Learning to Live With No Answers
Is that a hive? Eczema? Other unspecified rash? All of the above? Having food allergies involves numerous changes to your lifestyle and approach to everything. Especially if multiple food allergies are involved. After the months it took to get...
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A Skin Test Follow-Up
A little over a week ago Shaun had his summer visit to his allergist. At this point, we typically check-in 4 times a year (not including food challenges or sick visits) with the intention of looking at his allergies, asthma and eczema condition. This allows us...
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How to Meal Plan and Why It Matters!
It’s 4:30 in the afternoon on my way home from work. I slow down for a red light and Shaun pipes up from the back, “mom what’s for dinner tonight?” Nothing is defrosted. I haven’t been shopping in at least a week and a half. And we are out of...
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When Planning Your Beach Trip Still Falls Short
What’s that saying about “the best-laid plans”...? As an allergy momma, I understand this sentiment intimately. Vigilance and planning make it so Shaun can have happy, healthy experiences out in the world. But you see sometimes even our best-laid plans...
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How to Enjoy a Beach Day with Food Allergies
With the summer here in full swing, many people find themselves at, or wanting to go to, a beach! Hot temperatures and refreshing ocean are a perfect combination, but this becomes a little less carefree when you have allergies. So here’s how to enjoy a beach day with...
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How to Get the Most Out of Your Doctors Appointments
Until I had an allergy child, I didn't realize the skill and planning required to have a successful and worthwhile visit to the doctor's office. It takes time to learn the skills and understand what you need to plan before each appointment! I know, it...
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Food Challenges and What to Expect
Food challenges are part of allergy living, and like most things in allergy life, it is stressful, nuanced, and rewarding all at the same time! A food challenge is considered “the gold standard” test to determine if a person is allergic or not to a specific...
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A Letter to My Food Allergy Child’s First School Teacher
Ms. Jackson, A year ago today Shaun’s name was 5th on the waiting list to get into your school, CREC Montessori Magnet. He was 3.5 years old and had a list of 8 food allergies. Unlike other parents, I did not obsessively check the progress on the...
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Epinephrine Shortages and What You Can Do
As of at least August 2018 (though some sources mention it as early as May of last year), there has been a shortage of available epinephrine for consumers. This is a scary situation, as epinephrine is the single most crucial remedy for an...
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How to Plan a Trip to the Ballpark
“ Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the crowd, I'm allergic to peanuts and cracker jacks … “ Ahhhhh baseball, the great American pastime!! I never dreamed I would be afraid to take my child to a ballpark. But then again, I never...
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BBQ & Picnics: How to Embrace Summertime Fun with Food Allergies
For anyone living with food allergies, summertime gatherings bring many stressful complications. Although BBQs and picnics are about sharing time with friends and family, they are also about good food! Here are some ideas to help you prepare and navigate...
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A Story of Food Allergy Ignorance
The Story In January of 2017, Shaun accompanied me on our weekly trip to the grocery store. As we made our way through the produce section, we began our usual conversation about what foods are Shaun Safe and what foods are not. (Although Shaun was only two...
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Getting Involved in Food Allergy Awareness Week!
Raising awareness about allergies doesn’t have to be hard. Here are a few simple ways that you can get involved. Wear Teal Teal is the official color for food allergy awareness! Whether you grab a teal tee shirt or go all out with an...
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Food Allergies: Learn the Basics
There is a shocking level of misinformation or lack of information where food allergies are concerned. And with it being Food Allergy Awareness week it seems like a great time to start at the beginning. Today we will explore the basics of food allergies by...
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How I Became an ‘Allergy Dad’ (and You Can Too!)
The short answer is, my wife had a baby (duh). But being an ‘Allergy Dad’ is not something most of us would pick. It is generally thrust upon us regardless of any other plans we’ve been making for our lives. It is scary, challenging, and frustrating among many...
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Meet Shaun!!
Meet Shaun!! Our book reading, dinosaur loving, order seeking, joke telling, karate kicking, joy spreading four-year-old. Looking at him today it's hard to believe how far we have come! For some, the food allergy journey begins with eczema....
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4 Ways to Love Someone with Food Allergies
My niece/nephew/cousin/friend etc. now has food allergies, and I have no experience with them. How do I help? I’m so glad you asked. A lot of people (not all, but some) will take the stance of “well it doesn’t directly affect me, so it’s not my problem” mentality....
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Why “The Art of Allergies?”
John & Linda Corning here! Husband & wife, teaming up to write openly about our life with a food allergy kid! We are excited to have you join us as we share our family’s experiences. Over the past four years, we have spent countless hours learning how to...
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