A New Doctor Experience...

Going to a new Doctor's Office is STRESSFUL...yeah I used all caps, cuz that is how I felt this morning...

I never know exactly who to tell all the info to.  Do I tell the poor nurse taking my blood pressure or do I wait and tell the Doctor?  I have a long list of issues and the list just keeps getting longer as the years go by.

I remember when I was 23 the hardest question they asked was when my last cycle started.

When I was 25 it was when my last shot of hormones was given.

When I was 27, 28, and 29, I practically lived at my OBGYN's office.  I swear I saw him 3 times a week for both of my pregnancies.  Why do you have to pee in a cup at each and every appointment? Is one's pee really all that interesting...And why is my pee not interesting now??  No uterus means no more cups??  No idea...

So anyway, I'm 36 now and I get asked all kinds of hard questions now...and I never know how much to say.  I have a ruptured disc in my spin, L5 to be exact, when they ask "How'd that happen?" Do I tell them I was chasing my son through the Sears parking lot or do I say I took a step when there was actually a step down and fell smack on my tailbone.  Then to make matters worse a year later I was rear ended and injured my back even further...I can't sit cross legged anymore...

Then they say "Well what kind of exercise are you getting?".....Ummmm, not much...remember the tailbones constantly grinding together, it kinda makes things difficult.  "I swim in the warmer months when I have money in the budget to go to the pool."

"Your cholesterol is a little higher than we'd like, it is 100, and with diabetes it should really be at 70, have you made any changes to fix that?"  Ummm, no, I thought 100 was okay, but as of January I haven't eaten a single fast food meal because my daughter is gluten free.  "Oh, well that would have made an improvement!"

Then we start discussing all the medicines I am on and none of them are the right dosage or even close to being beneficial.  That makes me angry.  I made this appointment with a new office because I felt my other doctor wasn't listening to me.  Now not only was she not listening to me, she wasn't even helping me!

But there is GOOD NEWS...my A1C dropped from 8.0 to 7.2!!  That is awesome!!  I have NO IDEA what I am doing to get my diabetes under control, but whatever it is, it is working!!  And now that my medicines will actually be effective, my diabetes will get even better!!

We did the blood panel to test for Celiac.  I am not going to do the biopsy.  I just cant afford that procedure right now, and from all of the reports I've read the results aren't 100% accurate anyway.  I know that eating gluten free makes me feel better, so that is what I'm going to do.  I wanted the blood panel for peace of mind mostly.

I know this is really all over the place, but it was my day at the doctor.  My thoughts and what happened...

What stresses you out when you go to a new doctor? 
What LOW impact exercise to you recommend?
How do you pick a new doctor?

~XOXO~

Alisha

You can often find me at these Parties!

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10 Day YOU Challenge: {Day 2} 9 Loves

9 Loves

This is going to be so super easy, too easy...

My first thought was to list off 9 foods that I really really love and have yet to replace in a gluten free replica.  

But, there really aren't 9 foods that I can't have, only one...

So, when I lived in Miami, I lived in Coconut Grove, which is a more upper class area of Miami.  I was a hick from Texas, working at a deli that sold $1000 bottles of wine and fresh bagels made daily.

If you've never had a fresh bagel, you are in for a treat.  They taste nothing like what is sold at the grocery store.  They are soft and so very chewy, mmmmm, just good!!

1)The only way to eat a bagel in my opinion is with cream cheese, tomato, and salt & pepper.  I LOVE THIS!


I am thinking the rest of the list will be pretty straight forward...Maybe a picture or two…

2) Pedicures.  I love to go get a pedicure.  Not only do I get pretty toes, but I get time with my girlfriends and a bonus back massage.  (all of the spas here have massaging pedicure chairs)

3) My husband's shoulder/chest...there is this spot that my head fits perfectly.  No matter what is happening, if I lay down in that spot, and he plays with my hair, I will pass out and sleep like a baby for at least 4 hours.  I love that he lets me take a nap when I need one.  I love that there are days that he says "come on you need to go take a nap."  I love that, even though my insomnia is a hassle and really a major pain in the rear, he is understanding most of the time.

4) My son's imagination.  He is amazing!  When he was about 3, we watched Eragon.  For months after, he would tell me stories about his dragon that lived on our roof and ate his corn dogs.  His dragon took all the leaves off our oak tree for his bed and then sneezed and they got all over our yard.  His dragon also decided that he was only allowed to eat chocolate and broccoli.  That one was a little difficult!  His imagination has matured as he has...he now draws robots and creates lego master pieces.  He plays with his voice, creating a new sound every 5 minutes.  This may not actually be a love...most of them are high pitched & squeaky!

