April/May 2008 MOMS (all others are welcomed too)

[carolina1girl1]

I am still here. Reading and catching up. Beautiful witch!!! Miley is going to be a ladybug. She has been so cranky the past 2 weeks. She sometimes screams then looks around to see who's coming, if no one then she continues. Spoiled?? Giving her opinion?? I have no idea. But then sometimes she really cries hard. Dh thought maybe colic.. Thought that started younger. She does have trouble going bathroom so maybe I will try to change her formula AGAIN and see if that helps. She also spits up like a faucet. I don't know what to do with her. Any suggestions??? I am also curious about the dog, if she pulled it or what. My dog has been very jealous of miley. But she wants to be around her all the time and lick her. Will post halloween pic soon.

melanie

[robinsonpr]

Aw lovely witch!!! Halloween isn't such a big deal here in the UK so I don't know if I'll bother to dress the boys up. I'm not looking forward to all the trick-or-treaters coming to the house and ringing the bell all night waking my little men up...I'm tempted to disconnect it and just maybe leave a big box of goodies out for people to help themselves.

Jack and Charlie don't really roll over much, they still don't seem to like being on their tummy, they are much more interested in standing up. They can't quite balance sitting up yet, they are strong enough to hold themselves but haven't quite worked out how to stop themselves toppling to one side or the other.

Carolinagirl my Jack used to spit up really bad when he was younger, and it was diagnosed as reflux. This can also cause colic-like symptoms because of acid coming up and literally burning their little throats. There is also a form called "silent reflux" where they won't actually be sick, but the acid just comes up a bit and causes them to scream. I guess it's like heartburn. It's caused by the muscle in the diaphragm not being strong enough to stop stomach contents coming back up. Worth looking into, it could explain the screaming and also the spitting up. The solution for Jack was to put him on a thicker formula (Aptamil Easy Digest - I don't know if you have it in the US). This helped him keep the milk down. The doc also put him on infant gaviscon, which didn't really seem to help (I've since found out that infant gaviscon is just a thickening agent). They then put him on Ranitidine (Zantac) which helps neutralize the acid, and that seemed to work well. We were also careful to not lie him completely flat, and he's still got 1 book under the head end of his cot. He did have 4 but we've been gradually lowering it.

Cocoa I'm devastated to hear about your accident with the dog. Must have been so horrible. If I was in your shoes the dog would have to go, no question. It would be hard but not as hard as if it really attacked one of my babies. If it happened once I'd never be able to trust the dog around the babies again. I know it was probably provoked and that guy had caused so much upset, but I just couldn't risk it, could have ended up so much more worse than it did.

I adore dogs but never got one in the past because of working, and I could never leave a dog at home on it's own all day long. Now I've quit work I really want to get a dog but am going to wait until the boys are bigger and can understand not to grab the dog's coat. Maybe we'll start off with a rabbit....

Anyway, boys are napping so I'm going to sneak in a nice relaxing bath!

Love,

Hayley xx

[Mandy J]

Oh Cocoa,

So sorry to hear about your little girl, thank goodness she was not seriously hurt, I guess you are doing some serious thinking at the moment. We had our dog put to sleep just before Ellie was born (old age) and it was heart breaking, but I agree with Hayley that I would never forgive myself nor be able to trust the dog again. I am sure you will be able to make your own judgements without us imparting our views on what to do...poor you, poor little girl.

Mandy
x

[Cocoa]

Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and well wishes ladies! I love you all... well, since my dog has been K-9 trained and is a lifetime member of the training gang I am going to contact them this week and discuss with them a re-training option. I have to get my baby girl through the ped's office this week first and THEN I can think straight. Right now the dog is being kept at a distance. He has a training collar and I have replaced it onto his neck. You see he's a herding dog and all he did was try to push the baby back into place after he was startled by my niece (a pretty new guest in the house and we all know my dog has had some bad run-ins with "guests" as of late). I guess the baby moved at the same time. These type of dogs use the front of their teeth to grab a tiny bit of flesh to get the herd going and that's what he did to the baby. If he had really "attacked" her he could have taken her whole cheek off. As it stands it was a very clean razor tear that is less than an inch - guess because of the angle his canine caught her skin. She adores the dog as does baby boy - they scream and laugh and they DO pull hair. He doesn't mind. You can even take bones and food away from him without a movement or sound. He's really a good dog but will need re-training.

The baptism event was so beautiful yesterday... everyone had a wonderful time a did I My DH was there and he was quite good and had a good time with the babies. I appreciate some things about him now that I did not before given the crap the creep gave me

I have an exhausting week at work this week - hec - we are all workign like dogs and have A LOT of paperwork to do with all sorts of trainings in between... don't know HOW they can expect us to get it all done...

Well, gotta go (its 10pm Mon night here) and I have to get some sleep before the babies wake up. Yep, they are STILL not STTN!!!

love you all,

XXXCocoa

[Vlada]

Cocoa,
What is the breed of your dog? I have a pambroke welsh corgi and he is a herding dog as well, so far he has been good, but now i am a little worried after your story.
Vlada.

[woodcliff]

Cocoa, so sorry you and your daughter had to go through that. I hate to say it, but I'd find a new home for your dog... I know he's your little lover boy doggie, and we all love our pets, but one incident is one too many with small children around.

Carolina...no such thing as spoiled at this age. She is looking for comfort ... poor thing is probably in pain!

My daughter was a 'spitter' so we put her on neutrimagen, now she is on Similac Alimentum (at 6.5 mos) with her brother, and all is well.
One problem with spitting up: If it ever goes through your daughter's nose, it BURNS, so you'll have to suction it out after spraying saline medication into her nose...

While it rarely happens anymore...my girl's getting older and is onto solids...I notice that she and her brother have a diff. kind of 'spit up' ...DROOL from teething, combined with small spit ups from solid foods.

