After the Baked Milk Challenge, 2 Weeks

We have made it two weeks with ZERO issues! It is all still very new to us. Starting tomorrow he can start to have cheese crackers. Even though he is still fighting me on trying new things. I bought the Annie's Cheddar Bunnies because Goldfish have a less baked cheese coating on the outside. I will also be avoiding Dorito's or any "flavor blasted coating". I think Cheese It's would probably be okay, as long as they are the regular kind. I did a lot of research and Annie's was recommended.

Exploring New Foods

We haven't gone crazy with exploring new food, just kept it basic. Jimmy Dean's Microwaveable Sausage Biscuits are a HUGE hit. They are egg free as well so it was the first thing we tried that wasn't home baked milk. Our allergist said as long as it was baked and milk was past the third ingredient we were a go. He had Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls for Christmas morning. Cinnamon rolls are a tradition in our house for Christmas morning breakfast so it was nice to not have to make "special" ones for him. We have also tried Goldfish original and pretzel crackers. They are also taste approved.

Our goal is to eat something everyday that has milk in it to keep his immunity up so he can pass the second stage of the test in February which is the baked cheese pizza test. He still says he doesn't really care if he outgrows his milk allergy and doesn't share my enthusiasm, but I know when this is all over and done with he will be a lot happier. We talked about the things he would be able to eat next Christmas. I am hoping we will be doing the baked Egg challenge by next Christmas. His test results for Egg was not ideal for the baked challenge.

All I want for my son is some sort of normalcy. He is going into middle school next year and even if he is homeschooled he will be in Youth Group and that age is all about fitting in and making lifelong friends. Having food allergies doesn't help when you are trying to fit in, especially at the awkward time when things are changing in your body. He will always have his peanut allergy but things would be so much easier for him if his egg and milk allergy go away before High School.

More foods = More chance of Anaphylaxis?

Something that has been nagging me in the back of my mind is that as his foods lists increase, so does the chance for anaphylaxis. Baked items with Milk and Egg oftentimes have nuts or are processed on lines with products containing nuts so we will have to stay vigilant and continue to read ingredient lists. Unfortunately, even though it will be a blessing for him to have chocolate, chocolate is often processed in the same factories with nuts. So at the end of our Milk Challenge when he is allowed to have chocolate we will be doing some major research on dedicated lines.

Hershey fan? Check out this blog for info on Hershey Chocolate and Nuts http://nut-freemom.blogspot.com/2010/09/nut-free-lowdown-on-hersheys-chocolates.html 

Food allergy food therapy day 1 no bueno

So yesterday Drama passed the first part of the baked milk challenge. He can now eat breads, cake, cookies, crackers and other baked breads that contain milk. So grocery shopping should have been a fun filled adventure, right? WRONG.

Can you say meltdown in aisle 1? As I am flitting around checking ingredients on delicious goodies, Drama is saying NO to everything I pick up. I am going around pointing out things that he will be able to eat in a few months and he just retreats further and further and finally has an outburst in front of the Ice cream.

"I don't want to eat new things, I don't want my milk allergy to go away", I stopped dead in my tracks. Had to lean on Ben and Jerry for support. Excuse me? Me no Comprende. Did I just hear this child right? I just assumed after ten years of living without these things he would be excited to pick out new things he has seen his friends eat. I didn't think about the psychological factor.

I continued on my way. Picking up some Pillsbury cinnamon rolls (surely those would speak to his soul, right?)  Amy's cheddar bunnies, and goldfish pretzels.

When we got home I had him eat 5 goldfish pretzels. You would have thought I was asking him to detonate a bomb. Then he had his milk muffin for the day. I am hoping this gets easier. Its not just about eating new things. Continuing the food therapy will boost his immunity to the milk protein to where if he gets a big dose of it it won't cause a reaction.

I covet your prayers!

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV

Have a food allergy or a child with food allergies? Join my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/elijahshope

NIH link about Baked Food Therapy: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/foodAllergy/research/Pages/immunotherapy-food-allergy.aspx

AAAI link about baked egg and milk immunology: http://www.aaaai.org/global/latest-research-summaries/Current-JACI-Research/ingesting-baked-egg-may-help-children-outgrow-egg.aspx

Baked Milk Challenge Part 2

The day is finally here. In a few hours we will start the test at his Allergist's office. Yesterday I made the muffins for the test. I have to say it was strange making food for Drama with Milk in it, something we have diligently avoided for ten years.

