Catching up with Old-timers

[Anonymous]

Some of us veterans have been wondering how everyone is doing. Many of us have moved on from reflux and other issues and have lost touch. Some are still dealing with medical issues and just don’t have the time to keep in touch. Here is a place to do just that, update us on your child’s progress and how life is going for you. Hopefully it will also inspire those of you “in the thick of things” to know that it does get better- there is life after reflux! lol

I’ll paste an update here that I wrote in an email to begin this……

I actually got an email from a gal that was looking on infantreflux.org for enerocolitis problems. She found some of my old posts I guess, and emailed me with some questions, my answer to her was long (are my answers every any other way??) lol and after I sent it I figured it would be a good “catch up” for you guys on here as well ! (Plus it saves me a LOT of typing!) LOL So I’m pasting it…. and glad to be back in the neighborhood, even briefly! My email is still [email protected] , I’d love to hear from anybody, especially my veteran buddies!! Take care guys…. I’ll poke around a bit and see if I can see how anybody’s doing! Thanks for being there for me in a REALLY tough time in my life… you guys were my lifeline! ~Tracy

Hi there , I’m glad you found me on infantreflux.org, it’s been so long since I’ve been onthere that I’m amazed you did! I’m very happy to say that, as I was a daily presence there for over a year, the length of time it took to get Eli diagnosed and “healthy”. I’m glad to say we’re doing great, Eli is eating food!! He still drinks neocate one plus (up until a few weeks ago it was his main source of nutrition) but lately he’s cut WAY back (he was drinking about 40-48oz a day) today he’s only had about 6 oz so far. He’s eating whatever he wants now, although he still has eczema and rashes if he eats a lot, doesn’t seem to matter what food, more like, the amount of food in proportion to the amount of formula he’s drinking. (does that make any sense?) On the days he “mostly drinks” his neocate (meaning he drinks a lot of bottles and only eats a few bites of food) he is fine, no rashes, no eczema, etc. On the days he doesn’t drink a lot of neocate and consequently eats more food he gets “rashy”. His reactions seem to be related more to how his immune system is doing rather than what he eats. For example, when he has a bad rash or hives almost always he will come down with a fever, or ear infection, or runny nose the very next day. It’s almost like his body can handle food as long as he’s well rested, isn’t coming down with anything, and is healthy. Regardless of what the food is, he’s ok until he gets run down, then it seems that no matter what the food is, he has a reaction.

Wierd huh? LOL I’m just laughing because I could sum up his life with those two words…. “wierd huh?”. LOL

He still avoids most meats by choice, I don’t know if it’s cuz it’s protein or he just is being a picky three yr old. He LOVES eggs, so that would be wierd if meat bothered him but not eggs? Yah, I’m a wealth of information here huh? Sigh~ SOrry! I wish it were an exact science that I could understand and relay to you, but we’re still guessing here too! I do know he tested 4++ allergic to eggs at nine months, and now he eats them with no reaction as long as it’s just occaisionally… if he has them too many days in a row he does start the eczema and hives thing.

I’m sorry if I’m sounding “all over the place”. It’s just that so much has happened in our lives that sometimes I feel like I’m going in a hundred different directions! I was diagnosed with colon cancer in July of 2005, I had my colon, appendix, uterus, ovaries, cervix and about 1/3 of my stomach removed in October ’05, I’m just now considering myself recovered. (unless I get hit in the stomach, and then it takes me right back there!) So, THAT was a huge “monkey wrench” in our lives, and then because of bills and my hubby having to quit his job to take care of our six kids last year, we’ve really been “up in the air”. I started my own preschool by renovating my garage this last summer (yah, I’m crazy) so now I work three days a week at home, plus keeping track of my four girls in school and my two boys that aren’t in school full time yet , one’s in Kindergarten in the am, the other is in my morning preschool class, and then he naps while the kindergartener and I do afternoon preschool. Pretty crazy huh?

