A Random Conversation

Matthew: "PU!"
Nathan: "What's pee-yew?"
Matthew: "Like E.F."

A Soapbox Moment

I have a few allergy-friendly websites I visit from time to time for new recipes and such and tonight I happened across an article that made me tear up a little.  This is exactly what Matthew's life is like and as much as I wish I could change it, I can't.  So for those of you who come in contact with Matthew or any other food allergy kids, take a minute to read it.  It just might give you an idea of what life is like for them.  (I know I don't get on my soapbox about this too often, but once in a while it just can't be helped.  Matthew went to two birthday parties last week and both moms, who are friends of mine, were rock stars in the "include Matthew and make him feel as normal as possible" category.  Knowing a bit of what life is like for him is what makes that possible.)

10 Things Children with Food Allergies Want You to Know By Gina Clowes

1. I long to be included.  I would like to look, act and eat like everyone else.  I’d like to buy my lunch and sit wherever I want.  I know I can’t, but I am so happy inside when someone cares enough to provide a safe potato chip, cookie or Popsicle for me.  It’s nice when I can have something similar to what others are eating but I love it when I can eat the same thing as everyone else.   Whenever it’s possible, please think to include me!
2. I’m scared I could die from my food allergies.  I’ve heard my parents and teachers mention “life-threatening” food allergies and I remember having some reactions where I felt very sick and really scared.  I could see how frightened my parents were too.  Sometimes, I could use a little reassurance that I will be okay.
3. I feel like I’m the only one sometimes.  If you have a support group or another way to arrange for me to meet other children who have food allergies, I would really like to know that I am not the only kid who has food allergies. Having another friend with food allergies in my classroom or at lunch time helps too.
4. I get confused when grown-ups offer me food.  I know I’m supposed to be polite and listen to grown-ups, but my parents have told me I am only supposed to take food from them. When you offer me food or especially candy, I’d like to take it but I’m not sure about what I am supposed to do.
5. I get itchy spots sometimes when grown-ups kiss me after they’ve eaten something I’m allergic to.  I get itchy spots when your dog licks me too. I’m not quite brave enough to tell you this so I’m hoping you will remember that if you have just eaten something that I’m allergic to, I may get hives  if you kiss me soon afterward.
6. I’m embarrassed when people fuss over what I’m eating.  I  know I have to eat my own safe food, but it’s easier for me when I’m not singled out.  Sometimes, it’s embarrassing when grown-ups ask lots of questions.  I love to fit in more than anything.
7. I hear all adult conversations about my food allergies.  My ears perk up when I hear grown-ups mention my name or food allergies, so don’t pity me or act terrified because then I get scared.  Food allergies are just one part of me. Let me overhear you talk about all the other wonderful things about me!
8.Sometimes I’m sad about having food allergies. It’s hard to be the only kid in class not having a cupcake and eating something different from my box of “safe treats” especially when there are about 20 other birthdays in my class.   I know it’s not the end of the world, but from my perspective, it’s tough at times.
9. I’m watching you—Mom and Dad!  You may think that I’m too little to notice, but I see that you went back home to get my Epi-Pen® when you forgot it.  I see that you read the ingredients on the Smarties every time. You are my role models and I am learning how to manage my food allergies from you!
10. I will do about as well as you do.   My parents “can-do” attitude will help me cope with the challenges of living with allergies and ensure that food allergies don’t stop me from being everything I was meant to be!


I've had mothers of Matthew's preschool friends send Oreos as a birthday treat just because they know they are safe for Matthew.  Last week I had a mom grab me as I was headed home after dropping Matthew off so that I could read the label of the popsicles she had brought for her son's birthday treat to make sure Matthew could have one.  Matthew is young enough that these things may not mean a lot to him yet, but they mean the world to me.  So for all those in my life (and especially my family) who go out of their way to include Matthew and make food safe for him, thank you.  It makes our world a little easier (and happier) to live in.

She’s Electric!

My feet are perpetually cold.  Especially in the winter.  So I’m a house slipper kind of a gal.  But over the years, I’ve discovered that my feet are not as tough as they used to be and if I wear unsupportive shoes too often my feet hurt.  So when my last slippers started giving me achy feet the morning after I wore the them, I decided it was time to just suck it up and spend more than $10 on some house slippers.  Enter my Skechers house slippers:  warm, fuzzy, and supportive all at the same time.

Technically they aren’t marketed as house slippers, but they are perfect to be used as such.

The only problem with the slippers is that when I wear them I have to tendency to build up more static electricity and I end up shocking myself a lot.  Most of the time this is just a minor inconvenience.  But last night when I pushed the button to eject a DVD from the player, I got zapped so hard that it hurt.  I might have even said, “Holy crap!” or something like it.  And then when I tried to put the DVD tray back in, it wouldn’t budge.  The power button wouldn’t work either.  Kev unplugged the machine to reset it but to no avail.  Apparently my electric slippers and I zapped the brains right out of our DVD player.  It will power up when plugged in, but that is about it.

