...and sometimes you don't.

So the verdict is in...after a visit to my new friend Dr. Buchsbaum this morning, I can officially say I'm allergic to peanuts. He also said there's a good chance I'm allergic to pistachios and cashews as well. I don't even think I know what either of those things are, and I guess I won't be finding out. He said it's best for me to just avoid all three of those pesky nuts.

These results came after Mom explained everything to the doctor about my recent trip to the ER. He spent a few minutes asking questions and typing all of Mom's answers into this cool little computer. He said something about his office being "paperless." Maybe some people are allergic to paper! Who knows, but I could swear I saw some paper in that place.

Mom must have passed the test with all those questions because next thing I knew we were headed down the hall to a different room where this nice nurse asked me to take my shirt off. I thought that was awfully forward of her, especially in front of my parents. But they didn't seem to mind so I figured...why not!?! She asked me to lay down on my tummy on this little table. I was glad I brought Froggy with me...found out he makes for a very comfortable pillow.

I was confused about what was going on because then the nurse took a rubber stamp and stamped me twice on the back. Now I know I've only got four years of experience in this wacky world of ours, but this did not seem like normal medical procedure to me. Mom said that she stamped numbers on my back. If this was supposed to be some kind of educational tool, I couldn't figure out why she would put it on my back where I can't see it. And what the heck did any of this have to do with peanuts, anyway??

After the nurse put the stamp away, she came back and poked me in the back with a funny little white thing. It felt weird and tingly, like she was poking me all these different places at the same time. It didn't hurt though, so I just hung out there, laying with Froggy and showing off my muscles. I was a little insulted however, cuz the nurse said the doctor would come back to check on me and then she left. But then I realized she probably just went to tell all of the other nurses about her really cool and cute patient. Who could blame her?

When Dr. Buchsbaum came back, he talked to Mom and Dad about the results of the test and explained all the little numbers on my back. Mom said I had a few bumps, which made sense because I did feel kind of itchy. The doctor said these bumps were important because they show what things I'm allergic to. Then he gave Mom a piece of paper (must have been some kind of new "paperless paper," obviously) with all these instructions on it and some stuff about medicines. I wasn't really paying attention. That is, until the doctor told me what a great job I did and laughed when I gave myself a thumbs up. He said I certainly deserved it.

The doctor said we have to always remember, everywhere we go, to warn people about my allergies so they don't give me anything to eat with those three nuts in it. I figured a good way to start would be to broadcast it here. So while I really do appreciate your offers for Peanut M&M's or sandwiches made with cashew butter, I'm afraid I'll have to pass. Trust me, it's nothing personal. Just doctor's orders.

That's alright, I'm not too worried about missing out on the nuts. Now if it were pizza I was allergic to, that would be a whole different story.