When I was a kid, I always wondered what life would be like if I had an allergy to a certain food....silly me, I know. Oh, I probably jinxed myself. Yet, it's interesting how Heavenly Father leads us on a path that we NEED as much as we WANT. Back in Rexburg, Trent and I spent lots of time and ate many meals with my extended Blackham family (especially Uncle Kevin, Aunt Ann and their family). I watched Aunt Ann prepare meal after meal and it never phased me how she fed her family each day on a celiac diet. A visitor to their home would never know she eats differently.
I look up to her a lot more now that I am a wife and a mother in her similar situation but with a young family. It isn't easy to watch Trent or Chloe eat chocolate chip cookies or homemade muffins! Don't get me wrong...I can cook myself the same foods, but it doesn't taste the same. My wonderful husband tries his best and wants me to have all food possibilities...but sometimes that just isn't possible. He made me some chocolate krinkle balls this past weekend and they are really yummy!!
As a young couple, we don't really go out to eat much. Sometimes we would splurge once on about $10 and get dinner depending on the month! There are only a few restaurants that are gluten-free and even then, you still have to be careful with cross-contamination. Unfortunately, parties and family gatherings fall into this same category, hard as it may be. We have gone to a few recently and it hasn't been easy for either of us. The best way to conquer this obstacle and not make a scene is to bring my own food. At first, that sounds fine and guarantees that I have food to eat. But when it comes down to eating and watching others have food that I USED TO eat, there's where I fall weak.
My real hope is that I can come out on top of this diet and be able to eat differently around others. I still don't feel good some days but I know I must focus on the positive things. I've lost a lot of weight and even able to now wear some of my old high school pants!
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Yummy surprise!!
My Aunt Ann is amazing! (So is my mom and her other sister)! But today, Aunt Ann totally made my day when Trent found this yummy package sitting on our porch! The past few weeks have been a struggle for me as I start on this gluten-free diet. It isn't to cook for two groups of people and not be able to enjoy the same foods! Some evenings, I'm ready to give up and only eat a few pieces of cheese or fruit. Aunt Ann has been very willing to share tips and advice to us for the past few months! She found out she had celiac over 25 years ago and can't even eat the tiniest bit of gluten or she gets really sick.
When I started on this diet, we decided to only have me eat gluten-free due to expenses and high price of some foods! It's been rough to buy a few expensive pastas, crackers or cookies that I can cook or snack on with Chloe. My wonderful parents have also helped us out in the beginning and recently bought me a few really pricey items! Aunt Ann also has really helped me out, both physically and emotionally! I think, she was pretty close to the same age as I am when she was diagnosed with celiac disease,
One thing that really stuck out to me is how Aunt Ann said that once I start eating gluten-free, I won't ever want to go back! It was hard to believe that, especially since I was giving up lots of yummy breads, meals, and treats. No way! We're more careful in food preparations because now I will get some of the same previous symptoms back whenever I eat something that contains gluten. She was totally right! Overtime, I've learned I can quite enjoy gluten-free cookies, crackers, and snacks!
She totally brightened my day when I opened this package and saw the inside!! Yummy, yummy, yummy!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Roller coaster ride
Every time I attempt a dinner menu something goes wrong and it doesn't work! I write down possible meals and then get excited to cook them. But then comes the night and I don't feel like cooking or we don't have my gluten-free ingredients! Maybe it's because most of the food that I cook, I can't eat....discouraging!!! But on the flip side, I try my hardest to find meals that we can eat as a whole family! Good thing I have a wonderful husband and daughter who love me whether I have a full stomach or a face of tears!
I'm pretty sure that Chloe has picked up something about me and my eating habits. Breakfasts are usually good with me and Chloe eating the same things...Rice Chex, oatmeal, waffles, or eggs. Although, lunch is a different story! My recent discovery is that she doesn't like chunky peanut butter and does better when I give her fruits or cheese/meats last! She eats a lot better when Trent is around or at dinnertime! If I try my best to eat with her (including snack time), she does a lot better and we're both happily full!
My hope is that soon I can make and cook dinner menus that we all enjoy without getting too frustrated We're both grateful to have found some answers, but the struggles aren't over as we strive to buy inexpensive foods and cook meals we all can eat together!
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Gluten-free for me!
As much as I love making decisions, the past couple of months I've learned so much about myself and what I can do if I put my mind to it! Yet, it's great to be feeling better and more active each day! I don't exactly remember when the promptings started, but it was a clear indication to me that I needed to go on a celiac diet.
