Update on The Ivester Clan

It has been awhile since I posted because things have been a little rough.  I do not at all want to come across as a complainer or a "negative nelly" in this post.  I just want to come across as real so that I can be honest and transparent about our life the past few weeks.

Little Miss Emily has had quite the rough time here lately.  When she was around 3 weeks old, I noticed that she was gagging a lot when eating and screaming after a bottle.  It took me a little while to realize that maybe she had reflux.  Cadence had reflux, but her symptoms were totally different.  Thankfully, the doctor called us in some medicine and we immediately started Em on Zantac.  We quickly noticed a difference. 

About a week passed and she started screaming again.  When I say screaming, I mean she wouldn't nap.  All she would do was eat and scream (scream the entire day).  It was so pitiful, and it tore my nerves up.  I couldn't play with Cadence or get anything done around the house, because all I could do was try to console my baby girl.  It was rough.  We called back to the doctor and he told us to combine two medicines: Zantac and Prevacid.  We did and she started to feel better. 

A few days passed and she went back to her old self.  Her symptoms from reflux were better and we knew the medicine was working, so we didn't know what could be bothering her.  The doc said to bring her in and they would test for a milk allergy.  If the results were negative, then it was possible she had a milk intolerance.  If so, they would start her on a special (EXPENSIVE) formula.  If her body responded well to that, then we knew the problem.  If not, then she just had bad colic.  Her results came back negative, and even though I was glad, I was frustrated b/c I wanted some concrete answers so that my baby could get better. 

The doctor told us to try her on the formula, Nutramigen.  We started her on it and within a few days all of her symptoms were gone.  She wasn't passing lots of gas anymore.  She was having about 3 poopies a day (on her other formula she was only going about every 2 days).  She started cooing at us and smiling.  She started napping how I thought a newborn should be napping.  She quit having screaming fits.  THANK YOU, JESUS!!

My baby girl is now 7 weeks old, and the past 4 weeks or so have been SO SO hard!  But, I think that things are finally beginning to take a turn for the better.  She still has some moments where I can tell she is some pain, but overall she is WONDERFUL!  Nutramigen is EXTREMELY expensive and it's hard to see how we will be able to afford it.  However, it is what Emily needs and we will do everything we can to provide that for her.  Matt was able to win some on Ebay which helped a ton.  We know that God will provide and we are putting our trust in Him. 

I am so thankful that things are looking up.  I am able to sit and enjoy Emily (and Cadence).  I love seeing her smile and coo.  I love knowing that she is not in pain and that she is able to rest.  Also, sweet girl has been sleeping so good for  me during the night!  The past 4 nights she has eaten at 10 pm and slept til 7:45/8 am.  AMAZING!  I hope this continues b/c I am loving life.  :) 

Cadence is doing great too.  She has not been phased at all by any of this.  She just goes with the flow and loves her sister unconditionally.  She is still a huge help.  She is still sweet and silly as ever.  I love that girl so much!  I am so blessed and I truly adore my sweet little family.  Hopefully now that things have settled down, I will be able to update more about our life.  :)

My girls

Not the best quality pic (it was taken with my phone).  But look at that sweet smile!