WARNING: THIS TOPIC IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART - you have been warned...
For about the last two weeks now Ms. Ellie has been having what amounts to diarrhea, but is really more of a middle ground between diarrhea and formed stool. We are guessing that it is because we have begun introducing some new foods into her diet, but I fear that this theory is growing old and tired. She is now eating "regular" foods that are diced, her formula, and some jar foods - perhaps it was too much of a change for her tummy but I am now doubting it is the culprit.
It started with her waking up with her jammies a total disaster, which made getting up in the mornings a particular treat!! I know there were days Justin and I laid there pretending to be asleep and hoping that the other would finally get up to go and fight the battle.
This morphed into a mid-day treat and finally an around 8 pm treat -- this has resulted in SOOOOO much laundry being done and SOOOOO many extra baths being given. It's pretty much all we do....wipe/gag/re-bathe/gag /re-diaper/gag/change her clothes/gag/clean up diaper/gather dirty clothes/hose off dirty clothes/launder dirty clothes/gag/hose ourselves off --- AND repeat!
This Monday she had her 9 month well child check and so I figured we'd ask her pediatrician about it. It was a cold and rainy day so I bundled her up in a cute pink outfit with pink elephants - very fetching. We drove to the office and arrived around 20 min early and I smelled a funny smell so when we parked I decided to change her before she had an accident. I was too late.....
I lifted her up from her car seat and her pink sweat pants were brown in color....I laid her on her back while I removed the soiled pants only to find a mess of astronomical proportions....There was poop EVERYWHERE...thick poop that resembled spaghetti (given that this is what she'd had the day before - the jarred kind). It was on the outside of her onesie...which then got on her legs...which then got on her socks...which then got on the seat....which then got on her hoodie...which then got on the diaper bag...which then got on her spare shirt....which was, of course, now all over me. I wanted to cry.....and it smelled....bad.
And as luck would have it....we were nearly out of wipes in the diaper bag. Great.
I cleaned her off and then used some antibacterial hand wipes to tend to the car.....
I looked down and we were late to her appointment...but she had only a spare pair of pants that were unscathed....so I got her pants on (which was no small feat given that I really had no un-pooped place to lay her) and took my hoodie off to wrap her in and rushed her inside. A few people were staring at me and I figured they were wondering why Ellie was wrapped in a hoodie, however I then remembered that I had put on a thin white T-shirt under my hoodie. Great.
We finally made it to see the doctor, and as usual (her pediatrician is not easily worked up given that she's been around a while) we were told the diarrhea was no big deal. The girl is not dehydrated, no change in diaper status (wet ones that is), she's eating well, drinking well, and no fever. So the doc just told us to give her some Activia and see what happens...
She also got 2 shots....and was told that her scream was the loudest the doctor has heard in all of her career - which means something given that the doctor has been around a while....At least now I know it's not just me being sensitive. I believe the descriptor was a "calling the dogs" scream......Great.
PS: I'm sorry Ellie that I reported this story about you.....one day you will understand....(Drum roll please....) when you have kids!!