Sigh.  Sometimes the weirdest things happen to me.

He's Growing Up Way Too Fast . . .

Daniel spoke in Stake Conference this morning.  Yup.  You heard me right.  My ten year old spoke in stake conference.  You know those moments that remind you that in spite of all the grief they give you, you have a pretty great kid?  This was one of those moments.

Apparently the Stake Presidency realizes that Stake Conference is long and boring for the kids.  They wanted to be able to draw their attention to the meeting, at least for awhile, so in the second hour there was a small primary choir and two primary speakers. When asked for a recommendation for a speaker, our primary presidency thought of Daniel.  Not only was it Stake Conference, but our stake is so large that in addition to meeting in the Stake Center, the meeting is broadcast to two other buildings.  That is a lot of pressure for an adult, let alone a ten year old.  Daniel was nervous, but not overly nervous, and I think he did a great job. 

Hip Hip Hurray! Matthew’s Had A Birthday!

When I asked Matthew what he wanted on his birthday cake this year, he told me he wanted Buzz, Woody, and Evil Dr. Porkchop.  There was no way I was going to attempt to make those particular characters out of frosting or fondant (I may enjoy making fun cakes, but there is a limit to what I’ll attempt) so I shopped around and found the pint-size action figure versions of each one.  Throw in a few army men and some brightly colored frosting and voila!  A Toy Story birthday cake!  He was thrilled.

There were cupcakes and presents at home on his actual b-day.  Toy Story is his thing right now and he got Buzz, Woody, and Hamm (although Matthew always calls him Evil Dr. Porkchop) for Christmas, so he was super excited to get Rex for his birthday.

He also got a Toy Story t-shirt but was super bummed that it is still way too big for him (there are only so many sizes to choose from when Mom gets presents by purchasing cold cereal).

After Christmas I picked up a game featuring Bullseye on clearance and Matthew was really excited about that as well. 

The day after his birthday he got to share a poster and a treat with his friends at preschool.  Throw in a Valentine’s party and he had a very busy week!

So he (and I) survived three.  Four, here we come!

All The Kids In His Class Want One!

For the last four or five months, Daniel has been really into origami.  I'm not sure why it appeals to him so much, but he really enjoys it and any unused little scraps of paper lying around the house are destined to be folded and creased into something magnificent.  He checks origami books out from the library on the regular basis and some books and paper donated to him from his Aunt Connie have definitely been put to good use.  He has an entire basketful of origami creations to prove it.

Today he brought this itty bitty dragon home from school:

I was astonished.  Apparently all the kids in his class want a dragon.  And since his teacher assures me that he only does things like this when his work is done, I figure it's all good.

Book Lover

These Boots Were Made For . . . Me?

Way back in September I got an e-mail from DSW featuring these boots:

I immediately fell in love with those boots but couldn’t justify running out and buying them because 1) it wasn’t in my budget right then since I had just purchased a new pair of dress boots and 2) I already have a pair of snow boots.  But I did go try them on because I wear a 6 ½ wide and have large calves which means I have a fairly hard time finding boots that fit.  I figured that if they didn’t fit, buying them would be a moot point and I wouldn’t want them so much anymore.  But to my chagrin, they fit perfectly.  Slid right on my short, fat feet and zipped right up over my calf.  So I put them on my hope-to-be-able-to-afford-in-the-future list because the previously aforementioned snow boots have several flaws including (not in the order of importance, of course) the fact that when I wear them they grab onto my socks and end up yanking them off my feet and also they are pretty darn ugly.  But they were what I could cram my feet into and could afford when I needed some snow boots with no heels during my pregnancy with Matthew.

When I got my birthday coupon from DSW earlier this month, I set it aside hoping that maybe those boots would go on sale as winter clearance sales started.  But they didn’t go on sale-it seems like that one item you are watching never does.  My coupon was expiring today so this morning I headed on over to DSW to peruse the clearance rack.  On my way to the clearance rack I walked past the boots to drool a bit and happened to notice that there were none left smaller than a size 9.  So I figured that was that.  None left in my size, I would have to wait until next season.

Imagine my glee when I walked back to the 6 ½ section of the clearance rack and spotted these:

 They were not the color I had originally wanted and wouldn’t match my wardrobe as well, but who cares?  They’re snow boots and as long as my feet are dry, warm, and cute, so what if the boots match my coat?!  When I asked the sales associate why this particular pair was on clearance when none of the others in the same style were, she told me that it was because they were the very last pair in that size.

So yay for me and my short, fat feet!  And you know, I almost think they are cuter with the contrasting colors anyway.