An ounce a day keeps the doctor away.

That's Madeline's new motto for weight gain. She finally crossed the six-pound threshold (looks like we'll have to make good on that party we promised her), and today she weighed in at a whopping six pounds, five ounces. It's amazing what a few extra ounces can do; her little feet are even starting to get chubby. You laugh, but it's true. Look at her cute double chin:

So, you might be wondering what's going on in this picture. Last Thursday we spent a long and exhausting day at Primary Children's Hospital, where we were referred to a nutrition clinic to investigate Madeline's slow weight gain. When this picture was taken, her arms were all wrapped up for a sweat chloride test in which she did not sweat enough to produce a sufficient sample, despite having heat packs strapped to her arms and being wrapped in several heated blankets. She also had some other lab work done, and we had a thorough consultation with a pediatrician and a dietitian. My poor babe was simply wiped out by the end of the day.

After all of that, we found out that Madeline lacks an enzyme needed for properly digesting food and absorbing fat. The two most common reasons for this problem (a pancreatic insufficiency) are cystic fibrosis and Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome. It could be something else altogether, but those are the biggest suspects. For now we'll start giving her an enzyme before every meal, in addition to giving her iron drops and a daily dose of vitamins. We'll also keep meeting with the specialist to get to the bottom of this problem. I'm nervous, quite frankly.

When I look at Madeline's perfect little face, it's hard to believe that anything is wrong. She seems so healthy, albeit small, and she's incredibly alert and responsive. I simply adore when she breaks out in a grin, and there is nothing more perfect than just snuggling a warm little bundle of baby. I love it. Whatever her problem turns out to be, I know she'll be okay. Modern medicine is incredible, and with the proper medication, she'll have a normal, happy life. But even though I know that, it still doesn't feel okay.

I guess we'll just see where things go from here. Any prayers are appreciated.