Mommy Mayhem

I think my baby is sick

USA 98 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:17:57 GMT

and I am not sure what to do. He has been fussy last night and he has been eating a lot every 2-3 hours and when I feed him and lay him down to get ready to burp him he spits up thick white milk and some times it will have stuff in it. When he feeds his nose sounds like it's conjested and I don't know what to do. He is only 2.5 weeks old and he is breastfeeding so not sure why he is sick. His diapers are also like water and runny. Should I take him to the ER or call and make an appointment for Monday. I don't think there is anything they can give him given that he is so small. Thanks

After Thanksgiving vs after Christmas (better deals?)

MissysLair — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:58:30 GMT

I will VERY pregnant for black Friday but still may want to do the Black Friday thing... I have never done it. Is it worth waddling around? Are the deals that great? Where are the best deals?

And is it better than the after Christmas clearance? I'm just looking to stock up on all the kids clothes for next year... Any help would be appreciated

Costs of your childrens birth...

danyel — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:16:42 GMT

I am curious as I add up all of my claims to insurance how much all of your births cost. Including the one night I was admitted to L&D for preterm labor and the 2 times of being in triage for pre-term contractions, Ava's birth, dr appointments, 20 weeks scan, and nuchal scan...my bills were over $37,595.00. Thank goodness for double insurance, I didn't pay a cent. But I can not imagine what some other people births cost that had other complications, etc.

Also this did not include any of Ava's bills....hers were over $1200

Anyhow, I am bored and curiousity is getting to me

Also where we live probably is part of it... I am in the Seattle area.

Need opinions quick! Another H1N1 vaccine question....

Anastasia Beaverhausen — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:14:41 GMT

All my kids had swine flu. Our doctors office says they are still recommending that we all get the shot even though we had it. My mom gut says this is stupid. Can someone please explain the logic in this? I am really trying hard here, but I would think the kids had natural immunity. Isn't that what the vaccine is all about? We have appt's on Saturday afternoon so I don't have much more time to ponder this...

Someone please shed some light on this. I'm going crazy

TIA

A must read: Being a Mother

snakesnsnails — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:56:13 GMT

This is my favorite thing that I've ever read about being a mom. I hope it brightens your day. I keep a copy of this essay nearby and read it when I get discouraged. Anna Quindlen is an amazing writer and her thoughts couldn't be more true.

On Being Mom by Anna Quindlen

If not for the photographs, I might have a hard time believing they
ever existed. The pensive infant with the swipe of dark bangs and the
black-button eyes of a Raggedy Andy doll. The placid baby with the
yellow ringlets and the high piping voice. The sturdy toddler with the
lower lip that curled into an apostrophe above her chin.

All my babies are gone now. I say this not in sorrow but in
disbelief. I take great satisfaction in what I have today: three almost-adults, two
taller than I am, one closing in fast. Three people who read the same books I do and
have learned not to be afraid of disagreeing with me in their opinion of
them, who sometimes tell vulgar jokes that make me laugh until I choke and cry,
who need razor blades and shower gel and privacy, who want to keep their doors
closed more than I like.

Who, miraculously, go to the bathroom, zip up their jackets and move food
from plate to mouth all by themselves. Like the trick soap I bought for the
bathroom with a rubber ducky at its center, the baby is buried deep within
each, barely discernible except through the unreliable haze of the past.

Everything in all the books I once pored over is finished for me now.
Penelope Leach, T. Berry Brazelton., Dr. Spock. The ones on sibling rivalry and
sleeping through the night and early childhood education, all grown obsolete.
Along with Goodnight Moon and Where the Wild Things Are, they are
battered, spotted, well used. But I suspect that if you flipped the pages dust
would rise like memories.

What those books taught me, finally, and what the women on the
playground taught me, and the well-meaning relations -- what they taught me was
that they couldn't really teach me very much at all. Raising children is
presented at first as a true-false test, then becomes multiple choice,
until finally, far along, you realize that it is an endless essay. No one
knows anything. One child responds well to positive reinforcement, another
can be managed only with a stern voice and a timeout. One boy is toilet
trained at 3, his brother at 2. When my first child was born, parents were told to
put baby to bed on his belly so that he would not choke on his own spit-up. By the
time my last arrived, babies were put down on their backs because of research
on sudden infant death syndrome.

To a new parent this ever-shifting certainty is terrifying, and then
soothing.Eventually you must learn to trust yourself. Eventually the research
will follow.

I remember 15 years ago poring over one of Dr. Brazelton's wonderful
books on child development, in which he describes three different sorts of
infants: average, quiet, and active. I was looking for a sub-quiet codicil for
an 18-month-old who did not walk. Was there something wrong with his fat
little legs? Was there something wrong with his tiny little mind? Was he
developmentally delayed, physically challenged? Was I insane? Last
year he went to China. Next year he goes to college. He can talk just fine. He can
walk, too.

