BS - sounds like you had a lovely time in Paris! V jealous! Thats great Eva has started to roll a bit. I'm trying to get Michael to do the same...were you teaching her, or was it something she just did on her own? I caught Michael on his side once in his cot, but I think thats cos I had tilted the mattress slightly cos he was getting a flat spot. I too fear the first illness, A LOT! I'm paranoid about him getting sick...so Tilda, I'd love to hear what your experience was like.
Kanda - Phew! Glad ot hear its not something too serious. Must be a weight off your shoulders for sure.
Suz - how's the toilet training coming along? glad to hear DH is on the mend
Alison - Sounds like you had a nice time at your Nana's. I know what its like with the demetia...my Nanna was heading that way too, she was here on holiday (from UK) and was adamant that she only had 1 daughter (my mum lives there and her sister here), so when she saw my Aunty here she was like "you can't be my daughter, I only have one daughter". I think it was pretty upsetting for my Aunty. Anyhoo, glad to hear it went well.
Lani - sounds like you'r ehaving a wonderful time, Jett sounds like a little angel! Oh and those pictures were fantastic!!! You've inspired me to start hunting for a photographer here. My 30th is in 2 weeks (groan) so if I get any money from that I'll put it towards getting some photos done.
Carmey - Wow! Jack sounds like he's doing very well indeed! Great weight We stopped wrapping him when we moved him into his cot (bout 4 weeks ago), for fear of him unwrapping himself and getting cold. Like Alison, he sleeps in grobags, which are fantastic.
Hello to everyone else!
AFM - plodding along nicely. Michael slept 12 hours last night!!! I even got up before him! He seems to be coming along in leaps and bounds...using his hands heaps, loves picking things up and putting them in his mouth. Also noticed a few new sounds he's making. After we watched some video last night of him still in hospital its absolutely amazing to see how far he has come from that little bundle that would sleep all the time and only wake up for a quick feed.
Question1 - This is prolly TMI, but I'm stressing slightly. Does DTD still hurt for anyone? Its really really painful for me. I dunno if its just me not really wanting to, or if there's something going on up there or what. Its not nice Even when I had my pap smear done a few weeks ago it murdered.
Question2 - what do you all do for playtime? Like, what activities do you all do with bubs? I need some ideas as I'm always trying to come up with new things to do with him as he seems to get bored if I do the same stuff over and over! This is my current list of activities:
- A few mins of tummy time,
- floor time playing with a toy,
- sitting in his high chair playing with toys,
- holding him 'standing up' and 'walking' ,
- time in his cot playing with a muslin blanket or with his mobile on,
- holding him in front of a mirror
- reading stories to him in his cot
- in his rocker for a while, which he doesn't really like.
- in his kickin' coaster when he's in the mood.
- on his gym-mat thing.
- walking around the house showing him things.
Any idea's would be welcome!
Off to see MIL this arvy. We got the results from her bone marrow test last thurs...could have been better. She still has blast cells but they can't tell if they're cancerous or not Which is a bit scarey. So, the next step is to try her on this really expensive monthly treatment that I mentioned a while ago, from our understanding it seems like they can't just keep treating her with chemo. Not sure whats happening with the transplant, I think she has to be in remission first before they can try it. The docs said they could try it now, but that only 1 in 2 survive it. So we're still on the roller coaster....
Got both boys in bed so I have a minute or two to write a post.
BS - Wow, Paris! Such a shame you forgot your camera It's hard getting organised for a trip away with a baby, there's so many things to remember. Sounds like you had some quality family time catching up with DH's family. I envy you being able to browse Parisian boutiques. I'll have to make do with a walk to the local French Patisserie for a coffee and croissant. Good luck with working from home and don't worry about daycare for Eva, she'll cope wonderfully and we'll be here with an understanding ear when you need the support (it was harder on me than it was on Craig). BTW, the clinic nurse told me that once your baby can roll, then they're OK to sleep on their tummy (because they have enough strength in their neck to turn their head and not suffocate).
