Wow, where did the time fly by??
Oh wait, I know. For 2.5 weeks, awhile back (as posted, earlier) Husband and I were treating the kids for lice, meaning daily combing for nits, and once a week treatments for two weeks with chemicals. Then immediately following those 2.5 weeks, both kids came down with a virus, and then Husband and I caught the virus too, resulting in me (mostly) getting into coughing fits. 1.5 bottles of Robitussin and some Tylenol Cold tablets later, plus an almost empty bag of Halls candy, I am finally nearing the end of my coughing fits. This is now at 3+ weeks later (I think actually 4 weeks now). Husband suggested that I may have Bronchitis, but it's definitely not. It's just now an annoying cough that won't go away. So now that I've explained my Internet abscence, what has been going on, on the familial front?
Neighbourhood Changes:
Just recently, a giant property several houses away was just sold, most likely to a developer. You see, the giant lot can be subdivided into 6 lots (at the most)... It is an incredibly large piece of property, with a small little old house in the middle of it. We are now anticipating a lot of construction and/or digging once the permits are approved, to subdivide and build. Underground utilities will need to be put in, etc, so... I guess in mid-ish 2016 there will be a lot of traffic disruptions down the street from us! I wonder what the houses will look like. Will they be duplexes? Monster homes? Will all six houses look the same? Will there be 6 homes or less??
Christmas!
Usually we would be finished with our Christmas shopping this year, but we've been slow at it, for the reasons above (lice and sick). We still have more to buy and it will take some time for us to get to some shopping, since both Husband and I dislike shopping on the weekends at the mall, during holiday-time. We are half-way done, though, which I am happy with, seeing that just last week, we were only at 10% done.
Anyway, aside from Christmas spending (ahem, shopping, I mean), there will be some other things to look forward to, this December. N will be getting blood-tested for his allergies, so that will be interesting to see / learn about in the new year. And today, B will be singing at her school's Christmas concert. It's been decades since I've seen any kind of elementary school concert, so I'll be looking forward to it. The anticipation of it, certainly is a lot different as a parent, vs child-participant!
Also, Husband and B will have 2 weeks away from work and school for the Christmas break, and I'm looking forward to having B back at home with me, like it was last year before she started Kindergarten. I've certainly missed her presence since she started school! And it will definitely be nice to have some time with the Husband too, where work won't be interfering with anything for two full weeks! Hooray to Christmas breaks!!
And that's it for this update! Hopefully I will have time to post once or twice more, before the new year dawns! Sayonara, for now!
Showing posts with label Allergies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Allergies. Show all posts
December 10, 2015
November 17, 2015
Break in the Clouds?
Break in the Clouds?
We are now lice-free for 1.5 weeks! Yay!
Also, the Little Guy's digestive system has improved (although still needs more improvement). We've cut out all soy from the kiddo's diet, which is actually more difficult than originally thought, because apparently a lot of baked goods, snacks, and processed foods have added soy in them, like soy protein, soybean oil, etc.. So I'm pretty much dedicating a good amount of time to baking and improvising breakfast and snack foods for him. We are also currently on the lookout for soy-free, dairy-free, egg-free butter-substitute (for baking), as well as shortening for baking (all shortenings, that I have found, contain soy). Also, all the coconut oil containers in my local supermarket say "processed in a plant that also processes peanuts" (or some variation of that phrase).
We tried to re-introduce baked eggs and milk, after the digestive issues cleared up, but things got a tad mushy again, so we will be cutting out the baked milk and egg again, and working on a tolerance test... how much baked egg, and what quantities of baked milk are ok? Everything is pretty much a guessing game now, regarding his tolerance levels. The one good thing about Little Guy's new restricted diet is that both he and his sister get to eat some freshly baked goods, rather than store-bought baked goods.
Lull in the Storm?
Recently Little Guy has been breaking out in hives at his sister's elementary school, during pick-up time. We are usually there for about 10 minutes, maybe 15 minutes, and he will develop hives on his face. This has happened only a handful of times, but enough times that it is concerning. I have a theory as to what it is, but I'm not going to test it.
In a few weeks, the Little Guy will see the Allergist. We have a long list of things to discuss with the Allergist...
Also, in a few weeks, we will receive Little Lady's first-term report card for Kindergarten. I wonder what it will say?
We are now lice-free for 1.5 weeks! Yay!
Also, the Little Guy's digestive system has improved (although still needs more improvement). We've cut out all soy from the kiddo's diet, which is actually more difficult than originally thought, because apparently a lot of baked goods, snacks, and processed foods have added soy in them, like soy protein, soybean oil, etc.. So I'm pretty much dedicating a good amount of time to baking and improvising breakfast and snack foods for him. We are also currently on the lookout for soy-free, dairy-free, egg-free butter-substitute (for baking), as well as shortening for baking (all shortenings, that I have found, contain soy). Also, all the coconut oil containers in my local supermarket say "processed in a plant that also processes peanuts" (or some variation of that phrase).