Every part of raising children is humbling, too. Believe me, mistakes
were made. They have all been enshrined in the Remember-When-Mom-Did Hall of
Fame. The outbursts, the temper tantrums, the bad language, mine, not
theirs. The times the baby fell off the bed. The times I arrived late for
preschool pickup. The nightmare sleepover. The horrible summer camp.
The day when the youngest came barreling out of the classroom with a 98 on her
geography test, and I responded, What did you get wrong? (She insisted
I include that.) The time I ordered food at the McDonald's drive-through speaker and
then drove away without picking it up from the window. (They all insisted I
include that.) I did not allow them to watch the Simpsons for the first two
seasons...What was I thinking?

But the biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while
doing this. I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now
that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of
the three of them sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing
set on a summer day, ages 6, 4 and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate,
and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they
slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next
thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little
more and the getting it done a little less.

Even today I'm not sure what worked and what didn't, what was me and
what was simply life. When they were very small, I suppose I thought someday
they would become who they were because of what I'd done. Now I suspect they
simply grew into their true selves because they demanded in a thousand ways that I
back off and let them be.

The books said to be relaxed and I was often tense, matter-of-fact
and I was sometimes over the top. And look how it all turned out. I wound up
with the three people I like best in the world, who have done more than anyone
to excavate my essential humanity. That's what the books never told me. I was
bound and determined to learn from the experts.

It just took me a while to figure out who the experts were.

DS#2 melts my heart

Smommy — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:33:48 GMT

I DS2 was with me while I was running errands yesterday. While we were stopped at a light he says in his cute little 3yo accent 'Mom: Dump trucks, car transporters, helicopters, fire engines, cement mixers, trains and rainbows. Those are the things I like.

I melted. That was his first poem.

Photo calendars - the perfect holiday gift

snakesnsnails — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:26:19 GMT

I know I probably sound like a commercial, but they really are. I make a photo calendar of the kids (and a few photos of dh and i thrown in there as well) every year and give them to us, my mil, my mom, my gramdma and my grandpa. They love them, look forward to them every year and keep them as albums to see how the kids change from year to year.

I just did mine for 2010 through Shutterfly. Right now, they are 20% off (15.99 each) and you can get free shipping (enter SHIP30 at checkout)

Really I don't work for shutterfly, I jst wanted to share in case anyone needed hodiday ideas and wanted the good deal right now!

BTW, I have no idea why the 2nd half of my message is in italics. hmmmm

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY? (written by kids)

danyel — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:06:30 GMT

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY? (written by kids)

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
-- Alan , age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
-- Kristen , age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
-- Camille , age 10

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
-- Derrick , age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids.
-- Lori , age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
-- Lynnette , age 8 (isn't she a treasure)

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that Usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
-- Martin , age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?
I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
-- Craig , age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

When they're rich.
-- Pam , age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that..
- - Curt , age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
-- Howard , age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
-- Anita , age 9 (bless you child)

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
-- Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favorite is........
HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.
-- Ricky , age 10

Dog behaving badly - what would you do?

brazilian_mommy — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:53:35 GMT

Please help me ladies, I am struggling with a decision here...

Have you seen the movie "Marley and Me"?

Well my DH and I did, and after that we decided to get another dog. We had already a 5-year-old Golden Retriever who's the PERFECT dog and we decided to get another Golden to keep him company. Well... it turned out that he's is a little "Marley". He's not even 1 yet (his birthday is on Thanksgiving) and he's been driving us crazy for this past year!!! He eats my DD's toys, shoes and just about anything we leave on the floor. He lays on the couch and gets everything dirty, ripped the kitchen's wallpaper and today he destroyed the carpet. He also got in the bathtub with dirty paws (the house is a mess) and ate my DD's soap. Spanking doesn't help and I don't know what to do with him anymore! My DH is traveling so much for work so I am stuck in the house to clean up the mess. I know that he's hyper because he's not getting enough exercise but the weather is getting really cold and I don't feel up for it with a 8mo pg belly. DH insists that we can get him under control but I thought we should have had that taken care of by now. I really want to give him up to a good home where he can get more attention and exercise to keep him from destroying everything in sight. I can't imagine having a baby in 2 months and having him around to lick the baby's face, waking him up (he's a licker AND a barker), eat his toys, snacks, etc!

What would you do?

Attached is a picture of the "angel"... can you see the halo?

