DH and I are attempting to sleep in shifts today. We spent the night in the ER with H who threw up everything she ate yesterday and had no wet diapers. So we are exhausted but I think a good long sleep will help. DH is sleeping now so I'm on baby duty.
I kind of don't know where I belong on TCF now. I hope it's ok if I just keep playing here.
I'm sorry to hear about the ER trip. I hope H is doing better today.
And yes play here! I don't "go" here either but I like hanging out here so I'm staying. You should too!
Yes I agree, I don't "go" here either but oh well...
TTC since July 2014. CP March 2015. IVF #1 March 2016, 5R, 3M, 2F with ICSI. Transferred 2 on day 3. CP. Surprise BFP and then CP August 2016 (prep cycle for IVF). IVF #2: zero eggs retrieved IVF #3: 6R, 5M, 5F, 3 (2 8A and 1 11A) transferred, one "B" graded embryo frozen on day 5. BFP (at home 7dp3dt, confirmed 14dp3dt with 1552 beta) and U/S at 5w5d, 2 sacs and 2 yolks!
DH and I are attempting to sleep in shifts today. We spent the night in the ER with H who threw up everything she ate yesterday and had no wet diapers. So we are exhausted but I think a good long sleep will help. DH is sleeping now so I'm on baby duty.
I kind of don't know where I belong on TCF now. I hope it's ok if I just keep playing here.
I'm so sorry about H getting sick. Big hugs. I hope she's feeling better.
I wish I had some magic tricks! I think our plan is just to look at how much we are spending on a more regular basis than once a year. It was really helpful to sit down and review it but we just need to be more aware throughout the year so we can make adjustments.
I like Mint.com. You can set budgets by category and see where your money goes. Most transactions get categorized correctly automatically so I think it's a helpful tool.
H actually does use Mint to track everything. I think I need to have access to it so that I can keep track more regularly - I am better about being obsessive over such things.
I like Mint.com. You can set budgets by category and see where your money goes. Most transactions get categorized correctly automatically so I think it's a helpful tool.
Mint is great, but it overwhelms me. H built a color coded spreadsheet that has helped us ease into it. I hope to work up to Mint.
I also need to figure out the whole credit card thing. I want one with better rewards, and I also want to change banks. But that requires effort.
I closed extra bank accounts I wasn't using and switched over to a local credit union a few years back and I'm so glad that I did. I think I was able to do almost everything online, which is easiest for me.
Post by ThankfulSnail on Mar 16, 2017 13:52:13 GMT -5
I tried mint.com but didn't love it. I type out a budget every month with what our pay checks will be, what bills we'll have/when they're due, and see what we have left over. Sometimes we take meals out to eat out of groceries, other times out of that "left over" un-allocated money. We try to keep it to no more than once a week, but it is hard. DH is a major meal planner and buys groceries very purposefully for each meal he's making, so that helps.
sleepymonkey , he doesn't want my dog peeing on his fence. Also, his dog just had surgery and our dogs have always ran up and down the fence. So instead of him keeping his dog from running he is blaming my dog for making his dog run. Before he got his privacy fence I could see when his dogs were outside and keep mine in until his dogs went inside. Now I can't see so I end up letting him out when they are out. He expects me to walk all the way out in my yard to check for his dogs. I'm just not going to do that. He also leaves his door open for his dogs to come and go from his house and they end up being outside for most of the day. He can't expect me to wait for hours to let my dog outside to pee.
That is absolutely ridiculous. His dog is his responsibility and if he doesn't want him to run, that's his problem. You have a property line and as long as your dogs are on your property (whether you own or rent), they have every right to be there. People never cease to amaze me.
Post by ourcrazynavylife on Mar 16, 2017 13:56:10 GMT -5
lulu783 I've flown with DD multiple times and have never been asked for documentation for her. (She's 2 now). But it's a good idea to bring the birth certificate.
Post by ourcrazynavylife on Mar 16, 2017 13:58:08 GMT -5
marshian it really is driving me nuts. I guess you kinda get what you pay for with contractors. Luckily (for them) I'm so pregnant I'm in IDGAF mode so they're not getting raged at nearly as much as my usual type A scheduley self.
sleepymonkey, I totally agree. My dog has the right to be outside all day long if he wants and I personally like the fact that he runs bc it's good exercise for him. I still don't understand why the man didn't come and speak to us if he was having a problem. He certainly doesn't need to take it out on me in front of my kids. The police told him not to have anymore contact with me. If he starts screaming and yelling again I plan to just call the police again. Luckily, we are moving in June. I secretly pray his next neighbors have 3 dogs that run his fence and pee all over it!
