Bristol is two months and things are looking up....KINDA!

I can't believe my little baby is two months old already.  I know she is still a little baby but I feel as though I lost a lot of bonding time and a lot of her early infant time due to all of her issues. I feel cheated in a way...as selfish as that sounds.  It was extremely difficult to deal with her excessive screaming and crying for hours and hours.  I feel very guilty for getting frustrated with her when I know she couldn't help it.  It was all just a lot to deal with at once...a toddler adjusting to a new baby in the house and a baby that was miserable.  I remember the first time she smiled at me...FINALLY...the first thought that went through my mind when I saw that smile was, "maybe she doesn't hate me after all..." Although I clearly loved her from the second I found out she was growing in my belly I finally felt like we were truly bonding when I saw that beautiful gummy smile! :)  As hard as it was and still is somedays we are getting through it slowly but surely!  The week before I returned to work she had a great few days!  She seemed more predictable...was sleeping better...and was less fussy. I felt comfortable leaving her to go back to work, although I still didn't want to.  Unfortunately, things didn't stay that way.  She has been giving her Daddy a tough time.  I think it is just an adjustment for her.  She was used to having her momma cuddle her all day and now that I'm not there she has to get used to someone different. I am very very thankful that that someone is Derek and not a daycare worker!  I kinda remember Brooklyn going through the same thing when I first went back to work and Derek and Brooklyn have an awesome bond now from spending their days together while I am at work!  She is for sure a Daddy's girl...and I'm betting that little Bristol will be also!

We are still unsure that everything is completely figured out with Miss Bris.  The new formula definitely is making a difference.  I am not convinced that the acid reducer is the right med for her at this point though.  I do not see much of  a difference yet in her arching her back and throwing herself when trying to sleep.  And she still often wakes up screaming out of a sound sleep...so we are getting a second opinion from a Pediatric GI Specialist in Geisinger. Unfortunately we can't get in to see him until April 16th...so we will see what happens between now and then.

At two months Bristol:
- drinks 4-5 ounces every couple hours...but usually likes to snack on an ounce or two and then scream an hour later for another ounce or two lol
- weighs 13 pounds even
- is 23 inches long
- is wearing 3 month or 3-6 month clothes
- is smiling at people and making great eye contact
- is able to track things with her eyes really well
- likes to stare at the mirror above the couch and the pictures on the wall (Brooklyn did too)
- holds her head up on her own
- does not enjoy tummy time unless she is very sleepy
- kicks her feet and moves her arms nonstop!
- likes to rock in the recliner and have her back patted...very hard!
- loves her baths
- has bad eczema that I think adds to her screaming fits
- likes her bouncer but only likes her swing sometimes
- likes her carseat and being all snuggled up in it
- needs her "magic machine" all the time..aka white noise
- calms when the vacuum cleaner is running

A side by side of Brooklyn and Bristol at two months:

Bristol Pistol has MSPI

As many know we have been struggling with Bristol and her belly/feeding/screaming/not sleeping issues.  After many trips to the local doctors and switching from regular Similac Advance to Similac Sensitive to Enfamil Gentlease, to Nutramigen we were finally sent to a specialist.  This is only after being told by different doctors that it was just her temperament and that she was an angry baby and that she was just colicky and would out grow it.  I knew there was something more to it, so I refused to accept those as answers.  I tried everything in the book for colicky babies from chamomile tea, herbs and homeopathic solutions to gas drops and anti-spasm drops.  Nothing even came close to giving her any sort of comfort.

Dr. Scagnelli in Binghamton finally discovered the problem!  Bristol has MSPI (Milk Soy Protein Intolerance).  Basically it just means her digestive system is unable to process any sort of milk or soy proteins.  She had every single symptom possible for this.  Who would have ever thought that the rash on her cheeks, back, and chest was from this intolerance!  I thought it was just regular baby eczema.  Who would have thought that head congestion was from this intolerance! The poor baby also dealt with   bloody stool, gas pains, belly spasms, abnormal sleep patterns, reflux, refusing to eat at times, and other times wanting to do nothing but eat and then throwing up. It was terrible!  Thankfully we found some sort of answer!  She was switched to a formula called Elecare.  It is an amino acid based formula so there is no milk or soy in it.  Unfortunately this formula is extremely expensive and our insurance does not want to cover it, even though it was prescribed by a specialist and can not be bought in stores in PA.  So we will continue to battle with the insurance company until we can get some help with the cost.

