Hooray!!!

[Jodiesmum]

Just wanted to say how happy I am that DD2 is finally starting to enjoy life! Bought her first pair of flashing light trainers today and she's spent most of the afternoon stomping around in them, practically hysterical with excitement. It's my birthday tomorrow which means it's exactly 3 years since she was conceived...i thought we'd never get to a happy time but we have.

good for you two

jodiesmum as a mum of a very distressed 1yr old can you tell me more? I am hoping there is a light at the end of our tunnel and like you will one day be able to post about my happy little boy, if we ever get there!

Sorry YM, I didn't see this until now. Yes there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel IME but I do feel for you because I know how so slowly time passes when things are hard. It's so horrible seeing your child unhappy and clearly enjoying life less than others of the same age, especially when there's nothing you can do about it. All I can say is hold on, because the chances are you DS will be in a far better place a year from now and maybe much, much sooner. Are there particular things you think might be making him miserable or is it a mystery? With DD2 I thought it was probably because she had such a horrible start in life though for all I know there may have been something physically wrong with her that was giving her pain - that was always my fear though we certainly couldn't identify anything. We did try lots of things that people suggested, like homeopathy, cranial osteopathy and checking out food alergies, etc, but I can't say anything made much of a difference. I think it was just a matter of waiting for DD2 to develop and get through things at her own pace and giving her all the love and reassurance we possibly could in the meantime. And to be honest, she's still not what anyone would describe as an easygoing child (perhaps she never will be) but seeing her so joyful and exuberant for at least a part of every day is what;s made me so happy lately. I don't know if this helps at all, do post more about your DS.

Thanks for that JM, that was a lovely post. My ds was born with a hole in his bowel which eventually needed surgery. We then dealt with dairy allergy, reflux, elimination diet for soy, eggs and gluten, lactose intolerance, constipation, chronic gagging, disinterest in solid food until 10 months, delayed motor skills and generally a very miserable little boy. Currently we are exploring the gluten again as he has been losing weight. Very worried and exhausted. MN and posters like you is what has kept me going.

Poor you and poor him - not surprising he's miserable with all that going on. There are actually some things in common with DD2 as she had a bowel problem at birth and developed necrotising entercolitis - a v scary disease that's quite common for prem babies. She did recover really well but then had terrible constipation for about 18 months which I assume was an after effect - it was non-stop laxitives and glycerin suppositeries poor thing. Wasn't related to diet in her case though a close friend's DD has coeliac disease so I know a bit about that and remember it took ages to get it diagnosed. Sorry you are having such a hard time.