I’m no expert, but I did learn a LOT with Eli, So…. I’m bruised, broken and cracked, but I am happy to share with you what I learned through Eli’s experiences!! LOL

I cannot even imagine what it must feel like to have a kid w/food protein induced enterocolitis syndrome as your first…. I often think that if Eli were my first he would either have died or we’d still be baffled as to what’s wrong with him. So much of his diagnosis was me just insisting that something “wasn’t right”. I usually breast fed my kids until they were at least two, with Eli I just knew my milk was hurting him, even then it took me until he was nine months old to admit that I had to wean him. So… when I weaned him the fun REALLY began! lol That’s when we started “formula hopping” and realized he REALLY had problems. So in a way, I”m glad that I weaned him at nine months, because I think it made everything come to a head and impossible to deny that he had problems, and consequently got him diagnosed/treated/cured? in a very short time. I say “cured?” because I’m still not sure he is cured, but I know it’s a lot better than it was, and manageable. I don’t even know if he’s “outgrown” the FPIES, or if he outgrew the “allergies” or what, I just know that he can eat most of the time.

We’re so isolated medically, that he hasn’t seen a GI or a specialist since Dr. Putnam in Cincinnati. We left there in February of 2005 and he’s done beautifully. He was “neocate only” from eleven months until 27 months old. He began his own food trials at 27 months, he just kept sneaking food. He’d get into my food storage in the basement, or find a bag of doritoes in his sister’s soccer bag, whatever, he just kept finding food. SO …. after he inhaled an entire plate of scrambled eggs that his big sister left on the table while she answered the phone, we decided it was time to let him eat if he could. So that’s how our food trials started, and we began with that plate of scrambled eggs (since he didn’t react to them we figured they were ‘safe’.) And they are, in moderation. He doesn’t have any “forbidden” foods, but he also doesn’t have a large variety of foods he will eat. His usual diet is breakfast: oatmeal w/milk (the only time he will drink milk, and then he doesn’t actually drink it, just leaves it in the bowl when the oatmeal is gone) toast w/butter, or dry cereal in a bowl (which he usually just picks at) he will drink a bottle of neocate (9oz) around 10 am if he doesn’t eat much. For lunch he likes PB&J (with the crusts cut off of course) but usually doesn’t eat the whole thing (are you detecting a pattern here? ) lol or sometimes a couple of scrambled eggs. Dinner is usually whatever we’re having, but picked at… he likes green beans, corn, carrotts, lettuce etc. it’s usually the meat and potato, pasta or rice that gets picked at. He wont drink milk of any kind, except sometimes when he seems to “forget” and will drink chocolate milk. He’s not big on juices, or candy, not sure why, but they just don’t seem to interest him. He LOVES water, the colder the better, and of course “formeela” as he calls it. When he’s sick or run down he just drinks neocate, I can always tell when he’s getting sick cuz he says no to whatever food we offer him.

I really attribute how well he’s doing to how strongly we stuck to the “no food” thing. We started him on neocate only at 11 months, as you know, a tough time to say “no” to a baby who wants what you’re putting in your mouth! But Dr. Putnam was VERY specific in saying “absolutely NO food, of ANY kind” and we believed him. We just kept distracting him, and if he asked for food we’d offer a bottle and say “sorry buddy, hurta tummy”. He started understanding and stopped asking for food around 16 mos. For a while there people would offer him a cookie (in stores, etc>) and he’d say with a frown “no! Hurta tummy!” It was very cute. I tried REALLY hard not to feel sorry for him, I knew if I did that it would not be good for him, that he’d sense somehow that he was “missing out” and I didn’t want a kid that felt “entitled” somehow, so we treated him like he was perfectly normal, and he thought he was.

I got some flack from strangers/even some family, but it only took a couple of “reactions” when he got food for people to see how sick it made him. It was tough at times, I once had a doctor say to me “do we have to start worrying about “Munchausen’s” with you?” That was a low point, I felt REALLY angry, but luckily my own doctor was there and said to me later “If you ever get that from any doctor, just give them my number, I’ll tell them that I delivered this kid and have treated him since birth, if anyone knows he’s a freak of nature, it’s me!” LOL That made me feel much better! lol

[Anonymous]

Tracy,

It’s so good to hear from you. You have been a great inspiration to me. I know that life is a struggle but it’s been a war for you. You amaze me by your ability to continue on with a great sense of humor. I have been able to take things less seriously because of the things you have shared with us. Colton still doesn’t eat great and he will be two in March. I think we just let him eat what he wants and know not to push it to much. I am so happy that you are doing great. I still wonder how you held it together and maybe one day you will share that story with us. I can remember when you got to go to cancer camp with a handful of other women. I have wondered if you keep in touch with those other women and how are they all doing. I know that God is a big influence in your life and it has helped me to grow even closer to Him. Thanks for writing we truly miss you and are happy you have written. God bless you and your family as he already has and continues to do.

