Babies of Oct-Dec /04

[pdb]

momtoree-Sorry I don't have any more suggestions about the early wakings.  I'll say a prayer for Reegan! (and for you to get to sleep in  )

[Gigismom]

momtoree-i really think the early wakings are developmental.  otherwise, why would we all be tortured with them?  i haven't really found a solution either.  i just keep her nap times consistent and make sure she gets to bed early enough to get enough sleep since she wakes so dang early.  our neighbor's baby wakes up at 8 am!! i want to trade.  i hope reegan doesn't have to have the surgery either.  although i worked for a family whose little girl had it.  she was about 18 months at the time.  she did really well with it...if that's any consolation.  let us know how it goes.

good night everyone.

[Gigismom]

jill-i keep meaning to ask you, where do you get your crockpot recipes?  i am desperate for some recipes that can be made by a machine, not a one armed person.  thanks!  i hope connor is feeling better.  have you taken any more days off?
and i wanted to ask...have any of you dared stop the before bed bottle or bf?  i really want to because i think the longer i do it, the harder it will be to give up.  but i just don't think she's ready.  we tried putting her to bed without it a month or so ago and she FREAKED!  if anyone has accomplished this feat, let me know your secrets.

[pdb]

Lindsey - I'm dreading that too, especially since Susana has always been so hard to settle for sleep.  I'm waiting until the year visit to the pediatrician and see what he says. 

Ok I have to share a cute story.  Yesterday I was out shopping.  I had Susana in the shopping cart  and was standing in front of her when she reached out and grabbed my sweater and hugged me.  Then she said " I love you."     OK it was more like "Yuh yuh oo" but still.  She did this one other time at home, but I just figured I was wishful thinking, but when she did it again yesterday I was convinced.  Even my mom said it sounded like she was saying I love you.

[Noelle]

Awwww Phoebe...that's so sweet!!! 

[MomtoRee]

How sweet Phoebe!  That is awsome. 

Well, we had the surgery this morning.  I was so sure that she didn't need it but wouldn't you know it was all watery.  We had to leave by 6 and it was the one morning that she wasn't up this week.  I just put her in the carseat straight from the crib in her sleeper.  She did better with not eating then I thought she would but I think it was because she was sick.  I asked them to take her temp and it was 101    They went ahead and did the surgery after talking it over any way.  We were only waiting about 10 minutes and they took us back there before she woke up.  It was kind of funny how she was in and out for a while but I finally got her to nurse a little before falling back to sleep so we could leave.  Now we have an appt with the dr to check her ears  today.  The dr there suggested going ahead and taking her in to get her checked. 

Anybody have a good ear thermometer that works?  I went and bought another one and it doesn't work either!  I am so mad and she won't sit still to take it under her arm. 

There's no way we are ready to drop the before bed nursing.  I can't even drop the afternoon one yet!  I figure why push it.  I think most kids drop it on their own when they are ready.

[Noelle]

Anybody have a good ear thermometer that works? 

Nope...the only person the ear one works on is me and I think that's because I can feel right where to put it.  If I were to spend the money again I would get one of the those new ones you put on the forehead. 

[MomtoRee]

we went to the dr and she said no ear infection, but now she has 104.1 temp  :shock: she is sleeping on me now waiting for the dr to call back.  what a horrible day!

[pdb]

momtoree- Sorry you've had such a bad day!  Hope Reegan is feeling better soon.

[Gigismom]

momtoree-hope she is feeling better soon!

phoebe-aaawww, that makes all your sleep deprivation worth it, right?  :wink:

well, it's now MY turn to be sick.  on wed night, i had excruciating abdominal pain.  finally went to er at 2 a.m.  i had to have an emergency appendectomy!  so that was yesterday.  i didn't get to see gianna all day.  my dh put her to bed without the nursing, (obviously) and she did great!  i think it's because i wasn't home for her to see me and want the bf.  i got discharged today and am home now, but we are trying to put her down agian tonite with no bf'ing because i am so pumped full of morphine and vicodin.  i'm in a little bit of discomfort, but nothing like it was before they took the appendix out.  oh, here's the best part...i am not allowed to lift or hold anything heavier than a plate of food for 4-6 weeks.   :shock:  the sweetest thing was when i got home, she was crawling on the floor, pointed to me and said "mamamamamama"....she's never even tried saying mama before...    
oh yeah, gianna turns one today! 

[jillybeansmith]

Ok...I haven't been on for a week...The whole family was plagued with bronchitis, I had a 104 fever (but still went to work every day!!!)...

Recipes are from "Better Homes and Gardens 5 Ingredient Slow Cooker Recipes"...I picked it up at Costco...

Heres some favourites:

Cheesy Chicken-Rice Chowder:
Prep: 10 min Cook: 5 hours Low, 2.5 hrs high.
1 26-ounce can condensed chicken with rice soup
2 cups water
2 cups frozen peas and carrots
1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes undrained
4 ounces shredded cheese (cheddar)
1/2 cup milk..

Combine soup, water, froz peas & carrots and undrained tomatoes
Cover, cook on low 5 or 6 hrs or high for 2.5 or 3 hrs. Stir in cheese until melted, stir in milk.


