{Royal Children's Hospital Brisbane}



Wednesday 12th November our girl had her visit to hospital put under a general for her first ever scope. 4 year journey with our girls severe intolerances.  She did so well considering fasting from night before and went in at 10 30 am, our little one had a drop in sugar levels in waiting room started to become a challenge. They took her to her bed gave pre meds which helped calm her down, to the point she had cute giggles. Hubby went in to theatre and she had cuddles while gas sent her slept.
The procedure went well doctor said and now wait results of biopsies and blood tests.
I send huge hugs to all allergy parents that have go through these challenges as sure takes a emotional toll.
Lots of love to you all xo

10 Signs to look out for that a child may have Allergies / Intolerances

1.     Within the first 6 months signs of eczema

2.     Any signs of welts on the face or body after contact with foods    
        and or in some cases after contact with 
        Breast milk.

3.     Mucus/blood in baby / childs stool’s

4.     Any trouble with constant ear infections / throat / tonsillitis 
         or fast on set Croup.
        (Kids with nasal allergies or react in this way are more prone 
         to ear infections, asthma or sinus infections)                           
        Additives and preservatives as well as colours in foods can also 
        cause these reactions.

5.     Having a unsettled baby for extreme lengths of time, or 
        constant screaming.

6.     Does your child see to have the skin under eyes seem dark or 
         purple in colour, even a blue like tone?         
        Allergy doctors call them allergy shiners.

7.    Does your child always seem to sneeze or even wiping or 
        pushing their nose in a up direction? This is       
        known as the allergy salute.

8.     A regular dry cough or persistent or tends to breathe through 
         mouth.

9.     Does your child seem to have watery eyes, runny nose red 
         itchy eye?

10.   Rashes welts that show up close to time of eating?

If you answer yes to one or more of these above there a good chance your child may have allergies or intolerance, best to keep a small note of these things and take to your health provider.

For more assistance – book a coaching session or send questions to Heidi by emailing allergyfreecoach@gmail.com or by calling 0419462141.

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/AllergyFreeCoach

  Hope you are all well and as promised here is the recipe of our cookies the other day , a very fast and simple recipe that we use quite a lot. So hope you get as much enjoyment out of these as we do especially if its making them with the kids or the kids making themselves as my 12 year old did with these :)



Vanilla Cookies

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter choice (Nuttlex dairy free if needing dairy free)
1/4 cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence / golden syrup (for a different taste which we used in these ones)
1 1/2 cup flour of choice self raising
(a tiny extra flour for 


Method Prep 15mins / cook 15mins
Preheat oven 170c
1/ Line two baking trays with baking paper
2/ Beat margarine, sugar and vanilla essence in small bowl of an electric mixer for 1-2 minutes, or until well combined.
3/ Sift the flour into the butter mixture
4/ Use a wooden spoon to mix until well combined.
5/ Use your hands to mix to soft dough
6/ Shape tablespoonful of the mixture into balls and place on the prepared trays or use a cookie stamp
7/ Use a fork to flatten the balls and place on the prepared trays
8/ Bake for 12- 15mins till light golden in colour then let cool
Be careful to keep watch they cook fast.

****** With that cookie mix you can add dairy free, nut free choc chips
Also can press down with thumb in the middle and in the dip of the cookie your thumb add a jam of choice

My kids love home made pear jam, though strawberry jam used in the photo.


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 As you all know Celebrating different life events such as Birthdays and Christmas etc cause stress on allergy families along with Easter time and yes it is not far off for 2014.


 At the start of our kids being diagnose it sure was like a breathe taking experience the thought of not being able to celebrate Easter the way in which i could as a child.
 I so remember being spoilt by not only the Easter bunny yet also parents and lots of family friends and family as well. I think some years we had enough to last a year... and having 3 under 4 years at the time when we had to go so strict because of Anaphylaxis it sure was hard to think of where from here and how can i experience and enjoy Easter with my own kids yet keeping them safe.
 So here I am writing as so many kids are being diagnosed daily with severe allergies and even severe Intolerances and if i remember clearly our minds are so in survival mode that hard to think of ideas we can use instead of chocolate for Easter.


 Some non food ideas for Easter

* I found that smuggles ( the company) bring out a easter range that easter related such as plastic eggs with rubber in each.
* Can use stickers easter ones on non easter ones and buy some of the little plastic eggs that open and fill them with sticker or even depending on age the little fluffy chickens in the eggs. We also put tiny toy inside the eggs.
* Can also buy around cheap shops or Big W which found today the foam little eggs that come with things to    decorate them they are around $4 and comes in a half egg carton.
* There are some toy companies that have toy eggs that can be filled with animals or even shapes and use for      game of memories etc.
* Can buy plastic eggs or rabbits to paint as easter gift.
* Wind up eggs, chickens or rabbits. 
* PJs can be bought for easter gift too depending on season where you are here in Australia its heading into Winter so our kids normally need new ones.
* Easter safe Cupcakes with the cute little easter cupcake holders and flags you can buy now, or cupcake boxes that are easter themed.
* Little soft bunny rabbits.
* Free colouring pages from online i found some links here is one of them http://www.kidspot.com.au/slideshow/kids-activity-sheets--easter-colouring-pages+118.htm

* Easter baskets filled with:  

• Wooden, plaster, plastic or foam eggs 
• Easter-themed stuffed animals 
• Small action figures, dolls or animal figurines 
• Jewellery, sunglasses, hats and hair items 
  
• Key chains, toy cars or other collectibles 
  
• Stickers, stamps, markers, paints, coloring 
  
• books and craft items.
  
