Just Because. . .

Twas just a brief hiatus from blogging, but, I'm here if you'll have me.

I took some fun pictures at my parents house for family dinner tonight. I'll be posting some of those a little bit later, but, for now here's one of Hazel that I fell in love with. I love the scrunchy nose and disgusted sneer. I love the little heart clip in her delicate tousled hair. I love the newly plump cheeks and milky cream skin. Those eyes that seem to know so much. And oh, how I love this little stinker-ella. I just do. She'll be 1 on Wednesday which makes me both ecstatic and heartsick all at the same time. She's my favorite little girl in the whole wide world. The things she's taught me in the last year are profound.

We have a Winner!!

I decided to draw a winner from a hat - or rather let Hazel draw a winner...

Here's the hat, naturally.

Here are all the names of the awesome participants.
She digs in.

Now at first all she did was play with them. But - then she really did pick just one. She held it for a minute and decided this would be our winner.

Here's the name.

Congrats to Ginger - my totally rad neighbor!! Thank you to all who participated - I feel it was a successful week of awareness. Maybe I'll recover from blogging every day by the time next year rolls around. Then we can do this all over again! Have a great Saturday - and Ginger I'll bring this prize basket over and save on some postage!!

p.s. Blogger is being weird. My punctuation keeps ending up at the beginning of the sentence. Don't know how to fix it so if this is punctuated all crazy - I blame it on blogger.

Sorry for the Delay

I'll announce the winner... today. Just later than I thought.

Food Allergy Awareness Week - Day 5 - LAST CHANCE!

Today is your last chance to enter my wicked awesome Food Allergy Awareness Week Contest!!

Leave a comment (any comment) to enter today! (One per person, please)

Thank you SO very much for participating. It's been fun - I'm glad it's almost over.

Come back tomorrow and I'll announce a winner!!

p.s. Today is my 27th birthday. How in the world did I get to be 27? I'm eating cake and I don't care who knows it. No crumbs for Hazel, though, the poor dear. Have a great weekend!

Food Allergy Awareness Week - Day 4

Yesterday's answer was pretty easy - and yes, mom, abstinence is right. But here's what the UFAN website says:

Strict avoidance of the allergy-causing food is the only way to avoid a reaction. Reading ingredient labels for all foods is the key to maintaining control over the allergy. If a product doesn't have a label, allergic individuals should not eat that food. If a label contains unfamiliar terms, shoppers must call the manufacturer and ask for a definition or avoid eating that food.

For today, I'd just like to know if you've learned anything by participating, so answer one of these questions (one comment per person, please):

What have you learned this week about food allergies?

or

What question do you still have about food allergies?

I'll answer any questions (as best as I can) about allergies and my posts won't count. You could do both if you want, just leave one comment. Basically, if you comment, it counts - but just once. Clear as mud, right? :)

p.s. Hazel gained 2 oz. at her appt. this week - hooray for that! We were referred to a gastroenterologist at Primary Children's Hospital and will meet with him in 2 weeks. I'm nervous about that appointment. I think she'll probably have a scope and biopsy done on her esophagus. It won't be a whole lot of fun for her but at the same time, we'll hopefully have some answers about why she can't handle ANY solid foods. Right now she's only eating Neocate and rice crackers. Any time she eats solid food she throws up and has diarrhea. I know some day she'll thank me for discussing her bowels on the internet. Sorry, hun.

Food Allergy Awareness Week - Day 3

Thanks to all those who are part of the contest so far!! It means so much to me that you are getting the word out and learning about food allergies. I figure even if one person learns something new - I've done my job. I forgot to tell you the answers to the trivia questions. I was totally going to do that. Oops.

Most of you got the answer to day 1 right. The top 8 most common food allergies are:

milk, egg, peanut, tree nut (walnut, cashew, etc.), fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat

**Lucky Hazel has all of these but shellfish and fish plush a few random things like corn and oats.

Day 2 was pretty easy. The answer was:

Epinephrine (which is synthetic adrenaline)

To enter today, just answer this trivia question in the comments section. Find the answer in the FAQ section of UFAN:

What is the best treatment for a food allergy?

Food Allergy Awareness Week - Day 2

To enter today, just answer this trivia question. (Answer can be found on FAQ section of the UFAN page).

What does epi-pen stand for?

One entry per person today. You'll be able to answer until midnight on Tuesday, May 11th.

Food Allergy Awareness Week - Day 1

Today is all about getting the word out. To enter to win the prize basket, you can do these three things to be entered today.

