March/April Thread #3

[kq]

Just wanted to pop on ANKIE and TRACI and anyone who is having rough nights..a big <<<<<hug>>>>>!
Sam had multiple night wakings a while back which involved me sitting with him for up to 2 hours while he settled. Associated with that, he also woke at 4.30-5 am and would not settle back again. That seems to have settled down and he goes 6.30-6 am.
TRACI, his last feed is at 6pm. Feeding overnight affects his day appetite so I do not  feed him and usually just sit with him and stroke his hair.
JODY, gorgeous pic! Your girls are sure going to be lookers judging by you and your dh.
TRACI, I forgot..congrats to you and dh. Passing an exam is usually testament to your support and having to do everything etc etc while dh checks out and just studies so well done to the both of you!
ERIN, OMG how scary is that ER visit? I work in an ER but could never imagine how scary it would be if it was Sam! Glad Katie is better.
HAYLEY, would have loved to catch up with you. Next time perhaps?
NIKKI, when did you start using the toothpaste on Nathan? Should I start now on old two-tooth?
Oh, oh, must run, Sam pulling on power cord and chewing on it.
Later,
Karen

[Nikki~Nathan&Danielle]

Karen, I think I was a bit slack.  But Plunket only said to introduce toothpaste and toothbrush at 1yr old.  Nathan had quite a few teeth by then and it seems in the US, most mums start with the first tooth.  :?

[sophieandhannah]

I keep reading and reading and wanting to respond to everyone and everything...and there is so much else to do as well.  But boy am I enjoying the reading.

Hugs to Ankie and Traci and anyone else who is having rough nights.

Gorgeous pic Jody..and Hayley that Daniel, what a cutie!

Naomi, glad to hear the fist day went well.  So cute of jayson to say I love you.

Micky...too bad no reaction to the caulk.  Nice try though

Richelle (and anyone else who read it) thanks for reading my note/instructions for Sophie care.  Amy is not doing it as a favor to me.  I am paying her, well, i might add...but I guess I felt it was a favor because she doesn't generally do daycare for other kids? KWIM?  I think that is going to be one of the biggest challengenes with the situation is striking a balance between her being my friend doing me a favor and her being my "employee" I hope I didn't sound overly flexible in my note...Funny...ME overly flexible   Never thought I'd be describing myself that way

Lately, while playing, Sophie has been stopping (somewhat suddenly) and sort of getting really quiet and looking at me.  It looks like she's discovering something or having a new thought she's never had before? Or I don't know??  Then she'll give me a really slow sweet smile.  It's striking me as the sort of more grown up version of the doggie style head tilt   Anyone else experiencing this type of thing.
BTW she is fully crawling now, but thankfully not very fast. And I can't remember who said it but we also have very grizzly days when she is mastering something.  Like the crawling, especially by the end of the day she just wants to do it and do it and do it (she must take after her dad..hee hee) but she is tired and frustrated.  Last night I found her on her knees in her crib sideways with her feet up in the bars.  Coo-coo.

Sorry about the crazy MILs, moms...and spiders!  I really hate spiders too Bec...can't stand em.   MIL bought Sophie an outfit to wear for our xmas eve party...ugh.  It's actually not that bad but I really didn't want her to wear a dress.  I guess I am just feeling like dresses with tights must be sooo uncomfortable for her...but what do I know she'll probably love it.  I bought her red overalls. I guess once a tom boy always a tom boy...even when dressing your daughter
 :roll:
I know there is so much more but I've got to go get this lo some lunch.  The truly obsessive compulsive person in me is rearing it's ugly head as I think about going back to work.  I want systems and schedules for everything.  Containers to put everything in, with labels on them of course.  And I want to finish all my xmas shopping  
OK ladies.  Can't wait to read more about what's happening for everyone.
I am sending sleep vibes, get well vibes and safe travel vibes
TTFN
Hannah

[Judy]

We recvd  so many free samples (Judy should understand!).. with twins they send you 2x the samples! So we had 12 cans of power- all different types...

??  I've gotten a total of ONE can of formula sample and that was just last week!!  It's Enfamil I think - I was online reading up on it a few months back.  I have no plans to use it though sadly - I need to find someone around who could use it - no point letting it go to waste.

Ankie - do you put anything in Arwyn's nose when she's stuffy?  I've tried the saline drops but find they don't work tremedously - AND I can't seem to get them IN the nose - moving targets and all.  I use HydraSense nose spray for INFANTS.  Works great and while still difficult to get in - at least it sprays in instead of slowly dropping and then landing on their lip!  I mean are you supposed to hang them upside down and turn them around to get the drops IN the nostril?  Like moving flour on a greased baking pan LOL  Anyway, I got the spray at our Shopper's Drug Mart - just make sure you get the infant one as it also comes for children and adults.  usually spray is too strong for babies so this is specific for them.

