Note: This is a post from Wednesday, July 20, 2016. This was when my third child was still a baby.
The baby was sleeping through the night on some days and others waking up at 4am and screaming the place down. I did not understand what had made a sound sleeping baby suddenly become so upset. I also could not figure out why he slept all night some days and the others he would wake. The twins were sleeping through the night after they were three months old.
I firstly thought that it could be his nappy. Solved and new one put on.
Secondly thought it could be that he was hungry. No he did not want food and would rather scream at me and also to fidget, turn over and over (he loves rolling over and likes to do this every chance he gets) on my lap and not get comfortable! Yes this was very annoying.
I tried the formula again and he would not have anything to do with it. OH geez more crying (especially in my ear and so loud that you cannot hear anything afterwards) and wiggling is going to happen now. I had to cuddle him until he passed out again and to make sure he was snoring before I could make the attempt of putting him in his cot.
Could it be bad dreams?????? Who knows and at this stage, I was trying to think of anything that could be waking up our baby.
My sleepy little boy. I finally figured out why he was waking up at 4am. It was really simple actually. Read on to find out.
Fast forward to after we came home from Vivid (June Long Weekend), it was a Sunday afternoon. We came home earlier than expected from the city due to one of the twins being ill. Hubby fed the baby at about 3pm and he fell into a deep sleep and then the baby was wrapped up and put in his bed. All good.
11pm came around on the same Sunday evening. Hubby and I were watching television and I said when did we feed the baby? He thought about it. It was around 3pm. Gosh I thought. The baby has been asleep for a long time. I told hubby that I think we need to check that all is okay with Alexander and that there was nothing wrong.
He cautioned me… He said, “If you wake him it is your problem to sort out”. I told him fine as I was getting worried due to the fact that he had been asleep so long.
I carefully opened his door and heard breathing and the baby turn over. All good. However, due to the fact that it was afternoon when the baby was put down for a nap his night light was not switched on. Normally we keep it on to help Alexander not get upset if it is too dark. The twins had a night light when they were babies and we noticed that when Alexander was little he wanted the reassurance of the light.
However this could be the reason that he was waking up at 4am and being so out of sorts. He must have been half asleep and then the light woke him fully. Without the night light when he wakes even a little, he rolls over and goes back to sleep.
How simple the answer was. Turn off the night light! Ever since coming back from Vivid we have left the babies night light off and suprise, he has slept through the night.
Yep genius here…. Turn off the light and the baby will sleep! You heard it here. Sounds really obvious doesn’t it. The light woke him up.
I told my nana this and she said, really it was just a light and all you needed to do was turn it off. I said yes and she laughed and laughed at me. Yes it sounds silly and so simple but when you are so used to your routine and thinking that it is needed you just do it. You don’t question it.
Have you found there was something so simple and obvious that has made the world of difference with your kids or baby? Was it as simple as turning off the night light? Let us know.
Loving my new My first mediation session with MUSE The Brain Sensing Headband. It is so amazing and really helps me relax. Do you meditate? Does it work for you?
Note: I loved my new Muse the brain sensing headband so much, that I became an affiliate for the product. If you click on the links for MUSE it will take you to the affiliate link.
Loving my new first mediation session with MUSE The Brain Sensing Headband. It is so amazing and really helps me relax. Do you meditate? Does it work for you? You can clearly see that I look sleepy and very calm here.
There are a few reasons that this is a good present for me.
I hold my stress in my neck, and shoulders and clench my teeth. This then leads to intense headaches and the body being out of whack.
Relaxing is hard when you have kids and very little downtime.
I do try and have some quiet time that allows the brain and body to rest.
The meditations that I did without MUSE were not done as well as they could have been. I got distracted. I was thinking about all the things I had to do, all the things that were half done or yet to happen and of course people I needed to contact. Hard to have your brain power down and to just be still. Be calm and rest for just a moment.
Why did Hubby Purchase MUSE The Brain Sensing Headband?
Well, hubby listens to Pat Flynn from Smart Passive Incomeand also Ask Pat. He said that Pat raves about his MuseHeadband and says that meditation has helped him and his business.
Pat Flynn said the following:
“Meditation has transformed my life. It’s improved my focus and well-being, and it’s altered my productivity during my workday in a radical way.”
Hubby knew I was a stressed-out mummy so thought this might be the way to go.
My darling hubby also knew that I am trying to achieve more with my blog and other business ideas, so the more relaxed I will be the better life will be for all parts of my life. A win-win really.
My first Muse Session. I think I did okay. Some things need to be improved. The main thing is that I felt very relaxed afterwards and not on edge all the time.
You wear the headband and use it in conjunction with the app on your phone or tablet.
One thing to remember is that you need to wear headphones to make it work. I didn’t use these at first and it did not progress to the meditation and kept on calibrating. I thought that since I was alone that headphones would not be needed. However, it all works once you plug in your headphones and then you can relax away.
It is really easy to use. The headband is comfortable and you can adjust it to fit any size of the head. If you do have a lot of hair it is advisable to put it up or have it out of the way so that the sensors on the headband can connect with your skin on your head.
So what do you need to do first?
Download the Choose MUSE app.
Set up an account so that you can log onto MUSE for your mediation history and data.
You will have to charge your headphones before your first use. This comes with a charger that you can plug into the computer to make sure they are all ready to go.
Make sure you have headphones and your headband ready.
Find a quiet spot to give your MUSE headband a go and start the calibrations. Every time you start your mediation with MUSE it makes sure that the headband is on correctly and sets up with colours within a circle. Once all is complete the app will let you know when you are ready to progress to your first meditation session.
If your brain wanders you will hear more stormy weather. If you are very calm and relaxed you will hear birds. The more birds you hear the better you are doing. MUSE rates things in birds. They believe that birds are only attracted to calm and relaxed people. So more birds will visit when you are super calm and in the zone of relaxation. (This is true. If you have ever been to a park and sat quietly and noticed how many birds have come to visit you?)
Make sure after your meditation session you turn off your headband. Turning it off will save how often you need to recharge it.
How does MUSE make you feel?
For me, using MUSE makes me calmer, more relaxed and allows some stillness in my world. Normally my world is filled with craziness, racing around and just reacting to things. Meditation allows for more mindfulness to really take time to look at things in a calmer and more controlled way.
I like Liza below feel that MUSE is a great tool to help you be more at the moment, and not as crazy as you would be if you did not have that time to relax through meditation with MUSE.
Do you feel like me and have a lot going on?
Need some downtime? How about some nice calm relaxation time just for you?
Do you already mediate and if so how has it changed your life or outlook on things?
My first mediation session with MUSE The Brain Sensing Headband.
I do have to thank Pat Flynn for sharing on his site and for hubby for purchasing the gift in the first place.
If you would love to try a MUSE The Brain Sensing Headbandthen you can order online. They deliver worldwide so you can be anywhere and order one. Perfect to help the relaxation start.
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Having a baby is a life-changing event and one that requires preparation. I read books, looked online and asked other mums about their experiences.
For me I was not just having one child first, I ended up having twins as my first children. I don’t know how many do this but I am sure that it is not that common.
BigW invited me to be a part of their Bub & Me Education Program in collaboration with select midwives across Australia.
This post is the first in my three-part series about being a new mum, breastfeeding, childbirth and great things you can get from BigW for your new little person/people.
