounds like Liv has had a good day. We haven't told Ben about his needles yet (there are just two aren't there?). We'll tell him the day before he's due to have them. He's seen Jared have his over the past two years so I think he'll know what he's in for and he aint gonna like it!
heys ladies :)
Mel - awwwwwwww good luck!!!! Forgot about those 4-yr needles! We went and bought stuff for Pip's b'day today, he wants "cars" and dress-ups, Spotlight has a sale on so got the party plates and stuff. Happy Birthday to Livvy!!!!
Other Mel - I want another but don't want to be pregnant! Although the birth was good, my hips were stuffed.
Otherwise - hard to believe our little babies are big boys & girls now :sob: All in Kinder or getting ready for school. *sighs*
Hi girls!
I am around, just busy with my monkeys! I know you all know how that feels :)
So great to hear from everyone!!
Mel, :happybirthday: to Olivia!! I hope she had a great day. How funny she asked for a trumpet and watch, and I saw she asked for a mobile too, hehe, they start so young these days :). Did she enjoy her dinner? My little miss is asking for everything that tickles her fancy...'Mum I like that can I get it for my birthday?'! Mostly though, it's Barbie anything. I hate Barbie. I wanted to get her a big wooden kitchen with the wooden food and pots and pans, but DH didn't and now she's got Barbie crap. Plus she's getting more of it off a friend here and probably mum too :doh: I don't know how, but what I wanted to get her went out the window.
Kris, I can't believe Jayden is 1!! Gosh time really does fly when you have kids. In a way it's good, but not at the same time, lol. So bitter sweet! For me on one hand I can't wait for Caelan to grow up, but I also don’t want him to, lol!
ARRGGHH! Gotta go someone is awake.......try to bbl.
Ah yes she enjoyed her dinner.... she chose to go to the souvalaki hut which she had seen when she went to bunnings with Adam! It had a playground and thats all she was really interested in! She luurrves her trumpet. I like it too, it sounds more like a harmonica. Im not a fan of barbies but we managed to pick up some 2nd hand ones at a market we went to. They now have missing limbs!
I think tonight is going to be revolting. Amy wont settle and Olivia was sobbing after watching a bridge to terabithia. She was so upset the girl went to heaven. I should really be careful about what she sees on tv as she is so cluey to it all.
Thanks for the advice on AF..... its funny coz I really want it back, just so i know whats happening and also I think its why I cant loose weight. I just dont want to go back on the pill though. 1) because Im so not sure if I want another one and 2- even if I dont want another one I dont want to have to put that crap back in my body. Aggg. I might go to the drs soon and see if he will do tests.
Amy is going for another hip u/s on Wednesday coz her creases are uneven. I hope its nothing. Shes not rolling at all. Shes almost 6 months old and she doesnt even turn on her side. She does lift her head up off the ground though.... Hope everything is ok.
Well I better get some shut eye before my night really begins!
Mel, my two older boys NEVER rolled from front to back so I guess some babies just don't do it. We're holding out hope for Josh but he's already such a chubby bubba we don't know if he'll be physically able to! :lol:
Mums of boys! How do you control them? We're having lots of problems with Pip, he just won't stop. He bounces onto Will, us, the dogs, the cats and the birdcage. He won't walk if he can run, and he's currently being a pirate waving an imaginary sword around. Will loves the attention, but Pip just won't stop. He grabbed hold of my scarf before and started throwing it around the room, knocking our coffees off the table! Then he wouldn't stop when we told him to. I'm over him, and we send him to his room.
Kaz.... I dont particularly think its a boy trait...... just be consistant with what ever it is you are doing. If you have rules just make sure you reinforce them and if he doesnt do as he is told, then follow through with a consequence. Big hugs to you. It is very trying especially when you have a new baby to contend with too. Olivia has particularly gone through these wild stages within the first few months of her sisters being born and it did my head in too. Hopefully someone else can help you out with a bit more... sorry Im supposed to be finding a recipe and I have deviated!
I hear ya Kaz, Liam is a right little **** too at the moment. I have no wise advice. Most days I have to bite my tongue and control myself not to yell scream and whack him. Most days that doesn't work and he ends up being screamed at and smacked and sent to his room. He's really trying me and with me being so tired and over telling him the same things 10000000000000 times day in and day out, I just lose it. I'm really trying not to, but most days at the moment, he ends up with a hand mark on his butt.
