Hello.Again.Kitty | ExpatWoman.com
 

Hello.Again.Kitty

Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 16:57
yup, if you're not happy about the way it's heading, change it. Sometimes it has to be a case of tough love and what with breastfeeding him, he's not going to starve. Shelve the oats for a bit and concentrate on other foods. Either divide batches into small portions that you can defrost easily if he wants more or go for finger foods that wouldn't be a problem if you had to chuck them... or eat them yourself. Proper choking is actually really quite rare (as per the paramedic who did our infant first aid course who said he'd been called to one incident in 19 years), but gagging is frequent and is a very, very good (and strong) reflex that children have to avoid choking, in fact. Don't get him used to jars and pots either. Yes they're convenient on the go, but they're the baby equivalent of ready-meals, so unless you as a family eat ready-meals at every opportunity, then he's going to have to make the transition sometime soon. I'm also a firm believer in eating with your children, to show them the way. Try and do so and eat what he's having (or him eat what you're having) so that he can copy you and feel all grown up.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 16:49
Don't let her cast doubt on your ability to nurse your baby - it's a generation thing and they were almost force-fed that formula was this super thing that Doctors made, so it had to be the best thing since sliced bread. Some of the things my MiL came out with (giving them rose syrup at 2 days old "to keep their sugar levels up" - wtf?!) were incredible. Hang on in there, nod and smile and murmur a selection of phrases like "how times have changed", "doctors no longer recommend that", "That's interesting, but I'll try it my way first" and "leave me alone you old crone!"... sorry, not that last one... well maybe save it for the 3am slot!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 16:07
ooo, lemon curd! That's such a winner... Lemon meringue pie?! Lemon drizzle cake? Fish in a lemon sauce this evening... or Greek spinach rice (rice, with onion, spinach and lemon juice...) You could also freeze some halved slices in water so that they are cute G&T ice-cubes? Same for the Pimms, really...
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 15:57
I was not aware the 'show' can happen days before the main event. ... or it can happen as you're pushing! Especially 2nd time around, because our pelvic floors are what they are, bubs can bob up and down far more, right up until the end. I think I was about 3/5 engaged when I was having my 2nd sweep and was 2cm dilated.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 12:15
I love the shape of pregnant women, but there are bumps and bumps. I always felt more comfortable wearing a maternity tankini, rather than have the vast expanse of flesh that was my tummy on show
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 11:00
I went back to the UK to give birth on the NHS just over 2 years ago. I had completed the P85, but 3 months later, it made sense to complete the P86 and become resident again, since my baby was due in June and realistically, I'd be spending most of the year in the UK. I am not working over here so there were no tax implications for me. My circumstances were a bit particular though, because we had kept our house in the UK, so I had a permanent address and was still registered with my GP (forgot to un-register when we left), so was "in the system" already. I was completely open to anyone who asked as to what my situation was (DH working abroad, we're there for extended periods, part of my antenatal care was in Dubai, etc...) but everyone really just cared about doing the job in hand, which was to ensure I had a healthy pregnancy and birth. I guess I also fitted therefore into the 1st and 2nd categories that Cheggers linked. I know some people just pop over and pop back, and others forget to mention a few key details to a few key people and get away with it, but I do think that if you want to play the game, so to speak, you should play by the rules... goodness knows they're quite flexible as they stand! <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 11/04/2011</em>
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 19:32
I use essential oil (can't find any here) and I know that's £12 for 10ml (so, 80aed)... once of the most expensive essential oils.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 19:30
Has it occurred to the OP (and everyone else on this thread) that this might just be a ploy by the reporting maid for a payrise? Hardly... especially if she's saying that 3k a month still doesn't guarantee the the child will be well looked after! Give the woman some credit - she's a human being and it obviously struck a nerve to see little children being maltreated, as I'd hope it would to any of us.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 17:46
Not sure why the salary of the maid is relevant. Wow, thats surprising, the salary of the maid caught your eye not the fact a child is being mistreated? No that caught my eye too. Just felt there was a better way to identify the abused children other than the maids salary. And the reason this is an issue with me is because maybe she isn't the only maid making this much money in that area. A maid may be wrongly accused tonight of abusing a child that they didn't abuse. Maybe the maid is lying about how much she makes therefore the abusing maid may be getting away with her bad deeds because she is being identified by a ficticious salary. We don't know. So clearly I am aware that this is an account of a maid but if she had that much detail she could surely identify the maid by personal characteristics. not a salary. how else would this identification go... and still be relevant? Saying the maid was in her mid 20s-early 30s, long dark hair, dark brown eyes, average height and in jeans and a t-shirt isn't going to narrow it down much either, is it?! It wasn't the OP observing, but her own maid. Different people pick out different things.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 17:21
one day of grumpiness does not a colicy baby make... see how it goes tomorrow. If you breastfeed, did you have anything different or "extreme" (half a cabbage, a vindaloo, etc...) yesterday?
