Please pray we can finally figure out what formula/bottle/nipple each baby needs. I tried to nurse Will and he threw everything back up again. I've been too scared to try with Marcie because it's so hard to get food down her in the first place! David seems to be following the pattern of Will and Marcie, willing to take an ounce only, crying throughout, then vomiting it all back up again. He did better when we switched him to the same anti-reflux formula. Gracie feeds easily, the only one not on any formula, but is increasingly fussy. Maybe she thinks she needs to make her tiny self heard above the crowd. :} And efforts to tandem feed or group feed have been pretty much failures.
Please pray we can figure out what else the babies need: Calmness? Quiet? I know sleep is always needed, but getting them there is what's been so difficult (and I've read every book, I'm pretty sure), especially given that there are four and they need more caretakers and tend to get one another going. Plus, they're only a month corrected age, preemies, not gaining weight well enough (Will and Grace), etc., so we are not going to make them cry hard for more than a few minutes at this point. Fussing is another thing altogether. :)
Meanwhile, they are SO adorable! Their increasing awareness of people and the world has been so much fun to see.
Oh, another "help!" thing is that my mom is getting cataract surgery on Tuesday (please pray for her, that it goes really well!) and she can't lift anything above 5 lbs for the next week to 10 days, I forget exactly how long. And Gavin's parents are leaving mid-December to spend Christmas with family in CA. I KNOW God will supply all our needs as He's promised, and He already has completely amazed us; I'm just learning to wait on Him for direction and provision. He is so good!
So there you have it. I'm tired and ready for bed, but the babies are due to wake up any minute. But that's true for every mother of a one-month-old! To serve our four, Auntie Deb is here and Gavin is sleeping in preparation for the deep night shift.
I'm SO glad to have these precious little ones (even when I wish they had "off" switches) when I remember the deep pain and pleading of infertility. I am still praying for several friends living with that pain and also asking the Lord, "Please." That was my prayer, that one word, for several years. He knew what I meant.
And I guess that's still my prayer, but with the word "help!" added. And He says, "I Am."
I AM the Fount of living water,
The risen Son of Man,
The Healer of the broken.
And when you cry
I AM your Savior and Redeemer,
Who bore the sin of man,
The Author and Perfector,
Beginning and the end.
Yes I AM!
- performed by Mark Schultz
Thank you so much for continuing to take your precious time to post updates. The babies are all so beautiful!!! Even all of you look well. I remember those chaotic days so well, I promise it gets easier. Prayers continue for your family, each individually. carrie, Gavin, Isaac, Will, David, Marcie, Grace, and Seth, and for everyone involved in this wonderful journey.
ReplyDeletei don't know you, but read your blog and pray for you. i know ONE person in dallas and he happens to be with WBT, too. i've checked with him to see if he and his wife could get the word out to round up more volunteers for you....
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!
DeleteMy radio station in peoria il just talked about your family. So many joys and prayers sent your way. God bless your family even more than he has.
DeleteChristine McDermet
Oh my, it sounds like "you have your hands full" is an understatement! I remember my middle child at 1 month, he had a heart defect and we were not allowed to let him cry. It was SO hard at times. Way back then we did everything we could to keep him calm. Ultimately it ended up that a trip around the block in the car worked to get him to sleep and he ended up sleeping in his car seat for almost a year! I'm sure that would be difficult with 4 though! I will continue to pray for you all...they are beautiful. Praying Seth is doing well and making some progress....
ReplyDeleteMy twins had horrible reflux/eating issues when they first came home from the NICU. I have only been able to twinfeed (simultaneously) them a month ago, at 11 months! What helped us, along with time unfortunately, was the right dose of Prevacid and finding the right formula that was easy on their bellies. One was on Alimentum Ready to Feed, and the other was on Elecare (crazy expensive amino acid based formula you can't buy in stores). It was really a lot of months of them screaming during bottles (and me crying), and all of us being covered in vomit. But the right formula and meds did help eventually. They're almost 1 now and all signs of reflux are gone! Good luck, feeding issues are awful to deal with.
