We just had the Babe tested for several foods based on recent concerns that she may have developed some new allergies. Ok, recent being over three months ago, but that's how long a wait we had to see the allergist. She loves hummus, but we have not had any since January due to an odd cough she started having. We also began questioning soy again, as well as a few other foods that she hasn't even had. Fortunately, the results were all negative. As the allergist said, this means she is 95-98% likely to not be allergic to those foods. We have to actually food challenge her at home to confirm. Today, much to the Babe's delight, she had hummus again.
One of the foods we tested at the allergist's was peaches, which raised the question as to other stone fruit. As such, they tested several other fruits, and included almonds in the mix. She's tested negative before to almonds, but we haven't ever fed her any. Same for tree nuts. My husband and I were discussing this, and I mentioned that I'd prefer to keep our home nut free in case we were ever to have a guest with peanut allergies. The smallest residue could be hazardous, and while I may keep a clean house, I'd be afraid for that one. He indicated that we should remain completely nut free. So, our house will continue to be peanut and nut free. While I will not buy actual nut products, I have bought some items made in a facility with tree nuts, but only if its something that gets heated through in baking. Specifically, the flax seed I buy is manufactured in a facility with tree nuts. As such, I will have to be vigilant should we have a guest with such allergies. Although a hazard, it is a much smaller hazard and should hopefully be one that is easier to control. In the meantime, if I have an urge to get nutty, I'll get my fix elsewhere (as I already do for that, and all her other allergens).
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
Being Aware
How aware are you of your environment when you are out shopping? This isn't about public safety, and watching your purse. This is about noticing little details that could add up to a different kind of danger, at least in our household.
Its amazing how many people eat where they work, or prefer scented products better meant for the home then the office. When I was in college, I worked in a hospital as a receptionist for a medical department. I opted not to wear perfumes, because if you were sick, I felt you didn't want to be overcome by any cloying perfume that you might not like or might be allergic to. At one of our ER visits with the Babe, the triage nurse was eating food at her desk while working with us, and the foods were one's the Babe is allergic to. I wanted to scream at her, but kept my mouth shut. Fortunately nothing happened from that, but I know better now.
In more recent months, I've had to be more assertive while out shopping. About a month ago, I had gone to a local general store to see what they had. Someone I know had talked up the store and I was curious. This was a business that has been in the town we live for decades, and sold general merchandise befitting a general store from fifty years ago (selling notions and household goods). I figured it would be too tempting for the Babe (as in grabbing everything in sight), so I found a time when I could go by myself. What I didn't expect was to see a small popcorn machine in the center of the store. I noticed it the minute I walked in, but then ignored it while I walked around. I found a little puzzle/sticker toy for the Babe, and that was my only purchase. When I got to the front of the store to buy it, the sales clerk walked away from what she was doing to ring me up. Suddenly I was internally debating what to do, because said sales clerk looked like she was just servicing the popcorn machine. Would it be rude to ask? Well, my child's safety usurps rude. She was in fact restocking it and did have her hands in it. I explained why I asked, and she offered to wash her hands. We worked it out so that she didn't have to touch anything since I paid with exact cash, and opted not to have a bag or receipt. When I got home, I unwrapped the outer wrapping on the item and washed my hands, figuring whoever stocked the item on the shelf may have handled other items. I walked away from that store with a dirty feeling, so I won't be returning. But I know I did the right thing by asking.
Another instance was at the grocery store. I got in a line that had a new cashier, and I was her first customer. Before she did anything, she grabbed her bottle of hand lotion (strawberry scented), and proceeded to grease up her hands. Well, I immediately went on alert, because at the time we weren't sure if the Babe was allergic to strawberries, and who knows what else may have been in that lotion. Since I was getting one item, the clerk was nice enough to let me scan it myself. I used a credit card, bagged the item myself, and skipped the receipt. Yes, I sound completely paranoid. However, I cannot risk the Babe coming into contact with even the smallest amount of her allergens. So, I must remain vigilant. My husband got to experience this with me last weekend while grocery shopping. The person ahead of us had a bag of pet food break open and spill some product along the bagging area. The cashier didn't do anything, leaving the mess there as she was about to ring us up. We requested, nicely, that she clean up the pet food. She grabbed her bottle of cleaner and paper towels and took care of it without comment. Had she not, I don't know what we would have done. I cringed at the thought of our groceries touching what I knew was unsafe for us, and then transferring it onto our kitchen shelves and fridge. Fortunately, it got taken care of without fuss.
