Monday, April 14, 2008

Ups and downs...

Cute little boys!

We have hit the 6 week mark, which is normally a big milestone, but since Sayer was 3 weeks early, we technically have 3 more weeks to go before things are supposed to start "settling down". We have had a rough couple weeks with this little guy. He had been spitting up, or rather throwing up quite and bit, and was being very fussy. I was starting to think that he was colicky, but I refused to believe it. So, I finally called my Dr and asked if we could get him on some acid reflux meds, and she was like "sure". What?! Really?! Awesome!! I love when they take mom's word for it, and don't have to do a bunch of tests. So we got him on the meds, and he was still fussy, but his reflux was much better. That's when I started to think colic, but then he never had those few hours of non-stop crying. I have always been able to calm him down, by (do I even need to say it?!) swaddling him. He would settle right down! So anyway, I basically think that the kid doesn't like to have bubbles in his tummy, and doesn't like having tummy aches, and he is going to let me know all about it!! But yesterday and today have actually been SO much better. I started paying attention to the way I held him when feeding him, and noticed that when I use my boppy, he ends up kind of laying on his back while eating. Well, I thought about what happens to me when I try to drink while laying on my back, and it just doesn't work. I always end up feeling really uncomfortable and having to burp. So since then, I have been feeding him in a more suitable position, and it seems to be making a difference. Since yesterday afternoon, when I started this experiment, there has been very little crying, which makes me feel so much better. Even if it's not really the reason, it makes you feel good to think that you can control the situation. But I really do think it's helping.

The other thing was that he wasn't sleeping very long at night, which was torture!! When my mother in law came into town, she was so great to take over when Sayer was crying a lot, and she was a pro at getting his burps out, and then he would calm down. So I worked really hard to be patient and always get his burps out and wait until he stopped crying, before I put him to sleep. When I did that, he slept so much better. The first couple nights, he went back to his 3 hour stretches, but the past 2 nights, he has been doing 4 and 5 hour stretches of sleeping (6 hours without eating, and 4 hours of sleep for me) which has been marvelous. I actually feel pretty good today... I even mopped the floor (which was disgusting by the way)!!

So anyway... having a new baby is definitely a challenge. It's such a guessing game, trying to figure out what it is that makes them so sad and what it is that makes them feel better, etc etc. But Sayer really is such a sweet little guy. He is so cute and precious. I live for those moments when all is happy and calm, and he just looks around and smiles, and coos and kicks.


Sayer, sleeping on his tummy! Gasp!! My father in law is now shaking his head in disapproval, and my sister is law Lizza (his daughter) his giving me imaginary high fives (her last baby was a tummy sleeper). Sayer doesn't normally sleep on his tummy, but sometimes after I feed him, he'll fall asleep on my shoulder, and I'll lay him on his tummy. It helps him get all his gases out, and he usually feels better afterward! ;)

15 comments:

The Kneese's said...

I'm so glad that you are starting to figure out what's going on! Congrats! I think that's great that things are starting to look up for you. It's always nice when you finally know what you can do to help your child stop freaking out! He is so cute, by the way.

The Crowley's said...

he is getting so round I love that, he is such a cutie, hang in there you will make it- amber

Melanie and Will said...

Morgan, we seriously need to talk!!!! My last 2 babies were BOTH colicky AND had reflux badly!!!! I can feel your pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously it feels like torture and that there is no end in sight for the crying or the poor baby to feel better. Easton by far was waaaayyyy worse than Jaden. It was sooo hard as a mother to take care of him....especially when you're so sleep deprived.

Anyway, I don't have your phone # or otherwise I'd totally call you. Sometimes it helps to talk to someone that can relate and/or sympathize! Oh, and let me tell you....both my boys were tummy sleepers from the beginning! They did better that way. And if Heavenly Father was gonna take them from me early...I knew it wasn't because I put them on their tummies. Just something to think about.

If you want to talk just email me and I'll give you my # or you give me yours!

