Lots o' stuff

Natalie's bloodwork came back - checking for blood disorders that could possibly be causing her nosebleeds (hasn't had one in a week though *knocks wood*). Everything is normal, so it's most likely the heat and/or dry climate causing them.

We also met her new allergist yesterday, and like her a lot! She told us that 20% of children outgrow peanut allergies by age 6, and she means completely outgrow - clear on the RAST and skin tests, do fine with peanut challenges. Since Natalie just reacted to peanuts, either by inhalation or coming in contact with a tiny amount, that doesn't bode well for her outgrowing them, but it doesn't rule it out either. We'll keep our fingers crossed! Her doctor also feels that we didn't necessarily need to remove shellfish from her diet - she tested very low on those and that could just mean that she's sensitized to them, but won't necessarily react - and given that she never had reacted, we probably could have kept giving her crab. Since we stopped giving it to her six months ago, we run the risk of shocking her system since we stopped her steady exposure. So, in a couple of weeks, we are going to go back to the allergist's office and do a shellfish challenge there. We'll start with a gram of crab, watch for 15 minutes, if no reaction, we'll keep upping the amount until she has a full serving. They have a challenge room, with a TV for her to watch while we wait, and they'll obviously be able to quickly help her if there is a reaction - which makes me feel better. That's not something I'm really willing to attempt at home. Small thing, but she does love crab, and knowing how much I love it, it killed me to take it out of her diet. She doesn't know what's she's missing with peanuts.

Oliver seems to object to rice cereal, period. The stinker. Not that I blame him - that shit's nasty in its blandness. I think Natalie wasn't fond of it either. We were at the hospital visiting Pops last night, and Natalie wanted to eat dinner at the cafeteria there. I think she just likes being able to load up a tray with all kinds of stuff (wait 'til she's old enough for Vegas, and the buffets there!). Anyway.... We were sitting eating dinner, and Oliver got angry. I grabbed a tiny bit of Mitz's mashed potatoes and fed them to him. He was in love, and no problem with the spoon. I couldn't get them in him quickly enough - every time my hand came near him, he'd grab it and shove the spoon into his mouth. It was so funny! We finally had to cut him off.

Pops is hanging in there. He may be home tomorrow! He has a long road ahead of him - multiple doctor visits a week, probably light duty at work, but we'll just be happy to have him home!