How many kids do you have and what are their ages? Two boys: Bradlee, 4, and Taylor, 1.

What is your favorite activity to do with your kids in the Springs? “They love (the Welcome Center’s Kids Korner at) Focus on the Family, but usually I just take them to parks. Being outside is a big thing for them.”

What is your profession? Stay-at-home mom and work-from-home cake artist/owner of Brittany’s Custom Cakes. “I make cakes — 3D sculpted cakes and wedding cakes and stuff. I do that on the side when I have time.”

What has been your biggest parenting challenge? Taylor has Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES). Brittany exclusively breastfeeds him and doesn’t eat any of the foods he’s reacted to so that her breast milk remains safe for him to consume. He can’t try solids again until age 2 at the earliest.

“FPIES is a food protein allergy. He’s 1 year old and can’t eat any food. He’s allergic to everything, basically. He’s exclusively breastfed. He goes into shock with food. That’s a huge, huge challenge.

“When he was 8 months we started to give him solids. We did carrots and he went into shock, every 20 minutes throwing up nonstop. He passed out in his bed. We had no idea what was going on. He was completely limp, in shock and not breathing. We were like, ‘How can he be allergic to carrots? There’s no way.’ We tried a bunch of other foods and the same things were happening.

“Our pediatrician totally didn’t believe us. I was up at 3 a.m. Googling all this stuff, trying to figure out what was wrong with him. He has a really severe case of FPIES. He can’t have formula, food, anything except for elemental formula. I’ve been battling our insurance company to cover it. They’ve denied it a few times. We keep trying to appeal, but so far, nothing.”

What’s the best part of parenting? “Probably just them, just seeing them grow and be happy and do what they like to do. That’s probably the best.”

Your husband is a Special Forces solider. What is it like to be a military wife and the mom of a special-needs child? “It’s definitely difficult because of all of the stuff I have to do for (my boys). I think it gets easier. My husband has been in (the Army) for five years. It’s not too bad anymore, but it’s definitely a challenge.”

Check out Brittany’s blog, which features photos of the handmade felt toys she makes for her kids, here.

Pikes Peak Parent’s September MOM of the Month, Brittany Porter, and her children Photo by Courtey photo