Problem solved

When he does take his bottle, Jacob doesn't like to be cradled in my arms like a normal baby. He prefers to be propped up on my knees facing me, so instead of gazing at his adorable face, all I get to see is the bottom end of the bottle staring up at me. Since I spend so much time looking at the bottom of a piece of plastic, and since feeding time lasts forever and makes up the most stressful part of my day, I took a permanent marker to the bottom of all of those bottles and made myself a little reminder.

For over a month now, I've been staring at the inscription "2 Cor. 4:1" during our frustrating feeding times, and I've tried to live out the verse "Therefore since through Christ's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart." I have tried to be patient as I've prayed for Jacob to eat better, to take a few more sips of formula, or to open his mouth for a spoonful of sweet potatoes. And my God has been faithful.

We're still not where we should be, but my little boy has turned a corner. Each day we see a little improvement. A full bottle finished with minimum fussing. A tablespoon of carrots eaten and a baby hungry for more. A day that goes by without any spitting up. The realization that he seems to be getting a little chunkier. Small victories, each of them, but reminders that I am not to lose heart as I pray, and wait, and hope for Jacob's poor eating habits and upset tummy to go away.

The x-ray we subjected him to yielded no answers. The powerful drug we switched him to didn't really change anything. So I'm following my mommy instincts, and taking things one day at a time. And I'm continuing to pray, which has been our most productive course of action to date.

In the meantime, a slice of watermelon on a hot day seems to go down just fine.