How Accidental Allergen Ingestion Happens

Last night we had a terrifying experience and it has prompted me to come back to my neglected blog.  I just want to publish our experience and show everyone who might come across this blog how easily anaphylactic shock can happen.

If you have been following my blog for a while or know us personally our awesome almost 4 year old Austin is allergic to many foods, including peanut and egg.  Both of these allergens produce an anaphylactic reaction.  So we steer clear of these foods and are constantly hovering over every item Austin puts in his mouth.

Back to last night.  It was Halloween and the kids were really excited to go trick or treating.  They were completely adorable going house to house, lifting their pumpkin buckets and saying "trickertreat".  Yes, that is one word "trickerteat".  It was windy and a bit rainy but they had soo much fun.  Which is exactly what kids should get to do - have fun!  Immediately following the trick or treating we lined the kids up with their cousins, for some pictures to remember this experience.

Everybody look this way and say cheese!!

Let me zoom in and show you what was happening while 4 crazy parents took pictures of their kids.

Just in case you can't tell, that is a yellow peanut m&m bag in my dear son's hands.  

And then this happened

That would be Austin ripping open the yellow bag of peanut m&m's.

Moments after this picture was taken Austin had something in his mouth.  Immediately Adam and I pounced on him and literally dug the peanut m&m out of his mouth.  He ate at most one - that's it just one.  Hives showed up immediately and once he began itching at his mouth we took him straight to the hospital.  

After a shot of epinephrine, a dose of benadryl and prednisone he was back to normal.  We stayed for monitoring for a few hours before heading home.

So what is the point of this post:  1. Show in pictures how a child can eat an allergen literally right before their parents eyes.  2. To start counting my blessings and being thankful.  I was overwhelmed with my blessings as I sat in the hospital last night and recalled a friend's blog where she counted her blessings and being thankful.  With it being November I felt it appropriate to blog my blessings and thankfulness this month.  So here we go.

1.  It was just one peanut.

2.  The hospital was literally 1-2 minutes away.

3.  Modern medicine is really lifesaving.

4.  I did not have to inject him with his EPI pen.  We were able to make it to the hospital fast enough that a nurse who is much more comfortable with needles could give him the shot.

 

And the most important of the day 5.  Austin is FINE!

 

 6.  Aubrey does not struggle with food allergies.  Here she is in her costume last night.  

**Sorry for the poor quality phone photos.  I had no idea I was taking pictures of a big event in our life**

Life Gets Busy - But that is a Good Thing

As you might or might not have noticed I have neglected to blog in over a year!  Yikes!  All I can say is life with two kiddos 19 months apart gets kind of busy and some things just go by the wayside.  My poor blog did get knocked off the shelf but I am organizing and de-cluttering our home & life and want to get back into this blogging thing.

What have we been up to in the past year:
Adam, my absolutely awesome husband.  He really is just great.

Austin is 3.5 years old now and FULL OF ENERGY!  He does not stop...ever.  I am not even sure if he actually sleeps.  Austin just started playing soccer and seems to be somewhat of a natural at it.  Even if scoring a goal on the wrong field is part of his stellar skills, this mama is so proud.  Austin is still battling his food allergies of eggs, peanuts, watermelon, apples and bananas.  We are also monitoring him for asthma.  He has had a couple asthmatic episodes that we just want to keep a close eye on. 
   Due to all of his fun allergies we have decided to keep him home from preschool.  Okay that is somewhat of a lie.  The decision to keep him home wasn't entirely ours.  Apparently food allergies and an epi pen make you some sort of liability risk.  Our local preschools just didn't feel comfortable taking Austin on as a student.  At first my mama bear instinct was strong hatred for Austin being stripped of the opportunities that preschool would present him with.  But over time I am so thankful the preschools expressed they were not comfortable taking him on.  I would NEVER forgive myself if Austin had an anaphylaxis episode that could have been prevented. 
  Since Austin is staying home until Kindergarten (they have registered school nurses there prepared for kids like Austin) we have just started homeschool preschool!!  Fun Fun Fun!  We started using no curriculum, just lessons I would prepare.  Quickly I discovered that there had to be an easier way.  We just started using God's Little Explorers curriculum.  So far I really do enjoy it and so do the kids.  I am going out of order because the reading teacher in me wants Austin to learn to read sooner rather than later.  I will hopefully continue to update our homeschooling preschool here a bit more in the future.