5) "Oh I'm a pepper He's a pepper She's a pepper We're a pepper Wouldn't you like to be a pepper too!"  I am a HUGE Diet Dr. Pepper Drinker...I probably have more DDP in my blood stream than actual blood.  Yes, I drink that much...

REFORMED as of a week ago (2/13), I have not had a drop of DDP...I went through detox & everything!!

6) Cracking open a new book and falling in love.  I LOVE to read.  I love learn about the characters and picture them in my head.  I really do not like watching a movie before I've read the book.  If left a lone, I could sit and read an entire book cover to cover, in an afternoon.

7) Watching my children grow.  I always hated when people would say, "You'll understand when you're a mother", but, here I am saying it...They is just no way to put into words the exact emotion that comes from watching your child grow.  It is joy, love, fear, sadness, excitement, and so much more all rolled into one...I love it!

8) Winter.  I love Winter...but I have to explain...I live in South Texas, we have 9 months of sweltering 100 degree summer, and 3 months of bipolar winter.  I say bipolar winter, because Mother Nature just can't decide what to do...
Here is an actual weather forecast

• Monday 50 & Foggy
• Tuesday 87 & Humid
• Wednesday 70 & Foggy
• Thursday 60 & Drizzle
• Friday 50 & Rain
• Saturday 90 & Humid

And we all wonder why we keep getting sick.  It is wet, then dry, then hot, and then cold...
I would love to live in a climate that had all 4 seasons, with trees that changed colors and you actually needed to own a winter coat. 

9) My Husband and Children...they are my everything.  I love them more than anything else.  Without them none of the above would matter at all.  We are a small little family, but we are strong and solid.  We laugh at each other and with each other, we help when help is needed and we support without being asked.  We love with our whole hearts and we do our best to always share our true feelings.

To learn all there is about me visit the Who are We page.
You can also read about my 10 Secrets here. 

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Inspiration

I blog surf.  I have done it for years.  There are several blogs that I follow and read often, but majority of the time, I am clicking from one blog to the next.  I have found some of the best blogs by doing this. 

I followed a link to oh, Amanda and started reading a posted entitled No-Niche Memoir Blog, which really made me start thinking about my blog.   

I write 75% of the time about food.  But not recipes that I have created.  Just meals in general.  Gluten Free Meals.  25% of the time I just blog.  I would like to 'just blog' more often.  I have a lot of thoughts swimming in my head, but I often think to myself " would anyone what to read about that or do they care about the dresser I painted?"

But tonight, I clicked on a link to a site that I seriously think I am going to sit down and read every single post.  Enjoying the Small Things.  The author of this blog, in my opinion, is brilliant.  Her writing spoke to me.  I think I have a serious girl crush.

I am going to quote a response she posted to a question on her FAQ page.

Q: It seems there are so many categories of moms these days, especially on blogs. What kind of mom do you consider yourself?

A: "Just a mom. I don't want to sum up what kind of mom I am in one word because that's limiting. I don't like being put in a box and I'm way too impulsive to fit into just one category. I've written about this before, but I think sometimes we feel like we can't explore a new area if we don't completely fit in the box. Like "I'd really like to buy that vintage plate because I love it, but my house is too contemporary and I'm not really Vintage Girl." Who says you have to be just one thing? Buy the damn plate if you love it. Our society is fabulous at pigeon-holing people and identifying them into categories as if they have to abide by a certain set of rules--and judgement and assumption often follows. We've identified the urban mom, the hipster mom, the churchy mom, the homeschool mom, the wild mom, the funny mom, the divorced mom, the laid back mom as if once you have a label, that's all you can be. That's so constraining and yet, I admit, I fall victim to the labeling. Like I thought I couldn't make my own laundry soap because it meant I'd also have to drive a hybrid car. Holding a solid faith and dancing out with the girls don't have to be opposites. Having a home in a suburban neighborhood doesn't mean I can't funk it up with crafts and cherished kitsch. And writing about "the small things" certainly doesn't mean I don't pay attention to "the big things" in life too. I want to passionately explore a multitude of areas in life and, while some areas might bubble to the surface with noticeable expression, some simmer beautifully and quietly underneath--not to be forgotten. I'll dip my toes into different hobbies and ways of life if I feel drawn to them, and I won't let the box of "who I'm supposed to be" stop me for a hot second. And I learn--oh, do I learn from so many other kinds of moms who continually broaden the definition of motherhood with their insight and experience.  We're women. We are multi-faceted. We don't have to fit into a box. We follow our own rhythms and we celebrate our movements that may change over the course of aging, mothering, learning, exploring, loving.

