Allergy Medical Bags

For this food allergy family, having a medical bag with us at all times is crucial. It may not have to be used that often, but it is there when we need it and gives a great sense of security to all of us, including our food allergy kiddo. There are many websites and companies that sale cute and really neat bags that are used for this. Some come in handy with how they are made which really announces that its a food allergy medical bag...which can help in an emergency. Below is some links to some of these items. For this family, our Allergy Medical Bag is a zipped lunch box with Diego on it. It is getting a little dated and I am sure our food allergy kiddo would like something more like Star Wars or Angry Birds, but it still serves it needs for safety. We have it with us at all times...or with him at all times. It goes to every sports practice, every school event, family event, family outing, and even our errands. We do this by having one that stays in the car, a school one, and then the "extra" one. When he was little, we kept one at the babysitters and all the grandparents home. Now that he is older, we just have one at the school, in the car, and the extra one to grab if he is going somewhere without our car. I highly recommend that you explore getting a food allergy medical bag together for your food allergy kiddo. It creates a great opportunity to discuss food allergies, the what ifs, the how to's, and the now what's!!!  In our bags we keep a bottle benadryl, 2 epi pen Jr's, s couple "safe snacks", band aides, moist wipes, extra food allergy medical bracelets, and an emergency card that list all food allergies and a plan of care if he is without his mommy and daddy. Very simple, but has been very helpful many times!

http://www.allergykidzware.com.au/collections/medicine-bags

http://www.labelyourstuff.com/products/allergy-alert-single-allergy-bag-tag

http://allergators.com/accessories.html

Allergy Testing

When we do our food allergy testing on our kiddo, we have always opted for doing both the blood test and the skin test. The picture below show what the skin tests results look like on our little man. The blood test just includes a small amount if blood taken from the arm and sent off for testing. We then compare the results because we have had both false negatives and false positives.

Since our little man has "grown out of " 4 of his previous good allergies, we have been told by our specialist that annual testing would be the best way to continue to explore if he has grown out of an allergy. We have just been doing this right before school starts...just an easy schedule to follow in this household.

If you ask my little man, even though he hates needles just like the next kid, he prefers the blood test I over the skin test. With the blood test, it's a quick "ouchie" prick in the arm. The skin test, on the other hand, consists of some safe allergen sample of the item you are testing for inserted slightly under the skin. This is usually on the arm or back. And, while its not painful at all, if the kiddo has an allergy to the item, it becomes extremely itchy and uncomfortable to the little one and it has to remain for some time. After the process is over its not a quick relief either. For us, he is washed off then given some benedryl, which takes time to relieve any itchy and uncomfortableness. It is most certainly a process that I would research and talk to other parents before deciding what type of testing to use with your little ones. Good luck!!

Another attempt of doing the same as his peers...priceless!

Excited to buy a tray lunch…what are the odds!

Can you imagine being so excited to just buy a “regular” school lunch?  My little man has been asking a lot this year in school to buy a school lunch. I struggle with this for several reasons. The obvious…an allergic reaction, but also we know that most times (a polite way to say it), school lunches are not the healthiest. I am crazy busy just like the rest of the mommies, but I do attempt to make healthy organic packed lunches. The problem here is also obvious if you deal with food allergies and kiddos. You try so hard to assist your little ones in having a “normal” life. You want them to have the same opportunities and experiences as their peers, but food allergies tend to really create barriers to this goal. So, kind of, but not completely out of the dark my man asked this weekend if he can start “buying”. I asked if this was something that he really wanted to do and if so I would look at the menu and see what our options were. He was overwhelmed with excitement and told anyone that would listen, that he was going to start “buying”. However, when reviewing the menu, the menu’s first day consisted of Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, roll, and fruit cup….all of which…besides the fruit cup, he was allergic to. I informed him that he could not buy on this day, but in two more days he could buy the taco lunch as long as I was able to read the ingredients. The school staff agreed that this could be done and there was a plan in place…well at least I thought so…my little man had another plan in place.

