Our Little Baby Blog

Abie Ba-Baby.

That's what we've taken to calling Abe. Abie. Or Abie BaBaby. Did you think we could just let Abe stick? Oh no... that would be far too easy.

I've been dreading this blog post because there is so much going on with Abe I don't really know where to start. First, thankfully, Abie Bababy is starting to make progress on a few of the things we've been worried about. He is now rolling over onto his back and onto his tummy (this one is a strange and slightly uncomfortable looking activity). He doesn't do it a lot, but he does it and that's what counts. After Thanksgiving, he also started to reach for things. It was very slow at first, but we could tell there was intention in his movements and, sure enough, he's now reaching for items that dangle from his playmat, he reaches for toys we place on his high chair tray, and I caught him trying (slowly and methodically) to reach for Anna's arm this week.

You cannot believe how happy this makes us. We were quite worried that he didn't have any interest in touching anything, which caused our physical therapist some worry also. She recommended Abe undergo a sensory integration audit because she was afraid he was overly sensitive and that it may actually be physically uncomfortable for him to touch things.

The sensory integration audit did not point to any issues, but the occupational therapist does believe that Abe is delayed enough that we should enroll him in the state early intervention program. I've already met with the intake director and we will have an assessment sometime in the next week or two. Early intervention is a home-based therapy program where the therapists come to our house and help me learn how to work with Abe. This will mean no more driving to Naperville with Anna in tow. It's been really challenging because I've had to schedule his appointments in the afternoon during Anna's nap time and, as you can imagine, she's already very clingy and demanding about my attention so if she skips her nap it gets even worse. Right when I'm supposed to be paying attention to Abe, I have to stop and address Anna's needs also. It's just tough. Plus, Naperville is about 30 minutes away and that's a commute I'd love to avoid.

Of course, I had to stop and have a good cry when they told me we needed to get him into EI. There's just something about it that feels difficult to me, it's like acknowledging that there could be long term issues we have to address, which I've so far managed to push out of my mind. I have been focusing on only the next step before us because thinking about more far reaching developmental issues overwhelms me to the point I can barely breathe. The constant, begging prayer to God that he just be alright, just be alright, just be alright, is never far from my mind. I know that I'm not supposed to beg God for what I want, but I can't help this one. It's what we as mothers do when our children are sick or hurt or may need help beyond our understanding.



So for now I'm hoping that these therapists will have all the answers and provide me with direction to help get Abe caught up. Of course, that's only one part of the puzzle that is Abraham. The other challenge we're dealing with right now is that Abe is covered in eczema.

Eczema. I hate that word. We've officially been tackling his eczema for nearly 5 weeks. It started before Thanksgiving, he broke out in this TERRIBLE rash everywhere. After a visit to the doc, we switched Abe to a hypoallergenic formula (the thought was he might be allergic to dairy) and we started using a prescription hydrocortizone cream that clears it up nicely... but it still keeps coming right back. Currently, I'm using the cream every third day or so and then slathering him with Eucerin cream twice a day. And I mean SLATHERING him.

I've switched him to oatmeal rather than rice (based on some reading we did about what can be included in baby rice cereals), but that hasn't made a difference. We've ensured all his clothes are washed in a completely additive free soap (but that was already happening because of my cloth diapering regimen, which I've stopped doing for now, BTW). He's had green beans, peas and carrots, but the skin stuff has never really gone away long enough for me to tell if he's had any reactions to these foods. I tend to think not because there are no remarkable differences in his skin when he eats these items. So now I'm cutting dairy out of my diet to see if it makes a difference.

People, cutting dairy out of my diet is going to push the limits of my sanity, I fear. Do you know what I look forward to every morning? Greek yogurt, with fruit and agave nectar. Do you know what I drink every night and throughout the day? Milk. Lots and lots of milk. Oy. Why is dairy such a common allergen? Why? Why? Why?

Thankfully, Abe has slept through the night four days in a row now and I'm getting a bit more sleep. If it weren't for that I might just throw in the towel. However, I'm very happy about this development and since I love this little guy so much I'm willing to give the dairy-free diet a try.

So drink one for me, folks. Milk, that is.