We're back!

Sorry for the long break, but we've had a lot to deal with in the past couple of weeks. One weekend he fed for much less than normal. He'd eat for about 2-3 minutes and then refuse to take another drop. He also stopped eating solids that weren't pureed. Then on Monday, his babysitter said he acted a bit out of it. I decided to take him to the doctor and sure enough, he had an ear infection. Without fever. I've always heard that refusing to nurse, or even nursing less than normal, was a sign of an ear infection. But since Sam often had let's-just-nurse-enough-to-survive days, I don't really think into why he is nursing for less.

Then his ear infection developed into pneumonia, which lasted for a few days. And when we finally thought we were in the clear, Sam contracted some kind of stomach bug which caused him to vomit after almost every feeding and have diarrhea. This meant I had to nurse almost double the amount I was used to. I felt so spent!

When Sam got sick I finally saw why I am still making myself crazy over the nursing and pumping. I was able to give him the best nutrition and comfort that no money can buy, that no formula can offer. While his little body was raging with high fevers, chills, nausea, a deep-chested cough and other aches and pains, he was able to snuggle up to me and suck liquid gold.

This weekend Sam really made up for the amount he lost when he wasn't feeling well. He had actually lost weight during that time, by the way. Sunday, from the early AM hours until the night, Sam ate constantly. I don't know if it's a growth spurt or just making up what was lost because he was feeling better already in the beginning of the week so technically he could have made up the calories then. Why wait until the weekend?

Well, maybe he wanted to save it for the nursing time, rather than on a day when we're separated. He actually took some 15-20 minute feedings which stopped months ago!