We are going to see a new Peds Gastroenterologist

The last time we saw one we had to travel out of town to see him. So we were allowed to have one visit with him prior to the biopsy and then the biopsy.  The diagnosis left a lot to be desired.  After all the time that has passed and all the things I have had to learn on my own I am going in prepared (or as prepared as I can think up).

I won't lie and say I don't hope that he says oh there was some mix up in the tests and she really has this.  All she has to do is take a pill and she will be fine from now on.  Back in reality I know that when she comes in any contact with gluten there is no hiding the fact it changes her.  I am still hopeful and nervous all at once.

Wish me luck!

2011/2012 Gluten Free and Allergy Free Art Supply List | Adventures of a Gluten Free Mom:

'via Blog this'

She has a great blog and you should check it out while you are there but this particular post can save you a lot of time.  I am buying Stamps and Gluten free ink for school at the moment and just bought Glutent free play-dough or Soy-yer Soy-Yer Dough 6 Pack Gift Set    last week.  Hope this saves you guys some time looking everything up.          

Ideas for Gluten free snacks for school

** Disclaimer** while some products should be Gluten free such as Cornmeal it could be manufactured in a company that makes wheat containing products. So me companies will not guarantee that the product is not cross contaminated during production and therefore you may need to call the company or look in your 

2011/2012 Gluten-Free Grocery Shopping Guide by Cecelia's Marketplace

 

Fruit

Any…

Vegetables

Any

If you are cutting these up please make sure to wash your utensils with gluten free soap such as Dawn. Wipe down a area in your kitchen with something such as Clorox wipes so that there is no cross contamination that takes place.  

Chips

Pirates Booty – Veggie 

Pirates Booty – Smart Puffs, Wisconsin Cheddar 

Mr. Krispers – rice crackers – various flavors 

Food Should be good – chips / crackers -various flavors:

*Lunburg farms – Rice tortilla chips – various flavors 

Lays potato chips 

Baked Lays 

Crackers

Glutino – original, vegetable and cheese flavor 

Glutino – vegetable 

Glutino – cheese 

Glutino – multi-grain 

Mary’s gone crackers – Original 

Mary’s gone crackers – Caraway

Mary’s gone crackers – Herb 

Blue Diamond – Nut thins – various flavors 

Out of the Bread Box – Gram Crackers 

Out of the Bread Box – Cheese crackers 

Out of the Bread Box – Multi grain crackers 

Cookies and treats (in cookie or snack isles)

Pamela’s- Cookies – many flavors 

Mi-Del – Ginger cookies 

Mi-Del – Sugar cookies 

Ian’s – Animal crackers 

Ian’s – Cookie bites 

Glutino – Vanilla wafers – chocolate covered 

Glutino – Chocolate wafers – chocolate covered 

Glutino – Chocolate covered strawberry wafers 

Glutino – Chocolate covered lemon wafers 

Glutino – Chocolate Vanilla Crème Cookies 

Glutino – Vanilla Crème Cookies 

Glutino – Chocolate Chip Cookies 

Enjoy Life – Snicker doodles 

Enjoy Life – Chocolate chip cookies 

Enjoy Life – Ginger cookies 

Out of the Bread Box – Cookies 

Envirokidz Organic crispy rice bars

Most of the Chex cereals are GF

Candy

-junior mints

-mini and regular hershey bars

-m & m  packs

-hershey kisses

-lemonheads candy

-sweedish fish

-tootsie pops, tootsie rolls

-after eight candies

-popsicle brand popsicles--many types, check packaging!

-push-ups, italian ice, lemon chills

-milk duds

-gogurt--great frozen

-silhouette brand fudgesicles

-dove ice cream minis or regular

-haagan daaz mini ice cream cups --obviously not with cookies or brownie pieces!

-kinnikinnick k-toos (just like oreos) and chocolate chip cookies (really divine!)

-wholefoods frozen brownies, cupcakes

-chooclate covered strawberries, fruit kabobs

-edy mini ice cream cups

-edy's dibs

-jello pudding snack packs

-smarites--roll candies

-dairy queen pre-packaged ice cream bars

-starburst fruit chews
-skittles

Haribo Gummies

Sharie’s Candies Gummies

Trolli Gummies

Gold Medal Cotton Candy

-three muskateer bars
-glutino kit-kat like chocolate wafer cookies (a favorite of the gluten free boy!)

