Puzzled

Haddie had her four month  doctor's appointment a few days before she turned 5 months old. She measured 26" (90th percentile) long and 13.5 lbs (20th percentile). And per the doctor's diagnosis, she was in the midst of an eczema flare up. Now, I of course recognized the red skin on her cheeks, trunk and arms, but I assumed it was dry skin from the winter. I was optioning her every time I changed her diaper with no improvement, granted the flare up only started a few days before her appointment. But what this eczema told us is that she has a cow's milk intolerance, as this is the number one cause of eczema. This means I had to cut dairy from my diet if I wanted to continue nursing. I told the doctor it wouldn't be a big deal because I really only have milk with cereal and creamer in my coffee on a regular basis. Well, boy. It turns out the week heading in to the holidays is not the week to go dairy free! About 90% of all good served at holiday gatherings has dairy in it: cheese and crackers, spinach dip, veggie bars, taco dip (pretty much any dip because they're made with cream cheese as the base and then usually has cheese added to that!). Breakfast has also been more challenging than I expected. I immediately switched out my cereal with oatmeal prepared with water, but that was leaving me hungry during the day so I added egg mcmuffins to the line up. After closer inspection of the ingredients, there's milk (whey) in these, too. Now, she said I don't have to be super strict, where I don't eat things made with some dairy (i.e. Pancakes) but obviously eliminate things where dairy is a primary ingredient (i.e. Bagels and cream cheese).
Now, since Haddie's weight had dipped again, we were hoping this was the last piece of the puzzle we needed to help her get back on track. Additionally, she was able to start eating solids, introduced about a half hour after eating. She took to solids pretty decently. She ate rice cereal in the morning and then would eat a half to nearly full container of puree throughout the day. And cutting the dairy seemed to be a bigger player than the reflux was on her discomfort, as I had missed giving her some doses on time while we were traveling but she still took the dairy free milk without any issues! Plus her eczema cleared up in an instant (with the help of vanicream and rewashing all of her clothes in hypoallergenic detergent).
Well, three weeks from that appointment, she had a follow-up appointment which revealed she only gained 1.5 oz!!! In three weeks!!! We were floored. And stumped. She seriously doesn't act or look like an under-nourished baby. Haddie was sent home with a canister of dairy free formula to try if we wanted, and we were told to increase the puree to 3 feedings a day (which she had been getting all along) and to offer her bottles after nursing, in case she's just not a good breast feeder. Cut to today: I am no longer nursing. I went back to exclusive pumping/bottle feeding to make sure I was producing enough; and because offering her a bottle after nursing was resulting in a lot of wasted milk. But I've also been adding rice cereal to her bottles and she's taking them fairly well! Hopefully this can bring about enough of a positive change that we don't actually have to do formula.
Haddie updates up to 5 months:
Sitting up with more control
Able to sit in her high chair, reclined, for meals
Also able to sit/stand in her little bouncer/activity table
Rolls from back to stomach easily
Rolled from her stomach to back on the seventh for the first time, and I've only witnessed her do it once more since
Holds the trunk of her body up high when laying in her belly and kicks her legs a lot while doing so; pretty soon and this babe will be crawling, I think! Watch out world!
Holds things in her hands
Found her feet so those are becoming a little more interesting
Tracks her brother all of the time
Cooing a lot, started babbling this week (dada is gonna be the first word again, I know it!)
Smiles and giggles easily
Still sleeps through the night, 8pm-630am
Receives Zantac twice a day for her reflux
Eats ~ 4 oz every 3 hours and puree in between
Wearing size 2 diapers and 6 month clothing
Loves lights, shadows, the TV, momma singing "Hushaby" (I finally have a song that soothes her!)
Some of her favorite toys from Christmas include her flower night light, drums, high chair toys, doll with teethers and swishy noises
Has cried during her last two baths which is a big bummer. Avett waxed and waned with baths, too.

Speaking of that little guy, I clarified with the doctor the best way to handle his picky eating behaviors, and she said to continue offering what I eat for dinner and not giving him any substitutions or snacks before/after. So don't be surprised to find him at the very low end of the weight chart come April! He has tried a few more options but it hasn't been significant or glamorous!
Breakfast is still the easiest: cereal, oatmeal, toast, pancakes, etc. Lunch is a PB sandwich. Dinner is nothing, usually. His favorite food: candy. He's got an ear for wrappers!
He has graduated to size 5 diapers at night!
Wears 2T tops and 18 month old pants. Loves sweats over casual wear, but loves his grandpa hat over a practical warm winter hat. And he does not like mittens!
Loves playing with his figurine animals and dinosaurs!
Says his favorite animal is a tiger (but this varies)
Likes to give Haddie her toys and blankets, especially when she's crying.
Likes watching the Jungle Book movie and Finding Dory. Did not like Beauty and the Beast because it was too scary.
A big fan of paw patrol (movie and figurines)
Likes to be tucked in to bed and read a story (then yells "mommy weave")
Enjoys playing in his new tent and sleeping bag, as well as occasionally sleeping there
He has had a cold with a cough that initially sounded like croupe. The doctor checked his lungs at Haddie's appointment and said they were clear. But it's persistent. It's definitely weakening after a week but the poor guy has had a rough time sleeping with it.

The kids were majorl spoiled over Christmas. I had to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so it was a bit of a hectic timeline. We celebrated with my family on Friday. Aaron made a delicious dinner of ham, Brussels sprouts, cheesy potatoes, homemade rolls, (I made) jello jugglers, and sniffer pie for dessert. We had to do gift opening in two periods so that Avett wouldn't get too tired!  By the end of the night we could barely move in the living room because the kids toys had taken over! We Skyped with the Kings for a good portion of it.
Then on Christmas Eve, I got home from work around 130. Avett was napping so that's when Santa came! He got a few planes and cars and some outerwear. Haddie got set up with eating gear, some decor for her room, and some developmental toys. The two also got a Radio Flyer wagon to share. It's pretty deluxe-I'm excited about it!
After our own Christmas we went to my Aunt LeeAnn and Uncle Donny's for Christmas with my dad's side. It was a "small" year but we still got to see all of my aunts and uncles; and Shannon and her family were there so Avett was busy playing with the kids!
Christmas Day I had to work a full 8 hours, and it was slow! I could have been out in my regular six hours with the little amount of stuff I had to do. I didn't get home until 4 and we basically packed up the kids and went to my Grandparents to celebrate with my mom's side. We got to see my three cousins over there and my Aunt Mary. Avett was obsessed without Daniel. Haddie slept for most of it!
Then the following week we went to MI once I finished work on Friday. We celebrated Christmas and New Years with the whole Bollwahn gang! Avett and Maxwell are always way too cute together! They had a lot of fun playing in the trampoline they each got from Uncle Brandon and Aunt Katie! And Avett utilized his sleeping bag so tat we didn't have to pack another pack n play. We fortunately got a luggage rack for Christmas so we could haul everything home. Everything but the trampoline because it was too big. But we think Nana and Papa are bringing it home for us this week! Can't wait to see them!