Overwhelmed

Ok, right now I'm overwhelmed.  I have so much to do, I can't even find a place to start.  So, Christmas cards will not be coming from us this year.  My apologies to you all that usually get them from us.  I hope to have Happy New Year cards.  Hopefully.

I think the "planning" of all the holidays is getting to me.  I just can't "plan" anything else.  I'm much more of a "fly by the seat of my pants" kinda gal.  (To quote Pretty Woman).  I'd rather wake up in the morning and say to myself, "what do we want to do today?" and then go do it.  Planning my vacation/off time just stresses me out.  Sad, but true.  This probably comes from the fact that I have to plan my weekly day off (Fridays) with all my doctor appointments, hair appointments, and son's appointments, school functions, volunteerism, and so on for months.  I never actually get a "day off" to just be me.  I bet most of you don't either.

The lack of wanting to plan is probably not a good thing to have when you are having to be GF around the rest of the family that isn't GF (but imagining some one of them probably should be, too - after all, Celiac is genetic).  I'll probably plan that toward the end of the week, after I'm finished with my regular stuff - work, day care, family meals, caring for the dog, etc. etc., etc.  Then I'll whip myself into a frenzy wondering why I didn't take care of these things earlier.

And my poor son - was finally overwhelmed by his Celiac disease at the school Christmas party.  He wanted a Christmas cookie so badly...he cried and cried and cried.  We ended up leaving the party early.  We also found out the next day that he had strep throat, so he might not have been feeling so well and that didn't help him to deal with disappointment, either.  Gotta remember to bring the GF cookies to all parties.  Lesson learned. 

My Thoughts on some "A" words

I probably won't get to really proof this before publishing, but it's been on my mind so much lately, I just had to get it out.  And I know I created this blog to be primarily about GF, but I need to digress for a moment.

I've heard a great deal of talk about ADHD lately.  Well, not just lately, for a long time now.  Also about another "A" word - Autism.  And it occurred to me that, well, I'm not so sure we should be surprised that these two diagnoses are on the rise. 

First of all, I'm not so sure that "multi-tasking" isn't just asking us all to demonstrate some controlled ADHD.  Are we really supposed to do 2-3 or more things at once?  And pay enough attention to them that they are done well?  Or even completed in a timely manner?

Second, is it really ADHD, or just an impatience factor?  We expect EVERYTHING to be fast now.  Our internet connections, commercials, replies to emails, sharing of pictures on social networking sites.  Fast, fast, fast.  And truthfully, when you are in a moment...a joyous one, and sad one, one of any significance at all - are you thinking, "I need to post this!" Instead of just enjoying it?  Believe me, I HATE TO ADMIT this, but I do this.  I click pictures with my phone as things happen and go to share them on a public networking site.  Or I start to wonder if I should share them here.  I saw this happening many many times at our son's birthday party.  People were conversing with each other, and texting/updating at the same time.  Is that a focused conversation?  Is that multi-tasking?  OR is it just not fully attending to what you are doing in the moment? I find myself having to hold back from checking my emails or social networking sites while sitting at red lights.  I have learned to resist this, but man, I really don't want to just SIT there.  I want to be occupied with something.  What has happened to me that I can't just wait without having to be distracted by something else? 

Onto the next "A" - Autism/Aspergers

Here's what I wonder: are we adapting ourselves out of a one-on-one, face-to-face society?  I don't know about you, but I have friends that I can only reach by text now.  I used to fight this - I'd much rather have a conversation on the phone than send 160 character texts and get the voice inflections, the feelings behind comments from friends.  But we can't.  We are too busy doing other things.  We can't talk out loud - someone may hear us or we might interrupt where we are at the time.  But then, where ever you are - you're texting instead of attending, so I'm right back at the ADHD question.  We don't really have to be face-to-face as much any more.  One recurring theme in autism is difficulty being with others and socializing/using social skills.

Rarely do I get to see my social networking friends in person.  Please don't get me wrong - I am so happy that it exists.  It is a great way to keep up with what friends are doing.  But, where's the personalization?  Where's the expression?  What kind of body language is that person using to describe their life?  Where is the emotion?  We don't have to have or use eye-contact over the computer.  Even though a person says they are doing ok, are they a little lonely?  How would you really know without seeing them????  We aren't really required to use our social skills online, so why is it a surprise that a great deal of children don't understand them?    Or learn to use them?

 I remember this example from a communication course I attended a couple of years ago and it struck a chord with me.  When most of us were kids, we would hang out in our neighborhoods for HOURS playing and playing and playing.  Our parents had to call us home for dinner most of the time.  We had to figure out the social rules on our own.  How to get along.  How to keep up interest in our day.  How to just be with each other.  Our children don't get to do that.  We have to plan "play dates" and supervise them - and jump in when someone starts to get their feelings hurt.  Yes, we are teaching our children how to be friends, but don't you wish that sometimes they could have to figure things out for themselves?  Like we did?  To feel the embarrassment, or sadness associated with an hurtful moment.  Those lessons always stuck with me.  I use them as examples for our son.  But will he have examples of his own to teach his children? Or will he have to use mine? I wish we didn't have to structure so much. I know, it's a crazy, scary, unsafe world and we can't just let our children out to play like we did.  But that is a bummer.

