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pepper1376
Age: 31
Country: US
Province/region: Indiana
City: Fort Wayne
Partner: husband Gary
Children: Yes, 7
Pregnant: Not anymore
Occupation: mom
Online: 5 days ago.
Last updated: 59 days ago.
Member since: 351 days
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May 8, 2008

My baby girl, Ava, is now 6 wks. old and had a rough start. She has reflux and when she vomits (which is constantly!), it sometimes comes up through her nose. When she was born, this caused her to stop breathing which got her an apnea monitor and an extra day in the hospital to be monitored by a pediatrician (who charged $400 an hour to stand there and watch her all day! Thank God we have insurance!) and all kinds of blood tests, plus a CT scan to make sure it wasn't anything else. She'll be on the monitor until she's atleast 3 months. She hasn't stopped breathing since I brought her home. When it comes up her nose, she panics and holds her breath but she does start breathing again on her own with me rubbing her back and suctioning her nose. She hasn't held it long enough to make the monitor alarm (Thank God!). Her doctor put her on Zantac which I didn't think was working until I missed a dose! After spending the day cleaning up vomit that shot clear across the room, I'll never miss another dose again! I heard good things about the Dr. Brown bottles so I started using those and have noticed an improvement. We still go through countless bibs/burp cloths/outfits a day though. If we aren't going anywhere then I'll just strip her to her diaper and wrap her in a blanket. Easier to change blankets than whole outfits!

Her doctor has decided to send her to an ear, nose, and throat specialist to see why it keeps coming out her nose since her palate seems to be formed normally. She goes on Monday, May 12. I can't wait. I've never looked forward to taking one of my kids to the doctor but I just want them to tell me why she does this and to hopefully fix it or atleast tell me "she'll grow out of it."

She started out at 6 lbs. 8 oz, and was 18.8 inches long. She's now 9 lbs. 15 oz. and is 21 inches. She's growing great so she apparently is keeping SOMETHING down. She's getting rolls! She's so cute!

One thing that seems to be different than all the other "reflux babies" that I read about is that she just isn't a fussy baby. She's very content, (except when it's coming out her nose...) and she's alert and happy for several hours a day. Doesn't have any real crying fits, except when she's hungry or strapped in that dang car seat that she hates so much! My second daughter had colic and she cried CONSTANTLY. Now 10 years old, she still cries all the time! But Ava just isn't fussy at all. She sleeps very well. At night she sleeps from Midnight to 6:30/7 am and wakes happy and ready to eat! Occasionally she'll seem a bit gassy and whiney but I'll put her over my shoulder and pat her back and she's happy.

She's starting to "coo" but no smiles yet. She likes to stare at me and dad while we talk to her and she'll "talk" back a bit but still no real smiles. She talks to dad more than me...I'm the one who cleans up the vomit all day and she talks to HIM more?????? Ah well... She likes to stare at bright colors and will swat at toys hanging on her car seat. She doesn't get much tummy time because that usually ends in a vomit disaster! I imagine she'll take forever to roll over as she's always propped up on her back or in her car seat. I have a bassinet that raises up at one end which is GREAT. Don't know what we'll do when she graduates to the crib--guess I'll just prop the mattress up somehow. Changing diapers usually turns into a race against the vomit as I HAVE to put her on her back then.
Ava listening to me talk to her. 6 wks
Ava talking to mom


Ava listening to her dad talk to her. 6 wks
Photobucket

Ava and her niece (yep, her niece!), Aubrie. 6 wks.
Ava and her niece, Aubrie


May 12, 2008

Ava went to the ENT specialist today and all is well. The doctor said her palate is normal and that it's just something that she's going to outgrow, probably by 4 months. She said her ped. was concerned that she might have a cleft palate that she just wasn't detecting but the specialist said it was completely normal, perfectly formed. She said if she didn't grow out of it by 4 months then they would stick a scope down her throat but that she didn't feel it was serious enough to torture her with now, at 7 wks. She did tell me to call her ped. and get her zantac dose adjusted because she's throwing up more. She said you have to constantly adjust the dosage for babies as they grow so I'll do that today. She also said that it might help to add a little bit more water than called for to her formula to thin it out and make it easier to get through her system before she pukes it back up and to feed her smaller amounts more often, instead of 4-5 oz. every 4 hrs. I'll TRY that. I don't know how well Ava will adjust to 2 oz. every 2 hrs. She'll be convinced that she's starving!! I was hoping the spec. would give me some magic medicine to make it all stop but figured she would tell me "she'll grow out of it." They held Ava down and stuck a stick in her mouth to hold her to tongue down while she took FOREVER to feel around on her palate. Ava was so p.o'd!! And of course she was gagging and choking. Poor baby. Then when they stopped she was looking at ME like I did it! I felt horrible!

She'll be 7 wks. tomorrow--about 2 more months to go!


