Anne 0, Allergies 1
We are thinking gluten is not the culprit.  Or at least if it is part of the problem, gluten has decided to collaborate with a partner or two.  Not only has Noella's skin not gotten any better (we are on Day 4) but her allergies are apparently getting worse.  Now her eyes won't stop itching and they are all swollen and red.  Maybe seasonal allergies are part of this?  I myself am a mess- I spent about 20 minutes outside on Thursday night to mow the front lawn and was almost immediately congested and itchy.  Plus, she has started to get mad.  You would think a 16 month old would not know the difference between what she is eating now and last week, but that would underestimate Noella's appreciation for food.  In daycare on Friday she was so annoyed that she could not have pizza with the other kids that she refused to eat any of her own lunch.  In Noella's book this is a major protest.  Skipping a meal is just not something that she does.  So a few more days with this and then, if there are no improvements, we will be on to the next experiment.  Wish us luck!
In the meantime, Patrick and Mariel are off to her first major league baseball game.  She wore a pink fancy dress, shiny neclace, dress shoes and red socks.  According to her, the red socks are so she can think about the Cardinals.

Chicago!

The train was entertaining, and definately less painful than trying to keep Noella in a car for 5 hours.

Mariel and I taking a picture of the skyline (as reflected in the "bean") with my lovely friend, Kimberly.  Kimberly has the pleasure of being married to a political scientist, who is also a good friend and former office mate.  They both came to Chicago for the conference so I and my children got to selfishly monopolize her time. 

 

Mariel is getting good at taking portraits! 

Mariel: Bean roadkill.

This is Noella outside of the Aquarium.  It was pretty cool and far too expensive.  Definately something that is easier to do when work is paying for the hotel room!  The dolphin/ whale show was fairly silly, but entertaining for a 4 year old.  The highlight of the whole experience for Mariel, however, had nothing to do with sea life.  She got to go on her first taxi ride and found it marvelous.  I do have to say that it was one of the nicer taxis that I have been in- so a lucky pick for such a momentous occasion!

Delayed action Kool Aid
Starting tomorrow, we are going to go gluten free for Noella.  Her eczema has gotten so much worse and is now overwhelming me, but is not being seen as something treatable by her pediatrician.  While we were in Chicago this weekend (great time, by the way) she was incessantly scratching her poor little wrists, and her legs and arms have been covered in blotchy red patches for weeks. 
I grasp the medical idea that eczema is not caused by food allergies, but I have not had any indication that her pediatrician's office understands that it can be triggered by food allergies.  Being a well trained researcher, I have been doing some work and am fairly convinced that allergies are at least a reasonable possibility.  Since we are clearly not on the same page here, and I do not want to be forced into using steroids on my 16 month old child, I am going to try some alternative therapies. 
First, cut out wheat and gluten to see if helps with the itching.  If it makes no difference, on to to the other usual suspects, such as dairy.  I don't see how this can harm her (she has been way down on her diary since her stomach bugs, anyway) and it just may help.  Second, I made an appointment with a homeopathic doctor to see if they have other suggestions in terms of how to monitor and control other potential triggers.  I am not really interested in medicines or supplements (Western, Eastern, or herbal), but I do want to see a medical practitioner who is willing to consider environmental or food allergies in relation to her skin issues and help me figure out how to reduce that exposure. 
So, now that we have left Shining Rivers and the gung ho Waldorf devotees it seems that they have gotten to me.  Patrick has declared me a hippie freak, I just spent $100 on gluten free groceries (less exotic than it sounds, as potatoes, corn chips, and apples are also included in that category!), and I am taking my toddler to a homeopath.  Perhaps I will start dressing us all in organic cotton next week...and as I write that, even in self-mockery, I think, hmmm... that might be good for her skin...

Fly away

A few weeks ago we got our birthday gift of caterpillars in the mail.  We watched them grow and grow, and about a week ago they changed into chrysalids and got moved out of their little plastic home and into the butterly net, awaiting their big change.  I'll be honest- I sort of forgot about them in the guest room. 

