Help!

So it's pretty official-I have a baby with acid reflux. And omigoodness-it is so not fun! I don't really have anything to compare it to. Ellie and Luke did not do this. Luke went through a brief spit-up problem after I switched to formula, but it didn't last too long. Andrew's is sometimes projectile, and sometimes it just flows like a river out of his mouth. And he loves to eat so he just wants to keep eating, but if his tummy is full, it will just come right back up. He constantly needs his clothes changed, which sometimes I do, sometimes I don't, because changing him and moving him around is a guaranteed spit-up. I will often put a bib on him, but again, the moving of his head and neck just sends it right up, soaking the bib, and we're back at square one. All of this is bad, but it's the worst at night. Last night I fed him at 12:30 and he was yawning and I knew he was ready to go back to sleep. I laid him down and he would be relaxed for a little while and then he starts squirming and I know what's coming. So I'm lying next to him ready to catch the spit-up with a burp cloth so that I don't have to change his pajamas. This went on for the next few hours-he didn't fully go back to sleep until almost 2:30. He didn't wake to feed again until almost 5. Which is great, but when he is up almost half of that time, that only leaves me 2 1/2 hrs. of sleep. Okay, so then I fed him at 5, and he is out! But again, moving him causes the milk to come up. So frustrating!!

I love our pediatrician. He is a family friend. (Went to college with my dad) He was actually mine and my sisters doctor when we were little. He is extremely smart and I really trust what he says. So I was quite disappointed when he explained that he doesn't like to give medicine for that unless absolutely necessary (like if the baby is losing weight) and Andrew certainly doesn't fall into that category. Maybe if things get worse we'll talk again. He also said babies usually outgrow it at around 8 months!!! Are you kidding me? 8 more months of this?

So, all you moms who might be reading this-I'd love any advice. Anything that I can do (like certain foods to avoid). I know there are a lot of babies who have this, so any help would be greatly appreciated!

Despite all this reflux mess, things are getting a little easier-not much, but a little. I can actually prepare a meal (if you want to call it that-cereal for breakfast and mac'n'cheese for lunch). Luke watches a lot of movies, which I feel guilty about, but I remind myself that you do what you have to do. Ellie loves Andrew and wants to hold him/see him/talk to him often. We've had to make some rules about when he is asleep-do not touch him, get in his face, run around the house screaming at the top of your lungs. (Much harder to enforce when Ellie and Luke are together and in a silly mood-usually around the dinner hour) Also, Ellie has this "baby"voice that she like to talk to him in, and bless her heart, it so annoying. (It isn't even words, it's just this jibberish sound and she does it all the time) I have tried to encourage her to use actual words to talk to him, so he can hear real words and one day will talk back to her (hey, whatever works)-being really careful not to hurt her feelings, but she really seems to like this little language.

Because I know my family would like some pictures (and I apologize because they aren't the most recent) here are some that are about a week or so old. They are actually some we took to use for Andrew's birth announcement.

I've Been Tagged

I've been tagged by Laura Beth. I was tagged by lots of people to do the 25 random things, but just couldn't find the time or mainly the energy to think of 25 things. But this one is specific questions and I think I can handle that.

THE RULES:Step 1: respond and rework—answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.Step 2: tag—eight other untagged people.

Make a list of things you can see without getting up: (I'm at my mom's computer desk-b/c that is the only time I have to get on the computer these days) I can see the menu for the shower she is planning for my cousin. Andrew sleeping in his carseat. Lots of pictures of me, my sisters, our children, our grandparents and other family members. Just to name a few.

Favorite football team: Ummm...let me see...AUBURN TIGERS! Although with small children, I haven't quite been able to pay attention to games (and certainly not go to them) like I wish I could. One day.

What are you wearing now? The same maternity jeans that I have worn almost every other or every day for the past 5 months.

What color is your bedroom? Antique White (Sherwin-Williams) I had to pick it in like one day because the painter wanted to know ASAP. Fortunately, I really love it.

