Friday, December 20, 2013

Allergy Moms are Organized

Nathan's teacher told me that the class will be decorating Christmas cookies in class and asked if I could bring something in for Nathan.

Nathan said he wanted to decorate a cupcake instead of a cookie but he needs all his own items. He can't share sprinkles, frosting or anything, etc. I decided to make Nathan his own decorating kit to take to school. I wish I had taken a picture before he took it but when he brought it home the teacher sent me a note.

It said: Thank you so much for sending this. It worked out perfectly! You are so organized!


Saturday, December 14, 2013

Peppermint Fudge

Nathan and I were watching my favorite cooking show on TV, The Pioneer Woman. While the show is not allergy friendly, I do love to watch.

The Pioneer Woman was making a Peppermint Fudge on the show and Nathan said to me "Oh mom that looks so good!" This meant I needed to get creative and make a Peppermint Fudge for him that is allergy free.

This is what I cam up with and it was so easy and he loved it.


Peppermint Fudge

1/2c Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips
2T Soymilk
Crushed Candy Canes

After I melted the chocolate in the microwave, I mixed in the soymilk. Then I added some crushed candy canes to the top. I spread it out on wax paper let cool in the fridge.

He loved them!


Monday, December 9, 2013

Peppermint Chocolate Sundae

Nathan loves ice cream but with all his allergies he is limited to flavors, but with it be Christmas time I decided to get creative. Nathan loves peppermint  and chocolate so I made him a Peppermint Chocolate Sundae. 

It was easy to make I just used Dairy Free ice cream, Chocolate Syrup and crushed Candy Canes He just loved it. 


Monday, November 25, 2013

Review: I Caught Santa Photo

Last Christmas, I saw people posting photos to Facebook and Twitter of Santa in their living room or house by the tree or fireplace. I thought, this would be the best idea to make sure my 7 year old stills believe in Santa. 

iCaughtSanta.com has a special promotion for my readers, you can all make a FREE  photo for yourself or a holiday card. Just use code: SantaShare and remember it expires December 10, 2013. This is a $9.99 value.

Here is the one I just made, it looks so real and it was very easy to make, you can choose from a variety of Santa poses, add boarders, flip and rotate Santa. It only takes a few minutes to make. Once you are done, you will get your download immediately to save on your computer or share with family and friends on Facebook and Twitter.




It looks like Santa is really in our own living room, Nathan will never doubt Santa again. 

Also, while visiting iCaughtSanta, be sure to enter their contest to win (iPad Air + Amazon, Visa or Starbucks Giftcards) Over $1,500 in prizes! Enter at http://www.iCaughtSanta.com

But just like Santa it's only around for a limited time!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Monday, November 18, 2013

American Medical ID Giftcard Winner

Congratulations to Haley A. from Florida! She won the $30 giftcard to American Medical ID.

Thank you to everyone who entered.



Friday, November 15, 2013

Always Check Ingredients in Medications....Even Inhalers

I can't believe that our ALLERGIST prescribed an Asthma inhaler for Nathan that contains lactose (aka milk), he is severely allergic to milk!!!  She could have sent my child into an anaphylactic reaction. 

The pharmacy has his allergens on file and still gave us the medication. I am getting a refund!!!

I am so glad that I checked the ingredients and read the pamphlet that come with the inhaler. 

It is a good reminder to ALWAYS check everything that goes on or in your child's body. 


Monday, November 11, 2013

Personalized Pencils

Today, I ordered Nathan personalized pencils for school because he told me they share pencils from a "community box" and that kids in his class chew on them. Eeeeewwwww!!!
That made me nervous because what if a child eats peanut butter at lunch then uses a pencil and then Nathan uses that same pencil. I just can't risk it, so I was happy to find these personalized pencils that I can order in cool colors with Nathan's name one them.  Hopefully, he will remember to use his own pencils and not share.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

American Medical ID: Tips for Trick or Treating and Giveaway

With Halloween a few days away, Trick or Treat is coming up, American Medical ID has some tips for a safe and happy Halloween.



