Sweet girl

I'll get to the reason for the title in a moment.

Backtracking a bit... Natalie had an allergist appointment today. We did a follow-up skin test to see if she still reacts to peanuts. She does, and this time she started reacting to various tree nuts as well. Most mild, although walnuts were significant. We avoid tree nuts anyway because of cross-processing issues, but this was notable because her previous skin and RAST (blood) tests were negative for tree nuts. We'll test again in a year or two. Her allergist did tell me that there are some treatments in trial now, that will hopefully be available in 1-3 years. It involves challenging the body with peanuts - you start at the doctors office, get to the level just before the child reacts, then continue at home with a slighter lower level for a period of time. The process repeats, increasing the amount of peanuts, until the body builds a better tolerance. If she doesn't outgrow the allergies, this won't cure it, but it will make it so that we shouldn't have to panic if she's accidentally exposed.

And my sweet girl... Today was a rough day in a week full of them. I was in tears most of the afternoon, just worn out. Tonight, when I put Natalie to bed, we read stories, then I turned out the light to cuddle her for a few minutes. She got up, covered me with her special monkey blanket, then pulled my head onto her belly. Wrapped her arm around my head, and stroked my face for a while. Then when I asked her if she wanted me to draw on her back (she likes that before we leave her room), she told me she was going to draw on mine. So she made me turn over, and rubbed my back. I told her I loved her, and she said "I know". I hope she always knows that.