Mid-week updates: peanuts are back, swim pics, SHOES!

A few mid-week updates!

#1. On Monday afternoon Asher underwent a “peanut challenge” at the Allergy Clinic. He was diagnosed with a peanut allergy around 18 months after he grabbed a fistful of little roasted peanuts out of Ivan’s hand and tried to eat them. He didn’t really even swallow any, but his face promptly broke out in a red rash everywhere the peanuts had touched him.

He didn’t have a more severe reaction that day, thankfully, but he had official allergy testing done (positive) at that time. Since then, he’s always had an Rx for an Epi-pen and has avoided peanut-everything. (No issues with almonds or other nuts.)

He never seemed to have a very “severe” allergy; we could eat peanut butter right next to him and he’d have no problems. (Some people literally can’t breathe the same air as peanuts!) Honestly, we were pretty lax about the allergy in general, I guess just because over time he had some accidental close encounters and never had an issue.

He always just avoided eating peanuts or any peanut-containing items. But we never made them open a fresh case of vanilla custard with a fresh spoon or anything at Culver’s to ensure zero cross-contamination, he would eat granola bars with the label “does not contain peanuts but was produced in a peanut containing facility”, etc.

In 2019 he had repeat allergy skin testing done and it was only trace positive (in their words, considered negative). The plan was to follow up later with an actual peanut challenge (eat peanuts in the clinic while being monitored and see if you react or not). Some kids do outgrow a peanut allergy, so that was the hope for Asher.

Well, 6 years later, we finally made that happen! We spent 2.5 hours total in the clinic, where he slowly ate portioned out pieces of a PBJ Uncrustable. Ha.

The result? NO REACTION!! He is now officially cleared of his peanut allergy!

I didn’t know this, but I learned from the doctors on Monday that food allergies are apparently 100% reproducible. So if you are allergic to a food, the allergist explained that you’d see a reaction every time you ingested the food. (I had asked well, how do we know he didn’t just not react this time? What if he does the next time? And they said, nope! Not a thing, that doesn’t happen! Which is amazing news!)

His peanut allergy was never a particularly heavy burden in our case, but I am glad to no longer have to worry about this at all. Also, I’ll be happy to not have to mark “peanut allergy” on forms, deal with stocking an Epi-pen that fortunately, he never had to use, or carefully check the dessert table for peanuts, etc.

Funnily enough, he was not a big fan of the PBJ. lol. He said it was “just okay”. I guess it makes sense that after 15 years of never trying PB, he wouldn’t have developed a taste for it!

#2. Ivan is home and had a great trip to Mexico. I picked him up from the park-and-ride at 5:30 last night (he took the airport bus back from O’Hare) and we went out for dinner.

He was unimpressed with returning to single digit temperatures… it was in the mid-60s all week in Toluca.

#3. I went through and saved a bunch of Asher’s swim photos from the team photographer’s Google Drive. These are all taken by a parent volunteer with a nice camera! They are SO good!!! Here are some of my favorites:

#4. Remember how a long time ago I said I wanted to get a pair of “sneaker boots”? I own a lot of shoes. I have Chelsea boots in brown and black, I have various winter boots, I have dressier boots, I have sneakers… but I don’t really have casual boots that are lighter weight and really good for walking longer distances in. My Chelsea boots are nice but a bit clunky for travel, in my opinion.

So, with our upcoming London trip, I had been eyeing the Olukai sneaker boots:

They are pricey, and I read they run really small. I wasn’t sure I particularly wanted to spend $160 on boots right now, given many other expenses, but was considering it.

I ended up ordering them, but I also ordered a pair of similar Ecco boots (similarly expensive) and I stumbled across some Dr. Scholl’s sneaker boots that I also liked- and were on clearance for $34.99!

These are a little different color, but a nice neutral and I figured, for $34.99, I’ll try them!

So I have all three in my bedroom right now- the Olukais, the Eccos and the Dr. Scholl’s. And guess what?! The Dr. Scholl’s fit me perfectly and are by far the most comfortable of all 3!

The Ecco’s were an immediate NO- super uncomfortable and ran small, and I could tell they’d rub on my ankle. No question here- sending back.

The Olukais are very nice. I do really love the look and feel of them, and they are a little “fancier” or “higher quality” looking, I suppose. So I do feel tempted to keep them as an investment piece.

BUT I had to size up from my usual 10 (tried but too small- I had read they run small, and yep, definitely true). There’s no half size, so I had to get the 11, which is mostly okay, but now almost a smidge too big?? And I also felt a little phantom rubbing in one spot, I thought. They are also a little bigger looking on my foot, which I don’t really need any help with, since my feet are already huge.

The Dr. Scholl’s I wore all over the house and felt exactly like wearing a comfy sneaker. They are also quite slim and sleek, I think, and make my foot look smaller, not bigger. I think these are the definite winner- and at a $125 cost savings over the Olukais, it feels sort of like a no brainer.

I personally think they are perfectly cute and will be an excellent, versatile travel shoe. Which is mostly what I want them for. With my back issues, I’m a little worried about all the standing in museums we’ll be doing. That really exacerbates my back pain. So, I really wanted a comfortable, supportive shoe, and I think this will fit the bill for me.

#5. Quick random one- we started (re)watching Ted Lasso with the boys! I am thrilled to watch it again because I just love that show much, but the boys never saw it. I’m considering squeezing in a quick visit to Richmond on our trip… several people I know have said they’ve gone there and that it was a highlight of their London trip! It’s quite close to where we’re staying, too. Would be fun to see the Ted Lasso sights! 😉

That’s all for today! Hope your week is going well. 🙂

Thoughts on my shoe decision?? Anyone else ever outgrow an allergy?

Daily Gratitude:

I am grateful for Ivan making it home safe and sound. A little freaky with all the plane mishaps lately! 😬 Hard to not have it cross your mind…