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collsbaby
	Age: 31 Country: USA Province/region: City: Kalaheo Partner: My wonderful husband, Todd Children: Yes, 1 Pregnant: Not anymore Occupation: Pilates Instructor/Writer
	Online: 1 hours ago. Last updated: 3 days ago. Member since: 319 days
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I finally added my birth story!! I'm only 12 weeks late!! haha!

Mommy & Me Pilates Mat Class DVD

My mood while writing this blog:
Ok

Hi ladies, I'm trying to get back into doing/teaching pilates since Baby Summy is almost 3 mo old. (WHERE did that time go???) I have created a beginning level "Mommy and Me Pilates Mat Class" routine that I plan on recording to DVD (somewhat professionally done), within the next few months. (Even though I have post-preggo belly!! Oh well, it will be realistic, right??)

I'm trying to get a feel from other mama's if this is something you'd purchase to do at home with baby. depending on the cost of doing it and making copies I'm thinking around 20-bucks +shipping with a discount for my preggo mama friends of course!!! (Being a pilates instructor is my SAHMommy job, so I plan to sell these DVD's if I can.) I plan to have stuff on there that you can do with an infant as well as some stuff you can do with your toddler (and some stuff that they can do as well!) So it will be fun..

Anyway...I'm just trying to put some thoughts together and do it during my spare time, haha!

Message my page with your thoughts if you could. I'll put more info on my page in the next day or so about it too. Thanks!
-Colleen and Baby Summer

or you can e mail me for more info at: colleen@kauai-pilates.com

thanks!!

ALSO...I am putting together a pre-order list for DVD's. If you think you might be interested in purchasing one then please send me your name, e mail and address (to my e mail-not on here) and I'll add you to the pre-order list and keep you in the loop as opposed to clogging up the message board. For those on the list I will be offering a discount on the DVD as well as free shipping. There is no obligation and no payment needed to pre-order (I won't hunt you down via the preggo message board!) I just am trying to get an idea of how many to print up for the first run. I will make a little commercial/video for the DVD so you can see a little snip-it too.

May 30, 2008
Our journey from Hi to Ca~Baby Summer 2 months and 1 day old~

First of all if someone told me a few days after she was born that I would be making the journey to Ca in 2 months BY MYSELF, I would have NEVER believed it! But, I did and I’m extremely proud! Princess Buttercup was perfect on the plane! I was so shocked and pleased. She fussed a tiny bit a few hours into it, (I don’t blame her, I was getting fussy too, haha), but she never actually cried or screamed or anything.

I had planned an isle seat because I figured I’d be getting up to change her and walk around a fussy baby, etc. Well, when I got on they told me that another dad and his 3 year old daughter didn’t have seats together so could I switch and take the window seat in another row. At first I was a bit annoyed because I thought I’d be trapped back in there, but it turned out to be better. We could squish into the window side and sort of create our own little private corner. I found it worked out much better, especially since it was just me and the baby sitting next to 2 strangers. And of course I’m not gonna be the one who says a dad and his little girl can’t sit together. Even if it was his poor planning. I mean really…how the heck did that happen anyway?? Regardless, I go to take my seat and the poor people next to me looked like, “Oh great, a baby!!” And I had a lot of crap. I had the diaper bag full to the brim, I had another cloth shopping bag with my breastfeeding pillow in there, I had my backpack purse, and the baby was in the baby bjorn. So we had quite a load of stuff with me, but it was all necessary…so it seemed. The overhead was full because I was literally the LAST person to board! My diaper bag had to be searched. Hello??? For real? You’re gonna search the frazzled new mom with a newborn and a boat load of stuff. OK, whatever. Luckily I had my hubby accompany me to the gate on a “buddy pass”. Not sure exactly what it’s called, but it’s a pass for someone to go to the gate with you. But it’s for someone requiring assistance…and that was me! (You get it from the ticket person when you check in, and they might hassle you. My lady did and so we went through someone else.) So, we sit in the window and get all settled and I ended up never getting up the entire 5+ hour flight to San Fran for our layover. It was just too much hassle. And I upgraded to economy plus (on United) which is more leg room. And it was very helpful. But it was still too much hassle to get out of the seat. They also had NO changing tables in any of the bathrooms on the airplane. I heard that some do, this one didn’t. So I kind of panicked! But What I did was change the fastest diaper in the universe when the two people got up to go to the bathroom. They never suspected a thing! Haha! I breastfed her on the plane about 4 times. The guy sitting next to me probably didn’t have a clue either. I’ll tell you about that in a sec and I even had him hold her for a minute while I got stuff situated. He and his wife were about in their 50’s and he was very happy to hold her and said that he had not held a baby in about 10 years. But I needed the help, and it worked out great. We got off in San Fran, I had time to go pee, which was crucial since I didn’t get up the entire flight! The we got on the next plane for LAX. That was great because it was a red eye and it wasn’t full so I had the entire row to myself. I could even lay her down for a bit, which was nice. But we got in fine and everything worked out great. The second I saw Grammy I took off the baby bjorn and passed off the princess. She still has her in fact. Haha, just kidding.

