Poor Emily!!!

Yesterday Emily had an appointment with an allergist because we've had some scary incidents after she's eaten a few things. We were pretty sure it was nuts! And we found out that she is definitely severely allergic to CASHEWS, PISTACHIOS and MACADAMIA nuts. We have Epi-pen Jr.'s now and have to get used to the fact the some day we'll most likely have to use them! (if you don't know what that is, it's an injection you have to give them as soon as you see the signs of her allergy before her throat closes up and she can't breath! HELLO!? )

It was such a shock and I struggled with it all the way home -30 min :( because I went in thinking she probably had something but it would turn out to be nothing, then by the end of the Appointment - 2 hrs! I was totally scared!
I know it's not as bad as other allergies or other childhood illnesses/ diseases and that we can be happy for our children's health compared to others. But when I started to think about all the times when I am not around my own kids - which lately is a lot because I've been working more. And then thinking about when the time comes that we'd actually have to use it - it just scared me.
We will most likely get her a bracelet with the info on it so when she is not with us she may need to wear it. Pre-school snack times and Elementary school lunch is going to be very interesting to say the least!

I took a picture of what Emily's back looked like on my cell phone so I could send it to Ryan, but we got it off his phone and so I thought I'd include it in this blog.
I've always wondered what they do for an allergy test. Well, first they write on their back (as you can see) and then they take tiny plastic sticks with each kind of food - in this case they tested all different kinds of nuts. Then they kind of pricked her back with them and after just 2-5 min. the Cashew and Pistachio were huge! She was pretty confused but she didn't even cry!
You'll notice that the Macadamia - at the very bottom didn't do anything, but we have to just keep her away from them because one of the times she had a major reaction was when we gave her a small bite of a Macadamia cookie from Sams or costco or something. So if we want to do a blood test later we can double check the macadamia, but for now we are just including it as one she is definatly allergic to!
One of the times she had a reaction was at a wedding with mixed nuts on the table. So now we can't even take out an almond or a peanut for her to have - if it's touched any of the other nuts she'll have a reaction.

The last time she had one she was with my sister Anita and Emily took the TINIEST bite of a cashew granola bar. Immediatly her lip started to swell and get a blister on it. And she told Anita her tounge hurt (ichy / swollen throught) and her eyes got all red, puffy and watery. Then she threw up! ( the swollen lip and throught only happened the last two times, but before that she'd just seem have the other symptoms - always throwing up! So we gave her benadryl, but now we have to use the Epi-pen Jr's. (Peanuts are fine for her to eat - Yeah! Peanut MnM's are one of our favorites!)

So.... that's the craziness! What do you think? Are your kids allergic to anything?
Another stress is that we leave on Sunday for our cruise without the kids so it just makes ya worry even more! I guess it's good we found out now so that everyone will be made very aware!
I'll turn 30 on Monday so I'll have a great present! A Mexican Cruise! Please pray that the weather is good!!