To Gluten Or Not To Gluten

So here is the update. I know everyone is dying to know about my intestinal issues. I've heard people have been asking around town so here is the low down.

I got tested for the gluten intolerance.

It came back negative. Which means I have no sensitivity that shows up in testing.

My gall bladder has been the culprit of most of my troubles. I had an ultrasound to see what was going on in there and there are some gall stones and sludge hanging out so it is coming out at a TBA time. I meet with a surgeon on Tuesday.

My Doctor said I could wait and see what happens, if anything, with my gall bladder, but since I do know there are stones and sludge in there I'm being pro active and kickin it to da curb ASAP!

I'm pretty certain now that all the issues I had while pregnant with Jesse were related to my gall bladder as well. Since we are wanting (Lord willing) another baby I don't want to get caught pregnant with an emergency situation.

Now none of that explains my allergy symptoms and the seemingly allergic reaction I had while eating dinner one night. But I will just be thankful that no news really is good news.

I also had my thyroid checked and it is fine/normal. I will contribute my fatigue and exhaustion to EMERY LADD, JESSE LADD AND BENJI LADD. haha. Most of all Jesse. I mean I haven't slept all night in about 6 months so of course I'm exhausted right?

I am trying my best to get on the healthy wagon again. I have to be honest, the few weeks I was GF I felt GREAT! I really agree with alot of the Paleo diet info. So once I make up my mind to get healthy/out of the new mom mindset, I'll most likely stick with a mostly GF diet. There is alot of truth and wisdom behind cutting the majority of wheat out of your diet.

Thanks to all who encouraged me, informed me and prayed for me. I am one lucky girl to have so many friends.

Gluten Free: Week One

This week of GF has been rather painless.

I am thankfully in a location that is within 5 miles of Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Earth Fair....And Publix, although I haven't been to Publix yet for the purpose of looking for gluten free stuff.

The only set backs I've had (as with any new diet change) is when I've gotten really hungry I've started to "crave" Chick-fil-a chicken nuggets. WHICH, given my current state of post Jesse baby weight I need to stay away from anyway.

I've actually been pleasantly surprised with the gf packaged things I've bought. The frozen toaster waffles to me are better than the regular ones. The gf ones toast up much crispier. The gf noodles I made mac and cheese out of for Emery and I one night while Benji was still in Brazil tasted no different to me at all.

Last night we grilled burgers. I bought regular buns for Benji and used the Udi's gf sandwich bread I had bought as a bun substitute for me. I thought it was actually good toasted. Had the consistency of a sourdough bread toasted. I'm thinking it will be great fried on the stove top for a egg sandwich.

One draw back is the price of bread is crazy! 5 bucks for like half a loaf. Hopefully I will learn to cut back on how much sliced bread I need to consume.

Funny thing is I don't really like eating sandwiches for lunch at home, I just do because it is always convenient and cheap. I'm having to stretch myself a little to come up with lunch alternative, but that is definitely not a real problem....

AND! like I've told a few of my friends, this is something I need to do anyway, recharge, mix up my eating habits and get back to nutritious planning I know benefits me and my entire family.

Being so sick pregnant with Jesse I got out of the habit of planning meals and enjoying cooking. It really was the last thing I could think about at the end of the day.

Now that I'm getting back to my old self I enjoy spending that time in the kitchen preparing and planning meals for my family.

Week two coming up. The real kicker will be week 3 when I am on family vacation, eating meals I don't necessarily plan.

Thankfully I don't have Celiac, so I'm sure that gluten in small portions will not do me too much harm. I just never ever ever want to have an episode like I had the other night. VERY scary.

It will probably be awhile before I can get to my Dr. to get the allergy test. One friend also recommended that with the incident I had the other night I should probably get an Epi pen prescribed.

I do feel better. I know that sounds cliche. I'm not as "foggy". Hopefully that will make since to you who have dealt with this before. I don't feel as bloated and I don't feel as heavy.

Hopefully this is the beginning of me feeling better than I have in 3 years.

Our Daily Bread, Or Not!

There has been SO MUCH going on lately! And so much on my mind.

There is just alot of "life" stuff going on. Things that are occupying my mind, while I'm trying to stay above water while Benji is in Brazil and I hold down the castle.

Jesse is teething.

Emery really, REALLY misses her dad and I think it comes out in her behavior.

I've got friends who are hurting, waiting, hoping.

I've got church friends who's very lives are hanging in the balance between this world and the next.

Then I have laundry to do. Mouths to feed. A house to keep some what clean.

Bills are coming in.

And I almost went into anaphylactic shock the other night. Yes and I think the culprit is either/ or both wheat and soy.

Most of you know I have been continuously sick since Jesse was born, really since Emery was born but it has progressively gotten worse since Jesse. Then the other night I had a major allergic reaction to what I have narrowed down to either wheat or soy, but since their are wheat properties in soy it is in reality probably both.

I've always been a major allergy sufferer. I use to receive 8 allergy shots a week when I was little. I take Claritin D off and on all year round. I should have stock in Benadryl. So I shouldn't be surprised that this is my reality.

I'm just not looking forward to eliminating 60, no 70% of my diet.

Thankfully I live in a city with a Publix, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.

My Dr. mentioned this may be an issue after I went to see him about another sinus infection and cough that I could not get rid of.

My plan of action is to hopefully get referred to an allergist, get tested...and leave off wheat/gluten for a month to see if I improve.