Allergist's Report

I know a blog post isn't nearly as interesting when there aren't pictures involved, but I wanted to get an update about Ben on here while I had a minute to spare.

After nearly two years of dealing with severe GERD, more medication than you could imagine, and a long time of just not knowing what was going on, we finally decided to take him to the allergist to determine, once and for all, if he was allergic to any foods.

This decision was not made lightly, as I had heard horror stories from friends about all the scratch test they do on the back. I don't think it "hurts" per se, but it certainly isn't comfortable, and little ones usually don't like it very much. There was also the possibility of them having to do some trans dermal tests (like that awful TB test where they shoot liquid in your arm and it bubbles up). I've had that before, and that one DID really hurt.

So, after discussing our worries with the doctor, she had him tested for 10 different food allergies, and several common environmental ones. The results?? ALL NEGATIVE!!! He didn't react to a single thing, not even slightly. And, to give my little guy some credit, he didn't cry one time. He said "ouch" when they pressed the panels to his back, squirmed a little, looked like he might cry, but that was it. The hardest part was not letting him touch his back during the test.

While we are thrilled that he isn't allergic, I am fairly certain that there are some foods to which he is still intolerant. Unfortunately, there is no test for this, so we'll just have to do some trials on our own. But we are very thankful that we don't really have to worry about what he eats. The doctor did say she wanted us to wait until he is 3 to do peanuts or tree nuts, and she fully expected him to develop environmental allergies as he got older.

The skin rash that he has on his arms and legs has also had us worried, but she identified it as a "cousin to eczema," but not likely a reaction to anything he's eating. So, she gave us some new cream to try.

She also talked with Shawn about his bee and wasp allergies and really encouraged him to start coming in for shots because they have great success desensitizing people to that. This would mean that Shawn wouldn't have to carry that Epi pen around anymore, and he could breathe easier during those warm months.

So, all in all, a good day. Ben is a healthy boy!!

Claire

My daughter, the ballerina/princess/jewelry covered sweetheart that she is. I know I danced around alot at this age, entertaining my parents to no end by watching myself twirl in the reflection of the television, but this girl surely has outdone her mama. Yesterday, she woke up from her nap and came out of her room with her princess crown on, her necklace, her plastic dress-up shoes, her backpack, and no pants. Apparently, pants are not necessary to complete the look she was going for. There is no trace of a tomboy in this one, nor is she modest about her "accomplishments." Shawn told her that the outfit she picked for school the next day was lovely and that she would look so beautiful in it. Her reply? "Of course I will. Why wouldn't I?" Oh, to be 4 again.

Here she is singing one of the Halloween songs she learned at preschool this week - "Them Bones." Destined for the Vegas stage? Um . . . I think not.

And here she is joined by her brother for a lively recitation of the ever popular Halloween poem, "Five Little Pumpkins."

The Corn Maze!!

I've wanted to visit a corn maze for a long time. You know, put my orienteering skills (thanks SIE visit to the Lakes District) to work, and see how well we could do finding our way through the maze. Winding one's way through a corn maze with two small children, however, doesn't really allow for much beyond making sure that no one gets lost or suffers from a cornstalk related flesh wound.

This particular maze in Yadkinville was sponsored by an adult rehabilitation program that was located on the same farm. For a reasonable entrance fee, we went through the Noah's ark themed maze, played various games, went on a hayride and visited the pumpkin patch. It really ended up being a great day.

Claire and Ben at the entrance to the maze

To track our progress through the maze, we were provided with a map and a chart that we filled with the animal stamps that were hidden in various spots throughout the maze. The picture below was taken at one of the stamping stations.

Ben had had enough of the endless cornstalks after about 20 minutes, so Shawn took him to play games while Claire and I continued to hunt for the remaining stamps to fill our chart. We found them all and even managed to find our way out again.

They had a cornstalk village built around a mock campfire. Ben peeked inside one of the cornstalk tee pees and said, "ew, too sfooky (spooky)."

Here Claire is attempted to race her rubber duckie by pouring water down the slide.

Yes, she's milking the cow.

On the hayride

The Hicks

Rachel Hicks (Fletcher) and I have known each other since the fourth grade. We went to grade school, high school, and college together, so I was thrilled to hear that she and her children were coming to Winston-Salem for a visit. Ok, so she wasn't coming to visit me, necessarily (her sister is a doctor at Wake Baptist Hospital), but it was still nice to spend some time with her. I haven't seen her kids in a long time, and had never met her youngest, Harper. Likewise, this was the first time she had seen Ben.

Claire started looking forward to their visit days before they were scheduled to arrive, and after suffering some disappointment upon hearing that no, they they would not be staying at our house, she satisfied herself with the knowledge that they would come over to play. She had a great time with the boys, Fletcher and Winston (or Wilston, as Claire called him), and she was entranced by Harper. Benjamin was greatly entertained by all the activity around him and was only mildly perturbed at having to share his toys.



We are heading to Tennessee in a few weeks for Homecoming at Lee, so we are looking forward to seeing the Hicks family (with dad, Edward, included this time) then. Winston said Claire could sleep in his room, so at least we've got that settled. :-)

Noah

The picture is a little dark, but how cute is this little peanut?

It finally happened - UGH!

I've heard and read of other mother's who have experienced this with their children, and, up until yesterday, I was lucky enough to not be able to relate.

I've posted before about Ben's less than ideal sleeping habits, and this past week has been no exception. For some reason, he has decided to forgo his afternoon nap. I refuse to give up on this one though, so even though he's wide awake in there, he stays in his crib for the allotted nap time. Yesterday, however, he added a new twist. After playing and talking to himself in his crib for over an hour, we suddenly realize that he was talking to us. I distinctly hear him say, "mommy, poopie. Mommy, poopie." This is not a new occurrence. He has become more and more aware of his dirty diapers, and will frequently ask to be changed. So, thinking that this must be the reason why he has been awake for so long, Shawn decides to go in, change him, and put him back in his crib to finally sleep.

Not more than 1 second after entering Ben's room do I hear Shawn frantically yell out, "Naomi! come here!!" I run to his room only to discover that Ben has totally stripped down, taken off his diaper and is holding it, poop laden and all, in his hands for us to take (like it's a gift or something????). He had such an angelic look on his face that I really think he thought he was doing us a favor. "Well, why don't I just save mom and dad the trouble of changing my diaper and do it myself?" Thanks, but no thanks, son!! Thankfully, unlike other children about whom I've heard, he did not decide to finger paint with his new discovery. But it was all over his sheet and his backside, of course.

After cleaning him off, changing the sheet and disposing of the "mess," we got him back in bed. The little stinker (literally) never did go to sleep.

Time to potty train? Um, yeah.