Zombies

I think Marcus and I should have been zombies for Halloween. Not only are we seriously lacking in sleep, thus acting like said zombies, but my RA has flared so badly after delivering Drew that I walk like a zombie. My hips, knees and ankles are completely swollen, so my gait is disjointed and awkward. My elbows and wrists are so stiff and swollen that one arm juts out at an awkward angle and I must lift things in strange, creative ways. Who would've thought picking up an 8-lb baby would be hard?

The anti-zombie remedies are on the way, I hope. Once the insurance red tape has been cut through, I'll be back on my arthritis drugs and hopefully feeling some relief. Helping baby Drew sleep better, however, may be more complicated.

Drew has tummy issues that cause him to wake screaming every hour or so all night (except for the rare exception here and there when I think I will lose my mind- thank you Heavenly Father!) He has painful gas that causes him to go rigid and scream until it finally passes, and then he will zonk out until his empty stomach or next gas bubble awakens him. We've switched to a "sensitive" formula and less-gas bottles, and tried gas drops and gripe water- all with limited improvement. Today his doctor recommended that we try ready-to-use formula instead of powdered, as apparently many young infants can't digest the powdered very well. If that doesn't work (or if it bankrupts us) he will be getting a check up and probably some sort of medication.

I feel awful for him when he's screaming. And I feel sorry for myself and Marcus. We're so tired.