Sugar 'N Spice

For the parents, I'm sure that you know what this little chart is. For the people who are not parents or who have young children and haven't seen this yet... This is a growth chart that is used in the United States. They actually break it down into Boys birth to 24 months and 2 years to 20 years. They also have one for girls. In most cases a child will fall somewhere between the high line (being percentages of average) and the low line. These are also, I believe only used for full term babies as they have to adjust age on premies. But I could be wrong. This chart, will be much better when I go back to the doctor and get my figures again from Matt's recent visits. However, the little red dot (there's only one) is where he is as of my home scale right now. As you can see (barely as this shrunk during the upload) he's below that lowest line (which now has him below the 2% he was at). However, since my scale sometimes differs from the doctor's, I'm not doing his official chart until I go talk to them after I make the appointment. Then I will fill in all the blanks to date. Remember Matt was NOT born a premie. He was born 2 DAYS before his due date at 7 lbs 11 oz (after a completely unmedicated birth, almost at home and the only complications were to ME) so he's on this chart. Also remember that even a child that falls below the line NEEDS to form their own line, even if it is lower/slower/faster/bigger. Each child grows ALONG the same line as the ones printed above, even if not exactly on them. Matthew has been diagnosed with Failure To Thrive (FTT)... but we have never found out the cause YET. But at least after a few years of worry, someone said it wasn't just that it was just in my head and it was just because he wasn't eating quiet right!

Since Matt got back the question I hear all the time is "Has he grown?" and the question gets to me. Particailly because it makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong (magically he's going to get bigger because he was gone for 30 days in the summer? or maybe everyone thinks I'm not feeding him right... whatever the deal is... yeah). But partically because to be honest, I don't think he HAS grown while he was gone. I don't think he's grown much since his last appointment for weight check. Which leaves me feeling helpless because I have tried EVERYTHING to help him grow (or at least gain weight). We've even done and ICE CREAM diet... and it doesn't even work.

Although I'm not comfortable giving you all the note that he has NOT grown until I go to the doctor and have him on their scales, mine reads 28 lbs. Which is what his doctor's read LAST time.

If he hasn't gained weight I'm at a loss for what to do. The doctor has already ordered every test in their book to rule out any kind of hormone, thyroid, kidney, etc problem. (I'm still not convinced that it doesn't have SOMETHING to do with the fact he spent the first year of his life consitpated until he was put on Miralax at 6 months of age daily (then if you missed a dose he was back at not beign able to poop, sorry guys! But I also don't know since everything is normal with his blood work. I've read somewhere else that there is another kid that isn't gaining weight quiet right and they have a doctor with a "special" name... and for the life of me I don't remember who it was or how I got there or the name of the kind of doctor they see for it. Otherwise I could request a referral to see someone who might be able to find SOMETHING.

Now, even gaining 1-2 lbs from the last visit, while it won't put him on the chart will ease my worries. It's been 3-6 months since his last visit and he needs to have gained something. Even slow is better than NONE in that amount of time. *sigh*

Well, I guess if you have any idea of what the name of this kind of doctor might be you could share it. Otherwise, just say a prayer/positive thought for him and me and the family.