Doctor Week

happy baby!


This week has been the week of the doctor. Tomorrow will be my 3rd trip to the doctor this week! Twice for me, once for Peyton's shots. Yesterday I had to have a test done at a clinic for my throat. So I get to the clinic on time only to find out that I was at the wrong place. I was supposed to go to the main hospital to have it done. Arnold and Peyton had dropped me off, and had already left, so I was stuck there. I tried calling Arnold for twenty minutes, but his cell phone was off. Finally I got a hold of him, and he had already made it back home (why is it that when you need to get in touch with someone, they always have their cell phone off at just the wrong time!). So he gets back in the car to come pick me up. By this point I'm dying! I had not had anything to eat or drink in like 18 hours, and this was only delaying the test. I finally make it to the hospital and have my test done two hours later. (I found out that I have a small hernia in my esophagus. I don't think it's a big deal, just something I acquired while pregnant.) In the meantime, Peyton is having to drink from a bottle for the second time in her little life. She's not to fond of the bottle. She gulps it down in two seconds flat, and then cries. Now when I feed her, she usually falls asleep. (heaven!!!) Not sure what's gonna happen when she starts daycare.

First Road Trip

our little turkey-6 weeks old




We had a really nice Thanksgiving. We headed to Monroe, LA to see Arnold's parents. It was Peyton's first road trip. I must say that she did really good. She slept the whole time in the car, and even when we were in Monroe, she was a good girl. But I tell you, packing for a trip with a baby is a whole new experience. It's like you have to take half the house with you. The car was loaded down, and we were only there for four days. It was great though because I got some rest! Arnold's dad and mom were more than happy to hold her A LOT! It was so nice!!!

Last night, we put up our Christmas decorations. Some may say it's kind of early (of course not compared to all the stores who now start putting out their Christmas stuff by HALLOWEEN), but we like to enjoy it all since we always travel for the holidays. And Peyton slept in her swing, so it was the perfect opportunity. Our little six foot Walmart Charlie Brown tree looks pretty good. I hope we get to look at Christmas lights this year as well. I love looking at the tacky gaudy Christmas displays. The tackier, the better for me....you know...the Christmas displays where the people have plastered the lights to the house and have 12 blow-up things in their yard along with a lot of other Christmas junk. It makes it interesting :)

Hope you like the picture of our little Thanksgiving turkey!

The Many Faces of Peyton Lindsey

A Walk to Remember

Today Peyton and I went for our daily walk around campus. I knew things were not going to be good when part of the way through the walk she starts screaming. I push her over to the music building on campus, take her out of the stroller, and hold her for a few minutes. She konks (is this really a word, and is this how you spell it?) out again. We then go visit her daddy at work, leave, and she starts screaming again. By this point, I've already gotten several stares from people and a few sympathetic looks. So I start NASCARing it back to the apartment. I then feed her, and now she's fast asleep in my lap. Arnold says it's colic, but I'm wondering...was my child just incredibly hungry? Either way, it was a walk to remember!

And since it's Thanksgiving week, I thought I would list a few things I'm thankful for...

* my family (immediate and extended)
*the chance to take a shower once a day
*the warm New Orleans weather
*the fact that we haven't had to buy one pack of diapers since she's been born
(she's almost six weeks old)
*God's provisions and sustaining grace
*Judge Judy, the honorable judge Marilyn, Judge Joe Brown, Judge Mathis, Judge
Alex, Judge Cristina, and Judge Maria for entertaining me all day for
nearly six weeks
*Zantac
*going to the grocery store
*Dr. Meacham for bringing Arnold leftover Halloween candy
*and last, but certaintly not least, my husband for being so patient with me!!!

little things to be thankful for

I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is next week! Arnold will be off for almost three days. I am excited that he will off. We hope to go to Monroe, LA to have Thanksgiving with Arnold's family. If Peyton is still having a lot of crying issues though, we may not go. But I hope we do. It's always fun to go visit his family and especially during a holiday.

I have to say that God is good. We have had several good days now with the baby. Tonight she had a little colic episode, but we are thankful to have had a break this week. Anyway, I go back to work on December 10, so I am trying to enjoy every last second I have with her. Thanks for the prayers.

