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Saturday, June 25, 2011

Scariest Night Ever

Night before last was one of the scariest that I've experienced so far in this new chapter in life called, motherhood. Actually it was one of  the scariest thing in my life, I think ever, motherhood or not. 

I had a sinking feeling in my gut as I ran upstairs to check on my Forest boy. Something wasn't right. He'd only been in his crib for 10 min or less, but he'd been acting funny since dinner about 15 min before. He kept coughing, and itching his eyes, he wouldn't finish his food or drink anything. Or was he just sleepy and rubbing his eyes in the dramatic way he always does? I was replaying in my mind anything that was out of the ordinary that might cause his discomfort. Yeah, he was teething but this was different. Oh my gosh! I gave him two of THE smallest bites of my peanut butter sandwich that I was eating while feeding him! I reached for the overhead light in his room, of course the light bulb was blown out. I looked over his crib with only his nightlight to see him tossing pitifully in bed, his face looked strange. I grabbed him and he was coughing and as I rushed downstairs. The fear of this being an allergic reaction to peanuts terrified me. I had friends in school that almost died from this because their throat would swell up and they couldn't breathe. Kael's face was so red and so swollen, there were blotches on his arms and he looked scared.

Sam had run up to grab some dinner at Chick Fil-A, so I was at home alone. I kept going from the living room to the kitchen, back and forth trying to figure out what to do. Where the *bleep* is my iphone!? Should I call 911, should I just run up to the urgent care right around the corner? Should I call Sam? WHERE IS MY PHONE?! This HAD to be from the peanut butter. Within 5 min. of me giving him 2 tastes (which he LOVED) he had started rubbing his eyes really hard, and coughing. He wouldn't drink his water or milk. He wouldn't eat any of his other bits of dinner that he really liked. All of a sudden as I'm thinking this and a million other thoughts in a 20 second time period, Kael projectile vomits like I have NEVER seen him do before, all over the floor, himself and me. Sam came in the back gate and I rushed out to show him Kael. When he saw Kael's face he said, "Oh my God." I told him what I thought  was going on and we ran out the door to take him to the Urgent Care. It seemed unreal. We were told to go to the children's hospital and take him to the emergency room. We chose to drive instead of being taken by ambulance. We were in the car praying, and I kept beating myself up for giving him peanut butter. I looked down at my feet and realized I had forgotten my shoes, nice.  Please God, let my baby be ok. I called my midwife to get her advice and her opinion. She encouraged us to absolutely go to the ER.
walking into the ER at Levine Children's Medical

By the time we got to the ER that was 20 min. away, his face had gone down a ton and I could tell he wasn't scared anymore. It was still swollen but not nearly as much as it had been.  Another 10 min. and he was flirting with the nurses, puffy eyed-face and all. My little trooper. They put us in a room, gave him a big dose of Bendryl, some fluids and waited to make sure he was improving. About 2 hours later he was doing a million times better, the medicine had kicked in and after playing with some toys they gave him, he passed out on me in the rocking chair. After what I told them, they agreed it was a peanut allergy and told us to make an appointment with our pediatrician (which we are doing tomorrow). Everyone was SO nice to us while we were there, it was very comforting. 