Post by sleepymonkey on Mar 16, 2017 14:00:50 GMT -5
Eating out a lot is a source of many discussion between me and H. We eat out Friday night, Saturday lunch, sometimes Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch. Plus we usually get take out at least once during the week. We don't do expensive meals but they still add up. I though when DD was born, we would eat out less but that didn't happen, we just changed the restaurants we went to. I would really like to scale back to once a weekend and one take-out a week but H is really resistant. I'm really going to have to put my foot down when DS is born because I can't imagine eating out so much much with both a toddler and a baby. And once the baby turns into a toddler and wants his own meal, that's going to be way too expensive.
We actually eat out (order in) way more than we would like - we are getting better with it but it's so easy. DD has been going to restaurants since she was 2 weeks old and she's pretty good (especially with the help of Mr. iPad when she's super fussy). Kids meals are normally pretty inexpensive and we get dinner and lunches for the next day or so out of it for DD. We will need to cut back before the new baby gets here because with the cost of daycare for two, we won't be able to afford it.
We use Quicken for our finances and I really need to take better advantage of its budgeting tools.
Post by mustloveerica on Mar 16, 2017 14:16:29 GMT -5
H is doing much better today. They gave her fluids which perked her up a bit. They did abdominal X-rays and an ultrasound. She just has a very under developed digestive system. I mean just to get her to eat 1oz takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half. She's having a really good feeding day today tho and she's much more alert. Yesterday we weren't able to really wake her up either. Today she's a fussy pants but I'd rather that than lethargic. Both babies just need to start putting on weight. Im mostly not nursing right now. It makes me sad but it's just not working yet. The stress of babies that won't latch and aren't very strong was too much. So I'm pumping what I can for them. I'm not quite making enough milk right now so we alternate breastmilk bottles and formula bottles every feeding. But I prefer it over nursing because I know exactly how much they are getting. I let them nurse just to comfort and practice a couple times a day but I don't stress about it.
*snip* Im mostly not nursing right now. It makes me sad but it's just not working yet. The stress of babies that won't latch and aren't very strong was too much. So I'm pumping what I can for them. I'm not quite making enough milk right now so we alternate breastmilk bottles and formula bottles every feeding. But I prefer it over nursing because I know exactly how much they are getting. I let them nurse just to comfort and practice a couple times a day but I don't stress about it.
Glad H is doing better today. Re nursing: that's a really smart way to look at it. They're still getting the benefit of breast milk without working so hard at it. I hope your supply continues to improve.
Post by littlelion on Mar 16, 2017 14:24:22 GMT -5
sleepymonkey yes to everything you said about eating out. Esp when I look at what ds1 eats and think I have the same chicken nuggets at home I already paid for.
Post by littlelion on Mar 16, 2017 14:27:47 GMT -5
My cw gave me her breast pump! She had one here at the office and she's leaving the co. soon. I can keep mine here at work as usual but have the extra one at home. There's been a couple of evenings the baby has slept too long and I've had to use the manual pump. Not that great, or easy, to use.
mustloveerica - You're doing an amazing job! You're making milk! They're getting it! It's okay if it's not direct from the boob right now. And that you are supplementing with formula. Keep up the great work!
I do have a feeling we will still eat out a lot when the baby comes, but we are working on filling up the chest freezer so hopefully the convenience of having food already prepared coupled with the hassle of going out with the baby will discourage us enough, but I really don't know. I just know that we can't afford to spend as much as we do now on eating out in addition to the added baby expenses.
Post by ThankfulSnail on Mar 16, 2017 15:03:46 GMT -5
I forgot I actually have a UO!
I hate putting on lotion, especially on my hands. So much. My hands are really dry right now but I just hate the slick or greasy feeling afterwards so much that I wait until they literally hurt to start putting lotion on them.
DH actually commented on my dry hands the other day when he took my hand and I shot eye lasers at him. Keep your hands to yourself if you're going to complain about my skin!
