In the Begining: First Year

Peyton was born two weeks early, and we should have know that how he began life would be an indicator of what was to come with our little Mr. Trouble. He loved to eat, still does, he could not get enough food. We ended up supplementing with a milk based formula.  When we were supplementing he started to have horrific gas, projectile spit-up, constant diarrhea, fussiness, didn't want to lay down, and really bad eczema.  His Pediatrician recommended he might have an issue with lactose so we switch him to a soy based formula. This made a huge difference with the gas and the diarrhea. Although, he was still having major issues with the spiting up, and was diagnosed with reflux. After we started the Zantac he still spit up, but not as much (a tablespoon instead of 1/4 cup). Things were somewhat calm until he reached 4 months and he was ready to try some table food.

Like every other parent out there, we got rice cereal for him to try. The least allergenic food, that's why we all start our kids on it, right? Wrong! He had a rash all over his body, huge resurgence of eczema, beyond bad constipation (didn't poop for 7-10 days). We consulted with his pediatrician, and they suggested, as rare as it is, take him off the rice, switch to barley and see what happens. Within a few days of stopping the rice, his rash went away, the eczema cleared up, and we were back to normal baby poop. The barley seemed to be much better.

When we started on the fruits and vegetables, boy was he really in heaven!!! He could not get enough! At the time, we didn't think much of his poop. It seemed normal for him to poop four times a day, sometimes diarrhea, and sometimes not. He didn't fuss much, was really clingy though. He was very happy, yet quiet.

Thinking back on that first year, all the signs were there that there was still a problem. But since Peyton appeared to be happy, was growing, gaining some weight (he was just starting to slide off his weight chart), we just chalked it up to "other things" - all kids develop at different paces, he's a mama's boy, he didn't have enough barley for the poop to be solid, etc., etc....

Around his first birthday was when things really ramped up. The mommy and daddy instincts kicked in and we started to realize that there was more going on than just the FPIES with milk and rice. Not once did we ever think Peyton would end up in this world of FPIES (Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome) and Fructose Malabsorption.