Friday, November 5, 2010

Halloween with Peanut Allergies Wrap-Up

We had a wonderful Halloween at Casa Di caramama! The neighborhood party had pizza and juice, and the trick-or-treating was great fun afterwards. Though we carried the epipen around, we didn't need to use it!

I even dressed up at a fairy to go with my daughter's unicorn costume and my son's dragon (/dinosaur) costume, although I put a jacket and pants on, with the wings on the outside of the jacket. It got pretty cold that night.

At first, I brought the Pookie up to the houses with the Pumpkin, but after a half dozen houses, the Pookie sat in the wagon while Londo pulled him around. He was very happy just watching all that was going on. Such is his personality. At 7:00, Londo took him home and put him to bed while I continued around with the Pumpkin.

She had a blast! She loved going up to houses and saying trick-or-treat. She loved the decorations and the costumes and talking with the kids and adults at each house. We held hands between just about every house, and I went up to every door with her.

At first, she would say, "Trick or treat!" and I would then pipe up with, "Something without peanuts, please." But I quickly realized that the people opening the doors were focused on the kids, so it took them a minute to process what I was saying. I also realized that my daughter is really fantastic about her allergy, and she could just ask them herself. So she amended what she was saying to:

"Trick or treat! No peanuts, please!"

I still smile when I think of her saying that. It was truly adorable, in addition to easing my worries and making me proud! And it really made each adult and/or kid handing out candy pay attention and think about what they had in their buckets.

There were only 2 or 3 houses that didn't have any candy without peanuts, and one of those houses gave her a juice box instead. The Pumpkin was fine even at those houses. We said, "That's okay. Thanks anyway!" And at least one said that they hadn't thought about peanut allergies and would be sure to get some peanut-free candy next year. Look at that! We educated others while having fun!

We let the Pumpkin take candy that didn't have peanuts in it, even if they were made in a facility that also has peanuts. (And yes, at this point we know where they are manufactured and how safe pretty much all of the candies are.) She isn't eating those candies, but she's trading them in for the safe candy I already bought.

She and I stayed out pretty late for her, walking all around the neighborhood. We got home just after her lights-out time, quickly got her ready for bed, let her watch 10 minutes of TV to unwind (and it's part of her normal bedtime routine), and when I took her to her bed, she fell asleep within 2 minutes! A personal best record, for her.

So Halloween was a success on many levels. The most important being that the kids were safe and had a lot of fun! I hope everyone out there had as much fun as we did!

7 comments:

Shellie said...

I got my oldest to take the youngest! score! They mad e a much bigger haul than with me too.

mom2boy said...

Awesome! Glad you all had such a fun and safe holiday!

Charisse said...

Halloween rocked! I'm still exhausted. It basically started with the good news on the 27th (the weds before) that my sister's lymph nodes were clear during her mastectomy. Then since I could breathe, a mad rush to finish the cobra costume before the school parade on Friday. (Meanwhile, the Giants are up in the World Series!) Finished it, went to the school parade at 2:30 on Friday, the school dance and haunted house at 6 on Friday, Mouse's dance lesson at 10:15 on Saturday, a wedding (without Mouse) in Berkeley at 12:30 Sat, a kid Halloween party (PJs not costumes though) at 4:30 on Sat. Got home about 8:30 Sat and watched the game on delay.

Sunday our house ended up being the trick-or-treating base for a couple of friends, and so after Mouse's swimming lesson I made chili for early dinner for everybody and gingerbread for the grown-ups and we waited until dusk and went out about 7. We had a peacock, a cobra, and a bride and we walked about 3/4 mile total, along the big street in our neighborhood that goes crazy with decorations and stuff. They were really good, and we let them walk ahead as long as they kept one of the parents in sight. (They're all 6.) Lots of people had the world series on big screens out in the street along with the usual halloween movies and ghosts in trees and such, and the whole street cheered whenever the Giants scored. It was an amazing night!

(Then they won it, then election day with 25 initiatives or whatever, which I didn't get around to reviewing until midnight monday, then the parade day which coincided with an 11-hour workday, then just more stuff. I am done. Happy but done.)

Melba said...

Glad to hear it was so fun. :) Are you finding that the older the kids get, the more fun it is to do stuff with them? This halloween was waaaaay more fun than last year. Its like Rosie's energy rubs off on me and I'm practically a kid again, except I have a real life baby dolly (Annie) that I get to dress up too. Does it get any better?

caramama said...

@Shellie - That's awesome! Your oldest and youngest get to spend time with each other, and you get to stay home! Score indeed!

@mom2boys - Thanks! I hope you guys had a great holiday as well!

@Charisse - Wow! That sounds really busy, and super fun! Very cool that the game was playing everywhere so you all could see. It sounds like such a nice community night!

@Melba - I have to say, it's more and more fun as they get older. Everything from the crafts to the actual going out trick or treating. I'm REALLY looking forward to Christmas this year!

Becoming Mommy said...

glad you all had such a lovely Halloween!

Lisa F. said...

glad to hear it went well, I've been wondering! we had a good time too, I was worn out from all the prep. stayed home to give out candy but only one group of 6 came by. our kid LOVES halloween & loved his costume (Zeus!) AND people recognized him this year. we've had issues w/candy, and I am very sugar sensitive/bingey w/it, and he seems sensitive to chocolate. I'm having a hard time figuring out when to let him find his own limit & test out his sensitivity more.

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