Uh-Oh Allergies

Chloe has had eczema since she was about 3 mo old. Unfortunetly, as Chloe's allergist and pediatrician said eczema can cause allergies and that's what we are dealing with right now. I knew Chloe was allergic to egg whites and then found out she was allergic to peanut butter. So, at Chloe's 18 mo well-child checkup I had them test her. So, they took her blood (which was not at all fun, but that's another story), and got a call a few days later. Her pediatrician confirmed that she was allergic to peanut butter and eggs, but could also be allergic to milk, wheat and oats. WHOA...what in the world was I gonna be able to feed her???? I went to Wal-Mart that night and got rice milk and chex mix for breakfast, but was at a loss when it came to what to make for lunch and dinner. I set up an appointment with an allergist and she did a scratch test. We found out that Chloe was EXTREMELY allergic to egg whites...I guess 0.35 is normal level for foods and Chloe test at a 8.86. She told us to eliminate of course eggs and peanuts, but also tree nuts and milk. She didn't test high for milk, but Chloe has refused to drink milk ever since she switched from a bottle to a sippy cup. The allergist said she was afraid that milk was making her tummy not feel to well, but couldn't communicate that to us. So, that means no cheese, yogurt, chocolate chips and anything that says natural flavorings or Carmel coloring and well a few other scientific names that could mean milk.

 I've had a few misconceptions about how to tell if something contains an allergen. I thought that all I would have to do is look at the very end of ingredients and I would see "contains: such and such allergen" in BIG BOLD LETTERS. Nope, not so true...there are some companies who do that out of the kindness of their hearts, but that is not the standard for food companies. So, I've been reading a whole lot of nutrition facts and I have to admit I;m sick of it...so, I just try to cook from scratch. Reading nutrition facts just make me REALLY frustrated and sad because most things I pick up I realize she can't have and I feel deprived for her. It makes me sad that she can't enjoy food I know would taste good to her and that she would love. However, I realize there are blessings. Chloe will be eating healthier and because we are catching this at such a young age she will be able to start habits that will help her to eat the way she needs.

So, cooking things from scratch not so bad so far with http://www.foodallergykitchen.com/pages/recipes.php. I've been making sure that I save a little extra dinner so I can feed it to her for lunch, which makes meals a little more simply than they would otherwise be. I've been thinking about either making a new blog about foods I make that work for Chloe or just talking about them on here...will see. I don't know why but I think I've gotten a little bored with writing on my blog...sad but true...maybe I can find some new motivation somewhere to keep writing. Funny thing is I think my new hobby is reading other people's blogs. Well at least  these two family blogs...Nie Nie's Dialoges and the Sullengers. Their stories just suck me right in and I can't help but wonder what they are going to write next. They make me realize that my trials are REALLY not so bad and to treasure my little girl even more.

SANTA

Update on the kitchen

It's ALMOST done. Whew!

Utah State Fair

About a month ago me, Sue and Chloe decided to go to the fair in Salt Lake. It was a whole lot of fun, even though it was so stinkin' hot:). 

Chloe trying to decide if bunnies were okay or not.

Looking at the goats.

I think we had the best time at Little Hands on the Farm. Chloe started out with an apron and basket and planted seeds, picked fruits and vegetables, milked a cow, brushed a sheep and picked out a treat at the end.

Enjoying the ride with the treat she earned from working on the farm.

This was Chloe and I at Little Hands on the Farm

Chloe getting ready to collect feed for the animals.

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Chloe couldn't get enough of these apples. She kept taking them down and trying to put them back.

The bucket is almost full.

Driving the tractor.

                                      

Brushing the sheep.

Chloe devouring her very yummy corn

Taking a ride on the merry-go-round.

We ended us sitting, but it was just as fun.

Happy Feet

Photo Shoot by Grandma "C"

Silly Little Chloe I Love

Chloe is as cute as ever...well actually even cuter. OH, the personality she got:)! Now that she has a better balance she has the little happy dance she does and it is so cute. I took her to the YW Personal Progress night and she had a blast. She played peek-a-boo and keep away and tried to imitate everything the YW were doing. Some of the YW started doing different stretches and she got on the ground and stretched out her legs and did the same thing. It was so cute. We've been trying to get her use to nursery...which we really haven't had to try at all. She loves the other kids and toys. She gets pretty mad if we don't go to nursery right after Sacrament. One Sunday she got to stay for the all of Nursery and realized that Nursery was even better than she thought. She had treats for the first time. What was funny was that she decided that the ritz crackers were so much better than the fishes she was given, so she would go up to the other kids give them a fish and take their ritz crackers. She had quite a pile of ritz and some of the other kids were staring at it. She still had some fishes so she gave the rest of those away to anyone who looked like they might still their crackers back. She's really been into helping me clean...which I love. You give her a rag and she gets to work. Her favorite thing to clean besides the walls, floors, windows is our coffee table. She's also been into reading books. She really gets into it. Which is so fun except books have been her main entertainment at church, but she get's really loud reading through her books so we've got to find something else. We took her to her 15 month appointment and she is in the 8th percentile for her weight...she's on the same curve as she was before so the doctors not concerned. Here's some pictures of silly little Chloe...laughing, smiling, goofing off and being cute!