24 Hours of Firsts

First bee sting (and thankfully not allergic!). AND amazingly enough, I have never had a bee sting nor have I ever cared for anybody with a bee sting. So we are thankful for neighbors who are always a phone call away ;)

First time fishing underwear out of the toilet. Not asking how. But lesson learned - we don't put things in the toilet. First fishing out of "stuff" from the toilet is complimentary. NEXT time dear child, it's on you to fish whatever you threw in the water out of the water!

First time washing Lydia's big girl sheets just because it's been a week and a half since I changed her sheets! Not wet with urine. Not poopy. Just dirty from daily use ;) Celebrate!!!!!!!!!!

And last night, we went to Goodberry's. First time we have gone with our not peanut allergic child. So our frozen custard treat was made on the machines directly infront of the window and I lifted Lydia up to watch. She thought this was the greatest thing EVER! In proper Goodberry's fashion when our treat was served to us, the treat is tipped over, and then handed to us. Lydia thought this was pretty neat. We talked about it but I didn't think a thing about it. We drove home in the 90 degree heat and ofcourse our treat melted just a bit. I gave Lydia her bowl of frozen custard and she promptly poured it out. In slow motion just watching her sweet goodness dribble out of the bowl, on to her pretty dress, all over the seat, and down to the carpet. I would like to say a lesson was learned but nope. Lydia's viewpoint on the entire situation "magic ice-cream". Yep it's magical - or something like that!

Hello Chocolate!

The worst thing (well, for Mom mainly!) about Lydia's peanut allergy was the lack of good chocolate. M&M's - may contain peanuts. Resees Cups - contain peanuts (DUH!). Kit Kat Bars - may contain peanuts.

James really missed frequent trips to Five Guys. Which I seriously never understood this one there is a Five Guys near his office and he is eating lunch away from Lydia five out of seven days, so...

Last weekend Lydia went to Five Guys with her Dad. My comfort level really wasn't to the point of "let's eat peanuts and sit at the dusty peanut laden tables". So we ordered our food, Lydia sat in my lap while we waited for food and watched at the counter while her food was made, and then we took our food back to our basically peanut free house. Did I mention how long I have avoided peanuts like the plague???

That night James bought Reeses cups home AND gave me a hard time about being over protective. This is why God gives children two parents. The next day Lydia got to eat her first Reeses cup - and she was a fan!

We can safely say that Lydia likes chocolate. Any type. Five Guys is a pretty tasty place for her. And I ordered food for her and out of habit asked the waiter to place an allergy alert on the meal. Oops - we are getting there!

Its Official!

It's official. Lydia is no longer allergic to peanuts! James and I were thinking that there was a chance that she was no longer allergic to peanuts. We were thinking maybe we have just become better at avoiding peanuts, washing our hands, etc... or if maybe she was one of the very few that actually outgrow allergies. 

Getting ready! 

Ofcourse Lydia could not touch her back but she NEEDED to know what was happening. So I took pictures. On your right is the positive and negative histamine. Your top left thankfully not visible is the first peanut skin test. Your bottom left also still not visible is the second peanut skin test. 

Starting the oral food challenge - she was quite excited to send her Dad a message on her phone! 

In the process of the oral food challenge (it was lunch time!). 

24 hours after the oral food challenge (which is misery at lunch/nap time in a doctor's exam room with a newly potty trained little girl) no reaction to the 2.5tbs of peanut butter that she ate! 

Initially James and I were very excited on this new lease on life. We had grand plans of taking her for dessert and to peanut laden restaurants. I have a cookie recipe that I received a year ago, for whatever reason I have kept the recipe thinking to myself "maybe". After the initial excitement we realized that is a very scary thing to do (we have spent the past 14 months avoiding all things peanut and to just start feeding our daughter peanuts - well it is a little nerve racking). So we will face our fears and have a peanut butter sandwich next week with Lydia but for today I think we will just look at the yummy cookie recipe, keep her labeled as "peanut allergy" at church for a couple more weeks, and  push our peanut butter sandwich lunch off until next week. James and I need to be more mentally prepared ;) 

All that aside, peanut allergy or not, we are very fortunate and thankful to have a very healthy and happy little girl.

Allergist Visit

This week Lydia has her one year check-up with the allergist. Last year she slept through the appointment and this year I seriously doubt I will be that lucky (but maybe!).

She seems excited and does a little prance around the house about going to visit the allergist. She can repeat all the things I have told her about the visit. "Clean my back. Put special medicine on my back. Watch MOVIES!"

Loaded with new apps on the phone for Lydia, favorite bear, busy bags, snack, and a good attitude we are marching off to the allergist in the morning!

21 Months

Now...

One Year Ago

This time last year we were beginning to see Lydia's personality. This year her personality is shining through. (She is peanut free this year and I think that helps her personality allot!).

