My IGA results are in

The nurse called me today a month after taking the test and 4 days after asking for the results.  Nurse:  I don't know what any of this means  Me: that's ok I had to go through all this with my daughter.  Nurse: umm ok your IGA is 91  Me: what is the doctor's next opening?


I know this is just the beginning of a long  journey for me but it is really not a big deal.  I do not feel overwhelmed at the possibility or upset like I was with my daughter.   I am already doing this for her  so it will all be ok.  I also think it was harder to take because every parent wants a perfect life for their child.   Being handed her test results and not being able to find a doctor or any books to tell me how to help her I felt thrown into the deep end of the pool with out knowing how to swim.

I never want anyone to go through that feeling again so I started this blog. I wanted to share the information I learn and the recipes I try, like, or fix so that the next person would not have to feel that way.   So if you ever feel like you are the only one going through this please know that you are not.  There are lots of us and we have blogs!


On another note my daughter has 2 best friends and both of them have birthday's coming up.  We are going to one this Saturday.  They are our neighbors and know that she has CD.  We have talked and I have bought the same cupcake wrappers and decor.  I will be making her the same flavor cupcakes and same flavored frosting  that will be there for the birthday party already.  My daughter knows that I will be making her GF cupcakes that are the same. She is excited to have cupcakes and keeps making sure they are GF so that she can have them.

The mom called me this afternoon to find out if she could have face paint, if so she would buy some for the party.  I thought that this was very kind of her.  I told her to buy it and that I would look and see.  If it does I will tell her that it has gluten in it and we will come up with a compromise for later.  She was not so sure but I can't always give her what everyone else has and the world is certainly not going to cater to her needs.  So she is going to have to accept she can't participate in some things but she will be able to do something else instead. I don't want to shield her to much from life's reality.  This is how I am trying to deal with this at the moment a year from now my strategy may change.  What are your thoughts on this?  How are you handling these types of situations with your children?  Are you a parent of a non celiac and have run into situations you thought could be better handled?  If you have thoughts on  any of these drop me a line.

I will let you know how the cup cakes turn out.

How many of you are still waiting for our miracle drug?

How many of you ever heard of the trial study being done on Larazotide Acetatate Found here without results? I myself am so very tired of waiting to find out anything.  I am tired of calling and emailing them only to have them push back the date or even better, they don't bother to change the date at all.

I really can not get through my head why pharmaceutical companies are not throwing money into finding a pill like lactaid if not one that could be taken daily.  I get that even if this is the "break through" to finding a cure we would not get it until the patents were up on the medications.  Both of my parents worked in a hospital, I worked most of my jobs in  medicine, and I have a fair share of my own health problems so I am not naive to how insurance works.  I am shocked at how much money they are passing up by not making something for this disease and how little attention this disease gets.  I mean if  you count the people just the people with celiac disease (including the ones the don't realize it yet) but don't include the ones that have a sensitivity or are GFing due to Many other reasons that is 3 million people. That is just counting this country alone. People in other countries are just as eager to have this as we are. Can I speak for everyone with any illness and waiting for a medication when I say we have Viagra now so we don't need any more ED studies.  I am not saying that sexual dysfunction is not important. I am saying that ED has been put at the top of the list the past few years and I think the rest of us would appreciate some medication too.

Now my personal opinion is that if they do ever bring this item to life it should be available to everyone that is GFing.  I don't care if they have a sensitivity, if they have one of the many diseases that is thought to be caused or made worse by gluten.  If they Have been GFing and want to take it why not let them? If you have not read the link or do not know anything about what diseases gluten has been linked to please take a look at this wonderful article Dr Mark Hyman Gluten: What you don't know might kill you  Please know in advance that he states that not all or any of YOUR problems are caused by gluten but that some peoples are.  It is an excellent article over all explaining why the Celiac disease and sensitivity is growing, why it is important if you have any gluten sensitivity, and why gluten is costing our health care system oodles of money.

I will be posting books and products that I recommended in each post so it is not overwhelming to get them all at once.

This pizza crust Is SOOO good IMO.  We have tried a few some worked and some did not.  I am not a big pizza fan at all but my little bit loves it.  This pizza crust makes me love it!  I would happily eat 3 pieces of pizza with this crust (leaving my family in shock) I would also be just as happy to eat the pizza crust plain.  In fact after I had surgery I just ate the crusts from my daughter's pizza for dinner not because no one would make me something but the crust were all I wanted.

This is an article I wanted to share Oatmeal and a Gluten-Free Diet

As all of us that are trying to live a GF know that there is much debate on oats and the safety of them. My daughter loves oatmeal so I can no longer avoid the oat debate. I knew that this day would come and have been reading on the subject from the beginning. Now to find something she likes.

