Well Baby and Follow-up Appointments

Today was a big mile stone for little FG as he had back-to-back appointments with the pediatrician and the pulmonologist this morning.  Beginning with his routine two month well baby appointment, we found out that despite the struggles we've been having with his reflux and sensitive tummy, FG is growing exceptionally well.  He has put on several pounds and a few inches to become a 25 inch, 16 lb 8 oz eight week old baby -- which, yes, is off the growth charts!  I have been warning GW and GV to eat their  dinners and not fight about the brussels sprouts for fear that they'll be out paced in growth by their baby brother, but until today, I'd somewhat considered that to be an empty threat.  Suggesting that we revisit the reflux topic again at his four month well baby appointment, we're under orders to merely stay the course as, thank God, it appears to be working. 

The appointment with the pulmonologist was a one-month post discharge follow up - which, I find hard to believe was already 30 days ago.  Fortunately, the appointment was predominantly positive as the doctor was able to reassure us that the lingering post-bronchiolitis symptoms we're seeing are entirely normal for his current place in the recuperation process and that the additional vibrations and grumbling that we've been fighting are likely caused by his reflux and not originating as a new lung infection.  Giving us an infant respirator as well as a large prescription for albuterol, he expressed comfort with the current PT routine and any as-necessary use of the albuterol between now and the end of the summer.  Asking us to make a follow-up appointment for just before the school year, he stressed the importance that we make a game plan before the onset of the next RSV season to ensure that if - or more likely when - FG gets RSV again that it doesn't become another hospital-worthy case.  Appreciating his candor, we're on the books for a late August appointment and hoping that there is nothing worthy of note that occurs between appointments.  

Happily cooing and going while watching me type this, I am feeling pretty good about the trajectory of FG's current status and I pray that things continue on the up and up.  He's such an easy going, content little guy who likes nothing better than eye contact and snuggles so I'm feeling pretty blessed.  Seems like the worst (knock on wood) is behind us.

Food restrictions

So just when I thought life was getting a little bit easier and my pregnancy diet of eggs, eggs and more eggs was beginning to fade from memory, the follow-up appointments we've had for FG at the pediatricians have constricted my reality to a new level.   While things post-RSV wise are going well for our little angel boy, the antibiotics that he was given at the ER and over the first several days of his stay in the PICU have proven to be so strong as to thoroughly kill off the good gut-bacteria along with whatever other bad bugs may have been lingering. And although this is a minor complaint compared to the risk of facing bacterial meningitis (and therefore a call I would gladly make again), the knock on effects of this complete zeroing of the "pro" biotic scale is enough to both pity his sensitive little tummy and to rant at my rotten luck. 

Causing him to suffer from a constant case of reflux and a smattering of rashes and diarrhea, the doctors have recommended that I assist his recovery from the antibiotics by beginning a series of food restrictions to help his little stomach get back to normal.  As my diet directly impacts the nourishment he gets through breast milk, I am placed in the position of doing what he needs at the expense of my palate or forfeiting the opportunity to breast feed -- which I can flat out tell you is not going to happen.   So, starting the restrictions with all things containing dairy at last week's  appointment, the pediatrician handed me a sheet of paper with all the dietary vocabulary that, until further notice, I need to be leery of: 

Unfortunately, at the follow-up appointment we had yesterday, the pediatrician agreed with me that his symptoms of rash and copious spitting up warrant the escalation of my dietary restrictions to include soy and nuts as well.   Hoping that the combination of these three usual suspects enables his skin to clear up, his spitting up to diminish and his diapers to be more predictable, I have my fingers crossed that some combination of the three will be the key to making tummy wobbles disappear for our quickly growing little one.  

The thing that is surprising me, however, is that as straight forward as it seems like it should be to avoid all things with dairy, soy and nuts, it's a lot harder to find ready made food or ingredients that don't include these in some form or another.  Who knew that soy is in canned tuna, most breads, mayonnaise and cereals?  What's a diabetic to exercise if my go-to quick carbs of chocolate, yogurt and milk are all off limits? How the heck is a girl supposed to attack the world in the morning without a cup of coffee (the "proper" way to make a cuppa in my opinion: two scoops sugar, one part coffee, three parts milk)?  I am sure that I'll figure this out the further we get into this, but daggnabbit! 

I guess on the up side, all the proteins, vegetables, fruits and grains I can eat should be able to help me shed the rest of my baby weight, but with GW and GV sitting here next to me eating pb&j on store bought bread it's hard to see any of my own benefit from this scenario.  For the little man, of course, it makes total sense and I'm not about to cheat, but were this just for me, I'd be off the bandwagon before hitting the doctor's office parking lot! 

FG, may you never doubt how much I love you...