Mid June and July Firecrackers Group Due June/July 2017!

[Gagrlinpitt]

Hey pretty, glad to hear Alex is doing so well. P gets her first shots on September 25. We are doing a modified vaccine schedule where she will only get the dtap and rhotovirus first and then two weeks later she will get her MMR, 2nd Hep B, and menegitis. I'm not ok with 5 vaccines at once.

Otherwise the pear juice is helping so much and P is doing much better with the constipation. She is also smiling every day and she loves her play mat. I was planning on crib training her this week but we are going out of town this coming weekend as we have an Amway business conference so I will wait until next week (she's been sleeping in the Rock N play). She's up to five and a half to six hours at night sleeping, eats and then goes right back to slerp for another three hours so we are almost there at a full night's sleep. I can't believe she will be 8 weeks on Friday!!!

 

[Flueky88]

Alex he's so cute. Yes time does fly. Hope his shots go well.

Gagrlinpitt, yes V is also sleeping in rock and play. I'm thinking to crib once sttn or 4 months. She only wakes once to feed in the night. Glad the pear juice is working. It's so difficult seeing your baby in pain tryimg to poop. We use reguline formula for V. It's doing the trick thankfully .

AFM, V will be 15 weeks tomorrow. I'm going back to work next week, but it should only be prn. I'm so blessed that TN allows 16 weeks maternity leave, now only if it was all paid hehe. Sorry I haven't been keeping up with everyone. I hope all our babies are well.

 

[Catalyst]

Finally on my computer not the phone. Cant figure out how to post pics on the phone.
Just wanted to share a pic of my girls taken yesterday, 12 weeks old!

 

[DobbyForever]

Does sound like Alex is doing well! And yes I think we're all just busy haha Kudos for getting the ball rolling

Gag that's interesting and clever. A got his and I was like poor kid. 3 shots and 1 orally. He calmed down as soon as I picked him up but his poor legs gave him grief for two days after. He slept it out instead of crying it out. Congrats on the nice sleep schedule. A sleeps wherever is convenient for me: grace napper, gracias bassinet, arm's reach bassinet, crib, sofa, bed lol just depends what I'm doing and where I am in the house lol

Fluek jealous I wish I had 15 instead of 12 but yeah unpaid so I probably couldn't anyway. I'm not even sure how this is going to work out for me financially... =\

Cat they are so cute!!!

Afm A has his vaccines early last Friday. Had another shit storm. He was 8lbs 12.5 oz and grew 3 inches. That was good news. He has anasaymetrical head from tortexolis and starts physical therapy next week. He has developed a reaction to something in his fortified milk so I am off diary and we had to switch to Alimentum. So far he is vomiting less and spitting up less, but he hates the taste. It also has way less calories and vitamins and minerals but pediatrician says no multivitamins until he is 6 months. It doesn't keep him full as long so he's only getting a 5 hour stretch then up every 75m to eat. I have to go to work tonight because back to school night and I was hoping to go to Costco but my stepdad forgot he has mediation so tough shits for me. I feel isolated and cries most of yesterday. I'm emotionally exhausted which translate to physical exhaustion. SO feels ignored and says he understands but that doesn't make him feel better. I keep worrying something else will be wrong with him. My supply is tanking after the pill. It had a few ok days but I'm only getting 16oz a day now and A eats 18-22. I can't pump more often because my nipples hurt too much even with getting a better fitting flange and liberal lanolin and breatmklk.

 

[PrettyInInk42]

Such cute little girls, Cat.

Alex has been getting good stretches of sleep recently too, Gag. Last night, he slept from about 9:30pm to 3:30am. BD passed out around 9pm too, but I wasn't tired, so I made chili from scratch for his work lunches, played Candy Crush on FB, pumped (and got 4 fl oz in one go), crocheted, and watched TV til I was finally tired at 4am. I should probably be sleeping when Alex sleeps, but it's nice to have that time get stuff done. Plus, I have time to snooze during the day.

Hard to believe that some of you ladies will be back to work soon. I'm so thankful we get a year of somewhat paid mat and pat leave in Canada. I'm already looking at day cares though. It's gonna be expensive. : /

Here's my friend's son, Eli, and Alex from this past weekend. 23 days apart, but Eli's almost 2lbs heavier. lol

 

[Catalyst]

I cant imagine going to work now like some of you girls are doing! With my boys I was about 11-11,5 months at home on payed leave, now I am geting different kind of pay and cant stretch it out like with the boys so I get paid 9 months. Might be home for bit longer than that do to my line of work.
I still feel they are so incredible small although they have grown and matured alot in these 12 weeks. And thinking about my boys milestones, skidding around at 5 months, puling and pushing them everywhere at 5,5, crawling soon after, sitting around same time, standing up at 7 month and so on. Feels like it is almost there and yet far away, but so mutch is going to happen in the next few weeks and I cant imagine not beeing at home and be there when it happens! I know now that we are lucky, although I have been feeling unlucky to get fewer months and lower pay than I did with the boys (it is due to the fact that I have been in University the past 5 years and not working).

