Irene- {hugs} about thinking about another LO. Wish I had something comforting to say about that. About the bulb sucky thing; My pedi said that it can cause more inflamation so getting the saline in is more important. I just wish I could get the drops anywhere NEAR his face! LOL. He won't even let me pick the edge of his nose anymore. I'm with you on keeping D away from the germs. There are two babies about his age that I could call and go see. But from their FB posts, their kids are always sick and I shy away. It's awful, I know!

__________________

Jo/Rhea - thanks. DH doesn't really want to adopt although I'm still hoping that I can sway him. I started looking into surrogacy but its really really expensive and when I was telling DH I of course started crying so we'll see. He knows that I want at least one more child someway, somehow.

Rhea - I figured out a way to trick the drops into Kieran's nose. He's always trying to twist around to see the light when I'm changing him on his changing table and it drives me nuts. BUT it also lines up his nose perfectly so I keep the saline right there and swoop in. I figure it will either stop him from twisting which I can't stand or I'll be able to get the drops in And thats exactly how I've been about the germs - its so hard since there's so much floating around now. DH has been wanting me to take him out more though and he really did have a blast so hopefully he won't end up getting every bug out there!

__________________

K--We still love you I keep trying not to post over here, since Ely really is a toddler, too, but it is hard not to since Jo and I are kind of the only ones in the toddler section!

Irene--Around 6 months old is when I started taking Ely to baby swim class at the YMCA. He LOVED it! Right now we are taking art classes at the childrens museum; it is really messy, but they use all "food safe" art supplies and Ely loves it. I think he mostly just likes eating the playdough

__________________
Krissy

Krissy - LOL about eating playdough!

Has anyone tried the Gymboree classes? I signed up for 2 freebies - Play and Learn which is more physical with ramps and slides and a Music one.

__________________

Irene--Im also sorry about the LO thoughts. My sister adopted my niece, who is perfect and beautiful. She went through the home study (which takes 6 or 7 months), and then was approved and got her ONE day later. Less than 9 months! She was 48 hours old when my sister brought her home. Adoption does not always have to be long and hard (I always feel obligated to tell her story to anyone considering, since the stories you tend to hear about adoption make it sound so difficult--hers really wasnt) I think it cost her $18,000, but she got a $11,000 adoption tax refund thing that year, which really helped. In the end, I think I paid more for my csection and prenatal care than she did! Im sure if you really want one, the right path will show itself for you eventually

__________________
Krissy

Irene--sorry we X posts--We dont have any gymboree classes around here, but we do Kindermusik classes and Ely has always loved them! I bet he will like the music class.

__________________
Krissy

I don't know anything about either of those. They sound fun. Where would I find out more?

__________________

Rhea - see if they're in your area: Classes suitable for Baby, Infant, Toddler and Preschooler - Classes That Aid Early Childhood Development - Gymboree Play & Music

Krissy - thanks for that too. Adoption is alot more reasonable than surrogacy. I couldn't believe when I looked and surrogacy is anywhere from 90-130k I know DH would prefer that the child be OURS but thats alot of wood.

__________________

Irene- I by no means want to ask you more questions than you are ready to answer. So if it's too much too soon just ignore me. About the surrogacy- you still have your ovaries?

__________________

Yes I still have my ovaries... and my cervix too which I think the jerk left just so I still have to go for pap smears...

__________________

Irene- hope you and DH can agree on something that suits u both. I would volunteer to be surrogate for cheaper but I don't know that I could give the baby up at the end.
K-no you aren't being disses on here..Sorry work sucks.
Krissy-hope Ely isn't getting sick.
I wish they had those type of classes around here. I thought about starting a baby/toddler sign language class/business here but the material and my American sign language certification is $300.00

__________________

Irene- Really? They left the cervix? I wouldn't have thought they would leave that. Then again, what do I know?

__________________

Kindermusik is a nation wide organization, so you could probably just look it up to see if there is any in your area. Around here, there are baby classes through the YMCA, the Family and Children's Museum, Park and Rec, and a few of the music stores offer a little music class, too. If you have anything like that in the area, you can always check!

__________________
Krissy

I have become a fanatic about clearing out noses-I think because a plugged up nose is probably what caused Rachel to stop breathing. I've found she's better when I try to clear her nose on the changing table. I'm not sure why though? I also found that they let me put the nasal drop bottle in their nose if they are sitting up, so I put it in their nose while they are upright and then tip them backwards to let it drip into their noses real quick before they realize what's going on

Irene~I'm having a hard time believing that mine are 6 months already too!

Did anyone here from Illinois feel the earthquake this morning? It woke us up, but I didn't realize that's what it was until I heard the news later. DH thought it was an earthquake, but thought that was a stupid thought, so he didn't say anything. LOL

I have a weaning question...I plan on stopping the pumping and going just to a morning and night nursing after spring break in March. Right now I'm pumping after I feed them in the morning, once at work, and once right after work. I realized though that I can't just stop cold turkey like I was originally thinking or I'll explode! So how long in between should I stop the pumping sessions? I was thinking of stopping the after-work one a week before stopping the during-work. Is that enough time in between for my body to adjust? I haven't figured out yet when to stop the morning-pumping.

