tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314920632521797282024-03-05T00:13:26.506-05:00Peanut Allergy Free....Here We Come!!We've been on a strict avoidance of all peanut products since my daughter was diagnosed with an allergy at 18 months. Abigail is now 9 and our family is blessed to be participating in a Clinical Trial at Duke Hospital (now UNC Hospital). Reading every label on every food item I purchase has also given me a strong sense of what it takes to eat healthy. So, here's our journey to eating healthy and becoming peanut allergy free!Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.comBlogger178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-69925935759116794542013-02-16T08:16:00.000-05:002013-02-16T08:16:49.056-05:00Hasn't Been Easy!The last six months haven't been easy ones. I know a lot of people would say, "but your daughter is no longer allergic to peanuts! How can you still not be celebrating?" And, it's true. Our family has definitely enjoyed the benefits of no longer being worried about what Abigail eats. There's another side to the picture though. She doesn't like peanuts!<br />
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While she doesn't make a gigantic scene every time I put something peanut in front of her, she does protest. So far, we've been most successful with peanut butter cups from Trader Joe's and honey roasted peanuts. She doesn't really enjoy the honey roasted peanuts, so they are treated more like a bitter pill that has to be taken.<br />
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I had every intention of posting about her going back to school without the allergy. Quite a change for us. Halloween was interesting too. I also had all intentions of posting pictures of her eating peanut-based candy bars for the first time. She tried a miniature Snickers and then promptly removed them from her bag. She tried a Butterfinger, and did the same thing. Peanut M&M's were a little easier for her to eat, but she'd rather have the plain ones. What she did enjoy was the ability to eat the other items that were manufactured in the same facility or on the same equipment. They didn't contain actual peanuts, and were no longer a risk!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVh5i6fGhX87C61UXe21d5K723Ev4sTZCi4L0oSU51wE4bscPNdtBbP4o7viU0554Tg97xPlDIkGFQv9e8TsOyqWBzat45o-etQ1ChERWV-OF1lHK-3tKnrtW9QHRKGfrMIh0qsGYWxzo/s1600/Girl+Scout+Cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVh5i6fGhX87C61UXe21d5K723Ev4sTZCi4L0oSU51wE4bscPNdtBbP4o7viU0554Tg97xPlDIkGFQv9e8TsOyqWBzat45o-etQ1ChERWV-OF1lHK-3tKnrtW9QHRKGfrMIh0qsGYWxzo/s1600/Girl+Scout+Cookies.jpg" /></a>We did have more success last night with Girl Scout Cookies. Yes, it's that time of year again. As Cookie Mom, we've had more cookies in our garage than room for my car! Last night, she tried a Tagalong for the first time ever! She ate it and said she liked it. The test will be if she asks for another one today. It was the first one I've had in 9 years too. I couldn't really enjoy it though because of the ingredient list. My husband declined one altogether, but my 5 year old son ate one...his first too! I think he's benefited just as much as Abigail. He loves peanut products and until last year, had only known sunflower butter products.<br />
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Our allergy concerns may have subsided, but they were replaced with others. This last year, we've spent considerable time and effort dealing with the other "A" disorders....ADHD and Anxiety. They've been a major factor in why I haven't been posting. My focus has changed. That, and Abigail is now 10, and I feel like I should respect her privacy regarding these issues. Which leaves me at an impasse. Where do I go from here?<br />
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I don't know that answer right now. I keep getting new visitors, followers and comments. I get e-mails from you guys that I've been awful in responding to in a timely manner. I've gotten request to try and review peanut-free products. I've been so busy addressing day-to-day life that I've gotten side-tracked in addressing this blog. And, in truth, we've succeeded in beating this allergy. While we'll never put it behind us (it's shaped who we all are), we have put it aside for the time being. There are other pressing issues.<br />
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I love you guys and I love this blog for the outlet it gave me to help deal with her life-threatening allergy. It was empowering and therapeutic. Will I post again? I'm planning on keeping you guys updated on our trips to UNC. We may be officially done with the study, but unofficially, they will still keep tabs on Abigail. Thank goodness! Right now, though, my focus is on healthy eating and working with my child to overcome her inability to stay on task and to deal with her anxieties.<br />
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I've been praying on the next steps. I just have to wait and see where God leads me. Blessings to all!Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-6707351744964349542012-08-10T17:49:00.000-04:002012-08-10T17:49:13.395-04:00The Marveling ContinuesWe're still reveling in Abigail's success. She's taking daily doses of peanuts in the form of sweet treats. At some point, I'll need to stock up on more practical and healthy options, but for now, I'm enjoying her discovery of recently forbidden treats.<br />
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Trader Joe's has some really good peanut butter cups made with real milk chocolate and real peanut butter. She's loving those. From a technical side, I had to cut one in half and scoop out the peanut filling to measure it. For protection, she needs 1 and 1/2 peanuts (or approximately 1/4 teaspoon of peanut butter) on a daily basis. The filling measures 1/2 teaspoon which is about 3 peanuts. She's been eating 2 of the peanut butter cups a day. I'd say she's more than protected.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0P3id7pSbU6Lws8TKD37P-o_Bda-5u6SEi4fI9aih1A9-MZaOYU1PRPNtGdupMuG613HBXNxX6nNOnyikMGcCCC_VXyOShNGJVhZsaCUrB-zFv_J2TqeZwjtw6mVIw8XzRfv6njS_JXs/s1600/IMAG0531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0P3id7pSbU6Lws8TKD37P-o_Bda-5u6SEi4fI9aih1A9-MZaOYU1PRPNtGdupMuG613HBXNxX6nNOnyikMGcCCC_VXyOShNGJVhZsaCUrB-zFv_J2TqeZwjtw6mVIw8XzRfv6njS_JXs/s320/IMAG0531.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>The four of us, my husband, son, Abigail and myself, went out to dinner Wednesday night to celebrate. Abigail got to choose the restaurant. The kid's meal came with plain M & M's. With absolute wonder on her face, she realized that she got to eat them. At age 9, the girl has never had an M & M. We had chosen for safety and simplicity sake to not approve any foods manufactured in facilities that also make peanut products. That ruled out M & M's. She, of course, loved them. Reality struck me, and I realized that I would no longer have an easily accepted excuse for all those unnecessary and unhealthy cookies and other treats that come as part of so many kid's meals. When asked what type of cookie the kids would like as part of their meal at places like Moe's, Subway and Jersey Mike's, I've been quick to say, "Sorry, they can't have them. We have a peanut allergy."<br />
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It hasn't taken her long to realize what this means. She's skipped ahead to Halloween, and is almost giddy with excitement. I typically trade a non-candy treat for some of their loot. Looks like I'm going to have to up the ante to make a deal this year.<br />
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The marveling continues at our house. It's still hard to even conceive sometimes what the success of this peanut allergy clinical trial means to our family. And, while we are incredibly lucky, or better yet, blessed, we are also so very humbled and grateful. Abigail is just one of a very few in the sublingual immunotherapy trial who had the opportunity to challenge and did so successfully. Some made it to the 3 year mark, challenged, and were not able to make it through all doses. Those children will continue in the study either eating peanuts or doing drops. Most of the kids won't challenge at 3 years because of study protocol changes. Those kids will continue another 2 years before they challenge to better ensure their success. And, as a reader commented, they had to leave the study altogether because of health concerns. Her comment serves as a reminder that there are risks involved. So, yes, we are marveling.Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-14059975479750840222012-08-07T23:05:00.000-04:002012-08-07T23:05:46.546-04:00We are done!!Abigail is peanut allergy free! She did it! We did it!<br />