Around noon, my phone rang and it popped up that his school was calling me. Of course any time this happens my heart sinks…and I instantly think he is having an allergic reaction. His teacher was on the other line using a low, concerned voice…and she informed me that my little one went through the lunch line, got a tray lunch, and proceeded to eat a couple bites of the Salisbury steak. I said nothing at first. I was waiting to see what type of reaction he was having…hives, vomiting, red blotches, or even worse…was he struggling with his breathing. She paused then stated…”he seems fine”. I then proceeded with the “wait and watch” instructions and that should have been it, but no. I then proceeded to utilize this poor teachers time to give my…”oh, I feel so sorry for him”. I vented about how he just wants to be able to do what his peers do…even if it’s as simple as buying a tray lunch. Then I ended with, “well, I won’t cry to you anymore, I will just wait until we hang up and then cry like a baby”. Yes…this is what I said. With all these years, the many allergic reactions, the many conversations with child care providers, teachers, family, and friends…I still find myself breaking down like a little baby. But the truth is that we as parents dealing with food allergies continue to “feel sorry” for our little ones. We hate when they have to be left out, we hate that they cannot eat their classroom treats, we hate that they cannot eat the birthday, Christmas, Easter, Independence Day, etc treat. That feeling as sadness for our little ones never goes away. And, as they get older and we slowly but surely lose control of their every move…it only gets worse. The only thing that helps me deal with this is the ongoing education and advocating for food allergies and my little ones.

So, next comes the momma bear intervention plan J with talking to the school, another long educational conversation with my little determined little man, we decided on a plan that we will both follow. I will now check the ingredients for every tray lunch. The ones that he can have will be identified each week. The ones that he cannot have, an allergy friendly version will be brought to the school for them to put on a tray for him to “buy”. In my instant freaking out momma bear mind I realize that this is creating more opportunities for him to have an allergic reaction and the obvious extra work, but if you could hear my little one telling his daddy right now about how he is “buying” and the smile glued to his face right now…this is priceless!

Birthday Parties

It is always sad for me to find out that my son was not invited to a birthday party because of his food allergies. I am told it’s because of the other parents fear, but this can often enrage me to no end. I find this to be such a selfish act. While I only know of two incidents of this occurring, I wonder if there are more and hope and pray that my son will never know this or even start to understand this. However the reality is pounding me in my face as he continues to grow older and asks more and more questions. The simple solution to having a child invited to a party of any sorts is to ask questions. Call the parent. I personally do not know a single parent dealing with food allergies that would be offended, turned off, upset, or burdened if this did happen. Instead, we would welcome, encouraged, and be extremely thankful if anyone did. With that said, I have to recognize that I do get many calls, questions, and/or positive interactions with most parents, so this is reassuring.

I say this because I recently had my son’s birthday party. They are so close together, we tend to just throw one big party for the two of them. Of course, at this party, I always provide the party favors, activities, snacks, and cake/cupcakes….just as any other parent would. However, I do make my party’s allergy free for the sake of my son and to also show how simple it can be done for the ones who do attend. This year I also wanted to make it simple, easy, and accessible as well since we are in a small town. The boys had a blast and the food was a crowd pleaser!

I always do cupcakes. I do this for a few reasons: First, my son loves them and why not take an opportunity to give your food allergy kiddo their first choice when it comes to something he can actually have? Second, they are quicker to make and decorate and give easy access to varieties for all guests. So, the menu included some Pamela White cake mix and Pamela Chocolate Cake mix for cupcakes with some Pillsbury Vanilla frosting with green food dye to match the green theme. Simple, quick, delicious, and everyone loved them. I did put some chocolate chips (enjoy life brand) into the Pamela White cake mix cupcakes and everyone LOVED them!

The rest was even more simple, quick, and easy on the pocket books as well. The tables were given bowls of some organic black corn chips and Paul Newman salsa (chips and salsa is another favorite of my little man) and the kids loved this. I made a quick batch of the Pamela chocolate chip cookies (huge crowd pleaser). Then there were some bowls of fruit salad (citrus items to keep from browning including melon, cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew, pineapple, and grapes—and some added colored allergy free marshmallows). And the final items were some organic plain chips. Include some gift bags with a small toy, Cascadian farm oatmeal and raisin bar and some bubbles and it was a hit! And when it was all said and done, there was one item that could not have been purchased at a store in even our small and limited town and while I never mentioned my goal of organic and allergy free, I was given several compliments on the health factor of the snacks and how everything tasted great!

So, while planning parties, always remember that even a food allergy kiddo can join if you keep it simple and healthy!