So here are my must haves to fly. Well, this is what worked for me anyway.

*up-grade if you can to a seat with more room. From Hi to Ca it was only $59. Well worth it to have a bit of extra room since I have an extra person in the space. Tiny baby or not. It's nice to be able to breathe...ya know?

*Baby Bjorn. Makes it easy for hands free travel.

*My Brest Friend breastfeeding pillow. Absolutely could not live without that and it was a complete life savor. No other substitution breastfeeding pillow will do. (i.e., the Boppy) the Brest Friend stays firm and it goes around your body completely, so it stays in place while baby is sleeping and standing and trying to crawl all over you. You don’t have to hold the baby the entire time making the both of you worn out. Summer could totally sprawl out and I could read a magazine. It worked wonders for us both. I can’t say enough about this thing. Yes it’s very big and bulky, yes you feel a tad bit silly putting it on in the plane because everyone is looking at you like…wha….? But YES it is totally worth it! Especially if you are alone and don’t have anyone to take over baby holding duties for an hour here and there. OK, you get the point…get this pillow! It's like 40 bucks-ish and worth a million on a long flight.

*Hooter Hider. (Nursing cover-up.) Another must have for travel. I had planned to breastfeed her on the plane and I didn’t want to flash anyone the cheech. This was awesome because I swear the guy next to me had no idea I had my boob hanging out in public a mere inches away from him several times throughout our flight.

*I wore all black. I should’ve been a New Yorker, I swear. I usually wear all black to travel. I wore a black nursing bra and black v-neck top that I would just pull down and to the side to nurse. So I didn’t have my back or side exposed ever. The black on black made it easy to hide my bra when my shirt got all gapped out. Also hid any leakage and stuff.

*Bathing suit cover-up/sarong (full size one). Living in Hawaii, I have a million of these things and I use them al the time for the baby. They can double as a light blanket and are long enough to even cover you, baby and up around baby’s face. She looked like a little baby burrito. Plus it can be tucked away and smashed into the smallest space. Something a blanket usually can’t do. But it’s just not very warm. So I suggest you also have a blanket.

*I dressed baby in a sleeper with the feet. I thought about putting her in a cute little outfit. However, I didn’t want to have to deal with socks falling off into the airplane abyss. I always seem to get stuff lost under the seat. And I didn’t want her pant legs hiking up her leg in the bjorn making her cold. So a sleeper worked wonders. She was comfortable and warm and it was easy to deal with.

…that’s all I can think of for now. If I think of anything else, I’ll be sure to post it.

