Dietitian Update

I took Alex to the dietitian last week. She hasn't gained as much weight as they hoped, but given all the antibiotics, the dietitian isn't alarmed. We're starting to give Alex dairy products to see how she does, so far with success. She is drinking Pediasure 3x's a day instead of formula. It's the consistency of a milkshake and comes in chocolate and vanilla flavors. It is also about double the calories of formula.

The hope is she starts gaining weight like she should. She weighs almost 18 lbs, or two pounds away from getting her car seat turned around even though she's 14 months old, to put it in perspective for you. But she's thriving. She goes to the specialist next week to see about having tubes put in her ears. And we'll take her back to the dietitian in about a month.

Besides all this, Alex is still fantastic. We bought her a little foam chair that has Disney Princesses on it. It sits on the floor of our TV room, and she loves sitting in it like a big girl. I'll get some pictures of her in a few days, after I'm done driving to school for the week.

Health Update

Sorry for the long, long time in between posts. I'm back in school and we're trying to get back into some sort of routine after all the holiday craziness. I know some of you have heard bits and pieces about how Alex is doing, but I thought I'd put it all together for you...

Alex's stomach problems seem to be essentially better. We have started working dairy into her diet, with mixed results. This has been complicated by her being on 3 different antibiotics back-to-back since Christmas, so it's hard to tell if what we're feeding her is bothering her or if it is the medicine. I am taking her to see a Pediatric Dietitian on Thursday, so hopefully we'll get some better direction then on what to do with her feeding.

In a related matter, she seems to be gaining more weight, but I'm also hoping the Dietitian will say yes, she's okay or no, we need to do more tests because she's not gaining enough. My gut feeling is she's fine, but I'll feel better hearing it from an expert. She's definitely gotten taller too, I'll let you know how tall after she gets measured again.

Alex has had 3 ear infections in a row, thus the antibiotics. We took her for her one-year checkup on 12/23, and she had her 1st infection in one ear, so was given antibiotics. She had two teeth break through just days later. When we took her for a recheck 10 days after she started antibiotics, the doctor gave her the all-clear (it was a Friday). The following Monday, we had to take her back and the infection was in the same ear again. They gave us another antibiotic that made her miserable with tummy problems the entire time she was on it. Almost two weeks later, she was given the all-clear again. Four days later, we took her back again and her other ear was infected. She's just finishing up her 3rd round of antibiotics now, this one hasn't made her too miserable and seems to be clearing up the infection, but we'll see.

Her doctor has scheduled an appointment for her to see a ear, throat and mouth doctor for 2/25 to see about putting tubes in her ears. We're not sure if they'll schedule that automatically or if they will wait and see. I've heard mixed opinions, some wait until they get 5 infections in a year. Others say at her age they put them in if they have a string of problems like this, because the infections affect their hearing and balance, and she's working on both walking and talking right now. So we'll find more out on this subject soon too.

Besides that, Alex is just fabulous. She knows her ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. She snorts like a pig, moos like a cow, and does several other animal noises. She's starting to say some discernable words, and is constantly jabbering as she plays. She is on her feet most of the time and has to love on every stuffed animal, doll, and other favorite toys every time she comes near them. Her loving is to pick them up, hug them, and pat them on the back several times. If she's in a particularly good mood, she'll also give them a kiss and wiggle her feelings on their belly saying 'tickle-tickle-tickle'. It's pretty sweet to watch.