The Progress of A Healthy Gut.

For most of you that know us, know that I have been watching what I eat because of Ryden. A little over two months ago, Ryden started getting eczema on his torso, diaper area, thighs and a little on his back. The first time I noticed it was a small patch on his thigh that would come and go and I never really thought anything of it. I didn't even realize that it was eczema at that point. Over the next couple of weeks it got worse and was not going away. Before I took him to the doctor, through research on the internet, I figured that it was probably eczema. When I took him to his pediatrician, he confirmed that in fact it was. Now when it came to treating it, this is why I love our Pediatrician. A lot of doctors only go the route of treating the symptoms of eczema and not actually locating the source of it. Some say it's hereditary or from the weather and there is nothing you can do about but put loads of moisturizer on them. Ryden's doctor said because of it's location, it is probably something he is ingesting, via ME of course.
I was afraid that he was going to utter several words that I didn't want to hear.

That I should probably try cutting dairy out of my diet and see if that helps.


Even though, I was saddened to hear him say this, I was happy that he acknowledged the cause of Ryden's eczema to be food related. Whether it be a food allergy or intloerance. Most likely an intolerance/sensitivity. Hopfully, by his first birthday, he will outgrow it like most other babies. This is when their gut has matured much more. I don't think people realize how common food intolerances are, how many people and children actually suffer from them and in how many ways it shows it's ugly face. Ryden's eczema was just one of his symptoms. In hindsight, his gas, mild fussiness, sleeping problems and general discomfort was all because of his intolerance or allergy.

Within a week I was already seeing improvement. Over the next two weeks, it almost went away completely.
Unfortunately there were several times where I accidentally slipped up (like when I ate cheese on my taco and totally forgot I wasn't suppose to be eating dairy) or when Eric gave me his coffee (with cream) instead of mine with soy creamer.
However, after about a month, I noticed it was starting to come back. I knew I had not been eating dairy, not even HIDDEN
DAIRIES!!!!!

There was also something else that I been reading quite a bit, and again, I was afraid to acknowledge. Once I had stopped consuming dairy, I had started eating a lot more soy. Not because I love it. In fact, I only found it tolerable- though it did start to get better once I got use to it (probably like switching to diet soda). I was using it as a creamer, as the milk for my lattes, in my butter (fake butter) and so many other places. When we took Ryden to his 6 month well visit, I told the doctor about this. He then said what I thought he was going to say,

You might need to cut out soy, too.

AGHH!!! I knew this and was planning on doing it, but still didn't want to hear it. Since Ryden's eczema only started to come back when I was really loading on the soy, made me realize he just has a mild sensitivity/intolerance to it. Which I also realized I do too, you don't want the detailed symptoms (trust me!). So, now I just stay away from things that are primarily soy or have it listed in their first several ingredients. Other than that, he seems to be fine.
And unless you are looking for it, you have no idea how many things contain SOY and how hard it is to avoid it.

So for now, we have nixed two of the eight top ALLERGENS. Hopefully, that will be the only two.

I also wanted to say, I found a few new things that I would have never have known they were so wonderful.

1. Almond Milk. It is DELICIOUS!!. Try the original. I do feel the need to note that it does contain trace amounts of soy. We seem to be fine with it.

2. Coconut Milk Yogurt. It is delicious and quite decadent.

I felt the need to write this, because I feel this information just isn't out there enough (even from your doctor), and if it helps just one of you or your little one then it's worth it to write.

Here are a few pics I took of Ryden the other day for a diaper photo contest!!!! HE IS SO CUTE!!!






Carry on,

Michele

Mr. Sleeper

In the past several weeks, there have been quite a few changes around here. Momma is back to work, Ryden has a new fantastic caregiver/nanny, Ryden falls asleep all by himself in his crib any and every time (with smiles and cooing, usually!), I have stooped consuming dairy (for his sake- hopefully) and soon, Ryden will be starting solids- AGAIN.