ReplyDeleteUgh. And I am worried about one! I will keep saying "it's not 4, it's not 4". Prayers for you. From this far away, it's what I can do.
ReplyDeleteThis has made me smile all day. Thanks for that! :) God is good and gives me wonderful help!!
DeleteHave you tried swaddleing them. The Miracle Blanket is wonderful! Both my girls had formula issues and it was just a trial and error thing to see what works. I pray you find a solution and soon!. Also, Gripe Water was the best at settling my grandbabies stomach issues and its all natural.
ReplyDeleteYes, we use swaddles all the time! They are in them more than they are out of them. I'll have to try Gripe Water. They are doing a lot better today, thank God, and are eating well!
DeleteOur pediatrician dosed the daily dose for reflux med. Zantac split in 3 times a day rather than traditional 2 times that made a huge difference. We also added Maalox after each feeding...a very low dose of 0.8 ml after each feeding..this helped with actually preventing the gas pains later. Because when they have reflux they constantly swallow air as they have the reflux sensation and this builds later in the intestines to be gas and pain. I also had to eliminate nearly all dairy (all milk, all ice cream, reduced cheese quantity, still a little cream allowed) from my diet till about 5 months of age which was another improvement. I would also encourage you to swaddle tightly and keep babies as upright (on shoulders or propted on an incline) for as long as possible after a feeding. Swings worked great, but NOT vibrating chairs...they did not soothe my fussy babies. A very warm bath helps during the fussiest times and usually reduces the time of fussing at least by half. The football hold with the baby's head at your elbow on their tummy and the same arm's palm of the hand putting pressure on the tummy area and patting the back with the other hand....all while standing is the cholic position that works best. And prayer and singing too. Tami (mom to 14 soon to be 15)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much; lots of great ideas!
Deletealready bathing and swaddling and having them upright; even sleeping at 45% angle. Someone told us all 5 will no doubt end up with reflux due to their preemie-ness, but I know the Lord is sovereign over it all!! :}
DeleteYour children are around the same gestational age as my youngest preemie. Both of my preemie's struggled with eating before and after leaving the NICU. We tried swaddling to calm them down and ultimately experminted with different anti-reflux meds, dosing and formula. Unlike you, I wasn't able to breast feed at all, so formula was my only option. Preemie's I have found have much more sensitiv tummies and just when you think you've figured it out, it all changes again. We went through this pattern, many many times. In fact we are currently re visiting it again. You are doing a beautiful job listening to your preemies, when they cry they need you and respondidng to that is the best job a parent can do. Keep up the good work. Your family is always in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteYou're so sweet! Thank you; you echo much of what we have experienced and thought. Sigh. :}
DeleteDo you have a occupational therapist who specializes in feeding working with you? He/she can make a custom wedge that you strap your baby into for sleeping/awake time and also tummy time. It replaces a crib/pack n play/baby seat until the baby gets over the reflux stage. Most insurances cover them. A commercial version is called a "tucker sling" but the custom ones are safer and best. Worked wonders for our child, but you'd need one customized for each baby. Praying for all of you!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you read every post with the little precious time you have, but I thought I would suggest something that MAY help. Have you ever heard of a sound machine that plays a white noise all night long (and in the day for any babies who are sleeping)? I use one (and I'm 64 years old). The one I have takes electric or batteries so even when I travel overseas I take it with me and it keeps me from hearing all the strange noises that would usually keep me awake. It helps me sleep like a baby when my husband snores. I always wonder why moms don't use them for babies, to keep them from hearing every noise. It is very relaxing to me. I would like to suggest you try one. Remember, though, to find one that will continue working through the whole night. Some will run only for a few hours and then stop.
ReplyDeleteYes, we have one some lovely people sent as a gift! So thank you to them - it plays "waterfall" all night long and all day, too!
