Lunch!

Here are some great lunch ideas. I have also found that telling the people I work with what I am doing ahead of time and also telling them I am packing all next week has helped create support and hopefully keep them from asking me if I'm ordering anything.

• Klosterman white bread is safe, as is Kroger Organic whole grain bread. Just check the labels, because it can always change.
• Add to that bread some lunch meat. Boar's Head has wonderful preservative-free lunch meat, as do other brands. I just like their Cajun turkey and Buffalo chicken.
• Fresh fruit, fruit cups, etc. are all healthy sides that do not really need refrigeration.
• If you have a freezer and microwave, Bird's Eye Steamfresh has single packs of corn, brussel sprouts, etc. They are nutritious and tasty. Meijer and Kroger both also have fresh varieties of steam-ready veggies. They are delicious with salt and pepper.
• Kashi TLC version of Nutri-Grain bars are safe, and they are good.
• We find it easiest to make lunch when we are making dinner the night before and go ahead and store it in the refrigerator. That way you aren't rushing in the morning, and you don't have to dirty too much more.
• Again, Tyson chicken nuggets are OK, which are yummy!!
• Ketchup, some BBQ sauces, some mustard is safe. This helps add tremendous flavor. I believe balsamic vinaigrette is OK too, which can be delicious on veggies or meat.
• Vegan salad dressings are often ok, just watch the soy (soybean oil is safe.)
• Chicken and stars soup is safe, as are several other canned soups.

We will be shopping tonight or tomorrow, and I will try to post any other ideas I can think of.

Approved food ideas

I just wanted to say again how thankful I am that people around the country are making this sacrifice. God just keeps knocking me on my face reminding me that this is so much bigger than Wilson, me, or hubby.
Beyond that, here are some great food ideas.

• Rice Milk (Rice Dream is what we buy, cheapest at Whole Foods or Walmart.) comes in vanilla or original, and it's not bad in oatmeal, ceral, etc.
• Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Multi grain Cheerios, Berry Burst Cheerios are all great cereals that are safe.
• Oreos, Pop Tarts, and graham crackers are great sweet treats.
• Popcorn, if you watch the labels, is a fantastic snack.
• Fresh and frozen fruit and veggies are great additions to chicken that has Montgomery Inn BBQ sauce.
• Tyson chicken nuggets are safe. (most, not all)
• Dum Dum suckers, pixie sticks, and smarties are all Halloween candy that's safe.

I realize not all of this is the healthiest, but it's easy. I will have lunch ideas tomorrow. Thanks again.

Blessings, wilsonsmom

The email I promised

This lovely email made me so emotional Saturday at work that I had to explain to my next client what was going on! Haha. Thanks, Jill! We are blessed to have you.

Hey All,I just felt like I should share what God initially put on my heart to pray for when He told me to fast for Wilson. I think it might be a good way for everyone involved to pray both in preparation for the Wilson fast and during the fast.
1. The obvious - that Wilson will be healed completely from all allergies & specifically food allergies

2. That Wilson NEVER feels a negative separation or isolation from others during the healing process (that sense of "I'm different" or "I'm bad" because I can't eat that...). I know he's young, but still...

3. That Wilson develops a sense of discipline and healthy regard toward food (one that I generally don't have and that most of our culture doesn't have). I feel like God is going to use Wilson in this area in the future even if he heals Wilson of his food allergies tomorrow. I feel like Wilson may be a nutritionist or dietitian or athlete or something that requires him to be extra thoughtful about what he eats (because he chooses to and not because illness forces him to).

4. I personally feel like God wants to show me that following such a strict diet won't kill me : ) He wants to show me that freedom and the good life exist through him and not through what I put in my mouth to gratify my flesh.

