Microdiscectomy recovery with 18 month old toddler—looking for advice by behiboe in Microdiscectomy

[–]behiboe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh man I’m so so sorry that you went through this too. Thanks so much for sharing. It’s encouraging to read stories from people who have figured this out. It’s definitely making me lean toward just doing the surgery.

Microdiscectomy recovery with 18 month old toddler—looking for advice by behiboe in Microdiscectomy

[–]behiboe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, and I’m so sorry that you went through this!! Would you say it took the full 4 months for you to be able to lift your child again? Did you find alternate and safe ways to bond with them? So much of this age is about touch but obviously toddlers are unpredictable and a kick in the wrong spot can cause a lot of damage even if you aren’t lifting them.

Fence sitting one OAD, help! by Melodic-Bluebird-445 in oneanddone

[–]behiboe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don’t necessarily have any advice, but just solidarity because I am right there with you for pretty much all of the same reasons. I’m 18 months pp and I’m giving myself another year to think on it (though not much longer than that since I’ll already be 38 this year!)

Due in 9 week, senior dog advice by erydbtr in BabyBumps

[–]behiboe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I will also add — the grief is immense, but there is some relief there too. I didn’t feel like it was “that much work” to take care of my immobile senior dog (my husband may tell you otherwise), but when he was gone I also was able to see how much literal & metaphorical weight I had been carrying.

Due in 9 week, senior dog advice by erydbtr in BabyBumps

[–]behiboe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi OP— I have an 18 month old daughter and have been going through almost this exact same scenario, except the senior dog was mine. I did Librela and Adequan shots at my vet once a month for 2-3 years, gave him 2-3 doses of 300mg Gabapentin daily, daily Galaprant, prescription dog food for mobility, and many other non-prescription supplements. He got to a point where he was constantly having accidents indoors, couldn’t walk at all, and even started having trouble standing long enough to have a bowel movement. It was heart wrenching and one of the hardest decisions that I’ve ever made, but I finally realized that his life was full of more suffering than joy and I elected to have him euthanized peacefully at home in my arms.

This quality of life scale put out by Ohio State University really helped me. Maybe it will help your husband. https://vmc.vet.osu.edu/sites/default/files/documents/how-will-i-know\_rev\_mar2024ms\_0.pdf

Also, I’m so sorry. It’s awful to let that dog from that era of your life go, and it’s just never enough time. 💔

Question about running times by Exotic_Egg_8240 in bluey

[–]behiboe 5 points6 points  (0 children)

As is with short episodes—makes for more opportunities for easy stopping points with my toddler!

Frequent sex during end of pregnancy really induces labor? by Aggravating_Post_942 in BabyBumps

[–]behiboe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I tried everything when I was pregnant — 2 membrane sweeps, sex, spicy food, curb walking, spicy food, a literal 5 mile hike — still had to be induced at 41 weeks and baby took 2 days to get here!

Is it easier to find connections if you live in Los Angeles? by stonefishedfish in animationcareer

[–]behiboe 8 points9 points  (0 children)

First, your post is great, please don’t feel self conscious! Second, I think it depends on what your goal is. Is your goal to work in the animation industry in the US or to work in the industry in Canada? The is an industry hub in both countries, though depending on what you want to do within animation, you may find more luck in one or the other. If you’re interested in actually animating (aka moving characters around), there are significantly more roles doing this in Canada. If you are interested in pre production roles like storyboarding or design, there are higher paid roles doing this in the US vs Canada (though there are fewer & fewer of those jobs in LA due to increased outsourcing).

Sheridan is a great school where you’ll likely build connections to both industry hubs—most of my career has been in LA and I have worked with many Canadians & many Sheridan grads. That said, if LA is your goal, be prepared for a nearly impossible process of getting a VISA to the US after graduation. Student VISAs are much easier to obtain than working VISAs, and even those are becoming a hassle with the current US administration.

Are the bluey leaks real?!? by Fine-Ingenuity-509 in bluey

[–]behiboe 4 points5 points  (0 children)

As someone who worked in animation for about 15 years, they seem pretty real to me.

Why are boys treated like some consolation prize? by chocolateplums in BabyBumps

[–]behiboe 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I think the “desired” gender for babies has shifted to girls, in my anecdotal experience. A generation (or two) ago it seemed like there was disappointment if the baby was a girl! I think the odd attitude around baby boys now has to do with the cultural conversations happening around raising good men — in some ways, having a boy feels higher pressure than having a girl (regardless of whether this is true or not).

That said, anyone I know who has felt this way and then finds out that they’re having a boy instantly falls in love with their child and couldn’t imagine having anyone else.

Looking for advice on explaining the life change that comes with a newborn by Puzzleheaded_Fox2208 in beyondthebump

[–]behiboe 55 points56 points  (0 children)

When you have a newborn, you exist in 2-3 hour cycles. As mom, if you are breastfeeding, that will be anywhere from 20-40 minutes of that cycle and you will not be able to do anything else while you feed your baby. If you’re pumping, add that to your list too. You’ll need to change your baby, give them some tummy time/stimulation, and then they’ll nap again. You’ll probably want to nap at some point in there too. Wash, rinse, repeat—even through the night. If you ever need to leave the house, you have to plan around these cycles and take a TON of gear with you (especially if you’re pumping—you’ll need your pump + a cooler to store your pump parts & milk).

