Easter Fun part 2

Our second Easter celebration was with a great group of families and their awesome kids. We may not all know each other but we all feel like we do.



This annual Easter Egg hunt is put on by "my" Local Food Allergy Support Group. If you are in the Columbus Ohio area, please feel free to check out our site.

Columbus Ohio food allergy support

Our awesome founder Dena organizes this every year--and this years hunt was also sponsored by Midwest Allergy. There was no food at the hunt at all for the safety and comfort of the kids. Who needs food to have fun anyways? Not these kids!



The girls loved the bean bag races. I know it was one of Hannah's favorite part of the day!




The kids thought it was funny to "toss the ring" with Dena. Who (as always) is a great sport!


Each kid got 14 eggs to find! (At H's age group)


After finding their eggs, they could open them and keep what they got OR trade it in at one of the baskets.

This year H saw something that she didn't see before or wasn't old enough to really think about. Some of the older kids were helping out with the games and they had on epi pen carriers. H was really excited about it. She talked about them the whole time and even wanted me to take a picture so she can remember what they look like when she can self carry.


The girls had no idea that they were being such an awesome role-model for Hannah...but they really were! She is excited about having her own case now and taking it EVERYWHERE she goes. Which is so important. I am trying to drill it in her head, you take it everywhere you go. Even if you aren't eating a bite.

Another amazing food allergy egg hunt goes by and we can't wait till next year! Even H thinks that maybe next year she can help with games...like the older girls :)



This is our yearly pic with Dena and Hannah!!

I love My food allergy support group. I also love my online twitter #foodallergymomarmy that is also my sanity when it comes to living with food allergies. Please consider looking for a local support group if you don't belong to one. You will love it--check out FARE's page on how to find local groups!

FARE--find YOUR local group



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Easter (safe) Fun part 1

I love Easter--it's the time of year that always amazes me. It's amazing what Jesus did for me...and for you. So yes I love Easter!

But on the flip side of that, I am scared of Easter. It just around Easter that Hannah had her first reaction around 4 years ago. That always weighs on the back of my mind. But I don't want her to focus on that and "ruin" the holiday. I want her to have a happy and safe holiday. So I try not to let my anxiety show.

We have two Easter celebrations that we attend every year. Our church has a yearly Easter celebration that includes an egg hunt, games, and of course the Easter Bunny that is open to the public. Of course there are cupcakes, cake walk, chocolate, and candy galore. But there is more...there is understanding and love for those with food allergies.





When we walked in the door, this sign greeted us. I can't tell you how excited Hannah was. Of course, I had a ziplock bag of candy in my purse but its not the same when you are 6 years old.




Hannah was so excited to find the nut free candy--and picked out what she was comfortable with(tootsie rolls, dots)

At each game--there was a bucket with peanut free candy as well. But many of the prizes of the games, were NOT food. It was great!

An event where we felt pretty comfortable and everyone had a great time.

Enjoy the pictures--I hope to get Easter part 2 up by Friday!!









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All Chocolate Lovers Unite!

Thanks to some truly great companies offering allergen free chocolate products, anyone can have a chocolate Easter Bunny or other yummy treat in their basket.

Divvies has a great Easter Chocolate bag kit for the Chocolate lover in your family. What's better than an Easter basket made of chocolate?? I can't think of anything either :) Make it and overload it with other tasty Divvies goodies! Make sure you add a Benjamint Crunch Candy Bar--thats our favorite :)

Divvies fun-foods are available to share with families and friends across the country. Divvies cookies, popcorns, and cupcakes are made in the company’s-own dedicated facility where no peanuts, tree nuts, eggs or milk enter the doors. Divvies candies, frosting, and sprinkles are certified by their manufacturers to be peanut-, tree nut-, milk-, and egg-free and are packaged in Divvies Bakery. Divvies conducts routine testing to minimize the risk of any cross-contamination in their certified allergen-free ingredients. (Read this exerpt and other info about Divvies at their website)

Enjoy Life Foods has AWESOME chocolate chips(allergen free) that can easily be melted down to make your own Easter Chocolate candies :)

Enjoy Life® Foods (ELF), founded in early 2001, has the mission to make great-tasting allergy-friendly and gluten-free foods that nearly everyone can eat freely without worry. The Enjoy Life product line is gluten-free and free of the eight most common allergens: wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish.  The notion that people with dietary restrictions must frequently sacrifice good taste and nutrition in order to find allergy-friendly and gluten-free foods they can eat inspired the business. Check out their website for more information and other YUMMY products!

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There are other websites that offer Peanut free goodies. I have never bought from them personally but I hope to try some of their products in the near future as I have heard positive feedback on most of them.

Peanut Free Planet has a pretty large Easter Candy compilation from all different companies.  Its rather nice to have a large selection at your fingertips.

You can check them out here Peanut Free Planet

Vermont Nut Free Chocolate Company is newer to me personally. I checked out their website just this morning. According to the website the company was founded by the mother of a little boy with a peanut allergy. Their entire selection is completely safe for those with any tree nut or peanut allergy. There are other allergens, however, in their products. As always, check out all allergen information available.

Let me know if you have tried any of these companies--and what your thoughts are :)

Have a Happy Easter!

Its really hard to believe Easter is nearly here! I finally have stuff for Hannah's basket--just need to put it all together.

Also, I rechecked all the expiration dates on her Epi Pens this week. We keep 2 pens with Hannah at all times. One reason is in case the first one misfires/doesn't work for some reason and another reason is that one single dose of epinephrine may not be enough for her anapylaxis.

I also added some benadryl to her "emergency pack". The cool kind(read:easy) of benadryl that comes in a pre filled spoon! Its called Children's Benadryl Perfect Measure. See their website below for specifics.

http://tinyurl.com/y9o4thj

Obviously since its prefilled, you will need to check with your allergist or physician about the dosing before adding it to your kit.  IF you are able to use it--it makes things a lot simpler AND less messy. Much easier than carrying around a full bottle plus syringe for administering.

Holidays that seem to revolve around candy/chocolate(it seems like they ALL do now) are always stressful to me. I just tell myself to take a deep breath and try to enjoy the holiday. I hope everyone has a safe and happy Easter!

Hannah's First Easter--she was totally done with the picture taking at that point :)


This pic still cracks me up--that "mom you better be done taking pictures" look on her face!