I am giving away a $30 gift card for American Medical ID. Please enter below. Good Luck!! 

Monday, October 21, 2013

Halloween Candy

It is the time of year when allergy parents cringe because of Halloween and CANDY. It is hard to find ingredients on the little pieces of candy your child gets in their bag.

We recently went to our school's Trunk or Treat and when we came home I tested Nathan by having him put all his candy into two piles. One pile was the "safe" candy and one was "not safe." It is fun little game to him and for me it is teaching tool to find out how much he knows about his candy. He did pretty good on guessing, there were items that I wasn't even sure about. In the end, he kept the Dum Dums, Skittles and Smarties.

I told him to give me the rest of his candy and I gave him a little toy......he was happy as can be.

This weekend is Trick or Treat and there will be 10x the candy.

When I was out purchasing candy for Trick or Treat at Walgreens, I noticed the statement on some boxes "Produced in a facility that does not use peanuts, tree nuts, eggs or gluten." I don't think I have ever seen this before but it sure made it easier for me to find safe candy. I still had to check for milk ingredients though.




Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Field Trip to a Diary Farm

Today was a field trip to a dairy farm, with my dairy and egg allergic child....

I had asked his teacher if I could come along, not as a chaperon but as Nathan's mom/nurse to protect him from allergens at the farm.

I followed the bus to the farm and met up with Nathan, glad I did because his teacher wasn't there and there was a substitute, not sure how much she knew about Nathan's allergies.  We went on a tractor ride, walked by pigs, cows, went into a few barns, played in the hay (aaaaachhhhoooooo) pet the sheep, goats and went to see where the chickens laid eggs. It was a good thing I was there, Nathan's asthma started up after he was near the chickens and all the eggs (I knew this would probably happen because the same thing happened when we colored Easter eggs).  Every time he touched an animal I wiped his hands with wipes.

Lunch time started out fine, Nathan, a friend of his (who didn't have peanut butter) and I sat at a picnic table together. Then another class was coming to eat and then wanted us all to sit together. I had to speak up. I said "he needs a peanut-free table". They all were very understanding. I noticed that the substitute teacher pulled out a can of wipes after the children ate - props to her!!!

It was beautiful weather, glad I was able to go and he loved having me on his field trip.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Back to School Allergy Tips

As soon as back to school started, so did the colds and allergies. Fall is the time of year when most suffer from some kind of seasonal allergy or cold.
I have put together some tips for the season that has helped us with our seasonal allergies and I hope it helps you too.

1. Be sure to have Children's Claritin, the #1 pediatrician-recommended non-drowsy allergy brand, on hand!
2. Multi-vitamins are building blocks to having a strong immune system. Make taking a multi-vitamin part of your child's daily routine.
3. Let there be light! Mold doesn't like sunlight, so try to keep your curtains open during the day. Should be easy during the summer months!
4. Did you know that most pillows trap allergens, dust mites, and bacteria? Monitor the cleanliness of the pillow your child with allergies sleeps on and replace if necessary.
5. Back to school season means lots of laundry for many moms. Be sure to remove laundry from the washing machine promptly. Allowing wet clothes to sit in the washer means mold can quickly grow there.
6. Monitor pollen counts and adjust outdoor before and after school activities accordingly. Dry, windy days can be particularly high in pollen.
7. Showering or bathing at the end of the day as opposed to the morning can be helpful in removing allergens from body surfaces and hair.
8. Stay hydrated! Always send your child to school with a bottle of water. Drinking lots of clear fluids through the day can help get rid of toxins and flush out body.
9. Peak pollen production typically occurs in early morning, so try to plan outside activities at other times of the day.

Back to school also means creating fun and exciting lunch ideas. My son has so many food allergies, I make his lunch daily. I feel like I always send the same kind of lunches everyday but this year I am getting creative.