Moving on to our little princess - Aubrey.  She is 2 years old now.  I absolutely cannot believe she is 2.  It really seems like yesterday we brought her home from the hospital.  Aubrey's favorite activities are playing baby dolls, pretend cooking, playing with my hair, and pestering her brother.  She is such a sweet girl, very loving and caring.  Except when she is frustrated, then she hits.  It happens, we are working on it.  Austin just wasn't a hitter so we are new to this form of discipline. 
  Aubrey has started mommy and me gymnastics.  It is soo much fun!  After 3 weeks she can successfully walk on the big beam with only one hand for balance, do a forward roll, do a perfect handstand on a mat and perform a flip on the bars.  Her class is pretty intense and I am amazed with what her coach has the kids do.  Even though it is mommy and me, all I get to do is follow her around and help her when she needs it.  Aubrey spends the whole class telling me "all by myself, mommy". 

In the past year lots has changed in my life.  I made the decision that it was time to dedicate my time - all of it to being a full time mom & wife.  This means we had to close the dance studios.  It was a very bittersweet decision that had to be made.  It is extremely hard to close a door on what has been your passion for the past 20 years.  I loved dance - I loved teaching dance.  But right now, my kids and husband need me.  I still love dance and hope to share my passion with Aubrey as she gets older. 

Ongoing update on Austin's Allergies

In June Austin had his semi-annual appointment with Dr. Bloomberg at St. Louis Childrens Hospital.  We just LOVE this doctor, he really has the best bedside manner and is great with kids.  As an added bonus, he sports very stylish bow ties.

Austin's latest blood rast test results were:
Eggs:  Highly allergic
Peanuts:  Mildly allergic to Undetectable
Bananas:  Undetectable
Watermelon:  Undetectable
Wheat:  Mildly allergic

These tests were taken after his December appointment.  Since December Austin has had an allergic reaction to apples, yes seriously apples.  On more than one occasion he has broke out in hives from eating this harmless (or harmful) fruit.

At the June appointment Dr. Bloomberg wanted to do some skin prick tests to see if we can safely remove some items for Austin's allergy list.  Since we know that Austin is still having hive reactions from bananas and watermelon, we didn't test those fruits.  We also didn't test wheat since it doesn't cause an anaphylaxis response.  Dr. Bloomberg decided that since Austin hasn't had a physical reaction to peanuts (meaning he has never ate peanuts and had an allergic reaction), we should skin test for peanuts.  It is possible that his blood thinks he is allergic but his body does not.  Which would mean he could safely eat peanuts!!  He also discussed with us the possibility of allowing Austin to begin eating baked eggs (cakes, brownies, etc).  Some children who have egg allergies are only reactive when the egg is in raw, uncooked form.  Other children are allergic to eggs in all forms.  So Dr. Bloomberg wanted to skin test eggs to see what his reaction was like, so we can make a decision on how to proceed.

So, Austin was "pricked" with peanuts, eggs, and apples (since it was the new one and we need a basis of measurement).  I use the term pricked loosely because contrary to popular belief, his skin is not broken during the test.  His back is touched with a probe that has been dipped in the allergic items.  And, we wait for 10-15 minutes for the test to settle. 

Results are in...positive, very positive,  and very very positive.  UGH!!! 

This appointment was an emotional roller coaster.  Before the skin test, after speaking to Dr. Bloomberg, we thought Austin might be able to start eating baked eggs and peanuts.  Removing these two items from his list of unsafe foods would be huge, his diet would explode with new flavors.  I was giddy with excitement.  After his skin test, he clearly showed apples were added to the list and peanuts and eggs (baked and raw) are not coming off the list anytime in the near future.  I was devastated and defeated.  Food allergies have won again.