While initially worrying about being rude or insulting, we're doing what we need to protect our child. In each instance, the people we dealt with didn't make a fuss or big deal about it. We were polite in our requests, which probably helped. In the end, I can always walk away from the purchase or store. However, with minor adjustments, remaining polite and pleasant, most people will cooperate. They may not understand or get it, but that isn't what I need to accomplish during my minute interaction with them. So, while it would be easier to flip through a magazine while waiting in a grocery store line, I opt to see what's happening in front of me. In part, I'm just nosy, but also, I don't want any surprises when I get home.
Its amazing how many people eat where they work, or prefer scented products better meant for the home then the office. When I was in college, I worked in a hospital as a receptionist for a medical department. I opted not to wear perfumes, because if you were sick, I felt you didn't want to be overcome by any cloying perfume that you might not like or might be allergic to. At one of our ER visits with the Babe, the triage nurse was eating food at her desk while working with us, and the foods were one's the Babe is allergic to. I wanted to scream at her, but kept my mouth shut. Fortunately nothing happened from that, but I know better now.
In more recent months, I've had to be more assertive while out shopping. About a month ago, I had gone to a local general store to see what they had. Someone I know had talked up the store and I was curious. This was a business that has been in the town we live for decades, and sold general merchandise befitting a general store from fifty years ago (selling notions and household goods). I figured it would be too tempting for the Babe (as in grabbing everything in sight), so I found a time when I could go by myself. What I didn't expect was to see a small popcorn machine in the center of the store. I noticed it the minute I walked in, but then ignored it while I walked around. I found a little puzzle/sticker toy for the Babe, and that was my only purchase. When I got to the front of the store to buy it, the sales clerk walked away from what she was doing to ring me up. Suddenly I was internally debating what to do, because said sales clerk looked like she was just servicing the popcorn machine. Would it be rude to ask? Well, my child's safety usurps rude. She was in fact restocking it and did have her hands in it. I explained why I asked, and she offered to wash her hands. We worked it out so that she didn't have to touch anything since I paid with exact cash, and opted not to have a bag or receipt. When I got home, I unwrapped the outer wrapping on the item and washed my hands, figuring whoever stocked the item on the shelf may have handled other items. I walked away from that store with a dirty feeling, so I won't be returning. But I know I did the right thing by asking.
Another instance was at the grocery store. I got in a line that had a new cashier, and I was her first customer. Before she did anything, she grabbed her bottle of hand lotion (strawberry scented), and proceeded to grease up her hands. Well, I immediately went on alert, because at the time we weren't sure if the Babe was allergic to strawberries, and who knows what else may have been in that lotion. Since I was getting one item, the clerk was nice enough to let me scan it myself. I used a credit card, bagged the item myself, and skipped the receipt. Yes, I sound completely paranoid. However, I cannot risk the Babe coming into contact with even the smallest amount of her allergens. So, I must remain vigilant. My husband got to experience this with me last weekend while grocery shopping. The person ahead of us had a bag of pet food break open and spill some product along the bagging area. The cashier didn't do anything, leaving the mess there as she was about to ring us up. We requested, nicely, that she clean up the pet food. She grabbed her bottle of cleaner and paper towels and took care of it without comment. Had she not, I don't know what we would have done. I cringed at the thought of our groceries touching what I knew was unsafe for us, and then transferring it onto our kitchen shelves and fridge. Fortunately, it got taken care of without fuss.
While initially worrying about being rude or insulting, we're doing what we need to protect our child. In each instance, the people we dealt with didn't make a fuss or big deal about it. We were polite in our requests, which probably helped. In the end, I can always walk away from the purchase or store. However, with minor adjustments, remaining polite and pleasant, most people will cooperate. They may not understand or get it, but that isn't what I need to accomplish during my minute interaction with them. So, while it would be easier to flip through a magazine while waiting in a grocery store line, I opt to see what's happening in front of me. In part, I'm just nosy, but also, I don't want any surprises when I get home.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Just the Three of Us
Passover is almost here, once again. During the Passover Seder, four questions are asked, including, “Why is this night different from all other nights?” In our allergy house, every night is different. Well, not to our little one who hasn’t experienced otherwise. The way we live is normal to her because she knows not what she misses (except from what she sees on children’s television programming).
There are many traditional foods for Passover. I love them all, yet most are dangerous to the Babe. Being allergic to wheat, eggs, dairy, fish, and coconut excludes many of the traditional foods like: Matza, hard boiled eggs, gefilte fish, and macaroons. Without matza or eggs, there are no matza balls. And not the traditional harosets of apples, raisins and walnuts since she tested allergic to apples recently and we avoid all nuts. We will eat, we won’t starve, but it won’t be like it once was.
