Does anyone have any great recipes for cake/brownies/cookies in a jar? I was thinking it might be a neat, more personal "prize" for baby shower games.
I've googled a bunch, but I'm hoping for personal experiences. And I can't figure out if cookies, cake or brownies would be better. Or if it's just a terrible idea in general.
No peanuts please...as I would die around that lol.
It's 9:30am and I'm eating Ruffles chips because it's the only thing that sounds good and the only thing I kept down yesterday. Because of this, my 2 year old is also sampling them. Mom of the Year over here.
@Twinkiedoll oof, childcare costs are no joke, and yours seem crazy high! I know a formal daycare in my area costs around $1350 for infant care. My H and I spent several hours in the car yesterday and went through our options... I think our best choice (that is somewhat affordable) is a combination of a nanny 20hrs/week, me being off one weekday and working a half day on Saturdays, and help from both of our moms on my other work days... DS will go to preschool 3 half days/week. With the free help from our moms we will still be paying about $1300/month but that’s still far better than two in full-time daycare. I just keep thinking how lucky we are to have some free help plus decent jobs and it’s still so stressful to find affordable options. I don’t know how others, without our same support, make it work.
We pay $215 per week for daycare. Its crazy, the newborn area will be $230 per week. That's if prices don't go up, which they usually do any time now.
Do we have a thread on daycare discussion/questions to be asking - or is it too late for that. I cant remember when people usually start getting their spots. should be asap.
Me 32 H 33 TTC#1 January 2016 BFP 5/16/2016 DD Born 1/27/17
Just wanted to say "hi." I had a stressful beginning of the week and have been playing catch up ever since. My daughter was having problems with coughing fits worsening since she had the flu so we are now on nebs and she's doing a lot better. They are thinking allergies exacerbating already inflamed airways from so many illnesses in the last month, not necessarily asthma, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that she didn't inherit my asthma.
@Twinkiedoll - I feel you. We had previously been in corporate daycare (as in, provided by DH's employer) but it's too far now that I've moved job and DD1 will be in K, so we had to go through this process. We ended up getting the daycare we wanted, but it is super expensive (since corporate is subsidized). I had a bit of a panic attack a few weeks ago when I started to realize our monthly childcare costs with 3 kids.
@moon1417 - In some thread somewhere (maybe a group check in??) there was a list of questions to ask. If I can find it, I'll tag you. I'm always up for additional daycare discussions, however, since we've had such positive experiences.
@Peachy0709 that would be great! I just tried to search for it, but didn't find it. Does anyone else have trouble using the board search button? it says that it's only going to look in this BMB but it brings up everything under the sun every time I've tried to use it.
Me 32 H 33 TTC#1 January 2016 BFP 5/16/2016 DD Born 1/27/17
@moon1417 - I've also had issues trying to use the search button (i.e. I tell it this board, but it brings up all this rando stuff).
I'm thankful childcare in our area is super reasonable - though once you get to 2 or 3 kids it does seem insanely high - BUT I'll be damned if NO ONE does infant care. I called the day I hit the 2nd Trimester and it seems these heifers called as soon as they got a +. I'm pretty pissed, but we'll see. Maybe one will go extra late and I can snag her spot. Serves her right for taking up a spot before she should have. Seriously, though, places around here have waitlists of 2+ years. I don't even know what I'm doing 6 months from now, let alone 2 years. It's just crap. Rant over.
Gross random: apparently 20 weeks is when preggo swamp ass starts. And it's not even "warm" yet. It's gonna be a loooooooooong spring/summer.
**History in Spoiler**
Me-35, DH-36 - TTC since 08/10 Me - anovulatory, non-Insulin PCOS, DH - low end of "normal" sperm count IUI#1 - 02/15 - Cancelled due to scrubbed sperm count <1MM IVF#1 - 08/15 - 13x5-day blastocysts (ranging from AA-BB, most are 5 or 6), not PGS, on ice FET#1 - 10/15 - 1 emb - BFP (DD 07/16) (estrace + PIO sesame oil + prometrium) FET#2 - 07/17 - 1 emb - BFN (estrace + PIO sesame oil + prometrium) FET#3 - 08/17 - 1 emb - BFN (estrace + PIO sesame oil + prometrium) FET#4 - 10/17 - 2 emb - BFN (changed to estrace + prometrium because of allergic reaction to PIO sesame oil) ERA Testing - 12/17 - window moved (-1 day) FET#5 - 03/18 - 2 emb - BFN (estrace + prometrium, ERA-timing used) Karyotype Testing - 04/18 - Negative (we're ok) FET#6 - 06/18 - 2 emb - BFN (estrace + prometrium, ERA-timing used) FET#7 - 10/18 - 2 emb - BFN (estrace + prometrium, ERA-timing used) FET#8 - 11/18 - 2 emb - BFP; looks like one baby is going to make it, DD is due 8/16 (though likely to be 8/9)
But I think starting a dedicated day care thread is a great idea. Even if people have already found, it would be nice to hear other peoples stories. Thankfully we're all set this time (knock on wood) but with DS#1 we ended up finding a childcare solution a week before I was scheduled to go back, and then she resigned 6 months later. It was super stressful.
