Weekly Check-in November 1

mindaa

How was your week?

QOTW: this time of year can be so busy and stressful. How do make time for yourself and what do you do?

jerseygirl227

Week was okay.  We did the Halloween thing.  Took Chloe to trick or treat a little in the neighbrhood.  Was nice since we bought our house in June and we haven't met a lot of neighbors.  Met a lot of them on Saturday night.

Have to go back to work on Thursday and am a total wreck.  Went in Friday because the school was having a Halloween parade.  Was gonna stay for the little classroom party afterwards, but I started to lose it and had to leave.  Cried half the way home.  Ugh.  At least she gets to stay home with dad for that Thursday and Friday.

As far as making time, I plan to not put in extra time at work.  Just not gonna do it.  I'll do planning and writing at home in the evening after the baby goes to sleep, but that's it.  

Knottie1442268460

I'm still in infant survival mode. Which answers both your questions. I have no time for myself! Haha!getting online reading here is the most I do.

Question: did any of you bottle feed? From past experience it takes time for them to adjust to digesting. We're on Similac sensitive and 3/4 the time baby cries for an hour after. We use dr Browns. Burp after 1/2 oz although most of the time any burping is hard. We try several methods. We use mommy's bliss gripe water or simethicone little remedies gas drops. No rash. Some spitting up but not a ton. Gaining weight. Do you think I should try a protein broken down formula like alimentum?

KateLouise

Our week was pretty busy and this week will be worse with appointments: midwife, paediatrician, newborn hearing screening, 6 week vaccines, Dr's appointment for me, fasting glucose test for me and then people wanting to visit and DH going out golfing in the evenings.

So I'm feeling a bit worn out, and DS is a bit unsettled, but at least once all the appointments are over we can cocoon ourselves at home and chill out.

Like pp I'm in infant survival mode so no "me time" happening here. Plus what extra time I do have I'm trying to spend with my 3 and 5 yr olds. At least I'm in NZ so we don't do halloween like you guys do, and we don't have thanksgiving, so there's a bit of a lull now until Christmas.

mindaa

So, this sleep regression could break me. Not only is LO back to waking 3 times a night, now he has returned to MOTN cluster feeds - like for 3 hr stretches.
I got some stomach thing and spent Halloween night throwing up. While DH was out of town. Didn't really feel well enough on Sunday to get out for our normal activities, so the weekend was kind of a bust.

My "me" time would mostly be my commute to work - at least I can listen to my music. DH has watched LO a couple times for me to get out for a run sans stroller, which has been great.

Knottie1442268460

@mindaa so sorry you had a sick weekend.

mindaa

I realized I forgot to mention a major positive, that for the first time my pumping output actually exceeded demand.  I have a tiny freezer stash, yay!  Such a huge weight lifted!

Knottie1442268460

That's cool.
Wish I could breastfeed. This formula is killing me. After adoption I can try to "re"-lactate. Hopefully this one will be adopted sooner than sibling since they're so close. Gets separate case though.

mindaa

@Baby'smom, seriously, sounds like the formula adjustment has been rough. An hour of crying, yikes!  It is so heartbreaking not to be able to find a quick fix when that happens.  Does your Ped have any recommendations? 

Funny, I often find myself thinking life would be easier if we could just do formula (We did supplement for a bit and LO got blood in his stools, so we've been doing our best to avoid it)

mindaa

@jerseygirl227

Thinking of you as you return to work this week - know you are going to rock it, and Chloe is going to have a fun time with dad  

Knottie1442268460

They suggested trying alimentum. It seems to be better but not 100%. I'll try it for at least two weeks. WIC may be able to pay for some of it.

mindaa

Baby'smom said:

They suggested trying alimentum. It seems to be better but not 100%. I'll try it for at least two weeks. WIC may be able to pay for some of it.

Yes, hopefully you'll get some payment, that stuff is expensive! It's what we keep on hand for emergencies, can't imagine using it 100% 

BTW,  Have you ever read anything by Cathy Glass? She is a British author who writes about her years of foster and adoption experience (in the UK). I thought they were good reads. Love that you are here representing adoptive families!

 

Knottie1442268460

No. I'll look her up