The Official New Mom Thread Part 2

[zalansky]

Hi all...

I just had to pop on real fast to tell Joats how AWESOME the brownies are!!! I've had 2 already today. Cam and I also just shared one. I thought I might share them with my sisters but forget that. They are mine, all mine! And with PMS on the move, they are really all mine. Did you make them from scratch? I swear they are the best I've ever had. I made Ghiardelli brownies last week and they were no where near as good so I am thinking these are 100% home made. Thank you again for the package, it was truly awesome and I've been telling everyone about it. And no I won't return the dress, honestly I have not bought from Gymboree in a while because Cam stopped growing so fast so she hasn't needed much. I can't wait to have pics done in the dress.

I have a question for you ladies. The kids are both scheduled for flu shots today at 2pm....an hour from now. I am sort of nervous, we've never had them for Connor but since he's been in school and brought home many illnesses so far I thought it best to get them flu shots. Connor seems to have picked up another cold in the past 2 days so I am not even sure they will give him his. If they get the flu from this I will die. Any experiences?

 

[floridafam]

I just heard on the news that Bo Schembechler has died. He was the U of M football coach for many years. How sad.

zalansky,

You probably don't want to hear this but both of my kids got violentally ill after their flu shots. DS has asthma and is supposed to have one. Well, a few years ago they were nowhere to be found. I finally found out that the local health dept. had some so I took both kids there. They were only giving them to kids with asthma and to siblings.

It was a very easy shot-very quick and much less painful than a regular shot but they will never get it again.

There are medicines out there to take if you get the flu. I think it's something called amatadine or something that sounds like that. That's what they were giving to kids with the flu in Michigan a few years ago.

This is just our experience. Yours may be very different.

 

[Alice28]

Z- inquiring Gymbo minds want to know- which dress is it?

I don't have any advice on the flu shots- my kids have never got one. I've never had one for that matter.

 

[llij]

Zalansky - My kids have had the flu shot before and John just had his first one a few weeks ago. So far (knock on wood), we have never had any adverse reaction from it. I hope all goes well this afternoon with the shots.


I finally got my exchange package mailed off today! Hopefully, it should arrive on Monday or Tuesday at the latest. I wasn't sure if my buddy was going to be out of town for the holiday so I hope it gets there on Monday in case she goes out of town.


I better get back to the books or should I say papers!! I'll catch up with everyone later.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Hi again! Robin, I just wanted to tell you, some book sthat Robert really enjoys--"Toad Rage" and the follow-on, "Toad Heaven", anything "Pirates", anything "Star Wars". Anything at all to do with weaponry. We're huge fans of the D&K books--probably have a couple dozen. They come in every subject, and have a ton of information in them.

You know what our school does, each child has to buy an agenda, starting in 2nd grade. They're printed with the school name, but I'm sure they get them from some outfit. They have calendars and places for each subject on each day, to list homework. Jocelyn's is more involved since she's middle school. Robert's teacher and I both sign his daily--there's a place to write a quick note. His teacher does a weekly newsletter, but I found several in the bottom of his backpack along with his "I Love NY" project sheet, several spelling lists, and Elvis! I'm a little surprised your son's teacher isn't communicating more, but maybe she thinks the kids communicate better than they do. I know Jocleyn will tell me everything, but Robert's much more interested in snack! And handwriting is a perpetual boy thing. Sigh! I wish I had more positive advice to give you.

 

[fabumouse]

. If they get the flu from this I will die. Any experiences?

You cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine, as it is not live vaccine. Some people develop a response that seems like the flu, but that is the immune system reacting to the dead virus. The CDC has a ton of pamphlets on this. Hope it goes well.

ETA - I had to cut this short as I got a phone call, but we all got the flu vaccination this year because the flu can be deadly to small children (I think often due to dehydration). If I understand correctly, even though the flu vaccine only protects against a small number of flu strains each year, just having that protection will lesson the severity of the illness from most flu strains.

I was very skeptical on this whole thing until my MIL really got on my case and provided me with tons of information on the vaccine. Once we had children, we've been pretty consistent - except for the year *after* Dh got in a cab wreck on his way to the shot -for some idiotic reason he kept relating the two.

With that said, they still use small amounts of Thimerosal as a preservative in the flu vaccine, and that's enough for many parents to stay away from it.

 

[Strawberry Lemonade]

z - Lucas had the flu shots last year (2 doses because he was a baby) and I saw no reaction from him. He would have had this year's already but the office's supply is late. Good luck!