We tried to re-introduce baked eggs and milk, after the digestive issues cleared up, but things got a tad mushy again, so we will be cutting out the baked milk and egg again, and working on a tolerance test... how much baked egg, and what quantities of baked milk are ok? Everything is pretty much a guessing game now, regarding his tolerance levels. The one good thing about Little Guy's new restricted diet is that both he and his sister get to eat some freshly baked goods, rather than store-bought baked goods.
Lull in the Storm?
Recently Little Guy has been breaking out in hives at his sister's elementary school, during pick-up time. We are usually there for about 10 minutes, maybe 15 minutes, and he will develop hives on his face. This has happened only a handful of times, but enough times that it is concerning. I have a theory as to what it is, but I'm not going to test it.
In a few weeks, the Little Guy will see the Allergist. We have a long list of things to discuss with the Allergist...
Also, in a few weeks, we will receive Little Lady's first-term report card for Kindergarten. I wonder what it will say?
October 21, 2015
Toddler Health
For the past few months little N's digestive system hasn't been up to par, so for several weeks we've started an elimination diet. Firstly we've eliminated all dairy and egg sources, therefore no muffins, cookies, or other baked goods that contain egg or dairy. There's been no improvement.
We are now cutting out soy products. No soy-anything, which I am finding sad and difficult to do in his diet. This limits his Asian food, and even more (store-bought) baked items, since right now he is also avoiding egg and dairy everything. I am so glad that he likes rice, though, because that will be his go-to starch from now on (if it wasn't already).
To accommodate his new diet, I am now baking him "special" foods. Special muffins, special cake, special cookies, etc.. I am hoping that he is young enough that he doesn't feel that he is left out of too much eating choices. So what is special about these homemade baked items? I substitute everything... substitute the egg, dairy, and milk. My kitchen now has an assortment of vegan items, like vegan butter blocks for baking, vegan butter-type spread, even some vegan muffins since they contain no dairy or egg.
We began this diet on Monday, and it should be done for a full two weeks, for us to notice a difference. If there is no difference, then we move onto the next elimination. I am hoping that the issue is soy, because the next elimination will be even more tough. Keep your fingers crossed that we figure this out soon!
We are now cutting out soy products. No soy-anything, which I am finding sad and difficult to do in his diet. This limits his Asian food, and even more (store-bought) baked items, since right now he is also avoiding egg and dairy everything. I am so glad that he likes rice, though, because that will be his go-to starch from now on (if it wasn't already).
To accommodate his new diet, I am now baking him "special" foods. Special muffins, special cake, special cookies, etc.. I am hoping that he is young enough that he doesn't feel that he is left out of too much eating choices. So what is special about these homemade baked items? I substitute everything... substitute the egg, dairy, and milk. My kitchen now has an assortment of vegan items, like vegan butter blocks for baking, vegan butter-type spread, even some vegan muffins since they contain no dairy or egg.
We began this diet on Monday, and it should be done for a full two weeks, for us to notice a difference. If there is no difference, then we move onto the next elimination. I am hoping that the issue is soy, because the next elimination will be even more tough. Keep your fingers crossed that we figure this out soon!
March 21, 2014
A Long-Awaited Post (sort of)
It's been months since my last post. Since then, my oldest Sis has returned from New Zealand with tales, and souvenirs from Middle Earth. Sis #2 has also returned for a 1 week visit, sporting a fashionable belly bump! And Twin Sis's family and my family are suffering and/or recovering from a miserable virus that is mostly affecting the kiddos. Oh Joy!! Oh, and last but not least, BIL and family have returned from Japan, with many pics and videos of a family wedding/reunion.
On the home-front, we've had our confirmation from our Allergist, that Baby N is indeed allergic to cow's milk protein. Recently we've also learned of his allergy to eggs when we fed him scrambled eggs, one evening, for dinner. The results were miserable. The solution - avoid feeding the kiddo any cow's milk or egg - and carry an epipen and Claritin/Benadryl at all times as these are "life-threatening" allergies. Sadness for all of us.
The bright spot to this, is that cooking the proteins at high temperatures, for a lengthy period of time, alters the protein enough that Baby N will tolerate it. This means, he can have baked goods, with no reaction. However, stove-top cooking is NOT enough to change the protein. It must be at a high temperature for a lengthy period of time. At least Baby N is not allergic to wheat/gluten! We have not tested him for any additional allergies, though, including strawberries, shellfish, or nuts. We'll just play it safe for now, since his older sis B was allergic to strawberries and shellfish when she was a babe.