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After the required IV, blood draw and skin test, we got down to business with the first flour food challenge. Even with cinnamon applesauce, she knew it was the peanut flour almost immediately. The nurses couldn't confirm, but it didn't matter. She successfully finished the first challenge having consumed the equivalent of 16 and 2/3rd's peanuts. Several hours later after sitting through the observation period and finishing the required oat flour challenge, we moved on to the real stuff. She ate 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. Can you guess how many peanuts are in 2 tablespoons of peanut butter? Approximately 33 and 1/3rd! Amazing! Per a suggestion from the nurse, we made a party of it. I brought leftover party plates, napkins, a few party hats and the bag of ingredients for our peanut butter treats. Her doctor and nurses joined us, and we all sat around the kiddie table and ate peanut butter together. She was nervous, but excited for the treat. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDbbTdUxnGJC6bwj8WPZKz5S8_ey1ZTP21xGy6uVgC2t2u77_uiVTRkxByxGlHK4EniMKKaAoJdGxRFqDYqHFdFO3HGcRy4TSkeVFBlbyIZ5BtHRNNcalliWw_NX_f2bnEQUxuyQ2V1A/s1600/P1010864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDbbTdUxnGJC6bwj8WPZKz5S8_ey1ZTP21xGy6uVgC2t2u77_uiVTRkxByxGlHK4EniMKKaAoJdGxRFqDYqHFdFO3HGcRy4TSkeVFBlbyIZ5BtHRNNcalliWw_NX_f2bnEQUxuyQ2V1A/s320/P1010864.JPG" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we are almost ready to start the party.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOdK1cNo7JqzUMdbrD11yDTBqakAjOAONXcjLKaZ-iLuBXCSZk_nmwhbSnEPFt_zxUhgmXdV0nivO8JXDIb-SCJ7KC92ijvG-pg6II17mjECq0xduttaxImIc8LygG9skje_eluTc3Xk/s1600/Duke+Clinical+Research+Unit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOdK1cNo7JqzUMdbrD11yDTBqakAjOAONXcjLKaZ-iLuBXCSZk_nmwhbSnEPFt_zxUhgmXdV0nivO8JXDIb-SCJ7KC92ijvG-pg6II17mjECq0xduttaxImIc8LygG9skje_eluTc3Xk/s320/Duke+Clinical+Research+Unit.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abigail at the start of the clinical trial.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>What an incredible day and an incredible journey. It's been three years and three months. I reminisced this morning that she was just about to finish up Kindergarten when we started in May of 2009. Now, no longer a little girl, she's going to start 4th grade in a couple of weeks. This year though, in a completely different manner.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvyZfQz_E0BImpGQTOa9YP8uHRzheaGt1VCExrwNhW_zr0L7OXsaERWLpI5Lgj9lVvg9KfEU0DoUPv-7bNdOy6JIY6OgE7BKldDWq7ls8ZMtTfd_pszfJLHYo65RtDVUp5lWYO_FlecY/s1600/P1010859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvyZfQz_E0BImpGQTOa9YP8uHRzheaGt1VCExrwNhW_zr0L7OXsaERWLpI5Lgj9lVvg9KfEU0DoUPv-7bNdOy6JIY6OgE7BKldDWq7ls8ZMtTfd_pszfJLHYo65RtDVUp5lWYO_FlecY/s320/P1010859.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abigail on the last day of the trial.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>While she'll have an Epi Pen in the nurse's office, there is no longer a need to have one in the classroom. She can sit beside anybody in the cafeteria. There's no need to wipe down her spot with a wipe and inspect neighboring lunchboxes. I won't need to request that special snacks be served at her class parties. There will be no meeting with her teacher prior to school starting to discuss her allergy, no printing out allergy action plans for her classroom, book and medicine bags or reviewing safety precautions with her bus driver. Our only allergy requirement for the start of this school year is the completion of the medical authorization/release forms that stay on file with the nurse.<br />
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And tomorrow...she eats peanuts. A peanut and a 1/2 on a regular basis will protect her. The nurse's advise this afternoon was to relax and just have her eat some peanut products. Honestly, I don't think I'm going to have any trouble doing just that! We are so excited about the life changes that are about to come our way. It's hard to believe that we've been blessed in such a manner.Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-77802607600078562092012-08-05T23:27:00.000-04:002012-08-05T23:27:24.304-04:00We have a winner!Abigail's second challenge is on Tuesday. We leave tomorrow to once again stay with my parents so that mom can watch my youngest. It also considerably shortens our drive to Chapel Hill.<br />
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We're ready. I've spent some time coming up with food ideas for the peanut butter portion of the challenge. If she passes the peanut flour challenge, she'll have to eat 2 tablespoons of peanut butter.<br />
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I first made a cookie using a no-bake chocolate cookie recipe. The peanut butter can't be heated (it changes the protein molecules) so the recipe was ideal. I used sunflower butter and put a whole tablespoon in one cookie. Abigail liked it, but it was going to be too sweet for her sensitive stomach. She only finished half the cookie. There was no way she was going to be able to eat two. On to the next idea.<br />
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At Christmas, I make a treat that she loves. It's Crispix cereal (or store brand equivalent) coated in chocolate, sunflower butter and powdered sugar. Deconstructing the recipe, I pulled out the Trader Joe's equivalent of Ritz crackers, spread 1/2 tablespoon of sunflower butter on it, added some miniature chocolate chips and sprinkled powder sugar on top. She loved it. Asked for another, and then another. My son and I had to try too. Yum! Tastes just like the sweet treat I make at Christmas. We have a winner!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbd1CTZf6Nb6VkcYZsY_fIRJp-WXQOvQTHWDRo1SZCQvqlMyitY9SgZjY8FwdyJgV-cDkzHKyxmRK6QdgydpffREO7KcmjWRJUxFtNUM1tvpQ7NF5AOH2SMXF_NSQWPPZpSuJUNKKGp2Y/s1600/P1010857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbd1CTZf6Nb6VkcYZsY_fIRJp-WXQOvQTHWDRo1SZCQvqlMyitY9SgZjY8FwdyJgV-cDkzHKyxmRK6QdgydpffREO7KcmjWRJUxFtNUM1tvpQ7NF5AOH2SMXF_NSQWPPZpSuJUNKKGp2Y/s320/P1010857.JPG" width="300" /></a>I've packed it all up along with some cute plates and napkins for our peanut party on Tuesday afternoon. The applesauce and cinnamon is also packed. She'll need that for the peanut flour portion of the challenge. The lab will mix the minimum amount of applesauce required for the oat and peanut flour dosages. Abigail will have the ability to add more applesauce and/or cinnamon to taste. Given her personality and need for control, this will be a tremendous help during the challenge.<br />
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Abigail is still nervous. She's worried about her stomach hurting again. She did conclude that not eating enough that day didn't help. It's a special occasion so we'll swing by McDonald's on the way there and grab breakfast. She's excited about that. She started the last challenge with a fairly empty stomach because she was too nervous to eat. This time, she realizes how important it is to have food on her stomach.<br />
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Wish us luck! Regardless of the outcome, she no longer has to do the drops. If she passes, then peanut allergy free...here we are! If she can't eat the equivalent of 16 peanuts after being off the drops for a month, but comes close, then she'll add a peanut and a half to her diet on a daily basis in lieu of the drops. Even if that's the case, I'm thinking there is no longer any worry about cross-contamination. How awesome is that??? I'm so excited!<br />
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I'll keep you posted. Be praying for us.Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-61852160736647784702012-07-28T08:34:00.001-04:002012-07-28T08:36:01.589-04:00Excuses and DetailsIt's almost time to go back for our final challenge, and I haven't even posted the details of our last. What's been keeping me busy?? It's summer, the kids are out of school (that's reason enough), but I also buy and resell children's items on eBay. We've been in this house less than a year so there's lots of DIY projects (I'm now addicted to Pinterest), and my garden is in full production. Over this last spring and summer, my garden has gone from this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKBNWRdQIhQ_WTs9Uwz-MPG3kR-gOordDyL1Msg0M4fPfl22jYZoQcBUQoFhby24IzcBAYnXX2i0K5K4oGDMFT2HpztwjmwFjTndW7s04PQXdxpdTCZS46f-tx69eokGyA3oy2bOUui8/s1600/P1000827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKBNWRdQIhQ_WTs9Uwz-MPG3kR-gOordDyL1Msg0M4fPfl22jYZoQcBUQoFhby24IzcBAYnXX2i0K5K4oGDMFT2HpztwjmwFjTndW7s04PQXdxpdTCZS46f-tx69eokGyA3oy2bOUui8/s320/P1000827.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
To this:<br />
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To that:<br />
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And "that" has taken a ton of time. I've made zucchini bread, muffins and cookies, canned pickles, dried and frozen tomatoes, tried plenty of new recipes, and still have a fridge full of fruits and vegetables. But enough about what's been keeping me busy.<br />
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The food challenge...<br />
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It was our first time going to UNC Chapel Hill. Wow, it's a huge hospital system.<br />
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The Food Allergy Study Center is tucked away in a medical office building across from the hospital. We barely found it. We happened upon the sign and realized we had arrived at our destination.<br />
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The nurses immediately put numbing cream on her arms for the IV and started the skin prick test. I was somewhat surprised that after not having noteworthy skin reactions at our last test (a year ago), that she had fairly large whelps. They didn't itch as bad though. In the past, we've had to fan Abigail's back while we waited the 15 minutes. This time, she didn't complain at all. She said they itched, but were okay. Might just be maturity, and there was no room for speculation.<br />
