Chapter 14: Sixth Birthday!
After Alex puts Rose to sleep, she heads downstairs and hangs out on the couch. Hey, you already put Rosie to sleep? Yeah, she was tired after her bath. It's only 7:30 though— I know but I'm trying to get her in the routine of going to bed and waking up early, she starts Kindergarten soon and I'm trying to help her.
It's the next day and Alex is making Rosalina read so she can improve, but she just can't seem to focus. Hey what's wrong sweetheart? My eyes hurt, and I can't focus— okay then let's take a break. Everything is starting to get blurry— What? It started a few weeks ago— Rosalina Russo, you know better than to keep things from me! I'm sorry mommy. Sorry, nothing young lady, you should have come to me when this first started. All right I'll take you to the eye doctor later today, okay? Okay.
Later that day the girls went to an eye doctor to see what was going on with Rosie's eyes. Hi come on in, you must be Alex— yes and this is my daughter Rosalina— hi Rosalina— Hi— Rosalina that's a nice name! Thank you. All right well go on ahead and take a seat and get comfortable. So, what are we working with? I've been teaching her how to read recently, but today she told me that her eyes were hurting and she is having trouble focusing.
And when did you start to notice her symptoms? Well, her symptoms have been happening for weeks. And you just now decided to see a doctor? Well, I only found out about them today, because someone didn't tell me! Ah, I see. All right well let's see what we're working with here. Okay, so what you're going to do is put your eyes in here and then I am going to put up some letters and numbers and we'll see if you can see them okay.
Rosie nods her head and they get started. All right first one, what letter is this? I don't know, it's too blurry— that's completely OK- next one— I can't see this one either. Hmm I'm going to move them back okay see if you can see any of them better now. A little that one's an I— good what about this one? An A good job- we're going to do some shapes now OK.
After the eye test the doctor determined that Rosie was Farsighted and would need glasses. I can make you a prescription for some glasses— that would be great, and I have one more question for you— of course— how much do glasses normally cost? Well, most glasses aren't too expensive but it all depends on where you look. Thank you so much for your help, Dr. Ryan.
Of course, just make sure to check back in around every 2 weeks or so just to keep up on progress. Oh, wait before you go, I just happen to have an extra pair of glasses, here you go. What do we say? Thank you! You are more than welcome, and Alex, make sure that when she goes home and puts on the glasses, she doesn't stain her eyes at all, and keep her away from bright things. I would suggest that she wears the glasses for a few days, just so her eyes can adjust to having them.
Again, thank you so much for all of your help. It's my job, see you girls in 2 weeks. So, how do you feel with your new glasses? Can you see better? Much better— good when we get home, I want you to sit down and rest your eyes okay! Yes mama.
The girls get home and Justin is the only one in the house. We're home! Hey Alex, now who's that cute little girl standing next to you with the glasses. It's me uncle Justin— who? Rosie see! 'Rosie takes her glasses off' Oh! 'Justin lets out a chuckle' Cool glasses— thank you. All right go sit down and rest.
Alex it's the beginning of summer, Rose's birthday is in a few days. I can't believe my little girl is going to be 6-Years-old, it feels like just yesterday I was holding her for the first time. So, are you going to be at her birthday? I wouldn't miss it. Rosie's 6th birthday rolls around and there is a lot of planning happening. Okay decorations, check. Presents, check. Cake- where's the cake? Dad! It was not me this time- ugh who's in charge of the cake? That would be Justin— why isn't he back yet.
'Door opening' Justin where is the cake? They were out— What?! What do you mean they're out? I searched every store in this part of New York nothing. Oh, Mom and Rosie are going to be back any second, what are we going to do? 'Alex Gasps' I've got it! I'll make her some brownies. That could work.
After Alex finishes making her brownies (And yes, she baked them) Rosie and Theresa come home right on time. Surprise! 'Party poppers go off' Wow! This is so cool! Thank you everyone. You're welcome, but your mom was the one who set this whole thing up. Thank you, Mama— 'Alex hugging Rosie' Oh, you're very welcome. I love you mama— I love you more Rosalina. All right, Who's ready to open some presents?! Me, me, me.
Okay first present, from Max. Wow! An mp3 player, I've been wanting one of these, thanks uncle Max. No problem. Next one from Me— Wow these are... what are these? They're Wizard Creature Cards, these cards show you every magical creature in the wizard world as well as gives you a description of them. Cool, thanks uncle Justin! You're welcome. Next present, from Harper. And its heavy. Wow aunt Harper I love it! (It's a Huge stuffed Lion) 'Rosie walks and hugs Harper' thank you so much! You're very welcome.
