My Son Has His Frst Post Dx Party Tomorrow. I'm Scared

[jsmjboertlein]

My son fell ill shortly after weaning from the breast. He almost died at age 3 by bleeding out from his nose and mouth massive quantities of blood. He's been through a barrage of testing through St. Jude and finally got a dx of celiac disease. He is so much better off gluten. He rarely has a bleed and if he does we can always track it back to some minor cross contamination. Well tomorrow he has a "pizzas n pj's" party at his cousin's house. There will be 20 some parents and kids his age and younger there. He is 5. I am bringing his favorite gluten-free pizza in my own pan, my own dedicated pizza cutter, home made gluten-free chocolate chip cookies to share and his own cup. A friend is bringing cupcakes, so I will probably make him a gluten-free one to bring too. So I have that all figured out but I'm so scared another little one might drink from his cup, or touch his mouth after eating gluten. Sadly that's all it takes for my baby. I once kissed him after I ate a muffin and he went into anaphalaxis. This was before we knew he was sick. He doesn't have anaphalaxis anymore but he bleeds so bad when he comes into contact with gluten and there's no way to stop it. He is very very sensitive to gluten. I don't wanna even take him because of all of the risks, but he is looking so foward to it, and we have to regain some sort of normalcy here. Is there anything else you would reccomend to help me relax? I don't want to make him stand out any more than I absoloutely have to. He gets self concious and I look like an overprotective drama queen. Any tips? What do you all do for parties?

[kareng]

A Haz-Mat suit? Naw, every kid would want one.

What about each kid has a cup with thier name on it? Would work if they are all old enough to read thier names. Also, lots of different color cups with stickers on them. Hand each kid one and note the sticker. "Joey, your cup had a green star on a yellow cup." Susie, you have a yellow flower on a red cup.

Kid can wash hands before eating and then everyone wash after. This and the cups can be covered up as germ protection and keeping food messes off the furniture.

Otherwise, you will have to take an active role in what he is doing. At 5, they don't mind if you play along. You can play cars with them and try to keep your kid from only playing with the blue truck and the green car. If he lets go, you can grab it before another kid does. I know this is extreme but it sounds like he is very sensitive or maybe allergic, too.

You will become a popular mom. Every grade school parent loves an extra parent at parties.

[jsmjboertlein]

Good ideas! I so wish I could put him in a bubble. He is also allergic to wheat. I am excited for him to be with his friends, but scared. O ya I will be hovering!

[celiac-mommy]

Yeah, I think your biggest threat will be the other kids' pizza covered hands and faces and the crumbs from the pizza and cupcakes. From personal experience, especially with kids this age, the crumbs get all over the floor, which get stepped on and thus moved from room to room. It's a tuffy.... I'd be hovering like crazy too

[kareng]

Thought some more. Maybe you can have some kids to your house sometimes or all the time. They could wash hands before coming in, you could serve only gluten-free snacks, play with gluten-free toys, etc. Talk to the parents of his friends. We like to know what to look for or avoid or do special. My kids are teens now but as kids, they had friends with food issues or one in a wheelchair. They always wanted to make arrangements for the kids to have fun. When I was a kid, my brother's little 5 year old friend lost her hair to chemo. She wore a wig. It was a big no-no to touch her wig. Once the kids knew, they avoided it.

[Skylark]

Gosh, I don't have kids or a clue. I'd be wanting to provide all the food and make the party gluten-free, which is as almost as impractical as putting him in a bubble.

Let us know how it turns out. I am curious and really hoping for you that he has a great time and doesn't get sick.

[jsmjboertlein]

Thanks everyone. I just got home from the store after buying all of his gluten-free stuff. I will def let you all know how it goes. I'm a nervous wreck.

[jsmjboertlein]

Well today's the day. I'll log on later and let you all know how it went

[cahill]

Well today's the day. I'll log on later and let you all know how it went

I hope everything goes well. You and the little guy have a good time and stay safe

[jsmjboertlein]

We just arrived home and I would say it went fairly well! There weren't nearly that many kids there and we had one close call. One of the dads handed my son a plate of reg. pizza, but my guy was aware enough to say no thanks that's not my kind. Then I grabbed a plate and gave him his pizza and later saw some of his buddies pizza on his plate. Thankfully I think he was done eating by then and if he got any cross contamination at all, I don't know, but he hasn't acted like he did. He had a great time and the other moms loved his gluten-free cookies! Now I'm excited for the next one! I think you aren't allowed to post links to pics on this site? Is that right? Let me know if I'm mistaken on that, and I will link to some of the party pics!!

[psawyer]

I think you aren't allowed to post links to pics on this site? Is that right? Let me know if I'm mistaken on that, and I will link to some of the party pics!!

You can post pictures or links to pictures, as long as the content is consistent with our rules.

If the pictures are on a sharing site, such as Flickr or PhotoBucket, then you can share them.

You can post a link:

[url=http://www.wherever.com/picture]Click here.[/url]

or you can hot link the picture so it shows up in your post:

[img=http://www.wherever.com/picture]

[jsmjboertlein]

You can post pictures or links to pictures, as long as the content is consistent with our rules.

If the pictures are on a sharing site, such as Flickr or PhotoBucket, then you can share them.

You can post a link:

[url=http://www.wherever.com/picture]Click here.[/url]

or you can hot link the picture so it shows up in your post:

[img=http://www.wherever.com/picture]

Awsome thanks so much!

[jsmjboertlein]

Hmm I tried to put a pic up from flickr but it wont let me do it. O well.

[psawyer]

Here is an example of an image link, from my photobucket:

[img=http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e339/tortoiseshell2002/Psillies/Martini1-1.webp]

Produces

Cheers!

[jsmjboertlein]

Here is an example of an image link, from my photobucket:

[img=http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e339/tortoiseshell2002/Psillies/Martini1-1.webp]

Produces

Cheers!

MM. I'll take ten! LOL, sorry, got sidetracked. I will try again tomorrow. I'm beat! Thanks for your help!

[domesticactivist]

I was thinking of you and your little guy but didn't get a chance to respond. It sounds like it went really well! I'm happy for you and I'm sure your son will get to enjoy many parties from here on out!

[Skylark]

That's great news! I'm so glad he had a good time and didn't get sick.

[jsmjboertlein]

Thanks you guys! I'm thrilled with how it went. I think I am going to have a kid party too. He has some party catchin up to do.