Below are my questions to Pinky and her answers, I hope that this interview is helpful for all new mums.
Pinky McKay is Australia’s most recognised breastfeeding expert
Q1. The expectation of what it is like to be a parent to the reality can be quite a shock for new mums. What do you tell new mums about suddenly being responsible for a little person?
A 1. A recent survey by Big W in conjunction with The Australian College of Midwives revealed one in three (32%) of Aussie mums struggle the most with self-doubt,which is really not surprising.Having a baby is rather like visiting a foreign country for the first time: no matter how well you prepare, no matter how many frozen casseroles there are in your freezer, how many products you buy or how many classes you attend, there will be shocks.
The relentlessness of caring for a newborn is something we can’t really imagine until it happens to us. I wish every pregnant woman could spend a day (and night) with a new mum and support her – hold her baby while she showers, while she naps, and see that crying isn’t just for newborns, mums cry too(I warn partners about this too). The biggest surprise can be the weird brain things that happen such as ‘hearing’ your baby crying when you are having a shower, then racing to check and finding him peacefully sleeping, right where you left him, neatly swaddled in his safety-approved cot.
Q2. How do you help new mums with sleep deprivation and learning about their new baby?
Pinky: Before birth, I suggest how important it is to set up your support network. If I am seeing a desperate new mum, I always ask about what level of support she has and discuss ways to get support if she doesn’t have enough help. We are so conditioned that reaching out and asking for practical help is ‘weak’. It absolutely takes a village, whether this is hired help, friends and family or government-funded ‘in-home care’ (I have facilitated this for families with high needs).
The biggest thing is about lowering expectations both of yourself and your child and filtering out the ‘noise’ about what you ‘should’ be doing –according to a recent survey by Big W, 67% of mums say social media puts pressure on mums to live an ‘insta-worthy’ life.
While good basic care such as eating healthy meals and resting are especially important in the early weeks as women are healing from growing and birthing a baby, guarding your emotional energy needs to be a priority. Often, the pressure and anxiety around baby sleep, for instance, can take more energy than the lack of sleep. I tell mums, YOU are the expert about YOUR well baby. You can trust yourself and your baby and the amazing connection between you and your child. If you feel confused by advice, you can filter it by checking, ‘is it safe? Is it respectful? And, does it feel right? And if you have concerns, check in with your health carers, not ‘randoms’ on social media.
Q3. I thought I knew what I was doing with my third child, but he was so different and nothing I did worked. I was doing all the things that worked with the twins but finally had a realisation that he is a different person and I needed to listen to his cues and focus on what he likes and doesn’t like. How do you help parents do this from the start if they have more than one child?
Pinky: As a mum of five, I was always amazed at how unique each child was, from their temperament to their development. Although babies all have similar needs for security and love, it’s helpful to discuss how they vary in the ways they express those needs.They are unique, individual little beings and although we can support their personalities, we can’t ‘mould’ our child or reflect in the glory of having an ‘easy’ baby. It’s best to observe and get to know each new baby’s cues and respond to that baby in a way that’s right for them. If we do have a more sensitive baby, the good news is that we really can’t short-change them or they will let us know, and by responding promptly, they will feel secure and usually become happy, calm little people as they grow.
Q4. My third child was super fussy, had reflux and found it hard to remove burps and any gas from his body. Not only did he cry all the time, not settle well and want to be held all the time I was walking around like a zombie due to the lack of sleep. Do you have any recommendations on how to settle a fussy baby or one that has other issues that are making things more difficult for him/her to sleep and to eat?
Pinky: Rather than simply heading to ways to ‘settle’ although of course, keeping your baby as comfortable as possible is important for baby and you, it’s worth trying to work out why this is happening. For instance, could there be allergies or food intolerance contributing to reflux symptoms (your baby is never allergic to your breast-milk but may react to foods passing through your milk)? Tongue-tie can also mean babies are swallowing air because their latch and sucking is often ineffective, and a fast breast milk flow can also create issues for young babies swallowing air as they feed – reclining as you feed or ‘paced bottle feeding’ can slow the flow and make it easier for baby to manage.
It is really hard work when you have a super unsettled baby, especially if you have other children, but wearing your baby in a carrier or wrap can help settle your baby and you can still do activities with two free hands. There are also ‘holds’ that can help relieve gas pains such as lying baby across your arm on his tummy, with his head facing your elbow and supporting him with a hand between his legs as you walk/sway.Baby massage can be a great way to support your baby’s nervous system and move the gas – clockwise circles on baby’s tummy, alternated with knee bends.
Q5. I expressed my breastmilk for all three kids and due to the twins being premmies this was needed. However, I thought having a singleton that was born exactly at 40 weeks that he would be better at breastfeeding. It turned out that my third child couldn’t latch on and would only eat a bit and then wanted more. I would feed more and then he would wriggle and scream at me all the time. So, I decided, since it was frustrating him and me and causing me stress to express breastmilk again was the way to go. Are there ways to increase your breastmilk supply when you are stressed, running on no sleep and caring for two other kids and husband.
Pinky: Wow! That sounds like a nightmare. Firstly, it’s important that regardless of your sleep (or lack of it), that you eat regularly – handy one-handed snacks such as Boobie Bikkies, avocado or cheese on crackers, a can of tuna or salmon and boiled eggs (cook several and keep them in the fridge) are an easy boost – and drink according to your thirst. Your partner’s /husband’s support is vital – he is a grown-up so needs to take up some of the slack, not expect to be ‘looked after’. Please don’t be shy about setting up a help roster with friends, whether that is doing a school pickup, taking your other kids out so you can rest and focus on feedingor bringing food. Most people are delighted to share the experience of a new baby.
Try to set up young children with activities and snacks(‘Netflix and chill’, even if it’s a kids’ show or sit on the big bed and read stories or sit outside and get the toddlers to ‘paint the fence’ with water), so you can spend time giving baby skin to skin snuggles to boost your milk-making chemistry and allow baby to feed frequently.
Remember, an empty breast makes milk more quickly so as you breastfeed or pump, you can trymassage and breast compressions (high up on your breasts, not down near the nipples) to help empty your breasts more effectively.You will notice your baby start swallowing more quickly and if pumping you will see the milk start flowing a few seconds after compressions. If you are exclusively pumping or baby isn’t a strong feeder you can try power pumping (as well as putting baby to the breast if he will latch): To power pump: Pump for 20 minutes;Rest for 10 minutes;Pump for 10 minutes;Rest for 10 minutes; Pump for 10 minutes. A double electric pump is most effective – otherwise, if you use a single pump, instead of the rest periods, switch breasts and pump the other side.
If you have concerns about breastfeeding, it’s always helpful to see an IBCLC Lactation Consultant who can take a history of your baby and you and give you personalised advice (conditions such as thyroid disorders, PCOS, low iron levels, retained placenta or PPH can all influence milk supply).
Pinky McKay is Australia’s most recognised and respected Breastfeeding expert. She’s an IBCLC Lactation Consultant, Best Selling Baby Care Author, Mum of five and creator of Boobie Bikkies, award-winning, all-natural and organic cookies to nourish breastfeeding mothers and support a healthy milk supply. Download our FREE ebook ‘Making More Mummy Milk, Naturally for Pinky’s top tips to help you boost your milk supply
DID YOU KNOW?