We got home, put him to bed, he was out cold, little darlin'. I heated up our now cold Chick Fil-A that had been forgotten and tossed on the table when we left. Sam and I sat there quietly eating and I started to cry. I had been so focused on being strong for my baby and having a clear head so I could think and respond the way  we needed to that, I didn't emotionally process what had just happened. I had felt panic for 5 minutes when I first found him and after that I was in mom mode. I called my mom on the way home and she was googling peanut allergies. She told me some babies don't show serious signs for over an hour. I realized that I could have put him to bed and not realized what was happening. Thank God he showed symptoms that early and I noticed them.  Sam kept telling me to not beat myself up, but it was and is hard not to. I'm just so thankful that he is ok! I found my cell phone smooshed between the couch cushions. I had several texts from friends telling me that they were praying and if we needed them they were there for us. We have the most amazing community surrounding us and when one of us needs prayer or help, it's there before you can even ask. 
swelling had gone down a ton...my poor little sweetie
Well, somehow I missed the memo that peanut butter including any and ALL peanut products should be withheld from your baby until they are at least 1 yr. old. To be on the safe side, you should wait until they are 2 or 3.  We don't have anyone on either side of our family that has a peanut allergy, Kael hasn't had any vaccines, he's not allergic to anything else that we know of. He eats mostly organic food...it's just so bizarre to me. If any of you guys have any insight or knowledge about this sort of thing, I welcome any sources of info or advice. We have to carry what's called an Epi Pen now. One in the diaper bag and one here at home. It's a big shot in case he has another reaction, to make sure he can breathe. It all is and sounds so scary to me. All of this is new territory for me. 
'

notice my socks...compliments of the nurse upon seeing my very dirty barefooted feet. 

waiting to go home. we hadn't brought anything, no bottle, no nothing...thankfully a sweet nurse brought back some toys for him to play with. (they had been cleaned.) 
I started a new hospital fashion trend. Who says these ugly things can't come in style? ;) 

Now you know the reason behind the title of this post. I'm going on a new quest to research this booger of peanut sensitivity. Again, I would love to hear any feedback or experiences you have to share on the subject. Little boy is totally fine now. Yesterday he was a little whoozy and tired but today he's as feisty as ever! We are going to look at a couple of houses today in the ongoing house hunt! Have a lovely week pretties! 

43 comments:

  1. Jess I am so sorry to hear this. Jessie told me Friday night when you texted her from Sam's phone and I said some quick prayers - so glad he is ok. Love you!!!

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  2. don't beat yourself up.. i think your experience is a lot better than denying your baby a whole myriad of things that he "could" possibly be allergic to. live and learn, as they say, and good thing nothing serious happened! glad to hear the little pooper is going to be alright.

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  3. whew. I just want to kiss him and hug him after reading that. You are so amazing Jess. That maternal instinct is nothing to take lightly either... that combined with the grace of God is something fierce. Sam is right though; and I hope after the chaos and panic and all the "what if's" wear off that you don't beat yourself up about it - it could have happened to anyone of us. The important thing is that he's okay and you were there when you needed to be and did what needed to be done.

    I hope everything goes smoothly with the doctors visit. GL with the house hunt *wink*
    xooooxoxo

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  4. I am so glad that your little man is ok! I can't imagine what I would do if that was my, Zane. You are one strong momma that's for sure. :-)

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  5. Oh, I bet that was so scary. I'm glad he's alright. I'll call you a little bit later and we'll chat. I actually know a lot about allergies, and I've been learning a lot in nursing school soooo, I can translate scary doctor terms lol. :) I LOVE YOU! And, don't beat yourself up, because you did exactly what he needed to be done for him. xo

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  6. so scary Jess. sam is right...don't beat yourself up. It could've happened to anyone. When I worked at a preschool I had to carry an epi pen on me at all times in case of an allergic reaction from one of the kids. I've administered one before too. One of my kids started having a reaction after lunch, gasping for air and everything. I had to stick that pen into his little thigh and call 911. my heart beats fast every time I think about that moment!

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  7. We love Chick-fil-A, as it is how we earn a living (our whole family worked there at one time, & now only 2 of us do). HOWEVER, please know that Chick-fil-A uses PEANUT OIL to fry their filets, strips, & nuggets. To be on the safe side, you should always ask about the oils used whenever eating out. So thankful that all turned out well for Kael. I enjoy keeping up with your family!

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  8. Oh wow, Jess. That is so scary. You can see the total fear/worry/love in your face on the walk up to the hospital.

    I don't know much about peanut allergies, but my dad has to carry an Epi Pen because he is allergic to fire ants. Same reaction as peanuts... anaphylactic shock. I do know that as soon as you know there is a reaction, use the Epi Pen, and go straight to the doctor. My dad made the mistake of thinking the Epi Pen was a cure- it's not. It's just a bridge to give you time to get to a hospital.
    Good luck girl! I'm sure you will find all of the information and support you need.

