Little guy might have a new allergy

So this last week has been a bit tough on my little guy and myself. I had to rush him to the night time doctors and it was determined he had an allergic reaction, but not from dairy because he doesn't eat dairy, so the doctors have told me to go back to the allergist and get more test done.

It all started after dinner we removed his diaper and gave him a bath with his big sister(2.5 years and 17 months) he was fine dried him off and got him into a night time diaper and pjs. A few minutes later he started to cry and he had pooped himself, so my mom who was with me the whole time goes to change his diaper she then calls for me slightly panicked and told me something was not alright. my little guys rump was bright red, had lumps and white marks all over him. We quickly got him cleaned up a new diaper, I grabbed the diaper bag, his epi pens and ran to the doctors.

The first thing they did was check his oxygen levels to make sure he wasn't in any a serious medical state. When it was determined he was alright we were able to be slower and more medical with him.

Long story short, though it is already slightly long, he has a new allergy appointment next week and will be tested for bananas, red, yellow, and wheat.

Dinner impossible?

It has been 11 days since I have last posted, from the kids being sick to me going back to work it has been really crazy here. Today I am just going to talk about what happened yesterday and if the kids allow me to later today I will post past recipes that were a success and some that were more misses with the kids but me and the husband enjoyed.

Yesterday was Sunday. I had plans to actually go out with some other moms for lunch, the kids were staying with my husband since it was leaving during nap/quiet time I thought everything would be alright. My mom said she was going to make dinner since after my "play date" I was taking the kids to lil 500 which is a local go kart track that has a set up for little kids to ride with their parents and they wont crowd the track when they are young.

My mom has made this dish since I was a little kid and everyone in my family including my husband loves it. It is called Turkey Loaf found at Walmart in the freezer isle. Well my daughter hates turkey but my mom was like why not try it, plus I didn't have to cook so i was happy. When my mom brought it over I did a quick glance at the ingredients, something that seems like 2nd nature now that I have been doing it for almost 4 months. Right there in BOLD letters were the 2 words I dread seeing Contains Milk. So now everyone is sitting down to dinner and I have no food for my boy. Luckily, my mom also made DF mashed potatoes and had cranberry sauce which my kids love. So, while my little guy was eating cranberry sauce I quickly heated up some DF waffles that were previously made and frozen in my freezer. Crisis diverted, I was just so happy I looked at the ingredients.

ALWAYS CHECK WHAT IS IN YOUR FOOD EVERY TIME!

4th of July Extravaganza

Hope everyone had a good 4th of July. If you are like me it can be a time of stress and uncertainty for your food allergy little one(s). Every year we go to the city's fireworks show at the local park. This was my son's first year going and we were really on guard with everything, mostly cause you have to be. He couldn't go into the bounce house with his sister because other little kids had ice cream all over their faces or were eating pizza or popcorn and we couldn't chance the cross contamination. We did let him sit at the door and get bounced, he love it. We made sure he didn't get touched by random people as well, and he had his medical alert dog tag on at all times outside his clothes while we were anywhere near people. We also had plenty of wipes and sanitizer with us.

I packed the kids safe food as well. I made them veggie pasta and we also had grapes, sliced apples with peanut butter, and marshmallow peeps ( DAIRY FREE). As for me and my husband and my parents we did what we always did, bought subs from a local shop and bought fresh squeezed lemonade at the park. Good Times.

The best part of the night of course the fireworks. My little guy did great for his first time, we did have a few issues with the really bright fireworks but that is due to his light sensitivity. And he past out in the stroller on the way back to the shuttle bus. His big sister stayed awake till we got her into the car seat to drive home. It was a good night.

Jeremiah's Italian Ice ~ DON'T EAT list

Jeremiah's is a homemade Italian ice and and gelatio establishment. This place has a bit of a different list for their allergens. Since they make so many flavors they found it easier to list what you can not eat as opposed to what you can eat.

So this list that follows are the flavors you CAN NOT eat. Repeat do not eat these flavors if you have an allergy to dairy.

