Friday!!

[penguin129]

It's Friday. What's going on?

[penguin129]

Big P has a cold or something going on so I'm taking her to be seen by the pedi today at the request of Mr. P. I went to pay and file my taxes yesterday in Turbo Tax and everything was gone. Like I never even started them. It was right at the file part. My FIL told me to call Turbo Tax and make sure someone else didn't hack the system and file them first.

[becole]

I'm so grateful for weekends.
Before I had my second, I would work 7-4:30ish and take one day off every two weeks without using vacation- like a flex program. Now with two I don't get out the door early enough to do that and I'm missing those days off. I would even sometimes take the big to daycare like 10-2 for lunch and nap and go get things done.
We have a holiday Monday and I'll be home by myself with both kids because H is not off. I think we're going to the zoo.

[Deleted]

DS didn't want to go to playgroup this morning, so I'm trying to think of something to fill up my morning. He's getting a cold as evidenced by the green snot pouring out of his right nostril. Today he's in underwear and I'm going to see how the morning goes. I'm going to ask him every 15 minutes if he has to go (the potty is currently in the living room).

DD slept through the night last night for DH. Currently she's asleep in her crib. Naps are going well *knock on wood*. It takes anywhere from 1-15 minutes of shooshing, soother replacing and tucking her in Both kids for whatever reason enjoy half smothering themselves to sleep. The blanket she's using is weaved, so there's largish holes in. I'm keeping an eye on the monitor, and once she's deeply asleep I'll go pull it down to her chest.
We need to start putting in her crib at bedtime, because she's getting too big for her baby box, she really can't stretch out all the way. I'm not sure what we're going to do about the blanket thing. No way am I letting her have it overnight. She doesn't use one in her box, and she's already in sleep sacks at night. We shall see. I think DH plans to start her in the crib tonight as he doesn't have to work tomorrow so if it's a rough night at least he'll have help tomorrow.

Sorry about big P penguin129. Hopefully it's just a cold and passes soon.

[becole]

Last night baby was up at 12:30 4:30 and normal wake up time 6:30. At least the oldest slept all night. H was telling him "you're two days early for the 4 month regression!"

[hikingmama222]

penguin129 Hope big P feels better.

I'm watching one of DD's friends today. She's a year older and in Kindergarten but school and her before/after care are closed for a PD day so her mom asked. They play really well together so it should be fine. I got them a few painting projects to work on and it's going to be nice out (although really wet from all the melting snow) so we'll go out for a bit.

I'm probably overthinking it but DS's eating and my supply are kind-of stressing me out. He only had 4 wet diapers yesterday and 5 the day before (one had poop as well). His poop for the last week has been smelling like vinegar, very acidic which is a little strange. He still eats about every 2 hrs around the clock but only 5 maybe 10 minutes at a time. I can't get him to stay on longer, he acts like there's nothing left (i offer both boobs every feed). I took 2oz's out of the freezer last night to feed extra and he wouldn't drink from the bottle, so i feed it to him with a medicine dropper. Didn't make a difference in his sleep.

He has his 4 month immunizations Wednesday but it's only with the nurses. Wondering if I should just book an appt with an LC to figure things out.

I'm just so exhausted. At 4.5 months he still eats and sleeps like a newborn. He still naps 4-5 times a day (catnaps 20-45 mins, can get 1.5 hours if he's in a wrap or i nap with him). He doesn't stay awake more than 2-2.5 hrs at a time.

Cookies and coffee for getting through all that.

[jcrewgirl]

becole - the last two nights at our house has been like that - on top of that, H wants to sleep on us NOT in his co-sleeper. I was going to let him CIO last night and then DH picked him up. Whatever. As long as I can sleep.

Just met with my PCP - she took some blood to check Thyroid. Based on our discussion (and I agree), she thinks I'm just stressed the fuck out - between dealing with vicarious trauma from my work, responsibilities of management position plus everything at home. I just need to find a way to deal with the necessities. She gave me a referral to EAP (my employer offers Employee Assistance Program) - licensed counselors and it's free so I may try and take advantage of that.