Beany - Don't worry, you're doing lots of wonderful play activities with Michael. Wonder Weeks (I got my copy today!) has lots of suggestions for play and toys. DTD hurt for me too, we've only managed it once (DH had a cold sore prior to the broken ribs) but it's more because of (sorry TMI) dryness. After my C-section DTD hurt for months, as if I was bruised around my scar. Mention it to your Dr if you like but I think it's quite normal. That's great that Michael is giving you lots of sleep. Hope your MIL is in good spirits when you visit today and that they can do her transplant soon.
Alison - So glad you go to see your Nana, even though she's not quite there. It will be good for Amelia to know she at least met her Great Grandma. My Grandad has just been diagnosed with a form of dementure and he's turning 84 in a couple of days. How's the construction going? He he he I weighed Ryan on the Wii Fit too, great isn't it?
Carmey - Wow, Jack is a big boy! Very physical too. Craig was a big baby too and I wanted to turn the car seat when he was 8kg to get more room in my Mazda3. He was heavy enough at 4 months but I waited another month until he had more strength in his neck. You can buy little pillows that hold their chins up off their chests when they're asleep. I haven't wrapped Ryan since January because it was too hot and I don't use a gro-bag, just tuck the blanket and sheet under the mattress.
Lani - The photos of Jett are great! I'm also inspired to hunt for a photographer. DH told me he wanted to do photos of the boys for my birthday, so I should hurry up and find someone. I love Jett's hair, very cute.
Hi to everyone else!
AFM - Just got back from a weekend down at our caravan, long weekend here in Canberra. Craig was doing really well with the toilet training, but went backwards a bit while we were away. He's fine with no pants on, but has accidents when he's dressed. I guess he needs more practice. Ryan is sleeping 10-12 hours at night and looks like the Michelin Man! Anyone's bub blowing a lot of spit bubbles? Ryan is practically foaming at the mouth. I'm going to start pumping so that I can get DH to give him a bottle every now and then, and also in the car on trips. DH is slowly feeling better after his dirtbike accident. My copy of The Wonder Weeks turned up today! Just got emails saying my photo orders (calendar, birthday cards and photo book) are ready to pick up from our local Big W, so that's tomorrow's outing taken care of.
Off to sort out some dinner and maybe bake some cookies or muffins...
Hi Beany - 12 hours go Michael! I just had to wake Amelia after 10, not sure I should've though do you? I just worry about her going so long without food although I'm sure if she was hungry she'd wake. Of course it puts her routine out of whack too....what do you do in that respect seeing as you're on the same schedule as me pretty much? The things you do for Michael's amusement are great, they're pretty much the same as me and Amelia - I have been buying her a few different toys, they're mostly for 6 months+ but I figure she will still like them. She can't sit unaided yet or in a highchair so mostly it's against me on the couch or lying on the floor. Sorry to hear about MIL, I hope they can continue to treat her. As for DTD, it doesn't hurt me anymore, we've only done it a few times - who can be bothered lol - but it only hurt the first time for me. I'm sure it's normal though, we had a lot going on in there and the scar tissue from the c-section can take some time to heal apparently - my OB told me it can take 6 months or more. Have you had a period yet seeing as your feeding like me?
Hi Suz - I'm sure Craig will go back to his toilet training now you're home, everyone slacks off when they're away so why not him lol! Glad DH is feeling better too, poor thing. And yes Amelia is foaming at the mouth too, bubbles everywhere! I read it starts around this age as their saliva amount increases and can continue until they're 12 months old when they learn to swallow it, greattttt! I go through so many bibs and clothes - problem is, when I put the bib on she thinks she's getting food Have to get her over that idea!!!
Hi BS - Paris, you lucky thing, when I go away for a weekend it's down to our farm house ha ha. The joys of living in Europe I guess. Hows Eva's sleep going?
AFM - I got my first period yesterday! I thought something was up as the day before I had some cramping. Boy is it bright red and heavy, I guess it's the cleanest it's been for a while lol (sorry TMI). At first I felt sad and angry as it was just another reminder of my breastfeeding failure but then I read even if you're fully breastfeeding you can get them after 3 months so I felt a bit better. Oh well, back to the monthly aches and pains then I guess. I figure at least I know my body is working again I suppose. lol Also, is anyone else's bubs trying to talk? Well when I say talk I mean are they making noises like they're whinging? Amelia is but she is happy and playing with toys so I think it's her finding her voice!!!
