Love him!!

It is obvious from his wonderful smile that our little Finley is a happy-go-lucky little chappie
and if it wasnt for the health problems he seems to have been having for the 14 weeks of his tiny life, that he would be a wonderful easy baby.


Instead, he refused to suckle at the breast when only a few hours old, and since has consistantly shown signs of suffering from silent acid reflux.

I have been giving Laura as much support as I possibly can although this could, in the main, only be moral plus a bit of tidying up, because she has bravely soldiered on breast feeding him even though he was not making the best job of it, and demanding feeds at 3 hour intervals both day and night. Instead of all the exciting things we were going to do once the baby was born (swimming, baby massage, mother and baby group, etc) we have spent our time walking streets attempting to calm Finley in the pram, or sitting in Doctor's waiting rooms.

Last week things finally came to a head though when our young man seemed to have all the symptoms of a cold combined with acid reflux and maybe a bit of teething thrown in. Poor Laura was feeding virtually every one and a half hours, 24/7. Things were definately not right, my little girl was at her wits end and we were all exhausted.



To add to the stress, last Saturday in the early hours, my mum was rushed to hospital with cronic stomach upset which left the whole family on tenderhooks waiting for news to say what was wrong with her and how she was bearing up.

So at this point Laura called a halt to breast feeding and changed little Finley onto formula.

The change has been instant and amazing.
Immediately he has become a text book baby, sleeping and eating as if he has read all the baby hand books, with only 2 night feeds, playing and then sleeping correctly in the day, and eating exactly the right amount of ounces for his age!! Laura has even taken the brave step of taking him off all his reflux medication. Touch wood, and four days in, we still have this miraclus change and a wonderful little man. He has even found his thumb and will self-sooth himself off to sleep if he is in the right position to get it into his mouth.


So hopefully (fingers crossed) I can get back to blog land, and my crafting room too.

Whilst I am here today a few more updates though.

The week before last I had an interview for a job with Kent CAT team as a teacher helping children with severe medical disabilities and other teachers to use technology to assess education. It was a job I am sure that with the right training I would have been brilliant at and really enjoyed. It had the added bonus of being part time so I would have still got to spend some time with my beloved grandson. I had taken advice on interview techniques (I really am getting quite low self esteem about this now), done heaps of research, worked out answers to most questions and really thought I was in with a good chance. The only disadvantages I had was lacking a bit, athough not totally, of specific knowledge (but then thats what training and personal development is for eh?) and I was first up on the list to be interviewed, but I took a deep breath and went for it.

The three ladies on the panel were lovely, I found I was well at ease, only one question threw me for a few seconds, and I even found I quite enjoyed the task they set me. So I was feeling quietly confident. Alas when the phone call came through it was to YET AGAIN (and I cant say how many times I have now heard this over the last four years) that I was a strong candidate, I had interviewed positively and well, but I lacked the specific knowledge they needed.

I wish they would tell me where I am going wrong. I am just so fed up with the lack of helpful feedback. I have the interview technique down pat, so how am I not selling myself. These responces are not a gread deal of use:-

"Not enough nursery experience" - err excuse me, I ran a mother and toddler group for a year, worked in playgroups for 5 years, as a QT in reception for 6 years, a liaison advisor to local pre-schools for 4 years, and a nursery nurse for 8 months added to which I bought up 2 of my own children. This is all on my CV, highlighted in my letter of application and expanded on at interview... what bit of experience did I not have???

"you have all the qualities, skills and experiences we need, you did a faultless demonstration lesson, you got on well with the other person in the job share but we have decided to take the other candidate" - why????

"you dont have the specific skills we requre" - then why the heck did you interveiw me in the first place?

With still no work (thats a whole term) from the agency I have no choice but to keep looking though.