Izzy’s Words, Princess Kate and Allergies
August 12th, 2008 by Jenn
Isabel is getting more and more words every day. She has now added kitty, red light, go go go, pig, eieio and baaa.
We've had a fun-filled birthday weekend. Kate had a fabulous time at her princess tea party, and she had 14 guests. They played dress up and had tea sandwiches. She got some great loot and has been playing with it non stop. She has been wearing her tiara everywhere, because it is important to always keep your tiara on. I had to talk her into leaving it in the stroller at soccer practice this morning.
Yesterday Kate had her three year visit, and we had to knuckle down and get her shots so she could start school in a few weeks. She had the Hep B and Chicken Pox vaccines, both required, and the only ones she had done without. So far she has had a light fever and her arms are both sore. She was really brave and well-behaved, and didn't cry at all. She got behaving balls for that.
Isabel has been diagnosed with an egg allergy and a slight wheat allergy. Yesterday we went to the store and bought an egg replacement powder so we can adapt our cake recipes. We'll find out from the allergist if we have to go gluten free as well. Our appointment is on the 26th, we had to wait for the doctor to come back from vacation and then we had to come back from vacation. I read somewhere that dealing with a child's allergies can be more stressful than dealing with cancer. I can totally see that. Already she is stealing things off plates that she shouldn't have, and she got hives from head to toe at the ice cream shop when they used a dirty scoop to get her water ice, which should have been egg free. Now I know, but it's stressful trying to navigate it all, especially when the slightest error can send you to the emergency room and can even cause death. Eggs are all over the place.
My sister told me about an article in the Washington Post last week about a child with an egg allergy who almost died when Chucky Cheese told him their mozzarella sticks were egg free when they were not. Each exposure to the allergen can cause a more severe reaction than the last, so how many chances do you get to screw it up before they go into anaphylactic shock? Continued exposure can aggravate the allergy and keep them from growing out of it. Most kids grow out of an egg allergy, thankfully, and I really don't want her to be one of those statistics that didn't. I have to say, though, that when I thought it was milk and not egg, I found it harder to feed her dairy free than egg free. Since we found out, we have had one more hives episode, from Annie's macaroni and cheese. Apparently it has egg in it, but it is not listed on the package. It just says it is processed in a facility that processes egg products. Great. She is apparently really sensitive to it.
So we will do what we can. I am trying to limit my eggs, too, since I am nursing. When I talk to the allergist I will find out if I need to be completely egg free too. I would guess so? Who knows. If that's what she needs, then I'll do it. I will miss ice cream, though. At least I don't have to go dairy-free!