Places that are good to get Gluten free food

Publix  (The one on 9th has a section of Gluten Free (GF) food up front as you walk in it is on the right hand side)

Winn dixe (Most have a small section of GF food and they are mixed in too)

Walmart (The one on davis has a small section of GF food but mainly mixed )

Evermans (Mixed in)

Walgreens  (Mixed in)

Oh Snap! Cupcakes  has Gluten free items as well as nut free

http://www.ohsnapcupcakes.com/

http://allergicliving.com/  A great site to check out for both gluten free and nut free products and info.

http://www.livingwithout.com/ another great site that has information on both nut and gluten free information.

http://glutenfreekidsworld.com/favorite-kids-gluten-free-snacks

ideas if you wanted to make something

http://www.bettycrocker.com/search/searchresults?st=7&term=gluten%20free#/?term=gluten%2Bfree&pi=1&ps=10

UNSAFE FOODS/ ITEMS unless they say GF or you make them with GF products

Gluten

Wheat

Barley

Rye

Enriched white flour

All purpose flour

Cookies

Bread

Buns

Cake\cupcakes

crackers

cereal

doughnuts

poptarts

pretzels

pancakes

waffles

pie

pasta noodles 

spaghetti 

Chocolate with

Crispies or Cookies

Twizzlers

candy not on safe list

ice cream (verify)

Cheese sauces

Processed cheese

hot dogs (fillers)

gravy

soup

margarine

malt vinegar

vegetable oil (verify)

spices (verify)

flavorings

food coloring (verify)

MSG

salad dressings

mayonnaise (verify)

Oreida Tator Tots

Pickles (verify)

Suntan lotion (verify)

hand lotion (verify)

Soaps with Wheat germ oil

Toothpaste (verify)

Paper Maché

Play Doh

Finger Paint

Straw

Stamps (glue contains gluten)

Things to avoid if you want to know them

http://glutenfreekidsworld.com/gluten-free-ingredients-to-avoid

I know they look scary 

information on Germ X, Purell, Elmers. Neosporin, Kleenex, Neo to go

Gluten free ones 

Germ X
Purell
Elmers glues
Neosporin max strength, first aide ointment, and wound clenser
Kleenex are all Gluten free

The only one that would send me any information in writing stating one way or another was Kleenex. Here is what they had to say:

 Thanks for your e-mail to Kimberly-Clark.

Kimberly-Clark consumer products do not contain wheat, rye, barley, spelt, triticale, kamut or farina.  Certain Kimberly-Clark products do contain oats.  The only Kimberly-Clark products containing oats are HUGGIES® Soft Skin products.

We hope that this information is helpful.  Thanks again for visiting our web site.


Renee
Consumer Services, Kimberly-Clark Corp.
Lead the world in essentials for a better life.


Other news on products

Neo to go says that it is Gluten free but it has not been tested so take that how you want.....
Neosporin plus pain is not tested

Here is my official post on BAND-AID

After spending a great deal of time on the phone with the company today to find out if the products were Gluten free I can say that not all of them are.   I was hopeful to believe that all of them were like so many other sites had told me they were but this is why I like doing my own leg work when it comes to some products.  They do have some products that are in fact GF.  It is also easier if you call in with a specific product to ask them about.  

Crayola gluten free info

I know that there are so many parents out there that are getting ready  for school and scanning that school supply list or even if you just want something for your little one to play with at home here is some info on Crayola.

I called them again today (07/26/11)  and everything except crayola dough is Gluten free.  I checked about the new dry erase products since they are new and they are Gluten free.  I always ask about the crayola color bubbles and they are still safe as well.

Here is the information from the site and the link as well:

Due to allergies and allergy concerns, can you tell me the ingredients in your products?
	Question

Due to allergies and allergy concerns, can you tell me the ingredients in your products?

	Answer

The exact ingredients of our products are proprietary, however, we are happy to provide you with the most common ingredient requests NOT FOUND in products currently manufactured by Crayola. This list does not include Crayola official licensed products. Please check packaging carefully to determine the manufacturer.

Peanuts & Legumes
Tree Nuts
Eggs & Egg Shell
Milk
Casein
Nut & Nut Oil
D&C Red Dye #40
Latex*

*It is possible that latex gloves may have been worn during the manufacture and distribution of raw materials, components or finished goods.

Crayola Dough contains wheat and therefore is not Gluten Free. Other Crayola products, including Model Magic modeling compound, Modeling Clay, Air-Dry Clay, and Model Magic Fusion are Gluten Free.