• Mention food allergies on your blog for one entry. Send people to enter this contest and if they mention your name, you get an extra entry. (Make sure you link to your blog in the comments section.) You can always link to my posts about Hazel or the Utah Food Allergy Network website.

• Mention food allergies in your facebook status for another entry. (For safety reasons, only my facebook friends are eligible.) Make sure you comment here to let me know you've done it.

Here is an example (feel free to copy and paste):

May 9-15th is Food Allergy Awareness Week! Did you know approximately 12 million Americans suffer from Food Allergies? Eight foods account for 90% of all food allergies. If you see someone showing signs of allergic reaction (all over hives, eyes swelling, trouble breathing, heart problems, etc.) use an epi-pen and call 911 immediately!

AND

• Answer this trivia question in the comments section for one additional entry. (Answer is in the FAQ section of the UFAN website.

Name the top 8 allergies.

Leave a comment for each thing you do to enter. I'll choose a random winner on Saturday, May 15th! You'll be able to enter today until midnight on Monday, May 10th. Check back tomorrow to see how you can enter.

Hi Non

Non is a name I lovingly bestowed upon my mother when I first started using text messages. Before phones with full keyboards, there was predictive text. My mom got her first cell phone when I was in high school and I was trying to figure out how to text. Every time I typed "Mom", predictive text would change it to "Non". It stuck. Now all my sisters use it as a nickname for her. "Hi Non" was the first text message I sent her and it continues to be a text we sisters send her just for fun.

My preschoolers filled out a little survey about their mom that I sent home with them along with some handmade gifts. I thought I'd take it and try to tell you a little about my mother.

What is your mom's first name? Heather

What is her favorite food? My mom loves fresh seafood - especially salmon perfectly grilled, lightly seasoned and smothered with mango salsa. Fish and chips from Burgerville is just about her favorite thing ever.

What is her favorite thing to do? She loves to teach - and she's good at it. Her 1st grade students love her. She works hard and does fun things and she celebrates their success. She's always telling us the funny things they say and do. Just yesterday she told me how excited she was that her class did so well on the DRA (reading test). I hope someday to be the kind of teacher she is.

What is her favorite color? She used to tell me that she loves all the colors but I know she's also said she likes yellow. So, yellow?

What is her favorite place? I know she loves to be anywhere her family is. When we get together it's really silly. She loves her own brothers and sisters too - and all of her nephews and nieces. If family were a place, it would be her favorite.

What is her favorite treat? I definitely got my sweet tooth from my mom. Anything chocolate, frosted, or glazed is good. Ice cream, cake, pie, doesn't matter. It's a favorite. She makes yummy things - her chocolate chip cookies are money. Her carmelita bars are perfection. Her pinuche frosting is, well, it's really really good.

What is your favorite thing about her? It's really hard to narrow it down to one thing. She's amazing. I guess I would have to say her patience. Raising kids is a challenge. I think anyone who has kids will tell you it's hard. I'm so glad my mom decided to love me despite my teenage years. I was a brat. I'm thankful that my mom was patient enough to hope I might turn out ok. The jury is still out on that - but at least we're friends now. Shortly after I got married, our relationship changed from mother/daughter to friends. I still need her to be my mom. I still call her crying when my baby hurts or when I just don't know what to do with my jealous almost-three-year old who took scissors to Hazel's rocking chair cover. It's nice to call my 24 hour on-call nurse. Even if she doesn't have the answer, she's calm and confident. Maybe someday I will be just as amazing as she is.

Happy Mother's Day to you, Non!

The Prize Basket

I just wanted to show you the loot that one lucky winner will receive from my Food Allergy Awareness Week giveaway.

Most of these items were generously donated - I'd like to thank those who were kind enough to share their talents (and yummy treats) with us!
.

