Ahh...Much Better.

Photo Credit:greenteacupdeisgns.com

Public School was just NOT working for me.

I mean I was well taught, had a GREAT teacher, some AMAZING friends and I was happy, BUT, my allergies interfered. I was depressed watching my friends eat their food and me having a fruit or something. I was really not supposed to go outside because dust is everywhere plus the trees, sand, dead grass and other environmental stuff I'm super allergic to.

My allergies were crazy.
I was always sad.
So my mom was kinda stressing about it.

That's when my Aunt Wendy suggested that she could help my mom home school me. Which you're probably thinking, What? Wait...? Uh? But don't jump to conclusions.

My Aunt follows this diet called "Trim Healthy Mama". You guys probably have heard of it. It's basically gluten free, corn free. Some times there is corn and peanuts and stuff, but she takes it out when I'm there. So basically I get delicious meals and I'm getting better at staying on my diet. These past few weeks, my aunt has helped me learn that I am okay. I have learned to say, "This is my food, this is your food, NO PROBLEM." (Never fear, I do lots of school work as well!)

 Now when I reach into the fridge, instead of grabbing some pepperoni, or something else I shouldn't eat, I grab an apple instead. I'm happier and in a better environment.

On Easter Sunday my cousins ate with us. Including my Horrocks cousins and my Crookston cousins.

 I did not have to worry about my Aunt Wendy's family understanding my diet, but I wasn't quite sure about my Aunt Becky's family. I worried she would bring dessert I could not have, etc.

But no instead, everything they brought was specially made for me. Jello, deviled eggs, mashed potatoes. All of it was so delicious! I was very grateful for the effort that my relatives put in for me. I want to thank The Horrocks and The Crookstons for teaching me that people do care for me and that people put in a lot of effort to make things better when they can.

EVEN MORE

Photo Credit: www.youngminds.org

            I know, I have been talking about this already,  but I really need to talk about it again.

So last night, 3/2/16, was the worst, yet one of the best, nights of my life.

Last night my dad hosted The Blue and Gold Banquet. (That's a big birthday party for Boy Scouts. It happens once a year and every troop does their own thing. My little brother is in a group of 3 troops combined.)
Of course, my dad made it Star Wars themed! Awesome, right!
There were photo booths.
There were light sabers.
There was a piñata that was shaped like the death star.
There were displays and Star Wars stuff everywhere.
There was even a Jedi training on the stage where everyone got a chance to fight Darth Vader. Yes. Darth Vader. The real Darth Vader.
It was pretty awesome.

EXCEPT, for the food.

Everyone was supposed to bring something. My dad did not because he brought everything else and had purchased the main meal which was, "Hutt dogs" and "Han Burgers".

I had thought someone said there would be food for me.

There was.

A hamburger patty. (Can't eat the buns.)
With hardly any mustard or ketchup.
 That was all I could eat!

Chips were EVERYWHERE and I searched hoping to find some I could have.
Nope none.
Just corn chips, potato chips, cheese curls, Cheetos, Doritos, you get the picture.
I tried to forget about the hamburger and just have fun. That worked until my dad announced it was time to hit the Piñata. I sat and watched as kids laughed in line, giggling and getting excited for their turn. I sat watching them wack at it not even wanting to play along because I knew what was going to fall out of that death star...yummy stuff I cannot eat.

I must have seemed pretty upset because my dad asked if I was OK. OF COURSE I WAS NOT OK!!!

But I didn't say that. I just watched. I actually went outside and almost cried. I kept telling myself I would be OK. But I clearly was not. I thought the pinata part would be over by the time I got inside.

 Nope.

I got there right in time to watch the candy fall and kids run to the center of the room where all the candy was all over the floor. I was really sad then.

That's when I spotted a line of cupcakes with heads of c-3po and R2-D2. That pushed me past the line. I ran outside and paced around the whole building furious and angry at everyone inside the building.

Luckily my mom was really nice and got me my own treat. But that still did not help. Almost everyone in that building knew I had allergies, yet all I could eat was a hamburger patty. The damage was done.