[mickymuscles]

jody...i did go to NAIT but finished in 98.  I think I know where you two are familiar from.  I think DH and I were at the public health centre the same time you and DH were get the lo's their vaccines.  Could that be it??  We go to the west jasper place one.  If it was you, you had the twins dressed in pink/yellow stripped kushies dresses??

Kelly(DH) and I are building in Rutherford Heights.  I work at the Grey Nuns so I don't want to drive across the Quesnell anymore esp. during winter!!

[mickymuscles]

oh yeah, Jody...I've got an appt at 11:30 on Fri at Kitchen Craft to pick our cupboards, etc.  I don't know how long that will be but if it fits in with when you are planning on going to WEM I could phone when we are done and meet you there if it works with Jack.

[Little Bear's Mum]

WARNING LONG POST - NEED TO VENT MY HOPELESSNESS

Hello - it's 10.10am and I'm sitting in my pj's having coffee and bagel and catching up with you girls when my neighbour drops in to say hi! She's the one with the little girl the same age as Daniel so totally understands the PJ bit. But man do I look a bedragled unshowered mess. Oh well.

We had another 5am start thismorning, so once he went down at 8.15am I went back to bed too. The 3 hour awake time seemed to have worked though cos Daniel's still asleep. Phew. I'm too scared to have a shower incase it wakes him as it's right beside his room.

I didn't need to do the w2sleep thing thismorning as Daniel woke me at 4.25am instead. Second waking for the night. I'm sure it's teeth as Pamol worked the first time and teething powder the 2nd. Then he woke again at 5am.  :cry: So I've come to the conclusion the only way these wakings might get any later is to keep him up a bit later at night. Not too much, but I'll try 7pm again. It seems he goes 11hours from his last feed, so maybe if I stick with 7pm for a week or so it might change. I can but try.

I really don't know how single mums and other mums with DH/DP's who go away alot cope. Rhys (dh) has been away 6 days now and I'm going nuts! I think it's partly so much harder this time because of our colds, Daniel's night wakings again and his desperate desire to crawl - hence lots of grizzling. Normally I'm fine, but just not doing so well this time. And I've got another week of him away next week. I feel really bad that I'm grumpy and annoyed at Daniel for waking me so early, and keep telling him how much I love him - even at 5am. My issues seem so minor compared to Ankie's and Traci's so I'm sorry if you read my post and think you only wish you had my minor problems. But for me they're big enough. Infact, when I see it written down, they're not even problems really, just something a cuddle from DH and a few more hours sleep would probably let me handle in my stride. Oh well, only 2 more night without him. Then it's off to Wellington to garden in our rental property all weekend. Oh joy! I'm sure there'll be someone who will happily babysit Daniel while I garden though.

Ankie/Judy - I have been using some drops from the Chemist for Daniel's stuffy nose. Strangely enough he doesn't mind me putting these in but HATES it when I put saline in. The DR said saline's useless anyway. And Judy what you said about the flour on baking tins, that's just the action I do! Rolling him around sideways, upsidedown, forwards etc, he actually loves it and thinks it's a game.  :lol: I was told the spray only works if you breath in at the same time, so it's great if the spray works for your girls. Maybe the infant one they don't have to breathe in for.

Okay, long enough ramblings. Thanks for listening ladies. Oh, what would I do without you.

[Erin M]

Ankie - have you used the nasal aspirator - or the snot sucker as I call it?  I've found it works wonders, it just tends to be a two person job with all the moving around these LOs do.  Colds are just the worst.

Richelle - wow are you busy!  Good luck getting everything done and safe and happy travels.  And congrats on finishing work!

Naomi - I missed congratulating you on your first day earlier.  Hope your second one went just as well.  Can't wait to see the pics. 

As for us, I seem to have my Katie back.  Yay!  She has been her usual happy self today, though a bit sleepier.  Since I now feel like crapola, I haven't minded that a bit.  We took a 3 hour nap earlier!  Unheard of for her.  Thanks everyone for all your get well vibes.  Hopefully we are on the road to recovery now.  Going to the store when you're sick is a dangerous thing - I just went and came home with the most random assortment of junk - lots and lots of drinks, some desserts, and some frozen food (guess who has no interest in cooking?) 

Oh yeah, Traci -  belated congrats on DH passing his exam!  What a relief that must be. 

Hmm...someone seems to need another nap.  Must run!

[Erin M]

Hayley - we posted at the same time - HUGS to you, everyone needs them regardless of how big/small your problems seem to you.  Being a mom is tough work - and I can totally sympathize about not feeling well.  You just want to lay on the couch in your PJs all day - not so easy when a little person needs you.

[Little Bear's Mum]

Hi again, I've just been reading thru the night wakings posts trying to find another solution to early risings.... one person commented that if they're getting too much day naps that effects how long they'll sleep at night. Daniel normally gets about 3 - 3.5 hours naps. So maybe this is the problem. As I'm typing this he's still asleep - it's been 2.5 hours. I'm going to go and wake him up. It says average baby should have at 6 months 14.5 hours or something, so if he's getting 3.5 during the day then he'll only need 11 at night which is what he's doing. Aha - perhaps this is the problem. No more long day naps for him.

