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Toddlers Today's MomsTalk Archive Hello, Ladies and Tods. Dawn Fields here. I never get to post that often and whenever I do, it's so many new people it's hard to keep up. I just wanted to stop by and say hello. Everything is going smoothly with me and my two little blessings. I really can't believe that Erica is 20 months already. (And Eli is 7 months.) Where does the time go? She is getting so "grown." She is such a little lady. She loves to put on my shoes, carry her pocketbook and my car keys and walk around the house on her Elmo cell phone. It's cracks me up everytime she does it. Well, the other day, she wasn't quite the Lady. Or at least I thought she wasn't. She dropped her bottle (yes, she's still loves her bottle) and she said "Awww sh*t!" Or at least that is what I thought she said. I didn't say anything to her because I didn't want to draw attention to it in any way. But I couldn't imagine where she had gotten that from because I NEVER use curse words in front of the children. My DH has said a few that I had to catch him on but not enough for her to have picked it up. I called my mother on the phone and said, "Oh, my goodness, I can't believe my daughter is cursing." Well, later that evening, she said it again. Again, I didn't say anything. The next day she said it clearer, and she wasn't saying "Awww sh*t" She was saying "Awww shot!" Now that makes sense, because that is what I say all the time when I drop something or do something where "Awww sh*t" might be appropriate. Now, she says it all the time. "Awww shot." I'm glad she can now say it clearer and it can be understood. I can't imagine taking her somewhere and she says what I thought she said and people start looking at me like, "Oh, my goodness." She also started saying, "Awww man." She has picked this up from me as well. She says it everytime I tell her to do something she doesn't want to do. Then she cracks up laughing. She had me laughing the other day so hard because I dropped a cup and the handle broke off and she said, "ooooooo Mama." Now, because I laughed, she says that all the time, too. She always tries to dress herself. The other day I caught her putting on her brothers jeans. They are actually a pair of jeans that are too small for him now. They are sized 6-9 months, but she was laying on the bed and pulling them up. They have the snapps in the middle leg area and she had the snaps open, but she was laying on her back and trying to get the pants on. I tried to tell her that they were too small, but she insisted on getting them on. I ended up putting them on her and they actually fitted except they were way too short. It looked like she had a pair of capri pants on. You know those jeans that fit just the knee. Well, I had to force her to take them off, but only after she started trying to put her tights on top of pants. Now on to a few personals. Lynda - I think that it depends on you and how you feel on when it is a good time to have baby #2. I have 2. They are 13 months apart. I didn't plan it that way, but I am glad that I have them back to back because I have a girl and a boy and I don't want any more. I am glad that they are growing up together and even though it's pretty stressful at times, I don't think I'd have it any other way. Kelly - Welcome. I had to laugh when you said that you didn't want to take up too much space. You obviously haven't seen me post before. hahahaha Child, take up as much space as you like. There's no requirement. Write anything you want--vent, say hello, tell us all about Andy, brag, boost. Write whatever you like. No one here will complain. This is the only avenue that most of us have to talk about our children. If you talk about them all the time with your friends, especially ones without children, you'll notice fewer and fewer phone calls from them. Here, we love talking about ourselves and especially our children. And if that runs for several paragraphs, so be it. Looking forward to hearing more from you. Tracey - Glad to see you posted. I hope everything is alright. Sorry to hear that you are depressed. If there is anything that we can do for you, feel free to call on us. Got to run. Eli (my 7 month old) is waking up and I know he wants a bottle. Dawn Fields email: dawnmf@netzero.net Sunday, February 13, 2000 at 00:37:34 (EST)) Hey y'all--------Melissa here. I haven't posted since VERY early Tuesday AM, and have been sick with the "crud" since. I'm feeling better now, and am so glad that Molly hasn't gotten it. YEA for the board/site getting fixed!!! Molly will be 25 months old on Monday. That sounds better than 2 yrs/1 mo!!!! (Somehow, it still sounds "young"!) I'd love to see ANY pictures of ANY of your kids. I have some of Molly and if I remember how to do it, I'll send some if anyone wants to see them. They were taken last Nov.--her Christmas pictures. My e-mail address is: molsmom98@hotmail.com....... Now on to personals: LisaB***I'm sorry you have been so sick. Glad you're better. Sounds like Max has a girlfriend at DC (Abi)!! SOOOO cute!! So Max likes being naked, too, huh? Molly barely waits until she's dried off before running down the hallway to see her Mimi and/or Papa and announcing, "I naked and wunning from Mama....."!=====as if they didn't know it!! LOL/LOL! CHRISTI***Yes, I want pictures of Caleb. Thanks for asking about us when I hadn't posted for a few days. Maybe working OUTSIDE the home would be just the right thing now---hope all works out like you want it to. CATHY G***Great that Alison's bottom is better. I just hate having to change Molly when she's got a rash. Too cute about Alison's "bear stealing", and the "just started having a relationship with him....." from Emma!! Great news that you'll be able to work for the 3 days. You mentioned SNOW....don't you live in London (or near?).....I didn't think it snowed much there.?.?. Hey, I'd eat the chocolate, too----glad you guys had fun! SUE***Yea on your raise!! What type of work do you do? Where do you live? (I like finding out just how "vast" this board is!!!) Hope Cam's naps are getting better. KELLI***Didn't you say something about a book, "The Strong Willed Child" (or something like that)? Who wrote it? I think I may need to get it.....what's your opinion???? JULIANNE***Tickets to Riverdance!!!!! Hope DH likes them and that you both can go have a good time. Sounds like y'all need to "get away" and have something else to focus on to get your mind(s) off of the tensions of the job, etc. So sorry to hear about Colton's ears and now his lip. I'm sending lots of prayers and GOOD VIBES your way!!! LYNDA***from "downunder"...Glad all seems to be going great! (It's summer there, isn't it? Our summers here in Texas are real miserable!) OK, I'm a dumb American, so can you tell me what a "cot" is? (I'm referring to your post to Beth's "poo story -- in the COT...?.?.?). Also, do you celebrate Valentine's Day? Molly likes to "help" me type, too. That's why I can only seem to get here without any interruptions late at nite. KELLI w/TREVOR***Welcome! I agree with all the advice about the paci. He'll start talking more if you gradually take it away. Hope it works. KELLY & ANDY***Welcome to you guys, too. PATTY***Hope you, DH AND Jarin get some rest!!!! I'm glad to hear Jarin's bottom is better, though. Well, ladies, that's all for now. Hope everyone has a good weekend and a Happy Valentine's Day.....hugs to all of the toddlers!! Melissa and Molly email: molsmom98@hotmail.com Sunday, February 13, 2000 at 02:08:22 (EST)) IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME!!!!!!!!!! This is Teresa (and Tori, 12 mo. and new baby girl in 10 days!). I remember a bunch of you from the Babies Today board. Hi there TRACEY, JULIANNE, LISA B., RITA, BETH, MORIAH, KAHNE, STACEY, SUE, AND PATTY. I hope things are going well for all of you. Hello to everyone else on the board! I know it's been months but you all might remember the last time I posted I was getting ready to go back to my teaching job and had just found out that I was pregnant again when my baby, (Tori) was only four months and I wasn't feeling too good about the whole thing. Well after that I got so busy with school, the baby, my seven year old, etc. that I just didn't have the time or energy to get back. Also, we didn't have Internet access for about 2 or 3 months. I will catch you all up on what is going on now. Tori is doing great but is not walking yet. She's on the verge but she's such a chicken. Chelsea, my seven year old, is in first grade and I am so miserable right now that I can't wait for a week from Thursday. I was diagnosed with Placenta Previa when I was 26 weeks along so I had to take a leave from work after Christmas break. I am supposed to be on complete bedrest (you know how that goes with a 12 mo. old). The babysitter still comes every day when my husband is at work and I feel like such a bum having to lay around. I don't do it as much as I'm supposed to though. I have got a lot of drawers, closets, etc. cleaned and I've actually been able to read books, watch movies, etc. for once. My condition is considered very dangerous at this time because the placenta is attached with a lot of blood flow to the uterus thus I could start bleeding at any time and my doctor thinks I will have to have a hysterectomy. I wasn't planning on having any more babies but I have been reading about hysterectomies and it's not something anyone wants to have done. With the C-section surgery too I will probably be in a lot of pain. The baby is being taken by C-section a week from Thursday if the amniocentesis shows that her lungs are developed enough - I will be 36 weeks at that time. I do not plan to go back to work until this Fall because after recovery time I would only have about 5 or 6 weeks before summer vacation and I don't think I could leave my two babies until then. If we do OK without me working, I might not go back at all. I'm going to have to learn how to spend less money if I want to stay home with my two angels. I hope to be able to keep up after the baby is born. I know the first few weeks will be a whirlwind but I'm going to have the babysitter for a few weeks after surgery until I heal. I will try to let you all know how the baby is doing, surgery, etc. as soon as possible. I've missed you all. See you soon! Teresa, Tori (12 mo. and new baby girl in 10 days) Sunday, February 13, 2000 at 17:36:39 (EST)) IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME!!!!!!!!!! This is Teresa (and Tori, 12 mo. and new baby girl in 10 days!). I remember a bunch of you from the Babies Today board. Hi there TRACEY, JULIANNE, LISA B., RITA, BETH, MORIAH, KAHNE, STACEY, SUE, AND PATTY. I hope things are going well for all of you. Hello to everyone else on the board! I know it's been months but you all might remember the last time I posted I was getting ready to go back to my teaching job and had just found out that I was pregnant again when my baby, (Tori) was only four months and I wasn't feeling too good about the whole thing. Well after that I got so busy with school, the baby, my seven year old, etc. that I just didn't have the time or energy to get back. Also, we didn't have Internet access for about 2 or 3 months. I will catch you all up on what is going on now. Tori is doing great but is not walking yet. She's on the verge but she's such a chicken. Chelsea, my seven year old, is in first grade and I am so miserable right now that I can't wait for a week from Thursday. I was diagnosed with Placenta Previa when I was 26 weeks along so I had to take a leave from work after Christmas break. I am supposed to be on complete bedrest (you know how that goes with a 12 mo. old). The babysitter still comes every day when my husband is at work and I feel like such a bum having to lay around. I don't do it as much as I'm supposed to though. I have got a lot of drawers, closets, etc. cleaned and I've actually been able to read books, watch movies, etc. for once. My condition is considered very dangerous at this time because the placenta is attached with a lot of blood flow to the uterus thus I could start bleeding at any time and my doctor thinks I will have to have a hysterectomy. I wasn't planning on having any more babies but I have been reading about hysterectomies and it's not something anyone wants to have done. With the C-section surgery too I will probably be in a lot of pain. The baby is being taken by C-section a week from Thursday if the amniocentesis shows that her lungs are developed enough - I will be 36 weeks at that time. I do not plan to go back to work until this Fall because after recovery time I would only have about 5 or 6 weeks before summer vacation and I don't think I could leave my two babies until then. If we do OK without me working, I might not go back at all. I'm going to have to learn how to spend less money if I want to stay home with my two angels. I hope to be able to keep up after the baby is born. I know the first few weeks will be a whirlwind but I'm going to have the babysitter for a few weeks after surgery until I heal. I will try to let you all know how the baby is doing, surgery, etc. as soon as possible. I've missed you all. See you soon! Teresa, Tori (12 mo. and new baby girl in 10 days) Sunday, February 13, 2000 at 17:37:42 (EST)) Rebecca here... A couple of quick personals: Kelly - Welcome to you and Andy. Don't worry about taking too much room, yours was one of the shortest posts I've ever read!LOL Tracey - XOXO, hope you feel better really soon. Debbie - I know what you mean about playgroups and sickness. The place I take Paige is really bad for germs. I know her current illness is because of our last visit. Why would any mother willingly put other children at risk? Well, Paige is still not great. We ended up taking her to the dr yesterday. On top of her cold and bad cough she has her first ear infection. We just started the meds. Hopefully it will clear up quickly. I hate seeing my little girl sick and I can't fix it. I need to sign off now, it's time to order dinner. Oh, Valentines day celebration will be a decent dinner (cooked by me) and hopefully a cuddle! I know, not all that exciting, but I'm not complaining. With Paige sick we can't really go out like we planned. Talk to you all later! Rebecca & Paige 15months (today) email: burn@canadawired.com Sunday, February 13, 2000 at 20:05:14 (EST)) Hey Girlys! It's Moriah & Alex! We're about to float away (are you guys okay Rita??). We are having a HUGE storm right now - it's been raining here for days. I just heard on the news that Santa Cruz (about 40 miles south of us) got 4.5 inches of rain in the last 24 hours! OMG! Glad we're not near a creek or a hill. Rachel Update: Okay - can everyone please say a prayer, light a candle, sacrifice a virgin?? SOMETHING! Now it turns out the surgery caused a couple of problems with her heart valves that cannot be repaired. So at this point it's all up in the air about her recovery. In addition the Dr's are not giving Don & Lori much info so they are just so depressed (who can blame them). Some Dr mentioned a trach & long term home ventilator to them the other day which of course broke their hearts - now thankfully that was just 1 opinion & no one else seems to have mentioned it since but this is just awful. I was supposed to go to the hospital tonight but Lori called & said she wasn't feeling up to a visitor so I'm going to try again later in the week. Rachel needs a MIRACLE! Does anyone know where to order one??? I made an appointment for Thursday to get my hair cut. I'm thinking of going sort of drastic. I need to cut it to my shoulders & layer it again. And even though it took months to grow them out - I'm going to cut bangs again. I think I look older without them. :( Not to mention that my MIL told me she thinks I need them - LOL! Alex is standing! Mr Amazing! He's sort of pulling to stand at the couch but not exactly. He's so darned little that it looks so cute. I've got to snap a pic to you can see it. Alex is such the love of my life! Lately he's just been melting my heart with all his jabbering & cute expressions. Not to mention his progress is soooooo exciting. We've been just on cloud nine as of late. To all you "tanners"! I'm SOOOOOOOOO jealous. I LOVE the tanning bed. When I worked (before PG) I used to tan all the time. Once I got a good "base" I'd go aobut once a week & take a nice 20 minute nap on my lunch hour. (In fact right before I got PG I had just bought about 6 months worth but I only had a year to use them so they already expired :() So relaxing! Not to mention that Helen is absolutley correct that tan fat looks tons better than white fat! Not to mention tan lines of only a tiny thong are incredibly sexy! Oh the good old days ..... Kelli - I hope you get over the m/s soon! So how was your bundle on the US? Patty - can I please have the pump pics of Jarin? Those have to be hysterical! Instead of Nystatin cream - get a script for Nystatin Powder! It's stronger & works so well. I even mix is with Creamy Desitin (about 1/2 & 1/2) & that works the best - way better than the cream. Welcome to all of our newbies! Cathy G - So happy for your that you got to go part time! Sue - Big Raise?? Boy am I jealous! LOL! Lisa B - glad you got some meds to make you feel better! Love Bath & Body Works! Sarah - Glad you're back! Julianne - Hope Colton is okay! Sorry about the job. I can sure relate to the stress level being high! Lately $ are so tight & things are stressful here too. Lynda - We are going to have our kids about 4 years apart or possible even more. Both Geoff & I came from families with big spaces. Plus I can't imagine having another one yet - it seems so overwhelming. But we are definately in the minority in our social circle. Most everyone has them about 2 years apart. Debbie - That's exactly why we can't go to a play group! It frustrates me because I do not ever take Alex out when he's sick! Just a couple weeks ago we called some friends to invite them & their 6 m/o to dinner. They excepted & we were planning the meal. Well right as we were about to hang up the phone she happened to mention how the baby was so sick with an upper respiratory infection & running fevers. OMG! I had to tell her that they couldn't come & risk exposing Alex. I was so flabbergasted that she accepted the invitation knowing full well that the baby was so sick! Helen - Congratulations on your loss! You're doing so great! I'm frustrated with WW!!!! I only lost .2 this week - making that a grand total of .8! PATHETIC! Obviously I'm not being as good as I think I am! I'm going to get out my excercise videos this week since the weather is so bad. I'm not sure where I'm going wrong but I've got to cut back more. At least I'm going in the right direction! Okay - I guess I better go. Hope everyone is having a nice weekend! Moriah & Alex (16 months) email: geoffandmoriah@msn.com Sunday, February 13, 2000 at 22:48:17 (EST)) Hi everyone, and Happy Valentine's day from Louise. I haven't managed to get on here for 5 days, problems with the board and there is SO much to catch up on, it's really frustrating. Things are OK here, James and I seemed to get better after our throat infections but over the last couple of days it seems to have reoccured for both of us and James now has conjunctivitis (sp?), poor thing. BTW - I so agree with all of you about not taking sick kids to playgroup - I swear James picks something up every time he goes to them because of other sick toddlers. I feel especially frustrated to be feeling sick again as it was my birthday on Friday (OMG, 34!!!). I got a great present from DH - to give you some background, I was so cross with him a month or so back when he'd taken James for his first haircut (I was working) and hadn't saved any of his baby hair - things like that are important to Mums! Anyway, I love antiques (not that I can often afford them!) and DH bought me a Vitorian silver box for my dressing table - so pretty - and best of all, when I opened it there was a lock of James's hair that he HAD saved from the haircut just for the occasion! What a sweetheart! Apart from that nice surprise, I must admit I'm feeling a bit blue. I seem to have had a re-occurence of many of the symptoms I had when I had PPD. With me, I never really felt depressed as such, but it took the form of extreme anxiety - at its worst I always felt 'wired', REALLY panicky about James (for no reason), couldn't relax, and would wake every hour or so through the night with panic-like attacks, even when James would sleep through the night. Needless to say I got very low and exhausted, but I responded really well to the meds and was fine by last summer, so much so that I stopped taking them because I was so keen to get 'back to normal'. Now I feel a lot of those feelings coming back, I don't know why, I feel if I could rationalise it it would help but I can't. I'm going to talk to my doctor again, she is very understanding, I just HATE feeling like this and want to be my old self. I'm sorry to go on so much, but I'm sure those of you who have gone through similar things will understand. Anyway, onto a few quick personals: CATHYG - I was LOL at your description of Emma 'just starting a relationship' with her bear!! Re your question - I did give up work to be a SAHM last year, but my firm asked me if I would work 2 days a week on a freelance basis to finish a big project that we needed to roll out internationally (I work for one of the big Professional Service/Consulting firms in Marketing & Communications). It was a good opportunity to keep some money coming in and as it was familiar territory I accepted, but the project is due to finsih at the end of this month and I can finally be a full time SAHM!! 90% of me can't wait, the other 10% is worried about lack of interaction, stimulus etc, but I'm hoping that I may be bale to pick up other freelance projects if I want/need to, as the market for freelance work in my area is quite bouyant, whereas permanent part-time opportunities are rare. I'm viewing it as a real luxury to be able to spend time with James, even if I eventually work again. LYNDA - welcome back, I've had real access problems too! Glad to hear Ella is well and sleeping. We also did control crying with James, I didn't want to resort to it but it really works. Re age gaps - I had been thinking about 3 years. Most of my friends have 2 year or less gaps, and although I worry a bit about not conceiving (it took us a while with James), I don't feel up to coping with 2 under 2 at the moment, and my sister and I have a 31/2 year gap and are incredibly close. I guess there's no perfect gap. JULIANNE - so sorry about the job, I guess it just wasn't meant to be. Glad you've got good severance. Hope Colton's lip is better - I know what you mean about DHs never asking for details, it drives me mad! DEBBIE - nice to hear from you, I missed you. Sorry you're feeling under the weather - I've been feeling like that too. I just can't wait for summer. PATTY - pls send pics of Jarin in the pumps!! Sorry he was such a monster in church - I must admit I'm a bit of an infrequent church goer, I can't bear the thought of what James would do, probably try to get in the pulpit so everyone would look at him! SUE - hope Cam sorts his naps out again. James went through a bit of a phaase like that, I also found a good 'calming down' period helped and I kept the routine identical to night time (apart from the bath obviously!) LISAB- glad your bosses were so cool, and that's nice that you finally got a thank-you and a gift from the maternity clothers lady! Hope you're feeling better. MELISSA - PLEASE send me photos of Molly when you send them, I can't wait to see her, she sounds so spirited and fun!! Hope you don't mind me responding to a post you sent LYNDA, but I had to laugh when I saw you asking about cots - it's what British and Australian people call cribs - I couldn't work out for ages why you guys kept talking about cribs (to us that's a cradle!) and weren't putting