BIG W research reveals three-quarters of Aussie mums have regrets about their first pregnancy including spending a whopping $163 million on baby products, as well as spending over 23 million hours shopping ahead of the birth of their first child.
Social media pressure – Two thirds (67%) of Aussie mums of children aged 0-13 agree that social media puts pressure on new mums to lead “instaworthy” lives
Shop ‘til they drop – one in six mums spend a staggering 41 hours or more shopping for baby products before birth
Bub & Me time – 25% of Aussie mums say they regret not savouring the time when they were pregnant
Special talents – Breastfeeding is the achievement Aussie mums are most satisfied with, with one in four (24%) claiming it as the skill they are most confident in
Highs and lows – 1 in 3 Aussie mums found the first six weeks after giving birth to be the hardest phase of their baby’s development.
Did you know that the most enviable celebrity mums include:
P!NK (33%)
Julia Morris (23%)
Laura Byrne (21%)
Kate Ritchie (20%)
A huge thank you to BigWand Pinky McKay for this opportunity. Make sure to stay tuned for the next two posts in BigW Bub & Me Series on Mummy to Twins Plus One.
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My little boy gets Eczema and therefore has to have products that don’t upset his skin.
WaterWipes sent me a trial pack to test out and to see what I think.
I love the fact that the wipes are super strong, very moist and not too wet as to soak you, but just right.
They don’t have anything harmful added and are great for little people with allergy prone skin.
Alexander loved them too and had to check out the pack to ensure they were approved for use. If you have a little one you know they need to inspect everything.
“According to a Spark research study in 2014, 97% of midwives interviewed believe that WaterWipes are suitable to be used on the skin of newborn babies.”
WaterWipes are so tough and strong, plus good for babies with sensitive skin.
What are WaterWipes?
Edward McCloskey found that his newborn baby girl was always getting nappy rash and therefore realised that there were harmful and harsh chemicals in baby wipes. He then undertook years of research and scientific testing to have a safe alternative to regular baby wipes.
Originating in Ireland, WaterWipes has expanded to Australian, New Zealand and US markets and are continuing to grow worldwide. In Australia, WaterWipes are sold at Coles, Woolworths, Priceline, Chemist Warehouse, Terry White Pharmacies, various independent pharmacies and online retailers.
“WaterWipes are the only wipes that contain 99.9% water and a drop of fruit extract and don’t irritate the skin. They are ideal for babies with sensitive skin and may help avoid nappy rash and other skin conditions such as eczema,” said Andrea Hawes of WaterWipes.
Our thoughts on WaterWipes
The wipes were fantastic.
Alexander who has very sensitive skin gets eczema often. It is nice to have a product that doesn’t irritate his skin and is also doesn’t have any harmful chemicals in them. During using WaterWipes no eczema breakout occurred.
A big thank you to the team at WaterWipes for sending me this amazing wipes to test out.
WaterWipes The World’s Purest Baby Wipes
Do you use these amazing wipes on your baby? If you don’t you should give them a go.
Disclaimer: I was sent these amazing wipes from WaterWipes to test out. I loved them and had to share, as my little boy is partial to eczema and nappy rash it is great to find a product that helps keep his skin.
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The baby is finally not sick and is in care, and mummy is able to take some time to just be. To sit and have quiet time.
The school holidays were crazy. Well, not all crazy, but some of it was just chaotic.
There were some nice moments of sleeping in, not having to be anywhere and staying at home, plus spending some nice time with the kids was good.
There always seemed to be something happening. One kid fighting, one kid hurt or hurting the other and then the arguments. Oh my gosh! As the mum of three kids, it seemed that no matter what was going on it was hard to keep up. I was constantly exhausted.
Do you find this? Trying to entertain kids at all times is difficult. Once you think everyone is happy and playing it then all changes and you are back to sorting out a disaster.
A disaster could just be someone throwing out a drawing or not playing the game they want to play. Simple things but huge dramas to a little kid.
During the holidays the twins flew to Coffs Harbour to see their grandparents. The girls were unaccompanied minors and they got on a plane all by themselves. This was a huge step and a great thing to foster their independence.
This was one of the weeks that I was really looking forward to. While the kids were away I thought that the baby would be in care, and I would get so much done.
Fast forward to the actual week that the twins flew to visit the grandparents and of course Alexander was ill. Yes, this was the week that my little boy was very sick.
No child care, he had to have mummy and now the week that I so desperately was excited about was not great. My time alone was non-existent.
I did feel like it was a horrible conspiracy. No, you can’t have time to yourself….. ever! Yes, I know that the baby did not plan to be sick and these things just happen.
However, why do they happen on the week that the older kids were not going to be home? Why couldn’t this have happened the weeks before the girls flew to visit their grandparents?
How did you fare during the school holidays? Did you have fun? Did you get driven crazy by the kids?
Now that school is finally back I hope that you are having a well-deserved rest.
If you are busy at work you might need to wait for that rest, but I’m sure work is a change from looking after kids during the school holidays.
I’m happy about school going back but I miss sleeping in, and not having to be anywhere important was nice while it lasted.
Doing your own thing was good, and I must say that I’m not really in back to school mode just yet.
How are you doing now that school has gone back?
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Happy Birthday to us, Happy birthday to the blog, Happy Birthday.... we are turning 10 this year!
This year the blog is turning ten.
What a major milestone it is to be blogging for 10 years!
Happy Birthday to us, Happy birthday to the blog, Happy Birthday…. we are turning 10 this year!
It really doesn’t feel like it has been ten years. Maybe it is all the things that kept me busy in the nearly ten years since having my first children (I did think that I would always say first child but in my case its first children).
The blog was started just after the twins were born and the girls are soon to be ten in September. The twins are super excited to be double digits soon.
To celebrate this amazing milestone I am giving away prizes to a valued and cherished reader each month.
I value all of you that have helped create such an awesome community and for following the blog for all these years.
Make sure to follow the blog, subscribe to the newsletter on the link below (I email my readers about giveaways, promotions and interesting news), and of course, follow us on our social media sites to not miss out on these amazing competitions and much more!
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Soon there will be the first giveaway to enter and trust me the giveaways will be amazing. You will not want to miss the opportunity to win.
A HUGE thanks to all that have followed the blog and for helping make it such a great place to be.
2018 is going to be awesome and there are so many wonderful things in store.
Check out my Q & A article, it was so that the lovely Kiddipedia readers can get to know me.
I know many of you might already know some of these things that I mentioned in this post, but some might not. Take a read and learn more about me and the blog.
Each month I will be posting a new article on the Kiddipedia website. I hope you pop over to read my new articles.
While you are there, please take the time to look at all the wonderful resources that this great parenting resource offers.
Kiddipedia is very thrilled to announce our partnership with Mummy to Twins Plus One.
Founded by Suzanne, this blog was created as a project for her to work on and a way to document what is happening with her and the children.https://t.co/ApZ3pzgqdO#MummyToTwinsPlusOnepic.twitter.com/b6wGgVPWOZ
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I find that I have to go to the toilet when the baby was previously getting up for a bottle. I am not sure why I still do this? Maybe it is due to too much water? Or is it my body being in a rhythm and due to doing this for a while now it is hard to break?
When I do get up at 2 or 3 am in the morning I try to be super quiet. I tiptoe. I also make sure that I try not to walk on the floorboards that might make a noise. You should see me it is a funny sight. I would go to any length to keep the baby sleeping for longer.
