Nearly Christmas...

And I'm praying I don't get glutened and get sick.

To top it all, I have a sinus infection. While not incredibly painful right now (it was last week tho!), it is bothersome and irritating.

Holidays are stressful, but even more when you have o know exactly what you're eating all the time.

Good luck to all this Holiday season, be safe and stay healthy!

The "List"

Of everything we have to avoid for a total meal:

Gluten (wheat, rye, barley and most oats)
Dairy
Soy
Sunflower & Safflower (The 2 year old is getting better with these, but still occasionally has a reaction)
and now Bananas. Well, that's easy enough anyway. But this one is brand spanking new. The 2 year old just started getting red rings around his mouth from Bananas. JOY.

At least its a short list...

And other things...

I haven't yet spoken much about my son's Autism diagnosis... I suppose now is as good of a time as any! I generally don't have any trouble talking about it, but its not something I really just put right out there usually. In fact, most people would never know he has a diagnosis. He is a really talkative, social, bright kid. I occasionally wonder if we got something mixed up, but I digress. In total honesty, he's a completely different kid than he was this time last year...




Last January, my then 3 year old was diagnosed with Autism, Receptive Language Disorder, and Severe Separation Anxiety. We went to the Easter Seals Autism Clinic. They would not give me any more information than this (like whether he was considered high-functioning or not). After our second trip down to see them, I was handed a letter with his diagnosis, and a giant folder full of information - and essentially told "Good Luck". We were already doing everything they suggested, so there was no new information to add to this. Except to put him back into school...


He's always been a super happy kid. Even though he never slept, had horrible eczema that would make you want to cry, and he would spit up insane amounts of breastmilk. Seriously, at times he would be nursing, pull off, spit up all over me, and then go right back to nursing! He hit all his milestones on time. Sitting up at 4 months, saying Mama at 5 months, walking at 11... etc etc. And he was huge. Really, truly, the biggest baby I'd ever seen, lol! He'd doubled his birth weight (8lbs, 8oz) by 2 months. By 9 months he was 27lbs (the now 2 year old doesn't even weight that, lol!!). He slowed down (ok, stopped!) once he started walking.


He had so many food allergies though, it was crazy. It seemed like he was allergic to the World. I cut everything out of my diet. I've talked about that before, no need to do it again (see the First post). After he had his first anaphylactic reaction to dairy, and we finally got in to see an allergist, we *thought* we knew what was going on. We *thought* he was just allergic to dairy and peanuts... Not quite...


So, I started feeding him (slowly...) all the things she said he could have now. I guess I should have paid more attention? Mother's guilt is always the long-lasting, hard to bear, kind of guilt. I'm pretty sure now, that he did have a problem with gluten... We'll get back to this later.


He stopped talking. He didn't babble. He said Hi at around 11 months, then Daddy sometime between then and 18 months. That was pretty much it, except for some animal noises. He didn't seem to understand a thing we said (the RLD).


He didn't turn to his name 90% of the time. You really had to be hollering at him.


Still, a happy kid though! He loved when I was pregnant with his brother to lay his head down and listen to the baby's heartbeat. He was so upbeat, and rarely threw a tantrum, til he self-weaned at around 20 months. At this point, he started drinking a crazy amount of soymilk. I was a little worried about all that soy, but figured we didn't have much of a choice to give him anything else.


The baby came, he still wasn't really talking. He was saying Mommy now, and tantruming like crazy. He would sit for an hour and try to figure out the belts on the baby's swing. Or the carseat. He had started banging his head on the wall when he was in trouble. He would randomly take off from us, and we joked about needing a harness and leash for the kid. No matter where we went, one of us was always trailing after him because he had no sense of danger, and would not stop if we shouted at him. I was starting to get really concerned. He also had a lot of repetitive behavior, mostly with doors (opening and closing them), and was flapping his hands when angry or excited. I was seriously hoping he was just a stubborn kid (which he is, lol), and that he'd start talking on his own...


So, at around 27 months I took him to Easter Seals for an evaluation. They said that he definitely had some delays. Suggested that Early Intervention have an evaluation as well. So, we had that done. They said he had significant delays in speech and some other delays (I can't really remember... ). They recommended therapy for speech and occupational therapy. The OT started in about 2 months. There's quite a waiting list... We waited 6 months for a speech therapist, and eventually I gave up and got him a private therapist. Best decision I made!


It didn't take long for him to start talking some. He was still a pretty quiet kid, but had a good amount of language - enough to make his needs met at least. He would still get stuck in repetitive patterns. Like, talking on the phone... he was constantly 'playing' phone. Pretty normal, except it would go on for hours unless you could get him directed somewhere else. No conversation at all.




