E.A.R.

The above title represents the issues that we have been battling with Lane for quite some time and especially in the last few weeks. He's been having difficulties with Excema, Allergies and Reflux for the last few months and the excema and allergies seem to be getting worse.

To give a little background and history I was the world's most allergic child to absolutely everything growing up. No exaggeration! Once my mom weened me at 16 months old, I had to be put on goats milk because I was allergic to cows milk. And not just the milk, but anything made out of cow's milk (no ice cream, no cheese, no recipe that had any of those ingredients). Also, I was allergic to cats, horses, grass (wore long sleeves and jeans), citrus fruits, bananas, white flour, and the list goes on. Anytime I ate or touched any of the above my excema would break out like a wild bangee. So I learned very early what to avoid so I would not be miserable. I eventually grew out of these allergies and for the most part do not have the excema flair ups. When I found out that I was pregnant with Lane, my biggest fear is that he would have my allergies or worse. I decided to breastfeed with hopes of avoiding the allergies and for the most part they did.

Now to Lane's history. He's had excema since he was born. It was mainly on the back of his knees and since I was breastfeeding I controlled mine and his diet to be sensitive to the things that I was most highly allergic to. When he started eating solids I would try foods that I was allergic to and was scared to death of what would happen. Most of the time he was fine. He would have flair ups, but only on occasion. I have always used scent free soaps, lotions, detergents, etc. and anytime that something scented was used on him, the excema got worse. He is also allergic to cats. I had suspicions of the allergy to the cat for some time, but his flair ups were not that bad until a few weeks ago. Tressa has a cat that was living inside. Lane had spent some time at the Delano's while I was finishing up school and his allergies and excema went bonkers. The cat is now living outside and is happily catching moles and bringing them to the garage. Also, I think most of his excema flair ups are due to "contact" situations like wool, synthetic fabrics (carpets), and grasses. When his allergies are triggered by whatever, he sneezes, waterery, itchy eyes, runny nose and the excema on his wrists start to irritate him. The drainage from the runny nose triggers the reflux!! AHHHHHHHHH!! Poor baby can't win for losing!

When we left for the beach he was horribly broke out, reflux was out of control (currently on Prilosec), and his allergies were going crazy. Now that we are back and we've had some time away and are rested, I have started a log of what Lane is eating at every meal and snack to see if there is a connection to the food, allergies and excema. So far, he will no longer be enjoying bananas or berries. The grass, well, that is a hard thing to control considering we would all go crazy couped up inside. We have to go on living, right? But now that he is walking, I am going to try to keep shoes on his little feet when we go outside to control the excema on his ankles. I have read that stress and heat can also be huge factors in excema flair ups. Nothing like Sweet Home Alabama's heat waves to cause an Excema outbreak. LOL!!

Our pediatritian knows of Lane's issue and we all know that this is genetic (thanks to me and my moms side of the family). Lane has some prescription cream to ease the itching, but so far, good old Crisco has worked wonders!! Yes, Crisco (fried chicken, greased cake pans, and now excema relief)!! I was a Crisco baby and I have two cousins who were as well. I think between my cousins and I and all the prescription creams out there, Crisco can't be beat!!

Hopefully we can get Lane straightened out and be able to control the flair ups. I know that he will have break outs and it will drive him nuts as he gets older, but I am hoping and praying that he grows out of it earlier than I did. I am ready for his E.A.R. problems to be better!!