For additional assistance, please call us at 1-800-272-9652 weekdays between 9 AM and 4 PM Eastern Time.

Date Updated 11/17/10 01:11 PM


Crayola allergy information

Touch yourself!

There are a ton of great organizations out there for breast cancer and they have hip names so we all support them.  Really though as a mom or just a woman how many of us forget to touch ourselves once a month? We all have so much going on and truth be told the last thing I want to do is add one more thing to the to do list when it comes shower time. I even have a how-to breast exam shower hanger in there with me that I got when I was 16.  I think this disease kills so easily because Women are so busy taking care of our families that we put ourselves off until later.

Since another woman I love has been added to the list of ppl I will fight to Save the ta-tas, Cop-a-feel, and all the others out there.  I felt the need to remind all women and men out there in cyber land to take a min each month and touch yourself. Maybe this disease will never find you  but more likely then not it will touch your life somehow.  

Seeing where I was born and raised through new eyes

Before this last visit home it had been about 2 years since we visited home.  So I am now getting my real first look at my hometown through Gluten free glasses. I am not complaining at all!!!!! There is GF food and products all over the place. The 2nd day here I went and bought almost $100 of GF food because it was there and I am so used to having to hoard it lol.   

Lots of people here have heard of Celiac disease or gluten and the ones who have not usually have their Southern hospitality and want to know all they can to help.  I am in love with being back in my Crunchy home town.  I know it will not be all rainbows and sunshine but for today I am going to relish being here! 

So the move is over and the real work begins

I have been working on enrolling Phia in school and getting us enrolled in the new Tricare system down here this week.  I have to say this is when I get nervous before I meet the new doctor.  I keep telling myself it can't go anywhere but up from here and in truth they do have so much more to offer her at the base alone not to mention in Pensacola as well.  Still The protective mother bear that has had to fight to get even blood test done for her the past few years feels like she is pacing inside of me.

Her Pre-K teacher  seems happy to work with anything she is handed so I am hoping that if I give her the school supply list of things she can and can not have  (as well as providing the supplies) then she will not have a problem.  The school has works with allergies and since it is a private school there will be less children.   So I am hopeful.  Still looking up and calling different companies to check if they are GF since most of the ones that are pre-written are from '09.   Hopefully when I am done I can make a list and post it for you guys to use too.

here are some links to other useful information , tools, or letters that will help with educating the school and teacher on your child's illness.


Assisting a GF child a letter to educators a letter from the doctor to the teacher

Letter to educator 

www.celiaccentral.org/SiteData/docs/504 Plan R/fcd141e36d5775c0/504 Plan Roadmap for the Accommodating...a Student with Celiac Disease - 2011.pdf    the 504 plan if you do not know is part of the disability act and your child has to have a 504 diagnosis to participate in it.  This is a wonderful thing if you or your child is a simple straight forward case it will help you so much!  Unfortunately most of us do not have a simple diagnosis to qualify for this but if you think you do ask your doctor if you have a 504 diagnosis.

Here is a giveaway you should check out!

The giveaway has a little bit of everything!  http://nicolemichelles.blogspot.com/2011/05/5000-fans-or-bust.html?showComment=1306088575717#c5574424335788412820  Lots of Work at home Mom's (WHAM's) are giving away nice items.

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?

The Smokin' Skillet Is Gluten Friendly

My husband had heard about this place, and the prices were insanely low!  I was hesitant [like I am about all new restaurants] because you never know how gluten friendly the staff are really going to be.  We placed our order with the waitress and went through the normal “Please cook it on tinfoil because we do not want to risk cross contamination” spiel.  Then the waitress asks what she wants for her sides. Well normally she can only have broccoli when we go out (she will not eat potatoes!)  When I looked at the sides list I was shocked to see how many options there were for her.  She got a HUGE fresh fruit bowl and inhaled it.  

After ordering the manager came out and I sighed a heavy tired sigh to myself because this has happened many times.  This is usually when they say something like, “I‘m sorry, but we can’t help you, we can’t take the risk of having you eat in our restaurant.”  Outwardly I covered my sad face to greet her with a smile.  She was coming out to find out the facts.......What?  Yes, ladies and gentlemen  The manager and owner wanted to know everything they could know about how to better serve my child.  She wanted to let me know in the future what other food option were.  She wanted to know what the staff could do to keep my child safe and brought over the menu to go over it with me.   

