I get a few comments or emails a week asking about Lucy’s reflux or my being dairy-free, so I thought I’d write an update.
She is currently doing okay. We recently switched medications, and it’s always a rough couple of weeks of waiting to see if it works better than what she was on before.
So far, it’s “meh.” I still have to give her Mylanta a couple of times a day, but I’m hoping to know for sure if this new concoction is working in the next few days.
Her nighttime sleeping is out of this world (there I go jinx’ing it) … she’s sleeping on average from about 7/7:30pm to 3:30/4am to 7:30/8am. And since I’ve been going to bed before 10:30 almost every night for the past few nights, I’m starting to catch up on the rest we missed last week when she was getting up on average 6 times a night.
*yawn*
But honestly? I hate giving her medication. I don’t often say the word, “hate,” because Emma repeats everything we say, but I really really hate having to do this three times a day. I am constantly worried about lasting effects, especially since this medicine kills the acid in her tummy. Like will she ever get used to the acid? Is coming down off of this medication going to be a horrible experience for her? How long will she have to take it? And will it affect her in any way?
At the same time, this is what is getting her through the day right now, so it is what it is. But ohmygoodness, I also realize that I am extremely blessed to only be giving her a little Prilosec and Mylanta. There are babies her age getting chemo, so…
we are the lucky ones
As for being dairy free, well, I’m getting used to it. I miss cheese. A lot. But I’ve found some great substitutes for milk and butter. I cook with them and cannot tell a difference.
{both of these were at our local Whole Foods and EarthFare}
The past two mornings, I’ve made cream of wheat with the So Delicious unsweetened coconut milk, and it is actually better than when I make it with cow milk.
I’m still perfecting my biscuit and gravy recipe, but it’s getting there.
Needless to say, this whole experience has been difficult but totally worth it.
Because I’ve got a five-month old who is thriving and healthy and fat as a pig.
And I just happen to ADORE fat pigs.
OF COURSE, I’m not really saying my kid is a fat pig.
But she kind of is.
Anyway, happy five months, baby girl. I absolutely love being your momma.
hat from here (i paid for it w/ my own money)
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
The dairy free life is great! ;) It’s been nine months for us- so far so good. We have ourselves a little chunker too. We didn’t have the reflux issues with this one, but the middle one had it really bad. It gets better…eventually.
I’m still getting used to it … I wouldn’t use the term “great” yet ;) but it’s definitely getting easier!
Oh Keli. That face. That hat. Both your girls are over the top cute!
Debra´s last [type] ..Ruby Tuesday The View From Tuesday
You have made meds and non-dairy products look beautiful Kel! And that baby of yours is a cutie pie! So glad that you’re finding your rhythms!
Maegan´s last [type] ..Creativity Boot Camp- The Workbook…
aw, thank you Maegan … i’ve missed chatting with you!!! xoxo
OH MY GOSH. Kel! I just love your little fat pig. I mean, she is a doll! I am so glad you are making things work. You inspire me to keep trying and make things work. : ) Love your attitude! Love your fat pig baby! Love. Love. Love.
Life with Kaishon´s last [type] ..We say ‘I love you’ a lot
thanks, becky! xo
I’m so glad something is working :) We ended up on a PPI for Jayce because the Mylanta and Zantac which just neutralizes acid wasn’t cutting it.
Jess´s last [type] ..I Heart Faces- Innocent Wonder
yean, Zantac didn’t do squat for Lucy, but the Prevacid did work. I switched her to Prilosec for sleeping issues, but we’re still getting used to it.
Thank you so much for all your help with getting me through the same situation. I worry about the meds too and really hate giving them to him. Going dairy free has been hard but I’m managing and may be a better way of life. I do miss the cheese though! Great photos of Lucy. She’s adorable!!
thanks, Amanda!! you and I are total kindred spirits right now … seems like our kids are in cahoots with everything. and i really really miss cheese. i’m not a huge chocolate eater, but i miss that, too.
I love fat pig babies. SMOOSH.
We’re not in nearly as drastic a situation as you are (God bless you, woman) but I also worry about the meds. But, like you said, it gets us through these days and weeks and it’s what we have to do. I count us as lucky that it’s something fixable- more of an annoyance than anything.
Our girls! They are growing so fast! :) :)
Jen´s last [type] ..an update on life
using ANY meds is kind of scary, especially when you think about how teeny tiny they are. but i try to think about how fast they are metabolizing the meds … hopefully, it’s not in their system long enough to affect them. i totally agree about the fixability thing. ;)
all four of our girls are growing up so fast <3
dairy free gets easier with time, and so do the cheese cravings. Try daiya if you want a really good cheese substitute, you should be able to find it at whole foods (www.daiyafoods.com). As milks go, almond is my favorite non-dairy milk.
I wanted to recommend reading “The China Study” by T. Colin Campbell, PhD, and Thomas M. Campbell II, PhD. It will reinforce that you are doing the right thing, for your family, and yourself.
I was just going to recommend Daiya cheese. It’s not going to fool anyone plain, but I think it’s excellent melted in a grilled cheese sandwich or on a quesadilla. I’ve bought both the cheddar and the mozzarella. Love coconut milk. Their kefir, yogurt, and ice cream are awesome too. Probiotics are also good for helping with reflux. I give my daughter (who is now 7) a little coconut milk kefir or yogurt every day. Ginger is also good for reflux. (My daughter was born with her esophagus in 2 pieces–not connected to each other–so she will probably have chronic reflux for the rest of her life. I recently weaned her off Prevacid–very slowly, and am trying a more natural approach to see if that works.)
