Freaky Friday

Here's my sweet baby, Isabel. Isn't she cute? I know I'm partial, but I can't help it! I am now at the stage with her that I need to start phasing out of the jars of baby food and into finger foods so she can feed herself. I've done this twice before, but can I think of foods to give her that would constitute a full meal? No! A couple times a week I will cut up a hot dog for her lunch and she eats that well, but hot dogs aren't really the most healthy (if at all).

So, today I thought she might be ready for a pbj sandwhich cut into small pieces. She's almost a year and half and is doing well with bits of food so it shouldn't have been a problem. Wrongo! I did not take into consideration the whole peanut allergy thing. Mae and Caleb never had problems with peanuts so it never entered my mind that it would be an issue with Isabel.

I made Isabel the sandwhich, cut it into nice pieces for her to eat and then put it on her tray. She didn't seem to care for it and maybe had a bite or two then proceeded to push it around her high chair. I tried to give her some green beans too, but at that point she was making it clear that she was no longer interested in food. Within 20 minutes of the introduction of the sandwhich her eyes were red and puffy and she also had some small rashing on her cheeks. Isabel had been crying and also acting tired so I decided that most of the redness was due to that. There was a small part of me that thought that she was having an allergic reaction to the peanuts but her breathing remained normal and she did eat some raisins so I did not get overly concerned.

Ryan came home for lunch and discovered Isabel about this time. He has food allergies and became quite concerned. I called the doctors office and since the doctors were out to lunch I was advised to take Isabel to the urgent care center. So I loaded all the kids in the truck and sped off to the urgent care all the while telling myself that I should have known to not introduce peanuts so soon.

By the time we got to the urgent care Isabel was showing even less signs of a reaction. The doctor even suggested that her eyes may be showing early signs of pink eye. But they gave her a dose of benedryl for the possible reaction as well as a perscsription for the possible pink eye. So, basically, no big deal. In and out in about a half hour. Not bad for an urgent care visit.

Maybe Isabel's reaction was due more to getting the peanut butter on her hands then on her face? When is it ok to introduce peanuts anyway? And is peanut butter one word or two? I'll have to talk to the peditrician at Isabel's next check up (about when it's ok to give it, not spell it).

A part of me feels bad, like I should have known better. Then the other part tells me that these things happen and it is not a reflection of my mothering. My own mother told me this too, and I am to obey my parents so that is what I will do. I will not berate myself or allow negative thoughts to take hold. *sigh* I will however chalk this up to another freaky episode in this thing we call life.