Adam’s Getting a New Hat July 20, 2007
Adam had two appointments on Wednesday to follow up with the plagiocephaly situation. It was a tough day. The combination of missed morning nap, plus two separate appointments, plus an hour and a half wait at the doctor’s office, plus the results of the day was just about enough to send us both over the edge.
First he had his second head scan. The results weren’t encouraging. Even with all of the stretching exercises and repositioning that we’ve been doing his head hasn’t improved at all. In fact, the symmetry measurement was a little worse. It was disappointing to see that number go up instead of down.
Then we went on to see the pediatric rehab specialist. She said that we could wait another month and rescan him, but that it would basically be delaying the inevitable. The sooner we get him into a helmet the better it will work and the less time he’ll have to be in it. So, helmet it is.
It wasn’t a hard decision to make from a medical standpoint. Would I rather him spend a few months wearing a helmet or spend a lifetime with a wonky head? Not hard to answer. However, from an emotional standpoint, it was a hard decision to make. I didn’t expect to be so emotional about it, but I am. I don’t want my little man to be stuck in a helmet for 23 hours a day for 3-4 months. I know it’s for the best, though, so we shall proceed.
I’m pretty sure the experience will be easier than I’m expecting. I know that little kiddos adjust quickly to such things. It’s just tough to think about. Plus, he’s already dealing with so much on the GI front. I just hate to add to that.
Like with most things, it helps to hear from other people who have dealt with the same issues. Suz has been a great help and a source of reassurance. Thank goodness for my blogging pals.
There’s some question over whether or not our insurance will pay for his helmet. His case has got to go before a predetermination board to determine whether or not the insurance company thinks the helmet is medically necessary. Instead of waiting for this process to finish we decided to go ahead and pay out of pocket so we can get the helmet ASAP. Those suckers aren’t cheap (more than a FET at my first clinic, less than a FET at my second- I wonder when I’ll stop thinking in terms of IVF $?) but what ya gonna do. Maybe we’ll get reimbursed for part of it, maybe we won’t. I’m not going to sit around and waste precious time waiting for the slow wheels of the insurance company to turn, though. We’re going to get this show on the road.
His helmet was ordered today, so I think that means he should be fitted with it not this coming week but the next. Until then I’ll be constantly kissing his cute little head.
More on the Diet Situation July 13, 2007
I had a few comments on my last post about the elimination diet, so I thought I’d blog some more about that. The problem really isn’t that I’m on an elimination diet. The problem is that I’m a picky eater on an elimination diet. It makes things a bit more complicated.
So since dairy, eggs, soy, wheat, nuts, fish, shellfish, and beef are out right now, what do I eat? Well, that would be chicken, pork, fruits, veggies, rice, and potatoes. That sounds like it should be plenty, but it’s hard when you’re used to eating yummy things like pizza, cookies, and even things like hamburgers.
It’s really changed not only how I shop (I’ve got to read every label very carefully) but how I eat. I didn’t use to eat a lot of rice or potatoes, relying more on wheat, but now I eat them every day. I’m really not a veggie lover, and that hasn’t changed, but I make myself eat them nonetheless.
Breakfast is the hardest for me. I eat fruit every morning, but that doesn’t cut it. I can’t have eggs or things made with flour like pancakes or waffles. (I did try some wheat-free, dairy-free, egg-free waffles, but I couldn’t finish them. Yuck.) I don’t like oatmeal, but it would be out anyway since Adam reacts to oatmeal. (He broke out in a rash from Aveeno lotion.) There aren’t a ton of cereals I can eat, but I have found one that’s safe that I like. I eat it dry, though, because I don’t like rice milk. (See, I told you I was picky.) Potatoes and bacon with a side of fruit is my new favorite breakfast.
On Sunday nights I usually make a pot of something that I can eat off for lunches during the week. There’s really not many convenience foods that I can eat, and I can’t really stop to cook during the week, so that’s what I’ve been doing. I’ve made things like chili with pork instead of beef, chicken jambalaya, and beans, rice, and ham. Not exactly what I would call gourmet cuisine, or even things I really like a whole lot, but they get the job done. Dinner is usually pork or chicken with either rice or potatoes and a veggie. It gets repetitive, but that’s just how it is.
I’ve found a few snacks I can eat like safe chips, potato or corn chips made without soybean oil, some varieties of fruit snacks, certain brands of sorbet, and even a couple of different kinds of candy. I have to admit, though, that I would much prefer even just a teeny tiny bite of ice cream. It’s been 5 months since I’ve had dairy, and it’s hard not to crave it.
