Even Christian radio can adversely affect your peace of mind. Let me explain (please, finish the post before getting worried for lil' Shamus...there is a happy ending.)
We have friends who stopped listening to their Christian radio station b/c of the negative thoughts and ideas it conjured up in their minds . Well, I wasn't so convinced until this week. Shamus Jr. has started a new habit during some of his feedings. He'll pull off quite aggressively and thrust his head back, arching his body into a stiff position - sometimes accompanied by a shrilling scream and sometimes quietly with a few babbles just enjoying the position for a bit before wanting more to eat. After the episodes with shrilling screams, he'd sometimes want to feed more and others he'd finally be consoled with a new diaper or just going to sleep. I couldn't determine a set pattern so that I could understand what Shamus Jr. was trying to tell me he wanted. I remember telling Shamus Sr., should I allow him to act this way, and if so, are we teaching him it's okay to play during meal time.
Well, after a few days of this, I was convinced that my perfect little four month old was beginning to demonstrate a very strong-willed personality and throwing temper tantrums. I had reconciled too that he was tired of nursing and wanting more food - I felt like all kind of drastic measures were in order. Those thoughts worsened after hearing my favorite radio station interview a child psychologist who discussed kids with emotional disorders causing disruptive behavior. This sealed the deal for me. I was convinced that if at four months old Shamus Jr. could throw fits like this, then he was as described showing signs that somethings was neurologically wrong with him - such that an everyday event was causing him to react in a state of panic using his fight or flight responses - as eloquently described by the psychologist. So, there I was with my diagnosis - completely feeling guilty that I had caused it!
A few more days of this went on before we attended our church's night of worship and I spent some serious time in prayer asking God to heal Shamus, Jr. and give him a contented spirit. God was my last resort, my only hope - after all, I had tried everything it seemed.
Well, the very next evening when Shamus' fits happened two feeding in a row...I was devastated. I picked up the phone to call two Moms I trust...no one answered. I was about to go online and do a desparate Google search to find the solution. Well, thankfully, I continued to trust my Mom instict and trust that God would help me determine Shamus' want. And as always, God answers prayer! I started thinking about how Shamus would nurse for 45 minutes or more and how now, his nursing it's down to 10, 20 minutes max...maybe, just maybe he's wanting to suck and not feed. So, in the middle of his screaming, I put my knuckle in his mouth and suck he did!! I've never seen him suck so hard! So, I went and found his pacy (not handy, b/c he rarely takes a pacy - never seemed to like it)...and he didn't skip a beat sucking. He even used his hands to hold it in his mouth!! Well, I was wanting to see how much of a learning moment this could extend to and do you know, that our lil' man took hold of his pacy and stuck it right in his mouth!! It was so fun watching him perform his new trick....even with a few attempts of the pacy missing his mouth!
Well, Shamus, Jr. is four months old now (on August 3)! I can't believe it! He's finally passed the newborn stage where those first three months were spent keeping him close for feeding, comfort, and napping. Now, he much rather pefers to be on the floor on his belly seeing the world from a new angle! He enjoys tummy time now that he's able to keep his head up and he's working on pushing up with his arms. Right now, he rests himself on his hands and forearms - so cute! He enjoys watching himself in his mirror and rolling over all on his own. This all came to be on the weekend of his four month birthday! Around the same time, we were sure he was about to cut his first tooth - Shamus even could see it poking through (top left of his gums). But a week and a half later and still no tooth. He is drooling alot but his chewing on his fingers and irritability has seemed to subsided for now. So, I guess that's just the beginning of his teething stage.
At almost four months old, Shamus Jr. continues to settle into his comfortable routine such that Mommy and Daddy are attempting all kinds of new adventures with baby in tow. Every three hours about, Jr. will eat, poop, play, and sleep and the cycle continues throughout the day. This may seem like an ordinary baby, but to Mommy who was feeding almost every hour until week 10 - it's a miracle!! :-)
Wow, where do I start for the month of June! Let's just say we've had a steep learning curve! By week 11, Shamus Jr. and Mommy finally were getting the swing of things and settling into a manageable routine. As you can see Jr. is a very happy boy! We're enjoying his smiles and coos.
Today was Mommy and Shamus, Jr's last day of Motherlore class. We enjoyed hanging out with the other Mommies and Babies and learning infant massage from Monette. Jr. was either sleeping or eating most of the class but Mom enjoyed learning by watching the other Moms.