More to add to flight info...some of it may be repeat from above...
*I actually didn't take a carseat, stroller or anything big like that. I was going home to my parents house, so I emailed all of my old friends from home who just had babies and sent them a "wish list" of stuff to borrow for the 2 weeks I was to be there. It worked out great! Most of my friends had extra stuff, stuff their baby no longer needed or they knew someone who had something I could use. I ended up getting a portable swing, a bouncer, a boppy (for sitting), a bassinett, a play gym, a fancy umbrella stroller with a kidopotumus thing to keep her secure because she was still a little wobbly, my friend even let me borrow her infant car seat and 2 bases. One for my parents car and the other for "my" car while they were at work. My friend Michele even went so far as lending me about 5 blankets (one was super warm and thick which was great since it was chilly there), a bath time set with wash cloths and towel and stuff, a few lap/changing pads, even brought over some rattles and stuff. So thoughtful! my mom and I bought a tub (the white one with the Pooh hammock) and we'll just keep it there. But that helped out tremendously!!

(I think if you take a stroller/carseat, they don't count that as luggage and you can check it at the gate. They don't make any promises that it will not get knocked around though.)

*I took a cooler and an ice pack with me with two bottles of breastmilk, one bottle filled with water and a baggie of formula. I ended up not using any of it since i just breastfed her on the plane, but I didn't know what to expect. I was so worried that I was gonna get crap for having liquid and stuff. However no one said anything about it. I figured it was because i was in my po-dunk town airport, but even at LAX, I didn't get any hassle! They saw it was obviously for baby and didn't say a word. I think they opened the cooler, but that was about it. I even took on a sandwich for me and wrapped it in foil to "disguise it", haha. but they said nothing about the cooler and all the liquid. i even had liquid medicine for her too, and it was all good.

*I bought a nasal spray (saline only-Target brand 'nasal spray" 1.5 fl oz---ok size for flights) which was recommend by the pharmacist since she had a bit of a stuffy nose. The saline spray kept her nose cool, moist and clogged free. I used it too and it was really nice in the dry atmosphere of the plane. What i did was I took cotton swabs/ q-tips with me and got a water cup. After i drank the water I sprayed a bit of the saline spray into the cup, dipped the q-tip in the solution and swabbed barely the tip of her little nose. I hardly stuck it in there at all, but just enough to moisten the area. You could tell it cleared up her nose too. I did that several times throughout the flight. Whenever i felt dry, i did both. I did it that way for me too. I'm not good at spraying things up my nose, so this worked out great. It just felt so fresh with all the dry air.

*I told the airline I was bringing a baby with me so she would already be in the system. I brought her birth certificate even though no one asked for it. They told me to bring it. I had a recent photo (from that morning and printed it up on the computer) with what she was wearing that day, and all her stats, and plenty of contact info back home as well as #'s for my destination, if God forbid something should happen. I did the same for the flight home, different pic.

*I was told that they don't count your diaper bag as a piece of carry-on luggage. So you can have that, a purse and a carry-on luggage. But i felt soooo bogged down with stuff and I tried to travel light. So pack stuff away if you can. you may think you'll need that book, and magazine and ipod and (fill in the blank), but all I used was my ipod. Everything else was just something to lug on.

*MAKE SURE YOU BOARD WITH FIRST CLASS!! Usually they call first class first, then priority seating incl people with small children. Forget that, I boarded with first class. I got a few looks from the ticket lady, but really, what is she gonna say when i have a baby and two hands full of stuff? Make me wait 2 seconds until after first class boards? Sorry. You need the extra time, so take it. Especially if you are a window seat and you need to get all settled in without people blocking your way, or you blocking the way.

*MAKE SURE YOU CHANGE THE DIAPER AND YOU GO TO THE BATHROOM YOURSELF BEFORE YOU BOARD!! it's soooooo hard after you are on the plane. This was why it was good for me to have the front carrier. Since I was by myself I could go to the bathroom and not have to set her down. It's not easy to pee and have a baby in the front carrier, but you can manage.

