It turns out that I am allergic to even more things than I originally thought. Yesterday, I planned to have three student sisters over for dinner. First I braved Walmart supercenter by myself, returning triumphant with lots of stuff. Next I began a concentrated program of cooking and cleaning. The menu involved home-made chicken noodle soup, sandwiches, and apple cake. I was running late, so I was working rather frantically and decided to take some short cuts.
"No need to wash these apples for the cake," I thought. "I'm just going to cut the peel off anyway."
My neighbor Heidi came in and was talking to me while I finished the cake and then moved onto sandwiches. During the work, I popped a few bites of discarded apple peel into my mouth as I went along. A few minutes later, Heidi stopped me as I was working on the boiled eggs for the egg salad. "Um, I think you're having an allergy reaction. Your neck is turning red." (Unfortunately, all my neighbors know the signs after the recent Lavender Soap incident.)
"Ok. In a few minutes, I'll take a Benadryl."
"Maybe you should take it now," she said. "I'll go get it." I obediently took the Benadryl and continued working. Unfortunately, the reaction continued as well. I ended up with a swollen neck and puffy face. My throat and mouth were swelling and hurting as well. After another Benadryl and canceling my guests' arrival, the reaction began to subside. I made my neighbors come in to eat the food while I sat there on the bed feeling silly and pitiful under my blanket.
I do have great neighbors. They ate the food, helped clean up, made my copies for the next day, and even laughed at me (wait, that was coughing!). I even received a hand and neck massage from Josie and Heidi. I missed our ladies book study, but they were thinking of me and that was so helpful.
After consideration and teamwork deduction, we decided that it must have been the unwashed apples that were the culprits. I must be allergic to whatever had been sprayed onto the peels. This morning that was confirmed when I ate some of the apple cake for breakfast. I thought there wouldn't be any pesticide on the chopped apple baked into the cake. The little bit that was there was enough to cause a reaction in the middle of my first class! I quickly took the Benadryl I carry everywhere now and wondered how my students would respond if I keeled over in the middle of their quiz. PTL that I did not, and it was an uneventful class for them. Except for that quiz.
I'm thankful that I don't have the severe food allergies of my little nephew Heath Michael, but it does confirm my sister's believe that there was a mistake and she really got my child.