Heath Bar Candy

Been tricky this Christmas finding peanut free Christmas treats. My grandmother used to make Heath Bar candy and I was excited to discover that I could make this treat peanut free and share some with Lydia. So I did. Lydia ate all of her treat but when asked if she wanted more a couple days later, I was told no. Maybe she doesn't like Heath Bar candy, maybe she was in a no mood, and maybe she is 1 and doesn't really know what she wants! As she was eating her treat, I think Lydia enjoyed it :)

Heath Bar Candy

Getting Out of the House Part I

Since James as gone back to work in a traditional work environment (i.e. he is no longer working from home in his PJs until late afternoon!) we have become more of an early morning family. Most days we are up, fed, dressed, work out completed, showered, and ready to go play by 9AM.

One morning a week though we have to be in the car pulling of the driveway by 8:40. So I tell myself 8:30 to give ample "extra" time. Really, this should not be a big deal. If I don't work out, then we have plenty of time. Right? Well, you would think so! Most weeks we are only a few minutes late. Which is fine because I have my 10 minute cushion.

Yesterday, we are awake, fed, dressed, shoes on, bags packed, and even changed the sheets on the bed by 8:15. Really too early to get on the road I congratulate myself and sit down to play with Lydia for a few minutes. Looking back, I should not have congratulated myself!

8:30 - I remember it is TUNNEL week in dance class and run upstairs to grab the tunnel.
8:32 - Lydia decides to change shoes (really, kiddo the brown shoes look beautiful with your outfit!).
8:35 - OOPPPPPSSSSS - forgot to label the sippy cup
8:40 - LATE - seriously how did this happen??? I decide I can make up the extra time by only making one trip to the car. Dance bag, purse, and diaper bag on one shoulder. Tunnel around neck. Labeled sippy cup and water bottle in the crook of my arm. Keys in one hand. Help Lydia out the front door. Lock the door. And remind Lydia that yes she really can walk down the steps.
8:45 - Lydia forgets how to walk down the steps and does a wonderful flip into the thorny flower bed. I drop all my stuff (yes, bean bags are now all over the front yard and there is a giant tunnel rolling towards my car!). Lydia's lip is gushing with blood. Find my keys. Unlock the door. Stop the bleeding. Give her a cold drink. Put her in the car. Find the bean bags. Put the tunnel away yet again.
Oh, and the neighbors have seen this dramatic show and just have to stop to their commentary ;)
9:01 - Pulling out of the neighborhood. Thinking I certainly will not be early to class BUT I will be right on time.
9:13 - Pulling into the daycare parking lot. This day of all days there is a line out the door of people checking in their children and one dear mother telling the manager all about her child's many allergies (which might I add the child has not even been to an allergist for an actual allergy test!).
9:27 - Back on the road. Thankful that the bleeding lip finally stopped and I am not a totally over the top parent of a kid with allergies!

Best news, I was a few minutes late to class but was there before all the students. Success!

Peanut Lessons - Trade!

We have a new wonderful game at our house. Lydia is getting several "treats" a week from random strangers in the store. All of these people mean very well and she is thrilled with the extra attention. But I am not that thrilled with Lydia receiving little packets of M&Ms and miniature candy bars. Suckers, stickers, and pencils we are good with :)

I have been trading Lydia her peanut treats for Hershey Kisses (that are peanut free). In my mind this is an equal trade. But it has resulted in tears. Every single time.

This week, I offered Lydia a sticker after we got home. She was soooooo delighted with her sticker that she immediately dropped her treasured candy bar. Completely forgotten. And what did she hold on to all day? That sticker!

So lesson learned - for the one year old a sticker is WAY better than chocolate. This won't last long I am sure but for this week - it has worked quite well!

Peanut Free Lessons -We have a Goodberry's Replacement!

The saddest part (atleast for me!) of the peanut free diet we now have is the loss of our Goodberry's treat. We did not go every night but the staff did know us by name. So maybe we were there more than we would like to think - down side to using cash the credit card statement does not tell you your little sins!

"I think I will like this".

"Thanks for showing me how Dad, I can take it from here". 

"This is delicious".

"I need ZERO help. I can do this myself!"

Peanut Lesson #3

Lemon Bars

The hardest thing about the peanut free life has been dessert! Really, who doesn't like a chocolate chip cookie after lunch? A little treat from Goodberry's after dinner? At the Stojan household one of us has a BIG sweet tooth. So enters Lemon Bars. A tasty sweet treat that is peanut free.

Still looking for a Goodberry's alternative that doesn't involve putting the child to bed and one parent sneaking out the door to make a late night run to the icecream store! But one thing is sure - we are going to be healthier people since our after dinner treat now is a walk EVERY night (we don't miss a single night!).