GERD (Acid reflux)

A couple of weeks ago we took Avy back to the pedriciatrian because she was vomiting when she ate and would get extremely fussy after eating or sometimes during eating. She would not like to be burped and would try and throw herself backwards when we would try and burp her. She had only gained 1 oz in a little over a week so the doctor seemed concerend. The doctor said these were all signs of GERD (acid reflux) and gave us a medication to try. The doctor also told us to thicken her feedings with rice cereal. Usually rice cereal is not introduced until around 4 months, but Avy gets to start it early. With the medication and the rice cereal, Greg and I have seen some good changes. She is not spitting up as much and seems a lot less fussy. Let's hope everything starts to look up from here!

2 months

Age: 2 month Height: 21 inches = 7th percentile at 8 week appointment Weight: 10lbs, 1oz. =27th percentile at 8 week appointment Head: 37.50= 40th percentile at 8 week appointment Milestones: Avy is starting to make good eye contact and smile back at you. She will imitate coo sounds when you talk to her. She likes to stick out her tongue and pucker her lips. She can roll onto one of her sides when on her back. She is holding her head up better when sitting up right. She is trying to find her thumb to suck on, but just can’t get it quite right yet! Sleep: Avy does not have a schedule for sleeping down yet. She usually, but not always, goes to bed between 10 and 11pm then wakes up once at night between 2 or 3am. The hardest part is getting her back to sleep. She sometimes stays up for an hour and a half or two hours. She will then wake up again around 6am and then go back to sleep. I am hoping that we will start seeing some sort of routine or longer sleep periods in a couple of weeks since I will be going back to work. Best Moment: I was talking to her the other night and she continued to talk back to me by making cooing sounds one after another! I love to see her smile too! Worst Moment: Lately, Avy’s fussiness has quieted down a bit. After figuring out she had anal stenosis and managing the problem she has seemed to be a little happier. She still acts like she strains sometimes, but I think that’s somewhat normal. She still continues to have some episodes of colic, but not as bad as before. Health: The doctor said she looks very healthy, she is just a small baby. Eating: Avy continues to eat pretty well. Teeth: Nope Extra comments: Avy had her 2 month shots and did very well. She fussed for a second and then seemed all better. I go back to work in two weeks and am not looking forward to that. She continues to change each and every day and brings lots of smiles to my face!

Nana Bury made Avy a John Deere dress. Thanks Nana B!

8 weeks

This is defiantly an overdue update. It's hard having the free time to do things when having a newborn. At 6 weeks, Avy started to really become more alert. She would make eye contact with you and began smiling. She started to make little coo sounds and squeals. She likes to stick out her tounge and pucker her lips. She is beginning to gain better head control when sitting upright. When on her back she can roll onto one of her sides. At 8 weeks, Avy had her 2 month shots. She was a trooper and didn't fuss too much. Just last night, she was looking at me while I was talking to her and she started to really talk back to me. She made one coo sound after another. It was so cute! Grandma Margaret has been out here in Arizona for the past couple of weeks helping me out when Gregory works his 48 hours. It has been wonderful having her here. Not only does it give me some time to get things done, but it's nice to have someone to talk too. 48 hours alone with a newborn is a LONG time! I will be sad to see her go as it's been so nice to see her often and catch up. I am sure Avy will miss her too. I really think Avy responds to her voice and loves when Great Grandma talks to her!

Here are some pictures of when my Grandma Eileen and cousins Amanda and Karly came out to visit with Avy. She was around 4 weeks old then.

Avy Update

We went to the doctor on Monday becasue Avy was becomming very upset and acted like she was in pain when she tried to pass a bowel movement. Each time she would nurse or take a bottle she would also start to cry, which I thought was not a good sign. The doctor found out that Avy has anal stenosis. Bascially, her anus was very narrow making it hard and painful for her to pass stools. The doctor had to use her pinky finger to dialate her and told us to come back wednesday so she could dialate her again. We have to give Avy suppositories once a day for a week and then we are hoping that all the issues will have taken care of themselves. As of today (Sunday) she is beginning to pass a lot more stools and seems much happier. The good news is that at the doctor she weighed 8lbs, 12oz. At least we know she is still getting food! Please keep Avy and us in your thoughts!

Things Nana B made

Nana Bury sent Avy a package of all sorts of things she made Avy. Here is a picture of Avy in a knitted hat and booties that she made and sent. Avy also recieved a handmade baby blanket with matching handmade pillow. She also made a matching hooded coat for her to wear when then weather gets cooler. Avy's little feet should be warm because Nana B made atleast 8 pair of knitted booties in all different colors. She will have a pair to wear with each outfit!

1 Month (4 weeks)

Age: 1 month Height: 19.25 inches = 5th percentile at 2 week appointment Weight: 7lbs, 6oz. =17th percentile at 2 week appointment Head: 34.75= 24th percentile at 2 week appointment Milestones: Avy is starting to hold her head up better. She let mommy sleep for a total of 4.5 hours the other night! Sleep: Since I am breastfeeding, it’s recommended to feed her every 2 ½ to 3 hours. The doctor said she can go one stretch of 4 or 5 hours and hopefully it would happen at night. She usually will do her long stretch of sleep at night, but occasionally I still have to wake her. She has a hard time getting to sleep (usually because of an upset tummy or gas pain episode). Sometimes we go to bed at 10pm and sometimes it’s 1 or 2am. Best Moment: I love to see her smile. She also makes a lot of grunting sounds. Worst Moment: About one or two times a day we have episodes of fussiness (possibly colic, but I think it’s just an upset tummy or gas). She doesn’t cry for long, but just isn’t happy. She will stay awake for 3 or 4 hours at a time during these episodes. Usually it happens once in the late afternoon and then right before bedtime. Health: The doctor said she looks very healthy. Eating: Avy continues to eat pretty well. I try to feed her every 3 hours. Sometimes she wakes up and wants to eat herself and other times I have to wake her up to eat. Teeth: Nope Extra comments: I can’t believe it’s already been a month since she was born. I am very excited to continue to watch her grow and learn new things. I know I need to enjoy every minute of it because she won’t stay little for long.