11 weeks.

Ah.   Another Friday.   This is a victory for me.  It means we have survived another week.  Jax..aka the Screaming Ham hasn't killed me yet.   Why do we call him the Screaming Ham you ask?   High needs infants feed often.  My children tend to grow a lot in the first year and level off.  While Jax started out as an 8 lb 4 ounce baby, he is already 16 lbs and wearing 9 month Carters.  We have joked around saying he is so solid... like a brick... like burping a sandbag, and lastly.. he "feels like a Christmas Ham"  Well one day I cut a conversation short because as usual, Jax was SCREAMING.  Annoyed and exhausted I said to my Mom, "Hey I have to go, my ham is screaming..."  Welcome the nickname... "The Screaming Ham"    Along with that we also have Chunkzilla.  

How does one entertain a screaming ham you ask?   Swing?   Forget it.   They hate swings.   Bouncy Seat?   Nope.  Those are for sleeping because for some messed up reason as if high needs infants aren't miserable enough, they often come with reflux and need to sleep on an incline.   Hmmm  Tummy Time?   NO WAY.  You might as well pull an arm off.. High needs babies HATE TUMMY TIME.  

All that baby crap you have for your high needs baby?   Might as well throw it away.  Get a BIG exercise ball.  Now hold your screaming ham and bounce... bounce.. bounce.  Don't you dare sit on the couch.  You bounce till your thighs hurt and the ham is asleep and drooling. 

Baby toys you say?   NOPE.  High needs babies don't like those.  They like ceiling fans.   Mylar balloons, BRIGHT big screen TVs. 

Your baby is screaming... gentle rocking?  forget that too.  Get out the vacuum and plug it in.. turn it on... once the baby is quiet you must leave it on.  That is the only way to keep the baby from fussing.

Also- buy a carrier.  Buy one you like and get used to wearing it.  High needs babies will fuss when you put them into it (because they hate ANY transition) but they will enjoy moving with you and being able to move in ways they cannot yet. 

This is just a cross section of my day and my life.   My whole day is focused on keeping Jax happy and trying to do normal life activities while keeping the peace. 

I know it will get better... but I mourn the fact that I never had the chance to have a "normal"  baby.  These babies are never easy.  I keep telling myself that the next stage is the good one and that it will get better.  But some days.. it is so hard to stay positive and see the good in spite of the bad.