Love for those that make food allergies a little easier!

Today Mazzy and I had the pleasure of attending our first Valentines Day party. My friend and neighbor Kalie put together such a sweet little Love Day themed play date, and bless her wonderful soul made it candy free so me and my little lady could attend without worries. The kids brought valentines to share that included pencils, stickers, kazoos, and glow bracelets. Not only are these items allergen free, but they last a whole lot longer than the usual candy hearts. So in honor of this affectionate holiday I thought I would give a shout out to some of the products and support teams that make my life as a food allergy Momma a little easier. So...in no particular order!

#1: F.A.R.E (aka. Food Allergy Research and Education) A year ago I had no idea what F.A.R.E was. Now I use them as a resource for dependable information, pintable's, and support. It means so much to me as a Momma that they work so hard to raise awareness, They have a big voice and are very wise in the way they use it. Thanks F.A.R.E!!

#2: Dum.Dum Suckers- Sometimes a "treat" is needed, and luckily these multi flavored suckers are free of all of the top 8 allergens. Our favorite go to for the treat bucket at the bank, we also indulge at the local post office here. I always sigh a little prayer of thanks when my little lady gets to partake right along with the other little ones.

#3: Kids With Food Allergies Foundation- I remember watching my first webinar on eating out with food allergies... After watching and absorbing as much info as I could, I felt so much more confident and hopeful. I now call ahead, carry our chef cards, and work directly with the manager any time we eat out. They have provided me with countless resources and valuable tools to keep my little lady safe. The support forums are a wonderful way to connect and collect advise from the experiences of others.

#4: Culvers- Looking for a place for a really good hamburger and fries? I was so surprised and excited when I informed the cashier of Mazzy's allergy. The cashier was obviously well trained, and promptly entered the allergen info into her computer...up on the screen in big red letters pops up PEANUT ALLERGY. The cooks note the heads up and quickly wash all prep surfaces, change their aprons, and wash their hands. This was not what I expected from a "fast food" joint, but I was so grateful I almost cried (literally).

#5: Sunbutter- A most delicious and healthy alternative to the traditional peanut butter. Our house is never without a jar or two...ever had a Sunbutter cookie? Sooooo good! Free of not only those pesky peanuts, but tree nut and gluten as well. This company not only makes a great product, but has made such a loving effort to reach out and support the food allergy community. I think I need a Sunbutter and honey sandwich :)

What are your favorite go to brands, products, and support teams? I can use all the tips I can get.
Please comment, or shout it out on the old FB page....

https://www.facebook.com/foodallergykids

Or maybe twitter is more your style...

https://twitter.com/TalkForMeTees

Why Not? I mean....it's only a childs life I guess.

 

 

So, something I have noticed, not only in myself but also as a recurring sentiment from other food allergy parents, is that there is often a feeling of guilt for "inconveniencing" everybody that might have to accommodate our child's special diet. I find myself cringing at the annoyance we must be creating, and hoping that this wont prevent further invitations for my little lady to participate. An easy example, and current hot button issue that I have yet to face, but will in time, is making school a safe place for a child with food allergies. I was talking to my Mom about this just the other day, and I heard myself say "I understand they can't make everyone change because one child has a food allergy". My very wise mother then stated plainly..."why not?"

Think about it. If you stop and think about what is at stake how can you argue any other way? It's not just a matter of a rash, or hurt feelings. In so many cases a child's life is at risk! What could be more pressing and important than a CHILDS LIFE!! Go ahead, I dare you, to give me a legitimate argument against banning food from the classroom (not the lunchroom) when you look at things in that context. In fact I would love to hear what is rolling around in your mind, I am open to hearing and learning from your point of view.

 People would be shocked if a school refused to provide a wheelchair ramp. A school would literally be shut down if they failed to maintain and comply with current fire safety standards. And how about we just get rid of recess aids and crossing guards. We do so many things as parents, teachers, and caregivers to keep children safe. But I can't help but feeling that we are failing miserably in an extremely critical area.

 I understand that many out there don't understand the science of cross contamination. And others are facing their own dietary challenges. But I would hope that we as adults can learn to understand and support each other as we all learn how to deal with this life threatening condition.