I follow my instincts and listen to my heart. That's the kind of mother I am."

After reading that, do you too feel like you have put yourself in a box?  I know I have.  I know I have seen a plate that I loved, but didn't purchase it because it didn't go with the theme of my house...

I am the theme of my house.  We (my family and I) are the themes of our house.  We make it a home, not the French Country Curtains or the Traditional Couch.  

So long story short,

Yes, This is a GLUTEN FREE blog, but it is also a blog about my life, our lives.  What we do, what we eat, and where we go.

There are 50 million blogs out in the blogiverse.  I am a tee-tiny little fish in that sea.  I am not looking to compete with any of them, I just want to have a place to go, write down all the thoughts in my head, and document our lives.

I hope you all stay along for the ride.


I'd love to hear your thoughts on this post,
Thanks

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10 Day YOU Challenge: {Day 1} 10 secrets

I am being a copy cat.  

Doing what the cool kids do.  

Following along like a sheep...

Which, if you knew me at all is completely against my grain.  

I don't follow memes, I am the leader of the pact not the sheep blindly following...

Why, you ask am I being a copy cat and following along....

well, because...

This is AWESOME!!

I am also smart enough to know I don't have to reinvent the wheel when there is a super awesome one right next to me...

So, a few days ago I was blog surfing {my favorite activity} and discovered Because (I think) I Can.  The name alone pulls me in, I love it!!  I am skimming along looking over craft projects(very cool), pictures of kids(too cute!), secrets, huh? What? Secrets...I stop and really read.  She explains that she has never really talked about 'Who is Because (I think) I Can', and I think..."hmm neither have I"... then I think, "well, I haven't because it's hard!"

So, I continue to read Leanne's challenge posts and they are funny and serious and I feel as though I know her.  She would be an awesome friend to have. 

So, I am posting my own YOU Challenge posts.  Like Leanne, I am gonna spread this out and not do it all in 10 days.  I don't think you all need to know that much about me that fast...lol. 

Alright...Day 1....10 Secrets....

1) I can't sing to save my life.  Really...I can't sing!!  Not only can I not hold a tune, I can't remember song lyrics..

2) Speaking of Memory...I have NONE.  I can't remember what I ate for breakfast let alone what happened two months ago.  People will say, "Don't tell anyone this is a secret" and I'm like 'ohh, its okay, I wont remember what you told me in an hour.'  It's not that I don't take stock in the event, I just honestly can't remember.  I have to look in my children's baby books to remember their time of birth stats.

3) I am a closet Twilight Junkie...Yes, I am one of those TwiMom Fans who has read the FanFic and all...

4) You know that Perky Perfect person in high school that you wanted to barf on every time you saw them?  Well, mine grew up to be a labor and delivery nurse!  Yep...My Perfect Perky Barf worthy classmate was the person who got to tend to me while I recovered from my first C-section.  I may or may not have said some ugly words to her...I can't remember.

5) I once told my children that if they didn't behave I was going to lock them in the closet. I was not serious at all but they stopping fighting.  I tried it again a few months later thinking I'd get the same results...My daughter looked at me all serious and said..."You can't do that Momma.  There aren't any locks on the closet doors."  She was 4.  That was the day I realized my children (specially daughter) was smarter than me!

6) I have NO IDEA what I want to be when I grow up.  Before my children were born, I worked in the educational field.  Then I worked in Business Management.  But I have been a Stay at Home Mom since 2007.  I have tried off and on to go back into management, but really why hire me, who has watched Disney for the last 4 years, or  some kid fresh out of college.  Looking at my resume, I would pick the college kid.  No baggage, cheap, and easy to mold.

7) There are days that I drop the kids off at school then come home and check my email and facebook,.  Then log on to Pinterest and before I even realize what has happened my phone is beeping at me to tell me it is time to pick up the kids.  I am still in my PJs.

8) When I was a teenager, I didn't have any rules or structure at all.  I am often amazed that I survived.  The term raised by wolves could apply.  I am in a constant internal debate on how I want to parent my own children.  Knowing I don't what to give them what I had, but also not wanting to overcompensate for my own lack of parental guidance.   I had to learn lessons the hard way.  I learned them and they made me a strong independent individual, I want that for my children.  But also I don't want them to learn all the hard lessons that I learned. 

