Troubles & Triumphs of a Growing Family: Miss Briss is 4 months and we have a new baby...

Miss Briss is 4 months and we have a new baby....ok...not a NEW baby...but a completely, 100% happier, healthier baby! It is so amazing to see her still changing and growing out of this intolerance as it continues to leave her system! Its unbelievable how long it took for the dairy to completely leave her system. Now that it is all gone she is the most smily, giggly, excited baby ever! She is always laughing and smiling at people and loves to talk, babble, and make noise. She is content most of the time and will sit for a while on her own and look around. She had an appointment with Dr. Sabri from Geisinger on April 16th. We loved this doctor! He was awesome with her and was able to answer all of our questions about what to do, and where to go from here with Bristol's belly issues. I told him that she spit up A LOT and he recommended starting to put rice cereal in her bottle. It has to be Beechnut brand because it is the only brand that makes their rice cereal soy free. He said that because the Elecare formula is so thin that it is hard for them to keep down sometimes. He said the weight from the cereal will help keep it down in her belly and keep her fuller longer so we do not have to increase the volume of food she is eating. He said that if the cereal worked we could stop with the acid reducer medication. He confirmed that it was definitely MSPI and was fairly confident that she would outgrow it by age 2 if not sooner. So until then, no teething cookies, toast, cheese, yogurt, or anything with dairy or soy can go into her little belly. At age 1, we will "challenge" her system to see if she is able to tolerate the milk/soy proteins yet. This makes me very nervous as I do not want to put her through the hell she dealt with for the first 3 months of her life :( Unfortunately I can not keep her on formula forever though! On another note, we were able to finally get her formula approved by Derek's insurance! PHEW! That is a HUGE relief for our checkbooks!

Bristol also had her 3 month...but actually 4 month well visit on April 23rd. Dr. Terwilliger was thrilled to see her doing so well! He was impressed with the difference this formula was making. She weighed in at 16 pounds even and 25 1/2 inches long (both in the 85%). She is meeting all her milestones and doing really well. Dr. Terwilliger recommended that we start her on yellow vegetables. I am not so sure about this one! I was nervous to try the cereal...i'm not sure her system is ready for another change so quickly. I will be calling her GI doctor and see what his opinion is before she gets any baby foods. I feel that he would have mentioned this at her appointment if he thought she needed food.

At 4 months Bristol:
* is sooo happy
* is a snuggly love bug
* likes to sleep in the nook of my leg
* enjoys having her back or belly patted while trying to fall asleep
* still LOVES her noise machine and we still take it with us everywhere. People look at me like I am crazy when they hear it. Oh well.
* likes going for walks in the stroller
* is a good shopper :)
* enjoyed visiting with the Easter Bunny for the 1st time
* weighs 16 pounds
* is 25 1/2 inches long
* drinks 4 ounces of formula with 4 tsp of rice cereal
* sometimes sleeps through the night but not often
* only wakes once usually to eat
* is wearing size 2 diapers
* wears 3-6 or 6 month clothing
* can still fit in 0-3 month onsies!
* is a peanut compared to Brooklyn
* loves to watch her sister and brothers and laugh
* startles very easy and will sometimes cry
* will sit in her Bumbo for a long time and just watch everyone go about their day
* likes to watch the TV if it catches her attention
* screeches in the most high pitch squeal I have ever heard come out of a baby
* coos all the time
* chews on her hands and thumb all the time
* puts up with her sister smothering her in kisses and patting (smacking) her belly and head
* loves her swing now!