Today Charlie and Lily are 7 months old! Time sure flies. Every day we are just more amazed by our wonderful babies. They are growing up so fast! Lily is officially a roller! Yesterday she finally figured out how to roll from her back to her belly. She sticks her little butt up in the air and wiggles her arm and there she she is, on her tummy. Now she does it every chance she gets. She's so funny. Charlie has started to really grasp on to objects. I don't think they he actually sees something and consciously reaches for it yet, but anything that brushes his hand his grabbed and hung on to for dear life (including my hair, clothes, etc.). We put together their Jumperoo the other day and they are having a great time in that. They are still a little small for it, but we put a dictionary under their feet so they can touch and put a blanket around them to keep them steady. They get a kick out of looking at all the little toys and lights, and from sitting in a new position.The only trouble we've been having is with Charlie's eating. For the last month or so he's been having some sort of difficulty with the bottle. (He has no problem taking his binky or sucking his thumb.) He'll take a bit of formula, then start to cry, shake his head, thrust his tongue out, flail his arms, kick his legs. He cries when he doesn't have the bottle and then cries when we offer it to him again. He does this essentially at every single feeding every day. We've tried everything - reflux meds, faster flow nipples, different formula, feeding him in different positions, etc. Nothing has helped. It is sad and frustrating, to say the least! The pediatrician finally recommended that we see a GI doctor to have Charlie's suck/swallow coordination evaluated. I'm glad to have that looked into, unfortunately the GI doctor he suggested is booked until June. June! So I'm on the hunt for a new specialist - I just hope they can help.
Happy Bug!
Play time for Mommy and Charlie.
Tummy time! Next mission - to roll from belly to back.
Like father, like son!
Tummy time! Next mission - to roll from belly to back.
Like father, like son!
28 comments:
They are still just too cute for words (Joe, too). Good luck with your doctor hunt.
Brandon went through the same thing as Charlie last year around this time and the same age. He is a 26 weeker. It turned out to be really bad reflux. I know it is a little bit of a drive but our GI specialist is Dr. Teitelbaum in Long Branch. I highly recommend him. If you want the number send me a message on my blog.
karenandstu.blogspot.com
Adorable, have you tried CHOP or Nemours in Philadelphia?
Sounds like reflux--keep at it with the meds and sometimes it takes different combinations of the meds to make a difference. It took about 3 weeks before we saw a change with my little guy but once the meds kicked in the change in him was AMAZING!!
It could be teething too! When babies are teething, the sucking on the bottle increases pressure on the gums causing discomfort.
Good Luck!
Happy 7 months Charlie and Lily!
I agree sounds like reflux. My baby girl is just a few days younger and is also a preemie. She takes Nexium with a combo of Carafate. The Carafate is glorified Mylanta and helps to coat and protect. Definately see the GI but ask the ped for different meds in the meantime. Hope Charlie feels better soon.
Is there anyone at the NICU hospital he could see? Adam had an upper & lower GI as well as a cookie swallow test while he was still in the NICU. No, he didn't get to eat a cookie. I'm not sure why they call it that. They gave him fluids of varying liquids through a bottle and monitored his ability to swallow them.
Sorry...I got sidetracked. These pictures are so adorable! Go Lily for rolling!
Came about your blog through another blog (I love to blog browse sometimes!). You have a beautiful family. I'll continue to follow!!! ;-)
Hello!
I too have found your blog through another blog, and I have to say that your writing (and pictures :) are addicting.
A while ago I voted for you on best multiple blog contest, did you win?
I think that your little ones are so cute.
we saw joel rosh at morristown memorial. also, i had my babies at saint barnabas and i know there is a good woman peds gi there, i can get her name if you'd like. best of luck. i hope it's just a phase!
-april (april062604)
Just wanted to say that my dd is doing the exact same thing as Charlie with the bottle and she was born at term in Aug. I was thinking it was due to teething pain. Could that be Charlie's problem?
try the gel on his bottom gum before he eats and see if it helps.
