First true heart break
We (we being my MOMs Club) went to watch the dough become donuts at Krispy Kreme this week. Sabrina thought it was all very cool. Well truthfully, Sabrina spent about .3 seconds paying attention to the donuts being made and the remainder of the time was spent shoving a chocolate iced donut down her gullet, followed by the free sample chocolate ice cream cone they brought around for the kids. (The moms were overjoyed to find another source of sugar being offered to our children just before nap time.) And to top off the sugarfest, they gave the kids balloons. Sugar + more sugar + balloons x 10 toddlers = much screaming and running amok.
After leaving SugarFest 2010, I decided to inflict take the girls to see Daddy. Then we headed home. Sugar crashes were hitting hard. I was doing my best song and dance routine in the driver’s seat to keep Sabrina from falling asleep. If she gets even a 5 minute car nap, it is all over for naps for the day. We pulled into the garage. I got her out of the car and handed her the balloon and then headed to the other side to get Tessa. As I close Tessa’s door, I hear Sabrina saying she can’t find her balloon. She was standing in the driveway. I stepped outside and saw a small red speck in the sky. Not understanding what would happen, she had let it go. I explained that it flew away and I couldn’t recover it for her. She sobbed and sobbed and sobbed. She told me it broke her heart. I felt awful for her. The first boy who makes her cry that way better run and hide.
In completely unrelated news, we returned to Tessa’s pediatrician for a weight check and blood work last week. She managed to lose 3 ounces** in the 4 weeks since we had been there despite shoving high calorie food into every chance we had. So they took blood (insert rant about making a momma hold down her baby while they stick the needle in her arm repeatedly because they keep blowing her veins). Lots of it. The syringe they filled was almost the size of her forearm. They tested for celiac’s, liver function, and a boatload of other things. (Boatload being the medical term used by her doctor.) We got the results yesterday. Everything came back normal. So we return next month for another weight check and a conversation about what, if anything, might be next. Bottom line: she is either fine but petite or there is something wrong but we haven’t figured out what yet. Helpful, isn’t it? But at least we know what isn’t wrong and I choose to believe until someone proves to me otherwise that she is just fine.
**I will admit the weight loss is the first time I’ve really thought perhaps there was something wrong. The %tiles don’t bother me so much but she shouldn’t have lost weight with everything we fed her. So despite my bravado, I’m kind of on the fence about whether or not there might be something wrong.
Ugh! Sorry about the weight loss. Here’s to hoping she’s just a petite little thing. Also, we’ve had many a tear over lost balloons ourselves over here.
I hate the balloon thing – they all do it at least once and they are so devastated by it.
Sabrina looks perfect. She really seems just perfectly fine! I mean other than weighing as much as a sack of feathers, she has no other symptom of anything right?
I agree with you that while her weight loss is disconcerting, as long as she’s fine she’s fine. Glass half full and full steam ahead and all that positive stuff!
Michelle-
My nephew was lacking an nezyme when he was younger and that prevented him from digesting lots of things and gaining weight as in he was 12 and still looked like he was 6 or so. I can ask sister what test finally diagnosed it in case your doctor did not run that test.
My nephew is now over 6 feet tall at age 17- once puberty hit, his body suddenly started making the enzyme. But it was tough for a long time with him – keeping weight on him and being the smallest in his class all the time.
Love to you,
Deb
I think she’s just a petite girl with the kind of metabolism I wish I had.
Poor Sabrina. Oh, I remember that feeling of losing a balloon, and those moments when the kids have learned. I am sure all the sugar might have helped as well!!
Now, Miss Tessa is certainly a little stinker, isn’t she. I am sure all coming back good was a plus, but still I know it makes you worry a bit. Good luck!!! I have been stalking for the test results!! I love the pic of her and Steve
Oh no! Poor Sabrina!
And, poor Tessa! Ugh! The last time Eli got bloodwork they also blew his veins. Very frustrating. Relieved that all of the tests came back fine, but hope you get some answers soon to put your heart at ease.
What is with the car naps ruining real naps? I’m downright mean to EJ in the car to keep her awake so she isn’t downright mean to me the rest of the day from no nap! Praying all is well with Tessa!!
Ah yes, we play the can I get your foot game in the car to prevent the dreaded 2 minute carnap from ruining the entire day.
I hope they either find out what is causing Tessa to not gain or once and for all proclaim her just plain tiny!
Hello Michelle! I don’t know if you remember me or not, but I took photos of Sabrina a long time ago shortly after you moved. I just wanted to reassure you today that I have gone through the same thing with my son Ty as it seems you are going through with Tessa. We had to put olive oil in his food, make whole milk yogurt, let him eat french fries, and double the amount of formula we put in each bottle (yes we had to stay on formula). None of this worked, he did not gain weight. We did all the tests and it was stressful. In the end they attributed it to genetics (my mom was 14 pounds at one year and I wasn’t much more) and the loss of weight came at about the same time he started running and climbing stairs. My son is thriving now and seemed to start growing at a rate the doctor liked at about 4 years old.
I hope the situation with Tess is just as simple as it was for my son.
Here is a tip for adding some calories. You can add avocado puree to whole milk yogurt (easy to make your own). Add different fruit and veggie purees to appeal to Tessa’s tastes.
Good luck!
That ballon story is the saddest thing I’ve heard in a long time! Poor little thing!!