The Stinky Man! (it's a crappy conversation!)

I put a call in to Vicki today.  That's not a new way to open a post!

I've been a little worried, as a mother should be when something isn't quite right.  And when you can't put your finger on exactly what isn't right, it makes it that much harder.  Sax had been doing so much better with potty training, only having a few accidents with bm's but almost no wet diapers.

Well, this past week and a half, it feels like we've been going in reverse.  He's been hiding and having numerous accidents, both bm's and wetting.  I've talked to a lot of other moms and many assure me that "it's just a phase," which is what I've been hoping.

But then I started thinking....

One of the big issues with CF is the size, consistency, and smell of bm's.  (ok this is gonna get a little gross)  We've accused him of having accidents because quite often he has been smelling like he did.  Extremely potent poopy smells - enough to make this CF mama (who is used to the smell) gag!  He's been grunting and straining a lot when he passes gas.  I noticed that these gas episodes started about the same time he started having accidents too.  I suspected they may be related.  Which is why I called Vicki.

Sax is on omeprezole (Prilosec) which should take care of any gas issues he has.  He is also on a pediatric dose of Miralax 1x per day, which should help with constipation.  I asked her is we should consider a consult with Dr El-Youssef, who is Sax's gastroenterologist.  I wondered aloud if there may be something bound up or blocking in there.  I also wondered aloud to her if maybe when he's straining to push out the gas, he's just pushing so hard that he can't help but have accidents.  He doesn't seem to know whether he had an accident or if it was just gas, and has often told me he pooped when he hasn't, and vice versa.  We know he is absorbing the fat and calories he's getting because his bm's aren't greasy at all.  They have actually been quite hard.

Believe it or not (I didn't know this) CFer's actually can get constipated.  Which is what Vicki thinks is happening.  She thinks the gas we're smelling is old gas trapped behind some extra-sticky poo caught up in his bowels.  That's why it smells so horrible.  Even though he's still going, he's not able to get everything out.  And she agrees that may be why all of a sudden he has started having accidents again.  (Besides the occasional one every kid his age has because they're too busy playing and "forget"to go.  Knock on wood - he hasn't had any accidents in his bed either!!! yay Sax!!)

So now the treatment plan:

• Lots of water
• Lots MORE water
• Double up on Miralax dosage with pediatric dose
• Vicki will check with Dr El-Youssef to see if there is any added treatment needed
• Vicki will call me on Monday to see if it helped.

The downside to the increased Miralax is that any "accidents" will be messier to clean up (good thing laundry is pretty much done!!)  On the bright side - he did poo on the potty chair today!!!  Those are few and far between! 

(As I'm typing this, Raine is yelling at Saxon that he pooped his pants - but it's just the gas :(  My poor little guy.)

And to leave you with a laugh, here's his bear wearing his (bleached) underwear.... (don't mind the pile of unfolded clean clothes in the background!!!)

Oh my, a little behind!!

Well, I guess part of the reason I haven't had much to write lately is that not much has really happened lately.  Ok, that's not entirely true.  We've had a little bit going on, and pretty busy schedules.

So to bring things up to date:

Sax went through ECSE screening to make sure he didn't need any additional help besides the obvious complications from his CF.  He did AMAZING on these tests!!  He was in the 6-year-old range for his vocabulary and recognition of objects and pictures!!  Yay!!  We knew he was a smart little whipper!!

Sax hasn't been sick in the last 2 months, so nothing to report from that front :-) 

He's been doing pretty good on the potty training too!!  He goes a couple times a day and is usually pretty good about telling us when he has to potty.  Going #2 hasn't been quite as successful, but he's trying! When I ask him if he's done, he loves telling me "Almost Mommy!! Almost!!"  He's such a little cutie!

Since Sax was doing so well on the Duocal, it's been decided we're going to keep him on it, 3x per day.  We're also trying the Pediasure 1.5, which finally arrived today.  Been waiting for that one for a while!!  Not sure if it tastes any different - it's in the fridge cooling down, so we'll see how well he likes it when it's cold.

It's Spring Break form school, so Raine is home today and Monday too, and was home yesterday.  The kids have been playing together pretty good today, not so much yesterday, but hey, they ARE siblings.  Just glad they're trying to make my birthday a good one!! :-)

Daddy also reminded me that I need to give him the password so he can update the blog once in a while.  Share his thoughts a bit.  So there may be some more input from him on here in the near future :-)  Well, now to spend more of my day with my kids.... hopefully I'll update again soon but with all good news again! :-)

Little STINKer

Our little Scrappyman is full of tricks and is keeping us on our toes.

Today we made the trek to St. Peter to pick up Grandma Betty and we had lunch with her, my mom, Aunt Susan and Grandma Nancy. Saxon didn't eat much of his food but loved his M&Ms that auntie gave him. That, and being extremely LOUD while we were eating. But that's ok. He's been so cooped up all week since it's been raining. Plus riding in the car for 2 hours each way didn't help things. He fought me like crazy when he decided he had enough. Then he filled his pants so I had to change him in the car. Daddy had picked Raine up from school because I knew I wouldn't be back in time to get her. Daddy picked subs up for supper, but I was still full from lunch....

Anyway, Saxon is working on potty training. No success yet, but we're at least getting him to sit on the potty... But he took another step towards potty training today. Daddy had changed his diaper and didn't put his pants back on. Well, Sax had a poopy diaper.... so he decided to take it off.... and to sit his bare butt on the living room carpet!! What a little rascal!! What's he going to come up with next?!?!

Strides will be having our next team meeting on Monday, March 17, 7pm at my house!