*Also, they have new luggage restrictions now. If you have not kept up with what the airlines are doing, and a lot of people don't (I didn't), just know that most airlines you can now only have ONE piece of luggage per person and you have to pay for hte second bag! It can be up to $100 depending on the airline you fly. And it can't go over weight either (50 lbs usually), if it does some will charge you $100! Totaly sucks. Oh and no, the baby does not count as an extra person-for an extra bag. If you don't pay for them, they are just a "lap child" and are considered one person. (I didn't take many clothes for her. I bought a lot there and shipped them home. A lot cheaper than $100.) I did end up having a second bag though and since it was so close to when they switched that new rule, like just days before the lady wa ssoooo awesome and didn't charge me. I wanted to kiss her!! But I'm sure now, since it's been a few months, that would never fly. (No pun intended...) sorry, haha. But be sure to call your airline and look into it.

*I'd also tell your airline when you call them for all of this stuff before hand that you'll need a "buddy pass" for someone to help you to the gate if you are flying solo. Do all this stuff ahead of time so it's already in the computer when you get there. That way you are still at home and not all stressed out and running late for your flight trying to get all this done at the ticket counter. I was pretty stressed out. I'm not going to lie, i was totally overwhelmed and was crying once I finally sat on the plane. I probably won't fly solo again without my husband, but it's doable and I did it!

Since she is 4 months now, things are different. She probably wouldn't just sit all content with me on the breastfeeding pillow. I'd still take it since it was sooooooo nice to have hands free and she could sprawl out and sleep, but I'd be prepared to be getting up and walking the isles now I bet. I'd also take some sanatizer and paper towels and wipe EVERYTHING she might touch now. Especially since she's putting her hands in her mouth all the time. But at 9-10 weeks, it was pretty easy-breezy since she was content to just lay there and sleep. Now I would try to tire her out for sure beforehand by taking her to "baby gym", having her stand and stuff to wear her out.

I hope this was helpful! I'm gonna probably leave this here for a while (and make it a blog) so if you have anything to add that would be great. Just leave it as a comment on the blog! THX!! And good luck!

Thrush, thrush, thrush...story of my life. Blah! I posted this on another girls thing because she was asking me about it so I thought I'd post it here too. I'll probably rewrite it someday since it's pretty scatterbrained, but you get the idea. Hope it helps.

