For seriously sleep-deprived parents...

... here is a great post by someone on FaceBook (Laura W.) with information on how to get assistance with your baby so you can get more sleep.

We need sleep to function and there's a lot depending on a new mother in the first few days, weeks and months postpartum.  Getting that sleep is always this issue, especially for those who do not have family nearby or friends able to help out.  Depression and anxiety is around the corner for the sleep-deprived but there are programs to help us get us (a bit more) on track.

I've simply cut and pasted this here rather than re-writing everything.  I wish this was more widely available so that I could make use of it myself but I know my situation isn't a bad one - if anything, it's pretty good, I just want more sleep in general!

Please forward this information to anyone you know, particularly those who are pregnant, especially with their first, or have given birth within the last 3 months.  They'll need this program the most!

I just wanted to post and let the ladies know about a program for those who may need it. In York Region, it's called 'Five Days, Five Nights'. I know that Toronto also offers this program as well. If you are suffering from anxiety, depression etc. or if you have previously experienced PPD/PPA/PPOCD, etc., speak to your Dr. or Midwife about this program.

You can stay in the hospital for five days and five nights to be monitored and to have some *sleep*. The studies show that if you are sleep deprived, isolated and without support, the postpartum time can be extremely difficult.  With sleep, going home doesn't seem as daunting and overwhelming - and in those first few days, it is so important for a new mother to be rested and know that she's alright.

Also, if you need it, a nurse with Public Health will follow you, come to your home to check up on you and baby and make sure you're doing ok. They can meet you outside the house and help you with 'getting out' if you need it.

There is also a program through Public Health that allows for a 'grandmother' type person to come and hold the baby and entertain an older sibling if needed so that you can rest, clean, cook etc once a week for up to two hours.

Please, speak to your health care provider if you are feeling anxious, angry, sad, sleepless for 'no apparent reason' etc. A healthy, happy mom makes great mom. It's a hard time and you don't have to be alone. 

In York Region there is a programme called 'Life With a Baby' that organizes get togethers *daily* if you need to get out and see real life people.

Remember, your baby will sleep again... even though you feel like they will never sleep - especially when you need them to. They will stop crying. They will eat. Just think - they won't be this little forever... and the next stage may not be better - just different. You are doing a great job. And if you need any help... please don't be fearful to let someone - anyone - know.

Big hugs to all the Mammas that need it.

Teething, our next chapter

Never mind the solid food bit, I know teething is coming down the timeline for our little Kristen as well.  As a result from a net surfing something else altogether, I came across this mom's post for a natural teething remedy.  I'm looking forward to trying this out!

All you'll need are the following (taken directly from mommypotamus):

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil, or for a milder flavor 1 tablespoon olive and 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 2 drops clove bud* essential oil

For the full post, please click here.


*I was actually researching cloves stemming from someone's FaceBook post about a natural mosquito repellant.  I didn't know what cloves were and had only heard about garlic cloves.  Cloves are really neat and useful!  For the mosquito repellant, please click here.  It's not the same post but it's along the same lines and actually has 3 versions for different uses.

Singing the Future

Sorry this one's so late!  Got caught up with other things last night.

One suggestion almost everyone makes to help soothe babies is singing but what I realized when I first started singing to Derek, I was singing more to myself than to him.  Not in a selfish way, more like a I-need-to-be-reminded-to-keep-my-sanity way, especially at 3 am!  So I chose songs that had messages I wanted to impart to him and would remind me as to why I'm committing myself to less sleep and playing a continuous game of Guess the Wail (or Guess the Babble during happier times!).  They would keep me focused as to how I'm parenting, who I'm parenting and remind me to make wise decisions during tough times that will lay down a solid parenting foundation for future days that will hold other joys and struggles.

The songs I chose are Christian-based but you can use any song that will help soothe you as you soothe your baby.  Mine are the following:

This Little Light Of Mine (learn the song and lyrics here; fun gospel version here)
I chose this song because I wanted to remind myself to raise up a child who would be a light wherever he goes, prayerfully a light within God's church as he grows, and that he is my little light, reminding me of the blessing and opportunity God have given me to partake in creation by giving birth to life.  It also has 2 other verses to make it fun during more active times ("Hide it under a bush - oh no!" "Won't let Satan blow it out" with the option of a light blowing* into the face instead of saying "blow").

Beautiful (learn the song and lyrics here; my awesomely talented brother plays an acoustic medley with other songs here)
This song was chosen mainly for the line, "Jesus makes beautiful things of my life", which He has in the little lives he has blessed me with.  It reminds me in those wee dark hours that I have been charged to take care of this beautiful creation and not to harm it, as a fatigued and frustrated may stray to do.