We arrived at the Allergy Asthma and Sinus Center and was taken back at 8:30am. The nurse took his weight, height, and vitals. His peak flow meter score was better today than last visit.

The Allergist came in and did an exam. She cut his muffin that I baked into 4 quarters and gave him his first dose which was 1/8 of a quarter. He ate it after some persuasion on both our parts. She then set a timer for 15 minutes and told me if he started having any symptoms to come and get her.

He was very nervous and didn't like the taste either.

Every fifteen minutes the nurse took vitals and the Allergist gave him an increased dose the first two doses were an 1/8 of a quarter then he had 1/2 of a quarter, a whole quarter, then quarter and a half for the last dose.

I asked his Allergist if he could have his allergy shots today and she said No because if he had a reaction we wouldn't know if it was from the shots or the muffin. So we will get our shots in a couple of days.

HE PASSED THE TEST!!!

He made it through the test just fine. I brought books and his iPad to keep him occupied. For now he can have home baked goods. In two weeks we can try store items like cheese crackers, cinnamon rolls, etc. He is still allergic to milk, he can just tolerate baked milk and eating it will boost his immunity to where we can try cheese pizza in two months and after incorporating baked cheese for a while he can try drinking a glass of milk.

It will definitely open up some food options for him, but he will still be limited since most things that have milk in them also have eggs and he is still too allergic to egg to try the baked egg challenge.

Need more food allergy info and tips? Like my FB page www.facebook.com/elijahshope 

DO NOT TRY THIS FOOD CHALLENGE AT HOME AND ALWAYS CONSULT A BOARD CERTIFIED ALLERGIST

If you are looking for an Allergist, we absolutely love ours. www.allergyasc.com
(Not a sponsor)

Helpful reading:

https://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/foodAllergy/research/Pages/bakedMilk.aspx

http://www.gratefulfoodie.com/allergies-life-after-baked-milk-challenge/

http://www.healinghacker.com/baked-milk-challenge/

Baked Milk Oral Challenge Part 1

Drama has life threatening food allergies to Milk, Eggs, Peanuts, and Treenuts. Recently I took him to children's to have his blood drawn for an Immunocap test for Milk and Egg. An Immunocap test will tell you the severity of the allergy. Both his tests came back moderate, meaning he is still at risk of anaphylaxis but his allergist gave the go ahead to try the baked milk oral challenge. For this challenge Drama has to be off all antihistamines for 7 days and we will start early in the morning at 8 am. Protocol for the oral food challenges is for the parent to bring in the food for the challenge. 

The muffin recipe our allergist gave us is as follows:

1 cup milk

2tbs Canola Oil

1tsp Vanilla

1 1/2 tsp EnerG Egg Replacer

1 1/2 cups of flour

1/2 cup of Sugar

1/4 cup Salt

2 tsp Baking Powder

Mix all dry ingredients together, then add wet ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Each muffin will equal 1.3 grams of cows milk.

This is all new to me but it seems the temperature and length of time the item is baked is key. The allergist called to make sure I understood everything. She said they would feed him the muffin a quarter at a time and checks vitals, if he passed the test he would be able to eat cookies, cake, bread, and crackers with milk in them. Eating these things will build his immunity and we will be able to move on to the next phase.  After a couple of months we would move on to baked cheese. All of the blogs I've researched online mention Amy's cheese pizza. I haven't looked to see if it has eggs. If he passes the baked cheese test he will eat things with baked cheese for a few months then he will be able to try drinking milk.

It's so nerve racking to do an oral challenge. You are giving your child food that you have been telling them it could kill them. Combine that with a child who has Aspergers and is a stickler on rules and regulations (unless I set them) and it's double drama. He isn't thrilled about the test and could care less if this means he can eat more things. He doesn't like the risk. Which I can understand. If he has a reaction it will be the end of our oral food challenges. There's no way I will be able to talk him into it again.

I am praying everything goes smoothly and he will pass and a whole new world will open up for him. He won't have to stare longingly at his friends foods and won't be embarrassed to have to eat his "safe snack" in front of all his friends who are eating the same thing. We take eating for granted. Because most baked items containing milk also contain egg which he is still too allergic to, to even try the baked challenge, he will still be a little limited as to what he can eat. Will update as soon as we have the test Monday.

Advent and the Jesse Tree

Advent and the Jesse Tree

Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The term is a version of the Latin word meaning "coming".