9) I don't take a shower everyday...and honestly have know idea when I shaved my legs last.  {Leanne--I haven't had a baby in 8 yrs, don't feel bad about that one}

10) I own 16 pairs of yoga pants.  12 of them are black or should I say varying shades of black.  I own 22 Old Navy Tees in every color but white.  I own 8 pairs of flip flops.  1 pair of tennis shoes and 2 pairs of converse.  I own 2 pairs of jeans.

Wow! 

This was a lot harder than I thought it would be!! 

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My Dream Kitchen...

I like my kitchen. 

It is nice. 

Reds, Blues, & Yellows...
Trying for the 'French Country' Look....

I have lived in it for 12 years. 

I would love something new...

source

source

source

This is just tooo cute!!

source

I would say I have a theme...

Not too sure those colors would go great with the deep reds of the family room which is attached to the kitchen...

our chocolate leather couch would look very good with the blue though...

Hmmm, who wants to come over for a painting party??

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Just Don't Eat Wheat

"Just don't eat Wheat." 

How hard could that be.  

When you first think Gluten Free or Celiac Disease, that is the thought that comes to mind.  

Then you do research and it is so much more than just wheat.  As if one could say "just wheat"...

You find pages and pages of lists like this one:

DON’T EAT THIS

Wheat in any form (includes white flour, all-purpose flour, wheat flour, pastry flour, cake flour, bread flour, spelt, emmer, farro, bulgur, durum, einkorn, couscous, wheat berries, farina, graham, kamut, matzo, semolina, wheat starch, triticale) and ingredients made from those items (bread, pasta, pizza dough, cakes, cookies, pies, breadcrumbs, croutons, etc). Soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, and other wheat-based sauces, unless specifically labeled gluten free. Seitan also contains wheat.

Barley this includes the grain itself and products made from barley malt: malt vinegar, barley malt syrup, malted milk, etc.

Rye

Beer unless it’s gluten free

Oats oats don’t inherently contain gluten, but are often cross-contaminated. Try certified gluten-free oats if you can tolerate them.


from Laura B. Russell, Notes from a Gluten Free Kitchen

 

THEN YOU DO MORE RESEARCH...

Modified Food Starch is GLUTEN
Modified starch, also called starch derivatives, are prepared by physically, enzymatically, or chemically treating native starch, thereby changing the properties of the starch.[1] Modified starches are used in practically all starch applications, such as in food products as a thickening agent, stabilizer or emulsifier; in pharmaceuticals as a disintegrant; as binder in coated paper. They are also used in many other applications.

This stuff is in EVERYTHING!!

Did you know wheat is in Wall Paper Paste, yeah...crazy...I know! It can all become very overwhelming. There were days were I wanted to throw every single item in my kitchen away. There were days when I just had to laugh at myself. And there were a few day that I really did just sit down and cry.

Being Gluten Free is more than just wheat. Wheat is more than just Wheat...It is vitamins, shampoo, and wall paper paste. I promise the first month is hard. Adjusting to anything is hard.

• The first month of grocery shopping and weeding through your cabinets is time consuming.  
• You may find yourself standing in the aisle at your local grocery store talking to a box of Uncle Ben's Rice.(NOT GF)  
• Your husband may tell you that food is more important than him.  
• Pinterest may become your best friend.

But, I also promise that it gets better.

Here is what I have learned about the DO NOT EAT LIST....practically every condiment, combined spice, and recipe staple is on the LIST.  Pinterest has great recipes---Everything from Ranch Dressing to Cream of Whatever Soup.  I actually like cooking, it is the cleaning after that has always been my downfall.  It is easier to make what I need than have to read all the tiny print and worry, or to call the 1-800 number.  Sometimes calling the 1-800 number will get you coupons :).  And lastly being Gluten Free isn't a death sentence.  It isn't horrible.  It is just different and it takes dedication, time, planning, and patience.

P.S.
This info is also on Laura B. Russell's website, it really helps to explain how once foods leave their natural or whole state, they can become glutened. I have just discovered her recipes and really look forward to trying a few. Please visit her site for information on her cookbook The Gluten Free Asian Kitchen.

BE SKEPTICAL

Once a food ventures from its original state, it is suspect. If there’s more than one ingredient listed on a package, read it. It may be perfectly safe, but you’ll need to do your homework before drawing that conclusion. Remember: the more additives, the harder it will be to decipher. Be on guard.

Examples:

Green tea is gluten free, but flavored teas could contain gluten, possibly in the form of barley malt sweetener.

A roasted turkey is gluten free. Sliced deli turkey could contain gluten as a binder.

Homemade salad dressing, made from olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh herbs is gluten free. Bottled salad dressings may contain gluten as a thickener.