Stubborn, as I sometimes can be, I didn't want to try or attempt this new lifestyle. For as long as I can remember, my Aunt Ann has eaten differently than the rest of us, but I didn't realize the struggle avoiding foods is until I started with milk products. Of course, milk-free diet is so much easier than a gluten-free one. Then I met with a gastro specialist after Thanksgiving and he wanted to me to do a more serious diet either gluten or milk. Both Trent and I knew that my stomach did fairly fine with milk products so we decided for the celiac diet. After countless tears and avoiding meals, my wonderful mother took us shopping and helped me realize that grocery shopping IS POSSIBLE - just takes a little bit extra time!
I'll be honest and admit that Christmas time is not the best time to do a gluten-free diet, but my two weeks came and went, faster than I thought. We went to Trent's parents for Christmas which wasn't easy either, but his mom was great and tried to cook a few things for me. Through all this, I knew deep in my heart that I needed to go on a gluten-free diet, just didn't want to admit it out loud AND in front of others!
So after eating whatever on New Year's Day, I tried to have a better attitude about gluten-free foods and started my diet on January 2nd. Gluten is in so many things that you have read the ingredients almost every food. Wheat, barley and rye, all have different names that you have to know a huge list of sub-ingredients. Ever so slowly, both Trent and I are learning what foods are better for me and which ones to avoid. Some meals are still hard as I cook something different for Trent and Chloe. Mostly, I try to cook dinners so that we can eat the same thing. Other times I have leftovers from the night before.
There is also a great friend here in my ward that let me borrow some of her cookbooks last week! I didn't really cook anything from the recipes, but it helped me realize that I am still normal eating gluten-free and cooking for my family. This new lifestyle requires extra time and energy but that shouldn't stop me. Some days I still fall into tears especially when I smell yummy food that I can't eat. But I'm grateful that I have found some answers through wonderful people who have cheered me on and will always be there for me!
Stubborn, as I sometimes can be, I didn't want to try or attempt this new lifestyle. For as long as I can remember, my Aunt Ann has eaten differently than the rest of us, but I didn't realize the struggle avoiding foods is until I started with milk products. Of course, milk-free diet is so much easier than a gluten-free one. Then I met with a gastro specialist after Thanksgiving and he wanted to me to do a more serious diet either gluten or milk. Both Trent and I knew that my stomach did fairly fine with milk products so we decided for the celiac diet. After countless tears and avoiding meals, my wonderful mother took us shopping and helped me realize that grocery shopping IS POSSIBLE - just takes a little bit extra time!
I'll be honest and admit that Christmas time is not the best time to do a gluten-free diet, but my two weeks came and went, faster than I thought. We went to Trent's parents for Christmas which wasn't easy either, but his mom was great and tried to cook a few things for me. Through all this, I knew deep in my heart that I needed to go on a gluten-free diet, just didn't want to admit it out loud AND in front of others!
So after eating whatever on New Year's Day, I tried to have a better attitude about gluten-free foods and started my diet on January 2nd. Gluten is in so many things that you have read the ingredients almost every food. Wheat, barley and rye, all have different names that you have to know a huge list of sub-ingredients. Ever so slowly, both Trent and I are learning what foods are better for me and which ones to avoid. Some meals are still hard as I cook something different for Trent and Chloe. Mostly, I try to cook dinners so that we can eat the same thing. Other times I have leftovers from the night before.
There is also a great friend here in my ward that let me borrow some of her cookbooks last week! I didn't really cook anything from the recipes, but it helped me realize that I am still normal eating gluten-free and cooking for my family. This new lifestyle requires extra time and energy but that shouldn't stop me. Some days I still fall into tears especially when I smell yummy food that I can't eat. But I'm grateful that I have found some answers through wonderful people who have cheered me on and will always be there for me!
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Celiac diet
I am almost done with my 2 week trial-celiac diet!! On Saturday, I can eat whatever foods I crave...yet that doesn't mean I should.....
That wonderful choice would probably cause the same symptoms I've been having for almost the past five years. Some days and months were better than others, but both of us would like to find answers and get me feeling better...FOR GOOD! That doesn't mean I won't get sick, cuz life is always unexpected. But that doesn't mean that I can take control of my health and only eat foods that won't bother me.
At least, my blood work came back normal and I don't have celiac disease...yet. Hopefully, I'm just gluten intolerant! These last two weeks haven't been the easiest for me and many days were tearful and quite a struggle. But I also know that I couldn't have done it alone. Many other people have given their love and support to me on this new journey and I appreciate them all so much!
That wonderful choice would probably cause the same symptoms I've been having for almost the past five years. Some days and months were better than others, but both of us would like to find answers and get me feeling better...FOR GOOD! That doesn't mean I won't get sick, cuz life is always unexpected. But that doesn't mean that I can take control of my health and only eat foods that won't bother me.
