Saturday, October 31

Happy Halloween everyone!

We had a GREAT time trick or treating with friends. The girls made out like bandits! They each have a grocery sack FULL of candy from all the trick or treating this week. And to think we missed one of the events we were supposed to go to. Just think, next year we will have 3 bags of candy! OY!

Enjoy the holiday and don't forget to set you clocks back! AHHH, an extra hour of sleep.

Friday, October 30

This week has been rough. Corbin went in to the GI specialist on Wednesday only to find out that he had not gained in 2 weeks. So he was still at 9lbs. Sigh. :( This meant that we needed to stop nursing completely and put him on special formula (Neocate). I am now in the painful process of not nursing. I don't even get to wean him. I just had to stop. :..( I nursed him a few times on Wednesday after the appointment and a few times on Thursday but that night was the last time I nursed him. When he threw up on me while I was nursing him I knew that we had to stop. So we are on Neocate full time now.

I know in the long run it will be better for him. I am just very emotional about it right now. Some moments it is easier than others but overall it is still very hard. My friends have been great in taking care of me. I was rarely alone today and tomorrow looks just as full. They are being so loving and caring, even when I get grumpy and snarky. I hope that someday I can repay them for this because I want to show them the love and compassion that they have shown me.

Sunday, October 26

Corbin is doing so well! He is nursing great and as far as I can tell, gaining weight as well.

I am so proud of him for overcoming this hurdle. He is a very alert baby. He loves to lay on his playmat and watch the star above him twinkle its lights and play music.

We have been supplementing him with some formula. The powdered alimentum makes him throw up but the ready to feed does not. The difference is in the ingredients. In the powder there is corn in it, but in the ready to feed, there is no corn. My greatest fear is that he also has a corn allergy. We will ask some more questions regarding that at his next appointment.

We go back to see the GI Specialist on Wednesday of this week. I am hoping for a good report and to hear that he has gained a ton of weight. I could really use that kind of a pick me up right about now. Wish us luck and keep us in your prayers.

Allergies and Arby's

Things have been going very well for us.

We are continually trying to find easier ways for Alison to eat.

It has become a real challenge to find quick foods for her to eat.

So many places don't even realize how hard it is for those with dietary restrictions to eat.

My most recent experience has been with Arby's. I asked them if their regular roast beef sandwich has dairy or soy in it and they told me no. So I ordered it and ate it. That night Corbin has one of his worst nights. He projectile vomited every time he ate. I feel so bad for eating it now. I looked at Arby's website this morning to find that the sandwich had both dairy and soy. I am now awaiting a response from the company. They NEED to make sure when customers ask that they give the appropriate information out. Allergies are a SERIOUS thing.

Wednesday, October 14

We had a check up for Corbin today and all went very well.

Corbin now weighs 9lbs even. He gained 10oz in as many days. It seems as if my dietary changes are exactly what needed to be changed. We do not need to be seen by the pediatrician until December! YAY!

Here are Corbin's stats:

9lbs, 23 inches long, and 39 1/2 cm head circumference

The pedi was very impressed with how well Corbin was able to hold himself up. He raises his chest off of the table pretty far. He also surprised me at the dr's office and put himself up on his knees. I am so proud of my little guy and all of his accomplishments.

Thank you all for your prayers. Keep them coming as we still need to have him gaining weight.

Sunday, October 11

We weighed Corbin again today...he weighed 8lb 12 1/2oz! WOOHOOO!

That is some serious progress. Let's all hope and pray that he continues to make this kind of progress. If he does our pediatrician will not have anything to squabble about at his appointment on Wednesday. PRAY PRAY PRAY!!!

Friday, October 9

I weighed Corbin again today. He weighed 8lbs 9 3/4oz. I did this just before I fed him and then decided to weigh him again afterwards. He weight 8lb 13oz then so I know he is getting what he needs. He slept for 5 1/2 hrs straight last night and then for another 3. It was a good night of sleep for this momma. :)

Wednesday, October 7

Today is a new day and hopefully all will go well.

I just weighed Corbin and he is weighing 8lbs 9 and 3/4oz, YEAH! That is one ounce more than what he weighed on Monday! WOOHOOOO!

I know it doesn't seem like much but I will take every ounce that I can get from him.

Corbin let me sleep for 4 1/2 hours last night. I was sooo happy when I realized what time it was. With any luck we will continue to gain weight and sleep longer.

Introduction

Hello All,

I am creating this blog to keep all of our families up to date on our family. We are a family of five; Dan, Alison, Abigail, Brenna and Corbin. Abigail will be four at the end of the month, Brenna is two and Corbin is 9 weeks.

Right now our most pressing issue is our son, Corbin. He is not gaining weight very well. He is gaining about an ounce a week. On average, babies gain an ounce a day in the beginning.

Corbin was born on August 8th, 2009 at 7:22am. He was born at 7lbs 11oz, 20 1/4 inches long. Corbin spent three days in the NICU with some respiratory issues. He was on a CPAP machine for 24 hours.

Today, October 5th, 2009 he weighs 8lbs 6oz without a diaper.

I am currently nursing Corbin. He nurses every 2 hours for about 15 minutes (on average). He only nurses off of one side at this time, occasionally he will take both sides. I let him nurse until he decides he is done.

He has been diagnosed with reflux and is on Zantac for that. We are not only seeing our pediatrician but also a GI specialist at Children's hospital. The specialist has asked me to eliminate dairy and soy from my diet to decide if Corbin's lack of weight gain is due to a milk or soy allergy.