Stupid Genes...

In college, before I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up, I was a Microbiology major. It was super fun, and totally fueled my little quirks of germ-ophobia that I have. I took a class called Immunology. Immunology is the study of the body's response to foreign invaders, and how this process can be screwed up in the case of Autoimmune diseases. Did you know that allergies are a type of autoimmune disease? It isn't an immune deficiency, but where your body starts attacking "normal" things as well as foreign invaders. I guess maybe it's immune hyperactivity. I dunno, I only took one class. But, allergies were particularly interesting to me because I developed pretty serious allergies as a junior in high school. Pretty late by my standards. Allergies are genetic, although the particular things that you are allergic to are not. So, my dad has pretty severe allergies, therefore I had a 30-50% chance of developing allergies, but not nececesarily the same ones that he has. I am allergic to Spring tree pollen and mold. Not a good idea to take Mycology - the study of fungus and mold - when you have a mold allergy. Just a tip. Daddy also has allergies, mainly to weed pollen, probably ragweed, as that is the most common allergen. R has already developed pretty serious allergies. You're probably wondering where I'm going with this, or if I'm just giving you information to amaze your friends. Keep reading, I promise it won't be amazingly interesting, but this is good background.

My dad also has asthma. Asthma is closely linked with allergies. Most asthma attacks are due to an allergic reaction. Asthma is also genetic, same as allergies. I didn't have asthma, until two days ago. Asthma is typically set off by an allergic trigger. In my case, it is - brace yourself - chickens. I pet the chicks, breathe in their adorable chick dander and my chest closes up. I didn't realize it until later that night when I still couldnt' breathe, after taking all my allergy drugs. Once I took an antihistimine I was fine, but still. Of ALL things to trigger asthma, it is my adorable chicks.

I'm not getting rid of them, I will wear gloves and a mask before I get rid of my chickens. They are my ticket to self-sustenance on my property. How else will we get enough protein? What else is basically free entertainment?

Speaking of self-sustenance, Daddy met some neighbors at the other end of our street that have the same idea we do about growing our own food. The guy was a star basketball player in a little town near us, just a few years before Daddy played, they have kids close to R's age, and I could go on and on about how eerily similar this family is to ours (insert Twilight Zone music here). We hope to have them over for dinner soon. It will be awesome to meet some like minded people who understand our new crazy lifestyle.

For now, I have to just keep my head out of the chicken box and stay drugged up. Ahh, life with allergies.