Never a dull moment.

I often try to count my blessings, naming them one by one. I have a lot you know. Sometimes though, my counting of blessings come in the form of being thankful for what we aren't dealing with. The thought will go through my head of, 'wow that would be really hard, I'm glad we aren't dealing with that.'
One of the specific things I have said that about if food allergies. Although we had a few iffy moments, at this point she technically only had a peanut sensitivity. We avoided soy because it can exacerbate tumor growth in NF (it's somewhat technical so you will have to trust me). But I didn't have to read labels, or stress out in restaurants about cross-contamination. We have a friend who has a daughter with quite a few food allergies, and I know it's not easy.
It seems though that I now must laugh. That's right, I just cleared our cabinets of anything containing or processed in a factory with tree nuts. Abigail ate her first cashew on Friday night. As she began to eat a second she started raking at her tongue and gagging. I knew almost immediately that she was having a reaction. She (very fortunately) then puked it all back up. I gave her benedryl and she was fine. So I talked to her allergist today and was told it most definitely was an allergic reaction.
I spent the last few days reading about cashew allergies. Apparently although they aren't as common as peanut and other tree nuts they can be more severe. They are also in the same family as pistachios, mangoes, poison ivy and sumac. And as a result she will be at risk for more severe reactions to poison ivy and sumac.
I also read and re-read the directions for our epi-pen so that I could make certain I am 100% certain if I ever have to use it. And I will be making certain anyone she stays with knows how to use it as well.
We are still very blessed. Our lives just never lack excitement I guess. :)