 

[Weebles]

I've been back to work now for a few weeks and it's going pretty well, for me anyway. DH brings her in every day to nurse during my dinner break which is wonderful but DD is still having a hard time. She cries for me for hours.

She also doesn't sleep in long stretches. She was.. but going back to work messed that up as she started mostly refusing the bottle so now she basically cluster feeds every night from 1am-4am and I'm once again exhausted. I think I have one of those spirited babies!

I love everyons pictures I just wish I could post one too but I can't upload the ones from my new phone. She looks just like my husband though, like exactly. Only time people say she looks like me is if they're joking.

Dobby I'm a little worried. You've got such a great sense of humor but sound like you're going through a really tough time. Don't be afraid to talk to someone if you think it might be ppd.

I'm still having mil issues. Worse now and it all started with having a baby. It's been causing me a lot of stress and I hope things settle soon.

 

[DobbyForever]

Ty Weebles. The anxiety and depression are hard to manage this week. I unloaded on my friend and family. My mom is taking A on Saturday so SO and I can get some us time. Also asking if she can take him tomorrow so I can get me time. I'm having a hard time breathing when I pump because I can see I'm not producing.

I'm sorry things have only gotten worse with MIL . I see mine every other week and it's annoyingly exhausting because their family is so toxic

Sorry DD doesn't like you going to work . That's so sweet that DH brings her for dinner

I'm also sorry about the sleep. With all our formula switching A is waking up every 2 hours at night I get so tired from 4am to 10am but after that my body hits it's second wind. Just sucks because by the time he'll let me drink coffee it's too close to pumping or too late in the day

 

[lesondemavie]

So glad everyone is doing well for the most part. My little C is just so much fun. Today is the last day in her second leap. She blows bubbles and raspberries, and she even rolled her tongue the other day. Her fav toy is Barnabus the musical monkey, and she loves shadow puppets at night. She just started noticing her hands, she smiles in mirrors, and she's even enjoying tummy time. She also did her first night with just one night feeding this week. She's not consistent with it yet, but I can see her shifting. Oh she also fusses now when she's bored, but it sounds so fake, like she's playing with her voice - so cute! All this play is making daytime naps harder, but I think that will settle in time.

I met with my boss and her baby girl and I'm all set to work one day a week from home. I'll be back mid-October, and I'm looking forward to it. I've been leaving C with DH and going to dinner with friends or yoga etc more. I always miss her sweet face, but I think it's good for me. I'm sure going back to work will be bittersweet, but she'll be with DH. I love taking care of C, but I will be back doing something else I also miss and love when away. I need both in my life.

Dobby - Unless specified otherwise by your ped (and sorry if I missed that earlier), I would just go ahead and drink that one cup of coffee while you pump. So little ends up in your milk and it takes 15 minutes to get there anyway, plus studies have shown that 2 even 3 cups of coffee do not affect baby's sleep (although larger scale studies need to be done). I've even discovered that 1 glass of beer or wine at a dinner with friends doesn't seem to affect it. I have those test strips, and the only time my milk tested positive when I got back home was after I shared a whiskey flight with a friend.

 

[DobbyForever]

Awww A does none of those things. I feel like he doesn't play/interact with me. What's worse is he is most vocal when I leave him alone to shower. I try to tell myself that maybe he's trying to call me back in the room but idk. He doesn't smile either. So naturally I'm worried these are early signs of autism

My pediatrician suggested drinking the coffee after the morning pumping session and that caffeine levels peak an hour after consumption. I'm not worried about affecting his sleep so much as I don't want him having any caffeine period. I'm not even a big caffeine drinker. I usually take a decaf or a water, I only have coffee when I'm too exhausted to function but have stuff to do.

It'll all work out

 

[second.time]

Dobby, plenty of babies don't smile until three months or older! And remember all of these things are guidelines. It's easy to know that intellectually and harder to actually keep it in mind. My older son would blow some milestones out of the water and then be way behind on others. It all evens out in the end. I'm sorry things have been stressful and I hope getting some time one-on-one helps.