Drive to Florida?

charliecats — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:36:42 GMT

Who has driven to Florida, and how bad was it? Would you split the drive up between 2 days, with a hotel stay between, or drive on through? It is about a 24 hour drive from here.

We have friends who want us to go with them, and we would borrow their mini-van and they would drive our car as they only have 2 kids, and we have 3, and I need to be able to get back to Kitty if she is throwing a hissy fit.

Secondly, would the drive be worth it, if you are only staying 3 nights? Our friends have already rented a place, a 2 bedroom suite, and would be sharing with us. Their two kids are the same age as my boys, and they are BFF's. They are pretty good friends with the people, but never have done anything like this before.

Thoughts, opinions, and ideas please!

Thanks!

Mindflex

CarolynWantsPink — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:55:41 GMT

Anybody's kids want it for Christmas......well good luck. My ds wants it and it is sold out EVERYWHERE. I found it on-line at a few places but it is 140.00. I don't want to pay that when I could of gotten it at Toys r Us for 59.00!! UGH!!!!!!!!

red eye in pics is important

K.D.G. — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:40:02 GMT

you may know this, but i thought i would share. i obsess over this with my kids. lol

http://www.sphere.com/2009/11/18/the-mysterious-case-of-a-cancer-hidden-in-plain-sight/?icid=main|main|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sphere.com%2F2009%2F11%2F18%2Fthe-mysterious-case-of-a-cancer-hidden-in-plain-sight%2F

Which Wiggle do you have a crush on?

highfive — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:03:47 GMT

I have been in love with ANTHONY for years!

Imagination Movers have nothing over my Anthony.

what do you think of the new Wiggle?

4cuties

Chloe — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:04:50 GMT

So I have been obsessed with your ticker I check it a few times a day and couldn't wait for you to hit the 8 week mark to see if it was "fixed". I gotta say, it has moved, but still don't like how the heart works. I guess it's not the bottom point of the heart that matters.

In-Gender is FAR superior to TheBump

babyonthebrain — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:51:39 GMT

*not gender swaying related....just a general post about in-gender vs thebump*

Oh my gosh.....I just went to thebump.com's forums and realized why I stopped going there in the first place. The majority of the women on those boards, please excuse the language, are bitches! Not everyone, but I was amazed at all the cat fights going on.

I just love coming here knowing that I'm not going to be judged for what I say. No joke, there is a post on one of thebump's boards and it turned into a "who is a better parent" competition over what people feed their children for breakfast!!! *rolls eyes* Really. So many of the people over there remind me of why i hated high school.

Anyone else feel that way about those boards too?? I remember one time I asked a gender swaying question (before i found IG) and got my head bitten off by women who judged me saying I should just be happy with whatever God gives me (and I will be happy either way), but it was just the fact that they don't understand and are rude.

So THANK YOU to everyone one of you on here for being kind, considerate, understanding, supportive, and MATURE! :) You are appreciated!

Holy smoly ! My lips are going to run off my face!

Melpomene — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:27:29 GMT

Have you ever tried a lip plumper? I have full lips to begin with but thought I'd try it. My lips are crawling , burning and red.

I can't imagine what DH would say if he kissed me.

Oh, I think I am drooling now. Going to wash it off. Yikes!

Having a tough time (not sure where to post this....)

lovingmybabies — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:12:13 GMT

I hate to write this post as I am ashamed of what it says. But here goes...

I am expecting baby number 6 in Feb. My 4 younger boys are so excited. My 9 year old is soooooo sweet and cute. He decided to give himself some chores so I could sit a rest. I had a glass of Lemonade the other day and he asked 'Are you allowed to drink that? How do you know baby likes the fizz?' LOL. He also offered to come with me when I have the baby so he can hold my hand and try and make me feel better. He is so lovely.

My eldest son (he is 20) however is being so horrible. I find myself reduced to tears most days by his nasty comments. He says I am selfish having another 'kid' and that I should be satisfied with the ones I have. He says all I want to do is keep having 'kids' with no thought for anyone else. He says I should have gotten rid of it. He says he hates me for being so selfish and that he can't bear to look at me.

I try not to take any notice but day after day of listening to him just makes me so sad and down. He says it is not normal having so many kids. I have started to question myself now - asking am I being unfair to my children? I feel my baby kicking away and it makes me cry that someone can be so horrible about him.

I am ashamed of the things that comes out of my own sons mouth. Where did I go wrong?

