Summer Fun Part 2

I am looking out a window at a very rainy July, which in itself is weird!!! We have had a fun few weeks. We started off having the water park and park visits. Lately it has been going out and sampling a few things inside and a few outside. We have had plans that we would go to the zoo. But as usual the weather makes it hard for us to leave. Kason doesn't do well with heat and well I am going to make sure that when we go it is late evening so Kason can enjoy it too!  We went to the farmers market two weekends ago and enjoyed it. I ended up buying 17 dollars worth of squash, zucchini, corn, cantaloupe , tomatoes, and local honey!  We went home and well promptly ate the wonderful and delicious food made from the local grown veggies and fruit!! We have been blessed with good health thus far and we have been able to enjoy time away from the doctors office. The 4th of July came and was filled with fun. The hubs and his dad both met with us up at the field near the 7-11 and watched several wonderful little shows and then watched the City's fireworks. I got to spend time with my family amongst the busy work schedule and the madness.. It felt great to be able to celebrate the freedom we have. I feel sadly that the freedom we had before is slowly fading with mans selfishness.. The next day we grilled hamburgers and spent time listening to the radio and let the kids run around.. Then the rains came.. and that they did!!! It has been raining non stop for the last few days ..

Well that might have been the most boring post I made.. I know that as soon as school starts there will be more posts... Kalli's first day and plays and stuff!!

until then..

Kason : Looking back at the last 4 years (7.17.09- 7.17.13)

I am sitting here and looking back over baby pictures and the 4 years that I have been blessed with my sweet boy!! I remember the day that I took the test for him and it came positive..  I was scared out of my mind on how I was going to love another child. I was very happy despite a few people in my life telling me I was messing up ( I was 20 at the time) . My hubs ( at the time fiance) and I where going through a rough time during the time so the pregnancy was already going rough because of the emotions...  I fought through weeks of bleeding, being admitted into the hospital and the constant pang of contractions managed to make it to 36 weeks.. Our son was born right before the shift change and all was wonderful... Breastfeeding was hard and I was not able to nurse on one breast.. I was left again alone with a newborn while the hubs went to work out of city..  Alone I went on .. One day his face broke out in a rash and thus began the path we have been on for the past three and a half years. I have been in a constant tizzy of doctors appointments and constant stress load that would make anyone else loose their marbles.. I would wake up to bloody sheet and a screaming baby most nights.. I feel sick to my stomach just thinking of his screams.. After months of begging we finally got specialists.. But again it was creams and steroids and plenty of heartbreak when that didn't work and his face would again turn to a bloody and raw nightmare.. As we neared his first birthday it seemed to get better... then one big flare knocked him back down .. Again his skin inflamed and bleeding.. My prayer however came true when his eczema went away just enough to take his birthday pictures!! We tried to feed him cake.. and as usual he didnt eat much.. Weeks later I am holding him and rocking him.. He starts to cry and then turns blue... seizing on my lap.. I scream out for him to come back as his lips get darker and darker... I finally get him to breath... We rush him to the hospital.. I know i have told this story a million times.. each time I can feel my heart do the same thing it did when he first had the attack... his body was giving up.. my son was dying.. my heart.. my soul was sick for him.. Looking back i should have knew.. I should have taken him to a different doctor.. Maybe he would not have suffered soo much..  We get past this phase and move into a year of bliss.. Nothing and I mean nothing happens... Infections slowed down and life was normal.... I got my wish on his second birthday.. just for one day of perfect skin... I was able to hug him without him crying and kiss his sweet cheeks without the fear of infection or making him hurt...  We went through that year like nothing had happened.. UNTIL..... His third birthday brought more breakouts and Hives , confused we entered through another phase of complete Hell... It wasn't until this year ( 2013) that what was happening and what had been happening came to light... We finally got him tested for food allergies... and have a new battle since he was diagnosed.. Lots of happy moments clouded by sadness.. hard work and sleepless nights...


