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Since February I've been dancing around a sneaking suspicion that Henry has allergies. I myself am allergic to, among other things, dust, specifically three different kinds per the skin test I endured many moons ago, so I'm not only familiar with the tell-tale signs, but I also have major sympathy for him. I, too, give the allergy salute. I, too, have constant post-nasal drip. I, too, have itchy, watery eyes. The one thing I have that he probably doesn't have yet are big purple polyps in my nose, the kind which make every doctor who dares peer up my nostrils actually pause and say "Wow. Look at that!"

His symptoms have become worse the last week or so until finally last night I decided to declare an all out war. The problem with old houses is they make dust at a break-neck pace. It's also worse upstairs in the former attic area. Add to that the fact that the only time I'm able to really get anything done around the house is when Holly is napping, means I really don't clean his (or her) room as often as I should because I don't want to wake up the young lady. Nonetheless, I've come up with a battle plan:

1. I cranked up the thermostat on our water heater and have been washing Henry's pillows, sheets, blankets, and comforter in extra hot water to kill off the dust mites.
2. Our chest freezer is currently housing a couple of Henry's favorite stuffed animals in order to freeze and kill off the dust mites.
3. I picked up some anti-allergen pillow covers at the store today. I think the mattress wrap we picked up for Henry when we were potty training him is the same company as the pillow covers, because I remember thinking "Why not just get the allergen-free one since it's also water-proof, just to be on the safe side?"
4. I'll be calling someone in to have our ducts cleaned again. We did it a few years ago, it's probably time.
5. There's a spray you can get for items, such as curtains, you're not able to wash as frequently as you would like.
6. New filters for our heat pump.
7. Air purifier for upstairs and one for downstairs.
8. Get rid of living room rug, which is impossible to really get clean without using a product that has hazardous substances (aka "bu#llsh!t cr@p" depending on your personal preference), in favor of bare wood floor.

I feel like Henry's symptoms get worse when he climbs into bed at night. Hopefully all of these things will help give him some relief.