Mandy--still can't get over that ADORABLE photo!!!! Ellie's so cute...

Halloween is HUGE at my home...we get over 1,600 trick or treaters...I put food and wine out and invite friends and it's a blast...one of my favorite days of the year...so much fun. I have a cat and a Pink Poodle outfit for my girl, and a teddy bear and a Handsome Devil outfit for my son...yes, they'll start wearing them 'round the neighborhood this weekend

Anyone onto a bigger car seat? I priced the Britax and it's over $300!!!! yikes...it's a good one, maybe one of the best, so I"ll have to get coupons or a twin discount.
Anyone recommend a good "Child Development" book? I have the First 12 months of Life and Love it...but need more books.
My babies are off of the Rain Forest bouncer as my daughter flipped herself over in it (fortunately the half moon of toys was not connected to it, and she did not hurt herself)...they are ALMOST in their high chairs but not quite...
Bought more toys yesterday. CAN'T BELIEVE THEY ARE SO OLD

BEST TO ALL
ME

[carolina1girl1]

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j207/ ... CN1776.jpg

miley's halloween picture. ladybug miley.

[woodcliff]

Miley is so gorgeous!!!!

[Vlada]

CUUUUUUTEEEEE

[robinsonpr]

Miley is really cute!!!!!!!!!!

Woodcliff - 1600 trick or treaters! Wow, that IS serious! We'll probably get 20, if that.

Hayley xx

[Cocoa]

Just as I expected... We all have the most beautiful babies in the world on this thread and anyone who joins us joins that club too !!!!!!! Cutie Miley Ladybug...

Vlada: He's a border collie and I believe all he was doing was booting her back into position because he got startled and the baby rolled (I think my neice stepped on the dog by accident but after that jerk did his damage of course my dog will react).

Baby girl is healing great - the doctor at the ER did great but then again it wasn't really a "bite" cut. His tooth caught her and when she rolled back it made a little slice so it mended perfectly. The stitches came out Thursday and its just red now but I will use kids' mederma on it starting in a couple of days.

Baby boy is a screamer...and a back archer and I believe its because he fights sleep and then gets very overtired. He's asleep right now but baby girl is NOT - they have opposite sleep/wake schedules except - THANK GOD - they both sleep a longer time at night. They are NOT STTN and I am weary right now as I am very sick with a sore throat, headaches and pain in my upper back (where my kidneys are). Doctor put me on a strong antibiotic because after a week my throat is still bad and they gave me a script for a chest x-ray. Don't know what they're looking for but the antibiotic has only helped a little. My DH has been here to help this weekend but like an idiot I went shopping with the family (no adult food in the house to speak of) and now I am suffering the consequences. Tylenol(r) helps but I break into a sweat when I take that or ibuprophen. Guess I have a mild fever. Haven't missed a day of work yet though.

I think baby boy may wind up needing glasses. He has a little turn in on his left eye and he seems not to focus on things easily in the tub when water causes object distortion and movement. Maybe I'm reading too much into it but on both sides there is myopia.

Well, baby girl JUST fell asleep. Gotta go to put her down as I hear baby boy stirring... yeay...

xxxCocoa
(hoping I didn't offend anyone with my "get rid of big government" soapbox I am just passionate about it as it has affected my life and I'm about as dry and ordinary as they come and DO NOT NEED government assistance THANK YOU)

[woodcliff]

Cocoa!! Oh, I hope you feel better...there's an awful bug going around...wishing you well...and your baby girl as well!

My boy's a back archer, as of 2 weeks ago...he hates to be contained in anything! He arches his back and turns his body around...so funny.

When he's trying to fall asleep, though, we figure he is teething and have given him things like teething tablets, or Orajel (hate that cuz it numbs the throat as well...but he likes it) and Tylenol sometimes at night so he can sleep.
Baby girl? Cut 2 teeth gracefully...she just talks and talks and that's how we know she's uncomfortable...
I hope your babies STTN soon...
ok..must go. love to all

[Cocoa]

Good news... when my niece heard I may be re-homing my dog she came clean. She felt a little guilty that she startled the dog which made him jump and bump the baby and that's why it took her all week to tell me. The baby cut her face on the hardware of an antique trunk in my room. Its funny too because my DH actually said to me this weekend that I should cover it because the hardware on it was too close for comfort (right near the tummy time blanket) and he actually found a nail sticking out which he removed. I covered it with two quilts. I am so relieved because I just couldn't figure out why in the world a dog from whom you can take bone WHILE HE IS CHEWING IT out of his mouth would bite a baby or anyone... Well, just wanted to let ya'll know. I am at work and gotta go. Hope to hear from ya'll

xxxCocoa

[woodcliff]

Cocoa, I'm happy to hear it wasn't the dog. K9 trained dogs are so perfect it did seem odd.
That said, I think it's creepy your niece ALLOWED you to think it was your dog, and let things get to this point. I'd be furious, and would have a very hard time trusting her...good luck with her.

[Cocoa]

Thanks WC... actually my niece is not to blame - I left her out of the loop so to speak. She did not know what I said at the ER about the dog. It was only in speaking to her mom with her here the other night that she heard me talk about re-homing the dog. I think she just felt responsible in the first place because she startled the dog and I thought the whole time she assumed I said it was the dog... I don't know the whole thing was very strange and I just couldn't figure it out. She said that the dog startled and "pushed into" the baby and the baby's face fell forward. For now though I am keeping the dog at bay and will for some time because I do know that dogs can get jealous even though I see no agressive behavior at all. I do know that he will try to "herd" them when they start walking so we'll see. I need a dog around here too because being alone with 3 kids is not a good scenario.

Gotta do baths...

xxxCocoa