Super cute Alexander sleeping. I love watching him sleep.
Normally I just hear snoring and people sleeping. Sometimes I hear the baby talk or cry a little, however, this is shortlived and he goes back to sleep.
However, on the odd occasion, the baby wakes. This is rather annoying after all my extra care to be so quiet and not make a sound.
Why would he wake up? Is he on a timer too? Did he hear me? Does he sense when my head leaves the pillow and I walk away?
Do other mums face the same issue? Or is this just happening to me?
While sitting with Alexander at 3.30am this morning I was thinking about all these things and much more. Yes, I was solving all the problems and maybe I should have written my grand ideas down. I do remember a few of them.
During my time cuddling my baby boy I wondered the following:
How many other mums are sitting at this precise moment doing the same thing? What are they thinking?
Are they trying not to fall asleep, while wishing they were back in bed?
Do other mums end up coming up with amazing solutions while sitting with the baby? I think next time I’m up late I need to make sure a notepad and pen are next to me.
Not only do I have to go to the bathroom at odd times, I find that I wake up at these times too. I think I have been re-programmed by Alexander to be on alert in case needed.
My cells must be aware of this need to be constantly ready, and to get up at a moments notice and have decided to not rest either. They are constantly on the go.
This, in turn, has led to constant exhaustion and not much else getting done. Housework is my annoyance at the moment, and a housekeeper or cleaner each week would be a godsend.
However, this is not to be and therefore I need to soldier on and to get it all done in my sleep-deprived state.
Do you ponder this types of questions? What have you concluded?
Let us know if you do the same as I have been doing. Do you ponder some great thoughts and come up with wonderful solutions while being up late or early with the baby?
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I have spoken to many women about their pregnancy journey, and then their birth stories. Most of the things that they dreamt or thought about never actually happened.
While at Problogger last year (Alexander was eight months when I attended Problogger in 2016. I was having a funny conversation with other bloggers and the topic of my fears and worries while pregnant with baby three was discussed.)
New born baby – This cutie is looking very relaxed and has no idea about all the drama that went on before they were born.
When I was pregnant with the twins I had horrible thoughts. I watched a film when I was about five months pregnant and I ended up having terrible dreams. Now, this film was a horror film and just horrible really. One scene had a person put on a tea trolley or hospital trolley (never sure what to call them). In the film, this person met a terrible end and I found it hard to watch.
My dream was being on this trolley as a pregnant woman with twins. They were then trying to tell me that the babies were coming and if they didn’t come they would take matters into their own hands. I was shackled to the trolley and it was uncomfortable, scary, and freaky. They were going to cut me open to save the babies. I of course was screaming, NO! They are not ready. It is too early and stuff like this.
The room I was in was like the bottom of a hospital that was all tiled and not kept very clean at all, it also reminded me of some shows that use disused railway stations as it looked rather like those.
I woke very upset and was thankful it was a dream. Maybe horror films when pregnant is not a good idea!
Flash forward to being pregnant with Alexander and I had all sorts of concerns. They were the following:
Due to having one baby, this child will be HUGE and be horrible to have.
Since I thought that this child might be enormous I would need a C-Section.
The baby would not be head down and cause issues.
I knew that the baby was due on the 7th of January and had no idea that he would come exactly on his due date. I did have thoughts that I might have a New Year’s Day baby and be on the front page of the local paper.
“Local woman gives birth to the biggest baby on New Years’ Day 2016”.
As you can see I still was panicked about having a HUGE BABY!
Scans did show that my third child was indeed on the small side. This however did not relieve my very active imagination and concern.
I was fully aware that this was only one baby this time. This baby could spread themselves to every corner of my insides and be a record weight. I know… I was so fixated on the baby being too big.
I did have my reasons to be freaked out about the birth. The first birth (with the twins) was not fabulous and mind you birth is not pleasant on any level.
The midwifes at the local hospital kept on insisting due to age that certain things would happen and that it might be classified as a high-risk pregnancy. Oh, how silly I thought.
I have already had a high-risk pregnancy with twins and all was well. I do understand things can change but why freak out the mum to be with what ifs. I ended up having a very healthy pregnancy and all was well with our third little person.
If help or intervention was needed to save the baby or myself I would have not stood in their way, however if it is not needed and all is well, then I say let nature decide when the baby comes and don’t intervene.
Maybe the hospital helped with my visions of horrible things happening while pregnant? I think they contributed in a small way. Wanting me to be induced for no actual reason, saying that I will develop gestational diabetes due to age I’m sure was not helpful. For the record, I had my third child naturally on his estimated due date and was lucky not to get gestational diabetes.
All my concerns were unfounded.
My baby was tiny compared to what my brain thought it would be.
This is what happened. I had a normal to smaller sized baby that was very healthy. Lucky nothing went wrong and all my fears were unfounded.
All the scans kept on saying how small it was going to be, however, I could not tell myself that this would be the case. I was freaking myself out.
It also could have been the fact that my second pregnancy with Alexander lasted longer than my first. The twins were born at 34 weeks and 2 days. Alexander came exactly at the 40-week mark. This meant more time to grow. More time for anything else to happen… I did not know but I knew that anything past 34 weeks was overdue for me.
Did you do this?
Are you currently pregnant and freaking yourself out?
What is the weirdest thought or dream that you have had while pregnant?
I just want to say that all the things that you are thinking could happen will most likely not happen so just relax and enjoy the day. Enjoy the time being pregnant if you can, and if you are able take a nap. You might be too busy soon to rest so get in now. Although this might be hard if you are working or have other children.
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The baby/child in question is annoyed, upset and in pain and likewise so are the parents. Oh and other kids who live in the same house.
Our little boy is teething again and it has taken a toll on everyone.
Mainly our little boy is affected but all of us have suffered from the following:
No sleep!
If you did get to sleep you are woken by screaming and crying from the baby.
Once up and dealing with the crying baby he is upset at you and not letting you help him.
Once up and trying to soothe him dealing with a very upset child that does not know what he wants due to being so much pain.
Hubby nearly falling asleep in a business meeting.
One of the girls nearly having a nap in maths class and the other girl has just been very tired and annoyed.
As one kid today said, “I would rather be sick than have an upset baby” Oh so true.
My little boy has been upset and unwell all week. This photo was taken on the 30th of May. He is getting more teeth and this makes him sick, throw up and just not want food. At least he was drinking water.
Although I don’t want to be sick to just have a happy baby, I understood what she meant.
Our little boy is not coping with teething well at all. On the 7th of June he will be seventeen months old, and every time he has gotten teeth this has happened.
He gets multiple teeth at the same time and due to this suffers very badly with the pain.
His reaction to this pain is to hit his head into the floor or to try and smack it on teddies, objects or anything actually.
I have been trying to reduce the pain by giving him painkillers, however last night he was spitting it all out and not wanting to open his mouth to accept any.
How can you help someone if they don’t allow you to give them the medicine.
Finally at about 11 pm or later he allowed us with some tricks up our sleeves to give him some painkillers. Once it kicked in he was a little happier and more calm.
Phew!
No more screaming in my ear. I really think his constant screams could make me go deaf.
I know he is in pain, I know he does not understand.
I cuddle him and try and console him the best way I can. However it is hard when he squirms like he does not want to be on my lap at all.