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  9. How scary!! My fiance has a disease that causes him to have a million and one food allergies, so this type of thing is common for us. It's so scary when he has a reaction, but I can't even imagine how much more terrifying it must be when it happens to your child! I think you handled it great! Usually, when someone first encounters an allergen, the first reaction is relatively mild (but not always); however, consecutive exposures are worse and are the ones that may lead to anaphylaxis. The Epi Pen is a good friend to have!

    Keeping away from allergens and monitoring food and what comes into contact with food can be hard and exhausting, but there is a ton of support out there and restaurants are starting to become more and more aware of allergies. Educating the people that are around Kael is super important because even a kiss from someone that just ate peanut butter could cause a reaction. You will definitely be in my prayers and it'll all be okay! You aren't alone! :)

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  10. I will voice the same. Don't beat yourself you are a good mom, you did what needed to be done, and he has the best mama.

    However keep hope! I've read that an allergy to nuts or other things at this age can be grown out of by the time he reaches 3+ years so he may not be doomed to a life of nut deprivation :)

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  11. Oh, bless your heart!! We are well aware of this, in our family. We have a pair of 6 year old twin girls who are also allergic to peanuts...really most tree nuts. It's a terrible experience at first, but then you learn how to live around it. We all still eat peanut butter and such, but, we wash our hands, faces, and mouths thoroughly if we are to have any contact with her. Also...beware of Roadhouse, if ya'll have that in N.C. There is peanut dust everywhere. There is a good chance he will grow out of it...he may just be sensitive to the aflitoxins, in his young age. We laid low on the peanuts until she was 4, and then they re-tested. She didn't happen to grow out of it, but they said that most do. You're going to be OK, though! There are many of us out here praying for you...and especially those of us who know first hand how terrifying that is. On an ironic note...Chik fil A uses peanut oil to fry their food...but, our hyper-sensitive little girls can eat it with no problem. I'm guessing because of the high temperatures killing the aflotoxin? Anyway - keep us posted!

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  12. i am so sorry you had to go through that, jess. i am so glad that kael is ok. God is good.

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  13. Oh, sweetie!! *HUGGLE* I am so glad everything turned out okay. I've babysat a boy who's allergic to peanuts. I don't know much about it, but the family is careful and the boy (Ryan, age 3) is fine, one of the happiest little kiddos I know. It's not the end of the world. :) You and Sam are amazing parents and Kael is going to continue to be just fine. :)

    PS-- praying for y'all right now. <3

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  14. i seriously got tear-eyed reading that, how scary! so glad you caught it so quickly.

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  15. Our baby will be born in 2 months and my husband was allergic to one too many things as a toddler: peanut butter, pineapple, eggs, etc. . . So this post definitely struck a chord with me! His mom has told me quite a few of her own horror stories.. including when she first found out he was allergic to peanut butter. He had to be rushed to the ER several times as a child and even as a teenager. It's definitely scary to think that my child may have these same allergies. Childrens Benadryl is definitely a must-have. I've learned that from my husband's mom. . . and my husband also has an epi pen handy. Allergies are no fun! Glad your baby's fine! =)

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  16. Oh goodness. I can't even imagine how scary that was for you.

    I'm so glad that your little man is alright! To reiterate what has been said before- it could have happened to anyone.

    Good luck with your search into allergens. Keeping you and your family in my thoughts!

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  17. I'm so glad that Kael is okay. You are a great mother, and a strong inspiration to others. (PS - You look lovely with your hair down) :)

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  18. Oh Jess! How terrifying! I know how scary allergies can be. My brother and I both had severe allergies to so many things: fire ants, Tide, wasps, artifical color yellow 5, and multiple medications, so I'm completely familiar with the Epi Pen. I pray everyday that my sweet little Riley won't have the same issues.

    I'm so sorry to hear about this scary experience and glad that your little guy is okay.

