Saying Goodbye to Summer

The start of school (last week) and the Labor Day weekend are reminders to us that summer is officially over. These reminders always make me a bit sad this time of year. Why is it that I have such a hard time letting summer go? Like most parents, I like having a clean house again and not having to drive everyone from one place to another. So what gives, why the melancholy?

I think, for me, these special memories are just too fresh in my mind which is why they are so hard to let them go. I am thankful that, as a family, we will always have these memories with us.

The new fire pit where the conversation with friends and relatives flowed and pounds of marshmallows, non-dairy chocolate and graham crackers were consumed.

The rich colors and flavors of fresh blueberries, peaches, tomatoes, and sweet corn on the cob from the local market that made the late night dinners on the porch taste so special.

The magnificent view of dunes grass, sand and the lake from the backyard. The best place to watch the storms come in from the west.

Those calm days where hanging out on the lake is preferable to hanging out at the mall or the movie theater.

The early morning walks on the beach with just you, your dog and no one else. The evening walks watching the gold, orange, and magnificent red sun as it melts into the lake. Or gazing at the hundreds of stars in the blackest of skies with no other light but the local lighthouse 4 miles away?

The occasional escape to the local beach shops with family and friends for the latest in summer wear, pretzels, Temptations ice cream and slushies. Even chalk art is encouraged here!

Travelling on the M-22 roadway almost to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for barn sales, kayaking, hiking and the 7:30 p.m. swim at the Point Betsie Lighthouse near Manistee.

Even though we will miss being with our family and friends, we will have the comfort that summer will be here again soon and we may start our memories once again. One of the great things about the Midwest is that it is ever changing so we'll head up there in November and we'll still have our walks on the beach but now they will be a bit heavier with snow shoes instead of sandals.

It's Official! She's 13!

That's right! Katie is now 13 years old, let the teen years begin! 

More opportunities to walk downtown, go to the Popcorn Shop, eat out with friends, go to Starbucks and legally go to PG-13 movies. Katie is very excited about the last opportunity to see a PG-13 but I'm thinking that our movie selection might need to be on a case-by-case basis. Have you seen what they put in some of the PG-13 movies these days?! Yikes!! 

We celebrated Katie's birthday like we do all her birthdays; with crab legs, corn on the cob, new potatoes and a big chocolate cake. I've included the recipe below because it is really the best chocolate cake I have ever had! Not only is it yummy but it is also so easy to make that you place all the ingredients in in a bowl together and then you just mix it up. A winning combination; simple and delicious!

Chocolate Cake (no dairy, no eggs) 

3 C       Flour

2 C       Sugar

6 T       Cocoa

2 tsp.    Baking Soda

1 tsp.    Salt

3 T       Vinegar

2/3 C    Oil

2 C       Water

1 tsp.    Vanilla

Starting with the flour, add all ingredients in the above order. 

For a cool effect, pour the vinegar right on top of the baking soda and see what happens!  Blend in a mixer on medium speed for approximately 1-2 minutes or until the batter is no longer lumpy. The batter will appear runny but do not worry, all that liquid makes the cake very moist.

Next, pour the batter into an ungreased 9x13 cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. We have served this cake at all of Katie's birthday parties and even the picky eaters ask for more!

Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting (no dairy, no eggs)

1/2 C     Dairy-free margarine

3/4 C     Dairy-free sour cream

1/8 tsp.  Salt

1 tsp.     Vanilla Extract

2 1/2 C  Confectioner's Sugar

(1/2 C Cocoa for chocolate frosting)

With a mixer, cream the margarine, cream cheese, salt, and vanilla until thoroughly combined. Slowly add the confectioner's sugar and mix on low for a couple of minutes. Increase speed and beat until light and fluffy. Add more confectioner's sugar in small amounts if needed. Chill for about 30 minutes before spreading on your cake.

Want to make cupcakes for your child’s class or party? This is a great recipe to use because it will usually make more than 24 cupcakes so you will have plenty to pass around. Simply place batter into paper-lined cupcake pans and bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. 

School Prep-The Expanded Version

I know some schools have already started so I may be a bit late with this post. Our schools start next week so I am still in "summer mode" but this month I have done a number of things to prepare my allergic teen her for a great 7th grade year and I wanted to share them with you.

