Half a Mystery Solved

I'm sure you all recall that we had Sofie in the hospital for a few days in mid-December after she spit up bright red blood, which eventually turned brownish and then made several appearances in her diaper. We never did get a definitive diagnosis, but we were told it was probably a milk allergy and they gave us some Pepcid to give to her twice a day. I diligently (and I mean super diligently) cut milk out of my diet entirely and almost faithfully made sure that she got her medication daily. Then several weeks later (Dec. 30th) it happened again, though not nearly as dramatically. We took her in to the doctor once again. This time they guessed it was probably some other kind of allergy...soy perhaps? They set us up with a visit with a pediatric GI specialist for the 24th of this month. Since Sofie has never shown any signs of distress there wasn't much immediate concern, although we were instructed to watch her carefully and take her to the ER if she continued to spit up. She didn't, and we went about our merry routine, sceptical and frustrated.

Yesterday it happened again. This time we didn't even bother to call the doctors who don't seem to have any real idea what's going on, and who we knew would only reiterate the same instructions they'd given us the last time it happened. Sofie's appointment was scheduled for the 24th anyhow...we'd make note of this recent occasion then.

This morning I got up and decided that I'd express some extra milk since I had come just a bit short of what Sofie will need on Monday during my Friday sessions. Wouldn't you know I expressed about half of an ounce of pure blood. Now, I've had my suspicions that the blood was coming from me since the very beginning, but because I've had no visible cracks or abrasions, and since I pump three times daily Monday through Friday and never see blood, it struck the doctors who've been treating Sofie as an unlikely idea.

It's so good to know that Sofie is just fine and to be able to stop worrying about her health, and I've been enjoying a steady diet of chocolate and cheese all day, but I'd be lying if I said that I'm not freaking out just a wee bit over what could possibly be wrong with me. Unfortunately, I can feel those unanswered questions sinking me just a little bit deeper into the winter melancholy that seems to grip me about this time every year.

So I'm sending out a request for sunny days and good news this week...hopefully at least half of my hopes will be fulfilled!