He acts like he cannot get comfortable. He really does not know what he wants. The only thing that he would want, would be the pain to go away and to not come back.
Have you had issues like this with your kids when they were teething? Are you going through this now? Let us know what worked for you.
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The below post was written near the end of the Easter School holidays this year. Now we are in the winter school holidays and I am not sure that it will be much different. What about you?
Or have you been driven mental by the kids constant demands? Maybe you have found it difficult to keep kids occupied and busy while they are off school?
I don’t know about you, but I have a hate love relationship with school holidays. Yes, I know this term is usually written as a love hate relationship, but I think my way expresses more of how I feel.
The holidays are nearly over. Maybe I should be awarded a medal for survival or at the very least managing to keep people happy.
Would this award ceremony have others that have survived too? It could become a thing for parents that have lasted through countless trips to the shops, playground, park, and the millionth time watching your child’s favourite film.
Playing in parks is always a favourite thing for my kids to do. It allows them to run wild, explore and to just burn off energy that is not able to be done inside.
So what have we been up to these school holidays?
Went to the movies to see Batman LEGO Movie, Boss Baby, and Beauty and the Beast.
Spent time at parks.
Went to indoor play centres.
Watched countless movies at home.
Cooked.
Played with friends kids.
Had playdates.
Did craft.
Read books.
Went to the Easter Show.
Tried to sleep in… this really has not happened but the attempts have been made.
Also there have been many meltdowns, tantrums, and fights over the school holidays.
Kids have not been doing as they are told. Not listening to me and being downright rude and naughty.
I am actually craving some alone time.
Time that does not have yelling kids, noise or anything that might annoy me.
Time that will allow me to finally get a few things done rather than bits of everything and never get a chance to get back to it.
Don’t get me wrong, I do love the fact that holidays allow you to not be anywhere if you don’t want to.
So what do I love about school holidays?
Able to stay in your PJ’s all day.
Don’t have to make any plans.
Don’t have to pack lunches everyday.
Spending time with my lovely kids.
Seeing fun films that normally are just for kids, but since you have kids with you it is fully acceptable to watch these fun films.
Fun days out with the kids and hubby.
Things I don’t like or hate about school holidays:
No alone time.
Constantly on the go.
Never a chance to get something done for me.
Kids arguing and fighting. Although this happens when it is not school holidays, the fights seem to be amplified during holidays.
This is what it has been like when the kids have been naughty. Oh the joys of the holidays.
Wednesday the kids go back to school and Friday the baby will be in care. He is usually in care on Tuesday’s as well but this week it is a public holiday so we are all on holiday still.
I am looking forward to Friday. It will be a day that I can have some quiet time. Alone time. Time just for me. Kids will be in school, the baby will be at care, and hubby will be at work. I will be able to focus on some much needed tasks that I wish to get done.
Although I have a list of things that I wish to get completed, I most likely will be just sitting down and loving the peace and quiet of being in the house all by myself.
What do you look forward to after kids go back to school? Maybe you have not had a break due to working as well as trying to entertain kids during the school holidays.
Some plans for me:
Get my hair done
Have a hot bath and not be interrupted
Spend some time working on my blog
Catch up on some television
Finally get stuck into my screenwriting course that I have not had the chance to do
Get some exercise
And so much more
Let us know how you coped these school holidays and what you are looking forward to do once the kids are back at school?
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My very tired boy at hospital the other night. He was not very well here and just in pain and exhausted.
Lately there has been one drama after another. Well maybe not a drama but something that is not good.
It all started when Lillian broke her wrist.
Days after Lillian hurt herself my right eye flared up. It was inflamed and looked horrible. Picture a violent red eye that was puffed up and weeping. Yes, I was a picture of glamour.
I woke at 3am on Friday after Lillian hurt her arm and realised my eye was all puffy, weeping and inflamed. In fact, my whole right eye seemed sealed shut. Not good, not good at all!
I took an antihistamine tablet and hoped that it would help my eye go back to normal. Sometimes I have an allergic reaction and my eyeball looks like it is falling out of my face, again not an attractive look.
Unfortunately, it did not work.
Me with my very sore eye. It was horrible and painful. I really just wanted to sleep.
Due to the antihistamine tablet not working I thought I might have conjunctivitis. I went off to the doctor and had all the relevant checks, it was determined that it was bacterial conjunctivitis and I was recommended to get Chlorsig drops to make it all go away.
Now this first doctors visit was on a Friday. I woke up on Saturday my eye was even worse! It was horrible and just a nightmare to say the least.
I tried to go to the local doctors but no one could see me. I ended up at the hospital to get another doctor to check my very sick and sore eye. This doctor decided it was viral conjunctivitis and not bacterial so therefore the Chlorsig drops were not working. The doctor from the hospital recommended some natural tears and other drops from the chemist.
Now armed with my new drops I used them all weekend but come Monday my eye was even worse than the before. Nothing I was doing or was recommended to do use was helping!
Off to yet another doctor I went on Monday morning. This doctor said there was nothing I can do and it will just go away. Geez what a waste of time it was seeing this person! My eye was sore, inflamed, puffy, violently red and constant weeping clear fluid like tears. It was horrible! I was starting to look like someone with a horrible disease.
I then spoke to my sister who told me it sounded like allergic conjunctivitis. I had no idea that you could get allergic conjunctivitis. My sister told me that she took a antihistamine called, “Zaditen” and it solves her issue when it happens to her eyes. I raced out to get some Zaditen drops. I managed to get a pack of the sterile single dose units. The drops were not available due to the manufacturer not having stock available. How annoying I thought, but was thankful that I could get some even though the single dose units were more expensive. I just wanted to fix my very sore eye and at this stage the cost was not the issue, I just hoped that it will fix my eye.
The Zaditen drops helped a bit but my eye still felt very sore and not well. Every time I bent over it throbbed. It also felt like there was something in it although there was nothing.
I decided to use one of my free days without kids to find the underlying cause of my eye problem. I made an appointment to see the local optometrist and they decided that there was something wrong. The optometrist thought it could be blepharitis and this would mean that I would need to see an eye specialist. The specialist is the only person that can prescribe the medicine I would need.
Since I did not have an appointment at the eye specialist that day (Now Tuesday) I just had to sit and wait to get seen. This was very annoying as I had to have my eyes dilated and therefore could not see and it meant that I could not use my laptop or phone for work while I waited. It felt annoying to lose a day without kids waiting at the doctors but I was pleased that I might figure out why my eye was so sick and sore.
Finally, I saw the eye specialist and this is a doctor that I have seen before on other occasions. He took one look at my eye and told me that I had a mild case ofIritis. Oh no notIritis again.
I had a bad case of this when I was studying for my post graduate degree online. I could not see well due to the drops given to me, plus I was in a lot of pain and light made it worse. Reading things online and dealing with horrible headaches and doing work from degree was extremely hard at this time. I was grateful that this time it was a mild case but it did make me angry that all three doctors that I saw could not tell me this. I know that they are not really specialists with eyes and that might be why, although it still annoys me.
My eye specialist told me to take a steroid eye drop and that has helped. I go back for a check-up next week and hope that it is getting better. It feels a little better although I ran out of the drops and had to get more. I ended up having a few days break with the drops so I hope that this does not cause an issue.