The options for people who do not need gluten free food is 3 pages or more.  The portions are huge I had to take mine home!  So If you live here, stop by-- they’re celebrating their one year anniversary on 5/7/11 . If you’re still not sure after my glowing recommendation check out their sites.

http://www.facebook.com/TheSmokinSkillet?ref=ts&sk=wall

http://www.thesmokinskillet.com/

Gluten free food labeling petition and email PLS take a moment to sign

1 in 133 people have celiac disease that is not how many people need to eat gluten free food.  Please take a moment and at least sign your name to this petition.  there can be power in numbers.  If you really want to help click the send a letter and you can send a letter that has already been for you or you can write one of your own.   You can also donate but I am asking you to lend you name to the cause.

Sign here :http://1in133.org/you/

I want to thank any of you that take the time to do this even if it does take 2 more years for them to get this done I have to hold out hope. Also thanks you for reading my blog.

Kate

Leal's in Clovis NM is VERY Gluten Friendly!!!

We  went out for Mexican food tonight and were overjoyed to find out how helpful and friendly  http://www.lealsmexicanfoods.com/ Leal's Mexican restaurant on Prince St was.   We normally ask for a plain chicken breast or hamburger with cheese (even though she is lactose intolerant we let her have it once in a while).  We tell the restaurant that she has celiac disease and explain what she can not have.  We ask them to cook the order on tinfoil for us to make sure no contamination takes place.

Leal's manager came to the table to let us know that most of the meat get marinated the night before but she would be happy to check and see if they had non marinated meat for us.  They did have a few pieces YAY!  She was happy to let me look at the ingredients on the marinade bottle if  they did not have any meat without marinade.  They also have a gluten free menu now which was something I had not thought to look for.  They even covered her plate with tinfoil for her to eat on.

When we go again, I'll probably call ahead and make sure they have a chicken breast that has not been marinated before we go-- just in case this post sends a ton of gluten free ppl to eat there the same night we do, lol.

Overall the experience of dining Gluten-free at Leal's was a wonderful one! I would have to give them 5 out of 5 stars.   

Easy Jello eggs make a great easter!!

Ever since we found out that there is a possibility Phia has ataxia (where the gluten attacks her brain instead of her intestines) I am even more protective of what she gets into.  I want her to have all the joys of childhood I had but I don't want them to kill her.  My  compromise for dying easter eggs is making colorful Jello eggs.   Because there is always room for Jello.

I bought my molds online and typed in JELL-O EGG JIGGLERS Egg Mold   there are a ton of places that sell them especially if it is in season for them




http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/jell-o-egg-jigglers-50280.aspx

This is a great how to but I must stress to oil the molds before you use them.  Normally you would do this with any mold but nothing is worse then a small child waiting for the Jello eggs only to have them not come out of the mold properly.

I like the different colors but you can be really creative and make rainbow, add fruit, or marshmallows to the bottoms before filling all the way then adding the tops to finish filling.

No matter what you do this spring time I hope that you have a wonderful gluten free time.

Betty crocker GF Brownies review

I have to say with very little adjustment to this box recipe these are really good!

The only things I did differently from the back of the box were...
I greased my pan with butter
I added plain GF applesauce to the batter after adding all of the box directions.
**This will increase baking time**

I added 8 oz of applesauce which left it tasting almost like a pudding cake.  If you want something less fluffy then you would add less of the applesauce to the batter.  you will need to watch them once you hit the time on the box so you can get a good idea of how much time it takes for them to cook in Your oven, where You live, and depending upon how much applesauce You want to add.

These taste great and are fast and easy.  A great treat to take with you to a party! 

Olive gardens has gluten free food!

I know I was shocked too it is a place filled with gluten products but they even have a GF pasta and sauce.  My daughter had it for dinner last night and loved it!  she was so excited to be able to eat pasta in a restaurant with everyone else.  She has had no gluten side effects and the service from the Olive Gardens In Pensacola, FL was outstanding when it came to her!

The waiter had no clue that they even sold it so I had her check before the rest of us ordered.  She made sure that the pasta and the sauce were both the correct ones.  Now this is not on the kids menu but there is a grilled chicken and vegetables on the kids menu.  (We have no problems with leftovers.) The waiter gave my daughter a plate with some cheese on it as a snack and I gave her a pill. She asked what Celiac disease was and what she could not eat so that she would know and could keep her safe.  

