Flavour of The Day with Noora

So Now It's My Fault?

Every time I have to turn to the medical system, I am reminded of how much I hate it!

Yousef has Asthma which usually hits him hard a couple of times during the year. 3 days ago, he got a virus that led to an attack. While the ER doctor was amazing and took his time in explaining the treatment, the nurse was the complete opposite.

Long story short, Yousef needed to take an injection. It was HUGE and I could just see Yousef panicking. As soon as it went in, Yousef jumped screaming and crying. The injection moved from its place and the nurse had to reposition it while it was still in. The nurses's reaction: "you weren't holding him like you should."

Quietly and calmly I left the ER and called the hospital to make a complaint over how it is not my job to hold my son, rather it's the nurse's responsibility to call for help in such a situation. I am just there for emotional comfort! The operator's response:" are you sure it is an important complaint?" What high standards these people are setting for medical care!

Flavour of The Day with Noora

I Want My Baby!

I thought that having two babies right after each other was a brilliant idea; I would finish the hard times that come with raising infants in one go and finally get to enjoy them when they are a bit older. I would get rid of midnight feedings, diaper duty, teething and all the other troubles of the early days all at once.

Turns out it is one of my dumbest ideas. I say this not because of the fatigue that comes with it, rather the lack of time I have to care for both simultaneously. Yousef who is a year and nine months old is so demanding and occupying I barely have time for Mona. When I hold her, feed her, change her diapers or even play with her, he is there on top of her, grabbing her hand, poking her eye and pulling her foot. In many cases, he just sticks his face to hers until she cries.

As a result, I hand her over to the nanny whom I really trust. But, this situation is becoming the norm and I hate it. We try switching babies but it is no use, Yousef wants me and only me.

Call me dramatic and obsessive but I'm so scared that my baby will not know me as much as the nanny. My friend keeps on telling me this is normal with two such young babies but I cannot help but worry! Help?

Flavour of The Day with Noora

Please Mama, Ta!

My husband, who already had a daughter when I met him, told me something which at the time, I thought was extreme parenting.

"You will see that when you become a mama, you will love what your child loves and hate what your child hates, even if it seems childish and unreasonable."

3 years later, I found myself as attached to the pacifier as my son was. In his dictionary, it is called a "ta". I put so much effort into choosing the shapes and colours, just to see his smile when I gave it to him.

1 year and 8 months old however seemed the perfect age to end the era of the pacifier. "We left it at the toy store," was my excuse. And when he cried, begged and negotiated over what has become his best friend, my heart broke into a million pieces.

It has been five days and the quest for the mighty pacifier is finally subsiding.

As for my 2-month-old Mona, I learned my lesson and her entire fist is making its way as a soother!!

Flavour of The Day with Noora

Breathe Deep

I bought an online Pilates video in an "attempt" to tone my post-baby body. It's needless to say that with all my unhealthy eating habits, lack of productive movement and continuously carrying my babies, every inch of my body is stiff and in need of fitness attention.

I hate the instructors in these videos; you would think that that are made of rubber bands instead of muscles and bones. They stretch, bend and do other things with complete comfort. Meanwhile, I am there dying to get my hand just half-way through the pose and trying to catch this "deep breath" they keep on talking about.

I am so unhealthy and unfit, it is shameful. I'm only 28 but as rigid as a 100-year-old. I wonder if working out from home will even give results. I will give it another 2 weeks and see how lucky I get.

Flavour of The Day with Noora

Not Another Picky Eater!

Ever since my baby Mona (2 months) started wearing a cast for her hip condition, her milk consumption has reduced by 50%.

It's so frustrating that she almost never takes more than half the bottle even if I prolong the feeding durations. I don't know what changed in her or if she was only going through a growth spurt but I used to be so happy that I finally got a child who satisfies me in terms of eating habits and quantities. This is especially annoying as I am suffering with my older son Yousef who ate his first "real meal" at 10:30pm! He can spend his entire day on an apple and tomato while I spend the rest of the time trying to trick him into eating a meal.

I'm hoping that the cast is the reason and things will go back to normal soon. I really can't imagine having another picky eater!

Flavour of The Day with Noora

I'm facing a decision I'm dreading: leaving my 2-month-old baby girl and travelling for 4 days or letting my 21-month-old son travel alone with his father. The whole purpose of this trip is a necessity, renewing my son's residency in Saudi Arabia, where my family lives. Without it, it would be very difficult to take him with me every time I visit.

About a week ago, my baby girl started wearing a cast for a hip condition and has been extremely fussy; taking her on this trip would only make it worse. On the other hand, Yousef has never been away from me and will also find it very difficult. Both situations are tearing me apart.

I feel so torn, while Mona needs me physically (although she will be in very good hands with family here), Yousef would be very aware that I am not there. My husband is accusing me of being too attached to my son, I think, I am behaving like any other mama.

I don't know what is worse, leaving him or her!

Flavour of The Day with Noora

Oh Baby!

Here I am at 4:50am writing this post and waiting for my baby to fall asleep.

Today was the first day Mona (2 months) wore a cast for her hip condition. It appears that she has a problem with her hip joint that requires treatment for 2 months. " The device", as the doctor called it, holds her hip in a certain angle forcing it to grow in the right position. " It will not hurt her" he kept on assuring my racing mind.

It's funny how us mamas go to protective mode when we feel our child is in pain. While she had been crying a lot the past weeks because she is colicky, today her "usual crying", in my mind, was all because of this device. "She must be in pain, I'm sure it's hurting her, I tried it when I wore a cast for my knee and it killed me, how does he know it's not painful?"

A million skeptical questions all fuelled with motherly instincts went over and over again in my head like a broken record. All bothersome, none soothing.

So, one day down, 59 more days to go. I would do anything to trade this crying for the colicky one that was annoying me earlier!

I'm just glad it's a treatable condition, god is merciful.

Flavour of The Day with Noora

The Peak at 8 Weeks

A paediatrician once told me that the peak for colicky babies is between 6-8 weeks, and that is where I am now with my daughter Mona!

Her non-stop crying with a super-high pitch is stronger than ever between the hours of 8pm-12:30pm. It feels like she has some built up energy that she must let out, it's so strange. And of course, like all colicky infants nothing soothes her.

I went through this with my older baby Yousef and I still remember how dreadful those 2 weeks were. I can't wait until it's over, it's so exhausting and especially embarrassing when we are around people. It's hard to believe that colicky babies grow out of it. I am counting the days until she does. However, I have to admit, when she is not yelling, she is adorable!

flavour of The Day with Noora

Yousef (19-months) suddenly started to form sentences. We went from single word conversations to having a 3-4-word sentence. It's hilarious to watch him repeat it to himself over and over again trying to make it sound like the way I say it. And out of nowhere, he is saying words I never thought he knew.

The rush I get from hearing him speak is indescribable. It's like I am getting to know my baby not only by his mischievous actions, but now we engage in a two-way conversation which always ends up with my laughing admirably.

It's so amazing how the brain develops and how with each age, he is changing into a more mature personality, a more defined character and someone who is absolutely captivating me and his father. I can't wait for the stages to come!