What do you think of when you think of spring?
Blooming trees
Flowers pushing through to display their glory
Warm days filled with playing outdoors
Riding bikes down streets filled with black plastic bags filled with newly cut grass clippings
Lemonade out on your porch
Digging in dirt to plant a garden
Sweat-filled brows and dirt-covered jeans
For many of you, the visions you have of spring resemble the glimpse of spring moments I listed above. Spring is the time of year when your family spends tons of time outside exploring, working, and playing.
For my family spring are a time of ever dripping noses, rashes caused by topical allergies, and itching eyes.
For my family, spring means checking the pollen count level that is sent to me in a daily e-mail. If it is a high pollen day, the medicines JDaniel takes at night during most of the year are taken in the morning so, he can play outside during recess at school or attend a birthday party outside.
For my family, spring means long socks worn under lightweight pants to prevent the skin on his ankles and legs from having a rash.
For my family, spring means skipping playgroups if the host of the week chooses to host playgroups at a local park.
For my family, it means playing for a short time in the early evening when the pollen count has dropped.
For my family, it means exploring the library for new books, the children’s museum for new exhibits, and exploring the play equipment at an indoor playground.
For my family, it means doing loads of crafts, playing loads of games, and playing with a load of construction equipment in JDaniel’s room.
I hope spring will change for us. JDaniel’s allergies have lessened a little this year. Maybe someday he will be able to play a spring sport, work in a local community garden and not fear the green that coats the world outside in the spring.
Until then we wait for mid-summer when the things he is allergic to diminish and the green haze fades.
This post is linked to Mrs. Matlock’s Alphabe Thursday.
boo for pollen! Sammy has been hit with allergies for the first time this year! not like JDaniel’s but we had to start up an allergy regimen! I hope the pollen drops of quickly this year since it started so early (or at least early for VA).
I am hoping it drops here in South Carolina soon too. The cars here are covered in it.
Spring is so wonderful, but hard for us also. My oldest started his spring allergies when he was only 2. I feel bad when he sees his friends outside and wants to play, and I have to say no. My neighbors all have their windows open and we have our ac on. We pray for rain, and a quick spring.
We are sending up the same prayers. It really is hard to hear others outside playing.
So far our spring allergies haven’t been too bad around here – I am the sneeziest so far. Praying that maybe the boys will outgrow theirs/we have a mild pollen spring. (Is that even something I can hope for – mild pollen??)
I would love mild pollen. Here is South Carolina everyone is driving cars with a light green tint to them.
Oh, that is not fun at all! We have such a short spring that it would be very short lived here. Hope the allergies become less and less each and every year.
Dana
Maybe JDaniel needs to spend his springs in Canada. It sounds like you have perfect conditions for him there.
Aw, this is so sad 🙁 Spring is my favorite time of year, as it is the time that lie returns to the World <3 Hoping things change fr JDaniel!
I have my fingers crossed and prayers sent heavenward that they change.
awwww that sucks Hopefully his allergies will lesson as he gets older
We are hoping for the very same thing.
Yes, for me the spring is beautiful, light and color, but my son is allergic to pollen, a real nuisance.
Nuisance is a great word for it.
Visiting from Mrs Matlock’s, did enjoy your post – so apt! Yes, we’re recovering here too from Spring colds etc!
Thanks for stopping by and look forward to *seeing* you again! (Blogger permitting!)
I hope everyone is feeling better at your house.
PS Hope my comment got published!
We understand. I hope this spring is not too rough for allergies.
I hope both our guys out grow this!
I feel for you…i never really understood allergies as my eldest never had a problem but my twins seem to take after their father and seem to be heading down that road with hayfevver symptoms!it is awful to witness so i can only imagine how you feel!!!
It really is hard to witness! There is a lot we can do to try to lessen the effects, but the allergy effects never totally go away.
I agree with you I see many of my friends suffer allergies. Hubby gets allergies in fall but not spring, weird! Thanks for stopping by I do appreciate it.
Letter-S
It is really difficult to hear him coughing or sneezing just because he was given a few minutes to play outside.
Wow, he certainly has horrible allergies. Yesterday, my daughter’s eye was swollen from allergies. Definitely the pollen counts are higher. Hoping as he gets older, the allergies will lessen a bit.
Swollen eyes are the worst! I hope the count goes down soon.
