We've come a long way baby

This picture is of John at seven months - our happy baby who looked like he must just hurt. The baby who couldn't sleep for more than a few hours before he woke up itchy. The baby who had at least one bath a day (without soap) for his first year of life - just so his skin could stay hydrated.

John was first diagnosed with eczema at his two month checkup, but until that point it was manageable. But from the time he was 2 1/2 months until we figured out he was allergic to the cassein in milk and dogs at about eight months, he pretty much looked like the picture above. We tried everything - from Aveeno products to Crisco vegetable shortening... I know, I know but we were desperate. His daily regiment consisted of a lukewarm bath followed immediately by a "patting dry" followed immediately by an antibiotic ointment followed by a coritsone ointment or else protopic, followed by a slathering of aquaphor. We only used All Free laundry detergent, avoided fabric softeners all together and he only wore 100% cotton clothing. I was nursing so I gave up all dairy and all citrus. Nothing seemed to help.

Until, finally, at seven months we did allergy testing. At that point we found out John was allergic to dogs and the cassein in milk. I quit nursing and we tried Alimentum formula - which he actually drank even though it smelled nasty. After Dasher, our twelve-year-old cocker spaniel, died in her sleep we got all the rugs, upholstry and carpets professionally cleaned. And, within a few weeks of those changes, John was better. Better as in we could see his beautiful round cheeks without the weeping sores for the first time since he was only a few months old.

He still breaks out - especially his hands during this time of year when he's playing hockey - but he just knows it means we need to slather his hands with aquaphor and he needs to wear all cotton socks to bed for a few nights in a row. We've learned that the antibacterial gels that so many people use in place of washing hands do not work at all for him - they cause his hands to become almost raw. And we still use the Robathol bath oil once in a while - if nothing else but to give him incredibly soft skin.

What's most amazing though is that he drinks milk all the time now - and eats yogurt. And we got a dog - granted one that is supposed to be non-shedding (not always the case at our house) and hypo-allergenic. And even though Dakota does shed a bit it's pretty amazing to see how John just snuggles right into her furry belly and rubs his face all around her - and there's not a wheeze, not a dry patch, not anything.

Overall, I'd say we're pretty fortunate.