LGBT Parenting

Parenting Check-In (August 4th)

JazibelJazibel member
edited August 2014 in LGBT Parenting
Good Morning,

Congrats to our new parents @Flygirl1228 & @KLeigh1!! :-)

How was everyone's weekend?

Any new developments, challenges or accomplishments?

QOTD: How has being a parent changed you and your partner?



Parenting Check-In Roster:
(If you'd like to be added let me know :-)

@KH826 – Will born 6/4/14

 

@ATXmommas – Sebastian (“Ash”) born 11/21/13, other Momma is Z

 

@Wallace323 – J and L born 8/8/13, surviving triplets born at 31 weeks

 

@Trisholio – Proud foster parents to M born 2/6/12 and K born 8/22/13; and pregnant expecting a third daughter in September 2014.

 

@JGY – Gabe born 3/24/13, other Mama is S.

 

@Stringy813 – M born May 2013

 

@Filmfanatic82 – Charley born 3/15/14

 

@Mamosry – R born 2/25/14

 

@2brides – G & C born 5/18/06, other Mom is L

 

@Jrtmom – Henry born 8/15/13, other mama is L

 

@Sarahtrpt – C born February 2014

 

@CageyMack – W born 3/16/13

 

@Themommymonster – C (DS) born 2/18/09

 

@Clairmeij – Alarico born 6/28/13, other mama is V

 

@Mystjava – Little Bear (LB) born 3/31/10, other Mummum is Shawn

 

@winstan1 – J (DS) born 9/10 (currently 3.5 years old)

 

@newmompeanut – N (DD) born 2/12/13, other Momma is B

 

@herbabymam – C (DD) born 12/10/13, other Mama is K

 

@AmandaG47 – Twin girls born 2/22/14, other Mommy is J

 

@mwagner25 – Oliver born 11/27/13, other parent is L

 

@jazibel – Kaden born 7/13/12 and Owen born 5/2/14, other parent (Aya) is EV

 

@redrockmama – M born 6/19/14, other Mama is J

 

@ball.and.chain – B born 6/28/14


Re: Parenting Check-In (August 4th)

  • Welcome @Flygirl1228‌ and @KLeigh1‌

    We're still having work done on the new house. But as of tomorrow everything should be complete. Which is good because I've taken R's crib apart 3 times in 2 weeks to move it out of the way.

    R has started crying in his sleep. We think it may be night terrors because he's still asleep when it happens and when I wake him it stops. It's very strange and sad. Anyone have experience with this? Will it pass?

    The big challenge for this week is @Mamosey‌ is off to a board meeting Tues-Sat. This is my first time being alone with R at night. I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm nervous/scared. I know it's going to be equally hard on her being away from him too. I may inadvertently be doing some CIO at night if I can't get any sleep. I hope he goes easy on me and at least sleeps for like I don't know at least 3 hours straight. Lol. That'd be a good night in our house!
    Have a great week!!
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  • Baby W is doing so well right now, aside from a smattering of face bruises due to his enthusiasm for life.  He really is working at talking a ton and now says (albeit in slurring, baby-essque): cracker, doggie, car, choo-choo, helicopter (which sounds like car, but is sooooo not), sissy (for sweet, beloved older sister), water, eat, and some other things I can't recall now.  

    He has also said "mimi" for Mommy, I think, who is C.  He doesn't ever ask for me, which I'm fine with.  :)

    Just the last two nights, W has woken at around 4 and been both very awake and very insistent that he is unhappy and awake.  Usually if he should happen to cry out it would last for a minute or three.  This was 45 minutes of on and off crying, not hard, but upset.  He asked for water when I went in, so I gave him a sippy of milk, which he loved.  I feel anxious about how slim he is.  He is just so incredibly busy that he burns every calorie.  Anyway, he was quiet while he drank that, then I heard him fuss and whine for a few minutes and now he is still sleeping at 6:10, so that is wonderful.  

    QOTW: I came into the relationship with our daughter, so I can't say how parenting as a whole changed us.  It is incredibly hard to have a step-parent/kid relationship, I know that.  Even when the parent is great, the kid is great, the world is made of unicorns and gumdrops, it is still incredibly hard.  I actually want to post a question for the board as a whole and get some feedback.  But back to the question here, in its entirety, we love being parents.  And I think our kids love us, too.  

    CageyMack
    37, married to my favorite person in the world, DW! One darling surfer-girl (12) and one darling, sweet boy born 3/16/13.

    5/2013 Started TTC #3, DW's turn: 5/2013: Diagnostics (shg) and surgery (polyp rem.) for best chances. July-Oct: IUI # 1-4, medicated, monitored, triggered.  All BFN. IVF in Jan May. Sheesh. Whoop! IVF#1 cycle started 4/2/14. 5/1: 19 eggs retrieved, 8 matured, ICSI'd.  4 fertilized.   Only 2 to transfer/freeze stage. 5/6: Two embryos transferred. 5/15: Beta #1 9dp5dt is 134! BFP! 5/19: Beta #2 13dp5dt is 672! B'erFP! 5/21: Beta #3 15dp5dt is 1853.  Yay!