your poor babies in cots!! It's me that's from London by the way! TERESA - I'm so sorry to hear about the placenta praevia and the possible hysterectomy. You've had a tough time. Good luck with the delivery however! MORIAH - If I could order a miracle, I certainly would. I will pray for Rachel all I can. Her porr parents. On a happier note, that's great about Alex pulling up!! I couldn't believe your friend, thinking she could come with a sick baby - don't some people ever think?! Girls, you'll be glad to know that's it - so sorry for my monster post, I had a lot to share! Louise & James (15 months) email: rnash78035@aol.com Monday, February 14, 2000 at 06:57:58 (EST)) Happy Valentines Day from Sue and Cameron. Can't believe its Monday already - this weekend flew by! Had a bit of a scare this morning. As I was getting ready to head out the door, my DCP called and told me she'd meet me at the end of her driveway because it was iced over (we had some freezing rain overnight). As I pulled up to her driveway, I saw her standing on the side, so I put on the brakes to stop and kept right on going! I swear I missed her by only a foot or so! I slid right over the driveway and into a small ditch. Luckily we weren't going fast and didn't go far off the road, so Cameron, myself, and the car are fine - not to mention the poor DCP! Of course I couldn't get out, so I had to call DH to come with a bucket of sand. The joys of winter... Cameron did a little bit better with napping over the weekend. One long a.m. nap on Saturday, and two shorter ones yesterday. I think perhaps he's getting ready to transition from 2 to just 1 nap per day and has his system screwed up. He was pretty restless last night though - saw a few new pearly whites poking through this morning. Maybe that's the culprit! Thanks for your advice though. We had a ball yesterday. DH had to be out all day yesterday and I just made up my mind in the morning that I wouldn't worry about trying to get housework or anything done and that I'd just have fun playing all day. I was beat by the end of the day. Cam loves for me to chase him and tickle him when I catch him. He starts screaming, squealing, and laughing all at the same time when I get close to catching him. I laughed so hard my sides hurt. We also spent a good deal of time outside as it was unseasonable warm. All the fresh air wore us both out! Only time for a couple personals - MELISSA & MOLLY - thanks for the raise congrats! I live in Mass (on the RI/CT/MA border) and work in the HR office of a large human service agency (we work with "at risk" kids). My job is to oversee benefits, workers comp, and staff training. Fun stuff! TERESA & TORI & SOON-TO-BE BABY GIRL - hi! I do remember you from the BT board. Glad to hear that Tori is doing well. Sounds like you've had a heck of a ride during this pregnancy! Hope all works out well for your next week. We'll be thinking of you! I spent a good amount of time on bedrest myself and know that it stinks! Hang in there! LOUISE - sorry to hear you're not feeling yourself. My experience with PPD was alot like yours. I didn't really feel down and depressed so to speak. It was more like being in a frenzy all the time - feeling desperate and frantic and paranoid like I was on speed or something. That's why it didn't click that it was PPD for so long. Hope you're feeling better soon. HELEN - I've now lost about a pound with the Slimfast, but don't know if I'm going to keep up with it. The stomach stuff is driving me crazy. One of my girlfriends goes to WW and I may join her in that - having a diet "buddy" would be helpful I think! Hope all your DHs out there make your Valentine's Day memorable! See you soon. Sue and Cameron email: sbarry@key.org Monday, February 14, 2000 at 11:24:28 (EST)) Hello from Helen&Amanda!! Happy valentines day everyone--we went out last night for v-- day with the kids and our neighbours- had a good time- ended the night with my head in the toilet---anyway-- Amanda bumped her mouth again today and was bleeding- poor thing! I just finished making the kids and DH valentines on the computer- its raining and going out in it is not appealing! I need to go out and get them a little candy too. On to personals- DARLEEN- congrats on the townhouse. Debbie-- Happy 44th!!!Hope your sinuses- allergies etc are better soon. Yes-- when kids are REALLY sich with eye infections, the flu, strep etc its inconsiderate to bring them around others- like we want to be stuck home with a sick kid! Some people don't think! Welcome new moms and babies!! Back in a minute--later! Helen&Amanda@18mos(DS@13yrs&DD@11yrs). email: mhim27@hotmail.com Monday, February 14, 2000 at 13:56:49 (EST)) HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY from Julianne & Colton. It was a toss-up at the dr's Friday as to whether or not Colton should have stitches. The cuts inside & on top of his lip they weren't going to touch since they will heal better w/o anything. However, the one on the outside they were worried about. In the end we decided not to since there was no "guarantee" that the scar would be less. Sometimes small scars look worse after stiches. Plus, Colton wasn't fussing are acting like his cuts hurt too much and I thought the trauma of being held down, numbed and stitched would be worse. I hope I made the right decision. Only time will tell. We got Colton a big stuffed elephant that Blockbuster had on display for the Tarzan video! Colton has a riot riding it through the house like a horse. He even pulls the trunk up and makes elephant noises. DH sent me flowers at work--just a few minutes ago. My office smells wonderful now. DH loved the Riverdance tickets. I really surprised him on that one. Christi: Thanks for the pictures. Sure looks like Caleb loves his bath. Way to go grace--sounds like something I would do. Glad everyone still enjoyed the chocolate. Tracey: Thanks for the pictures. I love the one of Dillon w/ the hat. What a great messy cake photo! Hope your depression goes away soon. Sometimes I wish I had enjoyed the simple pleasures of childhood and growing up more. I try to do things that make me feel like a kid again--like cranking the music when driving and singing at the top of my lungs--hoping someone I know doesn't see me though!! Take care and hope to see you on here more. Helen: Good job on your weight loss--keep it up, or should I say off. Darleen: Yeah for DH coming home and you getting the townhouse. Debbie: Welcome back. Sending healthy thoughts your way. Yeah for Emilee eating table foods better. I am still battling w/ Colton on that one. Kelly: Welcome. Patty: Hope your kids feel better soon. What a party pooper teacher you are. LOL Your priest's comments to Jarin were too cute. DH sat w/ Colton in church yesterday since I had nursery. It was the first time he has been upstairs in a long time. He was quite active and noisy. When the choir when back to their seats he said "bye-bye" to them both times. DH was sure the preacher was going to say something, but he just smiled. Norma: Welcome, sorry, no suggestions. Lisa: So, how did DH do w/ taking Max to the dr w/ him? Lynda: The only time I can get Colton to eat bread is when feeding our stale stuff to the fish. Maybe they like stale bread better than fresh?! Who knows. Dawn: Welcome back, Erica sounds so cute w/ all her little expressions. Melissa: I would love to see Molly's pictures. Teresa: Welcome back too. I will be praying for you and a healthy baby. Stick to your bedreast as much as possible. I know, easier said than done. Rebecca: Enjoy your Valentine's dinner tonight. Hope Paige feels better soon. Moriah: I will be praying for Rachel and her miracle. Go wild w/ your hair!! Yeah for Alex standing. Louise: Happy birthday late. What an awesome b-day present. Hope you are feeling back to your happy self again soon. Sue: Wow, close call w/ the slippery road and the ditch. Glad you an Cam weren't hurt. Sorry for the long post but you all were busy posting this weekend!! Julianne & Colton 19 mo email: jjones@batts.com Monday, February 14, 2000 at 13:58:35 (EST)) Hello from a soggy Rita! We had a great time this weekend visiting with DH's cousins and playing in the snow. Maddy loved the snow, but Amy was not impressed. Poor thing could hardly walk in the house with all of her gear on. I sat her on our little tobogan while Maddy and I ran around. She absolutley hated it when Maddy threw snow at me and hit her. Oh well, she'll probably have a better time next year when she can run around in boots that fit better. I am cooking a special dinner for our Valentines Day tonight. We don't go out anymore since it's such a hassle. It is our engagement anniversary, however. I "helped" Maddy make a few Valentines, including one for DH that he was really touched to get. We'll have to see what DH has planned for me. Poor guy, my BD is so close to Valentines that Feb is always an expensive month. But aren't I worth it? LOL Debbie - So glad to hear from you! Boo to being so sick for so long. I hope that you can all get healthy soon. Forty four is not so old, especially when you have your little ones. When is Maddie's BD? Moriah - We are a bit soggy since we came home to a leak in the roof yesterday. The roof seam where the addition meets the original house needs another patching. DH's stock options are going to buy us a new roof this year, I hope. We will keep praying for Rachel. Yah for Alex! I hope that when the healthy season comes we can get together again. I am dying to see and hear what Alex is up to! Sue - Glad that you and Cam are okay after your icy adventure. DH and I were talking about living in a rural area again this weekend and I told him that I knew that I could not deal with snow/ice driving. I'll stick to the rainy weather of the Nor Cal coast if we move. I might rust a bit, though. We had a scary drive up to the snow on Friday night. There were so many dunderheads who were driving too fast in the heavy rain and sliding off of the road. We saw so many accidents. I get really tense, too, when we have the girls in the car. Teresa - Hello long lost mommy! What a stressful PG you are having! Keep to that bedrest. The next thing we want to hear from you is about your beautiful new baby and how well you are recovering! Tracey - I am sorry to hear that you are having a rough time. Remember that we are here for you when you feel ready to talk. Sending prayers and positive thoughts your way... Louise - Glad to hear that you and James are healthy again. I truly admire the fact that you and others on this board have the courage and strength to talk about the times when things aren't going well. Let us know how things go with your visit to the doctor. Melissa - Please add me to the list to recieve pictures of Molly. I'll bet she has a gleam in her eyes... Patty - Jarin is so adorable wearing your pumps! What a scrapbook page that picture would make... Well, I had better get some work done. Take care everyone - stay dry, warm, safe and healthy! Rita & Amy email: ritad@home.com Monday, February 14, 2000 at 14:35:34 (EST)) Hello again-- DH interrupted me-- to continue-- Patty-- Cute about Jarin in church. LOVED the pic of him- what a cutie! Amanda has started with the shoes, dragging them out and trying to walk in them, they fall off, she gets mad-- etc, etc.... Hope Jesse's team wins some games- they take losing to heart at that age. Hope Jarin's bum is getting better. Dawn- Erica sounds so cute with the shoes, purse, phone- they are so cute at this age with their 'pretending'. Rebecca--Hope Paige is better soon. Moriah-- Yes- your right- at least your losing- don't give up! Wow do a lot of foods have tons of 'points' or what??? The points add up quick, don't they! Poor little Rachel- hope she has a miracle and gets better. Hope your hair app goes well. Congrats on Alex trying to pull up on the couch! He's a little fighter isn't he- what a doll! My fat is beginning to tan-LOL! I just hope my shorts fit a little better by Sunday! Sue- Sorry the slim fast is not agreeing with you-- I think you'll find WW works, if you stick with it and count your points, which can be annoying at times but eventually you'll know the points and not have to look it up-- good luck!! LOUISE---SUE----- Yes I had some of the same symptoms as both of you-- didn't sleep a full night until Amanda was about 13mos old- I would wake 5-10X a night wondering if she was awake , crying, breathing. And things seemed to overwhelm me-- the doc described it as being ' wound up tighter than a spring'!! Thats me! Did you see the commercial on TV for a med. called bus-par?? The little cartoon lady w/her broom sweeping her worries, they are piled high?? Thats me. I'm not sure if its PPD, depression, just plain nerves, panic attacks- maybe I just have a mixed bag of everything!!???? I was also wondering what I will do if I try and go off the meds-- I guess its a trial and error thing?? Hope you don't mind me picking your brains--:O) Well I should go and start defrosting supper- DS wants chicken, mashed potatoes and stove top stuffing- sounds good to me! Pleas send pics- I didn't write who is sending them out or asking, but add me to the list-- thanks! Later!! Helen&Amanda@18mos(DS@13yrs&DD@11yrs). email: mhim27@hotmail.com Monday, February 14, 2000 at 15:06:16 (EST)) Hi from LisaB. Nothing much new here so here's my personals: TRACEY: Thanks for the pix. Your kids are all so cute! CHRISTI: Thanks for your photos also. I loved the spiked hair Caleb was sporting in the tub!!! MELISSA: I'm glad you're feeling better. I would love to see what Molly looks like! TERESA: Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy. MORIAH: I'm sorry to hear about Rachel's latest setbacks. YEAH on Alex pulling up!!!!!! I loved the photo of him - he's soooo adorable! LOUISE: What a great present! Things have been so hectic here that DH and I both kinda forgot about Valentine's Day. SUE: I'm glad you're all ok after your scare on the icy roads. JULIANNE: Colton sounds adorable riding his elephant! I forgot DH was getting a CT scan of his sinuses this morning - so Max came to work with me for a hour. He had a ball - openning and shutting my desk drawers, "talking" to everyone, getting candy from everyone, etc. I think he was disappointed when DH showed up to take him home!!! RITA: Sorry about the leak. Too bad Amy hated the snow. Max isn't real impressed with it either. LisaB & Max (17 mo.) & 9 wk pg with #2 email: lisa_lab@hotmail.com Monday, February 14, 2000 at 17:59:27 (EST)) Hayley here. It feels like Noah's ark - raining non-stop for days. Lots of fun being in the house with a toddler - I actually looked forward to going to work for a change! Had visits/dinner at our house with three different groups of friends over the weekend with their kids, ages 6 weeks - 1 1/2 years. Becca was incredibly miserable - crying whenever I hugged or held anyone else's kid, grabbing her toys out of the other kids' hands saying "mine" - I had no idea I had such a little monster for a daughter. How do you guys teach sharing? Also, anyone know a cure/good food for constipation? Becca's poopies are huge and hard and make her cry :( Personals: Julianne - you made the right decision - you often can't even see scars from injury, but stitches are usually visable. Bye for now! hayley and becca (17 mos.) email: hayley.thompson@citicorp.com Monday, February 14, 2000 at 20:23:56 (EST)) How does that go? As sands through the hour glass, so are the days of our lives. I feel like one big fat soap opera. Fat should be in bold letters. Jim and I are doing really good. He sent me beautiful flowers at work today. I can't remeber the last time he did that. On the 16th will be the anniversary of our first date. 14 yrs ago. I never thought I'de see the day when I acknowledged that date again. He had to get a restraining order against the GF. She is pulling all sorts of crap. I don't want him home without someone there with him as a witness. I'm afraid that she will try to start something and then cry wolf to get him arrested. He never once raised a hand to me, but he has hit her back. She is very violent and when she doesn't get her own way, then she starts beating on people. She actually thinks that he will come back to her if she harrasses him enough. I don't know about you guys, but when ever I wanted the attention of a man, I tend to be sweet and cute. Not violent and neurotic.LOL. Riley is doing great. He's on amoxicillion right now for a throat infection. He is doing so good at dc. I no longer worry while I'm at work. He really seems to love Jim. If Jim is not paying him attention Riley does whatever he can to get it. The other boys are doing good too. They seem happy to have their dad back. Taylor tried joking with my Mom and oldest sis about his dad being too strict and they took it the wrong way. of course! Sometimes, I want to scream. No matter what I do they want to point out the bad. Jim is no more stricter than I. So now they think that the boys are unhappy and are not "adjusting" well. But the family therapist tells me different. I think my oldest sis is mad at me for giving up my freedom, because she is unhappy in her marriage and is too scared to take the next step. Moriah and I always had long hair and she could never grow hers out. She used to yell at us if we cut our hair. Our oldest sis is one of those who is never happy with her own self. I know people she actually can't stand because they have nice figures and she doesn't. Anyway, no personals today because I couldn't find a piece of paper to take notes. Type to you all later! p.s. thanks for all the well wishes on Jim and I getting things going. Shelly & Riley 22 months Monday, February 14, 2000 at 20:43:34 (EST)) Hi mommies. Jarin's bottom is looking better today, but he was so whiny! I had to go to work (on a 2 hour delay due to freezing rain last night) and he stayed home with SIL. He ended up taking about an hour nap, and that was it. So, all he wanted to do was whine, nurse a few minutes, be happy a few minutes, and start whining again. UGH. DH & I are both starting to get the sore throats now. So, of course, he came home and went to bed for an hour nap. I wasn't able to get on here earlier because then Jarin started whining, so I had to take care of him. I also wanted to go to the tanning bed, but that didn't happen since there was no one up to watch Jarin. I know, I know - bitch, bitch, bitch. LOL. Anyway, on to the personals... **Christi: Thanks for the pictures. The bathtub one was a riot. I loved the bubbles in Caleb and Lexi's hair. =) **Dawn: LOL at the "Awww, mama, awww, man". Too cute. Glad to see you back here again. **Melissa: Sending a pic of Jarin your way. I'd love to see Molly. I was also lol at her "naked and wunning from mama" comment. She sounds so funny. **Teresa: Hey, long lost girlfriend!! Glad to see you found us again. Sounds like Tori is doing well, but what an awful pregnancy you've had. I had a small problem with placenta praevia, but only had to take it easy for about a week and then everything was ok. I remember though, that it was VERY scary. I cried a ton thinking I was going to lose Jarin - mine was at only 19 weeks. I hope you get to be a SAHM permanently. **Rebecca: Hope Paige's ear infection clears up really soon. **Moriah: I am so sorry to hear the bad news about Rachel. I will say more prayers for her. I just talked to a friend of my mom's who is an ER nurse (and a man). He and his wife just took a 22 month old little girl into their home as a foster child about 3 months ago. She is on a home ventilator and just got a paci muir valve. I was so impressed with myself that I knew what that was when he was talking about it. LOL. He said the first thing she did was look at him, pull his face toward her and say "Hi, dad". Now would that melt your heart or what??? Her parent's rights were terminated a few weeks ago, so they will be trying to adopt her now. I hope you like your hair when you get it cut. I did the drastic cut not too long ago too, but I really like it. I am sending the picture of Jarin in his pumps your way. I loved the picture of Alex -so adorable. Yay for your little munchkin standing - WOO HOO!! =) Thanks for the info on Nystatin powder. I'll have to ask for that next time. I also only tan about 1-2 times a week, since that's all I'm ever able to get away. I can't believe your friend would accept an invitation with a sick baby, knowing what you've been through with Alex!!!! **Louise: I hope you and James get better soon. Happy Belated 34th Birthday!! I just had my 34th in December. That's so neat of DH to give you the antique box with the lock of James's hair. =) I can relate to the depression problem - I kept asking my Dr when I could go off of them and be "normal" again. But every time I try to go off, I just go back to the same behavior, so I keep taking them. He says to take them as long as I need them and to stop thinking of myself as "abnormal" because I need them. You may just need to go back on for a while. I am sending the pic your way too. I've decided if I take Jarin to church anymore, we are just automatically sitting in the cry room! **Sue: Wow, that icy driveway incident had to be scary. We had icy road this morning too,so we had a 2 hour delay. Sounds like you enjoyed your whole day off playing with Cam. **Helen: LOL at you ending the evening with your head in the toilet. I haven't done that for so long - I think the last time was my bachelorette party and that was 12 years ago!!! **Julianne: I think I would've made the same decision you did regarding stitches. Too cute that Colton waved "bye-bye" to the choir. =) **Rita: I think you're worth the extra expense in February. =) I'm gonna have to learn more about this whole scrapbook thing you guys keep talking about! **Hayley: I give Jarin apple juice when he gets constipated. **Shelly: Hope the Days of Your Life keep getting better. Good for you getting flowers! On a sad note, some sicko in our town was arrested this weekend for killing his three year old daughter. He had a "homemade paddle" and he took a "full baseball swing" with it and hit her in the back of the head. He "abused" her some more on 3 different days (doesn't say how yet) and she ended up dying. What kind of person can do these kinds of things??? Her stepmother called 911 when she wasn't breathing and now her real mother is driving here from Florida. What a mess. Take care everyone. Love those babies a little extra tonight. Patty and Jarin = 17 1/2 months email: tematheny@ctlnet.com Monday, February 14, 2000 at 22:37:57 (EST)) Hello, Romaine and Saba here! I had troubles w/ the board for days; then the computer has been crashing or freezing up since we loaded windows 98 and Norton's; AND I lost my free internet access so now I can only surf in the eve or weekends or pay long-distance charges b/c we live in the boonies and the server is in either Vancouver or Victoria..... Sat I was posting and it froze and I lost it all!!!!! Wahhhhhh! I am not going back. I only went as far as today....sorry about that! Saba went to a birthday party yesterday. She gets so overwhelmed beiing w/ a bunch of kids. She pretty much stuck to DH. She is such a riot at home! She has been singing DD2's name which is really cute. DD2 simply ADORES watching her! I made a very nice dinner for DH and I on Sat night. There is not much to choose from even in the city and b/c it is an hour away, the babysitting costs are just too much. We enjoyed it very much-I out-did myself:):):):):) not to brag or anything! (I did that on BT!:) I pretty much will only be coming here on the weeeks that DH is on afternoons b/c when he is home in the eve, I like to spend the time w/ him. I go back to work in 6 weeks. I am so sad. I have apllied for a new positiojn and hope to hear that I got it this week. It all depends upon who is out there. Wish me luck! Moriah-I cannot imagine Rachel's parents' pain. If I could order a miracle, I surely would. Wonderful news about Alex standing! GO ALEX!!! Louise- How sweet of DH! Melt my