@MamaK225 it seems we have a 3 tiered waiting list for our daycare. These are not officially what they are, but we've had this experience with both of the other kids so far and it seems like its the process, even if it isnt the "real" process.
Tier 1 is - get your name on the list as soon as you piss hot. This gets you on a preliminary list.
Tier 2 is - once you are within 3 months of needing care, you get put on a "awaiting care" list.
Tier 3 is - once the baby is born, you have to register the kid officially and you get put the official "waiting list".
Of course, being a military daycare, there are different priorities. Active duty of course the highest priority and can bump ANYONE down a notch. We are the second to last priority. With DD1 we lucked out and got a slot about 2 weeks before we could go (needed shots but was too young), but of course you have to pay to hold. With DD2, we got bumped 6 times, even though we moved up a priority due to having a sibling there already. We had to find alternate care for 6 months. And for all 6 months of that, we didnt know when or even IF we would get a slot. It's madness.
We didnt even bother with getting on the list yet for this kid. Nothing truly "counts" until the kid is born as far as rank (which we found out with DD2), so why bother. I'm sure Ill start stressing about it around when the kid is born though!
@peachy0709 when I lived in DC, my oldest when to a NAEYC certified school and it was $575 A WEEK. So $2,491 a month. We live in Ohio now and for three kids, an infant, a toddler, and a kid in school full time, daycare would cost us $790 a week. We pay our nanny plus the tax liability and it's about the same amount. I am so tired of it.
@lilmamabebe3 - I can't imagine DC anymore. DH and I met there and lived there for a few years before we got married and it was getting pricey at that time - 10 years later, I've got to imagine it's just crazy.
I particularly think I'm fascinated because we live in the South and I think people assume childcare must be relatively less expensive, but because we're in a major metro area, it's on par with what I see for other similarly situated cities.
@peachy0709 I find it interesting too! We are in Ohio and pay $210/week for full-time toddler care. Our facility does not have an infant room so it’s not an option for next year. We use an independent daycare that has been in our community forever. It certainly isn’t fancy but it is well loved with quality teachers who have been there for years. I know some of the more “premier” daycares run well over $1000/month, especially for infants.
@moon1417 I love the idea of a thread devoted to this— wondering if it can be a general childcare questions/discussion thread rather than just daycare. We are seriously considering hiring a nanny and I’d love more insight from fellow group members about that process!
@sourlemon - I feel those three tiers are the 3 types of moms. LOL. But yeah, that's what's going on around here. I don't wish anything on anyone, but I wish I could live with the freedom of care about thinking a positive stick at 29 days will translate to a healthy birth. At our place, there's an external waitlist and an internal one. Siblings get higher priority, so since we already have one in there, we should be getting priority. From what DH told me (I handed off the task to him because I was so heated about it), there are two others due "within days" of me. So I'm kind of in limbo because ... does it change if I deliver a week or two before they do and I'm available to start earlier? Or is it truly first come, first serve? It's just frustrating. We've also considered moving to the town we work in (20 mi from where we live), but there is literally NO childcare for kids under 6 months. Which I just can't fathom.
@peachy0709 - We're live in a large town (surrounded by very rural areas) in SC and it's pretty reasonable here: about $135/wk for infants if you provide everything, $165/wk for places that provide formula & diapers/wipes. Changes to $125/wk for Toddlers-4 y.o. Not sure what it is for before- or after-school care. They allow kids up to 4th grade (school-aged kids are in a separate building) to attend. My SIL is in the suburbs of Denver and her son (from infancy to now-4) went to an in-home place and it was still $400/wk.