Well, first... I started back at work two weeks ago. I am only working on tuesdays, fridays and saturdays. Honestly, I can't believe how happy I am to be back and how seamless the change was for Ryden. My friend (originally client from quite a few years ago) Gabriella is watching Ryden during the week. I can't even tell you how great she is and Ryden seems to be quite pleased with her. He got excited to see her when she came over last week. I have to say, her first day wasn't so easy. Ryden only slept 30 minutes for her that entire day, and I think they were BOTH miserable. With some hard work and some tears, (both mine and Ryden's) over the next couple of days, things have gotten better. I also think Ilsa is just pleased to have someone else around the house. Not to mention, this is important for Ryden. Considering that I was pretty much the only face he has been seeing for the last 5 months, he was due some new interactions.
Work, itself, is just great! It's nice being around adults again; and I am really enjoying doing hair. I have missed my co-workers and all of my clients. Not to mention, even though I have been gone for 6 months, I truly feel my skills are just as sharp as ever if not better. The only glitch that is taking some getting use to is... pumping at work. I think I finally got it down, but milk supply is such a "delicate ecosystem" (I like to call it) that I can damage my supply by missing just one pumping session. This has taught me to be more diligent about it and to not get lazy at all.
On saturdays, Eric watches Ryden. It has been two saturdays now and I think they have accomplished a finely tuned system. I know Eric has found out how tiresome it is watching a baby full time, all day long, but I think he has handled it without a hitch. This is special time for them, and once Ryden is older, I think it will show with how much he really appreciates his "daddy" time. :) :)

After Ryden's first day with his sitter, I knew I had to do some things to help his naps go better. Up until that point, Ryden had never fallen asleep on his own, other than a few times for bed, in the car or in the stroller. We had always helped him down by rocking him and walking him around. On wednesday, two weeks ago, I *helped* Ryden fall asleep in his crib, for the first time, on his own. It was a long 45 minutes or so of me singing to him, shhshhing him gently, rubbing his belly, playing music and white noise and both of us crying (on and off) until he fell asleep. Afterwards, I wasn't sure how to feel about it and I'm still not, but I now see that it has helped him tremendously. The second nap of that day, he fell asleep within about 10 minutes with some fussing. That afternoon, his third nap, went about the same as the first one of the day. Not good, but thankfully, the last time it would ever happen that way. Now, whenever you put him down, he pretty much coos and talks to his stuffed piggy anywhere from 1 minute to 10 minutes before he falls asleep. Sometimes, he starts a little protest cry, for a minute, but I just stay in the room and quietly shhshh him. Within a minute, he stops, grabs his little blanky and starts cooing himself to sleep. Last week, I didn't even stay in the room with him after I put him down, because he didn't need anymore help. He does it all on his own. I never once left him to cry, I always stayed with him and just comforted him in a new way. Now, he doesn't even need me. My arms and back are very pleased with this. My next goal is to get him to sleep past 40 minutes for naps. Not sure what to do for that one, though. To each their own, but this worked for us. No more transferring of a "land mine" from our arms to the crib!! :)

Lastly, I took Ryden to the doctor, last week, because he had a rash and found out that it is a mild case of eczema (what I thought). The doctor thinks that it is an internal allergen since it is mainly on his torso, tops of his thighs and back. So, I cut dairy out of my diet, to see if that is the cause, since it is one of the biggest offenders. I know it is pretty much inherited and that it is also offset by temperature, but I know a lot of people have had really good reactions to dietary changes. It's worth a shot. The week prior to that, we had started giving him solids. The few foods that we had given him were all about three days apart from each other (except for the watermelon and nectarine but that was several weeks ago) consisting of sweet potato and banana. At first, I thought it was maybe one of the new foods. I wasn't sure, so, I stopped giving him ANY food. I've now come to the conclusion it's definitely not that. Plus, I had noticed a little spot on his leg over a month ago. So, it could have been the weather or even having the other foods that kicked it in, but it was already there. Also, I haven't changed detergents or soaps or anything.
The doc told me that I could use cortisone or eucerin if he was really uncomfortable. He said that if it is really bothering him I should be able to tell, because he is old enough to be scratching it. For now, I am putting Calendula cream on him and olive oil in his bath. I have used the cortisone on him twice, because either he was itchy a few times or has found his penis for the first time... HAH! Not sure which. The past couple of days, it has been looking a little better. I have been off of dairy for almost a week now, but he did have some thawed out breast-milk, from when I was eating dairy, a few times last week. It should also take a couple of weeks before the dairy is fully out of my system. We'll see *crosses fingers* how it all goes.

I think we might start solids again this week. I know he wants to eat SO BAD; so, we'll play it by ear.

I just want to add... Ryden slept two and a half hours for his first nap this morning. WOO HOO!!

hope all is well with everyone,

The Sanfords