My Three Lunch Ideas:

1. Chicken Kabobs: pieces of cold chicken breasts, cold gluten free noodles, black olives and cucumbers. Layer on a stick. I also added a side of BBQ sauce for dipping.
2. Pasta Salad: cold pepperoni, gluten free noodles and veggies with a drizzle of Italian dressing.
3. Breakfast for Lunch: I put a waffle in his thermos and added some sausage and bacon with a side of fruit salad.

Hope some of these tips can be helpful to you during this Back to School and Allergy Season.


As a member of the Children's Claritin Mom Crew, I receive product samples and promotional items to share and use as I see fit. No monetary compensation has taken place and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Candy Corn with Peanuts

When I was at Target, I noticed that Brach's is now making a Candy Corn with Peanuts. These candies are so sweet and are pretty much pure sugar, I don't buy them.


I know the labels says it was manufactured in a facility where tree nuts were used but they now contain peanuts. Just be aware and remember to read ingredients.


Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Talking Epinephrine Auto-Injector - Auvi-Q

Auvi-Q is the first Epinephrine Auto Injector that talks you through the injection process.

I picked up a demo Auvi-Q at the FARE allergy walk back in June, it talks you through the steps on how to inject the Epinephrine, it evens counts the seconds and lets you know when the injection is complete - I know in a emergency that is VERY important.

The Auvi-Q is smaller then most smartphones so you can carry it in your back pocket.

The Auvi-Q is much shorter then a Sharpie marker.
Family and friends who haven't been trained on how to use an Epinephrine Auto-Injector will be able use this and just may save a life.

Through December 31st, 2013 you can get the Auvi-Q Talking Epinephrine Auto-Injector for $0 Co-Pay.

Visit http://www.auvi-q.com/ for more details.

I did not receive compensation or free products for this post. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.



Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Vote for Play

Today we had a play date at a playground near our house, the kids ran around and played for hours - in fact we couldn't get them to leave. 

Creative play can make kids happy and healthy but some kids don't get enough outside time or playtime. That is why Children’s Claritin, the #1 pediatrician-recommended non-drowsy allergy brand, is teaming up with the national nonprofit KaBOOM! to help bring innovative play spaces to schools in need.  Imagination Playground™ is a collection of specially-designed over-sized foam blocks that promote creativity, communication and collaboration in play. By interconnecting the components, children are able to build and rebuild their play spaces with each visit fostering creativity and critical-thinking skills.

I feel good about the park by our house, there is a sign posted in on the playground that reads: No food or drink allowed. I know not everyone follows the rules but for the most part they do - and I can feel safe that Nathan isn't exposed to food allergens. Also we take Children's Claritin, for environmental allergy relief, so Nathan can enjoy playing outdoors without the annoying allergy symptoms. 

Visit http://Facebook.com/Claritin between 8/1 – 10/31 to cast your vote for one of 12 finalist schools in need. Together, we’ll raise awareness about the importance of outdoor play for kids and increase quality play opportunities.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Puffs Fresh Faces

New Puff Fresh Faces are moist saline tissue for adults. They are similar to Boogie Wipes (made by the same company) for kids, but these are made just for teens and adults.  Puff Fresh Faces are great for after a workout, refreshing your face after a long workout, removing make-up or just when you have a mucus filled nose caused by allergies, the flu and colds.

Puff Fresh Faces are offered in a variety of scents: Fragrance Free, a touch of Vicks, Fresh Scent and a Light Lavender. 15 count packs are $1.99 and 45 count packs for $4.99

For more information visit Puff Fresh Faces.

For a $2 off coupon to redeem at Target go here.



I  received the products mentioned above for free from the blogger ambassador program I am in. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Book Review: Freddy meets Ginger - The fox who was allergic to eggs

I had the chance to review the book: Freddy meets Ginger - The fox who was allergic to eggs by Josie Warburton. I read the book to Nathan and he really enjoyed it.

