Spooktacularly Safe

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7:39 p.m.

Halloween is probably the Most Daunting of all the holidays for food allergy families. The whole idea of it is allowing strangers to put food in your bag, presumably for you to eat, which is against our entire Stay Safe philosophy. Luckily, the Food Allergy Association of Wisconsin provides a food-free Halloween event each year. Having a safe place to participate in games, do crafts, and walk in a costume-showcasing parade without worrying a nanosecond about food gives us a momentary breath of normalcy.

Yellow

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Several moments between 7:00-9:00am

I suppose I've been putting this off for a couple days because I don't think I can do it justice. Sending my child to kindergarten felt monumental, and it was important for me to be fully present. Being present = Not Behind the Lens. So, my shots are only so-so, my words here are only so-so, but my heart, oh my heart, is full and light and happy like a yellow balloon dotting an azure sky.

As we transitioned to kindergarten and preschool from relaxed summer living over the last several weeks, we were all business: buying supplies, making phone calls, meeting with the nurse and teachers, packing the backpack. Crossing things off The List. Check. Check. Check. That emotion-free approach forced the little yellow balloon to remain properly unaffected and captured, tucked safely away in the cavity of my chest. But seeing Jack walk in line with his class and give a little smile released the happiness. Seeing Charlie not even care I was in his classroom with him released the happiness. Such big boys, going out in the world.

And if you happen to see a yellow balloon all full and light and happy, that's me....ready to burst with pride.

Support For Food Allergies

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Various moments throughout the morning

We have been members of the Food Allergy Association of Wisconsin since Jack was diagnosed with peanut allergy in 2006. If you knew me then, you could see I was a wreck. However, after some time and a whole lot of education, we've become a calm force in the allergy circle. Jack's fish allergy was diagnosed in 2007, cats in 2008, and dogs, trees, and ragweed in 2009. We carry two EpiPens with us wherever Jack roams, a MedicAlert bracelet adorns his wrist, and I'm able to propel toward him at the onset of three or more consecutive coughs or sneezes. I'm damn near robotic in my swift, yet thorough, allergy body scan. We have a ginormous list of Do's and Don'ts, Can's and Can'ts, Safe and Not Safe, and we follow them religiously. On a scale of 0-22 on how strict we adhere to The Plan, we're roughly about 30. That said, we are determined to make Jack's life as whi-hoo and normal as we can. The only thing we really lack is spontaneity and baseball games.....I'm still in a Hell No stage there.

These shots are from the annual Food Allergy Association of Wisconsin's Walk and Expo. Good times even in a downpour.

Fry Joy

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12:39pm

This is the very first time Jack has ever eaten McDonald's. Seriously. First time. Ever. As in Never Before. We have never needed to because we carry an arsenal of safe food. But having an additional option is exciting, and after some research and several questions for the manager*, Jack had his first McDonald's lunch. To be sure, this will be far from a regular occurrence, but, from a parent perspective, it felt so normal to have this family food option while traveling this weekend.

*Each McDonald's is different; please contact the individual franchise manager if you're dealing with food allergies.