Our boys inherited severe allergies, eczema, and asthma. This gruesome reality broadcast itself when Benjamin was about 5 months old. His skin erupted and hasn’t calmed down (without major intervention) since. When we knew that boy #2, Noah, was on the way we assumed he was allergic to everything in the hopes that we could avoid the ordeal that Benjamin had to go through. It didn’t work. When Noah was 6 months old, he broke out all over his body, not just the typical wrists, elbows, knees, and such. We did our best to avoid eggs, nuts, milk, and soy products. We bought expensive vacuum cleaners and special bed coverings. We bought tube after tube of expensive creams and lotions. Nothing worked really well. We still have to visit the doctor quite a bit during the allergy seasons when asthma rears its ugly head.

This past month, Noah underwent an afternoon of skin tests so that we would know exactly what he needs to avoid. For the past four years we have lived under the assumption that he is allergic to the same things his older brother is allergic to. Boy, were we wrong. And I think Noah must have known it all along.

He has always had a secret affair with yogurt and cheese. Anytime the house is a little too quiet, it means I need to find Noah. On several occasions of a too quiet house, I would find Noah hiding in his closet eating yogurt or cheese. This went on for at least two years.

Lo and behold, his test for milk products was negative! Noah was so excited and he didn’t waste any time telling me, “I told you!” And I didn’t hesitate to tell him that he could come out of the closet!

Well, at Tannehill the other day, we all stopped at the Sweet Shop for some sweets. Noah chose a single scoop of chocolate ice cream on a cone. I was really excited for him. This was his very first ice cream cone. I was tearing up when hilarity ensued.

His father, beaming with pride, said, “Yep, this is Noah’s first ice cream cone!”

Noah kind of rolled his eyes, pointed to the cone, and said, “No! I’ve never had one of these.“