fighting the fight

This morning I got up, got the kids off to school and started to make Challah. Yes, I have to bake my own challah so that my youngest can celebrate a safe Shabbat. Kneading the dough is actually therapeutic.
I am feeling down and defeated. I will continue on but, right now, I am down. I am so tired of fighting the fight. This time of year is awful. I hear story after story about schools that are not accommodating children with food allergies. Why does it have to be so difficult? We are not crazy helicopter parents. We just want our kids safe and included. Aren't children more important than food? We are not asking for the moon and the stars.
I just need a break. That doesn't happen in food allergy world. It is a 24/7 job. Of course I would do anything for my child but an hour off, just a little bit of time without worry would be great.

We need food to live. We do not need food to have a life. Why does everything have to include food?

A national discussion

I try to not always post about gloom and doom, I promise. I do know that I have a wonderful life, a great husband, and two great kids. I do know that because of life threatening food allergies, my life has changed forever.
This family has had their life change forever in the worst possible way. They lost their child. Please read about their story. Share their story. Food allergies are severe and life threatening. They need to be taken seriously by all. These kids and adults need our help.
http://www.kcra.com/news/local-news/news-sacramento/parents-of-girl-who-died-of-peanut-allergy-reaction-speak-out/-/12969376/21686610/-/5dla0yz/-/index.html

Educate yourself, your family, your friends, your school, educate everyone that you know.
We need your help now more than ever.

Day one

Day one was a success all around. Both girls loved school. Little one came home so happy and told us that her teacher is funny. Awesome! I had more homework than the kids, tons of forms to fill out times two kids. In the pile was the annual tree nut allergy letter. I have to laugh when it comes home every year since it is about my kid.
Than around dinner time the phone rang. It was little ones teacher. She was calling to say that they day went well etc. Huh? What? OK........
Well that was awesome!
Yesterday I felt like I had an elephant sitting on my chest and the day took forever.
Today is flying by.....let it be this good all year.

A bundle of nerves

So, the kids went back to school today. Little one was up before my alarm went off. She was so excited! She got the teacher that she wanted and she has lots of friends in her class. She has the same bus driver, phew!
I am sitting here counting down the hours until she gets back. I know she will be fine. 5 hours to go.
Trust me, the quiet is nice. I am going out to lunch with my husband and then off to the grocery store.
The beginning of the year is so hard. What do you do to get through?
I just realized that it's been 4 years this month since her last reaction. We have come so far.

Baking all morning

Getting ready for school means I spend a whole lot more time in the kitchen. I just made a batch of cupcakes. Sending 6 to the school freezer and putting 6 in our freezer for birthday and other school parties. Then I made a double batch of blueberry and corn muffins because the kids like to take them for lunches. I was in the kitchen for hours between, prep, baking, and clean up!
Anything to keep her safe..........

and then I slept

Yesterday was our 504 meeting so last night I was finally able to sleep! Yay! I hate when stress keeps me up at night.
Anyway, it went well. I do truly feel like we are a team with the staff at the school.
The teacher is going to remove the air freshener that she has in the classroom(good thing we meet before school starts). The meeting went smoothly and I have my fingers crossed for another good year. I will spend tomorrow baking cupcakes to stock the school freezer. Her medicines and paperwork have been dropped off and open house is Friday night.
How are your back to school plans going? I hope everyone has a smooth transition. It's so hard to get back into routine.

anxiety level:high

504 meeting today at 3:30. Very anxious. Last year went so smoothly, I just want that to happen again. I didn't sleep at all last night....... I wish she would outgrow these allergies.

Why did I think it would get easier?

Little one is going into third grade. So, we have made it through Kindergarten, first, and second. Why did I think that  a little thing like scheduling her 504 meeting would get easier? Silly me......
I have been calling the school for weeks trying to get a meeting on the calendar. They email me today and want to schedule the meeting for tomorrow. Unreal......
I do not work outside the home but I still have a life and my husband works. He attends all meetings, because he wants to be involved in his daughter's life. So, now we are supposed to drop everything, rearrange our day, and squeeze the meeting in to an already packed afternoon.
Feeling wiped out today........
Does anyone have it easy out there when it comes to stuff like this? I would love some tips on making it easy.

A great list

I came across this and had to share, a list of food free options for schools. You know, all those food rewards aren't really necessary.....
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/10/31/student-rewards…that-aren’t-junk-food/

Little one had her well check today. All good. At her appointment last year she had only gained a pound.....yes I was worried. This year? 8 pounds! Worry no more! Phew!

It's getting closer

Two weeks. Two weeks left of summer break. Where did it go? Why does time have to go by so fast? I am not ready for paperwork, meetings, planning, baking, stressing and so on.
Any tips to make this time of year easier?

Smurfs 2 and more in the news....

Lots to chat about today.

First off, the movie Smurfs 2. My children have been anticipating this movie opening for months. I was all set to take them to see it when I saw the following message from FARE.

PLEASE BE ADVISED: Reviews of the movie “The Smurfs 2,” as well as personal accounts from members of our community, indicate there is a scene in the film that makes light of a child having a severe allergic reaction to peanuts and requiring emergency epinephrine. We want to make you aware that viewing this scene could be upsetting to children. We have reached out to Sony Pictures to express our alarm and disappointment with this material being included in a film being marketed to children.


What??????? Oh you have to be kidding! This really made me angry! How dare they make light of food allergies. As I have said before when something like this happens, would they make fun of cancer, diabetes,heart disease? No, they wouldn't and even if they did there would be an uproar!

A friend of mine took her kids to the movies to see it (they do not have food allergies), this is what she had to say....

We actually saw this today and that scene made me mad! General description: The dad makes a joke about his son's birthday cake being gluten free, egg free, etc. and that it's never even seen a peanut. Then, Granddad comes in with corn dogs for the kids and a parent asks if it has peanuts in it. Granddad says no, a kid at the party takes a bite, Granddad says but it's cooked in peanut oil, parents freak out, say get the epipen, call 911 (this is all played for laughs, by the way). Then the next scene shows the dad talking to the kid's parents on the phone saying he's thankful that the boy's throat is no longer closed. Granddad basically says to the dad that they're all overreacting. And the scene ends on the note of "oh, those silly overprotective parents, these days." Really, really disliked the whole scene. All I could think of was the family of that poor girl in California. 


So, what do I do? Do I take the kids? I would have to let them know about the scene beforehand so as to avoid drama in the movie theater. I know that my kids would not find this funny at all. My first instinct is to avoid the movie all together. I'm also thinking of writing Sony pictures. I would like to let them know that this is not funny. Thoughts? What would you do?

Onto other news....
This makes me sad. I do not know what it will take to get parents of nonallergic parents to understand. Thank you to those that do get it.
http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/07/nut-free_elementary_school_dec.html