We started a new tradition last year. I have always admired the Jesse Tree my friends put out for Christmas. We couldn't afford a proper Jesse Tree so we made do with a small Christmas tree and printable paper ornaments. It's not about the aesthetics anyways it's about the story, his story and the events leading up to the greatest Christmas story ever told. 

What is a Jesse Tree 

The Jesse Tree helps us connect the custom of decorating Christmas trees to the events leading to Jesus' birth. The Jesse Tree is named from Isaiah 11:1: “A shoot shall come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” Jesse was the father of King David. We adorn a Jesse Tree with illustrated ornaments that represent the people, prophesies, and events leading up to the birth of Jesus. The ornaments of the Jesse Tree tell the story of God in the Old Testament, connecting the Advent season with the faithfulness of God across four thousand years of history.

This year we are using Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp for advent. So far I really like it. It has beautiful illustrations.

This is a wonderful book we read for advent last year. The kids will love it! I downloaded it on the iPad, but you can also order it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. I recommend this one over Unwrapping the Greatest Gift because it has a wonderful story line and I think holds little ones attention better.

Jesse Trees come in all shapes and sizes. You can buy a Jesse Tree from a Christian bookstore or online. Many people use small Christmas Tree's or a bundle of limbs. Ornaments can be expensive porcelain, wood, or paper ornaments. This year we are using printable ornaments that you can find here http://lifeyourway.net/free-printables/christmas/jesse-tree-ornaments/ We are coloring them and pasting them on card stock to decorate our small Christmas Tree. I like this hands on approach, especially as part of Arts and Crafts for Homeschooling families.

Examples of Jesse Tree's

Traditions are important. I hope Elijah keeps this tradition when he has a family of his own. I think it's important to put the focus on Jesus during the Christmas season. Much of the time it's chaos, buying and receiving gifts, stressing out about dinners, and the real reason of the season gets lost in the madness. Advent helps bring Jesus back in the spot light. It gives us some time set aside each night to spend closely with him. To dive headfirst into the gospels leading up to his birth. If there is any time to become intimate with your Lord and Savior it is now. This world is not our home and Jesus is coming soon, The King is Coming! 

Fundraising Idea's for your Mission Trip

I will be going to Haiti with my church in June 2016. One of the first concerns many people have when led to go on a short term or long term mission trip is cost. I know that if I am meant to go on this trip, God will provide the way. I absolutely have faith in this, but we are not meant to just sit back and do nothing. So here are some fundraising ideas I have come up with.

1. Chocolate Bars 

https://fundraising.worldsfinestchocolate.com

2. Papa Johns Pizza Cards

Contact your local Papa Johns. Ours offers us 2$ cards that we sell for 5$ making a profit of 3$.

3. Chili's Give Back Night

10% of proceeds that night

http://www.qdi.com/Chilis/CHGiveBackApp.pdf

4. Buttermilk Sky

They pick a new charity each month and select a pie. Through out the month a percentage of the pie sales go to that charity/organization.

https://www.buttermilkskypie.com/pie-it-forward

5. Chickfila

http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Kids/Local

6. Golf Tournament

7. Bake Sale

8. Rummage Sale

If your church has a large parking lot or facility you can host a HUGE yard sale by selling booths for 25$ to families to sell their stuff. Would be good to have a bake sale at this time.

9. Spring Fashion Show and Vendor Expo

Sell booth space to vendors, have a fashion show, vendor exhibitions, and or speaker/entertainment on stage.

10. Christmas ornaments

11. Chili cook-off

12. Parents night out

Host a parents night out at your church. Have games and snacks.

13. New Years Eve Party/ Valentines Dance

We have used this for fundraisers before. Sell tickets or ask for donations. Have food donated to offset costs. It's always a lot of fun.

14. Movie Night/ Drive In

Have a movie night or drive in. Sell popcorn, candy, and snacks.

15. Cookbook

I have family who cherish their church's cookbooks. They are a wonderful way to preserve history as well. My mom has one with my Mamaws recipes and other family who have since passed. 

16. Car wash

17. Bake Sale

18. T-Shirts

You will want to order shirts for your trip anyways. 

19. Pancake Breakfast

Several restaurants will host a pancake breakfast fundraiser. Applebee's is the one I see the most.

http://flapjackfunds.com 

20. Bingo night

Who doesn't like Bingo? Sell Bingo cards and offer Prizes.

