Hives for Hanukkah

Technically, this is not Benjamin's first Hanukkah as he was a little baby during last year's holiday season. Just the same, in an effort to keep with tradition, we dusted off the menorah, found the leftover candles that were unused from last year, and reviewed our little books with the prayers and rules for playing with the dreidel. Kevin was traveling for much of last week, leaving Benjamin and I to our own devices for planning the first night's festivities. I had a few small gifts to wrap, cards to sign and I even had thoughts of making latkes, which are extremely labor intensive but totally worth it in the end. So, after a boisterous Thursday evening of playtime with friends, Benjamin went down for bed and I nestled in with a book for a quiet evening, well aware that I was leaving things that could be done immediately for the following day.

I awoke Friday morning to his chatter and giggles at the usual time (7am) and mentally prepared for a rather busy, but festive day ahead. I smiled at him standing in his crib and opened his blinds. I reached in to pick him up and nearly fainted. He had large, irregular spots all over his face. He laughed when I screamed. He laughed again when I started to cry. What were these bright red spots? What happened over the course of the night to cause this? I dressed him and myself quickly. I knew we were headed to the emergency room. After a brief call to the nurses line, I dumped him in the car and rushed to the hospital as directed by the nurse I spoke with just a few minutes before. In the car, I noticed the spots increasing in color and number. Ben was just a happy little elf, singing and chatting. I was hysterical! Once at the hospital, they saw us immediately but also confirmed that due to his extremely pleasant demeanor and lack of a temperature, he was just fine and they would quickly help me figure out what had happened to cause his rash. There was some prodding and poking and Benji was dressed in a little hospital robe (which he loved because it had penguins on it). He eventually fell asleep after being given a steroid and Benadryl. They monitored him and sent me and my spotted little baby boy home, with instructions to see his regular doctor on Saturday.

Needless to say we did not start that first night of Hanukkah on the right note. I got nothing done that I had planned. Neither hospital or pharmacy were on my to-do list. I spent the day worried about Ben and still unsure of the cause of his rash, that at least by 4pm had stopped spreading. I had already made plans for a babysitter that evening so that I could go to a holiday party. She had been told that Benji sleeps like a champ and doesn't make a peep. I ate crow later when she called me to report that he woke up screaming twice and she couldn't get him to settle down. Kevin eventually returned home and we spent both Friday and Saturday night up at wee hours dealing with our little scratchy, spotted and now very unhappy boy.

The diagnosis from the doctor the following day was HIVES. Yes - the original woman who stands watch as Cootie Patrol in Charge allowed her son to get HIVES. Itchy, red bumps that cover the body. I believe the doctor's exact words were "impressive". My son has impressive HIVES. Well - when should I start celebrating? Turns out anyone can get hives from just about anything. It can come from the air. And there is no telling whether or not he will get them again. We will just have to see what happens. What a terrible Hanukkah gift. "Benjamin? What did you get for Hanukkah?" "Oh - my mom gave me hives. They were fun. Best holiday ever!" I know I am not responsible for his getting hives. And I certainly did not plan on spending the first few nights of Hanukkah like that. It just stinks. We made it through the whole first year without any emergencies and then one month into year number two - hives. I hope it is not a sign of things to come. I don't think I can emotionally handle more trips to the emergency room. Benjamin is doing just great. He has recovered fully and seems unchanged by the events of the past few days. Lucky for us there are eight nights of Hanukkah and a few more opportunities left to celebrate the right way with little Benji. Now, please forgive me for offering no other updates. I must stop blogging and get back to scrubbing down the walls in my house. Hives? Really?