Things have really changed since I last wrote an update. I have even been asked about how things are going, so I know I needed to share what has been happening, especially since Esther has really improved.
Earlier this month Derek and I determined that the expensive Nutramigen formula that we had been using (doctors' suggestions) was not working. So we returned to regular formula. Right away, we thought we may have been mistaken; however, we waited three days before buying more of the special formula. Let's just say that we won't be returning to regular formula any time soon. Though it is not a miracle worker, it helps with Esther's pain a lot! (The Nutramigen formula is very easy to digest. We call it pre-chewed.) Now that she is 10 weeks old, she rarely screams in pain (unless her brother loves on her too roughly). She still cries some, but not too much. Most of her crying is related to loneliness, sleepiness, or hunger.
Oh, yes, this girl gets lonely! She wants to be part of the action! And really, she wants to be in our arms, but she does tolerate her bouncy seat and floor more these days.
We have also made it a priority to get her out of our arms now that she is not in pain. Well, that may not be entirely true, but we are trying to put her down more. Sometimes she fusses. If we are not near her she will cry. Meghan especially does a great job of talking and singing to Esther to make her happy.
At night, we have been keeping her room extra warm since it seems to help her to stay asleep. We now have her sleep in her crib instead of in the cradle-swing. She seems to be tolerating it just fine. Since she prefers to fall asleep in our arms and/or drinking a bottle, we often let her fuss her way to sleep. Sometimes it is more of a crying herself to sleep, but mostly fussing. We're still learning to read her signs. Typically she quiets within 2-10 minutes of going down. If she does fall asleep in our arms and we put her down, she typically awakens within 5 minutes-almost guaranteed. At night Esther is now sleeping for 3-5 hours at a time in her crib. Compare that to the 20-45 minutes that she would sleep for the first month...Yes, we are doing rather well!
For quite a long time (over a month), Esther has been throwing herself around. She attempts to throw herself off our shoulder or even our lap, but we catch her. Just in the past few days she has started rolling to her side. Usually this is when she is crying and unhappy.
When Esther was 8 weeks old, she started laughing though not often. Her laugh is rather amusing, and probably more of a throaty chuckle than typical laugh. But it's a laugh!
So, as you might imagine, life is much smoother here in the white house...Our girl is no longer in pain. We're all less sleep deprived. Thank you, God. I really wonder how we made it through the first 6 weeks.
In case you haven't been checking the "What They Say" tab at the top of the page, I'll leave you with this conversation.
Daddy to happy Esther: This is the Esther we like. This and Sleeping Esther.
Evan: There is only one Esther!
