Happiest Baby on West 54th Street!

Believe it or not....two blog updates in two days. Its amazing but I actually have the time today! Since February 20th Ela has had a rash that started on her face that came and went. It progressively got worse and then ended up all over her body. She cried whenever she was not held and more often than not even when she was held. The only quiet time was when she was sleeping. After a two trips to the pediatrician, Dr. Orbe recommended that I cut all dairy and soy out of my diet as Ela might have a milk protein allergy. No luck. Finally after several more calls to the doctor she recommended we see a dermatologist. We took her last Monday. It was so cute to see little 11 pound Ela on a table meant for a grown up. As soon as the doctor came in he said....ECZEMA! It typically runs in the family, and my mom had it as a child so it made sense. On top of that Tomasz's skin is very sensitive to sun and heat. On top of that the crazy "googler" in me googled some possible causes of Eczema and I found a study between women who ate alot of citrus while pregnant and the link to eczema.(If you remember I always craved fruit...especially clementines) Doubt that is true but maybe!

The Dermatologist prescribed us Derma Smoothe a topical steroid based cream safe for babies and to continue to use Aveno Baby Eczema Lotion.The presciption was not able to be filled until Friday because it was a pretty non common cream. On Friday I started using it and it was instantious relief. Ela is like a new baby. She sat in her chair when she was not sleeping for 2 hours at a time and played and has not stopped smiling. I was even able to go to church this morning and she sat through the whole service and was not even sleeping. I feel so bad that we did not take her to the dermatologist sooner. This whole time she was itching and could not scratch.(When she did itch she cut up her face with her little finger nails--which are impossible to cut) Most of the crying is explained. I can not blame her in the least bit. Check out the before and after!

Whats on my face?

Trying to sleep but cant!

I'm so happy because my face is clear and not itchy!

I played all weekend in my chair! I even grabbed the toys!

Tomasz and I are both relived. I hope that it stays under control! Tomasz is bringing Ela back to the Dermatologist for a follow up tomorrow to find out how we can keep her Eczema free! There is alot of things that we can do without medication. Eczema is induced by allergies, dust, rayon and polyester, and even if she gets too hot. At least we can work on those in the mean time!

We are glad to have our sweet baby back! :)

Almost 3 months!

Wow I have really neglected our blog latley!!As you can imagine we have been BUSY!Between lots of family coming to meet her and going back to work and changing dirty diapers our family is definatly busy!

None the less Ela is growing like a weed. At her two month checkup she weighed 11.4 pounds and was 22 and 1/4 inches. She is still in the 35% pecentile among children, but mom and dad are kind of small people too! Check out the latest picture!

Holding her head up by herself already!

This is how most of you see Ela on Skype!(With a computer just her size)

We call this the pirate eye...she always checks to make sure you are still there!

Walk in Central Park with Mom

Getting ready to go outside!

1 month! Febuary 12, 2011

Mommy + Daddy = Ela

You might be thinking "DUH" but in looking through our baby pictures it is amazing how much Ela looks like both of us. Her face is constantly changing each day. Take a look at us way back then!

JESSI

TOMASZ

ELA

1 month old....ALREADY?!?

I know its been a while, but as you can expect Ela has kept us pretty busy, but we are enjoying every minute of it. In addition to Ela keeping us busy we have had several guests over the past few weeks so that everyone could meet her. We love having all of the company but it is hard when they leave because Ela gets spoiled by being held all of the time! Last week Uncle Stephen came to visit his first niece. He was a natural holding her. She loves her uncle!! While he was here Tomasz and Stephen got to catch a Rangers game while Ela and I had a girls night. Most recently my Mom and Dick were here this weekend check out the visit!