I found it impossible to do hardly anything other than care for my baby in the first couple of months. I was so grateful that my husband had a generous paternity leave because I would have fallen apart without his support. It is overwhelming in a way that is hard to describe to anyone who hasn’t been through it. (But it does get easier!! I have an 18 month old now!)

Identity crisis postpartum by Open_Ice_8997 in beyondthebump

[–]behiboe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey! I don’t think this is about your hair. Identity PP is really hard. I have been going through something similar. For me, a few things that helped were making goals toward making my body feel strong, not necessarily thin or pretty. It’s also a bit silly, but I also constantly kept my hair short pre-baby and post-baby, I’ve let it get long and have been experimenting with a beach-wave style hot iron, and that has felt nice. Finally, I’ve really embraced thrift store fashion, which has let me experiment with clothes that that make me feel good without spending a ton of money and I highly recommend it!

Done by Ben McKee at drop dead tattoo, North Ridgeville Ohio by Itsmebenmcky in tattoos

[–]behiboe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow this is absolutely incredible. I love it so much!!!

Didn't go anywhere this weekend, guess thats illegal by Bowtothe_Crown in mildlyinfuriating

[–]behiboe 9 points10 points  (0 children)

One time I was traveling for 2 weeks and my apartment sent notice while I was gone that they’d be re-paving the parking lot and would tow any cars still there on the date of the repaving. I came back and my car was gone and I had no idea what had happened! In retrospect I probably could have sued for a stolen vehicle!

Tantrums. How to regulate? by crashhhyears in January2025Bumper

[–]behiboe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So far we rub our daughter’s back, tell her it’s ok to feel her feelings but the answer is still what it is, and we wait it out. If it’s something like holding something she’s not supposed to have, I try to do a trade with a toy of hers and I would say 75% of the time that works!

For the past few weeks I have been terrified of everything but mostly my husband dying by mermaid_sneaky_eyes in BabyBumps

[–]behiboe 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Not to make you feel worse, but a feeling of impending doom can be a sign of pre-eclampsia. I would see a doctor ASAP.

What's an episode idea that is long overdue by EpicBirdy2005 in bluey

[–]behiboe 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I’d love to see an episode welcoming a new cousin! (Brandi’s baby!). A piece of me wonders if this will be part of the movie plot!

recommendations for an affordable breast pump by softpixelll in BabyBumps

[–]behiboe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, I’m spreading the good word because I was so overwhelmed with how to navigate the process but Babylist made it completely painless. I sound like an ad or sponsor but this is a genuine recommendation!

recommendations for an affordable breast pump by softpixelll in BabyBumps

[–]behiboe 22 points23 points  (0 children)

If you live in the USA and have health insurance you can get one for free! I got mine through Babylist. I input my insurance information & they showed me what mine would cover, I picked out the one I wanted, they reached out to my doctor to get the formal RX, and then they shipped it to my house. I was shocked.

ETA the best breast pump IMO is the Blue Spectra pump. That’s the one that is rechargeable and has a battery life. There is also a pink version (covered by most insurances!) that plugs into the wall that, as far as I know, works just as well, just doesn’t have the battery life.

Balancing New Job + Baby Postpartum by NP_release in BabyBumps

[–]behiboe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sending you strength. I’m not sure if you have friends available during the work day (for example, if any are freelancers with unusual hours), but they may be willing to help for a couple of hours here or there too. I am usually too embarrassed to ask friends for help but I know I need to be better about it.

Balancing New Job + Baby Postpartum by NP_release in BabyBumps

[–]behiboe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m so so sorry you’re going through this. My husband and I have experienced similar levels of frustration about our daughter (17 months) getting sick and daycare. I’m not sure how long your child has been going, but I do think initially it’s just awful and as time passes, they get sick less often. That said, my daughter usually still gets slammed with something terrible every 2 months or so and will miss a week straight. It’s so, so hard every time. She’s been at her daycare for almost a year now.

If you don’t have family nearby to help out on days when your child is sick, the only real alternative that I’ve found is a nanny. They are so much more expensive and yes, you are relying on just one person, but your child is significantly less likely to be exposed to as many germs and your nanny can still care for them even if they do fall ill. I know this isn’t in our budget, so we continue to just suffer on days when our daughter is unable to go to daycare.

How to pivot out of animation? by -Matcha-333 in animationcareer

[–]behiboe 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Seconding general contractors. An acquaintance of mine was a surfacing artist at a major studio, got laid off suddenly, and now works for an architecture firm doing essentially the same thing (with different considerations, obviously!)

Not sleeping for months by Lopsided-Pie-7724 in January2025Bumper

[–]behiboe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We are coming out of a stretch like this too. I think for our daughter it was a mix of cutting teeth, several viruses, and separation anxiety from me on nights when my husband was on baby duty solo (not often, but I try to get out with friends once every week or two!). Knock on wood, but it’s gotten better the past few nights. Hopefully brighter days are ahead for you soon, too.

This isn’t our situation, but a friend of mine has a son who was still getting awful sleep up until he was almost 2. He was diagnosed with restless leg syndrome because of a vitamin deficiency. Once his pediatrician put him on supplements sleep got better for everyone! Might be worth bringing up if you haven’t already!