4 month Check-up and Updates (Long!)

Well, we've definitely had a different baby on our hands lately!  Robby is officially on full formula and he's doing great.  Once we started seeing how well he was doing with the supplemented formula (he also was doing much better with my altered diet, but there was still a noticeable difference in him after he ate breastmilk versus formula), we decided to take the plunge.  It was sad for Mommy to be done nursing because we both really enjoyed it, but I didn't think it was fair to continue nursing him when he clearly felt better on the hypoallergenic formula.  The first few nights of bottle instead of nursing before bed were rough getting him to sleep, but that is quickly getting better.  The reflux is basically gone- he still gets Zantac before bed as a precaution, but I think very soon that will be eliminated as well.  He's been back to his happy, HAPPY self... cracking up hysterically at everything, smiling just because Daddy and I are talking out loud... and sleeping at night has generally been great.  He is inconsistent as we're trying to figure out a 'schedule' for feedings.  Sometimes he sleeps all night, sometimes he wakes around 1am to get a small bottle.  But the first night he got a full bottle before bed... he slept 12 STRAIGHT HOURS!  Mommy got 8 UNINTERRUPTED hours of sleep for the first time in almost 5 months!  It was wonderful. 

As we were figuring all this out, we made an appointment with a pediatric GI in St. Louis, which we went to on our way home to Chicago the day before Thanksgiving.  While we were glad went just to cover all our bases... it was the most pointless doctor's appointment we could have been to.  She basically didn't believe in dairy allergies (or true reflux) in babies... which is crazy due to the evidence to prove the contrary (questions?  Ask my friend Dana- she'll fill you in!! :) ).  So I was back to figuring this out on my own- nothing new there.  Like Nick said after the appointment- one thing we really learned from this?  Trust our own instincts.  They've gotten us this far.

Next was home for Thanksgiving!  We had a great weekend- even though Robby was extremely overwhelmed with such a busy weekend and so many new faces to take in.  He didn't want Mommy to put him down at night... AT ALL.  He wasn't quite his happy self, unfortunately.  He's a sensitive baby for sure.  But we had a wonderful weekend despite his bipolar attitude :)

Tired boy in the dr's office

On our way back to Springfield the Monday after Thanksgiving we had a pediatric urologist appointment in Kansas City (yes, BUSY weekend) to run more detailed tests on his kidneys.  He got an ultrasound on his kidneys first, then they did a VCGU- which is more detailed than other tests he's had.  Robby... was... EXCELLENT.  He laid there so well for the tests, didn't make a peep, and let them do everything they needed to do!  He got a catheter for this test, poor guy, but NO IV!  With how that went last time... we were thrilled no IV to say the least!  The doctor explained that the right kidney is still dilated, but nothing abnormal was found.  He said it could just be that as the 'tube' connecting the kidney to the bladder was forming in utero, it wasn't quite wide enough to fully let the urine through, so the kidney stretched out.  As the tube grew and the urine was able to drain more efficiently, the kidney just stayed stretched out.  So that was good news.  However, there IS reflux on the left.... ?!  Didn't see that coming.  On a scale of 1-5, he was rated a mild 3.  Basically, since he has not had any UTI's or complications with the kidneys/bladder, we are just going to continue to monitor the kidney.  He will go for ultrasounds every 4-6 months until he's 2 years old.  As long as it doesn't get WORSE (staying the same is good), we have nothing to worry about.  If it gets worse or he starts getting UTI's, we will have to consider surgery of some sort.  So as of now, no major concerns, which is good.

Robby had his 4 month check-up with our regular pediatrician last week (he was really just a week shy of 5 months though).  He weighs... wait for it... 17lbs, 1oz!  And he's 26.5in long!  What a big boy.  He's in the 75-80th percentile for height and weight.  He got two vaccines- rotavirus and DTaP... which he of course did great with.  The doctor had no concerns- developmentally, the doctor said he's doing well!

Currently, Robby continues to LOVE to stand and jump with our support.  He wants so badly to sit up on his own... he doesn't like to lean back anymore.  He either likes to lay on his back to play with his toy bars or sit up with support to play!  Tummy time still isn't his favorite, but he still does it... and while he is capable of rolling from tummy to back... he refuses to do it for Mommy and Daddy.  He'll only do it for the sitter or as soon as our backs are turned, and in a nano-second he'll roll over and lay there smiling when we turn back around.  Stinker.  :)  Robby never stays still anymore.  He loves to scoot and slide around- constantly turning himself 180 degrees on both his playmat and in his crib.  So many times, we lay him in his crib for bed, and when we wake up, his head is where his feet used to be and he's sound asleep.  We still swaddle him, so he's really quite talented!  On his playmat, he likes to turn himself around and get the toybar between his legs.  He cracks us up.  He constantly tries to roll from his back to his tummy as well- not quite strong enough, but he gets about half way!  And he's getting really good at 'talking'... he makes all sorts of noises and sounds with his mouth and tongue.  He has learned to click his tongue and will just lay there amusing himself by doing this for stretches at a time!  And while we won't start solid foods until 6 months, Robby has recently started sitting in his high chair to get used to it and exploring utensils- spoons, cups, and his teething toys.  He loves it (for short stretches at a time)!  Our little chunk has been in size 3 diapers for some time now... and has recently graduated to size 6-9 month clothes! 

First time in the stroller without the car seat!

Starting to hold his own bottle

Beautiful day... in December.

Robby's first Christmas will be here before we know it!

If you've gotten this far... Bravo!
Carrie