In an earlier post, School Prep, we talked about making sure you and your allergic child are up to date on your meds and school and state forms. Here are some additional steps that can be taken to make your child's transition back to school a success.

1.  Meet with your doctor and fill out your school and state forms.

All schools require some type of form to be filled out for every type of medication that a student has. They may be carrying the medications themselves or they can be placed in the nurse’s office. In many cases, there is no room for error when a child has severe food allergies so this information is very important because it takes the guess work out of administrating the medicine.

My daughter’s school system requires us to have a form submitted for each type of medication the student needs at school. All forms should include personal information (i.e., name, address, phone), emergency contacts, medication information, administration of medicine instructions and a parent’s signature.

If your school does not have any forms available, now would be a good time to create one for yourself. It is a very valuable way for you, your school, and your child to keep track of the medications he/she may need.

2.  Now is the time to collect all your meds and make sure they are not expired.

Once you have all your medication together, label them with your child’s name and your cell phone number. That way you know your child will be getting the right medicine if it is needed.

This is also very important for those allergic kids still in their grade school years because on every field trip, the medications are required to be carried along. I have been on many field trips and I usually carry a large backpack so that I can carry all of them. That’s a lot of meds! When a kid needs his/her meds it is so much easier and accessible if they are divided into bags with their respective names on them. Who knows, this quick system may even help to save a life!

3.  Set up a meeting with the school nurse to go over your school forms, any 504 Plans, medication instructions and any other concerns you may have.

The intent of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is to provide students with disabilities equal access to educational programs, services, and activities. Students with disabilities may not be denied participation in school programs and activities solely on the basis of disability. In many states, your allergic teen fits in this category. Your 504 Plan is your child’s biggest asset. This is the checks and balances you need to make sure your child’s allergies are going to be taken seriously.

Remember, the nurse and their assistants are there to help you with any concern you may have. They also may have some suggestions for you since to make this transition easier.

4.  Set up a meeting to talk to your counselor.

In most middle and high school systems in the U.S. every child has a counselor that is there to help your child with their class schedule and any conflicts they may have throughout the school year. Before my teen started middle school, we met with the counselor to make sure she knew how severe her allergies were. She is the one who suggested we contact all of her teachers to make sure they were aware of her allergies. Discussing your teen’s allergies with a teacher is in Step 7. It is a great idea to tell your counselor along with all of your teachers about your teen’s allergies.

5.  Have a conversation with your teen about whether they will be sitting at the Peanut Free table or at a regular table with their friends during lunch.

This is a conversation every parent needs to have with their allergic child! Most kids do not like to be different, especially your allergic teen. In most cases, that means that your allergic teen DOES NOT want to sit at the Peanut/Allergy Free Table anymore. And guess what, you are not there to know whether they are sitting there are not.

I have to admit that I did not think about this until Katie approached me in 4th grade. Her friends had stopped sitting with her at her Peanut Free Table and as much as I wanted her to sit there, I also understood that it was very important for her to sit with everyone else. Step 6 talks about some ways to help with this transition.

6.  Teach your allergic teen techniques to keep her safe in the lunch room.

A very smart nurse suggested that I have Katie carry wipes in her lunch box. That way she can wipe down her spot on the table and her seat. She also has liquid hand sanitizer for her and her friends. We also talked about whether she would feel comfortable sitting next to someone eating peanut butter. She says in most cases she will move next to someone else and her friends are okay with this. She also figured out that if she sits at the end she only has to worry about the person next to and across from her. Such a smart kid!

This is probably one of the hardest choices for your teen so try to be supportive of their decisions. We also must remember that this can be a very scary experience and our job as a parent is to make sure your teen can be the best, independent person they can be!

7.  Lastly, send an e-mail or talk to each teacher to let them know what allergies your child has and how severe they may be.

This is very important because some teachers have the kids come in for help during their lunch period which means that they could be eating on one of YOUR child’s desks. So ask the teachers to please wipe those desks down before classes resume. Typically when teachers become aware of the allergy situation, they also want to help out by taking any steps that they can. You may notice certain teachers restricting certain foods in their rooms because of allergies. A teacher’s job is to teach your child in a safe-learning environment. They will take as many precautions as you suggest them to take for the safety of their students.

I also want every teacher to know WHO MY CHILD IS among the many other students they have. If your allergic teen is having a problem, he/she many not want to bring attention to themselves and their teacher could be the first person to notice something may be wrong. I also let them know that they can always call or e-mail me if they have any questions or concerns.

