Pregnancy, adoptions, and parenting

[Just Jocko]

Originally Posted by autumnelaine

I was not planning on getting pregnant with number 2 until our kiddo is a little older. (He's 2 now.) Also wanted to get a house first. . . (we have an apartment.)

We weren't planning on having a third until DS#1 was in school. Stinkerbelle was born 14 months after DS#2, when DS#1 was 3.

Originally Posted by purpleiguana

I'm also not thrilled with the fact that they don't seem to have flu shots. They got their first bunch, but went through them so fast and now don't know whether they're going to get a second batch or not, tho if they do (and this part makes sense), first priority goes to those with asthma or other breathing problems, or with cardiac problems. That's all well and good, but why don't they look at how many patients they have and order enough for everyone... or, since some folks are anti-vaccine, put a spot on their intake paperwork for parents to indicate that and order enough for everyone, minus those who are anti-vaccine? I know it's not that easy, but dammit, I want my kids to have their flu shots! And they don't know if they're ever gonna get the H1N1 vaccine in.

The way it's been explained around here, the individual doctors/clinics don't control how much they get, it's parceled out by the feds to the states and then by the states to the local health departments and on down. Usually, it's evenly distributed, unless there's an outbreak, in which case that area gest more.

[purpleiguana]

Originally Posted by Just Jocko

The way it's been explained around here, the individual doctors/clinics don't control how much they get, it's parceled out by the feds to the states and then by the states to the local health departments and on down. Usually, it's evenly distributed, unless there's an outbreak, in which case that area gest more.

See above...

[mouse goddess]

Yeah, I'm taking the girls in tomorrow to get theirs, and they called me today and said that Barbara can get hers (mist) but Maureen can't, because they're out.

Because I'm also grumpy, I'm wondering why they didn't set some aside for the babies who've gotten the first shot (Maureen did a month ago) and need the second shot for the booster.

[Ms. K]

Trying to get H1N1 vax around here is like pulling teeth.

They have it at the health department....and will only be distributing it to children between the ages of 2 and 12 currently.

They have no idea when the adult dosage will come in. Hopefully in time to get the kid, her friend, and the two of us vaccinated.

[Zorro]

I have to call my local health department later this week to get H1N1 information for me and Frank.

I just spent the evening with pictures- emailing to my mother, seven emails' worth, and uploading pics to Facebook. I wanted to make sure my niece who just turned one didn't go all splodey on us, so there's plenty from her party on there. (Her mom, my SIL, posts photos all the time of her, as does her sister, and I ahve asked her, and it's fine. )

[kismet]

Thanks, guys. They have grown a lot, it is quite shocking to me. Lainie, I did think Gavin looked like a jack-o-lantern in that first picture. Like he was posing for the pumpkin to be cut.

I considered taking pictures in their Halloween costumes today since I completely finished them, but I am waiting until it is actually time to wear them for an event since Gavin totally refused to take his costume off when I tried it on him for size before and cried for several minutes when I took it away, lying on the kitchen floor sobbing "My dwagon, MY dwagon!" I had expected the opposite problem.

[Pinecone]

Is it normal for babies to get less active in the last couple of weeks of pregnancy? Mine is still moving a lot more than the 10 times a day they say is expected, but less than it was. Is it just that it's getting very short of space in there?

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by Pinecone

Is it normal for babies to get less active in the last couple of weeks of pregnancy? Mine is still moving a lot more than the 10 times a day they say is expected, but less than it was. Is it just that it's getting very short of space in there?

It's probably pretty crowded. Does the baby perk up if you eat or drink something sugary? They had me do that when I was overdue.

ETA: Plus, the baby's probably sleeping a lot now in preparation for staying awake all night later.

[Magpye]

Originally Posted by Pinecone

Is it normal for babies to get less active in the last couple of weeks of pregnancy? Mine is still moving a lot more than the 10 times a day they say is expected, but less than it was. Is it just that it's getting very short of space in there?

I think so... mine's slowed down too... and there's less obvious thumping and more kind of pushing.

The kick-count guideline I heard was ten kicks in two hours, if you do it at a time of day the kid is usually active. Anyone have the definitive word on kick-counts?

And of course, Pinecone, the rule is, if you're worried, call the midwife/doctor. When are you due again? I'm due end of November, but they think this kid might come a little early due to being Mongo the Giant Baby (well, Bryan IS over six and a half feet tall, so the fact that the kid is big is no surprise).

[purpleiguana]

Originally Posted by Pinecone

Is it normal for babies to get less active in the last couple of weeks of pregnancy? Mine is still moving a lot more than the 10 times a day they say is expected, but less than it was. Is it just that it's getting very short of space in there?

Very normal, and your reasoning is correct. The last 6 weeks I was pregnant with Saleh, he almost stopped moving entirely. He'd start moving again only when I was about to get really freaked out... and then be "still" (I'm sure there were small movements I just couldn't feel) for 2-4 days. Very freaky.