When he turned 3, he aged out of E.I., and they wanted him in pre-school. So, we got him signed up, and tried to explain to him what was going to happen. He potty trained a few weeks before school started. He was doing pretty good too. Then classes started, and he had no idea what was happening. Remember, he had really severe seperation anxiety. He screamed bloody murder everyday for 6 days. All potty training was lost. He started having multiple accidents, even at night. I pulled him from the school. It took 2 months to get him back to square one. I started talking to his speech therapist and pediatrician about the possibility of Autism. His ped got us an appointment for January at the Autism Clinic. The whole process started in September/October. Yes, it took that long for an appointment.



The Clinic was interesting. I got to stay with him the whole time. I had to fill out piles of paperwork. It was long, intense, and we were both exhausted by the end of it. The whole process took two days - one long day where we saw several therapists, and a short day with just a few therapists and a developmental pediatrician. By the end of the second day, we had an official diagnosis. Autism, Receptive Language Disorder, and Severe Separation Anxiety (from me, specifically). We were already doing everything they suggested, except the schooling. I put a call into the preschool where he was previously, and got an IEP put in place for him. That first week was scary, no doubt!

He's doing wonderfully now. He started school again, in a smaller class (I think there was only a total of 8 kids) because he had been so overwhelmed in the first class (there was 20 kids in the class!), and this one was much more structured. He loved it! Still does! He has made huge leaps and bounds there. They definitely help meet his sensory needs too.

We started the gluten free diet with him shortly after I started mine, and saw even more improvements! He answers questions now, is starting to carry on conversations, can count to 50... He's so smart, I can hardly believe it.

The biggest changes started with his eyes... We've always said that he's off in his own world. Kind of flighty. And his pupils were HUGE. I thought that was just normal for him... nope. Once we started the diet, they started to decrease to a normal size. Then he stopped stimming (self-stimulation). His stim was this obnoxious motor noise, followed by a gutteral clicking in his throat. It had been constant. We haven't heard it in over a month now. Then, he stopped slamming the doors constantly. And now, he's a total motor mouth! This kid never, and I mean never, stops talking ;). He tends to do a running commentary of what we're doing, what he's doing, what his brother is doing... Such a difference from 11 months ago when he was diagnosed! So, through all of this, we've discovered a definite problem with gluten (obvious neurological problems), and soy (severe behavioral problems). Oh yes, soy causes him to tantrum and act like a heathen, and gives him some pretty severe stomach issues. Food can do some crazy things to your body...

So, that's the story... I hope its helpful to someone. I do admit, I kind of miss the quiet, lol!! But I'd never give it back ;).

Christmas Cut Out Cookies!!

Gluten Free/Dairy Free/Soy Free Roll Out/Cut Out Christmas Cookies!

These were delicious!!! I even gave one to a gal at work, and didn't tell her they were gluten free til after she said it was so yummy ;). They're chewy, soft, and taste just exactly the same (nearly) as the regular ones!! I left them a little thick, because that's how I like them, and the center stays nice and soft. The gluten-eating husband also thought they were pretty darn good ;). Not sure what kind of icing to use just yet... suggestions?

As always, you can change up the ingredients as you need to.

1 1/2 cup All Purpose Gluten Free Flour (I used Bob's Red Mill)
1/4 cup Tapioca Flour
1/2 cup of sugar
3 Tablespoons of brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon of xanthan gum
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 egg
1/2 cup of shortening (I use Spectrum) (I do NOT recommend using oil as a replacement - I have tried this, and the cookies just ran together and made one giant cookie!)
2-3 Tablespoons of Milk (I used Almond Milk)

Directions:
Cream together the shortening and sugars, add the vanilla.
Add the egg, and whisk together for 2-3 minutes.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flours, xanthan gum, salt, and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the sugar mix.
Add the milk until you get a non-sticky dough. It didn't take much for me!

You can refrigerate the dough for an hour, or go ahead an start rolling it out! We didn't wait, lol :), the boys were much to impatient for that! Roll it out, and start cutting out your cookies. It was kind of a play-doh consistency, which the kids loved. And yes, the dough is really yummy too!

Allergy Shiners...

More often than not, folks that have undiagnosed/untreated food allergies (well, any kind of allergy really), will have what they call "Allergy Shiners". These are the dark circles under a person's eyes that make it look like they either haven't slept in weeks, or got hit in the face.

I've had dark circles under my eyes for so long, I used to get tired of people asking if I was tired or if I'd gotten enough sleep.

Well, I was tired, but not from lack of sleep usually (except when the boys were little!).

Then today, I went upstairs to put my make-up on for work, and noticed that the area under my eyes had this odd, flesh toned color to it.

I decided to forego the make-up today ;). Which, I know, will make my make-up phobic husband quite happy (which, according to him, most men actually don't like make-up. Weird, right? Wonder why women have been using it for soooo many years...).