YES, YES, YES! We have to tell Ben over and over to stop stuff, and now Jared is starting too. It's like he just can't (or doesn't want to) hear us. He gets sent to his room a lot, which isn't ideal, but it's better than getting smacked, which happens every now and then when one of us loses it when he does something that has the potential to hurt one of the little ones. Usually the time out in his room works though, he really hates being 'in trouble'.
Hi guys!
I have 4 very cheeky little energetic boys!
I assume you guys have good night time routines in order? Sooo important!
Also, make sure they get enough of your focused time and attention each! I find the more they've been left to their own devices through the day (even if they've been happy doing it) there usually comes a time when it all just explodes and they go crazy...
Another thing I've just done is print out a routine - no real times but just a basic flow of events - morning, lunch and afternoon/dinner. Louis can read it but Dylan and Ethan know what happens based on the pictures...pm or facebook me with your email and I'll send it to you so you can get an idea of the stuff on it if you like....
I also find with Dylan who is hard to get to focus, it's important to actually make eye contact with him before I ask him to do anything - if I yell it across the room there is every chance he won't "hear" me and just keeps on ignoring me...
I gently remind them if we don't get x done we might not have time for y...or Mummy needs her helpers to get everything done so we can all eat dinner together.
A fun thing we've been doing around the table right now is asking every person what their favourite part of the day was...makes everyone feel like they have something to say and they usually remind us now to start the conversation. Am loving the shift to no tv and even sometimes no music over dinnertime. The kids are really enjoying have a good chat!
I've been reading some awesome stuff at the moment on concious parenting and unconditional parenting and am now removing time out from my discipline even though that's how I've mostly based things...I'm learning about listening to our children be emotional without trying to shut them down, or get cross at them. It's very trying but so rewarding. Ethan was having a huge tantrum about getting dressed this morning and I just sat near him and didn't really say anything and he cried and cried for about 5min and then when he slowed down I asked if he wanted a hug...he said yes, we had a hug and I held his clothes out and he got dressed with no drama. It was so nice to have that without me losing my cool and us all getting emotional!
Hope there's some ideas that help...I'm doing a whole lot of reading etc at the moment and have enrolled in an aware parenting course next month so that I can learn some new tactics...
Am realising that I don't need to fix my children and make them behave but I need to look at myself and how I react to things and how I deal with my emotions...
I'm actually in the process of setting up a blog and facebook page where I can spout off all my opinions...I'm so full of it at the moment...lol...my favourite new thing this week is: It's when our children are the least deserving of our attention and love that they need it the most...so true...
Just think of putting yourself in your kids shoes - would we like someone speaking to us like that?
Sorry...will stop blabbering now...could write about it all night...lol...
hope you all have peaceful days with the kiddies tomorrow...so hard sometimes!!!
thanks Kris :) I'd be interested in that chart and also your blog when you start it. I guess with us, cause DH is the primary carer and I won't be at home from next week that I'm finding it really hard to discuss his parenting with him - he doesn't "do" books or websites or any kind of education about raising kids. He really does just leave Pip to his own devices all day - I've more-or-less enforced that Pip can feed the chooks every day, and after the first day DH says it's too hard so he won't do it! I know that Pip can do it, he's good at it, DH just sees it as something that takes longer than it should, not as a parenting tool, ITMS?
Completely makes sense...that is definitely a difficult situation...I think maybe rather than talk to him about the way he does things in particular make it a family thing?? I know if I ever point out to Michael specifically he tends to get his back up (as we can all do if we feel we're being criticised) I try and say it in terms of "I read this and I think as a family we should bla bla bla...we can do this by bla bla bla" It can be hard to work out of our comfort zones sometimes - much easier to go with what we know whether it works or not - LOL!
Michael and I are highly frustrated people...we struggle when things don't go according to plan or are more difficult than need be and we're working on it at the moment to create a calmer home for the boys...we can see that Louis has really picked up on our tone that we use and to be honest it scares me a bit...I don't want him to feel like that really thus why I'm spending all this time trying to change things...our kids have some good tempers on them and I want them to learn how to handle their emotions rather than fly off the handle which is probably what they've seen at times from us!
We are all really children raising children if we don't deal with our stuff...
Anyway...won't go on too much - I have a lot of stuff flying around in my head these days...lol...
I don't have your email Kaz - send it to me and I'll attach the word documents of the kids routine...As for my blog I've set up a facebook page - inspired growth...