Kathleen McLean

[hellbennt]

I remain here. I steer folks to links & write posts here & there…

Jonah is a busy nonstop 3 year old. He never stops talking (or singing) or moving (unless he’s glued to the few TV shows he’s allowed to watch on weekend mornings so dh & I can rest/relax a bit). He loves puzzles, leggos, vehicles, playing basketball (& generally playing everything) & Elmo remains King. He is in preschool & constantly has a runny nose & is fighting some sort of cold; he still gets ear infections but not enough to warrent tubes…he never was a pickyeater until he hit 3, but nothing too out of the ordinary; normal toddlerness. All in all I can’t complain!!

I had Ari in July, so I’m busy being in love with him…

Hallelujah he is a healthy, non-reflux, delicious baby, tu tu tu !! (that’s me keeping away the evil eye & all that jazz for those of you wondering about me & envisioning ballerinas in tutus, LOL)

and, I am enjoying my sling stash …

(that’s good vibes) to everyone!!!!

~laura

hellbennt2006-12-9 8:13:56

[Anonymous]

wahoo!! sylvia is now just below the 50th percentile in both weight and height——she’s come a long way in 3 years! well, i just rechecked and she is in the 30% for weight and 36% for height—-but she’s still moving up—it must depend on who’s chart you use.

tracy—it’s good to see your post—–i haven’t seen you much since soccer.

kevieb2006-12-9 8:27:54

[Anonymous]

Hey again all!! Yipee Sylvia on height & weight!!!!!! Yipee Laura on having a reflux-free baby and an adorable 3 year old!!!!! Yipee Tracy and Eli on sooooooooooooooo many fronts!!!!!

Tracy, you asked about Palmer in the other thread so I figured this was a better place to update.

He’s a wonderful, super active, super athletic (almost) 3 year old. Like Jonah he never stops talking…or singing…or “reading”…or playing…etc. That even includes in front of the TV, because the few things we allow him to watch are interactive as well. Dan Zanes music DVD rules in our house these days, and Palmer alternates between playing his own guitar, his drum, his maracas, etc. depending on what song is on. This includes songs both in Spanish and English since he’s retained most of his bi-lingual ability since we’ve been back from Costa Rica.

He loves basketball, baseball, golf, and now football. He’s going to be an athlete like his daddy — he already consistently hits (with a bat) a ball thrown to him, is on aim with footballs, and can spend hours at the driving range. After we move in January (back to our home area in Indiana), I’m going to enroll him in bambino soccer and little tykes gymnastics to help harness some of the energy.

He still has reflux, and is still on Prevacid (and Zyrtec for allergies), but we don’t really even think about it anymore. He’s tall and thin as usual…100% for height and 50% for weight, so we don’t worry much about his reflux, or his picky eating. Besides, he eats healthy…just doesn’t like any meats or too many different veggies. Pretty normal I think. Actually besides his reflux I can’t think of a more normal kid!

The big change for us is going to be moving and my not working for awhile. Our time in Costa Rica at the beginning of the year caused us to really re-evaluate our lives. We haven’t been verry happy with the area we live now — not worth going into but just that this area does not generally fit with our beliefs and values and we want to be back closer to a community that does. Besides that our closest family right now is 10 hours away. Once we move, dh’s family will be 30 minutes, and we’ll be exactly halfway between my parents (4 hours south) and my siblings & their families (4 hours north). DH found a great job that allows me not to work at least until Palmer starts preschool next fall. We were both ready to contemplate some changes in our work lives (this is a career change for dh), and it’s nice that I’ll have the time to figure out now what I want to “do with my life” (sounds kind of funny at age 39)!

I’m really looking forward to having some extra time with Palmer. I know he’s going to miss his school though — he talks constantly about his friend and teachers there and what they all do. So I’m looking into all kinds of activities to keep him busy and connected with other kids…soccer & gymnastics, public library, music “lessons” etc. Should be fun, as long as I can find some way to do it without breaking us, as we are taking a hit without my income.

Can’t wait to see who else chimes in!