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 17:18
I would be pretty upset if my Maid was licking the spoon too. That's just not necessary and the maid could pass something onto the child. I'd be more upset that the maid was eating the food intended for my daughter - what else might this girl be going without?! Well done to the OP in posting this. It's all too easy for working parents to not know what goes on while they're away, and in that respect, you're no different to the friendly villager who's seen something amiss and doesn't walk on by.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 16:07
how about in similar-flavoured juice or the flavoured milk or actimel type yoghurt drinks? Sneaky, I know, but whatever works!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 16:05
I've just posted on teh main thread... likely it'll get moved here soon enough. at 3 weeks old, who knows really?! Unless she's presenting signs of being unwell, it could just be that she woke up a bit grumpy today or that she's growing a bit... either way, lots of cuddles are in order! Enjoy!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 16:03
yeah, sometimes they just get out the wrong side of bed... just like the rest of us. It could be anything, but unless there's something obviously medically wrong (fever, sluggishness, runny nose, etc...) then just run with it and give her lots of cuddles... the housework and whatever else can wait... just cuddles and snuggles.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 15:21
follow you gut feel! At the end of the day, it's a tool to get them out of nappies and onto the loo - which, unless you have a [i'>very[/i'> snazzy bathroom, doesn't come with flashing lights and music. DD actually hardly used her potty, mainly due to a crawling younger brother who was very curious and would pester her, and then upend the potty once she'd got up... so we went straight to the loo and have an insert seat that sits underneath the standard seat, so that there's no gaps or holes and it can't tip up. We got it in the UK though (£2.50 at Tescos!), so it's not much help! Good luck!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 15:16
hi.. iwas just going to ask the same question, i had the same problem with my 7 month baby girl, many people told me to try prune babyfood and juice but i can't find it ... do you have an idea where ican find it?? just buy some dried or tinned prunes and mush them up! Tinned would obviously be better for mushing, but if you can only find dried, then simmer them in a little water to soften them and then mush. Saying that, prunes aren't a complete guarantee. I have an iron stomach and they have no effect... I can quite happily chomp through a whole kilo! <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 10/04/2011</em>
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 14:34
Don't forget that you'll also need to eat back at least some of your exercise calories so that you don't unwittingly dip under the minimum 1600 (this figure is the 1200 minimum recommended daily allowance for healthy weight loss plus 400 for breastfeeding)...