Oatmeal and a Gluten-Free Diet: How Safe is Gluten-Free Oats?

A few tips for GF and DF cooking I learned and like to share.

I have learned these lessons the hard way and I figured I would spare you the leaning process.

1) We use Silk in our house.  My daughter is lactose intolerant, I was allergic to milk (yes there is a difference) but after 10 years of shots I can drink it if I want to, and my husband does not care.  So instead of keeping milk that will go bad before I can use it at my house I usually keep chocolate and vanilla silk on hand because they last for a month or more.  I learned the important lesson that even in a pinch DO NOT use Vanilla Silk (even though it is not strong tasting) It will leave whatever you are cooking with a funny after taste. You will need to use plain silk to make your dish.  It lasts just as long as the other silks so it is good to keep on hand too.

2) Rice noodles are very delicate and you can over cook them VERY easily.  I recommend leaving them them a little al dente unless you are going to do a cold rinse on them immediately after you finish cooking them.

3)Corn noodles are not delicate but they do like to stick.  You need a large pot so that they have plenty of space.  I normally put oil and a dash of salt in with all noodles I boil, Oil to keep them from sticking and salt to keep them from over flowing also  to add flavor to them.   If you do not do this ADD OIL to these. Even if it just a little and stir the noodles around so they get coated in it.  Do not add these to the pot until the water is at a FULL boil or you can
will have a mess on your hands.


I highly recommend buying one of these books every year  from this series depending on you or your families needs

How GF are you?

I tried to take the genetic test before my husband and I were married.  My insurance company and the only hospital that was doing them stopped the year prior to me calling.   Would we have risked marriage if we would have know what all could of gone wrong if our genes mixed?  That will always be unknown and I am glad because I Love my little bit to pieces.

Our parenting technique and the view on GFing are 100% different though.  I am still at the extreme safe end. If I can't find on the package that it is GF, find on the web that it is or is not GF, or if I call the company and can not get a complete answer from someone that sounds knowledgeable  on the subject then I will not give it to my child.  If they say that it is manufactured in a company with other products they may contaminate it To me the product has a giant red flashing light on it saying don't eat.

My husband is much more relaxed.  He will read the label and as long as no wheat products are mentioned he is good to go.  Being made in the same company as another product his thoughts are what are the chances of contamination and if it is it still has to be small.

So anyone else have an opinion?  I know that I will relax as I learn more .  I had planned on buying the shopping guide come the new year.  I am no longer sure I can wait that long.  I want to shake my husband every time he feeds her something I have not approved.   I can understand his frustration with me needing to approve what she eats.  

I feel my mother bear come out saying these years are still so important and they will impact the rest of her life.  We have not healed her intestines up yet why are you putting them at risk again, you can give her cancer, cause her to have miscarriage after miscarriage or many other fertility issues.  I just want to hit my knees begging , screaming , and pleading to anyone and everyone that tries to give my child food.  I want to ask the world to wake up because America has the most Celiac's so why can't I go to a fall fest without having to explain to my child that no she will never be able to go on a hay ride.  That I am not punishing her, she is not bad , and she will not be able to do it when she grows up.  A little piece of my heart breaks usually when I have to tell her those things.  Recently I am wondering if little pieces of my soul are not starting to as well.

I get asked what gluten and Celiac disease are almost everyday

I really don't mind being asked.  I would rather have someone ask me then be afraid to ask me fearing it was rude.  IMO It is not rude!  No one can know everything in this world.  Pretending that you do know what something is when you don't can get someone hurt. So I appreciate it when another parent takes the time out of their life to ask what gluten is or what things she can or can not have.  I think it would be rude of me not to explain what they are or become upset when asked.

I would like to give a good explanation here so people can always come here to figure out what it is.  I hope to give you several links to read and explain in my own words as well.   Please feel free to post any comments of your own.

Gluten, in its most simplest definition, is a kind of protein that tends to exist in wheat, barley, and rye among other carbohydrates. Gluten comes from the Latin word Gluten meaning "glue" .  It gives elasticity to dough, helping it to rise and to keep its shape, and often giving the final product a chewy texture.


It is important to know that Food is not the only place that Gluten is found.  Gluten can be in: Soaps, Shampoo, Alcohol, Pet food, Pet Shampoos, Make up, and many more If you plan to have someone in your  life regularly and want close contact with them don't be offended if they ask what make up or any other items listed you use.  Some Celiacs suffer from more severe or different sensitivity then others. So they may not be bothered at all.  Mine daughter is bothered by skin products though so it is something I do have to ask or I send soaps and shampoos with her.  I have even brought our own laundry and dish soaps with us while traveling to keep this to a minimum. 


