Food Allergy Resources, Food Allergy Frustrations

As many of you know by now, my son, Ben, (10 months) is allergic to eggs, wheat, nuts, peanuts and (some) tree nuts. When I first heard the results of his allergy tests, I was sad and stressed. But I wanted his bad eczema to stop bothering him, so I tried to stop eating everything with those ingredients in them. It was hard, at first, especially because I didn't realize how many things contained those ingredients in hidden forms. And candy, good God with the nut warnings.

One resource that has been great is the Kids with Food Allergies Network. They have a enewsletter, a forum, and a facebook page. I mainly just use the enewsletter and the facebook page. Right now, they have some very helpful ideas for snack tips: http://www.facebook.com/kidswithfoodallergies?v=wall&story_fbid=144872768870331.

Two sites that I discovered from there are:
https://www.nonuttin.com

and

http://www.vermontnutfree.com/index.shtml.

The first website sells many products that are free of all of the eight most common allergens. (As always, however, be sure to read labels.)

The second site is not free of all allegens, but they do sell a candy that appears to be like an M&M but is nut free called a Skipper.


One thing that has frustrated me, however, is that many companies cater to just one allergen. For example, some gluten free bakeries won't bake without eggs, and, if you try to order from a regular bakery or candy store, well good luck. Most places are so afraid of an accidental reaction and liabbilities that they don't even care to cater to people with multiple allergies. Therefore, I'm going to try to support companies that do cater to people with multiple allergies. I'm going to post a list of some of these companies soon.

Happy cooking. Happy eating, and happy shopping.

Saturday Stress or sometimes a boy just needs his mama

And sometimes his mama just needs a break, a rest, a nap. Times when his mama just needs to get away from said boy and take some time for herself.

Ben was scratching his chest tonight. I don't think it was allergy related. But it may have been stress. I was gone most of the day, and he seemed to miss me. His sleep schedule seemed to be disrupted because he took a nap later than usual, and he woke up cranky and hungry.

I gave him a bath, as usual, only not usual because the last few nights I had been bathing him purified water. Our water went out Wednesday morning, and there was a boil water advisory for 48 hours, and I didn't want to use possibly contaminated water to bathe him. So I used slightly colder purified water. He didn't like that at all.

Tonight, it was back to regular water, but he still didn't want to be in the bath. He kept trying to get out. I told him no when he grabbed my glasses, and he got upset and started scratching his bare chest. I don't think it was allergies, just stress. On night like this, I'd like to scratch something too.

If my baby can't eat it, I don't want it

Someone asked me recently why I still couldn't eat eggs, wheat, or nuts. After all, I'm not the one who's allergic--It's Ben.

Reason one: I'm still breastfeeding. Yes, Ben is almost 10 months old, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you breastfeed for at least the first year. I know I haven't done everything right. For example, we've had to supplement from the beginning because of my work schedule.

Although some of the egg-free, wheat free foods are expensive, it's probably still cheaper than formula feeding Ben all the time would be. The formula we use, when we use it, costs $25 a can.

Reason two: Ben is starting to eat table food, and he's reaching for our food. I don't want to be sitting there eating peanut cake when I know he can't have it. That's just mean. I want Ben to eventually be able to eat everything that we eat, and, if that means that I have to eat not-the-best tasting rice bread, then fine. So, even after I stop breastfeeding, whenever I'm around Ben, I will not be eating anything that he can't also eat. Is that always easy? No, but Ben is definitely worth it.

Egg Free, Wheat Free Cookies

Lately, we have been using bananas as an egg substitute in recipes, but the problem with this is that everything ends up tasting fruity.

Tonight, Jamie decided to break out the gluten-free Betty Crocker cookie mix. We had a mix for gluten-free brownies from some other brand that did not require eggs, but the brownies by that brand were pretty gross, so we decided to revisit the Enter-G egg substitute even though my first attempt at using it did not go well.

The cookies tasted really good (really good), but their consistency was somewhat crumbly. This may be due to the fact that there were too many cookies on a sheet, because of the egg substitute or because Jamie used parchment paper. I did the last batch without it, and I'm waiting to see if they turn out more solid once I remove the last batch from the cookie sheet. They look good. Don't you think?

Gluten Free Pizza

I did not have high hopes for the gluten-free pizza crust that we picked up at Nila Jo's, the health food store around here.

You have to make the dough yourself, which was the first problem. We're usually pressed for time, so, normally, if we make a pizza, we just use premade crust. As far as I know, there are no gluten-free premade crusts.

The pizza dough mix is made by Namaste Foods. It is called Gluten Free! Pizza Crust Mix and is made in facility that is free of gluten, wheat, soy, corn, potato, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, casein.

Jamie made the pizza crust. But, first, he had to run to the store to get a pizza pan, tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, and he also got chorizo, just to try. Jamie had to grease the pizza pan, preheat the oven, combine the mix with oil and water and beat with an electric blender then smooth the batter onto the pan with a spatula. The directions said to cook the pizza crust for 20 minutes without toppings and 10-15 additional minutes with them.

The pizza exceeded my expectations. As Jamie said, "It tastes like regular pizza."

See for yourself above.

Precious Time

I've been away from Ben this week at a conference out of state. And I've taken advantage of this time in order to well, eat pizza. Yes, pizza and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and everything I can't have while I'm feeding Ben. My plan for the week is to pump and dump. Sometimes, pumping feels like such a pain, is such a pain.
I wonder if there will be a time where I will idealize the inconvenience of feeding, pumping and look back on this as precious time.
Sometimes I wonder if anything that we remember was wonderful was really wonderful. I'm sad to be away from Ben but also glad. Glad to be somewhere where his demands don't come first, at least not for a few days, and, yet, on the other hand, I miss him terribly. I do feel like only part of me is here.
I wake up and think where is my screaming, crawling, squawking baby?
In a few days, it will be back to scanning labels and limited diet, so I will try and enjoy the time while I can even if part of me wants to hold him and kiss him right now. When I get him back again, will another part of me want just as forcefully to be away from him, to be a woman who is other than mother, who is just myself.

Rush and Rush Until Life's No Fun

When I think about this past week, the lyrics from the Alabama song come to mind:


I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.

Jamie's been gone, I've been trying to get my work done, and things have been chaotic.

Ben's eczema flareups have come and gone and come again. He gets dry patches. He gets red patches, but, at least, he's mostly not itching.

We use his prescription shampoo and Cerave cleanser to bathe him daily. We use his steroid cream in the morning on days he needs it. Two or three times a day we use Epicream, a prescription cream, and the rest of the day, it's Cerave with every diaper change. We vacuum his room daily, bathe him daily, try to get the food that he smears off of his face off.

Things have been so hectic. One night just flows into the next. All of this has made me appreciate having Jamie's help. Usually, he stays up with Ben at night and vacuums the rooms and helps (or bathes Ben by himself). I don't think I could do this alone, and I'm glad that I don't have to. I'm a little disappointed that we don't have more family in the area to watch him sometimes, but we do what we can. Some days, like yesterday when I ate Rice Krispie Treat after Rice Krispie Treat and didn't know if I would make it through today, are rough. But, then, so far, every time I've been able to get up and do all of my work, and it has been okay. It will be okay. We will get through the daily routine of cleansing and vacuuming and moisturizing and feeding and changing and watching and nursing and then all over again and again and again until he's walking then driving and we won't remember, or, if we do, we will have romanticized the toughness and the temptation to think How on earth will I do this? Can I make it today? And we will make it because we have to. A little one depends on us.