This may seem quite novel, but have you tried talking with a natural healer? Someone who may be able to understand the more spiritual aspect of what's going on and give some advice about what to do? Are you open to this idea? Or is it your opinion that this is purely a physical problem?

I believe in spiritual healing. Our church is a very spiritual church. She has been prayed over a few times there. I have Frankincense and Myrrh annointing oil of healing/ blessing. I annointed her with this on her forehead and prayed over her today. That is as far as I've gone with spiritual healing so far.

Great. You might consider approaching a trusted church leader, then, and talking about your concerns. At the very least, someone can help comfort your worry ... and you might ask for referrals to people with the gift of healing.

I myself believe that illness manifests as a physical symptom of a deeper internal conflict...what do you believe?

I'm assuming that you've talked with your daughter ... but would you consider counseling, also? The church might also be able to help with counseling or at least refer you to someone.

At our church they know I worry. I need to turn that worry to God, it's just hard for me as a parent to do. Our leaders in church all tell me they see her grow, and she will be all right. Like I said though as a parent it's hard to do. I have a cousin that is a naturalpath. She lives so far away from me, but her parents are close to me. I asked my aunt to get ahold of her daughter and see if she knows some thing for my daughter. I'm waiting to hear back from her. With counseling my daughter is so young and she wouldn't know what was going on. I myself don't know of any counselors in my area to speak with. I can ask the leaders of the church.

On illness I believe that it's not God that causes us to be ill. I believe that as Christians through Christ we have power of healing. We are the body of Christ and through him ALL things are possible. I believe that fear of sickness is what causes that to come upon us. For what we fear and dwell on is what we bring upon ourselves. An example is if you don't want to be sick and you keep thinking of not getting sick, you will become sick.
My worry could be the problem with my daughter.

Is it possible that her failure to thrive might be due to some type of malabsorptive condition? Have they tested your child for anything such as this?

They have taken blood samples on her and had done a sweat test. Which she cried all the way through. They said on the sweat test that she interputed as pain. I felt so horrible for having her go through that one. Every thing though they have tested her on so far has come back normal. The doctor wanted her to try and gain weight before he ran any more test on her to see if it could be a calorie problem. I don't think they have tested her for a malabsorptive condition though.

Good luck. My son just turned four and has been 30 pounds for the last year. I wonder if he will soon get that label. He has been tested for all sorts of stuff. I thought for sure he had malabsorption problems but he tested negative. I would definitely look into that possibility.

I'll ask the doctor to check that out. Do they just run blood test or how do they check this. It's not painful for them is it?

Please ask them about celiac disease. It can cause failure to thrive and a lot of GI upset. This is one of the most underdiagnosed conditions affecting American's right now. They estimate actual prevalence at 1 in 122, but it's being diagnosed at about 1 in 10,000.

Pediasure does not work, when I was little they told me all of that & I was just like your daughter I wouldn't take it & the day I did I took it repidiately & nothing happened. She also might not drink the milkshake because she dislikes milk, try some tasty healthy fruit shakes if that doesn't work I'm guessing tell her a white lie & say it tastes like ice cream or something. Hope it helps!