May 21

Ava is 2 months now. She's getting so big. She weighed 10.5 lbs at her weight check (her pediatrician wants her weight checked every 2 wks. to make sure she's gaining ok since she pukes nonstop!). She finally started giving me smiles a couple days ago. And she's pretty much awake most of the day now. She likes to sit in front of the TV and watch cartoons with her big brother. She's fascinated and has started "talking" back to the TV. Too funny!

Doctor doesn't want to up her zantac dose until she reaches 12 lbs. but she's really spitting up alot right now. I'm a little worried but she's gaining weight so I suppose she's not spitting up as much as it looks. She doesn't seem uncomfortable or anything. Very content baby girl. She had a nice rash on her face from puking so much while she sleeps at night and then sleeping in it (she leans her head over on her shoulder and so the spit up kind a settles between her cheek and shoulder. She sleeps for 5-6 hours strait and I'm not going to wake her up because then she'll want to eat and nights are the worst for her spit ups. After she eats she'll spit up for about 2 hours off and on and then it turns into an even bigger mess for her. So I bathe her in the morning and then put a little cortisone on her. That seems to be taking care of the rash on her cheek and behind her ear. I've tried laying her on the opposite side that she prefers but she manages to get herself back on her "choice side" and cocking her head onto her shoulder. DRIVES ME INSANE!!!! She's determined to sleep in that position!! I'm in a battle with a 2 month old over sleeping positions and she's winning! Oh well, I suppose this too will pass. Hopefully.

Can't wait for warm weather so I can take her on walks and get back in shape. I don't have a clue how much I weigh now as I don't check MY weight until after 6 months--too depressing in those first few months! I'll try to post more pics soon.


Ava sleeping. 8 wks
<a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i182/pepper1376/?action=view&current=100_3332.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i182/pepper1376/100_3332.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


Happy Ava. 8 wks
<a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i182/pepper1376/?action=view&current=100_3406.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i182/pepper1376/100_3406.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


Ava smiling. 8 wks
<a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i182/pepper1376/?action=view&current=100_3407.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i182/pepper1376/100_3407.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>




Comments on pepper1376`s Profile
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Comments 51-65 to pepper1376
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Mary-beth-c - Wednesday, 21 May
Hey there well things are going okay here. Not to bad actually things are going pretty good for now anyways. We all know things go okay for a while then hell breaks loose sometime or another lol. :) Kamrie is doing lots better now, that medicine has really helped her out. Her doctor was wanting to put something down her throat when she first got on that medicine but we told him no cause she had already been through so much. I told him if she gets worse or the medicine doesn't help then he can run that test on her. Which i forgot what that test was called. So like me anymore to be so forgetful. lol Oh yeah it was called an upper GI!!! But she's doing lots better though. like i said as long as i stay off the spicy foods like NO mexican food for me then she's happy!!!! Happy for her but not for me unfortanely.:(

Yeah kamrie is really talking and smiling more now. She's so much more alert now. She loves that bubba of hers though. As soon as she sees him her eyes are locked on him. She will follow him where ever he goes. He pretty good with her but if he gets jealous then he really shows it. He gets really fiesty and won't listen that when i know he wants the attention. :( Poor little man i fill for him sometimes cause i'm tryihg to clean house and trying to nurse kamrie it seems like i don't have enough time to spend with him. I try to spend as much time with him as i can but its hard sometimes. :( How do you do it with 7 kids? lol Kamrie is really growing too she also has like 4 chins. She's got rolls everyhwhere!!!! haha ;-)

We moved about a year ago and my son didn't understand why we couldn't go back home to our old house but he finally adjusted. I didn't think that he ever would but he did.

haha about renting a room at the doctors office i feel the same way. I'm there about once a week or so. They know me by name now lol. The doctor said for right now he's okay but if he does start wheezing then he wants to see him back. I was like okay that would be my first choice. lol haha anywho i hope you have a good day talk to you soon.


teresa08 - Wednesday, 21 May
Thank you and Congrats to you too. Ava is a cutie too. Jeffrey and Ava were born on the same day. He is also on Zantac for reflux and I think he's doing much better even he still spits quite a bit but not as much as he was before. Good Luck and take care. Keep in touch


Mary-beth-c - Friday, 16 May
omg girl your baby is sooooo cute. haha i ready your story here that you wrote and it sounds so much like kamrie. :) Kamrie is a pretty good baby as long as your holding her though!! hehe She's not spitting up like she use to that zantac is helping her. Did the doctor just put her on zantac? Cause kamrie is on zantac and reglan. It seems to be helping her. As long as i stay off the coke and spicy stuff she's fine too. haha Kamrie is weighing 12lbs and 7oz and she's 23 inches long. My babies are growing way to fast. It makes me sad. My son will be 3 on the 5th. :(


cko1522 - Wednesday, 14 May
Oh my gosh, your baby's reflux story is aweful! I hope she feels better soon. We just started Prevacid tonight, so I hope that goes well. My son has been having aweful spit up these last few days, and he is so uncomfortable. Its so sad. I breast fed for a while, but he was having latching issues and I was having supply issues, so I gave it up at 6 wks. I felt so guilty too. But, one way or another he will be nourished, and that is the important part. Anyway, I really hope your daughter feels better soon. Reflux sucks.


