Sweet Emmy, Mean Milk

About two weeks weeks ago something changed... well... intensified.  When Emily was home those first 2 weeks while Jim was home, I noticed that she needed "people time."  I would often tell Jim "Oh, she just needs a person" and I would sit with her and hold her and she would fall asleep.  It wasn't super often that she would fall asleep on her own and that kinda worried me, but it was our only "glitch."

Well.

That glitch rolled into Emily not being able to get herself down for a nap regardless of how you put her down: alone, rocked to sleep and then transferred to the pack n play or bouncer, or held completely.  By week 4ish (2 weeks ago) she was cat napping and crying often.  She wasn't crying for hours and hours but she would cry for 2-5 minutes, then fall asleep or sit calmly for another 2-5 minutes, then repeat, and repeat, and REPEAT.  Even when Emily had my undivided attention, she couldn't/wouldn't settle and rest even when held, rocked, swaddled, swayed, pacifier-ed, and shushed.   The baby "soothing" list was tried and tried and peanut was upset.  And she spit up... a lot.  And she was so so tired.  Poor thing. (frazzled mom!)  We spent most hours either trying to sooth or wrapped in my sling, which thankfully would equal sleep.

So around 5 weeks we had her 1mo checkup and I asked about reflux.  She wasn't classic reflux, but the pediatrician saw her "cry/calm" pattern in the office and agreed that something was off.  My sweet girl was bugged by something and I was coming unraveled from trying to trouble shoot Emily while raising a 2, 4, and 5 year old as well.  My productive times where the kids were asleep was impeded by the fuss button herself.  I couldn't keep the laundry kept up, or the house cleaned at the end of the day because Emily wasn't sleeping, during weeks where she should be sleeping a lot!

^This^ was the "calm" face between crying spells. 

From talking to friends (thank you FB for the networking ability) and then the pediatrician, I decided to take out dairy as my first approach.  Obviously, a milk allergy is already in the family so it's not far fetched that it would bother her system too.  If she was still fussy in a week, we would try some reflux meds.  

Let me add that *I* was not happy by taking out dairy.  In fact, I was quite disgruntled approaching the decision.  Take away my oasis, i.e. coffee/lattes.  Take away my ice cream, i.e. ultimate nightly treat.  Take away Friday night pizza.  Insert pity party!  Now take a step back, I realize this is Josh's reality and one that I scold him for if he complains about food and food choices.  So, fine.  No dairy it is.  ::hmph!::

I am happy to report that my baby girl is leaps and bounds better just a week later.  She's back to her calm self.  Granted, if we are out and about and she's tired, she still doesn't conk out as easily as the others would, but when at home, she will settle and sleep -unassisted-.  She is still a "people" baby, but her demeanor is back to it's baseline.  She has had one or two fussy days in the last week, but for the most part she is so much better.  

Phew!  And boo to milk for bothering my baby girl's tummy. 

Also, happy 6 weeks miss Emily Grace.  I love your sweet little self. :)