[Anonymous]

Wow Tracy,
It is so good to hear from you!!! I still have your # but life seems to pass so quickly, I never get around to calling. You have been in my thoughts and prayers though…

It is crazy to see how far you have come with Eli, and how much him and Samantha have in common. Samantha is basically on the same diet as Eli, she takes 40 oz Neocate 1+ per day, and the days that she eats more food, she has diarrhea for the next couple of days. SO we have started just giving her tastes and most of the time she is happy with that.

She is getting so big, she is officially on the growth chart at 10% for weight and 5% for height. Not huge, but definatly growing!!! She is still cancer free and hopefully will remain that way for life!!! We are giving her shots 3 days a week to boost her immune system and they are making a huge difference!!! We were having to go to the ER several times a month and now we have only been 2 times since she started her shots and only one of those she was admitted. That is a huge change.

She is a talkative little stinker. She is into everything and so onery. My son all you had to do was tell him no once and that was the end of it…NOT SAMANTHA… That is a challenge to her, and she gets this defiant look on her face. She wears me out, but she is our little miracle baby and I would not trade her for anything.

I recently took Lance in for a colonoscopy and EGD and it showed that he still has reflux and he also has IBS. So he is back on Prevacid andit seems to be helping. He is doing great other than that.

Christine~ that is so exciting about Sylvia!!! She has come such a long way!!!

Christine~ Good luck to you in your move, I think that you will enjoy having family close by. Palmer will certainly love having his Mommy to himself for a little while. It sounds like one day you may have a pro athlete on your hands, given how early he is starting.

Take care!!!

[Anonymous]

Wow! It’s so nice to hear what everyone is doing.

Tracy, as always, you inspire and amaze me. I’m glad to hear that things seem to be getting back on track for you and your family. It must be so exciting for Eli to be able to eat again.

Christine, I hope that your move goes well. It sounds like it will be wonderful for your entire family.

Like Laura, I’m still hanging around quite a bit. Kaelyn is an incredibly active, stubborn two and half year old with absolutely no fear. She amazes and scares us at the same time. This morning she yelled “look at me” and jumped off the fourth step of our stairs. We couldn’t decide whether we should be relieved that she landed on her feet and is fine or disappointed that she didn’t hurt herself a little so she wouldn’t try it again! We recently started zantac with her again and it seems to be working to control the reflux issues that had resurfaced. At her last allergist appointment he said that she has an 85% chance of outgrowing her allergies, but he doesn’t want us to try introducing foods again until she is five. Fortunately, the limited diet doesn’t seem to be an issue, she’s in the 90th percentile for height and the 50th for weight.

Alexandra is a different child altogether. She is another refluxer, but is the happiest, most laid back child I’ve ever met. Even her daycare teachers have remarked on it. She spits constantly and has lots of silent reflux, but zantac seems to be working to control it. She doesn’t really like to eat, so she’s been off or at the bottom of the growth charts since she was born. We’re currently trialing Neocate to see if it makes a difference with her eating and the rash that she’s had for months, but other than that, life is good. We are really enjoying watching Kaelyn interact with “her baby”.

[Anonymous]

Hi All!!!

So nice to see most of us “oldies but goodies” in the same spot again :-). Christine, I’m jealous and happy for you – I too am ready for a life change and I don’t think your ever too old for one. Palmer is going to love having more mom time I’m sure and I wish you and hubby the best of luck with any changes that are coming your way – so exciting! Tracy – ever so happy that Eli is more on the “normal” side of things vs the unknown. What a scary time and so happy for you that you made it through and hes thriving! Kudos to you for starting a home business, that must be great. Laura you give me hope with a non-refluxer the second time around. I bet it made all the difference in the world when it came to enjoying babyhood.