[kismet]

Yeah, Rowan has never stopped moving since conception, but it FELT like less movement because she couldn't draw back and kick me or do loop-de-loops anymore once she got almost as big as the space she was in. I still felt movement, but it was much more subtle because she was squished. Gavin seemed to like the snuggly feel of being the same size as his container, I didn't get much from him unless I had sugar those last 2 weeks or so (which would have been the last 5 weeks for a baby who had more respect for his due date and stuff).

[sarahmonkey]

I want another baby. Not gonna have one, but desperately want one. Just thought I'd share that.

My youngest turned 2 last weekend. All day we would ask him how old he was and he would point to himself and say "Birthday!" but by the end of the day he finally got it and started answering "Two!"

[Arriah]

Originally Posted by kismet

(which would have been the last 5 weeks for a baby who had more respect for his due date and stuff).

Darn babies have no respect for schedules! I think that less moving at the end is just a deliberate attempt to make mommies worry, mine both did it too.

[kismet]

Originally Posted by Arriah

Darn babies have no respect for schedules!

I was just having a bizarre online conversation with mommies who have kids Gavin's age. This one woman wanted to know if she should celebrate the birth date or due date for this child's birthdays (and this boy was not a preemie, just came 5 days before estimated time). Remember that this child is about to turn 2, and she was asking for all eternity. She actually did seem to think her kid had mucked things up forever by failing to be born on his due date. I would have certainly not been angry with Gavin for waiting, but I was quite happy to find that he was fully cooked a bit early and ready to make his debut. The charm of that pregnancy ran out before the pregnancy itself for sure.

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by kismet

I was just having a bizarre online conversation with mommies who have kids Gavin's age. This one woman wanted to know if she should celebrate the birth date or due date for this child's birthdays (and this boy was not a preemie, just came 5 days before estimated time).

That is bizarre.

[purpleiguana]

Very bizarre! [duh]I mean, the BIRTHday is, natch, the celebration of the day a child was BORN. [/duh] Now, if she's freaking out about him hitting certain milestones 5 days late... well, the freaking out is still bizarre, but she can totally use that 5 days and work an "adjusted age" if that makes her feel both hunky and dory inside. But she honestly had to ask when to celebrate a birthday? Hokey smokes!

[ChickMarie]

I'm probably forgetting things that I wanted to reply to from the first thread

Zorro: Pumping is going very well! Thanks for asking The pump has really come in handy for me.

Thanks for all the advice about self-latching. I've been trying that and it seems to be working much better. The poor guy would get so frustrated when I would try to cram it in there for him. Every once in a while I still have to give it a little squish just to help him out, but for the most part he's getting it on his own.

He'll nurse for a while, but I think what he gets out of me on his own doesn't come fast enough for his appetite. I'm producing in abundance, but it just doesn't seem to come out quickly enough for him. I don't know if that makes sense Between the nursing and the pumping we're cutting way back on the formula he's taking. He still occasionally gets some formula though.

He's got himself on a rotten (for me) schedule though. My other kids just sort of naturally had great timing, but this little guy likes to stay up most of the night and sleep most of the day. I try to play with him during the day, but he'll fall asleep anyway. He had his checkup yesterday and slept through all the poking and prodding!

[lavender blue]

Originally Posted by purpleiguana

Very bizarre! [duh]I mean, the BIRTHday is, natch, the celebration of the day a child was BORN. [/duh] Now, if she's freaking out about him hitting certain milestones 5 days late... well, the freaking out is still bizarre, but she can totally use that 5 days and work an "adjusted age" if that makes her feel both hunky and dory inside. But she honestly had to ask when to celebrate a birthday? Hokey smokes!

Not to mention that birthday celebrations have a +/- 3 day range anyways. I can count on 1 hand the number of times I've had a birthday party EXACTLY on my birth date. If she's that fussed about it, pick the day between the two.

[Auntie Witch]

A cute adoption story I keep forgetting to post:

Two weeks ago, my BIL, B, adopted my niece, L. That morning, my sister, B, and L had to all go together to court to finalize the whole deal. They were waiting for the judge to call them, and when he did, he said, "B and S Smith [not real last name], and L Jones [also not real last name]-"

At this point, L interrupted the judge with, "No. It's L Smith."

The judge smiled at her and said, "Well, honey, not yet. Right now it's still Jones."

"Well," L said impatiently, "you need to do something about that, then."

[mouse goddess]

ok, forget the grumbling from above.

Pedi's office gave Barbara h1n1 vax, since she falls in guidelines of "older sibling of a baby" and then they gave it to me as well, even though I didn't meet their guidelines, due to Maureen's situation. AND they're letting DH get one too.

We still have to go in again in a couple of weeks for the seasonal, but I thought they were being awfully nice.