Some helpful sites to understanding more about gluten 

• How gluten is used
• gluten what you don't know might kill you

Some helpful sites if you are having someone with Celiac disease or anyone eating GF over and want to know what they can and can not have 

• http://www.csaceliacs.org/gluten_grains.php

Understanding Celiac disease better


Celiac disease is a digestive condition triggered by consumption of the protein gluten, which is found in bread, pasta, cookies, pizza crust and many other foods containing wheat, barley or rye. If you have celiac disease and eat foods containing gluten, an immune reaction occurs in your small intestine, causing damage to the surface of your small intestine and an inability to absorb certain nutrients. It really destroys the  villi—the tiny, fingerlike protrusions lining the small intestine. Villi normally allow nutrients from food to be absorbed through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream. Without healthy villi, a person becomes malnourished, no matter how much food one eats
Eventually, the decreased absorption of nutrients (malabsorption) that occurs with celiac disease can cause vitamin deficiencies that deprive your brain, peripheral nervous system, bones, liver and other organs of vital nourishment. This can lead to other illnesses and stunted growth in children.

No treatment can cure celiac disease. However, you can effectively manage celiac disease through changing your diet.


Along with Celiac disease comes many other problems so please ask if there are any other dietary restrictions. 


  


FRUITS:
All fruits are gluten-free (unless they have been combined with or are packaged with gluten containing ingredients)
BEVERAGES:
water, water, water, 100% juices, milk, tea, coffee, and water :)


VEGETABLES:
All vegetables are gluten-free (Be cautious of floured or breaded vegetables, or those in sauces) 

Please note that you can buy all the expensive food you want for when your friends come over but if you put the GF bread into your toaster that you use for your bread It has now been contaminated and can NOT be eaten.  If you are wanting to use p-nut butter buy a small new jar for them to use so that the crumbs from your bread are not in it causing the food you cooked to be contaminated.  

It really is not that hard once you know what you are looking for.  Many items can be bought at your local store that are GF.  Many people that have Celiac disease bring food that they can eat and that others will like as well when they go to public functions.  Just keep in mind to use the utensil for their food only and not mix and match.  I never show up somewhere expecting people to cater to my child's needs.  I am always grateful if they do but I think it is rude of me to EXPECT that of people.  I also bring enough of what I bring for my child for the others that will be there and I try to explain the handling procedures of the food so no cross contamination will take place.

Links to different safe food lists. Also just a good learning site in general.


There are more GF link listed on my Links page. Feel free to contact me with any information or questions that you have.  I am not a doctor and can not diagnose you sorry.  I am a mom with a blog trying to share her knowledge and make life a little easier for someone else.

GF Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Yes GF and even my parents LOVED them!!!

I used the Bob red mills pancake mix
I followed the instructions on the package for one batch Except I did not add the oil
I added 9 TBS of Libby's Pumpkin pie puree   (I put the rest in the fridge to make something else but I am sure you could freeze)
I had to add more silk stir and repeat until the pancake batter consistency came back.  The pumpkin thickened it.  I did not use more then 1/4 a cup though.
I then added a handful of mini chocolate chips.   (you can add them to each pancake as they are cooking I just did it this way.)

I set heat on med and while still bubbling flipped.  (My  dad notice if you whip the batter more the pancakes get more of the fluffy texture and if you don't they will stay very thin.)  This is true of the pancake mix regularly and more so with the pumpkin.

You can use this for any GF mix and for any regular mix as well.

Halloween is creeping closer

For those of us that celebrate the day and have children that have Celiac disease this can still be a really fun day.  I know you have to worry about stickers, stamps, and make up. Oh my!  Lord help us if there is a party at a friends house that does not know anything about  GFing yet.  This really does not have to ruin anything though.  I let my daughter do the Trick-or-Treat thing with her friends just like any other child gets to do.  Then when we get home She knows she has to hand over her bucket of stuff and gets to exchange it for the GF candy and sweets that we bought together (even better she has helped pick out).  

I have found that letting her have some control in her diet and what she eats makes a huge difference.  The battles are fewer and farther between and when they come up I remind her that she picked these things out.  She does not have to finish something that is bad tasting.  I will make her put something away for later if she likes it and refuses to eat it though.

