Over the past 365 days, I have learned lots and lots of things. However, two of those things I have learned really stand out. Wanna know why? Because they scared the CRAP out of me! That’s why! I have now learned of two allergies split between my two little girls. Let’s break ‘em down.
Dumpling
My little Dumpling has always been the healthy one in the family. Pumpkin used to get ear infections constantly, Daddy gets sick easily….not Dumpling. But, one year Dumpling went through quite a few troubles with Strep throat. So, being the good parents we are, we took her to the doctor. They, being the good doctors they are, prescribed Amoxicillin to kill off the baddies.
Well, we quickly learned that was a bad idea as my little Dumpling is highly allergic to Penicillin and all of its friends. Check her out:
Keep in mind that this is only her stomach. The rest of her got it worse, actually. Her little legs right on the diaper line were actually BRUISED from the splotches (you can still see it a wee bit today). She didn’t seem bothered by all this at all, though. No itchies, no screaming, no crying (except when I pinned her down to take pictures of it all.
So, Lesson #1: Don’t give Dumpling any Penicillin or any members of its family.
Pumpkin
Last night, we learned another very valuable lesson.
We went to our bible study group like we do every other Monday night. There was lots of food like there is every other Monday. This particular Monday, however, someone happened to bring peanut butter cookies with chocolate icing. To me, they looked like regular old sugar cookies with some chocolate frosting on top. Nope. So, I gave Pumpkin a cookie.
Bad idea.
Within two bites and about sixty seconds, she started coughing like it was choking her. We gave her some water thinking it was just a dry cookie. Within five minutes, her lips looked like someone had punched her in the face….FAT lip. Then she says “I need more water” and her voice was SUPER raspy. Sounded like she’d been a smoker since the womb.
That’s when we knew something bad was going on. So, we instantly got some Benadryl from the hostess while I almost cried and called the doctor on call. Thank God there was a nurse in our bible group that was able to check on her and let us know that she was okay.
Within fifteen minutes or so of taking the Benadryl, her swelling in her little lips went down and her voice started getting better. I’ve never been so scared in my life. I’ll be calling her pediatrician today to get an EpiPen prescribed for her. Her reaction was so fast and so severe that there was no way it would have ended as quickly as it did had she taken more than two bites of that itty bitty cookie.
Lesson #2: Pumpkin has a strong allergy to peanuts.
There are my big lessons learned. I hope I don’t have to learn any more like them any time soon.
OMG, that poor little thing! Hope both your babies are feeling better soon! Those are some pretty major lessons learned!!
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I had the unfortunate lesson of learning my daughter is allergic to Penicillin and all it’s family. She suffered a lot of ear infections as a baby. One dose and she turned blue. I was certain she would die before I got her to the hospital. See I lived so far out it was actually faster for me to take her to the hospital than call an ambulance and wait. So now I know and keep her away from it. Luckily she is now 14 and knows to not touch any medication that is not hers because it just may contain something in it she’s allergic to.
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oh my word! Sounds like quite a fiasco over there. Glad to hear everyone is doing better now, but my goodness. You have your hands full.
Thanks for stopping by my blog yesterday!
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Wow, both episodes sound frightening!
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I found you through “Friday Follow” and am now following you through Google Friend Connect. Come on over and visit us when you get a free moment. Happy Tuesday!
<3
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Oh wow! We have one who suffers from allergies too. It’s scary not knowing what going to cause a reaction.
Stopping in from SITS to say HI!
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Oh no! I’m allergic to penicillin and my parents found out due to my huge hives I got when I was young just like your little one. I have to watch myself with bread…I broke out really bad in hives in high school because I had been served some modly bread at a restaurant and didn’t realize it. Just keep that in mind.
We had never thought it would be that serious of an allergy that moldy bread would bother me. Also, my hubby is allergic to peanut butter and I just found him peanut-free soy spread that he LOVES. He hasn’t had peanut butter in 15 years…and has fallen in love with this stuff. He said it tastes just like the real stuff to him. 
The company is called I.M. Healthy and I found it in our organic section of Kroger. I talked about it on my post here:
http://cait-theblessedlife.blogspot.com/2010/03/saturday-savings.html
Use or lose this info.
Just thought I would share! Enjoyed your blog!
Stopping in from SITS!
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Bless her heart! Seeing children sick is the worst. Learning about allergies is a tough lesson. At least you know now! I hope Pumpkin feels better.
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Ah, poor thing! Ihope she is feeling better very soon.
have a great day!
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I’m sorry, that’s terrifying. I’m so glad she’s okay.
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That’s scary! Peanuts are in everything too
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Over from SITS… My son (now age 6) has severe peanut and treenut allergy. I also gave him a peanutbutter cookie thinking it was sugar! It’s a scary thing.
I just gave my 1 year-old an amoxicillin for the 1st time and so far, so good. But I always worry!
I’d like to say it gets easier, but it doesn’t. You will always worry..
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I worry about allergies like that too! I love it when the nurse at the dr’s office asks me if he has any allergies.. well hes too little to really figure it out yet so NO? I had the phone ready in hand when he had peanut butter for the first time. So scary! I am sorry you had to go through all of that!
Lauren @ me&mine recently posted..roll camera
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Lindsay Reply:
December 11th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
If only I had known the cookies were peanut butter! They looked like normal sugar cookies to me….parent fail #1,230,498
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