MTV True Life Episode - I am allergic to everything

I am looking forward to watching the MTV True Life Episode - I am allergic to everything. It airs this Thursday, June 23rd at 9PM Central Time on MTV. For my family and friends it give you an idea of what we go through with Nathan's food allergies. Nathan isn't allergic to everything, but being allergic to four foods sure seems like it when these foods are in most foods we eat.

Itchy Tongue

Two times this week Nathan has told me that his tongue itches. One time was while we were grocery shopping, he didn't eat anything, he was just sitting in the cart. He started grabbing his tongue and was almost trying to tear it out of his mouth, I immediately gave him some Benadryl and he was fine. It was scary, it may have been something he touched on the cart.
Then tonight while we were eating at a restaurant he said his tongue was itching again. It is food that he has eaten before but you never know if there was cross contamination. My husband said that he just says that, so I waited a few minutes to see if I would see anymore symptoms and I didn't - Nathan kept eating so I held off on giving the Benadryl. He was fine.

Coupon Collecting - Soy Milk

As much as I am an allergy mom I am also a big coupon clipper, I love coupons and I love to save money. It is not often that you find coupons for allergy safe coupons like Sun Butter spread, Soy Milk or Yogurts, Soy Puddings, Better Crocker GF mixes and I could go on. But recently in our Red Plum insert there was a coupon for 8th Continent Soy Milk $1.00 off (it is the only brand of soy milk we buy and trust with our allergy son).  I was so excited that I posted to Facebook and emailed my local moms group to see if anyone had the coupon and didn't need it, if so, I would pick it up or send a SASE. I received so many responses, I have been receiving coupons in the mail and picking them up at neighbors houses. I want to thank all of you for helping an allergy mom out!!

Is it an allergy?

We were over at a neighbors house outside and Nathan was playing in the yard. A German Shepherd dog from another neighbor came over and rubbed up against Nathan and he didn't touch him at all - the dog did sniff him. He also went into a neighbors house for a few minutes that used to have a pet but doesn't any longer. When we got him, I noticed Nathan's eye was watering and it swelled shut. So bad I didn't even recognize him, I rush to get some Benadryl and his allergy eye drops. It started to go down but all night he had a puffy eye.
What could it be an allergy to the dog or some say a bug bite?

Schools Out for the Summer

Nathan is out of school and done for the summer, the question we are pondering is does he repeat 4k or do we send him to Kindergarten (K5) and hold him back there. Either way we do agree he needs to be held back and even his 4K teacher agrees because she suggested it. Nathan is young a "summer birthday boy", the youngest in his class, he has some immaturities. But for mostly non academic reasons we want to move him into full day school (which is K5) and even more reasons because of his food allergies.
What does food allergies have to do with it? If he goes to 4k again he will be at daycare in the morning and the public school in the afternoon. We are more confident in Nathan being at one place all day and that one place being the public school. The public school has a wonderful nurse there all day that knows Nathan by name (and he likes her too) she is fully trained in food allergies and they have a good food allergy plan so that all the teachers and staff can identify Nathan and his allergies. They are willing to have his classroom nut free and we can request to put him at an allergy free table for lunch. They have a nutritious hot lunch menu that is safe for Nathan to eat everyday.
As for non-allergy reasons there is a "rest time" at K5 where they get to rest and Nathan needs rest. When he was doing daycare and 4k, he would tell me how long the day was and fall asleep in the couch at night.
We have a little time to think about our decision and even meet with the principle to get some insight.

Benadryl Perfect Measure Spoons

As most may know when you deal with food allergies you always need to have an antihistamine with you at all times, well I used to carry the Benadryl Perfect Measure until the recall. I have run out and they are not being sold at any store yet, I even wrote the company. I have resorted to carrying a full size bottle and plastic cup in my purse. 

Effectively relieve your child’s allergies with Children’s BENADRYL^® Allergy PERFECT MEASURE^® pre-filled spoons — on-the-go antihistamine relief in individually wrapped, pre-measured spoons.