DH's birthday tomorrow. I plan on taking us all out to brunch and then dropping him off at this nice barber shop for a decent haircut. Weather looks beautiful here this weekend so I think we'll be outside a lot. Everyone has Monday off and I think we're going to Mt. Vernon - its free on President's Day - they have a petting farm, etc. so DD will love it.

[sanibel21]

DD2 was up at 2, 4, 5, and 6. Fed her at the 2 oclock wake up, so not sure what the rest was. DH thinks it's teething. We had given her Tylenol for her shots the other night and that was the best night she'd had in awhile. But I don't want to give Tylenol every night for an extended period of time. But I also don't want to create a middle of the night party habit that lasts beyond teething. Decisions.
I'm working today, but my mom is coming to my house instead of us all going there because her internet is out. I'm super happy about this.
hikingmama222 did DS have a 4 month appointment with the doctor recently? If so what did they say about sleep and feeding? Is his weight gain ok? Can the nurses do a weight check for you today? I hope you can get in with an LC soon and that they can help. For supply have you tried mothers milk tea, fenugreek, lactation cookies? I think you FF DD. Are you open to trying formula supplements? Nave you tried different bottles? Just trying to throw out so many ideas in case anything leads to a solution because the sleep and breastmilk supply are huge stressor and I just don't want it to take you down a super stressful road. Sending you big hugs.

[becole]

The good thing is that I can set this baby down. He huffs a little but puts himself to sleep so I'm only up a little bit. My first would cry if he woke up when you laid him down.

hikingmama222 it sounds like your child is probably over tired and has a really low tolerance for self soothing. I think sleep training would do your baby some good. He would start sleeping at night and napping better as well (at least my baby that sounds like yours did.)
I literally had a Fb memory pop up a while back from when I was going in the sleep regression with my first.
It said that he got up at 9:30, 12:30, 1, 2:30, 3:30,5. He was a shit sleeper.

[becole]

Also hikingmama222 I'm not counting wets/ dirties anymore and you can tell so much more from looking at a baby than by weight sometimes. They go through spurts of gaining and then staying the same weight but growing taller. Try not to stress about supply. Very few women have an actual supply issue. Most of it is in our heads.

ETA: babies get more efficient and don't feed as long at this point either. Mine only nurses 5-10 minutes. If he's not taking the bottle either, I doubt he's hungry. Could be teething soreness as well.

[smallpotato]

Good morning!

penguin129 , I hope Big P feels better soon. I also hope that there was just a glitch in Turbo Tax and your information is secure.
becole , same about weekends. My BIL works a schedule like that, so he is home with my sister and nephews every other Friday. I wish I had an option like that. So sorry about the rough night.
@snuff9861 , MH and I were talking about how we need to get G to nap in his crib. I've noticed his sleep at day care is crap (cat naps all day for the most part), and I think it's due to him napping in his swing at home. Today would be a good day to start since G does not go back to daycare until next Friday. Good luck with the potty training!
hikingmama222 , I'm so sorry about the crap sleep. It may not be a bad idea to check in with the LC to see if there is anything else going on. Hugs (and coffee) to you.
jcrewgirl , I didn't even think about EAP when we were all having the discussion the other day. I'm glad you were able to get in so quickly with your doctor, and that she's testing your thyroid too.

sanibel21, so sorry about your bad sleep too. Yay for your mom coming to you today!

[hikingmama222]

sanibel21 we saw the doctor at 3 months and he didn't have concerns. DS dropped weight percentiles but so did DD. I make small babies. I've tried a few different bottles and he was taking these ones just fine before. Open to formula if that's what it takes.

becole He is incapable of self soothing, had been from day 1. I did put him in his crib yesterday and let him cry/wimper, took 30 minutes for him to fall asleep and he slept for 20. Definitely going to keep trying. I can't wait for him to figure it out, his sleep needs to get better.

[hikingmama222]

becole I'm thinking teething as well. He is soaked in drool constantly, fists in his mouth and two white bumps on his gums.

He is really tall and obviously growing and looks really healthy.

He's just the polar opposite of DD. She was so easy and easy to read, no guess work. I feel like a FTM.

[iwantbacon]

Our babies need to GTF to sleep, and stay asleep. Lack of sleep was finally too much for me, combined with illness, so I'm home today. I still have to call into a few meetings. At least I can lay down in between.

