Looking forward to the new year

I am really looking forward to 2011. I feel so grateful to be welcoming in the new year with our new daughter, Sami.

All of the sudden today, it's as though we have a new child. We are trying a new formula, and although the pediatrician says it will take 24 hours to know if it will make a difference, after just 15 hours I'm cautiously optimistic. The screaming has basically stopped, and while her congestion and reflux are not completely gone, the improvement is nothing short of miraculous. The formula is hypoallergenic, and doesn't contain milk or soymilk; it seems to be basically water, sugar, DHA, and all of the minerals and vitamins, with a touch of tapioca starch. It is the fourth formula we have tried. Of course, it is more than twice the cost of the other formulas, but if it makes Sami feel so great, and allows her to sleep, it is worth every penny. Again, I am cautiously optimistic, because last time we made a formula change, it also seemed to be a miraculous fix, but the fix only lasted three days and then all of her symptoms came back.

Today, Sami also had her hip ultrasound that was recommended by both the NICU doctor when she was discharged from the hospital, and her pediatrician, due to the fact that she was in a breech position. The radiologist who did the ultrasound said that everything looked great. The pediatrician had told us already she expected everything to be fine, and the ultrasound was just a precaution. So today has been a good day all the way around!

Sami now also weigh just under 7 pounds. So she is now the size of a small newborn! I am very happy about that, even though she is 8 weeks old. People that see her stop me and remark all the time that she must have "just been born." I am constantly explaining that she is older than she looks because she was a preemie. The pediatrician is very happy with her weight gain; she weighs almost double her birth weight now. I keep telling Sami to take advantage of the fact that gaining weight for her is such a good thing, and warning her that is is one of the few times in a girl's life that gaining weight will make her happy. LOL.

Next Wednesday, she will be having the first half of her two-month vaccinations, with the other half coming two weeks later. The pediatrician wants to divide them up due to her small size, which is fine with me.

Sami is really doing so well, except for the congestion caused by her reflux and the screaming and crying brought on by being colic. The pediatrician is always amazed at Sami's head and neck control, and though Sami is now just under 7 pounds, she can already roll over!

Our only obstacle is the colic, congestion and acid reflux, but I have high hopes for the new formula she began today. I will keep the updates coming.