  

* Easter kids movies such as Dora , and Mickey etc
* Can also buy Easter books i saw easter barbie books
* Can help celebrate easter with a easter tree by placing branches in vase and decorating with easter decorations.

Easter Activities 
* You can play pin FluffyTail on the bunny.
* Egg and spoon races yet with plastic eggs, can put a toy in it or just use it with a weight like a marble inside.
* Easter Hunt without chocolate eggs, again using different plastic ones that you can either hide a message inside or a toy of choice, such as stickers , or bouncy balls, little bottles of bubbles, plastic toy animals or toy cars.
Also last few years we put glow sticks inside the eggs and hid them outside at night, it sure was effective and our kids loved it.
* Make eater baskets with your kids or Bonnet.


Food related activities
* Bake egg, rabbit , or chicken shaped cookies that are safe for your child's needs
* Make your own home made chocolates or eggs shapes out of safe chocolate option for your allergy child or adult.
* Jelly in rabbit moulds or marshmallow rabbits with the rabbit mould you can buy.
 
 The above are some awesome options that you can use to make your Easter feel exactly that your child is feeling not left out. Who said allergy kids have to miss out.


 Also there are Allergy aware companies that are supplying allergen free eggs , you just have to be careful to contact them if ordering online to make sure these are safe for your child.


Places like Coles and Woolworths are Trying to be aware and have tried to create a range yet won't always suit all of us that have kids with the multiple allergies.
 Some links to online business's that have allergy aware products and a range for easter, some are over seas yet have Australian stockists lists.


Moo free
http://www.moofreechocolates.com/dairy-free-chocolate/stockists/other-high-street-retailers.php 
Allergy Train - have easter range 
http://www.allergytrain.com.au/Store/tabid/62/List/1/CategoryID/19/Level/1/Default.aspx
Kinnerton - nut free

http://www.kinnerton.com


Plamil - Uk yet have ranges available in Australia (no nuts)

http://www.plamilfoods.co.uk/products/
(available at my local organic shop Kunara on the Sunshine Coast)  http://www.kunara.com.au

Sweet Williams - nut free ranges
http://www.sweetwilliam.com.au/our-products


 So overall I really hope that you find a Idea for your allergy child or adult and have a fantastic Happy and Safe Easter break with your families. I also look forward to writing blogs more often.

 Please feel free to come and like my Facebook page and follow my post that are regular there and or follow me on Instagram, twitter :) and or share other ideas with us all too :) 


Heidi Finlay 
Contact me on :
http://www.allergyfreecoach.com.au/contactmedia.html

Be sure to go over to Sunny Coast Kids and like their facebook page and also go to their website here is the link below http://sunnycoastkids.com.au

Here are some of the links for you to read 
http://sunnycoastkids.com.au/contributors/heidi-finlay/22279/

Kids parties 
http://sunnycoastkids.com.au/articles/parenting/special-needs/severe-food-allergies-and-kids-parties/20926/

Facts about food allergies 
http://sunnycoastkids.com.au/articles/lifestyle/nutrition/facts-about-food-allergies/23180/

Recent allergy program links 
http://sunnycoastkids.com.au/articles/lifestyle/nutrition/an-emerging-epidemic-food-allergies-in-australia-america-on-recent-tv-programs/25302/

Keep your eye open for recent articles, thank you so much for your support and be sure to write comments or ask questions :)

Hi I am a mother of 4 children have allergies , all different from one another. As well as this I am also new at writing a blog so please be patience with me.

Some of the things that come to mind to write about is the lack of support you may have once you first find out your child has allergies.Firstly as a parent we have to come to terms with this whole allergy thing before we can fully make others aware and educated about what we may be going through.Even then its still hard , as its a lot to get your head around especially of your child has Anaphylaxis to a particular food or foods as the condition is severe and life threatening.
So many times i have come across families living with a child or children with allergies and they themselves still have the allergen around the house or may even eat it themselves. This is a practice i think at some stage normally the early stages we all do it. I remember when our oldest son hadn't been officially diagnose and given a Epipen due to the lack of knowledge that the doctors had even had in this area. This one particular night my husband was snacking on rice crackers mixed with nuts in the same packet , our Son came out after his bed time and was asking for a rice cracker , in which my husband had then given him one and said " You go to bed straight after this" well not much to my shock our Son was still calling out from his room as usual at night not wanting to go to bed.I said "get to sleep" by this time my husband had headed out to his work he had on at the time.He continued a couple times saying my eyes are itchy , with my response being get up and get a washer to wash your face , as he had dust mite allergy too.In the end i turned the bedroom light on to find his eyes were swollen and he could nearly not see out of them as well as had trouble breathing.I ran out to the phone and called an ambulance at this stage then my husband , they came out and all was settling down , a lucky close call I'd say.
The point to this is even us as parents take some time to actually have the extent of our kids allergies sink in ,  my word it sure did that night. So be kind to yourself if your child has just been diagnosed and at the same time keep them safe and take no risks.
Look forward in writing again soon until then keep safe and have awesome day

heidi :)

For those who don't know what Food: Atopy Patch Testing is ....