GM - Sorry you have to make that decision about your work. I hope everything goes well.

lissawynn - That really stinks about your couch. Can you slipcover it for the time being so nothing else happens to it?

Alice28 - That pinkeye better stay away!

ff - I had just heard about that coach. How sad.

My headache is pretty much gone.

 

[Hillbeans]

Z - I've never gotten a flu shot nor have my children.

I don't think the majority of illnesses children bring home are the flu- they are mostly colds and coughs.

I know some people who are susceptible to getting the flu and they get the shot each year, but I probably won't get the shot unless I get a wicked case of it one year or if my kids' doctor tells me to get them theirs, but he didn't mention it at our last visit.

 

[DisKim]

I've been having trouble with my computer at home and it is killing me not to be able to post. I keep losing posts left and right.

lissawynn - I'm so sorry to hear about your sofa! I'm glad everything else was okay.

Hillbeans - I was cracking up about your photo session. I don't know too many moms who can report that taking pictures is easy. Alex can't smile normally for pictures. There is an episode of Friends where Chandler can't help but smile weird every time he is in front of a camera. I always think of that when we have Alex's picture taken.

Robin - I can soooooo realate to your school problems with Sam. He sounds just like Emily. I was floored to find out in November of her 1st grade year that she was lagging behind. I had no note or phone call and the teacher had the nerve to tell me she was 95% sure Emily would be held back. She told me that in November. I questioned her about why she was telling me this so early and why was there nothing we could do to prevent it. Well, she still failed her but I fought it and had her pushed to 2nd. I just knew it was the right thing to do. She ended up with the best teacher in the world and flourished in 2nd grade. Now, she is a wonderful reader and does very well in school. She, like Sam, has trouble with spelling. I don't think that will ever change. Oddly enough for an English teacher to say, I don't think spelling should make or break a student. Heck, college students have spell check now! Anyway, I'm yammering on, but I can really relate to your situation and his teacher sounds terrible. I would be upset too.

Well, I don't have anything new to report. You will all hear me complaining and stressing next week (just a warning) with Thanksgiving coming. I have so much to do this weekend. TRU has I-pod docking stations on sale for 30 bucks! I need 2 of them for Emmy and Alex. I bought them refurbished I-pods for their stockings. Well, the bell rang. Time to go!

 

[dizagain]

hi! I have a quick second to post, let's see how far I get..

Not much going on here. I've been hitting the different grocery stores for their deals - I'm doubling up since we want the same meal for T'giving and Christmas. I used my TRU coupon for the $10 gift card on a $75 purchase...yes, you do need the coupon. Darn, I only got one.

robin - hope thi pink eye clears up for good this time!! I, too, know what you are going through with Sam. Hannah has struggled with reading, writing, and spelling all along - she still manages to pull B's usually and sometimes an A, but teachers are always "concerned". What? How is she doing so well grade-wise, then??? She could not rhyme or understand the concept of opposites until the end of Kindergarten - I tried to have her tested and noone would even touch her as her problems were not severe enough. Grrrrr..school can be such a pain!


kim - that's cool about the Ipod things - I'll look into it. Wow - The Ipod is Hayley's main present...Santa is very nice at your house!!! Isn't Christmas fun?

zalansky - we don't have any flu shot experience, but the ped. wanted all four of us to get the shot because Carson is so young. I know DH will, but I'm not sure about the rest of us.

BnB - hope the play goes well and you can handle MIL with ease!!!!

lissawynn - ugh about your poor furniture! I'm just not sure how you are surviving this - you are absolutely superwoman!!!

ginamarie - I hope you can find the perfect job for you...

sl - hope you feel better! How's your supervisor doing today?

fabumouse - good luck with the meeting about Kailey. Hannah's spent her share of time thrashing on the ground as well...

justhat - I don't know what we "do" with Carson! He just got himself on a little schedule and we stick to it as much as we can without wigging out over it. He eats every 3 hours still and it is pretty on the clock the same every day. He eats, plays, and takes a cat nap on a little cycle - pretty funny. he gets a bath around 8 or so and usually takes a little nap until 9-9:30. Then he wakes up to eat and usually settles in to sleep in his bed pretty easily. He either wakes up around 3-4 to eat or sleeps to 5 or 6 and gets in our bed for a little while and falls asleep again. I feel very fortunate - I still think we're getting this blessing because Hannah was so awful and difficult!

