When I started NaBloPoMo, I was a sporadic blogger at best. At worst, I sometimes let my blog go for *cough* months *cough cough* without writing anything. After NaBloPoMo, I was pretty energized as far as blogging goes. I saw how quickly and easily I could put something up. I liked the feedback I got from comments and friends and family. What could stop me from blogging 20+ times a month, right?

My son.

I’m not trying to say that in a mean way. He is simply a high needs baby, and he takes a lot of time and energy to parent. If you’ve read my previous blogs, you know that I’ve been dealing with a dairy sensitivity and some sleep issues. Well, we are still dealing with the dairy sensitivity and sleep issues. I have tried a few times to introduce dairy back into my diet with the same results each time. A cries and screams while arching his back for 30-45 minutes. Not worth it. The sleep issues have changed a bit though. When A was younger, I was often up with him for 30, 45, 60, or 90 minutes while he was figuring out that night just isn’t the time to be up and play. Thankfully he seems to have realized that night isn’t a good time to play and be up. He has, however, gone from waking 2-4 times a night to waking 7 times or more.

In talking with some other mom friends of mine, they suggested that since he has a dairy sensitivity, he may also have other sensitivities that affect his sleep. For a few months now, I’ve considered this and ignored the possibility. I finally decided to do something about it. Unfortunately for me, that something is the Elimination Diet. So, for the past 2 days, I’ve eaten nothing but chicken and jasmine rice. I’ve had nothing but water to drink. My mom friends told me that if this was going to be something that worked for A, I would notice results in 1-3 days. Well, last night, we did not notice any results. I’m hoping for some sort of change tonight.

In all the information that I read about the elimination diet, I have read that it takes up to two weeks for it to work. To be honest, I don’t know if I can do chicken and rice only for two weeks. I don’t love chicken, and I’m starting to hate rice (well, not hate). I am not really sure what to do, though. I can’t keep getting up with him five or more times a night (Jason usually gets up the other 2-3) and parenting both him and K during the day, but I also don’t know if I can survive while tandem nursing if all I’m eating is rice and chicken. It doesn’t seem healthy for long term nutrition.

So, that’s mostly why I haven’t been all that active on my blog. Hopefully, I will be able to increase my posting frequency as A gets older, starts solids in the next month or two, and gives me some cute funny stories to post.

Do you read my blog? If your answer to these questions is yes, leave me a comment with your blog and I will add you to my blogroll.

Well, it’s been three months now, that I have been regularly avoiding dairy. I started when A was about three over four weeks old, we started noticing that his evenings were very fussy, and sometimes he was crying inconsolably for well over 30 minutes. I had been talking to my sister-in-law about her baby who is just four days younger than Asa. She said that she noticed when she had a Dairy Queen Blizzard, her baby was much fussier. I thought about it, and I realized I ate and drank a LOT of foods with dairy in them. I decided to start avoiding dairy to see if we’d notice a difference. We did almost immediately. In the beginning, though, I struggled to find foods to eat that were dairy free since so much of my diet had revolved around dairy.

We suspected that A’s issues included a dairy sensitivity, but he also has some reflux to deal with. Once we felt we had the reflux under control, I tried a few times to introduce dairy back into my diet, and each time it was met with crying, fussing, and tummy aches. Poor guy. So, each time, I immediately elminated it again with positive results.

Now, we’re three months down the road from the initial decision for me to avoid dairy. A is much happier, and I am shocked that one can survive without things like ice cream, cream of mushroom soup in casseroles, ice cream, milk in cereal, and ice cream. I’m hoping that for his sake, it’s only a sensitivity and not an allergy and that he will outgrow it soon.

My poor baby! He has reflux, and we are now trying our second medicine. The first was fairly easy to give, tasted terrible, and it didn’t work as well as we had hoped. He seemed to show improvement, but after taking it for a couple weeks, he started to show signs of pain and discomfort after feedings again.

We talked to A’s doctor, and she suggested that we try a new medicine. She prescribed Prevacid for him. We got packets of Prevacid powder with instructions to mix them with two ounces of liquid. Because of his age (4 1/2 months), we are using breastmilk. Well, A is not exactly a willing participant in this whole medicine situation. He does not want the medicine. He doesn’t want it in a syringe, dropper, bottle, spoon, or from a supplemental nurser. He either clamps his mouth shut and won’t open it or he is crying, coughing, and choking on it when we put it into his mouth.

Two ounces is a lot of liquid to get into a little person when that person is not happy about it. Now, if he were nursing, I’m pretty sure he could get two ounces in just about five minutes. Right now, Jason is trying to give him his medicine. After about 15 minutes of actively displaying his displeasure, he is now staring Jason down with his mouth pursed shut.

I’m so frustrated with all of this reflux stuff! If he doesn’t have his medicine, he cries after feedings, fusses during the day, and he cries inconsolably in the evenings. When we give him Zantac, he is still fussy and uncomfortable because of the acid. Now, trying to give him Prevacid is almost as miserable as the reflux itself!

I happen to agree with this post quite strongly, but I know that there are others who disagree just as strongly as I agree. Anyway, I find it good food for though, probably because I like what she’s saying.