Crazy Mama!

"Here comes crazy mama!"

I'm sure that has been the comment of more than one pediatrician's nurse when they've seen me walking down their hallowed halls of healing. If I were to take the time to peruse all of their notes in my kids' medical charts, I'm certain I would find all kinds of interesting comments about the state of my mental health.

After all, I have carted my babies to 5 different pediatricians (#5 is our winner. Thanks to a recommendation from Landry's nutritionist, we have found a group that understands food allergies and is all about preventative medicine.). Then there was the pediatric gastroenterologist (a nightmare!), the dermatologist (I'll explain that one more later), the ENT (really an angel, I think :) ), the pediatric allergist (who even got 2 thumbs up from my husband . . . not an easy accomplishment for any doctor), the pediatric nutritionist (awesome does not even begin to describe her) and the partridge in a pear tree (okay, not really but he just HAD to be included in such an extensive list!)

All the pediatricians told me the same thing. "Constant ear infections, sinus infections, respiratory infections, and asthma are all part of childhood. Here is a prescription for some more antibiotics and steroids. Have a nice day!" I would leave, feeling like I had once again failed my baby, as all the nurses silently bid good-bye to poor little crazy mama!

Now, in college, I did not major in rocket science, but I do consider myself to be fairly intelligent. So, I KNEW in my heart of hearts that these things were not "normal parts of an infant's daily life". Nursing voraciously only to have that followed by hours of screaming and never ending projectile vomiting is NOT normal behavior for an infant! (And, I even tried cutting dairy out of my diet to see if that would help. Too bad I didn't try some of the foods she was really allergic to!) I just didn't know what to do to fix it . . .and that is the most frustrating feeling a mama can experience! So here is my advice. When it comes to your intuition about your child, listen to what your gut is telling you, even when the doctors think you're nuts. God gave you that sense of knowing for a reason!

As I look back now, I think about all the nights I prayed over all 3 of my babies. "Thank you, Daddy, for your great love for my babies and for your constant protection of them." Little did I know how much He was doing!

Tiffany

Food Allergies: The Adventure Begins

December 3, 2009, started out as a normal day. Another day, another doctor visit. This time, the appointment was with a pediatric allergist who also specialized in lung functions (in our case - asthma). By 1:00 that afternoon, life as we knew it had been radically altered. Our baby girl had suffered through 6 years of asthma and constant ear, sinus, and respiratory infections. We had made countless visits to multiple doctors, and she had been prescribed more medications than I ever want to admit to but . . we never had any real answers as to why. Why was our baby sick ALL the time?
Now, for the first time ever, we had real answers. Food Allergies! At the tender age of 6, Landry has allergies to wheat, oats, rice, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, seeds, fish, blueberries, watermelon, apricots, kidney beans, and peas. Pretty much everything but air and water! :) A little blue backpack (complete with emergency anaphylaxis meds) now goes everywhere with us. Just like American Express, we "don't leave home without it"! In order to allow her little body to heal, we have also removed from her diet all refined sugars, artificial colorings, and artificial flavorings. In my search for foods that are safe for her, I have learned more than I ever imagined was out there to know about allergy-safe, healthy foods . . . and I'm only just beginning. We've come up against many frustrations, but we've also had many celebrations. Our most important celebration is that every day for the past 6 1/2 years, God has been holding her in His hands, protecting her from any life-threatening reactions. Looking back, the miracles that we have experienced have truly taken our breath away.
Yes, my days as a junk-food diva are now gone with the wind! Lunch With Landry has been a life-changing experience! My hope is to help so many others affected by food-allergies. May your answers come quickly and may you find inspiration along the way!
Happy eating!