A Crazy Month

Hey! 

Finally getting to write.  This last month has been a little hectic!  Let me give you an update....

Elijah started to get his rash (see previous blog) during the first week of January.  It started on his elbows and one leg, but progressively got worse.  Spread to his other leg, all up his arm, his chest and his back.  Then one night he had blood in his diaper so we took him in. Doc said it was eczema. We got tested for allergies, and found out that he is moderately allergic to dogs. We are glad it's not a food allergy, but our families have dogs so that kind of stinks.  I stayed home with Elijah one week so he could be away from the dogs.  The eczema is now almost gone, but who knows if it was because he stayed away from the dogs, or just because we were treating it.  He went back to the grandparents this week so we will see how it goes!!  

A couple of weeks ago, more things happened.  He had a clump of something in his diaper that looked like tissue.  Then later that night he had blood in his urine and was running a fever.  We decided to take him to urgent care.  The urine test came back inconclusive.  They took the 'clump' and sent it to pathology to get it tested.  The next day we went to our family doctor and they took another urine test and it came back positive for bacteria.  Yes, he had a UTI.  A four month old boy!  So unfortunately he was put on antibiotics. (However, two days later, the office called and had to SWITCH the meds because the one they gave us would not work on the specific bacteria. Ugh).  They set us up with a urologist to run some more tests, as babies are not supposed to get UTIs. There could be a few possible things, such as kidney reflux, where the urine goes back up into the kidneys.  We go there on Monday, Feb 14th to find out.  

We finally, just yesterday, got the tests back from the 'clump' in his diaper.  They said it was necrotic debris--which just means dead tissue.  They cultured some of the cells and it looked like an infection.  The nurse said it could be allergic proctocolitis, with is an inflammation of the bowel due to allergies.  Now we have to go visit a GI specialist to rule out food allergies.  (Which I thought we did, but who knows...).  We have done some research and it doesn't seem as serious as it sounds.  Simply he was allergic to something and it inflammed his intestines/bowel.  We just have to have MORE tests to find out what it was/is.  Until then, we just have to monitor him and watch for anything else unusual.  

I just want to find out how this is all connected.  It's too much of a coincidence to have all of these crazy things happen and them NOT to be connected!!

Oh...did I mention he is also teething?  

Needless to say, he has not been a very happy boy this last month.  He had his moments, but seemed way more fussy.  He is getting better, however.  Praise God for that.  

We have resorted to having Elijah sleep with us when he wakes up the first time at night.  He wakes up often and right now we just need sleep.  So I bring him to bed, feed him and we fall asleep.  Hopefully we can try putting him back soon, but we will probably wait until he starts feeling better.  

On the bright side, we have had some fun letting him 'taste' foods.  He seems to enjoy!

 

1-25-12

He tried a lemon! Didn't even make a face!

2-4-12

We let him munch on a banana. He loved it!  It was hilarious!

2-7-12

We have this mesh things that you can put foods in and they can chew and suck on them without actually eating the food.  I stuck a few pieces of apple and he enjoyed it!! So fun to see him explore :)

It will be a month or two before we really start foods.

Here are his daily pics...it's been a while so there are a lot of them.  And with everything that has gone on, I only missed one picture!  

1-9-12

1-10-12

Right when Zech picked him up, he started to cry and the paci fell out! See it falling?

1-11-12

Finally got his 3 month pic taken!

1-12-12

In his winter 'coat'.  More like a full-body snow suit!

1-13-12

Tummy Time!  You can also see his ezcema here.

1-14-12

Hey!

1-15-12

This is when he started to sleep with us at night.  So precious!!

1-17-12

I love it

:)

1-18-12

He loves looking in the mirror!

1-19-12

Rocking him to sleep

1-20-12

Happy Baby!

1-22-12

Love his face!

1-23-12

Little goofball

1-24-12

Playing with Buttercup (before we found out about his allergy)

1-26-12

Happy Australia Day!!

1-27-12

1-28-12

Went to Chuck-E-Cheese for his cousin's birthday.  

Here he is on the carousel with his other cousin Pya

1-29-12

Smile!

1-30-12

Hanging on!

1-31-12

In one of his slings.  It slips under his bottom and he just sits there!

Helps me to get things done!

2-1-12

So handsome!

2-2-12

Mommy and Daddy!!! I love my jumper!!

2-3-12

Ok, so 5 min before this pic was taken, he was SCREAMING! I calmed him down, gave him his paci and set him on the bed.  Out he went!!

2-5-11

Fought sleep this night so we took a break trying.  Then he was happy...

2-6-12

Took a walk...In February.  Wasn't even cold!

2-8-12

Almost forgot his pic!! This is right before bed.

2-9-12

This book just came in the mail.  First of many! We signed up for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and he will get a FREE book EVERY MONTH for 5 years!!! I love it!!

That's all for now!! Have a great day!!