Oh well, so much for this post - Carson is in a tizzy. Be back later!

 

[J&D]

Hi, everyone!

I'm getting ready to go out of town this weekend, so I don't have a lot of time to catch up with everyone.

I had a few thoughts on exchanges this morning - I don't think I'm going to do the holiday exchange although it sounds like a lot of fun. However, I *was* thinking of two exchanges we might want to do in the New Year. 1) Crap You Got For Christmas but Didn't Want and 2) maybe a book exchange later in the year of 4 or 5 books you'd like to pass on?

They actually do those exchanges over on the community/exchange board.

Loretta- Jenna got a flu shot last year, and she was fine. She is getting one next week. Her ped recommends it, esp with the threat of bird flu and a possible shortage of meds to treat it, so I'm going to follow the drs advice.

I'll try and check in from my parents' house. Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

[justhat]

I have no time to be on here really cause Henry is nonstop grouching today, but I just had to vent before I go insane. He just will not nap and has decided he does not like his swing since we came home from WDW so he's beyond tired and crying but not sleeping! I'd blame the cold but he's sleeping just fine at night so I'm not sure that's it. I just put him in his crib in an attempt to get him to fall asleep but all he's doing is screaming. And I can't just stand and hold him all day cause I have other things to do, like pack up my exchange package that now looks like it will go out tomorrow. Sorry again. All the stuff is ready and I was wrapping it with Madison while Henry slept for 20 minutes but could not finish and doesn't look like I'll get another chance till he's in bed at 6:30. Guess I'll go get him since it does not sound like he'll fall asleep anytime soon.

 

[zalansky]

Thanks everyone for your shot info - we just got back and both kids got the flu shot. Neither of them cried which was a relief! Also, the shots our pedi uses are Thimerisol free so that was also a relief.

And Fabu - thanks for that info - because someone had told me the kids could come down with the flu from the shot and they were obviously misguided and worried me for no reason!

As for the Gymbo dress - here it is!!! LOVE IT!

 

[J&D]

the shots our pedi uses are Thimerisol free

I was just coming here to post about that. Don't forget to ask if your dr has the preservative-free version of the shot. The regular version is safe, but some believe that the mercury in it can cause autism. Here is an article from Parenting Magazine.

http://www.parenting.com/parenting/baby/article/0,19840,1548968,00.html

Just sharing some info- let's not start a debate. I believe in vaccines, but I also respect those who don't!

Gotta run. My princess just woke up.

 

[nucpharm29]

I am so ticked off!!! DH and I decided since he had the day off, to go get our license plates and driver's licenses changed to Arkansas from Wisconsin. yeah, I know we've lived here now for 4 months, but we just renewed tags and licenses before we moved. Anyway, we got the license plates no problem, but for some reason, we had to have 2 forms of primary id for our driver's license. Just our wis. license and passport or birth certificate, sound easy enough, right??? Yeah, right, in a perfect world. I don't have acopy of my birth cert. and my passport expired 2 weeks ago!!! I don't think the lady would've even noticed the expiration date on the passport, but DH HAD to point it out. So, now I have to renew my passport before I can get a new license. Just trying to drag out this process as long as possible!

Alice--glad your eye is starting to feel better. I seriously need to make ADRs for our trip--wonder if I'll get to that today--probably not!

z--that dress is so cute! Glad the shots went well. My kids and I have never had problems with them. being in the healthcare field I always got one b/c of all the sickness around me daily. How are things with your dad??

gina--I'm sorry for whatever happened at work. That's a hard decision to make, going back full-time. We're here to listen if you need to vent!

diskim--Wow, Ipods for stocking stuffers??? I'm coming to your house for xmas! Hope you don't get too stressed over thanksgiving. I'm soooooo glad we are not having it here now. Leave the major stress to my mom!

Well, I should probably go. DH and I are sort of leading this church service project tomorrow. I'm just doing the childcare, but DH is coordinating volunteers to paint, repair, and landscape a local school. So he's running over there now with a carload of paint and supplies. And I"ve got child duty! I'm really excited about my shopping excursion tonight. If ya'll remember it's a charity event here called Holiday House, and 100s of vendors from around the state and country as well, have their holiday stuff for sale. I have my list to shop for my buddy, so much fun!!!!! And then we also get complimentary margaritas and appetizers while shopping. Have a great rest of your Fridays all!