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They inserted her IV, and didn't waste any time getting started with the doses.<br />
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Abigail chose to have her flour mixed with applesauce for one challenge and chocolate pudding for the other. She got the applesauce blend first. She commented early on that it tasted good. I knew then that it wasn't the peanut flour, but didn't say anything. We were pleasantly surprised to find that each challenge would be done with just 6 doses. It just meant that that little cup shown in the picture above would soon turn into a larger bowl. There was a waiting period between each dose, and they listened to her chest and checked her skin in various places before giving her the next dose.<br />
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We finished the first challenge by 11:30 and then had to wait an hour before starting the second. We had internet access, so Abigail spent her day on my laptop. With headphones on, she more or less tuned out the whole process.<br />
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She didn't say anything, but I knew she didn't like the chocolate pudding flour mix. By the third dose, it was apparent that she was going to struggle to finish it. The peanut flour (no doubting now) was thick and chunky, and the chocolate pudding was too sweet for an anxious stomach. She was eating chips and drinking lots of water between each bite. Luckily, there was a jar of applesauce in the fridge and Plan B was immediately implemented. We weren't going to fail this challenge because of some chocolate pudding. She took Dose 4 with the applesauce and was able to eat it all without issue. Did the same for Dose 5. By this time, she was doing some sniffing and sneezing. They were monitoring her, and she could still breathe in a deep breath in both nostrils so onto the final dose. She ate it all. We now had to hang out for 2 hours and see what happened. She got to open the sealed envelope to reveal her dosing order. No surprise that the peanut flour was second.<br />
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She continued to do some sneezing and sniffing. Her stomach was cramping a bit. We walked around, went outside for a change of scenery, and her symptoms never worsened. For the books, it was a pass! She ate the equivalent of 16 and 2/3rds peanuts. She wasn't without symptoms. The nasal congestion did subside by the time we were heading home around 3:30. The stomachache and cramping lasted all afternoon, and she went to bed very tired and still complaining of stomach pain. I'm sure it had to do with eating all of that oat and peanut flour, but also with being very anxious, not eating a good breakfast (too anxious to eat more than a bowl of cereal), and having minimal lunch at the clinic. But, she passed!!! If a runny nose and a stomachache is all she'll have to deal with in the future after eating that many peanuts...well, we can live with that!<br />
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We're just a little over a week away from going back again. We left without drops. She's had no peanut protein since that challenge. I've been thinking of ways to ease that stomachache...a bigger breakfast, cinnamon applesauce for the entire challenge, etc. I can't control her anxious stomach. She's even more nervous about this challenge because of that last stomachache. If she passes this next challenge, they're going to have a "peanut party" and all of us will eat peanut butter together. She'll need to eat 2 tablespoons. I've got to bring food that will make that task easier. She's thinking we top it with mini marshmallows, chocolate chips and Rice Krispy cereal. That makes my stomach hurt just thinking about eating that.<br />
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I'm really praying that she does the peanut flour first at the next challenge. I'm concerned about her being able to eat both the equivalent of 16 plus peanuts and 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. If there is a longer break in between, it might be possible. Also, I wish I could figure out a way to ease her anxiety going into the challenge. That would take away a great deal of the stomachache concerns.<br />
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Regardless, I'm still amazed at how far we've come in the last three years, and how truly blessed we are.Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-81434306930628548962012-07-12T23:08:00.000-04:002012-07-12T23:08:46.694-04:00Haircut & DropsI know I still need to post the details of Abigail's challenge, but I didn't want two important events to pass by without sharing. Monday morning before leaving to go out of town, Abigail had 8 inches cut from her hair to use in making real hair wigs for cancer patients. It wasn't her first time donating hair to <a href="http://www.pantene.com/en-US/PanteneBeautifulLengths/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Pantene Beautiful Lengths</a>, but still no easier than the last. It was a lot of hair, and she'd been growing it for the last 2 years. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnDB6ejED8_mBOEmy2-KAVc5bAUf0Von8a7B18yclUjDAuLzVgz8S61Vq5HUxspNDuKEfr3BwyiHH3wcW2AW_hv1IF8hQVcULpF_1ngxGUxgwNqCE9NdANo2H9HSvmuGz_KIcEwby_BU/s1600/7-12+Hair+Cut+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnDB6ejED8_mBOEmy2-KAVc5bAUf0Von8a7B18yclUjDAuLzVgz8S61Vq5HUxspNDuKEfr3BwyiHH3wcW2AW_hv1IF8hQVcULpF_1ngxGUxgwNqCE9NdANo2H9HSvmuGz_KIcEwby_BU/s320/7-12+Hair+Cut+2.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br />
The shorter length looks super cute on her, but the new haircut along with her new glasses makes her look so much older. Where did my little girl go?<br />
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The second noteworthy event was that Monday night was potentially her last time ever doing the peanut protein drops. I couldn't let that event pass by without a comment and a picture.<br />
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She hasn't done drops since Monday night. It feels weird for her to not be doing them. We started the peanut clinical trial in May of 2009. That's 1000 plus days of doing drops! That's a really long time.Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-55887509879893153662012-07-10T16:59:00.001-04:002012-07-10T17:05:56.552-04:00She Did It!!The equivalent of 16 and 2/3rd's peanuts, and she ate it all! We're so excited! The challenge was a success. I'll post details and pictures tomorrow. I'm too tired right now, but did want to let everyone know that it's over, we're back at my parents and ready for a relaxing evening.<br />
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Thanks for your continued prayers and support.<br />
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MelanieMom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-21887263723010903962012-07-09T07:52:00.001-04:002012-07-09T07:54:16.345-04:00TomorrowTomorrow is the big day! It's food challenge time. Time to see if Abigail's body is ready to stop the peanut protein drops and start getting the real thing.<br />
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We're heading out after lunch today to go to my parent's house which is just 30 minutes from Chapel Hill. Given that Abigail and I need to be at the hospital tomorrow at 8:00 am, their house is very conveniently located. It's also nice that they can keep my 5 year old. The day is going to be long enough as is.<br />
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The challenge is blinded and Abigail will have to consume both peanut flour and oat flour. She'll know quickly what she's eating. It's pretty hard to disguise the taste of peanut flour. We're praying that the lab sends the peanut flour first. There's an hour between challenges usually coinciding with lunch time. If she has the peanut flour first thing in the morning, we can leave as soon as she finishes the oat challenge in the afternoon, around 3:30. If she gets the oat flour first, then we have to wait two hours for evaluation after she finishes the peanut challenge in the afternoon meaning we're there till at least 5:30.<br />
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As soon as we get there tomorrow, they'll put numbing cream on Abigail's arm so they can insert an IV. After the IV is inserted and all safety precautions are in place, they'll begin giving her applesauce mixed with doses of flour at timed intervals working up to the highest amount. A nice perk is that our doctor from earlier visits to Duke plus the two nurses that have been there from the very beginning will be at UNC to oversee every step of the challenge. So, with lot's of familiar faces and a big bag of activities, hopefully it will be a fairly easy day (if one can refer to this process as easy). During the day, they'll also draw blood for labs and do some tree nut skin test. She's tested negative to tree nuts in the past on her blood test, but given that she's never consumed raw nuts, she also needs to be skin tested. They'll test for just 2 to 3 tree nut at this visit and do 2 to 3 more at our next visits.<br />
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And, what happens after tomorrow? If it's a success, she'll stop the drops, stay on her restricted peanut-free diet, and then head back to UNC for a second food challenge in August. That one will be a repeat of tomorrow except at the end, if she passes, she'll have to consume the equivalent of 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. If tomorrow Abigail doesn't make it past all doses of peanut flour (the equivalent of 16 to 17 peanuts)....well, we'll address that then.<br />