heart..... Sue-That was heart-stopping! I am glad that no one was hurt! Julianne-I LOVE getting flowers! DH does not do it very often, but I did get a bouquet on Sat! I am so envious that you will be going to Riverdance! It gives me chills when I see it on tv. I cannot imagine it in person!! ENJOY! Rita-My goodness! Happy birthday; Happy anniversary; Happy Valentine's day..... Helen-Have I ever sent you pics of my girls? Patty-OMG! What is wrong w/ the world....... I hope that all you sick mommies and toddlers will feel better soon..... Romaine and Saba 23 mos email: rrantry@yahoo.ca Tuesday, February 15, 2000 at 00:34:11 (EST)) Rebecca here... Moriah - Yeah for Alex standing! Please send me a pic. Louise - everything I've read on PPD does say that reoccurances can happen (especially during stressful periods). Not to worry though, since they are usually much less debilitating and tend to be short lived. I hope your dr helps you. Helen - I know that the specialist here recommends staying on meds for 6 months to a year after you start to feel better. I think the worry is that the depression and anxiety will return. Haley - I have always found the P foods to work (peaches, pears, prunes, plums...) or increasing fluid intake. Hope things get 'easier' real quick. Paige seems to be better today. The fever is gone, the ear pulling decreased, and her appetite is coming back. I just wish her cough would get better. Happy Valentines Day everyone! Rebecca & Paige 15months email: burn@canadawired.com Tuesday, February 15, 2000 at 02:02:08 (EST)) Hey Girlys! Happy Valentines Day!! Used to be my favorite holiday (pre-Alex). Now I think that Halloween will replace it when Alex gets older. :) Did anyone watch First Watch?? Is it WAY more racy than usual or was it just me? Good thing they switched it from Sunday night at 8:00! We were up practically all night last night :(. When I put Alex in our bed at 11 he sounded really dry in his trach. So I put his humidity on & went to sleep. Then I was awakened at 1:45 by him crying loudly. Well since he can't wear his "voice" at night w/the humidity - he can't make any noise. So I knew something was up. Well turns out he had a mucous plug in his trach. Thank God that he can creathe around it! So once I got the plug cleared I was too nervous to sleep again until I made sure he was okay. So I was awake until 4:30. Finally I dozed & then Alex woke up again at 5:30. I woke Geoff up & thankfully he took over. Then Alex wnet back to sleep from 7-9 (total fluke! He never sleeps past 6:30). But I was still so tired this afternoon so I took a nap. Geoff was really cute today. We had gone out Saturday night with friends for dinner so we said that it was our VD celebration. We had agreed no gifts. Well today he went to run errands & while he was gone I set up a photo shoot to make him a card with Alex's picture. I had just finished when he got home & had a dozen red roses & a card. He was really sweet! Then this afternoon I was napping & he got the chicken out of the fridge & was trying to figure out what to do with it but the phone rang & woke me up so I caught him in the act of making dinner! I have a great hubby! Speaking of pics - I got the cutest pic of Alex today! I emailed it out to a bunch of people but if I missed anyone let me know! On to the personals! Louise - That was really cute of your DH! Sue - I tried to email you Alex's pic & it got returned. :( Teresa - HI! Sorry you're having such a lousy time! Bed rest sure does suck! I was on it for 6 weeks with Alex. I hope that everything goes okay with your delivery! Welcome back. Rita - your February sounds like my December! Our anniversay is the 4th, my birthday is the 12th & then Christmas! At least now with Mother's Day I get presents at some other time of the year! LOL! Sorry Amy didn't appreciate the snow! Patty - Alex would be proud that you know about PMV's!!! What happened to the little girl that she needs a vent & trach? Hope it wasn't from abuse or something. Strange that her parents terminated their rights. That's incredible that she spoke like that. These kids are amazing! So sad about the little girl in your town. It makes me so sick that there are wacko's out there that kill their own kids yet Lori has lived in a hospital for 7 months just praying for Rachel to live! I hope you feel better soon! Well I guess I better get! Chat again soon! Moriah & Alex (16 months) email: geoffandmoriah@msn.com Tuesday, February 15, 2000 at 03:04:42 (EST)) Hello and happy belated Valentines from Christi & Caleb. Things are going along fine here, caleb has a nasty cold, but I new it would show up sooner or later. He went to the Dr. for his 15 motnhs check-up on Friday--weighed in at 24.8 lbs and was 31"long (that is 2" growth in just over 2 months!)Thats all here so on to personals..... TRACEY*** HI! Hope you feel better soon LISA B.*** Glad you are feeling better PATTY*** Funny about Jarin preaching his own sermon--Caleb does that every week, we are a really small church (20 last Sunday A.M.) and he is the church baby, he always stays upstirs. This week was kind of nice Caleb stayed home with daddy cause neither of them were feeling well--I actually heard an entire sermon! REBECCA*** Hope Paige is back to normal soon! MORIAH*** YEAH for Alex pulling up and standing!!! He has made such great accomplishments in such a short time. Could I have a picture please? I am still praying for Rachel--if anyone does miracles, it is He! JULIANNE*** Hope Colton's cuts heal soon! I must have missed something, what happened? HAYLEY*** I hate to say it, but trying to teach to share right now is a loosing battle--they just get it. All you can try to do is tell her she can't take away. Good luck, I know it is frustrating. SUE*** Whay are you trying to kill your DCP? just kidding, that would have freaked me out too--glad everyone is okay! Guess that is it--Caleb is sick, so I knw how my day will be-blah. Sounds like he is up, see you all later Christi & Caleb 15 months email: plumbs@coiinc.com Tuesday, February 15, 2000 at 09:26:00 (EST)) Hi from LisaB. I got great news this morning!! The sitter has to pay in quite a bit of taxes on her daycare this year and was a little peeved ... so she decided to spend a little more money each month for the daycare versus paying a large sum to the government once a year. Therefore from now on she's providing diapers and wipes!!!! This makes my $700/month daycare bill once #2 arrives sounds much better as my expenses for diapers and wipes will probably be cut in half or better!!!!!! Nothing much new with Max, except he's once again on a book kick. All he wants to do is read his books - he'll read one, then Daddy has to read it to him, then Mommy has to read it to him, then he reads it himself again, etc. I'm probably a bad parent (as I KNOW reading is important) but I'm so tired of books that I would jump with joy if we could play duplos, blocks, truck, etc. ANYTHING but books!!! HAYLEY: Becca is really too young to understand sharing. I would work on emphaty - "doesn't ___ look sad that you took that toy from her?". Sometimes I would let Becca keep the toy and give the other child another toy. Other times I would take the toy from Becca, return it to the other kid, and give Becca another toy. SHELLY: You sound so happy anymore!!! PATTY: It's so sad about that poor 3 year old. ROMAINE: I also live in the boonies with only a long-distance server, so I only use the internet at home on the weekends. I would love photos of your girls! MORIAH: Geoff sounds so sweet. DH SAYS he sent me flowers yesterday ... but they still haven't shown up. He was going to call the flower place and complain. I teased him that he forgot to order any and just came up with this story to get him out of the doghouse - LOL!!!! I gave him some expensive pecan chocolates and he was in heaven! PATTY/CHRISTI: I'm lucky. 3-4 infants/toddlers were fussing during church Sunday and most were taken to the nursery by their parents. At the end of the service the minister commented on how nice it was to hear babies crying at church when there hadn't been any young ones in attendence for years ... and that the babies were more than welcome to stay and cry, HE would just preach louder!!! (Of course, some of the attendees were giving the parents nasty looks when the babies cried). LisaB & Max (17 months) & 9 wks pg with #2 email: lisa_lab@hotmail.com Tuesday, February 15, 2000 at 12:09:13 (EST)) Hey, this is Birdie and Noah. He's not very happy right now because I am not playing with him so I'll be quick. I couldn't get on here all week. Glad to see I wasn't the only one. Missed you all. We had a great weekend away and a great v-day. Made a huge dinner and DH bought flowers, candy, and Ralph Laurens "Romance" perfume. He also gave me a card from him and one from Noah. I gave him 2 Play station games. I'm so romantic huh??? He loved them. Anyway, Noah has so many teeth coming in right now it's ridiculous. Poor little thing. He is so cranky. We are all getting very excited about Florida in 2 weeks. I have been trying to teach Noah who Mickey Mouse is. He definately knows pooh and tigger. We have tons of snow. No real exciting news here. Thank you all for not cheating on your spouses, getting divorced, having a sex change, while I was gone. Take care. Gotta go color. Birdie and Noah (14 months) email: LJU777@AOL.COM Tuesday, February 15, 2000 at 12:16:37 (EST)) Hey guys. Just a quick note to let you know that I am still around. The internet Nazi's have hit hard at my work so I am having to keep a low profile for a while. I haven't really had time to read any of the posts from last week as I have to watch my time closely for internet usage and half hour a day doesn't give me much time to do anything except quickly scan the posts. DH has his surgery last Tuesday and I was home with him until Fri. He has his post op visit today and is back at work today. He is still very sore and not much help around the house yet, but I guess this too will be shortlived. Allison is still doing great although she has been quite cranky for the past few days. I think she is starting to get her 2 year molars. I can't feel anything yet, but I can only stick my hand in her mouth for a few seconds as I risk getting bit if I leave it in there for too long! LOL> A few personals that I managed to scan. Teresa - I remember you. Aren't you from KY too? Down near the West Virginia border? Glad to hear that Tori is doing well. Moriah - Yeah Alex! I'm so happy that he is pulling up now! How super for you guys. I'm going to check my e-mail at home tonight. Hopefully it will contain a picture of the little guy! Tracey - e-mail me if you need someone to talk to. So sorry to hear you are depressed. I'm here if you need someone. That's all I have time for right now. Hope to be able to get back on here for a few minutes this afternoon and take notes. Sorry my post was so selfish. I'll try to do better. Talk to you ladies later. Beth and Allison (20.75 months) email: bobwite@msn.com Tuesday, February 15, 2000 at 12:19:37 (EST)) Colton had quite the fun day yesterday. His DC had a Valentine's Day exchange so I had my mom drop him off at my work so I could take him there for his party. Then he got to spend the rest of the afternoon at my sisters w/ my mom. Later I dropped him off at my IL's while I ran to the eye doc to pick up my new glasses and contacts. He was so tired when I picked him up. I hadn't planned on leaving him there, I had just stopped to drop off the valentine's I had Colton color all over and MIL wanted to watch him. I thought that was so nice of her. Maybe it helped that DH plowed their driveways! His brother lives two houses down and plows his driveway, but not theirs. Make MIL really mad especially since she watches their daughter all the time and usually all day. I try to just have her watch for just an hour or so she looks forward to it. Colton was a real sweetie giving Dh and me hugs during dinner last night. He must have figured out that VD was for hugs and kisses! Rita: I think it's amazing that toddlers can even move with all their snow clothes on. Colton has figured out how to roll out of the sled on purpose. He kept falling out yesterday and I was getting frustrated until I caught him in the act. Lisa: I bet everyone had fun playing with your little assistant Max. It is funny to see the change in an office when their is a baby or little one visiting. Yippie for the DC providing supplies. Hayley: I find that prunes work the best. Mix the juice w/ something Becca likes or use the prune babyfood mixed w/ something. Shelly: Glad to hear that Riley has made such a good adjustment to DC. It makes going to work easier knowing your child is having fun. Hope things continue to go well w/ you and Jim. Patty: Sorry you had such a frustrating day yesterday. Guess I shouldn't tell you that I went tanning yesterday huh? I can't imagine what would possess a parent to hurt their own child. Romaine: Good luck on getting the job you want. Glad you had a great dinner w/ DH. I haven't done a really big meal in a long long time. Moriah: Sorry you had such a scary night w/ Alex. Yeah for your DH bieng such a sweetie though. Thanks for the cute picture of Alex and his animal friends. What did your DH think of Alex's photo shoot? Christi: Last Friday Colton fell at DC and bit his lip bad in three places. DC still does not have a clear idea of what happened. His teacher said she looked over and saw Colton on his stomach crying and when she picked him up blood started pouring out of his mouth. He is a trooper though and hasn't been too bothered by it. However, it got him out of going bottle-free last weekend! Birdie: What a fun VD. I wish I was going to Florida. We haven't gone since I was PG w/ Colton. Hopefully this November. That's so far away though. Where are you staying? I told myself I would try to keep things short, but looks like I wrote a novel again. Julianne & Colton 19 mo email: jjones@batts.com Tuesday, February 15, 2000 at 13:48:28 (EST)) Hello mommies!!! SARAH here. Geez, I've actually been busy the last couple of days at work, so I haven't been able to post. I just skimmed posts from Monday and today. BTW, HAPPY (belated) VALENTINE's DAY!!! :) I got roses sent to my work with a balloon attached that says I Love You from DH yesterday. SOOO sweet! :) We celebrated V-Day on Saturday night. Just went out to dinner. Then he made me dinner last night. HANNAH's been so healthy lately, then got sick yesterday! Almost sounds like she has asthma or something. She's wheezing alot, etc. I'm taking her to the doctor this afternoon. I started nebrulizing her last night. We (DH and I) leave for Green Bay in a week, so I HAVE to make sure she's better by then. :( She's acting okay, though. I let her lay in bed with me last night (dh was still up) cause she was coughing so bad. She just layed there and looked around, played with my lips, clapped her hands, etc. I was trying to sleep. It was very cute, though. :) Last night I was drying my hair after my shower, and I heard her making kind of a (well VERY fake) cry, and I looked in my room. She was laying on the floor holding a diaper, trying to pull off her pants. It was so funny. Anyway......I could go on and on about us seein' as I haven't barely been on in 2 weeks, but I have a few personals: WELCOME TO ALL OF THE NEW MOMMIES AND TODDLERS!!!!! MORIAH - Sorry to hear about RACHEL. Any new news?? She'll continue to be in my prayers! That's great ALEX is standing!! Thank you so much for the picture. Absolutely adorable!!:) I did the same thing buying a tanning package about 2 weeks before I found out I was preggo. I went back in about 1 1/2 later, and they "held" it for me! I really want to start tanning again. I'm the same way!! I don't watch First Watch, but we had it on when it first came on last night, and it showed the guy's butt!! :) :) I told DH we need to start watching it!!!! LOL LOUISE - Happy belated Birthday!!!! VERY TOUCHING present from DH!!! What a sweetie! They always seem to surprise us, huh??? Hope you're feeling better soon! TRACEY - Hope you're feeling better soon, too. We're all here for you! HELEN - Did you say AMANDA split her lip?? I can't remember. JULIANNE - What happened to COLTON?? I missed that one. SHELLY - That's great you and JIM are getting along so well. TERESA - HI!!! I remember you and TORI. I haven't read about your pregnancy. I'll have to go back on the posts and read. PATTY - Sad story about the little girl. What a %#^$& bastard!!!!!! That infuriates me!! There were 2 more teenagers killed here yesterday that went to Columbine H.S. Very sad! LISA - I hear ya on the BOOKS!!!!!!!!!! I know what you mean! :) :) Well ladies, that's all I have. I'll be on regularly again! :) Sarah and Hannah (17 months) email: smoore@geatoir.cfer.com Tuesday, February 15, 2000 at 14:36:15 (EST)) Hello from Rita This is a quickie before I: A) pass out from pain or B) take a nap. I had an emergency half a root canal today. I only got a temp filling because the DDS said my jaw doesn't open far enough (see, I have never been a big mouth!) and wants me to go to a specialist. I got a prescription for antiobiotics and I nearly fainted when I saw the price. This isn't covered by my dental or my health plan. I can understand how seniors on fixed incomes have difficulties paying for medications. Now let's see how much the endodontist costs... Moriah - Thank you for the wonderful picture! I can't wait to see what you have done in your scrapbooks since you take such great pictures. Patty - Once I get my scanner hooked up, I will see if I can print the picture of Jarin and make you a sample page. Does everyone tan on this board? I think I am probably the only solar-challenged woman here. I don't tan, I only burn. Plus I know that I am a skin cancer candidate. So if I get to Chicago, you will be to tell who I am right away - the one with the glow-in-the-dark skin! Gotta go since the anesthetic is quickly wearing off. Come on Motrin! Take care everyone! Rita & Amy email: ritad@home.com Tuesday, February 15, 2000 at 18:26:17 (EST)) Hi mommies. Well, my little monster boy (Jarin) sure made up for yesterday today. What a sweetheart! SIL said he was kinda fussy this morning, and he was asleep when I got home from work. Since he woke up though he has been just a happy little camper. We went to my dad's to hook up the Internet (OMG -do parents have a clue???) and when we were leaving Jarin was blowing kisses. SOOOO ADORABLE!!! He has also really gotten an attachment to this stuffed Tigger which used to be Jesse's. Now when we go to get ready for nap or bed, he says "T" and we have to go get Tigger. Such a precious angel I have. =) **Romaine: Good luck with the new position! I hope you get it. **Rebecca: Glad Paige is doing a little better. Hope the cough is gone soon. **Moriah: Scary night with the mucous plug. I hope tonight is better. I'm not sure why the little girl has the ventilator. Usually this family gets foster kids who were born with lots of problems - most of the time from drug use while the mother was pg. Apparently, the parents must not have wanted anything to do with her, so their rights were terminated. Wow, good Geoff,for getting you roses. =) I don't know how there are so many wackos in the world either. It's not fair that people like Lori suffer to have their children and these sickos kill their healthy ones. Then, my doctor, such a wonderful person, dies and this idiot gets to live. In the paper tonight, he was begging the judge to let him go to see his "little girl once more before she is buried". Give me a f**ing break!!! She wouldn't be getting buried if it weren't for him!!! Thankfully, the judge told him no. Ok, off my soapbox. **Christi: Yay for Caleb and his growth spurt. =) Jarin goes on the 29th, I think, for his 18 month check up. Only 20 people at church? Wow, that is small. Of course, I'm Catholic, so there are about 2-300 people in church. LOL **LisaB: $700/month for daycare? OMG!!! LOL at you reading books. I'm starting to feel the same way. **Birdie: LOL at your romantic Playstation games. Good hubby though for all the romantic gifts. **Beth: Glad DH's surgery went ok. Get those Nazis out of there so you can post more. **Julianne: Ahhh, the hugs and kisses from Colton at dinner had to melt your heart. LOL at you making fun of me with the tanning comment. Luckily I got to go today. =) **Sarah: Welcome back stranger! Good hubby sending you roses too! I hope Hannah is ok. I read about those students from Columbine. So sad. =( **Rita: I would LOVE a sample scrapbook page. OUCH - a root canal!! I hate those. I feel for you, girl. Hope you are better soon. You had me ROTFL at your solar-challenged comment. What a riot. And the only glow-in-the dark person at the Chicago place. You are too funny. **Gotta go. Take care. Oh, by the way, my 16 year old DD now has a boyfriend!!! ARGH!!!! Patty and Jarin - 17 1/2 months email: tematheny@ctlnet.com Tuesday, February 15, 2000 at 19:15:12 (EST)) Hi everyone. It's Melissa here. There's not really much going on here but I'm having the darndest time getting the pictures of Molly attached into e-mail messages. (I know, it's probably real easy, but I'm basically computer illerate but I've got a friend who is going to come over and show me in a day or so.) I'll take notes this time!!! HOPEFULLY PICTURES WILL BE ON THEIR WAY SOON!! Molly's sentances are expanding. Yesterday, I was cutting the tags off of a new outfit for her, and she so plainly said, "Whatcha cuttin Mama?". She'll go up to one of us and say, "Whatcha doin?". Or I'll ask her what is she doing, and she'll say, "Yookin for sumpin." I'll ask her WHAT she's looking for and she'll say, "Just sumpin...."!!!! We're just getting in to the "whys"......"Why you doin that?". "Why..why..why...!!!" She is also very adament about which video tape she watches. She'll look at them, name them all, then say, "hhmmmmmm....." and tell me the one she wants. (And I don't dare try to fool her-----she KNOWS!!) Now to some personals: LOUISE***How sweeet of your DH....