Shocker...

For a couple of months now, Addi has been complaining about intermittent belly pain.  It hasn't been anything severe and she acts like it's more of a hiccup in her day than anything else...she kind of lays low for 20-30 minutes and then she's back up and running.  And she never missed any school or anything like that.  In fact, it kind of coincided with the start of preschool, so I thought that maybe it was some kind of stress reaction to beginning school and for whatever reason, she was just a little nervous about it.

Over the course of the past couple months, I've had her in to urgent care.  On each visit, an xray was completed which showed that she was constipated.  After the first visit, we made some diet changes, tried pushing more fluids, etc.  After the second visit, we started giving her a mild laxative.

Finally, I was able to get her in to her primary doctor three days ago.  She had actually lost weight since her 5yr old well child check.  So Dr. K wanted to start by running some labs.  She said that with kids who have this kind of persistent belly pain and who actually have weight loss, she just likes to rule out Celiac Disease.  I didn't think much of it...

I received the phone call yesterday that Addi's antibodies came back glaringly positive for Celiac.  I was floored.  I was at work when I received the call and immediately I couldn't focus.  I was sad.  I was angry.  I was in disbelief.  I was worried.  I was many, many other things.  As it turns out, the pediatric GI doc was coming into town yesterday (she does outreach services here).  They were able to get us in right away.  So I left work and pulled Addi out of school to see this new doctor.

Dr. C gave me some information on Celiac Disease and we talked a bit about it.  Because having celiac disease would be a lifelong dietary change and because she is so young, the doctor wants to do some further testing to be 100% sure that this is what we're dealing with.  I actually put Dr. C on the spot and asked what the likelihood is that Addi's lab results gave us a false positive.  She said that with as high as Addi's values are, the probability is extremely low.  Bummer.

So that's where we stand.  I'm still experiencing a large range of emotions.  At one moment I feel so defeated, sad and angry.  The next moment I feel like this is just another *little* hurdle in life and I look forward to the challenge of helping Addi on this journey.  But not long after, I feel helpless once again.  Oh yeah...the whole family also has to be tested because celiac disease has a genetic link.  Since I was already in the office today, Dr K (the girls' pediatrician) ordered the labs for me.  So I should find out in the next couple of days about myself...and in all honesty, I'm actually hoping that I have celiac as well.  Then I can help normalize it for Addi - "see, mommy can't eat gluten either, you're not alone."

15 month appointment

Well, little miss had her appointment yesterday.  Pretty uneventful.  She's now 22 pounds 6 ounces and 32 1/2 inches tall.  She received 4 shots and as always, she was amazing.  Very, very little crying.  In fact, she more or less just whimpered and by the time I picked her up, she was done!!  She's such a tough little girl.

The only concern I had about Emmi was her lack of talking.  The twins were both late talkers as well, so I'm really not terribly concerned, but felt as though I should address it just in case.  She says a handful of words...mama, dada, Daisy (one of the kitties) and ball.  But that's about it.  Well, as we were addressing this minor concern of mine, Emmi started poking at her belly button.  So I kept saying, yes, that IS your belly button.  And then Dr K asked "where's your nose?"  She promptly pointed at her nose.  I then asked her where her head, ears, mouth and eyes are (followed again by her belly button to make sure it wasn't just a fluke).  She quickly identified all of those body parts - to which Dr K said "um, yeah, she's absolutely fine."  Just like the twins, her receptive language is AMAZING and it's just that her expressive language might take a little bit of time.  Dr K was impressed because she said that they don't worry about toddlers knowing ANY of the body parts until at least 18 months...and in our quick little sampling, Emmi identified six of them flawlessly.

Next appointment is at 18 months!!  Oh and in case you're concerned about the above picture, no, she was not crying.  That's her whining face.  That's her trying to make me feel bad for not giving her what she wants...albeit, sometimes the face works and I cave.  However, this time didn't.  She wanted me to help her climb up onto the dining room table.  Ummm, no ma'am!!

Halloween 2013

Halloween morning.

Emmi got tired of pictures....

And went to sit in the fridge.  Which by the look on her face, she knew she shouldn't be doing!

The "fairy butterflies" getting ready for trick or treating!!

The little ladybug, too.

Group pictures are never easy!!

And we're off!!!