I have been practically obsessed with this thrush thing. I used the Nystatin (sp) for 2 weeks ending today and it didn't work. It's sticky on yur nipples, and makes a mess with baby, but doesn't stain. That is probably what they gave you. After a week I called the doc and told her it wasn't clearing up and she gave us the next step up-fluconazole. (Pills for me, liquid to drink for baby, and still use the nystatin.) I had my mom send me a bottle of Gentian Violet (stains everythng purple) because they don't sell it here. I hear it works miracles with pain and getting rid of it, I haven't gotten it in the mail yet. I also started using Grapefruit Seed Extract tonight and taking acidophilus. I cut out sugar and dairy, I boil everything that goes into her mouth daily for 5 minutes, including the breast pump stuff, I rinse my nipples with a vinegar solution with each shower, I change my breast pads constantly, I only use a burpie cloth once per feeding, then get a clean one for next time, and wash everything on very hot water cycle to kill the yeast. It's hard to get rid of and you need to be very persistant. It can grow back after an hour and a half! Google thrush and check out breastfeeding online dot com, as well as the la leche league website under thrush. there is also a woman named Pat Gima (google her name with "yeast treatment plan") and it should come up. I'm trying to stick to it as much as I can. It' s been frustrating and hard to get all the treatments in, I've cried my eyes out plenty from the pain as well as frustration, but my motivation is to get rid of the pain so I can breastfeed, so I'm trying everything possible! Most important thing is to feed the baby though. It doesn't matter how. I swore on my life that my baby would never have formula or a bottle before a month, and I was in so much pain after the first few days after she was born I thought i was going to melt down. I needed a break from breastfeeding, if for only one feeding, becuse I too was tense and in extreme pain and it's not good for me or baby. (Thrush pain is worse at night.) I was rushing he off too. I started pumping and I gave her a bottle of formula so that i could heal and so that she can get fed. That was the first and second week. (A bottle was crucial for the 3 week growth spurt! I couldn't have done it by breast alone.) We now, 4 weeks old, just nurse except for a bottle at night that dad gives her so I can take a break. (The pain isn't gone but it no longer makes my toes curl as much and no more crying...just a lot of deep breathing though.) There wasn't any nipple confusion and I don't feel guilty at all. The most important thing is that the baby needs to get fed. Also you can pump then use a little medicine syringe to give her extra while she is on the breast. Just have dad shoot it directly into her mouth while she is on the breast and she'll be getting an extra dose. (You can use formula for that too. Get one that is digested or partially digested. Easier on stomach. Yeast produces gas and bely pain.) But make sure you find a lactation consultant and talk to them, and I highly recommend using other remedies as well as what the doc gives. Sorry this is so scattered and quick. I'm trying to give yu all the info I have gotten over the last 2 weeks, and I gotta make it quick since my baby is gonna wake up soon. Let me know how it goes. We'll be fine, but it is a b!tch! ;-) Plus I think I just have a bad case of it since I didn't catch it right away. You might be a diff story! Good luck!
***More on thrush***
week 10
My lactation consultant told me that the amount of gentian violet you use to treat thrush is so very small that you'd have to drink bottles and bottles of the stuff to be worried about anything. (And you don't drink it anyway, or even use a dropper.) You are dipping a q-tip into the bottle, shaking off any drips and this is enough (on one q-tip) to paint the baby's mouth as well as both nipples. Use if only if you have pain with the thrush. If it is deep breast pain (like in a duct and it's shooting, burning, going up into your armpit, across your back, etc.) then you'll absolutely need to take an oral medication yourself like fluconazole (sp?) because it won't go away by topical treatment alone. The gentian violet is used in addition to the oral medication for the surface nipple pain, or if the baby seems to have pain in the mouth. You can paint your nipple with it then put the baby to the breast if you don't want to put the medication in the baby's mouth. Be sure to do a vinegar/water wash on your nipples after each feeding too. Yeast can grow back after an hour and a half!! So you need to be persistant. Sorry if i sound like a born-again freak about this topic, haha. I've been dealing with this thrush crap steady since Summy was born, she's 10 weeks and 2 days. But now the pain is gone, so I'm a happy girl!! Check out my page to see some funny pics of baby with a purple mouth from the gentian violet. (I feel that the GV is what saved my sanity from this thing because NOTHING else was doing it...) but you HAVE to do what you feel in your gut when it comes to YOUR baby. Good luck.

I should also point out that my lactation consultant (while I'm here in Ca) is my parents neighbor. She's known me since before I was born, been an RN for about 25 yrs and a lactation cons. for about 15. She's extremely intelligent and really does her research. So I trust her opinion completely and know that she wouldn't tell me anything that would harm the baby since she's invested, ya know? She's like my second mom. So, not that I'm trying to "sell it" to you, but I know how hard it is to deal with thrush and I know how PAINFUL it can be as well, so I'm hoping that the info will help.

*** I heard that using grapefruit seed extract is sort of like an anti-biotic...and those can cause yeast. So I stopped the GSE, and just used the vinegar/water solution.
...I'll post more about thrush when I get a chance and i'll edit the above as well.

I just added a couple of photos on here. I love the new feature that makes it easy to add photos! I'll add more later...

4-24-08 Hey Ladies! I'm gonna make this quick (well, quick for ME that is) because I came on yesterday to update and catch up and I started to write some stuff, had to walk away to a crying baby after her nap and I wasn't ever able to come back. So, I'm not sure what happened to what I wrote, so I'll start again.

it's been a WHILE!!! My little girl will be a month old in 2 days on the 26th, i can't even believe it!! the time has gone by soooo fast! I think of all my buddies on here often and I keep thinking, "I REALLY need to go and catch up with everyone and update my thing...", then the baby has other plans. So she's sleeping for a bit so I thought I'd come on to catch up.