What’s the last thing you read/are currently reading? Steven is reading through Exodus and wants us to do it together, so I have read 2 chapters. I told him it might take me awhile to get through it. (Sadly, not a lot of quiet time these days-right when I so desperately need it!)

Do you nap a lot? Haha!

Who was the last person you hugged? My sweet Luke before I put him down for a nap.

What’s your current obsession/addiction? Because it is a need-trying to get Andrew on a pretty good schedule/and fall asleep on his own. Because I love it-and it has been my obsession since it started about 4 years ago? LOST!!

What was the last thing you said aloud? (Talking to my sister Kate, on the phone) "Alright, see ya later!" (Or bye, or something like that)

What Web sites do you always visit when you go online? Facebook, various blogs, hotmail, couponmom

What was the last thing you bought? Double cheeseburger and fries from McDonalds (I might be wearing my maternity jeans a little while longer)

What are you listening to right now? Andrew's breathing, squeaks, and a little snoring

What is something you wish you could do more? Right now, cook! I haven't done it in awhile and am really starting to miss it.

What gives you hope? A fresh new day. And of course, Christ is our only hope!

What is your favorite weather, and why? Fall because of the colors, the crispness in the air. Spring might be, but I have seasonal allergies very badly and I don't enjoy the tornado season, either.

What time do you usually get up? I get up for the day at about 7 (if I'm lucky). But I also get up at about 12 and 4 to feed Andrew!!

What is your most challenging goal right now? To get through the dinner/bathtime/fussy baby hours that start at around 5 and go until bedtime!!

Say something to the person who tagged you: I love you, LB! I'm so glad we're doing the mom thing together! Wish you were a little closer, but it's much better than Albuquerque!

If you could have a house–totally paid for, fully furnished–anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be? Well, right now, I really like our new house, so it would be pretty incredible if it was paid for and fully furnished!

Favorite vacation spot? Destin (more specifically, all those little places past Seaside) And let me just say that as a girl who has gone to the beach every summer since I can remember, I am about to die because I haven't been in about two years.

What is your favorite children’s book? The Jesus Storybook Bible (Excellent!! Great for adults, too)

Name one thing you just can’t resist no matter how bad it is for you: If I am really, insanely, hungry, I really don't know if there is much I could resist.

Have you ever met anyone famous? No, and like Laura Beth, I would love to!! I actually wouldn't want to meet them, just see them, because I really don't know what I would say.

If you could have any job in the world , what would it be? I'm doing it. But...if I am daydreaming, I think it would be so fun to work for a magazine (especially something like Pottery Barn Kids) where you set up the rooms for the magazine photo shoot.

Who is the last person you talked to? Kate

What was the last thing you ate? (This is my new question) I ate a piece of caramel candy that my mother was testing for the shower she is throwing. It was my great aunt Lucille's recipe. My grandmother was one of four girls (like me) and for the shower, my mom and aunt are including a recipe that each one of my great aunts were known for.

I tag: Anyone who would like to do it!!

How Quickly We Forget

Isn't it funny how quickly you forget things? I have done this newborn thing twice before and it's still a bit of shocker how hard it is. Although, I still am holding to the first one is the hardest-just because it's all so completely new. Can you tell I'm a bit overwhelmed? The only reason I'm even getting a chance to blog is because I'm at my mom's house and Ellie and Luke are asleep. Another phenomenon is that once you have more than one, you look back on the first and think-what was so hard? There was only one.

I also know from doing this before how quickly it goes by. They are newborns for like, one second. I so do not want to wish this time away, but I am also very tired and having a hard time juggling everything. At times it seems unbelievably overwhelming. (I cannot even imagine how people have caboodles of children-it intrigues me and makes me feel claustrophobic at the same time.) A lot of it is not ever having a break. Once you get the older two in bed, the night is just beginning. Andrew isn't doing bad at night, but he isn't doing great, either. So, there is never really a break. I also really need (maybe just like?) to have sleep. I kind of get panicked if it's not happening.