H is doing much better today. They gave her fluids which perked her up a bit. They did abdominal X-rays and an ultrasound. She just has a very under developed digestive system. I mean just to get her to eat 1oz takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half. She's having a really good feeding day today tho and she's much more alert. Yesterday we weren't able to really wake her up either. Today she's a fussy pants but I'd rather that than lethargic. Both babies just need to start putting on weight. Im mostly not nursing right now. It makes me sad but it's just not working yet. The stress of babies that won't latch and aren't very strong was too much. So I'm pumping what I can for them. I'm not quite making enough milk right now so we alternate breastmilk bottles and formula bottles every feeding. But I prefer it over nursing because I know exactly how much they are getting. I let them nurse just to comfort and practice a couple times a day but I don't stress about it.
Hugs I know it is tough. It took about 6 days for my milk to come in. Have you talked to a LC? I would eat lots of oatmeal, bf cookies, heating pads on your boobs. Fed baby is best so whatever you do is best.
I met with the LCs in the hospital and we have a private appt next week. My milk is in but I'm only getting enough for one baby (like 2oz every two or three hours). I'm trying to make a hard effort to up my water intake to see if that helps.
I do have a feeling we will still eat out a lot when the baby comes, but we are working on filling up the chest freezer so hopefully the convenience of having food already prepared coupled with the hassle of going out with the baby will discourage us enough, but I really don't know. I just know that we can't afford to spend as much as we do now on eating out in addition to the added baby expenses.
We actually found it pretty easy to eat out when DD was an infant. We would just bring her in her carseat and she would sleep or look around. But she was a pretty content baby. Once she hit around 6 months, though, it became more difficult because she was not longer content to just sit. Now that she's 3, and completely unmotivated by food, many of our meals out consist of one of us walking around with her while the other eats. That's why I would like to stop eating out so much - it's not like we're enjoying a meal together! At least when we're home, H and I can eat together and DD can go play with her toys after she eats 2 bites.
H is doing much better today. They gave her fluids which perked her up a bit. They did abdominal X-rays and an ultrasound. She just has a very under developed digestive system. I mean just to get her to eat 1oz takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half. She's having a really good feeding day today tho and she's much more alert. Yesterday we weren't able to really wake her up either. Today she's a fussy pants but I'd rather that than lethargic. Both babies just need to start putting on weight. Im mostly not nursing right now. It makes me sad but it's just not working yet. The stress of babies that won't latch and aren't very strong was too much. So I'm pumping what I can for them. I'm not quite making enough milk right now so we alternate breastmilk bottles and formula bottles every feeding. But I prefer it over nursing because I know exactly how much they are getting. I let them nurse just to comfort and practice a couple times a day but I don't stress about it.
My toddler did nothing but scream when I tried to bf her for about the first 2 weeks of her life and then she got bigger and stronger and it just clicked. The less you and the babies are stressed about it the better the chances it'll work out, so you're doing great! But however you end up feeding your babies you're feeding them and that's all that matters.
We go out to eat way more now than we ever did before having a baby. /Anecdote
I believe it. When it's DH's turn to pick up the kids, I inevitably get a call on my way home to pick something up. He doesn't want to wait for dinner since I'm usually waylaid by the kids. I think he got spoiled with dinner being ready for him the minute he got home during my maternity leave.
Post by ThankfulSnail on Mar 16, 2017 15:13:33 GMT -5
I was terrified of BFing in public when DD was a baby, so that combined with our finances being terrible kept us in. The extra kid in daycare is really going to take a toll on our budget, so I don't think we'll be eating out much after this baby comes.
Post by sleepymonkey on Mar 16, 2017 15:14:09 GMT -5
ThankfulSnail, I'm not a big fan of putting lotion on my hands either. I tend to touch my face and when I put lotion on my hands, it gets on my face and I break out. I do put lotion on my legs every morning after my shower but I usually wash my hands right after so they're not greasy. But I think I'm going to have to start putting lotion on my belly because I noticed that as my belly is getting stretched out, my skin is getting very dry and itchy.
I hate putting on lotion, especially on my hands. So much. My hands are really dry right now but I just hate the slick or greasy feeling afterwards so much that I wait until they literally hurt to start putting lotion on them.
DH actually commented on my dry hands the other day when he took my hand and I shot eye lasers at him. Keep your hands to yourself if you're going to complain about my skin!
Me too!! Minus the waiting until they hurt part. I won't go quite that far.
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