At least we now have answers, and we know what can be safely fed to the little guy. We also have hope that these allergies will be outgrown, eventually. When, exactly, is a mystery, but hopefully he will outgrow them before he reaches 2-digit numbers in age!
On the home-front, we've had our confirmation from our Allergist, that Baby N is indeed allergic to cow's milk protein. Recently we've also learned of his allergy to eggs when we fed him scrambled eggs, one evening, for dinner. The results were miserable. The solution - avoid feeding the kiddo any cow's milk or egg - and carry an epipen and Claritin/Benadryl at all times as these are "life-threatening" allergies. Sadness for all of us.
The bright spot to this, is that cooking the proteins at high temperatures, for a lengthy period of time, alters the protein enough that Baby N will tolerate it. This means, he can have baked goods, with no reaction. However, stove-top cooking is NOT enough to change the protein. It must be at a high temperature for a lengthy period of time. At least Baby N is not allergic to wheat/gluten! We have not tested him for any additional allergies, though, including strawberries, shellfish, or nuts. We'll just play it safe for now, since his older sis B was allergic to strawberries and shellfish when she was a babe.
At least we now have answers, and we know what can be safely fed to the little guy. We also have hope that these allergies will be outgrown, eventually. When, exactly, is a mystery, but hopefully he will outgrow them before he reaches 2-digit numbers in age!
November 25, 2013
Baby Allergies
The saga of food intolerances and allergies continues in Baby N.
A few weeks ago we tried giving Baby N some cow's milk-based formula. He developed hives all over his face, his eyes puffed up. It was bad, like we-probably-should-have-taken-him-to-the-hospital-bad (but we didn't because he was acting okay, and his breathing was okay) We gave him infant/children's Benadryl throughout the day, and the next day too. No more cow's milk formula for you!
Soy formula? We stopped that months ago because we noticed that as we increased the amount of soy formula we fed him, that he was developing a diaper rash. His eczema never really went away either until we finally stopped feeding him any formula.
Hopefully in a few weeks we will have a referral to an allergist, to have Baby N tested for cow's milk, soy, and whatever else the doctor decides he should be tested for (maybe rice, and corn?). In the meantime, I've increased my pumping again, in order to exclusively feed N breastmilk. I am again, sleep deprived on a continuous basis, since I am pumping every 3 hours again, but Baby N is happy, and mostly eczema free and diaper-rash free.
In any case, the more I read about allergies in babies, the more complicated it gets. Dr Google and baby-forums have a lot of information about possible allergens related to baby formula. It's a good thing I'm not a hypochondriac. Dr Google can make any parent nervous with tales and stories of worst-case scenarios, and what-ifs. I'm just glad that, allergies and food-intolerances aside, that Baby N is otherwise happy and healthy!
A few weeks ago we tried giving Baby N some cow's milk-based formula. He developed hives all over his face, his eyes puffed up. It was bad, like we-probably-should-have-taken-him-to-the-hospital-bad (but we didn't because he was acting okay, and his breathing was okay) We gave him infant/children's Benadryl throughout the day, and the next day too. No more cow's milk formula for you!
Soy formula? We stopped that months ago because we noticed that as we increased the amount of soy formula we fed him, that he was developing a diaper rash. His eczema never really went away either until we finally stopped feeding him any formula.
Hopefully in a few weeks we will have a referral to an allergist, to have Baby N tested for cow's milk, soy, and whatever else the doctor decides he should be tested for (maybe rice, and corn?). In the meantime, I've increased my pumping again, in order to exclusively feed N breastmilk. I am again, sleep deprived on a continuous basis, since I am pumping every 3 hours again, but Baby N is happy, and mostly eczema free and diaper-rash free.
In any case, the more I read about allergies in babies, the more complicated it gets. Dr Google and baby-forums have a lot of information about possible allergens related to baby formula. It's a good thing I'm not a hypochondriac. Dr Google can make any parent nervous with tales and stories of worst-case scenarios, and what-ifs. I'm just glad that, allergies and food-intolerances aside, that Baby N is otherwise happy and healthy!
July 07, 2010
Baby Allergies
Poor baby is allergic to cow's milk formula... her little digestive tract can't digest the protein in the milk, and it creates a terrible diaper rash when she poops!!
We've switched to soy milk formula and the diaper rash is almost gone! Yay! Two things about the soy milk formula, though... it smells kinda funny (cow's milk formula smells better)... and the second thing is that I think the soy formula is giving the baby a lot of gas!!
Hopefully baby will outgrow the allergy and we can re-introduce the cow's milk formula to her later!!
We've switched to soy milk formula and the diaper rash is almost gone! Yay! Two things about the soy milk formula, though... it smells kinda funny (cow's milk formula smells better)... and the second thing is that I think the soy formula is giving the baby a lot of gas!!
Hopefully baby will outgrow the allergy and we can re-introduce the cow's milk formula to her later!!
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