Weebles, sorry about the MIL drama. We live far away from mine and that probably helps. We only get each other in small doses so there aren't many chances to fight, but when there IS tension, it's so hard. I hope things get better on that front.

Congratulations on returning to work, lesonde! Sounds like you have a good balance in your parenting life.

My little A. is doing well. He was 12 lb. 12 oz. at his last visit, he's been rolling over, his head control is great now, he smiles and even does laugh-like coos sometimes. He slept through the night once, but I'm not expecting it to happen again. I'm grateful he's such a calm baby. It really helps, especially with an energetic older kid.

I still have about 5-7 pounds I'd like to lose. I lost like 80% of the weight pretty much right away and then plateaued. I'm fairly happy with the weight I am now but I'd like to lose these last few pounds, and I've been doing Ballet Beautiful workouts.

 

[Weebles]

Try not to worry about autism, babies just don't display symptoms of it, they simply can't being babies and all.

A might not be super smiley, they all have their own personalities. But A, he's so little still that it might just take more time too. D didn't start to really "wake up" until she was 10 weeks old and even now she has super sleepy days.

I hope you can get some rest and time for yourself when your mother watches him for you. You sound so stressed but you're doing an amazing job.

Lesonde, I don't know what a second leap is but it sounds like C is doing fantastic. D fusses too in that "fake" way, when she's on her mat and wants some interaction while she kicks. It's adorable. Shes far more focused on kicking right now than anything with her hands. She kicks me when she's getting changed and smiles about it. Aww. And she loves to practice standing. She gets this determined look on her face. I thought I was against them but I might have to get her one of those jumper things you hang for them to bounce in. She's a high needs spirited baby but oh so wonderful too. I just love her so very much.

I stood up for myself with mil and she hasn't spoken to us since. I feel a little bad but I can move on.

My weight loss has plateud as well second although I've got 10-15 left to loose. It might have to wait until I'm no longer nursing. I just get so very hungry.

 

[lesondemavie]

Dobby - Whatever is less stress for you is the way to go. I've gone back to my one cup in the am. I used to try to time it, but I'm still feeding on demand and some days baby girl is just extra hungry. Knowing that so little makes it in there, it doesn't affect baby, and they even give much higher doses to premies gave me the peace of mind to let that one go.

I also wouldn't stress about autism yet. Boys on average tend to hit these sorts or milestones later, and C was born nearly two weeks late so she's hitting everything early (but on time per her due date). Your ped will help you track everything, but remember every baby is different. My best friend's boy was "late" with everything and her ped totally stressed her out. He wasn't clapping on time for example, so I asked my friend if she sang songs and clapped with him. The answer was no. She started clapping more and he was doing it in no time. No cognitive delays whatsoever. He just needed some time and practice.

Second - I'll be back in about a month. Looking forward to it . The laugh-like coos and squeals are the best.

Weebles - The second leap is the second period of rapid brain development. It's when they can perceive and learn more about the world. C is such a strong kicker too, and she really presses her feet into the ground when we hold her in a standing position. She's kicking in more of a pattern lately, and she kicks and holds her legs up in frog position for diaper changes. Makes getting that diaper on so hard! She's a self-soother constantly trying to suck on her left fist and thumb, so her hand is very important to her and she's getting so much more control. Glad you can move past your issue with your MIL.

Speaking of I forgot to mention my not so happy event. My sister came to visit last week. She was so helpful, but one day she drank an entire six pack of beer from 1 pm to 8 pm all by herself. I tried to bring up my concern and it turned into a huge fight. Then she told me she was running out of her meds (she's bipolar) and I tried to get her help but she refused to go to the clinic nearby so that also turned into a huge fight. It all ended with her cussing me out screaming that I was kicking out "the help" even though I repeatedly said please stay so we can resolve this. She thinks she can treat herself and that just scares me. Anyway I was able to get her on the phone and resolve the argument, but I just still feel awful about losing my own temper and worried about her and the path she is currently on. Trying to find a way to accept what she does is outcof my control and let it go...but it's hard esp thinking about the future and what boundaries I will need to set regarding her interactions with and around little C.

 

[Gagrlinpitt]

Lesson that's awesome!! P is doing basically the same thing... Raspberries, kicking, smiling, cooing... It's adorable.

Dobby I agree with Leson.. a lot of times boys tend to be a bit behind... Just keep doing what you're doing
. He'll come around.

Afm, we had to put my almost 20 year old cat to sleep last night and it was horrible... I hadn't really stopped crying and had a horrible panic attack last night.. I feel like such a monster.

