We are the Stow Family and this is our story. Our lives are blessed by Love, Joy and Hope. Follow our sometimes interesting stories on loving our two boys, exploring parenthood, and celebrating a little extra - two parents, two boys and an extra chromosome!

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Mr Malakai is doing ok!

Well – I think some updates are due!

Firstly, and most importantly, I can say that Malakai is doing much better with the seizures (almost none now), but he has developed absolutely terrible reflux. My poor little man just brings up milk, food and clear liquid all day long – whether he’s on his tummy, back, sitting up or even standing. Whether he’s moving around or still... Being on his tummy is the worst though – and he spends almost no time on his tummy anymore (from having spent most of his time there), which I know is affecting his development now (because he’s getting ready to start crawling).

I must say that on this journey of motherhood and the diagnosis of Malakai having Down syndrome, I have never been this worried. Yes, when he was initially diagnosed I was scared and worried about him, but as I grew aware of what an amazing and fulfilling life he would live, the diagnosis was not something that bugged me anymore! But, in the past 3 weeks, our lives have been thrown off balance. First the initial prescription of the reflux medicine (when the reflux wasn’t even that bad) that caused the seizures, then the seizures, and now the terrible terrible reflux that’s affecting him every hour of every day. I am feeling a bit like sobbing – because I feel so helpless. I just wish I could find a doctor who I trusted to help him (I will not go back to the previous paediatrician) and I am waiting for an appointment to come up at a new paediatrician.

Yesterday was probably the worst day so far for reflux, but after Malakai was becoming dehydrated I visited our local chemist and he told me to take Malakai off his current reflux medicine (which was obviously not working) and try some reflux formula and Gaviscon (for pregnant women). It has worked wonders so far and Malakai is eventually back on his tummy again! Woo Hoo! So hopefully we can keep the reflux under control until I can get an appointment with a new paediatrician.

Other news is our South African elections last Wednesday! I am proud to say that I stood in a queue for 2 hours in the cold and put my X down! As expected, the current ruling party (the ANC) won by a landslide (as they have done since our first free and fair elections in 1994). So, they will face their 5th term as ruling party. I will not say that I am completely against the ANC – they certainly have done a good job for over a 100 years of fighting for freedom for their people – there is no doubt of that. It is just that with this party in power has come corruption, crime, poverty, a breakdown in social services such as schools & hospitals and very internationally embarrassing moments (such as when our previous president claimed that there was no link between HIV and Aids and our new president claimed that a shower after sex with a HIV-positive woman would ‘clean’ him of the Aids virus... Huh?) At least we have two strong opposition parties in place to check them at the door. What I do hope is that our country grows and continues to offer a chance at prosperity and freedom. We live in such a beautiful place, filled with people who really just want to be able to pay bills, support their families and be free.

Then finally, we are going on holiday on Monday! Woo Hoo! We are going to a place that I absolutely love – it is my favourite place on earth... Clarens in the Free State is a tiny town, nestled in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains bordering the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. I spent many school holidays here growing up – days upon days of running free, exploring, riding my bike and making friends! The town has almost doubled in size now, but it still retains a quaint feeling. Where I used to go there to explore, it became a place to go to renew my soul. I think everyone has that place – a landscape – that just rises up to meet them and fill them with hope, serenity and awe. Well Clarens is that place for me!

8 comments:

Lacey said...

I'm glad this medicine is working better for him. I hope you can get in quick with this new doc. He needs a nissen bad. Have you ever heard of that? I don't know how much they do that in South Africa. It would help tremendously. Jax has had it done twice because the first one failed after a year and a half.
this is a funny question, but if you go out in the wilderness do you see Lions and elephants and all those cool animals that live in Africa?

The Hapa Girl said...

Hey! I'm happy to hear that the chemist helped to get things sorted out with his reflux! Sometimes, they are more helpful than the pediatrician (I like your spelling better).

Lillian suffers from reflux also, but not as bad. She has been taken off of cows milk and is on soy, but I've been concerned about the lack of nutrients that are not in soy. I found out that it may not be the cow's milk that is bothering her, but the hormones they inject in cows. So, we will be trying organic cows milk and see if that helps.

Good Luck with the dr's and let us know what will happen next.

Unknown said...

So happy to hear Kai is doing much better! I remember Samm use to give Deqlan Infant Gaviscon which you put into their formula But I was told this was taken off the market about a year ago - i hope its back - it worked wonders! Thats why i did not even think of it! Glad to hear that Mr Kai is happy being back on his tummy and playing so nicely! Your words about OUR country and government gave me chills! Exactly my thoughts put onto paper! We have such a dynamic, beautiful and awesome country - I wish more people could experience it! As for your holiday! Im jealous! You lucky fishes! Have a wonderful time and come back safely! God bless!

Heidi said...

Oh , it sounds like you have had such a rough couple of weeks. I'm glad that Malakai's reflux is better. Joel has reflux as well - although not nearly as bad as Malakai. The medicine he is on that has worked wonders is Losec or sometimes called Omeprazole.

It is so interesting to hear about your country and what is going on there. I really don't know a lot about South Africa. I hope you have a great holiday!

The Sanchez Family said...

I would ask your ped about milk. Joaquin is dairy free and so am I since I am still breastfeeding. The days when I cheat and have some ice cream or frozen yogurt or cheese are the days (I kid you not) that Joaquin spits up. Otherwise, he never spits up when I am strict. We have found a direct correlation. We plan on raising him completely dairy free.

Kelli said...

Glad to hear the good news. Hope you can find a good ped for Malakai.
Have fun on your trip.

Deqlan said...

I know what you mean Loren, the sea and the Midlands is that place for me! Glad to her Kai is doing better - a while ago there was gaviscon for babies that actually turned the food in their tummies into jelly so they couldnt throw up - but its discontinued. So sad to hear yet another friend beign led down the wrong road by the doctor - we really need to get our hands on a fantastic paediatrician hey! HUgs to Kai and hoping you have a stunning time on holiday and you got to post lost of pics ok! Lots of love Mark Samm Deqlan Logan

Elriza Paul said...

Yay, so glad Malakai's reflux is better. Can't wait to hear about your holiday. Hope you get to relax and spend some well deserved time with your family!

Love
Elriza, Wes & Caden