Reflux and Rice Cereal

Well, today was interesting...

We took Caden to the doctor here in Korea today for his 4 month check up and shots... it was also the first time he's seen the pediatricians over here. Before I go any further, I have to do a quick recap of the past few months...

In the last few blogs I haven't mentioned Caden's reflux again because he is a "happy spitter." He used to cry, but the medicine made him stop crying and now he spits all the time (and in massive amounts still) but it doesn't bother him. I doesn't bother me much either because I've become used to it! It is my new perfume!! :)

Caden has also been what the doctors in Huntsville called a "slow gainer." He has hovered somehwere around the 10-20th percentile since he was about a month old. The ped said that because his curve is consistent, it doesn't matter what his actual weight is and that he is fine. I've always been a little concerned about his small size, but the doctor has continually reassured me that he is fine. I believe her because she is my doctor.

In October I took Caden back to the pediatrician again because his reflux is still not getting any better and I wanted to try something (anything) new. I was prepared to discuss/demand a referal to a gastrointestinal pediatrician if she refused to try anything new. Well, I walked away semi-happy because she gave me (reluctantly) a prescription for prevacid! Caden LOVES the prevacid! He takes it on a spoon and it is fruity flavored!

So... that sums up the "recap"

Today we went to the doctor to find our 4 and a half month old little man weighing in at 11 pounds 12 ounces.... that is the 3rd percentile. He is almost "failure to thrive." Although EVERYTHING else about him is extremely healthy. He is advanced in most all of his motor skills, he is very strong, alert, and social. But he is just so small for his age. After getting to see Caden spit a few times the doctor asked, "He does THAT all day long?!?"- FINALLY a doctor who is just as concerned as I have been. After reviewing his eating habits with the pediatrician she decided we should start him immediately on rice cereal, three times a day (which is not typical for introducing "solids"). Her hope is that the thickness of the cereal will help him to keep his food down and put on some weight. We hope so too!

We are so happy to have such a wonderfully healthy baby boy.... We hope those of you reading this will understand that he is happy and healthy, but just small. As time has gone on...his "slow gaining" has started to catch up with him. Although he is gaining weight at a consistent rate.... it is too slow to keep up with his age and that is why his percentile fell. He never actually LOST weight, he just hasn't been gaining it fast enough.

So that brings us to another story!! Rice Cereal!!!!

Caden couldn't get enough of the stuff! He was puzzled by it at first, but didn't spit it back out. After about a minute or two, he was begging for it!