Commonality

Today was our fourth ballet class.  Thankfully, no problems.  In fact, I don't know much about what the Babe did during class because I was pleasantly engaged in conversation with the two other moms in the waiting area.  Last week we learned we all have food issues.  One's child is sensitive to some foods, another's younger child can't tolerate cow's milk.  In fact, at an earlier class I panicked when I saw him with a drippy sippy of milk, only to learn that it was almond milk.  Phew!  The other parent told me today that she purposely gave her daughter a shower before class and getting her dressed to go- just for us!  While I enter the class hoping for the best and trying to control my heart rate, I certainly walked out today a little lighter. 

Tea Time

The Babe has been asking to have a tea party, and today was the day.  I invited a few of her little friends, bought little cups, and baked desserts.  To fill our girls' afternoon, I had a few activities planned.  I'm very proud of myself.  She hasn't had too many playdates this summer, and I wanted something special.

First, I wanted to find some kind of little teacup.  I wasn't willing to invest in a miniature tea set, nor did I want to use a plastic toy set.  While shopping, we found little white ceramic espresso cups that weren't expensive.  They were perfect for little hands to hold their "tea", which was some apple juice.  I made the banana chocolate chip cake and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies to snack on.

Then came things to do, besides running around and playing with her toys.  We started off with paper dolls.  Neither mother was particularly familiar with them, and it was new to the three girls.  They loved it.  Each child had three different dolls, six different outfits, and several accessories. 

The other activity was to decorate barrettes.  I had adhesive rhinestone butterflies and colored circles that could be used.  Here are two the Babe made (with no help from me either).

None of the materials were particularly expensive.  Collectively, the mini mugs, dolls, and barrette materials didn't cost more then twenty dollars.  Granted, more than a usual playdate might cost, but hopefully each little girl walks away with a happy memory from today.

Dance Class

The Babe has now attended two dance classes.  She loves it.  Its wonderful to watch her bounce around with the other children.  Its a place where you don't see any difference, she's just a typical three year old having fun.  Its a small class, and somehow the Babe at times seems the most outspoken, although there is another little girl who clearly thrives on the attention, too.

So how are the allergies being handled?  As we drove home from her first class, the Babe requested her inhaler.  I don't think she really needed it, but after hearing that all her classmates had to wash their hands, it somehow put a thought in her head that they made her ill.  So, I gave it to her while I drove (she was able to self-medicate), and she was fine.  The second class I was a little calmer for, but kept a close eye on her.  An occasional yawn, but nothing else, until she was walking out of the class.  She was rubbing her right eye, and sure enough, a few bumps or hives were visible just under her eye.  We went into the bathroom where I wet a paper towel to put on her eye.  Then, in the car, I offered her Benadryl, but she declined.  I decided to drive home while watching her in the mirror.  Nothing worsened, and by the time we made it home, the bumps had mostly faded.  We washed up again in the bathroom, and applied a wet towel.  I tried to give her some Benadryl, but after only a sip, she didn't want any more.  Since the hives were fading, I didn't push.  I stripped her of her dance gear, and we went up to her room to change.  She then played in the sink with a washcloth, slapping it to her face and getting water all over.  After that, whatever caused her eye to itch and the hives to pop were clearly taken care of and she was fine.

So am I going to run away and hide?  No, we're going to try again.  She needs this class.  She needs something to do with other kids in a safe environment.  I will need to remind the parents about hand washing, but realize nothing will be perfect.  Hopefully, no more issues, but if there are, I'll do my best to be prepared.

Oh Baby!

My daughter has been talking about wanting a baby brother for a few months now.  After a recent episode of Dora that involved Dora's new twin baby brother and sister, the Babe's upped the ante to her having two new babies.  We had a friend over for dinner recently who had never met the Babe before (he lives out of state), and while she entertained him with nonstop chatter, she also told him about the "babies".   I made sure he knew this wasn't happening.  Nope, not pregnant and not planning on getting pregnant.  If I look a little bit bigger, lack of exercise and an excess of potato chips are the cause, nothing more.  So while she gets just about anything she wants (within reason), at this time there will be no baby brother.

Let's Dance

Who would think a bird striking my windshield as I was driving would actually calm me down?!  O.k., sorry to you animal lovers, I have no idea what condition the bird was in after this incident. 

The Babe and I were en route to her very first ballet class.  She was super excited, and I was trying to control my stress level worrying about potential hazards.  We were about half-way there when two birds tried to fly across the road from the opposite lane at the same moment my car reached their elevation point.  One safely passed by, the other struck the top of my windshield, and after that, I have no idea where it went.  My windshield survived, the Babe thought it was funny, and my blood pressure dropped a little (yes, atypical reactions). 