Lets see, as far as we go we’re well. Sophia is 2 1/2 now and a little spitfire. Shes very very very girlie and sweet and then again shes a little demon when you cross her – lol. Just like good old mom. Shes got her dad wrapped so tight I don’t think the poor man knows which end is up. After being on the highest dose of prevacid for so long shes been med free since 18 months. I don’t know if anyone else reading this recalls but she no longer gets up every hour throughout the night either – shes also been sleeping well since around 18 months too. THANK GOD. Of course getting her to bed is always a challenge but I’ll take that over waking up around the clock. The MSPI (and God only knows what else) that caused all of that terrible night wakings has finally mostly subsided. She gets the itchies and is a really rashy chick but for the most part we rotate known reaction foods and slather her with Eucerin daily and shes fine. Most holidays and outings cause some sort of reaction just because shes eating foods that she normally doesn’t but the reactions are SO much less caustic than when she was little that its do-able. I’ve debated on allergy testing but the first time we tried was disasterous due to an inexperience blood tech and I’ve put it off now. Its not so extreme that it needs round the clock attention anymore and honestly I think she’ll just grow out of most of it. Growing out of it is something I never thought I would live to see after the first year and a half – lol. Just happy, growing, and “normal.” Hope your all well and that you all have a very Happy Holiday season.

~Liz

[Anonymous]

wow! so nice to see these names (and faces). please forgive me, i am exponentially out of it after a night of on and off croup-y episodes and steam baths. its funny how this brings me back and then i got this link from laura…how stunningly difficult this experience was a couple of years ago and now all of us are tired, but still giggly. i am not sure how to summarize hannah. she is downstairs right now running around in her princess crown and thomas costume calling for me/ “king.” she insists that we call her lightening, for those of you unaware, this is from the movie “cars.” but in five minutes she’ll insist that she is princess lightening cinderella…and it goes on from there. she is a true nut. she gives everyone knicknames and turns everything into a play on words. i don’t know if i should put this in black and white? but i am sure that she is bound for performance. she just started tap, ballet, and gymnastics and loves to tell everyone that she is the “best dancer.” i am just impressed that she listens to the teacher long enough to learn the steps. because she is really good. goes to show that coordination is likely not genetic…

as most of you know, we were able to curtail most of our reflux issues with changing diet…and not introducing milk or soy proteins until well into our second year. instead we dealt with some aversive behavior and texture issues which feeding therapy helped to sort through. at about 15 months, we introduced table food with mixed success which i documented through here. now at three years old, barring illness, i’d say she’s a pretty typical (picky) eater. she still won’t drink plain milk, but chocolate and kefir (yogurt) and i am still too scared of soy to “go there.” i am reassured when i talk to non-reflux moms with kids the same age who demonstrate the same patterns or show hannah off as some conisseur of variety! i definitely never thought that i would utilize my creative side in food preparation quite like i do, but the results are appreciated. and concrete: she is 36 pounds and over 40 inches tall. her size and verbal ability often confuse people when i tell them she is just three. but then i tell them she is still in diapers… which i am sure like everything else, just takes a little more time.

miss you all…and think of you all often…

beck

[Anonymous]

It is so nice to hear everyone gradually moving away from the horrible reflux issues that plaqued our lives and for some still do but with improvements!

Alexis, she is reflux-free no longer on medications and also potty trained except for night time (at least something was easy!). She still is a very picky eater, no meats or veggies! She as Hannah outgrew her reflux but we had a lot of issues with aversion and textures. She is currently getting speech therapy and within 6 months going from hardly any words that were understandable to speaking complete sentences. Now she just won’t stop talking! We are now working on her chewing skills, since she still chipmunks food a lot of time, still takes her forever to eat a meal. She doesn’t seem to move her tongue the way she should be which most likely is why she has issues with speech. She’s doing well with it though.

Taylor, she is a refluxer, a happy spitter I believe it is because we started medications on her immediately and did not wait like we did with Alexis, the knowledged that we get the second time around! She had DGE issues and allergy issues and it took forever to get her on the right formula, but we finally have the answer. She also had a lot of lower GI issues especially with painful gas, cramping, and BMs but since the new formula, baby foods, and now a digestive enzyme those problems have resolved! She hates to drink her formula but does seem to enjoy her baby food and interested in table food. She is very loud and babbles all the time unlike Alexis.

It has been great watching the interaction with the girls, they really do love each other.

I love this forum and the people, this has always been the saving grace for me! It is a true survivor story for all of us, and proves that with time and persistant it does get BETTER!!!

Alexis’s mom2006-12-11 14:23:37

[Anonymous]

Wow reading this brought tears to my eyes as I sit and remember everyones battles and victories. Congrats to all our kiddos for proving to us that it does turn out ok. Although we never thought it would when we had a screaming, refluxing,sick,wheezing etc. baby in our arms as we searched for answers here!

