give cheese

My dear Sprong,

You are 16 months today.

When you were a wee bud in my tummy, I had promised myself that I would write letters to you every month recording all my thoughts about you and my feelings as mom, etc. Fast forward 16 months and I realize that I have 2 miserable letters and other moms like Dooce have been actually doing it assiduously for YEARS.

So, that kind of sums up your mommy. A frazzled, disshelved , unorganized, crazy mommy who nevertheless loves you to incredible bits.

You kind of said your first sentence last month 'Give Cheese' you said. I glowed in pride and struck at the wonder that soon you and I will be having proper conversations. You’ve already started in that direction- you now like to hold on to the mobile phone and pretend that you are saying hello to Papa.

I want to say thank you to you my darling little bubba. For being you –a wholesome sunbeam who has made my life shimmer in joy.

I pray that I have the strength to be a good mom- not just to nurture but also as a guide who shares the world with you and navigates the difficulties that may be there

First Day of Spring

Somewhere out there, it is the first day of Spring. Dandelions, peach blossoms, billowing skirts, scurrying squirrels, raspberry trifle and rhubarb tarts.

Love the Google take on Eric Carle's The Hungry Caterpillar . One of Sprong's favourite books- he loves to thread his fingers through the apples and oranges.

weekend

sprong's been having one of those crazy fevers....38 deg on Sat and this evening it went up to 39. poor babe. fed him porridge and veg soup, which wasn't quite successful. no milk intake either.

pretty much spent the weekend hovering over him. sigh.

Solids II

Day 3 Wednesday

Slightly more cerealy with soy milk- worked well as bubba's aversion to soy was cleverly thwarted! I think it's the apple that did the trick. Made an apple puree and stirred that into the cereal. He seems to like considering the amount consumed.

Day 4 Thursday

I think he can now sense the soy cause I failed miserably at today's lunch save for a few forced spoonfuls.


Day 5 Friday

Success! I chose to start earlier because at lunch time, he is almost always sleepy after his bath so about 10ish when he just woke up from morning nap, we read his favourite Milly Moo and Wheels on the Bus, sang a few songs and he lapped up his rice cereal.

Yeay.

XXXXX

Next week, I am going to lay off solids because I have a feeling that his reflux has improved, so am going to do away with thickened feed and try the soy. Its going to be a real battle as he HATES soy. I don't know what it is. Just a whiff and he goes berserk. So must brace self for the trial. The only way I am going to beat the milk allergy and the doctors who seem to think Neocate is the answer.

Solids

Day 1, 7.7.08 Monday

24 Weeks.

One of those lovely, dreamy sun dappled days for S's solids.

Slightly early for lunch today but at around 11.10am, he had two spoons of very soupy rice cereal! In his own grown up cup and spoon. The momentous moment however missed my little star who after that turned away firmly. But mummy is over the moon. Her bubba boy is on solids. Happy days!

Day 2 Tuesday

12.30pm

Mixed cereal with less milk today.

However, not too good today as he got too hungry after I stopped his bottle mid-feed and decided that since he looked satiatied, will quikly chomp down my lunch first. By the time I was done, he was screaming and had to let him finish his milk first. The first spoon after that was greeted with distaste. I waited for half an hour and managed to give him another 3 spoons. Hopefully, fare a bit better tmrw.

Feeding

Yeah, its been a really difficult journey with regards to feeding since day 1. Basically, my breast milk never increased beyond 1-2 ounces right till today. I did everything-pump till the cows came home, herbal tea, fenugreek, raw papaya, oats, 3 different ladies to massage the mammary glands. Still, bubba was hungry all the time, so I had to supplement. It shattered me for a bit but after that, I had to get on with the 'taking of the baby' bit instead of wallowing. I was fine until his reflux started acting up.

At 3 weeks, he was posseting all the time, an occassional projectile vomit here and there but then, it just didn't stop. Burping took forever and he basically threw up all the time. The doctors said gastroesophageal reflux, basically a condition where baby cannot contain his feeds due to immature digestive tract. We had to give him thickened feeds, which at 5.5 months, still on.

This kept his reflux at bay. The condition was there still and basically, it was just to wait till he grew out of it. Then, came the eczema, a common side effect. His skin started erupting in red rashes everywhere and was weepy. As a result, he has been on steriod creams on and off for months. Steriod creams on a very young baby for a long time is not a good idea (i am too lazy to link the literature). His skin is still very blotchy with white patches in parts.

It then seemed that he could be having a milk allergy as well so we did an allergy test which came back negative. Still, he had all the classic symptoms of milk allergy. Very confusing to already frazzled parents.I have since tried every brand of soya in the market (thickened) but he rejects it by throwing up for some reason. It breaks my heart to see him throwing up so much that sometimes, he just slumps out of exhaustion.

There was some thought to start solids early to address the problems but doctors said that this is not really going to make a difference. So, I counted the days and waited till 5 and a half months and started. I pray that this will resolve all the feeding issues we've been having so far.

Fingers crossed.

Roll Over

Today, on the 15th of May, an impossibly sweltering hot day, S rolls over at 4.40 pm, before a cheering mummy. He beamed afterwards, quite startled and fairly proud of himself. Mummy awarded him with lotsa kissiewizzies and hugs.

Snuggle buggle I love you
Hugs and Kisses I love you
I love you I love you
Snuggle buggle I love you