Honey-Mustard chicken and Sweet Potato:
Prep 20 min.  Cook: Low 7 hrs, High 3.5 hrs.
6 medium sweet potatoes, peeled/quartered
1 small onion, wedged
2 lbs chicken thighs or drumsticks skinned
3/4 cup bottled honey-mustard salad dressing
1/2 tsp dried rosemary.

Place sweet potatoes & onions in cooker, place chicken on top of veggies.  In a bowl mix salad dressing and rosemary, pour over chicken.


Steak with Mushrooms:
Prep 10 min. Cook Low 8 hrs, High 4 hrs
1 lb boneless beef round steak
2 medium onions sliced
2 cans mushrooms (or fresh)
1 can beef gravy
1/4 apple juice

Put meat & veggies in cooker, mix gravy & apple juice, pour over meat & veggies.


Creamy Ranch Potatoes
Prep 15 min, Cook Low 7 hrs, High 3.5 hrs.
2.5 lb small red potatoes quartered
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 8-ounce carton sour cream
1 envelope ranch dry salad dressing mix.

Place potatoes in cooker, mix soup, sour cream & dressing mix, stir soup mixture into potatoes and cook.


Swiss Potatoes and Asparagus
1 can condenses cream of asperagus soup
8 ounces process swiss cheese cut into pieces
1 8 ounce carton sour cream
1 package frozen hashbrowns
1 package frozen asparagus

Stir together soup, cheese sour cream, potatoes, cook for 5 or 6 hrs (low), stir in asparagus, cook for another 25 minutes until heated through.


That's just a couple, but there is everything in there ... Even desserts you can do in the crockpot...

Let me know if you want some more...I can get some more just veggie ones posted as well....

[Gigismom]

jill-thanks for the recipes.  i hope you guys are feeling well soon.

we are doing ok here.  i am feeling like i just had a c-section again.  it is really hard having a baby and not being able to pick them up.  but hey, at least i can still lift my plate of food.  not being able to hold your baby is one thing, but take food away from me and i'd have to say pull the plug then and there!   :lol:   (just kidding!)

we are officially done with breastfeeding.     :cry:   i have mixed emotions.  i am glad because i was getting worried about that last feed and that she was getting too attached.  but every night since thursday, dh has put her down just fine.  the one thing i am sad about is that i didn't know our last bf would be the last, so i didn't enjoy the moment, kwim?  i do feel sad about that, but happy that weaning for us has been a natural and easy process.

so how are all the early wakers?  gianna is now waking about 4:30 am.  :evil:    i think dh did something when i was in the hospital to reinforce this, because the early wakings only usually last a day or two. it's been every morning since i've been home...

[jillybeansmith]

Anybody have any successfully signing babies?

Connor is having some behaviour problems, partly stemming from frustrations of me going back to work, and frustrations of not being able to communicate, leading to some awful temper issues.

It has been advised that we teach him some sign language to help him communicate his needs and alleviate some of his frustrations...

Are there any resourses around as to how to do this???

[Gigismom]

jill-we have been signing with gianna FOREVER but she has not signed back yet.  she finds that whining is just as effective in getting what she wants.   :roll:   there are books and videos you can buy that can teach it to you.  but we have just been teaching her maybe like 10 signs, just the basics like eat, water, more, up, down, etc.

[MomtoRee]

Lindsey - how horrible!  I hope you get better soon.  I can't imagine not being able to pick Reegan up.  Is she whining all the time wanting up or what?

Jill - We have been signing from the beginning and the only signs that she does are milk, water, more, all done (she seems to get more and all done confused often probably because we used to say do you want more or all done), and thank you.  These are just signs that I knew and never got a book but my sister bought a book that has 1000 signs.  A book will work if you are just doing basic ones but if you are wanting to do more complicated ones I would rent a video.  I would just go check out what the library has.  That way you can get a few books and see what one is easiest to learn from. 

Well we have had a horrible time since Friday!  All weekend she ran 102 -104 temp and then last night she broke out in hives/rash.  We had shrimp for dinner and she took 1 bite!  I thought that it was a shell fish reaction and called the dr and they confirmed it.  Gave her medicine and kept her up to make sure there would be no breathing problems.  She got mad and went to sleep in our bed without nursing  :shock:  So much for keeping her awake but I just laid beside her making sure that she was breathing ok for a while.  This morning the rash was worse and I was freaking out.  On top of this I put her in our bed at 6 when she woke up and I let her roll out of the bed  :cry: Turns out the dr thinks that it is a viral rash.  Does it ever end!  Sounds like we should be meeting on the health board as sick as everybody has been. 

At least she has been sleeping.  She slept over 18 hours on Sat - Sun :shock:  Went to bed at 7:20 and got up at 9:30.  She did wake up 2 times and the 2nd time at 6:30 I put her in bed with me and nursed her.  I have to say it was soooooooo awsome getting to sleep in and then lay in bed with her and watch football.  I hated her being sick but (this sounds horrible) I loved her snuggling up with me in bed all day. 

Hope everyone is all better soon!  I know that I will be so happy when Reegan gets all better!