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  19. How scary. So glad he's okay!

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  20. Jess! I am so sorry you had to go thru such a terrible night! I am so, so glad to hear that everything is ok. Thank you so much for sharing this story. i am not saying I am glad you went thru it, but you have taught me something as well as given me a little courage incase something like this ever happens. You are such a super star mom!!!

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  21. oh my goodness, friend!! I'm so sorry you had to go through that scare! julianna had an allergic reaction (vomiting, hives, swelling, trouble breathing) to egg when she turned 1, and i was alone in the house also. We had to be rushed to the hospital in an ambulance and she was kept in the hospital overnight. they had to inject her with steroids several times to open up her airways. it was so scary and such a blur. everything happened so quickly and I felt so helpless. either way, i know it's no fun! i tell ya, whoever said parenting was easy, lied! i'm so glad to know he's okay! love you all so much! xoxo

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  22. Oh my! My heart raced just reading this. I can only imagine how scary this must have been.

    I think it is only natural, although completely unwarranted, to blame yourself. My daughter has a dairy intolerance and although it is not life threatening, she gets horrible, screaming gas pains. And anytime she accidentally has dairy, I blame myself. I've cried as she has cried.

    I'm glad that little Forest is doing better. At least you now know that he has a reaction to peanuts so you can be prepared.

    Good luck with your doctors appointment.

    Amber xx

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  23. Jess, I had tears streaming down my face reading this!!! Poor baby boy!! And poor mama!! I am SO glad that everything worked out, thank God for your motherly instincts!!! What a blessing that everything worked out! I know you are probably nervous about Kael having an allergy, but with a little research, you will be fine. SO happy that everything worked out!

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  24. you guys thank you SO much for you love and bits of info! we SO appreciate it! so so much! <3

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  25. oh ivelisse it was SO scary! Is she still allergic to egg or did she grow out of it? <3 love you girl

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  26. apparently, she grew out of it. they could never prove that it was the egg because she was being treated with antihistamines to stop the hives, so they wouldn't have gotten accurate results. they pretty much said it was that though, because it was the only new thing i had introduced, and it happened right after i gave it to her. i just never gave her eggs after that, and she never had that reaction again. then i took her to the allergist, i think last year and no allergy showed up, so they said she must've grown out of it. i try giving her eggs now, but she's just not a fan and i don't blame her! probably the scariest thing i've ever experienced, like you said!

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  27. jen, you are so sweet beyond sweet.... (hug)

    aleisha, thank you SOOOOO much for telling me that....that helps so much.

    your encouraging words pretty loves mean so much to my heart, thank you.

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  28. i'm SO glad she outgrew it! i'm hoping that this whole thing was just from my stupidity of giving it to him so young and that later he will be ok. miss your face lovely. muah!

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  29. Don't beat yourself up! My mom gave me peanut butter for years and didn't realize that my chronic bronchitis was linked to a peanut allergy. As I have gotten older I have learned to control getting a reaction. This may sound strange but allergies actually occur in weaker immune systems. All the allergies that kids have these days including gluten intolerance didn't exist 100 years ago. Basically children are too clean and our foods have been modified beyond recognition(but that's another story)! If I were you I would keep Kael from eating peanut products but maybe expose him to the smell at least every once and awhile. I am doing more research but I've heard you can reverse a peanut allergy... but anywho. Since he is a baby still I would be more cautious. Check labels, ask people if peanut products will be served when going to someones house, and keep an epi-pen and benadryl around. :) Peanut allergies are still pretty rare so it's understandable that you wouldn't think. I hope that helped, I know I rambled. :) Let me know if I can help in any way! I've dealt with it for 20+ years and it's just part of my life now. :)

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  30. I am so sorry you had to go through that - I can't imagine how terrifying it must have been. I wouldn't have thought to wait a full year before introducing peanut products either... it's good to know, however!

