A first for the two year old!

It sounds like the niece is a very precious gift! Not only will you learn much from her, but she will go on to teach others around her....those who are smart enough to listen! I would be in big trouble with being allergic to mangoes as I absolutely adore that fruit. I had never tried it until around 2002, and one sample and I was hooked big time! If I lived in the area that they were grown I would be under the tree covered in mango gunk happily gobbling down more! I had similar problems with foods when I was a child. I couldn't eat strawberries, chocolate, eggs, cherries, apples and many other foods. We never knew what food would make me sick so it was trial and error. Then we also had the problem of my being allergic one time and not the next. I also was the same way about getting sick, and unfortunately that didn't stop when I grew up. The other thing my parents NEVER noticed was the problem with my legs. My knees were twisted which made running and walking very painful and difficult. The one thing I can say for all the problems I had and still have is that it has made me a stronger person inside. Hopefully as the niece grows up more her system will improve even more and she won't have the severe illnesses and will be able to eat foods she loves. I will say that I don't know too many children who like sour foods...especially something with vinegar on or in it. She truly is special! Give her an extra hug or two from me.

My sister was tested for food allergies, but I wasn't. We didn't learn about my food allergies until I was 22 and had been out of college for almost a year! I'd bet that being sick from food allergies had something to do with my not getting great grades, just average one.

You just gave me more food for thought. We discovered through the discovery of my myocardial bridge that I have more allergies. I am still going through the discovery process. I had a horrible day today because I ate some food that affected the bridge. I was very close to going to the ER...except that they have no idea what a Myocardial Bridge is. I was hallucinating which bothers me enormously, and strange thoughts were passing through my mind. Fortunately noting violent, and I highly doubt that there would be anything violent, but it was kind of spacy random thoughts that come from past events. Plus I thought I connected with a site that gave me the opportunity to speak to some of my favorite teddy bear artists. The other thing is that even though we thought that the bridge was dormant until last year, it probably was affecting me my whole life...and that's why I wasn't any good at sports because I didn't have the proper oxygen flow to my heart to make me able to keep up with the rest of the class. There were several times that I remember nearly passing out from the exertion. And there are other mysteries solved...by your discussion. Thank you Sherlock!

The 5 year old is great! Even at 3 1/2, like the first time he stayed, he was great. He goes to bed, you have him lay still and quiet and **BAM** he goes to sleep! The niece is a whole other ball of wax!

My previous comment is what happens when one does not read all comments prior to answering.

My daughter was more difficult to get to sleep than her brother. I remember lying down with her and forcifully holding her still. Once I got her still, she would go to sleep.

Well, I'm kind of a "sort of" aunt to these kids. My niece, the only child of my brother, and the only child on this side of the family is older than the little's parents, but she's doing what they weren't doing - taking birth control. She's also not married yet, but we all like her boyfriend... tats and all.

Happily, they are more of the roomie's problem. I help where I can, but I'm more of a back up to the roomie, she's the one who gets to wake up when the 2 year old cries.

I woke up worn out. Both mornings I was the first up. Saturday was just a good wake up at 7:30, but Sunday... I woke up enough to have Taillight knead on me and stick her nails in my side (actually around the under arm!) Then, I decided I needed to go to the bathroom and discovered the BRATS, well, one of them anyway, had peed on my shoes! Annoying, but this is why I DON'T take off my shoes in the part of the house they can get to! These are plastic flip flops so I could easily wash them off, but really annoying! That was closer to 5:30 after having a not so good night. I took a LONG nap today to make up for it. I am NOT someone you want to be around if I'm tired! But I just shooed the roommate off to bed about 8 because she didn't get much sleep at all and was dozing off in her chair!