Victory!!!!

Y’all! The struggle has been real. I’m on my third reflux baby. With my first, I didn’t know enough and my doc was a little dismissive of it in the beginning. My babes grow super well, “robust growth” they call it, both inside and outside the womb. Even with their reflux. So they tell me it’s not a big deal. But it is IMPOSSIBLE to live my life with these babies. My first, it was just him, Dad worked from home and cared for himself ruined the day (flexible schedule), so we just suffered through. With my second, I no longer worked, but Dad worked 10-12 hour days 5 days a week and we lived out on the country, 20 mins from a store, an hour from everyone we knew and loved (and many many hours from any family), plus I had a 1 1/2 year who still needed so much of my attention. So we tried chiropractic and it helped a little. But it was still bad. It was hyphen suggested I go off dairy (BFing) and that was magic. Life was still challenging for lots of reasons, but my baby was sleeping at night and during the day, no more crying for a reason I couldn’t solve, no more traveling to do everything with 4-5 outfits, 7 bibs, and 6 receiving blankets (used as burp cloths) to handle all the spit up. 🤦🏻‍♀️ But it was about 4 months before we got there.

And then this babe. I cut dairy at 2 1/2 weeks, after about a week of symptoms. And it was great! Then I accidentally got some in my system at a restaurant and found out too late. 😭 Bit of a setback. Then baby started looking more curved in posture (like my second) and it was worsening again, not as bad but still. So we started chiropractic. And it’s been getting better and better. Most days we have 0-3 episodes of spitting and when it occurs Irma very little 🙌🏻 But adjusting to dealing with baby, my 2 yo, as my 3 1/2 yo has been challenging, mostly cause the toddlers get bored and pick at each other and scream/cry/yell way too much in this lovely sibling phase 🥴

But today!!!!

Today, we had a pretty peaceful morning. Baby cries occurred for less than a total of 5 mins from 820 to 1230, toddler screaming and crying was maybe a 10 min total in that time and over a few occurrences 😲😁 I kept my cool ALL morning and my 2 yo, who’s been showing increasing interest in potty training for a few weeks (that I’ve been both avoiding and trying not to discourage cause, does it have to be NOW? 🤦🏻‍♀️) both peed and pooped in the potty, totally initiated by her (still peeing in the diaper mostly, but telling me as it’s happening, so progress). She even climbed onto and off of the potty on her own while I changed baby’s diaper (we need a downstairs stool 😬). Then I got everyone in bed for nap with no crying or screaming, which I still view as a feat in itself, and Y’ALL! I put my babe in the swing in the bathroom and had myself a hot shower ... with no crying, he didn’t even make a sound. He spit up one tiny little bit, but was happy and smiling, even as I ran around getting dressed taking out the upstairs trash, gathering laundry, etc. I got him out, knowing it was time for a nap soon, changed his diaper and outfit, put him in the wrap carrier (still the quickest/only easy way to get him to nap right now) and he passed out on 15 mins.

Did I mention we’re ALL sick with colds right now? The only time he fussed for a min was when I helped get some boogies out of his nose. And the shower gave us both some good steam-breathing time that helps me feel soooo much better right now. 11 1/2 weeks and even though getting out the door to go anywhere is still quite a challenge, I’m feeling like I can DO this. Without losing my cool all the time, without crying two nights a week when my husband gets home (his busy season has started early this year and he’s working 12-15 hours a day 5 days a week for now, soon to be 6 days a week).

Victory! I can do this mom thing. Not perfectly, but I’m enjoying this accomplished morning.