Kris, it totally makes sense what you're saying. All the things I don't like doing, I end up doing in frustration or when I'm tired and grumpy. The kids always get the raw end of the deal there. I mean if I can't handle my emotions, how can I expect them to reign in theirs? I wouldn't mind having that stuff too if you don't mind. I'll PM you my email address if you don't mind :)
When I do things I don't want to it's out of being dog tired and frustrated too. I hate smacking Liam (and yes, I mostly do only smack him, but he's the one pushing me to my absolute limits at the moment. When I say I will put him into his room for time out, he asks to go there...I put him in there go back 2mins later and he's pulled the beds apart and throw his clothes everywhere. Like you Melinda, my kids get the raw end too. I know why I do it. I'm tired. I try not to. I try to ignore it. But by ignoring it and letting him do it, he just does more. Double edged sword. And when I say I smack him, it's not an every day thing! I don't want everyone thinking I'm terrible to my child! Half the time he runs away happily after I do it anyway as if I had just swatted a fly on him...:rolleyes: I hate it because I was, I am a very gentle person. When I was working I would be the one to deal with the really difficult children because I had the patience time and energy for them. But now I just can't muster that for my own kids. I'm too tired, feel too pressured....(I don't know I can't string my words together well- too tired, after too many days of 4 hrs broken sleep!) Totally sucks.
well I totally lost it today. Took Pip to the shops, alone. He wanted lunch, so we had a lovely shared plate of chips, nuggets & spring rolls. He had a milkshake, I had a pot of tea. After that he wouldn't get out of the car ride as we were walking up to the butcher. I ended up hiding behind a telstra stand so I could see him, him not me, he eventually discovered that I wasn't there and the cries of "i wanna ride" changed to "I want my mum". Finally walked to the butcher, after 3 more tanties where I just continued walking, didn't buy into them. While at the butcher he ran up and down with my shopping cart/trolley thing, running over people's feet. Then at the fruit & veg he had a tantie as he wanted to put stuff from the basket onto the counter. It was chest-high for me! Then he didn't want to wait for me to load the shopping cart and had another tantie. Calmed down while we chose flowers. Finally leaving and he grabbed onto a display of gluten-free, dairy-free nut-free chocolate bunnies and pulled it over in another tantie cause I wouldn't buy him one, I caught it just before it smashed into the ground and lucky a couple helped me pick up the eggs. I was shaking, crying, yelling at Pip who was trying to run away still. I don't know what to do. I can't face him.
Oh Kaz, that sounds like the shopping trip from hell :( You poor thing. I have no advice though sorry, because you did exactly what I would have done and ignored the tantrums as long as you could.
Kel, of course we don't think you're a bad mum. Most of us here have more than one (all of actually I think) and we know how hard ANYTHING is when you are so tired you can barely stand. I rarely smack too, very rarely, but I do do it and feel awful afterwards. It's so damn hard to stay in control when you are at the end of your rope.
Having said all that, I have had a rotten day. The kids have been great (well Josh is possibly having his worst ever day, but that's not too bad still), but I'm just exhausted after such a full on day yesterday and carting my 6kg+ bundle of joy around today. Totally buggered!
Kaz thats sounds blooming awful. You did well to last that long. I am a mean mother and here is what I would have done..... oh and I have done it before with Miss Olivia.... If she cracks it and starts demanding things, I give her a warning.. or if she wont come with me coz she wants a ride on those stupid rides, I also walk off. If she does it again we go home. She knows I mean it too and I am happy to cut our time short if she carries on. I would have cried if she had done all of that. Dont beat yourself up about it though. You are doing the best you can. Its all a learning lesson for us as parents. You cant be expected to know what to do all the time.
Kel- I dont think you are a bad mum. Your are doing an amazing job, especially being so far from anyone and not having a great deal of support. You are tired and at the end of your tether... its ok, youre not super human, be kind to yourself..... that goes to all of you!
Mel- I fly off the handle too and Ada is a shocker for it. I see his temper in the girls and its scary. Its like looking in the mirror. Hope you have a better day tomorrow and get some rest
Kris- I love your way of thinking. You do such a womderful job. I am very interested in the stuff youre talking about.....
Anyway things are ok here.... had a chat with the nurse/midwife at my local clinic who thinks its not normal for af to not have returned and she suggested getting some bloods done. Am still thinking about #4.... what do you think Kristie???
