Poop

So, I already gave you fair warning about what this post is about, so if you choose to read further, it is at your own informed risk.  Aaron has pooped on his own for the first time in over a month!  We'd been struggling with constipation since we switched to a soy-based formula.  After asking multiple professionals about changing back to a milk-based formula and getting the same answer ("No, that likely won't make the constipation issue improve"), we decided to go for it anyway.  It was originally believed that Aaron had a milk intolerance, so we stopped nursing after I couldn't handle the stress of making sure I didn't eat ANY dairy, or coffee or chocolate or garlic or onions or pretty much anything.  I just wasn't 100% sold on the idea that he had a milk intolerance, as he was not breaking out in a rash, didn't have bloody stools or anything.  The only symptoms that could have been related were fussiness, gas and spit up.  A lot of a spit up.  Since then, we had visited the chiropractor which significantly improved Aaron's fussiness!  Though now the pediatrician is telling me that it is extremely risky for him to be seeing a chiro at his young age.  I flat out told her that I disagree and that it worked better for his disposition than changing his diet has.  She still doesn't believe me.  Oh well.  So.......we switched back to milk-based formula with broken down proteins to make it a little easier to digest.  Well folks, it worked like a charm, though not without some side-effects.  Aaron spits more again, but more along the lines of a typically spitty baby.  He is still on Prevacid and we are afraid to take him off for fear that the spit will increase.  For now, we will plug along with our new found fix!  Also, belly/gas pains, significantly decreased!  So now we have a generally content baby who just happens to almost constantly be covered in spit up.  And content parents who happen to be covered in spit up as well!  I've had many friends who are parents tell me to go with my gut, despite what the doctors may say at times.  That is my new best advice to new parents.  Go with your gut, with some caution.  Pediatricians, I feel, tend to play down issues, especially for new parents.  But if your child needs help pooping twice a day for over a month...it's not just something they are going to work through.  Just make changes one step at a time to better identify a possible cause!
So we are thankful for poop today folks!  I'll spare you the photograph, but I did make Ben come and see it.  He didn't even flinch when I made that request!  Welcome to Parenthood

Growing boy and Vaccine Woes

is growing like one!  Yesterday was Aaron's 2 month appointment, which I'll have to say did not go according to my plan.  Here's the fun and important info:
Weight: 12lbs 1oz (59th %)
Height: 23 1/2 inches (68th %)
Head: 16 inches (65th %)
I'd say we have a pretty average baby on our hands!  Aaron did a great job and didn't pee on anyone!  He didn't even hardly cry when he had his shot, which is probably due in part to the fact that it was dinner time and literally one second after the shot, he had the bottle in his mouth!  :)  Our challenge came when it was time to talk about vaccines.  I am NOT anti-vaccine.  I feel that there are legitimately bad diseases out there that cause many bad things to happen to not only kids but everyone.  Vaccines are great to help eradicate measles, mumps, polio, etc.  I've been doing a lot of research, interviewing, and pondering over the issue of vaccines.  I work with children with disabilities, many of whom have eerily similar stories of typical development until around 18 months of age.  While this portion of the population is small, it seems that there is still something that triggered a backslide in development around that time.  One thing that all kids get on schedule almost like clockwork?  Vaccines.  Does that mean that these shots are causing developmental disabilites...no!  Could they be?  Maybe.  Could these kiddos already have something else wrong that just doesn't start to manifest until 18 months, sure.  Could the vaccinations be triggering a halt in development at that age?  What is comes down to is, WE DON'T KNOW!  My attempt to avoid possible complications, reactions and problems:  SLOW DOWN!  Many of the diseases our kids are vaccinated for don't really even exist in the United States any more.  Polio, for example.  BUT! You say, that's due to the vaccinations and everyone being vaccinated!  You are correct.  If polio no longer exists, however, my kid is not going to catch it between now and 9 months from now when I want to vaccinate him for it.  Why give him the chemicals and bugs when his little immune system hasn't developed enough yet when the likelihood of him getting a disease like polio is next to nil!?!?  I don't find it necessary to give multiple vaccinations at one time, even if it is only one shot.  Vaccines have chemicals and strange components in them.  Little bodies with barely functioning immune systems need time to develop and get stronger.  Give them a dose of a vaccine, then wait a month and go get another.  Not only will it give them some time to recover but it also will make it easier to figure out what vaccine your little one may be reacting to, if there is a reaction.
Honestly, Aaron has been feeling pretty good today.  Maybe a little more sleepy than most days but no fever, as is usually common.  I guess I'm just frustrated at the lack of understanding from our pediatrician, who was filling in for our typical doc, but the practice has the same philosophy throughout. It turned into an argument instead of expressing concerns rationally until they finally agreed to start the schedule we have planned and to discuss concerns when our regular pediatrician returns.  Hopefully we can come to a compromise, and I am willing to do so with good reason to do so.  Otherwise, we will be looking for a new doctor, which is a daunting task!  We'll keep you updated!

Aaron, eight weeks

Today, Aaron is eight weeks old!  It has been a trying eight weeks, but I think we are seeing some light down the tunnel.  Not the end but definitely moving towards it.  Here's a recap of the past few weeks:
-Aaron was super gassy/fussy.  We gave up nursing at 5 weeks and switched from milked-based formula to soy-based.
-Aaron continues to be gassy and gets constipated.  Fussiness is extremely challenging.
-We started using gas drops and visited the chiropractor, which made a good difference in disposition.
-Aaron is still constipated.  Started prune juice with 1 bottle each day, plus glycerin suppositories.
-We continue to help stimulate BMs, but they are softer and regular.
-At 7 weeks, he started to smile, swing his hands at his play gym and coo.  Babbling and smiles are the best part of my day!

I'm so glad he's starting to feel better. He is really taking in his environment and looking around at everything.  He dislikes tummy time but is getting stronger every day.  How fun to see the changes he goes through so fast!  I'm sad thinking about going back to work in just 3 short weeks!  Wish me luck!  Until then, I'm heading back to playing with my little one!