    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker



    "Things separate from their stories have no meaning. They are only shapes. Of a certain size and color. A certain weight. When their meaning has become lost to us they no longer have even a name. The story on the other hand can never be lost from its place in the world for it is that place.” ― Cormac McCarthy, The Crossing

  • We had a great weekend with Omi & Grandpa.  Kaden loves them and asks for them all the time which is super cute.  My mom brought a bunch of clothes for the boys and a big kiddie pool for the yard, which has made playing outside a little complicated but Kaden has fun.  We went to a BBQ this weekend for a friend/co-worker of Elizabeth's. K & O were the only kids and got lots of attention :-)

    We've had some big developments recently.  Kaden has been in a crib since he was 5 months old.  Well since Saturday he is now officially climbing out.  I lowered the banister so he can get out without hurting himself, but this has also drastically changed how we do naps and bedtime.  Any recommendations on a bedtime protocol for toddlers?  He does go to sleep eventually, but only after getting out of bed to read books, dress himself from clothes in his closet, play, etc.  I think we put him back down 5 times last night. 
    On the positive side of things we're working on counting, and the ABC's.

    Owen is grasping things more and putting them in his mouth. He's more "communicative" with his smiles and coo's and just plain adorable.  To us he's just the cutest baby ever.  His sleep is pretty consistent, though he has longer and longer periods of wakefulness. Occasionally (like yesterday evening) he'll be fussy and have a hard time getting to sleep.


    QOTD:  For me being an "older mom" has been great. I feel very settled in my life, happy to enjoy the "little" things and a lot less stressed about what is going on in the world, what people think or me, etc.  Being a parent has been humbling and it has shown me my true strengths.  I have been given a capacity for love that I never knew was even possible. I've really learned to let go of control and expectations more and "live in the moment".  I'm also way more preoccupied with "mundane" things, like nap time, and how the best diapers for overnight use.  EV is much more patient and flexible and probably less spontaneous.


  • JGYJGY member

    Congrats and welcome, @Flygirl1228 & @KLeigh1!!

    We had a great weekend.  My Sister was visiting (still here, actually, she leaves this evening), and G just adores her!  On Friday evening we went out for dinner, Sushi (yay!) and it was awesome.  The server could not believe how much Gabe ate (not sushi, yet, we ordered him a few appetizers), and when we left we had to walk past the kitchen and 2 of the cooks asked "Is this the little man who eats so much?"  It was hilarious.

    On Saturday we biked to a nearby lake and went wading/swimming.  That night we made an awesome dinner.  Then on Sunday we walked over to a local art fair and crusied around that for a while.  Another pretty awesome dinner last night.

    The only bummer about the weekend was that on Saturday, S came to join us over at the lake and she brought our dog.  I've mentioned before that he is difficult, borders on aggressive, and we've been working with him.  He was SO well behaved at the lake and was being very sweet.  Until he wasn't.  He lunged at some poor teenager and made some contact.  He didn't bite him, but I think he would have given the opportunity.  So we're back to square one.  Before you think us terribly irrisponsible pet owners, please know ... there was almost no one else at the lake, S texted me to ask before bringing him over.  Also, he was on leash the WHOLE time (with a grip about a foot from his head).  We actively kept him away from other people and were very attentive.  But this kid came up behind us and none of us saw him.  And when an 86lb dog lunges out of the blue, well ... he's going to pull even the strongest person a couple of feet.

    So anyway, we were both pretty depressed about that.  The kid was totally cool and so was his Mom (coincidentally I knew one of the women in the group, and I went over to speak to them and make sure they knew what happened).  But we were so hoping that we had made some real progress with him and the fact is that while he's better in some respects, he's just not predictable enough to have him out and about.  It breaks my heart.

    QOTW: I used to LOVE having things to do on the calendar.  I'd really be so disappointed if I went an entire work week without some sort of plans in the evening.  Now all I want to do is spend time at home with the family.  Or on family outings.  I seriously just love hanging out with S and G and the boys (dog and cat).  Also, I work a lot harder at house stuff now.  There is always something to do and I make much better use of my time these days in trying to get it done.  That's a pretty lame answer to the QOTW, but it's what I've got right now.  If I think of something more interesting or a deeper thought, I'll log back in and add it then.  ;)

     

    Married to my amazing wife 6/12/10 
    TTC since 6/11
    Unmedicated IUI #1 - 6/28/11 - BFN
    Unmedicated IUI #2 - 7/25/11 - BFN
    Robotic Myomectomy (Fibroid Surgery) - 11/15/11
    Unmedicated IUI #3 - 4/24/12 - BFN 
    Progesterone Supported Leuteal Phase IUI #4 - 6/21/12 - BFP!!
    Baby Boy G Born 3/24/13

    On to #2, are we crazy?
    IUI #1 - 11/28/14 - BFP!  Beta #1 (11DPO) 34, Beta #2 (13DPO) 101, Beta #3 (20DPO) 3043
    Ultrasound at 6w4d shows a single, fluttering heartbeat.  Say hello to Sticky Ricki!