I loved the book because not only did it talk about allergies, it was educational and deals with the topic of a severe food allergy and anaphylaxis in a way for children 3-6 years old can understand. It was written in a way that children will love the characters and not be frighten by food allergies or what can happen during an allergic reaction.

For more information or to purchase the book, please visit Freddy the Mouse


I  received the products mentioned above for free.  Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Happy 7th Birthday Nathan!!!

This year I decided to make Nathan's cake, he requested a fishing cake so this is what I came up with. The best part is it is allergy safe.

I used the Betty Crocker chocolate cake mix which is wheat free, dairy free and I used an egg substitute. For the frosting I used a can frosting and food coloring and then added the Swedish Fish and the Fisherman I found at a local store.

It turned out great and he loved it!!


Nathan's birthday gift was a four wheeler, not my first choice of a gift because it makes me nervous but he loves and Dad said it was ok. He knows to always wear his helmet.


My boy is growing up so fast. 
Happy 7th Birthday Nathan!

Thursday, July 18, 2013

The Cost of Epi Pens

My husband lost a set of our Epi Pens, he must have left them at a restaurant. 

I called the pharmacy to order another set, it will cost us $125 for a two pack WITH Insurance. Yikes!!! The most frustrating thing is that they go to waste because they expire but I am also just thankful we haven't had to use them. 

A blog reader wrote that there is a website to get a savings card for Epi Pens - something I also got from a booth at the Food Allergy Walk in back in June.
 
You can save up to $100 on Epi Pens. A great deal!!! I need to pick up mine today from the pharmacy, I am hoping to pay only $25 

This program doesn't expire until 12/31/13 and can be used an unlimited number of times. 

To get your discount card go to: https://activatemysavings.com/epipen/ 

What do you pay for your Epi Pens? Write me a comment and let me know. 


Update: I was able to get two packs of Epi Pens for NO cost at all.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Boogie Wipes Diaper Cake

A neighbor had a baby boy and I love to make diaper cakes as gifts for new babies. For this one I used a canister of Boogie Wipes. They worked perfectly for the base of the cake, I also used a few single use wipes around the cake. I really loved how the diaper cake turned out.

What a practical baby gift, they also make great center pieces at a baby shower.


Before
After

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Nathan's Allergy Test Results


Nathan had his testing for allergies
Allergen <   >   + Was Now
Eggs < 29 27
Milk < 11 6.5
Wheat > 15 11

Peanut Highly Allergic - Did Not Test
Tree Nuts Highly Allergic - Did Not Test

Dust Mites  = Positive
Cat = Positive
Dog  = Positive
Grass = Positive
Tree = Positive
Ragweed  = Positive

No food challenged for us in the future. It is hard to believe that his milk allergy is lower then his wheat. I would like to schedule a skin
test.

We also talked about doing dog allergy shots, such a long and 
expensive process though.




Sunday, June 9, 2013

FARE Walk, Milwaukee WI

Today was the FARE Walk to say FAREWELL to Allergies in Downtown Milwaukee. It was a great event, there were quite a few sponsors with samples, a fire truck, inflatables for the kids, crafts, balloons and a DJ. The opening ceremony was a great speech and then the 2.5 mile walk started. I walked with Nathan, my sister, her son and my sisters' friend. It was a great day!!









Friday, June 7, 2013

The Tooth Fairy

Tonight was the night the Tooth Fairy came to our house for the first time. Nathan lost his first tooth today.


Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Broken Arm

School hasn't even ended yet, Summer vacation has not started yet but Nathan broke his arm after the first Baseball practice He was running, tripped and fell.  I feel so bad for him.

 Because of the lack or dairy milk and Nathan only getting Soy or Rice milk in his diet, I feel he needs more. Either a calcium supplement or some protein powders.

What do you do to help keep your child's bones healthy and strong?

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Nathan's Story In Our Local Newspaper

I emailed our local newspaper to see if they would publish a story about Nathan's allergies, raise awareness for Food Allergy week and promote the FARE Food Allergy Walk that is held next month here in our area.

