Little Banshee

We have affectionately nick-named Fiona "little banshee" in recognition of her intense screaming. The name has a kind of eerie background but it's Irish and whether or not it's a mourning call her cry can nearly shatter glass http://www.irelandseye.com/animation/explorer/banshee.html
We're working on it though. As mentioned, Monday I brought Fiona to see her pediatrician to go over why she still seems so uncomfortable. As expected Dr. O'malley wasn't all that startled--I guess he's seen this before. After a thorough check-up he referred us next door for an abdominal x-ray just to make sure her insides look alright. One concern was that her stomach is small since she only takes 2oz of formula at a time instead of the 6-8oz a baby of her age should be eating per meal. Since she doesn't have other symptoms I had pretty much ruled out intestinal abnormalities or blockages but this checked for that too. The good news is she's normal, the bad news is she's fussy and we still don't totally know how to help her. She has a good sized tummy but it was pretty full of gas- which would make anyone howl a bit. This is both normal and abnormal so we decided she should try a new, extra broken down formula that should produce less bi-product. That leaves me pumping and feeding her around the clock. She's still on Zantac for suspected reflux and we've introduced rice cereal. So, five days later and it's been up and down...she definitely digests the new formula better, with less churning and gas than before, but she so misses breastfeeding that sometimes her distress over that is enough to make me wonder what we're doing. I've caved in a few times, in particular at night, so we don't have a full blown picture. Today she gobbled down bottles for the first time, inhaling a record 7 oz with cereal at 6pm and another 4oz by 9pm. Jim settled her into bed and fingers crossed she'll last until early morning. Her MD still insisted she may really be pushing the time limits of colic but he thinks she'll turn the corner yet.

"Funny" story to share...After that 6pm feed Fiona was fat and happy and dosing while we tried dinner at a Mexican place down the street. Just as we were ready to order the bus boy lost control of his pouring and ended up dumping a glass of ice water on to the stroller. Poor little wet girl. In slow motion the water spilled, Fiona's little face flashed red, crinkled up, and there was the silent scream followed by full blast shriek. If her cry warns of death it was probably over us strangling that guy. I really think Mommy should have gotten a free margarita out of that ordeal. She never really settled again and so the 9pm feed...

I promise photos coming. We took our old camera to CO and Jim has to upload those.