Need prayers please!

Hey, everyone. I've been waiting to post so that the golf outing slides would be at the top of the page. So, if you are looking for those, scroll down a bit!

Now an update (it's going to be a loooooong one!):

We've had a rough few days. We tried taking Ben back to CHIP Thursday after almost a week off sick. He was not a happy camper. He started crying the moment we pulled into the parking lot and I had to carry him in. They ended up calling us at 10am to pick him up.

The ladies at CHIP thought maybe he was still ill. He still does have a snotty nose, possibly a sinus infection left over from the cold. However, while I think he is not yet 100% physically, his mood has been great at home.

My fear is that he has built a bad association with CHIP. It started last Wednesday when they took a ride in the new big wagon cart. Ben did not like that experience. Ever since then, if we mention "school" he shakes his head "no" and whines. Again, he may be sick, but this is not like Ben. Sick or not, he always loved going there.

So, please pray hard with us that Ben can overcome this. Needless to say, it is causing us all a lot of stress.

In addition to this, we are dealing with ANOTHER newly diagnosed ALLERGY!!! SOY!!! God help us! Of Ben's short list of foods, we've lost his waffles, chips, and soy milk. So, more stress trying to figure out what to feed the poor kid.

The possible good news in this is that we may have found what has been causing the stuffy nose and diarrhea he has had the last couple of months (even before the cold.) His soy intake has increased recently, so that could explain things. We had assumed that the ragweed was responsible for the stuffy nose, but his tests show he is not allergic to any of that outdoor stuff. We are on day 2 with no soy, and no relief in the stuffy nose yet (again, I think he may have a sinus infection from the cold.) So, we will see. It is a high level allergy, so regardless...it's gone.

We are thinking of putting him back on cow's milk. He shows absolutely no allergy to milk, not IgG nor IgE. So, with digestive enzymes, I just can't think of a reason he can't have it. We've given him a bit here and there and he really likes it. The one time I gave it to him without the enzymes, he did get very giggly (not sure if it is related.) However, we gave him a bit yesterday with the enzymes and I didn't notice any behavioral changes. So, we'll continue to experiment and see what happens.

He did show a low level allergy to wheat, and his previous lab work has indicated possible celiac disease (gluten sensitivity/allergy). So, for the time being, we are leaving that out of his diet even with enzymes.

So, with the stress of him not liking school all of a sudden and not knowing what to feed him...we can use all the prayers we can get! I hear my mom's voice in my head..."this too shall pass..."

Thank you all for your continued support. I feel better just getting this off my chest... :o)

Love,
Julie, Jer and Stuffy Ben