__________________

JJ--we woke up at the same time as the earthquake, so I guess that may have been the cause, but it could be coincidence. I had quite a few work colleagues that felt it. When I was pg with Ely I went to a conference in Chicago and there was an earthquake; I definitely felt that one, and it scared the crap out of me especially because I was pg and alone! It is wierd how we keep getting them, huh?
As for nursing, I would plan on cutting one a week, and then just see how your body adjusts. If you feel like you are still really full or uncomfortable, you may need to wait longer, and with other times, you may not need a whole week. I know with a few nursings I cut back to every other day for a few days before stopping entirely.

__________________
Krissy

I won't let them do a heel stick on Anna. It seems way too terrible because they need like 5 of those little tubes of blood. The last time they did it that way she was 9 days old they had to poke her like 3 times
It did turn out that her lab work was fine. Unfortunately she will have to go back in two weeks before her endocrinologist appointment I hate that we will have to do this once a month until she's 1.
Anna seems to be having some issues with the real food. She gets peas and rice cereal and seems very gassy shortly afterwards. Did anyone else have this issue with peas?
JJ-I would also cut out one pumping per week. I tried the cold turkey with Ben and it was MISERABLE. I would never do it that way again.
Irene- <3 Hopefully you can sway DH if it is what will be right for you guys. I have family who has also had wonderful experiences with adoption

Tricia-Isabella is more gassy with all green vegs-peas-green beans.
They always prick Bella's finger for some type of test they done last time when she got shots,, iron maybe..
I heard about the Earthquake on the news this morning but didn't think to ask you all earlier.
We are still getting snow here in Kentucky! I am so ready for summer-It can skip spring cause that usually brings rain and I am tired of any type of wet stuff!

__________________

JJ- Supposedly everyone around here felt it, but we didn't. DH checked the shelf above his head this evening, and said things moved about 1cm (according to the dust line ), so I'm shocked it awoke so many people.

Irene- Kieran is still young; maybe when he gets a bit older dh will want a sibling for him, and will be willing to look into all possible options. I'm already wanting another baby (I realize I have three and sound like a total a** to be comparing the situation, but I have a point.) DH has said all along that we are totally done. He refuses to have more. Then one day, he said something about maybe he could handle ONE more, but worries that we'll have more multiples. I'm holding on to that one tiny piece of hope, even though he only said it once and what he says now is totally different. Don't give up just yet. But I feel for your sadness, because it sucks what happened and isn't fair.

K- Hello! Glad you finally checked in! I'm the same as you, I often just have quick updates to write when I get the chance here and there. Isn't it shocking how quickly our babies are growing? Are you planning her 1st bday yet? Considering how much you put into the shower, I'm picturing something really extravagant for her bday!

Speaking of which, I cannot figure out what to do for Luke's 1st bday, which is coming way to quickly. Family is about 1.5+ hours south, friends are out here. I'd actually prefer to have a family party, but I guess that means I should do something down toward them. But I'd really like to try and have his dedication (similar to baptism), the same day, and invite family, which means out here. We probably are inviting roughly 50 people, but not a ton of kids (if family, then very few kids besides our own.) But I want to have it somewhere that'll keep the few kids that come entertained. It has to be indoors, and I want something affordable... the one place that I came up with as a fantastic idea is booked April and May, so it is out. So now, I'm completely drawing a blank, and things are booking quickly. Urgh!

__________________

Tricia- OMG, poor Anna. I remember all the heel sticks and foot-milking when Donovan was just born so they could check his billiruben. ouch! I haven't noticed any more gas with the peas......when I can get him to EAT the peas, LOL. Then again, I can't say I've ever noticed anything that makes him gassy.

I didn't even know they HAD earthquakes in that part of the country! I guess it didn't cause any damage?

We finally heard back from the police. After several phone calls and the run around . Then basically said he "failed to disclose" something. But won't tell him what. And won't hire him and say there's no way to appeal the decision. Weird. So now I feel pretty stupid for worrying about the situation. And I'm a little angry that they don't have to explain anything. DH got his old job back with his old boss (before we started our own company) and he starts Monday. So, I'm hopeful that everything is gong to work out.

__________________

Rhea-that stinks about the academy, but hopefully it will turn out for the best since I know you were worried/scared about it all.

Irene-big *hugs* I can only imagine how you feel. That is great you are open to other options though. As for the nose suction thing, I watched the nurse do it one time so that helped. I always lay her on the changing table, give her something to hold and then move in really quickly. She hates it though and always fights me!

K-sorry you feel nobody is responding to your posts, Ifeel that way too sometimes but know that we are all busy and at least read everything. sorry work is crappy, how is K's daycare working out?

Poor Violet still has a cold and now has a cough to go with it. I'mhome anyway because we have SNOW, it is crazy.

__________________