A few things we have discovered!

Aubree had a skin prick test again in May. She is still severly allergic to Peanuts, milk, eggs, wheat and soy. She is so strong and amazes me every day. Not a tear dopped when she had her testing done.


Kyle Dine Music---He writes songs about Food Allergies, they are geared towards kids. Aubree absolutely loves the music. You can just see in her face that she can relate to what she is hearing.  She along with her sister and brother dance and sing around the livingroom. It is priceless! Here is a link and you can listen to the songs!
http://www.kyledine.com/listen.html


Going to the grocery can be so overwhelming. I can not being to tell you the number of times I have been up and down the cereal aisle or the frozen dessert aisle. Only to be frustrated at not finding anything new and exciting that Aubree can have.
On a recent trip to Iowa we were able to discover So Delicious Dairy Free Ice cream!
http://www.sodeliciousdairyfree.com/
That little girl was so excited, I would pay that $6.50 for a small container to see the happiness in her face! Knowing what we were looking for we were able to find it in stores in our hometown as well. How in the world have I missed that?! Oh well, she enjoys it now, and that is what matters!

I thank God every day that that fiesty little girl that just happens to have life threating Food Allergies, belongs to US!

The Circus & Peanuts

Peanuts are an airborne allergen and just by breathing those in it could be very dangerous. For that very reason we are not supposed to have peanut products in our house or go places that have open peanut containers. So we cannot go to places like Texas Roadhouse where peanuts are everywhere and all over the floor.

A couple nearby towns were having a small traveling circus come.  We decided to go. It was just a large tent with a circus arena set up in the middle.  WHY oh WHY did I NOT think about the fact there may be peanuts there. It didn’t occur to me. We had gone to a much larger circus when Aubree was a baby and they had done away with peanuts because of allergies.

We were all settled in our seats and the Circus began. We had great seats. The kids were excited, laughing, having a great time.  Venders were going around selling cotton candy, popcorn, and all the toys that we cringe when we see them trying to sell. About a half hour into the show (the first show at this town) they announced that they were selling peanuts for the next 5 mins and there were prize vouchers in the bags. My heart stopped. In this hot, muggy tent they were about to be hundreds of people eating peanuts. I quickly took her out. I could not bring myself to risk it.  We tried to watch from the opening of the tent but she just could not get into it from that far away, plus it was making me nervous.  Luckily there was a nearby park so Aubree and I went there to play, while the rest of the group finished watching the circus. I explained to Aubree why we left. My AMAZING baby girl understood, and never once acted disappointed. Yet, how could a 3 year old NOT be disappointed with that?!?!?

Now I struggle with the fact that I SHOULD have known, I should have called, I could have caused her to have a bad reaction. Just sucks.  YES I believe they should have had it posted that there were going to be peanuts. But ultimately it is no one’s fault but my own. I as her mother should have checked in advance! Live and learn, but darn it. Not how I wanted today to go. It could have been worse; she could have actually had a reaction.  I am truly THANKFUL! She didn’t and I believe she didn’t because we got the heck out of there. Blah, Blah, Blah!

Preschool

Preschool…..

I am trying to decide for the Allergy factor alone if I need to go ahead and slowly start school with Aubree.  Hallie did not go to school at all until this past year. She just did PreK and it was 4 days a week. It worked out great for her. BUT I am not sure how I could handle always being in control of what Aubree eats to being away from her 4-5 days per week. She has two years before going to Kindergarten. Do I want to start 2 days a week this coming year then 3 days a week the following year?? That way we both ease our way into it. OR do I want to take these next two years and make sure she 100% understands all of her allergies and what she can eat??  I honestly am not too worried about the academic aspect of preschool. She is a bright girl and would be fine.   I don’t know. I don’t know.  I do know that I would have to be 100% Comfortable with the school/teacher before I would even consider it.  I am proud of how much Aubree understands what she is allergic to and what she can have. But she is still just 3 and looks for my direction a lot. My biggest fear is that an adult would tell her that a food is ok when it is not, and something would happen and I NOT be there! I would not handle that well.  I don't want her to feel like the "Freak" of the class and be embarassed. I don't want teachers to be annoyed at all the questions I am going to ask and how involved I am going to want to be. But this is MY baby and it is MY job to keep her safe!  I have even toyed around with the homeschooling option. There is so much to learn about life from the school setting. I guess I need to weigh my options.  I don’t know, I don’t know!!

