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.)

MONSTER RIDDING SPRAY

Dear Weeb,

We are hoping the 'magic spray' that Uncle J gave you will do the trick in ridding monsters and lions named Chillata from your room!

Uncle J says, " It will work! Just remember the small bottle makes them friendly and the large one makes them sleepy. They were made from royalty you know..."

UPDATE:

‎*sigh* Didn't work. Yet. Hey, but the good news is that all the crying made you start coughing again. Wait... that's not good news. We'll keep at it. The monster and lion ridding, not the coughing, I mean.

CHILLATA

Dear Weeb,

We are still trying to find the magic charm to get you to sleep in your own room. Apparently there are monsters, and a lion named Chillata.

You've tried to describe, with much detail, that the lion shows up on your wall and the sound she makes. Apparently she is an angry lion. But she is also your friend. She just keeps you up at night because she growls. Sometimes you are afraid of her though, usually around 2AM.

As you describe Chillata, Daddy and I try to stifle our laughter. You're just so darned cute.

I have NO idea where the name Chillata comes from (or if I'm spelling it correctly).

I also have no idea why you have invented an imaginary angry lion on your bedroom wall.

NO BOTTLES - NIGHT TWO

Dear Weeb,

We bought you a bunch of new clothes for autumn/winter. You're growing like a weed!

Night two of no bottles has gone fairly well. You were really tired, since you hadn't napped today. You still have a bit of a cough. It's worse when you're lying down (aren't most coughs?). You're in bed with me. I kinda like these early nights. Now if only I could stop worrying about you coughing until you hurl (in my bed), I'd be asleep, too! I'd better enjoy these cuddles while I can.

THE BOTTLE FAIRY

Dear Weeb,

Our first night with no bottle actually went pretty well! You had a hard time settling so I eventually brought you into bed with me. Your latest cough is getting a bit worse and was keeping you up. A little cough medicine (nothing fancy) and you settled.

I put you back in your own bed around 10:30PM and you slept there all night. I had to go in to give you some water a few times (coughing), but the water did the trick!

You got up @ 7AM with a big smile on your face and we went downsrairs to see if the Bottle Fairy had taken the bottles you left for her in a big blue sparkling bag. She came! She took the bottles and left presents! New big girl underware (Strawberry Shortcke), a Dora shirt with Boots jeans and two DVDs (Dora & Diego / Courious George). I'm so proud of my big girl!

PLEASE STAY ASLEEP

Dear Weeb,

You, my darling offspring, are still conspiring to make me a zombie, by lack of sleep. You're 2.5 y/o, kid, time to sleep through the freaking night!

MONSTERS INC.

Dear Weeb,

We are watching Monsters Inc. for the millionth time.

I appreciate that you love the movie, but can we please add to our list of movies you love?

Oh, and thank you for letting us watch something OTHER than Dora!

SLIDE!

Dear Weeb,

You certainly love the slide at the playground behind our house.

It gives me the heeby jeebies to watch you climb up there, but you are so confident with your climbing.

You sure love that slide!

I WANT TO BE A SAHM

Dear Weeb,

There are a lot of changes in your life right now. And you're still getting over your ear infection and accompanying cold. You get coughs so badly, just like me.

There are no bottles allowed at daycare and you are toilet training.

You absolutely HATE being dropped off at daycare and you cry hysterically. It breaks my heart. I end up crying all the way to work. The daycare lady is so good with you, but she's tough. I wonder if she's a bit too tough and isn't showing you enough compassion with all this change.

I don't like having to work. I want so badly to be a stay at home mom but we just can't afford it. I'm hoping that drop offs will get better soon.