Acid Reflux

So Chou Chou suffers from Acid Reflux and it's been an ongoing battle to try and figure out how to make him feel well (and SLEEP!) for the last couple months. Once the normal "colicky" evening crying subsided, at around 12 weeks or so, it became apparent to us that something else bothered our normally smiley and good-natured boy. He'd arch his back in pain during and after feedings, he didn't tolerate sleeping on his back in his co-sleeper (which is a little scary cause of the "back to sleep" campaign and SIDS), and he'd break out into uncomfortable crying episodes for no apparent reason. And then there's the sleep. We know of quite a few other babies who have progressively started to sleep for longer and longer stretches (8 hour stretches, 9 hours... it's just not fair!). Chou Chou seems to have regressed in the sleep department and we just can't figure it out. "Is it teething, an ear infection, a fever"... the list goes on. Sleep has become my obsession! I'm sure other parents of reflux or otherwise "difficult" sleepers can identify with or remember all too well. SO we've tried Zantac and Prevacid now, which both helped for a period of time. The effect, unfortunately, seems to wear off after a couple weeks of use, and we're left stumped with a non-sleeping, fussy, baby:(. After multiple trips to the pediatrician and second guessing ourselves repeatedly, we're taking action! I ordered the Amby Baby Motion Bed (see website ambybaby.com) last night and we're taking Chou Chou to see a Homeopath ND on Saturday. If he's allergic to something I'm consuming (and passing to him through breastmilk), I'll gladly eliminate it!! I've tried cutting cow's milk, the usual culprit, but so far that doesn't seem to make a difference.

My second entry isn't really getting across how fun and adorable Chou Chou is becoming every day, so I feel inclined to report on his newest discoveries and likes. As of last week, he loves it when we lift a blanket high up in the air and then run it over his face and then say "Coucou" or "Peekaboo". I'm not sure that he gets the anticipation part of peekaboo yet, but he gets so excited when he sees the blanket thrown up in the air above his face. He's also been rolling from back to tummy for about two weeks now, which makes diapering and playing on the back a new challenge... he can't roll the other way, so he'll get stuck on his tummy and eventually tire out! I heard his first real chuckle last week, too-- it wasn't just a short squeal laugh but a longer chuckle sound. And what a sweet sound it was...