Let's find new ways to celebrate birthdays. And instead of having a Dad's and doughnuts day, lets take dad out and plant some trees or flowers. Lets get creative and find new ways to award our children for their achievements. I'm going to say it once and for all... The classroom is just not the place for food anymore.

So, food allergic parents, we need to stop apologizing and feeling guilt for protecting our child's life. It is expected of you as the guardian of your child's life and wellbeing. And, non-food allergic parents, you are blessed not to face this challenge, and please be patient with us as we do. Let's work together to create a safe and happy environment for all children to learn and grow.

Again I would love to hear your thoughts, I am sure there is much to be learned and considered.

What am I so afraid of?

 

The last year of my life has been so different than anything I've ever experienced. It feels like the rug was pulled out from under me but I still haven't hit the floor. I've been waiting for things to finally settle. I've been waiting for the thud, but instead I seem to be moving in slow motion not sure what to grab onto to prevent the crash. Don't get me wrong, my life is incredibly beautiful. I look about and can see rich blessings everywhere I turn. And on a day to day basis I am happy and hopeful and content. But, last night it hit me... I'm scared of so many things. At first when I realized this I was annoyed by my weakness, but then It came to my mind that if I wasn't growing and learning and changing I would have nothing to fear. So, what is it you ask that haunts my thoughts as I sweep the floors and do the dishes? What is it that creeps into the shadows of my dreams? I am afraid that I will not be able to provide the full and wonderful life my sweet daughter deserves. I am afraid I will fail at being successful, and I'll have to face giving up on building my own business. I am afraid that people wont understand that even a trace amount of a peanut can kill my daughter. I'm afraid of putting myself out there for people I don't know, or maybe even worse that I do know, to see me for who I really am. I'm afraid to speak out about something I am so passionate about, and to have it rejected. I'm afraid to speak up and educate people about food allergies because I don't want my actions to cause Mazzy any harm, such as bullying or exclusion from activities. I'm afraid say to much and risk annoying others or being a burden. When I look at this list I can't help but think of the scripture

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)

As I switch my mind set into this new perspective I find great wisdom and comfort. It is out of pure love for my daughter that I have started this journey, and those that don't see it that way are just not in a place to truly understand what I am facing. I am ready to take hold of the power I do have to protect her, and hope to be of sound mind as I go forth to do so. I am ready to speak for her when she cannot, and will be there as she learns to navigate and accept the challenges that come with a food allergy. I am ready to extend an arm of love and support for those that have not been able to find it elsewhere, or are fighting a battle to further the cause at the cost of their own strength. I am ready to show and learn from my vulnerabilities in order to help others find their way down the right path.

As I do this I cannot guarantee to always be right, I still have a lot to learn. And I cannot guarantee I wont stumble and be fearful again. But to those of you that understand the challenges I am facing I am hopeful that we can come together to support and guide each other. And to those of you that don't understand, and may find my constant push for this cause an annoyance, please understand it is my child's life at stake, and you would do the same.

So for now I plan to push forward. I will look for every opportunity I can to speak up at church, through the schools, at community functions etc... You will see me with my little booth complete with safe "treats" and a demonstration on cross contamination. I will post everything I find informative and useful on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and any other SM outlet I think might get some attention. I will continue to create awareness t-shirts for my little lady to wear to help keep her safe. I promise to be "That Mom" Because for every person that I can reach and educate there is one more child that is a little bit safer. The more I talk, the more people will understand, and the safer our children will be.

Join me in my cause....

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The Case of the Frozen Epi....

 

It all started one evening that was much like any other evening. The Hubs and I had just returned from the grocery store, and little miss was in a state of tragic exhaustion. As you know, when two year olds get tired, they also get very irritable, and when a two year old gets irritable they are very good at expressing said irritation. So my Mom brain instantly switches to survive until she's in sleep mode. The plan...I take Mazzy into the house kicking and screaming, preferably without injury to either one of us. Pin her down long enough to change into p.j.s, and snuggle her to sleep. While I'm doing this my sweetheart has volunteered to carry in the groceries. After a hectic 45 min. little lady is sleeping, and my sweetie and I are headed to bed ourselves.

So, here in Utah it is very cold in the winter. It often gets down into to teens during the night. In fact on the night of this incident I believe the low was about 15 degrees. And, as anyone with an epi pen knows, it should not be allowed to get below 67 degrees.