OMG - I just stayed up for 30min doing a mammoth post and lost it because I'm a goose...will have to wait for tomorrow now...
xoxo
I was going to say Kristie... what are you doing up so late? Just as you were finishing up I was getting up for a feed and to resettle Rebecca... Now Amy has decided to wake at 450 for half a feed and bum change and a bit of a play. Might see if I can get some more sleep.... doubt it though. Its these times when I think... could I do it again?
Bugger, bugger, bugger! The ONE night that both Josh and Jared sleep through for NINE HOURS, Ben is up from 2:30!!! Seriously, he sleeps like a log 99.9% of the time, why did he pick last night to be up? Think of the sleep I could have had!!!!
Good Morning!
Mel - Yeah...I was still up...I'm a shocker lately - staying up far too late really. I just enjoy the peace and quiet and then I get so tired I can't be bothered actually getting ready for bed...lol!
Having another baby is a big decision...I personally found going from 2-3 a lot harder but 3-4 is a bigger change in regards to car, space in the home and money...not that I would base my decision on that but it is a factor that's for sure! Louis has started school and it's no big deal to pay his fees etc but then I thought about when I have 4 of them all paying fees, fundraising, going on camps and excursion, after school sports etc...I'm not one to complain but I'm sure we'll feel the strain at some point. Also, I'm not the kind of person that could let them miss out on something - I want them to have all the 3opportunity they would get if there was only 1 or 2 children...
On actually making the decision - I just went through such a week of turmoil the other week knowing that I wasn't having any more - I think if Michael hadn't had the snip I would have been wanting another one...I think a lot of it's hormonal because I'm feeling fine now and actually have had many moments thinking I just couldn't possibly go through it again...I will forever miss being p/g and that first moment of having a baby lifted to my chest, meeting a new little personality we've just created and brought into the world but I also have a lot of work to do to make the lives of the 4 that I do have work as well as I can! For me that has made it easier...In saying all that I wouldn't change a thing - Jayden is already 1 and it has gone by in such a blur...I feel like I'm gaining some clarity now and I feel like the fun is really ready to begin!!
As for af...are you still feeding? Seems odd that they would be so worried about it so early?
Kaz - Big hugs to you...you poor bugger - I think we all would have lost the plot with a day like that!
I have certain things I do to try and help with outings - setting expectations before we leave the car - we're going to x and x, I expect you to be on your best behaviour and listen to mum and make sure you stay close by and hold my hand..I make sure we keep moving pretty quickly...throw in a bit of window shopping that they like. If they are stubborn at a ride or a shop I just try and distract them - c'mon we're going...race you to the next shop/Ooh look in the window up ahead - can you find a D for dylan?/we're going to x would you like to pay the shopkeeper/would you like to pick out x/let's hurry and get our jobs done so we can do x or go home and play whatever?
I dont' know if any of that makes sense or helps at all...
I think you're doing a great job and remember you've got a new little bubba zapping all of your energy as well...makes it very hard to deal with things the best way - trust me - I've lost it plenty of times!!
Kel - Of course you're not terrible! You're tired and depleted...it's so hard to come up with the goods when we're running on empty...I've been there and I understand...it's those times though that we need to find a way to refuel. I also understand how hard that can be - especially as you're isolated...we each have our different ways. I know how especially hard it was on me last year when Michael was away so much and that is pretty much how your living consistently and now even more so with your move. Find a way to rejuvenate that fits with your lifestyle and is achievable...for me often it's reading. Yes, it would be great to have a day to myself or even a weekend away but it's not going to happen anytime soon so I need other ways to get the same effect...
I used to feel really guilty about this and I've been trying so hard with this calm parenting and on Saturday I didn't get much sleep and I'd discussed with dh the night before for me to have a small sleep in...he changed his mind in the morning and I got up with the baby and I was so cranky...I stayed up for about an hour/ 1 and a half and then I just went in, woke him up and said nup, can't do this - I need a break. He got up pretty quickly because he could see I was pretty serious and also I think he probably felt he'd done the wrong thing anyway and I got an extra hour or 2 sleep and felt fantastic the rest of the day...
In the past I would have just been irritated, resentful etc and we probably would have had a rotten day but I knew that's what I needed...and you know what? If I don't look after me how is anyone else going to? And If I don't look after me what am I settling my kids up for in their future - that we wear ourselves in to the ground? That we give to everyone but ourselves? That we put up with less than we deserve? Sometimes that's enough to snap me right out of it all and think - No, I want my kids to care for themselves like I care for them because one day they won't have me making sure they're ok...
Dis - Sorry to hear you had a rough day - what a bugger Ben was up...always the way...can be very frustating though!
