Lily screams when she poos. 

Every time she poos. 

The screams are tortured, pitiful, blood curdling calls for help that I am unable to provide.  Nothing works to ease her pain all of the time.  Sometimes, she needs to be walked and bounced.  Other times rocking helps.  Squeezing her close to my chest and patting her butt (forcefully) has done the trick.  Rubbing her belly or helping kick her legs can provide some relief.  Gas drops slow her down a bit - more so because of the flavoring than anything else.  Other times - the worst times, she just plain screams uncontrollably no matter what you do.  Her belly will be puffed up like a basketball and rock solid.  She'll kick a leg like she's starting a moped or have both legs stick straight - little toes spread.  The screams will go on for 15 or 20 minutes at times - sometimes they are productive, but mostly not.  Once calmed down, she will coo or grunt for a few minutes - and then let 'er rip, start screaming, or pass out.  I can rarely put her back down calm without her being asleep.  I type one-handed - working - hoping to be productive one minute at a time - until she needs me to walk with her. 

The calm between storms - poor baby.

As far as I can tell, this is a common problem for infants.  Their stool is too light and "fluffy" to force it's way through the digestive tract.  Grunting and fussing are ways of getting that train rolling.  Another couple issues may be confounding our situation.  Since the 24 hour period when Lily was eating bottled breast milk when I was sick - her latch has been off.  She sucks her tongue - and that causes her to swallow air.  I let it ride for a little while simply because I didn't want to break her interest in nursing after returning from the bottle.  That time was not only painful for me, but allowed her to solidify this bad habit.  At each feeding now, I break off her latch upwards of 20 times to correct the problem.  Sometimes she fusses - introducing air into her belly anyway...  The other issue could be my diet.  I have identified onions and chocolate as fuss-makers.  I ate both yesterday.  Apparently, I am like a puppy responding to a rolled up newspaper.  Eventually the negative reinforcement will sink in - until then, I am going to chew "one last time" on daddy's slippers. 

 
Success! (momentarily...the flash didn't wake her, but she's up again a minute later - grunting...)

I am eating toast (dry) and rice (no butter or cheese or broccoli...) and possibly oatmeal (no milk) and pasta today to test the theory.  It could be that she's reacting to me eating/drinking dairy products (I had cereal with milk, cheese for a snack, and milk with a brownie yesterday...).  I will do what needs to be done, but don't expect me to be happy about giving up cheese - see previous post...

...she's asleep again....

Lily and I made our rounds this weekend.  Friday evening, we went up to Lafayette for her portraits.  She did well, and even kept her eyes open!!  Toward the end, she was getting hungry which forced the poses to incorporate the back of her hand in her mouth.  Aside from the (no older than 17 year old) photographer to pose Lily's hands - "could you put one under each cheek?"  No, my kid is strong - of muscle and opinion...  Ask her yourself.

After portraits, we went up to Grandpa's house for the night.  Lily stayed awake to visit with Grandpa Jerry, Grandma Becky and the dogs.  The only thing about an awake baby is that they fuss more than a sleeping one...  Our first overnight away from home was a success. 

The next morning, we met Grandma to go visit Great Grandma and Grandpa Howarth.  This was her first time meeting this set of Great Grandparents.  We were able to get a generation picture taken of Lily's maternal line.  We hope to get a picture of all of Lily's grandmothers and great grandmothers sometime this winter.

After visiting the Howarths', we went to Great Grandma and Grandpa Lamprecht's house where we visited with Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt Becky and Uncle Bill.  Lily was a little fussy, then calmed down for dinner while Aunt Becky held her.  Then she fussed for Grandma.  The signs of exhaustion were starting to show (on both baby and momma).  At this point, Lily had only really slept in the car and at lunch.

From the Lamprechts', we went to a housewarming party.  This is ground zero for the nuclear eruption...screaming baby.  Insatiable, kicking, screaming, red-faced baby.  After 10 minutes, we ditched the party and went straight to Grandma Carol's for the night.  Once she got to just lay spread out kicking and cooing on the floor - not being held - she was fine.  Still awake, but fine.  The overnight at Grandma Carol's was a little rough with her eating more frequently than usual, but still a success.

We returned home in the early afternoon yesterday.  Both tired.  After a light lunch for both of us, we napped most of the afternoon and evening away.

It's tough to not cram visits home with as many stops along the way.  Of course, it is much more taxing to do the rounds with a little being who has to eat, requires naps, and is stimulated by new sights and sounds thus disrupting the schedule of the other two.  As I am learning with everything motherhood related - moderation is key.  Please don't feel left out if on future trips we simplify our agenda.  You don't really want us to stop by if either of us are tired, crabby and hungry anyway!

No rest for the weary -- we are going to my doctor's appointment today then to walmart.  Of course, I have her all dolled up.  Yes, that is a turtleneck!

...I might get to brush my teeth before we leave...