Riddle Without an Answer

It gets better. I know that. I’ve been told that. I’ve read that. But right now, we’re trying to solve a riddle with no answer at the back of a puzzle book. Over the past month, the Allergy Babe has had an increase in her eczema, worse diapers, and is more difficult at meals. She now refuses to eat foods that she would a month ago, or chews a mouthful and then spit it out.

Today we saw her pediatrician, who recommended we cut out soy for 7-10 days, and see if her symptoms improve. If we have to add soy to the list of allergens, that means extreme limits on any baked goods and other menu options. Soy milk is a milk substitute, and margarine, our butter substitute, is also usually soy based. I’ll have to invest in palm fruit oil to bake with, which is about double or triple the price of butter. In addition, the greatest source of calcium in her diet comes from soy milk. This means even more research and creativity in the kitchen.

Up until now, I’ve tried to remain positive and treat this as an adventure. However, if the list continues to grow, we worry that she will not outgrow her allergies. Despite this worry, some reports indicate that up until the age of two there may be an increase of allergies before they start to lessen. So, while it is very frustrating to be coping with a picky eater with major food limitations due to allergies, we just have to keep pushing past this. Hopefully the latest riddle gets solved, fast, and we can continue to move forward.