     

    image

  • Welcome to @Flygirl1228‌ and @KLeigh1‌ 

    Will is 2 months old today! He is awesome and growing like a weed. Or, what grows faster than a weed? He is growing like whatever that is… I refer to him as my giant baby. He is really big! I am a little nervous to see what the pedi says on Friday at his 2 month check-up. He is totally proportionate, and while chunky isn’t overly so… he is super tall/long. Honestly, I think he just looks like a 4 month old HAHA. My wife took him on his first play date (if we can really call it that at this age) last week. Her friend from grad school had a little girl the week after we had Will. She is 6 days younger than him. We have a picture of them lying next to each other on a blanket. He is LITERALLY twice her size. Woops!

    He is still sleeping about 7ish hours straight through every night. I keep waiting for the night when he doesn’t do that anymore… but so far we have been super lucky.

    We took him out for his first real restaurant experience on Friday night, and he did super well. Didn’t cry at all. I was very nervous. He was busy looking around and checking everything and everyone out. He seemed mesmerized by all the people and activity.

    We have been doing tummy time a lot, which he seems to enjoy most of the time.

    This weekend he also started grabbing toys and putting them in his mouth. He did it once on Saturday, several times yesterday, and according to my wife’s text messages today, all day today. His favorite thing to put in his mouth seems to be his stuffed giraffe!

    Oh, and have I mentioned that I survived my first week back at work? Because I did! It has not been as difficult a transition as I thought… I think it is a thousand times easier because my wife is at home with him.

    QOTW: Well, I feel like it is too soon to tell how parenting has changed us. I know that it is changing us, but I feel like we are still learning and transitioning to the “new us” if that makes any sense. I feel really lucky to have such a good baby, and our little family dynamic is just awesome. I am continually surprised by how well everything has gone for us… we certainly had some speed bumps early on, but honestly, overall this parenting thing is pretty awesome! J  

    Me - 30, My wife - 31 , Together for 10 yrs - Married August 2012

    5 medicated IUIs w/ RE (March - July 2013) = BFN

    Fresh IVF Cycle in September 2013 resulted in 18 mature eggs, 16 fertilized, 12 made it to day 5. Transfer of 2 Grade A blastocysts on 9/15/13, and 10 embryos in the freezer!      *****BFP on 9/25/13 - betas: @10dp5dt = 232; @12dp5dt = 465; @15dp5dt = 1,581   *********William George born June 4, 2014*********
  • Let's see if I can sneak this in while B is napping.

    So I posted a separate thread about tongue ties, but we met with a LC this morning and it was very helpful/insightful.  I definitely recommend setting up a home visit with an LC if you ever have bfing issues!  She spent over 2 hours with us, weighed him before and after nursing, and covered a lot of issues.  My insurance should reimburse for it, but honestly I think it would be worth the $225 fee even if they didn't.

    Anyway -- I have blanched nipples, possibly vasospasm, which could be caused by a tongue tie or clampdown bite reflex, among other things.  Somehow having a name for it makes me feel more validated about how painful it is...like I am not just being a bfing wimp or something.  Basically he is mashing my nipples when he nurses, which is cutting off blood flow.  I have to do some more research on the tongue tie, figure out how I feel about a frenectomy and talk to my wife about it, but it's good to at least know that is something we can do.  I may go to have an ENT or dentist evaluate the tongue tie (he may also have a lip tie, and he has a high palate although we can't do anything about that one) and then see what they say before actually pulling the trigger.  I think my wife also wants to run it by our pedi, which makes sense.  The LC also gave me some good tips on position, length of feeds, switching sides, and gave me some advice for building my supply.  Based on his weigh-in, I am producing almost enough; she said that just getting another half ounce per feeding would probably be perfect and should be doable by stimulation and galactagogues.  However if we don't fix the latch issue, the pain isn't going to subside and I am still going to hate bfing.  I am not willing to just be in pain all the time for the next 47 weeks (I was planning on bfing for a year), so we either have to go for the frenectomy or I have to choose to supplement formula or exclusivly pump, which sounds like an effing full time job.

    The other issue I'm having is that B seems to be fuller and thus sleepier when we formula feed him.  Since he's still not a great sleeper, it is really tempting to just formula feed him, at least at night, so we can get more sleep.  However the more I formula feed him, the more my supply will take a hit, so...it's a slippery slope.  He'll fall asleep after bfing at night but when we put him in the bassinet, the change of location/warmth/position wakes him up.  After a formula feeding he goes into what we call a milk coma and tends not to wake when put down.  OTOH, he also eats more formula than he needs and tends to spit up more and occasionally eat way too much and barf the whole feeding up.  That doesn't really happen with bfing.

    Good thing he is ADORABLE because our nights are not great!  OK sometimes days aren't either.  He's in a cluster feeding phase so yesterday I could not put him down all day -- it was just a constant cycle of feed-burp-change-soothe, REPEAT, all day.  I'm confident it will get better with time, but we're not there yet.  S and I are getting better at figuring out life in general with a newborn, though, so that's good.

    QOTW: Hard to say for sure at this point, but I will say as others have that we are better at doing things when we have the opportunity -- everything from showering to dishes to errands -- rather than procrastinating as we might have.  We know every window of time to accomplish something is small and I think in a way it almost makes us more productive.  I also think that, at least for now, we are very patient with each other because we know we're both working really hard to take care of everything and everyone.

