Couldn't believe it - but it was ACTUALLY warm here today! What a nice change. Of course w/ it brings seasonal allergies. Well thanks to Allegra- I survived the day :)
Makena was thrilled to get her swimsuit on and dig out a swimming pool to splash around in. Between that, and the bubble gun to shoot bubbles out it was tons of fun.
Can you find PJ in these pictures??? You might need to use the zoom function by placing your cursor off of the photo once it has loaded then place it back on the photo. On the lower right hand corner a zoom box will be available...
With the upcoming year of kindergarten just around the corner (I can't believe it)I have been really nervous about Makena's allergies to Peanuts and how to protect her in a cafeteria type setting at her new school. About 2 weeks ago, I took her to the doctor for some follow up tests that we were told to run by the time she turned 4 yrs old. With Makena seeming 'okay' while we were in California - we pushed it to the back burner. Finally - now settled in I figured we ought to get these tests taken care of before the summer comes. So they re-ran her Celiac Disease blood work, and also her immunization blood work (since our records were accidentally left for storage in California). They also did a bone scan of her hand to check her skeletal age to be sure she wasn't lacking any growth hormone. As many of you may remember this and the concern of Celiac disease were major issues we were faced with when we lived in Nebraska and Makena wasn't growing and had several allergies to foods. Her last result in Nebraska for Celiac was inconclusive - so we were told to wait and re-test by the time she was 4yrs old. She was a trooper and endured 5 vials of blood draws all in the name of receiving a Mermaidia Barbie!
Dr. Monaco called me yesterday to let me know which shots she was needing (only one booster) so she is up-to-date for school.
Her Celiac results came back NEGATIVE!!!!
And we also had her blood retested for her allergies and most severely to Peanut Butter.
Her blood test results came back NEGATIVE!!!!
I asked the doctor if she was sure and if she would bet Makena's life on it. Because that's just what it has been in the past - life threatening. We were told by allergists that it was 'highly unlikely' that Makena would ever grow out of her allergy to peanuts due to the level of severity that she had when tested.
What can I say... "I'm shocked!"
So one of the conversations I distinct fully remember having with PJ when we found out she was highly allergic to peanuts was that he was so disappointed that she would never get to taste a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. These are PJ's favorites and he has always been so careful eating these in our home so that she didn't get any residue on her.
So today, I went to Super24 (the same quickie mart I frequented as a child) and picked up my own child a package of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Reese's Pieces. I drove her up to Evergreen Hospital, the same hospital that she went to the first time that she was ever diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy. We parked in their parking lot and hopped out. Makena was so excited, yet a little apprehensive. I was worried she'd be scared but she trusted me that it was okay. I had been amping her up about it all day. She was very very excited! She took a little nibble, then one big bite. I looked at her - she smiled, it tasted good. I watched her for about 10 minutes then determined sure enough- she was no longer allergic. Her initial reaction was instant, so this was huge for us, no reaction at all!
Once she finished up we broke into the Reese's Pieces. She sat in the back seat and enjoyed every little bit. I began describing the long list of chocolate and peanut butter items that she can now have! We can go to Asian Food restaurants now, Dairy Queen, Cold Stone Creamery, She can have a blizzard and a Snickers Bar and chocolate to her heart's content.
My little angel has grown out of ALL of her allergies and is a healthy little girl (Except her ears lol). But if someone had ever told me 3yrs ago that this would be where we stand now... years after doctor's appointments and weight checks etc... I never would have believed them. For a little girl that has been poked and prodded more than most children her age, she has done a great job dealing with it all and just needed to come around in her own time. This is monumental for us (as I blab on and on), now- it won't be long before we can get her 'porky' enough to tip the scales over 30lbs (keeping our fingers crossed!) - after all, she's nearly 5!
Views from his hotel in Hawaii Having drinks Talking to his platoon Duke statue in Hawaii PJ working In the harbor at Hawaii Sitting on the back of the boat
posted by 2Kais at 