**History in Spoiler**
Me-35, DH-36 - TTC since 08/10 Me - anovulatory, non-Insulin PCOS, DH - low end of "normal" sperm count IUI#1 - 02/15 - Cancelled due to scrubbed sperm count <1MM IVF#1 - 08/15 - 13x5-day blastocysts (ranging from AA-BB, most are 5 or 6), not PGS, on ice FET#1 - 10/15 - 1 emb - BFP (DD 07/16) (estrace + PIO sesame oil + prometrium) FET#2 - 07/17 - 1 emb - BFN (estrace + PIO sesame oil + prometrium) FET#3 - 08/17 - 1 emb - BFN (estrace + PIO sesame oil + prometrium) FET#4 - 10/17 - 2 emb - BFN (changed to estrace + prometrium because of allergic reaction to PIO sesame oil) ERA Testing - 12/17 - window moved (-1 day) FET#5 - 03/18 - 2 emb - BFN (estrace + prometrium, ERA-timing used) Karyotype Testing - 04/18 - Negative (we're ok) FET#6 - 06/18 - 2 emb - BFN (estrace + prometrium, ERA-timing used) FET#7 - 10/18 - 2 emb - BFN (estrace + prometrium, ERA-timing used) FET#8 - 11/18 - 2 emb - BFP; looks like one baby is going to make it, DD is due 8/16 (though likely to be 8/9)
@peachy0709 We live in Hawaii. We were lucky enough to find an in-home daycare person close to our house. She charges $800 a month, which is the "market" price for that sort of setup and is the cheapest daycare option there is. In August, our toddler will be 2 years old, and we FINALLY got off the waitlist for this subsidized preschool in town so that will only be $930 a month. Generally, preschools for toddlers cost 1400-1700 a month. There are some "elite" ones that cost more.
The problem is that there are no good in-home daycares in downtown where I work/where DD's preschool will be. So it's either do drop off and pick up in two very different locations. Or find a daycare in town and pay $1600-2K a month (which means our childcare would be $3K a month for two kids). The in-home daycares don't really do a waitlist. They just say, "call a month before you need care and I'll tell you if I have space," so it's not something we can count on having once November rolls around.
My exams are over, which is so great. I have 3 papers to write by Sunday so I’ll have to be productive.
I am going to a brunch meet up with some other expat moms on Sunday and I’m excited to hopefully meet some people that I can be friends with and relate to.
People think we become mothers when we give birth but the truth is we become mothers the moment we start calling our babies to us in our thoughts, dreams and prayers. Some paths are short and some are so long that you can easily forget where you were headed.
How I feel all of the time. My 7 Year Journey ***Tw in spoiler***
IVF IVF #1 - September 2018; Follistim, Menopur, Cetrotide & Lupron/HCG combo trigger; PGS; ICSI Back on Levothyroxine FET #1 - October 2018; cancelled, all PGS aneuploid FET #1 - November 30th, transferred anyway Wondfo BFP 5dp5dt, CB Digi 6dpt, 1st Beta on 7dpt 93 2nd Beta on 10dpt 510!
TTC #1 since 2011. Tried for 5 years before we knew there was a one year rule. Diag w/MS 2016; w/PCOS & IF 2017 New RE 2018; PCOS diagnosis taken away, IF due to ovary adhesions, but prev. RE insists PCOS IF
IUI IUI #1 July 2017 w/100mg Clo+trigger; BFN; benched w/big cysts IUI #2 October 2017 w/50mg Clo+trigger; BFN; benched w/big cysts IUI #3 February 2018 w/5mg Femara+trigger; low P BFP February; mc March; Subclinical hypothyroid started Levothyroxine IUI #4 March 2018 w/7.5mg Femara+trigger; BFN Medicated cycle & TI April 2018 w/7.5mg Femara+trigger; BFN Tried several cycles on our own; all BFN
So, I wanted to let everyone know what happened last week as it was pretty scary. Last Thursday morning I was woken up early by the worst headache I’ve ever had in my life. It was only on the left side of my head and it was excruciating. I tried taking Tylenol, drinking water, and going back to sleep, but the pain was too severe. So I decided I would just get up for the day and was trying to read some things on my phone and I couldn’t. I could read the words, but I couldn’t understand anything that I was reading. I picked up a piece of paper and tried to read that and I couldn’t. At this point, I was getting a little nervous. My 2.5 year old woke up and came in my room and he was asking for his favorite stuffed animal, a stuffed otter that he sleeps with every night. I couldn’t understand what he was asking for. I didn’t know what an otter was. I assumed it was a migraine variant and I tried googling “migraine symptoms” on the internet, like you do, and instead, my brain typed in “my grain symptoms” (not autocorrect). And the worst part about it was that I knew I was confused and I was scared.
DH came home from work (he leaves the house at 5) and brought me to the Hospital. Soon thereafter, the neurological symptoms went away, but the pain stayed. Due to the pregnancy, the hospital made the decision to skip the CAT scan and give me an MRI instead.