Queen Mommy´s last [type] ..Late Night Thinking
thank you so much!!! i will definitely check out the cheese. i miss quesadillas SO bad, as those were one of my and emma’s quick lunches. i’m happy to hear that this cheese passes the test. :)
I know what it’s like to have a fat pig!! Love THEM!! Just be careful my four year old now is saying he wants to eat more so he can be “chubby”…yikes…right! All’s i got to say is your such a good mom for changing your diet all up. Me…Mason has had the pukes forever and i really never even thought about my diet. gah…I’m feeling guilty now! Good Job momma!
jodie´s last [type] ..Finished!
ps… Lucy is So edible, oh i mean adorable!
jodie´s last [type] ..Finished!
Oh I love fat pigs too!
diana aka meme´s last [type] ..Fun at Memes School!
Cute hat! I feel for you-I have had 2 babies that needed prilosec for a period of time…it will pass, hang in there!
heidi´s last [type] ..Still alive!
Dairy free will get easier and easier, I ended up staying that way after I had to do it for my munchkin. Yours is adorable and perfect and I’m sure so appreciative of all your sacrifices to make her life wonderful :) Friend from IHF :)
i’m definitely thinking about sticking with it for the most part. it’s really done wonderful things to my digestive system, for sure!
Keli – Lucy is so stinkin’ cute!
Her eyes….my goodness they’re so BIG and GORGEOUS! Oh I love your little piglet…
And that coconut milk intrigues me. I’ll have to look for it when I’m out next.
OK, I thought you just posted that you weren’t good at “still” photos. Wrong-o my friend! Those are fantastic! Only you could make medicine and a carton of milk (or whatever it was)…look fabulous! You’re definitely right about the everyday shots being your “thing”… but I think you’re great at all of it! :-)
Karli´s last [type] ..watermelon vs frog
Hi there, what a great blog you have, I came across from your great watermark tutorial for lightroom at I heart faces. I just read your post on reflux – my now 17 year old had reflux as a baby and in those days I joined the VISA support group in Sydney, truly ghastly name for vomiting infant support association!! anyway, it was really bad reflux but the minute he learnt to walk it just went, it was almost as if his body adapted and everything sort of worked itself out once he got to standing position. When you look at him now it’s so hard to believe he was that reflux baby so hang on in there!!
justine´s last [type] ..Finding inspiration
These photos are so precious. Glad she is thriving. :)
Sarah´s last [type] ..Shoot & Edit Part 2Week 3
You are doing such a great job – she’s thriving! Hopefully this new medication will work wonderfully.
Rachel´s last [type] ..what public holiday 26-365
I too had to go dairy free for my lil man’s reflux issues. (I missed cheese the most as well). BUT I discovered So Delicious Yogurt (made with coconut milk.) I like it better than the regular kind of yogurt! (I couldn’t do soy since apparently I’m allergic.) Anyway, don’t know if you’ve come across it yet, but it’s worth a try! Oh…and those cheeks on Lucy…do you just kiss them all day long?! So sweet!
i do like their yogurt, as well!
and i definitely kiss and suck and nibble and bite her cheeks WAY more than i probably should. i’m going to give her a complex. ;)
fat little pigs rock. and dairy free is not all that bad. you can also try coconut oil (which at cooler temperatures looks like butter and at warmer like oil), it’s good for cooking and baking. its wonderful for baby’s skin. whole foods carries it, too.
Precious, precious pictures! I detest giving medications, too. The whole struggle with should I, shouldn’t I. But I found that most of the time, the doctors were right (go figure). LOVE the hat. Too cute!
Casey´s last [type] ..HAPPY is
Your daughter is so precious! I just want to squeeze those cheeks!
I agree with Courtney. We are also living and loving the dairy-free life, and have been doing it for two years now. In addition to So Delicious Coconut Milk, Earth Balance, and Daiya Cheese, these are some of the other alternatives our whole family enjoys:
So Delicious Coconut Milk Creamer (French Vanilla is wonderful!!!)
So Delicious Coconut Milk Ice Cream (better than dairy ice cream any day of the week!)
Vegan Gourmet Sour Cream and Cream Cheese Alternatives
Healthy Top Whipped Cream (soooo good!)
Dr. Cow Aged Tree Nut Cheeses (expensive, but a truly indulgent treat!)
Chocolate Decadence dairy-free chocolates
Wayfare Foods We Can’t Say It’s Cheese Hickory Smoked Cheddar Spread
Well, writing that list just made me hungry! Hope it helps.
i do love their ice cream. i mean really really love!!
thank you so much for the list. i tried tofutti sour cream and didn’t like it AT ALL, so i will have to check for the rest of those items at our whole foods or earthfare. now i’m hungry!! :)
i’ve been going dairy free for myself for the past couple of weeks with the exception of half and half in my coffee. It’s only a few tbsp a day, but still, I want to let it go. However I don’t want to move on to coffee mate – something tells me that’s not the right direction to go. Have you ever used coconut milk in your coffee (that is if you add cream to your coffee…or if you drink it at all… :)? I’ve yet to find here (south AL) but there is still one health food store that i need to look through. I’m hoping that I can find it…surely I can.
Sandra´s last [type] ..my morning in photos
hi sandra! okay, here’s where i cheat. i do use coffeemate powdered stuff. it does contain caseine, which is a milk derivative, but it doesn’t seem to bother lucy. i’ve cut back to just one cup a day (usually), so i think that helps. you see, i like my coffee HOT. so i’ve never used milk or half & half b/c it always cools it down too much.
BUT So Delicious makes coconut milk coffee creamers. they are also in the dairy section of our whole foods and earth fare. they have regular and vanilla. i actually bought both of them, but haven’t tried them, yet. for you, i will try one of them in the morning and let you know how i like them. remind me to tell you, though!! ;)
our regular grocery stores don’t carry the so delicious stuff … only our health food stores – whole foods and earth fare. we also have a fresh market, but it’s on the other side of town, and i never go there.