Day 5

About four years ago my parents bought Seth a puppy. He had been wanting an English Mastiff and they found one on their way home from Texas. They brought it home and we fell in love. We found out three weeks later that I was 6 weeks pregnant with Talent. So here we were with a new puppy and a baby on the way. It was a very interesting mix to say the very least. Over the next 9 months this "puppy" grew into a horse. He also became a great companion for me. I had Riley, and God knows how much I love that dog. But, there was something different about the bond I had with Redick.

While I was pregnant I was SO sick. I had all day sickness, there was no "morning" sickness at all. It was an all day every day thing and it SUCKED! When I would be sick and thinking I would never in my life eat again, Redick would be in the bathroom sitting by my feet to keep me company. When I would sit in the floor and not be able to get up so easily, Redick would come stand beside me and let me use him for help getting up. He's been a great dog for me.

Redick still follows me around and can usually be found in whatever room I'm in. But, now that Talent has come along, Redick has a new little buddy that he loves. Redick is a 150lb+ English Mastiff that hits me at about my waist. He's extra large and he likes to make it well known that this is his house. But, let that little boy come in the room and climb on his back and Redick just looks at me like, "Well, okay." and lets Talent do whatever he wants.

Redick has been the best dog for my kid. He isn't rough with him, he isn't mean. He's actually never even snapped at Talent. With all that Talent puts Redick through some days, I'm amazed at this dog's patience. Talent and Redick love to play outside together. Talent loves to play fetch with Redick and always gets a good laugh when he runs after the ball.

I know Redick is just a dog, but, I'm thankful for him for so many reasons. He's the protector of our home, companion when we need one, and a big part of our family. I'm glad that my child has this amazing animal to grow up with. I know a lot of people don't view pets like I do, but, this dog is family. We love him.

Talent & Redick. Best Friends.

Sharing a laugh and a kiss!

These two. Just love them!

Redick on guard. He was watching Talent as a car drove by the house.

My pregnant self at about 30 weeks maybe....Redick was just about 10 months old here.

Days 2-4

Days two through four are actually a combination of things that go hand in hand. My son was diagnosed with several food allergies when he was 15 months old. Some of them aren't anything we have to really worry about, but, a few of them are life threatening. As a parent you never want there to be anything wrong with your child. Well, my son is allergic to the following: milk, soy, fish (black bass specifically), potatoes, strawberries, grapes, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, malt, penicillin, cats, dogs, and alternaria. Of these allergies he is anaphylactic to fish, peanuts, & tree nuts. He also is severely allergic to cats...they affect his breathing whether they are in close proximity or not.

I have seen Talent's reaction to all of his allergens first hand. The ones that aren't severe don't really do much. Some of them cause a rash, some cause eczema. But the ones that are severe effect his breathing. His eyes and lips swell and he breaks out in hives all over. It is one of the scariest things I've ever witnessed as a first time mom. But, I am thankful for his doctors who have steered me in the right directions as far as treatment plans go.

I have a great allergist that we take Talent to. He's a nice man and his staff is very friendly. They have taken great care of Talent and have always taken the time to address any of my concerns with Talent's allergies. Even when my concerns seem a bit silly, like, "Can he swim in the ocean or lake with his fish allergy?" I wasn't treated like an idiot asking stupid questions and the doc didn't rush me out of there. He took his time and answered all of my questions and even went beyond that to make sure he told me things to avoid as far as certain allergies were concerned. We are blessed to have this doctor.

I am also thankful to be a part of so many allergy parent groups on Facebook. It sounds silly, but, they make me feel less "alone" in this allergy world. I've learned things in these allergy groups about how to keep my kid safe and how to make him feel included without having to become "that" mom. Those moms and dads in the groups have no idea how much they mean to me. They are helpful and supportive and even if I don't know them, I care about their child's well being. Today we had a parent whose child passed away because of a cross contamination issue on Halloween. It absolutely breaks my heart for that family. I don't know them personally but I have cried a river of tears tonight for their loss.

I am thankful for whoever came up with the Teal Pumpkin Project. I know it has been met with some resistance, but, it's a good thing. It's a way to keep kids like mine safe. Talent can't have anything that has trace amounts of his allergens on it. His first reaction to peanuts was to a sugar cookie that had been baked on a CLEAN cookie sheet that had been previously used to make peanut butter cookies. So, people that argue that parents can go through the candy once the child gets home....sorry, but, that wouldn't work with a child like mine. The Teal Pumpkin Project makes it to where he could trick or treat safely at any house that had non-food treats. I wouldn't have to worry about him. I wouldn't have to spend that night in fear of what was going to be handed out at each home. Currently we only go to 4 houses, sometimes 5. So he doesn't get to trick or treat like all the other kids around here. But, he's taken to safe places. Friends and family that I know and trust that have things he can have. People that are very aware of his allergies and will be sure to keep his treats completely separate. I am thankful for those people.

I am also very thankful to the friends of mine that don't have food allergic children and choose to be mindful of allergies. I have driven my friends and family nuts, I'm sure, about allergies and the dangers of cross contamination. But, in doing that I have some friends that are more aware of food allergies now. Friends that I've had ask me for safe snack ideas for school and daycare. For that, I can never tell them just how very much it means to me. These are friends that aren't local to me. Some live in my state but 100 miles away, others live 1000's of miles away in states far away from me. Either way, they are being more allergy conscious and it means the world to me. I'm thankful that I have such thoughtful friends. They will never know the impact they are having on the allergy kids and parents. But, I know and it makes me proud.

