Peanut allergy

Poor little Edith has yet another health situation!  Sunday night, the night before Halloween, she had some peanut butter on a piece of bread.  Five minutes later while Ben was putting on her pajamas he noticed her lips swelling up.  Her face was turning red and swelling as well, so we assumed she was allergic to something and tried to give her some Benadryl.  She was screaming so much and refused to take any medicine or a bottle and then she started wheezing.  At that point we really became frightened and called 911.  In no time, the fire truck, then the police, then the EMTs showed up at our door.  Then several neighbors showed up to help.  Beth and Morgan took the big girls to their house and we rode with Edith to the ER.  Fortunately by this time her breathing was sounding better and when she arrived at the hospital her O2 was 100% and her lungs sounded good.  She was given an oral steroid and Benadryl and we were told to visit her pediatrician that week.  The whole event lasted only 2 1/2 hours.  Steve and Morgan drove our car to the hospital and they brought me back while Ben wrapped things up with Edith.  I went to get Alena and Nora and the were disappointed because they wanted to have a sleep over!  They were watching Frosty the Snowman and eating popcorn. 

 

When I took Edith to the pediatrician on Friday, she said it is probably a peanut allergy but there is nothing they can do at this young age, so just keep her away from peanuts and nuts as a precaution.  I am switching the family over to sun butter or soy butter because Edith is known to forage on the floor for food.  Just yesterday she managed to eat a bite of cat food and a cat treat on two separate occasions (which she enjoyed much more than peaches.)  After eating the cat treat, her face turned red, so we think she might be allergic to that.  Sorry Edith, no more kitty treats for you!  There is hardly any food that she does like to eat, and it is amazing how many foods are packaged in the same facility as peanuts.  We have only had success with savory items.  She likes hummus and pureed soups.  I also got her to eat some cut up kidney beans and some quinoa.  She will eat a pretzel and has not completely hated cheese.  If she doesn't like something, she wastes no time in spitting it out.