25 April 2009

4 months (by Rachel)

My dear little boy is 4 months old today.
This 4th month has been the hardest for me. At 3 months I described him as a happy boy who ate and slept well. These days he is a not so happy boy who doesn't sleep much (certainly not "through" the night) and has all sorts of trouble eating. This is quite discouraging for me, not least because of the sense of going backwards. I realise that many mothers struggle with these things and am doing my best to see the early months as bonus blessing, and now as 'normal' motherhood.
I took David to a paediatrician this week and discovered he has reflux. It's good to have an explanation for all the difficulty eating, sleeping and for the pain. Now the challenge of making life easier for him.
He is a very dear boy and I'm amazed that my love for him keeps growing. His smiles are delightful and his giggles gorgeous! I think I appreciate them more now that they are rarer. He loves to chatter, and enjoys using his hands to grab things and pull them to his mouth (especially Mum's fingers).

No pictures this time, but I'll keep them coming as I can.

6 comments:

sam becca zach and martha said...

Pip I'm sorry this past month has been hard, and that dear little D has reflux. I hope he gets better really quickly. Lots of love from us 3

Megs said...

You are an amazing mother Rachel. David is very lucky to have you as his Mummy. I wish his dear little tummy much comfort. And I empathise with ouchy tummy babies and lots of crying and sleep disturbance - E was very colicky. Maybe the seattle move will be nice for David - Mum could show you. Remember to have Rachel time, to do things just for you, even if you have to make them very small to start with! love Megs

gretta at lothlorien said...

Oh, we do the Seattle manouevre to death! love, Grandma.

sam becca zach and martha said...

Rach - so sorry it has been hard. those kinds of difficulties are so dis-heartening and tiring and you just long for them to go away! it will get easier and i'm sure you are doing an amazing job of giving David the best care he could possibly have. will be keeping you in our prayers. love becca x

sam becca zach and martha said...

P.s. zach seemed to go through phases of sleeping better at times and worse at other times - very up and down - rather than a progressive line of always improving! so you are not going backwards, just dipping down on the roller coaster, which will go up again!! :)

and Z certainly didn't sleep through the night until he was 8 months!

b xx

Rachel J-L said...

Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement. I wish you were all closer to share this in real life rather than just on the internet!

Megan, we love the Seattle manouevre! The worst pain, though, is not his tummy but his eosophogas, when the acid burns it. Then he can't eat...not much fun.

I'm trying to think of something positive to say but we had a very hard night (and morning), so maybe not this time.