McDonald's Chicken Nuggets and Fries?!?!?!

Someone gave Owen McDonald's chicken nuggets (and removed the breading) and fries. The chicken nuggets have wheat, and the fries have milk and wheat. And Praise God, he had no reaction!!! Not even a hive!!! I can hardly believe it!!!!!

I emailed the doctor to ask him if we can try the McDonald's food again (this is very risky, and I would not have agreed to this). What a blessing it would be to be able to eat at McDonald's. I would not have to pack a lunch every time we are on the road. I am truly beyond excited!

And in other news, our bottle of Benadryl expires this month. I've had epi pens expire, but never a bottle of Benadryl. We went through large Costco sized bottles of Benadryl in the past. I can't believe we didn't finish a normal sized bottle. Owen has improved so much this past 6 months, and I am so excited to see him get better.

What a day!!!!!!!!

PF Chang's- My FAVORITE Restaurant

The thought of bringing Owen to a restaurant was completely off my radar. I would never trust some random chef to prepare my son a meal.

Tonight I went to PF Chang's with a girlfriend. The waitress' first question was if either of us had food allergies. I immediately thanked her, since I appreciate their attentiveness to this issue. The waitress proceeded to tell me about the special services they offer. I gave her a list of all of Owen's allergies, and she told me that she would print me out an Owen friendly menu. I was so excited to find out the results!

A few minutes later, the manager came to my table. Apologetically, he gave me the menu, and said that all he could offer was rice and steamed vegetables. I asked him about their preparation methods, to see if the staff truly understood the attentiveness it takes to make Owen a meal (you need to use a clean/uncontaminated surface, grill, utensils, etc.) I was very impressed. PF Chang's totally gets it!

I profusely thanked the manager. Even though the manager doesn't think steamed vegetables and rice was that great, it is tremendous that Owen could go to a restaurant, order from the menu (even if it is only one option) and know that he can get a safe meal. I'm so excited to bring Owen to this restaurant. I wish more places understood food allergies, like PF Chang's.

Ice Cream Cone! Bad Chinese Food

Owen had his first ice cream cone tonight!!! I am so grateful for Whole Foods for selling dairy-free ice cream, and gluten-free cones. So they lie about their organic foods. They gave my son the gift of enjoying ice cream the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

Owen refilled his cone 5 times, and then he was disappointed when the cone... broke. I explained to him that he is suppose to eat the cone. I love these basic life lessons.

I also love friends who make their birthday party Owen friendly. The kids table was filled with only Owen friendly food. I'm so blessed to have supportive friends.

We haven't ordered Chinese food in a long time. We ordered Kung Pao Chicken, and it was filled with nuts. I was so upset that I let nuts into my house. I could feel my stress level go from completely calm, to very stressed. I washed down the counters, chairs, and table. I washed my hands and mouth. We immediately threw away the packaging and took the garbage out of the house. Live and learn. In the end, things went perfectly fine.

Owen played with play doh this morning for 45 minutes, and he didn't have any reaction. Praise God!

"I don't really like Ice cream."

Today Owen and I were food shopping. I found some chocolate soy ice cream, and he was excited. A little bit later, we walked by chocolate soy milk. He begged to buy some. I told him he had to choose between the chocolate soy milk or the ice cream. Owen said "I want chocolate soy milk. I don't really like cream." The comment made me sad. Who doesn't love ice cream? I'm sad that soy ice cream is not as good as the real thing.

In the end, he has the healthiest diet in the world! I refer to his diet as the Daniel diet (from the book of Daniel in the Bible). I am so glad that Owen doesn't complain. I can't wait until he is older, and he can express his thoughts and feelings more. I wonder what is going inside his cute, little head.

Join Us For The Food Allergy Walk on October 2nd!

Please join us again as we walk for a food allergy cure. Please support Team Cress as we complete a 2 mile walk. There is no cost of join the team. Even if you can't make the walk, you can show your support by being a virtual walker (also free!)

Date: Saturday, October 2, 2010
Time: Check-in begins at 9:00 a.m.; Walk begins at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Meadowbrook Park, 5001 Meadowbrook Lane, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Distance: 2 miles

There is a great, big park and a moon bounce. And after the walk, join us at our house for chili bread bowls!

Join us by registering here:
http://www.foodallergywalk.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Home

1. Click "Sign Me Up."
2. Click "Maryland-Baltimore"
3. Click "Join A Team"
4. For Team Name, type in "Team Cress" and click "Search for a Team".
5. Click on "Team Cress"
6. Scroll down, and in the box that lists the team members names, click "Join Team".










More than 12 million Americans have a food allergy. That’s one in 25, or 4% of the population. Between 1997 and 2007, the prevalence of food allergies among children increased 18%, to reach 3 million U.S. children. Food allergies result in more than 300,000 ambulatory- care visits among children in the U.S. annually. Eight foods account for 90% of all food- allergic reactions in the U.S.: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (e.g., walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans), wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish. Owen is allergic to all of these items, except for fish and shell fish.
There is no cure for food allergy; strict avoidance of the food allergen is the only way to prevent a reaction.

