Abbie's Journey Continues

Well, as I said yesterday...there is more...much more!

So, after the diagnosis and learning how to use an Epi-Pen and understanding a food allergy action plan I decided I needed to immerse myself and learn all that I can. Boy, the more I read...the scarier it became. Let's just say that we ate out alot!

With the help of the internet and lots of good stuff from the doctor, I set out to learn as much as I could. I also had to educate my husband and my family. My husband was easy. He loves to research stuff on the internet and started out scared to death of her when she was born! It's not just...no she can't eat peanut butter. The first thing I did is cleaned out my refrigerator and the pantry. My work friends were quite happy about that :)

Some basics for you:
When a child is truly allegic they can't have the food item nor any thing that comes in contact with safe food. So, just because a certain brand of nutragrain bars don't have nuts in them, they are made on equipment that also makes other products that do contain peanuts. Many generic brands are out for us because of this. There is a law that requires companies to actually put a label on food that contains the "big 8" food allergens. Many companies also put a "may contain" statement. This is extremely helpful and should be heeded at all costs. There is research that says only a small percentage actually contain the allergen, but do you want to take a chance with your child's life?

Cross-contamination...this is huge! you know that baking stone you have from Pampered Chef?? You can pitch it. Anything that bakes in can contaminate your child's food. You must be very careful, especially if you don't decide to make your home a safe zone for your child. So, if you have an egg allergic child you CAN NOT cut your sandwich with mayo on it to then cut her sandwich...you've just contaminated her food. Cleaning your kitchen workspace and always using clean utensils is first and foremost thing to remember.

My first mistake as a new mom with a food allergic child happened very soon after her diagnosis. I made chili and laid out saltine crackers that had been in the freezer...my mom gave her a cracker on her tray and she took a bite...one little bite. I completely freaked out after I checked the box! They had a "may contain" statement on there. Luckily, we came out unscathed..but it made me so much more vigilant. Of course I cried and cried...thinking what have I done! But, thankfully, God watched over her and I learned an invaluable lesson that night. The second lesson I learned was that my family doesn't really get it. More on that tomorrow!

Welcome to my brand new blog!

This is somewhat new to me. I had to blog for my last college class...I am taking classes to complete my bachelor's degree in all my spare time. So, I wanted to begin documenting my family's experiences for myself, but also for my daughter Abbie. I would hope that it might help her realize how special she is someday...rather than how different she is.

Let me begin with how little Abbie, now 2, came into this world. I was about 27 weeks pregnant when things began to go awry. I was rushed to Norton Suburban Hospital in Louisville with pre-term labor(which by the way, if you need it...it was a wonderful hospital according to my family. I don't remember much about it!) I was transferred back to the Womens' Hospital in Evansville, once stable, due to insurance grumblings...which was also a great hospital! Long story short and 3 hospital stays, Abbie was born during an emergency C-section 7 weeks early. 4lbs 1 oz, 14 inches long. She was intubated and had umbilical lines/feeding tubes. But, early on...she was a fighter. Very stubborn! We were prepared for her to be intubated up to several days and in 24 hours she was breathing on her own! She had trouble feeding so her weight was giving us trouble. But, after 3 short weeks, she got to come home with some extra equipment...She was high risk for infection due to respiratory problems so we didn't go out alot..which is still true 2 years later. She hasn't been to Wal-Mart since early October!

With her feeding trouble...it led us to Alimentum formula because I had nursing difficulties. After lots of reading, I have found many food allergy kids end up on this formula or Neocate I believe. So, I guess that is foreshadowing without knowing it, right?!

Now, on to her food allergies! On August 18, 2008 Abbie was given a bite of a daycare teacher's Payday Candy bar...now, this is wrong on a host of things, you are thinking right?? Peanuts are a choking hazard number 1! Sharing food...ick! Anyway, I work rather long hours at the time...which I will get into later but I picked her up early that day. When I picked her up, her regular teacher wasn't there and I asked if she was ok because her eyes were red and runny. Fran just said, Well, I guess she is ok, she didn't nap at all for us though...which is odd too. She usually slept fairly well. I thought, well maybe she has pink eye.

I also drive an hour to and from work at the time...so I was in Henderson, Ky which is about 1/2 way in either direction for me. I was growing concerned because her fussiness had turned in to full blown crying. I was about 10 minutes farther when I called my husband and told him that something seemed very, very wrong with her. She was screaming and digging at her ears and face. I still had no clue about what was happening, but that an ear infection or pink eye just doesn't come on this fast.

I get to my city and decide to go to Urgent Care because of my job...I steer clear of hospitals at ALL costs! I sign in and decide to call the daycare and ask a few more questions and they couldn't answer any of them...Once she started wheezing and coughing up phlegm I then decide to call my daycare main teacher...I have her number because she watches her on the side sometimes. She at first says nope...nothing unusual. She then calls back to report about the Payday CandyBar. OMG!!!! You did what????

I get up, tell them I am going to the ER...call my husband and freak him the heck out... The ER is across the street, so I walk in the triage around everyone in line waiting to sign in. Luckily, I had worked there for 7 years in a previous life and she knew me. I got right back. I have to say that this was the fastest service I have EVER seen in an ER! Within 10 minutes, we were registered, triaged, seen an RN and a MD with meds. They really saved her life. We walked out with an Epi pen. Epi What? I cried. I was overwhelmed. What was I supposed to do? I am the calm one when it comes to medical stuff. I have been in the medical field since 1995...I've never had to worry...we've all been fairly healthy.

We went to the pediatrician the next day and left with as many questions as answers. Luckily, we were referred to Dr. McLaughlin the same week. Let me say, she is wonderful. The entire office is great! She took lots of time with me. I have to say that I haven't cried during many appointments, but I cried there. I can remember it like it was yesterday. Abbie, normally very laid back and well-behaved, was an absolute tyrant. Now, knowing so much more, she still had lots of steroids in her system along with a major aversion to doctors (3rd doctor in like 3 days!) just didn't want to do it. So, she gave me some time to ingest it and the only thing she asked me was, Do you feel overwhelmed? Are you scared? OF COURSE! She said, good. This means that you get it. It means that you know that this is a deal changer. It changes the course of your family's lives. She gave me a return appointment in 2 weeks so that I could try to relax and soak in what she'd tried to tell me and to get lab results back...

Lab Results...ugh. A) she had to be stuck...B) I'm scared of what else she could be allergic to!

Lab Results...yep...she is allergic to more than just peanuts. Peanuts, Tree nuts, Eggs, Sesame Seeds...she also tested high on some other things, but her philosophy was to not remove them from her diet if it wasn't causing issues. So, we got to keep wheat! Little did I know, what a great thing that was.

I'll leave you tonight. I have many many more experiences, but I sure don't want to bore you to death in one post!