(does he have a single brother??? LOL) Hope you and James get to feeling better soon. Sorry if I mixed you up with someone else from London. MORIAH***I LOVED the picture of Alex. So great that he is standing and progressing so well. SUPERMAN!!!!! I'm praying for baby Rachel. Also, I wanted to send Shelly pics of Molly, but haven't seen her e-mail address posted...??? SUE***"Old Chinese Proverb": One shouldn't try to run over DCP, as it tends to piss them off!!! Just kidding---glad you all and the car is OK. My sister lives in Medford, MA, just outside of Boston. She works at Tufts Univ. HELEN***So you were praying to the porcelain God, huh? Been there, done that! UGH!! Hope you are better. Poor Amanda---hope her lip feels better today. JULIANNE***Good decision about stitches for Colton's lip. Mother Nature seems to heal better in some cases anyway. Hope he's doing better. That was too cute about him "riding" his elephant! I'm glad the Riverdance show (and date) went well. RITA***Of course you're worth it---aren't we all? Did DH so something special for V Day? Look closely at Molly's pictures when you get them......there's also a pitchfork beyond the gleam!! LOL I LOVE MY ANGEL!! LISA B***When are you having your sonogram -- or did I miss it? Do you still think it's twins? I hope the m/s-flu is better. I know what you mean about the books. Molly's got tons, but she'll seem to get stuck on just one for a while! CHRISTI***Thanks for the pictures of Caleb. He's sooo cute. I hope he gets to feeling better soon. HAYLEY***Send some of that rain to North Texas!!! I've found that bananas work well when Molly is constipated. SHELLY***Great that things are working out with Jim. I hope all continues to go well. GF sounds like a real nutcase/b*tch! Don't you love it when parents STILL try to run your life? PATTY***As I said above, the pictures should be on their way soon. What an SOB to hurt his child....how can ANYONE hurt a child? I agree with Romaine...OMG, what IS this world coming to? BETH***I'm glad DH's surgery went well. It's great that he's back to work so soon. I think Molly is cutting her 2 year molars, also. (She's always been a little late in getting teeth.) And I won't put MY finger in her mouth, either!! I've got some news regarding training pants. I'll e-mail you this evening after I get home from a meeting tonight. I'd better go get supper started. Molly is trying to help me type, and I don't have time to let her get started on the computer!! Talk to y'all later-----I know, monster post, as usual!! Melissa and Molly (2 years) email: molsmom98@hotmail.com Tuesday, February 15, 2000 at 19:15:29 (EST)) hi all, Christi again. Things here are goijng along pretty well- besides Caleb being sick one of my DC kids has the same thing, yuck, 101 tepms, nasty cough, RUNNY nose, etc. Caleb is acting okay, not real clingy, so I will be greatful, plus he slept last night and napped, so I am not complaining! BIRDIE*** We are going to Florida in Oct. (we leave on Caleb's b-day) Where are you staying? And, please, let me know if they have "Jesse from Toy Story 2" DD is driving me nuts! RITA*** LOL I thought I had the ultra white skin. DH likes to tease that I glow. I tanned for 4 months before our wedding (MIL had a bed or I wouldn't have), you could barely tell. Usually I burn, then nothing. Oh well, I figure. PATTY*** I loved your "parents, do they know anything" comment. Umm, not mine! I have to go down to install software, program the VCR, etc. I had to write out insructions on how to e-mail, attatch a file, scan things. They are so funny. MORIAH*** Thanks for the picture of Alex, he is just so cute! Golly, he doesn't have a few toys does he? MELISSA*** Molly sounds so cute, and so smart! It goes from cute ot annoying real fast! DD got her mouth smacked yesterday for 'talking back'---she is 4! I thought I had years before that started. I am looking forward to seeing her picture. That does it for me, night all! Christi & Caleb 15 months email: plumbs@coiinc.com Tuesday, February 15, 2000 at 19:45:24 (EST)) Hayley here. Becca was a regular monster this morning, crying and fussing and refusing to eat her breakfast as I dressed for work. Then as I walked out the door, she pounded on the glass, crying "mommy" with tear popping out of her eyes like ice cubes out of the penguin on the old Bugs Bunny cartoon :( Makes it very hard to leave in the morning! She's still having constipation problems - I'll take some of your advice and try prunes, bananas, etc. DH just accepted a new job at his company, so he'll have to start driving about 1 hr. each way to work, vs. the telecommuting he was doing 4 days/week before. That means I have to take on more responsibility for dropping off and picking up Becca from daycare, and less time at work. We'll see how long the boss puts up with that. Rita - sad about your emergency root canal - I had the same thing this time last year. Can't remember which was more painful - the mouth or the bills not covered by insurance! Thank god for Vicoden! I'm also the one at the beach with the big straw hat, trying to stay out of the sun - just think how less wrinkled we'll look when we're 70 than all the tanners! hayley and becca, 17 mos. email: hayley.thompson@citicorp.com Tuesday, February 15, 2000 at 20:26:12 (EST)) Lello! Please note my new e-mail address and mail me some pics girls!!!!! How is everyone tonight? I'm good. Tomorrow is my day off, thank God. Jim and I are going to his storage locker to get the bunkbeds I gave him awhile ago. Jess has refused to sleep in his own room since I've moved here. So I'm putting up his bunks again to sort of bribe him. Ok, I know, not good but I'm desperate. I think Riley will sleep on the bottom bunk too. He is finally off the bottle for good. You probably remember I had taken him off of it before, but then he got really sick and I let him have it again. But we're done for good this time. Jim's house is about 20 miles away from mine, but he can't be there anymore because of the idiot xgf. So tomorrow we'll be packing up his stuff and I guess he will stay with us until he decides what to do. I'm having to make a lot of adjustments to someone else being here. The snoring!!!! Good Lord, I did not miss that!!!LOL Rebecca***It's taking Riley forever to get over this last little sickness. It does seem to linger. LisaB***I am so happy! I did not buy Jim a gift for VD. Instead I gave him my trust, love and my heart. I was afraid to give these to anyone ever again. But I'm not anymore!!! He really has grown up and so have I. Beth***Your dh is having surgery? I guess I missed that. Sarah***Riley had asthma too a while ago. He took liquid Albutteral. Glo-Girl Rita***As a fair skinned red head, I'll be right beside you glowing away!!! Melissa***My Mom loves to run my life. But she hates it big time when I turn her own advice around and give it back to her. My revenge!!!!! Moriah***I'm glad you woke up! Take care of that squirt until I can see him again!! Possible the weekend of March 10. Why haven't you e-mailed me lately? I know all you ever do is lie by the pool and eat bon-bons! Are you mad about me and Jim? Did anyone else see ER. OMG!!!!!!!! I had to sleep with the light on. It scared the crap out of me. While Jim was gone, I had to sleep with the light on in the bathroom. This from a girl who loves horror movies and reads Stephen King! LOL. Welcome to all the new moms and babies! Shelly & Riley 22 months email: shellvance@bobvance.com Tuesday, February 15, 2000 at 22:52:50 (EST)) Hi, Romaine here. Poor Saba was so upset when DH was in the attic trying to solve an electrical problem. A friend was also there and said that he thought that she was crying b/c he came out of the attic, but Daddy did not. Dh was talking to her, but she was so upset! He was in there yesterday no problem! Man, I noticed MAJOR typos in my last post-can you tell that I do not proof? I hope that you all are able to understand me!LOL! Yesterday I heard laughter coming from my room where DD2 was on the bed and Saba was doing something (could not figure out what!) that was making them both laugh-it was so sweet!!! Moriah-Sweet of hubby! I would like a pic if you have not already sent one (I have not checked my E). That must have been very scary to find the mucous plugging his trach! So gald that Alex is able to breathe around it! Lisa B-That is great about DC providing wipes and diapers! Hmmm, I recall that you asked for pics before. I must have missed you. I'll get them out! It is the pits to have limited access. I did not know how lucky I was! It's nice that you have work access as well. Birdie-Hi....the trip to Florida sounds great! i ahve never been! Julianne-Thanks for the luck! Sarah-LOL on Hannah and her pants! Rita-Did you buy the meds? Terrible that they are not covered and so expensive! Hope that the pain is bearable! I used to be a sun-worshipper in my teens, but use sun-block in the sun now. I do like a bit of colour though. Patty-Thanks for luck! Sweet that Jarin blows kisses! Melissa-Molly's phrases sound so cute! The other day, Saba looked at my head in a towel and said "Mommy a big head"! Shelly-ER WAS SCARY!!!! I never used to watch b/c it was on too late for me, but Istarted to go to bed later when I had DD2 b/c she would eat around then. OH!Last night was good! I got up only ONCE in the middle of the night!!!!! i have not had that since December!!!!! Thank-you for the SF!!!!!!!!!! I hope she comes again tonight!!! Romaine and Saba 23 mos email: rrantry@yahoo.ca Tuesday, February 15, 2000 at 23:45:43 (EST)) hiagain and a late happy valentines day to all! thanks for the welcome. im not real sure how to do this so forgive me if i make a boo boo. For valentines day i got roses from colt (my hubby ) and from tara and andy when tara let andy smell the flowers he crinkeled up hi nose and said eww and then pushed them to me and said mum mum it was really cute. i live in warrensburg, mo near columbia and sedalia. and when andy is constipated which is often due to the whole milk i use either a tablespoon of kayro syrup or a tablespoon of dark molasses in his milk. i also use 1/2 cup prune juice mixed with 1/2 cup apple juice and warm it for 30 secs in the microwave and it works wonders. well i need to go so i can get some sleep while andy does but ill try to wrote more later. Kelly email: mama_r@hotmail.com Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 02:07:50 (EST)) hi again and a late happy valentines day to all! thanks for the welcome. im not real sure how to do this so forgive me if i make a boo boo. For valentines day i got roses from colt (my hubby ) and from tara and andy when tara let andy smell the flowers he crinkeled up hi nose and said eww and then pushed them to me and said mum mum it was really cute. i live in warrensburg, mo near columbia and sedalia. and when andy is constipated which is often due to the whole milk i use either a tablespoon of kayro syrup or a tablespoon of dark molasses in his milk. i also use 1/2 cup prune juice mixed with 1/2 cup apple juice and warm it for 30 secs in the microwave and it works wonders. well i need to go so i can get some sleep while andy does but ill try to wrote more later. Kelly email: mama_r@hotmail.com Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 02:08:06 (EST)) Hi its Lynda here. We had an enjoyable valentines day. I bought DH a "talking card" that Ella absolutely loves! - and arranged for my mum to look after Ella whilst DH and I went to the movies. We saw American Beauty - so now we know what life is like for you guys - LOL!! Also, I spoke too soon about Ella being 100% well. She woke up Sunday night not able to breathe through her nose because of a developing cold - oh well.....at least it is just a cold. Ella is now officially walking and I bought her a pair of shoes today - she was walking quite strangely, lifting her legs really high as if she had to step over something each time - it was cute to watch, but she finds the shoes annoying and I guess she will take time to adjust. Patty: Sorry to hear about the difficult time you had in church. Hope Jarin has settled back down to his regular night time behaviour by now. Glad to hear someone else is still nursing. We are down to one feed now - not sure how much longer I will continue though. Dawn: thanks for the advice on baby #2. You sound like you have your hands full with just 13mths between them. LOL at Erica and her pants. Melissa - Okay I'll tell you what a cot is if you tell me what "crud" is. (Cot=crib). It is Summer here at present and it has been pretty hot the last 2 mths (week after week of 30+ deg celsius is a bit tiring at times - and it aggrevates (sp?) Ella's exczema). When you said Texas has miserable summers I presume you mean hot don't you ? I am ashamed to say that some of my knowledge of America is from TV and I seem to remember that Texas and westerns go together and it was always hot and dusty in them!!LOL!! Teresa: - hope the next 10 days pass quickly for you. I have a girlfriend who is in a similar situation to you and has been on bedrest from about week 13. She says it is one of the hardest and most boring things she has had to do - and she doesn't have a 12 month old. Rebecca: - All the best to Paige for a speedy recovery. Hope your dinner and cuddle were fun on Valentines day. Moriah: Yeah for Mr Amazing!!! Alex sounds like he is progressing in leaps and bounds. Thanks for the comments on spacing kids. Is there some sort of monitor that Alex could wear when he is sleeping w/o his trach so that you could tell if he stopped breathing? Louise: - Happy 34th - I too am 34 - but turning 35 in a couple of mths. What a sweet DH to keep it a secret that he had kept a lock of hair - even after you got cross at him!!LOL!! Sorry to hear about the anxiety attacks - I hope you are back to your old self soon - and if you need to take some medication to do it then I think thats better than trying to tough it out. Sue - scary stuff with the car in the snow.! Glad you were all okay. Rita: - Ouch for the root canal. Childbirth sounds less painful. Gotta run Lynda and Ella email: ljpjyoung@ozemail.com.au Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 05:20:52 (EST)) Colton is being his usual sweet and goofy self. His favorite thing to do lately is to draw. He will point to the crayons and chant "dra-dra-dra" until we get them down. He insists that we draw him elephants! Mine are starting to become recognizable! He loves eating his crayons though. I take them away whenever he does but he still does it every day. Sarah: Sounds like you have a fun VD. Hope Hannah feels better. Colton fell at DC and cut his lip in three places. The cut on the outside lower lip area was pretty bad and almost needed stitches. The dr left the decision up to me and I decided not to. It is doing much better and not bothering him, I am just hoping it heals good. Rita: Ouch, on the root canal. Going to the dentist is my biggest fear, hearing about a root canal makes me cringe. I usually just tan if I am going on a winter vacation so I don't burn. This year I was looking to ghostly white and I needed a pick-me-up so I chose to indulge in some tanning visits. Patty: Glad Jarin took a day off from being Monsterboy. Wow, how do you do it with a dating teenage daughter and a rambuctious toddler??? Melissa: Molly sounds like quite the character. Hayley: How did you make it out the driveway watching Becca cry like that? Had to just break your heart. Shelly: My goal it to take the bottle completely away this weekend. Any tips? I too saw ER and couldn't get the ending scene out of my mind. I can't wait to watch it tomorrow. Romaine: So cute about Saba crying for daddy to come out of the attic. Colton had a fit yesterday when DH can home and didn't come in right away. He kept running to the window and crying for da-da. Have a great Wednesday everyone. Julianne & Colton 19 mo email: jjones@batts.com Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 10:20:13 (EST)) Hi from LisaB. MIL came over last night. She took Max's cloth rings from his stacking toy and put them on one leg (around the ankle). He was so funny - "high-stepping" with that one leg, staring down at it giggling!!! I got my Valentine roses from DH yesterday. The florist put a letter to me with the card stating DH had wanted them delivered on VD but they lost the card and didn't figure out where they were to go to until AFTER my office closed. The end of the note said "we hope we didn't get your husband in trouble or ruin your Valentine's Day by delivering them late" - LOL!!! They also called DH and said they were reversing the charge off his credit card as they delivered them late. His comment - "should have ordered a dozen instead of 3" (like I told him, the card never would have gotten lost for a dozen roses!!!). Kelli (Elizabeth's Mom) e-mailed me. She had her u/s and there's only 1 baby. They didn't find out the sex (probably too early and they don't want to know) but everything looked good. Her u/s due date is Sept. 12. She's still sick but changed prenatals and is on high-powered nausea drugs that are helping. BETH: I'm glad DH's surgery went well. I'm a little paranoid about posting to work so I often get on line and save all the "new" posts on my hard drive in Word. I can then read them at my leisure and type my response - then just get back on-line to post. JULIANNE: How awful that BIL lives so close but can't be "inconvenienced" to plow MIL's drive. SARAH: HI!!!! I've missed you. I'm sorry Hannah is feeling under the weather. RITA: I hope your tooth feels better soon. I'm also white. My grandfather has had multiple surgeries to remove skin cancer from his face, arms, etc. so I don't tan. Plus I had a friend in college who tanned ALL the time - she was literally orange from over tanning and her skin was like leather (dry and wrinkled - she looked 70 years old). THAT made me decide that white looks pretty darn good!!!! PATTY: How sweet, Jarin blowing kisses. I pay $400 for DC for Max now. It'll go down to $300 when he turns 2 but I'll be paying $400 for the baby (totaling $700). MELISSA: My 1st OB visit is Friday (so far only saw my primary care physician to confirm pg and get referral to OB - HMO red tape!) so I'll probably be scheduled for an u/s soon. I'm showing MUCH earlier this time (in maternity clothes at 9 weeks versus 16 weeks with Max) and am literally exhausted (took 1 hour nap last night and still went to bed at 8:30) so I guess it could be twins. Who knows?! PATTY/CHRISTI: My parents HATE computers. My 19 year old brother still lives at home and they won't TOUCH his computer!! KELLY: You only live about 3 hours from me. Do you usually go to the state fair? We generally go for a day but may skip it this year as I'll be HUGE by then (due mid-September). If I do go we might have to try to meet! LisaB & Max (17 mo.) & 9 wks pg email: lisa_lab@hotmail.com Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 10:47:29 (EST)) Hi from the Glo-Girl, Rita Things seem to be okay this AM - no pain, so I am going head out to work armed only with Motrin. Tomorrow I go back to my MD for a follow-up to my physical. I guess I am falling apart since I am about to enter the "Late Thirties Zone" (37) on Sunday. Larry got me a funny card, roses and a big box of my favorite Sees dark chocolate for VD. Can't wait to recover so I can eat some of that chocolate. Or, this would be a good time to start using slimfast. Yuck. We're going out on Saturday night for my BD dinner in Sausalito while my sister watches the girls. It is so rare to be out alone. Lisa B - My fellow non-tanner. Thanks for the update on Kelli. We pay one hundred a week for each girl, so it's $800-1000 per month for daycare. When Maddy starts school, it will probably decrease, but then we'll have to pay for nursery school, too. Money has sure gotten tight since we had Amy. We are going to have to wait to get the new car that I will need for commuting. Well, this has been a bit selfish, but I need to get ready and head out to work. Hopefully it did not fall apart in my absence yesterday. Take care everyone! Rita & Amy email: ritad@home.com Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 12:07:59 (EST)) Hello from Helen&Amanda! Well yesterday was DD's b-day, we went to DS's hockey game and watched with our neighbours, DD and friend were lifting Amanda up the stairs by the arms and DD popped her elbow out!!!!! Poor little thing crying, must have hurt like h**ll!! Called the doc's office, stopped on the way home and they popped it back but she was still not right. She did sleep all night but was still in pain this AM so we just got back from x-rays and nothing is broken. They said to not put it in a sling and try to get her to start using it, easy for them to say! She is sleeping in the truck, I feel so bad-- DD cried more than Amanda- she really felt bad!!So they are sending the x-rays to the hospital for a second opinion and will call if something is not right. Everytime we move her arm she says eow! eow!!! Hopefully she will start using it and the pain will start going away--- WARNING-- do not drag your toddler around by the hands!!!! LOL! Everyone at the doc's office said- oh- I did the same thing-- or thats REALLY common- so it mad me feel a little better. Well better go and check on her-- I will take notes and check back later!! Helen&Amanda@18mos(DS@13yrs&DD@12yrs). email: mhim27@hotmail.com Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 12:23:12 (EST)) Hi, Louise here. Not much new here, except I did got to see my Doctor today and she's put me back on the medication, I felt so stupid because I got really emotional because I felt so angry that I was going through it all again, but she was so suportive and at least I know that the meds work well for me and I can come through it. Sorry to ramble, it's just good to get it all off my chest!! I feel better already LOL! Onto personals: SUE - thanks for sharing your PPD experience - it really helps. I was exactly the same, kept thinking 'but I'm not depressed, it can't be PPD' LOL at your comment about speed, that's exactly right. JULIANNE - I'm sure you did the right thing about Colton and the stitches. LOL at him with the stuffed elephant! Thanks for your good wishes. MORIAH - thanks for the photo! ADORABLE!! RITA - thanks for your wihes, it means a lot. Sorry about the root canal treatment - I HATE the dentist. I'm another non-tanner - pasty English skin that never sees the sun! HELEN - It meant a lot to me to read about your panic/anxiety experiences, thanks. It sounds so similar to me. Like I said to SUE abouve, it makes such a difference to know you're not having a unique experience. That really freaked me out about Amanda's arm - I often hold James like that up and down stairs. Hope she's feeling OK - and your poor other daughter! PATTY - thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks God for anti-depressants! That is unbelievably sad about that little girl. Bit late for the Dad to be full of remorse. LOL at your comments about parents and computers - mine are like from the stone age! They get so excited if I even mention the Internet, but don't really have a clue. REBECCA - thanks for your encouragement. I sort of knew PPD could recurr, and (can't remember if I've already told you or not) I did have a brief bout of feeling like that again around James's birthday, but it seemed to pass, I guess that's why I felt really angry at it coming back again now, I was so convinced I'd got it beat. I know I've got to stop thinking 'why should this happen to me?' - I know there are many worse things to be coping with. LISAB - I can relate re. the books! James is also obsessed! Thanks for the update on KELLI. BIRDIE - Oh, I didn't realise we weren't supposed to have sex changes either, that's another plan out of the window!!! BETH - Hi, glad DH's surgery was OK - and that he'll be up to helping you out again soon! SARAH - hi! Glad you had such a good VD! MELISSA - Funnily enough, DH DOES have a single brother - but trust me, you wouldn't want to meet him!! That's horrible of me but he is a bit nerdy! LOL at Molly and her chatting! LYNDA - Thanks for your support re feeling low. I just watched American Beauty too, I loved it! Hi to everyone else - BTW - please don't tell me what happens in ER, we're way behind you!!! Louise & James (15 months) email: rnash78035@aol.com Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 13:02:53 (EST)) Hayley here. Another morning of Becca pounding on the front door as I leave - breaks my heart! DH and I are having a date tonight - dinner and San Francisco symphony, so I won't even see her awake until tomorrow morning. Has anyone put their toddler in swim lessons? Our YMCA has a signup this weekend, and I wonder if Becca will get anything out of it at 17 mos. Personals: Rita - hope the root canal recovery is o.k. You must live near me - I live in West Portal in San Francisco. Christi/Shelly - I'll e-mail Becca's valentine's photo. hayley and becca (17 mos) email: hayley.thompson@citicorp.com Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 13:49:53 (EST)) Hi from CathyG - Alison is being a true monster, she is eating the most disgusting things. She sits in the car and picks the snow (mixed with road salt, gravel, etc) off her boots and eats it. She bit the top of a marker, and yesterday she was sticking her fingers into the IHLE's paste and eating it. But she is doing some really cute things too, so there is hope. She puts on her own hat now, which is good, because she takes it off when she's outside. We had a nice dinner on Saturday night, but the service was so slow, we had to order more wine so we would have some with our main course. Sunday ended up being a slow day. Julianne - I'm glad Colton's lip is OK. He sounds quite brave. Helen - good news from WW. Darleen - glad you got the townhouse. Good luck with the move. Debbie - Happy birthday. Hope you all are feeling better. Patty - I'm glad