And the Verdict Is...

A few weeks ago I took Katie to the doctor. This is big for me. We are not 'doctor' people. We don't do well baby check ups. We don't do immunizations. We actually don't even do hospital births. Well, we did one time but I didn't like it and vowed to never do it again. Katie was born at a birth center and Elijah was born at home with a midwife. (Yes, it was cool. No, I wasn't scared.)

So, I took Katie to the doctor. She had been acting weird. I realize that many of the readers of this blog have never spent time with Katie, so let me tell you about her. She's two years old, my middle child. She is very high need. She needs to be held, a lot. Like a lot, a lot. I wear her on my back at the grocery store. I carry her on my hip while I cook dinner. She sleeps in my bed every night. She needs a lot of physical touch. I'm okay with that. I don't focus on being fair and giving each of my children that exact same thing. Instead I focus on carefully giving each child what they individually need. Katie needs a lot. I have often wondered if she is not okay. Maybe not healthy like my other two children.

Back to my actual storyline, Katie had been acting weird. She cried for two days straight. Even holding her non-stop did not help the crying. There was nothing visably wrong with her but she was not okay. Maybe a headache? a stomach-ache? low blood sugar? Two year old children can't explain it all, so she just cried. By the third day, I was going crazy. I had to find out what was wrong with her! Jesse and I talked about it. I really believed that she had a food allergy. I had nothing to go on, maybe God was telling me or maybe my mommy-instinct was kicking in. Jesse agreed that we should take her to the doctor to be tested.

The doctor's appointment went great. The doctor is a family practitioner who focuses on natural healing, meaning he's more likely to tell you to eat right and take vitamins than to prescribe the latest drug. He talked to us to a long time (like 45 minutes) about Katie's behavior and my reasons for suspecting a food allergy. He did a finger prick blood test. The results of the test came back today.

And the verdict is:

Chicken.

My two year old is allergic to chicken.

And eggs.

And soybeans.

And milk.

The chicken and eggs tested as severe allergies. Meaning a good mother would not let her have them again.

Soybeans and milk tested as mild but should still be avoided.

So, everyday since she was weaned, she has consumed at least one food that she is allergic to. No wonder she seems a little needy. Poor baby, I'd want to be held all the time too if I was constantly eating foods that made me feel horrible.

Chicken, who in the world is allergic to chicken?!

Excuse me while I freak out.