It is getting increasingly difficult for us to keep Austin away from his unsafe foods.  He is beginning to understand that he doesn't get to eat what others are eating.  This is soooo hard.  This is so unfair.  He can't even eat normal fruits for a well balanced diet.

On a positive note, Dr. Bloomberg did put Austin on the list for a peanut challenge.  The waiting list is over a year long, so he placed him in hopes his skin reaction and blood numbers go down before he is called for the challenge.  The challenge will be a totally new adventure for us.  They will feed Austin peanuts in small amounts, increasing over time, in a safe controlled environment of a sterile hospital room.  I haven't heard many experiences of children as young as Austin passing the challenge, but we won't know until we try it. 

Another positive note, it is possible that all of Austin's fruit allergies are actually a pollen allergy.  We won't know for sure until he is a bit older.  Outdoor allergies are difficult to detect in young kids because they don't have enough exposure to the outdoors to truly reflect an allergy on testing.  Next summer, he will have had 2 total years of playing outside in the elements.  We might be able to gain some insight into possible outdoor allergies next summer.

So for those of you who are still reading and following along with Austin's allergic journey here is his list:
Eggs - strictly avoid
Peanuts - strictly avoid
Wheat - can have but expect an upset tummy after eating large quantities
Watermelon - strictly avoid
Bananas - avoid, can give small amounts to try to build a resistance  (for every non reaction, we have had a reaction, there is hope here)
Apples - avoid in raw form (applesauce - okay, apple slices - not)

Mama Loves: KINDERMUSIK

Today I am linking up with my friend Julia over at Pontifications of a Twin Mom.  Julia, her readers and fellow blogging moms have been sharing amazing kid toys, ideas, books, and personal experiences that have been big hits in their households.

Typically Mama Loves are done on Saturdays and today is well, Tuesday.  But better late than never. 

My current Mama Love is KINDERMUSIK. 

Being a dance studio owner I had heard of Kindermusik for a number of years.  I would receive promotional mailers that I would toss in the junk mail pile.  Shortly after Austin was born, I was eager to "socialize" him.  Kindermusik classes were a perfect fit and we enrolled when he turned 1 year old.  The classes are for the parent and child, so we were able to experience this together as mom and toddler.  We sang songs, played instruments, danced, and even made some new friends.  Austin is a free-spirited child, so the structure of class was a challenge.  Even though he was running a muck and appeared to not be paying attention at all, he was.  At home he would recall the class, read our Kindermusik book and always want to listen to his class cd.  He loved Kindermusik!  I loved Kindermusik!  Ms. Ellen (his teacher) is a wonderful educator and she always shared valuable developmental info with me and the other parents.  As a 1st time mom, I really appreciated her tips on how to boost Austin's development through play/musical activities.

Unfortunately for Austin, his little sister came along and his mama was a bit overwhelmed.  So we had to take a break from Kindermusik class.  Thankfully he didn't mind too much, we still had the cd for him to listen to all-the-time.

This past February, I decided that we loved Kindermusik soo much that I began training to become a licensed Kindermusik educator.  Since my training, Austin, Aubrey and I love Kindermusik even more than before.  Every day Austin is singing songs.  And he truly is not a big fan of music, so this is remarkable.  Typically when someone is singing around him he gets super embarrassed and flips out.  He is making huge steps in the self confidence department.  Austin and Aubrey are anxiously awaiting for their Kindermusik classes to start this Fall.  I am nervously awaiting the start of my 1st official class that I am teaching at the end of August.

So I encourage all readers who have children to check out Kindermusik and find a class in your area.  You can always try a class for Free.  You will not be disappointed.

Follow up "To Pierce or Not to Pierce"

Right after she got her ears pierced

We did it.  Earlier this Spring Aubrey got her ears pierced.  After much thought and internal debate, I came to the conclusion that it just wasn't a big deal if I got her ears pierced now.  I had completely over analyzed the decision.

