Rain, Rain Go Away!

Yes, it is still yucky here and keeps raining off and on. The sun did manage to peek through for a little while yesterday and was refreshing. Monday at lunch Tatum broke out with a rash all over her body. It really didn't seem to bother her but I called the pediatrician anyway to see what they thought. Well since it wasn't bothering her and we were due to go in on Tuesday for her monthly penicillin shot and blood work they said we could wait until Tuesday to be seen. Tuesday the rash seemed to come and go and still wasn't bothersome. When the doctor saw it he said it was hives but we aren't sure what it is from. He is thinking it is either some kind of viral infection or its from the new high calorie drink she has been drinking. Lets hope its not the drink because she is doing well drinking it. The doctor wanted us to try her on zyrtec for two weeks to see if it helps the rash then go off of it. If it comes back then he wants us to quit the new drink and see what happens. Today it does seem to be better so I am hoping it was just something viral. Over the weekend we did a food log of everything Tatum ate for three days and I sent it in to the dietitian so they could figure how many calories she is taking in. Well I heard back yesterday and they think she is "teetering on the low end of what she needs". Not really what I wanted to hear but I wasn't surprised. This week since Tatum has started drinking so much of the high calorie juice she doesn't seem to be eating well. Ya she is drinking the juice like they want but the idea was for her to continue what she had been eating plus the juice. meal times have not been pleasant this week and she is refusing more and more each day. Meal times have ran into 45 minutes and she still isn't done eating. This is all too familiar to us and is so frustrating and upsetting. We have been on so many different kinds nutritional drinks and every time she goes on them her food intake goes down. Therefore, really not making any progress. They have a goal weight for her to be at at the next weigh in next week and want her to be at 24.6lbs. We feel so helpless when she simply refuses to open her mouth or chew once she gets a bite in her mouth. That is something she does more often lately. I am sure things will improve but as far as her continuing to gain weight at a steady rate and get to where she should doesn't seem like reality. Don't get me wrong things are much better than they were at the end of last year but it is just on going and seems like meal time for her will always be a struggle.

We are glad it is Wednesday already and are getting packed up to go back to my (Tiff's) hometown this weekend. We don't make it back as often as we would like so we always look forward to it when things work out so we can. We are going to be watching my sister in a track meet on Saturday and also will get to visit some family we only get to see about once a year. We have made arrangements for our dogs to stay at a doggy hotel since that is usually the reason we don't go home often. We have two boxers and its not exactly easy traveling with two children and two boxers on the three hour venture back home. It is so much easier for them to go there and get to play with other dogs and us having peace of mind they are being taken care of and not tearing our house to pieces while we are gone. I am very anxious for the weekend to be here am hoping for a great finish to the week.