Jarin's bum is better. We've had a ton of snow this week, I came home from doing groceries on Monday, and the plow had done our street and left a 3 foot mound at the end of the driveway. With DH travelling I have a guy do our driveway, and he came soon after so I didn't have to cart the groceries over the hill. I would not go to church without DH again - We had a very miserable experience once and it was enough. I was so disgusted about the man in your town. I hate stories like that, and it's even worse if they are about kids close in age to mine. Christi - I wouldn't mind getting chocolate dumped on me. Tracey - Take care, hope you feel like posting soon. LisaB - glad you are feeling better. You will be paying $700/month for 2 kids?? Seems cheap. I pay $28 for Alison, and $20 for Emma per day. Maybe it's just the poor Canadian dollar!! Melissa - I wished I lived in London, but I live in Ottawa, in Canada - much less exotic, and much more snowy. Teresa - good luck!! Rebecca - hope Paige is feeling better - amazing that she hasn't had an ear infection before now. Moriah - Yay for Alex standing - you must be soo excited. Louise - Happy birthday. What a sweet gift from DH. Glad you saw the Dr., and hope you are feeling better soon. Sue - I hate freezing rain. I would try to stop Cameron's am nap. Rita - I hope you are feeling better - what an ordeal! I also burn and wouldn't think of doing tanning. I glow too! Hayley - I wouldn't give bananas - they are binding, so is milk products. Give lots of water to dring, and whole wheat breads. Romaine - good luck with the new job! Beth - I hope the internet police will let up soon - doesn't sound like fun. Lynda - you picked some romantic movie for valentine's day. I thought it was an excellent movie - love Kevin Spacey - he is so cool. Bye everyone! CathyG and Alison (18 months) Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 14:06:18 (EST)) Hey guys. Allison did the cutest thing at the sitter's yesterday. Apparently the sitter gave each of the kids some Cheetos as a treat. Well, Allison had finished all of hers and looked around and saw that a couple of the smaller kids still had some. So, she went over and picked up an infant toy off the floor. The sitter was watching her the whole time because she was interested in what she was going to do with it. Well, Allison took the toy over to one of the smaller kids, took his Cheetos off his walker tray and quickly replaced them with the toy when the baby started to cry. The sitter was amazed at how Allison had planned that all out. She said she could see she was up to something by the way she was looking around the room. Then last night, she ate a good dinner so I gave her a few mini M&M's as a treat. Dh asked her if he could have one and even though they are her favorite she went over and put one in his mouth and kissed him on the cheek. So, I gave her a couple more M&M's and told her they were because she was so nice to Daddy. Well, as soon as she got those M&M's she immediately went over, put one in DH's mouth and came back to me with her hand out for more! I think my daughter is getting too smart for MY own good! I'm going to really have to watch her now as she getting to be quite the little schemer! A few personals, Rita - YUCK! Root canal surgery sounds really painful! Hope you are feeling better soon. I don't tan either. I'm like Lisa and think that white is much prettier than wrinkles. Patty - I can't believe how sick people are in this world. Just makes me nauseous thinking about it. Unfortunately I don't think the internet Nazi's will ever leave my work. They have bought all this new equipment just to monitor our usage more closely and to be able to tell EXACTLY where we've been, how long we spent there, etc. That's why I now take Lisa's advice and copy and paste the post's into Word then, log off, Write my responses in Word, Log back on and cut and paste it into the spot to post. I figure the time they KNOW I spend on it is about equal to my two 15 minute breaks. Lisa - Thanks for the advice on putting the posts into Word. I was already writing my responses in Word, but hadn't thought about copying everyone else's out. Great idea! Melissa - Molly sounds so cute with all her big girl talk. Allison's vocabulary is expanding but she's still no where near Molly. I'll check my e-mail at home tonight. Thanks in advance for the info. Hayley - How did you stand watching Becca cry like that? It's so hard for us working mom's to leave our little ones sometimes. Romaine - Send the sleep fairy my way. No fair to keep her captive in Canada. Allison woke last night in the middle of the night for the first time in MONTHS and now I know it was your fault! LOL Lynda - congrats on Ella walking. How old is she now? Julianne - Colton sounds so cute with his drawing. Allison loves to "col" AKA "color" Well, gotta get back to work. Talk to you ladies tomorrow. Beth and Allison (20.75 months) email: bobwite@msn.com Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 14:44:56 (EST)) Hi ladies....SARAH here. Wow, 2 days in a row. I'm back on a roll! :) Well, I took HANNAH to the doctor yesterday, she's got a double ear infection and the croup!!! Poor girl! She's actually been acting okay, though. Just sounds AWFUL!!! :( I'm glad we caught it this week! She should be better in a couple of days (knock on wood!) Not much else so...... PATTY - JARIN sounds so cute blowing kisses. HANNAH loves to do that!! MELISSA - MOLLY sounds so cute..."Just sumpin". :) CHRISTI - Sorry to hear CALEB is sick, too. I hope he feels better soon! HAYLEY - Breaks my heart hearing how BECCA reacts when you leave! :( Your's too, I'm sure! Have fun on your date tonite. SHELLY - I was putting Albuterol in HANNAH's nebrulizer. ROMAINE - I'm glad you had a good night's sleep! LYNDA - How was American Beauty? It's up for an Oscar. JULIANNE - OUCH! Poor COLTON. I'm glad it's getting better. LISA - Thanks for missing me! I missed you guys! I'm glad you got roses...even if they were late. How's MAX?? RITA - If I forget, Happy Birthday Sunday! HELEN - Poor AMANDA. I'll bet that was so painful. I'm sure DD felt awful, just like we would! I've heard of that happening alot. I'm always telling DH not to pick HANNAH up by the hands. LOUISE - Don't feel mad at yourself. You're actually being strong in admitting it, and getting some help! Good luck. CATHY - I'm sure I can top you on the nasty things I've seen HANNAH eat!!!!! LOL I'm glad you had a nice dinner Saturday night (Oh darn...2 bottles of wine???LOL) :) Well ladies, that's all I have. Hope you all have a wonderful evening! Sarah and Hannah (17 months) email: smoore@geatoir.cfer.com Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 14:58:01 (EST)) Me again...BETH and I must have been posting at the same time. BETH - VERY cute stories about ALLISON. I love the one at daycare!!! LOL LOL :) OK, that's it.....REALLY! Sarah again Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 15:01:48 (EST)) Hi, I've been gone for a bit because we got a new computer and Terry was on it CONSTANTLY getting it up and running and transferring our old files and I couldn't even squeeze 2 minutes out of him to check in here (lol, he knows it wouldn't take just 2 minutes!). Anyways - this computer is awesome, it has a cd writer and dvd and everything else you could want. I'm so excited to check it out but I had to come in here first. I did skim the posts but didn't take notes. Sorry. I hope all of you with ppd and anxiety are having a good day today, keep up the good work and just do as well as you can. No one is a perfect mom and we all do the best we possibly can. :o) Moriah - scuse me but I didn't get the cute picture? What's up with that? I'm so happy Alex is standing! He must look just so sweet! I'm glad you are having so much fun with him. I'm praying for Rachel. I feel so bad for her Mom and Dad. Sighhh. I know we've discussed this before but is anyone on depo provera for birth control? If so, could you email me or let me know on here about your experiences? Both good and bad. And - if anyone is thinking of taking it - please let me know. Michelle and Riley 17 mo email: mwells@telusplanet.net Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 15:48:10 (EST)) Hi Everyone! Darleen here. I took Nolan to the Dr this mornong for his 15mth needle. He did well... of course he cried for a second or two. He weighs 14lbs 11oz, and is 32 inches long. She said his speech is coming along great. We know everything he wants, and I know he can talk when he wants because I hear him at night talking to his elmo when he's in his bed. We miss Dh horribly, but we are getting along fine. 2 more weeks until we move. Yah!!!!!!! We took Dh to my Uncle's on Sunday, and he couldn't come out and say good-bye to us. He said he was emotional. We all were. I didn't look back, I just gave him a kiss and a hug and left. It surprised me when he said he almost cried. I cried again when he told me. My Dh's parents went with us. The weather was bad here so I'm glad I didn't go alone. QUESTION? Any suggestions on other foods to try with Nolan so he will eat? He was an excellent eatter on the week-end when Dh was home, but I can't get him to eat lunch or supper unless it's junk food. Ex: pizza, chicken nuggets and french fries My mom says he will eat when he's hungry. I believe that, but he needs something in his stomach before he goes to bed. No personals today, I didn't read them, I just skimmed over them. I hope everyone is doing well. Have a great day and week! Darleen & Nolan15mths email: j7smith@hotmail.com Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 15:53:58 (EST)) Hi Everyone! Darleen here. I took Nolan to the Dr this morning for his 15mth needle. He did well... of course he cried for a second or two. He weighs 14lbs 11oz, and is 32 inches long. She said his speech is coming along great. We know everything he wants, and I know he can talk when he wants because I hear him at night talking to his elmo when he's in his bed. We miss Dh horribly, but we are getting along fine. 2 more weeks until we move. Yah!!!!!!! We took Dh to my Uncle's on Sunday, and he couldn't come out and say good-bye to us. He said he was emotional. We all were. I didn't look back, I just gave him a kiss and a hug and left. It surprised me when he said he almost cried. I cried again when he told me. My Dh's parents went with us. The weather was bad here so I'm glad I didn't go alone. QUESTION? Any suggestions on other foods to try with Nolan so he will eat? He was an excellent eatter on the week-end when Dh was home, but I can't get him to eat lunch or supper unless it's junk food. Ex: pizza, chicken nuggets and french fries My mom says he will eat when he's hungry. I believe that, but he needs something in his stomach before he goes to bed. No personals today, I didn't read them, I just skimmed over them. I hope everyone is doing well. Have a great day and week! Darleen & Nolan15mths email: j7smith@hotmail.com Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 15:54:25 (EST)) Happy Hump Day from Sue and Cam. We had another lovely morning of snow/freezing rain, but I managed to stay on the road and not hit any innocent bystanders today. Just makes my one hour commute so much longer - yuck! Also sounds like we may be in for a major snow event on Friday/Saturday - I used to love winter and snow sports, now I just wish it was April. Cam has actually been napping a little better the past couple of days, but is only catnapping in the morning and taking a good snooze right after lunch. I guess maybe he's in the process of giving up his morning nap. Keep your fingers crossed that this keeps up! He's also still in snuggle-bunny mode, so I'm taking advantage and getting as many hugs and kisses as I can. I'm sure the next phase is that he won't want me anywhere near him, so I'm stocking up. Seems like he's at such a great age right now - why can't they stay this way a little longer? I guess our big news is that Cameron is finally starting to eat some table food! Of course I have to mush it up for him, but up until a few days ago he wouldn't even let me near him with anything but Stage 3 baby food. Last night, he had chicken stir-fry and leftover mashed potatoes. There is hope that he won't still be eating strained peas in kindergarden! I liked reading about some of your VD adventures and gifts. Even though DH is a great guy, he's usually not one for cards, flowers, candy, etc. This year I got a card from him, one from Cam, and a big box of chocolates. So much for Slimfast for this month! LOL! Only time for a couple personals, then back to the grind (my coworker will still be out for another month and we are going crazy trying to do our jobs and split up her responsibilities!) - RITA - a.k.a. Glo-Girl. Too funny. My skin has really changed over the years - and NOT for the better. I was a giant beach bum as a kid and throughout college and used to tan so well and rarely ever burned. Now, I burn like crazy at first and tan all splotchy afterwards. Not a pretty sight! Add on my extra pounds and it's safe to say that sunlight won't be seeing most parts of my body for a long, long time! I feel so bad about your having a root canal - I hate the dentist in a bad way! I'd rather even have the "female" exam than get my teeth cleaned. I blame the dentist we had as kids - absolutely the hairiest person I've ever seen in my life. Totally grossed me out! Happy early birthday! I'll be 37 in April. Maybe we can have ourselves a pity party together. LISAB- yeah for your DCP providing diapers and wipes. Boston has the highest DC rate in the country. I'm not in the city, but we're none too inexpensive in the suburbs either. I pay $150/week plus wipes, diapers, milk, and food (until he starts eating table food regularly). My DCP also takes two weeks of paid vacation and 10 paid holidays. I don't begrudge her a dime because we really trust her and Cam adores her, but it sure puts a crunch in the monthly budget. Sounds like you're feeling pretty well... Okay, I meant to write only a couple lines, but got a case of diarrhea of the keyboard again. Talk to you all tomorrow! Sue and Cameron email: sbarry@key.org Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 16:07:43 (EST)) Hey girls, it's Birdie. Hope everyone is well. Big day today with Gymboree and all. Noah is snoozing. I'd like to be. More snow today. More expected this weekend. Brrr. Moriah- Go Alex, Go Alex...I can't believe the progress he is making. What a guy. Geoff and Frank sound so much alike. Hope you are well. Helen- Poor little thing. OMG. I am going to warn Frank because he does that all the time!!!! BTW...what the heck are you doing going to WW??? You are a little bitty, skinny minny, awesome figured chick? If anyone needs WW it's moi but dieting is just no fun at all. They don't let you eat tootsie rolls and cupcakes all day. EVERYONE** I have met Helen...see above! Louise- You can feel free to have a sex change now that I am back...however please do not schedule it for March because I will be in Fla. Julianne- Something Suites. Brother made arrangements. They have huge rooms with 4 beds and kitchen etc... Christi- See above. I'll check on Jesse. Shelly- OMG yes. I had heard on the radio earlier that morning that they were killing off a certain someone so I waited the whole show for it. That was terrible. Very creepy. The worst part for me though was when the family came in from the crash and the parents died and the 2 little kids were there...so sad. I also love scary movies. We just saw Scream 3. It was actually really good and pretty scary and funny etc. I really liked it. You have to see 1 and 2 though. Romaine- You've got to go. We love it there. It's worth saving up for. Rita- I kept thinking of a glo-worm when I read your posts. Now I can't get it out of my head. BTW- What is going on in Chicago??? I missed something. Am I supposed to be there??? Take care. Birdie and Noah (14 months) email: LJU777@AOL.COM Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 17:16:41 (EST)) Hey Girlys! OMG - I'm doing so good posting this week! Not to mention you've all been here too - whcih helps! I just have so much to say - so unlike me! LOL LOL LOL We had a milestone yesterday - Alex told me NO! Can you beleive that? He had attacked the baby wipes again. Actually listen to how smart he is! The wipes were on the rocking ottoman that goes with the Glider so he schooched over there & rocked it until they fell off so he could get them! Genius!! Anyway he had them all out of the box and I had to pry one out of his hand & that's when he told me NO! I almost peed my pants. Okay probably not good for the discipline but way too funny not to laugh. Other than that he's just a standing fool these days. So cute! No new Rachel news. I'm waiting to hear the results of her lasts Cath test. It was supposed to be Monday or Tuesday. Thanks to everyone who commented Alex how cute Alex's pic was! On to the personals! Christi - hope Caleb feels better soon! Lisa - So happy for you that the diaper budget will be decreasing! That will be a nice thing! Fortunately my MIL buys all of our diapers (Pampers Premiums to boot!) we're so lucky! She just throws them in her cart on her weekly run to Target. Lately she's been adding formula too! What a treat! Funny story about the flowers! I wonder how much extra he had to pay for them to add the note? :O LOL LOL LOL LOL Birdie - I'm having my sex change next Wednesday! Sorry! Hey so DH finally bought you that perfume huh? It's about time since you made the commercial & all! Do you still have that black dress & rubber boots? Good combo! LOL LOL LOL Julianne - Geoff liked Alex's pic but informed me that cards made on the computer are not worth as many "points" as the store bought ones since I love to play on the computer. What a dork! Sarah - I hope Hannah is better soon! What a bummer! Glo Girl (AKA Rita) - I haven't scrapbooked since August! BAD MOMMY! I've been so busy with Zandy Cards & such. Plus I'm a really bad time manager! LOL Patty - I hooked up the IL's computer & I constantly get "support" calls. I crack up. Not to mention that their computer does strange things so sometimes I can't help. One time though she couldn't get connected to the net & tried everything. So I went there & found that the cleaning lady had moved the computer & the phone cord had been unplugged! I still tease her about that one. Shelly - I not mad at you. Geez I can barely run my own life - let alone yours! I think it's great if you guys can work it out. I sent you an email with Alex's pic to your Hotmail account as I forgot about your new address. I'll try to send you a chat email later. Lynda - Alex used to sleep with an apnea/heart monitor. But now he just makes it go off all the time because he's so wiggly. Plus if he finds the wire he yanks until the leads fall apart. Which makes it both a hazzard (when they come apart it's a bare wire) & annoying because the alarms go off. He's really stable & can totally breath around his trach so we don't worry as much anymore. Helen - OMG! That's so scary! Poor Amanda & DD (I bet she felt so bad!)OUR PT told me not to pull Alex up to a sit by his hands either for that very reason. Hope she feels better soon. What about giving her some Motrin or Advil since that helps reduce inflamation as well as numb the pain? Beth - The M&M story is a crack up! Allison - what a little genuis! I'd be proud of that trait! Sue - your post had me totally laughing! The hairy dentist trauma you suffered as a child somehow makes a visit with the "speculum" seem better? Have you mentioned this to a therapist? LOL LOL LOL. When I was having all my PTL problems at the end of my pregnancy the Dr would always say that she wanted to do a "sterile speculum examine" finally I asked her if that was opposed to the non sterile on I had been getting for all those years. She cracked up & explained that it just meant that they used a different process. Too funny! Alex is also fighting between 1 & 2 naps a day. Sometimes it's only 1 then others its 2. My kid had no sleep schedule & has me totally stumped normally on what will happen next. Well I better get to cleaning before I get in trouble when Geoff comes in & finds that I've done nothing! Moriah & Alex (16 months) email: geoffandmoriah@msn.com Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 17:49:00 (EST)) Good Afternoon, it's Debbie. I can't believe this. I just read all the new posts and now Emilee is crying. I'll be back...... Take care everyone. Debbie, Maddie & Emilee email: debngreg@qnet.com Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 19:11:27 (EST)) Hi mommies. Not much new here today. Jarin is still being a sweetie. I had to take Jesse to a meeting last night to get ready for First Communion. As we were walking into church, I tried to hold his hand and he pulled away. He said, "Mom, that kid is in my class." =( =( My other baby is getting too old to hold his mommy's hand. boohoo hoo. LOL. Good thing I have Jarin. He will just NEVER be allowed to be too old for me. **Melissa: Your daughter is quite amazing with all her sentences - and so cute! **Christi: LOL at you writing instructions. Here's how bad my dad is - we had to write instructions just for him to know what to do after he turns the computer on! You know, click on the program manager, click on.... etc. He's terrible with that kind of stuff! **Shelly: I love ER. It's not on here again until tomorrow night, so don't tell what happens! I will send you the pic of Jarin in pumps. **Romaine: I bet the sound of your two girls laughing together is too precious. =) **Lynda: Jarin used to act like his feet were in cement blocks when we first put shoe son him. He refused to even move with them on. It was so funny. You're down to one nursing a day? That's great. Jarin still nurses in the AM, before and after nap, and at night. **Julianne: Sounds like you have a little artist on your hands. Better save those pictures - they may be priceless. =) I can handle a teenager and a toddler because my teenager is NEVER home. LOL. **LisaB: Thanks for the update on Kelli. I hope she feels better soon. Glad you finally got your roses. **Rita: Glad you are feeling at least a little better today. **Helen: Poor Amanda with her elbow. I'm sure DD feels absolutely horrible. Poor thing and on her birthday too. =( **Louise: I'm so glad you have a supportive doctor. Mine was great, but he is the one who died last week. =( I hope you feel better soon with the meds. **CathyG: Yuck - eating paste! That's cute that she puts on her own hat. Jarin does that too-only he likes to put on Jesse's hat instead of his own. LOLHey, you just keep all that snow up there ok? I've had enough, thank you very much. **Beth: Jarin LOVES mini m&m's. Too cute that Allison was sharing with daddy, even cuter that she figured out how to get you to give her more! **Sarah: Poor Hannah - 2 ear infections AND croup! Hope she gets better really soon. **Michelle: Congrats on the new computer! Sorry, I don't know anything about the depo provera shot. **Sue: Hope you kep enjoying your snuggle bunny. It's too sad when they get too old to snuggle. **Birdie: Hi! **Moriah - AKA mother of the genius: Will little Alex never stop amazing us? He is definitely going to keep you on your toes. That's nice that your MIL buys diapers for you. My dad also buys diapers for us quite a bit. It's nice when he stops over with them. =) My dad's computer is really old - still has Windows 3.1. LOL **Gotta go. DH is giving me "the look"-you know the one - the one that says "Are you EVER getting off of there? See ya! Patty and Jarin - 17 1 /2 months email: tematheny@ctlnet.com Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at 19:19:15 (EST)) Just a quick one! I want to watch the Sally Henning Pt2! Moriah-Alex has the HUGEST smile! Thanks! Lisa B-Thanks for letting us know about Kelli. Hope the meds help the m/s. Pics are on their way to you! Talk to you all tomorrow! PS-I had another good night last night! I HOPE that it is the NEW thing for DD2! Romaine and Saba 23 mos Thursday, February 17, 2000 at 01:09:12 (EST)) This is Teresa (the whale who feels like her bottom is falling out and the baby is about to fall out on the floor and my feet and ankles look like balloons and I've outgrown almost all of my maternity clothes - just think if I had to go 4 more weeks instead of one!) Thanks so much for all the well wishes from LOUISE, SUE, JULIANNE, RITA, LISA B., PATTY, MORIAH, SARAH, LYNDA, CATHY G., AND BETH ( Beth that's me - from eastern Ky. close to the W.Va. border - thanks for remembering me.) I was so surprised that so many of you remember me and I really appreciate it. Tori is just about ready to walk - finally! She took a couple of steps today without holding on to anything. She's taking after her Dad - he didn't walk until he was 13 mo. old. Have any of you had a hysterectomy? If so, I would appreciate some info. about it. I'm so hoping that I won't have to have one but the doctor won't know until he actually gets in there during the C-section. I've got some good pictures of Tori if anyone would like me to e-mail them. Talk again soon! Teresa & Tori 12 mo.