Lactose intolerancce? Nope Gluten Intolerance? Nope

Ever since my birthday, Sam has had runny poos. Sometimes his nappies were really bad, and sometimes they seemed to get a bit better... but they were never 'normal'. After five days I took him to the doctor. He was able to give some good advice around gastro and some misconceptions. For instance, the latest research (which this doctor was involved with at the Royal Children's Hospital) shows that you do not need to restrict foods. It is a common misconception that you shouldn't have any dairy products if you have diahorea. The study found that it didn't make any difference. The main thing was to keep up the fluids to prevent dehydration. He said to come back if it continued more than ten days. So we returned the next week - but saw a different doctor. He said that it is common for the diahorea to continue for 3 weeks, and since Sam was not showing any other signs of illness, not to worry. He did order a stool sample just to rule out any bugs or lactose intolerance (a test for reducing sugars). Now that was fun!!! The results came back clear, and the doctor (a different one again) said that it was just taking a long time for Sam to get better, and it could take MONTHS!!!! So we continue changing these horrible nappies, once, twice, sometimes three times a day.

We finally got to see our normal doctor, and she suggested lactose intolerance. So we eliminated all lactose from his diet for a month. There was no change at all. Back to the doctor and now they suggest glutten intolerance, so a blood test and THREE stool samples and three weeks later and the results have come back negative. So we are back where we started. Next step is an appointment with a paedeatrician, which has been booked in for October. The referal letter says it all "...he is obviously a bright, happy and healthy child. ? any need for further investigation."

Toilet training

It has been a while since Sam has had a 'first'. Though we do get excited everytime he says another word for the first time. Last night (well it was actually 9th July - I am late posting this!) was a momentous occasion... his first wee on the toilet!!! It was probably just a fluke, but he watched Josh go to the toilet before their shower, so I thought I would try him on the toilet as well. About 5 seconds after sitting down, he did it!!! I was shocked and excited, and we had to run down and tell everyone and give him some lollies as a reward. Now we just need to stop him pooing in the bath and shower!

Since July Sam has been going to the toilet at least once a day. Usually just before the shower, but also first thing in the morning, and even if we are down the shops.

I love this self-toilet training!

A sunny winter day

There were ten in the bed...

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Are they here yet?

What happened to July?

All of a sudden we are well into August!
And what did we get up to in July?

We went to Werribee Zoo for a Trivia Trail day. The kids had a sheet of paper with photos of animals and when they spotted them they marked them off. At the end they got a prize each. Josh chose a crocodile cup, and Sam got a platypus cup.
The adults trivia was a bit trickier and had us counting the number of water fountains (Josh loved that! He has always had a strange facination for the water fountains at Melbourne Zoo). We also had to find the headline of an African newspaper in one of the huts (a strange co-incidence was it was actually from the day Josh was born!). It was a fun, but very cold day.

We also went to Sovereign Hill and got to frolick in the snow. The boys had a ball. I loved the tube slide. And as an added surprise, at certain times they had a 'snow fall' in the main street (actually made from soap suds). Josh was facinated with the big mining machines. We had a go at the bowling. And right on closing time we headed down to the creek to look for gold. I found the tiniest spek, and Kel found a bigger piece hidden in a rock.