Helicopter Mom?

Yesterday I posted an article about M&M's being recalled all over the nation because they mixed up theater boxes. Instead of PLAIN M&M's in your plain M&M's box, you'll find PEANUT M&M's. Well, I tagged my friends and family in the post and stated that M&M's were no longer a safe treat for Talent. I had a friend comment on the post and tell me that it was only the theater boxes and the other packages should "be fine"....REALLY? SERIOUSLY??? Let me just ask this one question, does YOUR child have a severe peanut or tree nut allergy? One that causes him to stop breathing and go into anaphylactic shock? No? Well, then, shut up. I'm sorry if that comes across rude. Actually, no I'm really not. I was once that blind to allergies. But, let me tell you, a sweet little boy came into my world and changed how I look at everything. Food allergies are a big thing.

I spend more than half of my time reading labels, looking up companies, even sometimes making phone calls or writing emails to them to double check the safety of foods that my child eats. Before we are able to eat at a restaurant with our family, I have to check the safety of the place. So, just because you think plain M&M's are safe, doesn't make them safe. Just because something doesn't CONTAIN nuts doesn't mean there aren't trace amounts from a product that was manufactured on that very same equipment. I also have to check on lotions, bath soaps, shampoo, diapers, wipes, and any kind of personal care item his skin could possibly come in contact with. We recently had to change detergent because we discovered they were using peanut oil in with the fragrance. Seriously, peanut oil in my laundry detergent? And no, it wasn't labeled....if I wasn't on a million different allergy mom boards on facebook and other sites, I would have no clue. Personal care items don't have to be labeled the same as food items. It is a very scary thing, but, we read and do research on everything we bring into the house for him.

So, just for you viewing pleasure, and so that you see I'm not overreacting, here are a few photos of what happens to Talent when he is exposed to FISH, PEANUTS, & TREE NUTS. I am not a paranoid mother. I have seen Talent's reactions first hand. They are scary. Seeing your child gasp for breath, hearing him wheeze, and knowing his lungs are struggling to get air....it is terrifying. What Mom would ever want to see their child go through this? I know the times I saw it, it scared me to death. I got Talent to the doctor within minutes. I never want to see these reactions again. So, if I come across hateful, rude, or just plain mean about his food allergies, I have a really good reason. Anaphylactic shock is a serious thing, Talent could lose his life. I only have one him....if something happens, I can't get him back. So, forgive me if I seem a little untrusting. Forgive me if I am a little more than cautious when it comes to food. Take a good look at these pictures, look at the hives, look at the swollen eye....then picture it ten times worse. That's what I got to see. Be thankful for your healthy kid. Be thankful that your child will never have to worry about what is in a cupcake or in a package of chocolate. Take the time to step out of your own comfort zone and learn about allergies.

This is Talent after eating a SUGAR COOKIE that had been baked on a pan that had been used to bake peanut butter cookies but had been WASHED. This was hours after he ate it and had been to the doctor. When we got to the doctor his eye was completely swollen shut.

This was HIVES from eating RICE CEREAL that was contaminated with SOY. This was 3 days later.

Soy reaction after 1 hour of eating something with soy.

What's new lately....

Talent is growing so fast and I hardly have the time to keep up with this like I intended to do in the beginning. He is now talking so much clearer and asking a million and one questions a day. He is learning so many things so fast. At times it's almost overwhelming. He's starting to come out of his shell more and more and this makes me both happy and nervous.

I love that Talent is being more social with the people at church and our families. But, I (like I'm sure all parents do) worry about stranger danger. He's getting to an age where he is curious about other people and will occasionally let other people talk to him that I don't know. When we are at church, I don't worry. I have been in our church since I was not much older than him, so I know everyone. I am able to tell them if they have something unsafe for him, not to touch him until they wash their hands. But, when we are at the store and a stranger wants to touch him, I can't even explain the anxiety that comes over me. I know at times I feel like a football player whose job it is to protect to quarterback....what is that a linebacker? Heck, I don't know. But, I seem to have this feeling when a stranger is going in to touch his face or hands and I can feel myself trying to get in their way. I know I seem rude, but, I don't know where their hands have been. I don't know what they just ate. I don't know if they are CLEAN. I will never understand why people have the need to touch a stranger's child. It makes me all kinds of crazy. Do other parents ever feel this way? I know my best friend was a guard dog about him when he was an infant and she would go places with me. She never let anyone touch him. I loved that she did that. It made me feel less crazy. This whole new phase he is in right now is a tricky one. I want him to be sweet and polite, but I don't want him to just let any stranger touch him. It's something to work on I guess. Teaching him to say "I don't know them" instead of "I don't like them" when a stranger talks to him is where I started. I don't even know what to do to help him learn to not let people touch him.

I think the last time I blogged, or maybe a blog or two back, I talked about teaching him the foods he is allergic to. That is going really well. I have offered him peanuts just to test him and he will tell me "No, that makes me sick" and won't take it. We don't actually have any kind of allergens in our home, so I didn't even have peanuts for him. I just asked if he wanted some....smart little guy to know he can't eat them. He also knows he can't have fish, and he tells anyone that asks that fish makes him sick. It eases my mind knowing that he is learning these things. I also love that when he asks for a certain food somewhere if I tell him that it isn't a safe food, he doesn't even question me anymore. He just says "Okay" and finds something else. He loves powdered donuts, but, lately the brand that is safe for him has been hard to find. He saw Little Debbie brand on the shelf and pointed it out to me, I told him that they were not a safe food, he accepted that and continued helping me look for other options. He can't eat anything made by Little Debbie. I am glad he is learning about his allergies and all of the things he can and can't have.

I am so proud of this boy and all of the progress he is making with his speech, allergies, and everything else. It seems like every time I blink he is doing something new. He is growing so fast and I am just not ready for him to get big. I think Seth and I are SO blessed to have such a smart little boy. I will update another time. For now, here are a few pics from lately.