What every food allergic kid needs

We got Caden one of these in December. I cannot tell you the peace of mind it give me. One of my biggest fears was that we would get in a car accident, and Jason and I would be incapacitated, unable to tell anyone of Caden's food allergies or medical concerns. Medic Alert is the only company I will trust. They print the most pertinent information on the bracelet with and id code. A medical professional can call Medic Alert 24 hours a day any day of the year and receive all pertinent information about Caden, including blood type, allergies, and medical conditions. If you have a child (or adult) with extensive medical conditions, they can even keep a copy of his medical records on file.

I also appreciate that they do not print Caden's name or other identifying information on it. Should he become seperated from us at a mall or airport, a security guard or police officer could call the 800 number and Medic Alert will notify me, or if they are unable to contact me, the remaining people on our contact list.

It's been recommended to me by EMTs to always get the bracelet. That is the first place medical professionals will check. We have the petite emblem on Caden, and it is not too large for a toddler. Large enough to print the pertinent information, small enough to not get in the way. Caden doesn't even notice his anymore.

This has given me such a peace of mind. I don't begrudge the yearly fee (about $30) or the cost of the bracelet ($10), even though we're going to have to replace the bracelet yearly until Caden's growth slows down. If your food allergic child doesn't have one, it's a must buy. And your child doesn't have to have a medical condition to have one. As I said, its a safety precaution even in the event of being separated.

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

How does your garden grow?


Quite nicely, thanks, but my name isn't Mary.


My broccoli isn't coming along as quickly as I had hoped. I thought it would be done by the first of June, but I think its going to be another month until harvest. I've harvested spinach twice so far, and tonight we had some lovely spinach and rice with our steak kabobs. I received some advice to plant my spinach around the broccoli which I think is a fabo idea. I'm going to do that this week, I hope. So here are some nifty pictures of my garden.

The whole shebang:



A itty bitty broccoli head in the middle there.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy mother's day to all the moms out there. Throw your feet up, relax, and enjoy a day dedicated to you!

Dorm Allergies

Since I started this blog, I've gotten a couple hits from people searching for advice on "dorm allergies". I am assuming that these are people who are dealing with environmental allergies. I'm not sure how other dorms are, but I think that the dorms we have on campus are pretty environmental allergy friendly. Why?

Radiator heat. Forced air tends to cause a problem with dust allergies since it causes the dust to blow around.

Most of the floors have classroom tile, which is also very good for dust allergies. Many students bring carpets from home but neglect to vacuum regularly, which is obviously NOT good for environmental allergies.

The air in the hall tends to be dry which can help with mold and mildew allergies, BUT most college students don't clean their shower regularly, which is NOT good for mold and mildew allergies.

Our mattresses are vinyl covered, rather than the old fashioned cloth mattresses that adorned our dorm (ewwwww).

So, what's a person with environmental allergies to do if they live in a dorm? If you have a cloth mattress, put a vinyl mattress protector on it to protect you from dust mites (you should do the same with your pillow). Bring thin bedding that you can easily wash on hot water and dry on hottest heat, the two combined will help kill dust mites. Don't bring a rug (wear slippers or socks instead). If you're hall has forced air heat or air conditioning, see if you can put a good filter on the register in your room. Dust your room weekly. If you live in a suite style dorm, clean your bathroom thoroughly, preferably with something that can kill mildew and mud. If you're sensitive to chemicals, check 7th Generation or other natural companies that make cleaning products.

Many suite bathrooms do not have exhaust fans. Invest in a cheap clip on fan and run it after you shower. If you can leave the door to your bathroom open to help it air out, that will help with the mold and mildew. I would also suggest in investing in a small air cleaner. Lastly, dust regularly.

And as always, take your allergy medication if recommended by a doctor. Before you move in, you can request to be shown an open room to give you an idea of what you'll be encountering by way of potential allergen hot spots.

With some forethought and good cleaning skills, living in a dorm can be a positive experience even for those who have environmental allergies.