During this whole issue with my right eye I ended up getting something in my left eye… yes more annoying. It apparently was something that stems from a virus only kids get and therefore I got it too! Delightful!
As I write this the left eye is cleared of anything horrible, and the right eye feels better than it has been for a long time.
While Lillian was in pain and suffering with her cast, I was suffering with my eye issues, and the baby has been teething for the last five or so weeks. Alexander has been getting his molars and the last 2-3 weeks have been hell.
My very tired boy at hospital the other night. He was not very well here and just in pain and exhausted.
On closer inspection, I have also realised that Alex is getting more teeth plus the molars, he sounds like he was about to lose his voice and had a terrible cough like he has gunk on the back of his throat. He sounded sick. He really was not well at all. I thought that once his teeth broke through the gum all might settle. However, it never happened, he seemed to be getting worse.
He has been in so much pain that he has been trying to smash is face into the floor and hit himself with his hands or any object that is close by. He was a mess. He was not happy and screaming the place down.
I have been keeping up the pain medicine to help him out but whatever I gave him never seemed enough. I gave him Nurofen and then would give him Panadol to keep him happy. I made sure to keep alternating to ensure that he was as pain free as possible but to overdose him either. Hours after I gave Alexander painkillers he would scream, cry, and start hitting his head on the floor. Oh gosh! What to do???
I tried to cuddle him, he wriggled and wriggled and screamed at me.
I put him on the floor to explore and he just laid there and screamed at me.
One day that he did this I decided he looked so tired that he needed to rest. I got him ready for bed, put him in his cot and soothed him the best I could do. I said good night to him and walked out of the room hoping that soon he would go to sleep. However, he worked himself up and he threw up all over his bed and clothes. I cleaned him up, gave the bed fresh sheets and I also needed new clothes to. I even gave him a bath to make him feel better.
He fell asleep while I was cuddling him, I thought that the best place for him to rest was his bed. I put him in his cot and quietly walked out. About an hour or so later I heard screams and crying. I raced in to see what was up. Alexander had thrown up all over his sheets again!
I then tidied up the bed, the baby, gave him yet another bath and got myself new clothes again too. Gosh not good. My poor little boy was very sick.
I took him to the doctors on Monday the 13th March. The doctor we saw said that there was nothing wrong and it was just teething. This doctor said to just keep him hydrated and give him painkillers and all should be good. I asked about the fact that he sounds horse and will lose his voice? What about the throwing up? How about the coughing? I asked if it was a chest or ear infection? Again, I was told no, and that it was just teething.
Alexander was not eating much but I put this down to his sore mouth and getting new teeth. He was completely off his food on Wednesday the 15th of March and threw up again. He refused water, formula, and food all day! I decided to take him to the hospital for a second opinion.
Not only was no painkiller helping, he was now not eating or drinking and was screaming the place down and trying to smash his face due to the pain. I was at a loss of what to do help him.
The nice doctor and team at the hospital saw to us very quickly. The doctor concluded that he had bronchitis. He did think it was viral but gave him some steroids for the chest and lungs and some antibiotics to see if he responded while we were at emergency. He looked better after the medicine and the paediatric doctor that was not on call suggested that a blood test would confirm if antibiotics were needed for more treatment.
When the doctor came to talk to me about a blood test for our little boy he was asleep.
Alexander has had days and days of not sleeping and just screaming, so I really did not want to wake him. He looked so peaceful and I was happy that he was finally sleeping.
The doctor told me that they would need to put a cannula in his hand to get blood so the doctors could test. This doctor then said that it would be very traumatic for the baby and he would need to be wrapped up and held in order to not have him move when they attempt to get blood. Geez this would be horrible.
I would have loved to get the blood test to confirm if something was indeed wrong or not. However, the doctor and I thought it would upset him too much. At this stage, all his vital tests were coming back normal. The doctor said that he was going to give me a script for antibiotics regardless, so I thought it best not to put Alexander through the stress of trying to get blood out of him.
In the end, I chose to leave the hospital after Alexander woke up. I did not get the blood test due to the torture it would cause my little man. I filled the script for the steroids and antibiotics and our little boy now finally seems to be on the mend.
Yesterday, the 18th of March he finally ate something. Yes, he was refusing to eat or to really drink his formula. He was having some water but not much. He ate some mushed up Weet-Bix with some milk. Today the 19th of March he ate some more Weet-Bix as well.
Alexander’s appetite seems to be back. He is still in a bit of pain but is happier and his cheeky self is back.
As you can imagine having a kid who is in pain due to a broken wrist, you’re in pain due to a very sore eye, a personal health scare (Don’t worry all is fine and more on the blog later), and then a sick baby who is screaming all the time has not been fun at all.
I would just love it all to stop and to have some time where no one is sick, I don’t need to go to the doctors or deal with screaming or upset anyone. It will be nice when Alexander can go back to childcare and then I can have some time again for me.
Can I just go somewhere with room service? Maybe a lovely island resort would do the trick.
I think my eye was sore and got worse due to stress. I have read online that anti-inflammatory foods can help, therefore I have made sure my diet has a lot of these, such as olive oil, nuts like almonds, fruits like strawberries, blueberries and oranges.
I know everything on the whole was okay and would be fine, however it felt horrible. Dealing with it all mostly by myself was annoying, exhausting, stressful and hard. It would have been wonderful to hand the kids or other responsibilities to hubby or someone that could help and I would be able to just have a break.
Have you had a time where everything seems like it is going wrong?
Have you felt like it is never ending? I do and at times it felt like it was never going to get better.
Alexander has been eating more, drank more and seems like he is happy. He is his old self again. It is nice to see and I’m grateful that he is not screaming at me constantly and is getting better.
My danger child, the future rock climber and explorer.
Alexander is an adventurous and energetic little boy. He loves to explore new places, play with new toys, climb and just get into mischief. A normal child really.
He is very taken with stairs and any stairs he has to climb. It is a struggle to keep him away and sometimes it is just easier to leave, it is safer to take him to an area that is safer and I don’t need to be on constant alert.
Last Wednesday I tried to take Alexander to baby time at the local library. It did not go well. I was very early and I tried to play with him and to read books while we waited. This did not work out well. I was going to go somewhere else but baby time was not going to be long so decided to wait.
On one of the trolleys that they have the books on the library had the stereo system for the baby time. Alexander decided to push this like a walker and nearly bumped into people and the wall. Not good.
My danger child, the future rock climber and explorer.
I then distracted him and he got busy crawling in and out of the bottom of a book trolley and then sliding on a book. He thought this was a lot of fun. I spoilt the fun and took the book off him. He then decided that he wanted to remove books from the shelves and just put them on the floor. Oh gosh!
Many other mums and dads had arrived now and I got chatting with one other mum. I was one talking to her for a few seconds and Alexander had climbed the stairs all by himself while I chatted with this mum. Geeez!!!!
I saved him from coming down and then baby time started. I thought that the music, songs and other kids would make him stay with the group and not want to explore the stairs again and everything else in the library.
He did not want to stay with the baby time group and this meant I was up and down due to his obsession with the stairs. Alexander even visited the quiet reading area and nearly put his hand on a mans leg while he was engrossed in his book. Oh my gosh!
My baby will not sit still.
He was climbing and doing all sorts of things that were not appropriate in a library. I know they expect babies to be a little noisy when they are there but the library is not an obstacle course or baby gym.