( & new baby girl in 7 days!) Thursday, February 17, 2000 at 01:18:24 (EST)) Hi everyone! Okay, Okay... I'v been terrible at keeping up on here lately! Things here are good. Elizabeth is doing wonderful. She has a new word every hour. Tonight, a song came on the TV and she walked into the kitchen, grabbed my hands and said, "Mommy, dance, dance" and she started dancing. She's learning her colors, too. So far, she's mastered yellow, blue, red and purple. Her favorite activity is still READ, READ, READ!!!! I skimmed through the posts and noticed that LisaB and SarahM are about as sick of books as I am!! Elizabeth now has a bookshelf of about 75+ books (but of course, she has 3 or 4 favorites that we HAVE to read every day.) She even likes to read my cookbooks. It's funny because she'll sit and read (jabber) my cookbooks and when she comes to a page with a picture of some kind of food, she'll say, "Ohhh Yummmmmm" She keeps us busy and on our toes at all times. Oh, yesterday she pulled me up off the couch and said "Poppy" (the ELizabeth version of potty) and she took me to the bathroom where her potty chair is. I took her diaper off and she demanded a Reader's Digest and she just sat there. She didn't potty in the chair and her diaper was dry so I sat there for a few minutes with her hoping that she would go. She never did. Oh well. I've been doing okay. I'm still a bit nauseous and VERY tired. The doctor gave me a new nausea/vomiting drug and that helps but doesn't totally illeviate the problems. The u/s went great. We saw our little one wiggle a lot! I am 10 weeks and 1 day. I'm so thankful that I'm almost to the 2nd trimester. I'm getting more and more excited. Well, I need to get to bed. I'm SOOOOO tired. Lately, I seem to stay tired all day and feel like I could sleep 24-7. I hate that feeling. But, I'm doing good. I hope everyone here is doing great!!! I'll hopefully be back more often. take care! Kelli, Elizabeth: 19 months and #2 EDD 9/12 email: rkncs@aol.com Thursday, February 17, 2000 at 02:07:53 (EST)) Ok I'm back. It's Debbie. I had to stop and get Emilee up from her nap. Change her dirty diaper, get the girls snacks, fix dinner.....Is there a end to this, someday. Maybe 20 years from now. LOL I wouldn't change anything, but some days I would change a few little things. I think I getting a little better. Yesterday I was feeling alot better and decided I better get caught up on the laundry and today I feel worse. This sinus headache and sore throat are the pits. I will be so glad when this is gone. I'm at a loss about this. I told you that Emilee is eating better and no longer eats baby food. Now she has 3-4 bm's a day. And they are always soft. I know I should not complain. Most of her diet consists of bananas, mac & cheese, string cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, lots of pasta, yogurt and either her baby cereal or adult cereal. So with all the bm's she is getting diaper rash. Plus she has eczema on her legs, knees and the top of her butt. With all the "plug up" foods she's eating it is puzzling me as to why she has so many soft bm's. I don't think she's teething but then I'm wrong about that sometimes. Any ideas? My poor little baby. My parents brought Maddie home yesterday. She was so darn sweet at first and then she turned into that wild almost 3 year old. Telling me "no", taking things away from Emilee. It was kinda nice just having to take care of Emilee while I was sick. But I'm happy she's home where she belongs. Now to deprogram her from being with her grandparents. LOL Welcome all new Moms and Babies. Patty - What "little" sweetpeas we have. I think Emilee may be having a growth spurt. And we're down to ONE (YEAH) nursing. That one they never want to give up, the night one. Sorry Jarin's been so fussy. Lisa - Thanks, hope you're feeling better soon. Lynda - What's wrong with some of these Mom's? Do they just need a break and thats why they bring their kids or are they just plain airheads? Yes, I agree with you. It is really hard to keep them apart while they play. We take carrots to the llamas and Maddie usually has them all eaten before we get there. Rebecca - I wonder why they do it too. I'm just going to ask them someday, when I get brave. Hope Paige gets well soon. Emilee has a cough too. Moriah - Prayers to baby Rachel and her family. Way to go Alex. He's gonna be couch walking before you know it. What was your friend thinking? Or should I say NOT thinking. What a sweet dh you have. Mine is too, when he wants to be. Louise - What a nice gift. Hope you're feeling better too. Yes, hurry summer. Helen - I hate hugging that porcelain queen. LOL I use to do that quite often in my younger (way younger)days. I would die now. Thanks, you're right they dont think or dont care. Julianne - Thanks for the healthy thoughts. I thought Emilee was going to eat baby forever. Good luck with Colton. Tracey - Take care of yourself. I'm thinking about you. Rita - I'm slowly getting better. Yes, it is old. Maddie's bday is 3/1. We're doing a "Arthur" party. What a scare you had a few weeks ago. Whew...Where did you go to the snow? I burn first and then tan. I'm also a skin cancer candidate. Any luck potty training, or are you guys working on that. Not much happening here. Romaine - Thanks for the pic of Saba & Mya. They are beautiful. Shelly - Hang in there and good luck. CathyG - Thanks, Alison sounds pretty hungry. Sarah - Sorry Hannah's sick, healthy wishes to her. You stay well. Hey, it's almost Friday! Hello to everyone else, hope you and yours are healthy and happy. Take care and talk to you later. Debbie, Maddie & Emilee email: debngreg@qnet.com Thursday, February 17, 2000 at 02:17:34 (EST)) Hello from Helen&Amanda!! First the personals-- Moriah-- Thanks for the pic of Alex- what a cutie! Oh-- the 'no' word--- congrats- you'll get really sick of that word soon- LOL! Melissa-- Could you send me pics?? Romaine-- Could you send pics too?? Beth--Glad DH's surgery went well!! Teresa--Hope your last few days pass quickly-- Hope you don't need a hysterectomy and everything goes well-- congrats on the 1st steps!!! Shelly--congrats on no bottle!!The ex GF scares me-- hope your all safe from her!! Romaine--AKA--'big-head'!!LOL! Louise-- Hoe your feeling better soon- there's nothing wrong w/being on meds- its a chemical imbalance that makes us react in certain ways to things and the meds help us react in a more 'normal' way. Beth-- Too cute w/the cheetos!! Darleen--Actually pizza and chicken nuggets aren't that bad. They say not to worry when kids eat only one thing for a week or two- they do that sometimes-- also write down every little bite Nolan eats so you can see that he probably is getting more of a variety than you may think. Birdie-- what a dolll you are! An itty bitty skinny awesome figure--- MEEEE??????? Thanks but I am 25lbs heavier than when I got married- so if I could lose 15 or so I would be happy. Are you ready for Florida?? Your probably like us and have to search the stores for summer clothes and try to figure out what you need for shoes, shorts- etc.... I've finished the shopping- now have to pack-- we're leaving on Sunday morning- 5:30AM. Sarah-- Hope Hannah is better and breathing better. Amanda had banged her lip for the 2nd time in a week- mouths bleed like crazy!! Christi-- Thanks for the pics-- what little dolls! Patty-- so sad about the little 3yr old! A boyfriend- now you'll be going grey!!! LISA__SARAH-- Amanda won't sit still long enough for a story--definately can't relate to that! Rita--Hope the root canal is feeling ok- I had one and the next will be pulled- not going through that again! Sarahg--Thanks for the pics of Isaac and Sofie- so cute!!! Well thats it for the personals-- Amanda is much better today- even after she woke was getting better by the minute- must have needed to be popped again and the second visit did the trick. Now we will have to be careful since it will pop out easier the next time- at least now I know what to do-- thanks for the well wishes and concerns!!!! I gained 1.4 last night at WW!!!! How did I do that after barfing up all that chinese food and skipping supper the night before and only having crackers and cheese yesterday??? Oh well, after the trip to Fla this week the scale will be even higher I'm afraid! Well should go, Amanda sounds very 'busy' in the other room, we are getting more snow tomorrow- if ski lessons are cancelled I will scream!!! Later!! Helen&Amanda@18mos(DS@13yrs&DD@12yrs). email: mhim27@hotmail.com Thursday, February 17, 2000 at 12:20:05 (EST)) Good morning ladies.....SARAH here. Well, HANNAH's got a nasty cough now. Very congested. YUCK! Poor thing. She seems to be in good spirits, though. It's kind of cool, cause she knows how to wipe her own nose (and sort of blow), so I let her do it. She thinks she so cool doing it! :) Anyway, not too much here so on to personals... SUE - Yea for CAM eating table foods! BIRDIE - It's so funny, cause now I think of you whenever I eat a tootsie roll....which is almost every day! :) MORIAH - Thanks for the get well wishes for HANNAH. We need them! Too funny about ALEX saying "NO". :) HANNAH loves to get the wipies out! DEBBIE - Your first post that said you had to go cause EMILEE was crying cracked me up. :) I hope you feel better soon, too! Thanks for the get well wishes for HANNAH! You know me too well (It's almost Friday!) LOL LOL :) PATTY - JESSE's growing up! :( I bet that made you sad. Thanks for the get well wishes for HANNAH! TERESA - Your intro on your post made me LOL!!! :) HANNAH didn't walk until she was about 13 1/2 months. I want to see pictures please! BETH - Thanks for the get well wishes for HANNAH! I just loved the pictures of ALLISON! :) Well, that's it for now. Hope you all have a great Thursday! Sarah and Hannah (17 months) email: smoore@geatoir.cfer.com Thursday, February 17, 2000 at 13:35:23 (EST)) Hi from LisaB. Max is so independent ... he wants to do EVERYTHING by himself and gets so mad if you help him or don't do things HIS way. He's imitating his 4-year old "girlfriend" from daycare. He comes to a complete stop, gives you a disgusted look, sticks his hand out, and says "OP" (I think he's trying to say stop). It's so funny; I crack up everytime. He won't do this at daycare thou - just at home. At DC he's in a stage where his eyes swell up with crocidile tears and his bottom lip sticks out the second he doesn't get his way, get's told "no", etc. The little stinker! HELEN: Poor Amanda and her arm. I'm glad it's feeling better. Your other DD must have felt so bad. I know DH and I both "pull" Max by his arms sometimes so we'll have to be more careful. HAYLEY: I would love a picture of Becca! BETH: Allison is a smart one, isn't she? I told DH the M&M story and he cracked up!!! SARAH: Poor Hannah. Max is great, except for his stubbornness (which he gets from both DH and me)! Max can't figure out the blowing his nose thing - he sniffs IN rather than OUT everytime he sees a kleenex! MICHELLE: Yeah on the new 'puter! DARLEEN: I'm glad things are going well with DH gone. It's hard on me when mine is gone for 4-5 days; I can't imagine longer than that. Max has gold fish, teddy grahams, or animal crackers with milk for a bedtime snack. MORIAH: Yeah for that "no"!!! It's great that MIL buys diapers! THERESA: Tracey, an occasional poster, had a hysterctomy. She can try e-mailing her at t.telger@worldnet.att.net. I would love a pix of Tori! KELLI: It's great to see you back here! LisaB & Max (17 mo.) & 9 weeks pg email: lisa_lab@hotmail.com Thursday, February 17, 2000 at 14:29:30 (EST)) Hi to all other mommies! I have just happened onto your site. I think its wonderful for mother all over to be able to share their ideas and experiences with other women. I myself find I have apparently alot in common with another mother on this site. My name is Sarah and my daughter-17 mo, is named Hannah. Quite a unique coincidence. I would like to join in on this site, but I do not know how. I don't frequent the web very often, but the chance to get advise and share stories is too exciting of an opportunity to pass up. Sarah email: DeadeyeTimK@mailcity.com MS USThursday, February 17, 2000 at 15:02:13 (EST)) DH had to take Colton to daycare today and got a kick out of Colton jabbering away at one of his dc friends. I had to go for my second jury duty session. I did get assigned to one case, but it's not until the end of March so maybe it will get resolved before then! Colton made a great discovery yesterday--his shadow! I was downstairs sorting laundry and saw him turning circles trying to catch his shadow. Then he would run forward watching it grow, giggle, turn around and wonder where it went. It was so cute to watch. I have to admit that in all the years I have done laundry I have never noticed mine downstairs!! LisaB: Too funny about the lost flowers. Rita: Enjoy your b-day date night this weekend. Hopefully your mouth will feel better. Helen: Put me on the guilty list for picking colton up byt he hands. I'll have to be more careful. Glad to hear Amanda is feeling better. Louise: Glad your dr is so supportive. Beth: Thanks for the cute pictures of Allison. Allison sure had her thinking cap on w/ the cheerios and candy. How cute to watch. Hayley: Does Becca like to splash and play/swim in the tub? If so, I would think she is ready for lessons. CathyG: All I can say to Alison's new eating habits is "YUCK!" Sarah: Hope Hannah feels better soon. Darleen: Colton is a very picky eater too. Try yogurt--full of protein. Sue: Gotta love the snuggle stage--hope it lasts for a while. Yeah on the table food progress. Birdie: There is a Chicago meeting being planned for this summer. If you want to get e-mailed updates let me know & I will forward you the e-mail of the person in charge. Moriah: It sure is hard to discipline when all you want to do is laugh. Patty: I dread the day Colton won't let me hug or kiss him in public. Teresa: I would love to see some pictures. Yeah, just one more week to wait. Hope you won't need the hysterectomy. Kelli: It's great the Elizabeth knows what the potty is for. Debbie: Maybe too much cheese? I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday. Julianne & Colton 19 mo email: jjones@batts.com Thursday, February 17, 2000 at 15:41:06 (EST)) Rebecca here... Rita - Unfortunately I no longer worship the sun rays by basking in their warmth. When I was in highschool, a couple of weeks before grad, I was sunbathing (though somehow I ended up sweaty, not clean!?!) and got 2 sunblisters on my chest. Needless to say my dress was low cut and you could see the dark scars. I don't think I've returned to the sun since! LOL Shelly - ER, oh my goodness!!! I was so freaked out I spent the whole night curled up with my husband (we are NOT cuddlers). I don't think he slept more than a couple of hours. I can't wait until tonight. Louise - I'll be very carefull not to discuss the story line of ER. How far behind are you? Helen - I'm glad to hear Amanda is feeling better. DH is constantly pulling Paige by her arms, I am going to have to warn him. Oh, and weird as it sounds, when you don't eat (or are sick) you are likely to gain weight. Your body thinks it's starving and so it converts everything to fat. That's why starvation diets don't work. Beth - your story about Allison made me laugh so hard I think I almost woke Paige up (I heard her shifting in the crib). At least she's thoughtful of others, even if it is so she can get what she wants. Moriah - I still don't have any new pics of Alex, please send me some. Darleen - you could try pbj sandwiches, mac & cheese w/ veggies, grated apple, home baked fries (instead of deep fried). I found with Paige if I eat it, she wants it! Debbie - I've found with Paige that when she gets alot of food that she can't use (french fries, or most potato dishes), her bms increase. Also, yogourt and cheese always cause her to poop alot. The trick with the diaper rashes is air, water instead of wipes, and a thin coat of Vaseline to keep area dry and moisturized. Well, my MIL is supposed to come over today, joy. I should probably get dressed. Oh, exciting news! It looks like DH will be getting a permanent posting at work instead of being on call. That means we can move out of this dingy apartment into a nicer place and that we can TTC later this year. I can't wait!!! Well, gotta go. Talk to you soon! Rebecca & Paige 15mths email: burn@canadawired.com Thursday, February 17, 2000 at 15:49:06 (EST)) Hi Everyone! Darleen here. What a morning! Today is garbage day, so I had to haul all the garbage from the basement out to the raod. That is Dh's job! Then I had the Canadian Diabetic Association coming to do a pick up of house hold things i wanted to get rid of. They wouldn't take books for some unknown reason, so I had to take them out to the road and throw them in the garbage. Then Nolan and I were off to play-group for 9:30am. We got there, and they made an announcement for the first time in 8 weeks saying if the toddlers weren't going to participate they had to play outside of our circle, so every body move in so the kids can play on the mats. Well.... I was mad. Nolan likes to participate on his own not with mommy forcing him. He is very independent unfortunately sometimes. If I force him to sit in my lap he screams so I let him go. At the last play-group we were at, the kids were free to do what they wanted, the mommy's had to listen and let the kids go if they wanted. How do you make a 15mth old sit for 1 hour? IMPOSSIBLE! So needless to say..... at break time I left. Next week was suppose to be our last play-group because we are moving on the Monday, but I told her we wouldn't be back after today. I brought Nolan home and let him go and be a kid! Was I being petty? It wasn't the instructor, it was her co-facilitator that announced this. I think the instructor was put out by the look on her face. Well enough venting for today. I vented to Dh, and he said somebody must have complained, because it is a big age mixture. 3mths- 21/2 years. They need different age groups together. Thanks for the imput on eatting for Nolan. I have tried him with yogurt, jello, pudding, and he refuses to eat them. For lunch I made him grill cheese, and he wouldn't eat it. He had bananas and a cookie and bologne. Good Lunch! Who knows what supper will be. Nolan is going through the copy-cat stage. I have to watch my mouth. Nolan is also into making faces at me if I make one at him. Personals: Sarah - welcome! Lisa - Nolan has also figured out his shadow when we are outside he is always trying to find it if the sun is shining the right way. They are hillarious at this age. Christi - Thanks for the pictures, I enjoy seeing other people's children and putting a name to the face. Have a great day and week-end everybody, enjoy the snow! We are in for a dooozy! Darleen & Nolan14mths email: j7smith@hotmail.com j7smith@ciaccess.com Thursday, February 17, 2000 at 16:13:48 (EST)) Howdy Howdy everyone! I'm so happy to have my computer back! I had to laugh when Moriah mentioned she had to go clean before Geoff gets home and discovers she did nothing all day! That was Terry yestderday. He went out and when he came home there were MoJo wrappers all over the kitchen floor because I was on the computer and Evan was sneeking MoJo's out of the cupboard! Plus, the house was a disaster! Hey, what can I say. Darleen, Nolans eating habits sound exactly like Riley! It's hard isn't it. Riley is a little guy too and it's a chore to get him to eat. He will eat Cheerios with milk, you could try that, and Milk Shakes with lots of fruit in them (I make them) are a favorite and the only way to get him to eat fruit. I also use his Lactose Free Formula because he can't drink regular milk so that adds a little more nutrients. Good Luck, and don't worry to much! So sorry you are missing dh, I hope you guys are doing ok. SUE** I too had a hairdy dentist that I was scared of. He actually told us to shut-up - it doesn't hurt that bad! When we were kids of course. Now I have an awesome gentle (and cute) dentist and almost fall asleep in the chair. LOL Yay for your chocolates and card for VD. MORIAH - Alex says no huh? Look out girl, you are in for trouble now! It's so cute now but look out! I didn't get that pic, I checked. Maybe because our computer was down or something? DEBBIE - I hope you are feeling alot better today, that's nice that you could ship Maddie out while you recovered. As much of a pain in the butt these older sibblings are you still can't help but miss them huh? LOL Evan spends all day tormenting poor little Riley, he just does it for kicks I think. Riley actually runs from the room when Evan walks in now! I had a thought about Emilees soft BM's. Both my guys have lactose intolerance so can't drink milk or eat much dairy products. It sounds like Emilee is eating a lot of dairy so that COULD be the problem. It's really hard to cut them out but you might want to try it for a couple of days and see if it clears up. Good Luck! Let me know how it turns out. Oh, and the fact that you are breastfeeding means that she was getting some dairy but breast milk is a lot easier to digest than regular milk and somehow doesn't affect lactose intolerant babies as much. Both mine were bf. TERESA - I don't remember you from Babies today but wanted to send good wishes for your birth. Yay on Tori starting to walk! Could I have a pic? KELLI - Elizabeth sounds so cute reading your cook books and saying yummy. too funny! Sorry you are feeling so tired. Take care of yourself and don't work to hard. LOL HELEN - Your pictures of Amanda were sooo cute, what a sweetie. Have a great time in Florida (like you need me to tell you that). LOL. I'm very jealous! LISA B - You have fun too! It sounds like Max has mastered the art of getting his own way. LOL. It's pretty hard to deny our little "actors" anything when they put on the crocodile tears and big lips act. He sounds very cute. SARAH #2 with Amanda - Welcome, you have already joined. All it takes is just one note! You might want to come up with another name or add something to your name so we don't mix you up with the other Sarah. I can't believe that coincidence! It's a lot of fun here and we get lots of info and ideas and laughs. You'll love it. Riley is so cute these days. He is talking like crazy - a lot earlier than Evan did. He's so funny because he'll be crying for something and I'll put my face close to his and say really softly, "sweetie, don't cry, tell mommy what you want", then he'll quit crying and look so happy, like he just remembered he can talk and he'll proudly announce - COOKIE, or JUICE or whatever. It's so sweet. It's like he still thinks of himself in "baby mode" and forgets he's turning in to a big boy. Hey, maybe that is like when we hit our mid life crisis and still think we are YOUNG!! LOL. Take care