So, I encourage you to pray to receive that freedom through this fast as well. May we experience joy inexplicable as we give up some of our favorite foods.
I think those are the main points. Please let me know if God is guiding you to pray for anything specific as well... I am so excited for Wilson. He truly is one of my favorite little boys and I know Jesus delights in him, too!!!!
Grace & Peace! Jill

Again, feel free to add comments to my blog. I am going to print all of this stuff out and put into his baby book. I want him to know just how much our friends love him. Oh, and check hubby's blog. He will be updating this week too (honestly!) with recipes and helpful ideas.

The first of a few of these...

First, I feel the need to explain how the "Wilson Fast" has come about. A few weeks ago, my good friend called me and left me a wonderful voicemail asking about booger's allergies. She felt called to pray and fast for him, and since she is not able to completely fast (mamma's rules) she chose to fast his allergies. This touched me in many ways, and I felt called to join her. In fact, I felt called to fast his allergies from November 1-6. As I began to discuss the sacrifice my friend and I were planning, several other close friends chose to join us. Some for a day, others the entire time we are. Some are choosing one allergic food, others are fasting all of his allergies.

The booger is allergic to the following foods:

• Peanuts
• Tree Nuts
• Milk
• Egg
• Soy (soy lecithin and soybean oil are safe)
• Bananas
• Peas
• Beef

I am sure a lot of you can not imagine a day without some of these foods, let alone a lifetime. Some of these allergies are anaphylactic, which can be deadly. This has caused a lot of stress and worry for our family, and has caused a complete uprooting of our lives. We must check everything that comes into our home, car, environment. Things such as Halloween, parties, family outings, etc. have become a nightmare trying to ensure his safety. We have learned a lot, and have much much more to learn. The point is, we are submitting ourselves to God's plan right now for our family and letting Him guide these results.

I feel this is necessary right now in my walk for a lot of reasons, some of them:

• I need to understand fully exactly what it means to live as my son is living. This means to avoid foods that I love (some of which I already am,) and to try to not complain. I feel that this will make me a stronger person and a better, more compassionate mom.
• This sacrifice will allow me to come up with more allergy-friendly recipes and hopefully be more creative with his foods.
• To show God that I am willing to sacrifice food, which I love, for my son. I know it's nothing in comparison to what He sacrificed, but it's something.
• It will hopefully give me a healthier view of food in my life. As a friend said, to prove that food is for sustenance and to survive, not to be gluttonous.

People are choosing to pray for several things during this time, and I am hoping to be allowed to share a lovely email the friend who started this sent this weekend which moved me beyond words. Her vision for this little boy is amazing, and I never knew one friend could cause me to cry so much (brat! lol.) Right now, I am feeling called to pray for healing and understanding for booger. I am praying for him to not be discriminated against or people to not include him from things as he gets older. Honestly, I just want him to be as normal of a boy as he can be. I don't want him to be forced to worry about everything he puts in his mouth his entire life.

The point is, I am humbled beyond belief at the way this has grown and the number of people who are showing their love and support for our family. Throughout the next two weeks I will be posting recipes, foods, and encouragement for those choosing to follow. Please feel free to leave comments, encouragement, or to pray for all of us participating in this challenge, but please please please pray for our son. These allergies are getting worse and growing in number as he ages, and I am praying for a complete and total healing. So thanks, friends, and anyone who wants dinner during that week, come on over. Just let us know how much to cook!

well, it happened

Everyone kept saying it would happen, and it finally did. My monster finally climbed out of his crib. The first time was during nap Saturday with his dad, and just now it happened again. We have been intentionally keeping him in it as long as possible to keep his sleep patterns as consistent as we can. I guess its time for a big boy room. Oh no! Mommy has to go shopping! ha ha. Please pray as we go through this transition that he stays unharmed and still sleeps well.

Wow!

This past weekend, we were fortunate to have a wonderful lady take some photos of our booger. You should check out her blog, saragdesigns.blogspot.com. I can't believe she was able to find such beauty in our little monster, and boy is that an accurate description! He was all over Eden Park, to the point where we had four adults chasing him and it was difficult! It was such a treat to see a couple of her preview photos. So good job Sara G!