I just finished a bowl of cereal. My new favorite is Cinnamon Chex. It’s crazy good.
Oh and coffee, I’ve had two cups of coffee. Did I tell you I bought a Keurig? I am so in love with it. But I’m not in love with the cost of the K-cups. But it’s worth it. Eli is playing with his cars and talking to the stockings. He likes the way they touch his head when he stands underneath them. He ate a banana and two blueberry waffles today.
He’s a big boy.
Clara just put herself to sleep. Sometimes, I’m figuring out, she just wants to be left alone. “JUST STOP TOUCHING ME, STOP PUTTING YOUR BO0B IN MY MOUTH. GAH.”
At least, that’s what I think she says.
I’m sitting on my couch, using my laptop, while alone with a toddler and a newborn. I can count the number of times I’ve been able to do that since Clara was born.
Yesterday.
And again today.
Clara and I were having a very difficult time with nursing. When she was born, she was a dream nurser. My milk came in quickly and easily, no engorgement (I think because I nursed Eli until I was five months pregnant?) She would just nurse on one side for five minutes, then five on the other and then we’d repeat. Sometimes, she’s fall asleep while nursing.
I love it when she falls asleep while nursing.
Then suddenly, a few weeks ago, things started going downhill with breastfeeding. She would begin to scream and fight. I thought it was supply. I took supplements, I would supplement her. I would switch positions at least seven times in one nursing session just to get her to latch. I’d lay down, stand up, walking around, swaddle her, undress her, switch rooms. I did everything to try to remedy our nursing situation.
I would give her a supplement of formula and sometimes she’s scream at that. And if she didn’t scream at that, she’d drink it slowly, cautiously. I dreaded nursing sessions.
I love nursing so this weighed on my heavily.
She had her two month appointment on Wednesday, I told the doctor that she would straighten her body, stiff like a board when I’d try to get her to latch but it was obvious she was ravenous. Often, when she would finally latch on, she’s struggle when letdown came and take a giant gulp and then cry so hard that it would break my heart. (and she would never latch back on after that.)
He said what I already knew. Reflux.
We gave her two doses of zantac on Wednesday and then yesterday? She nursed perfectly and peacefully 80% of the time. (which is an 80% improvement.)
And this? Me sitting, able to write, able to work, able to FINALLY have some time to myself because my sweet girl is finally comfortable, is an answered prayer.
I’m always skeptical with that diagnosis. Eli was diagnosed with it and I can’t say we saw much improvement despite two medications. But this time? Seeing her smiles and her coos and her delight while nursing? Brings me a sense of peace that I haven’t felt in a long, long time.
Maybe I won’t have to shut down my blog after all. 
Happy Friday, friends!
Pediatric gastroenterologists were like magic with both of our kids. What’s funny is reflux meds really were almost magical with our older (when coupled with diet elimination of dairy/soy), but they just took the edge off of the younger. Turns out he has a very rare condition called congenital lactase deficiency!
Hope for continued improvement! Do know that different meds work differently for different people, so if you don’t see enough improvement with Zantac, you might try other or the proton pump inhibitors.
Not sure if you tried it or want to, but my son had this and everything was fine if I cut dairy and soy out of my diet. It was hard at first but I was surprised how quickly it was easy. But you would not believe all the things that had milk as an ingredient!
I hope you guys see improvement with her reflux! that has to be so hard! But all too soon this will just be a distant memory, as she heads off to her prom.
I’m so thankful for this sense of peace both for you and for Clara. I pray that it is sustained.
I’m so happy to hear that you found something to give your sweet girl (and yourself) some relief. I hope it continues and you’ll get more and more time to sit and do your “thang”. And don’t you DARE ever talk about shutting your blog down again!!! NO WAY!
Costco has the Caribou Coffee K-Cups for the best price.
I love my Keurig…coffee on demand! Have you tried the new Starbucks K-cups? I find them at Safeway for $8. The box is smaller but still, it’s Starbucks! So thankful your little one is getting some relief through the medication. Thankful you are getting some time to write!
you have Cinnamon Chex mix AND a Keurig?! i’m inviting myself over for Friday Morning Coffee then.
Reflux was something I knew nothing about in terms of babies, until Liv was born. She was back in the ER and essentially back up to the nursery within 12 hours of coming home from the hospital. I had no idea babies could suffer from that – luckily hers was treated without medicine and simply by leaving her in an upright position almost constantly, especially after eating. She had to have a wedge to keep her on an incline while she slept. It was scary, but no lasting effects, thank God. I’m glad you have found the problem and will still be able to nurse. Nursing is such a special bond…
oh my heavens the NURSING FIGHTING!!! I had that with Audrey and turned out: reflux. So I feel your pain there. So happy you got things figured out! It’s no fun, but the meds worked wonders. By 7 months old, she was off of them and just fine