I have had a super rough time with breastfeeding, that is why I haven't been on here, or on my myspace account lately. I haven't even been talking to anyone other than my mom right now either, I'm just too drained with all the pain and stuff. I found out my baby has Thrush, which is a yeast infection in her mouth. I'm not sure if I gave it to her or if she gave it to me, but we both have it and since her birth it has been extremely painful to nurse her. Everyone just thought it was the "normal" nipple soreness that comes along with breastfeeding a newborn, or poor latch-on problems, etc., but I found out pretty late in the game that it is in fact Thrush. And it has been very painful for me. I have been so stressed out from it trying to figure out what the heck is wrong, and why can't I just breastfeed without it making my toes curl from the severe pain. Well, 2 Monday's ago I got us on the medication, it didn't work, so this past Monday I got a stronger perscription and hopefully that is working. I also talked to a girl who is a La Leche League Leader and she gave me some extremely good info on how to get rid of it, that of course my doc or the baby doc did not tell me. I'm finding out that the docs really have no training in breastfeeding whatsoever and if you need help, go see a lactation specialist or a La Leche League person. And check out "breastfeeding online dot com" for some really good info too.

So, that has been why I haven't been on here in forever. I still need to update my birth story.

Once I get into a good groove with the breastfeeding and get rid of this yeast infection (which is a TOTAL nightmare, let me tell you!!), then I'll be back to normal.

Until then, thanks for all of your messages and love! I hope everyone is doing great with their little babies!

I can't believe how SLOW the last few weeks of the pregnancy went and how FAST this month has gone by. Even with all the pain I've been dealing with, I still feel so blessed and I am so in love with my little Summy Bear (who is 10 lbs today!!!) and she was born with a full head of reddish brown hair. I was shocked!

P.S. Everything they say about loosing the baby weight with breastfeeding is sooo true! I've already lost 30 lbs and I owe it all to breastfeeding! Plus I have been eating lots of veggies and stuff and about week 2 1/2 we started going for walks before dinner.

...perfect timing...I hear a squeeking baby.

xo

3-28-08~ She's here! She's here! Summer Rainbow was born March 26th! (5 days over due) 8.9 lbs~21 inches long (big baby!!) Head was 14 cm (YIKES!!) Oh, and a very long labor. I'll post my birth story very soon. Just got back from the hosp after a 2 day stay and baby Summer has been sleeping allllllll day long! Thanks to all my friends on this site who have been a really good support group this whole pregnancy! I'll get back to you all soon! ;-)

**********************************
Hi Ladies!! I haven't been avoiding everyone on this site!! After a few days of being overdue, I had to put my head into a different place and start focusing on what was happening as opposed to what wasn't happening. So I needed to take some time away from the boards...but I absolutely appreciate your support and friendship! This site has been great for that and I truly hope to keep in contact with all my "preggo pals" on here (as my hubby says). My birth story will be up soon...you know me, I'll definitely be writing about all of that!!

My birth was very different from what I thought it was going to be, yet it was just how I imagined it was going to be.

Baby Summy is doing fantastic and she's been sleeping all day long!

I'll write more soon. For now I'm gonna just sit and hold my baby girl.

xo
~*Colleen

I have a weight loss goal that is less than my pre-pregnancy weight. To get to my original pre-pregnancy weight I have about 5 more lbs to go. But then around week 7 of the pregnancy I got really sick and lost 15 lbs while I was in the hosp for a week. And then my new weight goal is about 15 lbs less than that even, which is the goal weight in this ticker. It might be too much, but I'll see. I just want my pilates body back...the fit, firm one I had at my wedding 2 years ago...*sigh* So I made this ticker to get to my ultra weight loss goal. It has been helping a lot to breastfeed too!

Sorry...I couldn't resist!