The Seder is supposed to be filled with noise, song, family and friends. For us, it will just be the three of us. While we were going to be alone the first night, our guests for the second night cancelled due to the Babe’s most recent illness. So when you wonder what its like to live with food allergies, besides being stressful, its also very isolating. My daughter is very social, would love to play and talk to just about anyone and everyone. She’s precocious, bright, very verbal, and very cute. And she’s lonely. She asks for her friends and family, but they all have things to do, like school, or living a distance away. And while our schedule is clear, and gas money isn’t an issue, we cannot go to them. It is just us. So this year, an added answer to why the night of the Seder is different, it will be because it will just be the three of us. We have had two years living with allergies to adjust to that concept. It is just the three of us.
There are many traditional foods for Passover. I love them all, yet most are dangerous to the Babe. Being allergic to wheat, eggs, dairy, fish, and coconut excludes many of the traditional foods like: Matza, hard boiled eggs, gefilte fish, and macaroons. Without matza or eggs, there are no matza balls. And not the traditional harosets of apples, raisins and walnuts since she tested allergic to apples recently and we avoid all nuts. We will eat, we won’t starve, but it won’t be like it once was.
The Seder is supposed to be filled with noise, song, family and friends. For us, it will just be the three of us. While we were going to be alone the first night, our guests for the second night cancelled due to the Babe’s most recent illness. So when you wonder what its like to live with food allergies, besides being stressful, its also very isolating. My daughter is very social, would love to play and talk to just about anyone and everyone. She’s precocious, bright, very verbal, and very cute. And she’s lonely. She asks for her friends and family, but they all have things to do, like school, or living a distance away. And while our schedule is clear, and gas money isn’t an issue, we cannot go to them. It is just us. So this year, an added answer to why the night of the Seder is different, it will be because it will just be the three of us. We have had two years living with allergies to adjust to that concept. It is just the three of us.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
To Con, Coerce and Cajole
How to Con, Coerce, and Cajole. That sounds like it should be the title of a book were I to write one now. After another series of medical issues including allergy, asthma, and illness, all at once, its been a challenge to get the Babe to take medicine. The first "incident" had us debating whether she had an allergic reaction or was sick. Two days later we took her to her pediatrician when she seemed to be getting sicker, whereupon her doctor diagnosed both an allergic reaction and asthma attack. Now we have a nebulizer at home. When that wasn't fully resolving her breathing issues, we took her to the ER that same night, only to find out she also has a virus. The medication regime her physician started is the same, but we are still trying to get the Babe to take an oral steroid that apparently is horrible to taste, in addition to using the nebulizer.
While in the pediatrician's office, she had her first nebulizer treatment of the day. It took the Babe's father, myself, and a very nice nurse to get her to have her treatment in the office. So, how did we get her to take it at home? It came with a cute fishy mask, and somehow, with stickers and enough distraction, she participated. By her second round, she was even willing to hold the mask up to her face by herself.
That is one hurdle currently tackled. Next came the steroid. Even cut with apple juice, she still can taste the medication. So, I tried to come up with a drinking song appropriate for a three-year-old (not that I know any inappropriate drinking songs). Then came counting...a television program...and assorted bribes. She had about one-third of her dose during the course of a half hour program, but still has a lot more to take. More bribes to come.
And lastly, despite spending the majority of our hospital visit crying to go home, she did have a few gems. My proudest was when the young radiology tech came to get her, he asked if she could spell her last name. She was able to spell her first and last name for him. While she wasn't in the best of moods or feeling very well, she could still tell stories to the triage nurses and let everyone know exactly what she wanted and what she most definitely did not want. Today, while still recovering, she is very happy, even dancing on occasion to music on t.v. Eventually things may go back to normal...whatever that is.
While in the pediatrician's office, she had her first nebulizer treatment of the day. It took the Babe's father, myself, and a very nice nurse to get her to have her treatment in the office. So, how did we get her to take it at home? It came with a cute fishy mask, and somehow, with stickers and enough distraction, she participated. By her second round, she was even willing to hold the mask up to her face by herself.
That is one hurdle currently tackled. Next came the steroid. Even cut with apple juice, she still can taste the medication. So, I tried to come up with a drinking song appropriate for a three-year-old (not that I know any inappropriate drinking songs). Then came counting...a television program...and assorted bribes. She had about one-third of her dose during the course of a half hour program, but still has a lot more to take. More bribes to come.
