Swollen knees

While celebrating New Year's Day with Dave's family, Brooklyn started complaining that her knees were hurting. I was trying to play cards and I kept telling her to shake it off! After the game had finished and the complaining continued, we checked her knees and saw that they were swollen to twice the size! I felt so bad. We called the doctor right away. Because of the holiday she knew the ER would be a terribly long wait so she instructed us to give her some Motrin, elevate the knees, and just monitor her until morning. Brooklyn was such a trooper. She could hardly walk but wanted so bad to be with us playing games.

Midway through the night, she started itching really bad. I got her up to check things out and found welts or hives on her body, especially in the area of the swelling. She fell back asleep and first thing in the morning we called the doctor. Her knees were no longer swollen but now she had hives or welts on other parts of her body. Each area would swell first and then break out in a hive. I did some reading and they said that often times it can be caused by an allergic reaction to food or medication or a bug bite. My first guess was that she was having a reaction to an antibiotic, which she had been on for a week for an ear infection. We finally made it to the doctor today, and they made the same diagnosis. They are not for sure but that is their best diagnosis. So little Brooklyn has to endure the swelling and hives for the next few days. Good thing we don't have a wedding this weekend, only the bridal show for the photobooth.

I did a lot of praying last night. It is so scary when your kids are sick and as parent we have no power to take away pain. As we were saying our bedtime prayers, Brooklyn said, "Jesus is going to heal my knees by the morning so that I can play." I just love her faith!