FB comment got my wondering.... What do you call your MIL?

sailormoonmomma — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:47:40 GMT

I call my MIL "Mom" I love her so much. She is very sweet to me and when she comes over she buys me stuff and cooks and cleans our house

My Mom does the same. Last time she was here she even cleaned the inside of my trash can . My Mom has slight OCD LOL

Which Imagination Mover do you have a crush on?

julietdreams — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:41:36 GMT

C'mon...I know you watch it. I have a crush on Rich. I've always been attracted to tall, dark and handsome. hee hee

Convo with DH got me thinking....Would your DH defend your honor?

sailormoonmomma — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:38:04 GMT

well, the guy that DH carpools with has court tommorow because he decked a guy that called his wife (a bad name). I said "well, the other guy diserved it" Then I told him that he would probably not do the same for me (DH is not the confrontational type, he will agree with you just to avoid arguing) He said "You would be surprised" LOL! I still doubt DH would hit anybody. He is just too nice and avoids trouble like the plague.

So would your DH deck a guy or just leave?

Flight or Fight?

OMG Do you believe this? 5 year old gives birth?????

sailormoonmomma — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:57:13 GMT

I had to research this for ChaCha. I've been working over time :0)

http://www.snopes.com/pregnant/medina.asp

My 2 cents on H1N1 from a non-vaccinator

charliecats — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:10:18 GMT

I am not trying to debate anything here, this is purely my take on this.

I am a non-vaccinator, in that, I mean I have never vaccinated my boys, and have not done flu shots etc for myself since before ds1 was born. I have my reasons, but they are mine, and I do not ever begrudge anyone else for doing what they have to do.

The H1N1 business perplexed me. At first, I was staunchly against it. Scared, nervous, and kind of felt it was unnecessary. Most cases are mild, most are short lived. I decided, after much debate to do the shot, and have my boys take it. Here is why...

My kids are unlikely to catch measles etc. The regular flu shot is a guess of what strains they think will infect us. They KNOW h1n1 is the correct strain for now, and the probability of catching it is highly likely. My boys and myself are rather hardy folks, and healthy. Chances are the kids and I will cough and puke and feel like doody for a week. We will likely fall into the mild category. BUT......

What about my friends who are preggo, and don't want the vax? What happens if they end up dying in the ICU like 2 women under the care of my sister's OB? They were healthy women, 2 wks post partum, and died. So, what if I am coming down with h1n1, and pass it along to my baby, who is under 6 mos? Or my friend's newborn baby? What if I do not know I am getting sick, but am infectious, and give it to my friend who is high risk with twins? What if I fall into the healthy young person category, who many of us, that get really really sick? There are over 10 people in ICU alone at my sister's hospital in Denver. What about the other hospitals? In the local hospital, my friend has 4 young people on breathing machines in her ICU from h1n1. Who will breastfeed my baby? Who will take care of my boys if I happen to get real sick??

What if my boys get sick, or my baby gets sick, and I am on here asking for prayers? There is an IG member who has her 6 month old baby in the hospital RIGHT NOW, admitted with h1n1 complications.

So, my morals got the better of me. Maybe it is the socialist Canadian in me. But, I could not live with myself if I got someone else sick, that got really sick. Or my kids--a healthy 13 yr old boy just died in less than 48 hours. Chances are that we will catch this, and the worst is yet to come in the next few weeks.

Ok, my rant over. Hope is makes sense. I am now ducking, as the slings and arrows will be coming my way.

Lots of prayers to my special friend's little boy out there...

A snack I CAN'T put down!...

Rein&Sonshines — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:13:09 GMT

Oh, my Gosh, I should have NEVER bought these! Brand: Blue Diamond. Snack: Bold Wasabi & Soy Sauce almonds. Spicy, savory, and crunchy....I love them!

I know nuts are good fat....but I am eatin too many, and will gain back all the pg weight I worked so hard to lose.

stupid, non-important question about my ticker...

FourCutiesOneLove — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:51:14 GMT

Is it stuck? Shouldn't it be half way between the 5 and 10? I swear it hasn't moved in weeks and I am 7.5 weeks it looks like it's still over the 5.5-6 week mark to me.

Maclaren stroller MASSIVE recall.............

sailormoonmomma — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:43:18 GMT

Baby Bargains Book Blog: RECALL: Massive Maclaren stroller recall coming this Tuesday Nov. 10

Quote:

Breaking news: Maclaren plans to recall 1 million strollers---all its production between 1999 and 2009---after receiving 12 reports of hinges on the stroller that amputated children's fingertips. The company will send out a cover for the hinges to all owners.

The CPSC and Maclaren will issue a press release in the recall this Tuesday; Maclaren began notifying its dealers of the recall in the past couple of days.

Here is the take-home message until the recall is official:
• Stop using all Maclaren strollers---yes, every model made since 1999.
• When the recall goes public on Tuesday, order a hinge cover from Maclaren's web site or phone line. (Note: the web site is not live yet as of this writing).
• Wait until you install the hinge cover before using the stroller again.