Halloween

Like it or not it the day is coming.  I personally love the day and my daughter dresses up everyday so she is in love with the day as well.  So here are a few options for how to deal with the day to make it go smoothly.

1) Have a party - If you have a party at your house you know what is there and you know your child or yourself  will not be contaminated.  If you want help with food give out something that is easy but gluten free to each guest. Like a bag of GF candy or any other GF prepackaged food or drink.

2) For smaller children take them trick or treating! This is what I have done with mine. Depending on the age of the child say 3-up you can decide on something to replace the candy they receive.  I told my daughter it was the one time she could take something from someone without asking if it was Gluten free and put it in her bucket. When we got home she hands over the bucket and we hand over the toy. GF snacks, or GF candy that we all agreed on before she went trick or treating so there are no melt downs.  ***the younger they are you might want to bring a snacks or sucker with you trick or treating if you will be doing it with other people that let their children that are allowed to eat some of theirs on the way.***

3) Go trick or treating at houses you have already talked to and know that they will have GF candy or other items. --My In-Laws do this for us.  They take down a list of candy that is safe for her that year and any of the people in the neighborhood that know my daughter they buy GF candy. There is a long list of candy that is GF and not outrageously expensive so if you know your neighbors give them a handout a of the GF candies letting them know they don't have to buy them it is just a suggestion of what your child can have. Lets face it if you are going to their house and are friends they already know and probably will appreciate it. I would not ever do it with strangers but most of my friends appreciate this kind of thing from me.

4)  If you know a group of people with Gluten sensitive or celiac disease then do something together. You know you be in a safe environment and people who go against the grain rock so you know you would have fun!


How to handle school:

Some school participate in this and some have a fall festival. If asked send in a list of items that your child can have.  I would include pencils, erasers, and other cheap toys on this list because they are everywhere at party city and Walmart right now. The other children would like them just as much, the parents would love not have another piece of sugar put in their kids body, and the other parents probably would be relieved not to have to worry about what to buy for your child that is gluten free.

If you give out something and you do not want it to be candy try http://www.orientaltrading.com/  I have used the a lot over the years and love them.  It would be great if you and several parents went in together so you could get a variety for trick or treating or for the classroom.

Good luck and I hope all of you have a spooktacular Gluten free Halloween!

The test go on and on

The new Gastro ordered a ton of blood test for my daughter. He has also requested that she be allergy tested for a few things and wants her to be tested for all the behavioral illnesses that are greatly affected by Gluten.  We have yet to see her main pediatric doctor to have anything setup other then the blood tests.

Blood tests results roll in daily.  I knew that the test might come back flagged and half of the first set did so she will be watched for a more serious illness. When the second set came back low I was appalled.  I had asked for her Vitamin D to be tested because a year and a half ago I was told it was low. She was already on vitamins, we played outside as much as possible for sun, and we even made smoothies to try to boost it along with her iron which also stays low. I was told by the old base they didn't know what to do and as always nothing was done.  I was just a mother with to much time on her hands as far as they were concerned.  Now all this time has gone by and I can only wonder what else has happened to her body due to lack of treatment?

The doctors here acknowledge that she has not had proper treatment and are now trying to make up for that.  While I appreciate that it seems that so much more could be going on inside that little body then I ever dreamed of.  

I contaminated her *Heavy sigh*

So my child has been going through the melt downs, not able to use her words properly, and don't get me started on the "rage" or temper issue today.   As I keep trying to pack for the move she would be unpacking the one box I had not taped up (I had not taped it to give her something to do).  Then she would come at me again and for the life of me I could not understand why she was doing this.  I mean yes we are moving and she has her good moments but also her bad moments with that. This seemed like gluten though.

After each large box or tote I pack I let myself sit down until my back stops throbbing and as I sit here I notice I have had the screen door open all day.  The wind is blowing and anywhere else this would be a fine day.  Here with the grain elevators next to us I have been filling my house full of contamination.  A huge reason my daughter and I are moving not to mention the doctor's idea of treatment was for me to Google it.

Here is my question: What do you do when your child is contaminated?  Do you treat them differently or hold them to the same behavioral standards as always?

I used to try to cut my daughter more slack because the gluten does make a large difference in her everything from motor skills to personality.  I am now of the mind to think that is hurting her.  Her teachers can not say well she hit him because of the gluten.  The police will not say that about her.  Her friends are might understand some mood swings but only up to a point.

So what are your thoughts on this subject?  Even if you do not have a child who needs to be GF.  What is your opinion?

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.