I will never ever forget that night. But hopefully things will get better.

One of my favorite quotes is,
"Everyone likes happiness, nobody likes pain, but for there to be a rainbow, you need a little rain"-Uknown

Inconsiderate, and Left Out

        Have you ever felt left out? 

Thats how I feel every single day. Especially at school. 

Kids have amazing lunches that are yummy and filling. I have apples and a sandwich or leftovers from dinner a day before or from the night before. These kids eat and eat in front of me. Then they ask for MY food. MY FOOD! Because they think my food looks better than theirs. What I have to eat for lunch is the only food that I can have. They can eat whatever they want. It just ticks me off!

A few days ago a person in my class told me that I can basically eat what they can eat it just has to be made in a special way with special ingredients. I wanted to get up and scream at this person and tell them exactly how I feel - how this person has no experience whatsoever with allergies and how this person has no experience in being told that they cannot eat what everyone else is eating. 

But instead, I sat down and ate my food quietly.

Here is another thing that makes me feel left out: when people bring treats that I cannot eat, even though they know I can't eat what they are handing out.  I feel alone, left out and really wanting one of those treats that they brought. 

For example, cake, cupcakes, candy, popcorn. Yeah not really a fan of those people. 

Some people are considerate.

 Like my aunt, she always cooks things I can eat when I'm at her house. She has cookies I can eat. Dinner I can eat. It's really helpful to me. 

My mom is also very considerate.  She also makes things I can eat. She makes treats I can eat.

 I love it. 

My friend from school is really nice about it all. She brought cupcakes for her birthday, and I was about to sit and read my book and sit out of the conversation. But then she brought me a thing of carrots and ranch. That really touched my heart that she would do that for me.

Well, thanks for reading. See you soon, Lizzy Love. :)

Outside too!?

NO!

NO!

NO!

     Something HORRIBLE has happened! 

        

           Everything was going fine until that doctor appointment. So guess what they did. They wrote on my back with a pen and numbered where they were gonna stab me with a little spikey white bottle.  Each bottle had something in it that I might be allergic to. There were 25 spots they numbered on my back. Each time they poked my back, felt more and more like I was a lab protect. I mean I go to doctor appointments like 3 times a month. And I hate...no DESPISE them. They are just horrible. 

            So the spots were SUPPOSED to itch if I was allergic to whatever it was they put there. Of course they itched! They all itched! I had to sit 15 minutes with a terrible itch everywhere on my back. So they came back and checked all the numbers on the oil and matched them up on my back. All the ones that were red meant that I was allergic to it. So  apparently I'm allergic to outside! They said I'm allergic to citrus because of the pollen that sticks to it. WHAT!!!!!!! That eliminates another thing from my diet! I just feel like all I can do is huddle up in a clean corner and eat apples and bananas for the rest of my life!

            But now to loom on the bright side I don't have to do as much cleaning. I'm allergic to MOLD. which I think is so messed up. So I think I shouldn't have to do the dishes because they collect mold immediately. I know, I know, sorry to ruin dinner for you. Also I shouldn't have to dust because I'm allergic to dust. I can't do yard work because I'm allergic to grass. So I can only vacuum, clean windows/mirrors and do laundry. So actually these allergies might be an advantage. 

          But back on track, the doctor said corn is the least of my food allergies I have so I really don't have to be super, super careful about that one. But I still can't eat corn, or corn chips or corn tortillas or corn starch or corn syrup. She also said that we have to eliminate allergies one by one. So right now we are just eliminating wheat right now. But that still is hard for me. I mean a lot of the bread that's gluten free taste like something from outer space. But I guess things are turning up.

Here check out this allergy shot thing. It's super cool! Its about a shot that can take your allergies away! My parents are going to get me started on them soon I hope.

http://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/treatments/allergy-shots-(immunotherapy).aspx

Halloween fight

Yay! Halloween is here! Here is the video of my friends,cousin,and brother fighting over my candy.

 

I had an awesome time! GUESS WHAT!  But I still really wanted to do this.

It was....AWESOME! 

It was a good Halloween and hopefully next year I can say the same.