When I woke up the next morning it just felt like a good day. The sky was blue, and the ground a crisp and sparkly white from a light dusting of snow. Mazzy woke in a sweet and excited mood, I was having a particularly good hair day, and my darling was giggling and teasing with Mazzy while I got ready to go to our Sunday services. I was just thinking to myself what a lovely morning we are having when I reached for my lip gloss...where is it? Oh! I left it in my purse...where is my purse? After marching between my different "purse spots" several times, I finally stopped and let the dred set in. The only place I hadn't checked was the car. Without even putting a coat on, I slipped my husbands giant snow boots on and clumsily tromped out to our car. With a groan I saw it there on the other side of the car seat. My purse/ the epi pens had officially spent the night in the car freezing. It's okay, I got this I told myself...the pharmacy has another rx on file. I'll just run pick it up, and we'll be off to church as usual.  This might have been the case if our insurance hadn't just switched, but after 2 hours trying to track down our new insurance number on a Sunday, and a couple trips to the pharmacy to sort things out we still didn't have all the info we needed, and would have to wait until our insurance opened back up on Monday. The thought of living with out an epi for 24 hours terrified me.

 Mazzy stayed with us in the adult classes that Sunday, and had to miss out on her beloved nursery. And then the family party later on was an even bigger source of anxiety than usual. When it all comes down to it we were able to replace the epi's. But, I definitely learned a couple gems of wisdom in the whole fiasco of it all...

1. Have a set of "take along" epi's that stay with us on our outings. As well as a back up set that stays home in a temp controlled medicine cabinet.

2. We are so blessed to have insurance. The cash price of $876.00 almost made me faint when I heard it. My heart goes out to those that struggle to find a way of having this life saving medication on hand.

3. I need to find a way on reminding myself, even in the hectic moments, to make sure the epi's are accounted for and usable. I set an alarm on my phone. Here's to hoping that works.

And last, I learned that if my husband and I work together as a team we can take the steps needed to keep our most precious treasure safe.

The End.

What clever ways have you come up with to keep your epi's close at hand? Please tell me I'm not the only one that struggles with this. Let us know in the comment,s or on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Talk-For-Me-Tees/215850248581440

New Graphic Available from Talk For Me Tee's!

Ta Da!! New graphic ready to go. SO excited to get this one out there. Mazzy was so pleased with her new shirt I had to bribe her to take it off for her bath. My Mom and I started this line of graphic t-shirts to help alert people of Mazzy's allergy...But we quickly realized it is so much more powerful than that. These t-shirts start a conversation, and give us the opportunity to help educate and raise awareness. Find our shirts in our Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/TalkForMeTees?ref=si_shop. Will also be available on Amazon soon.

The Lessons of 2013

Well we have officially been a "Food Allergy Family" for a year now, and I have certainly learned a lot in the last 12 months. It seems appropriate to make note of some of these lessons as the new year approaches. Hopefully someone out there will find some wisdom here that will help them as they navigate the world of allergies. I have narrowed it down to my top 5 (in no particular order)...

1. I am surrounded by wonderful and loving people! So many people have gone above and beyond to help keep my little lady safe. My Mom went through her cupboards and threw out anything peanut, or processed with peanuts or tree nuts. The nursery leader at our church not only switched out the snacks, educated all adults that would be using the space and supplies, and made sure all those that would be around my Mazzy were trained to recognize a reaction and could use an epi pen. He then went through and cleaned all the toys to insure no residue from previous use was possible! And a  good friend of ours only packs safe snacks for her little one so they can safely share a treat. Just a few examples of the kind acts that have made my life a little sweeter this year.

2. What would I do without the internet?! My hat is off to all those that had to face the world of a food allergy before the internet, and more specific labeling practices. Armed with my smart phone I head out the door on a regular bases ready to pull up allergen menus and product info at the drop of a hat. I can't tell you how many times I've googled this year. Not to mention the incredibly valuable support system I find in the many blogs, forums, and groups scattered about. The internet is such a powerful tool for us to utilize as we strive to get the word out, and educate people about this growing issue. Yay internet!!