Once we got to the dance school my blood pressure again ricocheted up, and stayed elevated until class was over.  However, the facility is a newer building, everyone there is First Aid and CPR certified, and her class wasn't too large.  The Babe had a lot of fun.  The cutest thing was towards the end of class they did a freeze-dance, and the Babe was wiggling and shaking her tushy.  All the parents watching laughed.  Afterwards, her teacher requested that all the parents wash their kids hands before class due to one of the student's severe food allergies (she didn't even point out which child, although everyone knew based on my response).  We came home, and all the Babe wanted to do was stay in her brand new ballet shoes, but alas, those must be kept only for class.  I'm going to take this one week at a time.  So far, so good.

Going Bananas?

There are several shows the Babe likes to watch, including "The Fresh Beat Band".  They have one song that always starts with them saying they're "going bananas!".  So when we had family over the other day, the Babe said to someone that they were making her go bananas.  It was funny, and they wondered where she picked up that saying.  As if you had to ask...t.v., of course!

Speaking of bananas (nice segue, right?!), I have a new recipe for banana cake that is fairly easy.  I enjoyed both the texture and flavor, so here it is.  One of the combinations of ingredients was because I ran out of baking soda.  Its wonderful what information you can find on the internet, especially if it saves me from an emergency grocery store run!

Banana Cake
2/3 C Sugar
1/3 C Canola oil
3/4 C Sorghum flour
3/4 C Potato starch
1/2 C Tapioca flour
1 tsp Xanthan gum
1/2 tsp baking soda + 1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2-3 mashed ripe bananas
Semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease an 8 x 8 baking pan.
2. In a bowl, combine the sorghum, potato starch, tapioca flour, xanthan gum, 1/4 tsp baking soda, and salt.
3. Mash the bananas on a separate plate.
4. In a large bowl, cream the sugar and oil with a hand mixer for about 2-3 minutes.
5. In a small cup, mix the 1/2 tsp baking soda and lemon juice (it will fizz).
6. Slowly add to the sugar mix about 1/4 of the dry mix, then 1/4 of the bananas, and mix.  Add in the baking soda/lemon mixture.  Then continue to alternate mixing in the dry ingredients and banana until completely mixed in.
7. Add in about 1/3-1/2 cup chocolate chips.  Then spread out batter into pan.
8. Bake 45-50 minutes until top is golden.

Prescription Warnings

Food allergies are on the rise, but the knowledge base isn't entirely keeping up with the problem.  I have learned more from other Moms than I have from a nutritionist or allergist. 

Every time the Babe requires a new prescription, I ask about cross-reactions.  Her last major illness had my husband picking up her prescriptions.  We were prescribed a new big regimen for her asthma after the illness cleared up, but as her asthma had improved we held off on the plan.  I am very glad we did. 

While we filled the prescription, the pharmacy clearly did not catch the fact that one of the drugs is not to be used by those with milk protein allergies.  And yes, it is in the pharmacy's system, a national database, that she has a milk allergy.  How did I find out about this issue?  Through an allergy group on Facebook in a random discussion.  When I went to the website for that specific drug, the second paragraph of warnings clearly states: "Do not use XXXX if you have severe allergy to milk proteins".  I will be going to the pharmacy later to discuss this with them.  I'm very upset by this, and so want to lash out, but will try to do my best to remain polite. 

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!  Today we have no agenda.  The Babe is decked out in red, white, and blue; stars and stripes.  That may be the extent of our recognition of the day, although we might take a ride tonight to see local fireworks.  None of us handle heat particularly well, and the area temperature right now is showing 102 degrees. 

A little while ago I was looking back at some of my earlier posts.  I was reminded inadvertently how much I like cooler weather, particularly when I read the posts that mentioned blizzards, baking bread, and homemade soups.  They stirred something...a desire for cooler weather.  I prefer to dress in jeans and sweaters, not shorts and t-shirts.  Then again, the joys of summer include juicy watermelon and fresh corn on the cob.  The Babe has been enjoying the sprinkler- even when she wasn't supposed to go in.  She tells us seriously that "the sprinkler is sneaky".  Yeah, somehow it makes her run right into it.  So, I'll try not to rush the summer.  

Our Allerversary

Today is our Allerversary.  Three years today our world changed.  Three years of learning and watching.  Since her first diagnosis, the Babe is no longer allergic to rice, but is allergic to fish.  Her asthma has worsened, her eczema has improved.  While other children her age may recognize the "golden arches" for McDonald's, she can identify the W representing a Walgreens. (Then again, she also recognizes the sign for Pick and Save, a local grocery store.)  She thankfully continues to grow at a good rate, with the chubby cheeks to prove I'm doing my job.  She is strong-willed and bright, spoiled and loving, funny and curious.  My gorgeous little girl keeps us on our toes (and also keeps us somewhat sleep deprived).  She is social, saying hi to anyone she sees, but socially isolated by her allergies.  In the next year, she will have more testing.  Hopefully she will also have more fun with others, exposed to more people and things, with less reactions.  As each year passes, it brings us closer and further from a solution.  That is the conundrum of living with food allergies.  But today, in our home, we are reminded of what we almost lost, what we continue to adapt to, and how far we've come.