Allergic

So, Hebs is not allergic to pecans. Or peanuts. Or wheat. (Whew) Or almonds. Or...citrus, I think that was one of them.

He is, however, allergic to cow's milk. And eggs.

The milk left me unsurprised. I'd like to say it was mother's intuition, but really it was just simple observation. Twice I gave him cow's milk, twice he broke out in hives. I didn't give him milk, he didn't break out in hives. Voila! I'm a genius.

I didn't suspect an egg allergy, although we ate German pancakes (mostly egg, with a little flour and milk and butter) for dinner last night, and he has been sporting a lovely rash all over his torso today. Not hives, but still.

Having a 14-month-old allergy tested is interesting. You have to lay on your stomach, and they draw on your back with a marker and then poke you with little plastic darts that have been sitting in the allergens. (The nurses only tested for food allergies, which was fine with me given we don't have a pet and I've been told that environmental allergies are uncommon in babies.) Hebs didn't like having to lay on his stomach, but the poking didn't phase him at all. He honestly didn't care, being far more concerned with trying to scratch his shoulders and chest (dang rash).

The next step, waiting 20 minutes without touching or rubbing the tested area, was the hard part. Hebs loves to roll around, but obviously was forbidden. He loves to sit on Momma's lap and read books, but that puts his back in contact with Momma's (unfortunately ample) belly, so nope. He had to sit (or stand, something he's getting quite good at) for the whole 20 minutes. By minute 15, I wasn't sure we were going to make it the whole time. I peeked at his back several times, amazed at the three little bumps that were growing larger and redder by the minute. (The third bump was the control allergen--supposedly it makes everyone react and thus proves the test is correct. What do you suppose is in there--Human Allergen X (secret recipe)? Just wondering.)

We made it through and home and I gave Hebs a 1/2 tsp of Benedryl (to control the reactions). We'll have a doctor's appointment early next week so we can discuss what to do next, and I have to admit I'm curious. What do I give my Hebs instead of milk, so that he can get strong bones and muscles (not to mention the fat that is so important to brain development!)? (Not that my children ever drink milk, having inherited a violent dislike of the taste from their mother. Em is my exception--she loves a glass of milk. Yuck!) Why doesn't he seem to react to yogurt? Are eggs in a cookie mix okay? Do I need an epi-pen? (Doubt it.) And what can I do when he has a rash like he does today?

It's good to know, though, that I wasn't crazy and that he is allergic to milk. Answers are always so nice.