Yogurt?

This post is about poop. Sorry. Gotta document.

Freddie has had some questionable diapers for some time now. His stools are never ever solid. The consistency varies from runny to pasty.

He had a period of perfect, round, solid turds when he first started solid food but since January I have seen few of those. I wondered if it was because he was teething. Dr. J suspected it was due to his increase in fluids when he was sick around the new year and she thought it was firm up as his mucus decreased and his milk consumption increased.

This past week his stools returned to solid until today. The only thing I can think of is that he hadn't had any yogurt the past week until breakfast this morning.

He loves the Brown Cow and Stonyfield whole milk yogurts. Can they really be the cause if whole milk, ice cream, and milk shakes aren't doing the same? Planning on running this by Dr. J at his weigh in tomorrow.

Dairy Free Living

Today marks three weeks that I've been without dairy in the hopes of ridding Bug of his demon!

Some changes I've noticed in him:

• Rash on his face cleared a over week ago.
• The inflamed red heiny is gone.
• Less fussing during the day.
• Stools now look seedy and yellow again, with an occasional green for good measure.
• Oozy eyes have cleared.

Of course he is now a mature 7 weeks old, so it could just be the natural progression of things for Bug. He also remains ultra gassy and has obvious discomfort from this, particularly in the evening, but we may just make Freddie a belly or side sleeper to help him pass gas efficiently. Mylicon drops and gripe water have nothing on this gas. The boy just has to work it out on his own. It makes for a restless few hours in his co sleeper, but overall he manages ok.

What have I been eating:

• Peanut butter and jelly on crackers (read label of crackers!)
• Soy Dream
• Salads with chicken and vinaigrette type dressing
• Clif bars
• Turkey on pita
• Chinese food with rice
• Potatoes
• Avocados
  
• Iced coffee with soy milk
  

That's really about it... I am too lazy to cook other non dairy options and just tend to stuff something easy in my mouth.

Dr. J thought now would be a good time to challenge Freddie's system with my having some dairy to confirm or rule out the dairy allergy. And conveniently I've really had a hankering for a California burrito, no meat, swimming in sour cream and guacamole, from Taqueria Corona. But something tells me to go easy on the dairy when testing it out, not so much for Freddie's sake but my own.

I'm not certain if or when I'll test it, but with Jazzfest on the horizon, something tells me I better do a little investigating real soon so I know where I stand when deciding on a food line.

I'd do anything...

Last week I scoured the Internet looking for mechanical solutions to Freddie's crying, willing to spend any amount of money to find just the right jiggler to cure his crying.

This week I am looking at me. My diet specifically.

I've decided to begin an elimination diet to potentially find what may be bothering my Bug. I'm starting with dairy as I think that to be the most common food allergy in infants.

Some indicators that make me suspect allergy:

1. Intense bouts of inconsolable crying. Yes, this could be colic, or just his temperament, but really do babies cry this much without reason? (Or is his reason that it is just his personality? Dr. Sears doesn't live in my house so we're not going with that one until I try some other things.)
2. He has lots of dirty diapers. Most of them appear to be "normal" in color and consistency from what I read, but when he has a major blow out (a few times a day) where the volume is significantly increased the consistency is mucousy and stringy and runny (like snot...the best comparison I can come up with) and the color is a bit dingy and dull, leaning towards brownish rather than mustardy yellow.
3. He often sounds congested, especially at night. I am not sure if this is food allergy related but I have some other allergy concerns being that he is his father's son.
4. He foams at the mouth. He doesn't spit up but when he sleeps he gets foam covering his mouth. I suppose this is his alternative to spitting up, something he does not do, thank goodness.

Of course I wonder about reflux. Is this the reason for the foamy mouth and his preference to sleep in the car seat and swing?

And is it just gas and we need to give him some gripe water or mylicon drops?

But I've got to think a food allergy would contribute to reflux and gas, so I'm starting there.

No dairy. It's been one day and it's tough. So many packaged foods have some form of dairy in them.

And if the dairy doesn't work I'll eliminate soy and then wheat.