Helmet pimping!

Noah got his DOC Band wrapped this week. It has a digital camo pattern as the background with a tank, soldier, helicopters, Uncle Sam, and his name. I think it turned out great! We're having some issues with redness on Noah's forehead and temple because he has learned how to roll over and sleep on his stomach/face (which terrifies me). His clinician mentioned he may have gone into the band too early and his skin is too sensitive - which is very bad news since there is not a DOC Band clinic anywhere near Ryan's next duty station. I have no clue how to prevent Noah from rolling over at night though. Asking him politely to please stay on his back has not worked (go figure...) and I'm driving both of us insane getting up 12 times a night to flip him back over.

Here are some pictures of the pimped out helmet. We call him "Helmie"...

(Kind of) easy being green...

Today was our first day experimenting with cloth diapering! So far no leaks and Noah has been exceptionally patient with me as I try to figure out all of the different folds. They're a bit bulkier than disposables but we'll just be using them at home for now.

If anyone is dealing with a diaper rash, I definitely recommend soaking your little one's bottom in a tub of warm water with a few tablespoons of baking soda mixed in. Works wonders! After our issues with Prevacid (which we've stopped) causing a stubborn diaper rash - the baking soda soak is the only thing that has made a big difference.

The ONLY place I've ever been able to get the little guy to nap, since he was a couple weeks old, is his Moby wrap. He loves it... It kind of limits what I can get done around the house but I've perfected back bending to get clothes out of the washer!

Playdate!

Today was Noah's first day out in public wearing his DOC Band - he did great. We met up at Starbucks with Nicky, Liz, and April (three ladies I went to high school with) and their babies. It was fun catching up and sharing mommy stories. It's so cute watching the babies all stare at each other.

Ryan gets a four day weekend so he'll be home for a few days starting tonight. I'm excited he will be able to go with us tomorrow for Noah to get some adjustments on his band.

DOC Band!

Noah got his DOC Band put on today! He did great at the appointment... He was so excited he actually slept through most of it. I have to check for redness every few hours for the next couple of days but after that it will stay on for 23 hours a day - we take it off at night for bath time and to do his neck stretches. He should only have to have the band for 5-8 weeks instead of the original 3 month estimate. There is a car place called The Wrap Shoppe that does free DOC Band wraps and I'm going to have them decorate it. We haven't settled on a theme yet though! So far he doesn't seem to notice he has it on...

One thing or another...

Poor little man has been dealing with issues lately! He's had some reflux and trouble with painful gas here and there since birth. In the past few weeks his reflux (and maybe gas?) has gotten considerably worse. During feedings he will wiggle and squirm and cry in pain and I'm not sure if it's his irritated throat or his stomach that's hurting. An hour or so after he eats he spits up a clear fluid that he chokes on and turns bright red and arches his back, then cries. It's scary! He rarely ever spits up any milk. We went to see his pediatrician on Monday and she put him on Prevacid and referred us to a pediatric GI specialist. She is unsure whether we're dealing with GERD or a food allergy. Apparently it can take up to 60 days to get into the GI doctor - what!? We started the Prevacid Wednesday evening and come Thursday morning he had a nasty looking diaper rash. Regular rash creams weren't helping so back to the pediatrician we went! He's got some prescription creams now that seem to be helping. Noah has a dairy (and maybe soy) sensitivity and the doctor was concerned the compounding pharmacy had used an ingredient he may not be able to tolerate. However, the pharmacist said no dairy or soy ingredients were used. I'm torn between sticking it out a few more days on the medicine to see if his reflux symptoms improve (and hopefully the rash stops) or discontinuing the Prevacid until we can see the GI specialist. His weight gain is great though and most of the time he's a happy little boy! I'm really hoping his dairy sensitivity is something he grows out of and not something he will always have to deal with. Ryan and I don't have any food allergies and it is usually genetic - I'm hoping his stomach just needs time to mature! This is something else the GI doctor will be evaluating.

In other news, I went out and bought diapers for the first time yesterday - wow, they're expensive! We had been well stocked on diapers from the baby shower and Ryan's grandma, Nancy. I'm seriously considering going the cloth diaper route at home and using disposables for going out. I'm a little overwhelmed by all of the cloth diaper options but I'm sure once I find something that works it will be easy enough.

Noah gets his DOC Band on Tuesday! There is a car wrap shop in Phoenix that does band wraps for free - we just have to decide on a theme!