Allergic Reaction- Good Reminder

I dropped Owen and Caroline at the neighbor's house, while I ran an errand. Owen and Caroline had a great time playing with the kids. When I picked Owen up, he was itching his face. When I got him in the car, I realized he had some hives on his face, and he was sneezing large amounts of snot. It was clear he was having an allergic reaction. Since it was the morning, I didn't want to give him Benadryl. I decided to give him Claritin instead, and he eventually improved. He didn't eat anything, so I don't know if it was an accidental food exposure or if it was an environmental allergy.

This reaction is a timely reminder to me of what a new environment can do to Owen. I am blessed to have a daily, steady routine.

Play Doh Experiment

Owen played with play doh when he was 2 years old, and broke out in hives. In the past year, Owen did a pasta craft and held a piece of bread while feeding a duck. With these 2 successes, I wanted to try play doh again.

On Thursday, Owen played with play doh for 1 hour without any problems. I was so excited. On Friday, Owen played with play doh for about 45 minutes without any problem. On Saturday, Owen played with play doh for 2 hours. Most of the time was unsupervised because we had a guy giving us a window replacement estimate. After 2 hours, his eyes started getting itchy, red, and swollen. I washed him up, and avoided giving him Benadryl, just to see if he can improve without intervention. But about 1 hour later, it was nap time, and he had hives on his arms and legs, and was uncomfortable, so I gave him Benadryl.

It was very frustrating to see him have a reaction. After Thursday's success, I thought we a breakthrough. I guess it is good news that it took 2 hours to have a reaction. Ugh.

Pasta Craft A Success

I love Ms. Cheryl, my kid's day care provider. I don't know how we started talking about it, but Ms. Cheryl told me about a craft where the kids paint pasta, and then thread the noodles on the string. Well I don't know how I came to this conclusion, especially after last months asthma attack, but in the end, I decided to let Owen participate in a pasta craft.

The next day, Cheryl did the craft with the kids, and Owen did great! There was no redness, itching, or hives. Although that night, we went to a party, and after the party he did have a runny nose, itching, and a dry cough. I gave him Benadryl, Singular, and Albuterol, and he cleared right up. It could have been from the person's dogs or Owen was playing by a storm drain and maybe could have had mold.

The next day, Owen put the pasta on a thread, and he didn't have any troubles.

I am so grateful for Cheryl, and her willingness to even try this craft with Owen. I am so grateful for her vigilance in monitoring him. She gives Owen such a great care. I was a bit worried about this activity, but I am so confident in the care Cheryl provides, that I didn't stress out. People like Cheryl are impossible to find. We are so so so blessed!

And just for the record, Owen's bald spot is gone. The bald spot appeared in July '09, and it disappeared around February '10.

Pre Boarding Request for Food Allergy Kids

Below is a note I sent to Southwest Airlines regarding a flight we will taking this summer...

Southwest Airline,

Owen Cress has an allergy to peanuts. Owen has a history to respiratory distress when there is allergen in the air. In other words, he doesn't need to touch or eat a peanut to react. If there is allergens in the air, he can have trouble breathing.

I attended a food allergy conference in March 2010, and they said it is ideal to pre board, so that you can wipe down the area, and make sure there are no nuts in the area that was left over from another flight. I called SWA customer service to see if I can pre board the flight, but they denied my request.

Allowing my family to pre board will improve our flight experience because it will allow us to make sure we have done everything necessary to give Owen a safe trip. This will decrease our stress. Allowing my family to pre board does not cost SWA anything, and will greatly improve our flight experience, and reduces the risk to the airline for an emergency landing.

We love Southwest Airlines. We are grateful that it will provide a peanut free flight. But I plead with the airline to allow families with significant allergies to pre board. Please consider updating your policy to keep families safe.

Very Respectfully,

Joanna Cress
Food Allergy Mom and Advocate Of A Fabulous 3 Year Old Boy

Asthma

Owen had his first asthma attack. :(

Owen had minor, irregular wheezes this week. Tree season has been unprecedented, and it has been getting the best of him. Last night, Owen suddenly had wheezing and coughing. We removed him from the environment and gave him benadryl. He was able to settle down enough to fall asleep. He woke up at 4 am coughing and wheezing.

We visited Dr. Banks, and he said he thinks it was because of an inhilation of a scone mix that included pine nuts. Dr. Banks stated that Owen is extremely sensitive to his allergens because of the tree pollen. He recommended Owen take Singular and Albuterol each night for the rest of the spring. He is hoping that Owen will improve once the allergy season improves.

