Nash has an allergy test

Thursday June 14 I took Nash to be allergy tested.  I'll admit, I figured this was going to be a waste of my time.  Nash is our healthiest kid by far (sad, I know) so I figured that this was just me being overly worried.  Turns out I did a good thing by taking him in to be tested.  After seeing how allergic Sam was to all the molds and cow's milk, I figured we'd better have Nash tested (just to be sure).  After talking to Travis about it I wondered whether or not it was going to be a good idea after all.  But, realizing my insurance would pay the entire cost of the test, I went against my gut & made the appointment to have him tested.

They stamped his back with all 50 allergens - just like Sam.  The kid was super tough and didn't cry or fight at all.  He did tighten up & said "Ow" but hey, 50 pokes in one day I think he's entitled!

As I was sitting with him & waiting the 20 minutes to see what he would react to I felt like I was wasting my time.  His back didn't appear to look that reactive or bad at all.  The two big red spots are where the histamine was so they were suppose to break out with a hive.

After the 20 minute wait time, the nurse came in & made marks on his back with a marker so she could go back & measure the size of the hives.  Surprisingly, his histamine was 11 cm (Sam's was only 4 cm).  I started to wonder if maybe he was reacting to more than I thought it looked like he was.

As the nurse was making her marks she noticed that he was getting hives between his hives.  Meaning, he was getting hives in places he hadn't been stuck with an allergen.  She was really surprised to see that!  Turns out that doesn't happen too often.  Also turns out he reacted to nearly everything that they poked him with.  He did react to the three molds on his back but because he was getting hives between his hives she didn't dare do the mold ids down his arm like they did to Sam.  She told me he would be covered in hives if she did that to him.  After she measured the size of all his hives she gave him Benadryl right there in the office (they didn't give any to Sam after her test).

After we were done being tested, we went over & talked to the PA at the ENT (where the dr.s for the allergy clinic are based).  The PA is really nice & I really like her.  She was shocked by how many allergens he reacted to as well.  She told me that if I tried to avoid all the foods he reacted to all day, every day, I'd drive myself crazy.  She recommended that we do a rotating diet.  This means that he doesn't eat too much of the same thing all in one day (or even all in one week).  By doing allergy shots (like Sam) they can reduce the effects of the inhalant allergens by 80%.  If they can reduce the inhalant allergen symptoms by 80% then the food allergies won't be too bad to deal with.  Fortunately, his isn't deathly allergic to any of the foods he reacted to (no peanut allergy here).  

So, after all that torture, we now know that Nash is allergic to:

Almond, bakers yeast, cacao bean, corn, oat, orange, potato, rice, soybean, tomato, whole wheat, beef, chicken, pork, 5 trees, 1 grass (of course it's a different one than Sam), 5 weeds, all 12 molds, dog & feathers.

What I thought was interesting was that the food he reacted the most to is potato.  Nash hates potatoes.  I guess this explains why!

In comparison, Samantha is allergic to:

cows milk, 3 trees, 1 grass, 1 weed, all 12 molds and cat.

I was crossing my fingers that this means since we'll be making weekly trips to the allergy clinic to get allergy shots for 2 kids for at least the next 18 months that perhaps we may be done at the ENT's office.  This morning, however, I feel like that hope was dashed.  I took Brooke back to the ENT's office because she's had her fingers in her right ear for about 5 days, she's had a low fever, hasn't slept well & just hasn't been her happy little self.  I was worried that the right tube would be clogged again.  Turns out there was no infection in either ear & the right tube was clear.  However, we did have to unclog the left tube & are now back on ear drops for at least five days.  Have I mentioned I think I should have married an ENT?

Last day of swim lessons

Thursday, June 14 was the last day of swim lessons for the kids.  They were still super excited to go but I also think they were bummed out that it was their last day of lessons.  We are talking about signing them up for at least one (maybe two) more sessions of lessons this summer but it wouldn't be until the end of July (after summer school).

Caleb was kind of a stinker today.  He kept hoping on one of his teachers' backs & getting a ride to where ever they were suppose to be bunny hopping to!

Each of the kids got a certificate with their name & level on them.  My kids' certificates all say Brown on them - big surprise!  Caleb was recommended to go to Preschool B when he turns 4.  The rest of the kids were recommended to re take level 1.  I think it's mostly because the amount of skills they want them to pass off.  Nash had 6 out of 10 skills passed off - not bad for 9 30 minute lessons considering that he's never had lessons before.  I think it was Nash & Carter that had the most skills passed off.