    B is awake!  Time's up!
    Married my wife 8/2007 ~ TTC #1 since 7/2011
    9 IUIs = 9 BFNs
    IVF October 2012: 22 eggs retrieved, 17 fertilized, 5 frozen
    ET #1: 1 blast = BFP; Blighted ovum discovered at 7w5d; D&E
    FET #1: 1 blast = BFP; Missed m/c discovered at 9w5d; D&E
    Karyotyping: normal ~ RPL Testing: normal ~ Hysteroscopy: normal
    FET #2: 1 blast transferred 10/25; BFP 10/31!
    EDD 7/13/14 ~ Induced at 37w4d due to pre-eclampsia ~ Born on 6/28/14
    *Everyone welcome*

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • Congrats @Flygirl1228‌ and @KLeigh1‌!

    This past weekend we trekked 5 hrs south to MD for my little sister's engagement party. Charley was such a trooper in the car, but getting her to nap in the hotel was a whole other ordeal.  She was just too interested in the new surroundings that she barely napped for more than 20 mins the entire weekend.  So naturally she was more than a bit grumpy for the festivities.  

    Thank god I have a huge extend family and everyone has multiple kids, so no one was offended by her bursting out into tears whenever they would try and hold her.

    QOTD: I think for us we are still trying to find our new normal with our day to day routine.  It's definitely has gotten better but we still sometimes bicker over stuff that we never did before.  Mainly it's due to the lack of sleep and personal down time that comes with a baby and dog. We've handled the overall transition, though, much better than I thought we would and am loving our new little family :)
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • Hello everyone & welcome to the brand new parents!

    LO is 8.5 months old. Still no top teeth. I've would have bet all my money they would have broken through by now. This week for sure. ;)

    LO is a crawling machine and pulling himself up left and right. He has even let go on a few occasions. He can't balance on his own yet, but I think it's interesting that he is brave enough to try. Over the last few days, I have been around a bunch of family with young kiddos who told me they thought he would be walking soon based on his activity level. We shall see... I'm in no hurry. The crawling is challenging enough.

    He's also eating solids like a champ. Still not a ton, but he will eat just about anything we give him. Asparagus is his new fave. We ended up getting some puffs for the flight (I believe it's the Happy Baby brand that @mwagner25‌ recommended) and he really enjoys those too. He still doesn't have great pincher grip, but he manages to get those small pieces in his mouth just fine. Every developmental milestone is just so fascinating.

    My parents have some toys at their house (they have 6 grand kids) that he has really enjoyed, so I see an Amazon purchase in my near future.

    I'm enjoying a break from the pump since we're exclusively nursing during my time off from work. And who you calling measly, @herbabymama‌? ;) FWIW to other new moms who BF, I typically pump between 3.5-4oz per session, which is quite normal from what I've read. On a very rare occasion I might pump more than that. Ash has done super well the 1-1.25oz per hour rule of thumb (3 3.5oz bottles during the 10 hours apart). Just wanted to share my experience of 3.5oz being enough. :)

    The only other new thing is that last week's thread that focused on sleep inspired me to be more vigilant about naps. It's worked well since I've been with him, but it's mostly out of my hands when he returns to daycare on Wednesday. I'll talk to the caregivers, but there is only so much they can do (meaning, they can't turn off all the lights and eliminate extra noise). But, I am going to try (and I stress the word try) to move up his bedtime by 30 minutes when I get back to Austin. I really don't think he's getting enough sleep.

    Flying back to Austin tomorrow. Fingers crossed for relatively easy travel (traveling here wasn't too bad).

    QOTD: Not sure. We definitely spend our time differently and make choices with our kiddo in mind, but I can't say that either one of us has changed all that much. I feel like I should have something more profound to say, but maybe it's just that simple - we're the same folks, just folks with different responsibilities. :)

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • @ATXMommas and @herbabymama, I've never pumped more than 2.5oz per session, and it's usually 1.5 or less. Tonight, barely 1. Don't know how I'm going to be able to send bm to daycare at this rate.
    Married my wife 8/2007 ~ TTC #1 since 7/2011
    9 IUIs = 9 BFNs
    IVF October 2012: 22 eggs retrieved, 17 fertilized, 5 frozen
    ET #1: 1 blast = BFP; Blighted ovum discovered at 7w5d; D&E
    FET #1: 1 blast = BFP; Missed m/c discovered at 9w5d; D&E
    Karyotyping: normal ~ RPL Testing: normal ~ Hysteroscopy: normal
    FET #2: 1 blast transferred 10/25; BFP 10/31!
    EDD 7/13/14 ~ Induced at 37w4d due to pre-eclampsia ~ Born on 6/28/14
    *Everyone welcome*

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • ATXmommasATXmommas member
    edited August 2014

    @ATXMommas and @herbabymama, I've never pumped more than 2.5oz per session, and it's usually 1.5 or less. Tonight, barely 1. Don't know how I'm going to be able to send bm to daycare at this rate.

    I never pumped more than 1.5-2oz before I sent Ash to day care - even when I replaced a nursing with pumping. That's one of the reasons I've read so much on the topic. I'm very certain I said the exact same thing that you just said a few months ago on this very check-in and the exact reason I saw an LC a couple weeks before I went back to work.

