Tummy troubles June 13, 2008

Hey everybody, just a short little post to let you in on what we’re doing today.  We are taking Levi to a pediatric GI specialist because last week Levi decided to stop eating.  On Thursday he didn’t eat for 8 hours and would scream if you brought a bottle close to him.  He was so full of rice cereal (and we think maybe allergic!) that he had had enough and told us where we could shove our three hour schedule!  So all weekend John and I sat next to his bouncy chair trying to get him to eat something…anything. We were able to get him to eat a little here and there, we could always get him to eat well during the night so we would bulk him up then.  And then finally by Saturday night, he let us hold him and he ate a little.  By Sunday, we took out all rice cereal and just went back to formula which agreed with his tummy much more so we thought maybe our troubles were behind us.   

But then on Monday, reflux reared it’s ugly head and Levi couldn’t eat very much at weekday until afternoon and then at home took little ounces every hour till bedtime.  But Tuesday was where it all broke for us.  He just couldn’t eat.   He didn’t eat in the morning and screamed at weekday when they tried to feed him midday..and screamed when i tried to feed him in the afternoon.  And it’s so hard because you know he is just starving, he will suck your shoulder, your hand, his hands - anything..but can’t get the milk down because his rock hard bloated little tummy and his reflux gets in the way.  

So long horrible story short, we got referred to a pediatric GI and actually got an appointment for TODAY!  It’s such a miracle..normally it takes 3 - 4 weeks.  So we’re going (with John’s sweet parents who just came into for the weekend) to the GI this morning and if you could pray for little Levi and that this doctor would have some answers for us that work, we would be grateful.   We are exhausted and frayed and need some direction.  Otherwise Levi is the happiest, most talkative, super strong baby you ever did meet…he just needs to be able to eat and we’re set.    Thanks friends - we’ll keep you posted!

Are we still alive? June 8, 2008

Hey everyone - we are back from vacation and i’ve posted a few pics below! And let me tell you - vacation with a newborn is sooo fun.  We thought on the ride down that we had readjusted our expectations and were going to find a way to have fun, relax, and still take care of our kiddo knowing that we had 12 other capable family members eager to help us out!  Well it was a nice plan.  But Levi had his own ideas.    Levi decided that he wanted to only eat if you were standing up and bouncing..constantly…for like an hour each time.  that’s right - that’s 7 hours a day ladies and gentlemen! Oh, and the best part was that he also informed us that he would be taking these bottles from his mommy and sometimes his daddy..but pretty much that was how he liked it.  So needless to say, we kissed the beach goodbye! Every three hours we fed our baby for an hour, then played with him for another half hour, then put him down for nap for an hour while we hungrily soaked up rays at the pool or John took a quick trip to Starbucks, only to get right back upstairs to start feeding him again!  Sooo fun.  But it was great to be with the fam.  And they were all so sweet and patient to adjust to having a little newborn invade their vacation (sleep)! And we got to go to all our favorite restaurants, got to see Indiana Jones (while grandma and Auntie Lo babysat), got to be with all our cousins..and best of all, we got to hang with Levi for another week of adventures!  Below are a few pics of Levi with the fam, me feeding Levi (my main vacation event), and our favorite - Levi in his bouncy chair outside by the pool.  We were so exhausted by our “vacation” that we need another one!! Hawaii, anyone?

Hilton Head Vacation June 8, 2008

New Pictures!! May 21, 2008

Kidstuf’s over? but i just got back! May 18, 2008

hey friends! if we have any left out there after not posting for like forever and ever.  I do apologize..but life just keeps getting faster and faster these days.  I went back to work 2 weeks ago and it’s been crazy ever since! It started with our Kidstuf volunteer celebration. it was a cool event - Chronicles of Narnia on a huge screen on the lawn - all our volunteer families were there. it was great, but a 12 hour day away from my kiddo.   And then a really hectic Sunday where i literally got 40 minutes of sleep the Saturday night before.  40 MINUTES.  what happened was that i fed Levi his 11 o’clock bottle and then was ready to turn off the tv and go to sleep when all of a sudden - there were tornado warnings on every channel.  A big storm was supposed to hit the ATL somewhere between 3 and 5am- so i had to stay up all night and watch the weather.  I have a new baby in the house, how am i supposed to sleep knowing that at any moment a tornado could hit and he would be in his crib a whole room away from us?  Think i’m crazy? that’s okay, John did too.   And the tornado didn’t hit us which was great. but by the i knew that we were safe, i had time to get in the words of Elf, “a full 40 minutes.”  

 

And then that week we were in a mad dash for the finale show of Kidstuf.  Which was amazing by the way! A great way to end the show and the season.  Our team at Browns Bridge has come so far, i was really really proud.  And tonight we are having the cast wrap party..at my house! It’s gonna be fun - we’ve got chicken wings and Rockband and we’re gonna watch clips from the season..it’s gonna be great.  

 

And then literally the Hilton Head vacation countdown begins! Can’t wait!!!! On Saturday we will load up the baby and the dog and our entire family will be headed to the beach for a week.  12 grown ups, 1 baby, 2 dogs (who don’t get along) all in 1 house.  Good good times ahead.  

