Updates!

So after I wrote my last post I realized that I haven't updated anyone with how the Gluten Free diet is going or how we are getting along with the crib tent. I won't fool myself into thinking that you are all at the edge of your seats just waiting to hear...but a few people have asked so here are some updates:)

I guess I should also mention that we actually have Porter on a Gluten Free Casien Free Diet  ( casien is found in milk and milk products) We went casien free a few months before we went gluten free ( and before I started this blog) because it was also recommended and it was so easy to do. Porter has never been a huge fan of milk , we were having to put it in a smoothie to get him to drink it, so we simply switched to Almond milk and I must say, it's delicious! So basically he had to give up yogurt and cheese. Not a HUGE deal. We didn't really notice any changes after getting rid of casien, except maybe a few less bumps on his skin. Porter has beautiful skin and you wouldn't know it from looking, but when you touch his arms and legs he has little bumpies that have been there since he was around one year old which just so happens to be right around the time when I started to get really worried about his language development..but that's a whole other post!

 I think I mentioned before that we hadn't really noticed any real improvement since the new GF diet
( other than even more improved skin and some better poops ) but he was also not napping properly , so it was hard to say for sure. But then our heavenly crib tent arrived and naps returned and our boy seemed more himself.  It has been just about a month since then and still no significant improvement in language, behavior or sleep which is what the diet is supposed to help with. Sooooo, we were getting ready to call it quits.  I wasn't expecting miracles or anything...but I had hoped it would help us more than it has. BUT then last week as we were talking about giving it up completely Porter got into the pantry and pulled out Mark's fruit loops . Since we were talking about giving it up soon I said, oh, just give him some darn fruit loops ! Well, he was pumped and gobbled down a couple of handfuls of the good stuff! Now, what's interesting is that night he woke up at 2am and stayed awake til 5am. Coincidence, perhaps? He's not a great sleeper in general, but we had been getting til 5am for quite a few days in a row. My friend Laurie said it could be the sugar too which certainly is possible, but the whole thing did make us go hmmmmm....so, my point is that we are not quite ready to give up on it yet. Plus, I'm not convinced that I haven't been giving him gluten by mistake. After talking to my friend April, I have a list of ingredients to look for so I feel better prepared for my next trip to the Superstore. I'm thinking we will give it at least a few more weeks and then put gluten back in and see what happens! Then the plan is to wait at least a month or so and try putting dairy back in too. I guess then we'll know for sure if eliminating either was helpful or not?

Now let's get to the crib tent! Ahhhh, crib tent, glorious crib tent! You have changed my life! Naps are back! Like I said before, I know naps won't last forever, but our boy NEEDS them! He is so much happier and my arms are too! It was so tiring having to put him back in his crib 100 times a day, so now zippity do da and there you go! And Mark and I actually have a little time to ourselves after the kids go to bed! Before the crib tent , we would spend the evenings putting him back to bed and that could take up to two hours or more, so you can just imagine how cheery and pleasant we were to each other at this point. So really, let's be honest. That crib tent might have just saved our marriage. Ok, that might be a bit of a stretch, but it certainly has helped! And what does he think of it? Well, at first we tried really hard to play it up like it was soooo fun to have a tent on his crib and it worked, for about 2 minutes. Then he realized he couldn't get out and he wasn't impressed, even now he will still get a little upset when we first put him in it. But it only lasts a few minutes, if at all. I would say that is probably like most typical children! I know he can't stay in that crib forever, but for now, it's working. We'll worry about that later! So shout out to my friend Trudy, thank you, thank you , thank you!

And lastly, for those of you who don't know, we are heading to Cape Breton this coming weekend to have Porter assessed privately. We have decided to let Ruby stay with her Nana and Pepe and Auntie Robyn for the weekend. It was really hard convincing them....hahaha, KIDDING!!  Ruby is doing sooo much better taking a bottle and I have started her with formula part time , which she loves! Plus, we haven't taken Ruby any further than Rustico so we aren't sure how well she travels. She is iffy in the car and we thought 6 1/2 hours of screaming might push us all right over the edge. And it certainly wouldn't be fair to Porter, this trip is about him and that is where 100% of our focus should be! We will certainly miss our little Rub Dubs, but we know she couldn't be in better hands!

Wish us luck and we'll keep you all posted about the results!
:)
Rae