everyone! Michelle, Riley 17 mo &Evan ALMOST 3!! email: mwells@telusplanet.net Thursday, February 17, 2000 at 16:18:49 (EST)) Hello again! I could become addicted to this computer with all you friendly people on it ;) **Darleen--Thanks for the welcome. **Michelle--I saw you say you gave Riley lactose-free milk b/c he can't drink regular. Please let me explain my predicament with Hannah. Not only can the little darling not drink whole milk, she is no longer able to take the Alimentum we had her on since she was 6 months. Any kind of dairy product gives her the worst gas and Mylicon drops only help so much. I have tried to get her to try the lactose-free milk, but she just spits it out. She won't touch it or regular milk. I'm worried about her getting enough calcium and besides that she is having a mysterious allergic reaction to an unidentifiable allergen. She breaks out in horrid red welts and looks as if she has the worst case of chicken pocks known to man. I don't know what else to try. How do you get Riley to drink the lactose-free and do you have any suggestions? I have been keeping Hannah on a prescription strength antihistamine (Adorax) for the allergy. We thought it was milk induced since everyone in my family is lactose intolerant, but that does not seem to be the cause. If anyone has any suggestions, please, I am open and willing to try just about anything... Thanks---Sarah#2 & Hannah Sarah #2 and Hannah (17 mo) email: DeadeyeTimK@mailcity.com Thursday, February 17, 2000 at 16:35:50 (EST)) Hey ladies! Pretty busy around here lately. You guys keep me hopping that's for sure. I sent out some new pictures of Allison this morning. If you didn't get them and would like to see them let me know and I'll try to get them out to you as soon as possible! I just have to show off my little girl you know! Not too much new right now so onto the personals. Cathy - at least Alison doesn't pull nasty food out of the garbage and try to eat it. That's Allison's newest trick. Grosses me out totally! I feed her, really I do, she just likes to root around in there and see what she can find. Hayley - I wrote the word date in my notes but can't remember why now. Maybe you're going on a date and I wanted to tell you to have fun??? Who knows! A case of mushy momma brain. Louise - glad the medicine is working and you seem to be getting better. Helen - I am guilty of grabbing Allison by the arms and pulling her as well. I'll definetely be more mindful of that from now on. Have fun in Florida! I'm jealous! Rita - have fun on your date night and Happy Birthday early in case I forget later. Sarah - Hannah sounds cute blowing her nose. Allison like to blow her nose too. She will grab a tissue out of the box blow, throw it away, grab another tissue, etc. I think she would empty the whole box that way if I let her. Michelle - I sent you and e-mail about Depo. Let me know if you don't get it. Darleen - Many nights I will give Allison cheerios or some other foritfied cereal. I know it contains vitamins and other essential nutrients that she needs so I don't feel too bad about it. At least I know she is eating something that way. Sue - I was LOL at your hairy dentist trauma. Cracked me up that that would scar you from the dentist for life. Forget the pain, the drill, the horrible novicaine shots, the hair is what caused you to hate the dentist! Too funny! Birdie - Are you going to be around for a few days in case I have any big news to share soon? Just wanted to get the okay from you before I make any drastic life changes! LOL Moriah - You go Alex!! Talking and standing all in one week! He's making super progress. Medical school can't be far behind! Patty - I'm sorry the Jesse is getting too big for you! I told Allison last night that she had to stay little forever. She looked at me and said "no momma". It's starting already! BOO HOO Kelli - WOW! Eliz is really doing great with her colors. We worked with Allison for a while on hers, but then she kind of lost interest in them. I need to start doing it again. She did have blue red and yellow, but can't do them anymore. Debbie - all the dairy products could be causing the soft BM's. My DH is slightly lactose intolerant and if he eats too much dairy the same happens to him (as well as his brother and sister). I had a little girl at daycare that couldn't eat ANY dairy or it was diarrhea city immediately! I know cheese is supposed to be binding, but it has the opposite effect for many people. You may want to try cutting down on the dairy and see what happens. Lisa - I know what you mean about the ultra sensitive stage and getting the feelings hurt easily. If we tell Allison no she will immediately fall to the floor and cry like we've beaten her or throw herself face first into her little chair and sob like she's lost her best friend. Kind of funny to watch. . . . SOMETIMES! New Sarah - welcome. You will have to use and initial or something with your name or we will all be confused as to which Sarah you are! Hope you can join our group. Julianne - too cute about Colton finding his shadow for the first time. Kids notice every little thing that we take for granted don't they? Well, all I can say is that I'm glad I don't live in the area that many of you live in. I only pay $65/week for Allison's daycare. Last year it was only $60/week. I provide diapers, wipes, some snacks and some juice (not all though). I'm getting a real bargain!! I'd better get back to work! Talk to you later Beth and Allison (20.75 months) email: bobwite@msn.com Thursday, February 17, 2000 at 16:39:58 (EST)) Hi Everybody! Sarah g here! eeeeek! I've missed all you TT gals! There's just too much going on for me to stay current here. I've been skimming here and there when I can :) But it's been too long so I won't be able to catch up on personals... I weaned Sofia (suddenly this Monday - Valentines' Day). She has 5 teeth now and for some reason just totally started latching on wrong. After about a week of major soreness, I couldn't stand it anymore. I feel so weird (ok, engorged also) but I've never bottle fed! I've been giving her a sippy cup during the day and a bottle before bed because she just has this major sucking need. Do you guys think I should still be giving her a bottle during the day also? She's been casually working up to using a cup for several months now. Uh oh - she just woke up. Hope to be back later!! Sarah g, Isaac 2 yr 9mo, Sofia 10mo email: gat_men@hotmail.com Thursday, February 17, 2000 at 18:41:14 (EST)) Hayley here. DH and I had a nice date last night - dinner at a french bistro and the SF Symphony. Even ran into some old friends (married, no kids) at the concert - they said call us to go out sometime, but leave Becca home - if they only knew how hard it is to get a babysitter in the city, and how much $$$! DH and I are both suffering the repercusions of too much wine last night - 2:00 p.m. delayed hangovers! At least Becca was a cutie this a.m. and didn't scream at her normal 11 volume! Beth - I'm totally jealous of your inexpensive day care. We pay $1,040/month, plus provide lunch, milk, diapers and wipes (they do 2 snacks). Life in the big city! They close for 2 weeks vacation and every holiday you've ever heard of! Plus, Becca's home with me every Friday (I work 32 hrs/week), but I get no $$ break. Plus, they have a 6 month wait list! Debbie - Becca also gets diarrea, not constipated, from too much dairy. Try to cut back a little bit on the yoghurt, cheese, milk, etc. Darlene - have you tried Chinese food with Nolan? Becca loves fistfulls of rice, noodles, and the tofu out of hot and sour soup. Also, Annie's makes a good organic mac and cheese in a box. We've also tried "gourmet" hot dogs - organic turkey/apple sausages, Hebrew National (somehow, beef seems less bad for her than pork). Peas and apple sauce (not together) are also big with Becca. hayley and rebecca (17 mos.) email: hayley.thompson@citicorp.com Thursday, February 17, 2000 at 19:36:41 (EST)) Hi, Romaine here. Both girls were up a 7. Saba was whiney when she got up and i expected a rough day, but she had a super time w/ a little friend and went for a long walk (she wlked it!) w/ Dh. She did not nap but I think she fell asleep when her head hit the pillow! I have been meaning to tell you that she has been a picky eater-won't TRY anything and turning her nose up to most veggies (except salad) and most fruit. She is living off of dairy and grains! I like Shelly's idea of the fruit-shake (seems so obvious, why didn't I think of it?) LOL. Veggies are a puzzler right now. She won't touch them. The closest I am able to get is things w/ tomato sauce-but not always! Lynda-Congrats on Ella walking! Julianne-Why does Colton like elephants? Cute that he has discovered his shadow! Lisa B-Glad they found your flowers and they were FREE! Helen-Poor Amanda (and DD for feeling bad!). I saw on tv several months ago how common an injury it is. I am always asking people not to swing Saba by the arms when walking w/ her (even though I know how fun it is....). I hope that she is feeling better! Sorry I missed sending you the pics! I will get them to you in the next few days! Hayley- I hope that you have agreat time at the symphony! I hope to go again once we get DD2 weaned. Saba went for "lessons" last summer. She was about the same age (16 or 17 mos). It was mostly games to help them learn to blow bubbles and get their ears wet and dunking (if child is comfortable). She really enjoyed it and often cried when they had to get out! Cathy G-Thanks for luck! I paid 30 a day for Saba, I provided food, diapers, etc. I am not sure what it will be for 2. One sitter here charges only 5 dollars more for the second one! Beth-LOL on the Cheeos! Very political child! I did have SF the other night, but she left me again last night! Sarah-Hope that Hannah gets well. Darleen-See beginning for Saba's food tale! If she won't eat dinner or lunch, I offer her yogurt. Usually she is willing to eat that. Sometimes bananas or Sun-ripe fruit leather (it's real fruit, no added sugar, etc.) Birdie-I cried on the crash too! It was too awful!!! Those poor kids! Iwas thinking what it would be like for my girls..... Moriah-GO ALEX!! Patty-:( on Jesse not wanting to hold your hand. Teresa-My, you sure will have your hands full! You are in a similar boat as Dawn F. Kelli-Elizabeth sounds like fun! Sorry that you are feeling so lousy. I hope that the meds work! Glad that it is 1 and not 2?! Debbie-Thank-you. Saba has always had more than one bm a day and they too are often soft. The one thing that does bother her bum when she has a bm is blueberries. She gets red and sore. We bathe her in epsom salts and use Penaten cream and it usually clears w/in 24 hours. Sarah-How did you teach Hannah to blow her nose? Sarah2-Welcome! Too funny that you and our Sarah have a "parallel" life! Are you supposed to be from the OTHER universe-the one parallel to ours!? (OK, that was a little silly). Good-night all! May the SF visit ALL our homes tonight! Romaine and Saba 23 mos email: rrantry@yahoo.ca Friday, February 18, 2000 at 02:00:05 (EST)) Hi from Lynda - DH and I are celebrating at the moment ( Iam getting merry on champagne and wine as I sit here at the computer) we just sold our unit in Sydney that has been on the market for 2 months and we thought would never sell! YAH! Louise: Glad the meds are helping you feel better. We're also way behind in ER (which is one of my favourites) - but I bet we're ahead of you guys in those quality Aussie dramas like Neighbours and Home and Away!!! Hayley: - Ella started "swimming lessons" 2 weeks ago. It is really just getting them used to the water and we sing lots of songs whilst doing things with them in the water. My (& Ella's) favourite is "Humpty Dumpty" - where they sit on the side of the pool and then fall/jump into your arms. It is probably something you could do more cheaply by yourself in the pool, but I have found it good to get ideas as to what to do with her in the water. We have gone a couple of times by ourselves and she has enjoyed it just as much. Cathy G: Isn't it weird what they like to eat - oh well I guess its all part of the learning process. Beth: - Loved the stories about Allison and trading the food for a toy and the M&M's and her daddy - What a clever little cookie! Ella is 13.5 mths. Can I have a photo please ??? Sarah: Double ear infection and croup! Poor Hannah - I hope she's better soon. Really enjoyed American Beauty in a strange sort of way. Found it a bit disturbing also. Its great that Hannah is happy to blow her own nose - it is still a major struggle with Ella to clean her nose up. Sue: - I must have missed something - please explain - what is "Hump day"????? Ella also seems to be intransition from one sleep per day to 2. The good thing is that when she only has one it is a good couple of hours. But it is difficult to know whether she is going to have a morning sleep or not and I quite often spend 20 minutes or so trying to settle her before I give up and accept she is not going to sleep. Moriah: What is it with the wipes - they should make toy ones! Clever Alex to work out how to get them down - it is scary sometimes how much these babies understand and can figure out! Birdie: re Moriah's post - can we see a photo of the black dress and rubber boots - is the dress rubber also ???LOL!!! Debbie: Ella still eats a lot and has 3-4 BMs a day. To stop the nappy rash I use cream every nappy change and try to change her as soon as it is dirty. This is usually predictable ie after every meal. Ella has also recently had bad exczema but it is on her face and neck and underarms mostly. I was told to basically moisturize the areas 3 times a day - which I do with a cream called Hydraderm - which is basically sorbolene and glycerine. This generally keeps it under control - although occaisionally I use a steriod cream if things flare up too badly. Sarah and Hannah Mark 2: - Welcome to the site - maybe you could use your last initial to post so that we can tell you guys apart. Rebecca: Congrats on Dh and the permanent posting. Sarah G: - I am down to one last BF and have missed it a couple of times and felt so engorged and weird I have wondered if I will ever wean Ella. I think if my nipples were getting sore again though I too would quit. Romaine: So thats the secret to a good night sleep - get them to walk to exhaustion!! LOL!!! Well better go and get a refill! Lynda & Ella (13.5 mths) email: ljpjyoung@ozemail.com.au Friday, February 18, 2000 at 06:57:57 (EST)) Colton was Mr. Crabby yesterday. I think he got up too early and didn't get enough nap time. Nothing made him happy. Finally DH came home & picked him up to go for a ride to his parents. That made him happy. I was so relieved for some peace & quiet. I ate dinner by myself so that I could enjoy it. DH came back just after I finished. Colton was good at his folks and cried when he had to leave. He gets spoiled just a little bit there. They have a room full of toys and the first thing he does is run down the hallway, point to the door and says "toy". Teresa: Thanks for the pictures. You sure can tell that Chelsea and Tori are sisters. What an adorable daddy's girl picture. Cute DH too. LisaB: Sounds like Max has everyone under his control. LOL Too cute about "op". Sarah#2: Welcome. Sorry to hear about the dairy trouble w/ Hannah. Rebecca: Great news about DH's job. Rebecca, Romaine, & Shelly: Wasn't ER great last night. I was glued to the TV. I ran around like a madwomen trying to get the dishes, laundry and so forth done during commercials. Darleen: I think you did the right thing leaving the playgroup. This should be time to learn interaction and fun not structure. Beth: I wish I had your DC cost. Try $130/wk. SarahG: Use the bottle as little as possible. No sense going backwards. Hayley: I agree, finding and paying for a sitter isn't always easy. I feel guilty going out when I am paying a sitter so much. Romaine: We are not sure what started Colton's love of elephants. There are pictures of elephants in some of his books and there is one featured in his favorite video but for just one segment. It is kind of puzzling, but we are having fun with it. Lynda: Yeah for the sale and fun celebration. Have a great weekend everyone. I am supposed to go skiing for the first time Saturday, but we are in for a major snow storm today so who knows. Julianne & Colton 19 mo email: jjones@batts.com Friday, February 18, 2000 at 10:36:20 (EST)) Good morning from CathyG... Alison has such a good appetite, I thought I'd tell you some of what she likes so some of you with the picky eaters could get some ideas. She loves toast with cheeze whiz, fried eggs, any kind of pasta (last night I made one with canned clams and she had 5 helpings), mashed potatoes, hummus and pita, cottage cheese, ham, cut-up cheeseburgers, avocado, shake and bake pork chops. Unfortunately, we have figured out that her bum rash comes from eating anything tomato-y, so we will have to cut that out until she gets out of diapers (there's my motivation). TomorrowI'm off to my all-day scrapbook workshop - I can hardly wait. When I booked it I didn't know that DH was leaving the next day for Europe, so we won't get to see each other much before he goes. Hayley - I've had Alison in swimming since the fall - she really likes it, so I'd give it a try. Beth - I laughed about Allison's planning - what a smartie. You sure have a bargain for daycare. Sarah - hope Hannah is doing better Darleen - did you make a mistake on Nolan's weight? I don't like it when playgroups get all anal - I would have done the same thing. Patty - It must be so sad when kids don't want to hold your hand anymore! Sue - good luck with the table foods. Moriah - Alex is sure a genius! Alison hasn't figured out about saying no yet. Kelli - Elizabeth must be keeping you going. I'm glad your US went well, and that you are feeling better. Debbie - Contrary to what you might think, increase her fibre and give her lots of water. My oldest sees a GI specialist, and it has helped. LisaB - Max sounds very cute with his OP. How are you feeling? Julianne - I've always wanted to be on a jury, but have never been picked. Rebecca - good news about DH's job. Romaine - WOW, $5 for the 2nd child would be wonderful/ Lynda - congratulations, and enjoy that champagne. By all, have a great weekend CathyG and Alison (18 months) Friday, February 18, 2000 at 11:21:56 (EST)) Hello from Helen&Amanda-- Welcome Sarah#2 and Hannah!! Maybe you could use your middle name?? Just a thought. I used to post months ago and on pregnancy today as 'Sarah and Amanda- good thing I came out of the closet and began using my real name- we would be really confused!! Selfish post ahead------ Well- today were are getting a real big storm-- supposed to start late morning. DH has the plow on the truck and prepared to be out late plowing. The kids are at school but I left the skis and snowboard home since it will be cancelled again for sure once the snow starts. Our neighbours left this AM for Florida- thank goodness they beat the snow- hope its cleared up by sunday when we leave!! Well I have noothing packed, so I should start thinking of that- I bought the kids a couple books- Amanda a 'Maisie' book- its so cute- its a peek-a-boo book with the flaps to lift- of course I like it more than her! We are planning to meet the neighbours at Disney one day and spend some time with them, we are also spending a day with my inlaws, a couple days at disney, and who knows about the other days- I'm sure we will be busy with something. The airport with 3 kids , DH grumbling about all the people, and tons of luggage, a car seat, stroller, at 6:30 am on sunday makes me want to laugh--- I think we all should pop valium b/f we leave--LOL!!! Oh yes-- bil and family are also comming- do you see the importance of this since I have been avoiding telling you all-it should be FUN!! NOT!! The tanning is not working-- my skin, since I am irish, white, blue eyed and freckle is far from looking like a nice even tan- more like a albino red-so much for that!! Yes I have tons of sun block since the sun burns me to death, and I will be the one sitting in the shade by the pool--LOL! Well should go check on Amanda- she is asleep in the truck again- went to the bank and she is sleeping again- its only 10 am!! I will probably check in again b/f leaving, take care all- and like Birdie says- no sex change, divorce, affairs- etc until I return next Saturday-- Later!! Helen&Amanda@18mos(DS@13yrs&DD@12yrs). email: mhim27@hotmail.com Friday, February 18, 2000 at 11:29:16 (EST)) OK...SARAH here...you all know what I'm going to say.......IT'S FRIDAY!!!!! :) :) :) YEA!!!! :) First off, did any of you watch ER last night? Excellent!!! Well, HANNAH didn't cough as much in the night last night. I put a pillow in her crib to prop her up a little bit....maybe that helped?? Hopefully she's on the mend!!! It was funny cause last night her nose was running CONSTANTLY, so finally I just started wiping her nose with my shirt. So we were sitting there reading, and her nose was running, so she grabbed my shirt to wipe. It was so funny! :) I hope I didn't start something! SARAH #2 - Welcome!!! I got your email, and emailed you back. JULIANNE - Too cute about COLTON "chasing" his shadow! :) LOL Thanks for the get well wishes for HANNAH! You know, I'm a native of Colorado and have only been skiing 1 time!!! I'm just not a "snow" person! Have fun! REBECCA - Congrats on DH's job! BETH - HANNAH does the same thing with the tissues (when she's not wiping with my shirt!! See above). Wow! $65/week??? That's great! SARAH g. - I wouldn't start a bottle during the day, as long as she has the sippy cup down. You'll just be starting a habit that's hard to break. HAYLEY - Sounds like a great night! ROMAINE - Thank you for the get well wishes for HANNAH! She just learned by watching me (blow my nose) LYNDA - Congrats! How'd that champagne treat ya?? LOL Thank you for the get well wishes for HANNAH! I'm sure it's just a stage we're going through (blowing her own nose). I'm sure it won't be so easy in the future! Well, we have a pretty busy weekend planned. DH has a bachelor party to go to tonite (GREAT!! OK, I'm being sarcastic!), and then I have the bachelorette party to go to tomorrow night. The bride (my best friend) has already let me know I'm getting as drunk as her seein' as I'm the maid of honor. OH NO!!! Hope you all have a great weekend!!!!! Sarah and Hannah (17 months) email: smoore@geatoir.cfer.com Friday, February 18, 2000 at 11:34:22 (EST)) Hello from Rita I spent most of my morning at the Drs yesterday. One of my thyroid tests is off and I will have to repeat it in a few weeks. I also went to get my chicken pox vaccination. What fun! I was bemoaning my job situation with a co-worker the other day and immediately got a call from someone I had interviewed with before Christmas. He has a position that he wants me to consider. It would be in a new job category and a big promotion. It may require some travel, though. I'm going to read over the proposal this weekend. I will also be getting another job spec to read next week. When it rains it pours... Amy did the cutest thing last night. I am really working with her on her words since we have been binky-free since Sunday. (Woo hoo!)I said "baby" to her. She pointed to herself and repeated "Ba-by." Welcome Sarah2 with Hannah2! I hope you can post regularly. My niece had early problems with dairy and soy, so my sister used fortified rice milk products. You can also get calcium in dark leafy greens. There are some books available in health food stores that might be able to give you some ideas. Your ped may also be able to refer you to a dietician who could also assist you. Romaine - Maddy has also become a picky eater. Salad is still acceptable as well as fruit. Most things I make, except pasta, are usually rejeced unless they are plain like roast chicken, beef or meatloaf. I grind veggies and add to pasta sauce and to meatloaf and to anything else I can disguise them