Documentation of C's rashes

I've decided to document when Connor breaks out in a rash and what he ate. Since we found out he was allergic to milk, we haven't had any significant breakouts. Just a dot of red skin here or there, or some eczema on his hands. His hands seem the most affected by things he eats - especially graham crackers. His fingers quite frequently have a rash on them from picking up foods. Is it possible that the food he puts in his mouth mixes with his saliva and he reacts to that somehow? Hmm. I wish I knew the answer.

Anyway, tonight we had breakfast burritos for dinner. Eggs (whites and yolks), salt and pepper to taste, and some bacon all mixed together. I gave him some of the eggs, which he really liked. So, I gave him some more. The pictures don't do him justice (he's much more red than these pictures show) but within a few minutes, this is what he looked like:


Rash all over his belly from where his hands touched his tummy


Rash that broke out into welts under his chin - that's why we're wondering if it's the bib


All over his face and ears where his food touched. (It's all over his ears because his hands started to itch, so he rubbed his hands on his ears and eyes and side of his face.)

Since he was already breaking out, we decided to test the eggs on him. (One of the things he was tested for was egg whites, and that came back negative.) So, we rubbed some egg white on one arm, and egg yolk on the other arm. There was no reaction. He's had bacon before, and I didn't put any cheese or milk in with the eggs. I'm so perplexed. I did give him a little piece of chocolate cake last night, with chocolate frosting, to celebrate his birthday, but that's seems to be a little long afterwards to have a reaction, especially where he only broke out on the places he touched.

The only other thing that was different was a bib I put on him. I got a new bib out of the closet and put that on him - (not new from the store, but new as in it hasn't been used since it was last washed.) We haven't used bibs until just recently when we started to let him pick up his own food and eat that way. I guess it's possible that this particular bib was used when I was eating milk, he spit up on it, and it didn't completely wash out. Or something. I don't know.

I never fully appreciated moms of kids with allergies and their concerns with foods they ate - until now. I just told Gavin that he wasn't allowed to touch or kiss Bear until his skin gets cleared up again. I'm constantly watching what he puts in his mouth and what he touches, and trying to watch what I eat. It's hard. I'm hoping that the dr. is right and that he'll eventually outgrow this. Or that we can condition his body to accept milk. Someday, I hope.

*sigh*