Allergies
We had Matthew and Emily tested for allergies these past couple days (Emily on Tuesday, Matthew today) based on our general health and constant runny noses and sneezing this summer. Matthew is the more symptomatic one and it was because of his profuse sneezing (and ensuing “nose explosions”) especially in the mornings that I decided to take them in in order to learn what we’re dealing with. While we were suspicious of course that they had one or two allergies to something, much as Steve and I do, we were very surprised to discover they both have several allergies, and Emily even more than Matthew! Apparently it’s atypical for children this young to test positive to so many things, and relatively strongly so. Emily is allergic to grasses, tree pollens, ragweed, and dust mites. Matthew is allergic to tree pollen and dust mites. The dust mite one appears to be on the more sensitive side for both so we have lots of “homework” to do to learn what this all means and what action(s) we will take around the house. There’s a chance as well that Emily has what’s called virally induced asthma which would have been what was causing her persistent cough all winter (for 5+ months!) but her breathing test was fine on Tuesday. We’ll be keeping an eye on her when she next gets a cold/virus and starts coughing and follow up with the allergist sometime this winter. To top it all off, Matthew is also allergic to cats (no surprise there since Steve is too, though they say there’s not really a genetic component here) and Emily is allergic to dogs! So much for our plans to someday get a dog. We’re surprised and also disappointed - especially me since I’d just been waiting for the kids to get a little older before we all twisted Steve’s arm together (though I think he was willing to have it twisted once the kids were old enough to help out) - but at least we know now before we own one!