My Life of 2 Asthmatic Children

No one said to me "One day, not one but both of my children will be diagnosed with asthma. If they did, I could have at least prepared myself by reading a book (I mean I worked at a library for christ sakes), did some research on the internet or taken a class. Instead, I found myself in the emergency room hearing the word asthma and not knowing what the heck that meant or what to do next.

I have two wonderful daughters, D'Asia 15, and Devyn 7. My 2 Diva D's. Both of my D's have asthma (well I call it Annoying Asthma). To go along with my youngest asthma she also has a list of food allergies: peanuts, eggs, soy, wheat, dairy, shellfish, turkey, green beans, kidney beans, several trees, cat & dog dander, dust mites and eczema.

Whew, that was a mouthful right? I know, I know, your next question is 'What does she eat?' Hey we're still trying to figure this thing out ourselves. No matter how many times someone tries to suggest something she could possibly eat it always has at least one or two of the allergies listed. Come on almost everything has soy in it. (From a ton of the packages that I've read).

When I first got the news of my youngest diva's food allergies and they told me that I would have to cook pretty much everything fresh, I panicked.  I am not a cooking mama.  I am an occasional cooking mama.  I've never really had to cook because my mother and grandmother love to cook and they're always inviting us over to eat what they have.  I also panicked because now I had to learn how to read labels, something I've never done before.  

Not only am I dealing with two children with asthma but I also have to deal with with food allergies as well.  A lot of people take the words food allergies lightly and only think that it's only the foods you named.  No, No, No ma'am/sir you have to understand this means any and everything dealing with anything listed with nuts, or anything cooked with eggs and milk.

I had to learn that it goes as far as if your preparing food for separate people in the household then you need to use different utensils because of food crossing contamination.  This is serious business.  I really didn't understand just how serious it was until I was issued an article on a teenager dying from kissing her boyfriend.  My first thought was WHAT, from a kiss?  Well apparently she didn't know her boyfriend had just eaten a peanut butter & jelly sandwich before she arrived and their was food left in his teeth.  I read this several years ago after I was given the blood work results from my youngest food allergy list and I still say WOW!

Both of my daughters are receiving allergy shots (Immunotherapy) and taking a ton of different medicines.  They're both now taking Dulera, Pataday, Albuterol as needed and ProAir Inhaler (2 puffs before P.E.), and my youngest is also taking Singulair (a chewable pill).

This is My Life of 2 Asthmatic Children!

Please share your stories, suggestions and advice. I'd really appreciate any advice given.