I have to say since the diagnosis I have always thought of Olive Gardens as if it just did not exist but this is going in my top 10 GF of the best restaurant experiences.   

The diagnosis post

We took my daughter to get her official diagnosis a little bit ago and it is only fair that I should finally post the results.

The doctor is unsure because while she had some damage to her intestines earlier they were healed this time.  The blood work and by her reaction to gluten he still thinks that she has Celiac disease. He thinks she is one of the few people with it that it does not attack the intestines and instead it attack another organ in the body.  (Yeah that was news to me too).  She could also have a strong allergy and that puts her at risk for a whole new set of problems.  The only way to confirm the true diagnosis now would be to put her on a diet containing gluten for 6 months and the cut her open looking for the organ that it is eating away at.  We declined at this time on that option. Since we do not know if the organ such as the brain, heart, lungs, or so on that would be eaten away at can repair itself like the intestines would.  It is a option I would not like to have to take.  If we do I want her to be older then 3 yrs old.

Thank you for waiting so long on this post.  I have been dreading writing it.

I need your feedback and help pls

So how do you deal with going out to eat?  do you wipe down the table with a wet nap to make sure you do not get contaminated?

How do you deal with going to Chuckie Cheese or a McDonald's  playground?  It is a place that other children who have been eating all kinds of gluten are now smearing all over the play equipment and possibly you and your child.

These are the types of little things that my husband and I are now debating.  We do not want to keep our child in a bubble or make her feel "special" but I want to keep her safe as well.

So please all you moms out there tell me your thoughts on it or how you do it.

Books to buy for the new year

Happy new year to you all. I have several wish for all of you in this coming year.  That health comes to you and yours with ease.  That the public becomes more Gluten conscious everyday. Last that a cure is found ( If you are going to wish it should be big right ;-) )

It is the new year and that means it is time to SHOP!!!!! This is what I am excited to buy 

Books: one of these is a must have IMO

2011/2012 Gluten-Free Grocery Shopping Guide by Cecelia's Marketplace

Gluten/Casein Free Grocery Shopping Guide by Cecelia's Marketplace

Gluten/Casein/Soy Free Grocery Shopping Guide by Cecelia's Marketplace

Here are more books that can be useful depending on your lifestyle:

Living Gluten-Free For Dummies

The Essential Gluten-Free Grocery Guide

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Gluten-Free Eating

The Gluten-Free Bible: The Thoroughly Indispensable Guide to Negotiating Life without Wheat

Gluten-Free Cooking For Dummies

The Essential Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide

The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook, Updated and Revised: The Ultimate Guide to the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet

The Essential Gluten-free Grocery Guide

The Gluten-Free Nutrition Guide

Triumph Dining Gluten Free Restaurant Dining Cards (Gold Pack, Cards for American, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese, Greek, Italian and Greek Cuisines)

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free Cookbook for Kids and Busy Adults

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Gluten-Free Cooking

Let's Eat Out! Your Passport to Living Gluten And Allergy Free

Gluten Free Food Storage, It's in the Bag

Gluten-Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource GuideGluten-Free Kids: Raising Happy, Healthy Children with Celiac Disease, Autism, and Other Conditions

Gluten Free in Thai Restaurants (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)Gluten Free in Steak and Seafood Restaurants (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Gluten Free in Mexican Restaurants (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Allergen Free in Italian Restaurants (Let's Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Cereal Killers: Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free A to Z

Gluten Free in Indian Restaurants (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Here are some Kindle versions of books that can useful depending on your lifestyle:

Restaurant guides:

Allergen Free in Italian Restaurants (Let's Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Gluten Free in Mexican Restaurants (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)Gluten Free in Indian Restaurants (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Gluten Free in French Restaurants (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Gluten Free in Thai Restaurants (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Gluten Free in Steak and Seafood Restaurants (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!) 

Chinese, Indian and Thai Cuisine Passport (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Let's Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac and Food Allergies! (eBook Edition)

Gluten Free Directory

Gluten Free Food Storage, It's in the Bag

The Kid-Friendly ADHD and Autism Cookbook: The Ultimate Guide to the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet My child does not have ADHD or Autism but I still found this book helpful.  It was useful tool to help me learn what can help replace what when baking and how much you need to use which is HUGE!!!!

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Gluten-Free Cooking

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Gluten-Free Eating

Gluten-Free Cooking For Dummies

Gluten Free College Student Cookbook Great for teaching your preteens and teens before they go too.  Then they can just take this with them 

IMO This is HUGE if you travel a lot!!!!!!!!!