 And children with autism are frequently attracted to spinning, or quickly moving objects.  They "stim" on them.  Well, isn't that just about what we all expect?  Things to move quickly and make us feel good or calm, or in control? 

A  young friend of mine told me once about a guy she had a date with in college (within the past 5 years or so).  He asked her out via a social networking site, but once on the date had no idea how to conduct himself.  He appeared witty and charming online, but didn't know how to translate that to person-to-person.  Sure, he may have been shy, but I'm not so sure that was the problem. 

 In short, I worry.  I worry about what we may be doing to ourselves.  About how we may be evolving. Yes, let's keep up with technology, but not forget how very important being in the presence of other people really is.   I need to work on this. 

Let me know what you think about these things.  Good or bad.  Yes, I may get my feelings hurt if you disagree with me, but I'll get over it.

Thanks for letting me share.

Sandra 

What plus what equals Celiac?

The results of Michael's testing came back negative...so I guess that means 2 negatives really does equal a positive? 
I'm still thinking it HAS to be me.  Gonna keep up the diet and maybe request more testing. 

(Insert picture of testing here...couldn't find one before posting).

Star Wars Party

So today we had the big 6-year old party.  First party with Gluten Free cupcakes, and pizza.  It worked out ok!  The party was a joint venture for our son and one of his friends.  They have so very many mutual friends that it just made sense. It worked out well - we had a gluten-free cupcake, and a regular cake. We had a gluten-free pepperoni pizza, and regular ones.  The theme was Star Wars - complete with Jedi Training lessons and Darth Vader at the end making a surprise visit.  The party favors were LED Lightsabers.  It was very fun, if I do say so myself.  :)
Here are just a few pictures from the day.

Entrance to the Training Academy

Training class from Master Michael

"Yoda Soda" - "makes strong Jedi, it does"

"I'm looking for some Jedi to join me on the Dark Side"

The Jedi were ready to defend the Rebel Alliance

 

 

 

 

  Unfortunately, I didn't get a good picture of the GF cupcakes.  I did try them, and they did taste a little different.  Not bad, but different. 

Hope you all are having a great weekend.

And another "kink"

I just got off the phone with my son's Kindergarten teacher.  She called to apologize because she let him eat the Gingerbreadman they used in their math activity.  She sounded so nervous that I'd be mad.  I'm actually grateful that she was so thoughtful!  We had to discuss what to do when they have activities using food and how our kiddo would be able to participate. 

Add caption

photo from: http://www.sweetadditions.net

So far, so good - he hasn't complained of any stomach pains.  I see this is an opportunity to learn a valuable lesson.  While I don't want him to have pains, he does need to know that Gluten is a no-no.  So -  we wait, and we see.

Coming soon...the 6th birthday party - Star Wars style!  I sure hope it turns out as fun as I have it in my head!  Look for those pictures after this weekend.  

The results are in...

And I do NOT have Celiac disease.  Weird - because I was 100% certain that I have it, too - with all the stomach troubles I've had all my life. Sooo...now for Michael to be tested.  If he doesn't have it, then I guess we both carry the recessive Celiac gene?  Who knows?  Doctor said there's no reason to not eat gluten-free, so in support of my son, I will carry-on.  To be honest, sometimes (but only sometimes) I enjoy the challenge. 

As for thanksgiving, we did well.  My mother-in-law has decided that we will create a tradition of eating at Truluck's.  What a wonderful experience that was - I contacted them well ahead of time to find out if they offered gluten-free foods.  And, they do!  The chef came out to our table and reviewed our choices.  And it was delicious!  I've got to try to make their mixed vegetable dish - it was YUMMY!  Big thanks to Chef Manny and Chef Jason for all their help.  Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving, as we did .

We're Everywhere!!!

Tonight I volunteered at my son's school Gala - I was gratefully given a chance to eat dinner at the Gala and it looked delicious!!! The Mom sitting right next to me declined a plate.  So I leaned over and asked in a whisper, "Are you gluten-intolerant?" And she was (is)!  She special-ordered a gluten-free vegan plate.  And it also looked delicious!!!! Needless to say, she and I had lots to talk about during dinner.  I, on the other hand, picked around my plate hoping I was getting things that were gluten-free.  So far, so good - no real stomach issues to speak of.  A long night, but reinforcing that we GFers are growing in number! 

It happened again...

My son and I both must have had something that wasn't completely Gluten Free - we both ended up with stomach pains and the bathroom at the same time! (Don't go there...I do mean two separate bathrooms).  I was so careful - went to Chik-Fil-A instead of McDonalds - got the grilled sandwich without the bread...the waffle fries are supposed to be ok...so what was it???  So this IS going to be tricky!

