Well, I'm back for another year. Ethan just loves the books and it is good for me to write down stuff so I can always remember these sweet memories we are making as a family, too!
Not going to lie the first weeks of Jan were ROUGH going with Garrett. He earned his new nickname as Grumpy Garrett (mine growing up was Whiney Wendy) so I guess it's par for the course?!
Anyways... the kid was never happy. Spitting up, in pain, not sleeping, no smiles or anything. Ate around the clock! I called the pediatrician about acid reflux and they told me to do all these other things...but I had done them all except visit lactation again. Off I went, those lactation ladies give me the nervous tummies. Always feel like I leave there feeling like a failure. But I would do anything at this point to get him happy. So we went. He was a HOT mess. Spit up a TON on the lady, had a blow out poop and screamed his head off. I think he worried her enough to call my doc and tell her to put him on some meds. So we did. We started reflux meds on Jan 16. They seemed to work wonders right away for the next few days. They also told me to pump 11 times a day to keep my supply up and then feed him a few ounces after feedings since he wasn't taking in enough milk. So, I did that for a week- the longest week ever! If you do the math 11 times a day with feedings that last about an hour...yeah no time for sleep at all!
Next plan...chiropractor. Not usually my jam...but again would do ANYTHING for a happy or sleepy baby! I went and was surprised...I LOVED the gal. She was great and encouraging and boosted my mental wellbeing. She was convinced he was tongue and lip tied. In the hospital some nurses thought that and others disagreed. Same with pediatricians and lactation consultants. Again no real answers. So, I asked our neighbor who is a pediatrics dentist if she recommended anyone for the laser surgery. She gave me a name of someone in the cities who that is all she does. So, I booked it. Also, my chiropractor gave me a name of a private lactation lady to help in the mean time. WELL WORTH THE MONEY. This lady was a saint. Talk about positive and encouraging and just what I needed. She was so calm and caring and really wanted to figure out Garrett.
Garrett 2 month check up was right on target on the 28th. The pediatrician was okay with me doing the tongue tie and said reflux should get better as he grows and gets chunkier. I have realized that I worry so much about his size. Just so used to FAT Luke and feel like a failure that Garrett is such a peanut! It's my own thing...weird I know.
as smiley as he got!
tongue tie
lip tie
Anyways... the 29th was our appointment in Blaine, MN. Brad was going to be out of town for work and oh...we had the POLAR VORTEX coming in! Mom was going to come up and go to the appointment with me, but the snow and cold prevented that from happening. I begged Brad to not leave and go to his meetings so I didn't have to drive alone in -60 degree weather. He agreed and off we went on the COLDEST day ever- record cold! Praying for positive results and to get there and back safely! It took over 2 hrs to get there and the doc confirmed he had a posterior tongue with one look! Said the lip tie would be optional as no solid research it helps with latch issues. But since we drove all the way up and no negative outcomes of doing the lip too we decided to do both. No regrets was my motto. She took him back and joked not to go to the bathroom because she would return before we got back. She was right it literally look 5 seconds to do the CO2 laser and he was back- no crying, no bleeding. He nursed right away and we were headed back to the cold. That day I wasn't convinced anything seemed better but that night when I nursed to go to bed it was like a switch. He was latching and sucking like a normal nursing baby that I remembered! And by the next couple of days we had a HAPPY baby! It was crazy. I am writing this 2 weeks later and hope it only gets better from here.
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