Updates And Such.

* The Company responded quickly, with a Sincere and Concerned voice.  There was an apology from the Quality Control Officer and replacement toys. There was also a UPS 'Call Ticket' issued (I had no idea such things EXISTED..am sheltered) and I put the toy in an envelope and sent it to her for 'investigation.' She said there is extensive colorfastness testing and I believe her and so I said that I wanted to hear back from them re: the investigation and then I would be happy to tell all the other moms I know (which means all of you, OBV.) that I am happy and satisfied, despite the initial situation. We'll see what happens.

* I didn't mean for the whole thing to have a top-secret feel but at the same time, I wanted to keep from shooting off at the mouth about the toy and the company in a totally negative way to the [hundreds] thousands of people who read this blog. Being at Blogher for Hashtaggate, influenced the way I feel about things like that--increased my awareness.  I feel like they deserved a fair shake, initially, anyway.

* I took The Boy to the GI specialist and it worked out SUPER WELL. I have to say that I had some trepidation about the meeting b/c the night before, The Man told me a story about a woman he knows who took her baby to a GI specialist and he advised her to stop nursing and start formula.

[Aside: before I talk about my feelings on this topic and people feel bent or hurt or like I'm judging--in case you don't know me at all, allow me to set the record straight beforehand--I have absolutely NO judgment regarding what you feed your own children, except for maybe arsenic or something (but even then, in small doses...) I mean to say, I seriously DON'T CARE. I don't. I have no inner *feelings* about whether or not you nurse or bottle feed or a combination of the two.  I have no *issues* with it and I really, truly, seriously COULDN'T CARE LESS. Okay? For REAL and for TRUE. Go with love, rock on with your bad selves, et. CETERA.]

[2nd Aside: I should say, that even though I don't care what you feed your kid, I really do care and feel upset WITH you if you had the situation of being told you needed to switch if YOU didn't want to.  I think that would suck.]

Anyway.

I don't personally want to stop nursing and start formula and my inner voice whispers, 'that's not really going to help' and although the Dr. has all the education blahblah, I still probably wouldn't listen to that advice but it would still make me uncomfortable to go AGAINST medical advice and then I'd have to go get another opinion, etc, riga-ma-role, etc.  And so, I was RELIEVED when the doctor was thrilled that I'm breastfeeding and turned out to be a breast-feeding advocate and so, it was a good match, is all I'm saying and it made me feel lighter and happier and more hopeful about our situation. He also doesn't like to call it Reflux b/c it is just an immature closure at the bottom of the esophagus and it will mature and then all this will stop and I knew that but it was still nice to hear.

* He also changed the medicine from a BITTER MINTY FLAVOR (what the FUCK is with that, Baby Meds?) to something brand name ($2 more for me) but cherry-ish and The Boy is actually taking it into his body, instead of spitting it all over ME and so it's doing some good.  And (crosses fingers) it's actually WORKING (knock wood.) He's sleeping better and laughing and cooing and he's just, well, he's adorable, really. That's what he is and it' nice to feel THAT way for a minute.  So far, it's the best $2 I've EVER SPENT.

* I'm mildly irritated when people say the year 'Twenty-Ten' instead of 'Two Thousand and Ten.'  I am aware that I have to get over it, though, because it's here to stay.  I know it.  It's going to be 'Twenty-Eleven' and 'Twenty-Twelve' and basically, until I die, people are going to be saying the year this way.

* I was also annoyed (way MORE annoyed, really) with people who said the date of the attack on the World Trade Center as 'Nine-One-One.' THAT SHIT didn't even make SENSE, yo. The date was the ELEVENTH. Not the 'One-Oneth.'  Apparently, I'm still not over it.

* I am reading The Help for The Best Ever Book Club and I really love it.  I am finding it hard in a way, though, to be LOST in the world of the book and then RESURFACE into my own life when duty calls.  When the kids wake up or need something or whatever.  I'm all like, 'Just ONE MORE PAGE...' and it is a little challenging in that way.  It's nice, too, to be reading again.

* I have started to exercise again.  I'm trying.  I made The Man pull the treadmill out into TLNG's  play room in the basement so I can see the TV (till we get one in the gym room.)  My goal is to get COMFORTABLY back into my old clothes again, before the end of this year.  I'm thinking that's realistic but it's going to be slow going, I think. I'm WICKED out of shape.

Comments

[a]

Just wandered over from Sam's stories...

Minty medicine for a baby? That's just crazy. Who came up with that?

Re: 2010 - according to my elementary school teachers, it's actually two thousand ten, because two thousand and 10 is 2000.10 (I guess in relation to money) but call it what you like! '09 was much easier.

I find that most companies are good about customer service, especially when it comes to toys for toddlers/babies. There is too much fear in raising children these days, and toy companies do not want to be a part of that fear in any way. One company sent me a bunch of stuff when I told them that the batteries wore out too quickly and they might want to check their engineering.

[BOSSY]

Bitter minty flavor... yes... don't get Bossy started... this world... oy to the oh.

