Hello hello everyone! Long time no see! I again have to apologize for my absence once again. Unfortunately lost my job and I had to find a new job so I was spending 2-3 weeks trying to get a new one asap. I did and i'm adjusting well so hopefully I can get back to writing. Anyway hope you all enjoy!
After a few more days, Dil was having no issue with the adjustment to his diet. After all, it was nice to be able to eat and drink things that didn't make his stomach all achy as it had been in the past year. Didi even found an alternative ice cream that was dairy free for Dil to be able to enjoy with his friends without being left out! Of course, soon came the day of Dil's follow up appointment with Dr. Schachter as Didi scooped up Dil and Tommy to head out soon after breakfast to head out for the appointment.
"Alright Dilly, let's get you to your doctor's appointment." Didi cooed, strapping him into his carseat before moving over to do so with Tommy.
Once the two were strapped in, Didi made her way to the driver's seat, buckling up herself, before pulling out of the driveway.
"Hey Tommy, why are we going backs to the doctor?" Dil questioned, looking over to his older brother before continuing. "Mommy didn't say nothing about more rooster shots and we're not sick."
"I don't know Dilly, maybe it's for another chickup but without getting any rooster shots. I know I had some like thats." Tommy answered, watching the scenery passby outside the window
"Hmm I hopes so, I don't think I wants a rooster shot." Dil murmured
After driving for a little, Didi soon pulled into the parking lot of the office as she helped Tommy out along with picking Dil up in her arms. Making their way into the building, they stepped into the elevator, waiting till it arrived at the correct floor. Stepping out of the elevator Didi made her way over to the front desk to check in
"Mrs. Pickles, right on time! How are you today?" Cynthia, the receptionist, asked
"Hi Cynthia, we're doing well this week." Didi greeted as she signed the sheet to check in
"That's great! Go ahead and have a seat, Dr. Schauchter should be right with you. I believe there was one other patient ahead of you today." Cynthia explained
"Oh alright, thank you." Didi nodded as she took Tommy and Dil over to the small play area in the office
Didi set down Dil onto the small playmat while Tommy ran over to play with the wooden blocks that were scattered amongst the floor.
"Alright you two play nice and soon Dilly will get to see the doctor." Didi grinned, ruffling Dil's hair as she took a seat on the lounge couch next to them.
"Here Dil we can build the biggerest tower in the whole wide world." Tommy offered a block to his brother
"Neat! Lets dos it." Dil giggled as he began helping Tommy build the tower of blocks
The two brothers scooped up all the blocks as they began stacking the tower as high as they could one by one. Soon with one wobbly sway while on his tip toes, Tommy reached to place the last block on top of the tower.
However, Tommy was startled when the sudden noise of a fussy crying baby was heard coming out from the back of the office. Distracted, Tommy began falling forward as he ended up knocking over the tower they had built.
"Uh oh, Tommy are yous okay?" Dil asked helping his brother up
"Yeah I'm fine, thanks Dilly." Tommy said, getting back on his feet "That other baby crying must of dislacted me."
Tommy and Dil then both looked to see where the source of the fussy baby was coming from as they quickly noticed a red-haired woman with a younger boy. Tommy immediately recognized who the woman was, It was the McNulty boys mother!
"Hey I knows that lady, that's Timmy McNulty's mommy!" Tommy exclaimed
"Oh yeah I kind of member seeing her afore." Dil said, recalling vaguely of the time when they went to the laundromat and encountered the McNulty's there.
As Dil tried to recall his memory, Didi also noticed Colleen, as she smiled and waved to the other mother.
"Oh Colleen hello," Didi greeted
"Hey Didi, how are ya?" Colleen asked, trying to console the whimpering child in her arms
"I'm good! Just have a follow up appointment with Dil." Didi answered as she glanced at the child in Colleen's arms. "Oh my goodness, Tanner, he's gotten so big. I almost forgot you had another not long after I had my Dilly." Didi cooed
Tanner wriggled in Colleen's arms as he frowned and grabbed the sleeve of his mother's shirt to place into his mouth.
