Rethinking past purchases and the Hives incident

I have always wanted a girl. Ever since I can remember I have envisioned myself with at least one daughter. Incidentally, during all those years of "envisioning" I was also purchasing various clothing items that were at the time- "too cute to pass up"- Poor Kyle. I fully admit that before I was even married I had a smaller sized bag containing little girlie items that I had collected here and there over the years......hoping to use one day. So as Jack came along, then Cole, then Brody...my bag of girlie stuff seemed a bit useless. Useless U-N-T-I-L.......I pulled out this little antique from Gymboree circa...oh, maybe 1998!! Can you hear it.....the circus, the circus has come to town! I remember at the time thinking that this frilly yellow get up was just to-die-for. Who wouldn't want to snuggle up and sleep amongst the ruffles?? My cute little good sport clown Kate has worn this a few times so I can justify my idiotic purchase way back when.

Now on to this guy. Isn't that a pathetic face? Poor kid. This was my very first introduction into the lovely world of hives. These pictures really don't do it justice either. Long story short: We went sledding up in the mountains-Brody fell asleep in the car on the way home...Kyle puts him straight into his bed. He wakes up the next morning and as I'm dressing him for church notice a few splotchy spots on his body. Hmm. Go to church, return from church, nothing out of the ordinary. By 5:30 he comes downstairs and says that his ears hurt. Well by golly my ears would hurt too if they were as big and flat and red and stiff as his were. I took off all his clothes and he was covered. I felt like such a good mom...you know, really aware of her kids and all. So I call the nurse hotline and she asks:"Does he have swelling around his neck, face, head?" Well yea, his ears are gigantic and swollen and his face is starting to swell. She says I should bypass the insta-care (cause they are closing) and she would send me to the emergency room anyway with head swelling. Sweet! Kyle takes control at home and Brody and I head to the ER....the disgusting, inefficient, germ infested, ER. I don't know what was more awesome: Standing in line holding my swollen 3 year old for 40 minutes just to check in, Listening to the stoned with completely red blood shot eyes addict behind me talk to himself while snorting mucus every 10 seconds or so.....or......Having thee only triage nurse try to take Brody's temp. using an old school under your tongue takes 30 seconds thermometer with no success and then threaten (while he's screaming in her face) "If I can't take it hear I will have to insert it into your bah-dum...do you want that?" I asked if they ever considered using those speedy quick head scanning kinds...'no" was her response. Anyway, 3 hours and a $75 dollar co-pay later, it was determined that he had severe hives. Plan of action: go to the store-get Benadryl. Thanks doc.

So you live and learn. I've never been around hives before. I wouldn't have gone to the ER hadn't the nurse advised that any swelling on his face and head was bad news. All was well again with Brody by day 4. The hives are gone and we are thankful. The clown suit is still here and we're thankful for that as well