PROJECT PLUMP UP LUCAS

We received some disturbing news last week when I took Lucas in for his follow up appointment for his ear infections.  Doc weighed him and we noticed he was essentially at the same weight he was 2 months ago (just a few ounces heavier).  Which dropped him yet another weight percentile (now down to 15-20% which is a huge drop from his original 90%  - this sort of drop is definitely cause for concern). This prompted me to discuss with the pediatrician his latest trend of refusing all solid food.  Mealtimes for the past several months had been a challenge and seemed to get increasingly worse with every passing day- to the point that when dinner rolled around and I put him in his high chair he would clamp his lips shut and shake his head no. And the foods that he should be able to chew up and swallow at this point such as puffs, teething biscuits, rice cakes etc. - he will pick them up, put them in his mouth, chew them up and then spit them out. And if he accidentally swallows a piece he usually gags. :( I of course. in true Charlaine fashion, have been an enormous worry wart, frantic to figure out what is wrong with my poor baby.  Frist thought was a food strike due to teething since he is clearly on a sleep strike (he is currently on 2 months of waking every 1-2 hours at night - poor guy is having such a hard time with his teeth coming in). But the thing that has been in the back of my mind ever since he was born was the possibility that he could have EE like his cousin Devin.  It tends to run in families and Doug is pretty certain he had something very similar, if not the same thing, when he was little.  It just wasn't diagnosed back then...  Anyway, it's a pretty severe food allergy that affects the esophagus and can cause eating to be painful - to the point where kids that have the disease will just stop eating altogether and may even need to be tube fed. :( 

I'm trying to remain hopeful that this is not the case for Lucas and today actually boosted my spirits TREMENDOUSLY since he ate a whole thing of pears for me in the morning and a whole thing of peas for lunch.  His pediatrician (who now joins the group of ex-pediatricians) suggested we see how he's doing at his 9 month appointment and if no improvement in weight etc. then he needs to see a GI Specialist.  This was the plan she conveyed to me at the appointment. Well the next day (after losing what little sleep I still get these days) I had all these theories running through my head of what was causing my little guy to refuse food.  Doug brought up a possible correlation to the formula we supplement with for 1 bottle a day (we started this 2 months ago).  He thought this could be flaring up the EE since it is milk based and if EE he likely can't handle milk protein. Anyway, this was a good point so I called his pediatrician that morning to see what she thought about switching the supplemental formula for the next month to see if he improves.  Her response was (as blunt as it comes) "No, that won't work.  Switching formula will make no difference.  If it's EE he will need to be tube fed." Just like that.. she told me over the phone, while I was a work, that if my baby has EE (which at that point i was 99.9% certain that he did) that he would need to be tube fed.  Needless to say there were tears shed after the call.  Thankfully, having a nephew with the condiion (who was never tube fed) I knew that wasn't the only option. Anyway, that is why we won't be returning to that doc and for his 9 month he will be seeing Dr. Venezuela, who we LOVE!  (Lucas saw fer for his ear infections when I had to get him in same day).  I REALLY think she is a keeper! Lucky number 8.  That's right, Lucas is 8 months and has seen 8 differnt pediatricians..  To say I have a problem with doctors is an understatement.  I am absolutely, positively the most high maintenance patient in the world.  And now that my son is involved, forget about it.

Moral of this post is that I'm on a mission.  A mission to plump up my baby.  He was 17 lbs 9.5 ounces at the last appointment (8 months). So lets see what sort of progress we can make during this next month.  Regardless, I've made an appointment with a GI Specialist which is scheduled for Nov. 3rd. Here's to hoping and praying that little Lou does not have EE and that we can get him back on track with eating solids and gaining weight!!

Look at those pearly whites!!  (stinks it's so blurry)