"Yup this is him. He's a little fussy right now, he's got a couple more teeth coming in soon. The one he has already is pretty sharp too." Colleen chuckled, reaching into the diaper bag that was hanging off her shoulder to grab a pacifier. "Never would have thought I'd have another."
"Well he's a little angel." Didi grinned
"Mrs. Pickles! Dr. Schaucter will see you now." Cynthia called out from behind the desk
"Oh, that's us! Be right there!" Didi called back to Cynthia "We'll have to talk again some other time. Maybe let the boys all have a playdate." Didi said, looking back at Colleen
"Sounds like a plan. See ya around Didi." Colleen nodded as she waved before heading off to the elevator
Didi waved back, as she went over to pick up Dil from the playmat while taking Tommy's hand. "Alrighty lets go." Didi grinned as she took them past the reception desk as one of the nurses guided Didi into one of the exam rooms.
Luckily, the wait wasn't too long before Dr. Schaucter knocked and entered the exam room.
"Hey hey Mrs. Pickles, I see you have the duo today as well!" Dr. Schaucter greeted with a grin
"Oh yes, I believe Tommy wanted to come along to support his little brother." Didi responded with grin
"Now isn't that sweet, you've got yourself a great big brother there Dilster." Dr. Schaucter chuckled as he began doing his general checkup on Dil. After the examination, he began flipping through his charts. "Now lets see, I assume you took my advice and changed his diet for about a week or so Mrs. P? How is he doing with the number twos, any changes?"
"Yes, he seems to be doing so much better! This is the least fussy he has been since the day we brought him home. Oh and of course his little bowel situation has improved as well." Didi explained to Dr. Schaucter
"Good, good! That's great actually, we at least know now that Dil does indeed have some lactose intolerance to dairy." Dr. Schaucter replied before following up, "Luckily, he should grow out of it by the time he's between the ages of 3 and 5."
"Oh that's great to hear! Though doctor, I am curious how he became lactose intolerant in the first place? The hospital said he was completely healthy." Didi responded, now curious of how this ailment came upon her youngest child
"I have one theory in mind and you might not want to hear this. I assure you this is not your fault as it happens to the best of us but I do believe Dilster here most likely was introduced to cow's milk a little too early on in his life. Normally around 6 months is the earliest you'd want to introduce them to said milk. Tommy being the exception since he needed a little extra formula for a while to help him catch up with his peers."
As Dr. Schaucter explained his theory Didi let out an audible gasp as she felt a sense of dread wash over her. She knew that she and Stu weren't in the best financial situation at the time to afford baby formula, along with the fact that there were multiple occasions where Dil had taken Tommy's bottles to drink from.
"Oh dear...I feel this may have been the case doctor." Didi shrunk in disappointment
"Now Mrs. Pickles it's alright, it's already happened but luckily it's not permanent. Your baby boy is still perfectly healthy and thriving." Dr. Schaucter reassured
"Thank you so much Dr. Schaucter." Didi thanked
"No worries, I'll even prescribe you to pick him up some lactaid medicine to help calm his stomach should you not have a dairy free option and or he just happens to consume something not dairy free." Dr. Schaucter replied
"Oh yes! Of course." Didi nodded
"Good good, I think the only last thing I have is, feeling his gums, he may be having a couple teeth coming in within the next couple weeks or so. Very soon, so I'd like to also recommend taking him to the dentist within the next month or so whenever you get the chance." Dr. Schaucter ordered
"Oh, alright thank you I'll try and book an appointment as soon as possible then." Didi agreed with a nod
"Awesome, well that's everything I have."
"Thank you again Dr. Schaucter." Didi grinned as she picked up Dil from the table as she left the office with her two boys.
What adventures will happen next? Find out next time!