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My "other" babies

Last week I received some horrible news.  In this case, I use the term "horrible" subjectively as this may not be as dramatic to some as it is to our family.  Here it is:  My 1-year-old is allergic to cats.  For a family where the cats are just an extension of the rest of us, this is pretty grave news.

My 1-year-old has had skin issues since he was born.  His brother had them too -- but his were milder and he's since grown out of his problems.  With my 1-year-old, we've experimented with all sorts of different foods and tests to determine what, if anything, was setting off his eczema and rashes.  First, we determined he couldn't do dairy.  So while I was still breastfeeding, I had to cut out dairy.  Once he started eating solid foods, he was restricted from cheeses and other dairy-products.  As he seemed to get better, I slowed re-introduced things. Recently, he's seemed to be able to take some dairy products in small doses.  I thought things were improving.

So at his 1-year well visit, I mentioned that his skin, although still not great, seemed to be improving a little and how I wanted to start giving him more dairy.  The pediatrician recommended that we take him into the pediatric allergist to have him "officially" tested so we could know one way or the other. 

I made the appointment, and off we went.  He was tested on a number of items, including dairy, nuts, soy and more.  They told me they would be testing him on environmental allergens such as dust mites and cats.

They did a skin test.  We waited 12 minutes and the results were in -- it appeared he was allergic to dust mites and cats.  She immediately ran a second test on his other arm -- a more accurate test, on those two.  Twelve minutes later the same report resulted -- moderate allergies to both.  When I saw those hives on his arm as a result of the test, I literally felt faint. 

We're a two-cat household.  Our cats, Zoe and Charlie, we were both rescued from shelters and have been a part of the family for nine years now.  They were my "first" babies.  So to hear that my "human baby" is allergic to them was a punch in the stomach. 

My gut reaction to the allergist was immediately, "how bad is this, because we're not getting rid of the cats."  I just can't fathom doing it.  And seeing as so far, the only thing it's causing is his skin issues, for now, our cats stay where they are.  Our allergist set us up with a "6-month-plan," as she called it.  She told me that plenty of people keep their cats, but changes have to be made.  For one thing, the cats are no longer allowed in his room.  He's no longer allowed to touch the cats.  I have to wash my hands after touching the cats before I touch him.  And I have to bathe him more frequently to wash the allergens off.

I know it won't be perfect -- and I know he'll still be exposed to dander all over the place in our house.   And we have a back-up, my parents who live in Florida would be happy to take them if the time comes that my one-year-old is getting worse with his allergies.  (To me, that would be if this allergy begins to lead to asthma, which is a possibility, according to the allergist.)

So we have six months.  I've had a split in reactions from my friends -- non-pet owners don't get why I am keeping the cats in the house with my toddler when my son has tested allergic; pet owners are more understanding.

So wish me luck.  I'm open to any tips to help reduce allergens in my house -- both the cats and the dust mites.  I'm keeping all fingers and toes crossed too that this is something he grows out of shortly.  Because although my kids will always come first, my pets are still my babies to me as well, and I hope to have a situation where they can co-exist in the same residence.  I'm hopefully not deluding myself.