I Cast All My Cares Upon You (learn the song and lyrics here - this is the series I sang with decades ago!)
I blend this song with "Beautiful" as they're both in 6/8 time.  It also keeps me from getting to bored and falling asleep!  This was especially helpful when Derek was crying and not falling asleep for who knows what reason - he's changed, fed and burped, so why won't he just sleep?  I'm comforted to know that God is watching over me and watching over Derek, and that I can lean on Him when I'm feeling so tired.  I can cast my worries about this crying child into His hands and know He'll be working with me to figure things out!

So if you're feeling at the end of your rope sometimes while caring for your little one, try picking up one of these songs, singing as you change a diaper or bathe a wriggling body or wait for a tantrum to let up, not necessarily to calm them down, although we hope it will, but to help calm you down and re-focus your purpose in parenting. Of course, no need to finish the song at their expense (I used to feel obligated to finish the song before I moved on to my next action, lol) but if you're feeling frayed, keep singing till you feel a bit calmer and more ready to handle the situation.  We'll never have it all together but anything that helps us be a bit better helps, right?  And the more you sing your repertoire, the more your child will become familiar with it which can help with bonding, his/her speech building, musicality, etc.  It's tons of fun especially when toddler months hit and sing-alongs begin!

How about you? What tricks or methods do you employ to keep yourself sane?  If you were to choose a song, which would it be and why?

Toddler Science Fun!

Dare I hope that the numbers I see from my blog stats are due to people checking in for a new post? =D

Sorry for the late posting but I honestly couldn't keep my brain going for a decent post.  I was also looking up something for a "Fun Friday" post and found that my ideas may be a bit much for some readers to take in so until you get the feel of who I am and what humour I have, we'll keep those for another Friday.

So for today, I was looking up toddler science projects I could do with my son.  I'm considering home schooling so I'm going to try a relaxed version from July to December to see how he takes to is and how I can keep it up.  I'm hoping that his desire to learn will inspire the teacher in me to be disciplined in creating fun lessons!  As you can see from this blog, I am not the most disciplined person, but I am trying. =)

On to the meat of the post (finally!).  I found a page that has a bunch of ideas but the one I like most is the "Cloud in a Jar".  Using shaving cream, food colouring, water all in a jar, a simple explanation is given of how rain happens.  You can find that particular project here.  For more ideas, visit this page.

As I haven't tried this out myself I can't really tell you how it goes but I think this will keep a toddler interested for 10-15 minutes at a time, possibly for a week!  Different coloured clouds allow for artistic expression as well, then posting pictures of their creations.  I'm really looking forward to this!

How about you? Is there a project you'd like to try?  Have you already done one of these with your kid(s)?  Are there any you'd like to suggest?  Please share!

Exiting the home with two or more kids

Travelling and Toys will be topics of discussion for Tuesdays.  For this week, it'll be travelling.

So I have barely made it out of the home with both my kids in tow, by myself.  It's been 5 months since Kristen was born and I still haven't really mustered up the energy to do so!  Mind you, Derek hasn't been pooping well so sticking around home has been our M.O. lately.  Today may be a different day, however, as he has pooped two days in a row allowing for him to be more comfortable and therefore, more agreeable.

One thing I was waiting for was Kristen's eating and napping schedule to be more apparent before stepping out with both of them.  It has now so I'm waiting for the best combination of weather, my energy and my wake-up time to head out the door.  I did try it once in the winter time with a post-partum doula, Shawna (who was awesome, by the way, and I would totally recommend her if you're looking for pre-natal, birthing or post-partum help) but it wasn't the greatest weather given it was in early March and that I chose to take a shorter route that ended up being fairly icy.  Not the best when wearing an infant in near-freezing temperatures and a toddler who's never walked on ice!  But I made it with Shawna's help and since then have made it down to the condo play room but that's about it.

We'll see how today's possibility goes.  And by today I really mean tomorrow since I'm timing the posting of this... post.  Publishing!  That's what I mean.  =P  So yah, I'm actually typing this Monday night for a Tuesday posting.  Mondays are supposed to be makeup and hair (oh vanities!) but I kinda missed that so I'll have to put something up next week.  Anyhoo, I'm mainly trying to get myself to post every day.  More substantial posts will be coming, I promise!

In the mean time... any other parents out there delaying a multi-kid outing?  How are you dealing with it and when do you plan to venture out with 2+ little ones?  For those who already have, please share your experiences with us!  Doesn't matter if they were "bad" ones, it'll give us all a good laugh and hopefully help us prepare for the worst, or at least some of it.  =P

  

Derek and Kristen after 6 weeks of being siblings