My 8 month old has this problem. We had to go to a GI and have a swallow study done, and found that he was aspirating (some of the food was going down his windpipe rather than his esophogus). We now have to use Dr. Brown's level 3 nipples and thicken the food. Depending on how bad Charlie's is, will depend on how much you thicken. My son started out at 1Tb of rice cereal for every 2 ounces of formula, but he was still doing it, so now he's at 1 Tb rice for every 1.5 ounces of formula. If you have any questions e-mail me at Amber.wray@gmail.com. BTW, I adore both Lilly and Charlie :)
Thanks everyone, for your suggestions and advice! I have tried Orajel before bottles but it hasn't helped. A few people have suggested the Dr. Brown's bottles/nipples, so that's an idea! I'm still working on finding a GI doctor. Our pedi seems done exploring the reflux stuff (he never thought that's what it was, I think he just put Charlie on the Zantac because I was so insistent), so I figure at the very least a GI doctor could change his meds if he thinks its reflux. Thanks again:)
Just letting you know that ALL the pictures you post of your family are great and we love every one !
If Charlie is starting to teeth - certain mouth acids form when he drools and when it mixes with food its nasty tasting - just my thoughts. Is he on a soy based formula ?
Been reading your blog for awhile now. Since before Annaleigh passed away. I am so sorry for your loss. Charlie and Lily are adorable and they look a lot alike. Charlie seems so sweet and I love Lily's smiles. She is a character for sure!
I hve triplets and Landon went through the same thing Charlie is going through. It is frustrating. Our Pedi never brought up reflux at all so we had to suffer. I dont remember how long it lasted. The only way we could get him to eat without screaming was to hold him like you would normally hold a baby but really close and with the arm that was close to our bodies, hanging down. He loved that hold. I would do that and sing to him to calm him down and then give him the bottle.
I was reading this while on the phone with my friend, she said take him into the ER and say ur afraid hes getting dehydrated or whatever and they will get a GI doctor in there lol...cheat n fast way to get one but it might work. Definately sounds like reflux to us both. She went thru that with her first daughter and she was on meds for n they definately helped. So get into that GI doctor however you have to! ER if u cant get in with in some weeks to someone else is what I'd do. that has to be miserable for him not being able to eat and then for you because hes not eating right he can't be that happy lil charlie! Good luck n hope you get into a doctor VERY SOON
Way to go Miss Lilly! Roll girl roll! teach your brother too ;o)
if you're concerned he's aspirating (going down the wrong pipe so to speak), try slowing down the flow on the bottle either with a slower nipple or by thickening the liquid. Thickening would also help if it was reflux.
could also be an ear infection because the sucking causes increased ear pressure.
good luck. They're adorable! I have 7 month GGG triplets with horrible reflux and aspiration issues. feel free to email me if you'd like.
Hi there. I have had your blog bookmarked for a few months and once in awhile will take a look and catch up. It makes me so happy that your babies are doing so wonderfully! You are right, time sure does fly! I have a 20 month old son that I am so blessed to spend my days with!
Best, best, best wishes to your family!
Honi in Vermont
Thanks again, everyone! I got Charlie and appointment with a GI doctor for Tuesday. Yay! And because some people were concerned, Charlie IS eating and gaining weight. It's just clear that eating is difficult and unpleasant for him.
Did you check his ear? Not necessarily an infection but something else going on with his ear. Joe I don't know which is making me laugh more here- Charlie (Little Joe)in his Bunco chair or your new doo... C'mon Brooke and Lily - give those boys some competition on Auntie's laughing episodes. Way to go Lil... That's my girl...
All My Love, Auntie :) xoxoxo
Aww they are getting so big I have been following for awhile now as I too have 27 weeker, They look great hopefully Charlie gets better :( poor little guy!
Hi Brooke, (I'm cjb62803 from the preemie board on the bump). I'm so glad you got Charlie an appt to see the GI. When I first read your post, I thought he sounded like Joshua when his feeds are thickened. Joshua's eyes get really big, he starts kicking his legs and stiffening up, and arms start flailing. I have had to thicken his feeds from day one with simply thick. We know he has a paralyzed vocal cord due to his PDA ligation at 3 days old. The simply thick is clear and has no taste. You could go on to simply thick's website to find out if any stores in your area carry it and if they do, you can purchase a few packs to try until his appt. I know your appt is Tues, otherwise I would be happy to send you some. Sorry about that! We too have had a few swallow function studies and we aren't allowed to use a nipple above the size 1 Dr. Brown's and that's with the thickened feeds. Joshua is high risk of aspirating with anything faster. Good luck at the doctor appt, keep us posted! The babies are absolutely adorable. Congratulations Lily for rolling. Joshua will roll, but not consistently! (he got off of his oxygen last week, yay!) Corey/TX
Sorry, typo, he gets like that when his feeds aren't thickened!
Wow, I can't believe how much they look alike in the last picture, that is too cute !!
Charley and Lily are getting so big, there are both gorgeous.
Too cute!
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