Just another gray hair...

The other night we had a bit of a scare with Gabriella.  On Thursday night, she woke up just before midnight, crying.  When I went into her room, she began making a deep, loud, grunting noise, arched her back, and began grabbing at me. We were rubbing her back, holding her and trying to calm her down. It lasted about 5 minutes and as fast as it started, it stopped and she was peaceful and sleeping. We thought that she had had a seizure.  We spoke to the emergency after hours doctor on call, and were told to keep an eye on her, but as long as she was breathing normally, we could keep her at home and go into the office in the morning.

She was completely fine the rest of the night and in the morning was as happy as could be. We brought her into our pediatrician and after examining her and listening to our description of what happened, he told us that he was very certain that it was not a seizure but a severe bout of reflux that caused her pain and took her breath away.  He told us that while grunting noises can and often do happen during infant seizures, babies will shake and then will become unresponsive and catatonic. We adjusted her dose of her medication for reflux and he suggested that we raise the head of her crib so that she sleeps on a slight incline. He told us that we can do that with a simple  trick of placing textbooks under the legs of the crib at the head of the bed or purchase a crib wedge mattress piece. We found the wedge at Babys-R-Us and she has been sleeping so much better and seems much more comfortable.

Even though we have a few more gray hairs, Gabriella is healthy and happy!

Gabriella has been showing signs that she is interested in sitting up more so this weekend we bought her an exercise jumper and even though she needs a little bit of cushioning around her and a pillow on the floor to rest her feet, she loves it. It is so good for strengthening her neck muscles.  We also pulled up a convertible high chair from the basement.  The chair reclines so that she won't fall forward but allows her to be at counter level in the kitchen. The big food tray removes and there is a smaller blue play tray that we can attach her links to. Over the next couple of months we can recline it less and less and get her ready to start cereals and foods.

Sitting like a big girl

Practicing with the food tray

Loving her bouncer

Making sure the ceiling fan is still there :)

This week we are preparing to host Easter brunch at our house and have a few playdates scheduled. Gianni has a crazy week of work ahead of him so it will be really nice to spend the holiday weekend with family and friends. For the very first time, Gabriella will be with all of her aunts, uncles, and cousins all at once (plus her newest fur-cousin, Rosie).

Have a good Monday!
xo,
Mary