The MRI showed some abnormalities in the meninges that looked like it could be meningitis. I was transferred by ambulance to a bigger hospital in Boston and spent a few nights there. They were able to get the pain under control with magnesium, reglan, morphine, and eventually fioricet to keep it at bay. Over the course of my time in the hospital I received two MRIs, an MRA, an EEG, an EKG, a lumbar puncture, and a lot of blood work. They were able to rule out a stroke, a headbleed, and meningitis. By default, they have diagnosed the episode as an Atypical Migraine with some stroke mimic symptoms.
I came home and have been doing pretty well, although I’m still having some lingering headaches that they have deemed a spinal headache from the lumbar puncture. Just wanted to let you all know why I’ve been MIA. Also, I’m done with strange complications from the pregnancy and I’m counting down the days to August!!
@cmessamore Oh my! That sounds so scary!!! I’m glad you are doing better, although it sounds like still on the mend. I hope you have some help with your older kids so you can take some tome to rest!!!
@cmessamore oh my gosh that sounds horrendous! So scary! I'm so sorry you went through that! I'm glad it wasn't a stroke or menengitis! Migraines are AWFUL! I hope you will be pain and symptom free soon! Good through coming your way!
@cmessamore huge hugs. That’s terrifying! So glad it has subsided, and wasn’t anything more urgent. You deserve a peaceful and uneventful remainder of your pregnancy!!
Thank you all for your kind words and support!! I’m feeling pretty good today, but I’m definitely taking it easy these days! I’ve had lots of bubble baths and naps lately!!
@cmessamore I’m just getting caught up on the boards for the last few days - gosh im so sorry! That I should beyond scary. I’m glad you are home, resting, and feeling better!
Re: Weekly Randoms 3/25
Does anyone have any great recipes for cake/brownies/cookies in a jar? I was thinking it might be a neat, more personal "prize" for baby shower games.
I've googled a bunch, but I'm hoping for personal experiences. And I can't figure out if cookies, cake or brownies would be better. Or if it's just a terrible idea in general.
No peanuts please...as I would die around that lol.
Do we have a thread on daycare discussion/questions to be asking - or is it too late for that. I cant remember when people usually start getting their spots. should be asap.
Me 32
H 33
TTC#1 January 2016 BFP 5/16/2016 DD Born 1/27/17
TFAS: BFP 11/26/2018 Estimated due date: 8/2/2019
@Twinkiedoll That is insanely expensive!
@thirdtimesacharm2019 I'm glad it sounds like there's no issue with it affecting baby!
@moon1417 - In some thread somewhere (maybe a group check in??) there was a list of questions to ask. If I can find it, I'll tag you. I'm always up for additional daycare discussions, however, since we've had such positive experiences.
Me 32
H 33
TTC#1 January 2016 BFP 5/16/2016 DD Born 1/27/17
TFAS: BFP 11/26/2018 Estimated due date: 8/2/2019
I'm thankful childcare in our area is super reasonable - though once you get to 2 or 3 kids it does seem insanely high - BUT I'll be damned if NO ONE does infant care. I called the day I hit the 2nd Trimester and it seems these heifers called as soon as they got a +. I'm pretty pissed, but we'll see. Maybe one will go extra late and I can snag her spot. Serves her right for taking up a spot before she should have. Seriously, though, places around here have waitlists of 2+ years. I don't even know what I'm doing 6 months from now, let alone 2 years. It's just crap. Rant over.
Gross random: apparently 20 weeks is when preggo swamp ass starts. And it's not even "warm" yet. It's gonna be a loooooooooong spring/summer.
Me - anovulatory, non-Insulin PCOS, DH - low end of "normal" sperm count
IUI#1 - 02/15 - Cancelled due to scrubbed sperm count <1MM
IVF#1 - 08/15 - 13x5-day blastocysts (ranging from AA-BB, most are 5 or 6), not PGS, on ice
FET#1 - 10/15 - 1 emb - BFP (DD 07/16) (estrace + PIO sesame oil + prometrium)
FET#2 - 07/17 - 1 emb - BFN (estrace + PIO sesame oil + prometrium)
FET#3 - 08/17 - 1 emb - BFN (estrace + PIO sesame oil + prometrium)
FET#4 - 10/17 - 2 emb - BFN (changed to estrace + prometrium because of allergic reaction to PIO sesame oil)
ERA Testing - 12/17 - window moved (-1 day)
FET#5 - 03/18 - 2 emb - BFN (estrace + prometrium, ERA-timing used)
Karyotype Testing - 04/18 - Negative (we're ok)
FET#6 - 06/18 - 2 emb - BFN (estrace + prometrium, ERA-timing used)
FET#7 - 10/18 - 2 emb - BFN (estrace + prometrium, ERA-timing used)
FET#8 - 11/18 - 2 emb - BFP; looks like one baby is going to make it, DD is due 8/16 (though likely to be 8/9)
But I think starting a dedicated day care thread is a great idea. Even if people have already found, it would be nice to hear other peoples stories. Thankfully we're all set this time (knock on wood) but with DS#1 we ended up finding a childcare solution a week before I was scheduled to go back, and then she resigned 6 months later. It was super stressful.