Always check labels on soups and broths, candy, deli items, sauces and condiments, dairy products (ice cream, sour cream, buttermilk…can potentially contain gluten), anything packaged, processed, or “flavored”. Even prescription medications, vitamins, and supplements are at risk.

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Just a Little PSA

Okay, I am gonna be informational today...and if any of you are gluten free experts, PLEASE feel free to correct me if I have miss spoken or interrupted the information incorrectly.

It has been just over a month since we have been GLUTEN FREE....I say that with a cringe, because I am sure we aren't completely gluten free.  If there was a black light for gluten it would go off like crazy...But, we are as gluten free as we can get at the moment.  It has been a struggle.  Not impossible, and truly not extremely hard, just a hassle.  It is a pain in the bleep.  I am sure if I was one of those mothers who woke up every morning at the butt crack of dawn to make my children breakfast and iron their clothes, being gluten free wouldn't be that big of a change.

But I am not that mom.  I have never been that mom, and for the last month I have been trying to channel that mom...it hasn't always been successful.

I sometimes think.."if we lived in a big city this would be so much easier!"  I've lived in several big cities and have seen the greener side of the fence.  My britches are too big for this tiny town.  Yes, I admit, I have big city envy.  But then I go to my local gas station and they ask about Avery, or I see a restaurant owner at Wal-Mart and she offers to order tiny packets of Ranch Dressing for me.  Maybe being in a small town where everybody knows your name is a good thing in this situation.  Maybe they will all learn exactly what gluten is and how to treat people who are Gluten Intolerant.  It really isn't that uncommon!  In my tiny town of 9,000 people I know of 3 people who have gluten issues.  Two adults at Avery's school and Avery.

I will be stepping on my soap box now....

I have learned more about gluten in the last month than I ever thought I would need to know.  I have learned more about cooking than I ever wished to know.

I have also never wanted to scream at people like I have wanted to in this last month.

This piece of information takes 5seconds to learn...the world NEEDS to learn this...
 

If a person has ANY form of GLUTEN INTOLERANCE coming into contact with gluten in any way is BAD.  Gluten destroys the villi in their intestine, continued exposure can cause severe life threatening damage to the intestine.

How hard is that to understand?  Why are people so asinine about  something so cut and dry.  NO CONTACT AT ALL....  Yeah, that means crumbs.  So, no you can't cut your gluten cake and then use that knife on Avery's GLUTEN FREE cake.

People understand a peanut allergy.  Is it because it is right in your face, you see the person's lips turn blue so you think...."oh, wow, I guess they really couldn't have peanuts."

Here are the symptoms that Avery gets when she eats something with gluten in it.

Immediate--30 minutes

Gas & Bloating

Headache

1-4 Hours

Cranky

Hungry Again

Stomach Cramps

Diarrhea

Arm and Leg Pain

4-10 Hours

Tired

Unfocused

Diarrhea Continues

Headach Returns

You are right.  None of the above symptoms are detrimental to her health.   IF, it was a ONE time issue.  We have all had diarrhea once or twice.  It is uncomfortable, we deal with it and move on with our day.  

But, she has long term effects of gluten as well.  

Anemia: unable to absorb vitamin B12 & iron.  

Bruising: giant black ones worthy of a call to Child Protective Services, because she was not absorbing vitamin K.

Muscle Weakness: She has virtually no upper body strength and is constantly complaining of cramps in her calves.

So, no, Avery doesn't go into anaphylactic shock if she eats gluten.  We don't carry an Epi-Pen, but I do know where every bathroom is in the tri-city area, also which ones are the cleanest.  I have really scary pictures of a bruise Avery got when her brother was goofing off and pushed her into the door frame. And I can tell you that at exactly 3:30 she will be laying down in her room for about 20 minutes because she is soo tired from her day at school. 

For anyone who is a tiny bit curious about Celiac Disease, there are really good resources to learn more information.  You may not have it, you may think it is all hype, you may not give a rats ass, but I would be failing my daughter if I did not try to inform at least one person on what this truly is and how it affects her future.  

Thank You for reading.  Thank You for taking the time to learn something about our family. 

Alisha




Just a note...
Avery is diagnosed with Gluten Intolerance. After several failed trips to her pediatrician, I brought her along with me to one of my appointments. My doctor asked me several questions about her diet, what I thought her symptoms were, and then more specific questions about symptoms. We did not do any other tests. There are several that can be done. At this point, I do not see the need to have them. I have removed 99.9% of the gluten from her diet and I have seen a 99.9% improvement.

I am still eating gluten when I am not with Avery. I have a doctor's appointment in March and want to have the blood work completed. I have many of the symptoms that are listed on the Celiac Disease Foundation website.

