Going "Nuts"!

We just got back from a short visit to Papa and Gram's in Florida.  No, not bragging, because sunny Florida was not hot Florida.  And we had some added stress with the Babe.  We actually are waiting to see her allergist to test for some possibly new allergies.  I booked her appointment back in January for his first available appointment which is mid April.  The Babe loves hummus, but we suspect she may have developed an allergy to it, and possibly soy as well.  Do you see a relationship?  The two are part of the legume family.  What else is a legume?  Peanuts, green beans, and other beans.  Flying isn't easy with a food allergic child, but as long as she's not reactive to airborne foods, then its possible.  However, there is a greater risk of airborne reactions when the allergy involves peanuts.

The airline we flew actually had a drop down screen when booking tickets asking if the passenger had a peanut allergy.  We thought that meant they might be more allergy friendly/conscious because of it.  Clearly we were mistaken.  Granted, we got there safely, and got home safely.  On our outbound flight, they made an announcement at the start of the flight requesting passengers to please refrain from eating peanuts due to a passenger with severe peanut allergies.  That doesn't mean people couldn't eat them, but it was a nice request.  So on our second trip to go to the bathroom with the Babe, we passed the stewardesses sitting in the jump seats just in front of the restroom.  I looked down and saw a wrapper on the floor under one of their seats.  It was Emerald brand snacks, for peanut butter chocolate banana.  And the top portion of the wrapper was still in the lap of the stewardess, so clearly it was hers.  Ahem.  Peanuts= peanut butter. 

On our flight home they offered to make the announcement, but somehow forgot.  Didn't matter, because while they were still boarding the plane, the gentleman directly in front of us was eating a snack cracker with peanut butter in the middle, and across the aisle from him was someone with a Nutter Butter cookie.  And in flight across the aisle from us was a gentleman who was eating peanut butter M & Ms.  I don't know how anyone who has a high peanut allergy could possibly fly.  Again, we made it home just fine.  But the stress level of sitting in a locked compartment surrounded by the equivalent of loaded weapons does not make for a comfortable trip.