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 14:30
Just my personal experience - when I used the supermarket liquid food colours to colour the fondant, I was up half the night trying to achieve the right balance by adding more and then more and then some more sugar as the liquid made the sugarpaste too sticky.. In the end, not worth the hassle and the headache and the time spent... In my hard-earned experience, the gel food colours make colouring fondant a cinch.. certainly if you want to get the really vibrant colours, then yes, it's a bit rubbish and the gels take the edge, but if you're just doing a spot of home baking and can be variable, then there's nothing wrong with the supermarket ones. I managed to get Barney Purple from supermarket ones, but it does take a bit of skilled colour mixing and my hands were pretty purple by the end of it! At least all the granite worktops here are good for kneading the fondant!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 13:31
Loving it, AmyAus!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 12:27
you might need to make the sponges slight thinner and layer them though, for fear that the middle won't get cooked at the same rate as in the smaller tin.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 12:23
Thanks! I think Ill try to go to lulu and chk out the wafer paper option...sounds easier:)...but will try to experiment with the violet as well...Thanks a ton for the help! you'll need to take along a page of what you want them to print... I think they do it up to A4 size. I'll be able to say one way or another this weekend!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 12:21
As it is, the liquid food colouring found in supermarkets is a no-no when colouring fondant. Of course it's ok to use the supermarket stuff! You just need to be aware, as you say, that you need to balance it with more sugar and that you won't get the psychedelic colours the gels can achieve.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 11:36
I have a friend whose son started having night terrors at this age. They're basically a form of nightmare, but the child can get really quite animated and/or violent but is still asleep, even though their eyes may be open. Very strange. If she's doing this at around about the same time every night, then it *could* be this - I wouldn't know. A trick to help is apparently to give them a bit of a prod about 15minutes before they usually kick off because it stops them going into the sleep stage that in occurs in.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 11:32
I'm no fan of meds and suppositories, but if he's passing blood and crying, and doing so for weeks, AND that nothing else seems to be working, then it's time to give them, bless him.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 11:21
hi hello kitty again, I am not sure if it's the same Karo Syrup for babies' constipation? I don't know either... people give funny things to babies sometimes. This syrup is just Karo brand and was in the home baking section... it's just liquid sugar.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 11:17
so he's literally not poo'd for a month? Nothing?! If that's the case, it's probably time to take him to the dr!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 11:16
I didn't have epidurals at either of my two labours and laughing gas only for my first. I know lots of women who've had epidurals and loved them and one where she had medical complications from it, so just like any medical intervention, it carries risks, however small. Minimal medical intervention is always ideal, but sometimes neither realistic nor practical! My advice would be to prepare yourself by making peace with whatever solution will be most appropriate on the day. Take it as it comes - you've already done it twice, after all - and if you need more, then take more. No one gets a medal at the end, so if the idea that "you know what, if I want an epidural, I'll get one" calms and relaxes you, then maybe you won't need one after all.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 11:05
Also, write a note about what you would like her to do in certain situations. Something like "If DS cries, first give him a cuddle them put him down. If that doesn't work, give him some milk"... and in big and red, at the bottom, put you "in case of emergency" number... maybe even with a list of what you would consider reasons to call. Getting her to call you every hour or half hour may be a bit excessive... just let her do her job and get on with your evening. Also, at the end of the day, even if he doesn't settle to sleep for the whole evening, well, it's not the end of the world, is it? Lastly, I've found on a few occasions (in hotels and here when I've employed a baby-sitter) that they might actually sit *in the child's room* - talk about a literal interpretation of the job! On these occasions, neither of my children have gone to sleep (they're used to being left alone to fall asleep) and we've come back to find a rather knackered-looking babysitter! Just be clear about your expectations. <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 10/04/2011</em>
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 10:58
Do you mean the Karo brand corn syrup? If so, Al Maya in the Marina (the one by the JLT metro stop). They have both light and dark for about 17aed.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 10:02
