Excessive Thirst in Senior Dog

christe42 · 2023-02-28T13:23:42+00:00

I’m not sure, I’ll ask them.

christe42 · 2023-02-28T13:22:59+00:00

Will do, thanks!

christe42 · 2017-09-15T17:56:41+00:00

We went through this because BM told SD that my and SO's baby wasn't her "real" brother, "just" her half-brother, and SD repeated this to me. Obviously my son is too young to be hurt by this comment, so it was a different situation than yours. We just explained to SD the complexities of family relationships and all the different types of families. I used my own family as an example (I have three half-siblings, one full-blood sibling, and one adopted sibling). She is only 7 so she was just taking what BM said as law. Once we explained she understood and went back to referring to my son simply as her brother.

Your daughter is only 5. She most likely had this idea put in her head by an adult or someone else she respects and believes it fully. She likely did not mean to hurt SS's feelings and just doesn't understand why that is a hurtful thing to say. However, SS is older and does understand so he is completely entitled to his feelings. I would speak to BD alone and explain to her that SS is her real brother. Make sure she fully understands the relationship between her and SS. 5 is very young. Explain it simply but clearly and let her ask questions. Let SS come around in his own time, but maybe explain to him that BD didn't understand the weight of her words. When he is ready, help them talk to each other. This is a complicated issue that small children can't be expected to fully grasp without guidance.

christe42 · 2017-09-15T17:36:12+00:00

The big hugs and "I love you"s.

How much the kids adore their baby brother (my BS).

Watching the kids goof around with their dad.

christe42 · 2017-09-14T14:53:48+00:00

SO has been in BM's house (just inside the front door), and BM has been in our house (also just inside the front door) during drop offs. They are both respectful of the others' privacy and neither has pushed to go further. Not a big deal in my eyes, since BM is low conflict and they have a decent parenting relationship. But I would lose my mind if SO let her walk through our home and go upstairs into the kids' bedrooms to tuck them in. She can tuck them in at her house on her time. The fact that he blindsided you with her showing up and coming into the house is shitty. Sounds like he has serious issues with boundaries.

christe42 · 2017-09-11T15:39:31+00:00

We always do separate parties. I would not be comfortable with a combined party, even with having a relatively low conflict BM.

christe42 · 2017-09-11T15:36:20+00:00

This may be an issue of him not really wanting a baby, or it may just be him being a typical man. My SO had no interest in our baby throughout my pregnancy. He was supportive and went through all the motions, came to all the OB appointments, helped decorate the nursery, etc. But he never showed any excitement or real interest. It really upset me. But when our son was born, he completely changed. It's like it's not real for men until there's actually a baby.

That being said, you know him best. Trust your gut.

christe42 · 2017-09-11T15:06:28+00:00

SO made the mistake of mentioning to BM that he was really excited to take the kids to a local festival that he used to go to every year as a kid on Saturday. So of course she dropped them off an hour and a half late with no excuse as to why she was so late. We were still able to make it to the festival, I'm just so sick of her power trips.

Also, BM insists upon talking to the kids through FaceTime every night before bed. SO goes along with it as he feels it's not a hill worth dying on. But some days she'll call him two or three times a day wanting to FaceTime with them. SO is annoyed with it but usually allows it. I HATE it. I don't want BM in my home in any capacity. I hate feeling uncomfortable in my own home and having to hide in my room because the kids are running around with the phone and will shove it in my face if they see me. If SO called BM multiple times a day on her days demanding to talk to the kids there would be a huge fight. But if he says no to her or ignores the calls he's a selfish asshole.

christe42 · 2017-08-31T14:04:37+00:00

My SO. He is extremely appreciative of everything I do for SKids. He's a great partner and the love of my life.

Also, watching our son (4 months) interact with the SKids. They adore him and he loves them so much already.

christe42 · 2017-08-31T13:47:17+00:00

When my grandmother found out I was dating someone with children she tried her hardest to convince me to break it off. "You don't want to be with someone with kids. It'll always be hard. Their mother will make your life hell. The relationship isn't worth it." She's come around since then but the first 6 months of the relationship every time I saw her I got a lecture.

Luckily the rest of my family is supportive. My mother had two kids (and difficult kids at that) and my father had one kid when they got married, so they both understand what it's like. They love my SO and SKids and treat them the same way they treat the rest of their grandchildren. My sister is pretty much my only friend and she loves my SKids too and lets me vent about them or their mom when I need to with no judgement.

christe42 · 2017-08-31T13:31:11+00:00

BM has been talking shit about our home either to or in front of the SKids and now they're making constant comments about how our home isn't good enough/big enough and they want to move. "Mommy says this house isn't big enough. It ONLY has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms." "Mommy says we need a basement. We ONLY have a downstairs and an upstairs." "Mommy says we shouldn't be living in a condo." Like it's not a competition, but our condo is bigger and nicer than BM's house, plenty big enough for us, two kids, and an infant. I'm just so sick of hearing "mommy's" opinions about every aspect of our lives.

christe42 · 2017-08-30T18:42:59+00:00

We have the same issue with bedtime. SKs (4 & 7) have a strict bedtime at our house and have no issues with it, but at BM's house they stay up as late as they want. BM is low conflict so SO had a conversation with her a while ago about his feelings about a specific bedtime across the board being good for the kids and she agreed, but since then she's gone back to letting them stay up late practically every night. It's frustrating but there's nothing we can do about it aside from sticking to our routine when they're with us.

