Peanut Allergy

Back in August George broke out in hives after eating some peanut butter. I emailed his pedi pictures and questions. She said they would do additional testing at this 1 year appointment in about 2 weeks, but to avoid peanut butter until then.

We did some blood work and found out he had a peanut allergy. We then met with the allergist for additional testing. Poor buddy is very allergic to peanuts. We have to carry epi pens with us at all time. They do not take chances these days with peanut allergies. The allergist told us if we even think he ate it use the epi pen.

We can't eat peanuts around him, touch him after we have ate him and we need to brush our teeth if we eat them. So far it has been ok. I have replaced peanut butter with almond butter.

Recently we flew. I just asked the man beside us if he could not eat the peanuts. My concern was that George would try to grab the peanut wrapper or grab one. Thankfully the guy was super nice about it. He had an allergy to bee stings and carried an epi pen.

About 2 weeks after we had him tested he broke out in the rash on the right. It was scary! We rushed him to the ER. We weren't sure if he had another severe allergy or what was going on. It looked like a huge puff hive all around his mouth. On the way to the ER I was on the phone with them asking if we should use the epi pen. They said if we knew for sure he didn't eat any peanuts not to use it and just come right in. Just our luck the freeway was PACKED on a Saturday. It took us about 20 minutes. By the time we got there the rash was pretty much gone.

We did more testing on soy, strawberries and tomatoes. He is not allergic to anything. I hate having to do allergy testing on him. He cries so hard after the poke him. He is not a fan of the doctor anymore. The minute they come in the room with the stethoscope he starts screaming.

The picture on the left was after he had peanut butter. The hives are smaller. It was so weird he was allergic to the peanut butter. He had been eating Horizon peanut butter crackers for about a month before he broke out. He also had drank some of my smoothies with peanut butter in them. It took about a month for the allergy to show itself.

We will have him testing in a couple years to see if he outgrows it. In the mean time I am the crazy person reading all the packages in the store before I buy anything. It is crazy to me how many things are made with peanuts or in a peanut facility. We don't even take a chance with peanut facility items.

Sensory Paper Bag Book

There are a times I need to entertain George while I try to get things done around the house. He gets bored with the same toys day after day. We put some toys away and bring them out which is like WOW where did that come from?

I decided to make 3 boxes of different type of toys, crafty items he can play with 3 days a week. I have a lot of scrapbook items that are just sitting around my spare room. I decided to make him a book out of a paper bag.

I looked on Pinterest for some ideas of things to put in the boxes. I will blog about the boxes at a different time. I used them the other day and it was fabulous! He was soooo excited to go through the box and play with everything.

I used 3 paper bags. Folded them in half, punched holes in the end and tied it with string.

I had the stickers above in my collection. He likes to rub the mustache.

I am not sure how long these letters will stay on the page. He is trying to pick them off already. I hot glued them to the page. If he picks them off I can glue them back down.

In the pages that are open on the ends I cut cardstock to stick inside. I hot glued some twine to the page to make a G. Used stickers on the other pages.

I took a straw that was left over from his party, cut it and glued it to the page. He really liked the straw. The owl he lost interest in quickly.

The car sheet was his favorite. He played with that the most. Then he took it, folded it in half and shoved it back in the open section of the book. That is when I realized it will be lucky if the book lasts a month. lol

These books are so easy to make! You can just use items you have around the house or grab some items at the dollar store. Michaels' has cardstock on sale a lot of times for about $2-3 a pack of 50. Use a coupon and save 40-50%.

Curious George 1st Birthday Party

I started planning George birthday probably when he was a couple months old. I was pinning things on Pinterest for months. I decided on Curious George right away! It was a perfect theme for our little Curious George!

I made the majority of the decorations, signs and banners. I had a lot of fun planning it until 2 days before then I started stressing. I now understand why people rent jumpy houses and order pizza. lol

Guest Book Table

I had a Curious George Birthday book for everyone to sign as the guest book. We have this large crate I covered with a table cloth on the sides and yellow wrapping paper over the top. I bought the clips and G from the $ section of Target & Michael's.

Birthday Cake Throne

I made the I Am One sign that wrapped around G's high chair. I bought the balloon on Amazon.

Dessert Table

I made the OOH AAH OOH AAH banner. My friend Krystal made the banana hanging in the middle. She also made the monkey face with the mustache.

The table I covered the sides with a table cloth, covered the top with yellow & white polka dot wrapping paper. We served cupcakes and banana splits. I made G's smash cake.

Chalk Board

Our chalk board in the kitchen I drew Go Banana's. I am no artist let me tell you! I probably redid it a couple times before the party.

