I need to talk about the scandal at our house. I need to get it off my chest. Sara and Kelly are on Day #24 of diarrhea. There. By saying it, I accept that my children are actually sick. Our pediatrician’s best guidance is that an insidious and wicked virus has already passed through their systems, hence leaving us with heaps of lab work that show nothing ‘tat ‘tall, but yet the diarrhea remains. Why? Because they are now, temporarily, lactose intolerant.
We’ve had has much as 72 hour breaks in the drama, allowing me, along with our negative test results, to attempt play dates and trips out of the house. That being said, I’ve had to cancel as many plans as I’ve made because no matter what I’ve tried…it always comes back. The blessing is that neither of the girls are in any pain whatsoever. They’ve lost no weight, but I cannot explain this phenomenon. It’s right up there with crop circles. HEY! Maybe they have alien diarrhea.
Today was Day #8 of the Lactose Free Diet. Greg’s cousin has mastered this for years (and Debbie, I’ve been meaning to write…HELP!). I don’t know how we haven’t starved to death. When I say “lactose free”, I don’t mean we’re avoiding MILK. I mean these children can’t digest even a cracker if it has a milk protein of any kind in it. They can’t even eat yogurt. We tried to reintroduce a tiny bit of a milk product today, but were met with abysmal results.
It’s affected my mood. It’s stressed me out. I’m worried about the looming possibility of GI specialists and arduous work ups. I think about Brycey and all he has gone through with his poor little gut. Sara is now the spectacle at Wal-Mart as she picks up box after box reciting very loudly, “DOES THIS HAVE MILK IN IT? I’M LACTOSE INTOLERANT! DOES THIS HAVE HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP IN IT? WE DON’T EAT THAT STUFF. CAN WE GET SOME ICE CREAM?“
Tonight, after dragging myself through the day, having been up with Sara 4x last night, I decided to celebrate eating. I put down a tablecloth. I pulled out my Great Grandparents’ wedding china. I rolled up our paper towels and lit some candles. It’s a snowy and icky Monday, but I wanted to celebrate our blessings. The girls were so excited to help me set the table. It went south from there, and I won’t give you details. The details are in the washer, along with some bleach.
My point here is this: I’m trying to keep it all in perspective. I had bad days when I worked. I had bad months. It was not a sign that my career was over or that I was in the wrong job. This too shall pass. Well, it has passed. I need things to stop passing, actually. So as a concerned Mother, I’m doing the best thing I can for everyone tonight. I’ve put the girls to bed and I’m drinking a margarita. No judging. Unless by “judging” I get some kind of award for house sterilization. I haven’t caught IT, which means I get the Nancy Nurse Hand Washing Award of the Year. Either that, or I’m completely immune to ALIEN POOPING DISEASES.
…..the sun will come out….tomorrow….
11 responses to “Keeping Perspective & Keeping It Fancy”
E-mail me anytime. Hopefully I can help you. Connor was allergic to both milk and soy…talk about challenging. If I get can through it, so can you. 🙂
Why wasn’t I invited for a margarita last night?
I can definitely use some my friend, but a coffee tomorrow will serve me just as well!
I miss talking to you so much it hurts!!!
Love you!
I sure hope they feel better soon! I love your great-grandmother’s china – so pretty and such a good idea…
Awww! I hope they feel better soon. Since you are a gourmet chef whip them up something to combat it. (I am sure you already have) I have used plain rice with lemon. It has worked 🙂
Could they be teething?
Take care!
Angela
Good thoughts and prayers from Bryce and Keri! GI issues are NO fun. Positive thoughts that everything may sort itself out soon.
Hugs
Keri and Bryce
Sympathy and hugs from Pennsylvania. 🙁
24 Days of Poop – I’ve been searching for a title to my new book about my first hand recession experience and you handed it to me with a roll of toilet paper! In all seriousness (which is hard when I use phrases like 24 Days of Poop) you guys are gonna make it – hang in there! As dad always says, “keep pluggin!” Very applicable in this situation don’t you think? Gus
very cool new heading for the blog. hang in there. it will get better. you’ve just gotten a head start on spring cleaning! xoxoxo
I feel ya girlfriend. Our little peach has quite the spit-up and food sensitivity problem. It started with the kiwi incident of 2009 which ended in a bloody bottom, a trip to the doctor and confirmation that we may have food allergies. Berries are a no-no. Cheese had to be nixed. And today sweet potatoes got the cut. I have more sweet potato in my carpet than Alexa ever had in her belly. The spitting was followed by a nice hefty diaper full of diarrhea. Ahhh….we’ve put so much effort into making fresh, organic food only to have it puked right back up. The doctor says as long as the wee keeps growing on schedule it’s more of a laundry problem than a health problem. Since she doesn’t want to give us medicine, do you think she’ll do our laundry?
Kids’ probiotics? Definitely! Jarrow is a good brand, as is Flora or Nature’s Way. Or ask them at the store if they don’t have any of those. Most of the world avoids milk, so no big deal . Try frozen Rice Dream – Chocolate or Cookies ‘n’ Cream – delicious. Then maybe some digestive enzymes to help repair that gut. We should talk on the phone.
Oh, and definitely some margaritas for the momma. Love you guys!
I’m so sorry to hear you are still battling this! I would have to had a pitcher or margarita’s to get through this!
Thinking of you girlie!