An Allergic Reaction

This weekend it happened. From 3 tiny bites of a Veggie Sausage. Mom & I went out to eat, and Ethan wouldn’t touch the food I brought him. So I let him have a few bites of sausage. I never do this. I only ever let Ethan eat food when I’ve read the ingredients. [Did you know that o’Soy yogurt has milk ingredients?!? Allergy moms always read ingredients.] But I thought maybe this once I’d make an exception. A few minutes later, he had hives on his face. An hour later, his nose had swollen up & he was having trouble breathing. A little children’s allergy Benedryl, and he started to feel better.

It was so sad, but I am glad my mom saw the reaction firsthand. Sometimes I feel like people think us Allergy Moms are just a bunch of paranoid freaks. Especially in those over 45, since this whole food allergy phenomenon just didn’t exist a generation ago. While no one has ever said anything, often when I tell someone (of a certain age) about E’s allergies, I feel like the thought going through their head is, “Oh, I bet a little bit wouldn’t hurt him.” I probably had thoughts like that myself before it happened to us.

Sometimes I've wondered if I’m just making myself crazy, making my job as a mother harder for no good reason. But this reminded me that this is a real problem. I am reminded that I have been doing the right thing by being so strict with the foods I give him. I hope this was the first & the last time that we experience this! It made for a sad day for us.