I particularly think I'm fascinated because we live in the South and I think people assume childcare must be relatively less expensive, but because we're in a major metro area, it's on par with what I see for other similarly situated cities.
@moon1417 I love the idea of a thread devoted to this— wondering if it can be a general childcare questions/discussion thread rather than just daycare. We are seriously considering hiring a nanny and I’d love more insight from fellow group members about that process!
Me 32
H 33
TTC#1 January 2016 BFP 5/16/2016 DD Born 1/27/17
TFAS: BFP 11/26/2018 Estimated due date: 8/2/2019
@peachy0709 - We're live in a large town (surrounded by very rural areas) in SC and it's pretty reasonable here: about $135/wk for infants if you provide everything, $165/wk for places that provide formula & diapers/wipes. Changes to $125/wk for Toddlers-4 y.o. Not sure what it is for before- or after-school care. They allow kids up to 4th grade (school-aged kids are in a separate building) to attend. My SIL is in the suburbs of Denver and her son (from infancy to now-4) went to an in-home place and it was still $400/wk.
Me - anovulatory, non-Insulin PCOS, DH - low end of "normal" sperm count
IUI#1 - 02/15 - Cancelled due to scrubbed sperm count <1MM
IVF#1 - 08/15 - 13x5-day blastocysts (ranging from AA-BB, most are 5 or 6), not PGS, on ice
FET#1 - 10/15 - 1 emb - BFP (DD 07/16) (estrace + PIO sesame oil + prometrium)
FET#2 - 07/17 - 1 emb - BFN (estrace + PIO sesame oil + prometrium)
FET#3 - 08/17 - 1 emb - BFN (estrace + PIO sesame oil + prometrium)
FET#4 - 10/17 - 2 emb - BFN (changed to estrace + prometrium because of allergic reaction to PIO sesame oil)
ERA Testing - 12/17 - window moved (-1 day)
FET#5 - 03/18 - 2 emb - BFN (estrace + prometrium, ERA-timing used)
Karyotype Testing - 04/18 - Negative (we're ok)
FET#6 - 06/18 - 2 emb - BFN (estrace + prometrium, ERA-timing used)
FET#7 - 10/18 - 2 emb - BFN (estrace + prometrium, ERA-timing used)
FET#8 - 11/18 - 2 emb - BFP; looks like one baby is going to make it, DD is due 8/16 (though likely to be 8/9)
I am going to a brunch meet up with some other expat moms on Sunday and I’m excited to hopefully meet some people that I can be friends with and relate to.
*Live, Love, Laugh, Learn*
https://www.delish.com/food-news/news/a58598/jaws-open-water-viewing-this-summer/?utm_campaign=socialflowFBDEL&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social-media&fbclid=IwAR2kB2H4Gz379CiCpgYMqa7QQnRrM0gZm5q4rbXvMETVyfghotIq2c_OtwE
My 7 Year Journey ***Tw in spoiler***
IVF #1 - September 2018; Follistim, Menopur, Cetrotide & Lupron/HCG combo trigger; PGS; ICSI
Back on Levothyroxine
FET #1 - October 2018; cancelled, all PGS aneuploid
FET #1 - November 30th, transferred anyway
Wondfo BFP 5dp5dt, CB Digi 6dpt,
1st Beta on 7dpt 93
2nd Beta on 10dpt 510!
TTC #1 since 2011. Tried for 5 years before we knew there was a one year rule.
Diag w/MS 2016; w/PCOS & IF 2017
New RE 2018; PCOS diagnosis taken away, IF due to ovary adhesions, but prev. RE insists PCOS IF
IUI
IUI #1 July 2017 w/100mg Clo+trigger; BFN; benched w/big cysts
IUI #2 October 2017 w/50mg Clo+trigger; BFN; benched w/big cysts
IUI #3 February 2018 w/5mg Femara+trigger; low P
BFP February; mc March; Subclinical hypothyroid started Levothyroxine
IUI #4 March 2018 w/7.5mg Femara+trigger; BFN
Medicated cycle & TI April 2018 w/7.5mg Femara+trigger; BFN
Tried several cycles on our own; all BFN
*Live, Love, Laugh, Learn*
*Live, Love, Laugh, Learn*
Good through coming your way!