I know hormones are playing a role in some of this. Like, when I think, "how will I ever cook dinner for my family again?" I know for a fact that I will and it will not be impossible. But right now it just feels like it will never happen. I also battle feeling guilty because I am constantly nursing Andrew and am not able to spend nearly as much time with Ellie and Luke as before. They are handling it well for the most part. And I also know that this is really good for them. I pray it is teaching them more humility and selflessness-you know, that life isn't always about them. And while we're on that-I pray God is teaching me as well. I have been thinking a lot of "what about me?" thoughts. Don't I deserve this and this? What about my nighttime down time that I look forward to every day? waah, waah! How does that sound in comparison to a God who gave up everything for me? I know from God's Word that He wants me to look more and more like Jesus. And Jesus claimed nothing for Himself. I want to have that same attitude, but definitely am struggling to remember that most of the time.

The good news is that Andrew really is an easy baby, aside from all his spitting up. And all this breastfeeding is paying off. His discharge weight when we left the hospital was a tiny 6 lbs. 13 oz. I took him to the doctor today and only 9 days later he is up to 8 lbs. 12 oz. Gotta go-everyone is starting to wake up. I'll post more pictures when I can.

Andrew's First Week

Needless to say, I don't have a lot of time. Steven took the kids (Ellie and Luke) to breakfast, the playground, and to get Luke a haircut. Thank you, thank you to him!! So, while Andrew is sleeping I thought I would give you a quick recap of the first week of Andrew's life in pictures.

Ready to go home on a freezing cold day!

Sarah, mom, Ellie, and Luke were waiting on us at home. If you will notice, Luke thought Andrew might enjoy seeing Mater and Lightning McQueen.

Luke has been so giving of his "Cars" things. Here he thought Andrew might need his "Cars" blanket.They both love to bring him things. Here he has several blankets and a washcloth.

So, things are pretty crazy around here. I have had a lot of help and still feel very overwhelmed. Andrew is starting to wake up a little. You know, at first babies sleep constantly, but after awhile it isn't so easy to get them to sleep. He loves to nurse!! (More than either of my other two) Which is a good thing, but ties my hands so much of the time. Speaking of, it's about that time. I have missed catching up on everyone's blogs. Hope all is well with all my blogging friends!

Welcome, Andrew!

Just wanted to post some pics and let everyone know we're doing really well! God is gracious and gave me a very fast labor and delivery and a healthy (small) baby boy! I had heard of these kinds of labors, but didn't know if I would ever experience one. They started pitocin right at 6 a.m. and by about 10 or so I was really feeling the contractions and they were coming about every 3 min. So I received a wonderful epidural and it was perfect timing, because mom, dad, Ellie, Luke, and Laura Beth arrived shortly after that. They checked me and I was dilated to 5 cm., so I told everyone to go grab some lunch and I would try to rest. Not long after they were gone, I started feeling quite a bit of pressure with each contraction. The nurse checked me and I was at almost an 8. I called Steven and told them to hurry. About 10 min. later I could tell the pressure was getting even more intense. The nurse checked me again and sure enough, I was fully dilated. I called Steven and told them to get back fast!! They got back just as the doctor was coming in. I pushed through the first contraction and his head came out, and then by the end of the second contraction he was here!! He was born at 11:55 a.m., weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz. and was 19 in. long. I could hardly believe it. It happened so fast-so completely different than my other experiences. Not to mention so much smaller! Andrew is doing wonderfully. He's an excellent breastfeeder. Has a very strong suck-ouch!

We're hanging out in the hospital until tomorrow. I'm definitely ready to be home, but know that it's a good idea to stay here and get as much rest as I can before I hit the road running with three!! Ellie is loving it-I think she feels very old. Luke isn't super interested-when he's at the hospital, he's usually ready to move on to the next thing after about 30 min. I don't know what the next few weeks will hold, so if you don't hear from me for awhile, you know why!