I've been gluten free about 2 full months now, with very few accidental glutenings. I can't wait to see what happens in the next 2 months - or the next year even!

Why does the term 'gluten free' get such a reaction?

"Ew, isn't Gluten Free food gross?"


"Wow, that's impressive, I could never do that..."


"Could you just imagine so and so trying to eat that?"





Just out of curiosity, why does this term spark so much... prejudice?





Apparently, these folks either A: never eat anything but bread (and only white bread), or bread-like processed junk, B: never eat ANY fruits, veggies or meats, or C: have absolutely, positively no idea what is in the food they eat.



Is it really that complicated to turn a box over, and read what's in it? Apparently so. It's my life, so I'm used to it. Heck, as a kid, I used to read the labels on the back on the cereal box because I had to be reading something at all times (but that's just the geek in me, lol).

So, while yes, I do have to memorize a million different ways to read "wheat", companies are really getting on the ball about being upfront about their food. In all honesty, its more profitable for them if they do. Food allergies are being diagnosed more and more, and people need to know that what they're eating isn't going to harm them. We're less likely to buy something if 99% of the ingredients cannot actually be pronounced with a human tongue.

A lot of the 'prejudice' might come from the fact that we are so used to processed foods. So few people bake their own bread even anymore. We want easy, right? We are an industrialized country, and women (or men) shouldn't have to slave all day in the kitchen to bake bread. We want to go to the store, and buy a bag of green beans that are already cut, washed, and ready to be cooked (or are already cooked!). Just pop them in the microwave for a few minutes, and you're set.

Being gluten free, well, it isn't usually that easy. Yes, yes, there's a TON of GF convenience foods - but most of them taste awful, or are awful for your body. Part of doing this is to be healthier... at least it is for me. It's not really a fad weight loss diet - I simply want to feel better. I've felt like crap for so many years, and I really don't want to feel that way anymore!

But, I'd really like to not get the 'looks' when I mention I made something. I make bread. It tastes good. I make pizza, and it tastes like pizza! (I am not dairy free, while the 4 y.o. is by necessity - I love cheese, and so does the husband and the 2 y.o.).

Maybe its hard for me to imagine what you eat, ever think that way? I know there are countries that don't eat beef - you can bet they find it hard to imagine that we eat it! Perhaps, as I was always told, we should all go by the adage of "Don't knock it til you try it."

My ultra-picky husband has managed to swallow everything I've made for him, with little complaint (there's always a complaint about it being too dry or too moist... hey, I'm still learning!). But most of the time, he's pleasantly surprised that it tastes good! Heck, I'm pleasantly surprised sometimes...

So don't wrinkle that nose at me when I mention what I made. It must have tasted good, because I'm not starving to death :).

GF/CF "buttermilk" biscuits

I wanted hamburger buns... and I stood in the kitchen looking at the ingredients I had on hand, and thought "crap, this isn't going to work." After all, the biscuits I'd attempted that morning turned out - edible, at best. They were cute though, I cut them into little star shapes, lol.

But, I needed a hamburger bun so the 4 y.o. would eat his burger. He refuses to eat the burger without it. And he did, indeed, attempt the burger - too bad the bun fell apart in his hands.

They were moist, fluffy, and had the taste of the canned biscuits I've been buying for years (before we went GF).

You know, cheap biscuits, lol!

So, here's what I used: give or take ;).

1 1/2 cups Brown Rice Flour w/ 1/2 cup corn starch
1/2 tsp xanthan gum
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
2 T brown sugar
dash of salt
1 T baking soda
2 eggs (saved about 1/2 an egg to brush on top of dough)
splash of apple cider vinegar
2/3 cup of rice milk... give or take..

I added all the dry ingredients to the mixer, and mixed them together, then added all the wet ingredients. Molded them into bun shapes, and placed them in a glass pie dish. Using a silicone pastry brush, I brushed the leftover egg over the top. Baked at 400* til golden brown.

Yes, you SHOULD play with your food!!

The main reason that I didn't go gluten free a year ago (when I'd initially started considering this might be the problem), is that I was totally intimated by my own kitchen.

The thought of going in there, and cooking something that might or might not taste good was just completely intimidating!

You've got to realize that I never considered myself as someone who can cook, bake, whatever. I swear, I could burn water (and have). But the more I forced myself into that kitchen, the more I realized it didn't matter if it burnt. It didn't matter if it tasted awful. All that mattered is that I learned that that didn't work.

I accidentally made buttermilk biscuits instead of hamburger buns last night! How bizzarre. They were perfectly moist, fell apart in my hands, and if I hadn't molded them into hamburger buns, who would've known?? LOL! That recipe to come ;).

