ALLERGIES?

Dear Weeb,

We are a bit freaked about the allergic reaction you had at school today (we think to hazelnut).

Your eyes swelled up and you got red blotches on your face. I noticed a welt on your cheek later that I thought was weeping, but that may have been something else or a scratch because it disappeared pretty fast. The swollen eyes were scary though! Clinic told us to give you Benadryl (which you went crazy after taking - I think you had a bad reaction to it). The clinic doctor (who was a bit of an idiot) said your airways sounded perfect. He also said it wasn't a severe allergy and not to worry about allergy testing. Uh huh. I think we will be going to talk to the family doctor and see about testing. You've never had a reaction to anything (that I've ever noticed) before. I'm pretty observant. But I also know that any reaction can mean a severe reaction is next.

You had hazelnut spread at the daycare for snack time. You had a few bites and didn't want anymore. You've had it before at the daycare, but never with me. No more nuts, of any kind, until I talk to our doctor! Scary stuff. But I'm glad it wasn't her airway!

I'm allergic to apples (or maybe a pesticide?) and my tongue and mouth get itchy and I get welts on my lips. Happens with a few other fruits and veg, too. And I get wicked hay fever. Fun stuff.

We'll see our family doctor next week and see what he says. I really want you to see an allergist. You're currently doing well, aside from yet another cold. This one has been going on about a week now. Started with a fever, then plugged up nosey, now a cough. And we all know what happens when you get coughs. Is it Spring yet?

(Update 2010 - After giving it more thought, I do recall your previous daycare lady telling us that your eyes seemed swollen one day. They had given you peanut butter. By the time I came to pick you up, your eyes weren't swollen anymore. I never gave it a lot of thought as I didn't think swelling eyes was a sign of nut allergy.)

DOROTHY

Dear Weeb,

One of our neighbors, a lady you and I both really liked, passed away. Her name was Dorothy and she gave you the wooden rocking chair that's in your room.

It has been very difficult explaining death to you. You're only 3. You're sad, but seem to sort of understand that she's not coming back.

It absolutely breaks my heart to see you sad and trying to understand such a grown up concept. You're a sensitive kid.

This will be ultimately good though. You need to know about some of the sad stuff in life and it helps us remind you that Hobbit is a very old cat and at some point soon, she may pass away, too.

(Added in 2010 - you still talk about her, almost 2 years later.)