This may sound like not a big deal to some….but it is a HUGE deal to us. My priority is to keep Aubree SAFE, happy & healthy!

food, Food, FOOD!!

Why does food have to be or talked about everywhere?

Every week at Gymnastics class while stretching they play a game, go around the room and say what they like on their ice cream or in their sandwich or pizza or whatever kind of food. I notice Aubree thinking for a second and then just blurting out a type of food similar to what the others are saying.  And me from the bleachers, I want to yell....She can't have that!  I KNOW food is fun for kids, but it makes me cringe!

We were at a local park playing and I see someone reach in their bag and get out a jar of PEANUTS and start snacking. All I can think is PEANUTS, PEANUTS, PEANUTS!!!!  Before Allergies were in our family I probably would not have given it a second thought. Heck, that could have even been ME eating the peanuts!

Signing Hallie up for Kindergarten reading through the paperwork about lunches, snacks, parties ect. The whole time I am thinking about Aubree and how this will effect her when it is her time for school..... I think everyone should bring their own lunches and  own snacks from home, eat their own food, and NOT share!! LOL....piratical, right?!?

Just a few things I think about regularly!

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!

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

A few things I took for granted....

The Holidays are full of togetherness, laughter, and FOOD!

 Before we had Aubree, I had never given it a second thought. We always made puppy chow, peanut clusters, peanut butter pie, white chocolate party mix, sugar cookies with icing, chocolate covered pretzels ect........all of that has changed! NO peanuts or peanut butter even allowed in OUR house!  Yes, there is all of that stuff all year long but it is in excess during the holidays! Aubree, being 3, wants what all of the other kids have.  Can you blame her?  I have been determined to find “special” things for Aubree to eat that she will get excited about, that are similar to what everyone else has. We have done a lot of recipe changing, and creating our own. Some have worked out great, and some not so well! We go everywhere with a lunchbox.  Is it always easy? NO.  It does take a lot of extra time and work but MY Aubree Grace is so worth it!  

Just think about all of the times you spur of the moment go out to eat because you don’t feel like cooking!  Allergies changes that all!  Restaurants are not the best place for people with multiple allergies! So I end up still having to make a meal for her and feel bad because I feel like she feels left out, even if she doesn’t give it a second thought.  So, not really the carefree evening  not cooking used to be! Another example: Just this week a family member was going to stop at a local restaurant to get take out for a Christmas gathering. We had not been there with Aubree. Usually I would just make her something but wanted to see if they had anything on the menu she could safely eat.  I looked online for their Allergy info….NONE. Called them, got transferred to THREE different people, and then I was told if I come in and ask for a manager he could print me off something. I went in there and the Manager was very nice, but really was of no help. The info he printed off for me was not intended for customers but to assist them when talking to a customer with allergies.  The print off recommended  that she not eat anything out of the fryer because of cross contamination and also nothing off the grill for the same reason, NICE….that left very little. The manager was excited to hear she was not allergic to corn, they ONLY cook it with butter. Sorry to tell you sir, butter has dairy in it! We opted to make her a meal at home that was the same as what her older sister was getting.

 I did not appreciate how easy and carefree my life was before Allergies entered it. It is a whole new world that I had never even thought about before. It is a world that usually you don’t think about unless you have to! Now, I am thankful that I have a happy, healthy little girl, that I am doing my best to keep safe!  I am thankful for all of the knowledge that I have gained through this journey and hope to share some of the knowledge with others that may need/want it!

Aubree is surprising me every day with her knowledge about her Allergies and how most of the time she is perfectly content eating “her” stuff.  I am proud of her. I know that is all she knows, but she still amazes me!