The Allergist...

...a recent visit to Chuck E Cheese with Sanitizing Wipes in tow!

We are just home from our visit to L.A. We went ahead and made a day of it, visiting family afterward. The boys are such troopers and waited patiently while enjoying an ice cream with their daddy, not to mention the secret passage way they found through the maze of flowers and filler!

Meeting with the allergist took some time as we had a lot of ground to cover. It would be hard to give a comprehensive digest of our exchanges, but a broad overview would say that we left there with a game plan. First, clear up Seth's poor little skin. The tactics we have been using just aren't working. Once we get his skin (cheeks) cleared up, something else bothers him and begins the cycle all over again. We will go ahead and treat him methodically with topical Tacrolimus which is the same drug they use for anti rejection for his liver. I had read somewhere in my studies that this is one way to address allergy prone skin or eczema outbreaks that will not subside, so it came as no surprise. On the subject of foods, we were encouraged to broaden his diet slowly, including foods he has shown reaction to, unless it was hive related. These reactions I'm speaking of are more related to redness around the mouth and cheeks. All in the name of exposing his system to more diverse foods to allow him to possibly adjust/adapt.

Understandably, I had taken it upon myself to keep any food from him that shown signs of reaction. Since that last episode of horrendous proportions, I had no intention of exposing him to scary foods as I had and have no idea what caused it. Not to mention the RAST testing (blood panel) that indicated allergies to specific foods. But RAST testing is not the end all, be all answer and is broad at best. That's why meeting with this allergist was so important in making progress...

All this seems so technical, but really, that is what it takes to manage Seth's condition(s). Life with this boy is very much ordered and rigid, yet in so many ways, we are free and always looking for the reprieve and lightness of it all. When the pressure is building and the task hard or complicated, the simple things become the joys. Watching Seth scrunch up his face and us giggling over it. Enjoying the children run up and down the hallway..one..two..three...chasing after one another. Pure joy. Looking into that beautiful, happy face and appreciating Seth for all that he is and thankful that we have him- knowing it could have been very different, but isn't.

I may be rambling tonight but I did sit through Friday traffic, twice, so I know you will forgive me! lol.

Have a blessed week in Jesus and thank you for praying specifics for us in this journey!


Agape,

Sam