County Fair

Yesterday evening on our way home from the sidewalk chalk festival we stopped at a grocery store so I could buy lots of soy yogurt for Ian. I believe I'll be returning all but one container of it on Monday. I gave him about 4 ounces of vanilla soy yogurt at 6:30am and for his second breakfast (since he eats 6 times a day I consider him to have 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners) I gave him the other 2 ounces of the yogurt plus some sweet potatoes. After I had showered and got the kids dressed, I took them in the stroller to a yard sale en route to the playground.

While we were shopping at the yard sale, Ian started throwing up (on this woman's tarp where she had placed various toys that were for sale. Thankfully the women were very gracious and didn't have a "you throw up on it, you bought it" policy. They cleaned it up and even offered him a drink of water. I picked him up and he continued throwing up in their grass (and on me). After I paid for the items I had already picked out, I put Ian back in the stroller.

He seemed to be doing fine so I thought maybe we could spend a few minutes at the playground, but then he started spewing up soooo much more. I don't know how he had anything left to spew up, but he did. His clothes were dripping wet, and he was sitting in a big pool of it. My poor baby! He had to stay in it until we got home. As soon as I took off his completely soaked clothes (not one part of his shirt was dry), I gave him a bath. Then I thought I'd give him some EleCare because his stomach had to be empty after all that chucking. Paul took a garden hose to the stroller. While he was drinking the EleCare he started projectile vomiting again. He doused a second outfit and drenched almost all of my clothing in addition to the carpet and couch. He was in his 3rd outfit before 10am.

I called the Pediatrician, and they said it was probably coincedental (not that he's allergic to soy). Ummm I strongly disagree. Unless the Allergist can convince me otherwise when I call him on Monday, I don't plan on giving Ian any soy in the near future. He hasn't thrown up like that in almost 2 months. Thankfully he then fell asleep for 2.5 hours (in our arms - the plans for sleep training went out the door with all the vomiting), and he never threw up again the rest of the day. We were away from the house from 3-7pm, and during that time I never changed his diaper. When we got home, I discovered his diaper was still totally dry. Not Good. I gave him another sippy of EleCare at 7:45pm even though usually he doesn't get any past 6:00pm. I never give him one that late, but I'd rather err on the side of him leaking through his diaper tonight than dehydration. I had called for estimates this week on getting our carpets shampooed (and one couch), but I've decided now to hold off another 3 months or so. The most discouraging aspect of this experience this morning is that it shows that Ian will probably be in the 10% minority of those who still have a food or two they have to avoid. i wish he was in the 90% that could have a regular diet after recovering from EE, but I am really doubtful given the strong reaction he had to soy today after not having any soy for 2 months. I think the Psychologist was right, and the Allergist was wrong, unfortunately. I wish the Allergist had been right!

Today we went to a county fair. It wasn't in our county, but it was only about 20 minutes away from our house. It was a great deal because the admission to get in covered unlimited rides! It cost us $17 including parking for the 4 of us to attend, although we spent more than that because we ate dinner there. But what a great deal to ride all the rides you want for $5! Paul only rode 2 rides - a large Ferris Wheel (with Nadia) and the carousel (with both kiddos). Ian was too small for the Ferris Wheel. It was the first time he really enjoyed riding some rides by himself. Maybe he'll enjoy riding some at Knoebels the next time we go there. He didn't try to climb out like he did at Knoebels the first time we let him ride a ride there. He still was too scared to ride on a horse on the carousel. He prefers to be held. Both children enjoyed seeing the rabbits, horses, alpacas, sheep, goats, etc. Nadia's favorite ride was the rollercoaster. She rode the ride I always call the "Scrambler" (because that was the name of the ride at King's Dominion) for the first time ever. She laughed her head off! I hadn't been on that ride in a few years. It used to be one of my top 5 favorites, but I have to say that although I enjoyed it the first few minutes, my stomach was really wanting the ride to end a little sooner than it did. I definitely couldn't have gone on it more than once. Sigh. I'm getting old I guess. Anyhow I am certain that as long as we live in this area we'll be heading to this fair once a year. We had a great time, and it was very affordable.