Allergies List

I have been hoping for several years to have the kids allergy tested but have not had the financial resources (or insurance) and access to testing at the same time until now. When I discovered that there was testing available in-country, I slowly moved it up the priority list until we were able to take all four kids and get it done.

As background, we have two children who took two years to potty train, due to food sensitivities that I suspected were allergies (their allergies present as digestive issues), and ZL, in particular, but all of our children, really, have had more severe diaper rashes, obviously related to what they'd been eating. I really wanted to know what was necessary to avoid and what we didn't have to worry about, so off to the doctor we went.

Here is the list of allergens we returned with. The asterisks indicate severe allergy.

MS:
Almonds
Hazelnuts
*Melons
Latex
*Egg Whites
*Walnuts

JW:
Garlic
Bananas
*Strawberries
Tuna

MA:
*Carrots
Soy
Almonds
Hazelnuts
Tuna
Cow Milk
Walnuts

ZL:
Carrots
Almonds
Hazelnuts
Peanuts
Egg Whites
Cow Milk
Walnuts
Watermelon

Although we have not had an anaphylactic reaction to date, the doctor was concerned enough about MS's and ZL's egg white allergies that he asked us to have Epi Pens available for them. An severe allergen can cause a reaction the 1st, 100th or 1,000th time it is ingested, so we chose to play it safe and have my dad bring two Pens with him when he came to visit recently (brother-in-law doctors and hometown, friend-owned pharmacies are really a blessing).

At this point, we're avoiding all allergens (as much as possible, because occasionally we forget). We may do this for up to three months, so that their systems can be clear of allergens before we start re-introducing and looking for reactions.

We have purchased Rice Milk (mainly for MA to use on cereal; ZL still eats his dry when we have it) and started using flax meal and water as an egg replacement and have begun picking cheese off of pizza. Not simple, but not the end of the world, and we are hoping for fewer stomach aches and diaper rashes as a result.

Patriotic Playlist

In honor of the Fourth of July, I created a Patriotic Playlist for us to listen to in the car today as we traveled to the capital and back. My hope is to make a tradition of listening to it yearly and maybe as we arrive in the States each time.

All of these were purchased on iTunes.

1. The Pledge of Allegiance - Peter Pan Kids: I thought it would be good to familiarize the kids with the Pledge. We'll probably work on memorizing it this next year as we study the second half of American history.
2. America the Beautiful - American Military Band: an instrumental version
3. This Land Is Your Land - Peter, Paul and Mary
4. God Bless America - Celine Dion
5. You're a Grand Old Flag - The Hit Crew
6. Star Spangled Banner - Cactus Cuties: I was pumped to see this version offered on iTunes. I'd seen the video on YouTube from a link my mom e-mailed to me. I don't get into cheesy video e-mail links that often (well, actually, people have stopped sending them, but that's a direct correlation to my desire to watch them), but this one I was impressed with. Those girls can sing!
7. God Bless the U.S.A. - Lee Greenwood
8. America the Beautiful - Patriotic Songs of America
9. Semper Fidelis - American Military Band

I also bought three Adventures in Odyssey episodes related to patriotic topics. We've never gotten into AIO, other than some freebie CD's from Chick-fil-A, but these added a fun facet to our celebration of the day. I may get their other holiday ones, too.
1. By Dawn's Early Light
2. The Day Independence Came
3. The Midnight Ride