 

[thexfadingpat]

I always read your guys posts, but don't post myself because I never really did much from the start. But I'm starting to feel like a bit of a creeper. So I'll try to post every so often now.

Dobby- Every baby is so different when it comes to learning and milestones. Try not to worry. My guy is almost 3 months and so far just smiles and coos. Doesn't even try to laugh, roll, barely lifts his head (he can but is just very lazy). Once he does start doing more you'll be wishing that he would slow down.

Gag- I'm so sorry about your cat. We just has to put down our 16 year old cat 2 weeks ago. It's always so hard. But if they were sick or in pain, its the right thing to do so that they don't suffer.

 

[lesondemavie]

My heart goes out to you gag. We had to put down our 8 yo cat last December due to chylothorax, and we just found out that her sister (now 9) has cancerous mast cell tumors. I feel like our vet must think we're monsters. Hoping we have a long time before it takes her. On top of that my 12 yo cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and they felt a lump on her spleen. Taking lots of photos so C can look back since she probably won't remember her first little fursisters

 

[DobbyForever]

Second ooo ballet beautiful sounds fun! Congrats on the awesome weigh in and good to hear things are going well

Lesson bigs hugs. I'm sorry you two fought but happy you were the bigger person and called to work it out. It is hard. We have bipolar, depression, and anxiety in my family so I get it. You want to separate yourself emotionally but it's family. It's hard. I just tell myself that people can only be helped when they want it, and right now sounds like she doesn't unfortunately. I hope that changes and you don&5 have to set up boundaries, but if you do know that it's ok.

Gag I'm so sorry! I put my kitty down a few years ago and I was the same way. I only stopped crying when the vet sent me a card saying how over the years she could tell how much I loved her and I made the right choice for her and that the clinic donated money to the UC Davis vet school under my cat's name. Maybe doing something nice like planting something in memory of your kitty will help channel that energy into something positive? You did the right thing and I wish I could give you a big hug

Fading lol you are not a creeper

Thank you all for the support. It really means a lot and helps a lot. I'm feeling ok today. Especially after my last pumping session got my usual 6oz instead of 3-4. His red anus is much less red since I switched to pro sensitive. So I'm in better spirits today

 

[Weebles]

Ahh fading, glad you said hello!

Gagrl, I'm so sorry about your kitty.

Dobby, I must have missed that your guy has a red bum.. I had to start using "Water Wipes" for DD, even the sensitive ones were too much for her. In fact since we switched we don't have to use any ointment at all. They've got them at target and Amazon. It might help if he's still got sensitive skin.

 

[DobbyForever]

Yeah I might not have said. I think it was a lactose sensitivity. I cut out diary and it's been one week on new formula (first alimentum now pro sensitive). The pediatrician said the red anus coupled with his violent and frequent spit ups were likely a reaction to something in his diet. And I read a lot of babies stop handling neosure well around 6/7 weeks. I've been using water wipes from day one because Kaiser was very no fragrances, no creams, no ointments the first six weeks. So it was water wipes, newborn vasoline for his penis, and desitin if his cheeks got red. But the top off was the diaper rash cream not helping around his anus/the spit up.

So apparently he does talk and smile just not with me. My mom can get him to talk and smile on demand. Like what. WHAT she sees him like once a week. Baby whisperer. She also got him to eat 4 oz without vomiting! He eats 2.5 with me and puke city :insert eye roll:

 

[Gagrlinpitt]

Yeah I might not have said. I think it was a lactose sensitivity. I cut out diary and it's been one week on new formula (first alimentum now pro sensitive). The pediatrician said the red anus coupled with his violent and frequent spit ups were likely a reaction to something in his diet. And I read a lot of babies stop handling neosure well around 6/7 weeks. I've been using water wipes from day one because Kaiser was very no fragrances, no creams, no ointments the first six weeks. So it was water wipes, newborn vasoline for his penis, and desitin if his cheeks got red. But the top off was the diaper rash cream not helping around his anus/the spit up.

So apparently he does talk and smile just not with me. My mom can get him to talk and smile on demand. Like what. WHAT she sees him like once a week. Baby whisperer. She also got him to eat 4 oz without vomiting! He eats 2.5 with me and puke city :insert eye roll:

It's always a bit disheartening when someone else can do something you can't.. one of my best friends can get P to smile in like two seconds and my DH has been trying so hard and she only smiled for him the first time a few days ago. I felt so bad for him because she would smile for me all day but wouldn't fit him when he got home from work... Thankfully now she is smiling more for him but I felt really bad when she wouldn't...