I know this is not much but I think you'll  have fun reading this anyway.

Warning! Don't drop your popcorn on the floor at the movies because...

I'm SOOOOOOOOO sorry I haven't written for what seems like forever.  I have been really busy after my school's fall break.

Photo credit: www.blueballoonparties.com

But ANYWAY, It has been super hard for me lately. Especially this past Saturday. (10/24/2015).
Mom was out of town so it was just my brother and me with dad for the day! Fun!! Except...

First we went to the Scout-O-Rama at the fairgrounds.


I was really hungry because all I had eaten for breakfast was grapes and cottage cheese. The only food to eat at the Scout-O-Rama was sausage, popcorn, candy, ice-cream and cotton candy. Fortunately I can have (MAYBE) cotton candy so my dad let me have it. I actually think I can't because I got a big stomach ache after eating it. But it was really hard to not eat all the things that were there. I could smell everything from a mile away. All the prizes for winning a game or something were candy! So I played the games and received candy but then I just threw it away or gave it to someone else.

www.m3use.it

Then after the Scout thing, we went to a movie. Horrible. Not the movie! It was awesome! But the experience...not awesome. My dad got me some treats that I can eat but trust me they were absolutely positively DISGUSTING! So I just watched Ben and my Dad eat popcorn and I starved.

I have a confession to make...my mom and dad don't even know this yet, but my mom will when she edits everything. So...at the movie I said I was going to the bathroom but really I was standing at the popcorn toppings area trying to find whatever piece of popcorn I could find. Sorry mom.

Yeah.

 I know.

Disgusting.

But I was so desperate. When I got back to the movie I tried to sneak a handful of popcorn from the bag but my dad stopped me each time.

I guess it has just been really hard lately. Hopefully it will get better. It actually is getting a little better. My mom found bread I can have! Yay! Plus meat and mustard I can have as well! Yay! I finally had a nice yummy sandwich! Yay!

I love the quote "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot it's not going to get better it's not." -Dr.Seuss. I love that quote because it tells me that If I just mope around and be grumpy about my food allergies it will make it worse. SO if I am happy and still care for others and their conditions or emotions it probably will get better. So be happy and loving and maybe something will turn up.

Sincerely,
Lizzy

Lizzy Lou's Dad Here

Hi everyone,  I am posting on my daughter's page to let her know just how much I love her and how amazing she is.

Today,  We are making macaroni salad.  The problem is that most macaroni salads call for pickles. As Lizzy's mother has discovered through her research, unless it is sea salt, there is not guarantee that the salt used to make pickles does not have some corn additive included. The other problem with pickles it that distilled white vinegar is made from corn.  So unless we make our own pickles, we run into not knowing what kind of vinegar was used or what kind of salt.    Maybe making pickles will be another experiment.

One of the things that is happening at our house is learning how to adjust recipes to meet Lizzy's dietary restrictions.  And so we are making up our own macaroni salad recipe.    Lizzy will have to tell you if it takes good.

First we took some Rice-based macaroni noodles and prepared them according to the directions.

 Then in a separate bowl we added our homemade Mayonnaise.

 We added some red wine vinegar

 We added some dry mustard

 And some Dill

 We added some Brown Sugar

 Added Salt and Pepper

 We roasted some red peppers and diced them.

 We also diced up celery

 Our Finished Product...

Recipe
In a small bowl mix the following:
3/4 C Homemade Mayo
1 T Red Wine Vinegar
2 t Dry Mustard
3 T Dill
4 t brown sugar
1/2 t salt - we added more salt in the end to taste.
1/4 t pepper.

Let sit for 30 min at least.

In a larger bowl add cooled macaroni along with:
3 diced roasted peppers (we only had one on hand)
3 celery stalks - diced
3 whole green onions, diced (we didn't have any so we used dried chives)... hey, it worked.

We don't like olives... well, take that back.... Lizzy's dad does not like olives, so I refuse to put them in anything. But if you like olives.... then, put 'em in.

Then add the dressing and stir.  Chill until ready to serve.



By the way... Lizzy said it was good.