itchy and scratchy

Well by yesterday I had finally recovered from a weekend cold that kept me from hanging out with my sweet baby and husband and from enjoying the unseasonably warm weather. The day started out well, Tim left the house on time with a full, clean, dressed and happy Henry in tow and I got on the road in enough time to stop by Starbucks on my way into work. It was already really warm by then and was going to be the warmest day of the year so far. I had a quick morning at work and was focused and efficient. I had just finished reading a creative review of the new Pepsi logo and the subject matter and warm weather left me craving a soda. I scrounged up enough cash, yes cash (1.50!) for a Cherry Coke Zero and went back to my desk. Little did I know I’d regret that overpriced soda for days. About 15 minutes later and halfway though the bottle I went into the restroom and noticed a raised bump on my cheek that looked like a bug bite. I didn’t really think anything of it and left for lunch, but on my way my left eye felt strange and I looked in the mirror to find it was swollen. Shortly after, my stomach started itching and by the time I grabbed a quick drive-though lunch and returned to work, I had hives all over my body. I took some benadryl and drowsily made my way through the rest of the day at work thinking that it was no big deal and would be gone by dinner.

Wrong. Its over 24 hours later and despite rounds and rounds of benadryl, calls to my internist and Henry’s pediatrician, an office visit, more meds and even a prescription for steroids, I’m still a blotchy, itchy mess. Hives stink.

To top it off, I feel like a rotten employee and a neglectful mother. How ridiculous is it to call in sick to work and miss an important meeting because you drank a soda? How silly do I feel that I have to use up my whole emergency milk supply because I can’t feed my baby on steroids, because of a SODA? My doctor doesn’t think my newly found allergy to Splenda is all that funny, after all your body does all sorts of weird things after being pregnant, but days of hives from a soda? really?

This feels like one big practical joke. A very itchy, scratchy, miserable joke. I just pray it doesn’t last much longer.