• All Ice Cream & Gelatis
• Cafe Latte
• Cake Batter
• Chocolate Chips (in chocolate ice)
• Cookies & Cream
• Scoop Froggy Frog
• Mochaccino
• Pumpkin Pie
• Bahama Freeze
• Coconut
• Key West Tropical 
• Parrothead Paradise
• Pina Colada 

It is still important to let the makers know that you have a dairy allergy in case there are new flavors that are introduced. Remember do not eat this flavors listed above. If you have  a place you would like me to try to find the information to please let me know in the comments below.

Our 1st major issue while eatting out

Today we went to Applebee's. As you know if you have been reading my blog I did a food list of this restaurant so how could I follow the list and still my son have problems when he ate there. Simple, Cross Contamination of the FRYER OIL!

I gave him 2 chips from the chips and salsa he proceeded to vomit this horribly thick goop. I picked him up out of the high chair and rushed him into the bathroom to make sure he didn't vomit anymore in front of other customers again.

The waitress, food runner, manager, and hostess all came over to see what happened and if he was okay, since we had said that he was allergic to dairy and had checked to make sure that there was no butter or anything on his food. What we were told was that the fryer oil is shared with anything that needs to be fried. Things like Mozzarella sticks and pot stickers all go into the same oil.

The staff apologized profusely. Everyone kept coming over to make sure he was alright, I luckily did not have to epi him since he got it out of him so fast is my thought.

So remember if it is fried always ask if there is a separate fryer and separate oil. If the answer is no, I would say stay away.

Milk Allergy Alert: Noh Foods of Hawaii

    
NOH FOODS OF HAWAII, of Honolulu, HI and Gardena, CA is voluntarily recalling its 2 ounce, 4 ounce, and 3 lb. (48 oz) packages of “Hawaiian Coconut Pudding” because they may contain undeclared dairy product.

People who have allergies to milk or dairy products run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

The recalled “Hawaiian Coconut Pudding” has been distributed nationwide in retail stores and through mail orders. The product comes in a 2 ounce, 4 ounce, and 48 ounce yellow and white package with the following UPC numbers:



073562000504 for the 2 oz package
073562000559 for the 4 oz package
073562000511 for the 48 oz package (3 lbs)
The company received a consumer complaint and although no serious injury or illness was reported, they have initiated a voluntary recall of this product or the concern only to those individuals who have allergies to dairy.
Concerned consumers who have purchased any of these items are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact NOH FOODS OF HAWAII at 808-944-0655 or 310-324-6770 between the hours of 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

Production for the product has been corrected with notations “Contains: MILK”

Unexpected benefits of being dairy free

So if your like me and have to now figure out how to take all the dairy out of your or your child's diet. I have been noticing that my child has started sleeping very quiet since I started taking dairy out of his diet. He used to snore and make these really weird noises while he slept and now it is so quiet and still that I have to check on him by putting my hand on his chest to feel him breathe. I wanted to know why, and after some research I found that when you remove dairy from your diet after having respiratory issues it lessens the problems rather quickly.

This got me thinking. What other benefits are associated with dairy free living.

1. The respiratory issues lessen rather quickly
2. loss of weight occurs
3. Your sense of taste will be stronger
4. decreased likelihood of developing osteoporosis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and heart disease

I am not a doctor or claim to be. I have done a lot of research on this through the Internet as well as contacting a professional nutritionist on the subject.

Restaurant Food List ~ Seasons 52 SPRING menu only

Seasons 52 is a fresh grill and wine bar that lets you enjoy  a seasonally-inspired menu in a casually sophisticated ambiance. This means that their menu changes every season and bits and pieces every week are different specials. The restaurant has complied a list of safe foods to eat for the spring season for the non dairy community. You can find other list here. This is one of the few places I have found so far that actually has a good assortment of actual meals which is really great in my mind. They have been expanding rather quickly so odds are Seasons 52 might be closer to you then you think. 