Today we took Ela to her 1 month checkup. She is very health and weighed in at 8.7 pounds! She has gained 2 pounds since she was born. At birth she was in the 9th percentile at 6.8 pounds, at two weeks she was 6.15 pounds the 20th percentile and good news.....today she was 8.7 pounds which is the 33%. Slowly but surely she is growing!  The doctor confirmed our suspicions that Ela has colic. It is not all of the time that she gets gassy and cries but when it does happen it is for hours on end. The doctor said it is the "Rule of 3" meaning : 1. She has a gassy crying episode at least three times a week 2. Cries for three or more hours at a time 3. It last for 3 weeks or more. I was a colicky baby and children of colicky babies have an 80% chance of being colic as well.We bought some Gripe Water (fennel,chamomile,and ginger)drops for her which seem to work and I read about some exercises that we can do by bringing up her legs and pushing on her belly that help alot. It just takes soothing and patience. Trust me alot easier said than done. The hardest part is seeing that cute little face turn red and scream!

One of the best pieces of advice for new moms is to read the book "The Happiest Baby on the Block". Before we had Ela I was recommended this book by several parents at my job. Of course I just put it on the back burner in my mind. Once Ela started crying alot I bought it off Amazon and then ironically my step mom also gave it to me as a gift. (Must be good) I will defiantly pass the other copy on to a fellow mom but it is a great book and has a different perspective. The theory of the book is that from months 0-3 the baby is actually in the "4th trimester" as they are not used to the world. Makes perfect sense!

The Happiest Baby on the Block

Being a new mom you don't have much free time, but I defiantly made time for this book!

CHeck out the latest pictures of Ela...

 I love this one...she will hate me for it one day!

Family Life

We have a new name for our blog! I was having a hard time thinking of a  name, but this was a quote that was on the wall in the hospital and I think that it is so fitting! Plus now that I am not pregnant the thought of pickles and a few other "I must-have-it" preganancy foods repulse me! I even do not have much of a taste for ice cream.( I am sure that one will come back quickly though.)

I think that we are finally starting to get adjusted to life with three. We love our little girl so much it is indescribable!  It is getting easier and easier as each day goes on as far as her sleeping and feeding schedule. Trust me over the past week we have had many sleepless nights but the old addage to "Sleep while she is sleeping" is the best advice that we have taken. That is sometimes the only time that we get any sleep.I think that it will be easy to loose the pregnancy weight becuase everytime I go to eat Ela cries to be fed or changed. If this keeps up, I will disapear by summer. Either way we are enjoying every minute of being parents. She makes the cutest faces, and smiles when you rub her face and even how cute she is when she scares herself when she burps!

Ela's Bathtime

For all of the fellow moms to be, this is a great article on Breast Feeding.(Thanks Lisa)
Ela and I are finally getting the hang of breast feeding! It was very hard the first few days for the both of us. Once I started making milk it was all smooth sailing from there. Not only is it benefical to mom and baby, but it is great bonding with little Ela!

"The World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months because it benefits babies and mothers. Breast milk contains antibodies, which can protect babies from ear infections, digestive problems, and severe lung infections. Studies also suggest it protect babies against sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), diabetes, obesity and asthma. Moms also benefit, according to a report issued by Benjamin’s predecessor, former acting Surgeon General Dr. Steven Galson, which says breastfeeding benefits for moms include “reduced risk for type 2 diabetes, as well as breast and ovarian cancers.”

 And what would a day be without a few more pictures.....

 Ela got to meet her Babcia(Grandma) and Dziadek(Grandpa) this weekend! She is so lucky to have Grandparents that love her so much! She just has to meet Grandma Susan now! (In a few weeks) On Sunday, Ela will get to meet both of her Great Grandma's at once. It is a rare occurance that a child gets to meet a great grandma no less two. We can not wait!

More to come later. We are enjoying our time with the little one. 

Our Family!

 

We are finally adjusting to life with the three of us. The first few days were really hard, but each day it is getting easier and easier. Ela is a great baby and really only cries when she is hungry or wet. We have been very lucky in that respect. She sleeps, eats, wets, sleeps, eats, wets. Pretty boring life but we love just looking at her while she is sleeping. She is so peaceful. We are excited for the rest of her family to meet her!
Check out some pictures.