What CAN she eat?

I love Emory's new allergist. After a ridiculous number of positives on the pediatrician's environmental allergy test, we decided to see a specialist to do her food testing. We did a skin test today and will have a blood test done tomorrow. We won't have the blood test results for about a month, but according to the skin test, she definitely has some food allergies. She tested positive for peaches, carrots, apples, potatoes, corn, chicken, beef, tree nuts, milk and egg whites. However, the doctor is most concerned about her reaction to peaches, carrots, and tree nuts. She said to remove them from her diet and to closely watch the others. I'm surprised about a few (milk, chicken, beef) and not at all surprised about others (peaches and carrots). We are to carry her Epipen at all times and watch her closely as she tries new foods. I have to say that I'm happy we did the test and can do something to make her feel better. I'm also very happy that most of these things are easily avoidable. The doctor also said that most kids outgrow their food allergies by age 5 or 6. I was so nervous about this test that I haven't slept very well this week. I was worried that either she would be allergic to everything or nothing. At least now we know and can do something to make her feel better.

October OPAM

My project for October was to make Emory's room allergen free. An allergen free bedroom in next to impossible so I did what I could. Along with cleaning the carpet and deep cleaning everything else, I removed all unnecessary fabric including bed skirt and curtains. To cover her windows I decided to paint blackout shades so that they were still decorative but easy to clean. I also, finally, made a hair bow holder for the thousands of bows the child has acquired. Her room still looks a little bare, however, her skin has been doing very well (more to come on this subject when we finish her allergy testing on Wednesday).

Finally October!

I couldn't wait for September to be over! We saw the pediatrician FIVE times in that awful month. October is starting out much better, I must say. Emory's eczema is FINALLY starting to look better. I know, you are sick of hearing about it, I feel like it is overtaking my life. I was playing online and found a site that recommended putting an oil based moisturizer on while still in the bathtub. I decided that there are a lot of crazier things that I could try, and this one seems to be working. We are going for an allergy test on Monday, hopefully, that will give us a simple solution. I just pray that it isn't something like milk or wheat, or even worse, nothing at all. I'm the kind of person that needs to know what to expect and how to fix whatever is wrong. The pediatrician also did blood work to rule out any autoimmune disorders or a thyroid problem. I truly do not believe that there is anything seriously wrong but I figured he is just being cautious.

On to better topics...

Eric took the day off work today because things are getting ready to be really busy for the next few months. His promotion officially begins this month. I love that he works for such a great company.

We took advantage of having Eric around and went to the Children's Museum of Phoenix. I was surprised to see how many things there were for toddlers. Emory's two favorite things were the curtain made out of ping pong balls (think bead curtain only much, much larger) and the slide. The slide had a real staircase, not just a ladder, that Emory figured out how to go up and down by herself. Another mother said "Wow, she sure is confident!" my thought was "OMG, what have I gotten myself into?". Needless to say, Emory fell asleep on the way home.

As if we hadn't done enough for a one year old, we decided to go to the pool after nap time. Yes, we went swimming outside in October. (Have I mentioned that I love the weather here?) Emory barely let me get my cover up off before she was in the water. She reminds me of her cousin Jenna in that aspect, maybe the eczema is just the beginning of her fins starting to grow. Our pool has a beach entry so Emory can walk around in a large portion of it. Brave girl that she is however, goes to the deepest part she can walk in and dives face first trying to swim, repeatedly. I think it might be life jacket time.

I, of course, forgot to take my camera to the museum and the pool, therefore, you get to see Emory's first taco (which she LOVED), another picture of her blotchy skin and a naked bathtub picture (FYI- I already took the rubberbands out of her hair).

Tag

Courtney tagged me, so here goes.

1. My favorite snack is to eat a Hershey bar and have a big glass of cranberry juice.

2. Summer is still my favorite season. Even though it gets to 120 degrees here in the summer, I still love the season.

3. I am secretly addicted to The Girls Next Door, for the same reasons that you slow down to look at a wreck. It's awful but you just have to watch.

4. I've had to do more yard work living in the desert than I ever did in the south. I still haven't figured that one out.

5. I've watched SATC The Movie 3 times already. I drove to 2 different Targets to find the Extended Cut with Bonus Disc.

6. I never make my bed. No one can convince me that this is a necessary task, you just mess it up again.

7. I truly believe that Sprite Zero is the same as water. It has no caffeine and no calories and I hate water so I figure it's better than a lot of things I could be drinking.

I'm tagging Rebecca, Bethany, Christa, Natasha, Anna, Kembree, and Sarah (who must start a blog NOW).

Sleeping and civics lessons.

Is it okay that Emory sleeps from 7pm to 10:30am? I'm not complaining, I would NEVER complain that my child sleeps too much. I'm just questioning. She has moved to one 2 1/2 to 3 hour nap a day and is sleeping 15 hours at night. I would LOVE feedback! Is this okay or should I wake her up? My general opinion is that if she's sleepy then she should sleep and I've NEVER woken her up unless I had to in order to be on time for something. She has always been a good sleeper, I know, I'm doomed for baby #2 (if and when there is a baby #2), but this is getting crazy. She has been known to sleep from 7 or 8pm until around 10am from time to time, however, never everyday for two weeks. Is this because she was so sick last week?

I took Emory for her first lesson in politics today. This is not intended to start any arguments, I'm just telling what we did today. I signed up to volunteer for the local Democratic Party. This afternoon we spent two hours calling people to make sure that they got an application to vote by mail. I'm not comfortable pushing my beliefs on others so I felt like this was a task that is important for everyone, no matter their affiliation. I feel very lucky that I was taught to think for myself and to participate in government. I hope to teach Emory to think for herself and to vote for the person she feels is best for that position. I want to teach her that she has the power to influence the world around her. Nothing bothers me more than a person who doesn't know who or what they are voting for. All I'm going to say is don't let someone else tell you who to vote for, EDUCATE yourself. Do not just vote for who your parents/spouse/minister/friends tell you is best. It is perfectly fine to disagree with loved ones. Visit these websites and read their platforms, however, don't stop there, find out about your local candidates and propositions because those are the people and issues that have a great impact on your day to day life. Nationally, I'm a democrat, however, I like Sheriff Joe here in Maricopa county. Okay, I'm climbing off my soapbox now. :)

"I never thought I'd see the day"

"The Carolina game is better than the Tennessee game, I never thought I'd see the day." -Eric Gunter, September 20, 2008

Found...

I found my happy, playful, funny, BRIGHT RED baby girl. That's right, Emory woke up yesterday with a bright red rash covering her ENTIRE body. It took three doctors appointments in three days to figure out that she has a wonderful virus called herpangina
(NOT herpes). Her throat was covered in very painful blisters that made eating and drinking very unpleasant, therefore, dehydration is a danger. Needless to say we've had a few rough, scary days of really high fevers, no eating or drinking and scary rashes. This morning, however, Emory is back! She drank a smoothie AND some juice. She has also decided to play this morning. The rash is still here and probably will be for a few days, but it doesn't seem to bother her. At the moment she is teasing Boomer by pretending to offer him her milk and then taking it away at the last minute. I can't tell you how much I love to hear her laugh! Enjoy the pictures, just know pictures do not begin to show the severity of her rash.