kikiea - Friday, 9 May
I'm sorry you and your baby are having such problems with refllux! Although, I know just how you feel!! I'm scared to bring my son into almost any stores... for fear that he throws up on things and I hve to pay for it!! And the only people I'm completely comfortable to allow to hold him are my mom and my sisters... everyone else, I have to be prepared to grab him away and apologize... He seems to be improving some... and as much as I want him to stay little forever... I can't wait until he grows out of this...


mommyto5 - Monday, 5 May
hey there how are you? i have a new blog for you to read!!


clairelouise - Friday, 2 May
God you had a hectic time with your daughter didnt you, glad shes doing well now though,
Ive just got back from the hospital, My appointment went really wel the midwife counseller i saw was great, went through everything and was so kind and listened to everything i said,
Ive deff decided against a c-section as the thought of if kind of scares me aswell.
Im seeing her again and we will do a birth plan together, she's going to take me on a tour of the delivery suite aswell,she said if i wanted a section she would come with me to see the obstetrition,i said its really the last thing i want,
She agreed i had a traumatic birth and when i said what i wanted she said theres no reason i cant have it,
I feel so much better now, But i dont think ill stop thinking about it until the time comes,
Anyway, glad your ok, take care of your little one,
thanks for replying,
claire, xxxxxxxxx


1blessedmomma - Friday, 2 May
Thanks, and congrats to you too. They are all sweet blessings from the Lord!!


clairelouise - Friday, 2 May
Hi ive jsut written you out a long message and deleted it, hee,hee, pregnancy does strange things to you doesnt it,
Im not too bad getting over the sickness and horrendous pain from my cysts, glad to be getting back into some normality now, Ive got a midwife appointmant today and a scan next friday,
how are you doing,? Ava is beautiful she looks very tiny was she very big at birth?

take care
claire.xxxxxxxxx


JenO - Friday, 2 May
We are using the Dr. Brown bottles and they don't seem to make a difference for him which really sucks! We increased his zantac to 1ml 2x a day so it has helped a bit. For some reason he usually has one bottle during the day that he spits up most of. No pattern to what time of day it is either. He is gaining weight and is not bothered by the reflux or spit up now so I guess that is all that counts....just really hard on the washing machine :O Glad to hear that Ava is doing much better!


riknlee - Friday, 2 May
HI, thanks for the message. I live in Australia so I will be pregnant during winter. I will be warm from the inside. Anyway I hope you are keeping well. My pregnancy is going well so far, occasional tiredness at night time and stuffy nose - otherwise I wont complain. Keep in touch


mommyto5 - Friday, 2 May
not feeling good!! do you read my latest blogs????


riknlee - Monday, 28 April
oh my god I dont know how you manage. you guys must earn a fortune to be able to afford 7 kids. I am having my 4th in sept and wondering how we can afford everything. If I could have babies for a living I would but that isnt an option. Your little baby is sooooo cute - congratulations on her birth. And you had pre eclampsia too. Just shows you it is not always on your first pregnancy. i had it with my first. I hope all the problems smooth out. Good luck and well done.


Mary-beth-c - Sunday, 27 April
Hey there omg that's to funny. i told my hubby and he just laughed. Our kids do the funniest things don't they!!! hehe Sounds like something my son would do.

We are doing better kamrie has been sleeping through the night now which is really nice. She'll wake up about 5 or 6 then sleep some more about another 4 to 5 hours.

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Photos
Chandelle`s a tree hugger.... (2007, 08, 10) Chandelle and Emily (2007, 08, 10) HAHAHA--Ashley!  if you know Ashley, you know this is SOOOOO not like her!!! (2007, 08, 10) 5 week belly (2007, 08, 13) Chandelle and Ashley (2007, 08, 10) Me and my little sister, Seanisti (Shonnasty) (2007, 08, 10) Ally and Gary, almost done.... (2007, 08, 10) 9 week, 6 day belly (2007, 09, 14) Emily (tallest), Ally (flower girl) and Gary Luke (the short one) (2007, 08, 10) 14 weeks 6 days (15 weeks tomorrow) (2007, 10, 17) Me and my little brother, Ian, at his wedding (2007, 08, 10) 8 wk 3 day belly (2007, 09, 04) Me and my brother`s new wife, Jen (obviously at the wedding...) (2007, 08, 10) Gary and Gary Luke (2007, 08, 10) Ashley`s a tree hugger too! (2007, 08, 10) 7 wk belly...I hate to think about what I`m going to look like at 9 mos.!!! (2007, 08, 27) l to r, my mom, Ian, me, Seanisti (2007, 08, 10) Click here to see all Pepper1376`s photos

Children
Alexandria-Reagan (1998) Emily-Madeline (1996) Gary-Luke (2004) Ashley-Lynn-(step-daughter) (1993) Chandelle-(step-daughter) (1991) Alicia-Marie-(step-daughter) (1988) Ava-Lucy (2008)

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