When we got there and got in a room and they came and got her to measure her again because they said their equipment must have malfunctioned. I assumed it was saying she was smaller than she should be. Come to find out, after measuring four times on at least 2 different machines, she grew 2 and 1/2 inches in 3 months! Wow! I thought those pjs I bought at the beginning of the summer shrunk, lol!
She gained the weight she should have also, but because her height is now above average and her weight is average, her BMI has dropped to the 45th percentile. Even though she is pancreatic sufficient, they still like to see her at or above the 50th percentile. Right now it is the lowest it has ever been. They are not worried because the main factor is the huge growth spurt and she is not showing signs of insufficiency, but they did say not worry about restricting calories or fat, and to even add them liberally! They sugested all the things that are suggested to kids that are pancreatic insufficient, including full fat butter and sour cream in mashed potatoes, extra cheese and powedered milk added to whatever I can add it to, and anything else I can come up with to add fat and calories. They suggested 2,000 calories a day, which is the norm for adults!
I had also been reading about CF kids needing more salt in their diet because they lose more when they sweat. No one ever said anything about this to us, so I brought it up to the nutritionist. She said yes, to give plenty of salty snacks, use the salt shaker liberally, and even to add salt to pretzels, crackers, and popcorn! Poor Jackson is going to feel so mistreated.
We had the vitamin discussion again as well. I have not been able to get her to take the CF vitamin in liquid form since she was very, very young, so the consensus has been to have her take a whole chewable off the shelf like a Flintstone (the recommended dose for her age is a half.) Well, the only issue on the results of her annual blood work, which they drew blood for in June, was that her vitamin D was a little low. They like it to be 30 and it was 29. Soooo, they tell me they have a chewable CF vitamin! Why did someone not tell me that when we began trying to figure out what to do a year ago! She could chew! Anyway, she is taking it now and all seems good.
She also had a chest x-ray this time and though we do not have the result, she did a great job. She sat right where she was supposed to and said CHEESE! LOL! She also sat and opened her mouth for her cough culture and they said even the big kids fight them on that. The only other change is the addition of a cough regime to her vest treatment just to move any mucus that may be loosened during the treatment.
As a reward for how great she did she got her ears pierced. I think that was the most traumatic part of the whole day, but she wanted it even after she knew it was gonna hurt. She cried, but I think it was more traumatic for me!
In other news, Jackson is doing Cub Scouts and Flag Football. Flag football will be over in a few weeks and he wants to do pads next year. Apparently he can and his daddy said okay....I think I will need a prescription. He LOVES Cub Scouts and the whole family went on his first Cub Scout family campout. It was fun, and I hope he continues to enjoy scouting. It is a great program. First grade is going well, though he nor I enjoy the homework he has each night. We have had a lot of lessons on having to do things you do not want to do sometimes.
I hope all is well with your families. Until next time:)
