It has been a while since I have been on this sight. I don't seem to get on line any more. The sun comes out and I am outside.

Savannah is still doing well. We go back and forth with Zantac and Caraphate when she stops eating. She weighs 36lb. She has gained like 6 oz in the last 7 months. That is good for a 5 year old right?

She broke another bone. Her elbow this time. I tell you this child is going to send me to an early grave. She thought the slide was to hot so she jumped from the platform and fell at my feet. I hear it go and it will be a sound that rings in my head forever. The good new is that I thought it was her back that went (boy did I freak out) but it was not only her elbow but it didn't displace so she didn't need surgery. The cast is off and she is doing physical therapy now. Do you know she never skipped a beat. I had to punish her from being wild the very next day.

She had her 6 month dental check and again!!!! she is doing well. The teeth without the enamel is holding. The dentist is shocked. We are bushing her teeth two and three times a day. still not chewy stuff like gummy bears. She chews sugar free gum and we did choose to use the floride once a week.

Aug. 11 she will go in for a check up with the doc and a wieght check. I think she will be done with the every 6 month checks after this last one. She really is doing well. Skinny... but doing better. Ladies I really think that my days of this being an hourly issue is over.

My Son is allso doing better. Now that we have his issue figured out we can work with the meds to control it when it's a problem.

But I will tell you, the after effects are still with us. I have yet to have a peaceful meal. Both my children don't come to the table nicely, eat thier meal without crying, or complaining. Then we have to reminded them to take a bit, to chew, to swallow to take another bit....... Savannah is doing better at this them Connor but Iam so done with that. I have started to give up all control of meal time. If they don't eat in 45 min the plates are gone, if they don't eat a good amount of their food there is no treat after dinner. ( I had a hard time with this one because even ice cream has callories) But it had to be done. We are also using beans as rewards and once their jar if full they get to pick a toy at the store. who ever eats without having to be told gets beans, whoever brings their plate over gets beans.......This has never worked before because nothing was worth eating for as far as Savannah was concerned so this is a sign that we are on the right path.

Savannah will be starting kindergarden in Aug and Connor will be going to pre-school for one or two days a week. I haven't decided. He is going to start kindergarden at 6 since he just barely makes the cutoff. I think he would do better at six. Well, atleast I have been told by my doc and other kindergarden teachers that they do better if they are on the cusp.

Thanks for listening (reading)
Sue

Glad to hear that things are going well, it is nice to hear about the "graduates"

Hey you...I've been wondering how you guys have been doing, and noticed that you've been popping in once in a while this week. It's so good to hear from you and to hear that things are going so much better. Don't be a stranger, okay?

So glad to hear from you guys! Thanks so much for the update, continue to hang in there!

thanks. I think about you all often. You know someone said something about Post traumatic stress disorder after reflux. I think they are right. I have not been on my game for a while now. It seems it's all I can do to just keep up appearances. Let alone clean house, pay bills, get on the computer. The good new is my car is clean. That means that things are gong to get better.

Do yo think that age 3 horrible. Savannah sort of had a head spinning period at 3 but Connor is a emotional, combative, testy......... then 5.... holy cow! Savannah is every emotional and doesn't like to listen. I am finding myself repeating things. And why on earth would it take anyone 20 min to get into a car. GeeeeeeZZZZZZ

Can you tell I had a difficult day

Sue

Hi Sue! It is great to hear from you again!

I completely understand about the mealtimes. We have good meals now but for years we had battles. With Curran it was awful as we did not know he had GERD at all. He would come to the table, puke, and then it would be all about the screeching fit that ensued afterwards. Then often he would puke it all up again after a few bites. NOT FUN. When Iain came along we then had Curran doing his puke thing then crumpling up and screaming whilst Iain (who we did not know had reflux until he was 14 months old) would clamp his mouth shut but open it long enough to shriek like we were taking red hot pokers to him when we approached him with food. That left Walker. My one eating child who would bear the brunt of it all as we would give him grief if he did not eat. Imagine that. We did not even realize that we were forcing Walker to eat more than he needed at the time. Poor kid. Then Bill and I would sit and stare at our cold plates as another "happy" family meal ended with us all perplexed as to how on earth the Brady bunch and "normal" families did it.

Now, we have times that are quite tough still but the thing is we have coping skills now to deal with it. We are still likely suffering from some trauma from it as when Bill and I go out to dinner on our own we still eat like we have 5 minutes to get it in. Remnants I suppose but we are getting better. One day you will begin to have more "normal" dinners and that will be the start of it.

