We're pretty much back to being totally dairy free (little guy and I are 100% dairy free). Kiddo had been eating regular dairy Greek yogurt every morning for a few weeks but she was getting some stinky toots and eczema. I figure she's having some inflammation in her gut with those types of issue even though she never complained of tummy pains. I feel bad because she really liked the yogurt. At the grocery store we most often visit, the only alternative is soy yogurt which I try not to give her much soy. I feel so granola these days for all the stuff I try to avoid. For the time being I'm going to continue to educate kiddo about her allergy but I'm so very thankful that the reaction for both kids is not anaphylaxis. A lot of people think the kids are just lactose intolerant as they don't understand that a dairy allergy can have other symptoms. I try to explain that lactose intolerance is due to not being able to properly break down the sugar in milk and if the kids had it, they wouldn't be able to (or have been able to) breast feed and that it is very very rare in infants. For the dairy allergy, the protein in the cow's milk causes severe stomach/intestinal problems (gas, gas pains, diarrhea, mucous in the stool, and blood in the stool) that can take several weeks to resolve.
In November I was feeling either incredibly brave or incredibly foolish as I booked tickets for the kids and I to fly to visit my family in December. The trip was good and we all had fun. Very glad the flight is a direct flight and only about an hour long. Amazed at how grown up kiddo looked as she sat across the aisle from me and happily enjoyed her snack.
Enjoyed Christmas at home this year. Missed being with my mom's side of the family like crazy but enjoyed watching kiddo take in the wonder of the season.
I feel like I've turned into "that mom" this winter. I've turned into quite the germaphobe. Little guy won't be old enough for the flu shot until the flu season is mostly over so we've been washing our hands like crazy and avoiding public places. Kiddo gets cabin fever like any young child would. I also fear getting Norovirus. I've had it twice in the last few years (first time I was still breast feeding kiddo and I think that helped her stay well while she also suffered the second time I had it). With the flu I just monitor local activity but if I hear of an outbreak of Norovirus across the country I can feel my anxiety level increase.
As we celebrated the New Year we enjoyed the sparkling cider the hospital gave us when little guy was born. Hubby and I looked at our little guy with awe and wonder as we are certain he was conceived on New Years Day 2013. Thirteen is my lucky number and 2013 brought much better things to us.
Hubby really enjoyed the Super Bowl as he's been a life long Seahawks fan. We of course ate too much yummy food including a recipe I found for "cheeze" sauce made from cashews. I hadn't tried any cheese substitutes when being dairy free with kiddo but decided to try this as I know it could be another year and a half or more before I get cheese again. It tasted like the stuff you see in jar in the chip aisle. Hubby even thought it was good. I think I'll try some other "cheeze" recipes.
While I do enjoy the snow I'm ready for warmer weather as I don't like telling kiddo no to going out in the snow as I don't want to take little guy out in it. I know kiddo would love visiting the park. Plus, warm weather decreases the threat of flu and Norovirus usually.
