Just in case you haven't heard....

Today I met with Carter's allergist about his peanut allergy.  So when he was tested at one year old, Carter scored a 10 on the RAST test.  I found this chart online which will give you an indication of what that means:



CLASS 0 (less than 0.35 KU/L)
CLASS 1 (0.35-0.7 KU/L)
CLASS 2 (0.71-3.5 KU/L)
CLASS 3 (3.51-17.5 KU/L)
CLASS 4 (17.51-50 KU/L)
CLASS 5 (50.01-100 KU/L)
CLASS 6 (greater than 100 KU/L)

Which as you can see puts him at a level 3.  When he was tested this past week his IgE levels were at 100.  Yup, that puts him into the highest class possible of allergic potential.  Anything over a 14KU/L for peanuts indicates a 100% chance of a reaction.  Keep in mind that this number is not indicative of the type of reaction, only that there is a high likelihood for a reaction.  So where do we go from here?  Just keep doing what we have been doing.  Make sure the epi pen and benadryl is with him at all times (which it is.)  I'm going to have to start training him to wear his medic alert bracelet or necklace (which he really hates.)  Keep training him about food safety.  Although I have to say so far it's only been a minor inconvience in our lives, and we just have to make sure that we keep it that way.  Luckily I choose a peanut free preschool for the fall, and Carter is with family or me 100% of the time.  Things will get more complicated as he gets older, but that's where his training has to come in.  So next time you invite us over, make sure it's peanut free!

Farm Friday's at Parky's Farm

We had such a great time today at Parky's Farm.  I love doing these things with the kids, and hopefully we'll be able to bring Daddy back on a Saturday to enjoy it as a family.

Carter got to enjoy his very first pony ride on Kenzie. 

Hold on tight!

Checking it all out.

We also took a tractor ride and he got to "drive" the tractor.

And we all know how much our little "worker" boy loved that.

He also spent about twenty minutes watering the garden at the farm.

And watering.

Yeah, I had to drag him away from watering the garden.

He also got to help plant some potatoes.  He put them in the ground and used both a hoe and a shovel to cover them up.

There were also tunnels to run in.  And don't forget seeing the many farm animals:  chickens, ducks, goats, pigs, llamas and horses.

Ava even got to feel the grass on her piggies for awhile.  Mom, I don't think I like this!

We'll have to work on that baby girl.

What a great day!

Time with the Auntie and Uncle

Uncle Jason, my hero.

Aunt Tiffany pushing Ava in the swing.  Or as Carter calls her "Mommy Tiff."

I don't know why the snow brush is the best toy ever, but it just is.

We had so much fun with you guys!

Allergy update

This morning we took the two kids to Children's Hospital to get blood drawn to check on food allergies.  Carter's test was only to check his peanut allergy to see if his tolerance has increased, decreased or stayed the same.  Ava was to have a full allergy test ( just like Carter did when he was initially diagnosed with his peanut allergy) to check for all childhood food allergens.  Since Carter is allergic to peanuts, Ava has a slightly increased risk of also having a peanut allergy.  Thankfully Mike took the morning off so that I would have help.

Carter was not happy AT ALL.  It took the promise of a sucker, chocolate milk and cookies to even get him into the hospital.  He kept telling us "Carter not sick either."  Luckily it was easy to draw blood and although he screamed he was easily comforted (with a sucker of course) afterward.

But Ava was a totally different story.  Once again she didn't even flinch at the needles.  But they were totally unable to draw any blood.  After two different people poking at her, even sticking a needle in her arm for several minutes moving it all around to find a vein, still nothing.  Finally Mike just said, let's not worry about this.  Although she wasn't crying or fussing (or even looking at us funny) it surely couldn't have been pleasant.  We'll just wait as she grows up a bit and maybe try again.  So far she has never had anything with peanuts in it, but she has had items manufactured on a plant with peanuts.  We'll wait and see about her.

So that's our big update for now.  I can't wait to hear the results (for Carter's allergy test.)

Music Baby

Now I shall play a song for you.

Don't worry mom, this one will only last an hour.  Maybe two.

No wonder I have a headache tonight.

Fire Truck make-believe

Today we were playing in Carter's fire truck.  All of a sudden he looked at me and said "Need fire hats.  Be back."  Carter darted into the kitchen and came back with a measuring bowl and our halloween candy bowl.  They became our new fire hats.  Don't you love it when little ones use their imagination?

Ava didn't care what was on her head as long as her big brother let her play with him. 

By the way if you're planning on getting rid of a hose, just let me know.  Carter would love a small section of hose to "put out" all the fires in our house. 

One year old Update

Today was Ava's one year old doctor checkup.  Everything is going great but she had to get five shots (insert super sad smiley face here.)  Remember how she used to get shots and not even make a face?  Yeah, that's totally over.  She screamed this time and I don't blame her a bit.  She weighed 21 pounds 4 ounces and was 30 inches long.

So for comparison's sake (because you know I love to) here's Carter boy at one year:

Seriously this boy did not know what to do with a cupcake!!!

Anyways, he was 23 pounds and 10 ounces and 32 inches long.