As for us…. Kayleigh is a very active 2 1/2 year old. She is 29 lbs and 37in tall. She has been potty trained for almost a year now and I still can’t figure out how that happened. LOL She unfortunately still suffers from reflux and we still have the occasional up all night crying jags because of it but for the most part she’s doing great. She loves her gymnastics classes and going to preschool twice a week. We are still here because even though we are among the older kiddos I still have questions and I’m still finding answers. Great to hear about everyone! Keep up the good work!

[Anonymous]

So fun to see everyone’s update and to get to see how grown up all our little ones are becoming. Too bad we never had that “reunion” (hmmmm, how can it be a “re”-union when we’ve never met?) — all of your kids sound so wonderful and FUN! As do the mommies of course…

Janice, such good news about Samantha!!! I hope that she continues to be cancer-free and to build her immune system. Sorry about Lance’s reflux and IBS, but hopefully things will be better now that you know!

Kim and Lynn, I’m sorry to see that you’re also still battling with reflux(and Kim that you have another refluxer…though luckily a happy spitter)! Normally we’re alright with the reflux here…just a solu-tab a day. I feel a little sad though when I realize that Palmer is still one of the few dealing with it as his age. Every once in awhile we contemplate another med-free trial, but then something jumps ups to tell us we’re not ready (we’re just coming off 10 days of augmentin, which was our current reminder — major reflux ughs)! His doctor has recommended that we don’t do another med-free trial until we think he’s gone a solid 3 months without a reflux episode. That’s certainly hasn’t happened yet… And now we have to find a new pediatrician, which is VERY sad to us after how wonderful his pediatrician has been!

Liz, don’t be too jealous of our life changes, since right now they’re just a little frightening. We haven’t yet sold our house (and know we won’t before we move), we’re cramming ourselves into an apartment for 6 months, and I’m a bit freaked out giving up (at least for awhile) what has been a major part of my identity for the past 15 years — through graduate school then as a professor. I do already have a new “project” underway, but of course have no idea how it’s going to work out.

Even though Palmer’s our little sports boy he would also love to run around and play dress-up with all your little girls out there! Becky…the combination princess crown & Thomas costume sounds like the prefect outfit for Palmer!! (BTW I’m shooting you an email this morning as well…)

Here’s wishing you all a holiday of silliness… not-too picky eating (yeah right, at 2-3 years old, how’s that going to happen?!?)… continued growth, and continued good and/or improving health!!!

Palmersmom2006-12-12 5:20:40

[Anonymous]

Wow!!! Great to “see” you, Tracy, and so happy you and Eli are both doing well!!!!!! That is great news!

To all of you who posted, I love the stories, and can read everyone’s happiness in your words! It is so different than a couple of years ago, and I hope this thread serves as inspiration to all who are just beginning their reflux journey and know that they, too, will get through it!

It is amazing to see my children grow. I won’t repost all of our issues as most of you have read them, but as of now, we are doing great! Dylan is in the special ed preschool for his delays, but they just tested him and he is way above his age level in several areas. Conversational speech and sensory issues still seem to be the big things we need to work on, but all and all, I have no doubt he will catch up. Oh, and Becky, at least you get to be “King”. I was Filmore on vacation! How do you like that? I did get promoted to “Sally” by the end of vacation, but Filmore???? Dylan still reacts to some foods and we still avoid Soy as well, but that is so minor now that I don’t even worry that much. He will be 4 in February and I have no idea where the time went. This is the first Christmas that he gets the whole Santa thing, and every day Santa is bringing him something else. He does not watch a lot of TV, and the only channel we put on “Noggin” doesn’t have commercials, so I think he is seeing things as Preschool and our Nanny has a 9 year old, so that doesn’t help. He is riding his 2 wheel bike without training wheels! He is very daring. We are putting in a pool and we have 10 + foot dirt piles in the yard. Dylan took his John Deer pedal riding toy up to the top and rode it down. Can you imagine the look on my face? He also rode his Dump Truck head first down the slide. Yes, he will be our dare devil. I am proud to say we have handles all bumps, bruises, and bleeding skinned knees on our own so far, but it has taken years off my life! He is very mommy attached and ends up in bed with us around 1 or 2 am almost every night. I said I would never bring him in, but I don’t mind having him there. I am going to kick myself someday for this bad habit, but for now, we are all getting sleep and I love having him around. When he is ready to get up, though he will say “Open those eyes! It’s sunny out!”. Sometimes it is very early when he does this. So the other day, (bad mom, I know) when he was still sleeping and needed to get up for school, I went in, jumped on his bed and yelled “Open those eyes! It’s sunny out!”. He didn’t think it was as funny as I did.