Although not everything was Bad... there is moments ( and pictures ) of good times and moments of bliss... Moments that can make the darkest ones seem like nothing.. The videos of him laughing even though his face must have hurt badly... The feeling of being alone and another mother with a child with the same condition writes you and tells you how strong you are and how strong he is and that this too shall pass..  The moments that you watch him blow out his candles , more each year and know that you are going to do everything to protect them.. I know one day ill be looking at a man instead of a little boy... Ill hold a hand bigger than my own....

Most times I wish I would have wrote a letter on the day of their birthdays and present them to them when they become parents.. But ill start now..



My dearest Kason,

My sweet boy know that I love you so very much.. As I am sitting here I think of how precious you are to me.. You know how strong you are? I am amazed by you little boy.. I am amazed by the big boy you are becoming.. I am so blessed to be your mommy!! God put you right where you belong.. Your father and I are so thankful for every precious moment we have had with you.. As you turn 4 I am going to cry a little.. Because you are not going to be little anymore.. You have left the baby stage and moved into boyhood.  You will be able to go to school next year.. and well that is really scary because it seems like not so long ago they handed me a bread loaf sized bundle with a tiny baby in it.. Now my wish for you is that you will grow big and strong.. That you love with no price and that you Know that not just me and daddy love you , but your sister and little brother as well as the Great I Am.. your heavenly Father above!!! He loves you more than you know!!! I pray that you will know his love in the darkest hours... Keep your head up and know that I am always a step behind you... Now while you nap ill watch more videos of you and feel even more blessed becuase when you wake up I know ill have a dozen more to add soon!!!

Love you with all of my heart
Mommy

( Cure For Kason Blog Special) Rants about shopping for safe food

Ask me anything about weather and ill be able to tell you.. if you have been following my blog or my pages you will know that I do storm spotting.. I could tell you anything about changing a cars oil, I was raised by the best car care guy on this earth. But ask me to tell you how to shop for food allergies starts me to a nervous fit...

Since April we have been through the ups and downs of getting Kason used to his new diet.. Where there would be PB sandwiches in the afternoon , there is now special made chicken and noodles or a quick baked potato..  We have been through the biggest change of lifestyle since my hubs left the military..  Changing your diet however has made most of the people ( mostly myself) a little more grumpy and a little less thrilled with food.. What used to be filled with cream of crap ( cream of mushroom ETC) is now filled with white rice and herbs and dairy free butter. Shopping for the newly diagnosed is like a marathon.. You get so far into a label thinking YES we can eat that and the the epic letdown when it says soy letchin or other wonderful dairy, soy or peanut products!! I have had to make my shopping trips easier by leaving the kids with the hubs so that I can get something that will not cause Kason any harm..  What used to take me AN hour now makes me think I need to just move in.. My last visit caused me to come home and raise my hands up in retreat..

I started by cutting the processed stuff out of our diet , that would include my favorite frozen pizza fix.. I have start cooking more fresh foods.. Instead of more junk there is fruit and veggies.. Instead of tons of trips to the store it now is visits to the farmers market for fresh meat and fresh veggies.. I am not worried about what I am feeding him , its all labeled clearly.  I choose not to be worried anymore. I am giving my child the best thing .. We are super exited about the non GMO foods and meats ( yes you can have GMO meat because they eat GMO grains)

Lists have become my best friend, there is so many additives that are on the no no lists for Kason, The companies have to label for the main 8 allergens.. but guess what they can hide milk with whey and soy in lecthin . I am sickened that these companies don't want to label.. what are they afraid of? Loosing business? I am concerned about what is to come in the future.. Will my son ever be safe?

Summer Adventures Part 1

Normally I have found myself wondering when I will find the time to write this post out.. Here we are in mid June and summer has had the ability to sneak by and make my post more daunting to write. Please forgive any typos.. I am writing with Kaleb in my lap ( he likes to help)..

