Update on the munchkins

Turns out Marleigh did NOT have mono.  Thank the good Lord!  Just some sort of viral infection.  She seemed to be feeling better for a few days, but now has a stuffy nose.  I guess it is always something. 

However, Marleigh is still having a VERY hard time adjusting to having a little brother.  She loves him so much.  She gets him his bink, brings him his blankie, etc.  If she can't see him, she is asking where he is.  She just isn't handling having to share Mommy and Daddy very well. Not at all.  I keep thinking it will get better.  It has to, right?  We have tried everything we know of to help her, but nothing seems to be working.  Does anyone have any magic words of wisdom?  We give her one on one time with each of us every day.  We praise her continuously.  We tell her what a big help and what an awesome big sister she is.  It makes my heart hurt to see our sweet, little girl acting out.  I know it is because she is unhappy or jealous, and I hate that.  I am a "fixer".  I want to make it all better and I can't.  It weighs heavy.  It feels like I am failing her in some way.  The only silver lining is that she only acts out for Marc and I.  She is still the well-behaved, good mannered little girl for everyone else. 

Kade is finally back to being our happy little boy.  After doing some research, and talking to another mom (thanks again, Erin), we thought Kade might be suffering from lactose overload (which is different than lactose intolerance).  I started out trying just nursing one side per feeding.  We saw some improvement, but he was still unhappy and uncomfortable.  We then decided to try and supplement with a lactose free formula.  Again, a little improvement.  I finally had to do what is best for Kade and we have quit nursing all together.  The change in him is remarkable.  It was almost instant.  He no longer has painful/forceful gas & bowel movements.  He no longer draws his legs up and cries out.  He is finally back to napping longer than 30 minutes, and he is sleeping back in his bed at night.  He has not been colicky at all in the past 2 days.  I am so very disappointed not to be nursing him, but it is obvious he wasn't handling breast milk well.  I had thought about pumping for the next few months, in hopes of trying breast milk again, but have noticed a decreased supply already.  Once again, I'm trying to find the silver lining.  I was able to nurse him for 8 weeks and he is a healthy baby.  That was 8 weeks longer than I nursed Marleigh.  Granted, Marleigh got pumped breast milk for 9 months, but that just isn't the same as nursing a cuddly baby.  I am just so thankful that we figured out what was going on with him!