Justin's beer gut is getting out of control!

This baby is locked and loaded

Just when I think things can't get any worse!

Well ... the hammock didn't work out for us. It didn't make him sleep any longer than the cot, was harder to get him in and out of and I had problems getting his head elevated when he was in it so we took it back. We only hired it for a week anyway so it was not a drama. We've had a very hard couple of days with Atticus screaming constantly and inconsolably. We've had to take him back to the specialist twice and today he's had a blood and urine test to try and rule out other problems internally. He's also on some new medication as well as the losec but I'm not 100% sure what it's supposed to do. Things really do seem to be getting worse rather than better. I think the Doc is just trying to rule out an iron deficiency or a urinary tract infection. We might be looking at the camera down the throat test next :-( I've been off dairy foods for nearly a month now so the Doc doesn't think it's a milk intolerance. We may try allergy testing but it can take up to three months to get it done unfortunately. I think my next move is to find a pediatric gastroenterologist.

Can't wait till we go to Mitcham (not sure when that is either as we still have to get my GP to fill out the forms but at least 3 or 4 weeks away I think). I've started to really feel like I may be suffering from post natal depression ... so the sooner we nip this in the bud the better and I'm convinced that the hospital stay (and the routine they'll help me set up) will be the light at the end of the tunnel.

Chocoholic Tour

I've decided to take Justin on a chocoholic tour of Melbourne this year for his birthday. I'm sure he's going to be a HUGE fan! Here's a bit of a blurb about the tour I've booked to get the taste bubs flowing ...

Chocolate and Other Desserts Walk
Melbourne is seen from a 'sweet tooth' viewpoint. Visit some tempting chocolate and dessert makers who are hidden away in the lanes, arcades and side streets. Tastings, talks and tales of Melbourne
starts at Charmaine's Ice Cream at Southgate with a choice of icecreams - chocolate, lemon cheesecake, Baci and more. Suga at Southgate demonstrates the art of old-world tradion of lolly making and reveals some secrets of the art whilst you taste some of their creations.
Stroll across the Yarra River to Haigh's Chocolate in the Block Arcade where your taste buds will be seduced by the delectable flavour of their chocolates and your eyes by the designs. Enter the snug and old fashioned world of The Pancake Parlour where rich pancakes will hit the taste buds in just the right spot. At the Paris End of Collins Street the tour finishes with a behind the scenes tour of the pastry kitchen of the Grand Hyatt Hotel where the chefs chat about dessert making and you get to feel the sweet atmosphere of the place. Then afternoon tea at Hanzelmann's, The Grand Hyatt with
desserts and drinks will complete this sweet experience. Now just relax and dream of sweet indulgences or the next chocolate treat!

Atti started rolling today (he also screams quite a bit when he can't get back onto his back)!Also, when we are eating he tries to steal food from us and makes chomping noises with his mouth so I guess solids won't be too far away (although I'm not looking forward to the stinkier poos)!


Grumpy Smith

Mother/Baby Program

I've decided to enlist the help of some professionals! Atticus and I be staying in at Mitcham Private for a week to attend the Mother/Baby program. The program is designed to assist mothers with settling/sleep issues as well as providing a bit of a break. I'm not sure when this will be exactly (I've been told to expect a four to six week wait) but hopefully it'll be soon as although the thought of leaving my family and staying with a bunch of strangers does scare me the thought of having to continue on in the way that I have been absolutely terrifies me!

Atti's routine or lack thereof

Atticus is currently only ever awake for 45 mins at a time and then sleeps for 45 mins and the cycle continues from about 7am until about 7pm. He then sleeps from approx 7.00pm till 4am and then 4.15am till 7.00am so there's absolutely no problem at all at night time!According to all the books and my maternal health care nurse he should be awake and sleeping in at least one and a half hour lots at his age but I don't know what to do to extend the times? I put him to sleep when he shows tired signs. I'm watching the baby, not the clock. I've tried to extend his catnaps by resettling him too but he gets really upset. I don't know whether I should be trying to fix his routine or just accepting that this is how he is?

Justin and I have decided to hire a hammock for Atticus in the hopes that the rocking motion with soothe him and assist with his sleeping. The lady from RISA (Glenda) swears by them and right now I think we'd try just about anything anyway. He's only sleeping for 30 minutes at a time before demanding to be picked up and fed and he's obviously over tired. I'm trying to do everything in my power to make things better for him but I'm having real dramas with elevating his bed. I bought a bed wedge from clark rubber and although the level of elevation is perfect I keep finding him lying sideways in the cot with his head resting against the side! I have terrible visions of finding him underneath the bedding and am starting to think I'll forego blankets completely until I've got this issue sorted.

What a Croc!

Thanks to my former employers at CHH (in particular Ian Ellis) for this awesome Crocodile that they got for Atti and I. I'm sure he'll spend many hours wrestling with it (although I'll be sure to tell him not to smile at him)!

PS - Can you believe he's in size O's already?


Mr Crocodile

When it rains ...

Atti used to be the most placid and happy baby I've ever seen until a couple of weeks ago when he started screaming for long periods of time for absolutely no reason I could fathom and almost completely stopped smiling. I took him to the GP (two different ones) before finally getting a referral to see a paedetrician (sp?) He's since been diagnosed with silent reflux and after no luck with Zantac we are now on Losec. However, it's been a week since we started the medication and I really haven't noticed a significant improvement. In fact last night and the night before he screamed so much that he turned blue (this from a baby that up until a couple of weeks ago had NEVER screamed). I'm at a loss about what to do? He's been to see 4 doctor's in the past fortnight and no one can find anything significantly wrong with him but I can't help but feel as if something just isn't right? He has thrush on his tongue as well (which I'm currently treating) but that couldn't be causing him anywhere near the pain he's expressing. He only catnaps during the day but it's usually around 4 hours of catnaps in total and then he does a further 12 hours at night on average so I know he's not tired. His appetite is as healthy as ever (although he does often cry while feeding as it seems to hurt him to swallow). His nappies are wet .. his poos are frequent .. apologies for the extent of detail but I'm just trying to tell you everything I can think of in the hope that someone will be able shed some light on his behaviour! I feel so helpless and am starting to get very depressed about the situation. All I want is for my little boy to be happy again.

I'm starting to think that Atti's actually afraid of his room as he starts screaming as soon as I even walk towards the door! He's been in the cot now for about a month but it seems that the crying has been getting worse over the last fortnight or so. He cries all the way through the day until I put him down for the night but thankfully doesn't cry during the night (probably because he's never fully awake)? We picked up one of those Fisher Price aquariums last night so I'll give it a go later on today (fingers crossed). Perhaps with some toys etc we'll be able to make his cot a 'happy place'?

Cheeky Blankie Boy

You'd never know it from this picture ... but Atticus hardly ever smiles. I'm really struggling to cope with the constant screaming and have decided to join some support groups for children with reflux (DISA & RISA). Hopefully I'm be able to get some tips on how to help Atticus better ... or at the very least not feel so alone.


Atti's Blankie

Thank you to Granny Smith for the many hours dedicated to knitting this outfit for Atticus. It's such a shame that by the time he fit into it a heat wave was upon us!

We've started Atti on his Losec and let me tell you it's quite 'interesting' trying to get a tablet into a baby! We've tried dissolving it in water and breast milk but he wasn't at all keen on either of those but we've finally found success with pear juice. I figure it can't really be that naughty to give it to him since it's supposed to be the first solid that we try anyway and it guarantees that Atti will drink every last drop. No noticeable improvement yet but fingers crossed that it's just around the corner.


Jester