When negatives are positive

Today I took Parker to the allergist (his first visit) to get another opinion on this strange rash he’s had since early July and to get him tested for the basic common allergens (including peanuts). 

The good news is, he is not allergic to anything (well, not anything included on the panel gave him.  The panel included dust mites, ragweed, mixed weeds, cockroach (yuck), grasses, molds, trees, dog, cat, feathers, more molds, bayberry, red cedar, peanut, almond, black walnut, brazil nut, cashew, English walnut, hazelnut, pecan, pistachio). 

The bad news is, we still don’t really know what is causing the rash…aside from having sensitive skin.  He a prescription body oil to use after the bath and an even milder soap (than the one we were already using).  He suggested we double rinse all of Parker’s clothes and bedding (good thing the washer has that as a simple button to push!).  Luckily the rash has been improving, so who knows…maybe it will just run its course. 

After my post the other day, I felt I should post this positive about all of these negatives.  If I have to have a child with a food allergy, at least maybe it can only involve ONE of my children.

The other positive from the appointment was more affirmation that having a tonsilectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A) is the right thing to do for Parker.  The allergist thought tonsils were definitely abnormally large and he agrees with the pediatrician and the ENT that they should come out and that Parker should really, really benefit from having them (and the adenoids) removed.  He also discovered that the pressure on Parker’s left eardrum is not what it should be and it’s likely the cause of the constant fluid buildup whenever Parker has a cold (this will also be helped by the T&A…yes, that is what the procedure is commonly called!).  Again, more affirmation that we are doing the right thing. 

We are still scheduled for the T&A on Friday.  However, after a busy day today, we returned home to discover that Thomas is running a fever.  His only other symptom is saying his “brain hurts” – which he translated to mean that his whole head hurts.  He sounds (in his sleep) like he might be a little congested.  Not sure what it is, but I’m horrified to think of all of the children he has been around in the past two days and who might have picked up whatever he is carrying.  And, of course, I’m terrified that Parker will get it too.  It will be awful if Parker gets it before Friday and then can’t have the surgery…but it will be worse if Parker gets it after Friday and then has to deal with that on top of recovering.  Things are never easy.

But hey, Parker is not allergic to peanuts and that is very good news.  For that I am truly thankful.