My Angry Tirade Aside

NOTE: Previous angry rant about specialist from poop story now has its own post. Read on if you dare.

I did not like her. She seemed pleasant enough I guess on the surface... when I met her TWO HOURS AFTER WE ARRIVED. OK, sorry for the caps, but one does not wait happily for that long in a tiny exam room with a one year old who is hungry, very tired and still angry from the FIRST doctor's visit. I was further perturbed by the fact that the whole time we were there, there was only one other patient in the whole office who was rather perturbed herself. Her older children were even less impressed.

I took to wandering the halls with E so he wouldn't get bored and saw the doctor working on the computer. I really hope it was important.

Now, one of my biggest pet peeves is being made to wait or being treated rudely without explanation or apology. Guess what? She breezed into the room without either. Strike 2.

Strike 3 came when she insisted that my son's name was pronounced differently than it is. No, not just pronounced differently, but pronounced differently because she decided that one of the letters in his name HAD to be substituted for a different one. It would be like if you insisted my name was pronounced "BARD" even though it's spelled "BARB." She made it a big point to write it phonetically in the file. OK, fine. I'm glad she wants to remember. But it falls a little flat if after that you wrinkle your nose and say, "Does it mean something?" Yes lady, it means something just like all names do. It's a name. It's an old, common name in some parts of the world. It's a name you yourself have come across in the movies. Wait, you've heard of it? THEN WHY THE CONFUSION?

OK, I admit, by that point I was mostly annoyed by the wait and lack of apology but still. sigh.

The fourth strike (don't worry, there are only 5) was the worst for me. My baby was very tired, very hungry, annoyed, and very done with doctors. If you also remember, he is not a fan of the strangers touching him thing. So you can imagine the shrieking that started when she examined his belly and measured his head. But that tough doctor showed my one year old bully! She berated him for crying in a tone usually reserved for older children who can comprehend scorn. Ooooooohh... not your job lady! And certainly not your job when you are 90% of the reason he has reached this point!

Lastly, she breezed out the door with a "Bye E," but no directions as to where to go to get my scripts and no "closure" for the appointment. If I see her again, I just may trip her.

Operation No More Yucky Poops

So E had creamy white colored stool for about 10 days which started 3 days after his introduction to cow's milk. At first he was constipated. Then on about day 7, he had the grossest BMs I think I've ever experienced (yeah, there's a reason I say "experienced") in my life. And I see poop at work, so this is really saying something. Those continued for a day or two until he had a night of such unrest, hard gassy belly and crying that we became concerned and called the doctor... and the doctor called the nurse, and the nurse called the lady with the alligator pur.... Shit I can't get that saying out of my head this week.

OK, I'll stop wasting your time. So Dr. F. thought it could be milk related, but wanted to be sure because E is still losing weight. He is now in the 75th percentile for height and under the 5th in weight. He LOOKS healthy, so I have my theories on the multiple hiccups that caused this issue. He also began having a constant runny nose and a weird gagging choke and cough that didn't seem to be related to any sickness. Furthermore, we noticed some weird labored breathing going on periodically. But we go on.

Dr. F was concerned something bigger might be going on even though he thought it unlikely, so he referred me to a pediatric gastroenterologist that day.

WARNING: BREAK FROM IMPORTANT ISSUE TO COMPLAIN (Read at own risk)
**I was going to post the next story within this one, but it got too long and involved. You can find it here if you are interested in my self righteous indignation. I'm quite good at at that.**

In any case, despite the fact that we reiterated our observations that it only occurs around milk and gets better when he hasn't had milk, she thought it had nothing to do with it. She figured he had a virus (he has had no fever and this has been coming and going for over 10 days at this point) and that the only things she was worried about were possible celiac disease (noticed no symptoms surrounding gluten ingestion in any way before or during) or thyroid disease. (I'm assuming she meant Graves disease because of the weight loss?) Blood draw orders were given and off we went.

Fast forward to now when we decided to do an elimination trial on our own. We gave him sensitive (remember he's always had a problem with most milks) formula for a day and no cow's milk. His stools immediately improved and by the middle of the day were almost completely normal. His belly lost that hard bloated feeling, and he became less gassy. Even more importantly, his normal ravenous appetite is returning, the snot is abating and the choking, huffing, coughing has gone away completely! This is in one full day of no milk. I don't think a virus does that.

I called Dr. F's office today and got the nurse I love. Hallelujah! This one actually gives me advice instead of telling me to bring him in for every sniffle. She said to get sensitive toddler formula and try that. So off we go for this part! If his symptoms continue to stay away, and he gains weight, we may just stay on this for a while and not even try the cow's milk again until later. Why not? It won't hurt him. It would also be nice to avoid that blood draw and more specialist visits if we don't have to do it. We are all sick of doctors by this point.

I will be reporting in from time to time to let you know how it goes. (I know you're on the edge of your seats!) As of right now, it's going ok. Last night was Hell, so it's all relative, but you gotta look on the bright side huh?

Stories and advice

• I know this in my head, but please tell me again so my emotional self understands it. We are not bad parents if our baby cries a little (in the this sucks! sorta way) when he's going to bed.
  
• Remember that E was so good once he finally started sleeping well away from me that he usually went to bed with no crying or complaints. Not so much now.
• Talk to me about issues/allergies with cow's milk. Thinking we may have some problems. We would like insight.
• I hate doctors that aren't my favorite doctors.
  
• E is in love with birds. A flock (I guess "murder" is the correct term, but I choose flock) of fish crows flew low over our heads as we sat outside the other day. He had been pointing out "Burr-ees" "Tee-ing" as he could find them, but when he saw that flock, he began flapping his hands, pointing at them excitedly and jibbering a whole story about it. He told the "story" to me many times that day and when Daddy came home, related it to him as well. Even now, a few days later, if you ask him to tell you about the birds, he points to the sky and jibbers.
  
• I love this child.
  

Weary

Too much going on. Too busy. Need cavities fixed. Thyroid sputtering. Need appointment. House is a wreck. Baby not feeling well and needs more tests. No time.

Letters to Babybutt

Dear E,

You are a doll. The lightness in my life. Thank you for sharing imaginary food with me, giving me imaginary drinks and cleaning up imaginary crumbs on the floor. You are ever so helpful.

Also thank you for helping me cook, telling us about the birdies who flew over your head every time we ask, and for having that adorable gap-toothed smile. (Great Grandfather would be proud.)

Love,
M

Appropriate Lyrics for the Infertile

I got this song as a free download on iTunes, and I'm enjoying it immensely. It occurred to me as I was listening to it that this could almost be a theme song for our little community. Have a listen. The lyrics are here.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Alright peeps. I have similac sensitive formula left along with quite a few pacis ( most never used) and bottle nipples (used). What can I do with these things that does not involve throwing them away. I'm relying on your smarter-than-mine brains.