Bristol seems to be doing a little better with this new formula...although I am not convinced that there is not still something else going on with her.  Her screaming fits are occuring less often and she is more content than she was before but she still has a very difficult time falling asleep and staying asleep.  When sound asleep on my shoulder she often throws herself backwards and wiggles around and cries in discomfort.  When sleeping in her rocker she will jump and twitch all over the place and sometimes wake suddenly in a full on scream with no warning.  This is not lessening with the formula.  I told the doctor about this and he seemed to think it was due to the acid reflux.  He prescribed her an acid reducer to be taken 2 times a day.  Again...this does not seem to be helping this issue.  So I am debating whether or not to get a second opinion on this whole ordeal at Geisinger...

Here are some of her happier moments:

Brookie Boo - 14 months of love!

Brooklyn Ann is 14 months old but well on her way into the terrible twos already!  Hopefully its just a phase but holy cow...if she doesn't get her way she stiffens her little body and screeches at the top of her lungs! Its pretty obnoxious but I refuse to give in to her screaming and allow her to act like an animal, especially in public.  Its hard to discipline a one year old though since I'm sure she doesn't understand a lot of what she is being punished for.  I read an article about moody toddlers and I think they were right on.  They said that toddlers are just trying to express their feelings since they are unable to talk yet.  Brooklyn has lots of emotions lol...she goes from happy and laughing to angry and screaming at the drop of a hat.  Brooklyn is also getting 4 molars in all at once so i'm sure that isn't making her feel the best.  Even with the moodiness she is still the happiest little girl I know.  She loves loves loves to give kisses and to belly laugh. She is an amazing big sister and loves Bristol already. Whenever Bristol cries Brooklyn makes an "uh oh" face and runs right over to her side. She likes to hold her and kiss her. She is very adventurous and loves getting into things she shouldn't.  She is also very smart.  She is able to follow directions when asked to do something and can find just what she is looking for on both of our iPads.  Crazy what a one year old can do!  She can make my worst day turn into my best day with one smile or kiss!

At 14 months Brooklyn:
- loves being the center of attention with family but gets overwhelmed around a lot of strangers
- likes to brush her teeth with me every morning
- is climbing on everything and just figured out how to get on the couch by herself
- can now get off the couch, ottoman, and any other piece of furniture on her own without crashing
- loves Zoey and climbs all over her all day long....and Zoey lets her!
- lights up when she sees her brothers!
- has a blast playing in the basement with all of her "big" toys...ball pit, slide, water table, etc
- is able to show you her eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, nose, hair, hands, feet, belly, and knees!
- loves to put her diapers in the garbage...along with her sister's bottles and random toys :)
- still only says mama, dada, and dog
- is able to go get her shoes and coat when asked
- is able to identify many family members and can point them out in pictures
- likes to kiss her sister...ALL THE TIME..and sometimes sit on her in the bouncer ;)
- watches videos of herself on my phone over and over again
- couldn't ask for better big brothers who want to play with her all the time and show her off to their friends...melts my heart <3
- is starting to ween out one of her naps and sometimes only takes one a day
- is getting a little picky about what she eats...most of her food goes on the floor or directly to the dog
- likes to throw things when she is mad
- loves her shape sorter
- enjoys flipping through books and being read to
- likes to watch Yo Gabba Gabba and gets super excited when I turn it on
- won't let me cut her toenails
- played in the snow for the first time and went sledding down Snyder hill (loved sledding but the snow was too deep for her)
- is getting 4 molars :(
- is wearing size 5 diapers

First piggy tails :) 

Sound asleep...all stretched out

Foamy soap fun

Selfies with mama

Cuddling with Zoey

Hanging out with Dylan

Looking through her book

Her first Oreo....passed out from the chocolatey goodness lol

1 year photo's

She had had enough at this point...was very very tired from Daddy letting her stay up late the night before...fell sound asleep on the studio floor