So we started off summer with a Bang ( more like a rumble) . It rained the majority of the last few weeks of May... My birthday came and so did a storm that blew us away ( quite literally). I went out for my third storm chase in all the years of storm spotting.. I got to sit and look at the sky as a beautiful super-cell came barreling down on me.. I also got to experience the feeling of 90 mph winds again.. Again I am mystified by the beauty of the weather God blesses this earth with.. We finally got Kason's results and now are dealing with the difference in Diet.. Lord knows we are going to loose weigh or loose our sanity trying to find something that tastes good!A week before May ended I received a call from a local reporter asking to do a surprise for Kason! May came and went and left back memories that will last a LIFETIME!!!!

June started off like May was, rainy and windy.. Finally the heat came on and we where left with a dusty, windy, and hot week of hell ( it would have made u only wish we had snow and ice again) . June 10th we where surprised with the Abilene police Department, Abilene Fire Department and the Metro care EMT giving us the coolest show of love and support of my sweet boy! They turned on their sirens and came out to see Kason and give him several gifts.. I was thankful for them coming out and the Local news station did the story to raise awareness on such a serious health condition.. I am blessed to have my communities support!! We also have been frequenting the Splash Park and the Parks as of late.. I have forgotten something as simple as a tree or a swing can wear the kids out.. Last week had tested my ability to figure out what was an allergic reaction.. Kason was bit by fire ants and had to be taken to the hospital with a swollen arm and hives... We are now fighting off a viral whatever .. while we will get better .. it has alerady made life interesting!!

I guess tune in later for part 2!!!

When seconds count

I know I have been writing a lot about my son as of late. His health issues have consumed me to the nitty gritty and even the blog had taken backseat since his diagnosis. I have been so busy with doctors appointments and life that I am missing some of the neat things that Abilene has to share. I am also about to move again and try to start off a new. I will explain all that later in another post. Maybe I need to name it " finally ( hopefully) getting it together." I have been in a sea of new medical terms and tests and I am lost.. honestly I am lost. I wanted to share something with you, though it has only been a week ago.. the feelings are still soo raw and I hope to pass this on to other people. I hope that no one else will have to deal with it.


I tucked my son into bed a week ago thinking that it would be another typical week night. The routine has been the same for the last few weeks. It has been : bath, brush teeth, bed story, kisses and hugs and prayers and then sleep.. He fell asleep pretty fast as he normally does, his little blue eyes finally closing after a long day of fun. I go outside for a bit on my porch and chat with the neighbors ( which live right across from me) and then manage to get tired enough to go to bed. Since we had bad weather I was watching a little bit of the weather channel and enjoying another quite night. I fall asleep and drift into a deep sleep. Suddenly I hear screaming and what sounds like vomiting. I rush out of my bed to meet my son in the hallway. I notice he is wheezing and is visibly having breathing issues, even in the shadows his skin looked pale. I put his nebulizer machine together and start to give him a breathing treatment. I notice that there are blotches on his skin and turn on the light. I noticed the hives and then noticed his lip color. He was having an allergic reaction, unfortunately not caught in time to give meds. I called his father to tell him to get ready to leave and meet us at the hospital. I called 911 and prepared to give him his epi pen.. As I was on the phone the fear washed over me, my son could die!! What did he eat, what could he have eaten here, the house is cleaned out of unsafe foods. I start to sob and sing to him to make him calm.. I noticed that the symptoms where not getting any better and administer it . I hear the click and then hear a loud sob.. I again started to sob and held my son still while the medicine injected. After the dose was given I see the color start to come back.. He is coming back to me.. By that time I am off the phone and the sirens are coming closer.. Good they will take him where he needs to go.. I put his nebulizer mask back on just to give him air and I pick him up and rock him .. I try to gather myself and start to sing to him... you are my sunshine.. I smile at him and tell him that he is the strongest little boy i have ever known.. All the while my head is dancing with thoughts.. I allow the medics to take him and transport  to the hospital, i stayed back home with the other two.. all the while i am on the phone with his father. After awhile his dad gets off the phone and i am left alone... in silence.. I go to his room to make his bed and ready it for him to get home.. praying that they will release him..

While all this took me an hour to write it took 5 short minutes and 1 Epi pen.. in that short amount of time, my son could have died... He could have taken his last breath..

