The Melvin Adventures: The good, the bad and the ugly

It's hard for me to write about the bad and ugly on the blog, as it's not as fun to talk about as all the good that comes with having a little one. There is so much JOY associated with having a baby, but there are surely some challenging times with having an infant and soon to be toddler! We all share some of the same struggles in the first year: getting babies to sleep at night and nap well during the day, getting them adjusted to new schedules, new foods and new skills. And then we have some that are different for our own babies and reach out to find others who may have shared similiar experiences.

Champs failed one of his newborn screening tests FOUR times before ever getting the green light that he was in the clear for that condition. I could barely breathe as we took him to the hospital to have the test taken for the 4th time.

We spent the better part of months 3 to 4 trying to figure out why he was screaming in pain day after day once I brought in some formula after going back to work. After many nights of watching TV in the wee hours of the morning b/c Champs couldn't sleep (vividly remember watching Carrie Underwood in Sound of Music, which was horrible compared to the original in my book), alternating who was holding him upright and bouncing him, as this was the only way he was comfortable, many many trips to the doctor, TONS of dirty diapers a day, we finally realized he had a milk protein allergy and couldn't have regular dairy formula. Nutramigen it was! It then took a good 2-3 weeks for everything else to get out of his system and we got our happy baby back just in time for his Baptism day at 4 months old!

Then during month 7 Champs had to have an outpatient surgery with a pediatric urologist, which was quite challenging and tough on all of us. He did fabulous with it though and was such a little trooper!

This week has been one of the "ugly's" as well. Let me just say Hand, Foot and Mouth disease is no fun! Starts with fever, which has lasted several days, and then last night brought on all the blisters. They say they are on their hands, feet and mouth - but Champs' are also all over his arms and legs. It is the saddest thing. I can't see them, but I think they are also inside his mouth, which is making him extra uncomfortable and not able to sleep.

Needless to say, it has been a long weekend! I'm so ready for my poor, sweet baby to feel better!!!

In case any of you Mamas or future Mamas have not seen it before, this is what we're dealing with. It breaks my heart to know he's in so much pain. I wish I could take it away. I know we'll always have the good, bad and ugly to deal with, but goodness it's hard when they're so little! Please let the good days continue to be FAR AHEAD of the bad ones!