And lastly, despite spending the majority of our hospital visit crying to go home, she did have a few gems. My proudest was when the young radiology tech came to get her, he asked if she could spell her last name. She was able to spell her first and last name for him. While she wasn't in the best of moods or feeling very well, she could still tell stories to the triage nurses and let everyone know exactly what she wanted and what she most definitely did not want. Today, while still recovering, she is very happy, even dancing on occasion to music on t.v. Eventually things may go back to normal...whatever that is.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Vitamin C
Today the Babe is sick. She has a runny, drippy nose, and has gone through a significant amount of Kleenex. As a result, I have chicken soup cooking in the crockpot for dinner. We are staying indoors most of the day. Well, we did go out for a little bit because the Babe got a brand new bicycle yesterday. It is purple, her favorite color, and she has a blue, pink and heart decorated helmet. My child does not shy away from color or patterns.
As it is very cold out today, we couldn't stay outside too long. I needed something to tempt her away from her new bicycle. Oranges! How do you distract a three year old from a bicycle with oranges? We made fresh orange juice. Not only was it an activity, but it got some much needed vitamin C into her system. We used a citrus juicer that rests over a cup, and manually twisted and squeezed out juice. It was fun and delicious. Now, time to snuggle on the couch with more Kleenex and juice.
As it is very cold out today, we couldn't stay outside too long. I needed something to tempt her away from her new bicycle. Oranges! How do you distract a three year old from a bicycle with oranges? We made fresh orange juice. Not only was it an activity, but it got some much needed vitamin C into her system. We used a citrus juicer that rests over a cup, and manually twisted and squeezed out juice. It was fun and delicious. Now, time to snuggle on the couch with more Kleenex and juice.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
My Little Apple
The Babe is a bossy little thing. She does not grasp that adults are not meant to be told what to do by a three year old. She on occasion even has the stance with a hand on one hip and the other hip jutted out.
We have been having some gorgeous, unseasonably warm spring days here, which means more outdoor play. The other day an older gentleman passed by our home while taking a walk. Our street does not have sidewalks, so he was walking along the curb. The Babe immediately said how he shouldn’t be walking on the street. Luckily, it wasn’t shouted at him (the Babe is not shy, and has no issue shouting hello to people a half a block away). I informed the Babe that, one, without sidewalks that is the only place to walk. Two, he was being careful. And most importantly, three, he is an adult, and can make these decisions. Children do not direct adults, adults direct children. I suspect this will be our new mantra. She needs to learn this lesson, and it will probably take a while for it to set in. While we may laugh and think it’s cute now, it will mean trouble in the future if not addressed now.
For anyone who knows me, they are probably laughing because this problem would of course develop in my child. Why? Because I was a know-it-all (yes, I probably still am), and either asked really embarrassing questions without realizing it (can we say “precocious”?), or told people how things should be done. Sounds very familiar right now. Guess the apple really doesn’t fall very far from the tree.
We have been having some gorgeous, unseasonably warm spring days here, which means more outdoor play. The other day an older gentleman passed by our home while taking a walk. Our street does not have sidewalks, so he was walking along the curb. The Babe immediately said how he shouldn’t be walking on the street. Luckily, it wasn’t shouted at him (the Babe is not shy, and has no issue shouting hello to people a half a block away). I informed the Babe that, one, without sidewalks that is the only place to walk. Two, he was being careful. And most importantly, three, he is an adult, and can make these decisions. Children do not direct adults, adults direct children. I suspect this will be our new mantra. She needs to learn this lesson, and it will probably take a while for it to set in. While we may laugh and think it’s cute now, it will mean trouble in the future if not addressed now.
For anyone who knows me, they are probably laughing because this problem would of course develop in my child. Why? Because I was a know-it-all (yes, I probably still am), and either asked really embarrassing questions without realizing it (can we say “precocious”?), or told people how things should be done. Sounds very familiar right now. Guess the apple really doesn’t fall very far from the tree.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Who's That?
The Babe really likes to play with other people. She is not big on playing by herself. She’s an only child. This means Mommy is always called for, even if she’s doing something that could be done alone. She recently got a new toy- a very cool cash register that seems to have all the bells and whistles. Well, no whistles, but a movable conveyor belt and calculator. I don’t mind going to the store, but I really don’t want to play shop all day long. So after the first hour of having this toy, I suggested she play with Sasha. No, not her real life friend Sasha. Her imaginary friend Sasha (name the Babe picked). If she’s going to claim to have an imaginary friend, I’m going to take advantage of it. Sure enough the Babe went with it, and played nicely. Amazing how there are no fights for toys or who goes first when played with an imaginary friend. While I’d like her to play more with real friends (sadly, they’re all in school or living in other states), I’ll take the break provided by “Sasha”.
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