"Mommy Ari spilled!"

Cam is a great big brother and let's me know when Ari "spills" aka. spits up! He is also a pro at putting the binkie back in her mouth. What a surprise huh?!

It could be worse

It's been over a week since my last post. I'm sorry to say things haven't gotten much better. Arianna had some blood in her stool last week so off to the doctors we went. He changed her formula to the hypoallergenic stuff. It says it helps with colic but we haven't seen a difference. Today Cam was at the doctor's for an ear infection (the poor thing) and to get his flu shot (poor Mommy). Dr. Doug said it doesn't sound like Arianna has "true" colic because she's fine during the day. He did write her a prescription for Prilosec, which works differently from Zantac. Hopefully that will help some.

Today I was watching my new addiction...The Doctor's and they had a little boy and a little girl on who both had Cerebral Palsy. It was so sad to think that these babies have this horrible illness and will never get better. This blog absolutely breaks my heart each time I read it He Will Carry Me. I wish I had an ounce of her faith. I need to just think to myself that it could be a hell of a lot worse when Arianna is screaming.

Some recent pics:

Dealing with Colic

Is hard. It's hard on me, it's hard on Steve, it's hard on our relationship, it's hard on Arianna and it's hard on Cam.

I constantly wonder if there is something I should or shouldn't be doing. Should I change her formula? Maybe the soy is making things worse. Maybe it's not reflux and we're giving her Zantac for the hell of it. Should we keep her swaddled even though she hates it and tries to bust out her arms? Should we put her in her carseat (aka bed) and just let her cry?

She screams and screams and screams from 8pm to 12am, 11pm on a good night. She sometimes screams like she's in pain but we cannot see anything poking or pinching her. What should we do? let her scream? Continue to bounce, shhhhh in her ear, or let Steve walk for miles around the house trying to settle her down? There never seems to be a magic answer. I so wish there was a magic pill or potion we could give her.

As I write this she is downstairs with Steve, screaming. 3 hours and 15 minutes to go before she falls asleep. People say "oh she'll grow out of it." Well, that day cannot come fast enough. This started when she was 11 days old. She's now 8 1/2w and it's just as bad as it was then.

When she has a good day we think "maybe this is it" then 8pm comes and all hell breaks loose. People think we're kidding when we say she has colic. Nope, why would we kid about something like that? I am envious of others whose babies sleep and don't scream and scream.

God give us strength.

Arianna's 6w old!

It's hard to believe she's already 6 weeks old. Unfortunately she's colicky. She will not go to sleep without screaming her head off first. Her peak time is at 8pm. She usually doesn't go to sleep until 11pm or 12am. It makes for a very long day and a miserable Mommy!

I finally finished her room. I would like to get some shelves to put on either side of the window but I don't know when I'll get to that. I like the wall decal, I just wish the orange wasn't so bright. I also think it looks lost on the wall.

What a difference a year makes!

This time last year we were on our way to ARUBA!!! After a very rocky start we made it there a day late but we did make it. Cam had such an awesome time playing in the pool and ocean. It's hard to believe that just one year later our little baby has become a little boy and Arianna is now in our life.

Vacations in the Bliss family never seem to work out the way I hope but overall we had a great time. Now we just need to get Arianna to Aruba....hmmmm.....

Then!


Now!


A few of my favorite pictures

BFFs!

A few weeks ago I realized that I cannot find any of my pictures from college since we moved. I was going thru some old books and came across a memory book that Erika had made for me one Christmas way back in '98.

Erika and I have been friends since Sophomore year in college (1995). We bonded one night in her room (Monican 3rd South!) while painting our nails. Since that time we were inseparable.
*Dear God, I cannot believe high waisted jeans are coming back...*

After college we had 3 apartments together (Methuen, Lawrence, Malden) oh, how could I forget the summer spent in Boston!! Oh the memories (Rob, Anthony, the time I broke my foot and no one believed me, leaving Judy high and dry because we couldn't afford the $300 rent...).

*I wish I was brave enough to cut my hair that short now!*

Going thru the book brought back so many awesome times. The many Buffett and Dave Matthews concerts.




One thing I had totally forgotten about until I looked at was the time she tripped in the library. It was prime time in the library and we were sitting near the computer lab and she freaking tripped. EVERYONE saw her. People on the 3rd floor could see her! I almost died and it wasn't even me that tripped. Or the time her boob was sticking out of her shirt and some one across the quad screamed at her and told her. "Ummm, excuse me, Miss, you might want to fix yourself." She came into Physics or Chemistry or some other science class all freaking flustered!

Or the time she MADE me go back to 5B Walker Road with someone's roommate so she could get with his roommate! Hmmm, is he in one of the pictures???



Then there was pledging. I could not have done it without you!

There were so many good times I could write about them all day. Erika was not only my roommate but my very best friend and soulmate in the whole wide world. We were constantly together. We looked so much alike that people (well, guys) would ask if we were twins. We got tired of saying no so we came up with a little white lie. We told everyone we were twins, fraternal, and that my name was Ari (Arianna!) and her's was Addi (Addison). They totally bought it and one guy said our parents must be cool to give us such awesome names!! It was fun and def. got us a lot of free drinks!

Erika is now a City Mouse living it up in the Big Apple and I'm a Country Mouse. I miss you Erika, it's been way too long. The next time we get together I'll have to bring the book so we can laugh and cry.

I love and miss you!!!!

P.S...why didn't you tell me this outfit was HORRIBLE????

A Playdate with Haylee!

Today we met Aimee and Haylee at Boomerang's. We've only been there once and I really like it. It's clean and Cam always has a good time. He had even more fun because Aimee got tokens and he played some games!




Arianna had a great time too...

He's too smart!

After Cam's nap we were playing in his playroom. I asked him to make me some tea. He kept telling me he was going to make hot tea. Well, instead of using his tea pot he decided to put 2 tea cups in the microwave. He kept saying "hot tea, hot tea." He then went into the real kitchen, opened the drawer and came back into his room with the oven mitt! He put it on his hand and opened the microwave to take out the 2 tea cups! I of course ran to get my camera! He may not have a huge vocabulary but he knows what he's doing!

A busy day!

Happy One Month Birthday Arianna! Happy Birthday Mom/Nana! Happy 4yr Anniversary Steve!

Arianna had her doctor's appointment today. She weighs 8lbs 2oz and is 20 3/4" long. YEY she's finally gaining weight! She got her Hep B shot and seems to be doing ok. Her witching hour has started. Unfortunately it begins at 9pm!