Naomi Update

Well, after a horrendous day yesterday (which of course came after the horrendous night), Naomi slept a long stretch last night and has been a bit calmer this morning......which has helped w/ a smoother morning for all of us. Of course, we were headed back to the pediatrician today to follow up on the reflux issue. So, she was all sweet and happy during her visit. Her pediatrician has seen her 2x before when she was quite the opposite of happy, so she didn't make me look like a liar.

Basically, Naomi cries a lot b/c she's hurting due to painful acid reflux:( Many babies struggle from reflux, but most are just happy spitters and not bothered by any reflux and typically outgrow the excessive spitting up. Naomi started out w/ projectile vomiting in her early days. This was actually a blessing (although Ben and I were a little overwhelmed by it at the time) b/c it got us into the pediatrician's office early, and we were able to get Naomi on Prevacid. So, after our first follow up, the pediatrician adjusted the medicine, and we have noticed some improvement (i.e., we've had some good days here and there and some better nights). But, we also have continued to listen to the heart-wrenching cries and watch her continually try to sleep, only to be woken up by a big gulp/gasp b/c of the burning reflux.

This has been a bit overwhelming and frustrating for us, but the Lord has sustained us all. Thankfully, Naomi has progressively gained weight through it all - many reflux babies don't gain weight and have a failure to thrive. Today, she weighed in at 12lb 5 oz, smiled back at the doctor and did all the things that are normal for a 7 week old baby. We are hoping to get in to see a pediatric GI doctor sooner than the end of May, as we've witnessed many feeding sessions where she fights food (b/c reflux babies learn early on that food hurts), and we don't want her to be in pain after every meal. So, we started an additional medicine today that will hopefully help her along w/ the Prevacid.

As tired and weary as Ben and I have been, we have also been sustained each day and each night by God's grace and strength. The Lord has provided family members and friends who have really surrounded us w/ practical help and have prayed for us. We've really appreciated that. We're hoping that Naomi outgrows the reflux by age 3-4 months. Some babies don't, but generally, this is the age when we'll start to reduce/remove the medicines. We appreciate your continued prayers, as we're about halfway to this point.