• Flatbreads (can be made without cheese toppings) 
• Gengler Farms Organic Edamame
• Hummus Duo
• Tuna & Avocado Sushi Roll
• Organic Field Greens 
• Organic Baby Spinach  (request without gorgonzola cheese) 
• Sesame Grilled Salmon Salad (request without lemongrass mayonnaise)  
• Maui Tuna Crunch 
• Vegetarian Tasting quinoa (request without cheese on taco) 
• Rocky Mountain Buffalo Burger (request without truffle cream and without blue cheese)
• Grilled Turkey Burger (request without cheese) 
• Oak-Grilled Beef, Chicken Breast Market Fish can be made to order using salt, pepper,
   extra virgin olive oil, with new potatoes, roasted asparagus, baby carrots (request plain) 
• Cedar Plank Atlantic Salmon Red Bliss potatoes, vegetables (request without dill sauce)
• Grilled Boneless Rainbow Trout roasted potatoes, asparagus, baby carrots, grilled lemon
   (request without dill sauce) 
• Caramelized Grilled Sea Scallops roasted asparagus (request no risotto and no lemon butter)
• Plainville Farm Turkey Skewer grilled vegetable-farro pilaf, Zinfandel BBQ glaze 
• Oak-Grilled Filet Mignon fresh vegetables, roasted mushrooms (request roasted potatoes) 
• Roasted Asparagus
• Broccolini
• Cremini Mushrooms
• Roasted Baby Carrots
• Leaf Spinach
• Red Bliss Potatoes
• Fuji Apple Slaw
• Quinoa-Citrus Salad
• Fresh Fruit

The items listed in orange are actual meals. The other items are sides, and appitizers.  Remember the most important thing is to always tell the server that you have an allergy to dairy.

Dairy & Eczema

Did you know that dairy intolerance and allergy is the most common food related triggers that cause eczema?

But, what is eczema? It is a skin condition that produces welts and small blisters on the skin along with inflammation. Eczema is commonly found in infants and is most likely outgrown by adulthood. Children with eczema typically have parents that suffer from allergies or asthma, according to MedlinePlus. 

Eczema is not treatable, but it is manageable by eliminating the various triggers that cause it to flare-up.  

Minor cases of eczema are treated by applying hydrocortisone creams and taking an oral antihistamine. Extreme symptoms may require a prescription from a doctor for a corticosteroid lotion. 

I find that if my child has itchy skin from eczema applying a cool compress to the areas and putting the kid in loose fitting clothes helps.

The Story of my son, Wes.

I figured since I started this blog for my son, so when he is older he has something that can help him, and something that can help others, I should probably tell you about my son. 

We were told that we needed to enjoy as much time as we could with him. That's right we were told that Wes COULD DIE. Being told that your child might not live is horrible, your whole life crashes down around you and it makes it hard to breathe let alone think.

This on top of my husband deploying was a really bad time. We knew that at 3 months old that when my husband deployed that it could have been the last time he saw him alive.When Wes was born he seemed fine a nice pink color, good set of lungs, all his fingers and toes. Then on his 1st full day of life he had his circumcision. Afterwards, things started to get a bit weird. He started to turn yellow, and became jaundice.

He also was having problems keeping his body temp. up. He stayed that way for about 2 weeks after we left the hospital but he was still perfect. Yellow, but perfect. Then something started happening. We were told to give him as much skin to skin time to try and raise his body temp. We always had him in just a diaper on my or my husband's chest wrapped in a blanket.
We just wanted him to get warm. Then the feedings started to go wonky. He started vomiting all his food up, he didn't eat, and he became really weak and just slept for close to 20 hours a day. The house, the chair, the sofa everything smelled of regurgitated milk. We were scared and horribly worried, and during all this we still had Alice to think about and take care of.
 Thank goodness my parents were close by. We had to go to the doctors at least every other day for weight checks and formula changes.

We stopped breast feeding, he went on I think 5 or 6 different formulas, but he just kept vomiting and in turn he just kept loosing weight. He soon became nothing but skin and bones, he couldn't even lift his arms.Every other day we would go to the doctor checking his weight changing his formula. We were sent to a pediatric surgeon, who in turn sent us to the ER for an MRI and a barium exam. It was discovered that Wes had an underdeveloped esophagus, which is why everything he had would come back up. He was given anti ulcer medication for his throat.  At 3 months old he had just gotten over his birth weight.