3. I can be creative! I'm not just going to tuck my tail and run from some silly food allergy, and I don't want Mazzy to ever feel like she should either. With great products out there like Sun Cups and Skeeter Snacks we are able to enjoy a yummy treat with the best of them. Hand me a recipe and I can substitute it to peanut friendly perfection. I read the things other parents go through to create milk, egg, or gluten free goodies in awe.  Things are just getting going, and I'm sure I'll need to keep my creative thinking cap active as we face our little obstacles here and there.

4. Get Involved. I'll be the first one to admit I have found my patience more than tried when people just don't seem to understand... Like when someone puts leftover peanut butter bars on my plate of safe cookies I planned to take home. Or when I go to another party where the same beloved family member has forgotten to check the ingredients, and always manages to buy something that isn't safe. So, instead of just heading home and grumbling about it to my husband I decided I need to be more involved in the solution. Make T-shirts, start a blog, have a Facebook interest page, create a Pinterest board, volunteer to do a presentation for the PTA, ask to be on the food committee for community or church functions...JUST DO SOMETHING! Because the more we talk, the better people will understand, and the safer our children will be.

5. We can do this!! When we got the official peanut allergy diagnosis I didn't have any idea how much my life would really change. But, to be honest if I look at the bright side our whole family is healthier and more aware than ever. We cook more whole food from scratch now, instead of buying boxed up processed stuff. And eating out is a rare and planned event rather than a quick impromptu meal. Also my Mom and I have started a line of baby and toddler t-shirts to help raise awareness. And as a family we have started to focus our celebrations and holidays on non food activities cutting out loads of junk food.

In all this has been a tremendous year of growth for us, and I have much to be very grateful for. So here's to the year 2014. I can't wait to see what adventures you have in store for us!!

Because I'm A Grandma

     Dealing with a food allergy is a family affair!  Not only does it have an impact on the child with the food allergy, their parents and siblings it also impacts grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and even the family dog.  No more peanut butter doggie treats for Kookie. 
     Let me introduce myself.  My name is Jeanne, or more affectionately known as Grandma Jeanne.  I will be posting on this blog along with my daughter Jodi.  Our perspectives will differ but our concerns and motivation will be the same.  We want to make life better and easier for little Mazzy Mae as she deals with a peanut allergy and as we do we want to reach out and  share what we learn with others who have kiddos with food allergies.  I have 13 grandchildren right now and will be welcoming another one in April.  They range in age from 21 to 18 months.  Right now there are 8 boys and 5 girls. The one on the way will be kept a secret until it is born. 
     With twenty-one years of experience as a grandmother I have learned a lot.  I know how to quiet a crying baby,  build a fort for four year old twins, patch a torn football jersey,  backpack in the wilderness with teenage boys, have an indoor hot dog roast by the wood burning stove and a camp out on the living room floor, give advice about girls, give advice about boys, take their side when they need someone too, attend a concert, attend a wrestling match, attend a primary program, attend a soccer game... I know how to do so many wonderful things because I am lucky enough to be called Grandma.  Now I am learning how to do something else.  I am learning how to understand and live with a food allergy.
      Bright, beautiful, and simply perfect (as may I add are all my grandchildren) little Mazzy Mae is helping me to understand and empathize with families and children who are dealing with a food allergy.
      Since we found out about Mazzy's peanut allergy my eating and shopping habits have changed.  The first thing I did was remove all, yes all, food items in my house that contained peanuts, or were processed in a plant that also processed peanuts.  Next I began reading the labels of everything that I purchased and brought into my house.  No more peanut butter for sure, but also no more of many other items that I had never realized would be a problem.  Cereals, granola bars, cake and brownie mixes, breads, all bakery and deli items; the list goes on and on.  Does it sound hard?  Yes, but it is so doable and such a small effort to make to help ensure Mazzy's safety.
      I have put fences around my yard, acted as lifeguard for my pool, buckled car seats into my car, bought helmets for the bikes, said be careful and look both ways more times than I can count
... and I will  learn everything I can about food allergies!  After all, life isn't all about food, and it can be wonderful with or without that peanut topped doughnut. 
     We hope you will join us on our journey as we strive to make this blog a place where food allergies take a backseat and experiencing life with our wonderful children and grandchildren takes center stage!  I am looking forward to sharing, growing, and learning together.