• Assorted handmade cards from With a Touch of Glitter along with a cute flower headband. Remember Hazel in her cute so tweet set?
• Nursing cover, cupcake potholders and headband from PoppySnaps. They have way cute handmade baby gear too. Check out their blog!
• A gift card for half dozen donuts from Beyond Glaze. I brought a dozen of these to a game night with some friends a few weeks ago and they were a huge hit! The chocolate covered strawberry flavor (bottom row, second from right) is to die for.
• A gift card for a dozen bundtinis from Nothing Bundt Cakes. Spongy, moist bundt cake. The frosting is perfection. So freaking good! I've tried the pumpkin spice and cream cheese frosting, but I hear the other flavors are amazing.
• A set of OPI shrek-tacular minis nail polish from Peerless beauty supply. LOVE the Shrek collection - super trendy colors. I'm wearing the blue right now. My name is Ashley and I'm a nail polish hoarder. OPI rocks! (4 colors include: Who the Shrek are you?; Rumple's Wiggin'; Fiercely Fiona; What's with the Cattitude?)
• A free hour-long session from Ashley Becar Photography (and a high resolution CD with 40+ edited images) Limit 6 people. Yes, I know I need to update that blog.
• A circle punch from Creative Memories. Thanks Non! Two circle sizes - great for cards, scrap booking and random preschool activities.
• A bag of Smarties. One of the only candies available in stores with NONE of the top 8 food allergens. No wonder they're so smart.
  

Come back on Monday, May 10th to find out how YOU can win!

*All pictures taken from company websites. With the exception of Poppysnaps which were taken by my lovely cell phone. :)

Another Update... and an exciting announcement!

No, I'm not pregnant. I'll let you know what it is at the end...

Two weeks ago Hazel lost an ounce and it was discouraging but we didn't dwell on it too much. We decided to have faith and move forward. There was a UFAN (Utah Food Allergy Network) support group meeting in Salt Lake that Jarom and I attended. It was awesome! An allergiest presented some of the latest research and information for allergies and we learned a lot. He was great, detailed, caring and knowledgeable. After the meeting I looked up our insurance providers and found that he's on our list! We made an appointment with him and I'm counting down the days until May 25th for our appointment. We'll hopefully learn more about how to help Hazel.

Last Sunday was a chaotic morning and I gave Cannon a sippy full of milk to distract him so I could get my hair done. Hazel was playing on the floor and Cannon decided to dump the entire cup on the floor in the kitchen. Hazel splashed in it and then rubbed her eyes. I quickly picked her up, flushed her mouth with water and checked her body for hives. I didn't find anything so I got both kids in the car and headed to church. When we got there I was in such a hurry that I didn't even look at Hazel when I got her out. I didn't think about it until I was walking the halls and heard a few people gasp. Hazel's eyes had completely swollen shut. It was horrible! I didn't have the epi-pen with me so I ran home for Benadryl and called her Dr. Luckily since it was just her eyes we didn't need the epi. She looked pretty miserable for a while but ended up being just fine.

It's impossible not to be hard on myself - I feel so guilty about it. If there is anything I've learned through this, it's not to dwell on the bad stuff. My focus is on Hazel and the amazing people that are helping us out and donating money for formula, formula, time and genuine love and concern. I've said it before and I'll say it again: You are all amazing and are literally saving Hazel's life!

Needless to say, rules about milk have changed. Cannon only drinks it at the table and puts it in the sink when he's done. I mop the kitchen twice a day and we had our carpets cleaned by zerorez. They just use water so we don't have to worry about reactions to harsh shampoos and detergents. My carpets look amazing and we are relieved that we don't have to worry about her crawling all over the place.

This last Tuesday, Hazel gained a whopping 4 ounces! She's hit the 4th percentile. We could not have been happier! After her weight check, I took her to Jarom's office to tell him the happy news and the little show-off crawled on her hands and knees across his office floor for the first time! It was the most amazing thing! I cried and clapped for her as if she had won the Nobel Peace Prize. In that moment all the stress, worry, Dr. appointments, physical therapy and tears were worth it. She's gone from being a miserable little blob to a happy and feisty little cruiser in a few short months.

We are hoping that she continues to grow and learn. She's hit so many little milestones in the past few weeks. It's like she's making up for lost time. I know she'll be okay and it's such a relief. It's not going to be easy, but at least we have the assurance that with a lot of hard work and prayers we'll be able to provide what she needs. Food allergies are a daily battle.

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Now for the announcement! Next week (May 9-15) is National Food Allergy Awareness Week. In order to celebrate I'll be doing my very first blog GIVEAWAY! I have gathered an awesome prize basket to give to one lucky winner. Trust me, it's good. You'll have the opportunity to enter all week by answering questions and creating awareness in your online networks. There will be something new each day. Then on Saturday (May 15th) I'll announce the winner. Stay tuned for a peek at the prize basket and I'll start the contest on Monday, (May 10)! I'm so excited for this opportunity to bring awareness to something so near and dear to my heart. The more that participate, the better. You really won't want to miss this. Stay tuned!