Travel Adventures

As I mentioned yesterday, we just got back from a trip to Papa and Gram's.  We opted to drive this time, since our last trip was extremely stressful due to flying.  There is no really good option...risk a reaction in the air because we can't control what others eat on board, or spend up to three days driving and staying in hotels en route. 

So how'd we do it?  With lots of planning.  At every hotel, once we unloaded the car, we wiped all the light switches, doorknobs, handles and remotes with Clorox wipes.  We packed a clean sheet to put over the couch, so the Babe would come into limited contact with her allergens.  We also stayed in hotels that had stovetops so I could cook.  Yes, vacation still means I have to cook.  I packed paper plates, bowls, and silverware to make it easier. 

No, it did not mean we didn't have to give her inhaler everywhere, but we didn't have to give her Benadryl.  We're finding that her asthma kicks in when we travel, especially in the south.  We only used her nebulizer once at her grandparents, but her inhaler was needed before bed every night, and during the day on occasion.  As for Benadryl, well, we made it almost a week away without needing it.  She had an asthma attack in the middle of our second night at her grandparents (didn't give the inhaler that night because she seemed fine- my mistake).  Tried to give her Benadryl when she complained of an itchy throat and had a higher pitched cry.  That went away soon after the inhaler kicked in, so it really was just her asthma. 

When did we need the Benadryl?  We had a two-Benadryl day later that week.  As I mentioned yesterday, there was the foot in mouth incident one night.  Earlier that same day, we had made the 4 hour drive from her grandparents to see her great-grandparents in south Florida.  When we walked in the door, her great-grandmother was thrilled to see her, and smothered her in kisses.  So, I wasn't particularly shocked when I saw a big red patch on the Babe's upper cheek and hives popping minutes later.  Four hours of driving, five minutes in their home, and out came the Benadryl.  I didn't see that she had lipstick on (blends with her lipcolor), but she did have some on, and obviously that was all it took.  Not a shocker, and there was no way I was going to say "don't kiss the Babe" after you haven't seen her in ages.  However, maybe next time we'll direct her to kiss the top of the Babe's head.  Anyhow, the Benadryl did the trick, we kept our stay to a short period of time (the sad aspect of these allergies), and then turned around for another long drive. 

How was our trip?  Going along just fine until Tropical Storm Debby decided to visit.  We had a few days of hot, dry weather that allowed for time in the pool, a visit to the aquarium, and a dance class.  Then it rained, and rained, and rained some more.  So, as much as we enjoy being at Papa and Gram's, when it was time to drive home, we were ready.  And now the Babe is already asking when we're going back.

You put your foot where?!

Who knew I'd have to tell my 3 1/2 year old to keep her feet out of her mouth...not once, not twice, but repeatedly.  We just got back from a visit at Papa and Gram's house in Florida.  My mother-in-law keeps a very clean house, and before we came, she washed the floors, wiped down surfaces including the leather couches, and did as much as she could think of to ready the house for the Allergy Babe.  So, no, this is not an issue of uncleanliness.  This is just a fact of life with our Allergy Babe that you need to expect the unexpected.

I know I need to work with the Babe to stop touching her face so much, but I didn't think her feet were an issue.  My little monkey couldn't keep her hands off her feet one evening at Papa and Grams, and was in general playing with them.  We suspect she even popped them in her mouth.  Why this suspicion?  Because I glanced over at her one moment and was surprised to see the bottom half of her lip was starting to swell.  I looked back two minutes later and it had ballooned.  I immediately went for ice, while my husband told me to get the Benadryl.  Benadryl for a fat lip?  I figured she banged it or bit it.  No, she put her foot in her mouth and caused a contact reaction from who knows what she stepped in.  She denied the foot in her mouth until the next morning, but between the ice and Benadryl, her lip was back to normal by the next day.  Never a dull moment with her!