    And then out of the blue, I was able to pump 3oz/session my first day back at work. I was amazed and relieved. Over time I was able to regularly pump 3.5-4 each session (most of the time - I still have times I pump less and it messes with my head every time).

    I've never had an abundant supply. My supply is just enough - which is actually perfect, but also really stressful when I'm having an off day and not able to pump as much.

    Don't worry about going back to work yet. Plenty of time and you're not at a place you need to make decisions about it. All you need to think about now in prepping to go back to work is pumping and freezing enough milk to get him through one day at daycare.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • I'll take a hug! And breakfast. Who wants to bring me breakfast? I'm starving.
    Married my wife 8/2007 ~ TTC #1 since 7/2011
    9 IUIs = 9 BFNs
    IVF October 2012: 22 eggs retrieved, 17 fertilized, 5 frozen
    ET #1: 1 blast = BFP; Blighted ovum discovered at 7w5d; D&E
    FET #1: 1 blast = BFP; Missed m/c discovered at 9w5d; D&E
    Karyotyping: normal ~ RPL Testing: normal ~ Hysteroscopy: normal
    FET #2: 1 blast transferred 10/25; BFP 10/31!
    EDD 7/13/14 ~ Induced at 37w4d due to pre-eclampsia ~ Born on 6/28/14
    *Everyone welcome*

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • JGYJGY member

    @ball.and.chain - I would be there in a second if it were remotely possible.  And I wouldn't even force you to eat my PP diet of gummy bears and potato chips, I'd bring you some REAL food.  :)

     

    Married to my amazing wife 6/12/10 
    TTC since 6/11
    Unmedicated IUI #1 - 6/28/11 - BFN
    Unmedicated IUI #2 - 7/25/11 - BFN
    Robotic Myomectomy (Fibroid Surgery) - 11/15/11
    Unmedicated IUI #3 - 4/24/12 - BFN 
    Progesterone Supported Leuteal Phase IUI #4 - 6/21/12 - BFP!!
    Baby Boy G Born 3/24/13

    On to #2, are we crazy?
    IUI #1 - 11/28/14 - BFP!  Beta #1 (11DPO) 34, Beta #2 (13DPO) 101, Beta #3 (20DPO) 3043
    Ultrasound at 6w4d shows a single, fluttering heartbeat.  Say hello to Sticky Ricki!

     

    image

  • I'm late, but life was crazy yesterday. I love all the advice and input on breast feeding. I haven't experienced it yet, but you ladies make me feel like I can do it!
    As for an update on the kiddos. We had a very important semi annual review last week with the girls, their bio mom and case workers involved in their case. Let's just say bio mom got a wake up call that if she doesn't get her act together they are going to start the process of terminating her rights. She cried and played the victim and vowed to change, then didn't show up for her visit the next day. I was furious! Poor M had been so emotional, whiny and clingy since Friday. She is old enough to know Mom didn't show up but doesn't know how to express herself. So if you all don't mind sending extra positive thoughts, prayers for healing, strength and patience for all of us. It's going to get worse before it gets better.
    T & G My wife and I married 9/10/11 in Niagara Falls, NY
    HSG 12/12/12        
    #1 ICI 12/15/12              BFN on 12/29/12
    #2 ICI  1/11/13                BFN 1/28/13                       
    #3 ICI 2/11/13                 BFN
                   
    #4 ICI August 2013,  Clomid 100mg    BFN on 8/30/13 
    #5 ICI September-Clomid 100,  mg ICI 8/15 and 8/16,  BFN on 9/3
    #6 ICI October-Clomid 150 mg for 5 days   BFN 10/27
    uterine laparoscopy on 11/14-no endo or cysts
    #7 IUI December-Clomid 150mg    BFP 12/21
    12/23 Beta 51     12/26 Beta 209!
    First ultrasound on January 8th 2014-great healthy heartbeat
    Second Ultrasound January 23 (8 weeks) we got to see and hear the heartbeat
    Third Ultrasound Feb 4th(10 weeks), then will  released to OBGYN'
    It's a GIRL!
    We welcomed Adalyn Cooper Elizabeth on 8/29/14
    She was 7lbs 11oz and 19.6 inches long

    Proud foster parents to two little girls ages 2.5 yrs old, M,  and 1 year old, K



  • JGYJGY member
    trisholio said:
    I'm late, but life was crazy yesterday. I love all the advice and input on breast feeding. I haven't experienced it yet, but you ladies make me feel like I can do it! As for an update on the kiddos. We had a very important semi annual review last week with the girls, their bio mom and case workers involved in their case. Let's just say bio mom got a wake up call that if she doesn't get her act together they are going to start the process of terminating her rights. She cried and played the victim and vowed to change, then didn't show up for her visit the next day. I was furious! Poor M had been so emotional, whiny and clingy since Friday. She is old enough to know Mom didn't show up but doesn't know how to express herself. So if you all don't mind sending extra positive thoughts, prayers for healing, strength and patience for all of us. It's going to get worse before it gets better.
    I was wondering how that meeting went.  I'm so sorry the Mom hasn't be able to get her life in order.  I'm sending good thoughts to the girls, but also to you!  You two have so much strength, those girls are very lucky to have you in their lives.

