The Official New Mom Thread

[lissawynn]

Hi ladies. Today was another boring in-service day for me. I just wish that all of our faculty could be trusted to use the day to get caught up on work in their classrooms instead of listening to speakers no one gives a heck about.

My weekend started out with a bang on Friday afternoon. I got to sit in a parent meeting and get "yelled" at by this jerk of a dad for almost 1/2 hour. I don't do well with that and was really happy to kind of tell him off nicely at some points during the yelling. Our principal actually had to come and sit in the meeting due to his behavior.
After he, his wife, and their daughter left, he stood outside of our building and yelled at them for about 10 minutes. Not only do I think he's physically abusive to his wife, I think he yells at his daughter all the time.
My nephew turned five on Saturday and like all good aunties, I bought him totally inappropriate stuff. I did get permission for the Play dough activity table and he seemed to like it.
I also got my engagement ring fixed. A couple of weeks ago I noticed my ring was making a funny noise. My stone was actually spinning in the setting. I immediately stopped wearing it. It was my grandmother's ring and could not be replaced if it was lost. I had my stone remounted in a new setting and am happy it got fixed.

Alice28 - I have absolutely no right to give anyone financial advice. I am a spender through and through. My DH is a saver, which is one of the reasons I married him. I knew he would be financially stable throughout our relationship and could count on him to make good decisions with "our" money. We maintain seperate checking accounts and mine is usually run down until payday. I'm not bragging about my poor saving habits, just highlighting how good it is for our marriage to have DH manage most of the money.
He was just offered a new job, which means little to no overtime. It's the same hourly amount he's making now, but he works A LOT of overtime and it's nice to have that extra $$$ to play with. Even with the loss of the overtime, we still make a very good living. I just need to learn not to spend all of my part!

DH is away tonight and Jimmy and I are getting sleepy. I think it's going to be an early night for us. Have a good night!

 

[DisKim]

Wow, I've had alot of catching up to do.

SL- Ew! Smelly bed linens! I think I would have slept on the floor! I always make sure guests have newly washed linens. That's just gross.

Alice28 - Your DH is probably just daydreaming about being home and his spending spree is a part of that. Do you think he is serious about doing all of these things? Also, do you have any tips for investing for the kids' college. I just have their money sitting in a savings account and I really need to do something with it. Of course, I'm sure they'll all get full scholarships to Harvard and I won't have to worry about it .

On the topic of spending, I just got back from buying furniture. I hate buying big ticket items. I'm pretty good with furniture though. I do the zero percent and pay it off before the term is over. I just finished paying for my son's furniture so I figured I could finally buy the computer desk and tv armoire I've wanted for so long. I am the spender in my family. DH hardly spends anything and it makes me feel guilty when I do. I like my kids to look nice so I spend a little too much on clothes for them. Also, I guess I could spend less on my wardrobe, but I figure if I have to work, I deserve a few nice things. We are getting socked by my DH's grad school. It's so expensive and we are going to be saddled with debt when he's done. I'm looking into starting grad school myself. The problem is that I want to study marriage and family therapy and there are no online programs for that (which makes sense) and there is no way I can add going to classes to working and having 3 kids.

 

[tkyes]

justthat - I wish I could give you info about Rochester, but I'm not very familiar with it. Sorry! I've heard it's very charming and a great place to live. As far as the cold - I don't know what to tell you. Yes, it can get very cold. Really, you aren't outside that much though when it gets that cold. You go from your house to your car to the store, etc.

Should I be giving Tyler other forms of cereal besides just rice cereal? He's been eating it for a month and doing very well on it.

Tamie

 

[justhat]

Thanks Tamie! Ya know, we ultimately want to live in the Phoenix area (well, I do, my husband could care less where we live!) and people always say "it's so hot there you'll hate it." Well, like you pointed out, I tell them "how often will I be outside when it's 110 degrees? I'll be travelling from my air conditioned home, to the air conditioned car, to the air conditioned store." I think though for me it's not so much the cold, but the lack of sun that we have around here. I don't know if MN is the same way, but in NJ (and even DC) the sky is basically gray from November through February or March. That constant overcast sky drives me insane (hence wanting to live in a very sunny state).

