Red Light, Green Light!

Michael was able to see an allergist a couple of weeks ago to address our concerns with his food allergies.  He had to endure skin testing, but we came away with lots of answers.  He does have serious allergies to milk, egg, and peanut, just as we were previously told.  Tree nuts were also added to the list.  Even with that news, we left the office very excited because Michael was given the green light to eat gluten!  Michael was a happy little boy, eating crackers while I fixed him some pasta that night!

The doctor told us that most children outgrow the milk and the egg allergies, but only 20% of children outgrow the peanut and tree nut allergies.  Michael will be tested every year.  Once his levels are low enough, he will do a food challenge test in the doctor's office.

Dealing with serious food allergies is a bit scary, but I am very grateful for the help and guidance from Michael's allergist and pediatrician.  They have been so good to answer my LONG list of questions!  I've also been introduced to several moms from Abby's preschool who are dealing with very similar situations.  It has been very reassuring to talk to them!

Other Fun Birthday Pictures

Since Michael spent his actual birthday in the hospital, he was able to have more than one birthday celebration.  About a week after he got home, I baked his oh, so yummy gluten, milk, egg, and nut free cupcakes.  (It's a good thing he doesn't really know what he is missing!)  Then, I baked and decorated a cake for the rest of us to eat.  The chocolate cake was much better than the cupcakes!  

Michael got right down to business and ate his cupcake! 

He's already getting the idea.  Presents are good.  Presents are fun!  Just don't try to take his frying pan away.  It's not pretty!

Look Who's One!

Here is our birthday boy!

I love how he appears to be reflecting on the events of his first year.  What a year it was!

Happy birthday Michael!

What a difference!

Tomorrow is my six month mark with braces.  I had an appointment with the orthodondist a couple of weeks ago.  He is very pleased with how fast my teeth are moving.  I am too!  He said that I have possibly a year left, but I could be done in nine or ten months.  Yeah!

 This picture was taken in April, a few days after getting braces.



This was taken a couple of weeks ago.  There are no spaces on the top!  (The spaces on the top were closed within three months!)  There is still some crowding on the bottom, but not much.  I am amazed at how fast the new systems work.  The orthodontist was even surprised at how fast my teeth were moving.  He wanted a whole new set of pictures during my last visit.  Gotta love those cheek retractors! 



Michael's First Birthday

Here are a few pictures of our birthday boy.  Even though he was sick enough to be in the hospital, he was happy and had a great time opening presents.

Look at that sweet little face.  He did not like having the probe attached to his foot.  More than once or twice he was able to wiggle out of it or move it just enough to make the nurses come running to check on him.  Every time, more tape was added to try and keep it in place.  I'm still trying to remove all of the residue from the tape.

 

The nurses surprised Michael (and us) with a birthday sign, presents, and a pretend cake (made of diapers, ear plugs, a pacifier, pinwheel, and cheek swabs).  Michael was so excited as they sang "Happy Birthday" to him.

The whole family on Michael's birthday.  Notice the creative cake made by the nurses.  They knew Michael couldn't eat cake because of all his allergies.

Don't Abby and Michael look thrilled?  It was a LONG three days, but they were both so good!

 Coley bought a birthday cake to share with the nurses and doctors even though Michael couldn't eat it.  I had some gluten, egg, milk, and nut-free cookies in the freezer for Michael, so he was able to have a treat too.  We couldn't let Michael dive into the cake because he would break out with a rash just by touching it.  With his croup, we decided he shouldn't blow out the candle either. :(



Abby loved helping Michael open his birthday presents.

It wasn't our first choice of locations for Michael's birthday, but we are very grateful for the kind and professional care he received. 

A Different Kind of Birthday

Yesterday, October 6, was Michael's first birthday.  Our plans to celebrate Michael's first year were changed just a little.  Instead of spending his first birthday at home with friends and family, he spent it in a hospital room.  Our little guy was admitted to the hospital after we took him to the emergency room Wednesday morning at 3 a.m. with croup.  He received several breathing treatments and a couple of doses of steroids in the emergency room, but continued to have stridor (that wheezing sound) even at rest.  Since being admitted, Michael has needed pretty continual breathing treatments.  We are still camped out at the hospital with hopes that he might be able to go home today.

For Michael's birthday, the nurses and doctors surprised him with with presents, a "happy birthday" sign, and a very creative "pretend" cake (since he can't eat the real thing with all his food allergies).  They came in a big group to deliver the presents and sing "Happy Birthday."  Michael was so cute to watch.  He was smiling and waving to everyone.  He also loved opening the wrapped presents!  Coley bought a cake, so everyone stayed and ate cake with us.  It wasn't my choice of places to be on his birthday, but everyone here made it very special.

I was sitting in the hospital with Michael at this time last year (when he was born).  The nurses were teasing me a little bit about it, saying that they are not saving a room for us next year at this time.

I have several fun birthday pictures, but I'll have to post them when we finally get home.

Happy birthday Michael!  We love you!