It's been a rather uneventful week. Thankfully. Erik has had some "wheat treats" this week: wheat pasta mixed with rice pasta, chicken nuggets. He also has itchy skin...so now we are having no wheat treats this week and mom is making donuts, muffins and pudding. I've also ordered 4 boxes of cookies and 12 bags of pretzels he loves (for $1.89/bag instead of buying it at a store here for $3.49). The UPS man will be VERY popular this week ;-) A family in our Sunday School class just received a 'severe food allergy' diagnosis for their 3 1/2 year old son. Many of the same allergies, but a few differences. Erik and I baked little Samuel banana muffins this afternoon. It was very important to Erik to help Samuel and his family. I'm so glad he has a big heart, and could identify with Samuel...of course I identify with mom, Judy. I remember feeling so alone when Erik was first diagnosed with all these crazy allergies 7 years ago. So glad we get to help another family. Well I need to go...Everson is spitting on Ellie ;-)

It's been a long week... Erik has struggled with his new diet...especially missing wheat in his pasta and pizza. And chicken nuggets. And saltines. And ice cream cones. And tortillas. We've made some headway though in seeing some of his symptoms getting better. I pointed that out to Erik today and he agreed that it's better to feel better than to have wheat food...now it's mom's job to make it taste better. We've gone from him crying at meals last weekend to asking for another piece of pizza this evening!

I found a cookbook online that our library 'happened' to have called Cooking Free. It's written primarily for folks with Celiac Disease, AND for those with additional sensitivities to milk and eggs! Just published last year! Where was this book when we started this journey7 years ago?!?!? She's done all of the kitchen mad scientist stuff that I never knew how to do. Mix these funky flours with these ingredients and, voila! And the pizza crust tonight was tasty (Doug even said so!) Tomorrow is pancakes. I actually feel like I can do this for Erik...and cook from scratch, instead of buying the stuff.

The challenge now, however, is actually getting the stuff I need here in San Angelo! Ah the joys of living off the beaten path and having to order things from the health food store on Friday and waiting until Monday or Tuesday to get it...if their distributor even carries the product, that is. We've had one store bend over backwards to get some of our staples. It's been a blessing. They've tried to order some other things, but their dist. doesn't carry the item. This weekend, I'm actually going to order stuff online myself and have the UPS man bring it do our door! So there's been progress...due largely to the discovery of this cookbook! I told Doug that I had to buy the book if we're going to stay wheat-free for Erik (which we are assuming will happen).

Sam and Angie and kids are leaving Albany tomorrow... I know I shouldn't be upset about it, since WE left Albany 7 1/2 months ago. But now, when we go back to NY to visit...they won't be there! They'll be in Raleigh, NC! Sam is going to college for a business degree, and they are getting a fresh start in warmer North Carolina. I'm thrilled for their new chapter, having recently begun one myself, just sad for us. I'm realizing it will be much harder to see them, with Sam working and in school, and us working and living in TX. I'm thankful for email and telephones, though. You can check out their blog for the full story behind their leaving...follow the link. I will say this about the huge difference in the cost of living of the Albany area and San Angelo...Sam and Angies house was within the city of Albany and they sold it for almost 2 1/2 times the cost of our house here! Mindblowing!

Allergy news... We visited the allergist this morning to learn the results of Erik's blood tests a few weeks ago. I left with questions answered, and a heavy heart. I'll start at the beginning. Dr. Charlesworth showed me the numbers (which is very helpful for me). A 'normal' non-allergenic 7 year old has IgE levels under 90. Erik's stand at 464.1. The IgE determines the allergens in a person's system, what you are allergic to. Then those IgE's are placed in 'Classes' from 0 to 6. Class 0 meaning no allergy to a substance, and Class 6 being the strongest. Dr. Charlesworth told me "We don't often see Class 6 allergies." On the environmental things, Erik scored in the Class 2-3 range for Cedar, Oak, Ragweed (2 kinds!), and Cocklebur (a southern fall weed). He suggested we consider beginning allergy shots for these things. We go back in 4 weeks with our decision. Now on to animals...I now understand why Erik had such a hard time at the rodeo...He has a Class 4 allergy to both Horses AND Cows!!! Cats, dogs, sheep and goats are also 3-4. Makes for an interesting life with rodeo and all kinds of horse competitions, not to mention sheep and goat ranches throughout the region. The foods all stayed the same...guess what milk was...an OFF THE CHART 6!!!! He's never had a patient with that high score. And now peanuts are on the screen. He's never had a peanut...now he can't at all. The dr. strongly urged me to get a medicalert bracelet for peanut and milk... But here's the heavy heart part...we are going wheat free for a month. His numbers suggested what Doug and I had been suspecting (and I've been in denial about). We've seen some symptoms in Erik that have made us wonder. Now we're going to try it. So this afternoon while Emma is at ballet, we're off to the Natural Food store to stock up on wheat-free baking stuff, etc. I'm really mad about it, but Erik seems willing to go with it to see if it will help him feel better. The heart wrenching thing for me is that in the past few weeks, Erik has been complaining about his allergies. Wondering why God allowed it and praying for God to take away his allergies. I'm feeling like this is going to be some kind of faith journey for all of us. I'll keep you posted.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMA!
It's hard to believe that our little girl is 9 today. Doug is very very wistful these days at the thought. Last night he told her that she was halfway to being an adult...then his eyes got teary...

A great homeschooling moment this morning....

I had to write this down so I could use it as proof in the future with my kiddos... I emerged from bed this morning around 7:30 as my Everson-clock was calling my name. When I walked into the living room, I found Emma sitting in the chair reading her latest library book. On the couch right next to her, was Erik, READING his latest library book (a early reader mystery that Emma picked out for him). I had 2 kids voluntarily reading at 7:30 in the morning!

Erik was determined to finish the book. He went to bed reading it with a book light and was reading in bed in the morning before he realized that Emma was up.

I taught them to read! They love to read! It was a BIG rewarding moment for this homeschooling mom of 4! Erik has really just started to read proficiently and is enjoying reading. Just had to share it.