March/April Thread #3

[Arwyn's mom]

Nikki...{{{HUGS}}} to you.

Traci... I am glad you had some success last night and hooray for your DH!

Also, I am in the same boat as you, Traci. We had a better night  :roll: for those of you having through sleeps, you will probably wonder what is better about it. But, all is relative!

7:00 pm down
8:17 wake DH settle in 3 min
9:18 wake DH settle in 6 min
10:00 wake DH goes to settle... back out in 36 min. feed and back to sleep, woke and back down again by 11:06
12:50 wake pu/pd
3:10 feed
4:06 wake pu/pd
5:15 wake pu/pd
6:30 up for the day

At least, I didn't have to sleep sitting up again though. Funny thing is, I am more tired this morning... probably from the pu/pd.

Off to nap when she naps!

[Arwyn's mom]

Nancy... I had to reply before napping about the sep anx. I have a friend whose little girl was SOOOOO clingy and would cry even if a stranger said hello who is now the most pleasant, well-adjusted child I know. The clinginess lasted until about 2 ish but now, she is Miss Independent!

Don't worry about those kinds of comments. Your cousin's fiance will know when she has kids of her own. Then, you get to bite your tongue, or let it all out .

And yes, Arwyn is doing what Liv is doing. At the mom & baby drop-in, she is fine as long as I am close by. If my parents come over to baby-sit or whatever, I stick around for about 10 -15 minutes and then say a proper goodbye to her (kiss, hug and bye, bye). New people don't really bug her too much... she will let them pick her up but then will reach for me if she is not comfortable.

[Olivia's Mommy]

Ankie, thanks. I thought it was pretty common, but some people's comments make you doubt yourself. So, thanks for the reassurance.

I'm sorry you're having rough nights, but glad last night was better. Now go get some sleep!

[Taylor's Mommy]

Nancy-funny you should mention that about the stranger anxiety.  Last night a friend stopped by to pick somthing up and while T was in her highchair I left the room to go get the cd.  All of I sudden I heard her cryign her litle heart out and when I came back she had big crocodile tears!    My friend (he is a man) was so hurt he said she doesn't like me!  I tried to reassure him but think he was still hurt :?

Ankie and Traci-sooo glad you guys had a better night.  Thank goodness huh?
Us on the other hand had a horrible night.  She woke at 10:30 and settled her down in 10 minutes.  Woke at 1:30 settled her down in 10 minutes again.  Then about 15 minutes later she was up again, but she was doing a sort of mantra/phantom cry for about 30 seconds, then back to sleep, then up again...it went on and off like that for about 3 hours!!! :shock:  :shock:   There really wasn't anything we could do because as soon as seh would start to crying, by the time we would get up she would stop.  We gave her some motrin and didn't seem to help obviously.   We finally just decided to stay in bed but it was hard to listen to her cry on and off all night (It was NOT CIO btw, if it sounds that way?)
I called the ped. because I really think it has to do wiht the runny nose/congestion/cold type thing she has that has been going on for almost 2 weeks.  THey said if she has another bad night to bring her in tomorrow because it might be the start of an ear infection

Anki-poor little Arwyn.  I had a fissure after giving birth and it was not very pleasant.  It finally went away on its own, but definitely a good reason why she would be having sleep and poop problems.  What the doctor say to do for treatment?

[Arwyn's mom]

Andrea... Arwyn has some medication for the fissure. I can't really see it myself but I just apply it to her anus and hope it will go away soon. The doctor said that she is holding in her poop and causing them to dry out and get stuck, etc. TMI, I know.

About the ear infection though... no medication (freaked my mom out and she brought over some Chinese medicine, which I refused to give to Arwyn). I don't know if any of you have smelled or tasted traditional Chinese medicine but it is the most revolting thing. Karen, do YKWIM? Having said it is revolting though, I take it and would not mind Arwyn taking it when she is at least 5. I can't imagine what this stuff would do to her immature digestive system!!

[Erin M]

Ankie - {{{hugs}}} for you and Arwyn - poor sweetie, no wonder she couldn't sleep.  Does it at least make you feel better that all of her sleeplessness had a cause? Are you giving her something for the pain of the ear infection?  When Katie was diagnosed with hers on Monday (rough week for ears apparently), the ped said to give her Tylenol and Motrin round the clock until the antibiotics had a chance to kick in.  She said it's the inflammation that really hurts and the Motrin/Tylenol helps with that.  Not sure how long you would give it since the doc didn't give you antibiotics.  Hope she feels better though....and the things we do for our LOs - I mean really, who else's anus would you gladly apply medicine to?  Oh, and my ped said Katie might be more comfortable sleeping more upright (like in a carseat or with the crib elevated) until her ears stopped draining as that hurts quite a bit too.