[Kelly]

I am so glad GI appt went well! Our GI was very pro-breast feeding, really just pro-what fit your life and worked for your child, so I'm glad that you found one that is a good fit for you too. It makes such a difference.

[amanda]

Must not let myself get annoyed with the 20 thing. I am not strong enough to not be annoyed for life.

[Lippy]

Glad to hear the medicine is working (knocking on wood). I always question why kids medicine tastes so bad. I was with you on the 20-10, then Swistle made it all clear. I do hate it when people say 2000 and 9, there is no and.

[The Domestic Goddess]

WTF is it with the bitter minty stuff? They gave that to my guys and it sucked. So we went with the sorta-orangy-strawberryish stuff by the time he was one and WHEW! MUCH BETTER!

(prevacid. Godsend. Just sayin')

[Christy]

The twenty-ten thing sort of bugs me to hear or say out loud. However, when I have to actually write it, it really helps me to think twenty-ten, or the zeros keep coming and I end up with 2009.

[Swiggy]

I know what you mean about the book - started it the Thursday before last weekend and finished it last Monday. I was so into it on Monday I brought the book everywhere I went so could read in spare moments - to the bathroom, to the movies, to lunch by myself. You get the idea. I had to stay up late to finish it - which explains what seems like a drunken post on the book clubs website.

[Secret Mom Thoughts]

Swistle is so right about the dates. I hadn't thought about saying the dates 19-80 for 1980. Good luck with the workouts.

[jonniker]

I have Very Strong Feelings about the GIs who advise women not to nurse in that I think they are quacks and I get ANGRY about it. ANGRY. And I, too, don't care if you choose not to breastfeed, but if you WANT to, and get that advice, I want to THROTTLE the doctors. Because it is WRONG.

[the new girl]

@Swistle: *blink blink* *Blank stare*
You know, I NEVER EVEN THOUGHT OF THAT. I guess I NEVER said, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Six as the year I graduated high school. Although, that Olden-Time sounding date is, er, about RIGHT. Back in the NINETEEN HUNDREDS we did things DIFFERENTLY...

[Clueless But Hopeful Mama]

Hahaha! I was the same way with The Help. (I admit I was sneaking pages while feeding my daughter a snack and SHE CAUGHT ME. "Mommy! STOP READING!")

Glad to hear your Doctor was nice AND helpful! What a great combination!

Oh and Twenty Ten? Uh, I do that. But 9-1-1? JUST. PLAIN. WRONG.

[Swistle]

Oh I just found my self identifying ALL THROUGH THIS POST. YES to not slamming a company by name too soon. YES to not agreeing about the switch-to-formula and yet not wanting to go against dr instructions. (A doctor once told me to stop breastfeeding for ten days while I was on antibiotics. I KNEW that wasn't right, I GOOGLED it and found it wasn't right, and I STILL broke down sobbing when telling the pediatrician a day or two later what I was doing---and of course he confirmed that I was doing the right thing by continuing to nurse.)

I feel better about twenty-ten when I realize it's parallel to what we did LAST century: we said nineteen-ten and nineteen-eighty and so on.

[Manic Mommy]

So glad things are working out with the boy! It's really much better when you can enjoy your children rather than dreading them. Also that whole feeling HORRIBLE because you know they're in pain.

I'm on yet another diet, excuse me, "lifestyle change." Hopefully this one sticks. I'm at the gym 3-4 times a week and we've been Wii Fitting like maniacs!

[pinkmilkisyummy]

Oh, oh, oh!!! Can I join in? Please??? You've struck a nerve - I hate it when people say "twenty ten." Back in the day, (ie years ago, pre-sprogs when I had an actual paying job) I had a colleague who used to say "twenty three" for instead of two thousand and three. WTF? Huge difference lady!
And the "nine-eleven" thing. Well, I'm not too fussed about that (because I'm a Kiwi living in England and while it seems backward to me, you know, when in Rome...). What really annoys me is when the British Media started referring to the attacks on the London Tube as "seven seven." FFS. I've Never Ever heard the date pronounced in that way over here for anything else. Call it the "seventh of July" people, and stop doing trying to look cool. Or whatever...

Oh yeah, and good news on the doc with his head on the right way! Fancy that, medicine that tastes nice! Who'd have thought??

And you've got me tempted by the book - may have to join up and have a read.

[Kader]

Oh, yes! Where is my caramel cake?

Sorry, anyway, about your post--a) good call on not naming the manufacturer--yet. b) a good match with a dr.?--small miracle! hooray! c) i like saying twenty-ten--it's nice to have fewer syllables. d) 9-1-1: yeah--that's just stupid d2) i can never get over things like that. e) love the book so far--and helpful when the little is chirping his way to sleep--so much better than laying there repeating "please go to sleep, please go to sleep" and f) just started the treadmill again too! only doing the 20 minute interval training now but it kicks my ass--that year plus (sick pregnancy + c-section + sleep deprivation = complete atrophy).

So nice to have you posting more regularly again!

[Mama Bub]

I find it particularly challenging when there's no caramel cake staring me in the face when I resurface.