I Get So Emotional

Nothing strikes my nerves like food allergies. I easily get moved to tears when...
- I arrive at church, and the children's program tells me about an activity that Owen can't do because of his allergies
- When I receive bad RAST scores
- Listening to Owen talk about his food allergies, and explain that certain foods make him sick
- Watching Owen look at food that he knows he can't touch
- When I give Owen a birthday cupcake and he doesn't want it
- When I can't find the ingredients I need for a recipe
- When I finally find the ingredients I need for a recipe
- When I get to the cash register and I realize how much those special ingredients cost (not really :)

I am so grateful that Owen has never needed an epi pen. I am so grateful for Owen's flexible personality, and how he constantly rolls with the punches. I am so grateful for my faith in a sovereign God who has all things in his control. He knows the tears I have cried, and he promises to work all things for good (Rom 8:28)

I Found A Yummy Cake for Owen!!!

I am writing this post with great joy! All Owen wanted for his birthday was cake. And no matter how hard I try, I could not deliver ... until now.

I found the Whole Foods Allergy Cookbook at my library. It promised a chocolate layer cake that everyone would enjoy. It said that you won't even realize it is missing butter, wheat, and eggs. I didn't believe it.

But, despite my pessimistic attitude, I gave it a try... and it was awesome!!! Owen loves his "chocolate birthday cake." He asks for cake after breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and I give him a slice each time. I am just so happy that he enjoys the cake. And Doug (who is a tough cake critic) likes it too.

I am so grateful for my library for having the book available. I am so thankful for the Organic Market for carrying all the uncommon ingredients that I could not find at my grocery store.

http://www.amazon.com/Whole-Foods-Allergy-Cookbook-Homestyle/dp/1890612456

RAST Results

These are not the numbers I was praying for. I continue to trust God. I know God is in charge, and he always gives me what I need. I don't know why that includes allergies, but I trust his plan.

Milk 77.08 (was 20.52 in 01/09, 11.9 in 07/08 and 3.26 in 01/08)

Egg 21.73 (was 11.7, 8.93, 1.46)

Peanut 22.87 (was 13.32, 9.19, 6.81)

Almond 0.35

Hazelnut 5.16

Pecan 11.1

Cashew 10.3

Pistachio 9.36

Sesame 15.6 (was 15.8)

Garlic 8.21 (was 10.7)

White bean 1.75

Lentil 1.14 (was 2.12)

Chick pea 0.5 (was 0.92)

Barley 29.2 (was 43.3)

Wheat 68.8 (was 86.2)

Negative:

Crab

Shrimp

After talking with Dr. Wood's office, they said I could try crabs & shrimp since Owen is 3 years old. I don't think I will. If I do, and he becomes allergic, then I will blame myself. I will wait until Owen is interested in crabs, and then we will try.

Phone Call From the Babysitter

When I gave Owen a bath tonight, he had some red bumps (hives?) on this chest. His right eye was slightly swollen. His right cheek has also been irritated for 4 days. I gave Owen benadryl before I left for the night. Owen played in the basement 30 minutes, and then it was time for bed. As the babysitter was getting ready for bed, she noticed that the redness on Owen face was getting worse. My babysitter called me because she was getting concerned.

I asked my neighbor, Diane, to stop by the house and evaluate the situation. Diane reassured me that Owen was improving with Benadryl.

I love my babysitter. She did such a great job evaluating the situation, and called me when she became concerned. That is all I can ever ask for!! And I am so grateful for my neighbor, Diane, who does a great job caring for Owen.

Breaking My Heart

The great news is that we went to our third birthday in a row, and Owen did not break out in hives!!! There was lots of people and lots of food, but Owen had clean skin the whole time.

As Doug put Owen down to sleep, he said "I don't feel good." Doug asked why, and Owen's response was "I have alleriges, and I can't have cake." :( I did bring a cupcake, but it was not very good, and he certainly sees that it is different from the other kids. I am proud that he doesn't complain at all during the party.

Ugh. Hopefully we will get some good RAST results, and get some hope.

Allergist Appointment- 3 year visit

What a morning! Owen was such a trooper at the allergist this morning. It was a 2 hour appointment with exams from 2 nurses, 1 doctor (Dr. Woods at Johns Hopkins is the best!!!), 15 skin tests, and a blood test. He was so brave. I thank God for helping Owen through this doctor's appointment. I know many people were praying for him.

The doctor was very happy that Owen does not have asthma. At his 2 year appointment, the doctor told me there was a 100% chance that Owen would get asthma. He was extremely pleased that Owen did not develop asthma this year, and he said now there is only a 50% chance of him developing asthma. Apparently, having asthma is like adding lighter fluid when you have an allergic reation.

Owen's skin tests results were not good. His response to egg, milk, and peanut were off the charts. Wheat was bad. And his reaction to indoor allergens (like dust on carpets) was pretty bad. Nurse Kim (who is an amazing nurse) recommended I get a mat for him to play on, instead of letting him play on the carpet. She said it is bad when he is laying on his belly with his face so close to the carpet. She also told me to pick up covers for his mattresses and box spring.

I will get the RAST test results in 2 weeks. I can hardly wait!!!!

I am so grateful that Owen has gone a whole year without any accidental ingestion exposures to his allergens. With all his allergies, he hasn't eaten any of it!!! He has had contact exposures, but those reactions are nothing compared to an ingestion of an allergen.

It was a great day! He is still very allergic, but we got encouraging news. Woo hoo!