    Married to my amazing wife 6/12/10 
    TTC since 6/11
    Unmedicated IUI #1 - 6/28/11 - BFN
    Unmedicated IUI #2 - 7/25/11 - BFN
    Robotic Myomectomy (Fibroid Surgery) - 11/15/11
    Unmedicated IUI #3 - 4/24/12 - BFN 
    Progesterone Supported Leuteal Phase IUI #4 - 6/21/12 - BFP!!
    Baby Boy G Born 3/24/13

    On to #2, are we crazy?
    IUI #1 - 11/28/14 - BFP!  Beta #1 (11DPO) 34, Beta #2 (13DPO) 101, Beta #3 (20DPO) 3043
    Ultrasound at 6w4d shows a single, fluttering heartbeat.  Say hello to Sticky Ricki!

     

    image

  • @trisholio - you and your wife are amazing! Sending you lots and lots of support. Those girls are very lucky little ones! :)

    Me - 30, My wife - 31 , Together for 10 yrs - Married August 2012

    5 medicated IUIs w/ RE (March - July 2013) = BFN

    Fresh IVF Cycle in September 2013 resulted in 18 mature eggs, 16 fertilized, 12 made it to day 5. Transfer of 2 Grade A blastocysts on 9/15/13, and 10 embryos in the freezer!      *****BFP on 9/25/13 - betas: @10dp5dt = 232; @12dp5dt = 465; @15dp5dt = 1,581   *********William George born June 4, 2014*********
  • JGYJGY member
     
    Hi everyone! This is my frist post as a parent! Insane! Sorry that I am a bit late but here it goes. It might be a bit short because we are living in crazy town right now. So, as you all most know by the post about breadtfeeding, it has been quite the challenge. When the babies were born they weighed 6.10. They both droped 9% while in the hospital. Our stay was long and challenging there because they both had jaundice and Quinn had to go under the lights for 1.5 days. It was hard not to hold her. I could only feed her with the lights on and then return her to her box afterward. Weston was boarder line and thankfully didn't have to go under the lights. The rest of the hospital stay was trying to establish a feeding routine with the babies. They wouldn't let us go until we had a good routine down, a LC of our own, and to show growth. That took almost a week. So, now we are obssessed with feeding and gaining weight. We are doing the SNS and finger feeding. We also try to put them to the boob as much as possible. Yesterday was a doctors visit and to our surprise Quinn is back to her birth rate!! So, we have cut off all SNS and finger feeding and started to soley breastfeed. We will see how today goes but so far we are off to a rough start. Since we were gone for the most part of yesterday and didn't have a breast pump, Ally got Mastitis! She is in bed with a fever and is doing her best to unclogg her ducts. She is breast feeding Quinn and pumping and Iburprophine, and hit and cold compresses. As far as Weston, he is still small he only gained 1.5 ounces. We are still supplementing him with finger feedings and trying to put him to her boob. The great thing, Ally produces enough milk to feed the neighborhood kids. We have a doctors apt again on wed and she is hoping that Weston is gaining more weight. Nights are rough, trying to feed and change and do the whole production of SNS and finger feeding. We only sleep in one hour intervals. Every once in awhile the one who is the most exhausted will be allowed to sleep through a feeding and take on the load of both. That helps a ton, just to get a 2-3 hour stretch of sleep.


    You and Ally are doing an AMAZING job already.  I'm so happy for you that her supply is ample for the twins.  Keep it up!  It may seem like you'll never sleep again, but you will.  You'll get through this, it only lasts for a little while.

     

    Married to my amazing wife 6/12/10 
    TTC since 6/11
    Unmedicated IUI #1 - 6/28/11 - BFN
    Unmedicated IUI #2 - 7/25/11 - BFN
    Robotic Myomectomy (Fibroid Surgery) - 11/15/11
    Unmedicated IUI #3 - 4/24/12 - BFN 
    Progesterone Supported Leuteal Phase IUI #4 - 6/21/12 - BFP!!
    Baby Boy G Born 3/24/13

    On to #2, are we crazy?
    IUI #1 - 11/28/14 - BFP!  Beta #1 (11DPO) 34, Beta #2 (13DPO) 101, Beta #3 (20DPO) 3043
    Ultrasound at 6w4d shows a single, fluttering heartbeat.  Say hello to Sticky Ricki!

     

    image

  • I love this thread every week.
    @Flygirl1228‌ - sending you & Ally positive thoughts during this first hectic weeks.

    @trisholio‌ - keeping you and the girls in mind too. They're so lucky to have you. :-)

    @jrtmom - I'm sorry to hear about your dog :-(
  • @JGY - that's exactly what I was thinking. I'm glad I can pay it forward a little bit. This board provided me (and still does) much needed support on so many different things over the last few months.

    @trisholio‌ - I'm so sorry to hear about the girls' mom. I work in child welfare, so it's a story I hear often, but it never makes it easier to hear. They are lucky to have you and your wife in their lives.

    @jrtmom - I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. The pictures are just adorable.