Funny Pics and Myspace Layouts at pYzam.com

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henrysmum - Sunday, 15 June
You just carry on there!!!!! Drive that MIL of yours crazy!!! Do what ever you think is best. (Because you are right!!!!!!!!!!!!!(mothers always are))

brandiiAt16 - Friday, 13 June
Automatic update: brandiiAt16 added a new blog: Tristan has a tooth? Too early?

mayasmom - Thursday, 12 June
Hi, I took a small break and then returned to the site, but have been on the 4 month forum. I usually bounce back and forth since Ian was a preemie and is technically 4 months, but is adjusted 2 months. So confusing! I have to post some new pictures and all....I re-did my profile. I just started over!
How are you and baby Summer?
I'm back at work, oh joy, and sooo busy, but I have always enjoyed this site so much, trying to get back into it!

crabscanfly - Thursday, 12 June
yah it was hell. to the point now. im traumitized forever.

marygn - Thursday, 12 June
hayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, I KNOW WE SHARE THE SAME DAY!!!!today is my 2nd!!! hope all is well, talk soon!!! hope u and summer and hubby are all good!!

Tiger21 - Tuesday, 10 June
Hi Colleen,

I have been so busy so sorry it is taking me so long to get back to you! Summer is a beautiful girl! Congratulations to you all! Thanks so much for your kind words on Jaxon and our website - my husband put that together. I still haven't gone to pilates although my intentions were good. :) I am just trying to balance life and get into a rhythm. We are going to Chicago for a few days next week. First time on a plane - wish me luck!

ladobruk - Saturday, 7 June
Great info on yeast/thrush. My daughter and I are also fighting it since day 1. She will be 6 weeks on Monday. Tonight is our first gentian violet treatment. I hope it works, I am so tired of swabbing her mouth with Nystatin, which in my opinion hasn't done a thing since she developed thrush while being treated!! They are really into progressive treatment here. I first had to use Canestin and now they prescribed Vioderm, next would be something oral. I have also done the Acidopholus and Grapefruit Seed Extract. Unfortunately, it appears they need to see full blown thrush before they treat it agressively, ugh. It's is nasty stuff alright. You mention the pain is gone, has the thrush cleared up for you?

levismom - Saturday, 7 June
WOW! It sounds like she is nine months preggo and 60 lbs heavier!! HAHA!!! I on the otherhand appreciate your detailed, helpful, hands-on descriptions of motherhood/pregnancy. I think she might be mad that she doesn't have throngs of fans!!

We are doing well. I couldn't continue the breastfeeding. I stopped making milk over the course of one week. I didn't fight too hard to maintain by using medication or herbal remedies. I just listened to my body and decided that its probably best. I was on the brink of utter misery trying to keep up. So, I admire your persistance through all of your difficulties. Its truly the most frustrating, challenging thing I have ever faced. The fact that I made it four weeks was a miracle in itself. BTW- I am still waiting to hear about your long and enduring labor. I am sure you have many details to share...

gabymom - Friday, 6 June
Thanks for the info, I called the ped today and they change Gabriela's medication to fluconazole. So, Ihope this one helps.

monica9 - Friday, 6 June
thanks for your help. i also dont agree with making her cry it out thats why it is so frustrating. swaddling doesnt help she screams even more. but i will def. look into the bear womb. thanks again for your help.

laurabutterfly81 - Friday, 6 June
Thank you for your suggestions. I will try anything to get SLEEP! I'm sure it will just take some time for her to get used to a routine and things will get better. We co-sleep like you do as well. That's when she will actually sleep upstairs..lol. We have been sleeping in our living room because she seems to settle better there, I'm not exactly sure why but it works.

erins1121 - Wednesday, 4 June
How is living in Hawaii?? I bet its FABULOUS!!!!!! We want to go on a vacation there sooooo bad. We may since we have 2 free flights anywhere in the US which is great! The only problem is I know it's soooo expensive there! Where are you originally from?

henrysmum - Wednesday, 4 June
'Don't get me wrong...my MIL is absolutely a total freak,'

Love it!!!!!!! Don't know why, but I laughed and laughed even before I read on!!!! Ha ha ha!!!!!!My sentiments exactly!!!!!!

leahsmom - Wednesday, 4 June
Thanks for the encouragement! I am starting to get excited for the trip. There's so much to do to get everything ready to go. But, once we're there I'll get some much needed pampering from my parents and I can help take care of them too. I'll let you know how the flight goes.