Read our story here.
Thanks!!

Monday, May 13, 2013

Food Allergy Bullying: It's Not a Joke

Here is a new video from FARE, makes me sad that kids can be so mean.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Food Allergy Awareness Week



Food Allergy Awareness Week starts this week: 
May 12th through May 18th. 

I have been busy getting ready for the FARE Food Allergy Walk coming to Milwaukee, WI on June 9th, 2013. I need to hand out flyers and order our team shirts, who knew there was so much to do to get ready for the walk.

Did you register for the walk yet? Hurry, you still have time to register here.

I have been working on my fundraising because The Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) is an important organization, their mission is to ensure the safety and inclusion of all those with food allergies while seeking a cure. They need funds to research treatments and to help find a cure of the potentially life threatening allergies that affect at least 15 million Americans. This disease affects 1 in every 13 children in the U.S.  or roughly 2 children in each classroom. FARE is committed to advocacy at all levels of government and increasing awareness of food allergies.

I hope I will see you at the walk. If you can't be there and would like to donate you can do so here.

Happy Mothers Day!!

I got the sweetest Mother's Day Card, I am so blessed.

 

Hope all you Moms had a very Happy Mothers Day!!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

2013 FARE Food Allergy Walk in Milwaukee





We are walking to say FAREwell to Food Allergies. 

The Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) will be hosting a walk in downtown Milwaukee on June 9th, 2013. We are putting together teams and raising money to help fund food allergies and research and awareness.

Event Details

Location: Veteran's Memorial Park - Milwaukee, WI
Date: Sunday, June 9th 2013
Check-in/Registration: 8:30am    
Ceremony Begins: 9:30am and walk begins after

 For more information about the FARE Walk visit their website.

To donate to FARE you can visit our donation page here.




Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Spring Break

Hope everyone had a great Spring Break. Nathan was off last week and we didn't leave town, we planned activities around here. We wish the weather was better, more like Spring....but it felt like Winter.

My husband and I split the week that Nathan was off of school. I did a couple days with Nathan and so did he. He took Nathan golfing and to his friends garage, Home Depot -all the fun boy stuff. I took Nathan to paint pottery, he painted a monster truck (he is so proud). We also planned a fun swim play date and lunch with friends.

Here is the one thing about our Spring break that has to do with allergies: Nathan ate lunch out 4 days during that week and they were all at Wendy's Restaurant. Now as an allergy mom I know very well that eating out you risk cross contamination but as usual I never left the house without our Epi-Pen and Benadryl. Nathan loves to eat their burger patties and fries. I always tell them plain, no bun - just the meat burger patties. I tell them he has food allergies. He dips the burger in BBQ sauce and ketchup. The first day Nathan ate four burger patties, which is good because he is so small and needs the protein. By the fourth day the nice ladies working there, knew him. As a mom watching my son eat something he enjoys brings so much joy to me.

Disclaimer: Eating out with food allergies can be unsafe and you can risk cross contamination.  Please speak to your doctor about any diet changes.



Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Potty Covers Winner

Congratulations!! Amy K. She was the winner of PottyCovers and will be receiving her product soon.

Thank you to all who entered, there will be more contests soon.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Win A PottyCover

One lucky reader will have a chance to win there own PottyCovers.
Please enter below. Good Luck!!

PottyCovers

PottyCover
As you may know or not know, I don't like public bathrooms. When Nathan tells me he has to use the potty in a public place, I would cringe. Well not anymore! PottyCover has it covered. It is more then a toilet seat cover.

A PottyCover has a extra large front flap that keeps legs and clothes from touching the toilet and it even covers the sides where kids hold on to maintain their balance.