Thanks good ideas, I had thought of getting a photo of them together and putting it in her room so she can see Daddy when she goes to bed? I obviously don't want to make it a BIG thing but I feel really bad for her when she just sits there and says "Mummy I'm sad, I miss Daddy" . Regarding the new situations that's a harder one... This morning we had tears and I had to prize her off me as her usually teacher wasn't there today, I can only hope she has a good morning and we don't have to go through it tomorrow and the next day. Try to switch the focus on the more permanent, positive aspects, sop for example if the teacher isn't there, spend some time pointing out to her the people she knows who are there. It sounds as if the problem is the same... something to do with people coming and going and maybe her being left behind. Really try getting to the bottom of this - it might not be about any given person, just an underlying feeling (maybe of solitude, isolation, the worry they might not come back, etc...) so if you can resolve that, you're more than likely to resolve all the difficult situations. For daddy being away, I find it really, really helpful to be in daily contact, either by skype, msn or a phone call. If DH is working and he's on msn, I'll be open and tell DD that we can talk to daddy by writing, or if it's not working hours, I'll ask her if she'd like to call him. It's about making the connection... or rather retaining the connection. DH always likes to talk to the kids just before bed, so they have a rather stinted phone conversation, letting DD especially, just say whatever comes into her head.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 09:34
Is she old enough to talk to you about it? Maybe ask her what's bothering her in such-and-such a situation ans see what she answers... it could be surprising, or maybe not, but either way, it'll give you a better base from which to work.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 09:32
Surely most of it will be the same (work experience, education, etc...). Just update your personal profile to be in line with you current job expectations/ goals and add in your current employment with a few details of role and key projects.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 09 April 2011 - 22:45
To mix purple icing, just add red and blue liquid colourings until you have Barney-esque colours (it may take quite a bit, so add more icing sugar. As for the actual icing, it depends what effect you want. "Normal" cupcakes use butter-icing, but it's difficult to get vibrant colours in that without piling in the artificial colouring, and then it sometimes breaks the delicate flavour. Yellows and greens, however, are easy to achieve in butter icing, it's just the deep purple that's not (unless you get the violet colouring gel, that's currently out of stock!) If you wanted a sheer finish, try making "drop-icing" by adding a couple of drops of flavouring, the colouring and then some warm water (only a teaspoon at a time because it goes runny very quickly) until you have a thick paste, spoon one teaspoonful onto each cupcake, smudge around a bit and then let gravity do the rest. Leave them out to crust over. You can also make this icing to ice biscuits Then of course there's the fondant and/or modelling option... Barney is a challenge to do in 2D icing, so a 3rd alternative is to take a page of Barneys down to Park&Shop or Lulus and get them printed onto wafer paper! There... all the trade secrets! ;)
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 09 April 2011 - 22:37
Yes! You can get the natural ones at Organic Foods and Cafe in Dubai Mall. Going to pick some up next Saturday (20% off day...not surprisingly they're very pricey, but for us it's those or nothing). I bring over most of my stuff from the UK anyway, but thanks for the tip! ;)
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 09 April 2011 - 21:54
If you decide to use Bonjella, check that it's the teething version, as they recently (a couple fo years ago) realised that the hitherto normal version (now branded for adults) contained a substance linked to a nasty neural condition in children. I just hope that the UAE has cottoned on to this and has recent stocks! I've never seen teething powders here. The main ones in the UK are Ashton's & Parsons and Dentinox (I think)... I used Ashton's & Parson's and it was fabulous... somehow seemed to instantly calm!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 09 April 2011 - 21:48
If you want it red, yellow or orange, Tavola in the Century Plaza have the colouring gels, but to be honest, since you only need a toothpick amount and probably won't be making huge quantities, then it might be a bit of a waste. Supermarket colourings are fine. Generally the natural ones (can you even get them here?! lol!) don't give as vibrant/ deep a colour as the artificial ones. Also, take into account that the liquid colouring will moisten any icing you decide to make, so add more icing sugar to balance it out. Lastly, bit of teaching-granny-to-suck-eggs maybe, but remember you can mix primary colourings to get the shade you want.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 09 April 2011 - 19:11
oo, it's like an Aladdin's Cave in there! Only thing is, fyi, they're only getting new stock of the icing colouring gels at the end of May, so you'll be fine as long as you only need 3 kinds of red, peach, yellow, orange or pale green. I was in there a few weeks back and they'd just had a delivery then. I was after cornflower blue -- no luck, sadly -- but they did give me the phone number of the local Wilton suppliers if I wanted to buy direct. I .... think I have the number tucked away in my baking cupboard; will look for it if you're desperate. :) ach, it's not the end of the world... I've done just fine with the standard liquid palette up until now. I was after some violet or purple in a form that wouldn't tint my hands too! Still, I was pleasantly surprised at the prices of those gels - 10aed, which makes them [shock horror, can it be?!'> slightly cheaper than in the UK... unlike the daisy cutters!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 09 April 2011 - 19:08
are they big sized as in for larger women or big pants as in granny knickers? If it's the latter, most supermarkets have an interesting array of "big knickers", even some knickerbocker style ones! In fact, Hyperpanda even has some with, er, pads to give the illusion of a perter behind. Please don't ask why I was looking! lol
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 09 April 2011 - 16:37
