The Doctor's report and If It Isn't One Thing, It's Another!

Benson loved looking at the fish with his Grandmama in the waiting room of the doctors office today. We got a good report... His lungs sounded clear, so they decided not to do an x-ray. They said since he has had so much radiation lately, and he is on an antibiotic anyway for an ear infection, we would hold off on the x-ray. If his symptoms worsen after we finish up this antibiotic, then we may need to do another one, but as off right now, there was no real need. If they saw something on the x-ray, they would just give him antibiotics anyway so we'll see later on if there is any reason to do it.

On another note, if it isn't one thing, it's another...

We tried rice cereal again this time mixed with breast milk and Benson had the same reaction as before with violent throwing up and terrible diarrhea. It was not as bad as the times we mixed it with soy formula, so we are still thinking he has the soy intolerance, but he apparently can't handle rice. They tested his diaper and there was microscopic blood in it from having had the reaction to the rice. Rice is one of the least allergic things there is out there, so it is very odd that he is reacting to it in this way. As a matter of fact, our pediatrician who has been practicing medicine for over 20 years, says that he has never seen a baby who is allergic to rice. That's my boy... setting all kinds of new records! Not quite the records we would desire though... So the next step is to try baby oatmeal and see how he does with that. It is normally used as the next step AFTER a baby has been able to tolerate rice, so I'm not completely optimistic about it, but maybe it will work.

I've read a lot of things online from other parents who have babies who have had the same reaction to rice cereal (while we are the first one our doctor has seen, apparently we aren't the only ones in the world!) and they all just say that after sticking with just fruits and vegetables baby food for the first year, their baby ended up being able to tolerate other things once they were a little older. I really feel like Benson's tummy just isn't quite ready for solid foods. I know he SHOULD be ready, according to his age, but the bottom line is, he just isn't ready yet.

He doesn't get sick with fruits and veggies, but he HATES to eat them. He has learned that when the food is in his mouth, if he doesn't close his mouth, he won't taste it, so he just sits there with his mouth open until he gets enough saliva to let it start drooling out. Talk about a mess! And if you pinch his nose to try to get him to close his mouth, he just spits it all out all over the place. So, we're still trying every day, but not to much avail! We'll keep on keeping on though... and we'll see how he does with oatmeal.

Will came to see Benson today since we are no longer contagious! I can't believe Will is already 10 months old!! These babies are growing up too fast! Here is a picture of Benson sitting up all by himself with Will... what big boys!