I got the call at work. I can't remember the date, but I'm pretty sure it was the day after No. 1's fifth birthday.

I have a pretty casual relationship with the nurse practitioner I see. I'm sure that's why he felt comfortable giving me the news at work instead of calling me into his office to drop the diabetes diagnosis bomb on me. I had been seeing Harry for several years, mainly for a host of small things and because it was pretty easy to get in to see Harry on short notice. Need to see the doctor? Can you wait two days? Need to see Harry? Can you be here in 20 minutes? Not to take anything away from his skills or anything, but I've established that I'm not a patient person. (READ MORE)

Runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, congestion.

Most people who read this set of symptoms think, "common cold" or today, "rhinovirus". But it also describes the symptoms suffered by many with seasonal or other allergies.

The general term is "histamine reaction" — and while these symptoms don't describe all histamine reactions (hives, localized swelling, and/or general bloating can also be present in a histamine reaction) — the correct diagnosis should be histamine reaction until an underlying cause (allergies, rhinovirus, influenza, etc.) is determined.

  (READ MORE)