Last edited by Alison1973; March 10th, 2010 at 09:50 AM.
Suz - are you kidding me? Baking?? On top of toilet training a toddler, looking after a 3 month old, and an injured DH??? You really are super woman!! Oh yeah, thats right WW did have some activities, didn't it. Must read that bit again! Yes, Michael is making a lot of bubbles and it does look like he's foaming some times. I read it can take up to 18 months until they figure out they're meant to swallow it!
Alison - Hmm. I prolly wouldn't ever wake Michael from his night sleep. I don't worry about him going so long with out food, he would let us know if he was starving I think. Even after 12 hours he doesn't seem too bothered, never cries or anything, just does this thing with his tongue like he wants to suck the bottle. If he ever goes past his normal feed time I normally just bring all the following ones forward a little bit until he's back on schedule. I have woken him a couple of times during the day, only when he's like 2 hours past his normal feed time! Oh, I thought you got your period a while ago? And we started on the same day? maybe I'm getting mixed up. But yeah, I got mine prolly about 5 weeks ago I think. Mine was bright red too. Yes, Michael definitely trying to talk. I put a video on fb of it. It seems like he's coming up with different sounds every day, I absolutely love hearing it!
AFM - not much to report. Survived my first trip to the shops with him on my own (I know, pretty embarrasing to say that after 14 weeks!), he was a little angel. Just went to Target to get some more of the best bibs ever, but they didnt' have any left. Booo. I think I may have chosen a photographer... dilkarra photography. Her fees seem pretty reasonable for that sort of style of photography, $425 and you get 2 hours in the studio plus 20-30 images on USB so we can print however many we like. Is that ok, do you think?
Beany, I think you are not doing so bad with the games there I do most of that but def a lot more tummy time (like half hour at a time) - something else that is nice to do is actually walk around let him touch things while describing. I walk through our closet and let her touch the different fabrics and promise her she can borrow stuff later Also, I take a feather or my finger tips and in her diaper or naked I tickle her and describe the areas I am touching, like this is your big toe, here is an arm...etc...I also have conversations with her in the morning while I have breakfast, let her sit in her high chair while I cook and describe what I am doing. It is just letting her observe. But you have quite a nice list of games there!
As for the rolling. I am not sure if it helped, because I get the feeling she did it when she was ready, but I usually give her a massage or naked time before the bath and I put her on her changing table and every day I put her foot in her hand (she does not hold it yet, but just so she knows it is there), and change sides, then I let her hold on to my finger and roll her to one side, then do the same for the other. I life her legs up to her face so she can realize she can lift her butt etc...so she has started doing all of that now. Not sure if it helps but can't hurt...
Suz, Craig will get the hang of it - he changed sorroundings so it is normal that he did not manage to keep it up. I am sure once you get back home and everything is how he is used to it will help. I have lots of bubbles too and lots of drool fown the front of everything! Her hands are sometimes full of drool then she touches my face so I get a wet sticky drool patch on my cheek
Alison, I got what I thought was my period a month after giving birth but I am not sure if that was it. I am enjoying not having it but I know my hormones are going back to normal (hence the hair loss etc) so am expecting it soon. You really should not beat yourself up about the bf. Amelia is happy and settled and that's all that matters. I bf and Eva is always unsettled with her reflux...bf does not change that much and as long as bubs is happy, that is all that matters!
AFM, Eva was up crying again two nights in a row, now with gas, but I feel like her system is getting back to normal with the bigger meals now...she has pooed Sunday, Monday and Wednesday Unheard of with her since she used to go every 10 days or so! So I am blaming the crying on having gas since her system is starting to kick back into gear! Hope that is the case...4 month pediatrician visit next month! Holy crap, time goes fast!