Andrea - When Katie got her ear infection she was super fussy the day/night before - not all out crying for the most part, just really, really fussy.

Traci - glad to see you're making some progress with Cole.  Hopefully things will sort themselves out soon (especially now that DH can lend a hand too!)

Bec - Katie had one of those things stuck into her head when she was being born to monitor her heart rate.  They kept losing it on the monitor and I was having a gazillion contractions (well, not really but it seemed like it) and the doctor was worried, so in went the little electrode.   I think they broke my water at the same time. 

My house is a disaster.  Being sick this week, along with Katie being sick means that nothing got done.  I finally unpacked this morning from being away last week and am slowly tackling everything else (and getting SO much done now, can't you tell...) :lol:

[Little Bear's Mum]

Goodmorning 

Ankie and Traci - Yay for you both. You may even see I tiny spot of light at the end of the tunnel. That's great news.

We had an improvement last night as he only woke up at 2.50am, and then started his day at 5.42am. At 2.50am he was reasonably quiet and perhaps I should have left him longer, but I went to try to resettle before he got too upset. Of course he went quiet as soon as I PU, then PD and he'd cry. This went on for about 15 mins and I thought ok, so maybe you need pain meds. So gave him Pamol. Normally this quietens him straight away, it didn't, so I put him back in his cot and went out to get the bottle. He was screaming when I left the room, but within 1 minute he was quiet! I waited for him to start again, but he didn't. So was it the meds? Was it just that he was now ready to go to sleep. The other times I'd left the room he would keep going and getting louder. So, not sure what worked. But I've decided to take him back to the Dr cos his nose is still running lots. I know I've got headaches and my nose is still blocked too, so maybe he is in pain/discomfort. Surely there's some reason for the screams??? :?

Then, when he woke at 5.42am (what is it about that magic number) I gave him his bottle and put him back in bed. 15mins later still talking/whimpering. So I got up, got dressed and put him in his buggy and we went for a walk! YES AT 6AM. I figured if he was tired then he'd go back to sleep, like he does in the afternoons if he needs a sleep. But alas, no, he wasn't tired. This makes me think at 5.42am when he wakes he really is ready to start his day. I may try this again next week but not give him his bottle first, go straight into the buggy and start walking. I'll have the bottle ready though incase he starts waking up the neighbourhood while we're walking!  :lol:  :oops:  :lol:

Finally DH is home today. He'll be home before lunch hopefully, but then has to go back to work until 4.30pm. We'll probably go to Wellington tonight ready for our big gardening cleaning up all weekend. So I won't be seeing you much thisweekend.  :cry:

Oh, I don't think I"ve told you Daniel's latest development. Crawling backwards! I've heard they do this before going forwards. He can now go all over the lounge, but so far is not venturing too far. Hasn't reached my Christmas tree yet. We're going to have to babyproof lounge now though. And he's starting to reach/climb up objects to see what's on top. Hasn't quite mastered that yet though and only tried a few times, but it won't be long. I just hope he crawls forward while I'm watching him, not DH!!! After the week I've had I deserve it I say!!!

As for Christmas cards, I'll do them just not sure when  :oops: I meant to buy some yesterday but forgot. So now won't get some until next week, unless the gardening goes well and I get to go shopping too.

Oh dear, just put Daniel down but I dont think he's ready, I'll get him up before he gets too upset. He can definitely do 3 hours up now, and it's only been 2.5h.

Bye for now

[Olivia's Mommy]

Andrea--I know how your friend felt...all my friends feel like Olivia hates them. It makes me feel so bad, but I try to assure them it's just the stage she's at. Even MIL over Thanksgiving kept saying, "Don't you like me? I'm your grandma!" I felt awful about it.

Ankie--Poor little Arwyn!!! Bless her heart. I hope she gets some comfort soon.

Off to do some grocery shopping.

[Erin M]

Me again...still here, the house is still not so clean.
Just a quick question - I got my ped a thank you card, but I don't know what to write (and I'm generally pretty bad at things like that).  Any suggestions for a nice man who took time out of his Thanksgiving dinner to discuss my child with me?
THanks ladies!

[Little Bear's Mum]

Erin, how about something along the lines of what you just wrote:

"Thank you so much for taking time out from your Thanksgiving dinner to talk with me. I am greatful for your understanding and help during this time."

[Colesmom]

I have read the posts but don't have a lot of time right now to respond.

Smuggies has a runny nose :oops:  Guess we shouldn't have stayed at my friends house the other day with her toddler who had a cold.  He's in okay spirits though.  A bit stuffed up for nap 2, held him at the 30 minute mark to clear him up then he slept another 40 minutes when I put him down and then another 20 minutes while on the boob.  Best 2:30 feed he's had in a couple of weeks.