I am sad that they are done with their lessons because they have absolutely loved taking them.  It's been really good for Samantha because she's finally overcoming her fear of water & is actually sticking her head under water!  Nash has learned quite a bit and improved a ton in what he already knew.  Caleb has found a love of the water that is completely unhindered by fear (huge improvement from last summer).  Even if I don't end up signing them up for lessons again this summer, I will for sure sign them up again at least once next summer.  Thank you LAC we'll be back!

A few random photos & swim lessons

Since the Plaquenil has been working so well I've been able to get back to my sewing projects.  Maybe I should say since I had an allergic reaction to the Plaquenil & need something to occupy my hands 100% of the time I have been able to get back to my sewing projects.  Either way, I'm sewing again!

Today I finished this shirt for Sam that I cut out for her about last August.  I've tried to gather all the patterns & all the fabric that I've bought over the last year or so to make school clothes for the kids.  I won't lie, most of the clothes are for Sam.  My thought was that if I get started on them now they might be done for school this year!  If I don't get going on them they'll have to wait until Brooke is big enough to wear them!  I was proud of myself on this shirt - I did it all by myself (no help from mom at all!)  The pattern did say to put elastic in the waist so it was more fitted, but she liked it like this & didn't want the elastic in (honestly, I'm good with that!)

The other day I also finished this pillowcase dress for my niece.  I made one for her big sister last May for her birthday & kept the extra to make one to match on purpose.  I also finished the one for Brooke that matches Sam's, but I haven't taken a picture of it yet.

The kids have been loving their swim lessons.  Sadly, tomorrow is their last day!  I can't believe that it went by so quick!  The kids are bummed they won't be going to the pool every day anymore.  I am trying to convince Travis that we need to sign them up for at least 1 more if not 2 more sessions this summer.  I'm hoping he'll concede & I can sign all three up for lessons that would run July 16-Aug 9.  We'll see.

These boys are just too cute together.

Sam doing the back float

Caleb's class got to put on life jackets & float on their backs today.  Caleb was pretty excited about it.

First they floated in the shallow pool & then they went over to the deep pool & floated over there.

They have the kids in Caleb's class "bunny hop" or "ride a pony" when they go from one side of the pool to the other.  Caleb loves it - I think it's hilarious that he keeps his hands like this:

They started letting the kids in Sam's class jump into the pool the other day.  They were so glad!  They had been watching the other kids do it & would ask me every day why they didn't get to cannonball into the pool.

Caleb has done so well in lessons.  I seriously debated about whether he was old enough to even bother putting him in.  His mid session report said he was one of his teacher's top students!  Made me glad I went against my gut & enrolled him in lessons!  He's blowing bubbles in this picture:

I told Travis when I talked to him tonight that we should have signed all the kids up for swim lessons ages ago.  Part of the reason we didn't is because Sam has been so afraid of water that I didn't even want to bring it up with her.  I am amazed at how quickly she's pushed that aside.  I wondered if her fear would return when we were at the pool tonight & she wasn't in her class.  Much to my pleasant surprise, she jumped right in as though she hadn't a second thought about it!  I'm really hoping the improved attitude that Caleb & Sam have gained towards the water will last them for their entire lives and not just this swim season.  I really hope that Nash's ability to learn new strokes/techniques quickly will last him.  I think we may have found his "thing" (like dance is for Sam).  Who knows?  All I know is I have four kids that absolutely love the water & would spend the entire summer in the pool if I left them!

The Aquatic Center vs Me...& 4 kids...& a whole lot of other people but none of which are there to help me!

The last time Travis was home Nash & I had an appointment at the chiropractor.  While I was in the office, I noticed a flyer saying that they were having a customer appreciation pool party on Wednesday, June 13.  I figured I'd get tickets (since they were free) and perhaps...maybe...think about taking the kids.

Since they have been loving swim lessons and have been doing really well with it.  I figured what the heck I'm already plastered with a rash from head to toe.  The chlorine I'm also freakishly allergic to can't possibly make this rash any worse, right?  Time will tell. :)

Despite my best efforts to get my friend & her kids to go with me (completely in vain I might add) I loaded up the kids & we headed in to the pool.  The party was suppose to start at 7:30 pm & last until 9:30 pm.  I didn't figure I'd last much more than an hour because let's face it; one adult, four kids and an aquatic center chuck full of people is bound to give me chest pains.