Hi Beany - no you're right, I thought that was my period but it only lasted 2 days and wasn't like this so I think it was just a bit of "leftover" bleeding from the birth etc. Have you had yours again since then? I'll be interested to see if it's sporadic or goes back into a routine. I knew I was ovulating recently so I'm not surprised - I can feel when I ovulate, probably sounds weird, plus I can tell from the CM - gosh, remember talking about all these things when we were trying to get pregnant ha ha! I tell you what though this is heavier than I ever remember, was yours the same? Good on you for hitting the shops. Gosh how bad do I feel, I've been going since I could drive and I go a few times a week I reckon lol. Have to stay home more now, spending wayyyyyyy too much money and now I'm on maternity leave and we're down to one income I have to remember I can't shop like I used to. Oh I miss my lovely monthly salary.
Hi BS - thanks for saying that, makes me feel better when I hear BF'ing people say that, I always feel like people think I'm slack even though that's not why I FF. I just expressed, only got 20 mls today, boooooo. It's inredible they're all heading to the 4 month mark isn't it, it just goes way too fast. Good luck with her appointment, Amelia has her 4 month needles in a week and a half, dreading it much!!!! I hope Eva has a good night for you tonight. Oh and how is the exercising going? I started the Wii Fit Plus today, it told me it had been 411 days since I was last on and then proceeded to say "oh dear, you've gained weight" - 5.9 kgs more than 411 days ago lol...........then put me in the overweight category for BMI - I did have a BMI of 22, now it's 25! I didn't get a full workout in this morning however because Amelia didn't want to sleep, I think that had something to do with the 10 hours she'd just sleep that night!
Hope you've all had a lovely day. xx
Last edited by Alison1973; March 10th, 2010 at 08:10 PM.
I had my child health nurse appointment today and it went really well. I came out feeling so much better about this breast feeding bizzo........she told me to stop worrying about it - didn't attempt to lecture me one bit and in fact told me to ignore anyone who gives me grief and that really the only difference between the two is the immunity side of things which they get from the first few weeks which I did anyway so that's it, I'm not going to beat myself up anymore!!! In fact, she said even though she said they're supposed to sway you towards breast feeding at the end of the day it's really not that different anymore. She said the formulas these days are packed with good things....she said even she had to formula feed one of her 5 children as she went back to work when he was 6 weeks old. She said in those days they didn't express, they either did one or the other. I did notice in my purple book that the paed wrote something against the column for her head/fontanelle etc but I can't read it. He did tick it as as pass and didn't say anything but now I want to know what it says and that appointment was back in January! Idiot. Oh well, obviously nothing to worry about. The health nurse also said that she's obviously healthy and content, it helped that she smiled the whole time we were there hee hee.
So, anyway Amelia is now only in the 75th percentile for height so not sure what happened there given she was in the 90th last time lol....perhaps she's stopped like I obviously did ha ha. She's also in the 75th percentile for her weight......Sheila wasn't concerned at all, she said once they start moving around they'll even out. I don't think she looks fat anyway do you guys? Her head circ is right on the 50th so that's good - don't want her having my husbands big Polish head lol!
Oh and I've decided to go from the infant to crawler size nappies now? Amelia has wet through her nappy at night the last 2 nights in a row and it's waking her up so even though the sticky tags to do them up cross over they give better coverage I think lol.
Well, off to roast my vegies ready for my lamb shanks that have been brewing all day. My house smells divine. Hope you've all had a fab day. xx
Hi everyone, its ages since I posted! So sorry in advance if I miss heaps of stuff!
Kanda - that's fantastic news that the nodules are something pretty manageable! And what fun to have met the Wiggles!
Alison - It's great you were able to introduce Amelia to your grandmother. Like you said, they love babies even if they're not aware who you or the baby are. We visited DH's surrogate grandmother in Perth who is turning 100 this year. She had no idea who we were but loved seeing Matilda. And hey, just read the post you just put up. That's just great that you're feeling so good about the feeding stuff. It sounds like your CHN really has her head screwed on. Maybe you should just let the expressing go altogether. And I thought Amelia was quite a tall, trim little thing (not like rolly polly Matilda lol).
BS - Glad you enjoyed Paris. But its no good to hear Eva has been so unsettled. It's tiring isn't it! We've been up and down ourselves.
