Food Allergy Video on YouTube

I found this video on the Food Allergy Buzz blog. The person who produced the video did an amazing job, and really helps you understand what food allergic kids go through. The story that touched me the most is the little boy with glasses who talked about what it feels like to be excluded.

Kids Living with Food Allergies Video

Update on Rashes

Yesterday was a very bad rash day for Owen. Owen woke up with some redness around his mouth, but not bad. When I picked him up from day care, his face was pretty irritated. He had redness under his eyes, around his mouth (especially near the sides) and on his cheeks. I called the doctor, and he said that he believe it is a fungal infection in Owen's diaper area that has Owen's immune system in overdrive. He prescribed Nystatin (an anti fungal) for the diaper area, hydrocortisone ointment for his face, and an antibiotic cream for around the mouth. (we have about 15 different creams on his changing table right now. I never imagined that there were so many skin creams out there.)

Owen slept horrible, waking up every hour or two.

He woke up looking much better. His diaper area really improved, and the irritation in his face decreased. When I picked him up from day care, he looked good. He had some redness under the eyes, and the sides of his mouth were a bit crusty. His diaper area continues to improve.

It is amazing how everything is tied together. That the fungal infection in his diaper area is causing a rash on the face. Thank God for good doctors and nurses who understand these connections.

Owen fell asleep really easy tonight. I am praying for a better night tonight.

Owen's Face is Red, Splotchy, and Swollen

Last night Owen's face was slightly red and splotchy. He had a hamburger for dinner. Owen's face was red enough that I decided to give him some benadryl before bed.

Today when he woke up from his nap his face was red and splotchy. It improved after 45 minutes. After dinner, his face became red, splotchy, and slight swollen. I gave him some benadryl. He did have a beef hot dog for lunch and dinner, and he had strawberries for dinner.

I also want to note that Owen has been fighting a fungal infection in his diaper area, so I don't know if that is kicking his immune system into high gear.

I love Organic Market!

I think I am so blessed to have Whole Foods only 25 minutes from my home. Whole Foods offers some great food alternatives for Owen, since his diet is quite restricted. Well, Organic Market recently opened up about 2 minutes from my home. I could practically throw a rock and hit the store. Originally, I was skeptical that they would have anything for Owen since it is a smaller store. But it is great! They have my favorite brand, Enjoy Life Foods which makes great Chocolate Chip Cookies that Owen loves. And they have a bunch of other treats, that I have never seen before in stores. I also found a bread that Owen can eat- ENER G. I gave Owen a sandwich yesterday for the first time- Sunbutter & Jelly sandwich. Owen is not fond of the bread. He licked the Sunbutter and Jelly off the bread. Hopefully he will get used to it.

Now if I could only do something about the high prices... :)

RAST Results Are In (Drum Roll)

We recently received Owen's RAST results from his 18 month check up. Unfortunately all the numbers have increased, but the doctor prepared us for that possibility. The doctor said that most allergies escalate until about 2, when they hopefully start to plateau.

After reading other people food allergy blogs, and reading about all the highs and lows on the food allergy journey, I have decided to keep a mind set that I am in this for the long haul. I am just preparing myself that he won't grow out of anything (except soy) for the next 15- 20 years. If he grows out of anything sooner, I will consider it a miracle. I have a tendency to set my expectations low, so I don't get disappointed. I do this as a coping mechanism. But I need too. It hurts too much to get my hopes up, and then be so disappointed. And not just my disappointment, but feeling the disappointment of a little boy is overwhelming.

So here are the latest and greatest numbers. Not that bad, compared to some other kids.

Milk 11.9 (was 3.26 in Jan)
Egg 8.93 (was 1.46)
Peanut 9.19 (was 6.81)
barley 21.8 (was 14.0)
wheat 60.1 (was 24.1)
sesame 10.0 (was 7.03)
garlic 7.01 (was 8.54)
pea 1.13
soy 0.56
beef 1.02 (was negative)
cashew 0.36

Owen is meant to live at the beach

We brought Owen to the beach for a long weekend. I was concerned about bringing Owen to the beach because of all the skin irritations- heat, humidity, sand, sun tan lotion, etc. It was not that hot (70's-80's) and very low humidity. Owen did amazing. Owen did so well that we didn't have to give him Claritin (which is amazing). I think it is a sign that we should sell everything, and buy a beach house. :)

Owen had a very itchy/ splotchy face day on Monday. It started when he was in the car without the air conditioning on. Doug and Owen were waiting for me, and during that time, Owen's face got all red. But it stayed splotchy throughout periods of the day. It didn't seem to be related to anything specific (like eating). I put protopic on his face, but it didn't improve. Tuesday and Wednesday his skin was back to a great condition. (Just a note, which I hope doesn't mean anything, but I didn't feed him beef on Tuesday or Wednesday)