If weight is good on them I would suggest to relax a bit (easier said than done) and just forget to remind them. Seriously, give it a try. Do NOT give in with any snacks or drinks afterwards and give it a few days. Only if the weight is good on the kiddos though. Try making a picnic one day right there in your living room. We did that and it is interesting how a change of venue can sometimes work to change the view of mealtime. It suddenly becomes much more relaxed for all involved. :)

Do be sure to drop in when you get a chance. As Janette said, don't be a stranger.:hello2:

Thanks for the update, I was also wondering how you were getting along. I am glad the rewards idea seems to be helping. Best wishes

I had to drop a note to tell you what happened today. Savannah had 4 helpings of cole slaw. Holy moly!!!! I was so worried that I made her wait an hour before she could have dessert. I can remember the day that everything started to change for us. I was making dinner and Savannah wanted some crackers. I said to her...." no, I don't want you to spoil you dinner". Then I propley broke out into tears. We are still on a kiddy roller coaster and I am thanking God every day for the repreve. I need my streghth for when she becomes a teenager.

Sue

I am just curious how tall Savannah is....when did she turn 5?

Chelsea actually hit 32 pounds and she is 4 and a half--I think she looks great though because she is a shortie---unfortunately though this shortness isnt right for her....her height dropped off and never picked up even though her weight did.

Did Savannah's height ever change with her slow weight gain? If so, did it improve again?

Chelsea was 90th percentile for height and 25th for weight for almost the first 2 years of her life. Then her weight went down off the chart, and her height went down to the 10th. Then later her weight came back up but her height stayed in the 10th. It doesnt make sense that her height wouldnt come up even a little.

My son became FTT, and his height dropped after his weight. When he started eating well again, his height picked up first then his weight. I dont get why my daughter's height hasnt improved...it only makes sense if it is a different problem all together like a growth hormone deficiency or something.

What do you think? What has Savannah's experience been with her growth?

I have more good news.... Savannah ate an entire hamburger. That is the most she has eaten in one sitting. It made me cry. I think we might have made a mistake though. I let her try a pizza and her eating dropped off. I don't know it that is just normal since she has eaten so much the past couple of weeks or it it was the pizza. We'll see.
What was I thining. Would someone just smack me:19: {Thanks}

Carla - Savannah was 30% in wieght and 75% in hieght at 4 months(born 2 months early so the preemi chart was used) she continued to drop in wieght until she was off the chart at 9 months. her Hieght maintained 50% until 9 months. at 18 months her hight dropped 25% and wieght was 10%. Then at 2 she dropped to 5% in weight 20% in hieght and then at 3 she was back up to 50% in hight and 20% wieght. (she started eating solid food at three and that helped her wieght gain and growth). Then at 4 we had a few set backs again and she dropped down to 20% hieght and 15% in wieght. and now at 5 she is 15% for hieghth and 25% for wieght. She has maintained a 25% for weight but her hieght is still dropping. She has gained a pound in the last 6 months but hasn't grown at all. It is being explained as genetics have taken over and most likely is not due to the FTT for most of her life. (Just to give you an mark Savannah was 38 inches and 31lb at 4 yr 2 months) HOpe this helps

Sue

How exciting about the coleslaw and the entire burger, Sue! It's really neat when our GERDlings finally catch on to the eating. Evan had success feeding himself most of his lunch today (albeit it took 1 1/2 hours), so I'm celebrating with you today.

About the pizza, it is only recently that we've seen that Evan can handle pizza. Hopefully Savannah will be able to one day too.

whoo hoo Even!!!!!!! Way to go. Just think, the day is coming that you wont even have to remind him to take a bite :donut:

We did have a lull in the eating for a couple of days but she is back up to eating well. ( may have even been a normal thing) I didn't feed her at all today! She is doing so well. As far as eating goes. I have a quesion?? We went camping this week and because I am a scaredy cat, I was up all night listening to what ended up being a moose out side the tent. Well, I had plenty of time to listen to Savannah too. She refuxed all night long. I would say, every 30 sec or so. I could hear it come up and then her swallow it down. She never woke up and The next morning I asked her if her throat hurt or anything. I even smelled her breath (morning breath but not that stinky reflux morning breath you all are Oh so formilure with). She said "no, nothing hurt". So the question, should I be worried about that? she stopped beening a complainer about the pain at about 2 1/2 so I just never know.

She may be doing better but I am still the biggest worrier in the world.

Sue