 

[Alice28]

Hi all-

Z- love the Gymboree dress. I almost bought it for Molly, twice, but didn't. I did buy the top in the same pattern though.

nucpharm- VERY infuriating about the DMV. WHY did you DH have to point out about your passport? What a dork! I would have stomped on his foot or something.

Thanks Kim, Diz, BNB for all the advice with Sam. I will look for those Toad books. We love the DK books too, although I haven't bought any for awhile. We have had the Star Wars ones, and when they were into it, the Toy Story one was a huge favorite. I do have to say that the funny thing about his report card is under the 'reading' heading, where he got the 'below grade level' mark, he was then given all "S" or "S+" or "Developing at grade level" for all the other stuff-- effort, comprehension, etc. So I really don't get why she marked 'below.' There must have been some stupid standardized test he didn't make the mark too; that happened in both 1st and 2nd grade but his teachers said, "I know he can read better than that- I have heard him- I think he just maybe freezes during the tests."

The writing IS sloppy and sometimes barely legible when he's in a hurry. That I know needs to be addressed. He went into kindergarten not even knowing how to hold a pencil correctly, cause I could never ever coax him into coloring, writing, etc. It just wasn't his thing. So he's always been a bit behind I guess. It was a rude awakening to me to find out they were already supposed to know how to write letters and their name upon entry in kinder....I thought that was what kindergarten was for, but apparently that's now preschool's job.

Have fun at your parents Jen!

Sl- glad your headache is GONE!

There is a Trader Joe's thread on the CB. I feel the strong urge to go there either Sunday or Monday (first thing though, to fight the crowds) as someone said they had pumpkin bread and pumpkin butter- I'm sure it's as good as Williams Sonoma, but 1/3 - 1/4 the price! That and all their snacky stuff is to die for. I need some of it to have around next week, as the kids have the whole week off. Sam and his buddies get to go to Chuck E. with DH on the Friday for Sam's 'party.' We're not really doing a party per se, just buying the kids pizza and a butt-load of tokens. I should probably buy some cupcakes for them to eat when they come back here. And then Sam wants to go to Chili's for dinner with our family on his actual bday (the 28th). Sounds good to me!

Today I went to Walmart just for a looksie for the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I just want to SEE it....this Walmart had NO Disney toys at all, except for some princess stuff. And some of that was cute- Molly needs some of those crowns I saw for only $5 or so! But today was just for looking, so I didn't buy anything. Sometimes I get so sick of being at home all the time, it's fun just to go browse.

I was able to call WDWDining after Molly went down for a nap, and secure an ADR for all 7 of us at Kona our first night. I'm already drooling at the thought of it. I switched our Narcoossee's ressie to another night, and cancelled the Pirate Cruise. I may or may not add it in on another day. I then exercised and now I am just vegging for awhile. DH got sick last night, but still dragged his butt to work. He has a nightmare mess to deal with at work, and he couldn't not go....I feel badly for him. I think he either got some sort of food poisoning from his lunch, or it just was too greasy (um, KFC) and didn't sit well with him. I doubt it was food poisoning; he just is getting a real sensitive stomach as he gets older, but I better not nag him about it! It's like he just doesn't want to admit he cannot eat like he's 17 anymore. I can only stomach KFC about 3 times a year....it's just so heavy, but tasty!

 

[lissawynn]

And the building drama continues...I don't know if you all remember me telling you that we need a beam in what will eventually be our family room to support the upstairs. DH talked to the contractor about doing it, but it never got done. Well, today Frank came and put the beam in w/o telling DH. The job he did is NOT making DH happy. Apparently he did not put the beam on top of the block wall on the inside and outside of the house. Now DH is ranting and raving(and my FIL is here to add his .02)about this needing to be ripped out and fixed. He is refusing to call Frank right now b/c he's too worked up to talk. And so it goes on...

Robin - I wish I had some advice about Sam. Since I am not an elem. teacher, I get them when their bad habits and such have been going on for years, not that any of this is a bad habit on his part. I often see kids with issues that should have been addressed years earlier and they weren't. I agree that his teacher should have contacted you weeks ago regarding the quality of his work. Does his school require the teachers to send progress reports 1/2 way through the marking periods. Since I know you are a concerned and involved parent, I'm sure he'll get whatever help he needs. It's also a great credit for him to have a mom who is a teacher.
I can feel for your DH. Once I went away to college, I completely lost my ability to handle greasy foods. I think that's b/c I lived on turkey sandwiches and Lucky Charms for the first half of the year. I also lost abut 20lbs., too. I have been dreaming about KFC for the last two nights. I am a sad, sad woman.

nucpharm - Sorry to hear it was such an ordeal at the DMV. I hope you have a good day tomorrow. Good luck watching the kids!

justthat - I hope Hen settles back into his preWDW patterns for you. Do you have a bouncy seat? Jimmy lived in his for the first few weeks. It was a life-saver.

