Tuesday July 19, 2011
Liam didn’t pass or fail. Who but him could be so ambiguous?
The good news is that our three hour visit went really well. The last forty-five minutes was the worst. Liam was hungry, bored, tired of that room, and reacting slightly.
The other good news is that those three hours ended up being a gift to us. Because of all the implications, they recommend no siblings come along. Thankfully it worked for Adam to go to work with David this morning. I am hardly ever alone with Liam this summer and it was so much fun. He talks a lot so I didn’t realize until today how much Adam dominates certain conversation times (like on the road) until Adam wasn’t there. Liam had time to ask all the little questions like, “Why do just those peoples get to go?” when we sat waiting for a green arrow as the cars beside us zoomed straight ahead. I can’t help it. I get little throbs of happiness every time I hear evidence of the boys’ brains expanding, noticing, learning.
We spent the three hours reading lots of stories, working on his sticker book from Peter, playing basketball, trotting down the hall to get water because it is SOO much fun to push the button, going to the bathroom, and finally me singing to him when nothing else impressed him.
He ate the full serving of egg laced cake which meant he got about 1/8 of an egg. And not until after the last bite did he pop a real hive under his ear and a red spot on an arm and a leg. His face was a little flushed, his eyes watered and itched, and his skin was scratchy. And that was that.
“So now what do we do with him?” his allergist said when we walked in the door.
Pretty much the question we’ve asked for two years. 
As long as he doesn’t get diarrhea, we can try again with 1/20 of an egg in something baked after a few days. Hopefully we can desensitize his system entirely.
Right now all I want to do is sleep for a month. I’m tired of ingredients and cooking and percentages and ambiguous results. But then I’d miss out on a month full of Liam’s cuteness. Because who can resist a three year old who grabs your chin at the post office and says in a surprised tone, “You’re dute.” Both ladies around me erupted with laughter.
Liam looked a little surprised at the laughter and then when things settled down he wrapped his arms around me and in a muffled voice I heard, “I iiii ou.”
“You love me?”
“No, I ‘ike ou.”
I love you, too, Liam.
🙂 Keep trying. Don’t give up on such sweetness!!
Oh my! I hope so much he can start eating these foods again. I was reading this to Lois and she was telling me of someone she met recently whose child is allergic to all plant-based foods, including milk, because cows eat plants.
Aww that last part is too sweet! If nothing else, know that your allergy trials produce gratefulness in me (for being able to cook whatever I want for my family). I pray that someday you wouldn’t have to be so careful either.
@Lenni724 – I agree. My own thankfulness is always greater when I read Michelle’s posts about Liam.
I never know how to comment on your posts about your allergy crises because I just can’t say “Hey, I really get this.”
Let me say that you articulate it all very well. And you have a great bunch of friends who support you. And your little boy is a dear. And I hope and pray that there is a future of MUCH less food drama awaiting you. (And you have every reason to feel pessimistic and tired.)
p.s. Love the “you’re dute” story. I could use a compliment like that about now. 🙂
I think it is cool that you are making lemonade out of lemons…seeing the good in sitting in that waiting room for 3 hours on an allergy related visit, because it allowed you to spend one on one time. Kudos to you for that!
Also, I think it is very cool how much you LOVE to see your children learning. You def. have a teacher heart.
Ad-OH-wable little guy! So glad it was a good day… I can’t imagine the stress & hassle it puts you through to have to deal with this! Definitely makes me grateful, tho I’m sure that’s not much of a comfort to you. 😛 I just pray God gives you the strength & patience to live abundantly in spite of it. Here’s sending hugs!
🙂 I hope you soon have answers, & I’m sure your boys will always think you are cute!
Oh my, Michelle!! I ‘m just SO sorry! I do not have experience with allergies such as those at all, and I cannot imagine how overwhelming it must be. Not to mention frustrating when the medical field doesn’t even know where to go… 🙁 But oh my, what a precious little boy. God knew you needed his sweetness in the midst of rough childhood allergens!
everytime i come here to comment i am either interrupted repeatedly…
or i just sit here. wondering. when i don’t know what to say, is saying nothing
the best option for me? like, is that carefully and quietly considerate? does “nothing” communicate how much i care?
or…is bumbling in some getting my foot-in-my-mouth-way…better?
so…beings that i am more of the latter, here goes…you are a precious person to me, a dear and wonderful friend
and i just wish that i could skuh-wheeze your lil liam and you and make it all better. i feel sad for the “now what” that you heard
again. it’s the again part that sounds hard. i am…whispering prayers, hoping for a “through this” for you all.
love ya lots.
Awww. What a sweet little guy! 🙂
Recently Kamryn & I went somewhere without the other girls, and SHE finally got her chance to say her piece, without being interrupted or told what to say! 🙂 She kept me giggling most of the day…. 😉