It passed in the House!

First off, let me say thank you to all of you. I am over 3,000 page views! Thanks for reading and for sharing the blog, I am grateful.



Here's some amazing news! Onto the Senate now!

U.S. House of Representatives Passes School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act
Legislation Could Save Lives in Schools Nationwide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

McLean, Va. (July 30, 2013) - The U.S. House of Representatives voted Tuesday to approve the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act (H.R. 2094), important legislation championed by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) that will help protect students with food allergies.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-TN) and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD), encourages states to adopt laws requiring schools to have on hand “stock” epinephrine auto-injectors, which is epinephrine that is not prescribed to a specific student but can be used for any student or staff member in an anaphylactic emergency. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and can be fatal.

“We applaud the House for recognizing the need for schools to be prepared to protect students with life-threatening food allergies by passing this legislation, and we thank Dr. Roe and Rep. Hoyer for their unequivocal support,” said John L. Lehr, chief executive officer of FARE. “This is a tremendous victory, but we still have work to do to enact this legislation. We look forward to working with our champions in the Senate, Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL), so that this legislation can be approved and sent to the President for signature.”

About half of states have laws or guidelines in place allowing schools to stock undesignated epinephrine auto-injectors. The proposed federal legislation would provide an incentive for states to require schools to stock epinephrine.

In addition to FARE, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the American Academy of Emergency Medicine and the National Association of Elementary School Principals have endorsed the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act.

When will it end....

Another child has lost her life. Her father was a Dr. and he couldn't even save her. If you have a family member with allergies I am begging you to step up and be an advocate. Do whatever you can to raise awareness. Go to the school, your house of worship, your own Facebook page, join a support group, and talk about food allergies. Talk about food allergies over and over again, to anyone that will listen. We have to do something about this epidemic.
I'm angry today........
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/07/30/5607195/years-of-caution-about-peanut.html


My day did start off well. I took my little one to get her allergy shots. I brought the stack of paper work that the Dr. needs to sign with me. So much paperwork to have a few epi pens etc in school. Anyway....the nurse got everything signed for me then and there! Wahoo! Such a time saver. A great office staff is such a blessing.

A whole lot of nothing....

Hi everyone! Sorry that I haven't been posting as much. We have been enjoying the lazy days of summer so there isn't too much to report. We have been at the pool here and there which has aggravated her eczema.
Here is an article about the relationship between eczema and food allergies.
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/eczema/news/20130719/researchers-focus-on-eczema-food-allergy-link

How is your summer going?

Will you help me?

The epi law in NC is going to die for this legislative year if the Senators do not hear from more of us. If you live in NC or know people in NC, please write the Senators and ask them to pass the epi law. 25% of all first time reactions happen at school. This bill is a no brainer in my opinion. It will save lives.
Thank you for your help!

http://www.wbtv.com/story/22852474/parents-pushing-to-get-drugs-in-school-to-combat-allergic-reactions

Here are the Senators to contact:
Senator Tillman (919) 733-5870 Jerry.Tillman@ncleg.net
Senator Soucek (919) 733-5742 Dan.Soucek@ncleg.net
Senator Barefoot (919) 715-3036 Chad.Barefoot@ncleg.net
Senator Pate (919) 733-5621 Louis.Pate@ncleg.net

food allergy paperwork

I saw it on my dresser today. The paperwork that I need to fill out. Every year. I dread it. It's not hard to fill out. It's time consuming. Then the paperwork needs to go to the Dr. Then it needs to go to the school. Then I have to call the school and schedule our yearly meeting, etc. etc.
Now, don't get me wrong, I will do whatever I have to do to keep her safe.
However, the paperwork is a pain in the......bleep!
I will procrastinate for another day then I will start to fill it out.
In other news, she's at golf camp today. I love an activity that doesn't involve food.

It's so nice

It hit me today. I am so much more relaxed in the summer. I've always known that but for some reason it really hit me today. I don't have to worry that I need to run an errand that's far from the school. I don't have to carry the phones around the house with me because the school might call.
I hope the summer goes by slow.......

Yesterday we made red, white, and blue cupcakes. Then we frosted them and decorated them with every junky thing that we could find in the pantry. All safe of course. That was fun!

I just learned that Dairy Queen has an allergen menu online. I am shocked. I automatically assumed that everything in there would be unsafe for us. According to the menu there is plenty that she can have. I do worry of course about cross contamination. Has anyone ever been there with a tree nut allergy? It would be pure joy if we could go there.

Painting

We are redoing the bedroom of our oldest. Anytime we paint we buy the non voc paint. I don't like the idea of all of the chemicals in the house. Since my youngest seems to react to anything and everything, I'm not taking the chance of using regular paint. Who knows what would happen to her. Anyway, why does the non voc paint cost so much? Why does everything that's healthier cost more? Seems pretty backwards to me.
I have a lot of work ahead of me.....clearing the room, filling in holes, putting on the primer, painting, shopping......
I thought summer would be relaxing. Vacation is definitely over.

Back from vacation

I think I am still on vacation mode. It's so hard to get back in the swing of things. I just spent a week at the beach with the family. It was great! Sun, sand, no schedule, it was great!
We rent a house so that we have a kitchen, which of course makes it easier to travel with a food allergic kid. We did go out to eat too. We went to our usual favorite place and added in two new restaurants too. Yes, it always makes me nervous to eat out but they came recommended from other food allergic families so that made it easier.
So, what does the sun, sand, salt water, chlorine and sunscreen do to a kid with dermatographism you ask? Tons! She was such a mess. She was so sunburned after the first day! I felt awful. After that we literally reapplied sunscreen every hour on the hour. That helped. No sunburn after that. On the first day her face became so blotchy out of nowhere that I gave her benadryl. After that she was fine. Now trying to get her eczema under control again.
Do you have any favorite vacation spots? Any tips for traveling with a food allergic family member?

Now to catch up on the laundry........