It's such a learning process to go gluten free, especially when you're cooking for more than just yourself. At least the 4 y.o. will get the benefit of my years of experience once he's old enough to start baking, and the 2 y.o. will get the benefit of having helped me in the kitchen from such a young age! There's nothing that the little one likes more than getting covered in flour :D.

GF/CF Pumpkin Bars

This was my version of granola bars. I used to make granola bars all the time for the boys, because it was a great way to sneak veggies and fruits in their diets. But, we can't have the oatmeal anymore... so since we are out of, well, everything today (and grocery shopping isn't for a few more days!), I decided to experiment with some puffed rice cereal. These wound up being a HUGE hit with Mr. Picky 4 Year Old!! While the 2 y.o. has barely eaten 1 full bar, his brother has eaten all but 3 of them, lol!

GF/CF Pumpkin Bars
(also egg free, peanut free, tree nut free, etc)
2 cups of puffed rice cereal (I used Arrowhead Mills Organic Brown Rice)
1/2 cup of garbanzo bean flour (can sub any kind of GF flour as needed, I just grabbed the first one I saw, lol!)
1/3 tsp of xanthan gum
2 Tablespoons of brown sugar
1 tsp of baking powder
1/2 tsp of cinnamon
dash nutmeg and ginger
2 T of canola oil
1/2 cup honey
1 cup of mashed pumpkin

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Add oil, honey and pumpkin. Mix well. Pour into a square baking dish and smooth the top. Bake at 350* for about 15-20 minutes or until the top starts to turn golden brown.

My boys loved these, and they were gone in minutes!

Nov. 30th, 2009 - The First Blog

Well, everyone and their brother has a blog (and I know mine does, lol). I might as well jump on the bandwagon at some point, though I know I'm way behind the times by this point. I've attempted it on Facebook, but its just not quite the same - and everybody is in your business ;).

So, this is about me, but more about my adventures in this fun-filled, fast-paced allergy world.

I've had some understanding about allergies for years. I had allergy testing as a child, and while I can tell you that dogs, cats, birds (down), mold, and grass were definite issues for me, I had no idea that there was more to it than that.

For instance, I've suffered for years with an allergy 'fog'. Previously thought to be related to my many environmental allergies. Ah, no my dear Watson, its more than just that! So, how possibly could my 'fog' be related to my constant joint and muscle pain? Well, that just can't be. Or how about my migraines? Constant nausea? Well, perhaps...

My son, now 4, suffered from many allergies since birth. It took forever to figure them all out (and we're still a work in progress!), but by the time he was a year old we thought we'd gotten most of them under our thumb. Since I was breastfeeding, I'd cut out all wheat, rye, barley (also known as Gluten, get used to that word!), eggs, dairy, peanuts and tree nuts, most soy (but not all), and seafood. He seemed to be doing good. Now, since we did not know what he was actually allergic to (this diet was a Total Elimination Diet - I ate brown rice, most meats, fruits and veggies), when he was 11 months old, I gave him a 1/4 teaspoon of yogurt. He had an immediate anaphylactic reaction - and I felt HORRIBLE. Got him an epi-pen, and FINALLY got the boy to an allergist. She did testing, proclaimed he was simply allergic to dairy and peanuts, and everything else could be added back into 'our' diets. So, we started eating semi-normal again... and I started feeling awful again. I didn't put two and two together til recently...

A year ago, I complained to my doctor about exhaustion and migraines. He figured it was my wild children, lol, because they spent the whole time running circles in his office. But, even as the year went by, I knew that it was possible to feel human, because I had felt so much better when on the TED (Total Elimation diet) - I had energy, the black circles under my eyes went away, and I slept great (despite not getting a full nights rest b/c the boy woke up several times a night at that point still). Something was wrong with me... and ding ding, it was probably food related dummy, lol...

So, I spoke to my doctor and my husband, and was convinced to start the diet again. By this point, I was so nauseated all the time I could barely stand it. Actually got sick a couple times too. The migraines were horrible, and turned out to be attributed to chocolate! What the heck?? No wonder I never liked chocolate as a kid... But the big kicker was the gluten.

Once I cut the gluten out, the nausea went away in 2 days. In a week, all my joint and muscle pain went away. The debilitating leg pain? Gone. In 2 weeks, I was sleeping better, the dark circles under my eyes looked better, and my tummy issues were starting to get better as well.

So, the moral of the story? If something isn't working for you, find something that DOES. You might have to go on your own and figure it out.

I will probably never know if my son and I suffer from Celiac disease (oh yeah, he's got the same gluten issue, more on this later!), because we went gluten free before we could get the testing done (who knew you had to be eating gluten for the test to be accurate?!?). At this point, I cannot intentially poison my body for the sake of a diagnosis. Based on my symptoms... and my son's symptoms, I think its entirely possible. At some point in time, I want to get the genetic testing done - but that's awfully expensive so its got to wait!