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As for today, we're asking for prayers for a safe trip, peace for Abigail during the challenge (she's super nervous) and that God continue blessing this trial, not just for Abigail and our family, but for the many children and families whose lives can be changed as an outcome of this journey.<br />
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I'll keep you posted. Thanks for all of your continued support!Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-6864885445797911032012-05-27T23:29:00.000-04:002012-05-27T23:29:11.232-04:00Roller Coaster Ride, a.k.a., Peanut Clinical TrialIt's been quite an emotional roller coaster ride this spring. At our last visit to Duke in January, we discussed the details of Abigail's pending peanut food challenge. At that time, we were all set for this summer. In March, we received an e-mail from our doctor stating that the protocol had changed. They've decided to extend the study from 3 years to 5 years. My heart sank.<br />
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Earlier in the year, they selected 10 participants, those that have been in the study for 3 years, and who had passed their original food challenge at the year mark, to do the 3 year challenge. This challenge consists of eating the equivalent of 16 - 17 peanuts. Less than half of those 10 passed the desensitization challenge and were able to go onto the tolerance challenge. The thinking is that SLIT (Sublingual Immunotherapy Treatment) takes longer, much like traditional allergy shots, and the additional 2 years will allow for more changes in the immune system.<br />
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At this point in the e-mail, I'm almost in panic mode. We've been saying to Abigail for months now, "You're almost there.", "You can do this.", "It's countdown time." and "You can make it till July." Obviously, we're operating on the thought that she's going to pass her challenge. Now, I'm not so sure, and what I'm going to tell her?<br />
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I was relieved to read further in the e-mail that there is a provision in the study protocol that allows for a food challenge sooner than 5 years if the IgE is 15 or less and the skin test is 5mm or less. Whew!!! Those numbers were based on their experience with the peanut flour studies, and the fact that the kids from the SLIT group of 10 who did pass both food challenges had lower IgE numbers. Abigail's number was 7.54, and her skin prick test was almost non-existent. We're back on for July!!<br />
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Fast forward to May. I call the now transferred staff at UNC Chapel Hill to see about scheduling her food challenge in July. In talking with the nurse that's been there from day one and more or less coordinates all of the peanut clinical trials, I find out that they are re-thinking the 3 year challenge provision. There goes the heart sink again. She explained that the additional 2 years may mean the difference between being desensitized and being tolerant. Obviously, as disappointed as we may be, we choose the cure over the band-aid. On that call, I did find out that we could skin test for tree nuts, and if the test backs up Abigail's negative blood test results, we could introduce tree nuts. That's a big deal, and helped ease the blow of potentially staying on the SLIT drops for another 2 years. We'd know for sure after the staff met and made a final decision.<br />
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I got a call last week. We're back on! Told you it was a roller coaster ride. Here's how it will work. At the 36 month mark which we've actually passed (it was mid-May, but over the years, we've pushed our annual visits to June to get past end-of-school commitments), Abigail will do the desensitization challenge. Looks like this year it'll actually be July due to summer camp and their schedule. On challenge day, she'll consume doses of peanut flour up to the equivalent of 16 to 17 peanuts. If she can finish the challenge, then she's considered desensitized. We go home, and stop the drops for a period of 1 month. In August, we go back for her tolerance challenge which is the same dosages up to 16+ peanuts. If she doesn't tolerate the full amount, they look at the dose where she started showing symptoms and step back one. That amount will be her tolerance level.<br />
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We're excited and scared at the same time. I'm praying that she passes both challenges with no issues. Having her be tolerant to peanuts would be so much more than what we were asking for when we started this trial. My hope then was that she could consume products processed in a facility that manufacturers peanuts, and that I would no longer have to worry about accidental exposure. Being in a position where she needs to eat peanuts would be amazing!<br />
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Let's hope there are no more changes!Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-88361553901718842932012-04-25T10:55:00.000-04:002012-04-25T10:55:58.298-04:00Easter ExperimentBefore Easter gets too far behind us, I wanted to write about an Easter experiment that we conducted this year.<br />
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In keeping with our dietary habit of avoiding artificial colors because of their link to allergic reactions and ADHD, I decided it would be fun to try to dye our eggs naturally. It's something that I've wanted to do for years. In fact I <a href="http://peanutclinicaltrial.blogspot.com/2010/04/easter-eggs.html" target="_blank">posted</a> about it way back in 2010, but never made it a reality.<br />
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Because we weren't going to have a table full of rainbow colored cups, I tried to still keep it fun for my 9 and 4 1/2 year old by turning it into a science experiment. I had found an article in <a href="http://www.naturalawakeningsmag.com/Natural-Awakenings/April-2012/Egg-ceptional-Fun/" target="_blank">Natural Awakenings</a> that recommended we add natural ingredients when boiling the eggs. Using their suggested foods/ingredients, we pulled out every pot in the house, added water, the ingredients and vinegar and commenced boiling. Know that saying that a watched pot never boils? Well, it's true.<br />
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It's Easter Sunday afternoon, and instead of enjoying a relaxing activity with my family, I find myself slaving over a hot stove...all by myself. Some would call that a failed experiment and stop there. Still needing hard-boiled eggs for breakfast the next morning, and being somewhat curious, I (notice the singular tense) completed the experiment. I could call it a success in that the eggs were cooked, some had color and we weren't promoting the use of artificial colors. Just as easy, I could call it a failure, and for obvious reasons.<br />
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In order from left to right, we used frozen blueberries for blue/purple, frozen spinach for green, cherry juice for red, paprika for orange and turmeric for yellow. I'm not giving up though. The yellow eggs were gorgeous, and with the right ingredients and amount, this could be a viable option. The eggs absorbed the nutrients from the spinach, blueberries and cherry juices making that a bonus, and all of the water and ingredients used to boil the eggs got used to water the outside plants. So, maybe not a complete failed experiment.Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-75592937634308965452012-04-15T08:52:00.000-04:002012-04-15T08:52:51.303-04:00A Duke visit update...finally!So much for "I'm still here!" I had intended to then pick up where I left off and keep the posts coming. Life kept giving me more pressing issues to contend with including getting both of my children settled in new schools, our family accumulated to a new community and my desire to start addressing the "to do" list associated with a new house. I'm quickly realizing that the list never ends and only gets added to. Now, it's also the start of the summer gardening season, and I have a blank slate that needs to be shaped into a thriving garden. So, if I'm going to keep posting, I have to just figure out where to carve some time and sit down and do it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLYN3aWNXmcVmBibDcxHrzsnPmPlAHFG8CjpT-_wXXzbCZxdjAN_UFhSSclDRq5LqXngcVXmgFvUmWQoOwC3Mt8OvuOpdAmkSa7TkyVR1fXID5GY0xDAf5s6SxjE5npG6cA19uROVXtE/s1600/P1000341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLYN3aWNXmcVmBibDcxHrzsnPmPlAHFG8CjpT-_wXXzbCZxdjAN_UFhSSclDRq5LqXngcVXmgFvUmWQoOwC3Mt8OvuOpdAmkSa7TkyVR1fXID5GY0xDAf5s6SxjE5npG6cA19uROVXtE/s200/P1000341.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>Having not updated anyone regarding our last visit to Duke (in January), that's the obvious place to start. Unfortunately, the trip didn't provide a ton of writing material. We drove almost 3 hours there, stayed for 30 minutes and then made the long trip home. Abigail had to sit through a blood draw, but like other visits, she was a real trooper and did so without complaint. Time has equaled experience and knowledge and study protocols have been amended including the amount of blood drawn. The nurse took just 2 vials versus the 6 to 7 of previous visits. They've also amended the frequency of skin prick tests to just once a year. Abigail's last skin prick test was 6 months ago, so she was off the hook at this visit. The rest of the appointment was spent discussing the upcoming trial move to Chapel Hill and the food challenge marking the conclusion of our 3 year participation in the clinical trial.<br />
