Allergies

 

Both girls were allergic to dairy for the first year.  They both have a sensitivity to eggs.  Cailin can't eat avocado.  And neither does well with antibiotics.  Apparently. 

Charlotte tried amoxicillan as a toddler and on day 8 of the regimen, a rash appeared on her belly.  The pediatrician advised to discontinue and avoid it in the future.  Easy.  Done.  A few weeks ago, she tried azythromycin which caused hives.  More benadryl and update the records. 

Cailin took a full course of amoxicillan early this winter with no reaction, so we thought she was the easy kid.  Wrong.  So wrong.  She got a rash a few weeks ago, then got ear infections (and its subsequent amoxicillan) and the rash continued.  Since it'd started before the medicine began, surely it was unrelated.  Right?  On day 10 of the rash, the pediatrician indicated this rash may be a "side effect" rather than an allergic reaction to the meds.  I ignored my gut which said "This is exactly what Charlotte had 1.5 years ago, isn't it?"  After 2 more doses, Cailin woke up covered in hives.  Fire red spots consuming her body.  Far worse than I'd ever seen on my hive-prone children.  Another call to the doctor (we spoke or saw her every day this week) who suggested benadryl and hydrocortisone and ending the antibiotics.  These didn't help.  I called our allergist who didn't return my call. 

This brings us to Thursday night.  Cailin tossed and turned and whined and moaned.  All.  Night.  Long.  We did not sleep.  Friday morning her face was so swollen, she could barely open her eyes.  Her spots had connected and she was one giant welt.  It was painful to look at her.  She was  miserably itchy.  At the doctor's office, the pediatrician walks in and says "OOOH, Wow."  Well, I felt justified for freaking out.  She prescribed a steroid, more creams, and more antihistamines.  Meanwhile, both ears are still infected which we cannot treat until the hives are under control.  Cailin couldn't sleep during nap and instead cried.  And cried.  And cried.  While crying, she wheezed, so then I panicked.  And I cried.  There was nothing I could do to make her more comfortable and I regretted not trusting my gut days before.  This may be the worse combination for a mom.

Throughout all of this, Charlotte was amazing.  She tried to comfort her sister constantly.  She was understanding even when I couldn't hold/snuggle her because my arms were full.  For being not yet 3, she was very mature.  And that made me feel blessed. 

Matt brought home pizza and I rented a movie.  We had a pizza picnic to kick off our weekend.  Charlotte was given the snuggles she deserved and Cailin finally started acting like herself.  Cailin's face is still quite swollen, her skin looks like she's been burned, and she is still fragile, but, thank God, we are improving.