What most people do not know is how fast that this happens.. Seconds count, not minutes.. please know that this can be any child... that a shell from a peanut or a handshake after and ice cream could be deadly.. 

 

 

Being a mom of a food allergy Child : Food Allergy Awareness Week

I had always thought nothing of my Kids eating a peanut butter cracker on the playground or carrying around a cone of ice cream at the park until my son was diagnosed with food allergies. I had always thought that people who talked about food allergies where over worried and over concerned parents not wanting to feed their kids a certain food. Now that I am a mom of a newly diagnosed child with food allergies , and it is down right scary!! I have now become even more paranoid of the places I go daily and the things I touch. I have never thought of the impact would be so hard!! At first it was relief after years of wondering what was wrong with my child, why he would break out in huge rashes and have multiple asthma attacks. I spent hours in a ER, been through two surgeries and two hospital stays. Now I have nightmares of my son eating a peanut and having to give him his Epi-Pen and the look on his face from the last attack he had ( he was scared) .. I have been back and forth in my mind of all the changes I am going to have to make for him. I know it seems like having a child with food allergies ( and other health issues) would be annoying, tiring and stressful, But  I have learned it is much more than that.

1. Its waking up in the middle of the night from your baby crying because he cant breath well. As you sit there singing his favorite lullaby holding his Neb mask on his face you think of the last time you cuddled and realized it was weeks ago
2. Going to the park and watching him have freedom away from the house ( all the while you are praying there is nothing on the slide that will make him sick)
3. Going to a doctors office and making wonderful friends with the staff and them telling you are a good parent ( how can I be, my child is suffering and there is nothing i can do)
4. Having the talk over and over about what your child is allergic to until they can tell you what they are allergic to. ( its even harder with a slightly non verbal child)
5. Going to do blood draws and allowing them to have that big sucker he saw in the hospital window ( even though you dont want them to have all that sugar)

I am pleading with the parents with children that do not have food allergies to consider us. We may be the mom that yells louder at a PTA meeting, or the mom who brings the weird snacks for her child at soccer practice.  Please remember our children because what wont harm your child , can kill ours. I ask for family members not to downplay my concern and feed my child something that could harm them, I have rules for a reason. I ask for the media to pick these stories up and make it as popular as cancer stories or world news.. Our children deserve the attention and all the help we can get! It would make our nights easier , maybe we can sleep. It would make our kids relax and be able to enjoy going out to eat somewhere or go to the park and play freely.

Come one, come all to the opening of the farmers market!!

So it is going to be an exiting day this coming Saturday!! For most people here in Abilene it is the day the Farmers market opens! I like many other people are exited about going!!! I can't wait to see what our local farmers have grown !! I like many other "crunchy" moms like the idea of fresh foods without all the processed crap as well as less of a carbon footprint!! Most of our fruit we buy at stores are not even from this country!! Can you imagine what would happened if we got rid of the GMO foods? We would be able to survive without the threats of cancer, food allergies, obesity and the growing countless health issues caused by Monsanto and the other evil companies! What about giving back to the people that grow these foods? Would there be less food stamps if foods where grown locally and cheaper?

This is the perfect chance for me to get the word out  EAT LOCAL!!!  I have always heard from my grandma about how much she loved the seasons because each one brought a food that she was not able to eat until that time of the year. I am sure that this weekend will bring me excitement like it did for her. I only can think about all the money that is going to go to the local economy and help bring up the options to make Abilene beautiful !

So what am I going to look for this weekend
Fruits-  Strawberries, lemons, kiwis, cherries, grapefruit
Veggies- red potatoes, lettuce and carrots
Meats- beef and chicken
Herbs- all of them if i can ( i plan to dry them on a string in my kitchen)

I am also in the look for fresh local honey to help with my sons allergies and skin issues and maybe get him off his allergy meds when his body builds up an immunity. I am also looking for homeade soaps and lotions!!


I cant think of another better way to spend my weekend , but to eat fresh fruits and visit with local farmers and the people that make up this beautiful city!!