He slept in until 7 today, after being up from 4:45-6:00.  Do you guys think I should keep bedtime the same at 6:00 or maybe push it back a bit to 6:15-6:30?  I know I should read his cues...but that's hard sometimes.  Anyway, thoughts about when your little one sleeps in?  Kate, you went through this yesterday...should i keep him up a little longer?  Maybe if he fights going down I'll get him back up.  hmmmph.  guess i just answered my own question.

[mickymuscles]

ankie...if that was a better night.... :shock: ....I hope it becomes feakin' amazing!!!!! :shock:   I am also 1/2 chinese and have tried chinese medicine once.  I will never try it again unless i've been force fed something that I need to puke out! :shock:   Absolutely nasty stuff!!  YUCK!  I can't even imagine what Jack would do if I gave it to him.  He would probably think I was poisoning him!!

Traci-if Jackson ever sleeps in he is usually is still tired around the same bedtime I sometimes will be able to put bedtime back maybe 15 min but that is usually tops.

[Little Bear's Mum]

Traci, I never read Daniels nighttime sleepy cues. Always as close to same bedtime as possible. And yes, for naps now, if he's talking not settling, I get him up for 15 mins then try again. It's definitely helped. He doesn't get worked up then. That's what I did thismorning and it worked a treat.

IMHO I'd be going for a 6.30pm bedtime, hey I'm now trying 7pm, but I wouldn't do much sooner than 6.30pm. According to 'the books' at our LO's age they only sleep 10-11 hours average at night, so anything longer than that is a bonus. Of course, there are the exceptions when babies sleep 12-13 happily..... grrrrrrrrr..... just kidding.

Yay - DH has just got home. They flew over in a 6 helicopter (or 7 didn't really count) formation. Right over our house. VERY COOL  Very loud, but Daniel was fine with it. We then went down to meet him and say hi. Daniel wasn't too sure. I guess it's the longest he's not seen him for, apart from when he was only a week old, and was kind of 'holding back' no big smiles or giggles for him yet. I'm sure it will change when he comes back to the house though in about 30 mins. Meanwhile, he's needing my attention so better go.

Take care everyone.

[Nikki~Nathan&Danielle]

Thanks everyone!  Things do seem to have calmed down a wee bit with Nathan in the last couple of nights, so a little more sleep has been gotten.  Fortunately my lovely DH gets up with Nathan when he wakes at 5.20am (although this morning it was 5.45) and plays with him until I get up when D wakes around 7am. 

Nancy, like the others have said, don't stress over Liv being clingy, it actually helps them to know that you will be there for her rather than pushing her into a situation that she's not comfortable.  Your 3yo niece obviously got what she needed at the time and is now a well adjusted girl because of it.  We can help them be independent gently when they're ready.  Just ignore other family members comments about her becoming spoilt and keep doing what you're doing.  :wink:  There was an interesting "discussion" LOL in the Activity forum a few months back that you might find interesting.  I will post the link soon.

http://www.babywhisperer.com/forum/how-to-encourage-independent-play-vt41634.html

[Judy]

On the babies crying at strangers, even friends/relatives front: 

Here's my take.  First off people need to stop it being all about them - babies do not dislike grandma nor do they understand the relationship of 'grandma'.  Grownups need to grow up!

I just *love* those statements :roll:  "she's spoiled", "oh she must be hungry",  "oh is she tired?", "oh you hold her too much"  :roll:  anything but acknowledging that babies are most comfortable with their moms.  AND back to the first point - everyone makes it about them so if they say she's spoiled then the crying can't be because she doesn't like them :roll: 

ALL of my girls have been or ARE like this and it's just a simple fact of life.  I get so tired of people making excuses for them or telling people in front of them that they are 'cautious' 'shy' etc. etc.  How about they are just them and this is just how they feel right now and hey, how about that's ok and just plain fine too.

Ok vent over

Haley - now if Daniel is a bit unsure of dh after not seeing him for awhile - hows about breaking out 'the box'  :wink:

Gosh as for bedtime Traci - geez all I can think of is I just don't keep track of things very well... I can't remember what time or length the naps were today :oops:  and I've never factored morning wakeup into bedtime :oops:

Ok so anyone want some funny stuff??  Gosh.  DH's mom is here now till Sunday and I must say she's so relaxed about everything and really let's the girls just do whatever without nagging at them or trying to make them do things her way etc..  So she's trying to get them in the shower downstairs while I bath the babies and they're running around screeching while naked   I come out and go down and tell her it really looks as though we've lost control... there's a BOX of honey nut cheerios scattered on the kitchen floor, crumbs in the carpet by the stairs, Sarah has waited too long to run up to the bathroom and dribbled on each step then left a huge puddle at the top of the stairs, walked back down leaving footprints on each step.  MIL just says "we don't care" and laughs.