At 5 months old we found the first of the formulas that started to stay in his system. Similac Soy Formula. Then we switched it and started having even more success in Gerber Soy Concentrate formula. As it turns out liquid formula worked better then powder. He finally was able to go to the doctor once a week and then once every 2 weeks, and then once every 3 weeks. Through it all he was always smiling. At 8 months old Wes went to the doctors again and we were so happy to hear that he made a complete turn around. The doctors actually told me that they were not expecting him to make it as far as he did.
My little boy my little fighter was finally getting better. He was finally able to start eating baby food and he has been thriving since. So much so that my little guy is now in the 85% for weight.  At 11 months he started big people food, and working on using a sippy cup. Wes is now 13 months old and in 1-3 more months he will get to meet his daddy again and hold his hand, and interact with him other then just sleeping on his chest. 

So there it is there is the story. Sorry it was so long. We now know that he was born allergic to milk, even milk from me. I just wonder if he didn't have all these other problems that masked the allergy how much faster he would have gotten better. I know that I had done the best for him without knowing all the facts. He is now a happy little guy, chasing his big sister around the living room trying to get hugs. And chasing me with his bowl trying to get more snacks (dairy free of course). 

Unexpected Sources of Milk

Today I bring you more information from the FARE website. You can view more information about FARE here.

When we go shopping we now know that we have to read labels really carefully to keep ourselves and our LOs (Little One) safe from milk by products, milk itself, and possiblities of cross contamination.

But, what about those shopping list items that may not be as easy to spot? Here is a few things to keep in mind when you go to the grocery store.

• Deli meat slicers are frequently used for both meat and cheese products.
• Some brands of canned tuna fish contain casein, a milk protein.
• Many non-dairy products contain casein (a milk derivative), listed on the ingredient labels.
• Some specialty products made with milk substitutes (i.e., soy-, nut- or rice-based dairy products) are manufactured on equipment shared with milk.
• Some meats may contain casein as a binder. Check all labels carefully.
• Some medications contain milk protein.
• Shellfish is sometimes dipped in milk to reduce the fishy odor. Ask questions about the risk of milk contact when purchasing shellfish. 

 And you also need to make sure when you go out to eat, always make sure that you say NO BUTTER!

• Many restaurants put butter on steaks after they have been grilled to add extra flavor. The butter is not visible after it melts.

When we ate out for Easter, we had to make sure that they cooked my son's eggs dry. This is not their normal practice but once I told them that he was allergic they even cooked his eggs on the gulten free side of kitchen and away from all other milk products. 

O'Soy ~ Oh No!!

I was so happy when I saw at my local Winn-Dixie that they had a yogurt that was soy, dairy free and "vegan". Since my son loves creamy foods and now that he can't have them I picked up a set and couldn't wait to give it to him.

O' Soy is from Stonyfield company.

He loved it. I was happy, then he started having a bad reaction to it. I called the company number on their website which said they were open M-F 8-6pm, to see if there was any possibility of cross contamination since they make a lot of whole milk yogurts as well. 

The phone's computer said that no one was their due to them all being in training. So I wrote an email and waited I received an email about 4 hours later. This is what I received, remember I wanted to know about cross contamination.

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out with your question. Our O'Soy organic soy yogurt is
a lactose-free, non-dairy source of calcium and protein. It's great for
those who want a delicious way to enjoy the nutritional benefits of soy,
and one 6-oz serving of O’Soy provides 7g of soy protein. Additionally,
we're happy to say that O'Soy is certified vegan.

We hope this is helpful, please don’t hesitate to give us a shout if you
have any other questions. Thanks again for getting in touch.

Sincerely,

The folks at Stonyfield

Please note that this is what it says on the package of yogurt, hence why I purchased it to begin with. So I tried again.

Thank you for telling me what your package says, but as I originally asked I wanted to know about the possibility of cross contamination with dairy products. 

I wrote that email a few days ago. Considering that they responded the 1st time only 4 hours later and it was more then 4 hours till 5pm on a Thursday, and it is now Saturday. I take this as they do not want to answer in fear of ruining their "Vegan" status.

*Please note that the last statement is only my opinion and is not in anyway related to the company.*

So please be careful if you or your child is really allergic to dairy, in my own opinion I would not chance this product.