At least, my blood work came back normal and I don't have celiac disease...yet. Hopefully, I'm just gluten intolerant! These last two weeks haven't been the easiest for me and many days were tearful and quite a struggle. But I also know that I couldn't have done it alone. Many other people have given their love and support to me on this new journey and I appreciate them all so much!
Sunday, December 9, 2012
A Long Anticipated Answer!
My blood work came back normal last week and I am neither lactose intolerant or celiac!! But there is still a chance that I am gluten intolerant meaning my body can only so much gluten before I become sick. Is this a possible answer? After almost 5 years of not feeling good and running numerous medical tests, yes, I believe it is!
Although most medical test are 95% right, there still leaves that mere 5% that could change things. With that in mind, we've decided for me to do a strict 2 week celiac diet. At first, I didn't think it would be such a big change in my diet until I realized how many foods have gluten, modified food starch, and natural flavoring (only to name a few name variations). Once that realization hit home, it was extremely hard both for me to eat, but also to watch others eat at the same time. There's a difference in feeding you and your spouse but when you a little child who watches you eat, that's a totally new ball game! It also doesn't help with the funnest month of the year with all the Christmas festivities and yummy!
Plus, my mom and Trent both agreed I won't have to do my 2 week lactose free diet until January! So I can enjoy all the yummy Christmas treats after this Friday!! Over the past week, I've been quite careful on what I've eaten and cooked separately for my family! Most dishes weren't too hard to separate or we just fed Chloe something different than me and Trent. My aunt Ann has also been a wonderful help to us in guiding us to specific foods and answering lots of questions! A big , special thanks to wonderful family and friends who support and love me every day and will always be there as I face this new adventure!!
Although most medical test are 95% right, there still leaves that mere 5% that could change things. With that in mind, we've decided for me to do a strict 2 week celiac diet. At first, I didn't think it would be such a big change in my diet until I realized how many foods have gluten, modified food starch, and natural flavoring (only to name a few name variations). Once that realization hit home, it was extremely hard both for me to eat, but also to watch others eat at the same time. There's a difference in feeding you and your spouse but when you a little child who watches you eat, that's a totally new ball game! It also doesn't help with the funnest month of the year with all the Christmas festivities and yummy!
Plus, my mom and Trent both agreed I won't have to do my 2 week lactose free diet until January! So I can enjoy all the yummy Christmas treats after this Friday!! Over the past week, I've been quite careful on what I've eaten and cooked separately for my family! Most dishes weren't too hard to separate or we just fed Chloe something different than me and Trent. My aunt Ann has also been a wonderful help to us in guiding us to specific foods and answering lots of questions! A big , special thanks to wonderful family and friends who support and love me every day and will always be there as I face this new adventure!!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Dr's appt
Yesterday, I lucked out and had the chance to get into a specialist here in Bountiful. I figured I was pretty lucky especially since you usually have to wait weeks to see one! My wonderful mother left work early and came to my appointment both as another set of ears and also to entertain Chloe! We weren't sure what to gain from this visit as we had lots of questions and unsure what route to take now.
As I sat talking to the P.A., I felt like I was getting somewhere even though the P.A. couldn't diagnosis me with anything. We figured that before I went in, but just wanted more help in what direction to take now. The P.A. gave me lots of handouts to read and gave me a few options of what I wanted to do. He may not have been to diagnosis me quite yet, but definitely gave us a lots to think about!
Last night was a hard night for us both, I won't lie to ya. Diet and lifestyle changes are easy to talk about until it comes to the 'doing' part. I just hope and pray that Chloe and any other future children aren't affected by me and my diet. Trent is such an amazing husband and I couldn't ask for anyone better. I just pray that we'll be able to make it through the next 4 weeks without many tears or frustrations especially with it being the holiday season!
As I sat talking to the P.A., I felt like I was getting somewhere even though the P.A. couldn't diagnosis me with anything. We figured that before I went in, but just wanted more help in what direction to take now. The P.A. gave me lots of handouts to read and gave me a few options of what I wanted to do. He may not have been to diagnosis me quite yet, but definitely gave us a lots to think about!
Last night was a hard night for us both, I won't lie to ya. Diet and lifestyle changes are easy to talk about until it comes to the 'doing' part. I just hope and pray that Chloe and any other future children aren't affected by me and my diet. Trent is such an amazing husband and I couldn't ask for anyone better. I just pray that we'll be able to make it through the next 4 weeks without many tears or frustrations especially with it being the holiday season!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)