Garlic Update

Owen received increased increments of ketchup. It started with a jelly bean size, then a dime size, then a nickel size. There was some increased redness on his face, especially under his eyes. Then he accidentally ate 1 tablespoons of ketchup. It seemed that the redness on his face spiked at that time.

We decided to temporarily stop the garlic trial at that time. There were too many variables in the equation, and we were not positive that the redness was from the garlic. At the time, we were at the beach. Owen was exposed to sunblock, sun, and sand, which could have contributed to the redness. It seemed like his skin improved when we stopped the ketchup (even though he was still exposed to sun, sunblock, sand, etc).

Once we returned from vacation, we started eating ketchup again. I give him penny sized amounts, and he seems to be tolerating it. I gave him a dime sized piece of chicken nugget, and there was no reaction.

So we are still in the midst of a garlic trial. I am taking it extremely slow, because I want it to work so badly.

And by the way, he LOVES garlic. He want it on everything- hot dogs, hamburger, chicken, mandarin oranges, anything!

Garlic Trial

Yesterday was day 1 of our garlic trial. At lunch time I gave him a pea size drop of ketchup with his hot dog. He really like it! He asked for more, but I told him that the doctor said he can have more next time if he doesn't get itchy. He accepted that response (I love how excepting he is of his allergies).

He made sure that he ate up all the ketchup. He swirled around his hot dogs in it and used his finger to make sure he got everything.

No problems. No itching. No redness.

At dinner time I gave him a dime size of ketchup. No problems. No itching. No redness.

The following morning he woke up with a tennis ball size rash on his neck that was itchy and red. He has had eczema, but this is a new spot. I put on some ointment. And he is doing fine. I will try more ketchup at lunch.

6 Month Research Study Check Up

Owen is in an observational research study at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The doctors and nurses at JHH are amazing, and have helped us through the food allergy maze. I am so grateful to have Owen be under their medical care.

Yesterday was a 6 month check up that was done via the phone. (they give tremendous phone support). The doctor thinks that Owen increased eczema may have less to do with soy and more to do with the heat. In any case, we are only giving him 2 cups of soy milk a day.

The doctor said he does not believe Owen is growing out of the wheat allergy because of the issue he had with play doh in May. The doctor said we can start trying fish.

I asked the doctor about the likelihood of Owen growing out of his garlic allergy. Garlic is a huge pain. He can't eat ketchup, barbecue sauce, salad dressing, marinades, allergy free chicken nuggets, sausages, etc.

The doctor said that if I would like, I can give him a little bit of ketchup and see how he does. If he tolerates it, and can very slowly increase the amount over several days. The tricky thing about ketchup is the acidity of the tomatoes can cause redness and it is difficult to tell an allergy from tomato irritation.

I am going to give the ketchup a try. I am so excited!

Hive on Owen's face

Yesterday during small group, Owen got some hives, redness, and itching on his face. There was 5 kids and 1 babysitter in the basement at my house. There was no food. Owen started itching his face. I went to check on him, and I saw some hives on his face. I gave him benadryl, and the itching and hives went away in 20 minutes.

Just a Heat Rash

Caroline is fine. She woke up this morning with the same bumps she had last night. There is no way that they are hives. It must be a heat rash or something. I don't care, as long as it is not hives.

Yummy, Yummy Fly

Owen likes to read the book "Yummy, Yummy Fly." In the book, the fly eats pizza. Owen turns to me and says "I allergic to pizza. Pizza makes me sick. I don't eat pizza."

I started to cry.

Hives on Caroline's back?

Tonight I am sad. I think Caroline had hives after dinner.

Caroline has had red dots on her back before, but I just thought they were pimples. The spots are always on her back, and never anywhere else. Sometimes the spots may have been slightly raised. The dots are sporadic and there didn't seem to be a pattern, so I wasn't that worried.

But tonight, the spots looked liked hives. There was about 15 bumps. And now I am worried. I asked Doug to look at the spots, and he also felt like they looked like hives. I took some pictures.

Caroline ate sweet potatos, multigrain (wheat) cereal, and an apple wagon wheel. After dinner, I bathed her. It was in the bath that I noticed the raised red dots.

I am hoping that this is just a random event.