All about Cate

My "baby" isn't a baby anymore...she's almost two!!!  And when you ask her how old she's going to be, she'll hold up her fingers and say "two" in that cute toddler drawl of hers.  She's talking a lot more, combining words and saying phrases.  I wanted to update on her progress with FPIES and what we've been doing lately.

 She has several new foods to add to her diet including coconut, spinach and lamb.  We've trialed many new snacks and she's eating a variety of different things including cheerios!!  This is so big when I think back to last year or even to the summer.  She only had maybe 4 foods and two snacks she could eat.  And she was only eating puree foods.  Now she loves to eat chunks of pears and carrots and she is getting very good at using utensils.

Here is a sample of Cate's daily menu:

 

Breakfast:

Porridge (several frozen cubes of puree pears + coconut manna + pulverized puffs) OR a new food we're trialing (we trial new foods early in the day to give time for a reaction)

 

Snack: Cheecha puffs, Brother's fruit crisps, cheerios etc.

 

Lunch: Peach squeezie pouch, finger foods like carrots or rice noodles, spinach

 

Snack: Same as above or oyster crackers, potato sticks

 

Dinner: Lots of snacks, more finger foods (her favorites are carrot chunks, pear chunks, rice noodles), squash, lamb etc.

 

Now that I type it out, it sounds pretty repetitive.  Compared to how things used to be, it's worlds better.  I'd like to get some variety in that menu, meaning different forms of the food, but she seems to stick to what she likes.  I try to get all her safe foods somewhere in the menu throughout the day.  And she repeats foods for different meals through the day too.  It just has to be that way until she has more foods to eat.

She is also drinking rice milk but not very often.  She doesn't really drink it when we give it to her- she'll take a sip or two maybe.  But her tummy tolerates it so I consider that a big plus!  I've tried baking for her as well but she doesn't seem to like my baked goods:(  I made her some super yummy muffins using pear puree, safe flours/sugars/baking soda etc and they turned out amazing!  For a muffin with no milk or eggs, they're fantastic.  Cate doesn't want to try them.  She's kind of independent and stubborn.  I'm not sure where that comes from!!

 

She has "graduated" from her GI doctor and we no longer have to see him unless needed.  She's almost off her Zantac medicine (reflux) and only takes one dose before her last bottle for the day.  Yes, she still takes bottles four times a day.  She is still on her Elecare formula and will be until she turns two.  It gives her all the nutrition she needs and helps fill in the gaps on her incomplete diet.  Now that she has a green veggie and protein from the lamb, she gets most of what she needs (other than dairy).  She doesn't eat enough of those yet though for us to pull her off her formula.  We have an appointment with her allergist right before her second birthday and we'll reevaluate where her diet is at.  We'll probably meet with the nutritionist again and really plan out a good diet for her once she's done with Elecare.  Just writing all this makes my head spin but it's all up there in my noggin and it's good to get it out.

We are so proud of how far this girl has come!!!!  Simply put, she is amazing.  Life started out rough for her but she has come around.  She is hysterical and makes us laugh hourly.  She's fiercely independent and wants to do everything on her own.  Yet she is a big cuddle bug and loves to give hugs and kisses.  Having Cate in our lives makes the days brighter.  She is a true gift and we love her so much.