PS....I had the same binky dilema with Jaden too! Needless to say, he had it until his 3rd birthday and by then he was ready to give it up much easier.

Ashley said...

I was such a sucker for tummy sleeping! I never let her go to bed at night like that, but she always napped like that, and LOVED it! It's so good to read your posts and hear the realistic side of having a newborn. My adjustment with Ryley was really hard for me, so sometimes it's so aggravating to hear people gush about how wonderful it is, and never say anything about it being hard... Kinda makes me feel like a crappy mom. So thanks for being real!! :) So glad Sayer seems to be sleeping better and feeling better all around...

Morgan said...

ash, thanks for your comment! i was thinking about my post today, and was wondering if i sound like such a complainer, or like i only dwell on the negative, which i don't think i do. but like you said, no one really talks about this stuff, and i was starting to think either i am a really bad mom/ complainer, or every one else's baby is a complete angel. so i'm glad to know that 1. what i say is appreciated, and 2. i am not alone out there!

mel, i will for sure have to get in touch with you. i don't know how you dealt with all of that. it's so hard to feel like there is nothing you can do for your baby. but i am the type that won't rest until i figure something out, which is good and bad, as it's good to find a solution, but it makes it hard for me to relax or think about anything else. i'm getting better though, probably because Sayer has been better! ;)

Orange Peanut said...

Morgan - you are so good at trusting your instincts and the sweet whisperings from the Holy Ghost!!! You keep doing what feels right! My babies were always tummy sleepers! I made sure no large blankets were around them and figured my mom put me to sleep on my tummy too! I turned out okay! I'm glad you are figuring out what you can do to help Sayer sleep better, there is nothing worse than lack of sleep! I'm cheering you on - you are doing an awesome job!

B said...

I love reading your blog! Your boys are both so adorable and those new pics of Sayer are just so darn cute! My kiddos were gassy too, not colicky, but really gassy (all four of mine were tummy sleepers too; not just for naps, all the time) I think you as a mom know what works best for your own child and that you should always trust your own instincts!!! You are a wonderful mommy!!!

Lark said...

I put both Afton and Paul on their tummys to sleep because I only knew how to do the triangle swaddle (now I know the squre swaddle - but these are the wrong names - anyway, it works for Mimi). Plus we lived in a house without A/C and both kids were born in the summer so I couldn't really swaddle them, they would get heat rashes. Anyway, its ok to tummy sleep.
Great mother's intuition on the burping/gas...good luck...and not to sound annoying but you should check out dunstanbaby! She has videos on her website of her helping other moms so you don't have to buy the DVD :)
Ok, I might be a little obessed with Dunstan, but it really really has helped me :)

Dan and Marci said...

I think the tummy sleeping is worth it if not just for that picture of his cute little froggy bottom :)

Laura said...

Hi Morgan, I was so happy to see your blog, I'm glad you found me. You look like your doing so well, I can't believe you have two little boys, that so awesome! They are so dang cute, I miss seeing you and your husband coming in for lunch and making us laugh. I'm glad we can keep in touch now. I'm going to put your link on my blog now too!

Julianne said...

You have such a sweet family! Such beautiful boys. I'm so glad to connect with you through blogging.

Also, YOU'RE TAGGED! Check out my blog for details. :)

Julianne said...

You have such a sweet family! Such beautiful boys. I'm so glad to connect with you through blogging.

Also, YOU'RE TAGGED! Check out my blog for details. :)

Summer Adams said...

oh my gosh, i just left a long comment and then my computer froze. Sayer is darling!!! So is Asher and I looove their matching outfits!!! Give Whit a hug for me and have an awesome blessing weekend. So fun :)

j said...

Nate and Morgan,

Sayer and Asher are so cute!!! We hope you guys are doing good. Good luck in NY too!

Mark and Andrea

Jenny said...

your two little guys are precious! i'm so glad that you found us...it's fun to see how your sweet family is doing. are you guys going to santa cruz this year? i'm really looking forward to going with grace; i'm sure it will be a totally new experience camping with a baby!