Patch testing is a method for looking for immunological reactivity to common foods. Patch testing looks at "delayed" or "Non-IgE mediated reactions. Patch testing has value in eosinophillic Oesophagitis and atopic dermatitis , although sometimes use to help identify foods that may cause bowel disturbance.When food is placed in contact with the skin, the specialised cells in the skin pick up the food proteins and present it to the immune system.If the child has sensitivity to that food, they will react with inflammation at the site of the food over the next 2-3 days. This gives us a 'window' to what is happening in the gastrointestinal tract with foods.

We place the food is to stay under the caps for the 72 hours. This can indicate the food that may be irritating the immune system. The child should not be on any antihistamines, oral steroids or Singulair during this testing.

 So the Journey with the Atopy Patch test again in the hope to maybe Add some new foods to her 3 ONLY safe foods at this stage. I wasn't quite sure what will happen this time due to the fact she is so much older than last times, thought my luck was not so great with her keeping them on, as it is she pulls all tags off her clothe. In that case thought we had no chance in them staying on the full 72 hours. So I spoke to her about them days prior to actually putting them on just to get her prepared with the whole idea. At this stage these conversations went quite well and explained why they were on, at 3 she seem to understand what I meant quite well.

 So the day arrive that had planned to put on the patches and to add more understanding for her age we decided that her babies needed to have their patches put on their backs as well, when the day came to take them off she could take them off her babies as well.As you can see in the photo, two of her little babies were having their patch tests done as well, so after our angel had her put on her back the babies were done and ready to share the journey of the next 72 hours with her.

 Also with the encouragement of keeping them one when at one stage she was asking for them off, we said if she was a big girl and kept these on she could pick a prize at Mr Toys, for being such a big girl and leaving the patches on the whole 72 hours that was needed for the test to be completed and read.
She was such a great little thing no problems, just her little voice saying is it Mr Toys day yet mummy .... That day came just Friday 2pm this week and we woke with a bouncing little one wanting go Mr Toys, we went the first thing in the morning. She had a ball choosing herself a little baby ( yes another one as my hubby said) and a little bottle to feed her with. Huge smiles gleamed her face.

Well 2 pm arrive and took patches off  to find under first one was only 2 little papules which class as a grade 1 reaction which is great start, the next was a grease 2 Induration meaning like welt, then the 3rd patch came off with a mix of welt and papules and red. The ones that read and higher grade are more than likely to be avoided at this point in time and if lower grade or no reaction, we are able to do trial by mouth

Oh not to mention her baby dolls patches were taken off as well and shared the experience with her.

This photo below is the patch test of Quinoa Flour with the hope of being able to make some cookies for her at this stage with Quinoa will have to wait.

At the end of Patch test we discovered we had a bigger challenge on our hands then we had faced ever with her FPIES condition, as i write this blog she has been refusing her main diet supplement, her prescription formula since yesterday morning. Will certainly write a blog about this challenge and with the outcome as no doubt she isn't the first one to do this.


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  Alot of us parents of allergy kids and even our selves with allergies may read all labels on our foods though do you read lables on your skin care and soaps, cosmetics, and “personal care” products ????
Unfortunately, ingredients are listed using their Latin names, which may not be instantly familiar.

An example is “arachis oil,” which is the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) name for peanut oil.

So As a exercise go have a look at your products you have around the house and READ THE LABELS it might shock you not to mention the dangerous ingredients that they are full of that arent a ALLERGEN ....
Is your Personal products making you SICK???

Below some common food ingredients that you may read on products ...

• Avocado (Persea gratissim)

• Bitter almond (Prunus amara)

• Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa)

• Coconut (Cocos nucifera)

• Cod-liver oil (Gadi iecur)

• Egg (Ovum)

• Hazelnut (Corylus rostrata/americana/avellana)

• Melon (Cucumis melo)

• Milk (Lac)

• Mixed fish oil (Piscum iecur)

• Pea (Pisum sativum)

• Peanut oil (Arachis oil)

• Sesame (Sesamum indicum)

• Soy (Glycine soja)

• Sweet almond or almond oil (Prunus dulcis)

• Walnut (Juglans regia/nigra)

 This sure wasn't one of the first things I myself thought of when we started our Allergy journey hence why wanted to share.