Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Education is key

I am proud of my baby girl. Allergies are a part of our daily life. Aubree being the middle of our three kids, allergens are constantly present. If your kids are like mine, they can get of from eating a great meal and ask for a snack! She is always so aware of the foods that she can and can't have. We make a little game of quizzing her with different foods to see if she knows what she can have. We have tried very hard to make her undertand that eating a food she is allergic to is dangerous. I have overheard her cousins trying to give her food that she is allergic to before and she simply says, NO, I'm allergic. It makes my heart swell with pride! For a 3 year old she sure is quite educated on food ;)

Sometimes I think I am more bothered/upset with her feeling different that what she is. This is all that she knows, and she is used to it! Me bringing "her special" cupcakes to a birthday party, wedding or shower is perfectly normal to her. Tagging along a lunchbox everywhere we go is normal!  SHE is a normal little girl that we just have to take extra special care of.

Aubree can have her "special kind" of Christmas cookie and icing too!


Thinking about sending her off to school in a couple years is nothing but terrifying to me! I need to start preparing her (and ME) now!  I have always been with her, watching like a hawk (and sometimes feeling like I have eyes in the back of my head) to keep her safe. How will I possibly be comfortable sending her off to school?!?  Her older sister, Hallie, is in PreK now. Hearing of all the snacks and activites they do with food amazes me. HOW could this possibly workwith Aubree? I have NO idea. We have time, and everything always works out! I am praying now....

We have this book : Food Allergies and Me: A Children's Book  By: Juniper Skinner

 http://www.amazon.com/Food-Allergies-Me-Childrens-Book/dp/1456413287/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1326821599&sr=8-7

We love it! Aubree can really relate to the little boy. I think it is a great teaching tool!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Grocery Shopping

The Grocery store…..way different than before! Now, I need to focus! Making sure to have plenty of Aubree friendly foods! What does that mean? Reading labels. There are so many ways that a single allergen could be listed. Just as an example Aubree is allergic to milk, so if Casein is listed she could not have it.  I wonder if others see me reading labels in the store and think I’m just another Health nut!?! Oh boy, do I wish! Instead I am diligently reading labels to protect my baby!  Luckily, there has been a law passed and the top 10 allergens must have a separate warning that is in bold. That does make things a little easier, but I still need to read.  Things also can change each time, so I have to read each and every time I buy that box of cereal, bag of marshmallows, package of lunchmeat, ect. 
Allergies on the rise companies are scared. They have to save their rear ends, lots and lots of foods have a “may contain traces of…” OR “also processes peanuts, wheat, ect” OR “shared equipment with other allergens”  In that case, I really need to steer clear to be on the safe side. That usually means that I am buying the more expensive brands a lot. And that gets expensive, especially the Gluten free things.   That bag of frozen peas and carrots that I have been buying forever now says: May contain traces of milk, soy and peanuts. So, have they really changed the way they make them? Ugh, so many things to consider! But if I chance it and try it anyway, could that be the time there really were traces in the food. And that is all it takes, a trace!  
Have you ever thought about the fact that the slicer at the deli that just sliced the Turkey Breast (that was perfectly safe) had just sliced cheese?!? I have to think about little things like that, ALL.THE.TIME….it is her life! The added struggle now is that with
I can’t just throw a carton of ice cream in the cart and keep going.  Now I think, My Aubree can’t have ice cream, do I REALLY want to get this? If I do decide to go ahead with the ice cream, (which is rare) I need to get something that she can have when we are eating ice cream.  Philly Swirl brand (purple box) is a peanut/tree nut and Gluten Free plant. They have these little cups of popsicle like stuff that you eat with a wooden spoon. She LOVES them and that works for us!  
There have been many of times I have left the grocery store so discouraged and frustrated, wanting to kick and scream!    Needless to say, I love to go to the store alone! ;)
 Again I say, I am thankful that my baby girl is here on Earth with me and that she is thriving! I am a very lucky Mommy to have her and I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe, ALWAYS!

New special treat I made today: Simple, yet fun! :)
Chocolate covered Marshmallows
Aubree safe Marshmallows (free of milk, soy, wheat, peanuts, eggs, apples &green beans!)
Enjoy Life Brand chocolate chips
Splash of Canola oil
Pour some chocolate chips in microwave safe bowl and little bit of Canola oil, mix. Microwave for  1 min and stir until smooth. Coat the marshmallows in the chocolate. Then put them in the freezer to make the chocolate harden.
She loved them, and so did her brother and sister! J