Introduction

Greetings!  I am mother to an amazing little girl.  At the time of this writing, she's about to turn 3 and she's smart as a whip!  She has known her colors, shapes and letters for quite some time, now.  She amazes me with her memory and recall, reminding me of things that happened months or even almost 2 years ago!  She can write some letters, and her own name, with some coaching.  She can name quite a few U.S. states, and find them on her puzzle/map.  She has a great sense of humor and almost always has a smile.  She is my amazing little Sweetie, but she also happens to be atopic.

What does atopic mean, you ask?  Well, according to Wikipedia, "atopic syndrome is a predisposition toward developing certain allergic hypersensitivity reactions."  When I stumbled upon this Wikipedia page, I felt like I was reading all about the things she experiences.  "Atopy (atopic syndrome) is a disease characterized by a tendency to be 'hyperallergic'. A patient with atopy typically presents with one or more of the following: eczema (atopic dermatitis), allergic rhinitis (hayfever), allergic conjunctivitis, or allergic asthma. Patients with atopy also have a tendency to have food allergies."

Yes, yes, maybe, yes and oh yes, that, too.  My sweet girl has all of those, except for allergic conjunctivitis, which she has managed to avoid, thus far.  My daughter is such a trooper through it all and she teaches me so much, every day.  I know that she is much more than the sum of her ailments, but the focus of this blog mostly be on her "allergic trifecta": eczema, asthma, and food allergies.  I have other blogs in which I document the other sides of my daughter's life, but the purpose of this blog is to share stories, experiences, and any other information that I think might be helpful to others.  It also acts as an outlet for me to get some of what's in my head, out on paper.  I think doctor's offices should hand out a blogging site when they diagnose your child with something.  It's a must-have for many of us mommies!