The big news of the day was the arrival of Olivia’s new baby cousin, Kaleb Brodie. Ryan’s sister, Kim, had him today at 3:33 pm and he weighed in at 8 lbs 13 oz and was 19.5 inches long. Yes, Olivia’s baby cousin is bigger than she is. Both Kim and Kaleb are doing well. I will post pictures as soon as I have them.
Last night Olivia gave me an unexpected (and unwelcomed) surprise. . .projectile vomit all over her and all over me. I think it was the karo syrup that did it as it was the only thing that was changed. Afterwards, she was as happy as could be. . .hasn’t been running a temperature and doesn’t seem to be sick. She hasn’t stooled yet today, but I’m not concerned about that yet as she went a few times yesterday. I appreciate all of your wonderful suggestions and comments. Okay, on to my next question. I am so sleep deprived. . .it’s not even funny anymore (even though Ryan let me sleep in this morning.) Of course, I haven’t had a full night’s sleep in over 4 months because I have been getting up to pump. Now that she’s home, I know I’m supposed to sleep when she sleeps. Well, that’s impossible to do because, without fail, she wakes up at least every hour crying and fussing. Ryan and I don’t know what’s wrong, but it seems to be horrible gas pain. We’re using the Dr. Browns bottles, we burp her multiple times each feeding and she takes gas drops at every feeding. I’m starting to lean toward either bad reflux or she’s allergic to something in my milk or to the Neosure. It just doesn’t seem right that a baby wakes up in that much pain. I’m exhausted and worried about her. Poor Ryan has been working all weekend long, which doesn’t allow either one of us to catch up on our much needed sleep. Plus, we can’t have anyone come over to help feed her because that’s when she tends to desat. . .although her desats are becoming infrequent. We only feel comfortable feeding her ourselves. And, we don’t want to expose her to too many visitors.
Anyway, I can’t believe we are almost to the end of the year. As I look back on 2007, I realize that it has been the absolute best and the absolute worst year of my life. This year I finally got pregnant and I have my precious Olivia which makes it the best. These last 4 months, however, have also made it the worst. Sometimes I wish that PDA still stood for public display of affection and that PIP was still just an insurance term. I realize that this is the road I had to take to have my daughter and in that regard. . .I wouldn’t change it for anything.
**Right after I sent my last update, I went in to check on Olivia and she was in her crib, wide awake and as happy as can be. That’s what I don’t understand. . . she will have these bursts of crying and grunting and turning her face bright red, but then the rest of the time she is an extremely content baby. She hardly ever fusses about anything except when she has what seem to be these gas-like pains (or when we try to put the cannula back on her.) I just wish I knew how to help her.**
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Park City Utah
2 years ago
7 comments:
You sound just like I did when I brought Emery home. It was the same thing, fussiness, crying and vomiting. We use prune juice for the constipation and glycerine suppository slivers if he hasn't gone in over 3 days. Do you still have O2 at home? When we first got home we turned up to the O2 while he ate, that way, if it's possible, have a grandma or a grandpa come over to feed her and then you can nap, and you don't have to worry about the O2. Also, someone once gave me the best advice possible.. preemies aren't know for their sunny dispositions. The worry will wax and wane, but just remember if she wasn't ready to come home she wouldn't be home, and the fussiness will get better. As far as reflux, it was the vomiting and crying that really caused us to get treatment (Prevacid). I think about you guys all of the time and I hope all is well. It will get better!
That's what I was going to say...
Well first, Congratulations Kim! That's so great, I'm so happy for you all! Kaleb's birthday will be easy to remember; as today is also my sister's birthday!
And then, yesterday when I was babysitting, I noticed that he was drinking out of a bottle that said Dr.Brown. I had thought that 'Dr.Brown', was one of Olivia's doctors.
Silly ME!! :)
And I feel so bad that the two of you aren't getting the sleep you need. It breaks my heart to hear that you both are always so tired, and that Ryan has to work all the time. It makes me want to march right over and do something...But Grandma Glunt said that you wouldn't let me through the door.
I'm recovering from a cold...
But anyway...
I'm hoping that her little vomiting episode won't happen anymore, or all over mama.
I hope that everyday in this new year will get easier for the both of you.
Love you all!
Stay Strong,
Shea♥
You pretty much described our first 6 weeks with Elise....after they put her in the hospital and did an upper gi and emptying test, they figured out she has relux extrememly bad. they put her on prilosec(which is a compound rx) and reglan. It has helped her tremedously! I had to take her in for weight checks since she would out grown her dosage/strength, but it was well worth it. Elise is 5 mo. now and still is on the max dosage possible. we also have to use the gas drops, but she is much better. Good luck and I will be praying for you and ryan!
sherri w.
Ok, sleep deprivation is normal with any baby. I was so tired with Claire that I just sat around and kind of zoned out. My Drs advice was to not sleep when she slept but to take power naps. A nap of no more than 15-20 minutes. It really worked for me. The gas issue can be tricky. Asher projectile vomited almost every day. It wasn't reflux as he was still gaining weight. It was just who he was. Made for a messy house, but it was all able to be cleaned up. He also fussed a lot. My brother who is a Dr commented on how fussy he was. Not a good thing to say to a mom. Anyway, during one of his crying bouts he pressed on his tummy and told me that there was nothing in his intestines and he had no gas. Asher was just fussy. He would cry every night at 5 and usually until bedtime and then sporadically thru out the day. Yet again just who he was. It may be nothing to worry about, but always ask your Dr. Once I had some info from him I could always relax.
Julie Hamlett
Just wanted to say I love that picture of her having the party at her crib! I hope you have a great New Year's Eve (which means I hope you are sleeping when it turns 2008) and a wonderful 2008 with your family.
Kerry
Is she drawing her knees up when she cries? I was always told that was a sympton of their crying being gas pains -- his Granny used to hold Tim tummy to tummy and turn his little feet towards the old combo wood-burning gas cook stove she had when he got like that at her house and it always seemed to help. I'm praying that Olivia gets past this real soon so Jodi and Ryan can get more sleep!! Love & hugs...Shelly K.
Can you try cutting out dairy from your diet? Maybe you've already done this. It could be a combo deal---which is what we now think is going on here---of reflux and also a milk intolerance. See if that helps (give it a couple of weeks, since I think that's what it takes to eliminate dairy from the system and really tell what's going on). The reflux thing is a bummer, and it really only kicks in after a few weeks to months of life; it sounds like you are going through what we went through last November and December, when we were ready to lose our minds---Hallie wasn't sleeping (neither were we), she was grunting, screaming and moaning in pain, had begun to vomit really badly, etc. We wish we had begun a PPI earlier and also that we had tried to eliminate dairy sooner. Our hearts go out to you guys...
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