Week of October 23

[cherryvalance]

King26, I hear you. It's so rough making leave work. Also, like oneslybookworm said, DS didn't spike a temp at all and the shots were actually NBD for us, besides a few minutes of crying. I'd have tylenol on hand, but wait to see how it goes.

shauni27, I don't know if you were asking Chrysanthemum specifically, but our PT is for torticollis, which is causing the flat spot on his head. It's basically play with lots of specialized stretches, but I can tell you more if you're interested.

[knx9211]

We drove down to my in-laws again and went to the horse track. THIS HAPPENED:






I can't deal with how cute he is sometimes. He got a lot of attention.

[janegold]

shauni27 and @daylily, the Woodstock Inn is one of my favorite places ever! I was thinking of maybe trying to get up there for a night soon but the next few weekends are just packed. And I can just taste lunch at Simon Pearce, ugh.

[shauni27]

janegold the inn owns the ski area my husband manages! And we both worked at Simon Pearce for many years--our entire kitchen is SP items because we got them so cheap. We eat there regularly still. It is simply the best.

VT get together in the future?

[scm1011]

Oct 24, 2017 10:58:45 GMT -5 shauni27 said:

VT get together in the future?

I want in!

[shauni27]

Oct 24, 2017 11:01:46 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Oct 24, 2017 10:58:45 GMT -5 shauni27 said:

VT get together in the future?

I want in!

duh. I had no idea there were so many of us infertiles in new england lol.

[thoseareradishes]

King26, I'd just be prepared for some fussiness, and he may also be sleepy. I wouldn't give meds unless he needed them.

shauni27, I would think floor time should be fine. He can move his head all around. You could put toys to the side of him so he turns his head. E's therapists are big on no baby containment devices for more than 15-20 minutes a day - so no bouncy seats, exercaucers, jumpers, bumbos, swings, etc. But obviously she's a special case, a normally developing kiddo can usually spend some more time in them. They say that containment devices force them to use the wrong muscles, while floor time strengthens the muscles they need for sitting up, crawling, etc.

E had OT this morning and thankfully she took a cat nap in the car, since her first nap was a short 30 minutes. It's like she knows I need her to take a good nap, so she gets up extra early.

[janegold]

Oct 24, 2017 10:58:45 GMT -5 shauni27 said:

VT get together in the future?

YES!

[loira]

knx9211, that outfit is the BEST! Also, you look amazing. Are you sure you just had a baby?

[shauni27]

Oct 24, 2017 13:05:34 GMT -5 loira said:

knx9211 , that outfit is the BEST! Also, you look amazing. Are you sure you just had a baby?

seriously. It's not enough that you have an adorable son, but you have to go and be adorable and fit too? Pffff.

[loira]

A is back in daycare today, finally! We've even gotten to the point where there are no tears at drop off. #winning

[cactuscookie]

Oct 24, 2017 13:46:11 GMT -5 loira said:

A is back in daycare today, finally! We've even gotten to the point where there are no tears at drop off. #winning

Just wait until you get to the point where she cries when you pick her up...

I don't take it for granted, I swear! I know I'm lucky that she loves her daycare. But it would be nice if I didn't spend my workday missing my cute smart little girl, and then I finally get to see her and it's an immediate fight.
Save

[loira]

Oct 24, 2017 13:59:33 GMT -5 cactuscookie said:

Oct 24, 2017 13:46:11 GMT -5 loira said:

A is back in daycare today, finally! We've even gotten to the point where there are no tears at drop off. #winning

Just wait until you get to the point where she cries when you pick her up...

I don't take it for granted, I swear! I know I'm lucky that she loves her daycare. But it would be nice if I didn't spend my workday missing my cute smart little girl, and then I finally get to see her and it's an immediate fight.
Save

Ugh, I'm sorry. That's hard. I love having A in daycare, but I do miss her during the day. Her teacher sends me the occasional update, which I find very reassuring.

[Chrysanthemum]

Oct 24, 2017 7:27:59 GMT -5 shauni27 said:

@chrystanthemum, what did you do with C while you were cooking, doing stuff, etc? If he cannot be in his bouncy seat or on the floor I am not really sure what to do with him when we are doing things that we cannot hold him, you know? He doesn't love being worn.

I put him in the bumbo a bit now as his neck control is about 99%. But until it is 100% I am not comfortable having him in there for more than a few closely supervised visits.

Also, what kind of things do you guys do for PT? Would love to get some ideas from you.

This was definitely a hard part of the adjustment until he learned how to sit independently.  We really struggled through a lot more tummy time.  So, I’d lay a blanket on the floor near me in the kitchen (sometimes a double layer to soften it more), and put him on his tummy with a few toys.  I did use a jumperoo or FP monkey chair sparingly because sometimes it was necessary.  Physical therapists will tell you no containment devices, but then there’s reality.  We tried to limit it to 15 minutes a day max.  C likes being worn so I used the Lillebaby a lot, too.