My Friend Nicole

Today I want to tell you about a special friend I have. Her name is Nicole. Now, Nicole doesn't even know I'm writing this because she doesn't even know that I have a blog. But I wanted to write anyway. Nicole is one of those friends that everyone needs. She is incredibly generous, thoughtful, and concerned. Nicole has gotten me groceries when I couldn't go to the store. She has cooked us dinners to eat so that I didn't have to worry with supper. She has offered to watch the baby even though she knows she's a little fussy. She has called me repeatedly to check up on me and the baby. She insisted the first night we came home from the hospital that if the baby was crying, we could call her and she would come over and give us a break. Anytime she goes out, she always calls to check and see if I need her to pick us up something. She's let me borrow some of her baby things. I could go on, but you get the picture. Nicole is one of those friends who you know will be there and be willing to help no matter what time of the night it is. She never makes you feel like you're bothering her. You know you can count on her. Oh, and did I mention she has a 2 year old and a six month old?! I praise God for bringing me a friend like Nicole. She is really an example of what a godly friend should look like. Thanks Nicole!

One other thing Nicole has done is introduced me to the Moby wrap. I plan to go out and buy one of these things today. Peyton instantly fell asleep yesterday when I tried Nicole's on. I have found that if I hold her all day, her crying stops. But it's hard to be chained to the chair all day. That's why I'm so excited about the Moby. I can still be mobile! And see, doesn't the girl in the picture look so happy and rested and her baby is asleep. That's going to be me after today :)




Update on Peyton-We stopped using the Reglan for her stomach but are still using the Zantac. The last two days she's been better, though I honestly think holding her all the time has helped. And if it will stop the screaming, I will do it. Keep praying for her though!

Craft Fair

This is a picture of Peyton in a big people's bed. She looks so small...and cute too!

I've been wanting to write now for a few days, but we've been pretty busy around the Arredondo household...mainly holding a hurting baby and going to doctor appointments. The pediatrician said Peyton has GERD or basically acid reflux. We've started her on two different medications that don't seem to be helping much. We were hoping that if the medications worked it would stop the colic, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Keep the prayer lines hot for us!
On a lighter note, she is coming more alive every day. Her eyes are so bright and will follow you around the room. There's no sneaking around now. She seems to really recognize voices as well. She's mimicked our smiles several times, but maybe it's just gas :) She is a beautiful blessing.

Last night Arnold said he would watch her so I could go to the craft fair on campus. Now this was generous of him because even before I left she was not a happy camper. And she was that way the whole I was gone too :( Arnold was also really tired because he works all day and then comes home and helps me with her until midnight at least. But it was nice to get out and see everyone. The craft fair on campus is for ladies who make purses, jewelry, Christmas decorations, etc. It gives them a chance to display and sell some of their items. Of course I wanted to buy several things, but new baby=no $$$. However, she's totally worth it!!!

Potholes and other ramblings

Just a random picture of Peyton after a bath.

For once I am thankful for potholes and bumpy roads. Anyone who reads this blog who has ever lived in New Orleans knows how bad the roads are here. I mean, it's an understatement to say they are bad...they are terrible. However, when your baby is screaming at the top of your lungs, and you strap her in the carseat and take her for a ride, those bumps really help. In fact, I was actively seeking out the bumps this afternoon. I drove down a road that I knew had a lot of potholes and cracks in the road, which, it's not really hard to find a road like that around here. It was totally worth tearing up the alignment in our car for those twenty minutes of peace.

In other unrelated news, I went to the grocery store last night. Now, it had been about a month since I had been to the grocery store. I was shocked at how prices have gone up on everything. There was a note at the deli counter about how Sara Lee meats had gone up because of oil. That's just crazy! But not just meat has gone up. Such much for the old budget. I guess it's going to be Ramen noodles and rice for the Arredondo family for a while.

Also, I'm not sure if I have made this request before on the blog or not, but PLEASE pray for little Peyton. (And pray for her weary parents too). Thank you!

Power in Weakness

We are getting desperate at this point. I just sent Arnold out to Babies R Us to look for Colic Calm Gripe Water. Sounds interesting. I'm kind of wondering what the heck "gripe water" is, but anyway, it's supposed to help with colic. I really really wanted to go to Babies R Us. I know that sounds crazy, but I have not been off the seminary campus in several days now. Arnold did not want to be left alone with her in case she started. Last night was a very trying one. From about 12 am to 3 am, she screamed nonstop. Poor baby. Nothing could be done. Usually mommy is pretty good at calming little Peyton down, or so I thought. Not when the colic strikes! There is no weaker moment, no more powerless feeling than when your newborn is screaming her head off in pain in the middle of the night, and there is nothing you can do about it. Not only are you physically exhausted, but it's emotionally exhausting as well. All day the song "His Strength is Perfect" has been playing over and over in my head. It's an old song...His strength is perfect when our strength is gone....He'll carry us when we can't carry on...raised in His power the weak become strong...His strength is perfect. It reminded me of the verse in 2 Corinthians 12..."Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." v.8-9 May God give us the grace and strength to make it through this difficult time!