As for us, Louis is having a day off today because I said he could come to playgroup with us...it's been so strange not having him home that I thought it would be nice for him to have a normal day...he was testing me a bit this morning with schoolboy craziness but he's been busy ready books for the last half an hour and settled down a little...
Anyway, best get ready for playgroup...meant to be there in half an hour and we're not organised at all!
Chat later xoxo
Thanks Kristie.... I will look over your reply over and over again and really have a think about things. I know I want my kids to have the opportunities I didnt get coming from a family of 8. Im not saying my upbringing wasnt great, it was, there was lots of love around and friendships. We werent able to do a lot coz of financial constraints.... our last family holiday was when I was 9 and there was only 4 of us. I never did any extra curricular activities and the only way I got to go to the school of my choice (because I had such a bad time at the local public school) was in year 9 when I was able to get a job at the local McDonals so I could contribute to my fees and books and uniform. I dont want my kids to have to do that. I dont want them to think that things are given to them on a silver platter though... I enjoyed being from a big family. I also enjoy having my girls and I could see 1 more in the mix. I think it would be managable too. Financially and emotionally for me. I definately know that I wouldnt have any more after that....
And that leads me to my issues with AF. I stopped breastfeeding Amy at 8 weeks, which was just before Christmas. I am not on any contraception and just wanted to see how long it would take for things to go back to normal naturally. Its now been 4 months with no sign of AF. That coupled with the fact that I am really looking after myself and trying to loose weight and I cant is starting to worry me a bit. I might just get some bloods done to see what my hormone levels are doing.
I also wanted to thank you for the tip you gave me in your last post. Olivia had a melt down this morning and I started yelling and then I though about what you had written. So I let her go until she calmed down a bit and asked her if she would like a cuddle. She did and we sat there and talked about how she was feeling. She said she was upset because she thought I was mad at her.... I explained how I felt and the problem was resolved much quicker.... thank you
Well today I have Amys 2nd hip u/s. She has uneven creases so we are off to explore it. Praying that nothing is wrong.
:crossfingers: for you and Amy, Mel.
Kris - I might ty that with Pip - I'm needing something cause I'm not in a headspace to deal with anything at the moment.
Hey girls long time no post.....
Amys ultrasound came back fine. She cut her first tooth at Maldon which was a nightmare and shes still not sleeping too well at home. Last night she went to bed at 9pm and had a feed at midnight, again at 3am and was awake around 5 for another feed at 615. All the while I have the flu and feel like crap! And to top it off Adam is going away for the weekend... yay yay yay for me!!!
We had the girls Batism on the 17th which was great. I must post some pics up. They looked so pretty in their dresses.
Oh I ended up getting AF on my wedding anniversary... 12th April! That was something special. No just to monitor my cycles. Havent thought too much about having any more babies at the moment. I just need to get through now!
Olivia is doing well. SHes been really cheeky and rude lately. Also pushes Rebecca around a lot. However Becca is starting to push back!
Ok have to cut this short.... Becca is up and shes got to do her morning wee. Been tting her for nearly 3 weeks. Shes had a few accidents but is working it all out. Just not really keen on cleaning poo from the old undies!!!
Hi all!!
Mel, big hugs hunny! I know how you feel I had a pretty ordinary week last week too with illness, Liam had croup, DH and I have got chest infections, I had a tummy bug, gastro, fevers and mild mastitis. My god I thought I would die at one stage, lol! But all is well now, 'cept for a god awful cough that we all have, except Caelan, thankfully! Hope you're feeling better soon.
We are tt'ing Liam too, what fun that is, so much more work than with Lily! I actually have to take him and remind him every hour or so to go. Plus the joy (for me, not!-no pun intended, hehe) of him playing with himself and giving himself erections....so gross to see one on a little boy!
Would love to see piccies of your princesses on their big day!
Yay for AF coming for you! I've already got mine back too, boohoo, I don't wnat it back! Along with all fertile signs....DH and I have to be very careful! Only using condoms at the mo(sorry...tmi??) and I'm terrified one will split, lol! But I can't go back on any chemical/hormone contraception because my milk supply gets affected really badly. Plus DH is getting the snip....one day, lol! Makes it all so final though, I'm not sure how I feel about it. I am pretty sure I don't want another, and DH is dead set against it, so it won't happen anyway, but it's just the end then...I dunno, silly maybe!
Ok gotta go and catch up on a weeks worth of cleaning....