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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Fear and Anxiety

Thank you all for your patience over my blogging break. I hope you are all still here with me :)

Honestly a lot of the reason I didn't blog was because I felt I had nothing new and important to say to all of you. Nothing that you haven't heard before--I didn't think that my feelings/anxieties/fears were pertinent enough to post. I do now.

Maybe I am alone in my fears, maybe my anxiety mid day at work about Hannah having a reaction makes me different than others. But maybe someone else has the same fears, same alone feeling and just maybe we can help each other :)

I am going to be re-doing my whole blog over the next month as I have grown since we got our diagnosis, it only makes sense that my blog does too.

Thank you all!! Can't wait to get back into the groove of things! I am seriously so excited!!

Hope all you and your families had a safe Easter!!




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Not prepared AND flipping out

I am flipping out. Totally. I know I should be excited that Hannah will be going to kindergarten this fall, but I am an anxious mess.

I know I need to think clearly and figure out a plan of action, but I can't even think right now.

We met with both kindergarten teachers this evening and I spoke to one about Hannah having a peanut allergy. I feel like she brushed me off and didn't get how concerned I was. This led me to panic internally.

Maybe every parent going through the same thing feels the same way. Maybe it's just a general feeling of "no one understands how serious" this is like I do. Maybe I am over reacting (gasp! Me?)

So many "maybes"...

She stated that she would have Hannah bring her own safe snack from home daily. Ok I am ok with that--it singles her at as being different but that doesn't seem to bother her. But what she said next is what threw me into a tail spin of "what?" She stated that most kids know what they can and can't eat. Really? In kindergarten? Did that mean she expects the child to decide if the food is "safe" in their own? Expect them to read labels and decide? In kindergarten?

Maybe I am too protective--but that doesn't sound very safe to me.

Before I asked to her clarify--she walked away. In her defense, maybe I just read to much into what she said. I do tend to over think things.

Food allergy parents..I am asking for input and advice here. This is so new to me.

We are SO blessed with awesome preschool teachers who are totally allergy aware and are great at reading labels. They do everything in their power to ensure Hannah is not left out.

We won't even know who her kindergarten teacher is until August. There is a new principal starting next year as well.

Please help a food allergy momma out here.



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