Carter is the most social happy baby you will ever meet. Getting on Prilosec and Neocate early has been a life saver for us. He is sleeping sometimes through, or just getting up once so nothing to complain about there. He is now going to be 9 months old on Christmas day. he is getting private PT as well as Early Intervention PT for stiffness, but I see him making progress every week. We are going for a Neurology consult for him in February as he has some very immature neurological behaviors, but with all he has been through, I am not ready to worry yet. He is so “there” when you look at him and he smiles and tries to imitate our sounds, so I am very confident he is there socially. We can work on the motor issues as well and we are just so thankful with all he has been through that he is still here with us. He had a slight reaction to the RSV shot and I think the nurse was very worried and almost had a breakdown when she saw hives, but benadryl cured that without any other symptoms, so that is the only shot we will do for now with him. No others ever unless we figure out what happened. He is eating two meals a day off the spoon (Just cereal with a little neocate mixed in) but getting the hand of it very well. He is our happy spitter, too. He has two teeth on the bottom and the two upper teeth are on their way. He is over 20 lbs (we call him chubbs) and we are getting him into the convertible car seat this week.

David is starting on his second Master’s in the spring. He is going to get his Master’s and Doctorate in English as he would like to teach college. He loves the high school kids, but wants to deal with more interesting material, so I am so happy for him that he has been accepted to a program and will be on his way. My company is doing quite well and growing rapidly. We have the best nanny in the world who manages so much for me (thank goodness!!) and loves the boys to death! She made Gingerbread houses with them yesterday for the holiday and they both light up when they see her.

So, I have written a novel, but we are doing quite well. Such a change from the last nine months of in and out of the hospital, kicked out of daycare, etc….. Things are great!

I am so happy to see us all here again catching up and I feel a special connection to you women even though we have all never “met”. I feel like I know your children as well. I wish you all the best and am so happy to read such good news on everyone! Happy Holidays!!!!

Ann Marie

[Anonymous]

my mom and i were just talking about the boys’ first few months the other day. she said, “remember when you used to be on that reflux website all the time trying to figure out how to help the boys?”

i sure do! you all were a lifesaver to me back then. it’s amazing how far we have all come. and it’s so nice to see everyone again!

jack and matthew are a riot! i love them so much, even when they have me going in so many directions that i think my head will pop off. currently they are obsessed with our christmas tree. when they first saw it lit up matthew proudly preclaimed, “look mama, birthday tree!” he then ran over and tried to blow out the lights! he thought that the lights were candles.

jack now calls me “mama darling” and insists that i call him “sweetie pie.” if i refer to him as jack he will come and say, “no, mama darling, i sweetie pie.”

i think that this is to make up for all the mischief those two get themselves into. they are partners in crime. sometimes they will insist that they are eachother and try to fool us- but they laugh and look at eachother when they do it. they truly look more and more alike each day.

they are still lactose intolerant. we’ve had 2 more trials that failed, but as long as they take the childrens digestive advantage enzyme for lactose intolerance tablet daily they can eat dairy. they are not on prescription meds for reflux, but still need tums or mylanta if they eat acidic foods- like pizza. so we try to avoid, but i just keep the tums handy.

julianna is also still lactose intolerant and currently on axid. a sinus infection a few months back seems to have flared up the reflux (or vice-versa- who knows) but she is doing great. she is so sweet to the boys and loves to play school with them. she is (of course) the teacher!

i’m thinking (just thinking- a little) that it might be nice to make the 5 of us an even 6- but just thinking! cause this time around i’d end up with refluxing triplets!

so nice to catch up with all of you!

[Anonymous]

i just wanted to say, laurie…you are a brave woman. jeff just asked me for a puppy for his birthday (this saturday) and hannah is on this guinea pig kick and i feel like running screaming into the night…i haven’t watched an entire football game since hannah was a newborn and was referencing this with one of the doctors i work with and he said “wait until you have 3…” and i had to laugh…

[Author]

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