On the other side...note

yesterday michael was having stomach pains.  thankfully he went to urgent care and then to the ER. Diagnosis: appendicitis.  Needless to say. he is now appendix-free. I tried to get the ER physician to tell him the appendix problems were due to NOT being gluten-free. He said it, through lots of laughter. Oh well. I tried

On a Side Note...

Since some  (ok most of you) are here just to check in on our family...thought I'd share this late-breaking news:  The first tooth has come out!!!  He lost it while eating an apple this afternoon...but swallowed it. 

Not the best pic - he came running out to meet me in the garage as I was getting out of the car.  I grabbed my phone and clicked!  

GF Pumpkin Pie

I did it!!!! I made a GF pumpkin pie - from scratch!  The ingredients cost me a small fortune, but it turned out as it should - and tastes yummy!!!!  Onto more GF Thanksgiving recipes since we are hosting this year.  I'll let you know how it turns out.  :)

Thanks to Karina - the GF Goddess for the recipe. 

A little "kink" in the Gluten-Free plan

So you all know by now that I'm a speech therapist.  Well, one of my (many) jobs is to do feeding therapy.  I haven't had too many feeding kids lately - but I started one today. 

I'm trying to teach him how to move food with his tongue - from the middle to his teeth for chewing.  I gave him one of the staples we have in our clinic - a graham cracker.  We're working, and I realize that I need to model and demonstrate some of this for him.  Oops - can't do that - the graham cracker isn't gluten free.  :(

Thankfully, the mom of this kiddo I have known for a while, and she knows about the gluten-free thing.  I quickly ask if we can switch the crunching to a raw apple, and she agrees.  Whew. Thank goodness for this particular Mom - she's awesome, so understanding, and so very flexible!  She is definitely among the top 5 mom's I've ever had the honor to work with.  (I know you know who you are!)

So - I guess I've got to stock my own gluten-free crackers and feeding items from here on out.  Yet another lesson learned.  

First Party Gluten Free

At our son's school they had an All Saint's Day party.  I asked the room mother in charge to NOT put cookies or baked goods on our son's plate.  She didn't.  Here's a pic (a bad hair day for all of us - so don't judge) of us at the party.  No gluten on his plate.  :)

Wow - they weren't kidding

So today I brought a frozen entree that stated "no gluten ingredients", cooked it in the microwave and then read the back of the box.  It stated something like, "Produced using machines that also process nuts, milk and wheat".  I KNEW the dietician said this was an no-no.  But I ate it anyway.  And was I ever sorry!!  I've had stomach cramps and other pain all afternoon.  Could it have been something else in the ingredients?  Maybe. Probably. But I'm not doing that again. 

"Clean-up in aisle 4"

Ok, it's happened.  I'm officially over-whelmed.  I thought I was doing so well.
I was at Central Market trying to find some bread that my son would actually eat when it hit me - this is HUGE.  The kind "Foodie" was helping me find the bread, and gave me a shopping guide for GF products.  I lost it.  I teared up and told her "We are a new diagnosis.  I'm over my head here" and cried.  Only for a few seconds, but I finally let it out.  To the Foodie lady.  Nice.

I guess I'm going to have to triple our grocery budget.  I can't believe a HALF of a loaf of bread is $5.99. Wow..

On the upside for this post:

GO RANGERS!!!

Now I'm off to search for more GF resources - and blogs.  Happy Halloween y'all!

A New Journey Begins

So, I thought I was done blogging.  Well, not yet.  I decided to share our story of how we became Gluten Free. 
It all started a few months ago, when I just couldn't stand the quality of my son's voice.   He would wake up with a raspy, almost nothing voice.  Being a speech therapist, I just couldn't stand it.  I put him on a home program, took him to the doctors, and did everything I could think of.  Except suspect that he had reflux.  That came as some advice from another speech therapist friend of mine. 

So, we went to the GI doctor.  He agreed - probably reflux.  Let's do a scope and ph probe to find out.  Well, I nixed the ph probe but agreed to the scope. 

Last Monday, our son was scoped.  All was "normal" except for a little bit of thickening in one area.  Dr. said he's not concerned - doesn't think it will turn out to be anything but takes a biopsy anyway.  I leave thinking, "ok.  Good news".  Not so fast.

Wednesday comes and I receive a message from the GI nurse about biopsy results.  She says without skipping a beat, "the biopsy results are consistent with Celiac Disease".  "What? There are no symptoms?!" "There don't always have to be.  I will send your information to our dietician. "  And so it began.  My mind reeling - and slowly remembering the days our son complained of stomach pain - and how my husband and I chalked it up to gas pains.  The internet search that revealed lots of scopes going in thinking reflux and coming out with Celiac disease.  Wow.

The meeting with the dietician went ok - she gave us reams and reams of paper and some information, but mostly stuff we have to look up on our own.  I immediately went to the specialty grocery store near us and stocked up on just about everything that said "Gluten Free".  And now, here I am.  Sharing with you because I know there are several more of you out there in the same boat.  

I was upset at first - but now, I'm relieved.  And hopeful - that this new lifestyle is going to make us healthier and happier. 

And the Texas Ranger's won tonight's game.  WOOOHOOO!!!