Christian Michael Thorpe "Update"

At 5 1/2 weeks Christian Michael Thorpe, my adorable grandson, is 9 lbs. 5 oz. and 21 1/2 inches in length. The "just born" onesies have been packed away and the 0-3 month sleepers are now in use. Little folds of fat around his thighs and under his chin indicate he is thriving on mother's milk. The increasing volume of his crying clearly shows his lungs are healthy and he keeps both mom and grandmother hopping from crib to rocking chair at all hours of the day and night. Every baby is unique and Christian is no exception. With his basketball size eyes and his little turned-up nose he's a handsome boy, but sometimes he resembles a little old man with a receding hairline when he furrows his brow ready to voice a complaint. And voicing complaints he has mastered!

Rebecca and I have been on a journey to discover why he has been relatively unhappy since coming home. In the ER room of the local hospital, three weeks ago, he was diagnosed with GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease). The symptoms were projectile spitting/vomiting after nursing and extreme fussiness about an hour after he ate. We were given a prescription to fill and sent on our way. We followed this visit with a trip to a new pediatrician who concurred with the ER doctor, but switched medications to one she felt was more effective. We went home confident that we were on the road to a happier baby. As the week progressed Christian continued to exhibit the same disturbing symptoms-intense crying & restlessness while adding other problems to the mix. He developed excema on his head and a rash on his cheeks. The medication seemed ineffective, although we were told it could take several days to see results. After a week of frustration Rebecca began searching the internet and for hours researched various other possibilities. When she came upon MSPI (Milk &/or Soy Protein Intolerance) we felt we had a "winner"! We guessed Christian might be intolerant to the milk protein in Rebecca's breast milk. To verify our theory we gave him one bottle of soy formula and-bingo-a sleeping baby! Now, Rebecca had a choice to make: switch Christian to soy formula or completely eradicate all dairy from her diet. She chose the latter and already, after less than a week, we are seeing dramatic results. It is a challenge to bake without dairy but I am enjoying the adventure of adjusting recipes and scanning the shelves of the local health food store for alternatives.

Now, even though we think we have Christian's health problem solved he continues to be quite demanding. Did you know that babies have distinct temperaments? I guess I realized that after raising three different children but I never read any literature on the topic. In trying to better understand my grandson I have been surfing through various articles on the internet. It seems that there are basically three types of babies.

1) the easy going, quiet, placid baby who adjusts quickly to new situations, is able to calm himself, reacts only mildly when in discomfort, & generally is in a good mood

2) the sensitive-slow to warm up baby who seems shy, approaches new situations cautiously, & responds quietly to hunger or discomfort

3) the active-fussy-high need baby who is continually in motion, easily distracted, hard to soothe when in discomfort, sleeps fewer hours, & demands much attention

Guess which category Christian falls into? You are correct if you guessed number 3! He is definately a hand full for BOTH mommy and grandmommy! But he is the source of great joy each and every day and we never stop thanking God for this special little boy!

Here is a recent photo of my little treasure. (Thank God for "binkys". They work wonders for the active baby temperament!)