Cooper's Crankiness

Jackson, Cooper, and I returned to our pediatrician's office on Friday after trying out the medicine for a little over a week. We had switched from Zantac to Prevacid, and Cooper was doing much better during the day ... very happy and smiling. But, come 6 pm he is a different kid. Screaming, even while he is nursing. Loud toots, lots of burps, and at sometimes completly inconsolable. It lasts until he goes to sleep for the night - around 9:30 or 10. This was also happening before we started the medicine ... but, he was having fits like this throughout the day, too. And nights are still hard. I usually am up three times to nurse him, which isn't terrible. he wakes around 12:30, 3:00, and 6 am. (on a good night). He nurses in like 10 minutes, but I spend about 30 minutes trying to get all the burps out ... he has to burp at least 4 or 5 times, and usually spit up. Then I can actually put him down without him grunting. But, sometimes, I can't get him to finish burping, and I give up out of exhaustion and go to sleep. He is still asleep through all of this, so I just put him down and listen to him grunt until he wakes screaming, and lets out a huge burp or spits up everywhere. It's just no fun. Anyway, I have complete faith that he will grow out of this. And I don't expect it to be easy, but I just wish that I knew what to do differently.
So, I talked to the dr. about all of this, and we are going to adjust his medicine a bit (give 1/2 in the morning, and 1/2 in the evening). She also suggested I try to stop eating any lactose - which means no icecream!!! I won't worry about changing my diet for another week or two though, because we want to see if the medicine change is effective. Dr. Frank then told me that the fact that he cried at the same time - the witching hour -means colic, not reflux. So, it seems we haven't gotten the reflux under control (except at night), but the colic of course remains.
Finally, the doctor looked in Cooper's ears, and what do you know - an ear infection! I swear, when it rains it pours. And it is so true that each child is so different. I am still learning that. I would never have expected an ear infection, simply because Jackson didn't have a single one until he was 20 months old. So, I guess it pays to bring him in to the dr. even though I am close to being considered a crazy mom for always being there.
Anyway, this too shall pass. At least that is what I keep telling myself. I want to appreciate these moments, but I also can't wait for him to be 6 months old! hopefully he will be happier by that point!
Despite his fussiness, he is amazingly cute. He's been waving his arms, and cycling his legs and smiling alot. And sucking on his hand. He really is a gift from God... and I keep reminding myself how lucky I am that he is healthy - especially getting such a scare during my pregnancy. Cooper must have some angels watching over him. I like to thank that Mawmaw Frances (colin's grandmother), Mawmaw Bea (my grandmother), and my dad are close by keeping both of our boys safe.