Adventures of an Allergist Mommy

Hallelujah! Angels sang this morning, as my husband and I awoke to find that for the first time in almost 5 years, there was no pint-sized human barrier separating us. Son #2 slept through the night! In his own crib, without waking even once! There is no credit to take for this miracle, only thanks to give... and fingers to cross hoping that this new development sticks!

Thanks to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, and the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology for the following update. It has come to our attention that there is a generic epinephrine autoinjector (without a specific name) that is being distributed by Greenstone (a generic division of Pfizer). According to Greenstone's website, this injector is identical to a product named Adrenaclick , distributed by Shionogi Pharma. Apparently Shionogi has authorized Greenstone to distribute the same device as an unbranded or "generic" item. We call your attention to this because it may result in substitution by the pharmacy of the generic for a brand name prescription, or vice versa. The issue which merits comment is that the instructions for the administration of EpiPen , a product distributed by Mylan Pharmaceuticals, is different than the instructions for the administration of either the Adrenaclick or the "generic" auto...

Went to a Greek restaurant with the family yesterday for a combined Graduation and Mother's Day celebration. The boys loved the saginaki! Son #2 kept yelling, "Fire, fire!" (oh, dear.) Son #1 asked: "Daddy, why do you keep shouting 'Oprah!'?"

Have an expired epinephrine autoinjector and don't know how to dispose of it properly? Here's an opportunity to donate your expired medication to a good cause! AllergySense is collecting expired epinephrine autoinjectors for use as training devices at hospitals and clinics in the U.S. and Canada. As a thank you - for each autoinjector you donate, you'll be entered in a drawing for some nice prizes! Here's the link: http://www.allergysense.com/promo_epi.php

Anyone who hails from Chicago knows that we have two seasons: winter and construction. Now that construction season is upon us, it is often difficult to stay in a good mood while commuting. When construction delays forced me to take a circuitous route home last week, bypassing the highway and winding through all sorts of local roads we had never seen before, I was starting to get frustrated. I mean, how is it that every highway needs to be upgraded every spring? I just want to get on the highway and fly home, you know? Kids are in the car, we're hungry and tired, and I could feel my blood starting to boil as we hit yet another red light. We finally pulled into the garage, and my 5 year old says, "Mommy, I really liked the new way you took us home today- it was very creative !" God bless preschool teachers. God bless 'em.

Especially important during this active allergy season- Please see the following link for a list of lot numbers affected in the McNeil recall (affecting Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec & Benadryl). http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com/page.jhtml?id=/include/new_recall.inc