Thursday morning I went in to check my computer and to my surprise there was a butterfly in there. I managed to spend about two hours between getting appropriate flowers and an orange at the store (shopping for butterfly food was a new experience) and just staring at him/her.  It is surprisingly exhilerating to watch a butterfly up close.  By the time Patrick and the girls came home that evening, all of our butterflies were out.  For the space of a few days, we all spent a lot of time just watching them.  Patrick reminded me several times that these were Mariel's butterflies, not mine. 

But, really, they couldn't stay too long in the tent.  I was worried that they could not really fly in there and they seemed to be getting a little crazy trying to do it anyway.  Saturday morning we let them go out into the big world. 

Good luck butterflies! Come back and see me (um, I mean come back and see Mariel)!

Its been a while...
We have been fighting the stomach bug on and off for a long while (hoping we are off now).  Mostly Noella, but Mariel has had moments, too- like throwing up first thing on Easter morning.  SOOO many fluid substances coming out of my children (and even dogs!) from various parts, it is hard to keep up.  Right now (fingers crossed, knock on wood, whatever we need to do) all seems well and everyone in good health.  Lets keep it up!
Lots of general chaos, with Patrick being out of town, me getting ready for a conference next week, my parents visiting for a few days, and all of the normal (or less than normal) day to day activities. A good example: this evening.  I was getting Noella in her jammies and sent Mariel to go to the bathroom.  A heartrending wail of pure agony from the bathroom brought me and a naked baby running. 
Mariel sobs "MY RING IS IN THE POTTY!"  Hysterical crying. Noella promptly pees all over the floor. 
I determine that somehow (details unknown) her precious plastic pink ring went down the toilet.  We look, I even put my hand in, but no ring to be found.  I am not putting forth more effort than that, and the sobbing restarts.  I manage to clean the floor, get Noella dressed, nursed and to bed while placating a disaster of a child.  Soothing and cuddling, story in bed, and then she turns to me with a look.  If you have a child, spouse, or sibling, you may know the look that means I have something to say that I am not sure I should.  Each person has their own.  Mariel's is a little smile, often with an "Um, Mom?"
"When I dropped my ring in the potty at school I could get it out."
"What?"
"I dropped my ring in the potty at school, and I could get it out.  But at home when I dropped it in it disappeared."
(Trying to remember if we washed our hands really well before eating dinner)
"You wore it today?  You dropped your ring in the potty at school TODAY? How did it get in the potty?"
"It was an accident.  It wasn't on my finger, it wasn't in my hand, I just dropped it.  But I got it out."
"Did you put the ring in our potty on purpose?  To see what would happen?"
"No.  It was an accident." Sobs resume. "Mom, now I only have TWO rings. I need THREE rings."
"We can use your piggy bank money to get a new one.  That won't go near the potty."
"OK." No more tears. "And I can use the rest of the money to buy a new dress up...."
... and she moves on.  But I am wondering what else will be journeying through our plumbing on "accident."  Also, she may now think that when she cries, Noella pees.

Here are some long overdue pictures:
In between bouts of serious stomach issues, we managed an Easter egg hunt with a friend and fellow princess:

Easter was not quite as planned, as Mariel woke up sick and Noella also ended up in rough shape.  We skipped church, Easter dinner, our fancy dresses, and pretty much anything that involved effort.  Noella was worth a few good photos:

But Mariel mostly looked at me like this when I tried to take her picture:

It was a gorgeous day, so spirits were a little better when we went for an afternoon walk.

Noella was home with us for two and a half days last week because she was having such tummy troubles.  She has not suffered for her "sick" diet of yogurt, toast, applesauce and crackers.  For those who have not seen her eat lately, she is a voracious eater and very advanced with the spoon.  On this particular afternoon, she was being a little goofy.  Here is her yogurt beard: