Five Years Ago Today

Five years ago today I married my soul mate in a church surrounded by our friends and family. Not an exaggeration! My husband is definitely the embodiment of everything I could have hoped for in a living, breathing human being, perhaps more. He's patient, kind, charming, witty, sincere, and he loves me wholly. My favorite memento from the day is a snapshot taken by his aunt. The look on his face as I walked down the aisle...his very first peek at me...It still gives me shivers.

It wasn't just our wedding, our vows, our celebration that sticks in my mind, but the strength and love of one family member that I will always remember. Only the day before, the day of our rehearsal dinner, she discovered that the baby she had been carrying for 11 and a half weeks was lost. My sister, my maid of honor, stuck close to me for those two days. She did not hide in a corner to heal, like many would have done. She didn't whine or demand attention. She supported me, she helped me, and she loved me, like only a sister can do. Thank you!

Our Food Allergy Saga

When my youngest son was born, he was perfect. Not only that, but he slept well and ate well! It was a dream...for the first two weeks...but then, something happened. He stopped sleeping well. He spent many late nights crying and we could never find the right thing to help him. When I spoke to the pediatrician, I was told that it was totally normal, and since my first was so easy, I believed them. I passed over my instincts and let it go. But after months of not sleeping and worrying over his runny nose and horrible eczema breakouts, I finally pushed our pediatrician to help. You see, my little guy had had a close to anaphylactic reaction to yogurt. It was scary but our doctor told us to just not give him milk or milk products. Since I was breastfeeding him and he hadn't had many of the classic symptoms and was gaining weight like a champ, she assumed it was a sensitivity and that I would need to minimize, not eliminate dairy from my diet. WRONG!! I pushed and may be sounded like a crazed mother but I got the appointment with the specialist!


This appointment was one of the worst things I've had to go through with my children. I really didn't think much would happen. I was wrong. The little guy was given a skin prick test for a large number of allergens. He popped on milk, eggs, peanuts, dog, apples, chicken, beef, and fish. His reaction to milk was quick and pretty scary and that was just with a small amount on his skin. We went for a RAST blood test of all of the above plus dust. For the next two weeks, I avoided eating all of the above foods, as I was still breastfeeding him. It was INCREDIBLY difficult. Bit by bit, with two different allergy medications and the avoidance, my little guys' eczema cleared, the runny nose dissipated, and he was sleeping better.

When we returned to the allergist, it was clear that my guy was doing my much better and the results were better than expected. His blood showed that he was a level VI on peanuts, a level V on milk, eggs, and dog. Thankfully everything else was negative. We've been doing our best to keep him away from his kryptonite. It's hard...not easy. We all worry about our children, but for me, knowing my son's weaknesses is just a constant worry. If I had just known from early on, I could have saved him so much discomfort. I even worry that because I nursed him for 10 months, that he'll never outgrow the allergy to milk. Yeah, it's all about the mommy guilt. To Be Continued....

A Bit About Chris

Most everyone who 'knows' me, knows almost everything about me. I don't have much of a filter and I've never quite managed to keep my feelings from showing on my face. Since many of you don't have the luxury....or annoyance of seeing me in person...here's a bit about me.

*I'm originally from Rhode Island and didn't leave until I left for graduate school in the big bad city.

*I met my husband 3 days before 9/11. Our first date was on 9/13. We were both in Manhattan that day.

*I've lived overseas. Something I'm sure no one from my childhood would have predicted.

*I'm shy. Most people don't believe that but, I get butterflies for simple things that most people do daily.

*My husband is in law enforcement and it makes me terrified and proud, all at the same time.

*Forever, I've wanted to be a psychologist.

*I graduated with my degree in school psychology on the same day as my bridal shower. I didn't walk and was two states away for my graduation.

*I taught preschool with children from Turkey, Spain, Russia, and the US. I don't speak Turkish or Russian and my Spanish is barely passable. My husband was sure that there was going to be 17 children with Rhode Island accents before the year was finished. (As in, please hand me that HAHHHHD COVAHHH book.)

*I have two sons and I would like to have one more child, but I'm not sure it's in the cards for us.

*I had a separated pubic bone for my first. It sucked!

*I love reading EVERYTHING. There isn't a genre I'll pass up and that includes my comfort reads. I read romance novels, on occasion. I think of them as mac-n-cheese without the calories.

*I love seeing the world but, I hate the business of traveling. However, I've moved three times for my husband's job and will surely do so again.

*I spent a semester working in a home for juvenile delinquents, including sex offenders. I learned that you can abhor the things people do and still want to help them. I also learned that there is a reason if not an excuse for behavior.

*I have a dog named Lola. She's really like another child, even though she's put me through some of the toughest moments and most difficult decisions of my life. I love her and I can't sleep well when I can't hear her snoring.