Even though I just looked through everyone's posts, I can't even remember what was written. So hugs to everyone who needs them.

[smallpotato]

So I took the boys to Moe's last night, and it was crazy. N kept asking me for something to drink (I want milk, but not in my cup, in the carton. Mommy, I want water, etc.), while poor G was fussing first due to a wet diaper, then because he was hungry. Once N was done eating, he was ready to go home. I only ate half my dinner, but I have the other half for lunch. I also dropped my work badge getting my wallet out of my purse, but a nice kid saw it and brought it over to me. I definitely got some sympathetic looks from other moms in the restaurant. I was never so happy to be home.

N slept until 6 this morning, and G woke up at 6:45. He still nurses for at least 20 minutes each time, but only from one side. I woke up this morning engorged, with my left boob (the one he was going to eat from when he woke up) leaking and significantly larger than the right. At least he woke up happy this morning.

N and I were sitting on the floor, and he asked me if MH was on his way home. I started singing about daddy coming home a la "Hamilton," and N took it and made up a few lines about people coming to our home. I asked him if it was a song he learned at school, and he said he made it up. It was adorable.

[becole]

Feb 17, 2017 9:48:51 GMT -5 hikingmama222 said:

becole I'm thinking teething as well. He is soaked in drool constantly, fists in his mouth and two white bumps on his gums.

He is really tall and obviously growing and looks really healthy.

He's just the polar opposite of DD. She was so easy and easy to read, no guess work. I feel like a FTM.

If he looks healthy and is growing, give yourself a pat on the back. It's not your supply. You are enough. He's getting enough.
I'll need you to remind me of this next time I doubt myself as well. ☺️

[hikingmama222]

Feb 17, 2017 9:58:27 GMT -5 becole said:

Feb 17, 2017 9:48:51 GMT -5 hikingmama222 said:

becole I'm thinking teething as well. He is soaked in drool constantly, fists in his mouth and two white bumps on his gums.

He is really tall and obviously growing and looks really healthy.

He's just the polar opposite of DD. She was so easy and easy to read, no guess work. I feel like a FTM.

If he looks healthy and is growing, give yourself a pat on the back. It's not your supply. You are enough. He's getting enough.
I'll need you to remind me of this next time I doubt myself as well. ☺️

Will do. The sleep deprivation is just making me second guess everything.

I think because it didn't work out to BF DD i feel like this is too good to be true (EBF for 4.5 months so far) and it's going to fail at some point. Why do we do this to ourselves??

[Deleted]

So underwear lasted all of 20 minutes. He knows when he has to pee because he yells PEEEEEEE and THEN goes in his underwear. Meh. It will happen when it happens.
Katrine, if his weight gain is fine, then I wouldn't stress about it. Acidic poop can also be teething. DS has rank nasty poo when he's teething, even now and he's not even drooling (currently working on his two upper 2nd molars).
Hopefully the LCs can see you quickly and either give you some piece of mind or make suggestions.

[erien22846]

hikingmama222, I hope you find something to help for everyone's benefit. I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that it's a supply issue but, if it were me, I'd talk to a LC to get advice. If anything, she can help you eliminate possible issues so you can narrow down some solutions.

Have you tried tummy sleeping? Obviously it's controversial but I've heard it can help babies finally get the sleep they need.

[hikingmama222]

erien22846 I actually thought of that the other day but then forgot about it. I had put him on his side/half on his belly and he wasn't flailing around like he usually does... I'll try for naptime this morning.

[penguin129]

We're in the waiting room. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is on. I was just saying it is crazy people (immigrants) are taking sanctuary in churches just like the movie. It is surreal.

[becole]

Feb 17, 2017 10:01:53 GMT -5 hikingmama222 said:

Feb 17, 2017 9:58:27 GMT -5 becole said:

If he looks healthy and is growing, give yourself a pat on the back. It's not your supply. You are enough. He's getting enough.
I'll need you to remind me of this next time I doubt myself as well. ☺️

Will do. The sleep deprivation is just making me second guess everything.

I think because it didn't work out to BF DD i feel like this is too good to be true (EBF for 4.5 months so far) and it's going to fail at some point. Why do we do this to ourselves??

