And Then I Stopped Breathing....

We had a near death experience on Sunday night. I am still freaked out about it! It was after dinner and the kids were watching a show on tv before bed. John was upstairs and I went into the den for 5 minutes (or less). As I was sitting at the desk Shane came walking in carrying a bowl that had previously been full of cashews sitting on the kitchen counter. In a split second I realized that he ATE the cashews and started to panic. He is VERY allergic to milk and peanuts. His pediatric allergist never specifically tested him for tree nuts, but said that he was very likely allergic to those as well. When he eats milk or nut containing products he goes into respiratory distress very quickly. It is very scary. We have Benedryl and an epi pen in the house (and car) at all times. After learning about his allergies when he was 10 months old we have never given him any foods with tree nuts in them just to be safe.

I screamed for John and he started emptying the remaining cashews in Shane's mouth onto the floor while I raced to get the Benedryl and epi pen ready. Shane was standing with a big smile on his face and no sign of discomfort or distress. We stood and stared at him waiting. Waiting for the inevitable. It was then that John and I looked at each other and realized that Shane is actually NOT allergic to tree nuts. Milk- Yes Peanuts- Yes Tree Nuts- No. How lucky was that?

I, on the other hand, was feeling great discomfort and distress at what almost happened. I was ready to shoot myself up with the epi pen to help get myself breathing again. I am so grateful that we, once again, avoided catastrophe. There is always something worrisome going on over here with these boys. Somebody once told me that with boys you are just happy if they all survive to adulthood. At the rate we are going I should be completely gray by Christmas and I will most likely not remember my name!