LOL, ok... so *I* find it really funny - and very true.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE A CELIAC IF…

…you’ve ever had to give a doctor a crash course in Celiac 101.
…you weep at picnics, parties, receptions, and breakfast, lunch, dinner.
…you’ve “brown bagged it” to an elegant dinner
…a 7 course meal is a 1 course meal for you -Lettuce.
…you’ve installed bookcases in your bathroom.
…you’ve driven more than 40 miles to buy a cookie.
…it takes you 4 hours to grocery shop and your eyesight is ruined.
…you hold your breath through the bakery section.
…you feel like you need a loan to pay the grocery bill.
…your bread weighs more than a moon rock and just happens to resemble one as well.
…you’ve disinherited loved ones for putting their knife in your mayo.
…you’ve brought a suitcase full of food with you on an over night trip
…your family thinks you’re crazy for not tasting their new chocolate chip cookie recipe, because surely a little nibble couldn’t hurt right?
…you can spell transglutaminase and dermatitis herpetiformis.
…you show up at the annual church pancake breakfast with a mask and lettuce roll-ups
…having solid poop is the highlight of your day.
…you have actually doodled a new cartoon dog on your notes named “Sprue”
…you have actually considered using a gluten-free bagel for a hockey puck
…you’ve mastered saying “I actually enjoy MY food” (without your face twitching)
… you hide the gluten-free cookies when guests come over, so they don't eat them.
…you read the ingredient label on green tea - plain green tea.
…you pay relatives back east exorbitant shipping rates to send you a $12 six pack of gluten-free beer.
…you cried when you saw your usually careful significant other or family member brushing the crumbs off their hands (from making a gluten-containing sandwich) RIGHT OVER the open utensil drawer
…you hear of a new health food store opening in a city close by and get ridiculously excited only to drive there, spend 2 hours walking around, reading labels, only to leave empty handed
…you take a list of safe drinks to the bar with you, and actually consult the bartender before you order a drink.
…it drives you crazy when someone says they completely understand your diet, they did Atkins.
…people roll their eyes at you when you say “no thank you” to someone’s gluten filled dessert
…..your friend invites you over for your birthday and want to make you a gluten free birthday cake , but you plead with them not to, because although you’re trying to seem like you don’t want to put them through the hassle, you’re secretly terrified of cross contamination.
…your ‘favorites’ sites are mostly celiac sites
…you’ve mastered the art of lying when other people ask you if you’re hungry.
…you go to a potluck at a friends place and your dish is gluten-free -you dive into it first so that you get something to eat before others contaminate it.
…you long to look at the contents of other people’s fridges and pantries just to see if you can eat anything

Pregnancy, itchy rashes and Celiac's Disease

So, it looks like my hypothesis that Jack cause the rash I had while pregnant, and that it *was* DH was correct. I just found more supporting evidence! It seems like the Ig crossed the placenta and ran through me, like the gluten in my diet passed through to him! I found this very interesting.

Week from HELL

Yes, you read that right... It's been AWFUL. John doesn't even think he wants to come back after the tales I have had for him in the evening... Jack chewing on glass, Dory wearing a lamp shade as a skirt, full glass spilled milk twice, the worst tantrums ever... you name it... I was just waiting for the house to burn down at this rate. Thank the good Lord it didn't!
However, today Jack had an accident right as I thought things were going better. He ate an entire piece of dog food. He has his first major direct glutening.
I had no idea how he would react, puking, hyperactivity, diarrhea, or old school Jack symptoms like behind his ears going raw. Well, I can report, so far no puking. MASSIVE amounts of hyperactivity. Ask Grandma and Grandpa. We went out tonight for Grandma's birthday and tried out Outback's GF menu. (pretty good!) He was bouncing everywhere. It took awhile to get him to sleep.
Now I hear some massive tummy rumbles. I wonder what is in store for the morning... I;m putting my money on messy.

:( Poor kid.

Celiac in the news

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20643573/site/newsweek/page/0/

GF Restraunts

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9144025/
Good to know... good to know... :)

Gluten Free and Dirty Mommy Talk

Readers beware... if you are not a parent, this might just be way over the TMI quota!
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Well, for as long as I remember Jack's poop has been green. Spinach green to be exact. Honestly I don't remember how it was in the beginning, but I THINK it was green. And while nursing wasn't a huge problem, there were things that drove me nuts. Like the way he would pop off and struggle with me when I knew he was starving and arch his back. He also had some very nasty crusties behind his ears, I thought it was dried milk at first, but apparently it wasn't My Lactation Consultant told me as much when we went in at I think it might have been 4 months? Anyway, she said the likely cause was a food intolerance, wheat or dairy in my diet. She followed that by saying they usually out grow it by 6 months, so it was up to me if I went through elimination diets. I chose to wait it out since it can take nearly that long to cycle through anyway. As long as it takes to clear my body, it takes that same time to clear his... back to back.

So, while we were waiting it out, it just continued to get worse. His ears especially. One day when I looked at it I almost thought it had started to rip off... but it only took a split second to realize that was wrong... it was just gooey and his ears do not stick out but lie flat (lucky kid) so I was looking up under the flap and it was all yucky. *sigh*

I was starting to be torn and his poop was getting darker green by the day. At 6 months, we were worse and not any better. So... I knew it was time to try. I tried convincing myself it didn't hurt him to have green poop, but seriously... it's his little body's way of saying something is wrong. As much as I do everything else under the sun to try to make sure the kids are healthy it didn't make sense for me to ignore this any longer. So, the day Of Max's Bar Mitzvah/ Ankle Sprain, I went gluten free. The day before I gluttoned on all the gluten I could; cookies, crackers, bread... you name it, I tried to eat it. By the end of the day I felt so sick. Sluggish, vile, icky... so much so I could not even eat the last 2 organic oreos. I was heartbroken. But, I knew I was doing the right thing.

Now, with an allergy/intollerance to wheat it is usually the protein in it that carries a problem. It is also for all intents and purposes identical to the protein in Barley and Rye, so none of those either. Oats are super close, but may or may not react. Milk/dairy is also extremely close, not the lactose(the sugar) that we know I have issues with but the casein, the protein. Well, so far I am only eliminating the gluten, not dairy. So far there has been improvement. His ears have healed completely and his 'mustard seed' is looking more like it.

So there you have it.... that is Jack's largest new development.