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At the time of our visit, they had already had 3 other children complete that challenge and consume the full amount of 5 grams of peanut flour, the equivalent of 16 to 17 peanuts. The kids had also eaten actual peanuts in the hospital setting just to make sure they could safely be dismissed to go home and eat more. I'm getting excited all over again just sitting here typing. Abigail breezed through her first challenge eating all 2.5 grams without incident. Since then her IgE number has steadily declined. I'm very hopeful that she will complete this final challenge as easily as she did the first.<br />
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Abigail will most likely do her food challenge in July, and this time we'll be driving to Chapel Hill. The staff is currently wrapping up the move from Duke University Hospital to UNC. Like the last challenge, it will be double-blinded. She'll have to do two. One with an oat flour and another with the peanut flour. We won't know which one will be first. Only the lab tech who mixes the flour in the food of choice, most often applesauce, will know. I say that, but it won't take long to figure it out. It's pretty hard to disguise the smell and taste of the peanut and Abigail will pick up on it fairly quickly. If Abigail digests the full amount plus the real peanuts we'll joyously leave and take a month off from the drops and all peanut products. We'll then go back a month later and do the food challenge again. If at that time, she again passes with flying colors, we are free to go home and bring peanut products back into our house. She'll be under no restrictions as to how much peanut products she can eat, but it's advised that she consume at least 1 1/2 to 2 peanuts daily in some form or fashion. It's also advised that we continue to carry her Epi Pen.<br />
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There's more to write about the visit than I thought, and I'm not done. I'm going to have to stop though and write a Part 2. If I'm going to keep up with my posting, then I've got to make these short. Right now, it's breakfast time and duty calls. There have been changes made to the study protocol since our visit that I also want to cover. I'll address those next time. <br />
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Thanks for everyone's continued support! I hope I don't sound to blasse regarding the completion of the trial. It's been three long years, and frankly, the entire family is ready to get on with our lives. At the same time, we do realize how incredibly blessed we are to have this opportunity. "Just a few more months" is quite frequently uttered around our house. How incredibly exciting!!Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-63717835864415031252012-01-13T17:40:00.000-05:002012-01-13T17:40:12.966-05:00I'm still here...promise!Hope everyone had a great holiday season!<br />
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Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still here and do have plans to post again soon! Please be patient, and don't stop visiting!<br />
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By the way, we're heading to Duke again next week for our 6 month visit. No skin prick test this time though. They've changed the protocol to only 1 time per year as opposed to every 6 months. Abigail does have to have blood drawn, but less than usual (another protocol change). I'll definitely be posting about our visit.Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-43518369902484532922011-12-07T15:41:00.000-05:002011-12-07T15:41:40.971-05:00Another successful cake baked!This last weekend was my husband's birthday. I asked him what type of cake he would like, and he mentioned a German Chocolate cake. My immediate response was no way...pick again. His second choice was a coconut cake. That was a little better.<br />
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If you've been following my blog, you know that I'm a "from scratch" baker when it comes to fancy desserts. It's really one of the only ways to bake when you are trying to avoid processed foods and have to cook for a peanut allergy.<br />
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After doing some recipe research online, and remembering that I had successfully pulled off the <a href="http://peanutclinicaltrial.blogspot.com/2010/12/not-your-normal-birthday-cake.html" target="_blank">chocolate marble cheesecake</a> he requested last year, I re-considered the German Chocolate cake. Especially since I found this great <a href="http://barbarabakes.com/2010/05/easy-german-chocolate-cake/" target="_blank">recipe</a> that started with a boxed German Chocolate cake mix. Yes, I was willing to "cheat" just a little, especially this time of year when I'm on over-load. Well, the problem was, that I couldn't find a German Chocolate cake mix that I was willing to purchase given the list of ingredients. I did find a <a href="http://www.oetker.us/en/product/organics" target="_blank">Dr. Oetker**</a> organic vanilla cake mix, and after comparing the ingredients thought I'd take a chance. I also purchased Baker's German Sweet Chocolate bar (unfortunately, no other organic or peanut risk free option in site) to turn my vanilla cake to chocolate.<br />
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I mixed the box mix with the buttermilk, oil & eggs per the recipe I found on<a href="http://barbarabakes.com/" target="_blank"> Barbara Bakes</a> and then had to figure out how to add the chocolate. The recipe that came with the chocolate instructed to melt the chocolate in the microwave with 1/2 cup of water. No sooner did I do that when I realized that I just added an extra 1/2 cup of liquid to the recipe. Already committed, I poured very thin cake batter into my pans and held my breath as I watched my cake layers in the oven through the glass. The cake layers turned out beautifully, but how would they taste?<br />
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I did use pecans in the frosting. Abigail does not have a tree nut allergy, but given the high risk of cross-contamination, the peanut clinical trial guidelines require that tree nuts be removed from the participants diet. My parents have several large pecan trees in their backyard. We've talked to our doctor at Duke, and because there is no risk of cross-contamination, Abigail is allowed to eat pecans from their trees.<br />
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Here's how the cake turned out.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWjmwuqkuJaqCFLc1fmIQBFS0fgctE6PFeFnHzOFBkt_WmKNH-uG34xqg3jYXLEdHeZ1zvuM-WXqTL9K6XIp8lsYoOyp67m_rbByIaBTX0CFZ4225h-60swdf4sJB4Qcp-lhseRRarbE/s1600/100_2945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWjmwuqkuJaqCFLc1fmIQBFS0fgctE6PFeFnHzOFBkt_WmKNH-uG34xqg3jYXLEdHeZ1zvuM-WXqTL9K6XIp8lsYoOyp67m_rbByIaBTX0CFZ4225h-60swdf4sJB4Qcp-lhseRRarbE/s320/100_2945.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And how did it taste? Incredible. It's the most moist chocolate cake I've had in a really long time! Yeah, another successful cake baked! Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband!<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">**Just a note about the Dr. Oetker cake mix. There was no allergen cautionary label on the box, and I haven't been able to find any information on their website. In hindsight, I shouldn't have allowed Abigail to eat a piece until I knew for certain. It's a Canadian company, and they're usually really good about labeling. I'll contact them and find out.</span></i>Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-12953445271946320382011-12-03T07:48:00.000-05:002011-12-03T07:48:44.077-05:00Girl Scout Cookie Rally<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uVoChYPQjWuFogf0aopLifx43J8ydtTLbza0wiy5mWV9hkSTxBNOr0_6HO9vEHoxdhjbVlggXsLPIO-BCM0y_3DrFHkNIyFa-yoIyPvG2qvDx_rqFgWyOFzX1OX07GfexSbQMUc7ov0/s1600/cookie_boxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uVoChYPQjWuFogf0aopLifx43J8ydtTLbza0wiy5mWV9hkSTxBNOr0_6HO9vEHoxdhjbVlggXsLPIO-BCM0y_3DrFHkNIyFa-yoIyPvG2qvDx_rqFgWyOFzX1OX07GfexSbQMUc7ov0/s200/cookie_boxes.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Can you believe it's almost that time again? Abigail is attending a Girl Scout Cookie Rally this morning where the girls will play games, do a craft and sample cookies all for the purpose of getting excited about selling them. So, here I am, early this morning looking up the ingredients of each of the cookies to see which ones she can sample and which ones she'll have to skip.<br />