I have found a very helpful list of candy both GF and Non GF I thought I would share.  If your child is having a class party then it might be helpful to send this to the teacher.
Gluten-friendly-and-Gluten-Free-Candy-and-Treats-for-Halloween

Making a good GF Wrap

My daughter is not into lettuce wraps yet but I still have hope for her.  I lay out the meat in layers add mayo and roll into a wrap.  Depending on the day I slice into smaller pieces or let her eat the wrap as is. This has been fine but I can't give her all her favorites this way.

My dad has been here helping to take care of my daughter and helping me to create new ideas that are edible.  So here is one for a wrap.

Bob red mills -- pancake mix

3/4 flour

1 egg

3/4 silk plus a little extra to make it a little runny

spray pan
add the same amount of pancake mix as normal
turn the pan around (spreading the pancake out and making into the size wrap desired)

4 wraps were made

then added a tiny bit more flour and to make pancakes or leave it alone to make more wraps.

I used these to make Peanut butter wraps.

I want to try adding pumpkin to the mix next time maybe a few other things.

There really is no place like home!

I am home from the hospital yay!!!   I have to say my Doctor Dr. Layman was the best.  I did not expect to be out of bed, walking around or doing anything I am doing.  I am not really sure what I expected from this surgery?  I think I tried to put it out of my mind until it was time to go in really.  At least it is over now and I have put on a happy face long enough to escape.  I am so thankful that my parents will be here a little longer so that I can recover still.

Report on the brownies and a little extra

If you love dark chocolate you would love these. Well if you love dark chocolate and Reese's peanut butter.  I remember having the same thought the year before when I used one of their chocolate cake mixes for her Tinkerbell cake. Because I had worked with the brand before I also remembered that if I followed the recipe as written on the bag that the product came out a little greasy for me.

I know that Gluten is the glue so that GFing especially baking is a different texture.  That does not mean that it needs to be bad.  I just played with what I choose to put in.

ok I did the 9x9 pan
and that means the list calls for
3 eggs
3/4 cup of oil
1/2 cup of water

Now there are a few excellent books  that will tell you what ingredients you can use in place of others Cooking Free by Carol Fenster, PH.D.  and The Kid-Friendly  ADHD and Autism Cookbook The Ultimate Guide to the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Dietby Pamela Compart, M.D. and Dana Laake R.D.H., M.S., L.D. are the ones I have been using and they have been very helpful.


Now here is what I decided to use:
1/2 cup of flax seed oil
1  1/2 cups of applesauce
1/2 cup of chocolate silk

I thought the batter looked a little dry so I added more chocolate silk and would stir just by eyeballing it I do not think I added a full 1/4 of a cup.

For the Reese's Peanut butter part
I use JIF   (I am sure that any brand will due you will need more or less salt or sugar)
I used 1 1/2 cups of JIF  (just pick out how p-nut buttery you want it to be add more or less)
1/4 cup of sugar to that
a pinch of salt
Stir until that is completely blended (you know this because while it is still grainy it is now a little runny at least for p-nut butter.
This is where the testing begins.  You will add salt and sugar stir then taste and repeat until you either have the perfect Reese's flavor or almost there.  If it is almost there and you keep playing with it you will ruin it.  I am speaking from experience.  I am sorry I do not have the exact recipe for you  but I was taught how to make this in middle school and the teacher taught us to eyeball all of it.

When I added the peanut butter I marbled it in the batter but dropping or any design would work just as well.

Now my reasoning for what I used.

Flaxseed oil- Ok yes this is VERY expensive but it is also pack the most bang for your buck health wise.  I tried EVOO  last time and it was just to oily so since I was cutting how much oil I was going to use I went with the good stuff.

Applesauce- It can be used in the place of eggs if they are needed as a binder or as a moisturizer.  

Chocolate silk- I wanted to make sure that it still had flavor and I was worried that adding all that applesauce was going to take away from it some.

If I were to try this again I would use vanilla silk and use plum instead of applesauce.  To help cut down on the dark chocolate flavor.

I live with 2 Dark chocolate LOVERS so I will be keeping this version for them and still looking for a different recipe for myself.



I am in need of a Southern Style Chicken and dumplings GF recipe that is tested if anyone has one. If no one else has one I will be posting one in the future.  I will be having surgery on 6th and they are saying I will need bed rest for a while so I am not sure how much I will be on in the next couple of weeks.  If you have any question I will get back to you it just make take a little while.

Thanks

GF Brownies in the oven

I could not find a recipe for GF peanut butter brownies so I am trying Namaste brownie mix with my Reese's Peanut butter cup Mix I make.  I asked DH (husband) to pick up eggs and he got substitute ones so instead of risking the 72 hrs of Gluten HELL!!!! I have also had to improvise on the recipe.  I will let you know how they turn out.