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Monday Monday

I had a crappy morning.... 

Reason One

(6am) The Hubs:  "Babe! Babe! Wake Up! Time to get up!"

(6:15) The Hubs:  "Babe! You Up? I'm leaving. Get Up."

                      Me:  "xbqhjgqqugnnnnn......mxbiwu...I'm up"

(6:59)Phone singing the Jetson's Theme

(7:00)Alarm blaring talk show hosts voices

(7:01)Phone singing the Jetson's Theme

          Me: "helllo"

          Hubbs: "I knew you weren't up"

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Chug Milk?

Last night I took Avery to Wal-Mart to help shop for lunches and snacks.  I taught her how to read the labels, reinforced that we could no longer have anything that contained wheat.  She really liked finding packaging that had Gluten Free written on the front of the packages and I'm sure that is why I now have 3 bags of Quaker Rice Cakes.

Giving Avery that control over being able to pick which cereal we have (chocolate chex and pebbles) and letting her read the back of the Cheerios box to see that it "really does contain wheat", completely changed her outlook.  She seemed lighter, almost excited (wants to learn how to bake English Muffins).

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I WANT a piece of bread!

Avery's Day:

Breakfast: Chex Cereal and Activia (every time I read Activia, I sing it like they do in the commercials...silly I know)

Snack: Trash Mix---Fresh Popped Popcorn, Crasins, Rasins, Hand full of Chex, very bottom of old Trail Mix from Wal-Mart, very bottom of old can of mixed nuts.  Hey, don't judge...workin with what I have on hand...

Lunch: Tuna Plate---Romaine Tuna wraps, Celery Tuna Boats, Tomato Tuna Bowls, Cucumber Slices and Rice Crackers...gave her LOTS of options...it was a bad day (read further)

Dinner: Crockpot Chicken, Brown Rice, Steamed Veggies

Today was one of those days.  I am sure that we will have several of them.  We are going to have to get use to them.  Life is different now.  We have to accept that and do the best we can.  I know these things.  And, Yes, while I am removed from the stressful situation I can tell myself these little tidbits of wisdom.  However, while surrounded by 16 bouncing Girl Scouts all screaming to buy and eat cookies...it is a bit hard to stay focused. 

I do not know any Mother who enjoys having to tell her children NO.  I, unfortunately, have had to say that word more times than I would ever like to for financial reasons.  No, we can't go see that movie right now.  No, we don't need to buy that toy right now.  No, getting ice cream isn't in the budget this week.  No, No, No, No, No, No, No, NOOOOOOO.....

Now, I am also saying...No, you can't eat this, No, you can't eat that....

I lost it today.  I just couldn't take it.  I know she is 9.  I know she is just a kid and wants to eat her dang Tuna on a piece of bread, so she can make her fold over.  I know eating GF is just as new to her as it is to me.  But, can't she see that I am trying my best?  Can't she see that I too want a piece of bread to eat my tuna fold over on?

It all started this morning at our Cookie Booth sale.  All the girls were munching on yummy Cheetos, Lunchables, pretty much EVERY type of food Avery can't have.  They were all being so very sweet and sharing all of their snacks that they brought.  Each one would say "Hey, Avery, do you want some?" and in return Avery would ask me, which turned into a chorus of "No, you can't have that, but you can have your trail mix." Well, stale peanuts and popcorn is NO WHERE near as good as chemically coated cheese curds.

Theeeen they opened a box of cookies and all the girls were eating cookies.  Now, here is where I myself was also salivating.  I want a freaking cookie too ya know!!  They are girl scout cookies after all.  But I was strong and steadfast with my "NO".

Then, we get in the car to go home and I start talking about making lunch.  I list off what is available, not a whole heck of a lot.  Avery returns with nos to all of it.  I say I am not running a buffet and she is gonna have to work with what I have.  We settle on tuna.

I am just about done mixing it all up, I have every vegetable I can thank of that will work as a base for tuna and the Rice crackers that I found at our local grocery store.  She walks into the kitchen and says "wheres my bread?" 

I lost it...Do you blame me?

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Just Journaling

Friday 1/13/12

Avery's Day

Breakfast--Cup of Honey Nut Chex

Lunch--Peperoni & Cheese Stick Kabobs on a tooth pick + Carrots & Grape Tomatoes 

Snack--Popcorn

Dinner--Loaded Baked Potato

Snack--Fresh Pineapple, Blueberries, Strawberries and a Peanut Butter Cookie

Tummy felt much better but still has lots of gas.  Didn't eat the veggies because she wanted to go outside and play.  Loved the 'kabob' idea and questioned me the cereal in a cup... 