Have a fundraiser idea that I didn't cover? Let me know www.facebook.com/thissinglemomneedsgrace

Good luck on your fundraiser! I hope the above idea's and links helps you. Remember not to worry, just have faith that God will provide.

What am I Thankful for?

In November Facebook becomes inundated with people telling us what they are thankful for, every single day. I've tried this before and I am just not good at posting every day. I would fall off before the halfway mark and would sometimes post a whole weeks worth of thankfulness in a day because life gets busy and I forget. It's not that I'm not thankful, do people judge those who don't post everyday? Does it make me less thankful? Of course not. It's just hard for some people. Especially those with ADD like me. It becomes boring and monotonous. I really enjoy the artistic expression of thanks. Last year Elijah glued leaves telling what he was thankful for to a thankful tree I had printed off of Pinterest. We will probably do something similar to that this year. So I decided that I would post all 30 things I'm thankful for at once. Of course I am thankful every single day for all these things, but in case you're interested here are my 30 things I'm thankful for. In no particular order.

1. My Salvation: I gave my life to Christ at Camp Galilee in Lafollette when I was eight years old.

2. Church Family: I have gone to Dante Baptist for 11 years. It's much more than a church to me. It's my extended family. 

3. My Son: I tell my son all the time that it's him and I against the world. He is the reason I wake up in the morning and God placed him in my life for a reason.

4. Parents

5. Aunt and Uncle who had a major part of raising me and helping me to raise my son.

6. My niece Eralynn. I never thought I would love anyone as much as I love my son. 

7. All of my Nieces and Nephew.

8. My Sister because she teaches me patience.

9. My Brother because he teaches me forgiveness.

10. My Cats because they ease my stress...sometimes. (I'm looking at you Ginsberg who eats all my cords)

11. Books: I love to read.

12. Technology: for helping me to express myself.

13. Modern Medicine: for keeping my son alive.

14. Missionaries: They are selfless and have such faith in God. I admire them.

15. AC: I am extremely hot natured and can not imagine life without air conditioning. I am so spoiled with it.

16. My sight: I see the Lord in nature. I am a very visual person with a love for art. When I look out at the mountains, the ocean, the sunset, a beautiful fall day; I see God in it. It speaks volumes to me. 

17. Prayer: Prayer saved my son. He was severely ill in Children's and was on a lot of prayer lists. I absolutely attribute prayer to his survival. My car has ran on prayer. I have had so many prayers answered and for the ones that were answered no, I am also thankful.

18. VBS: I love VBS. Every year I go VBS crazy. I love to decorate and teach the kids. It's one of the most favorite events we have at church. It's won a lot of souls to Christ.

19. Forgiveness: I've done some really horrible things, some things against my brothers and sisters in Christ. I've slapped God in the face with my disobedience and evilness. He took all of that from me and cast those sins as far as the east is to the west. 

20. All of my Aunts and Uncles.

21. My Grand Parents: I was born into a bible believing family thanks to both sets of Grandparents. I was born Methodist and Southern Baptist.

22. Homeschool: I am very thankful to be able to Homeschool my son. Some countries prohibit this and even some states make it very hard to homeschool. I am so thankful to live in a state where I am able to homeschool freely.

23. Music: I love to sing, just ask my son. He begs me to stop singing.

24. Dance: I am especially thankful for Rejoice because I am able to dance for God. I may not be very good at it but when I dance it's just me and God in that room. I pray continuously that others will be able to see him through me. 

25. Football: it's my favorite sport and brings me happiness. I started playing football when I was 2. My Dad taught me how to throw and it's something that we share together.

26. Stan Lee: He's the man. I love The Avengers, and everything Marvel.

27. Comedy: If I am having a bad day, all you have to do is sit me in front of America's Funniest Home Videos, Madea, Duck Dynasty, etc.

28. The Food in my house.

29. My home: it's a humble abode, but I feel safe here and my neighbors are awesome.

30. FINALLY......I am thankful for being a Single Mom of a child who is on the spectrum and has food allergies. I doubt myself a lot, but I have taken care of this very high maintenance child, on my own, for over seven years. It's an accomplishment and I've learned so much through every hardship I've had. That's something I could have done without all of the things I am so very thankful for.

Shew.....that was hard! I am sure I have missed some things. It is harder than it seems. Especially when you are typing on the fly. Leave me a comment and tell me what you're thankful for. If you haven't already like my Facebook page www.facebook.com/Thissinglemomneedsgrace