Beany - Don't worry, I haven't been shopping on my own yet either! I cringe to admit but I haven't really taken her anywhere much on my own because I'm nervous about lifting the stroller. But I'm going to bite the bullet and take the stroller out in the car tomorrow. And a couple of posts back you were asking for ideas on stuff to do. I can't remember if you mentioned it or not, but have you tried giving him a massage? I tried one for the first time today with Matilda and she had a feed and went off to sleep really quickly afterwards. Not a bad life being a baby these days! I also find Matilda loves having songs sung to her (even though I have a horrible voice). Especially ones with actions along with it. The raising children website has a baby karaoke page - great for brushing up on all those kiddie songs. I liked BS's idea about fabrics! Did that with the laundry today.
Suz - Things are always 2 steps forward one step back with babies and kids. I'm sure Craig will get back into the swing of potty training after a couple of days at home. My copy of Wonder Weeks arrived this week too.
Carmey - I'm so impressed Jack can roll! Whenever I try and give Matilda a bit of a helping hand to roll she looks terrified. She swings her legs around in the air so much she almost throws herself over. One of these days she's going to go smoosh on her face and there will be many tears I fear. I'm still wrapping because of the same dilemma. You might want to try and get a larger wrap. Living Textiles sells one online which is 150cm x 150cm. Most of the ones in the stores are only 120 x 120. I think until this hands obsession thing ends I'm going to have to keep wrapping her, because like Jack she just wakes herself up with the hands all over the face and in the mouth thing.
Hi Lani, Rose, Hannah, Sesame and anyone else I've forgotten.
AFM - Well, god, it's been awhile since I've had a chance to post. The flight home from Perth on our own was manageable but not easy. It was hard trying to manage her and luggage even with a bit of help from attendants. But we survived. And her cold had improved a lot so her ears didn't seem to worry her as long as I fed her on take off and landing. And let me tell you girls, infant panadol is a godsend. Her poor little throat was hurting too much to feed I think unless I gave her the panadol. And I think I might have caught what she had because I've had a really sore throat for a couple of days. At least I'm hoping that is what it was and that I haven't caught some new bug that I'll pass on to her.
Matilda was really difficult to get to sleep for a few days after we got home. Gone were the blissful 2-3 hour sleeps and easy settling. I think after 2 weeks away everything seemed very new and interesting again so she was a complete rubber neck and was pretty disinterested in going to sleep or staying asleep. I felt quite low myself and have been stomping around blaming our house for being cluttered, uncomfortable, and noisy. But she's improved a bit and I'm going to rearrange things to make the house a bit more workable. But nights are a bit all over the place. One night she'll only wake once and then the next she'll wake three times. Grrrrr.
DH has started working several days a week for a company in Sydney so he's not quite as available as usual. Its been mostly from home but next week he has to go up to Sydney for 3 days and I'll be on my own for the first time with her. I'm a bit nervous because we don't have any family here or even really close friends that I could get to help out if needs be. It wouldn't worry me except I'm often quite sore towards the end of the day and its great to be able to give Matilda to DH for a break.
Anyway, I should finish this marathon post. It's been very therapeutic to get on finally and say hello. Missed you all!
We stopped wrapping him when we moved him into his cot (bout 4 weeks ago), for fear of him unwrapping himself and getting cold. Like Alison, he sleeps in grobags, which are fantastic.
Even when I had my pap smear done a few weeks ago it murdered.
Which is a bit scarey. So, the next step is to try her on this really expensive monthly treatment that I mentioned a while ago, from our understanding it seems like they can't just keep treating her with chemo. Not sure whats happening with the transplant, I think she has to be in remission first before they can try it. The docs said they could try it now, but that only 1 in 2 survive it. So we're still on the roller coaster....
Also, I take a feather or my finger tips and in her diaper or naked I tickle her and describe the areas I am touching, like this is your big toe, here is an arm...etc...I also have conversations with her in the morning while I have breakfast, let her sit in her high chair while I cook and describe what I am doing. It is just letting her observe. But you have quite a nice list of games there!
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