My Day
We woke up late.  Not really very late.  On a normal day we wake up at 6:45, today we woke up at 7:10...we ended up being 15 minutes late for school.  There has to be a 30 space between Avery taking her meds and then eating breakfast.  I really need to find out if that is mandatory or if on days like this it can be cut short.


In addition to the gluten free changes, I'm also really trying to watch our serving sizes.  Serving sizes can be the number 1 factor in weight gain and loss.  I have recently been diagnosed with diabetes so, I am really trying to keep a close eye on this.  Currently our cereal/soup bowls hold 3 cups of liquid.  That is outrageous!!  No One needs to eat 3 cups of anything specially not cereal!  So I measured the kids fun character plastic ware cups I pick up for them at the store for about .75 cents.  Those cups hold just about 1 3/4 liquid...we now have super fun Star Wars and Princess cereal cups.

I spent the majority of my day doing GF activities.  I had to fill out a special allergy form at Avery's school for her to have a special emergency treat.  I went to a local restaurant to ask about purchasing a sleeve of sauce cups for Avery's lunches and then I can home and surfed the blogs...ohhhh how I love blogs.

I have been reading  A Year of Slow Cooking by Stephanie O'Dea blog and I am completely in love with her.  I love that even when she fails miserably with a recipe she still puts it on the blog.

I discovered the COOLEST salad trick in the world over a Salad in a Jar.  I now need to invest in a Vacuum Sealer.

And then I watched a youtube video on making your own almond or rice flour.  I now need to invest in a Vitamixer.

So now that I have just added at least $700 to my wishlist, I really gotta think about going back to work....

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Tummy feels like a 6

Avery's Day

Breakfast: Chocolate Silk(she didn't like this brand/flavor-tastes like water)--Activia--- Pebbles w/ Marshmallows =YUMMY :}

Lunch: Leftover Tots w/ Chile and Cheese-- Fresh Strawberries, Blueberries, and Pineapple--Milk

Snack: Rice Cake w/ Apple Jelly and Turkey Jerky---2 Peanut Butter Cookies

Dinner: Chalupas from our favorite Mexican Restaurant

Woke up happy and sweet.....Picked up from school looking like she'd been through a maze all day, glassy eyes and whiny voice complaining of tummy pains and leg cramps.

Girl Scouts meeting was a challenge.  It was cookie kick off and they were sampling cookies.  Avery said she felt left out and didn't like that she could hear everyone saying 'mmmm' and all the chewing noises....note to self: be better prepared for the unknown

Avery was prescribed an acid reducer type of medication to take every morning in addition to the activia everyday.  I think the two have started to work to clear out the gluten taking up residence in her gut because she has had pain all day and OMG the smells coming from that child are lethal.  

My Day
I spent the entire day doing NOTHING at all!!  It was lovely!!  I played around with making cookies.  I spent an ungodly amount of time on Pinterest.  I read through a few more blogs that caught my eye.  I started a Kitchen Binder.  I facebooked and chatted. I did do one productive house-wifely duty...filled the dishwasher and ran it (the dishes are still in it).  


I am still trying to organize my ideas on what I want my Kitchen Binder (Family Organizational Bible).  When I first thought to do this, it was just gonna have the ordinary go-to household info...but now I think I am going to tweak it just a bit. 

My husband isn't the best when it comes to change.  I moved our can opener 5 yrs ago and yet he still puts it in the now towel drawer...sooo this is a HUGE thing for him.  Unlike a few husbands out there, mine actually does cook and is sometimes handy in the kitchen.  Poor guy has to be.  I have had HORRIBLE migraines most of my life, so unless they all wanted to starve, he had to figure out a few meals.  He is also the BEST husband in the world because he takes the kids to our hunting cabin every few weekends for some outdoors, no rules, fun in the mud and sun (bugs+mud+snakes=mom stays home).

Section Ideas: 

1. Price Comparison List of our most common grocery supplies.  Shopping choices: HEB, Wal-Mart, Sam's, Sprouts( a whole foods type of store)
2. 30 minute meals with simple ingredients that Bob can make at home or at the hunting cabin.
3. List of Lunch and Snack Ideas
4. Zipped Pocket for Coupons
5. Go To Recipes for Breads and such
6. Notes/ Shopping list
7. Meal Plans

Okay...my binder is only 1.5 inches think...I don't want to get a different one.  This one is really cool because you can flip the cover all the way back.  Soooo, I really do not think all of these ideas of mine will fit into one binder or I need to cut some ideas.