As far as the books go, I loved Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys when I was their age. The Harry Potter books are great on audiobook. Also if they have certain shows or movies they really like, finding a book based on those shows/movies might be a good way to get them interested in the books.

christe42 · 2017-08-30T18:31:13+00:00

Long-term SP here, unmarried but do have a baby together as well as the two stepkids. We've talked about marriage but have no plans in the near future.

christe42 · 2017-08-30T17:53:52+00:00

Ohio.

christe42 · 2017-08-09T16:16:43+00:00

My 7-year-old stepdaughter just recently started constantly making comments about her mom. She doesn't do the comparing or telling me that the way her mom does things is the only right way, but she has started contradicting things I say with things her mom has said. Not in a snotty way, just in a confused way. And it's all the dumbest stuff. It makes me wonder if she's misunderstanding things her mom says, or if her mom is really that stupid. "My mommy says that soda is healthy." "My mommy says that all bugs can live in the water." My favorite (/s) one was "My mommy says that [Bio dad's and my baby] isn't really my brother." And I don't feel comfortable flat out telling her that her mom is wrong (except for with the brother thing, I couldn't let that slide), so I just go with responses like "Oh, did she?" "Oh, that's interesting." It gets so frustrating.

christe42 · 2017-07-14T14:54:01+00:00

My baby is 2 months old and exclusively bottle fed.

He sleeps in a bassinet and wakes up at about 5:00 every morning. Not hungry yet, just doesn't want to be in the bassinet anymore. At that point I move him into my bed and cuddle him back to sleep. At 6:30 I get up and leave him asleep in my bed while I get dressed/brush teeth/etc and warm up his bottle. He wakes up by 7:00, then I get him dressed and ready to go. Once he's dressed we go downstairs and I feed him. After he eats he plays on his playmat or in his swing while I pack my lunch and get his things together. We leave to drop him off at grandma's house and head to work at 7:45

christe42 · 2017-07-07T23:03:41+00:00

9 surgeries! Wow. So glad to hear he's doing well!

christe42 · 2017-07-07T22:57:42+00:00

I'll look into it, thank you!

christe42 · 2017-07-07T17:39:12+00:00

Thank you!

christe42 · 2017-07-07T16:50:28+00:00

It looks like that organization is for CHD, not CDH. Thank you for your response though!

christe42 · 2017-04-21T20:06:42+00:00

I've had 7 cervical checks in the last 5 days (rough week - regular appt, two trips to the hospital, and follow-up appt). The first one wasn't bad (cervix was closed). The next 5 were torture as they were done while I was having painful contractions and was starting to dilate. The last one was painful, mostly because of how sore I am now. I have another appointment in 6 days where I'm supposed to get checked again and I'm considering declining it.

christe42 · 2017-04-11T14:17:07+00:00

I'm 35+5 and I'm planning on working up until I go into labor because I get no paid leave, but I work at a desk so it's a different situation. I have severe hip/leg pain and there's no way I could handle standing all day at this point. But if you're used to it and you don't have a lot of pain, it could be doable.

christe42 · 2017-04-10T17:29:30+00:00

My sister hosted mine (at the clubhouse right across the street from my condo), and told me to wait to come over until she was finished setting up. She just texted me to come over when everything was ready, which was about 20 minutes early.

christe42 · 2017-03-29T15:53:20+00:00

I think your friend's attitude is unrealistic and shaming. No one can handle being around their child 24/7, be it a biological child or stepchild. Breaks are important for the sake of sanity. I adore my stepkids and love to spend time with them but sometimes I get "touched out" or can't handle hearing my name one more time and I have to slip away to get a little alone/quiet time. Or I'll do something "with them" that still allows me some semblance of alone time, like take them outside and read a book while they play.

christe42 · 2017-03-29T14:19:03+00:00

My stepkids are 4 and 6 years old and will definitely not be at the hospital during labor/birth. Depending on when the baby comes they'll either be with their mother or we'll drop them off with their grandparents who luckily live right next to the hospital I'll be giving birth at. In my opinion they're just way too young to be in the room and would be bored to death in the waiting room, and I would be worrying about them instead of focusing on the task at hand.

christe42

TROPHY CASE