So much to say

There is so much craziness going on in our home this week that I do not know where to begin...
We just returned from Michigan and we drove... that's right 10-12 hours in a car with a bunch of little kids! We are crazy. 

During this long long drive home, I would change diapers at every stop to prevent irritation. I noticed that Miss Mags had been "eaten up" my mosquitos. I figured it was from a cook- out we had been at a few days before. I had some massive bites myself! 



The next day still had these places on her legs and thighs. They did not seem to be bothering her, so I didn't worry about it. Then after her nap I changed her and holy crow, the little bumps on the backs of her legs have morphed into these huge red welts! Hmmmm.... we decided to get her an oatmeal bath and some cortisone cream during a Target trip that we were about to take. While in the store, I noticed welts      popping up on her arms and hands! 

The start of the worry

I start thinking she has poison ivy or something so I start googling and see images of poison ivy (nasty stuff that is) okay it's not that. I then google hives and yup, that's what it has to be. 
I do an oatmeal bath and the cortisone when we get home and after she ate I gave her 1 tsp of Benadryl. 
The next morning, they are still there but small and light pink. I tell her babysitter to call me if they get worse.  At this point they were only on the underside of her arms and all over her legs. 
I come home from work and the poor kids has huge "angry" red welts all over her arms, legs, now feet and hands (which look swollen to me) She also had a place on each ear and on each cheek. Off to the ER we go! 
Again she was acting fine really, a little cranky, but fine. However the "what ifs" of this situation were freaking      me out. I am getting panicky just thinking about her not being able to breath.                                             

We went to St. Mary's pediatric ER (my mom met me there for moral support and the hubs stayed with the other two kids) She was seen very promptly and they were great at getting her to do what they needed. Example of that, the tech blew bubbles while getting her vitals and encouraged her to pop them so she didn't mind the blood pressure cuff and pulse-ox.
Well the doctor came in and she of course was a shy flirt (which was a great sign, that she was not sick), we then got a lesson in hives. 
1. Hives are dilation of the blood vessel
2. If you push on them and they blanch or turn white that's good. That means the blood is contained in the vessel. 
3. If you were to touch it and it stays red that is not so good. That means the blood is outside of the vessel. 

These look good compared to last night

4. Hives are only dangerous when they are in your mouth. (Mag's had no hives in her mouth)
 5. Hives are know for fading and then coming back in a different place on the body and usually last about 3-7 days. 

ER selfie

They think these are part of a virus... ?? She received a dose of Benadryl and we went home. She looks better today, you can still see them all over her extremities but they are light pink and not super red. I gave her another dose this morning of Benadryl and she has been very quiet and sleepy all day but she is eating and drinking normally but, as always is a cheerful little girl even when she's not feeling so good.