Joergen Meets Dr. Wodell

Now that Joergen is well over 3 years old, we knew it was time for us to get him in for a visit with our allergist extraordinaire, Dr. Wodell, for some allergy testing.  Despite never actually having eaten a peanut, Joergen is the best "allergy brother" a kid could ask for-- he double-checks that everything is safe before eating and is always on the lookout for a rogue peanut to warn his very allergic big brother about.  So now, it was time to find out the truth: do Liam and Joergen share parents, toys, and allergies? 

It was so great that they could at least share the appointment, because Liam was no stranger to the testing process and was a great mentor for his little brother's first time through.  They both got "caterpillars" on both arms, and the boys were thrilled (and distracted, hooray!) when the nurses gave them each a lollipop for each hand so that no one was tempted - or able - to disrupt their testing sites.

And the results?  Drum roll please...

Other than some environmental allergies to grasses and trees, Joergen's testing all came up negative!  No Epi-Pen for this preschooler!

The news was not all good, however.  After some additional testing on Joergen's breathing, he was diagnosed with asthma-- which confirmed a suspicion we had had for a while.  Since we already had a nebulizer at home, we just had to refill our albuterol Rx and learn about a management plan.  The biggest shift is going to be doing breathing treatments at the first sign of respiratory illness, rather than waiting for the onset of wheezing (which is what we'd been doing previously).  Ok- good to know!

Also in the less-than-stellar news category were the results of Liam's testing.  We had him tested for tree nuts, and retested for eggs.  Now, tree nuts were something we were categorically avoiding in light of the likelihood of cross-contamination and cross-allergy development anyway, but we admittedly did allow foods that were made in the same factory as tree nuts.  He had tested negative for them in the past, but since that was more than three years ago, I knew we needed to test again.  To be honest, I was expecting some confirmation that we could continue to ease up the tree nut restrictions.  To be really honest, there is so much talk of outgrowing allergies that it never even once occurred to us that he might actually develop more. 

It was a bit of a kick to the gut to get these test results.  He has developed new allergies to tree nuts, and specifically to almonds and walnuts.  It's certainly not life-changing (what's a few more allergies anyway, really?), but it was a little defeating.  Fortunately, Liam had the absolute best attitude about it all-- which made it a little easier to stay upbeat in that doctor's office!

He still tested positive for egg, so Dr. Wodell sent him to the lab for blood work so we can see just how severe these tree nut allergies really are and to find out if the needle has moved at all on his egg allergy.  We got those results pretty quickly, and learned that while the tree nut allergy is not as severe as the peanut, it is a major allergy and one to be avoided in all forms.  The egg allergy results were Liam's good news of the day-- he was given the green light to schedule a baked egg challenge this summer!  Hello little win, we are so very glad to see you!!

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You know, there are days when "allergy management" is overwhelming and difficult: when we are nervous about going certain places or to certain events out of fear for him, when we worry about his safety and his future; when we hesitate to sign him up for an activity or event because we don't know if he can truly be accommodated.  But those days are blessedly rare because God has given us one amazing, resilient kid to teach us about perspective and perseverance, and one amazing support net of family and friends who catch us when we fall and keep us held up high.  Thank you for taking care of him - and us! - by inviting us into your homes with thoughtful care for his health and safety, learning right along with us to read (and decode) food labels, bake without eggs, and do all kinds of things we didn't know we could do (such as become meat-eating vegans!).  Please know how very thankful we are and how very much we love you all!

Team D's Brewpub

Softball season is one of our favorite times of year, and one reason why I think that's the case for the boys, beyond the fun of playing at the ball field, is getting to go to Screwballs on game nights.  Given the number of rain-outs and tie games this year, though, we ended up with several 2-game weeks.  Now I love Screwballs as much as the next person, but no, we are not going there twice in one week!  Just... no.

Now either we've done something right as parents, or something terribly, terribly wrong-- but delivering a "no" decision on Screwballs did not usually go over that well with the boys! (There is something a little off about fighting with your preschoolers about going to a bar...)  So one night, we decided to open our own little bar at home instead.  I quickly made up the kitchen counter to look like a bar (a classy one, even-- note the flowers!).  I grabbed some old cardboard coasters and set up all my supplies in the cupboards below the counter.  And look - I got some customers.  Liam ordered  "beers all around" right off the bat, so one Lager for Dad and 2 rootbeers for the boys, coming right up!

Cheers!

When they finished their drinks, I gave them their bill-- which Liam volunteered to pick up with his (expired) Notre Dame Visa:

Valuable life skills, no?

It's A-Raining (little) Men

Q. What do you do on a warm June evening when it is positively pouring rain outside (and you are 3 and 5 years old)?

A. Dance nekkid on the deck!

These two running, jumping, skipping, and dancing in the rain in nothin' but their birthday suits was one of the funniest, most adorable things I have ever seen.  I have some hysterical pictures of their antics, but there are way too many creeps and weirdos out there in cyberspace for me to ever post them here!  But suffice it to say, their prancing around and fits of giggles brought endless sunshine to an otherwise rainy night.