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There are two cookie manufacturers that provide cookies for the Girl Scouts. In our region, it's <a href="http://littlebrowniebakers.com/cookies/" target="_blank">Little Brownie Bakers</a>. Other areas of the country get cookies from <a href="http://www.abcsmartcookies.com/cookies.asp" target="_blank">ABC Bakers</a>. Both have excellent allergen labeling policies. If you are concerned about peanut/tree nut ingredients and the risk of cross-contamination, you'll need to know which bakery supplies your cookies and/or double check the labeling on the box. At Little Brownie Bakeries, the Thin Mints, Samoas, Trefoils and the Thank U BerryMuch cookies are safe for peanuts and tree nuts. The Dulce de Leche and the new Savannah Smiles may contain traces of tree nuts, and of course, the Tagalongs and the Do-si-dos are not safe for either. It looks like ABC Bakers has just 3 cookies that are safe which are Thin Mints, Thanks-a-Lot and the Lemonades. That's a bummer! At least the Thin Mints are safe!<br />
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It's no secret that I'm not a fan of my daughter selling Girl Scout cookies. However, I do love her being a part of the organization, and we've found a really great Brownie troop in the new area where we live. I was pleased to find out that her new troop is selling cookies to raise money to go on a mother/daughter trip when they're in 5th grade. That gives them 4 years (the other girls started working towards it last year) to raise the money to spend a long weekend in Savannah, the birthplace of Girl Scouts. So, I'll be out there in the cold with Abigail the first of January while she rings doorbells asking if anyone wants to buy Girl Scout cookies. And, I'll even buy a box...or two.Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-34411328503000565772011-11-22T11:19:00.000-05:002011-11-22T11:19:41.965-05:00GMO Food Labeling...Why Isn't It?There is a <a href="http://lakeconews.com/content/view/22299/919/" target="_blank">ballot initiative</a> in California to require labeling of genetically engineered (GE or GMO) foods. While there are lots of supporters, there is a consensus that there is not much hope that this initiative will get passed. There just doesn't seem to be enough consumer awareness of the risks of GMO food or how wide spread GE ingredients are used in the food we all consume. Why is that? My husband forwarded me this great <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-are-genetically-modified-foods-not-labeled-2011-11" target="_blank">article</a> on why GMO foods may not be in the media as much as some of us would like. The author, JD Rucker, did his research and came up with 4 big reasons why it isn't.<br />
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The first reason is that there is simply too much information, i.e., information overload. There are too many other worrisome topics being covered in the news, the loss of jobs, healthcare, the withdrawal of troops and upcoming elections to name but a few. If GMO food was such a big deal, how come someone isn't screaming about the risks from the roof tops.<br />
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Which brings me to his second reason, and to paraphrase the author, if GMO foods are so dangerous, how come people aren't falling over on their soy lattes? The dangers aren't immediate, but there are many, cancer, fertility issues and food allergies immediately come to mind. Rucker is right though. If people were killing over on a regular basis, that would be news. Giving people statistics on research studies and declining health trends does not make an interesting story.<br />
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The third reason is that neither the mass media or the US government want to get on the bad side of Monsanto (which is why few are screaming about the risks from the roof tops). While organizations like <a href="http://www.organicconsumers.org/" target="_blank">Organic Consumers Association</a> are out there battling the giant, with campaigns like <a href="http://organicconsumers.org/monsanto/index.cfm" target="_blank">"Millions Against Monsanto"</a>, there is very little press from the big networks and media outlets. Rucker found this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axU9ngbTxKw" target="_blank">video</a> that he thinks explains it loud and clear. It's worth watching.<br />
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The final reason why GMO food risks are being ignored is the impact to the cost of our food. If consumers knew the risks and were no longer willing to purchase 80% of the food in our grocery stores which were now labeled for GMO ingredients, what would happen to the food supply? Governmental officials would have to commit to stronger protection measures with new regulations, farmers would have to go back to traditional growing methods and food prices would soar.<br />
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I loved finding this link to an infographic outlining the threats to our food. Click <a href="http://www.ecomom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Infographic-Real-Food-ecomom-pdf.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> to see it full size. It takes a fairly complicated subject and makes it easy to understand.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnxX01etN_z6banWO43Su8C-9nLIDsy7x38QQwynJRwodcIcI34-2xVTjpQiH6mLpTQ3Ly6H7FZvvBav6fUiZdr2x9qlmSpu2DPKAVjYAIt5qPIxdwB-OYVINRs8I9dlyVr-WAldstdc/s1600/Infographic-Real-Food-ecomom1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnxX01etN_z6banWO43Su8C-9nLIDsy7x38QQwynJRwodcIcI34-2xVTjpQiH6mLpTQ3Ly6H7FZvvBav6fUiZdr2x9qlmSpu2DPKAVjYAIt5qPIxdwB-OYVINRs8I9dlyVr-WAldstdc/s640/Infographic-Real-Food-ecomom1.jpg" width="172" /></a></div>Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-52718854225749954762011-11-15T23:32:00.000-05:002011-11-15T23:32:09.528-05:00Bird SeedI love watching birds at my backyard feeders. Our new house is further out and has a great mix of trees and open space, perfect for birds. My feeders attract a wide variety of birds, and I have to fill them often. Unfortunately, while Abigail can help me identify the birds from our kitchen window, she can't help me fill the feeders. Bird seed either contains or is manufactured in a plant with peanuts and tree nuts.<br />
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Labeling guidelines do not apply to feed for animals. Manufacturers of bird seed and pet food are not required to label for allergens, although lately, I have seen quite a few bird seed bags printed with an allergen statement. To date, I've not seen or heard of a bird seed supplier that is peanut/tree nut free. If you know of one, please leave a comment.<br />
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It's also that time of year when schools, preschools especially, make bird feeders using pine cones or bagels. A lot of schools have stopped using peanut butter as the base for obvious reasons, but many teachers and care-givers forget about the risk of the bird seed.<br />
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I did some research, and if you do want to have your peanut/tree nut allergic child have some hands on experience feeding your backyard birds there are other options. Here's a whole <a href="http://birding.about.com/od/birdfeeders/a/kitchenscraps.htm" target="_blank">list</a> of kitchen scraps like leftover rice, cooked pasta, over-ripe fruits, stale bread, dried cheese, etc., that can be fed to the birds. Another neat idea is to use leftover bacon or other animal fat grease, strain it, mix it with the kitchen scraps to make <a href="http://birding.about.com/od/birdfeeders/a/simplesuet.htm" target="_blank">suet</a>. I particularly like this idea. Abigail can get involved, and I can save some money on bird seed. The downside of having so many birds....they eat a lot of seed.Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-39199777286403415982011-11-02T22:43:00.000-04:002011-11-02T22:43:00.409-04:00Rejected TreatsI signed up to take a sweet treat to my son's preschool Halloween party. I originally planned on making mini candy apples using a recipe I found in <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/mini-caramel-apples-688916/" target="_blank">Family Fun</a> (obviously ignoring the suggestion to use peanut butter chips and chopped nuts). I soon found that caramel doesn't stick easily to cut apples, and I couldn't find a peanut safe caramel dip (a little boy in his class has a peanut allergy). Butterscotch chips were recommended in the recipe, but I couldn't stomach the ingredients in the butterscotch chips. At the last minute, I was scrambling to find something to make that was fun, healthy and safe.<br />
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I modified a recipe and made popcorn balls. I mixed <a href="http://peanutclinicaltrial.blogspot.com/2010/01/ten-changes-to-healthier-you-2-dont-eat.html" target="_blank">popcorn</a> (popped safely in a brown paper bag), organic raisins and the peanut safe <a href="http://peanutclinicaltrial.blogspot.com/2011/10/more-treats-and-safe-candy-corn.html" target="_blank">candy corn</a> that I found at Dollar Tree, and topped it with melted butter and mini marshmallows. I formed them into sticky, sweet popcorn balls. They were yummy!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOCRibpYMoR1neThA7MOvKLUQZgWuDBOXtu8i-gvbRDIUv_vKHK1pBs92iwur2ZUTzLuqEB2905EC2JVlKJCkJDcEkysuTcYwS0lMymSSjdBx1rMPsaSM6gBO6WqWwipJqq5F3x1hhlk/s1600/100_2439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOCRibpYMoR1neThA7MOvKLUQZgWuDBOXtu8i-gvbRDIUv_vKHK1pBs92iwur2ZUTzLuqEB2905EC2JVlKJCkJDcEkysuTcYwS0lMymSSjdBx1rMPsaSM6gBO6WqWwipJqq5F3x1hhlk/s320/100_2439.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We're at the party, and each child is served a <a href="http://www.cherrybrookkitchen.com/" target="_blank">Cherrybrook Kitchen</a> cupcake (my first time sampling...they were quite good), my popcorn ball and some pretzels. My son ate it all, but he was one of the few. I heard one child tell his mom "yuck" and to take his popcorn ball off his plate. I saw the majority of them end up in the trash can. In other words, they were totally rejected!<br />
