Negative.

So, for today's medical adventure we packaged up 23 snack bags neatly labeled with Jacoby's information and headed to National Jewish for what I think was our 4th allergy test (it could be the 5th, but I've honestly lost track). The items in question today were: corn, wheat, beef, gluten-free flour, tapioca, broccoli, strawberry, blueberry, banana, pear, apple, strawberry vinaigrette, ketchup, spaghetti sauce, mushroom, carrot (cooked and raw), lettuce, grape, potato, ham, and rice. These are the basics of Jacoby's diet broken down into 23 snack bags!

Off we traipsed to Denver, dropped off our food 1 hour prior to the test, had a snack in the car, went back for the test, super-fast and friendly nurse did the test, we watched Elmo while we waited for the timer to beep, nurse came back in to read the results, and...they were all NEGATIVE! I can't even begin to describe happiness that comes from a negative result in our world! We're of course always open to diet changes when recommended by our doctors, but it's a relief to know that most of what we're feeding our child seems to be ok as far as we can tell with a skin prick test. So, all of the thoughts I was milling over on our commute to Denver while Jacoby snoozed, like "Can we live without spaghetti sauce? It might be tricky but I think we'd live." And "What if all of the fruit comes back positive? Well, I guess rhubarb, cranberries, and prickly pear might be options to try next." And "Can I really learn how to make gluten-free bread without my nifty flour? Better start praying for patience on this one immediately..." have all faded into the background for right now.

For next steps, I hope to talk to the allergist sometime today about our course of action (which may involve diet changes) and getting Jacoby started on a steroid to treat the esophagus inflammation. And we're going to continue on with our 23 food items for right now, and enjoy each and every one of them immensely!

I should also mention for those following Justin's progress, that he had a great impromptu meeting with his advisor today at DU (the reason I'm at home and not working this afternoon). It sounds like they've come up with a plan to go over bibliographies for the next two comprehensive exams in a week or so, and he understands Justin's goal of getting these over and done with (and out of our lives forever and ever) by spring quarter.

So, many things to be thankful for in our lives today (more on that over on my other blog). Here are silly pictures of Jacoby's "snack-bag diet". Hope you're having a great week!