Drink Area

I collected straws from the dollar section of Target and Michael's for a few months. Picture up some red solo cups from the dollar store. The yellow bucket is from the clearance section of Michael's. My nanny helped me cup all the tissue pom poms. They were pretty easy to make once we cut them all out. I was soooo grateful she helped me with things.

Front Yard

We had some leftover wood from the deck project. My father in law cut out the 1 and painted it a solid color. I painted the polka dots all over it.

Back Yard Photo Prop

I found a picture on Pinterest the above photo prop. I printed it out and asked my father in law to draw it out for me. I told him I would paint it if he could just draw it. Well my father in law not only drew it out, but he painted it. I was soooo happy! He did such an amazing job!

I painted the confetti and party hat.

George LOVES the monkey still. It is still in our backyard. He loves to go put his head through it and laughs away.

I didn't get a picture of the food table! I set up a taco bar. Ground beef, shredded chicken, pinto beans, all the fixing for tacos, tortilla chips and salsa. Oh it was delicious! I take after my great grandma and mom. I cooked for an entire army. We had 5 pounds of ground beef left over and probably 2 pounds of beans. lol Good things those things freeze well.

The party turned out perfect! It was a lot of work, but so worth it. It was such a fun afternoon spending time with our family and friends celebrating our little boy 1st year. He was worn out after the party and took a long nap.

OOTD - Fall Clothing

I found some posts I had started last winter or early spring that I didn't post. I figured I should post them because I had some cute outfits. I work from home 3 days a week now. When I am home I usually wear more casual comfy outfits. Rarely do I take pictures of those outfits. There isn't much to show other than a tshirt and jeans or leggings. It's been so hot lately I don't want any layers. I have worn shorts a lot this summer to deal with the heat. Easier when you are chasing a little guy around too.

Cardigan and Shirt: Old Navy

Skirt: Lane Bryant

Shoes: Bass

Necklace: Jane.com

I did a remake of J's Everyday Fashion

Cardigan: Ann Taylor

Shirt & Jeans: Old Navy

Necklace: Forever 21

Shoes: Gap

Cardigan, Tank and Jeans: Old Navy

Shoes: Payless

Necklace: Jane.com

Pinspiration

Scarf: Target

Shirt: Old Navy

Jeans: Old Navy

Shoes: Payless

Wordless Wednesday

Jamberry

Last year Lacey said she was going to start selling Jamberry. My reaction was oh geez I have been trying to avoid these things. So I decided to try them. The first time they were ok. I wasn't sold. Then she came to visit and taught me how to put them on.....I was sold. Now I have enough that I could put on a new pair every week for a year. lol I love them!

The designs are so cute. I love the fact they don't chip. I don't have to wait for them to dry. There have been times I have been in the middle of putting them on and I have had to stop to do something for G. No problem. I can continue putting them on without messing them up.

Lacey has a Facebook group you can join. She has a monthly club. Each month you pay $15 and you receive 1 set of Jams. One person each month receives the hostage rewards. I love this group because I am able to get a different set each month. This month I picked the Monster Jams. I am having trouble with adding pictures from Blogger or I would have posted the Monster Jams.

Pumping Adventures are Ending.....

The time has come it is time to put the pump away. I am happy that we made it a full year nursing. It was a HUGE struggle back in the beginning. I never thought I would make it 2 months let alone a full year.  I had more clogged ducts than I care to even remember. I was persistent and determined to nurse.

When I returned to work last year in December I pumped 3 times a day at work. I found a schedule that worked for me. I tried to pump about every 2.5-3 hours while I was in the office. George had formula a few times in the first 5 weeks of his life. Honestly he didn't need it. I should have just used my freezer stash I was accumulating. I was juggling so much back then formula was how we made it during some stressful times. It doesn't really even matter in the grand scheme of things. He is a healthy little boy.

I have decided I am going to continue nursing when I am with George until we decide we are done. My goal was to get to a year. I made it to a year, so my next goal is to make it until after we go on vacation. It will be easier to nurse him than lugging milk through the airports.

I put my pump away at work right after George turned 1. I was pumping a couple days a week at home until past week. I didn't want to deal with clogged ducts again, so I tried to slow the pumping down. I still have some milk in the freezer, so I am starting to use that when I send bottles to the nanny.

I still believe giving birth is easier in the beginning than nursing. You go through a few days of labor and it's over. Nursing lasts for weeks. You are tired, baby is hungry, tears are shed by all, trying to get them to latch, over production of milk....oh lordie let me stop before I have a moment.