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I tried. It was all the right ingredients that preschoolers love. I guess it was combining them that was the problem. I packed up all that was left, and my family has been enjoying them.Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-33790172859707938782011-10-25T22:20:00.001-04:002011-10-27T21:12:10.528-04:00More Treats and Safe Candy Corn!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDJvr1xwpmEL616ncVGrAIBqKvqKMqN0-pipj1Jft6NdIMZXIndhpaJA_rwF0ketehF9jFVd6tWAG9bH6ZAPH6xuhEftEizn4OpzFnAnN0zg6448dfXAxUqBVF9wWPPADXRGT4Pyu_P8/s1600/IMAG0263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDJvr1xwpmEL616ncVGrAIBqKvqKMqN0-pipj1Jft6NdIMZXIndhpaJA_rwF0ketehF9jFVd6tWAG9bH6ZAPH6xuhEftEizn4OpzFnAnN0zg6448dfXAxUqBVF9wWPPADXRGT4Pyu_P8/s320/IMAG0263.jpg" width="191" /></a>Again at Target (I shop there a lot), I found another healthy, peanut-safe trick-or-treat option. Different Target this time though which explains why I didn't see them at my last visit. An entire post could be devoted on the frustrations that occur when stores within the same chain don't carry the same products. I run into the same issue with my grocery store and with Wal-Mart, but I regress. There are 80 packs of fruit snacks in a box for $4.99. Right on the very front of the box is a picture of a peanut with a red line slashed across it, and on the back a label stating that the snacks are made in a nut free facility. The snacks from <a href="http://www.ausometreats.com/" target="_blank">Florida's Naturals </a>are made with real fruit and there were no artificial colors listed in the ingredients. I bought 2 boxes and hope there are some left over to pack in the kids' lunch boxes.<br />
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Another good find this week was safe candy corn. Not necessarily healthy, but peanut safe. If was the first candy corn that Abigail has ever eaten, and she was hooked. I find them too sweet, but Abigail loves sweet treats, and you can't get much sweeter than candy corn. I found the bag at Dollar Tree. The candy corn is manufactured in Mexico for <a href="http://www.sunriseconfections.com/ContactUs/FAQ/tabid/60/Default.aspx" target="_blank">Sunrise Confections</a>. It does contain egg and soy, but made in a peanut/tree-nut facility.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoNmEyKYKUQuCldKRh4yM6Gmht8ojamjm2_CFXUuJKnwVx2H2HhchfBc36u47CBxSeIHZncTop2sxRElZCo4TIUk6ZXq_peZeON0TqdJz_On7ODJgirRIbwZSad3rp0YXcvlvOK5BOvI/s1600/100_2327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoNmEyKYKUQuCldKRh4yM6Gmht8ojamjm2_CFXUuJKnwVx2H2HhchfBc36u47CBxSeIHZncTop2sxRElZCo4TIUk6ZXq_peZeON0TqdJz_On7ODJgirRIbwZSad3rp0YXcvlvOK5BOvI/s200/100_2327.JPG" width="166" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids were in too much of a hurry to try them to let me take a picture before opening the bag!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://www.jellybelly.com/Shop/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=98375" target="_blank">Jelly Belly</a> also makes a Halloween mix of candy corn flavored jelly beans that is safe for <a href="http://www.jellybelly.com/customer_service/frequently_asked_questions.aspx" target="_blank">peanut and tree nut allergies</a>. Other than online, I've only seen the product at Marshalls/HomeGoods. It was $5.99 for a 9 oz. bag. Personally, I liked the price of the bag at Dollar Tree where, yes, everything there is a dollar.Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-25485520605019561632011-10-21T22:06:00.002-04:002011-10-27T21:14:57.360-04:00Allergy Friendly Halloween TreatsIt's that time of year again. The time when the aisles are stocked with every type of candy imaginable, most of which aren't safe for our peanut allergic children. I did find a couple of non-candy options this year that I wanted to share.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbBm8-y958iNQdd9wny_ODECE1HnOyPRC4OgnV4ilTvn4Poiy-RkEQ7FkLI-Yi7gDntd9dgfu129uJ0uYHSBismZv8bYCRD2gjPt2uKVomFCY-wvAOj5u_BKsW0r9VFa7Jq-w4VXxO_I/s1600/Angies+kettle+corn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbBm8-y958iNQdd9wny_ODECE1HnOyPRC4OgnV4ilTvn4Poiy-RkEQ7FkLI-Yi7gDntd9dgfu129uJ0uYHSBismZv8bYCRD2gjPt2uKVomFCY-wvAOj5u_BKsW0r9VFa7Jq-w4VXxO_I/s200/Angies+kettle+corn.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>While shopping at Target, I came upon 3 products that are good trick-or-treat options for peanut and tree nut allergies. The first product is Angie's Kettle Corn. It was priced at $6.99 for a bag of 24 snack packs. Here is the allergen statement from their <a href="http://www.angieskettlecorn.com/" target="_blank">website</a>:<br />
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<i>Angie's Kettle Corn is certified gluten-free by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization and is produced in an <a href="http://www.angieskettlecorn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/allergen_statement.pdf" target="_blank">nut-free</a> environment. Ingredients used in the production of all our kettle corn products are free all of the regulated food allergens. We do not allow nuts of any kind in our production facility.</i><br />
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A plus for me is that they also have a <a href="http://www.angiespressroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/non-gmo-statement.pdf" target="_blank">non-GMO statement</a> although I'm a little confused about their corn oil and will be contacting them for clarification.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyucJTB4xhLtvDNhSGhK6wBKt0PcnYcflhky7xPpsck_Dr4sjPSf4JuzBL6oZRRe65LDkBMAN99m-crMD8kfU4I-jgYiAClPhSYFDddJqd1kX6NkNPLtmsVfONZvEdCzKHrj0aCtPrnyE/s1600/Pirates+Booty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyucJTB4xhLtvDNhSGhK6wBKt0PcnYcflhky7xPpsck_Dr4sjPSf4JuzBL6oZRRe65LDkBMAN99m-crMD8kfU4I-jgYiAClPhSYFDddJqd1kX6NkNPLtmsVfONZvEdCzKHrj0aCtPrnyE/s200/Pirates+Booty.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Another find is Pirate's Booty. It's gluten-free, and according to the <a href="http://piratebrands.com/faq/" target="_blank">website</a>, "Pirate Brands’ products are made in a nut-free facility, therefore are peanut and tree-nut free." The Pirate Brands' products are natural, but are not GMO free. Our family has switched to the Trader Joe's brand for this reason, but for the purpose of Halloween, these small packs are perfect. I believe that this box of 20 packs was also $6.99.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYruTyvi4D_cTzw6niWIl3m2wc8E41Mc8hzU47dX0df2bYNMCWQ4pl07rQGkHOrA_3ggqQs9W1-pjQvL2XEInOSTLYkT4BKdupVgnxKbAamGB9spMsMcFQWzLppoQgPw_FzpzvxpOcXo/s1600/IMAG0262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYruTyvi4D_cTzw6niWIl3m2wc8E41Mc8hzU47dX0df2bYNMCWQ4pl07rQGkHOrA_3ggqQs9W1-pjQvL2XEInOSTLYkT4BKdupVgnxKbAamGB9spMsMcFQWzLppoQgPw_FzpzvxpOcXo/s200/IMAG0262.jpg" width="119" /></a>I selected the Utz Halloween Pretzels to give out at our house. Printed right on the bag are the words "manufactured in a peanut and tree-nut free facility." That makes me happy. That and the fact that there are minimal ingredients, and it was just $3.99 a bag for 35 individual bags of bat and pumpkin shaped pretzels. Here's a <a href="http://www.utzsnacks.com/nutritioninfo_nuts.html" target="_blank">link</a> to Utz's nut allergy information.<br />
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They have a very lengthy <a href="http://www.utzsnacks.com/nutritioninfo_gmo.html" target="_blank">statement</a> about using GMO ingredients and have several products that are GMO-free. Unfortunately, the pretzels were not on that list. As I was searching their website for information for this post, I read this statement, "A vast amount of food biotechnology information has been carefully evaluated over the last ten years and found to pose very little risk to society. The consumer issues involved here are ideological and emotional, and not scientific." I must admit, I took offense to that statement. Might just put me up on my soapbox and prevent me from willingly purchasing their products again. <br />
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With kids collecting so much candy on Halloween night, I like to provide an alternative. I'll also purchase Halloween-themed pencils, erasers or other treats and hand those out as well. There are a ton of kids in our new neighborhood. I have a feeling I need to be well-stocked.Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-80754566937603291172011-10-13T10:48:00.000-04:002011-10-13T10:48:07.991-04:00Changes at DukeI must admit, I'm anxious. Dr. Burks has accepted the position of Chair of UNC Department of Pediatrics, Physician-in-Chief of N.C. Children's Hospital and is leaving Duke University Hospital.<br />
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We received an e-mail from our doctor in charge of the Peanut Sublingual Clinical Trial assuring us that, for the time being, it was business as usual. We can expect to see changes. The trials are to move to UNC sometime next spring. So, yes, I'm anxious.<br />