A couple of weeks ago we took a trip to Whole Paycheck to try to find some alternative foods. We found some things that were top 8 allergen free, but I have to admit that I haven’t liked very many of them. I mean, did I really think that dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free cookies would be edible? Dan liked them, though. I’m learning that I’m not big on the substitute type of foods. I did find one thing that’s not bad, though, and it kind of surprised me: rice pasta. I didn’t expect to like it, but it’s growing on me so now I can at least have some semblance of spaghetti.
So, how do I get enough calories? That’s a tricky one for me especially given the fact that I need more calories because I’m breastfeeding. I guess I don’t always get enough hence the weight loss. I’m trying, though. I have a good metabolism, one that’s used to eating cookies and the like, so I really do have to make myself eat more now that I’m not eating a lot of junk. I also try to do the opposite of what you do when you diet, like drink calories by drinking Gatorade occasionally instead of just water. I also make sure that I eat something right before I go to bed at night.
I just have to keep reminding myself that this is only temporary. One day he’ll either grow out of it or I’ll be done breastfeeding. I’m not sure which will come first, but I’ll be able to eat all of those foods that I crave again eventually. Right now, though, this is what’s best for Adam. That’s the most important thing. (Oh, and the little guy weighed in at 18 lbs, 6 oz and was 26 3/4″ tall at his 6 month checkup today, so I must be doing something right. It’s good to know that he’s thriving despite all of this stuff.)
6 Months July 10, 2007
Our little guy turned 6 months old today, and you know what? I still have to pinch myself.
He’s been up to quite a bit lately. In addition to sitting up, he finally decided that it was time to roll over. I was starting to wonder if he’d ever get around to it, and he finally decided he was ready. It’s no surprise to me that he sat up without support before he rolled over, though, given the fact that I’ve been unable to put him in any sort of horizontal position so many times due to the reflux/GI issues.
Speaking of that, things are going ok in that department. I’ve been on the elimination diet, no dairy, wheat, eggs, nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, or beef, for five weeks now. It’s still kicking my ass, but it’s helping Adam which is the most important thing. I’ve tried reintroducing eggs and beef, separately of course, and he reacted to both so they both went back on the forbidden list.
I get frustrated being unable to eat so many things that I would really love to eat, but my main problem with the diet is that I’m having trouble maintaining my weight on it. I’m only a pound away from dipping down into the double digits right now, and that’s not good. I know it’s a problem many would like to have, but it’s a problem nonetheless. So far it hasn’t affected my milk production, but I’m worried that it could.
Breastfeeding is going well, and I can honestly say that I enjoy it now. I’m so glad that I didn’t give up in the beginning, because I can’t imagine not breastfeeding him. I guess it’s obvious from the whole elimination diet thing how much I’m willing to go through to be able to maintain that relationship.
Adam is totally ready to start solids and has been for a while. He goes nuts when we eat or drink in front of him, pulling our plates towards him or grabbing at whatever it is we’re snacking on at the moment. He loves to hold Dan’s soft drink cans and lick the sides of them. I really do want to start him on some solid food soon, but I know that it will be challenging. Not only will I have to stop reintroducing eliminated foods into my diet whenever we introduce something new directly to him, but we’ll have to take things pretty slowly just to make sure his sensitive system is ok with what we give him.
The whole sleep issue is still a work in progress. Some days are better than others, but things are definitely better than the were before. Adam’s been sleeping in his crib every night but wants nothing to do with it for naps. It will come in time, I’m sure. He’s been going through his 6 month growth spurt the last week and a half and is reminding me of those early days, nursing every 2-3.5 hours at night and even more frequently during the day.
Speaking of growing, I know exactly where all of my weight is going. Straight to him, of course. He’s getting so big, and I can’t wait to find out the official numbers when we go for his check up on Friday.
I find that often times I get caught up in the day to day stuff, trying to make sure Adam actually naps or attempting to decipher what’s going on with his GI issues. It’s nice, however, when something happens to make me reflect a little. Yesterday we got another medical bill from Adam’s birth in the mail. They tend to trickle in every now and again, so I thought nothing of it when I opened it last night.
It was from the neonatologist’s office and I quickly scanned it to find out how much we owed. Then my eyes came to rest of the description of service provided: newborn resuscitation. It was the bill from the doctor who had resuscitated Adam after he was born not breathing. I don’t think I’ve ever had an easier time writing a check in my life. I mean, how can you put a price on that?
It just reminded me how much we went through to get our little guy, all the way from the early infertility days, through all of the IVF cycles, right down to those heart stopping moments after delivery. Seeing that bill allowed the gratefulness I feel in my heart to rise to the surface. I am just so very thankful that we have him in our lives. I don’t think there really are words to express how much.