PottyCover is:
  • Ideal for boys, girls and even adults to protect against gems on public toilets.
  • Made from a double layered with a soft non-woven fabric on the top, coated with a layer of plastic on the bottom to keep gems and wetness away.  It provides a waterproof barrier between toilet and child.
  • PottyCovers are individually wrapped and packed small, easy to carry in a diaper bag or purse.
PottyCovers are available for purchase on Amazon and Ebay.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Nathan's Nice Friend

We were at a school function and a father of a boy in Nathan's class told us that his son gave up PB & Jelly to sit by Nathan during lunch at school. That is so sweet that at the age of 5 or 6, these kids are thinking about others and are willing to give up something.

It means a lot to us as Nathan can't sit by other kids that have PB&J, which is most of the K5 class. No parent wants their child to sit alone at lunch.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

McDonalds French Fries Ingredients

WARNING: McDonald's French Fries do include dairy and wheat (or gluten) so you have are avoiding dairy or wheat you do NOT want to eat McDonald's French Fries.

I went to McDonald's website to find the ingredients in the fries to see if they changed and they were not listed. I emailed McDonalds and this is their response:


Hello Jeanette:


Thank you for taking the time to contact McDonald's for ingredient and allergen information.

To obtain the most up-to-date ingredient and allergen information for McDonald's standard menu items, visit the website at www.mcdonalds.com. Available allergen information will always be listed on the menu item's ingredient statement.

Here is the ingredient and allergen information for our french fries:

Potatoes, vegetable oil (canola oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor [wheat and milk derivatives]*, citric acid [preservative]), dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate (maintain color), salt. Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.


CONTAINS: WHEAT AND MILK.


*(Natural beef flavor contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as starting ingredients).

McDonald's has worked with the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) to help consolidate all allergen information within our ingredient statements. The FAAN encourages customers with food allergies to regularly read ingredient statements because ingredients may have changed. Again, McDonald's recommends you visit the website,www.mcdonalds.com, for the most current information about our products. We also recommend that you speak with your health care provider if the information you are seeking cannot be found on our website or printed materials.

McDonald's has provided nutrition information on our menu items for more than 35 years. One of our goals is to provide accurate and accessible nutrition information to our customers by providing a clear, consistent approach to communicating nutrition information. Today, customers can obtain nutrition information on our standard core products through a variety of sources:

www.mcdonalds.com
McDonald's trayliners
McDonald's Nutrition Facts Brochures
Toll-Free Number -- 1-800-244-8227
McDonald's Packaging
Mobile Application
Our Menu Boards

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact McDonald's and we look forward to serving you again soon.

Caroline
McDonald's Customer Response Center


Also, do you see the ingredient: Beef. YES!! That is beef so if you are a vegetarian you may also want to avoid McDonalds Fries.

I may have wrote this on my blog before but I tell people and they had no clue so I thought it was important to write again. I'm NOT lovin' it!

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Peanut Free Cupcakes

I received so many responses from the previous peanut-free cupcake review I did, I am doing another one.

My local Walmart has these delicious peanut-free cupcakes in a couple of great flavors.  I could not decide on just one. I bought a few flavors! These are the flavors I bought:
 Lemon

Confetti Mini


Chocolate Oreo


And look at these cute Cherry mini cupcakes, they are so good. My favorite flavor! We had these on Valentine's day.


If you are looking for a peanut-free option, these are the best tasting cupcakes. Great for taking to school  for a birthday treat where peanuts are not allowed or a peanut free classroom. They are moist and full of flavor! The price was very affordable too. The best part is you know they are safe because they are made in a dedicated Peanut-Free facility.

To be sure you that you have the peanut-free cupcakes, check the bottom of the label and look for the peanut-free logo. It looks like this:
Disclosure: I received a complimentary samples. The review is my own opinion of the product.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

My Nephew Has Hives

My sister sent me a text picture (last week) of her son (18 mo. old) with a "bad rash" and said she was going to the doctor. I wrote back and said it looked like hives and to call me when she was home.

