M&T Update {1}

Morgan Update

Morgan Elaine - 12 weeks

Went to Doctors appointment yesterday evening with Morgan for her 2 month check-up.

Nurse was saying how tiny and pretty she was. I replied with a simple thank you and mentioned that she was still in newborn clothing. Yep...at nearly 3 months old our little Morgan is still in newborn clothing.

I found this to be strange of course. I had two hunky boys wearing 3-6 month during this time! I honestly just figured she was a tiny little thing.

~ Update on Morgan's STATS ~

When Morgan was born :

November 30, 2011

Weight:   7 lbs 2 oz

Length:   18.75 in

She did drop in weight after birth which is normal.

December 9, 2011

Weight:  6lbs  12oz

Length:  19 in

Things were going normally while she was nursing

January 4, 2012

Weight:  8 lbs

January 31, 2012

Weight:  9 lbs 8 oz

{ Jan 31-This was the weight I got on my own for our blog }

Morgan was filling out her newborn clothing really well around her 2 month blog post but was still wearing newborn. The newborn clothing fit her in length but they were a little loose around her body. I was thinking that I would soon be able to put her into her 0-3 month clothing. Kale and I also went and bought a ton of size 1 diapers. Well the end of the month is almost here and she hasn't outgrown her newborn clothing and she still hasn't been able to fit into her size 1 diapers. I can't fit her head into her newborn clothing all that well. I am constantly buying newborn diapers in fear of purchasing too many. So we went to the doctors yesterday and after reviewing her chart he asked me how much formula Morgan is taking. { I was nursing her until about 3 weeks ago. She would nurse a lot. Supplement with formula rarely. Then I just 'ran out'. I really did everything I could. Spent some decent money on teas and herbal pills safe for baby to try to up my supply. Nothing was working. } So Morgan began regularly taking a bottle. She started out on Enfamil newborn. Then I switched her to Enfamil Gentlease for her tummy. She has been eating normally taking 4 oz @ 5-6 bottles a day starting this month out. Right now she is taking at least 6 oz. @ 4-5 bottles a day .Which is right where she should be.

The nurse weighed Morgan.

February 21, 2012

Weight:    8 lbs 7 oz

I freaked out of course. I said this isn't right. The nurse weighed her again. And it was the same. Oh goodness. I knew something wasn't right. 

The doctor asked me how I got the weight on January 31st. I told him I weighed her myself. He said home scales aren't so accurate but that still doesn't replace the fact that our almost 3 month old is only weighing 8 lbs. 

What does this say ?

Her body isn't absorbing what it needs from formula. The proteins are too large for her body to absorb. She has an allergy. The doctor didn't get into this so this is all I know so far.

What did he prescribe?

He put her on a new formula. 

The way it was explained:

Newborn formula = proteins 

Gentlease formula =  x2 partially broken down proteins 

Nutramigen formula = x3 broken down  proteins even smaller than the previous formula

So she is on this Nutramigen for a week. On March 1 she will go back for a weigh in. We will see what happens with her weight. Hopefully she starts to gain.

I hope that this doesn't turn into something more serious. I am by no means educated on any of this so I don't know any more possible outcomes. Wish I did. I wouldn't worry so much.

Well, hopefully Morgan does do better. She is eating normally and has a great appetite. I do wish that I could have continue to nurse her but mother nature dislikes me so... :)  The next best thing. REALLY expensive formula.

On top of all this uncertainty Morgan also received her 2 month shots. I couldn't bare to look. I don't know why. Looked at every needle going into both my boys since they were born. But for some reason I just couldn't do it with Morgan. She did well though. Cried like a Champ!!

The boys cried their eyes out! They did not like seeing their baby sister getting her shots. Before the nurse walked out she shook her head, grinned, and said," I would hate to see the day a guy tries to take her on a date." I couldn't agree more!

TYLER UPDATE

Tyler James - 6 yrs 2mo's

Mr. Tyler is gaining weight!! 

Tyler also had an medication check appointment yesterday evening.

I posted a while back about Tyler's weight loss due to his medication - Focalin. This is his adhd medication. I wasn't too thrilled about this. My little man started looking extremely skinny not long after starting the medication. I was stuck between a reckless, out-of-control, impulsive, destructive 5 year old and being a mommy who would rather have a healthy kiddo. So Kale and I never pushed the meds very far at first. Then he went off to Kindergarten and this would effect him seriously if he couldn't be allowed in school due to his behavior. I couldn't very well home school him nor was I qualified. So after a long serious heart-wrenching talk with Kale we decided to do what the doctor thought would be best and allow him to prescribe this medication.

~ Tyler's Stats ~

August 8, 2011

42.4 lbs

44 inches tall

November 9, 2011

40.0 lbs

The weight for November was not too long after starting focalin. Within 2 months he lost over 2 lbs.

February 21, 2012

42.6 lbs

44 3/4 inches tall

This really excites me beyond belief. Our little Tyler was looking sickly and not so good. I'm really glad that he is starting to gain some weight on his bones! We purchase him jeans that fit his length but they DO NOT fit his waist. So hopefully soon he will actually fit into his clothes.

What we've been doing:

Giving him 4 meals a day. This seems to be working. We are loading him up on peanut butter and high protein/calorie food that is not junk food.

We are also giving him breakfast before his medication. So instead of only getting in one meal a day he is able to down two meals a day. You would think we would have figured this out earlier but we didn't. He just refused to eat. We really never thought it was the medication.

What the doctor is doing:

Tyler's pediatrician gave Tyler a new medication yesterday. Forgot the name of it but it lasts longer and isn't so potent.

The medication Tyler is on now hits him within 20 minutes. It makes him lose his appetite for 4-6 hours. He takes this twice a day. So he was basically only eating his after school snack and supper. 

What we are going to start doing:

High Protein Shakes in between his meals. Probably no more than 8oz a day. He isn't exactly weighing enough but he is gaining which is really good. I was originally planning on purchasing some Pedia Sure for him to drink but after looking into this it was just not affordable for drinking on a daily basis. So I found some really great protein shakes for kids on the web. I think he will really enjoy these as they are very similar to chocolate milk shakes (in his eyes).

Well I guess that concludes todays worries and solutions. We will keep you posted.

Love,

Kale, Sharin, Colten, Tyler & Morgan

:)