    @Flygirl1228‌ - you and Ally are doing an amazing job and awesome weight gain for Quinn! Hope Weston follows right behind her. I'm glad you have this time off so that you and Ally can be such a great team. The early days are so hard with just one, so I know it's doubly hard for you right now. Thinking about you!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • Breakfast! Yum! @ball.and.chain wasn't there some yummy breakfast sandwich that you like from a local place out there? What was it called? I'll have to try it when I come to your area to visit my friend. I had a yummy breakfast sandwich this morning so I'm super happy. I hope you get some food this morning between bfing and occupying B!
    I love all breakfast sandwiches, and I know all the good ones around here.  If only they delivered!  I found a box of sort-of stale kiddie cereal and ate that.  Then I forgot lunch.  But friends brought Taiwanese food for dinner!  Ah, friends.

    @JGY, I'd eat some gummy bears right now.
    Married my wife 8/2007 ~ TTC #1 since 7/2011
    9 IUIs = 9 BFNs
    IVF October 2012: 22 eggs retrieved, 17 fertilized, 5 frozen
    ET #1: 1 blast = BFP; Blighted ovum discovered at 7w5d; D&E
    FET #1: 1 blast = BFP; Missed m/c discovered at 9w5d; D&E
    Karyotyping: normal ~ RPL Testing: normal ~ Hysteroscopy: normal
    FET #2: 1 blast transferred 10/25; BFP 10/31!
    EDD 7/13/14 ~ Induced at 37w4d due to pre-eclampsia ~ Born on 6/28/14
    *Everyone welcome*

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • winstan1 I know just how you feel sometimes.  I would say try and make one change at a time, get up and do something or go for a walk or just get out of the house.  So much easier said than done, I know!

    Thank you all for the encouraging words.M's attitude has slowly improved this week.  Bio mom called me and asked to reschedule her visit on Friday, so we are doing two visits next week.  It is a step in the right direction her asking to reschedule instead of just cancelling all together.  So we will see if she shows up or not.
    T & G My wife and I married 9/10/11 in Niagara Falls, NY
    HSG 12/12/12        
    #1 ICI 12/15/12              BFN on 12/29/12
    #2 ICI  1/11/13                BFN 1/28/13                       
    #3 ICI 2/11/13                 BFN
                   
    #4 ICI August 2013,  Clomid 100mg    BFN on 8/30/13 
    #5 ICI September-Clomid 100,  mg ICI 8/15 and 8/16,  BFN on 9/3
    #6 ICI October-Clomid 150 mg for 5 days   BFN 10/27
    uterine laparoscopy on 11/14-no endo or cysts
    #7 IUI December-Clomid 150mg    BFP 12/21
    12/23 Beta 51     12/26 Beta 209!
    First ultrasound on January 8th 2014-great healthy heartbeat
    Second Ultrasound January 23 (8 weeks) we got to see and hear the heartbeat
    Third Ultrasound Feb 4th(10 weeks), then will  released to OBGYN'
    It's a GIRL!
    We welcomed Adalyn Cooper Elizabeth on 8/29/14
    She was 7lbs 11oz and 19.6 inches long

    Proud foster parents to two little girls ages 2.5 yrs old, M,  and 1 year old, K



  • Alright parenting pros, I have a question. This seems insane to even be asking, but.... Is it at all remotely possible that my 9 week old might already be starting the teething process? The last two days he has been uncharacteristically fussy during the day. He has been drooling like CRAZY, and literally EVERYTHING he can get his hands on (including his own hands) is in his mouth! Please see attached photo evidence! Is it totally bonkers to even consider early teething might be the cause?

    Me - 30, My wife - 31 , Together for 10 yrs - Married August 2012

    5 medicated IUIs w/ RE (March - July 2013) = BFN

    Fresh IVF Cycle in September 2013 resulted in 18 mature eggs, 16 fertilized, 12 made it to day 5. Transfer of 2 Grade A blastocysts on 9/15/13, and 10 embryos in the freezer!      *****BFP on 9/25/13 - betas: @10dp5dt = 232; @12dp5dt = 465; @15dp5dt = 1,581   *********William George born June 4, 2014*********
  • @KH826 M started this sort of behavior around 10-11 weeks and we didn't see first teeth until 10 months. The pedi said this is just normal baby behavior. Are you familiar with the Wonder Weeks? There is a mental leap at week 8 (based on EDD not actual birthday). Each leap comes with major fussiness followed by a developmental jump. 

    Check this out: 
    Same-sex couple- In love with my awesome wife, A, since 2007
    Our son M was born 6.2013 

    M was conceived via IVF using donor sperm and my wife's eggs. My wife carried. 

    Now I am starting my second FET with embryos from A's IVF cycle...this is our last shot.

    ET 9/15- BFN

  • Yes, thanks, I am familiar with the wonder weeks! We have the hardcopy book, and my wife has been reading it. It tells us that the next wonder week is not until 12 weeks. I don't know, I suspect that this is early teething activity, but I am not sure. All the signs are there, but of course I guess it could be preparation for another milestone. He also seems mighty close to being able to roll when we put him down for tummy time... I just feel like all of these things are happening so fast! My wife and I both agree that it feels like his "newborn stage" was so very short!

