Twice a year...

Charlotte gets food allergy tested twice a year and it is that time of year for us again. These tests are blood test which makes it less invasive and more accurate than the skin prick test. Early fall we learn that Charlotte had grown out of her shellfish allergy!! Now we are working towards eggs and hoping some tree nuts have gone down off the severe list. We are hoping she will have grown out of eggs by now or at least to the point where she can have baked goods and we would not have to worry about it. Her reaction to eggs is not as severe but still scary. We are saying our prayers and crossing our fingers for good results! We will keep you posted.

Peanuts are monsters at our house

She recently got a new bracelet. We call it her peanut bracelet. She wears it when she is out in public and the best part is that she LOVES showing it off to ANYONE AND EVERYONE! 

Charlotte's allerbling Bracelet! 

We had a plumber over the other day fixing some things (oh the joys of being a home owners! ) and Charlotte felt the need to tell him all about her allergies and luckily he listened and asked questions and was very kind. She even tried to tell the pizza delivery guy the other day! So if you have some ears she will talk them off  about her allergies :) I am just happy that she feels comfortable telling people and making them aware. We have a long road ahead of us with schools, birthday parties, and etc.  to worry about but with her vocal capability I am feeling a little better about preschool :)

Here is some information about the type of reaction Charlotte has to all tree nuts and Peanuts. It is in the forefront of our mind everyday all day. Sometimes we( Steve and I) talk about it a lot with our friends and family but it is good to keep everyone posted and up to date when they are hangin with Charlotte. Thank you for listening to us talk about it ALL THE TIME!

Spring is around the corner and with warmer weather comes  outdoor activities, picnics and Spring break trips. Don't let a  life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) spoil the fun.

	1.	Don't save it for a rainy day. Anaphylaxis is a life-threate ning allergic reaction that has many possible triggers,  occurs quickly, without warning and can happen anywhere  and at any time. Get yourself educated about the  signs and symptoms today.
	2.	A reaction may not always be mild. It is important to  realize that someone who has a mild allergic reaction to  an allergic trigger one time may have severe symptoms  the next time.
	3.	Plan ahead. Avoidance of allergic triggers is a critical first  step, but accidental allergen exposure can occur without  warning. Work with your doctor to have an anaphylaxis  action plan in place.
	4.	Antihistamines do not treat anaphylaxis. While  antihistamines can treat mild allergic reactions, they are  not effective in treating life-threatening allergic reactions. Epinephrine is the only first-line therapy indicated for an  anaphylactic reactionaccording to the National Institute  of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) food allergy  guidelines.
	5.	Make sure others are also aware and prepared.  No matter what time of year it is, everyone should be  aware of the signs and symptoms of a potentially  life-threatening allergic reaction and be prepared to  respond if anaphylaxis occurs.

Want to learn more? Visit Anaphylaxis101.com. And  if you believe you or someone you care for may be  at risk for anaphylaxis, talk to your doctor.