Journaling-allergies

This is what I feel like is happening at our house....our favorite things are giving us fits-sneezing, runny noses, coughs!

I need to post about allergies and the kids. No one probably needs to read this except me when I slowly start to forget that certain foods do effect our kids strongly!

There have been many many days over the past three years for Katie and 16 months for Owen that I have wondered, "what is going on in our kids?" I know that many children get sick and it is a way of this life. After all I know we are living in a fallen world that God will one day set right, but it's broken right now. My prayer is that they will outgrow these issues and God will heal this but until then...

But time and time again I think-"we are sick more then normal-something is wrong-what can I do to help our bodies be stronger"... I finally set to work trying to figure out what could be causing these issues in Owen and Katie. *I am sure they exist in Justin and I too, our bodies are simply able to handle them better. *

But for Katie and Owen, beside dairy to cause runny noses, I think anything that has an excess of mold triggers it too. Bah!

Here is what I want to remember:

Dairy-is not a bad thing, but it needs to be limited, used mostly of goat so the proteins digest better and have it processed as least as possible.

Mold-I have come to learn that certain foods are prone to mold easily. I knew this was the case in cheeses, breads, etc , but I have learned it is in nuts (peanuts/cashews), dried fruit, strawberries and melons too. It not that they necessarily are moldy when we eat them-that would be yuck, but in the growing process there are a lot of mold spores floating around. So we are limiting these things in our house. Bummer! Again I just want to document this so that when the kids are runny noses facets once again I will try to eliminate these foods back to sparse consumption.

Mold also flies around outside, so I guess this is a double concern if Katie and Owen don't tolerate it well. But heck, who tolerates breathing in lots of mold! Plus we live in yellow pollen country for 3 weeks out of the year and here they come...

Attitudes of the kids-this is the main thing that concerns me.

I am continually AMAZED at the change in attitude and disposition Katie has when her body is not working well.
If I am paying close attention to her and discipline starts to go up? One thing I want to ask myself, do I think she is having a allergy response? Normally the next day her cough comes and her nose runs. Teach and give extra grace! She might run a slight fever or none at all. Her eyes stay clear-which is why I don't believe she is actually sick with a cold or flu. It has almost always lasted 3-5 days and during that time she has insomnia and is aggressive. Yes, I believe that excess dairy and mold probably cause this change. Every time I see a Dr. about it for her they say, her muscles are weak in response to dairy and mold testing. I should know this by now!
I need to pray for patience and grace the most during times like these.
Then after we get her some good uninterrupted sleep-go away cough and drainage-she is back to joyful self.

Owen is normally more mild in response (runny nose and some cough), but only time will tell for other distractions in his happy self.

In conclusion...I am in need to be reminded that yes, food does make a difference in our bodies. It either gives us energy to love and live or it adds to the tearing down of our energies and joy. To avoid these foods for my kids is good for them; they don't like to be sick! Sometimes I think, they are not being given a good childhood, because they can't eat something. We all know it is better to be healthy than eating cheese dip and sick! I am not going to leave in fear of if they eat something they shouldn't, but I do want to help my kids live well. I don't want to make food more important or an idol then it should be. It is simply necessary to live and God gave us delicious foods to enjoy.

Therefore, may I think about how I am raising my family in all the areas I am called to each and everyday.