    Me - 30, My wife - 31 , Together for 10 yrs - Married August 2012

    5 medicated IUIs w/ RE (March - July 2013) = BFN

    Fresh IVF Cycle in September 2013 resulted in 18 mature eggs, 16 fertilized, 12 made it to day 5. Transfer of 2 Grade A blastocysts on 9/15/13, and 10 embryos in the freezer!      *****BFP on 9/25/13 - betas: @10dp5dt = 232; @12dp5dt = 465; @15dp5dt = 1,581   *********William George born June 4, 2014*********
  • @winstan1 - Sounds like a rough day - I'm sorry.  We're not yet to that stage, but I wonder if we are going to have a super active boy on our hands as our baby is proving himself to be a busy, busy kiddo already!  Hope today is better.

    @KH826 -  Baby's can start pre-teething pretty early.  Ash was drooling quite a bit around 2 months or so, but his first two bottom teeth did not come in until just a few days after 6 months - which is the early end of "normal."  I have a coworker whose baby's teeth first came through at 3 months, though, so it is definitely possible that they will come in earlier.  I was shocked to at how early the teething symptoms started - we had to put bibs on Ash because he was soaking through his clothes with all his drool.  You're not bonkers!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • JGYJGY member
    ATXmommas said:
    @KH826 -  Baby's can start pre-teething pretty early.  Ash was drooling quite a bit around 2 months or so, but his first two bottom teeth did not come in until just a few days after 6 months - which is the early end of "normal."  I have a coworker whose baby's teeth first came through at 3 months, though, so it is definitely possible that they will come in earlier.  I was shocked to at how early the teething symptoms started - we had to put bibs on Ash because he was soaking through his clothes with all his drool.  You're not bonkers!
    We had exactly this as well.  Our Pedi even said she thought G was teething at that point, but we didn't see HIS first teeth until 8 months.  I recall that the rolling over process was similar too.  We SWORE he was "About" to do it for at least a month before he actually did. 

    Married to my amazing wife 6/12/10 
    TTC since 6/11
    Unmedicated IUI #1 - 6/28/11 - BFN
    Unmedicated IUI #2 - 7/25/11 - BFN
    Robotic Myomectomy (Fibroid Surgery) - 11/15/11
    Unmedicated IUI #3 - 4/24/12 - BFN 
    Progesterone Supported Leuteal Phase IUI #4 - 6/21/12 - BFP!!
    Baby Boy G Born 3/24/13

    On to #2, are we crazy?
    IUI #1 - 11/28/14 - BFP!  Beta #1 (11DPO) 34, Beta #2 (13DPO) 101, Beta #3 (20DPO) 3043
    Ultrasound at 6w4d shows a single, fluttering heartbeat.  Say hello to Sticky Ricki!

     

    image

  • This is all so good to know! I feel like we are going to be waiting for these things to happen at any moment for a while! Fun! HAHA

    I am not looking to rush him with any of this stuff though! He is only 9 weeks for goodness sakes!

    Me - 30, My wife - 31 , Together for 10 yrs - Married August 2012

    5 medicated IUIs w/ RE (March - July 2013) = BFN

    Fresh IVF Cycle in September 2013 resulted in 18 mature eggs, 16 fertilized, 12 made it to day 5. Transfer of 2 Grade A blastocysts on 9/15/13, and 10 embryos in the freezer!      *****BFP on 9/25/13 - betas: @10dp5dt = 232; @12dp5dt = 465; @15dp5dt = 1,581   *********William George born June 4, 2014*********
  • @KH826‌ - Owen seems to be teething too these last few weeks. Same symptoms of drooling and chewing on everything. I think Kaden's first teeth came in around 6 months after a few months of teething. We liked the hylands teething tablets and gel. And the amber necklace which works (for some scientifically unproven reason???). Lots of icy/cool things to chew on too when his gums seemed sore or swollen.
  • JGY said:

    Yep! I've been expecting his two top teeth "any day now" for a month!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • ATXmommas said:

    JGY said:

    Yep! I've been expecting his two top teeth "any day now" for a month!
    ETA: quote fail. Boo.

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • Have any of you had any experience with the Chewbeads teething necklaces or anything else like them? https://store.chewbeads.com/default.asp 

    I can't see my wife rocking any of these, but I totally would... if they are helpful...

    Me - 30, My wife - 31 , Together for 10 yrs - Married August 2012

    5 medicated IUIs w/ RE (March - July 2013) = BFN

    Fresh IVF Cycle in September 2013 resulted in 18 mature eggs, 16 fertilized, 12 made it to day 5. Transfer of 2 Grade A blastocysts on 9/15/13, and 10 embryos in the freezer!      *****BFP on 9/25/13 - betas: @10dp5dt = 232; @12dp5dt = 465; @15dp5dt = 1,581   *********William George born June 4, 2014*********
  • Just to beat a dead horse, R has been doing that same "teething behavior" since 2 months. I told his pedi at his 4 month appt that I thought his teeth were ready to come in any day now. He laughed and asked if we we're still bf. When I said yes, his response was trust me you'll know! Well we have his 6 month appt in 2 weeks and not a tooth in sight!
    I feel like I get tricked every time with these milestones. I made a appt with early intervention because of his head shape and the fact that he only rolled 1 way. Guess what he started doing 1 week ago, yup rolling both ways now. I'm learning babies do things on their own time line.
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