Friday, June 28, 2013

Kitchen Headache

If you don't have a child with food allergies or other food-related special needs, then you may not realize how much freedom you actually have.  We are tied to our house because of this.  There is no last minute stop to pick up a snack or a meal while out.  In addition, we are highly dependent on our appliances.  Nothing fancy, just refrigeration and cooking sources such as a stovetop or oven. 

When we bought our house, I was concerned about what if we lost power because we have an electric stovetop.  While I prefer gas in general to cook on, the other advantage is that if you lose power, you can start a burner with a match (cautiously).

Right now we are dealing with the issue of refrigeration.  The compressor in our refrigerator/freezer is not working now, and we are waiting on repair of it.  For someone without our special food issues, this isn't the worst thing in the world.  You can pick up fast food, eat bread that doesn't require refrigeration, buy meals or meal kits that require little to no work, or eat at friends or family.  We don't eat nut butters, she's allergic to fish so tuna is out, and the only safe bread requires refrigeration after opening the package.  We only eat at home with her.  Her diet mainstays include sliced turkey, hummus, and hot dogs.  Dinner usually is chicken or beef.  We live at least 30 minutes away from a store that carries kosher meat, which is why I usually buy chicken and beef to last at least a week, and store it in my freezer.  And yes, its nice to have filtered water from our fridge, but I can live without that for right now. 

We are fortunate to have a smaller refrigerator in our garage.  Its inconvenient, but better than nothing.  Meals require frequent trips in and out to get what I need.  Again, it could be worse.  A headache, yes.  We also were lucky in that we were able to save most things in our fridge and freezer, although not all, when we realized there was equipment failure.  Anyhow, just feeling frustrated that it will probably be at least another four days before we have it fixed.   Its not forever, just annoying for now.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Safe Travels

Well, we made it through another road trip to my in-laws.  Each way we drove 21+ hours over two days, with one hotel stay each way.  This required planning and panic, but in the end, things went well.  In fact, way better than anticipated. 

Some may dread a visit to relatives because of the people, but we dread it because of the allergies and asthma.  In the past few years, any visit usually involves several doses of Benadryl and Albuterol, and on one occasion a visit to the emergency room.  Thankfully that did not happen this time.  We even brought along our babysitter for an added set of eyes and hands.  We warned her of all that could happen, not exaggerating past experiences.  Again, thankfully all that warning and anticipation were for naught.  Phew!

So what extra steps did we take to be able to travel with our Allergy Babe? 
  • We took with all her medicine, including her nebulizer and extra Benadryl. 
  • We packed food, from Gluten Free pasta, soy milk, spices, etc. that would be needed over the course of our trip.  While we could shop along the way, it made it easier to have many of the items that are more unique or harder to find. 
  • I baked chocolate chip banana bread to have as a snack or for breakfast on the way down.
  • I cooked and froze meatballs for our first night on the road, so all we'd have to do was heat it up in the sauce pan and cook pasta.
  • We try to stay in newer hotels or newly remodeled hotels.  They must have a kitchen that has at least a 2 burner stove-top.  This trip we lucked out with a hotel that was open less than a month.  The advantage is the HVAC system is new or newer, and the surfaces and bedding less used, hence less possibility of allergens embedded in furnishings and carpeting.
  • We eat only foods that are safe for the Babe, so lunch on the road is usually packaged deli meat (not safe from a counter due to cross-contamination), avocado, hummus and potato chips.  Yes, we get tired of this, but it serves the purpose and can be found along the way.  I also pack fruit and sometime cut up veggies.
  • We take with a clean sheet to cover the hotel sofa for her to sit on.
  • We take the Babe's pillow with.
  • We wipe all hotel door handles, remotes, light switches, and other things that she might touch with Windex or Clorox wipes, as soon as we get in the room.
  • I carry hand soap that is safe for the Babe.  Its not pleasant to go into a restroom that has soap made with dairy protein.  Our first stop en route had that, although we suspect the container might have been refilled with some other soap.  Even so, we stick with what we know is safe.
  • At my in-laws, we run an air purifier in the room she sleeps in.
  • My in-laws wipe down their leather family room furniture, wash floors, wipe down surfaces.  My mother-in-law opts to cover tables with plastic cloths as added protection.  Its a lot of work in preparation to have us.
There were probably more things we did or watched out for along the way, but the key is to remain observant and vigilant.  We reminded the Babe to keep her hands out of her mouth and off her face.  Yes, silly faces are fun, but hives aren't.  So, while we may seem over-protective or over-cautious, we came home in one piece (mentally and physically).  There was a lot less stress this trip. 

Over the period of time we were actually with family, the Babe got to have a great visit with her great-grandparents our first afternoon in Florida.  Then, each day thereafter she spent time in the pool, played with lots of toys, and was overall entertained most of the time between playing with her grandparents and our sitter.  We also went to the aquarium one morning, where she got to see her favorite Jelly Fish.  She definitely had fun at Papa and Grams, and I think the adults did, too.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

"Chocolate Crunches"

Some kids make mud pies.  Mine makes "chocolate crunches".  Initially, you might be tempted to accept one, as I unknowingly did last night.  Tonight I now know I will refrain, thank you very much. 

The Babe likes to have chocolate chips for dessert.  I buy semi-sweet, non-dairy chips, that are an acquired taste since they're meant more for baking.  However, as she's never had milk chocolate, they're still a treat.  Anyhow, tonight she told me her "recipe" for these chocolate crunches.  You take two chocolate chips, lick the base of each one, and join them together.  Voila, a chocolate crunch.  Yeah, didn't know there was licking involved, thought they were a rare combined duo in the bag.  So, if I have any, I'll take them directly from the bag.