an apple a day...

...doesn't keep the doctor away, at least in this family.  Rachel eats either an apple or applesauce almost every day, and Rebecca eats her fair share of applesauce, too, but we've still been getting to know the people at our pediatrician's office quite well in the last two weeks.

Two weeks ago Rebecca had an appointment to get her second flu shot, and to recheck her ears from the ear infection she had right after Christmas (so I was there with both girls just after Christmas).  Her ears were fine and she got the shot (and barely cried!).  That night when I changed her diaper, I noticed hives on her tummy.  I had a terrible case of hives about 10 years ago, which affected my breathing and they gave me an epipen just in case my airway started to swell dangerously, so I was very, very worried about Rebecca experiencing the same thing.  After thinking and trying to trace back any new foods or other changes, I determined that the only things that could've caused the hives were 1) ibuprofen (I didn't have any tylenol to give her after the shot, so I gave her ibuprofen for the first time), 2) something from the flu shot (even though she had already had the first flu shot in November and it didn't seem to bother her), or 3) a dryer sheet, which I had used in her laundry for the first time.

I called the doctor's office the next day, after a restless night for me, worrying about her (she slept just fine!), and the nurse said to bring her in.  They actually went away mid-morning, so I called back, and she said to keep the appointment just in case they came back, because hives tend to do that.  Sure enough, they did come back, so I was glad we kept the appointment.  The doctor didn't seem to think the ibuprofen or the dryer sheet would cause that reaction, and she suspected an egg allergy (eggs are in the flu shot).  So she told me not to give her anything with eggs in it, and when she's close to a year old she'll have her tested for an egg allergy.  In the meantime, she said the hives could come and go for a week, which they did. 

So yesterday we were BACK at the pediatrician, this time for Rachel.  She had been crying the night before, uncomfortable with what sounded to me like a UTI.  So after school yesterday we went back to the doctor.  And of course, she couldn't put anything in the cup when they tried to get her to go.  I gave her three glasses of water.  Tried again.  Still nothing.  They gave her a popsicle.  Still nothing. (Do you know how frustrating it is to sit with a cup under your four year old's bottom, time and time again, waiting for her to go potty????  Ahhhhhh!  Thankfully Rebecca was being an angel, or it REALLY could've been bad!)  They finally did an exam and sent us home with a cup, telling me to bring it back after she went.  So BACK to the doctor we went AGAIN later yesterday afternoon!  The test was negative.  It's not a UTI.  They told me to have her soak in the tub.  She's feeling better, she says, but the symptoms come and go. 

Sooooo....we're becoming well acquainted with the people at the office.  They're very nice, but I'd really prefer not to spend my days there!!

In other news:
-Rebecca's first tooth finally made an appearance yesterday!  It's been close for quite awhile, but just under the surface.  It's not out very far, but we'll take what we can get!  The other bottom tooth isn't far behind.

-Rachel insisted this morning on making her valentines for her friends at school.  I told her we could pick some out at the store...princess ones or whatever other kind she chose, but no, she insisted that she wanted to make them herself.  I finally convinced her to use blank cards I had instead of just printer paper, which is what she wanted to use.  I know her classmates won't appreciate the time and thought she put into them, because they certainly look like a four year old made them (though she did do a nice job coloring the hearts we printed and cut out).  She is definitely a lover of anything crafty!

-Rachel is thrilled that it's February today.  We've been crossing days off of the calendar until our Disney World trip, and we finally made it to the month of the trip.  26 more days to go.  She can't wait!  She's definitely never been more aware of the months than she has been these last couple!