The Diagnosis: Hives from an allergic reaction to the drug Amoxicillin
(which he was on for the first time for Strep Throat). Apparently, you can get an allergic reaction days after using it the medication and it can take days for the hives to go away - unlike the food allergy reactions Nathan has had.

She was told to discontinue the medication. Also to use Zyrtec in the morning everyday but to use Benadryl before bed because it can make him drowsy -- but it had the opposite affect. It made him hyper.

He seems to be getting better. Poor guy! Let's hope this is the end of his allergy reactions.


Thursday, February 14, 2013

Non Candy Valentines

Valentines Day means another school party involving candy and treats.

The teacher sent me an email letting me know that Nathan will need a cupcake and some candy treats as they will be eating some of their candy in the classroom. I sent in the items in she requested.

We try to make Valentines that do not include candy. This year we made Lego Valentines found here. I think they turned out great and Nathan said the kids liked them today.

As Nathan and I went through his candy, I noticed that there was a Reese Peanut Butter Cup in his bag. I was immediately furious because his classroom is peanut-free!!! What if Nathan ate this on the bus on the way home. Ugh.!!! I want to email the teacher but what can be done now. Nathan was good at telling me what he can eat and what he can't. We made a game out of it and he guessed them all right!!

I think about half of the Valentines had candy and the other half was pencils, erasers, tattoos and stickers.

How did your child's' Valentine celebration go?


Sunday, February 3, 2013

Compliments. Thank You!!

I love compliments and when I can help out fellow moms with allergy issues. I belong to a Facebook Group of moms from all over the country and they have found me to be the "allergy expert" or the one to go to with allergy questions. I am NOT a doctor (I can't give medical advice) but a mom who has been dealing with my child's allergies on a daily basis.  I learn from my own experiences.

Nora W.
I'm not sure I'm an expert in anything useful, but I know we have some ladies here who really know their stuff in certain areas. Just want to give a big THANKS to Jeanette who's been a big help and comfort with allergy info!! We're taking Cubby (5) for testing tomorrow so he's been off meds for a week now, and ugh. But Jeanette has been great with questions. Thanks Jeanette, and thanks to all of you who step up when you can for anyone who needs it! ♥
· 12 hours ago near  NY

  • Aimee C. Jeanette helped me to see things in my goddaughter that led to her dx of different allergies she has.
    10 hours ago · Unlike · 3

  • Jeanette  Awe thanks!  You are making me blush! I have just learned from experience and having to go through it with Nathan. If anyone wants to know more about our life with allergies you can read my blog http://momtofoodallergykid.blogspot.com
    10 hours ago · Like · 2

Friday, January 25, 2013

Giveaway Winner

The winner of the Claritin Winter Pack is Jodi F. Congratulations, your item is on it's way!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Giveaway: Claritin Healthy Pack

Since it is still January and it is cold and winter, there is no better time to have a giveaway for a Claritin Healthy Pack. It includes: a pedometer, two samples of Adult Claritin Allergy tablets and a brochure on getting fit for the winter season.

January is a great time to get out and walk and why not count your steps with a pedometer.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Thank You Walgreens

I have always loved Walgreens for our prescriptions (and their good in-store deals), I mean there is a Walgreens on almost every corner so you never have to be with out your prescription - even on vacation.

Last month Walgreens really impressed me with a letter providing useful information about my childs's EpiPen Jr. (epinephrine) Auto-Injector that we last filled with them.
I thought this was a great extra service. They provided very useful information such as:



  • Always make sure we keep EpiPens at home, school, etc.
  • We should always carry two EpiPen injectors
  • Reminding us to be sure they are stored properly - Not in the refrigerator or in a car
  • And to make sure they are not EXPIRED

All the information in the letter is very important and is a great reminder.

I had already had our EpiPens refilled, just not by Walgreens, unfortunately. With our new insurance we can only fill out "maintenance" medications with a certain pharmacy. But when  we can go to Walgreens, we do. Our "other" pharmacy doesn't give us the same service.