I gave the kids specific directions on the way in to the pool.  I figured it would be falling on deaf ears but what the heck, I'll give my spill anyway.  Apparently, today, my directions did not fall on deaf ears!  Wahoo!  Much to my very pleasant surprise, all directions were followed, no one drown (or nearly drown), there was no fighting & no arguing.  I know, I'm still in shock just thinking about it! 

Samantha & Caleb partnered up & stayed in the shallow pool the entire time we were there.  Nash braved the water slides twice and even the deep pool.  Brookelyn didn't fight me when I put a life jacket on her & she turned into quite the little fishie.  She kept batting my hands away thinking she was just going to walk off in the pool all by herself like a big girl.  I was holding her hands and walking around with her in water that came up to about my knees.  All the sudden she would just lay back, lift her toes up out of the water, start kicking & just grin at me.  The girl loved it!  The only pictures I got were when I took her out of the pool to give my back a rest!

There was free watermelon & the kids didn't miss out on that!

Brooke was happy with just the Capri-Sun I gave her.

Much to my surprise we didn't leave until about 9:10 pm!  I was shocked!  I thought that things would go quite differently for us tonight.  After such a good experience tonight I don't think I'll hesitate to take my kids back - even if I don't have someone to go with me!

Plaquenil - The good, the bad & the freakishly itchy

Yes, this is my back.  Can you see all those fabulous red spots?  Not only does my back look like this, my entire body looks like this.  I am ready to skin myself - that or rip my skin off one fingernail slice at a time.  When I say my entire body looks like this, I mean my ENTIRE body looks like this!  My scalp to my ankles.  Not an inch spared.

It all started back on May 21st when I went to see the rheumatologist.  I had my appointment and explained all the symptoms I'd been having (excruciating joint pain since February).  We did x-rays of my hands & knees and some blood work.  About a week later he called me back & said everything had come back normal (no Parvo infection, no rheumatoid marker & not sufficiently low vitamin D levels).  Dr. Walker said other than joint pain he had no idea what was wrong with me.  He wanted to start me on a medication called Plaquenil.  It use to be used as an antibiotic but is now used to treat rheumatoid (yes, rheumatoid arthritis & yes, I said I didn't have the rheumatoid marker - don't ask).  He told me that this particular medication has a tendency to make you very nauseous so to start taking it just once a day.  If I could handle taking it once a day then increase to twice a day.  He told me that it would take about 4 months to really get into my system & start working so I made a follow up appointment for the end of September.  

I started taking Plaquenil on May 30th.  I decided that if it was going to make me sick, I would just take it at night before bed.  I took it faithfully every night for a week with no new symptoms.  In fact, I noticed an extreme improvement in my joint pain.  I was excited!  So, on June 6th (1 week after starting Plaquenil) I started taking it once in the morning & once at night.

On Sunday night I was getting ready to get in the shower & I noticed a small red rash on my chest.  At first I thought it was maybe just an eczema break out from perfume or something and just brushed it off.  Monday morning came & I was itching like nuts but I thought maybe it was eczema.  By Monday night I was dying!  I wanted to itch until I would bleed!  Flash backs to swim lessons when I was a kid & couldn't wash the chlorine off & I'd break out like this.  I called the pharmacy where I got the prescription filled & told the pharmacist what was going on.  He said that it sounded like an allergic reaction & to stop taking the prescription immediately and to call the dr. in the morning.  Fortunately for me, my mom had some extra benadryl she was willing to part with so I could make it through the night.

This morning I called the dr.'s office at 9 am.  I told the medical assistant what was going on & she felt so bad for me (and she didn't even see the rash!).  She told me she'd talk to Dr. Walker and see what he wanted to do & get back to me.  I finally got a call back at about 2 pm.  The verdict: Stop taking the Plaquenil until the rash disappears entirely.  Then, start taking the Plaquenil again, but only take it once a day & see if I break out in a rash again.  Seriously?!  What part of I want to rip my skin off don't you people understand here?!

So here I sit Tuesday night, 3 prescription times passed without taking the prescription, and the rash is continuing to get worse.  Not awesome.  I totally understand why bears scratch their backs against trees!  In fact, truth be told, I was doing carpet angels at my girlfriend's house today in order to itch the backs of my arms without making them bleed!  And yes, she thought it was funny!