Multi-Lingual Phrase Passport for Gluten and Allergen Free Travel (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Day To Day Cooking Tortillas Recipe

Magazine:

Living Without Magazine (1-year auto-renewal)

Another must have IMO tons of information packed into this baby so it is well worth your hard earned money.

There are a TON more GF book, Cookbooks, and magazines out there and I can't wait to read them.  Most of these books I sadly do not own I just borrow from the library or sit and read in a book store when we have to travel to see a doctor. The moment I read/buy more I will let you know.   

If you are a author of a book, cookbook or magazine  would like to have me to read and write on your book or if you manufacture a GF product and would be interested in having me  write a review on my site Please contact me and I would be happy to!  

We survived Christmas!!!

Turkey, dressing, roasted veggies, green beans,  (green bean casserole for the non celiacs) mashed potatoes, Pumpkin tort, and Chocolate tort  all GF but one.

I discovered something today for the first time that can be a problem.....Washing dishes!  If you are making something with gluten in it then you need to make sure that you wash the dishes separately.  If you can not get to them at that moment then you may want to set them somewhere that a well meaning family member does not get to them.  

I almost did this to my dishes, I went to wash the green bean casserole dish with the same thing that I wash all my others with.  Just before I touched the pan the cross contamination alarms started going off and I threw it in different directions.  So we made it through the day contamination free.

I wish peace and happiness for you and your family this year.  I pray that we all learn to live GF with ease and that we can teach society that we live here too.
How did you do?

My official hay ride post!

Here it is people...I have been getting a lot of views because of the hayride mention.  There is a HUGE debate in the Celiac world about this.  Every site you look at tells you something different.  Why should I not weigh in too right?  

Ok so each place does the hay differently.  Your best bet is to call the place that you want to go to and ask them if the hay ride will be Caliac friendly.  If they do not know (you might not be the first????)  then they can call the farmer that they are getting the hay from or they can provide you with the number.  Now this does several things it educates another group of people that we exist and like to have fun too and it also allows you to know if you can safely put your child on the ride.  If the farmer has something in the hay that is not Celiac friendly then the place will know next year and hopefully remember that we exist.  If you have a blog then you can tell them that you are willing to link to them if they will provide a Celiac friendly hay ride next year and ask them if they will do one first even so that there will be no cross contamination  if you have a Celiac group in your community. 

Day# Who cares!!!

This post will be about what ever happens to spew out of me at the moment so watch for falling objects.

Since it is the holidays let's start with my favorite things that people said to me about food so far. 

You can eat Whole wheat right? It says Whole

You can eat it it say all natural on it.

I bought it a the natural store just for her so I know she can eat it.  Reading the label contains dairy, Wheat, made in around machine that use rye.

I think you are making this whole thing up.

Hippy :)

 

These are just my top 5 I could write a book with all of them and I am sure you could to.  I do not find most of them offensive so I figured we would start off with a laugh.  I know I could use it.

I was reading gluten free living today trying to figure out what I wanted to make for Christmas. While I was doing this my child pinged around my head from the gluten.  I thought to myself This test could come back saying what ever it wants to but we will be GFing for the rest of this child's life.  Then I sat her on my lap and told her this, " I know you will not remember this in 2 mins and as a mother I never thought I would say this to you  but when you look for someone to marry I want you to go to the biggest Whole foods store you can find.  You walk up and down the aisles until you find a man with a buggy, not a little basket a Giant buggy  follow him if he is shopping there for to do all his cooking from there and does not have on a ring then you flirt with him.   That man my dear can afford to date you. "  She laugh and bounced off.  The sad thing is that it might be true.....     

Preparing for the biopsy....A look at how far we have come Day#4

We are on Day #4 Giving little bit some gluten each day until the biopsy on the December 8th. As all of you who have gone GF and had to go back please join me in stepping outside after this for a screaming session and GF drinks!!!!   Really though I knew Gluten did BAD things to my child and I know when she had it in her system even though we try our best to keep her in a GF environment.  I mean you can see it physically in her stomach but also all emotional changes.  Now on day 4 I sit here trying not to rip my hair out watching my child's regression in her behavior, speech, and well all of her functions. I am only on day 4 and emotionally overwhelmed.  I am shocked that I was so happy at all the positive the GF diet that I forgot all the horrible things that prolonged gluten caused her. I am exhausted from the chaos that is now my child's mood.  (ones of the sure sings she has had gluten though) I have whiplash at the speed in the breakdown of her speech, motor functions, and regression for her age.  