oo, it's like an Aladdin's Cave in there! Only thing is, fyi, they're only getting new stock of the icing colouring gels at the end of May, so you'll be fine as long as you only need 3 kinds of red, peach, yellow, orange or pale green.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 09 April 2011 - 14:49
[and, er, just quietly ... the staff don't know a lot about what they're selling.'> I'm afraid I haven't found a "sales assistant" in all my time here who actually does! :\:
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 09 April 2011 - 14:30
Jumeirah branch, Beach Road, the one in Century Plaza [not Mercato'>. It has a baking section up the back corner and the Wilton gels are by the cash register. :) fab thanks! I thought it was in Jumeirah, but they have 3 branches there! Let's hope it's worth the trip! :) Cook shops are my sweet shops!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 09 April 2011 - 14:24
I know it's terrible, but when I get them, I get a needle and pick the hair out, just like you would a splinter. They're often only a layer or two of skin under the surface, so you don't need to dig at all and it won't draw blood.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 09 April 2011 - 12:22
and how much is it going to cost too?! The postage will come to more than the value of the item!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 09 April 2011 - 11:48
how about the Arabic Russian dolls? A friend of mine has a set and yet I can't find them anywhere (haven't looked really, really hard, but in passing) Saw them in Al Jabeer (sp?) Deira City Centre yesterday-down by the back wall fab - thanks!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 09 April 2011 - 11:18
depends on the nursery and your own feelings on the matter... and your needs. Some nurseries take babies from a few weeks or months old, others only take them from 18 months. DD only started nursery when she was 3 - before then, she was used to socialising quite a bit with children her age and we were quite active in the M&B groups. She'd also been spending some time (2 days a week) with a childminder in the UK when we were there. In the months running up to her 3rd birthday, she was quite obviously getting a bit bored at home, and I felt that it'd be good for both of us to get some space and extra, different stimulation. DS will be starting nursery in September, when he's 2 and a bit, mainly because we don't seen to get to do half the activities with him that I used to do with DD... and I'll need some child-free time to do the final year of my MA!
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Latest post on 08 April 2011 - 22:44
yup, it's common sense and situation-based, so as long as you're not making daft decisions on the road (before you get on the road) then you'll be just fine. Obviously, a lot of people here could fail it just on that premise. Think safety. Am I doing the correct speed, correct distance, correct signals/warning and/or correct precautions for whatever I'm faced with?
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 08 April 2011 - 22:38
how about the Arabic Russian dolls? A friend of mine has a set and yet I can't find them anywhere (haven't looked really, really hard, but in passing)
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 08 April 2011 - 14:16
I think it's sad that the meagre existence some people live here is still better than they have in their own country. Yup, and I think that part of the difficulty to adjust is often that it's the first sneak preview face-to-face that this - and worse - goes on in the world. I know it sounds rather naive explained like that, but you know, it's one thing to read about it or see it on the telly and another to come face-to-face with it... and we're not talking about rural African villages or the slums in Mexico, but just segments of population who accept and/or contribute to day-to-day inequality, exploitation and hardship without further consideration. For all the inequality/injustice/ poverty that goes on in Western countries, we're simply not exposed to it at quite this level. Makes me bloomin' grateful for what I have though... and angry at all the whingers and spongers back home, who I think would benefit enormously from coming out here for a reality check!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 08 April 2011 - 13:55
I am still, however, utterly convinced I will be utterly incapable of caring for two babies! :D ach, nah, you'll muddle along just fine... like the rest of us, not knowing what day it is, what's for dinner (or when?! Scrambled eggs - think so!) or when exactly you completely lost the plot and decided to have kids in the first place!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 08 April 2011 - 13:53
Ina May Gaskin has a lot of advice that really make labor shorter and quicker. The main ones I found useful was - Going on hand and knees during contractions - Opening the mouth wide (like you are roaring) during contractions - Telling my self that I will open wide enough to let LO out - Delivering on hands and knees It's very similar to the hypnobirthing idea, that, actually. Basically, the "trick" is to follow exactly what your body wants to do, don't think about anything*, just let it take charge, because it knows exactly how it wants to do things! * in fact, think about helping it. Don't concentrate on the pain as "I've just broken my leg" type pain, because it's not... it's the deep, sometimes burning pain of the most extreme physical workout your body has ever done... and probably ever will do. It's painful, but in an endorphin-fuelled exhilarating kind of way... if you let it. During my contractions, I visualised what my body was trying to do, urging it to open up wider at every contraction and make every one count double. Dunno if it worked, but when the midwife arrived (this was in the UK), after having a little chat and a laugh (yes, honestly), she checked me out and I was fully dilated!
 
 
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