It's a very natural tendency to equate shit sleep with not enough food. This isn't true at all. They don't sleep better with food or more milk. I gave my first a formula bottle before bed every night because I thought he would sleep. Well he didn't! You know what he did do? Went from 50th % to 90% for weight. It was fine. It didn't hurt him. But he didn't need it. It's hard to see that when you're in the thick of it though.

[becole]

Feb 17, 2017 10:31:26 GMT -5 @kitchen said:

Feb 17, 2017 9:03:00 GMT -5 becole said:

I'm so grateful for weekends.
Before I had my second, I would work 7-4:30ish and take one day off every two weeks without using vacation- like a flex program. Now with two I don't get out the door early enough to do that and I'm missing those days off. I would even sometimes take the big to daycare like 10-2 for lunch and nap and go get things done.
We have a holiday Monday and I'll be home by myself with both kids because H is not off. I think we're going to the zoo.

I'm flaming the fact that you didn't take him the whole day every time.

Lol. My local girls did as well. I liked spending time with him and going to the zoo or museum or whatever. But I hate feeding and cleaning lunch and being stuck in the house for naps!
Once the new baby was here though - I die a little inside when I have to have both alone.

[britta]

Feb 17, 2017 10:08:02 GMT -5 erien22846 said:

hikingmama222, I hope you find something to help for everyone's benefit. I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that it's a supply issue but, if it were me, I'd talk to a LC to get advice. If anything, she can help you eliminate possible issues so you can narrow down some solutions.

Have you tried tummy sleeping? Obviously it's controversial but I've heard it can help babies finally get the sleep they need.

hikingmama222 yes, this. Both my boys are belly sleepers. We started way early with DS1, but just started with DS2 in the last month or so. DS1 flat out wouldn't sleep on his back, this one will, but only in short stretches. I think they feel...more secure? Cozier? I don't know. But they both slept way better after introducing tummy sleeping. #anecdote

[britta]

Just read and caught up....hugs, high fives, and commiseration where appropriate.

With all the sleep issues going on, is this where I confess DS2 slept 12 straight hours last night? I know, I know. Sorry.

No plans during the day today. It's supposed to be really nice out, so I'm thinking a lot of outside time after lunch/nap. DH was on call last night so I'm trying to keep the boys and dog to a dull roar. This evening we're meeting my sister and her kids, cousin, other cousin and her baby at the hotel where my grandparents are staying for the surgery I referenced yesterday. Last I heard all went well, by the way. Anyway, we're going to hang out in the hotel and get take out so the grands and see the greats. They have an indoor pool so that should be fun for the big kids.

[penguin129]

Big P had a sinus infection. They put her on amoxicillin.

[becole]

jcrewgirl how do you lose weight while nursing? Can you give me a run down of calorie totals/ types of foods?

[ksyknelvr73]

I'm just happy it's Friday. I'm ready for the weekend. We don't have ANY plans for tomorrow and DH usually lets me sleep in on Saturdays so I'm looking forward to that, if nothing else. My boss is out today so it's a quiet day at work and I'm hoping to slip out of here a little early. Solo parenting again tonight since DH has a game. Last night actually went okay with all 3, and I'm hoping with leaving a little early, I can get some things done at home before I pick the kids up and the chaos ensues.

DD is sleeping pretty well actually. She went down at 8, woke up at 5 to eat, back to sleep until I had to get her up at 6:45 so I could take the kids to daycare. DS2 on the other hand....he truly believes sleep is for the weak. He was up twice. I'm kind of annoyed that my 4 month old sleeps better than my almost 3 year old.

My recruiter says she's reaching back out to the place I interviewed at today to see if they have an update. I'm sick to my stomach over it - I just want to know something either way b/c I'm SO tired of waiting. It's been 10 days now.

[hikingmama222]

britta Yay for sleep! Even though I'm not getting much I'm very excited for those of you that are.
penguin129 Hope she feels better.
becole I've done nothing to try and lose weight and I'm 5 lbs below pre pregnancy weight already. One of the lucky ones i guess. I still have a ways to go though.

[britta]

Good luck ksyknelvr73! Hoping for the best!