This one is from both Mom and Mad, sorry grandma and grandpa. Whoa! 50 dollars, this is awesome, thank you. Okay before my present, let's have some brownies. Yay brownies! Everyone eats brownies and has a nice time for a few minutes, until. 'Rosalina starts breathing strangely and Vomiting profusely. Rosie are you okay? Uh... I... I... can't... breath. Come on I'm taking you to the hospital 'Rosie passes out' Rosalina! Justin, can you carry her? Yeah, come on hurry 'Car engine starting' buckle her up.
Alex races to the hospital as fast as she can breaking some traffic laws along the way, but she finally got Rosie to the hospital. Hello miss what is the problem? My daughter she ate some brownies and now she is having trouble breathing— wait here just one second. Alex is terrified she is holding her daughter in her arms not knowing what is wrong or how to fix it. The Doctor tells Alex to follow him to the room, Alex sets Rosalina down the bed.
The Doctor injects Rose with an Epinephrine shot. What was that? Just some Epinephrine it will help her symptoms. A little time passes and Rosie wakes up. Mama? Hey I'm here, are you okay? How are you feeling? I don't know. Rosie tries to sit up and stand. Whoa! Where do you think you're going young lady? Up— yeah, that's not happening, lay down— mama... I'm fine... really. Fine really! Because I remember you vomiting, not breathing, then passing out. I'm sorry... I made you worry mama— hey I'm your mother it's my job to worry about you.
'Alex is rubbing Rosie's head when the doctor comes back in the room' Doctor what happened to her? She had an allergic reaction to some food, what was the last thing you fed her? Uh she had some brownies— I see the allergic reaction could have possibly been brought on by the chocolate, or any number of other ingredients. The most likely cause after chocolate would be wheat— wheat, why wheat? You said you made brownies, correct? Yes— well most of the ingredients that are in brownies are wheat based including flour.
Your little girl is very lucky you got here when you did, a minute later and I fear she would not have made it, you have good instincts. I'll let you get some rest— thank you Doctor— you're welcome. You... should call... everyone at home... tell them everything's... okay. I will sweetheart okay, just get some rest, I'm going to be right here, OK? Okay. Alex's phone rings while she brushes her hand through her hair. Hello— hey it's me— hey how's Rosie doing? Better. That's great! So what happened? She had an allergic reaction to the brownies.
Oh, poor girl I know what that's like, I'm so glad she's okay, I'll spread the word here and we'll all start headed down that way— thanks Justin. Of course, we'll see you soon bye— bye. 'After about 10 minutes the rest of the family gets there and Alex has to go bring them to the room. Rosie everyone is here, I have to go get them- do not try to get up you hear me? Yes mom— okay I'll be right back. 'Alex gets her family from the front and brings them to the room— Hi 'Rosie waves' I can't really see anyone.
Your glasses that's right, here you go 'Alex puts Rose's glasses back on her' 'The Doctor come's back in and wants to try something. I'd like you to try this chocolate— What? That's what put her in here in the first place, and you want to do it again. The point of this test is to find out what she had an allergic reaction to, it may or may not have been the chocolate but I need to confirm it. No! Mama it's okay, we should know, besides I'm already here if anything goes wrong.
Absolutely not! Mom please it's okay. Fine, go ahead and eat it 'Rosie takes a tiny bite of chocolate' Are you ok? I feel okay. They wait a few minutes and nothing happens. Nothing happened and I feel OK— so then what was it that caused the reaction? It's a most likely a wheat allergy 'The Doctor says' this leads us to a solution. Since its most likely a wheat allergy, I would recommend avoiding foods with wheat, that's a little easier said than done though as most food now a days contain some form of wheat.
'Would there be an easier way to avoid it? 'Justin asks the doctor.' I suppose but you would have to order most of your food from online or find some kind of alternative. Luckily there are many alternatives to wheat-based products, I can give you a list if you like? That would be wonderful, thank you— not a problem at all— here you go. This is a big help thanks— of course, and as for the food allergy I can provide you with an epinephrine pin to carry on you.
We shouldn't need to keep you the whole night, you'll only need to stay for around 4 hours but after that you can go whenever you like— Thank you, Doctor— you're welcome.