My thoughts and advice on the piercing topic.  Ask your pediatrician.  Ours pierces ears in the office with the head nurse manning the gun.  Completely sterile, done by a trained adult, and all for the affordable price of $25.  When I asked what age our pediatrician recommended for ear piercing, she informed me that she sees less infections in babies and toddlers than young girls.  So we went with it.  She has tiny pearl studs that are adorable.  The actual piercing was pretty quick.  She cried, of course, I had expected her to.  But after a minute she had completely forgotten.  That night when I cleaned them for the first time, she cried again.  Since then, we have had no problems at all.

We have bought her new earrings and changed them (after waiting the allotted time).  Changing is a bit tricky with a wiggly one year old.  She has also already lost an earring, boo.  I have discovered that good secure backs are hard to find.  So for now she is wearing her pearls until I can locate some good backs that are safe for babies toddlers.

Sibling Love

One of my greatest joys is experiencing the sibling love my children have for each other.  It is truly unexplainable.  Siblings have a unique bond.  One that in one minute will have them giggling together and the next screaming at each other.  

I have 3 sisters.  Yes, 4 girls - my poor parents.  I have lots of fond memories of my sisters from my childhood.  I thought I would share my favorite memories that I have with each of my sisters.

• Toni is my oldest sister.  We are half siblings and she would stay with us during the summer.  Most of my childhood memories include her being mean to me.  I cannot recall exactly how she was mean, but I just remember she was mean.  She is quite a bit older than me so I am pretty sure my memories are skewed.  One of my earliest memories with Toni was at Ocean's of Fun water park.  And boy did we ever have fun there...  Okay so I was really little and again my memories are really fuzzy.  Come to think of it, maybe we were at Disney World.
• Amanda is my next older sister.  We are 4 years apart and could not be more different in personalities.  I lived for Barbies and she did not.  But I do remember late nights yelling to each other through our bedroom walls.  We had great conversations until one of us would get sleepy and fall asleep.
• Meleah is my baby sister.  I am 8 years older.  I clearly remember when my parents brought her home from the hospital.  My dream come true - a real live baby doll just for me.  I was a super proud big sister - and still am very proud of her.  One of my favorite memories is when we danced a duet to "Fame".  We should dig out the VHS and watch it, I am sure we would both be embarrassed by our stellar dancing abilities back then.  (Side note - we both teach dance for those who might not know)

 A picture of my sisters

I am so thankful that Austin and Aubrey have each other.  I look forward to them building memories together, as I did with my sisters.  They currently share a bedroom and seem to enjoy being room mates.  Austin is thrilled to "wake Aubrey up" after her naps.  (She is already awake, but he doesn't have to know that)  Each night before bed they give each other hugs and kisses - so sweet and precious.  I could go on and on about their relationship.  It is very special to them and to me.  I enjoy watching their relationship grow daily. 

I will leave you with some of my favorite sibling photos of my two bundles of joy.

This picture was the 1st time Austin actually held Aubrey by himself...Just ignore me helping him.

Sharing the Cozy Coupe.

This was one of the first times Austin showed interest in interacting with Aubrey without prompting.

Good morning sleepy heads!

Having a blast on a wagon ride

Having a picnic lunch in the car since it was too hot outside at the splash pad

Riding the train at the zoo

Long Time, No Blog

According to Blogger, I have been MIA since February.  I need to get back on track with my blog.  I originally started blogging to share my experiences in hopes that they would encourage and help others.  For the month of August, I am challenging myself to blog everyday.  Or maybe every other day.  Or perhaps once a week would be a good re-start.

So what have we been up to since February.  Well, I have found that with the adventures of raising a family, you have little time left for enjoyable extras, like blogging.  Being a momma of two is quite busy.  But I truly wouldn't have it any other way.

Highlights from our life:
We have embarked on and succeeded with potty training!!  More to come on this topic later
Our first ever family vacation to Chicago
Austin graduated out of speech therapy!
Austin gained a new food allergy - apples.  Seriously his allergies are laughable, I cannot make up these allergies.  Unfortunately his list of "safe" foods is becoming shorter with each allergist appointment.
Aubrey turned the big 1!  Thanks to pinterest inspiration, I was able to throw her a pretty fun party.  I am planning an entire post dedicated to her party.  I can't wait to share.

Well, I don't want to over do it on day 1 of my blog challenge.  Till tomorrow...