So worth the wait!

Well, people told me it would happen....it finally did happen. Olivia is now a much happier baby, and her happy times far outweigh her unhappy times. I think it got way worse before it got better though.

Brian had a leadership school to attend in Newport, RI for two weeks at the end of October/beginning of November. I was not looking forward to him being gone that long because it was very hard to listen to Olivia cry all day with no one to give me relief. I can tell you that I was in survival mode the first week he was gone. That week, I took Olivia to the doctor because I figured something had to be wrong- there had to be a diagnosis for this crying. I was tired! I was losing my patience as a mom, and I needed someone to tell me that there was a specific reason. She was sick, or uncomfortable, or SOMETHING! Well, she screamed at the appointment so loud that the Doctor could barely talk with me. She checked her out, and told me she looked perfect. I was thankful for this of course. No one wants to go to the doctor and find out there is a health problem with their baby. The doctor then looked at me and said, "It is obvious that she is in the 5 % of babies with extreme colic." This is colic where nothing works to soothe them. Her acid reflux medicine was not really working. She still screamed all of the time. So, knowing I was alone at home since Brian was gone, her doctor prescribed Olivia a sedative/bowel relaxer. I know- HORRIBLE mom! What mom gives their baby a sedative to make them sleep. Well, until you have walked in someone's shoes who has had a baby like Olivia, Please don't pass judgement!! :) She assured me it was safe if I chose to use it in a critical time. I came home that night and things got BAD. I was skyping Brian and he saw how bad. At that point, he called in the Nana patrol, and thankfully Nana was on a plane basically the next day to help with poor Olivia. I did end up giving Olivia half of the dose of the sedative to relax her and make her more comfortable. She slept for me, and we got by until Nana arrived. She hasn't had it since- actually we threw it out shortly after Brian returned. My mom stayed a week until Brian returned, and it was exactly what we needed. It took both of us to care for her, but by the end of the week, she turned two months, and we actually took a car ride where she didn't cry. She was starting to have happy moments. She was starting to cry less.

I have never in my life been tested as I have been over the past two months- Olivia's first two months. She is a GIFT, and we know that she will do great things because she got all of her unhappiness out in her first two months of life. I can't tell you how exhausting and difficult it is to have a baby who cries all of the time. People don't know how to react out in public. They stared. They asked if she was hungry. They wondered if she was sick. I will never again look at a mother with a crying baby and ask any of these. Just kindly smile, and say, "This will pass! She's beautiful even when she cries though!" I remember a Safeway checkout lady told me her son was the same way, but it passed, and he became her happiest child and nicest, kindest man in his adulthood.

Now, we see the happiness, the laugher, giggles, and smiles. She is a JOY, even when she does cry. Her colic is not gone completely. She has her moments, but she is not even three months yet, so she is still just getting it out of her system. She handles it better, and we can comfort her and know what she needs now. She still has to be swaddled at night for bed- thank goodness for the Miracle Blanket. She also has to have her white noise. The hairdryer has become her favorite thing! Olivia still has her acid reflux, but her medicine seems to be doing the trick because she doesn't cry when she spits up anymore. We'll take the several outfit changes and lots of spit up for a happy baby. Goodness gracious...we all know Olivia certainly is not hurting for clothes. She gets to wear 3 outfits a day, so it's fun for me :)

Thank you for all of your thoughts and well wishes during this difficult time. It was always nice to take a break, get onto the computer, and read facebook or e-mails telling me it woud get better or that we were being thought of. It was worth the wait..because her smile is just PRECIOUS! The boys love her soooo much, and they are having a blast with her now that she responds to them. We look forward to sharing more of her milestones with you, but just wanted to share some pictures and let you all know that LIFE IS LOOKING UP!