Not So Easy

~ PD and AJ playing some mini golf ~

 

Sometimes God sends some hard things our kids' way.  It's not easy to watch, and not easy when there's not a whole lot you can do to make it better.  This summer we had a food allergy test done for PD, and we learned that he is allergic to 39 different foods!  No wonder he had not been feeling well.  So, that knowledge has led us to quite the food adventure the past few weeks.  Not being able to use things like onions, milk, eggs, wheat, rice, cheese, or pepper on your food can make things somewhat difficult when it comes to cooking.  Thankfully he can still have steak and potatoes!  (just hold the butter).

 

So yesterday Paul was really hungry for pizza.  But, with not being able to have a crust on the bottom or cheese on the top, it wasn't really possible.  So here was what I came up with to hopefully taste somewhat like pizza.  The ingredients- salted hamburger, corn-based macaroni, pepperoni, homemade tomato sauce (the canned sauce has onions), goat cheese, expensive garlic powder (without additives), and home grown basil.  I threw it all together and baked it awhile.  I think he's been watching too much Master Chef though, because he told me it was pretty good, although the noodles were a little too mushy.  Sorry.

 

He basically can't have any desserts, since he can't have chocolate or milk or flour.  So we let him drink a can of pop a little more often.  (only sprite or root beer though- can't have cola or oranges).  He eats a lot of plain potato chips and fruit (but no bananas or cantaloupe).  When we have chicken, he eats turkey, because he's also allergic to chicken. 

 

The good news is that he only has to be totally off these foods for a set period of time, then we can start introducing them back in.  The hope is that in a year he will be able to be back on everything.  I don't totally understand the science behind it all, but we're trying to kill off the cells that attack these foods.

 

It's been a hard thing for him, eating isn't very fun anymore, as I'm sure you can imagine.  I know he'd appreciate your prayers for strength for him and that he would remember not to eat things people offer him unless it has passed Mom's examination!  We can be thankful that there are doctors who have the ability to figure these things out- and that he will feel better eventually!

 

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13