I look at her  behavior everyday saying this is not all her it is the gluten too.  I still make her do the things she was expected to do before.  She just spends much more time calming down in her room then before, being reminded to use her words, how to hold utensils, and now to go to the bathroom.  I go to bed each day thinking how did we live like this not knowing?  How did I have the patience to live like this all the time?    


Well this is just day #4 in our journey I am sure I will post more on this.  GL and Bless you all that are going through this right now or that are not yet diagnosed.  


Note: I have thanksgiving day pictures and info that I will share but not today 

All those that are ready for the holidays raise your hand

I used to be one of those people beaming with pride that I had almost all my shopping done (all I could do before Black Friday) I had made everything I could pre-make (sew, build, write,or make however the craft required except for food crafts).  I would be one of those people that had all the items that were not required to be fresh already bought  for both thanksgiving and the next holiday. ((( For me I celebrate Advent, St. Nicholas Day, Christmas eve, and Christmas. I have friends that celebrate nothing and ones that celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and a mixture of other beliefs all mixed together.  So I have no preference in people's beliefs but to  keep politically correct I will go with holiday. )))

I now have  little of the shopping done, nothing is handmade yet this year :o( , and my menu has gone to hell. lol   I have had one thing every year no matter what country I was in or what house I went to.  For me this one dish represented home and the holidays for me The Dressing!  When we went GF I was not worried because the 7 pieces of bread that were in it could be replaced with GF bread NP.  I am a Southern Gal after all so my Great grandma's dressing is a cornbread dressing.  Well I wanted to confirm everything even though the label lists no Gluten ingredients so I called the company.  The nice girl let me know that all of Martha white products are in fact to be considered either containing gluten or that there is a possibility of cross contamination because they do not clean the machines between products.  She then asks me if she can do anything for me. Now I knew she did not mean for me to respond to her and she was just trying find a nice way to get rid of me but my policy is never ask me a question you do not want to hear the answer to.  So I answered her  saying why yes you could help me plan a new menu for this year and ask your company to start making GF products.  Would it be so hard to clean the machines between products or buy different ones to use for GF and non GF since you will have a new set of consumers?

Oh well I am not pulled together but I thought I would give you some links to those people that are in case you are in need of anything.

gluten-free goddess - thanksgiving recipes and tips

I must say that this blogger has a well organized list.  She even has a blog roll that is VERY impressive so stop in even if you have everything planned out.  Maybe you will find something new to try.

Until we meet again Keep GF-ing

My search for the lactose intolerance and celiac answer and a bit extra

*** Note as with all medical information I share on here please ask your doctor.  I am a mom and do not know you.  Your doctor knows all your medical history and will know how any information will pertain to you*****

My daughter has lactose intolerance and I have been looking around to see if there is any possibility that she will grow out of it since it can come with the celiac disease or if she will continue to have it forever.  I am happy to say all the research that I have read has lead me to believe that there is a chance that after being on a strict GF diet for a year to two years she could grow out of it.  There is no clear answer but I did not expect one.  She could have the LI from the damage done to the villi and micro villi in her small intestines.  Once they heal (in a year -2 years) she can be retested and might be able to handle the process of breaking down lactose once more.  She might have inherited the genetic  problem to develop a shortage of Lactase from us.  

I thought anyone with CD or loved someone with CD would be glad to hear that there is hope.  Also if you have CD and have never been tested you may want to consider it.


I went to the doctor the for the "results"   So now my daughter and I both have appointments for  gastroenterology.  I also have a few other appointments I will keep you posted on.


I can't wait to get my hands on these!  I want to let my daughter try it for cereal but I also want to try making "rice crispy treats"  out of them.  I can't wait to see her face when she tries one for the first time.

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cup Cakes

So I made GF cupcake from Betty Crocker Cake Mix.  I used the vanilla mix inserted a piece of chocolate in the middle and did a strawberry frosting.

I am going to be looking for a good frosting recipe because I was putting this one back in the fridge after doing 1 or 2  cup cakes and it was still running all over the place.  If any of you are cake decorators and would like to share some of your tips and recipes PLEASE  DO!

 The recipe was followed on the back of the box but when I try this again I will be using fruit puree because they were a little dry and dried out fast there after.  They came out beautifully and my little celiac loved them.  Here are some pics.