Allergic Overreaction

The nights when our children coordinate their long sleeping spells are few and far between, but last night’s non-sleep regimen was especially hellacious. Reed’s winter-long cold has been more fierce as of late, and so his slumber has been interrupted by congested airways, and Olivia climbed into our bed early this morning crying that her tummy hurt.

I don’t know if it’s from our perpetual sleep deprivation or neuroses or a combination of the two, but theories abound – from the conceivable to the unfounded – whenever and as to why our children are ill. Chinese drywall – although we have no evidence the previous homeowners remodeled with it – is what’s trending this week, but we do allow for the more mundane possibility of food allergies as to what’s ailing our daughter. Olivia’s stomach pains kept her from school today and caused her pediatrician enough concern that he ordered x-rays and blood work, which of course did nothing to temper the wild speculations coming from the parental camp.

Update: the nurse called to say that the x-rays and blood work showed nothing out of the ordinary. Phew. Crisis averted – at least until the next theory we cook up or subscribe to.