As far as cereal, I think it's okay to let Tyler try another type of cereal now. I had Madison on the rice cereal for about 2 weeks, then we tried the oatmeal for a week, then the mixed grain for a week, then we started on veggies after she was eating larger amounts of the cereals. I did each food for a full week since I have many allergies, including a nut allergy so I didn't want to risk Madison being allergic to something too. So far she's been okay with all foods, but we still haven't tried any nuts and I think I'll wait on that till she's 2. Since she was a little over 6 months when we started foods I heard I could have progressed faster than I did, but things worked out fine anyway. Oh, and I only did the rice cereal for a little longer than the others because we were out of town for the weekend during that time so I didn't want to start a new food till we were home. To this day, Madison likes the oatmeal cereal best (though now she eats regular oatmeal, not those baby flakes).

 

[DisneyPhD]

Alice28 - Your DH is probably just daydreaming about being home and his spending spree is a part of that. Do you think he is serious about doing all of these things?

I haven't had much time to cacth up on this, but I was thinking the same thing too. It might just be what is keeping him going. The questions is what is keeping you going? I can see how hard it would be with him making all these out of reality plans (that don't even include you.) when you live the reality every day. I hope when he gets home, just being home will be enough, at least for a while.

We are doing alright around here. 3 months until WDW for us. Looking forward to it. Lily is driving me crazy, but it really is the age.

 

[Alice28]

Oh boy, I haven't posted in a couple of days cause DH was so mad at me for putting some of his ideas on the backburner. It wasn't pretty. But things have cleared up now. It's hard arguing half a world away, and via email no less. It's not like I can go downstairs 30 minutes later and say, I'm sorry and have that be that. I know DH wants to treat me to some things too- it's not like I'm necessarily getting the short end of the stick, trust me. He just really wants to reconnect with the boys, and I think he wants to take some "grand" adventure with each of them to make up for the last 18 months. Whatever.

I rarely, if ever, lose my cool in public, but I almost did at Walgreens pharmacy today. My whole, entire life, I have had Kaiser health coverage. I think it's great, others don't. Basically, if you aren't familiar with it, Kaiser has everything- your OB, your internal med doc, your eye doctor, your pharmacy, everything is under one roof so to say (although they might be in different buildings). There's no paperwork each time you go, just a minimal copay and I know how to navigate the system.

Well, DH's work stopped paying for our Kaiser last month. They were incredibly generous for paying it for the last 13 months while he's been gone. Now we have the military insurance, tricare, which is supposedly great insurance. Long story short, I had to go to urgent care Friday night cause I had an infected ingrown toenail (gross----too much walking at disney maybe). The Dr. gave me a prescription for augmentin, a powerful antibiotic & vicoden for the pain (whatever- it wasn't THAT bad). So I go to Walgreens to drop it off, at 8:30 at night, and she says, "45 minute wait.'' My mom was watching a crabby Molly, so I said I would come back the next morning. I go back & he says that Tricare is saying they won't pay, cause you have another insurance provider. I think, "Huh.....they must think I still have Kaiser." I paid full price for the meds cause the pharmicist said after I get it straightened out I can get my credit card charge reversed ($115 and it was supposed to only cost me $6).

So, I call tricare this AM & they show no record of me having the 2nd insurance and if the pharmacy has an issue, to call them. So, I hoof it to Walgreens again and she is pretty snotty with me; she calls the insurance and they tell her I have to call back on my own phone and they will talk to me. Grrrrr...dig out my cell phone, call the tricare pharmacy hotline and they do have a flag on my account that I have another insurance. So, Mr. Friendly Customer SErvice rep tells me that the flag will be taken off in 24-36 hours and I can get my prescription refilled then, BUT if I am at the pharmacy right there, that the pharmacy can call him and he will verify I do have the insurance and it's ok to refund me the $$.

Are you still with me (bless you if you are still reading my ramblings). I drag Josh and Molly back into Walgreens (we were sitting in the parking lot) and I say the the lady, "Ok, I talked to the rep and they took the flag off of my account. He says if you call him right back, he will verify with you to override your computer..." The two pharmicists just look at me like I am a drunk, homeless person, roll their eyes, and say, "No. We won't do that. No way." I said, "What? He said it was not a problem?!?!" The head pharmicist (not a tech, the actual head honcho who was in his mid 40s or so) said, "No, we will not call them. That is their job to take the flag off. How I am supposed to take your word or their word? No, nuh-huh." And he AND the other lady ROLLED THEIR EYES AT ME. I WAS SO ANGRY! He THEN SAYS- "What are you so worried about anyway. Your credit card has a 25 day billing cycle. It's probably not even on your statement and we can reverse it before it's due anyway." I said, "Wow. All right then. I certainly know where I will NOT be getting another prescription filled next time." I was shaking I was so pi**ed off.

I mean, if it is their policy to not do that, why did they try and do it for me the first time I came in and then change their mind? Like they were wasting their precious time on me. And why did they have to be so dang snotty about it? And what business is it of his about my credit card? What if the cycle ended Sunday? Then I would be charged that amount and have to pay some sort of payment (and since it's on a card we carry a balance on, pay the interest).

I am SO writing a letter to that Walgreens manager. I don't know what the heck I am doing with manuevering through this new insurance, but I'm trying and I try to always be polite, say please and thank you, yadda, yadda and to have someone be so condescending and rude to me was way over the top for what I can handle these days!

I wanted so badly to say, "I would LOVE to not have to deal with you all and Tricare, but unfortunately my husband is putting his a** on the line each and every day for your freedom and freedom for peoples around this globe. Sorry you feel no need to help me out, jerkface."

UGHHHHHHHHHHHH....Calgon, take me away! Along with a few daiquiris!!!!!

 

[Alice28]

Back to topic at hand-

Tamie, yes I definitely think Tyler can try some new foods. For my kids, after they did OK with rice cereal for a week or two, I would try simple fruits and veggies. Like maybe applesauce first for several days; then bananas, carrots, etc. Sweet potatoes always seemed to be a hit. And pears.

Molly's new accomplishments: sitting on her own (not getting into position yet, but can sit for quite a long time with no support).

Two bottom teeth- and she BITES! Ouch!

She likes to grab her spoon and get it in her mouth. She also likes to eat Cheerios and these baby "veggie puffs." She's really good at the fine motor stuff!

When she's mad, she tons raspberries over and over and SCREECHES at the top of her lungs- it makes my ears rattle.

I'm trying to let her fall asleep on her own in her crib. Why is it she was a pro at this at 3, 4 and 5 months and now it's a battle. I've GOT to get her in her crib at nighttime too. She's still sleeping with me and I have got to get her in her own bed and settled before DH comes home. We did this with the boys at 6 months or so...I'm behind schedule.

 

[tkyes]

Baby food, really? Our Dr. said wait on baby foods until 6 months. He said do the rice cereal and then he said if he does well with that try oatmeal, etc.

edited to add: {{{hugs}}} robin! I'm so sorry! Insurance is so fun. Sounds like the Walgreens staff was just great! definitely write that letter!

 

[Alice28]

Baby food, really? Our Dr. said wait on baby foods until 6 months. He said do the rice cereal and then he said if he does well with that try oatmeal, etc.

edited to add: {{{hugs}}} robin! I'm so sorry! Insurance is so fun. Sounds like the Walgreens staff was just great! definitely write that letter!

Different doctors say different things. Basically the range is 4-6 months to begin cereal and then very basic baby foods. If you have food allergies that run in your family, you may want to wait to the 6 month mark. How old is Tyler again? About 5 months? I don't want to encourage you to do anything different than what your doctor said, but if you want you can certainly try just a teensy bit of stage 1 bananas or applesauce. Sometimes I mixed it in with their cereal.

 

[gwcollins71]

Hi everyone.

I was off Monday for Columbus Day and I can see why people want to stay home. It was really the first time I was alone with Lily all day since those first few weeks. IT WAS WONDERFUL! She was giggling and laughing most of the day. However, I didn't get any grading or homework done but we hung out all day.

I told my husband that I want to stay home as soon as we can manage it. Hopefully, within another year. It will take that long to finish paying of our outstanding debts. I can't wait.

Ummm, is it normal to skip a period after they've began again? I'm starting my 3rd cycle of pills and I had my first period right on schedule last month and this one is almost 1 1/2 weeks late. I've taken two pregnancy tests in the last week and they've both come out negative (WHEW!) However, my friend still hasn't arrived. I have an OB-gyn appt. on Friday. I'll ask her then.

The whole idea of irish twins really scares me. My sister has a set. My nephew just turned 2 and my neice is about to turn a year. Talk about a handful. At the same time, I was a little disapointed when the test came out negative. I should get my head examined.

We have officially refinanced the house. YEAH! Happy dance. No more PMI. Our mortgage payments are a little lower than they were before the great escrow mishap and hubby is paying off the credit cards too. I finally feel a little less stressed about money. Perhaps there will be a Disney trip in the near future.

Silly question (will help with Dis planning). How much did your tax refunds change post baby? This year we'll have had the new house for a full year as well as the new baby. Does anyone have any ideas?

I've been up since 2 am this morning. I don't know why, but I couldn't sleep. I did lessons and finally got on the board. The funny thing is that Lily didn't wake up for her nighttime feeding tonight. What a little stinker! I don't have to haul my cookies out of bed and she sleeps through the night.

I guess I should be happy. She hasn't been doing that lately. Actually, she's been getting up an extra time in the night for the last week. She's also cutting her first tooth. I caught my cousin actually rubbing wine on her gums this past weekend. Why do people assume that its ok to give her all sorts of stuff? I can't stop my hubby, but my inlaws, my cousins, my parents? I almost hit the roof.

I need to go downstairs and make hubby's lunch and empty the dishwasher. Have a great day!

Gretchen

 

[lissawynn]

Hello everyone. Jimmy still has no teeth. Tons and tons of drool, but no teeth. He, too, blows raspberries all the time. He even manages to spray us with the saliva from time to time.
School is slowly getting better. I still have to teach and grade about 120 writing assignments before the marking period ends on 10/28. I'm in for a great Halloween!

Hope you're all having a good day!

Alice28 - Our country's health insurence system just stinks. Our contract is expired and with the offer our board is making, I'd owe them $400 during the last year. I know we've been spoiled by not paying for insurence, but OWING them money? That's just not going to happen.

 

[justhat]

Lissawynn, Madison was the same way. She drooled nonstop from the time she was 6 weeks old. She was constantly gnawing on her hands and whatever else she could stuff in her mouth and the drool was so bad that she had to wear a bib everyday or her clothing would get soaked. Everyone who saw her said "she must be teething", and we'd just sorta grin and nod cause we never saw a tooth! Her 1st two teeth came in right as she turned 10 months old. I said 1st 2 cause she got 1 tooth a couple days before she turned 10 months and the 2nd tooth the day after she turned 10 months, so basically the same time. Then we didn't see anything for months. But of course there was more drool and gnawing/chewing/biting for a long time. Then at 16 months a bunch of teeth came in, 5 of them within a week. Now Madison has 11 teeth at 19 months, so still a bit behind the curve. Her pediatrician said the later the baby teeth come in, the later the fall out, which I think is great because then I don't have to worry about cavities or damage to her permanent teeth for a little longer! She also said if you have 1 late teether, the rest of your kids will be late teethers too.