in. Hayley - I used to live in Cole Valley. I moved to the East Bay with DH when I was PG. He was willing to sell his house and move to the city if I wanted to stay. I didn't see how we could afford a house in the city, so we are in Castro Valley. My apartment in the city was $700/mo when I was there and is now $1200/mo. Wow! Thanks for the picture of Becca. Maybe we should have a Bay Area moms get together in the spring. Beth - Thanks for the new pic. Allison is so clever with her M&Ms. You'll really have to watch out when she gets to be Maddy's age - it really moves to a different level... Teresa - Please send me a picture of Tori. Cathy G. - I just joined a Bay Area scrapping club and am going to my first crop tonight. Should be fun to meet with a regular group of crazies like myself. DH gave me my BD present early (a binder to hold stickers and supplies)so that I could take it to the crop. Lynda - Congrats on Ella walking. Amy took about three weeks and then she started running. She'll be ready to train with you in no time. LOL. Hump day is what we call Wednesday, since we are over the hump and heading toward the weekend. Well, gotta go and shower. Take care everyone! Have a good holiday if you have Monday off. Rita & Amy email: ritad@home.com Friday, February 18, 2000 at 12:30:27 (EST)) Julianne again. I am cutting out of work early today to meet w/ our accountant and then a job interview. Thought I'd respond to some of the posts since you all are usually pretty talkative over the weekend. CathyG: Have fun scrapbooking. I am looking forward to an overnighter in March. Helen: Have a great vacation in Florida. I am wishing you lots of sunshine and happy kids~~~~~~. Make sure that sunscreen gets applied evenly. My last trip to Florida had me burnt in streaks because I was a little lazy in my application! The pictures look very funny. Sarah: Too late--look for lots of snotty shirts to wash. LOL Have fun this weekend party girl. Rita: Yeah for Amy's new words. Julianne & Colton 19 mo email: jjones@batts.com Friday, February 18, 2000 at 12:57:09 (EST)) Hi from LisaB. I just got done with my first OB appointment. She gave the same due date as my regular doc, September 17, and said my uterus looks like it should at 10 weeks (so hopefully there's only one bambino in there). I was a little bummed that they couldn't hear the heartbeat yet :-( SARAH #2: Wdlcome! JULIANNE: Colton and his shadow sound adorable! Yeah for getting some "alone" time!!! BETH: Don't you like me anymore? Why didn't I get a picture of Allison? Or did you send it to my home address ... I only check it on weekends. REBECCA: Yeah on DH possibly getting a perm job. DARLEEN: I think it's better for kids to play independently when they're toddlers. The instructor should have said something to the co-facilitator. BETH: WOW! I wish I had your daycare bills! SarahG: I hope the engorgement passes soon. I would try to stick with the cup - if you give the bottle now you'll just have to wean from it in a few months. LYNDA: Yeah on selling your unit in Syndey. CathyG: How long will DH be gone? HELEN: Enjoy Florida! RITA: Good luck on the job front. LisaB & Max (17 mo.) & 10 weeks pg email: lisa_lab@hotmail.com Friday, February 18, 2000 at 14:12:55 (EST)) Hey ladies. Happy Friday everyone. I am definitely looking forward to this weekend! I didn’t have to work a full week last week due to nursing DH and this week has seemed to drag on forever! Allison went to my mom and dad’s yesterday (they like to get her about once a week or so while I’m at work) and this morning she woke up and while I was getting her dressing she asked “Nana? Pop?” (her names for my mom and dad) I said no, we’re going to see Jamie today (the sitter). And she said “No, POP!”. She absolutely loves my dad. He spoils her rotten and feeds her nothing but junk so it’s no wonder why! LOL! Rebecca – congrats on DH’s job. Glad you will be able to move to a bigger place soon! Darleen – I know what you mean about hauling the garbage out. DH is out of town too, and I have to haul them back in (yesterday was garbage day). I didn’t do it last night as it was raining and I got home late. Well, it stormed last night and now, unfortunately one of our cans is no where to be found! DH will be none too happy when he gets home tonight! I’ll have to go riding through the neighborhood when I get off work and see if I can locate it. Hopefully no one decided to take it for their own. Michelle – Riley sounds so cute with all his new talking! I try to get Allison to say what she wants, but for some reason she likes to whine still. I try to ignore the whining to encourage her to use her voice more to tell me what she wants, but it’s slow progress. Sarah#2 – as far as the unknown allergen goes I would log everything Hannah eats at every meal, snack etc, and watch for reactions each time you feed her. Then, I would systematically remove one item at a time from her diet for a few days with each item. See if she stops breaking out when you remove the item etc. Common allergy inducing foods are citrus, any nuts, eggs, dairy, acidic things like tomatoes. Good luck! Sarahg - I agree with others and I wouldn’t give her the bottle either. Right now would be a good time to wean her as it would be easier now than later. As far as the sucking need, have you tried the Platex Spill proof cups? The little ones have to suck pretty hard to get any liquid to come out of those. Perhaps that would satisfy the sucking desire. Hayley – I don’t envy you of you daycare costs. I’m very lucky that I live in a part of the country where cost of living is pretty inexpensive. Romaine – way to wear Saba out before bedtime! Lynda – I sent pictures your way. Let me know if you don’t get them. I had some trouble getting them to go through. Julianne – glad you go to eat your dinner in peace last night. That’s a rare occurrence no that we’re mommies! Cathy – You’re very lucky to have such a good eater. Allison is picky and many times will even refuse to even try something new and has at times refused to eat some things that were once old favorites. She gets on kicks where she will eat nothing but one thing all the time. This week it’s corn so we’ve been having some interesting BM’s this week! LOL Helen – have fun in Florida. We’ll all be anxious to hear about your trip when you get back next week. Sarah – too funny about Hannah using your nose as a Kleenex! Allison will do that sometimes too, but I try to discourage it. Right now she is in a stage where she will pick her bugars and hand them to me like “here, do something with this thing!” Gross! Rita – have you never had the chicken pox since you are getting the vaccine? It’s probably a good idea as I know 2 people that have had them as adults and they were both sick as dogs from them. Lisa B – I tried to send you photos in the first bunch, but I had some come back as undeliverable and it didn’t tell me which ones they were. I’ll try again to send them to just you as soon as I get off here. Well, I should get back online and post this monster post. I probably won’t talk to you guys again until Monday so have a great weekend. Beth and Allison (almost 21 months) email: bobwite@msn.com Friday, February 18, 2000 at 15:56:51 (EST)) Hello everyone, Christi here Well, Caleb is FINALLY feeling better, he was jsut so grumpy and whiny this week, I had to hold him at all times or he was crying. FUN. At least he slept well at night time. I didn't keep notes from when I could read, so I will start again tomorrow. So, selfish post ahead It is snowing like crazy here, I thought we weren't going to get it at all cause it is a full 24 hours later than it was suppose to be. By the time DH gets to the end of our sidewalk (only 12 feet) it is covered again. Caleb is having a great time watching him shovel. He pulled a large block out of the toy box, took it to the window, and then stood up on it so he could see, I was surprised he put that much thought into it. I did notice you all comparing DC prices.... for 1 child 10 hours/day, 5days/week I get $70 2 kids same amount of time I get $120. I supply food and drinks, but not diapers. Does that pretty much sound in line for a small town home day care? One personal SHELLY*** I tried to send you a picture of Caleb, but I keep getting it returned, thought I would tell you. Well, I better go, "see" you all soon! Christi & Caleb 15 months email: plumbs@coiinc.com Friday, February 18, 2000 at 17:34:01 (EST)) Hello from Helen &Amanda!!! Just checking in again- afraid I will miss something! LOL! Its snowing and skiing was cancelled again! DD is watching TV and DS has Amanda outside shoveling snow off the deck, she is having a ball! I am going to have MAJOR withdrawls from all of you, do you think if I call Disneyworld they will have a computer set up in the room when we arrive????? Joking of course. :O) Not a bad idea is it!! I have Amanda's packing done- also packed some bedding- who knows what the crib will look like- I should bring my lysol to disinfect it. Actually there better be one there! I will die if there is none! Well the little shoveler is in-- better go!! Helen&Amanda@18mos(DS@13yrs&DD@12yrs). email: mhim27@hotmail.com Friday, February 18, 2000 at 21:20:39 (EST)) Hi mommies. We had another freezing rain storm here last night. This morning there was a half inch of ice on the roads, so once again, no school. In the paper tonight, out superintendent announced that so far we will be going until June 12th, teachers until June 13th. Isn't that awful? I can't believe we will still be in school in the middle of June. Makes me really depressed. What ever happened to starting in September and ending in May? Jarin is doing fine. He nows says "Shu" (for nurse) and pulls at my shirt. He wants to nurse constantly. I know I need to start weaning him, but I'm getting kind of at a loss as to how to do it without completely traumatizing the poor thing. My mom watched him for an hour last night so DH and I could go out to dinner alone. When we got back, I was telling her something he had done and he started laughing and covered his face with his hands like he was so embarassed. My mom and I cracked up. He is so funny! **Teresa: I'd love to see pics of Tori. I was also LOL at your description of yourself in the beginning of your post. **Kelli: I was always tired when I was pg, and still am. =) Too cute that Elizabeth had to have the Reader's Digest to sit on the potty chair. Where'd she get that idea? =) **Debbie: Same advice as everyone else - my DH is the same way if he gets too much dairy. Only one nursing a day now, huh? I wonder if I'll ever get to that point with Jarin. **Helen: I am so jealous about you going to Florida. I want to come too! Sorry to hear the tanning bed isn't working. LOL. Sounds like you guys have lots of fun planned for your vacation. I think we got the big storm you were talking about! Yes, I am going gray, but more from DD's attitude than from her having a boyfriend! I guess that's why I decided to highlight my hair again - harder to tell where the gray is. LOL **Sarah: How cute that Hannah wipes her own nose. Jarin will occasionally blow his nose, but not into anything, just down his face. LOL. If I try to have him blow it, forget it. ER was very good! Ok, have fun tomorrow night at the big bachelorette party. Sounds like you may be hugging the porcelain god too after what your friend has planned for you! **LisaB: Funny that Max imitates the 4 year old girlfriend from dc. Jarin also gets the whole hurt feelings and crying when I yell at him or tell him no. **Sarah#2: Welcome to you and Hannah! **Julianne: Hope your jury duty gets cancelled before you have to do it. That's sweet that colton found his shadow. Jarin loves yogurt. Lots of times he will only eat once a day and that's what he wants. Sounds like Colton has lots of fun at the ILs with all of the toys. I was LOL at you running during commercials. I do the same thing. Last night during ER, I was making lesson plans and writing my parent newsletter for the week when it was a commercial. **Rebecca: Yay for DH getting a permanent posting!! **Michelle: So cute that Riley "remembers" he can talk and then asks for what he wants. =) **Beth: "no mama" - I guess your baby won't stay mama's girl forever either. So sad that they just won't stay little like we ask them to. LOL. Sounds like Allison is just a little fond of her grandpa? That is so neat. **Sarahg: Good for you weaning Sofia. I'm glad it is going well for you. If she's ok with the sippy cups during the day, I wouldn't give her a bottle until nighttime. **Romaine; Jarin also has days where he won't eat anything. Then we pop out the yogurt too. I think it's just a stage all our kids must be going through. **Lynda: Congrats on your sale! "Hump Day" is what we Americans call Wednesday because after the work day on Wednesday, we are "over the hump" and there are only two more days of work. **CathyG: That's great that your Alison has such a good appetite. I always thought it would be neat to serve on a jury once too, but I never get picked and I never will. DH is a police officer and my FIL's law office employs our town's attorney who gets all the clients who can't afford to pay. **Rita: So cute that Amy pointed to herself and said "baby". Good for you on the job offers. Hope you find, and get, what you want. **Christi: So smart of Caleb to go find a block to stand on and watch DH shovel. Your daycare costs sound ok. I don't remember where you live. In Indiana, I paid about the same as Beth in Kentucky -$60 a week. The cost of living is ok where we are too in a small town. **Ok, gotta go. DH is downstairs and probably thinking I disappeared into the computer. LOL Patty and Jarin - 17 months email: tematheny@ctlnet.com Friday, February 18, 2000 at 21:47:03 (EST)) Hi to all! This is a very short post tonight. Riley is telling everyone "this is my butt". I have no idea why?! The things he comes up with these days astound me. Anyway. ER was horrible last night. I didn't want any of them to die. I hate it when a show starts moving people around. Julianne***I filled the bottle with diluted juice the first night. Then I put water in the bottle and juice in his cup and he decided which he wanted. It was imple because we had quit once before. He doesn't even ask for it anymore. Good luck! Sarah***I feel lucky just to have to give the albuteral syrup. I have a neubulizer for myself and it is a pain. I hope your little one is better. Birdie***I have seen all 3. I only really liked the first one. The part with Drew Barrymore will stay with me always! Helen***We are safe. Jim has a restraining order. I think she will try things down the line but I don't know. He thinks she will pack up and move. Welcome to all the newcomers. For everyone who doesn't know me, I'm 33, I live in N. CA and I work part-time. I can no longer say that I'm a single mom of 3, as I'm putting my marriage back together after 3 years of seperation. My boys are 12, 7, and 22 months. I look forward to getting to know all of you! Shelly & Riley 22 months Friday, February 18, 2000 at 22:46:21 (EST)) Hi, it's Michelle - Happy Week-end! Sarah - It's to bad Hannah won't try th Lactose Free Formula, does she still drink the Alimentum at all because you could mix in a little Lactose Free and gradually increase the amount and maybe she wouldn't notice the change. I can't believe she likes the Alimentum. I tried it once and I nearly gagged! LOL The other thing my Dr. mentioned is the Rice Milk - sold in the Tetra Box in dry goods (usually with the coffee creamers) or Goat Milk if she'll drink it. You can now by frozen Orange Juice with Calcium in it and I usually sneek liquid calcium drops in to other juice because Riley is a picky eater and won't eat Calcium enriched foods yet. Good LUCK! As for the rashes - does she eat Strawberries alot? They can cause rashes too. and Blueberries - like someone mentioned already. Helen - Good luck with your flight! Hope dh doesn't get to grumpy but good for you for going in to it with the right mood. Lol. Beth - I did get the note about the depo. Thanks for your input it was much appreciated. Great Daycare deal. I actually quit work because paying daycare here would make it useless to work! It's about 1200.00 month for 2 children. YIKES! Even just the drop in daycare is $11.00 per hour for the two of them! Outrageous! Sarah g. You know Sofia better than any of us and if she is really seeming to miss the nursing, because it was a fairly quick weaning, I personally would give her the bottle. She is pretty young too so that's something to consider. You know what's best so go with your feelings on this one. Cathy G. Have a great Scrapbook day! Aren't those sticker binders awesome? You are so lucky that Allison is a great eater! It sounds like most of us are having trouble in that area! Sarah - I saw ER! Do you know what she is doing now? I definately did not expect that! I missed the first half of the show because I was out scrapbooking and forgot it was Thursday. What a lame Brain. I NEVER forget it is Thursday because that is the one night of the week I LOVE. Dh knows not to expect much in the way of help that night and does everything with the kids which is kind of nice. LOL Rita - Have fun at your crop coming up! My Riley Bear doesn't seem to want to go to sleep tonight. He is up in his crib chatting away! He got up at 5:00 this am and had an early nap so I'm surprised. Hmmm? Well, think I'll go play some computer games. Have a great week-end! Michelle, Riley 17 mo and Evan 2 1/2 email: mwells@telusplanet.net Friday, February 18, 2000 at 22:52:45 (EST)) Hi everyone, Louise here. I have a grumpy boy on my hands today - he woke up too early (5.45!) and even a long morning nap hasn't sorted him out. Still, he was adorable and a real cuddlebug yesterday. We went to a new toddler group yesterday - it was great, excet for the fact that they had some dressing-up clothes out for the older toddlers and James took a fancy to the old-fashioned policeman's helmet that they had. He INSISTED on me wearing it - every time I tried to take it off or tried getting him to wear it, he'd scream the place down. So I had to spend the entire time wearing this helmet, all the while trying to get to know some of the other Mums there! They probably all thought I was some kind of nut, my saying 'James seems to like me wearing it' probably sounded a little strange!! Anyway I must be quick, DH is looking at me impatiently as we're supposed to be going out for the day. He keeps saying to me 'what do you find to talk about with people you've never even met?' Men just don't get it do they! BETH - please send me pics of Allison. She sounds so cute being a little schemer -I love the way you can almost see their brains working at this age. SARAH - Hope Hannah continues to get better. What a drag having to go out and get drunk! Enjoy! MORIAH - Yeah for Alex saying no! James hasn't mastered that one yet. PATTY - LOL at Jesse being independent I excpet you're REALLY looking forward to Jarin being that way!! It's such a pity about your Doctor, I hope you find another one that is as understanding. I already feel better, although it must be psychological as I'm sure the meds won't have kicked in yet, although I'm still not sleeping much. TERESA - My Mum had a hysterectomy a coupe of years ago. Obviously it was a different situation, and she didn't have a kid and a newborn to look after, BUT she found it much easier to recover than she had been led to believe. Good luck. KELLI - Elizabeth sounds so advanced with her language! Hope you are managing to stuggle through the tiredness/sickness. DEBBIE - I have exactly the same problem with James and loose BM's. I've tried isolating food and cutting out the likely triggers but nothing ha really worked, except it gets a bit better if I replace Apple juice with water. It doesn't seem to bother him much though, and he rarely gets nappy rash. Let me know if you have any luck! HELEN - Enjoy Florida! I'm very jealous! SARAH W/HANNAH no. 2 - what a coincidence! And welcome. This is a great site. Sorry about all the allergy problems, I hope some of the advice the others gave you works. JULIANNE - That is so cute about Colton and his shadow! I can just imagine it. Enjoy skiing! I used to go quite a lot whn you could pick up cheap deals to Austria/Switzerland from London, but I haven't been for ages. REBECCA - I'm fascinated by all this talk of ER but am trying not to read! In the series we're showing, Carol has just had her babies. DARLEEN - I understand how you feel about the playgroup, I'd be the same, that sounds mad to me. James spends his whole time at playgroups dashing from room to room and never stays with anything for more than a minute. MICHELLE - Riley sounds so cute remembering he can talk! LOL at the babies/mid life crisis comment! HAYLEY - sounds like you had a good night out, we all need to over indulge sometimes! LYNDA - congratulations on selling the unit! LOL at your comment re. Australian soaps - I'm ashamed to admit it, but when James naps during the day, I've found myself tuning in the Neighbours and Home and Away - I haven't watched them since I was a student but it's SO easy and undemanding (and I can have a good laugh and pretned I'm only watching them to send them up!) -DH is horrified with me!!! Hi to everyone else, have good weekends, Louise & James (15 months) email: rnash78035@aol.com Saturday, February 19, 2000 at 07:51:57 (EST)) Hi mommies. Jarin is napping, so I thought I'd check in. I've been feeling kinda depressed the last two days, not sure why, but I just can't seem to shake it. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Jarin is a riot, talking on the phone and saying "Lo", followed by about a two minute jabbering session, then "bye" and slamming the phone down. I love him so much. Good thing I have him nearby, I'm about to kill DD. How long does this self-centered, selfish, "I'm the only person in the world who matters and who knows anything" attitude last?!!! **Just one personal to Louise: No, men definitely don't get how we can talk to other women we "haven't even met". DH gives me the same look all the time. LOL at you spending the whole playgroup time with the helmet on your head. I'm glad you are starting to feel better. Hope it continues. **Ok, I'll try to hold off until Monday. I sometimes feel like I bore you gals when I'm on here every day. Hope you don't get tired of hearing all of my Jarin stories or my whining about DD. Take care all of you. Patty and Jarin - 17 months email: tematheny@ctlnet.com Saturday, February 19, 2000 at 16:05:19 (EST)) Hi-- from Helen&Amanda!! Well- DH is sleeping and has been plowing snow- has to go out again later. I am almost packed except for DH who won't tell me what to pack- and I definately don't want him to choose what to bring!! The airport was shut down and flights cancelled so who knows what tomorrow will be like. Patty- I say this is the time parenting gets hard- its not the sleepless nights its when they start having a mind of their own and personalities clash. DD is 12, but gets quite an attitude- of course its from me- I was quite a mouth as a teenager- this is when the true test of love comes into play- hang in there! Do you think the new meds may be having a different effect on you- maybe the dosage needs to be adjusted?? Hope your feeling your old self soon! Should go-- one more thing- Amanda was out in the snow this AM again- trying to put her hat on when she saw DS getting his coat- too cute! DS pulled her around in the sled for a while- tires her right out! Yesterday she was very busy- following the dog around with the bowl of food trying to feed him- then the water bowl- spilled everywhere!! Then drew on my bed sheets with a marker- good thing I didn't make the bed or it would have been the comforter! Send pics my way- I love getting mail! Have a good weekend- see you all next weekend!! Helen&Amanda@18mos(DS@13yrs&DD@12yrs). email: mhim27@hotmail.com Saturday, February 19, 2000 at 18:31:14 (EST)) |