Zalansky - I have refused the flu shot both times I've been pregnant and I don't recall Jimmy getting one last year. I have a terrible memory when it comes to his shots and have to get him all dosed up by his 2nd birthday. Btw, the Gymbo dress is adorable.

J&D - Have a great weekend away!

dizagain - Score for you on all the grocery deals!

DisKim - I hope you have minimal stress next week. Good luck getting what you need at TRU. I have never been there, if you can believe that.

SL - How'd things go today at work? Did your boss make it through the day?

Hi to all the moms out there !

I just have to tell you all that my dad finally gave us an idea for his Christmas gift. He wants a new recliner. Because his birthday is in January, we're going to combine his gifts and get something really nice for him. I'm going to go looking tomorrow.

Have a great night all!

 

[Alice28]

lissawynn- the funny thing is, the teacher DID call me sometime in early October, during a teacher work day, to tell me Sam's progress- and all she did was rave about how hard he worked, how well-disciplined and responsible he is, and how she loves having him in her class. I think that's why I am like, "Then WTH with his report card, lady!?!?!" Maybe I am making a mountain out of a molehill and she will explain why she graded him that on Monday at his conference.

I think a recliner for your Dad is a terrific Christmas/birthday gift. However, the news about the beam being put in incorrectly is totally poopy news. You're making me nervous about our own remodel- they never seem to go super smoothly, do they.


Justhat- hope Henry settled down for you! I know how hard that is, and ALL of us have been moms of newborns before- I don't think any of us are going to be bent out of shape over a late exchange gift. We all know how impossible the post office can be with children. I used TO HATE going there so often when DH was gone....I still remember standing there sweating, trying to pacify a screaming baby Molly, and in between talking with the PO person, yelling at the boys to get back here and stop running around the place! Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.............not fun, not fun.

Speaking of mail, I had a good mail day today. My $50 Disney Gift card came from my earnings at Sunshine Rewards (I have another $125 to cash out next week- she's doing some sort of promo then, so that's why I am waiting), $20 in Toys R Us gift cards from Toys R Us, and Sam got a bday card with a check in it. Love mail days like this! Although I did get a bill for twice as much as it should be- don't get that one- we weren't late last month, or any time ever for that matter- I guess I have to call customer service on Monday. Fun.

 

[lissawynn]

I forgot to post that I'll be sending my package out on Monday. I need to get a few more things tomorrow and will not have things ready to mail before the P.O. closes.

I got my Gymbo shipment yesterday. I love the jammies I ordered. I also like the clothes I bought for DH's nephews and one niece. The stuff for the other two girls, I'm not so sure about, though. I don't even know why I bother putting any time and effort into their shopping. My gifts get tossed aside anyway.

DH called the contractor and he wasn't there. I hope he gets back to him tomorrow. This is going to eat at him until it's right.

Alice - I guess the only way to go into a remodel is to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Things really have gone well with the exception of a few things. I am not a tolerant person to begin with, compound that with being pregnant, caring for a toddler, and living in three rooms of a house, and that doesn't make for a great situation.

Jimmy fell asleep and I should be getting to bed, too. I'm rewatching GA and will probably head off after that. The teaser for next week's episode is really intriguing. I'm just hoping that I'm not too exhausted to watch it.


OH, I almost forgot...I got some Black Friday coupons in the mail. Gymbo is doing 30% off starting at midnight, TCP is doing 20%, and the Disney Store is doing some kind discount, too.

 

[nucpharm29]

Woohoo! I just got back from my "Margaritas and Merriment" (that's what they called it) shopping trip. It was so much fun! And I LOVED shopping for my buddy. I spent a little more than I planned, but xmas is about giving, right? I also got to catch up with some old friends and saw some of my new friends from here in town.

So, once I get my buddy's gift together, it should be in the mail Monday am! Hopefully, it won't take forever to get to her with the holiday and all. Well, off to bed for me--have to be at the church at o'dark thirty tomorrow!