Sorry to everyone with healthcare issues. We are blessed with a wonderful insurance/prescription plan right now and I'm not looking forward to seeing what we get next year when my husband gets a job. You'd think doctors would get good insurance, but nope, not residents anyway.

 

[Alice28]

Tax question--------I believe you get a thousand dollar tax credit, way better than a deduction, per child. The interest you write off from your mortgage, will also be a huge help. We went from owing taxes the first couple years we were married (with no children) to consistently getting back around $1,000-2,000 per year. We have adjusted our withholdings each time we have a child so we have more money every month vs getting some huge tax refund in February.

Once DH gets home from Iraq and goes back to his regular job, he will probably do a withholding of 5 (the 3 kids, myself and the house) and therefore probably hardly pay any income tax, which helps with month to month living! We will probably break even at tax time the next year.

Grading 120 writing assignments! Ey-yi-yi...I feel for you!
And OWING money on your insurance? Crazy.

 

[gwcollins71]

Sorry, I'm going to rant.

I WANT TO STAY HOME!! I hate my job this year. This new principal this year has his own agenda. He doesn't support the staff in front of parents. 2 clerical staff have quit and one teacher has been fired with two more receiving warnings.

I swear this man is a grandstander. All talk and no action. Like I've said before, our school has been reconstituted by the district. (First step in the whole George Bush AYP (annual yearly progress) thing.) So they fired 80 percent of the teaching staff (mostly seasoned veterans who knew what they were doing) and hired all brand new, fresh out of college, teachers. Some are career changers and some are almost as young as our students.

There is no discipline at all, whatsoever at the school. There is little or no support being given to the new teachers. This is a difficult population to teach. 98 % low income, urban ghetto. Most of the children are way below their grade levels (hence the takeover). We have 30 books for 60 students. They are finally ordering additional textbooks. It is the 9th week of school. Hmmmm, why do you think our children are failing? We also have limited access to the copier. It is for office staff only because only the clerical staff that quit was allowed to use the high volume copier.

So we basically have no books and no copies to use. We were making copies of the literature and social studies books hoping the office would get angry and get us books sooner. That didn't work.

Get this though, I have 3 laptops in my room, 2 PC's and an ELMO and a light box. So I can do all sorts of stuff on the internet and project it for my kids, but they can't read a book to do their homework.

Anyway, today just sucked. I had 7 new teachers buddy their students to my room. (Discipline step) These new teachers are not being assisted by the administration. I feel like screaming. You fired all the teachers that had classroom management skills and hired babies who can't control a class. What do you expect. As team leader, I feel like I have to pick up the slack for my team. They are a good group but need some hands on time to develop their management styles. I feel so bad for them.

The discipline code isn't being followed by the administration so these teachers have no recourse so stupid little things. The children see this and are becoming worse and worse. Children who would never run afoul are joining in.

I can't wait to see what will happen when our students make little progress this year and do not make AYP again. How will the district explain their poor management to the state?

Thanks for letting me rant. I really just want hubby to come home so I can cuddle up next to him.

Hope everyone's days were better.

Gretchen

 

[Hillbeans]

For all the new moms who formula feed (or fed)...

How do you know if your child is just being fussy to be fussy or if there is something wrong? The last 2 night have not been very good for us. I thought Liam was just gassy, so I tried the new Enfamil Gentlease and that seemed to help some, however he just had a crying jag for about 3 hours last night and 2 hours the night before.

I had my older son on a low iron formula (for the gas and fussiness) however I may need to try that with Liam - but I guess I should call the Doctor first.

Did anyone here go through something similar right at the 3 week mark? I know it could be a whole handful of things and he could just be growing into his body, but i've gotten no sleep the past 2 nights and just wish I could do something to help the little guy get some relief.

