Test was negative!!

the dairy and soy diaries...

So, the test we did yesterday came back negative, no blood! Yay! It is amazing how small of an amount of dairy or soy can affect little Norah. But now I know, and I doubt I will really add anything back in until I am done nursing. It simply isn't worth the roulette of possibly making Norah hurt.

to be fussy or not to be...

That said, Norah has still been fairly fussy. We are assuming it's mainly temperamental at this point, but will keep a close eye on her to see if she acts like she doesn't feel well in other way. If she continues to be really fussy, we will probably set up another appointment with Dr. P just to see if there is anything we've missed and get his opinion.

to sleep or not to sleep...

Since the test was negative, I decided that Norah might have to cry a bit last night and learn to soothe herself to sleep. I wasn't sure when I put her to bed what I was going to do...so I just nursed her to sleep, she was in bed by 6:45pm.

I did decide that I am going to stop nursing her during the night at all. This is a big step for me and her, but I decided it was time, and if anything nursing her sometimes (even if only once/night) and not others is confusing.

So when she woke up for the 1st time at 9:30, I sat by her side and held her hand on and off and tried to soothe her. She wasn't going to sleep, wanted to be nursed or at least wanted me constantly holding her hand and touching her. So after 45 minutes of her sitting or standing up, me laying her back down, me holding her hand, etc. etc. etc. I decided I would have to let her cry with me outside the room, I simply couldn't do it next to her side. The Good Night Sleep Tight book I often talk about says to stay in the room until they fall asleep, I thought I would be able to do this, and that it would make it easier on Norah. I think with some kids this does make it easier, but with Norah I don't think it was working. So I left, sat out on the couch and read through the hysterical screams. I checked on her and gave her her binky and put her blanket back on her after 5 minutes. Then I checked on her again 10 minutes later. Then I waited 20 minutes. The crying was horrible, super loud and awful, but at 11:00pm (after 1.5 hrs of being awake and 40ish minutes of solid crying) she fell asleep.

She woke up again at 12:15, but after going in for a brief check and to make sure she had her binky (I have 4 strung out all over the crib) I left and she cried for a few minutes on and off, but not hard like before.

Next wake up was at 3. I did the same thing, went in briefly, then left. Again, cried for a few minutes on and off but not the hysterical crying from the beginning.

Next wake up at 4:30. Repeat last 2 wake ups.

Next wake up at 5:40. I went in and she was standing. I laid her back down, gave her a binky, covered her up and left. I knew I was in for a fight because anytime she wakes up after 5 I basically kiss going back to sleep goodbye. She started crying hysterically when I left this time. I refuse however to get her out of her crib before 6, because I've read and many friends have suggested, if I let her get up at 5:50, soon it will be 5:40, then 5:30, and on and on. I simply can't do before 6. (And yes, we've tried keeping her up later and no this does not help, she only wakes up the same or earlier) So after 10 minutes or so of hysteria, she fell asleep, and at 6, I heard a noise went in to check on her and she was asleep on her knees and tummy (kind of like a frog) it was so cute. So I went out, made coffee, and within a couple of minutes again she was up, so we got up for the day. I did my big dramatic wakeup, where I come in open the blinds (to the dark...can't wait for light earlier!) and turn on the lights and sing good morning...it's time to get up!!! I do this in hopes of convincing her that she can't get up when she screams at 5:30, she can only get up when I come in and say it's time to get up and that it's morning, so she might as well just wait for that.

Now....you may be thinking, 5 wake ups, this is bad. But to me, I'm thinking, yay we are making some Freaking wonderful progress:

1. No more night nursing.

2. Norah only cried for a bit over an hour at the most, I honestly thought it would take a good 4 hours to get my little punkaroo to sleep.

3. 5 wake ups is better than 10.

4. The majority of the wake ups were much quicker.

5. I didn't have the melt down of the century and start balling and take her into bed with me and nurse and cuddle her the remainder of the night

These first few were taken when my parents watched Norah last week so Ryan and I could have a date night. Side Note: We chose to go to a place where they had a 60 and over singles party of 25 next to us, they had a microphone to introduce themselves and talk all night. Wow. Hot date night. We did go at 4 to catch happy hour and to be home to put Norah to sleep, but still seriously?

What is Grammy doing...that weirdo...

Norah playing with Daddy, her favorite thing to do.

What, do I have something on my face?

Now you know where she gets her eating skills...Ryan.