I'd Rather You Didn't Wash Your Hands...(situation specific)

We survived another trip to the dentist.  No, its not a slam against our dentist.  She's a very nice, gentle pediatric dentist who is very patient.  Its more due to being in a different environment, hoping there's no risk of coming in contact with an allergen.  It should be low in their office, since most people don't eat at their dentists.  However, last time we were there they had handsoap with milk protein.  Red flag alert.  When they called to confirm our appointment yesterday, I reminded them she has food allergies, and please refrain from any soaps with milk protein.  As soon as we got to the office, the Babe had to go potty (of course didn't have to go when we left our house fifteen minutes prior to the visit).  In their restroom, the soap was again the one with milk protein.  Argh!  I was tempted to cancel our appointment on the spot, but thought that I should give it a chance.  I went to the receptionist and tried to tell her in a nice way again about the food allergies, and request that whoever buys there soap to stop buying that one.  She told me it was her, and she buys whatever is on sale.  She immediately apologized.  I made sure anyone who cared for the Babe knew not to use the soap which was at every sink in their office (I tried not to imagine the little milk particles on every surface in the office).

If you don't live with a food allergy, it probably wouldn't cross your mind not to buy that soap.  However, I have to be an advocate for my little one.  And she's not alone.  One in thirteen children are estimated to have food allergies.  Food allergies...not just to nuts, which is what everyone assumes when they hear food allergies.  Food allergies encompasses anything edible, from the top eight (wheat, eggs, dairy, fish, corn, soy, peanut, tree nuts), to cinnamon and chicken.  The foods are numerable, and someone can have one or more food allergies (sadly, some are allergic to more than fifty).  The number of allergic children is on the rise.  Awareness is growing (as is antagonism). 

In this particular case, they will fix the problem, and clearly felt bad about it.  It was not my goal to make her feel bad, just alert her to my concern.  For now, I have to listen to that voice in my head when put in such situations- do I speak up or be quiet?  I choose to speak up.  If I don't inform or educate others, who will?

My Little Negotiator

This  morning, after little sleep last night courtesy of the Babe waking me up frequently, I was extremely cranky and tired.  Last night we had told the Babe no t.v. for today due to something (I can't even remember now).  Anyhow, I stuck to that because cranky leads to mean on my behalf, so I had no trouble sticking to the punishment.  Anyhow, after an hour or two, which included cooperation with cleaning up her toys, and some other things, the Babe asked for three coins.  I sent her to her father to ask again.  He gave her an option- she could either  have coins or t.v.  She responded she would take both.  He told her that was not an option, it was one or the other.  She said she would take coins first, and then t.v.  Again, one or the other.  Then, he told her she could have one coin and t.v.  She responded three coins and t.v.  No backing down on her part.  The final deal was two coins and t.v.  Yes, we are pushovers, but she is a hard negotiator.  We may have a future lawyer in the family.

Dirty Money

I know money isn't clean, but now I feel like my wallet is full of a live grenade.  I went to our local neighborhood bank to pay a bill and take out some cash via the drive-through.  The teller usually recognizes me and is very nice.  When she sees the Babe in the backseat, she'll usually offer stickers or a lollipop.  I always decline the lollipop.  Today, when she completed what she had to, she asked if there was anything else I needed.  I asked, "stickers, please.", since the Babe was asking for them in the backseat.  When the drive-through container came back, it looked all squashed together.  Why?  Because wrapped around the bank envelope that contained some cash, my i.d., and the stickers, was a package of Otis Spelunker cookies.  I didn't want to even touch it, and was tempted to return the cash and ask for new.  However, how crazy would that be?  Either way, it was already tainted.  I tenderly removed the bank envelope and returned the cookies, nicely letting the teller know they were there and that we couldn't have them due to allergies.  I fibbed to the Babe about not receiving any stickers.  When we got home, I went inside to wash my hands before I touched the Babe's carseat buckle.  Now my day feels ruined, and I'm tempted to completely wipe down everything in my wallet and car just because someone thought they were being nice.  Please, no food unless you offer first and its accepted.  As in the zoo, do not feed the animals.  There are many reasons beyond food allergies, but in this case, your kindness really can kill.

* To clarify, the packet of cookies were fresh baked in a parchment paper type packaging, not the kind that are completely sealed from a manufacturer.