DeleteHave you heard of the book The Wonder Weeks? It covers 10 developmental "leaps" (growth spurts) that all babies go through at fairly regular times through out their first 18 months (assuming the babies were born on their due date--for yours, you would calculate from their due date for the age of the leap). The book has been dead-on for both my kids and anyone who I've talked to who's read it. It's an amazing resource since it helps you know what's going on in the babies' little heads. Anyways, I bet your little ones are getting ready to go through their first developmental leap (the symptoms you describe sound about right). The first one is at approximately 5 weeks old (from due date) and babies tend to be fussy and out of their equilibrium for a week or two before hand. Here's a little summary this first leap from the website: http://www.thewonderweeks.com/index.php/about-the-wonder-weeks/your-babys-10-leaps/mental-leap-1
ReplyDeleteAlso, both my kids were awful, awful spitter-uppers. Both were sensitive to dairy (among other things). I would assume that the special anti-reflux formula is non-dairy based, but that might be something to look into.
Cool, I'll try to remember to look into that! We need it!
DeleteI don't know if you'll see this reply, but if you do, don't worry about finding your own copy of the book. I'm going to send you a copy of The Wonder Weeks. I'm too far away to help much, but maybe the book will help just a bit. :)
DeleteI'm praying for wisdom for all of you, along with the doctors you are undoubtedly consulting. We heard so much different advice, between propping them up at 45 degree angles and keeping them flat (with our third child who had reflux), feeding them slowly and hypoallergenic formula, burping them well, gas drops, and zantac/prevacid/maalox. Reflux is just awful, awful for the babies who are crying, awful for the moms and dads of multiples who are just tired of the crying and can't figure out what to do next, and just plain messy because of all of the formula that is thrown up everywhere. I'm not going to give you any advice, because you've heard plenty. I just want to encourage you to trust your instincts. Press on until you find out the best answer for your babies. Trust that God will show you the way. Don't give up until you know, absolutely KNOW, that your babies are doing ok. Try 20 different formulas/med combinations, as many as it takes, until you are sure.
ReplyDeletePraying for you! I have no advice, and wish I was able to help. I'll help spread the word that you could use some volunteers.
ReplyDeleteHeavenly Father, you have brought the Jones' Family so far and you will not let them down now...we bring them to the Thrown of you Grace, to help them with this next step in this Journey...Please give all involved with the babies( doctors, parents, grandparents etc..) an understand what is best for each little baby , provide the resources they need.. please also speak to Carrie, a mother's heart, to know what is best for her babies...a mother instinct is very strong,,keep her from all confusion,,for you will give her the peace she needs to know your will what to do....YOU HAVE A PLAN LORD, YOU HAVE A PLAN,,, AND YOU WILL MAKE THIS KNOWN ... Lord we ask for your Peace that passes all understand over his house and everyone in it... And please we ask for rest for all, so they will be filled with the strength to to this job you have call them to do...ALSO LET THEM KNOW THEY ARE STILL IN THE PRAYERS OF MANY AROUND THE WORLD, THEY ARE NEVER ALONE... Prayers always for Dayton Ohio.....At walmart or better yet a health food store, has Homeopathic remedies made just for babies, who have colic,, that is VERY safe for newborns... Also something called ' Calm" for babies and adults ( my family has taken when under a lot of stress) just an FYI.... May all sleep in the peace of Christ knowing YOU LORD ARE IN CONTROL !!! I will be offering all I am going through , for you Family....Amen.... JUST THOUGHT OF SOMETHING ELSE When my babies were extremely fussy,, I would put then skin to skin on my chest and that would calm them down...or get in a bath with them on my chest and the water and skin to skin would calm them...one of mine liked it the other didn't care for the water...
ReplyDeleteGavin and Carrie, I was a new volunteer on Friday, the one that wore the mask all day because it hasn't been a month since I received the flu and DTAP vaccines, I'm well, so I didn't share any nasty germs with the babies, and I used the foam hand sanitizer a lot. I'm so sorry to hear they are sick and I'm praying for each one of them and for you two, and Isaac. I so enjoyed meeting everyone and holding and feeding Marcie, Will and Grace; I'll have to get to David the next time I'm there. Continuing to pray that Seth will join his family at home very soon. My church is praying for you all too. See you soon. You're doing a great job!
ReplyDelete