Off to input more items into my price sheet...good night 

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Day One...well, technically Day Two...

Avery's Day of GF

Breakfast: 1 Fried Egg at home and then Milk and a sausage patty at school.  Kids bugged her about not having the biscuit, so I'm not sure breakfast will happen often...

Lunch: Baked Potato with Butter, Cheese, and Bacon Bits brought from home.  Milk from school.

Dinner: Ann's Organic G-Free Chili over Tater Tots sprinkled with Cheese.

Tummy started at a 5 and now down to about a 2...

My Day of Learning all about GF....mind melting to say the least...

Soooo many of the symptoms that I have read about are things that Avery has had.  But I never tied them all together.  I would ask doctors and they all treated me like I was a crazy mom and give me silly lotions and creams to rub all over her rashes and hives.  Every time she complained of her stomach hurting I thought it was because she wanted to get out of school or whatever chore I wanted done at the time.  I seriously feel like mother of the year here...

Tuesday morning Avery was complaining yet again about her stomach hurting.  I said in my most threatening mother voice " Fine you can stay home, but I'm taking you to my doctor today." Thinking surely this would change her tune and cause her to jump up and get ready for school.  It didn't.  So, there she was following me into her first grown up doctor's appointment.  As the doctor pressed on her bloated belly and tears came to Avery's eyes, I knew then that 1) I was officially the worst Mom on the planet. 2) I was going to do everything in my power to FIX this and 3) I would never doubt her again.

Back tracking just a bit...last Easter a relative was singing the praises of being on a gluten free diet.  I read a few articles, thought..."hmmm, wonder if that would help Avery and her tummy, I'll give it a try this summer."  I bought a bunch of Uncle Ben's Rice Mixes, got rid of all of our noodles, didn't cook anything with obvious gluten for several weeks and yet Avery still complained often of her stomach hurting, so I scraped the gluten free diet...it was a pain in the ass anyway.

Okay back to yesterday at the doctor...After a very tense round of poking and prodding and embarrassing questions about poop (Avery is a modest girl) the doctor started asking me a bunch of questions about her.  Yes she had reflux as an infant.  Yes she often has rashes.  Yes I cant seem to tie this to any one food.  No none of the over the counter meds have ever worked to ease the discomfort. Yes she has complained of headaches.  The doctor was quite for a few minutes looking over all the notes and then she said, "Well, I'm not going to say Celiac Disease  just yet, but definitely Gluten Intolerant and you must avoid 100% of wheat gluten."

"Go Gluten Free" I ask.  "Yes" she say, "completely gluten free.  There are great resources on the internet about what she will be able to eat from this point on.  When in doubt just stick to the most natural state of the food...i.e grilled rather than breaded and fried."  "Ohhhhh.... Okay.... we can do this." I say, thinking back to such a failure I was at it this summer.  Then the doctor says in a very stren voice..." This is forever.  She MUST do this 100% forever."

"Oooooohhh forever" I say.

Forever.  Forever is a really long time.  A reallllly reaaaalllllyyyyy really llllllooooonnnnngggggg time.  So I pack my sweet daughter in the car and take her for her last meal.  She feasted on chicken tenders and white country gravy like it was prepared by Paula Deen herself.

Once home, I dove right into every gluten free blog I could find and brought myself to tears numerous times.  All the signs were there, I just never knew what I was looking at...included Avery in a game plan on what she wanted to do about lunches and eating at school.   Really thought she was handling things like a champ and accepting the changes in stride. 


Boy, was I wrong....

Today, I made lists of fun lunch ideas and easy dinner dishes that I already cook.  Made a grocery list and took Avery with me to HEB.  She did great in the produce section.  Pointed out all the gluten free peanut butter at the end of the bread isle. She was disappointed that there weren't any gluten free Little Debbie Snack Cakes.  Didn't understand the point of buying lunch meat if she can't eat it in a sandwich.  And completely broke down in tears in front of the mac-n-cheese.  We stood in that isle for a good 20 minutes.  I let her cry.  I didn't shush her or make apologies to people passing by.  After about 15 minutes of solid tears, I started talking to her about how things were different now, but not terrible.  The foods that she can eat are special because they are better for her and they will keep her healthy and strong.  She kept crying and wasn't going for any of that.  Then I said, "the only thing that going gluten free really means is that now I have to learn to cook!"  She started laughing.  She liked that.  So everything that she saw that she wanted but couldn't have we would say "ohhh, gonna have to learn to cook that"...RITZ Crackers is one of her first requests!

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