Bateman Day

'Round these parts, the last day of baseball/softball/t-ball season is also known as Bateman Day.  Every team in UMBA has their last game on Bateman Day, and every game is played at Walker Field.  Food, games, and inflatables round out the festivities.  Liam was excited to be part of this super-fun day, but was also a bit sad to see his t-ball season come to an end.  That faded quickly when we arrived to the field, however, because there were hundreds of people and so much to do!  First and foremost, though-- play ball!  Some of my favorite moments from the day:

Teammates and best buds, Liam and Emmy

It was crowded, but Joergen scored the best seat in the house!

Liam's first at-bat.  Such determination :)

On first, ready to run!

Racing to home

And his last at-bat of the season- a solid hit!

After the game, each team proceeded to the "stage" trailer where their respective coach gave a few words about the season, and then introduced the players one by one onto the stage to receive their trophy.

Liam had no idea that this was going to happen, and I have literally never seen him so happy - honored even - to be receiving his first trophy.  He's all the way to the right in this next picture, and you can see he walked onto that stage with his hands up in the air, beaming with pride. You'd think he'd just won Olympic Gold!

He made everyone laugh, and I think by the time the little ceremony had ended my cheeks hurt from smiling.  His joy that day was just contagious.

Still holding that trophy high!

When the ceremony was over, he proudly showed me his trophy- and then it was off to find Joergen and Dad.

Now, in order for Bateman Day to be a success, they ask all the parents to sign up to work a shift at one of the stations around the field.  We had signed up for the "Fun Flush" (which is like a dunk tank without the tank.  Hit the target and water just dumps onto the victim) and were told that there would be a cadre of minor and major league kids signed up to take the punishment.  As luck would have it, though, no one showed up.  So who volunteered to take the hit while older kids nailed that target, one after the other?!

Joergen was a champ!  He was soaking wet, laughing, and having the time of his life.  All in all, I would say the day was a definitely a win all around.

Liam's Last Day of Pre-K!

Can someone please tell me how THIS happened?  Already?!

Our Liam has "graduated" preschool and is off to kindergarten this fall!

He absolutely loved his two years at Valley Forge Presbyterian Nursery School, and we absolutely loved seeing him learn and grow there.  The staff there took care of him beyond our expectations, not only in terms of his learning, but also in terms of his emotional well-being, and most importantly, his health.  I will never forget how I felt when dropping him off that first day, nor will I ever forget their reassurance that he would be kept safe.  And they delivered!  They were just so caring and supportive, and I can't imagine a better first school experience for our special little boy.

On his last day of Pre-K, the entire school celebrated at the Township Building Park behind our house.  I took the morning off work to join in the fun, and loved watching Liam running around with all of his friends.  It was bittersweet for Liam, who is really going to miss his classmates and teachers!  I assured him that some of his buddies will be joining him at Candlebrook Elementary in the fall, and he'll get to see Mrs. Tenney and Mrs. Trumpler often because Joergen will be going to school there in the fall!  

I just can't believe both of our boys will be in school in just a few months... it just doesn't seem possible. Ready or not, September, here we come!

Memorial Day Celebration

Memorial Day weekend means it's time for Aunt Doreen and Uncle Sam's annual party, and let me tell you, it is much more enjoyable now that we're neighbors!  Every know and then, Anthony and I just look at each other with gratitude that we took the plunge with that move-- it was one of the best decisions we ever made.

"Cousins" Joergen and Theresa

We had so much fun at the cookout, but you know it's time to call it a day when this happens:

Why yes, that is my 5-year-old son playing pong against his father.  It is indeed.  G'night!

On Monday, we met our favorite military family for a picnic at Valley Forge National Park ('Merica!).  It was an incredibly gorgeous day, and after scoring a table under a big shade tree, the boys had fun hitting balls in the wide open fields.

What could be cuter than this little patriot?  Love that hat!

Genevieve and Aunt Jackie

To top it off, we were in close proximity to a dirt pile.  A dirt pile topped with a stick pile.  This is basically heaven for Joergen, who has been known to whine "I just waaaaaaaaant a diiiiiiiiiirt piiiiiiiile!" at our softball games.  Go nuts, young man!

Colin and Joergen

Joergen, Liam, and Colin

As if the stick pile on the dirt pile weren't enough, while on a little walk through the park, Joergen discovered the World's Longest Stick hanging out of a tree.  Endless fascination, I tell you!

After a busy weekend of fun, the boys asked that night if they could have a "sleepover."  They share a room, mind you, but to them, "sleepovers" happen when they both sleep in Joergen's bed.  I think they were all tuckered out :)

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