Our early days of PT when he was 6 months involved developing a more consistent tummy time routine.  We worked up to a goal of 4 15 minute tummy time sessions a day.  C was a late roller, so we also practiced that.  The PT taught us how to place our hands on his hips and legs to coax the different parts of the movement.  We also did some exercises on an inclined couch cushion (using a pillow to prop it up at a 45 degree angle).  Then, as he got comfortable on his belly at that supported angle, we’d lower it gradually to flat.  We REALLY had to entertain him and actively engage him in play while he was on his tummy.  It was WORK to keep him happy.

I searched for good PT exercises to do before we got our initial appointment.  Really, the great thing about PT is that the therapist individually designs the plan for each baby.  When we see her every 2 weeks, she coaches us about a few new exercises to advance his gross motor movement.  Then, we add those into our daily exercises with him until we see her again.  A lot of what we do with C is because his large head contributes to some gross motor delays, so I don’t know if that’s an issue for your baby.  Hopefully some of this helps, let me now if you have more questions!

[shauni27]

thank you, Chrysanthemum!

[thoseareradishes]

E has started this new thing where she tries to suck her thumb and drink her bottle at the same time. She's so "sneaky" about it too - she'll be holding her bottle, then her little hand sloooowly inches along the bottle until she can get her thumb wiggled in next to the nipple. Stinker!

[shauni27]

Oct 25, 2017 9:01:37 GMT -5 thoseareradishes said:

E has started this new thing where she tries to suck her thumb and drink her bottle at the same time. She's so "sneaky" about it too - she'll be holding her bottle, then her little hand sloooowly inches along the bottle until she can get her thumb wiggled in next to the nipple. Stinker!

S does this too, but he doesn't try to do it all sneaky like. He just loves putting his hands in his mouth all the time, including when the bottle is already in there!

[cherryvalance]

Chrysanthemum, it's so true about PT vs. reality! Our therapist told me I could just break up the 20 minutes of tummy time in one minute segments if I needed to. WHAT?! Lol forever at doing tummy time twenty times a day--so convenient!

[loira]

Oct 25, 2017 9:01:37 GMT -5 thoseareradishes said:

E has started this new thing where she tries to suck her thumb and drink her bottle at the same time. She's so "sneaky" about it too - she'll be holding her bottle, then her little hand sloooowly inches along the bottle until she can get her thumb wiggled in next to the nipple. Stinker!

As someone with a sneaky child who has always had a bag of tricks up her sleeve, I love this update.

[boiler717]

T mostly hung out on a playmat on the floor. Even on his back if they are flat on the ground they can move their head, it’s not like being on their back in a bouncer or RnP.

[kellikans]

Had my second trimester screening today and everything is looking good! Baby boy's heart rate was about 150, measuring right on track, and everything looks good anatomically so far. He was moving all around and I can't wait to start feeling him. One concern is that I have placenta previa, so we'll need to keep an eye on it to see if it moves. I'm already planning on a c-section at the recommendation of my surgeon due to my other health issues, so that's not a big deal, but I'm worried about bleeding. But my OB said everything else looks perfect for where I'm at.

Anatomy scan is scheduled for 11/29! It's so amazing to actually be able to say this!

[loira]

kellikans, I had placenta previa at 20 weeks and by 29 weeks it had moved up and out of the way as my uterus expanded. Glad to hear everything is right on track with your baby boy!

[kristind3]

I got released from follow-up visits from the MFM and the cardiologist this week. Now we're just waiting for baby to get here and figure out what the surgery will entail after birth.

Our plan is to get the last of the nursery put together this weekend. We have the night stand and bookshelf to put together and need to pick up the glider.

[shauni27]

kellikans, My previa moved up by 30 weeks and I never had any bleeding. Fingers crossed it is the same for you!

[boiler717]

kellikans I needed a scheduled c section for other health issues, too. When it gets closer remind me and we can talk about how it went. It was so great and I think a big help in the initial PP period.

[knx9211]

Oct 24, 2017 13:05:34 GMT -5 loira said:

knx9211, that outfit is the BEST! Also, you look amazing. Are you sure you just had a baby?

Ha thank you! I give all credit to an amazing pair of Spanx

[thoseareradishes]

Any ideas on how to keep milk warm? E likes her milk toasty warm, and she doesn't want to drink it once it begins to cool off. I'm just going to have to re-heat that last ounce every time, aren't I?

[boiler717]

@oneslybookworn and I once again forgot to take a picture of our boys. But here’s one of us!