Dealing with a life storm

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain."-Vivian Green.

Yesterday, we took our 1YO to the allergist. She still won't eat baby food. She flat out refuses it. She won't put things into her mouth either. At first, we thought it was a texture thing, or that she wasn't ready for food. Turns out it was something more than that.

She's had weird reactions to 2 foods, so we suspected something. Apparently, when a baby refuses food, it could be because it is an allergy, as was the case with our babe.

Things have been working out for us, in a very synchronistic manner. Due to the implementation of a new computer program, we ended up with a different doctor (the other one we happen to like). Turns out, he has a child with food allergies. We ended up going to the allergist he recommended, and ended up getting in yesterday due to a cancellation.

They did the prick test on her back. Her tiny little back was filled with welts - poor babe was even sensitive to the saline. We've discovered that she's extremely allergic to wheat and egg, following comes coconut, rye, oats, and probably barley.

Knowing she had food allergies was daunting, though not nearly as scary as learning how to use an epi-pen, and finding out each one gives you 15 minutes before it wears off. That's 15 - 30 (you usually are prescribed 2) to get your child to the hospital. That was the scary part.

At first, I felt really overwhlemed. Today, I am feeling better about things. I am deciding to be positive about this and look at it in a creative sense.

I get to figure out new recipes, and maybe even do so with a friend. The amount of support I've recieved has been seriously overwhelming in a good way. We've decided to make a positive dietary change for all of us, and try new things.

There is a chance, and the hope, that she'll grow out of this. Until then, we are choosing to make the most of it. It's a good thing we like to dance - when it's dry and in the rain.