6 Months!

I know, I know...I was supposed to be a little bit better about updating all the firsts for Kevin, but it has been 3 months since my last post.  What can I say, we are busy living...faster than I can keep up with sometimes!

Well, in 3 months a lot has happened.  I believe just after my last post I finally got my interview with the pediatric gastroentologist about Kevin's "colic" symptoms.  It was a long story, the gist of the meeting was that we were to determine which one of three possible causes were making all the trouble for him.  Namely, the gas, arching back, crying, screaming, lack of restful sleep, infrequent bowel movements, and spitting up.   So my assignment was to stop eating all dairy & gluten for 2 weeks to see if he had a milk protein allergy/intolerance and the gluten could slow down his intestines.  The other possibility was a non-spitting up type of reflux, or in the dr's words "you may just have a high maintenance baby."

The last option I threw out before I left the clinic...I KNOW when my baby is in pain vs other fussiness.  This was pain.  After 10 days of the diet change, all his symptoms disappeared!  We had a different baby, the happy boy I knew was inside there wanting to show himself - and a half-starved momma!

Cutting out dairy & gluten turned out to be challenging.  Even now, after 3 months I am still slowly working on family meals.  It isn't too easy on the budget either, so that is another area for improvement. Initially, I dropped weight really fast as my body had to adjust to much fewer processed foods, less fattening foods, and in general I subsisted on lot's of protein and few carbs.  Let me just say that potatoes and eggs are my friends!  It was really hard to feel full, especially with the hungry little man counting on me to eat enough for him too!  I am happy to report now though, that I have perfected the chocolate chip cookie (minus dairy & gluten) so life is just as it should be...and I eat a cookie whenever I am feeling particularly vulnerable to give in and eat something I shouldn't.  It really helps to have that one "normal" treat thing to go run to.  When Kevin is weaned, I am going to eat a whole pizza all by myself.  NOT joking.  I miss pizza the most of all, especially cheese.

Why not cheat, you ask?  Well, I did.  Once.  Then I watched Kevin revert back to that cycle of pain and hunger for 2 days and I just can't stand to see him like that anymore.  So, that is the really big thing since the last time I posted.

Just like after his initial improvement with the chiropractic visits, he started sleeping longer stretches and had some sort of "pattern" as soon as his little body healed from the irritation my diet had caused.  This time the improvement wasn't short lived.  After 3 months, I feel reasonably sure we finally hit on the underlying cause.  It is soooo nice to have an idea of when he will want to take a nap and for how long so I can make a few loose plans for the day!

Kendra has really turned into a sweet big sister - I am getting less afraid every-time she goes in for a hug or kiss that something bad might happen.  I guess she sees us loving him up so much, she has to be part of it all too.  I love her little greeting every morning - "Morning Kenan!  Morning Mommy!"  It is pretty heart melting to see "Kenan" give her the hammiest big gummy grin in return.

"morning Kenan!"