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  31. thanks sarah beth!!! yeah, i really want to look into some of what you were saying, my mom has mentioned some of that to me! i want as much info as i can get. i had heard that gm foods maybe contributed to allergies? so crazy

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  32. Keep benadryl in your house at all times! You never know if you or anyone else will develop an allergy at any time. I only had seasonal problems and when I was 28 had a serious allergy to an antibiotic! I always keep benadryl on me now.

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  33. Also, there are SO many things kids can develop allergies too, egg, strawberries (who knew??), milk (my son has a milk allergy!) corn, tomatoes, chicken! Anything, so definitely dont beat yourself up!

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  34. Oh yes GM foods are from the devil! I don't think all of these allergies are just popping up for no reason. Wheat, corn, and soy used to have a much higher protein content which meant they were much more healthy! Now they are(especially corn) about 10% protein and 90% carbs(sugar) which means people are either allergic to or it makes them gain weight easily. It's nuts. I hope to feed my future children non-GMO, organic, whole foods as much as I can, and drag em' through the dirt like they did in the old days. ;)

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  35. Oh, my heart! I'm so glad he is okay and so glad you guys are such loving, on the ball parents!

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  36. Hey Jess!

    Here's the link to the sweet momma I was telling you about, Robyn O'Brien. She's the one who has 4 boys and one morning her littlest one started swelling up at the breakfast table (at age 2). She rushed him to the doctor and learned it was food allergies. After being blown away by the research she uncovered, she has become a huge healthy food activist with a focus on children. She has a great book called, "The UnHealthy Truth" which talks about the food industry and the growing epidemic of food allergies, especially among our children:

    http://www.robynobrien.com/

    Love you honey!
    Momma

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  37. A lot of peanut allergies are related to mold. Peanuts get moldy really easy and it is hard to tell if they are or not. "The peanut plant is susceptible to the mold Aspergillus flavus which produces a carcinogenic substance called aflatoxin.[8] Since it is impossible to completely remove every instance of aflatoxins, contamination of peanuts and peanut butter is monitored in many countries to ensure safe levels of this carcinogen. In 1990, a study showed that average American peanut butter contained an average of 5.7 parts per billion of aflatoxins, per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines of 20 parts per billion"

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  38. This brought tears to my eye, very scary indeed. So glad your little guy is well!

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  39. I had the EXACT same thing happen to me when my daughter was just over one year old. No food allergies in our family and our pediatrician said, "sure! give her a bit of peanut butter." and so I went home and gave her the teeniest bit, convinced she'd love it. She swelled up instantly and it was the most terrifying experience of my life. She's now seven, has outgrown her allergy to all things nut and is now solely (and life-threateningly) allergic to only peanuts. I feel deeply for your experience and know just what you were going through. Glad your little one is feeling better!

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  40. I've gone through the same thing with my younger son back when he was not even 2 years old and we found out he is allergic to Peanut Butter. his whole face swelled up and his eyes were so watery and he was just so down in the dumps but they helped him right away at the ER. I feel you, girl!!! It was hard keeping him still in the ER but they gave him a shot of something that made him fall asleep. It took a few days before the swelling went down. All because I made a craft out of peanut butter, dry milk, and honey for my older son and when I was cleaning him up from it, the younger got into it and ate it. He was all blotchy too. I had to take a photo to show my husband who was at work so he could get out and bring us to the ER (we share a car). Really was probably the worst day for us too!!! I am glad that all is well for you now. Hopefully you won't have a repeat situation.

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  41. I'm so sorry you had to go through this, friend! Scary! So glad he is ok!

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  42. I totally agree with the comment in regards to our kids being too clean!! Kids need to get dirty and they need to eat dirt. They need to get sick in order to be healthy :)

    PS - Just putting it out there since you didn't know about the peanut thing, don't give him honey either. If you already knew that, ignore me :)

    *HUGS*!!

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  43. I know everyone is saying it already but don't beat yourself up for giving him peanuts.. My son had a similar reaction to BEETS of all things. Allergies happen and what matters is how you handled it and you handled it wonderfully. So sorry that your family went through this.. :(

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