Bye!

[M&M'sMom]

Judy-I actually went to ALL the formula websites and "joined" their club thingys.... they mailed me out sooo much stuff!!!

Michelle... we definately go to the Jasper place health centre! It sure could have been us that you saw! Did we have a convey??? would that be weird or what , and then we meet here.... hmmm I would probably be going to the mall around noonish... so you can meet up with us at the mall if you want. I might actually bring the girls, my mom will be in town and she will just watch the girls while I am trying on clothes... Mom my is so amazing- she is driving 7 hours to come and watch the girls for one night! I love her to bits!

heres PRAYING for a great nights sleep for everyone tonight...

Jods

[Colesmom]

I have a plugged ducts and a plugged pore on my nipple.  Thought I'd pop on before I stuck myself with a pin-YAY.  :shock:

Will be back later for more but wanted to say to Bec, you must be pronouncing it with the "L"...when in fact the L is silent.  Hence, Micky was saying she has too much C.O.C.K.  hee hee

[solnme]

Hi again,  just wanted to see how people were doing today?

Hayley - thank goodness you posted your vent!  I sometimes feel bad about whinging on this thread.  You sound like you're having a tough time.  Its that much more draining when you're feeling under the weather.

It's 3:00 pm here and I'm still in my pj's.  It's rain/snowing and I can't think of a reason to leave the house.  The IL's are coming over tonight so I'm trying to get Sol caught up on his sleep.  He's been down for almost 2 hours. Yay! 

Has anybody gotten the flu shot for their los?  It's free for parents and kids under 2 in BC.  Sol and I already got ours but it was a big discussion at the playgroup yesterday and DH has flat out said he's not doing it.   

Happy napping!

[solnme]

Hey Traci - what does your plugged pore look like?  I think I may have one but my doctor couldn't figure it out and says he wants to monitor it.  Does it look like a pimple?

[Colesmom]

Hey Roz, it most certainly does look like a pimple.  Does it hurt to feed?  I got this info from a friend who is an LC (very handy) but you can also find info at http://www.breastfeedingonline.com.  I just searched under Plugged Ducts and went to article 22 on plugged ducts and mastitis.  Hope this helps.  Maybe bring it to your doc...Dr. Jack Newman is one of (if not THE) leading breastfeeding guy in Canada.

Blocked ducts

Blocked ducts will almost always resolve spontaneously within 24 to 48 hours after onset, even without any treatment at all. During the time the block is present, the baby may be fussy when nursing on that side, as milk flow may be slower than usual, probably due to pressure causing collapse of other ducts. Blocked ducts can be made to resolve more quickly by:

1. Continuing breastfeeding on the affected side.
2. Draining the affected area better. One way of doing this is to position the baby so his chin “points” to the area of hardness. Thus if the blocked duct is in the outside, lower area of your breast (about 4 o’clock), the football hold would be best. Another way of achieving better draining of the breast is using breast compression while the baby is feeding, getting your hand around the blocked duct and using steady pressure as the baby sucks (See handout #15, Breast Compression).
3. Applying heat to the affected area (with a heating pad or hot water bottle, but be careful not to injure your skin by using too much heat for too long a period of time).
4. Trying to rest. (Not always easy, but take the baby to bed with you.)

If the blocked duct is associated with a small blister on the end of the nipple, you can open it with a sterile needle. Flame a sewing needle or a pin, let it cool off, and puncture the blister. No need to dig around. Just pop the top or side of the blister. Sometimes you can squeeze out a little toothpaste like material from the duct and the duct will immediately unblock. Or, put the baby to the breast and he may unblock it for you. Opening the blister has the added benefit of decreasing nipple pain, even if the blocked duct does not immediately resolve. Come to the clinic if you cannot do it yourself.

If a blocked duct has not settled within 48 hours (unusual), therapeutic ultrasound often works. This can be arranged at a neighbourhood physiotherapy office or sports medicine clinic. Many ultrasound therapists are not aware of this use for ultrasound. The dose is:

2 watts/cm², continuous, for five minutes to the affected area, once daily for up to two doses.

If two treatments on two consecutive days have not worked, there is no point in continuing with ultrasound. Get the blocked duct re-evaluated at the clinic or by your own physician. Usually, however, if ultrasound is going to work, one treatment is all that is needed. Ultrasound also seems to prevent recurrent blocked ducts that always occur in the same part of the breast. Lecithin, one capsule (1200 mg) 3 or 4 times a day also seems to prevent recurrent blocked ducts, at least in some mothers.

Just be careful when you're working away at it not to spray yourself in the face like i just did :wink:   Also, my friend send to put some oil on it and warm it up really well first to soften it.