-Hillary

 

[lissawynn]

Gretchen - Feel free to rant away. Unless you've ever worked in education, I'm afraid you just don't get what goes on in a school on a day to day basis. Our admin. hired a new principal in 2002 (she is gone now). Everyone THOUGHT she was going to help turn our building around (the old princ. didn't want to be bothered by actually working). Anyway, to make a really long story short, she turned out to be a nutcase. I'm talking compulsive, pathological liar. She threatened staff, students, parents. She would lie to the higher ups to make it seem as if things were going really well. She tortured most of the staff for two years. She even showed up at my house after she tried to tell me I had violated a policy that didn't exist. She was given a job at the high school monitoring the in-school suspension studnets b/c no one had the b**** to fire her. I completely know what you're going through working for someone who does nothing.
I don't have an issue here as far as resources are concerned. Our copier is older than old, but it works. I am afraid of the day when we have centralized copying in the district. I'm really going to have to plan ahead if that time comes.

 

[Alice28]

Oh Gretchen, I hear your frustration loud and clear. Coming from a family of teachers, and having worked in the public schools for 8 years, I know it is such a bunch of political garbage so much of the time. People would be so shocked how much of a teacher's time is spend cutting through the vines of politics vs. classroom teaching. It's so insane.

My DH sent me an email this morning titled "Good news/bad news."

Good news- he will call us tonight.

Bad news- the platoon that took over their patrol hit an IED (bomb) an hour after Bob got off duty. The vehicle was totalled, but all soldiers made it out alive.

This is me right now-------

I rarely turn to liquor when I am upset due to personal reasons, but I think I'm going to be stopping at the liquor store tonight for some stuff to make a daiquiri or even just some beer. That email practically made me feel faint for the first time since he's been over there. I'm near panic state....and I just don't do this. I'm at my parent's right now and I told my dad, but my 4 year old is sitting right here too. I'm not gonna lose it in front of him. Deep breaths, deep breaths, he will be OK. This fracking election will be over with in 2 days, he has tomorrow off so he won't be patroling, and then hopefully the insurgents will back off after the election. Supposedly he is coming home before the next election which I believe is in January.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Alice, hugs, prayers and pixie dust.

The smiles aren't working now, or I would do a bunch of those too.

 

[Hillbeans]

Alice, Wow - I hope you're alright (and your DH also). That's scary news. You're in my thoughts.

 

[gwcollins71]

OMG! Robin, I’m amazed at your strength! I would be a total basket case. I am glad that everyone was ok. How scary. Hugs to you and your family. Heck, pass some to your husband. It sounds like he could use them now too. Now, I’m curious as to know what the good news is. It sounds like it couldn’t come at a better time.

BTW, the liquor idea sounds good . There’s one glass of wine in the fridge left that I opened last weekend. It’s a bottle I bought the weekend Lily was conceived last year. Oops! I’ll think I’ll finish it now. We’re actually going back to the little town we bought it in for our anniversary this weekend. Maybe I’ll buy some more. The really pathetic part is we’re only going for the day because I’m scrapbooking the next day with friends and hubby is going to a woodworking show with my father and Lily on Sunday.

Everyone, thanks for letting me rant. Some days you just need to get things off your chest. Today was great. Our esteemed leader wasn’t there. Things ran so smoothly. The discipline problems were handled by the APs who agree with the teachers. YEAH! Also, I had a nice treat… I found the code for the high volume copier that no one is allowed to use . Copies for me! Woo hoo! I couldn’t survive if I had to send everything away to be copied. Don’t get me wrong, I do lessons in advance. But I can’t send my blackline books out for multiple days. I’d be even more behind on grading than I am already.

Hillbeans, Lily was really fussy from 3 to 6 or 8 weeks. The pediatrician said it was normal and very common. She would scream all day and all night. She’s such a happy booger right now. You can’t tell it’s the same person. She’s sitting on the floor in her bouncy seat while I’m typing this (just talking away to the fishes and the lights on her bouncy chair).

I hope you all have great weekends.