After all this back and forth I left to Alexander’s annoyance. I was exhausted racing after him every two seconds.
I did look around and no other baby was exploring or doing what Alexander was doing. The other babies were in the group, sitting nicely or staying with their parents. Not my little boy, he was off and interested in everything but the baby time we came to see and experience.
Today Alexander is fourteen months old. Yes only two months after turning one and he now seems so much more grown up. He has been doing the following things:
Walking
Trying to run
When walking trying to step down if there is a step. He has done it a few times if the step is not high, if it is a higher step he turns around and does the crawl as if he is getting down from a big step.
Laughing
Playing with his sisters
Putting his toys in all draws and in all areas of the house. You know where he has been due to the toys scattered throughout the house.
Blowing raspberries
Making music with his hand on his mouth to make different sounds.
Having fun at playgroup. He takes a while to warm up to the place and when we first went he was a mess (he had crying fits and was shaking, just not happy and therefore I took him home). He has settled in well and yesterday he played well and explored all the toys and the whole hall that playgroup uses at the school.
While at playgroup he saw that other kids liked one of his favourite toys. He decided to pick up the toy and move it to the other side of the room and then walked away. He did not want any other kids to play with it so he made it difficult. Talk about naughty but it is also a clever thing to notice this. It shows he is really thinking and reacting to his environment.
One boy who I chat to and know his mum took my hand to show me some toy or to play. I walked with him a bit and asked what toy we were off to look at. Alexander saw this and had a breakdown. He screamed and cried. He climbed down the stairs super fast, walked with record speed to make sure this little boy knew that I was not his mummy and that he was my child not his. He then wanted a huge cuddle and moved this boys hand and body away from me. He really did not like the idea that another child was wanting attention from me and it was not on!
Joking around and laughing at mummy and daddies jokes
Loves cuddles
Loves his teddies
Loves the outdoors and is very happy being outside. We have not been able to do this due to non stop rain but I hope that the rain stops for a while now.
Eating more food and tasting different food. He is a good eater and is very good with new tastes.
Does your little person love to explore? I found it interesting that my little boy was not interested in baby time at all!
What about your baby/child?
Did you find that other kids just sat and listened to the show or event that you went to? Aside from your child that likes to roam and explore! Mine could not sit still.
Maybe it is the age? He could just not be that focused or ready for baby time yet.
When the baby is asleep I try and be super quiet. I must say that trying not to make a sound is very hard indeed and even harder when you live in an old house.
The floor creaks, the doors too and so does the bed when you roll over and even get in and out of it.
I carefully step on certain floor boards and not others.
Howard from The Big Bang Theory showing Bernadette how to avoid the squeaky floor by doing his very clever obstacle course.
When I get to a certain point of the hallway and near enough to my door I hold onto the door frame and quietly jump across to the carpeted floor.
I don’t think this is a silly way to get to my bed and room, but hubby recently watched me in full ninja mode and he was finding it rather hilarious.
Even on a recent episode of the Big Bang Theory, Howard notices that the floor in Halley’s (Bernadette and Howard’s baby) room is squeaky and makes a lot of noise. He is unable to enter Halley’s room without the possibility of waking her. Raj and Bernadette think of ideas that will allow Howard to enter Halley’s room without touching the floor. (See it is not just me that is having the same thoughts). I know some of these ideas are not good ones but worth a look and a laugh.
I even think that the baby has a sensor.
The baby even knows when I have crept into my bed and magically put my head on the pillow.
It seems like this is the moment that he screams the place down and sounds like he is possessed by demons when he does. Yep horrible timing all round.
I have been thinking it is a conspiracy against me. I cannot do anything without someone yelling, screaming or hurting themselves. Yes everywhere I turn lately there has been a drama.
Due to the constant drama of the house I have been really trying to maximise my sleep and down time. This means more creeping around to ensure that the house does not give my presence away.
You might wonder how Howard resolved his issue about Halley’s noisy floor. Well it all got fixed, well by fixed all was good if you were happy to do an obstacle course. Not practical but very funny.
I’m not going to go to the crazy solution Howard did on the Big Bang Theory and for now I will just do my crazy stepping on certain floor boards and trying to jump onto the carpet in my room quietly so not to wake anyone up.
I even have strange thoughts that moving the sheets or turning over in bed might signal the baby to wake up. Would it be too loud?
Don’t worry I still think I can hear a crying baby while I’m in the shower and there is no baby crying.
Do you have an old house? Do you try not to walk on floorboards so that they don’t creak and wake the baby or kids?
Does your hubby or partner think you a bit odd for your silly mission impossible moves? Mine does, but if the baby wakes I will be dealing with it so ninja moves it is.
I need to be in stealth mode to make sure that he stays asleep.
I know a cat photo is strange to put in this post. I did look for a photo of an annoyed mum or parent. Or even kids being silly. I thought that this annoyed cat summed up my feelings and might even represent some of my facial expressions over the holidays.
I love summer.
I love holidays.
However I am over the craziness of the school holidays and keen for kids to go back to school. There I said it. Lately everything is a drama, and I am so over it.
When is my turn to take a holiday????? I have been trying to use positive thought power to attract a family holiday to Fiji maybe, or possibly a working holiday just for me to Queensland or Melbourne. Who knows… I am just dreaming and putting it out to the universe at the moment.
I know a cat photo is strange to put in this post. I did look for a photo of an annoyed mum or parent. Or even kids being silly. I thought that this annoyed cat summed up my feelings and might even represent some of my facial expressions over the holidays.
One thing that I am not looking forward to is the weather getting cooler but one BIG thing that is making me smile is the hours that will be mine when kids and baby are at school and care.
Soon I will have some uninterrupted time. This time will be quiet. No kids yelling, no kids arguing and no baby demanding cuddles or screaming and crying. The joy of soon having two days to myself, aside from school pick up and drop off.
The girls start grade three on Monday and due to the baby being in care on the Tuesday I have organised something for me.
I’ve made an appointment to get my hair done. Yes some pamper time for mummy. It will be relaxing and so nice to do something for me and to be on my own for a change.
Are you looking forward to school going back? Are you over the kids acting feral and crazy lately? I know I am. I am longing for some lovely time to just be at home and to get things done. It could be blogging, sorting things out with the house or just sitting down and having some quiet time for me.
What are you wanting to do when kids go back to school? Let me know.
I know just announcing that I want to be different is a huge statement.
I know I can’t magically be Angelina Jolie or maybe Drew Barrymore. However, it would be nice to be able to magic up some things like a new house, more money or say kids that do as they are told? I can dream can’t I?
This is what I want to do more of this year. Relaxing in my garden or under a tree.
By different I mean do things differently, pare back, simplify, and take some time to just be.
In 2016 I was racing around like a mad person. I had a new baby and kids at school that required me taking them to many after school activities. This year I want to stop many of the after-school activities aside from two that the girls love and that is about it.
Now it is 2017 I would love to be a calmer and more productive year for all, more so for me as a mummy. I was the one dealing with carting people back and forth and trying to keep an annoyed and tired baby entertained while the kids had their time at guitar practice or other activity.
This year it would be a lovely change to go home and to just be. The only fight I see on the horizon for after school is getting kids to do their homework. Other than that, maybe tidying their room and helping around the house but that is a standard annoyance.
