Food

Let me just say that I didn't choose this journey. And I don't even like it. But sometimes things that you don't choose or like are necessary. I have children (mainly my girls) that are allergic to "stuff". I say stuff because I have yet to figure out what. Ever since weaning them from breastmilk, my girls have been plagued with all sorts of allergy symptoms. Lindsay with eczema, sinus issues and now psoriasis. Haley with mainly eczema with sleep and behavior possibly linked to the allergies also.

I had Lindsay tested (poor girl, that was no fun. It was like 107 skin barbs that she was poked/scratched with. She just laid there taking it, but crying quietly.) and I was very dissatisfied. It is such an imperfect science. If I had known that I might not have gone through with it. The only thing we got out of it is that she's severely allergic to dust mites. We did the allergy shots for a while but I was not seeing much improvement-by a while I mean 2 years or so-and the clinic was always closed on the afternoons we could make the drive! Frustrating!

At the beginning of this year we dove in. As of January 2nd we went dairy free. Other than a few mistakes (learning curve) we did very well. For about 2 weeks now we've not been on track but that's changing again...it's just hard when you're out and with people all the time. Anyway, during that time I did see improvement in some of Lindsay's symptoms! No one else really (other than me, but I've always known I had issues with lactose at the very least) except maybe Nathan. For the first time I can remember, when he got a cold it didn't land us in the ER with croup. That was a nice change.

Now, because the psoriasis and eczema are not better--and for Lindsay the eczema has come back, when it was just psoriasis now--and might in fact be worse. We are moving on to removing wheat from our diet. Not gluten yet, just wheat. Just wheat. Ha. In thinking about this, I've started perusing the labels of some of our favorite things...and the terriyaki marinade we love...yep. Wheat. And what do we normally eat for lunch? Sandwiches. Or spaghetti. I know that there are alternative noodles for spaghetti but I think the tomato is causing things to flare up too. Not necessarily an allergy, just too much acid or something.

But when you look at your little girl and see this:
something has to change.
And if Lindsay would not be mortified I would take a picture of her psoriasis. But being that she is almost 12, that kind of thing embarrasses her.
So, here we go. I am gathering ideas for our new challenge. Tomorrow is grocery shopping (ie pay) day so I have to be ready to go.