Silk (finally) recalls it's soy milk

From an official release from White Wave

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Marguerite Copel(214) 721-1273Allergy Alert on Undeclared Dairy in 11-Ounce Single Serve Silk Soymilk Chocolate Flavor in Plastic BottlesMount Crawford, Virginia (April 23, 2008) - WhiteWave Foods Company is voluntarily recalling 11-ounce plastic single serve bottles of Silk Soymilk Chocolate Flavor because it may contain undeclared milk protein. The individual bottles are printed with both a “use by” date of May 7, 2008 (printed as 05 07 08) and a Universal Product Code (UPC) of 2529360028. Consumers can find this information on the back of the individual bottle.People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk protein run the risk of a health problem or illness if they consume this product. Some reactions have been reported. This affected product was distributed nationwide and reached consumers through retail and foodservice outlets. WhiteWave’s sales team is working with distributors to actively recover any affected product remaining on store shelves.

HOW TO IDENTIFY THE RECALLED PRODUCT This recall includes only 11-ounce single serve plastic bottles of Silk Soymilk Chocolate Flavor with both a “use by” date of May 7, 2008 (printed as 05 07 08) and a UPC code of 2529360028. Consumers should look for this information on the back of the bottle. The Company apologizes for any inconvenience to its customers. Consumers who purchased the product may return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or exchange. Consumers with questions can contact the Company at 1-800-587-2259.The Food and Drug Administration has been notified of this recall.


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For the record, I am p-i-s-s-e-d off about this. Silk was notified weeks ago, were given the official documentation that dairy was indeed present in this from an independent lab and just before the FDA pulls the plug on it, the do a "voluntary" recall. Three children that I know of were hospitalized for anaphylaxis related to this, and Silk just gets around this.

Caden isn't able to eat soy products right now, but since Silk (owned by White Wave) dragged their feet every step of the way, they will no longer be getting our business now or in the future. It's a pity too because I really like Horizon products. Not big sacrifice though when it comes to something like this. Land o' Lakes is also owned by White Wave. We're boycotting the company for now, unless some serious, voluntary amends are made to the families who suffered sickness due to White Waves negligence.

If I was vegan, I'd be mighty pissed too.

Allergy Stories in the News

http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=6961f0f9-adb0-4391-a880-a89fa3d95036

http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=6961f0f9-adb0-4391-a880-a89fa3d95036

Sorry for the messy links. I'm not quite sure how to post them without the full address.

At any rate here are two stories in the news.

The first is about an eighth grade student who apparently intentionally planted a peanut butter cookie in his peanut allergic classmate's lunch pail. Said student is now being charged with a felony. Now, I think what he did was atrocious, particularly since it seems that he knew the FA (food allergy or food allergic) student was indeed allergic. However, my question is if he really understood the ramifications of his actions. So many adults don't really get food allergies. Many equate them with the severity of seasonal or environmental allergies, which, while pesky, are not typically life threatening. I'm interested in how this case plays out, what the student who was charged intentions were, and if he really understood what would happen.

Often times, those with food allergies are in some ways dependent on those around them (in part) for their safety. There are good reasons why schools go peanut (or other allergen) free, why doctor's offices have signs, etc. It's truly scary knowing that something as innocent as a cookie could kill you. Teaching children without food allergies the dangers of certain foods to certain people and instilling empathy in them (not pity), is key and is greatly appreciated by families who deal with FA.

The second story is about an inmate who died after eating a peanut butter sandwich. I'm interested in the findings of the investigation and whether it was a suicide, accidental, or "forced". If it was accidental, its a sad reminder that food allergies can develop at any time, even with foods that one has eaten for years without a problem. Sometimes it can be sudden (anaphylaxis after having no symptoms). Others, it can develop over time. Pay attention to your body. If you feel "funny" or your mouth is itchy after eating something, stop and get tested. Just because a reaction is minor this time, doesn't mean it will continue to be minor. Even those with minor food allergies should strictly avoid their allergens and carry epi pens and benadryl with them at all times.

Please pray for Tricia

They have lungs for her. Please pray that when they get into surgery that the lungs will still be okay for her and that surgery will be successful.