BEYOND A PEANUT FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS CARDS REVIEW

I am sure most of you that have read my blog before know that the Munchkin' Man has a severe allergy to peanuts. Since the awful day of finding this out, our lives have changed drastically. I have read many books. Searched the web and read tons of blogs. I also have been looking for products to help educate family members on this life threatening allergy. I came across the website Beyond A Peanut one day while doing a search. The first thing that caught my eye was the statement on the top of the website that was the description of what I have been looking for:

Resources to empower children with food allergies and teach those caring for them how to provide a safe environment

I contacted them and asked if they would like to sponsor a review for my blog. Dina sent over the Food Allergy Awareness Cards and Diggins Munchtime Placemats.

The Food Allergy Awareness Cards are FANTASTIC. They are a wonderful reference for anyone that has a child with a peanut allergy. The pack comes with 36 cards that provide tips and information on staying safe. Since the MM is not in school yet, I have used them to help educate family members on what is safe for him and what is not. The pictures and quick reference make the cards the most useful tool I have found so far. The cards are color coded letting you know which situations would be considered safe, pose the greatest risk, and what may be a potential risk. The cards are great for all ages. Even my 2 year old can look at the pictures and tell me if it is something that is safe or not safe.

When the MM goes to school, I will be sending the cards with him so that his teacher can help the other students understand allergies. If you have a child with a peanut allergy, I would HIGHLY recommend getting the Food Allergy Awareness Cards.

The cards are recommended for all individuals caring for your child with a nut allergy in:
your home
your extended family members
your neighbor's house
your day care provider
your school
your church or synagogue

I was also able to review the Diggins Munchtime Placemats. When ever we go out I have to make sure that the food the MM is going to eat is safe. We also have to make sure that we have something to entertain him while waiting for the food to come. The Diggins Placemats are super. They have wonderful pictures to color, counting games, and letter finds. We have used them at restaurants and I have also used them at home when we need a little "quiet time." I have also shared them with some friends and they love the activities that are on the placemats also!! I just fold a few and always keep them in our bag!

The website Beyond A Peanut is a great resource for peanut allergy facts as well as up to date information that has been in the news regarding allergies. Take a minute to check out their great products as well as the extremely useful information they have!!

Have you used the Food Allergy Awareness Cards? Please leave a comment to tell me how you used them :)

Thank you again for Beyond A Peanut for sponsoring this wonderful review.

PEANUT ALLERGY AND THE PLAYGROUND

Once the weather becomes cooler is when I come out of the house. I enjoy the summer, but I hate going to the playground when my son can not even go down the slide because it is too hot. Well, the first nice cool day, we went to a local park to get some fresh air and exercise. We first took a hike through the woods to look for some of the signs of Fall. I am in love with the colors all around during this season. After our hike, we headed off the the playground. The playground has two sides- one for toddlers and then one for older children. The MM loves those sit on giant spring things on the toddler side. He then went over to the large equipment. We were having a great time. There were a few little girls playing and they were also eating a snack. Of course like any other 2 yr old, the MM went up to one of the little girls and asked for a cracker. I told him he could have snack when we got home. Then..... I realized the girls were eating peanut butter crackers!!! AHHHH!! I told the MM to go and play as in my head I am completely panicking!!! I have been teaching him not take snacks from anyone without asking me, but you never know. I was a mess. Do I take him to the other side of the playground? Do we leave? Were is the Epi pen? If something happened do I run to the car and get the Epi pen or do I carry him with me? Doesn't that mother know that there are kids with severe peanut allergies? I was also trying to calm myself down. It will be ok!! Well after about 10 more minutes, it was time for us to leave. Luckily we had been there for awhile and the MM did not protest, it was time to go home and a peanut free lunch :)

When we got home I reflected on the situation and my reaction. What I really learned is that not everyone is aware of allergies. It is not realistic to think that everywhere we go people are going to think "is this snack safe for all children?" I think that this is just still very new to me and in time I will be able to handle these type of situations with a little more sanity.

I am very luck with the support I have from friends. When I go to birthday parties, I call them before we go and ask what they are having. It makes life easier to know if there will be something for the MM to eat. Friends have read ingredients for me and even have gone out of their way to make sure there is safe food.

If you have a child with a peanut allergy, please leave a comment about a situation you were faced with and how you got through it!! I would love to know also what other parents would have done and how they would have felt with this situation!!

MOMMY GUILT AND PEANUT ALLERGY

When your child is diagnosed with life threatening allergy to peanuts you go through many emotions. They range from fear, angst, frustration, nervousness, and of course guilt.

Unfortunately, we did not first find out about our son's allergy through routine allergy testing. I blogged a little about the awful day we found out. If you did not get a chance to read it, basically the day started with a peanut butter Whopper and then ended in the ER and a night stay in the hospital. Also included in the day was an ambulance ride and two shots of Epinephrine!! I don't want to ever go through that again, but that day plays over and over in my head each and every day.

Why do I have so much guilt?? Some may not understand. There is no answers to my question of..What made my son allergic to peanuts?? There are some theories of why there is such a rise in children that have a sever allergy to peanuts. One theory is the Hygiene Hypothesis. This theory suggests that because children have fewer infections (due to improved hygiene, their immune systems are more likely to target other things such as items in the environment and diet, resulting in the allergy. Although this theory has been examined by many, some have found this theory to have no merit.

So, where does that leave me??? If you are anything like me.. you turn to guilt!!! I began thinking that maybe I caused my son's allergy. Maybe all that peanut butter I ate while I was pregnant caused it. Maybe the peanut butter I ate while nursing caused it. Maybe the vaccines that I was told would be the best thing for my son caused it. GUILT...GUILT..GUILT.. When talking to a family member about the allergy she said that I watched what my son ate too much!! WHAT?? Now I have to feel guilty about feeding my son organic home made baby food instead of processed jar food that has no taste.

Guilt can run and ruin your life! I am working on not letting that happen to me. I try to make it a point to not think about it all day everyday! I have to admit, I have good days and AWFUL days. I worry about the first day he goes to school without me! I worry about going to birthday parties! I worry and worry and worry some more. I know it will get better. I am thankful to all the parents that have been handed this diagnosis before me and have done all the research. I am thankful that there are companies that cater to nut free products. I am thankful for the family members that have gone through their cabinets and taken out all products with nuts. Most of all I am thankful for the wonderful son I have that makes me smile and laugh each and everyday!!!

So, will the guilt run my life...hopefully not. I can not say "YES" yet, I am not there. With the help of others and looking into those adorable blue eyes my son has, one day I will be able to say it :)