This allergy world is something I never imagined my life would be. Like I said before, no one wants something like this for their child. But, I can guarantee that I will make my child's life a fun one. He will have as many wonderful experiences as I can fit in and it won't all have to be food oriented. I am working very hard to make him understand that he has food allergies. I am trying to teach him what foods he is allergic to and what is unsafe for him to eat. I know he's only three, but, he's catching on. I know someday soon he will be at school and won't be able to have me there to ensure that everything he touches and consumes is safe. So, I'm working hard to make him into his biggest advocate. He needs to know these things. And I'm determined he will.

Allergies suck. That's all there is to that. They do. They make life hard. They make things a little scarier than they should be. But, we can live with them. We are making the best of life with food allergies. It's a struggle, but, with the people we've been blessed with, I think we'll be able to continue down this road of success.

Allergic reaction to peanuts. Treated, this was several hours after doctor.

Hives from soy reaction.

If you were like me, and didn't have a clue about food allergies before you started seeing my posts, please, educate yourself. I don't ask just for the safety of my child. I ask for the safety of others out there like him. I was so blind to food allergies before Talent and it has changed the way I view everything. Every outing, every food gathering, every party, all of it.... Visit the FARE website or www.kidswithfoodallergies.org I encourage you to learn all that you can and see how you can make a difference in someone else's life.

Day 1

Today I'd like to take the time to say how very thankful I am for my husband. Seth works very hard to provide for us so that I can stay home with our child and be the one to teach him and watch him grow each day. 

Seth is a hard guy to get to know. He is very quiet and reserved until you get to know him. After he has been around you a while and he's comfortable enough to open up, he will talk and be funny. He is one of the most supportive people in my life. I remember when my Pawpaw Bazil was so sick. We would get phone calls when hospice would think things were taking a turn for the worst. Seth was always there to be my strength and comfort. He always held me and let me cry. At my Pawpaw's funeral, I don't think I would have made it through without Seth by my side. He went and held my hand. The closer we got to Mineral Wells, the more emotional I got. I remember Seth trying to make me laugh by turning on "Momma He's Crazy" by The Judds. It was our song back then. 

When I was pregnant and so sick all of the time, Seth would stop and get food anytime I was sick so that I didn't have to cook. When I was in labor for 22 hours and Seth had been awake for at least 36 hours...he was there, holding my hand and wiping the tears when I finally broke down at the end and cried. 

Seth is the person I fell in love with 12 years ago. He's the one I gave my whole heart to. He is the person that I wake up and thank God for each day and also thank Him for each night when I go to bed. He's my partner in life and I have been very blessed to have him by my side for the last 12 years. I'm so thankful God sent him my direction. There are days when he drives me crazy, but, I wouldn't trade any of those days for anything in the world. I love him and I'm so glad I have him. He is a great Dad to Talent. A wonderful husband to me. And one of the most wonderful men I know. He may not see all of his wonderful qualities, but I do, and I'm so thankful for him. 

30 days of thankfulness.

It's that time of year again. If you've followed me for a few years you know that each November for the last several I've done a 30 days of thankfulness to help me focus on the positive because I lost several loved ones in the month of November all in one year. It was a hard year for me with many losses. I remember that entire year as the year that Thursday's hated me. Every Thursday in that November I lost a loved one or two. It was hard. The next year I started this project to keep me positive and not let myself slip into a negative sad place that would have been easy to wallow into. 

Most people do this challenge on facebook and it gets really old really fast. I choose to do it on my blog. Some things I am thankful for seem silly and superficial. Some are very deep and meaningful. They all are very real to me. 

Christmas came early.

When I was a little girl about 9 years old, my Grandma Inez gave me a set of China dishes and then made me to afraid to ever touch them. They have been sitting in my china cabinet since Seth and I got married almost 10 years ago. Even now that she's gone, I'm too afraid to use them. I know, it sounds so silly. But, if you knew my Grandma, you'd totally understand. 

My Mammaw on the other hand has always had a china cabinet that she used dishes out of regularly. When we were little and would stay with her, she would take us to have break with Pawpaw at the grocery store. We never ever got to finish our candy or soda while at the store. But, when we got home she would take out these fancy little glasses that were in her china cabinet and we got to finish our soda and candy in style! Mammaw always said, "Don't save it for a special occasion. use it. Being with your family is special." 

My Mammaw and Pawpaw have moved in with m parents recently and they are distributing some of the things they want their loved ones to have. I was there last week and Mammaw offered me her new china hutch. I was so excited. I have had her very first hutch for the last 10 years and while I love it, a bigger one was such a nice offer. Then a few days later I was at Mom's and there were boxes waiting for me that said "Denisa China" & "Denisa Glass China". I had Daddy load them into my trunk and I left them there for a few days. 

I had been really sick this week so I hadn't been able to get the boxes out and see what all was in them until tonight. I finally felt like I had enough energy to get the boxes out and go through them. I opened up the box marked "glass" and found some of my Mammaw's delicate glassware that was engraved with floral designs. Some of it I remember from when I was little. Then I opened the bigger box. The one my heart was truly dying to see what was inside. It was filled with her 8 piece serving set of white china with gold edges. I took out each piece carefully and examined it, knowing that my Mammaw had packed it away doing the exact thing I was doing now. The tears were burning my eyes. I had this beautiful china that I had grown up with in my world. Something I had always wanted and always loved. Something that means more to me than anyone else could ever understand. After I got it all unpacked and put away, I FaceTimed my Mammaw and showed her that I had it all out away and told her thank you. I know most people don't understand or appreciate the bond I have with my Red, but, this china was Christmas for me. For the rest of my life. It means more to me than anything else I could ever ask for. 

So, I'm going to plan a meal soon and use my beautiful new dishes. Because around here, we don't save things for a special occasion. Being with the ones you love is special. Every single day is a gift and I've learned that from one of the greatest blessings God ever gave me. My Mammaw is one of my best gifts and I am so thankful.