~NyMom - Wednesday, 4 June
Tell me about it! This thrush has me becoming obsessed ! I am glad I caught it at its early stage.. I took my baby to the ER when I couldn't seem to wipe some whiteness from her tongue and the doc there said he is unsure if it is thrush because he scraped at it and it didn't bleed or turn her tongue red where he scraped ..still I was not taking chances.. my husband thinks I talked it up like some sort of bad karma lol! But hey we moms have to look out for this thing.. Now I have a portable hand held steamer the one that you can carry around by a strap to your shoulder and anything that comes in contact with her spit that is not alive gets steamed the hell out of... About the gentain violet..my mom used it on me when I was young I use to get bad sores in my mouth ..my husbands mother used it on him to for the same reasons and when my friend brought that up to me knowing how paranoid I get that just spooked me out... I have not used it on my baby hopefully don't plan too since her thrush is not really bad..but it is still annoying knowing something is there in her mouth..everything is treated like a crime scene even my nippies lol! gosh what us breastfeeding moms go through!

1blessedmomma - Wednesday, 4 June
BTW, I LOVE the detailed and helpful advice you gave to ittybittyboysmom!!

1blessedmomma - Wednesday, 4 June

Why, that's one cool shade of lipstick there Miss Summer!!

willows-mum - Wednesday, 4 June
Aww thank you

MzMommy2B - Wednesday, 4 June

What an adorable picture!

babyoneforme - Tuesday, 3 June
Thanks. Your baby is beautiful also!!! I meant to write you the other day about your suggestions for flying. I am flying in about a month and I read your hints. They are so helpful!! Thanks for all the great info. I will let you know how the flight goes:)

erins1121 - Monday, 2 June
Thanks for writing me about having the baby on the plane!! Zach was great!! The dr told us to give him tylenol 1/2 hr b4 the flight so we did and he slept the whole time!!!!!! It was great! I can't believe you live in Hawaii. WOW am i jealous!!!! The pics are adorable. I was gonna name the baby Summer if it was a girl!!!!! Aww!

jenn1022 - Monday, 2 June
Glad to hear the plane ride went great . It must be hard to be so far away, but nowadays the internet makes it easier to stay connected through pictures and what not. It figures you'd get sick while visiting your mom, I guess there is no better place to be sick right? Well I hope you feel better soon and have a wonderful time here in Cali, and thank you so much for keeping me in your thoughts!

Jo-Mama - Monday, 2 June
Thanks for all the flying tips. We're going on our first flight in August when Malone is 4 months. We weren't sure if we would want an aisle or a window, but what you said makes sense. I don't think I'll be getting up a lot anyway. I will have my husband with me, so it'll be easier than it was for you (you're so brave - good for you!).

1blessedmomma - Monday, 2 June
Thanks!! How's your trip going? Are you getting some relief? Hope all goes well and enjoy yourself!! You deserve it Mommy!

leahsmom - Sunday, 1 June
Thanks for the tips on flying. We are heading cross country from OR to NC in two weeks w/out my hubby. I'll have my older boys with me though- 8 and 17 years old- so they can help. We are taking a red eye in hopes that it might not be full and I can bring her car seat on board and that she (we) will be able to sleep some on the flight. The two things I keep envisioning is Leah screaming half the way there and having a poopy blow out in the front carrier. Whenever she poops in an upright position, it ALL comes out the top of her diaper. I guess I'll come armed with plenty of wipes and extra clothes for both of us and hope our plane has a changing table!

Like you, my mom will be waiting at the airport with open arms:) My parents haven't met Leah yet and can't wait. They were present for the birth of our first two. They didn't get to come out this time because my dad had some health problems. That broke their hearts. Any amount of hassle would be worth it to visit with them and see them finally get to meet their little granddaughter.