Finally, reassure your teen that he or she is ready for an awesome, new school year!

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” 
― Abraham Lincoln

Teen from California Dies from Food Allergy Reaction

It is truly tragic and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Natalie Giorgi who died from a fatal allergic reaction to peanuts at Camp Sacramento in California. Natalie was at camp with her family when she took a bite of a Rice Krispies treat that was coated with peanut butter and topped off with chocolate. Even though Natalie was always diligent about her allergies, they believe that because it was dark, she did not notice the peanut butter until she had already taken a bite. She immediately spit it out but she had an anaphylactic reaction anyways and eventually died. Her parents had given her Benadryl and multiple doses of her Epi-pen.

I am always saddened to hear about this tragic accident and a bit frightened because I think that could have been my daughter. I am hesitant to post this because I know that my daughter will read this and because she is the same age as this girl, this news will affect her even more. Natalie's family released a statement, “As our hearts are breaking over this tragedy, we hope others can learn from this that food allergies are life-threatening.” They went on to say, “Caution and care for those (afflicted) should always be supported and taken.”

My mother and sister, who also have severe nut allergies, have skipped many a dessert line because they knew that there was no way to know what the exact ingredients were in them. We have taught our daughter to do the same, she either brings her own dessert or she waits and has something when she gets home. This is why it is so important to make sure you or your child, no matter what the age, is very careful when they are eating something that does not have the ingredients listed. We all know homemade treats are the most tasty but it is not worth the risk!

Again, this is a tragic accident and our deepest sympathy are with the Giorgi family at this time of great sorrow.

It's Blueberry Time!

We have been waiting for blueberry season to open in Michigan and it has finally arrived! We usually let the blueberries rippen a bit before we go out but for some reason I just couldn't wait. So on the second day of picking season, off we went to our local blueberry farm,  Let the pickin' begin!

Lots of green berries but also lots of yummy, ripe blueberries on the bottom. I think it made it more trying to find the good ones. We always have a contest to see who could find the biggest blueberry. Not sure who won because those never made it on our bucket. Straight in to the mouth! Apparently we weren't the only over anxious ones because there were close to 10 other people in this small rows of bushes.

Here's one of my favorite recipes for using blueberries. The melted margarine makes this coffeecake a favorite in our house.

Grand Haven 

Blueberry Coffeecake

  

Coffee Cake

2 C Flour

3 tsp. Baking Powder

½ tsp. Salt

½ C Sugar

1 ½ tsp Egg Replacer + 2 T Warm Water

1 C Rice or Soy Milk

¼ C Melted Non-Dairy Margarine

1 C Blueberries

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  To make the coffeecake grease an 8 X 8 glass baking dish then place blueberries in a small bowl and cover with flour. Toss to coat. Next, mix Egg Replacer and warm water in small bowl and set aside. Melt margarine and set aside to cool. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the dry ingredients and slowly add in the Egg Replacer and non-dairy milk. Once the margarine has cooled, slowly add it to the flour ingredients and mix well. Pour into the greased pan.

Blueberry Topping

½ C Brown Sugar

1/3 C Flour

1 tsp. Cinnamon

¼ C Non-dairy Margarine

To make the blueberry topping, mix the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon together. Cut in small pieces of the margarine and mix until the topping resembles a crumble. Sprinkle the topping on the coffee cake and place in the oven. Bake for 35 minutes.

School Prep

Arghh! I just saw my first ad today for school supplies. Seriously, who wants to think about school supplies right after the 4th of July. On the other hand, it did remind me to make my appointment with the allergist so I can have the school medical forms and her 504 plan all finished before school starts. In several states, children with severe food allergies now fall under the 504 plan of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Check with your state to see if your child qualifies for a 504 plan.

I'm thinking of retesting Katie's allergies this year. Maybe, just maybe this will be the year that one of her many allergies has miraculously disappeared. Keep your fingers crossed!

Don't forget to make your appointments today!

A Magical Evening

Nuptials read among a sea of orange Trumpet Vine, a stroll through the Zoo after hours, cocktails with the dolphins and dancing until the wee hours of the night. Not to mention the delicious salted double chocolate cupcake to top off the evening. A very special wedding and a magical night at the Indianapolis Zoo.