One other major annoyance I have had is the stress that goes along with getting kids to listen and do as they are told. I do try and keep calm but my voice gets raised and then I end up yelling after the millionth time of telling and asking for someone to do a simple task! Yes, frustrating to say the least.
So, this year I would like to yell less or maybe not at all. I know that I’m not perfect and being a real mum means that things don’t happen like the movies or the magazines, but it would be nice to have things go a little more smoothly this year.
Another major milestone is about to happen soon, our little boy Alexander is going to start day-care. I know some might not think day-care is a good idea but I feel that it will help his socialisation with others and especially kids his own age.
He will explore and learn new things and it will all help his development. I am rather anxious about this day but also to excited. The anxious part is Alexander is still very clingy to me and frets when I leave the room, I hope that he will love the place and forget about me when we are there. We are scheduled for an orientation day so that he can get used to the space and people, and I hope this helps him feel more secure at the day-care centre.
On the days that he goes to care I am hoping to get more done with the blog and the house. The alone time will also allow me to do things that I cannot do with kids, maybe get my hair done, go to the movies by myself, go to the gym or maybe do some laps in the pool, or how about finally go for a walk on my own without a pram. Oh, how I am looking forward to this.
I do hope that Alexander will love childcare, he is such a busy little person that I’m sure he will keep everyone on their toes and enjoy all the new experiences.
The twins started childcare a day a week once they turned one. It did them a world of good and especially me, due to no family nearby. I am on my own looking after the kids. Hubby works late so if something needs to be done I do it.
It was nice when I had that one day per week for just me. I could either plan to do something for me or whiz through the house and do a huge tidy up. It is so much easier to tidy without kids seeing what you are doing… and terrible if they see you chuck out their artwork or prized creations. (cue the screaming and tears!)
I am prepared that I will be upset for a few weeks until Alexander settles in and I hope that he likes it as much as I think he will. We will see.
This is me… well not really but I am pretending. I am spending some much needed time in the pool.
Lately I’ve been thinking of all the things that I would love to achieve this year. Some are huge and others are not. Many align to my calmer and simpler idea for 2017:
Cut down on after school activities
Less television time
More time with the kids
Less or no yelling
Be calmer
Do more exercise
Be happier
De-clutter the house to feel better
Days for just me (Mummy). I could be blogging away on my new laptop or just at the pool doing laps, or maybe seeing a film no else wishes to see and I finally can. It could even be a day at the spa????? A Pamper day for me…what a delightful thought.
A tidier and more organised home that makes everyone happier and calmer.
Do you have goals for 2017? Are they to just do less like mine? I know I have a full list of other things but if I’m not racing around to get to the other activities I have time to prioritise on the real tasks I wish to focus on.
I suppose I’m looking at what is important to me and my family. What are your priorities for 2017?
Maybe another way to look at new year goals is what annoyed you last year that you don’t wish to do ever again, this way you can simplify your year and make you happier at the same time.
I for one hated the fact that the kids and I only had one day per week to be at home after school. The rest was filled with activities I had to race to, and all the while keep a baby happy and sometimes this was not possible and I had a screaming baby.
Let me know what you have decided to not do in 2017 that will put a smile on your face. Send in your comments.
I cannot believe it is Christmas Eve and for that matter will be Christmas tomorrow!
2016 has gone super quick for me. I suppose looking after a new baby and two older kids makes things speed up. I’ve been racing around taking kids to school, picking them up, taking them to after school activities and more!
One other thing that I cannot believe is that my little boy, Alexander is nearly one. Yes he will be having his first birthday soon. He was born on the 7th of January so just a few weeks after Christmas he will have his first birthday party.
Merry Christmas, and I cannot believe that 2016 is nearly over.
Lately I have been thinking about all the wonderful things that have happened in 2016:
Our little boy was born.
We were lucky to survive life with a newborn and no sleep all while looking after our twin girls. Well mostly me and getting everyone to school with me having little to no sleep was indeed a miracle.
The girls did well in school this year and both had important jobs. One was in the SRC (Student Representative Council) and the other was in charge of taking the roll to the office everyday.
Alexander hit all his milestones some earlier than expected and has been wanting to walk ever since he was born. The last few months he has been lounge surfing. He is standing and taking a few steps but that is it at the moment. It won’t be long
Alexander is climbing chairs and anything he can find to climb.
The girls love their baby brother and although we have had a few accidents we were incredibly lucky that everyone was okay. The baby fell and smashed his face on the concrete path and therefore his front teeth all got smashed in and then all his teeth were wobbly. One other incident was when he was only a couple months old he was dropped into the sandpit head first.
It is nice to watch the kids all together when everyone is getting along. Cuddles, kisses and of course giggles.
I have faced very naughty kids lately but they have tried hard and are generally good kids. So I did purchase Christmas presents and now we have many things under the tree. So my annoyance at cancelling Christmas was not something that has happened.
I am now wondering what wonderful things will be in store for us in 2017. Next year is the year of the Rooster and according to reports it looks like a great year for me.
Are you in disbelief about the fact it is Christmas already? Did 2016 fly by fast for you as well?
What do you hope to do in 2017?
I have big plans for the blog and life. Alexander is due to start childcare soon, and this will allow me to get more done. He will only be going a few days per week, I hope he likes it.
I think I might have end of yearitis. It could be exhaustion, or maybe it could be called being very over term 4. I don’t know if I have the itis, but I do know that I don’t want to have to go to school drop offs and pick ups anymore, I am over all the after school activities and my brain is now telling me it is summer holidays.
Although my brain is thinking it is summer holidays it is not officially holidays at all. I even thought yesterday was Friday for part of the day, I was hoping that today was the weekend but it was indeed Tuesday and the kids needed to still be taken to school.
You can imagine my annoyance at the fact that Monday was not Friday and Tuesday was not the weekend. No sleeping in and no holidays just yet.
On holidays well wishing I was on holidays and relaxing in my backyard.
I really want to just stay at home and potter around and do whatever I want, well with kids as well so maybe the doing whatever I want will never happen. Regardless of doing things that I have been wanting to get to for ages, at least I will not have to pack school lunches, drop kids and pick them up from school and of course taxi everyone to their after school activities. I could just stay at home. I might even still be in my pj’s and not bother to change all day? Maybe that is something that can happen.
I love not having to be anywhere urgently or needing to be somewhere at all. I like the days where you can just have a relaxing fun day at home and everyone has a relaxing enjoyable time. Although some of these moments are short-lived due to the girls claiming they are bored and then suddenly wanting me to take them out which will require a huge drive in the car.
Tomorrow night hubby, the baby and I are off to the local high school to see the girls dance in the junior dance group. I have heard that it is a mixture of many different dances and one kid even told me that there is the chicken dance in there as well. It will be nice to see the girls dance as they have been very busy practicing each week.
End of year dances are a huge clue that the school is getting ready to wind up activities for the year. I am thankful for this as I would love to just be left alone for a bit and not have to take kids or people anywhere for a while. I do think that this is not going to be the case as my kids like to go places even if it is to someones house for a playdate.
I don’t think it is just me that is feeling like this. The twins have been overtired, yelling and carrying on more than usual. I am putting it down to they are over school, very tired and really need the holidays to start.
Are you wanting the holidays to start? Do you think you have end of yearitis too? Do you think they feel like they have started already?
Having warmer weather always makes me want to be on holiday. Have you noticed that your kids are over it all too?