 

 In other news on the baby front - little Levi is doing much better.  Last night (drum roll please) he went 7 hours in between bottles! that’s six solid hours of sleeping ladies and gentlemen..6 WHOLE HOURS!  That’s called having a life right there.  That’s called we might be able to make it through this.  that’s called “thank you Jesus, can we have it again tomorrow night?!!” It was such a great moment when we looked at the clock this morning and realized that our little man had finally finally slept.  wow!!!

 

 And other good things happened yesterday too..we went to the doctor and are now able to do rice cereal in every bottle which will hopefully keep his little acid reflux at bay.  Yesterday all the bottles were soo much better, so we’re hoping that that will continue to improve.  And the best part is that he gained a lb in a week!  Last week he was 11lbs 11 ounces, this week he’s 12 lbs 8 ounces!! Crazy huh?  Way to go rice cereal!   So anyway, that’s our little update.  I will try to post more pics, the site wasn’t letting me do it when i tried this weekend, but i’ll try again.  Thanks for checking in on us! 

A ducky, some funny faces, and Uncle Ryan comes home!! May 5, 2008

BIG SMILE!! April 20, 2008

6 weeks, 10 lbs, and a little Five Guys makes a baby smile! April 20, 2008

Hey friends - sorry it’s been so long since our last post…but life with baby hasn’t left a lot of time for things like blogging..or sleeping..or showering.   But i’m back with my favorite photo yet! That’s right - as you can see,  Levi started smiling! isn’t it like the coolest thing you ever did see?  it has like made my life! He’s so sweet.  And as you can see - he’s gotten bigger too.   We went to the pediatrician last Tuesday for his one month check up and found out that Levi is a full 10 lbs now!  We’re very proud.   Oh- AND that was the first trip that Levi and I embarked out on our own.  wow - that was an adventure! Everything from figuring out how to carry a carseat with a a ten lb baby in it, to how to calm myself down when Levi was crying in the backseat and i wasn’t able to reach out to him, to how you order Chipotle burritos and carry them + baby out to the car! Not to mention some pretty serious bouncing/singing/pacifier action in the pediatrician’s office trying to comfort a hungry kiddo dangling dangerously close to bottle time waiting for the dr!  Yeah - all in a day, right?  Since i talked to you last we also celebrated my cousin Sara’s 24th birthday with some excellent chocolate cake and “Office” episodes. (which BTW, have been hilarious since coming back on), we’ve taken Levi to the outlets and Five Guys a couple times…which he mostly slept through, but deep down i’m sure he really enjoyed.   John’s been working hard on Kidstuf vocals for the rest of the season and charts for Rethink and taxes and a million other things.  And then beyond that, our main dealio has been working on getting Levi’s tummy to settle down.  We’re pretty sure now that he has acid reflux, so we are trying everything to try to help him…mylicon drops, mylanta every four hours, but this week it’s gotten a lot worse.  He has a hard time getting through a bottle without arching his back and screaming, he’s spitting up more and more, and he’s had some really hard cries about it.  It interferes with his sleeping at night, and his schedule during the day too.  So we are calling the dr on Monday to try to go to baby Zantac to help soothe his tummy woes now that we’re pretty sure that’s what it is.  It’s so hard to see such a little person be in pain - but hopefully getting on Zantac will do the trick. Other than that - we’re just taking it one day at a time - 3 hours by 3 hours.  I’m so glad that i have 3 more weeks off.  I miss my team and Kidstuf and feeling like i have a life outside of my living room..but i’m still not ready to go back.  But maybe if we get Levi’s tummy feeling better, he’ll start sleeping better…and then we’ll all be doing better.  Though don’t hear me complaining - i’m loving every minute of it..and let’s face it, that baby smile makes everything worth it. 

New pics… April 8, 2008

Levi is one month old!! April 8, 2008

Can you believe that little Levi Floyd is one month old already?!!  He is so amazing.  Every day i am surprised at how much he changes and grows…how his face gets fuller, his eyes focus longer, his cries get more distinct.  Sometimes when you talk to him, he’ll look you right in the eyes…just like soaking you all in. it’s so cool!!   Levi has a very busy schedule every day - he’s gotta get his sleep on a lot, he’s gotta get his bottle on every three hours (and he likes to drink it in reeeeeeal slow), he loves chillin in his activity gym with his whale, fish and giraffe.  He’s super strong - you have to keep a good grip on him cause he’ll push off with his legs or throw his head up if you’re not careful!  He loves to listen to music and will visibly get upset when the music stops. He really likes bath time - hates being cold afterwards…but digs the warm water when he’s in it.  He loves when you sing to him - my favorite is to sing a little ben folds “still fighting it”…especially when his tummy hurts.  The funniest thing he does is sometimes when he’s lying flat in his gym, you’ll hear this piercing shriek and realize that he’s pulling his own hair! it’s hilarious cause he has no idea he’s doing it to himself!  I can’t believe he’s a month old and yet it feels like he’s been here forever.  Above are some new pics (cause i know that’s all you really care about anyway!).  One is of him about to pull his own hair, there’s another with my favorite onesie (rockin before i was walkin) and then of course one with his Auntie Sara (notice little Syd..aka “baby #2 on her lap as well) and just some other pics that i thought you’d find cute.  Hope you all have a great day - shout out to Auntie Dar and Uncle John who are reading this from their documentary trip in Isreal!  Much love to you all - Holz.