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.