March 23, 2005

So I went to the compound pharmacist in the pharmacy compound. Actually, it was more like an office compound, er… complex. But it was a compound pharmacist. I had no idea these places existed. They specialize in custom mixing medications so that they can remove things that the behind the counter people at CVS can’t. For instance, Zantac has alcohol in it when sold from behind the counter. From the compound pharmicist it doesn’t.

The whole thing was a bit disconcerting. I had to walk into a small office complex — and by small I mean tiny — down a hall and then into a doorway where a woman sat in a white lab coat. She was very pleasant, took HBomb’s prescription and asked what flavor I/he wanted. She said grape and vanilla were the best for infants, but she could make strawberry, watermelon strawberry, strawberry grape, watermelon grape, well… you get the idea. I decided on vanilla… and you know what? He likes it. He really likes it!

It was quite a bizarre experience. When I went back to pick it up I was instructed to go wait in an office for the pharmacist to come in and explain the med. It was pretty simple: once a day, refrigerate, 2cc’s. He even gave me this nifty bottle cap for the med that allows you to neatly insert the feeding syringe (two words I never thought I would write in conjunction) without actually opening the cap. What will they think of next?

So the short and skinny is that we’re now onto Prilosec. It should take between 3-5 days for it to kick in. We’ll see what happens next!

March 22, 2005

Well, it was the two month checkup and the first since our Children’s hospital ordeal. HBomb is a whooping 13 pounds — and there was a 1 month old in the waiting room that looked to be half the size of Hayes. The doc is happy with his progress, as he lands squarely in the 75th percentile. We’re happy about that too. What we’re not happy about is the reflux redux.

Fortunately, doc isn’t happy about that either. We’re now moving onto Prilosec, which is tough to get as it is now over the counter for adults. As a result the local Boston CVS doesn’t carry it in liquid form for babies. The closest place is in Newton, which happens to be close to where I work — happy day. They also can make it in 20 different flavors. No joke. Almost more than Baskin Robins.

Then Hbomb had the shots. Four of them. The boy shreiked for a few minutes, then settled down. What a trooper. He clearly doesn’t take after his dad on these matters, as I would have curled up in the corner until someone brought me beer and nachos. Good beer, bad nachos.

Thanks to some of you readers out there, we inquired about insurance discounts on the Alimentum, and sure enough, looks like it’s entirely, if not partially, covered. At the very most, we’re only going to have to pay $45 a month which is a 75% discount! It’s like paying full price for the Alimentum and getting free health insurance. We’ll take it!

So we’re back to square one with the reflux. Prilosec is supposed to target a different part of the reflux causing stuff (yes, I’m happy I am not a doctor) so hopefully it will make things better. Either way our doc says she thinks at around 4 months he’ll be all better. That seems like a long time away.

March 21, 2005

It seems the only sure-fire way to get HBomb to stop crying is to put him on… the changing table? Indeed. Can’t quite figure out what exactly it is about the changing table that he likes so much. Is it the Ikea moon? The orange paint job? The blue concave changing mat? I dunno, but it’s something.

It’s funny, though. It’s the only place in the house that HBomb is guaranteed to stop crying. In fact, it is so effective that he actually starts smiling and gooing at us. Even if his diaper is full. Yes, it’s fun times for all on the changing table. Except, of course, if he’s been happy until then… then, well… he hates it.

March 20, 2005

Ok, an admitted overstatement, but a near disaster nonetheless. Yet again we made the mistake of switching formula. The Ailumentum isn’t working, I said. I think the soy works just as well, I told Jen. Yah. Right. Our two day experiment has come to a not-so-dramatic end. No more soy, hooray Ailumentum. Yes, the new gold standard in formula is also the standard in our home. We love to pay close to $9 a day on formula. Love it.

But whatcha gonna do?

HBomb’s got an appetite and, like his parents, thinks the most expensive things taste best. Of course he hasn’t had McDonald’s yet. That’ll throw his expensive tastes into a tizzy.

On the other hand, hopefully this means we’ll have a young sushi lover on our hands. I need more excuses to order out sushi. Or we could always go the Minado for all-you-can-eat sushi (BTW, NYC’ers and NJ’ers, if you get a chance check it out… good sushi, all-you-can-eat!) As much as I love to make it, sometimes it’s nice to eat someone else’s.

You have got to read Paul Conrad (of ideashack fames) post to my last entry. It’s classic!

6 weeks here. Onstage in front of thousands posing as Brian Wilson - I don’t look like him, I can’t remember any of the songs, and apparently I’m playing the drums too. There’s someone on the side of the stage yelling at me, who alla sudden is my very annoyed wife, wanting me to get the hell up, take the baby, so she can go pee. I jump up and yet I’m still on stage with my feet tangled in patch cords trying to get off the stage. Fall asleep standing in the shower.

If you’re not reading his blog already, hopefully this and his so-bad-it’s-funny use of photoshop in his most recent post‘ll (not to be confused with postal or going postal or the postal service or anything else derived there of) get you there!

March 19, 2005

Man… I’m tired!