Oh, that would be so hard! I’m the only one with bad allergies in my family.
I bet the count is high where you live too.
Oh my, poor little guy. I have allergies in the spring also…
not fun!
It is so not fun!
Spring allergies are no fun, but it sounds like you have everything under control! I hope your little boy will grow out of the allergies.
I am so hoping he grows out of them.
Allergies stink.
“/
Amen!
Oh, that makes me so sad. I live for spring…well, and summer…and autumn…and winter too. I just love being outdoors. I don’t think I would be very likable if I had to play inside all the time.
We go to the children’s museum, bouncing places, and indoor parks just so we don’t have the wall closing in on us.
It’s so sad when I child suffers from allergy ! My little grandson has a very delicate skin and is allergic to sunshine ! He also is allergic to lactose, and can’t drink milk. But most of the allergies disappear when they are getting older.
I think allergies to sun and milk might be more challenging than ones to pollen.
Hopefully things will ease up for him as he gets older.
We do too!
Allergies hit us good too! I take Nasonex nasal spray and find that it makes a world of difference for me. Doctor advised me it’s safe to give to my girls too … ages 6 and almost 4. It has made life SO much easier for them as well.
Does JDaniel take anything for his allergies?
He takes several meds a day! They really help, but still don’t eliminate all the side effects of pollen.
I feel so sorry for him, as sports have become such a big thing for kids in school. But then again, I was on the swim team, swimming inside. And I’m sure not every boy has to belong to a sports team. Hope he’s ok in the future, as he grows up. {:-D
Recess has been a problem this year. I have let him have it, but we have to be care about making sure he washes his hands when he comes in.
I hope he outgrows this soon! My husband suffered with allergies his whole life and had horrible sinus infections. He finally had sinus surgery when he was around 30 and then had to finally break down and get allergy shots. They have been a major help to him though.
Nose spray has really helped, but I am hoping he outgrows them.
Boy you really need a lot of foresight when you care for someone with allergies. I hope he outgrows some of his allergies…
When I forget to have him do something and he ends up coughing and sneezing, it is really hard.
I just hate that… I am so glad he has a mom like you to be so cautious though…
he is lucky
He so needs to outgrow this.
Sorry JDaniel has such bad allergies. We have to stay inside at different times throughout the year because of our allergies. It is simply not fun. Good thing JDaniel has such a great mom to keep him occupied while stuck inside.
It does make you more creative when you are inside so much!
Allergy shots work wonders.
I am hoping when JDaniel retakes the allergy tests next year the doctors will find something he can take shots for.
Poor little guy! I can’t imagine having allergies to the extreme like he does. Emily and I thought we had colds but are now thinking it is allergies we are suffering from. The pollen is out with all the trees in bloom. I loved your tips on what you do from yesterday. I need to incorporate some of those in my day.
The pollen this year seems to be worse that last year or at least arriving earlier. I hope you guys get past the worst of it soon.
I feel for JDaniel, but you know he has the best mom in the world who made sure that is cared for, and taking one step ahead always to provide him comfort.
It is so hard for him.
Oh, I so understand. I hate it! I’m so allergic to so many outside things and for an adult it stinks but I push through. So for your lil man that must be awful. 🙁 I am glad you have so much fun inside stuff to do and you are always taking care to look out for the bad – albeit so natural – stuff!
I hope it clears up for both of you soon!
That’s one of the greatest things about spring, there is so much in and around spring!
We love spring! We just don’t like the pollen. I hope the counts drop soon.
So sorry! That must be awful to deal with environmental allergies like that!
It keeps us hopping!
I’m sorry JDaniel struggles so much with allergies! They can be brutal!
I do with they would just go away!
You are Such a Special woman… So often we take for granted the everyday Spring things… Glad his allergies Seem to be improving though!
Thanks for this Sweet post for the letter “S”!
A+
I am so thankful he hasn’t needed his nebulizer yet!
Sometimes we take for granted the little things like Spring. I’m going to enjoy it more & try not to complain about petty stuff knowing that I can enjoy it and not suffer from allergies like little JD. It’s so awesome though that he has a mom like you that makes sure he still has fun!
I never knew about pollen allergies until I moved to Greenville so I know what you are talking about. Poor JDaniel, I hope he doesn’t get them too bad this year.