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Abigail's next appointment is in January for blood work. I assume we'll drive to Durham. Her big food challenge to see if she can tolerate up to 15 peanuts is scheduled for June. That should take place in Chapel Hill. I don't mind the change in location, I just want re-assurance that there are no changes planned for the studies.<br />
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Here is the <a href="http://news.unchealthcare.org/som-vital-signs/2011/sept29/burks" target="_blank">article</a> announcing his new position.Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-58781987335165971312011-10-01T10:27:00.001-04:002011-10-13T10:29:01.483-04:00Moved!Yeah! We're in! Not settled, but in! Can't find a thing. Boxes are everywhere, but we are moved!Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-69184894026424161062011-09-28T20:45:00.000-04:002011-09-28T20:45:14.111-04:00CommentsI had a reader today e-mail me because she was unable to leave a comment on the blog. Thank you very much to that reader! I was unaware of the issue (although I did wonder why no one was leaving comments). I did a little research and found that if I changed a setting the problem should be corrected. My wonderful reader helped me test the change, and it worked.<br />
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So, please leave comments. I love getting them, and your information not only helps me, but is often very valuable to other readers as well.Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-57666246128622869092011-09-27T17:38:00.000-04:002011-09-27T17:38:39.413-04:00Allergic Contact Dermatitis?I promised Abigail that when she turned 8, she could get her ears pierced. I dragged my feet as long as possible, but finally, this last June (her birthday was in February), I surprised her and took her to Claire's. All of her visits to Duke requiring skin prick tests and blood test have really given her nerves of steel, and she didn't flinch.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcPUJ-RG3yUqybgCcSwwBFTGrjinYw-uQ6CVPG8sRAfLHE-1cTfyhpC0P5-ndc3jLqvzRr3JfZ3cR2vgfdW-VtocRvytVh0Q76bXBcw_BF-cEPF5rTz03jJ76iStZdvXfs0oTEG5vlnM/s1600/100_1200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcPUJ-RG3yUqybgCcSwwBFTGrjinYw-uQ6CVPG8sRAfLHE-1cTfyhpC0P5-ndc3jLqvzRr3JfZ3cR2vgfdW-VtocRvytVh0Q76bXBcw_BF-cEPF5rTz03jJ76iStZdvXfs0oTEG5vlnM/s320/100_1200.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I chose the 14 karat gold earring option, she picked out the amethyst birthstones. She was tickled and proudly showed off her new "big girl" look. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMEBck1RcpLqJOTdzdouZgGBjluc46p0wiyWW6VNdiT8BaqKbRjwR-2SJzTnBUp-MCuU1yy6ugS2bPZgbXKSmnTX4-oSSE2MHMvVIeVGzL5yN_Hlp0vMihymVQ3r9uMvjyIKMeF9y5Pc/s1600/IMAG0058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMEBck1RcpLqJOTdzdouZgGBjluc46p0wiyWW6VNdiT8BaqKbRjwR-2SJzTnBUp-MCuU1yy6ugS2bPZgbXKSmnTX4-oSSE2MHMvVIeVGzL5yN_Hlp0vMihymVQ3r9uMvjyIKMeF9y5Pc/s320/IMAG0058.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Admiring her new earrings.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Her ears hurt. At first, I thought it was normal. She did a good job keeping them clean, but the holes stayed a little pink in color. It hurt her to sleep on them, and she counted down the days till she could remove them at bed time. After 6 weeks, we purchased sterling silver earrings so that she could start changing them. We had a little difficulty getting the new earrings in, and they continued to ache, mostly at night, and when she pressed on her earlobes. They weren't really red or oozing significantly so I didn't think too much of it.<br />
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After 8 weeks, we felt it okay to take out the earrings and leave them out at night or for a day. Her ears were still sensitive to touch. She ended up taking them out and leaving them out for several days, and while you could feel a crusty substance inside the piercing, her ears stopped hurting. Obviously, the sterling silver earrings were a problem. I had saved 14 karat gold earrings from my childhood, and after having to re-punch through a thin layer of skin, she wore those for a couple of days. The same thing happened. Her ears starting aching again, and she wanted to take them out. So, now they've been out for a week, and they are no longer sore to touch. They are still a little crusty though. <br />
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I don't understand. In my research, it looks like she might have <a href="http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/contactdermatitis.htm" target= "_blank">allergic contact dermatitis</a>. What doesn't make sense though is that she wears all types of necklaces and bracelets with no problem. Almost daily, she'll wear an inexpensive, nickel-plated necklace or bracelet to school, and she has a sterling silver cross that she wears to church. We've never noted redness or a rash where the various chains and fasteners rub against her skin.<br />
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We haven't tried the inexpensive earrings. It just stands to reason that if she can't wear the expensive pairs, she wouldn't be able to wear the cheap ones. We should try them. If those don't work, I'm afraid we don't have many more options. I did find a brand called <a href="http://www.conceptsjewelry.com/home.htm" target="_blank">Concepts Earrings</a> that might work. I'm afraid though to even see how much those cost.<br />
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Sadly, Abigail's ears have bothered her so much, that she's no longer really interested in wearing earrings. The pain is not worth the price of vanity in this case. Having spent $48 to get her ears pierced, I'm not so sure I'm ready to give up on this.<br />
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Any opinions...ideas...experience?Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-32883545321707913482011-09-23T22:48:00.001-04:002011-09-23T22:50:52.871-04:00MovingI'm falling behind blogging....again. First it was a busy summer and the preparation for the start of a new school year. This time it's because we've purchased a house and are moving. We're leaving our community of 13 years and moving to z different county located 40 miles south of where we live. It's a full time job right now coordinating the move, packing and making sure the transition will be as smooth as possible for our kids.<br />
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In this last year we have put our house of 12 years on the market, sold it, moved to a rental, researched communities, house-hunted and purchased a home. The end of this state of limbo is in sight. One week from tonight we'll be exhausted but moved in.<br />
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And after that, hopefully some return to normalcy. First though, I've got to get Abigail situated in a new school. You know what that means, more meetings with the staff, more medical forms to complete, more Peanut Allergy Action Plans to prepare and possibly more allergy awareness to promote. <br />
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I've got a huge week ahead of me. Time for some rest. It's going to be another very busy day tomorrow.Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631492063252179728.post-38388150432503768272011-09-08T16:33:00.000-04:002011-09-08T16:33:20.601-04:00"GMO Film Project"Here's a <a href="http://gmofilm.com/" target="_blank">link</a> to a 6 minute preview of a movie currently untitled, but referenced as the "GMO Film Project." This short clip is quite impacting, and I hope you'll take the time to view it. How is it that the people of a 3rd world country devastated by an earthquake understand the dangers of GMOs, while the majority of the people in the US don't know and/or don't care? Here's the introduction summary:<br />
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<i>THE GMO FILM PROJECT tells the story of a father's discovery of GMOs through the symbolic act of poor Haitian farmers burning seeds in defiance of Monsanto's gift of 475 tons of hybrid corn and vegetable seeds to Haiti shortly after the devastating earthquake of January 2010. After a journey to Haiti to learn why hungry farmers would burn seeds, the real awakening of what has happened to our food in the US, what we are feeding our families, and what is at stake for the global food supply unfolds in a trip across the United States and other countries in search of answers. Are we at a tipping point? Is it time to take back our food? The encroaching darkness of unknown health and environmental risks, seed take over, chemical toxins, and food monopoly meets with the light of a growing resistance of organic farmers, concerned citizens, and a burgeoning movement to take back what we have lost.</i><br />
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<i>Today in the United States, by the simple act of feeding ourselves, we unwittingly participate in the largest experiment ever conducted on human beings. Massive agro-chemical companies like Monsanto (Agent Orange) and Dow (Napalm) are feeding us genetically-modified food, GMOs, that have never been fully tested and aren't labeled. This small handful of corporations is tightening their grip on the world's food supply—buying, modifying, and patenting seeds to ensure total control over everything we eat. We still have time to heal the planet, feed the world, and live sustainably. But we have to start now! </i>Mom with a Missionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866959253295136237noreply@blogger.com0