Articles from May 2010

A recent dinner-time conversation:

Wow, this little guy has been listening closely to what his daddy says! Good thinking, C

We’ve gotten one through preschool…

Why is it that every time I sit down to write my post today, I’m smothered by the world’s greatest hugs and kisses and little boy sentiments to send a mama to the moon and back with love?

Any of you who share my fascination with the four temperaments will appreciate this.

Me (hyperventilating at the sight of the pieces of five 60 piece jigsaw puzzles mixed up and strewn about the floor of our tiny living room): “I’m not interested in who did this, but I need everyone get to work cleaning it up immediately.”

Bella (age 5, whose blood runs sanguine): “OK Mom, of course, but I prefer when the room is messed exactly like this because all the colors on the floor make me cheerful.”

Lord help me to shepherd each one of my little varied personalities.

Boy 1: “I’m thinking of a number between ten thousand and 6 million.”

Ladies, I want to thank all of you for your words of advice regarding a possible milk allergy/sensitivity in my 3 month-old daughter, Caroline. After reading your experiences and doing some research of my own, I decided to go dairy-free about 10 days ago. I’m happy to report that Caroline’s diapers have gone from being green poop at every changing, to now being mostly wet, and sometimes yellow poop – no more green diapers! It took about 5 days for this to happen, but to me it is incredible that just by cutting dairy out of my diet, there could be such a dramatic change!

Here’s the brief summary of what I’ve done: I’m not eating any straight dairy – milk, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream, etc. I’m also being careful with items that contain milk ingredients, such as pancake mixes and many snack foods. This is a pretty big change for me, and I’ve started taking probiotics because I have noticed that my stomach has been upset since cutting out dairy – has anyone else had a similar experience? I have supplemented my diet with Almond Milk, some yummy homemade granola bars, lots of hummus (instead of cheese), and some surprisingly tasty Tofutti mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches Oh, and I cannot forget to thank Karen, who told me that I could eat Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips – they have been a saving grace!

Just over two weeks ago I started having some terrible stomach pains. Since my life on this blog is a bit of an open book, I will confess that I have had mild digestive problems for the past 10 years of my life. These issues escalated over Mother’s Day weekend, and I found myself spending my Mother’s Day and most of that following week in the hospital. I was discharged with some pain-killers, some medication to coat and ease my stomach, and no clear diagnosis. My stomach has felt pretty awful ever since.

And then on Thursday I received a call from my doctor that will forever change my life. The biopsy of my small intestine tested positive for Celiac Disease. I was shocked, and immediately sad because I knew what that meant. Goodbye to wheat, rye, barley, and oats. Goodbye to the comfort foods of holidays and special occasions. Goodbye to most, if not all, of my favorite recipes. I mourned, I cried, I called all my girlfriends to complain, and then I called a friend who has Celiac Disease. She assured me that my life is not over, I will find a new normal, I will stop dreaming about gluten, and in a few weeks I will start to feel a lot better.

And so today is Day 4 of my new gluten-free life. I will admit that five minutes does not pass without me thinking of food and what I cannot eat. I’m trying not to think about how my new diet is permanent. I’m taking it one day at a time, but I am dreaming about wheat based foods, including some of my favorites–pizza, pancakes, pasta and doughnuts. From what I read, gluten does that. It is like a drug, stimulating a part of the brain that craves for more. I eat and I feel full but my brain wants something more. I was told that in two weeks my brain will start to forget about gluten, the cravings will stop, and maybe the dreams will stop too.

I have spent most of the weekend researching gluten-free diets and food choices. I went to Whole Foods on Saturday night and spent $200 on gluten free baking flours and ingredients. I had to bake something, and I wanted it to be delicious. Baking something would be a small victory, a first step towards a new normal life.

At one point during my trip I wandered away from my cart in search of quinoa, and when I re-approached my cart I was shocked at what was inside. The contents looked nothing like what I normally purchase. Tapioca flour? Teff flour? Xanthum gum? Are these seriously real ingredients? I felt strange and sad. I tried really hard not to think about the permanent nature of my new diet. I distracted myself by adding sushi to my cart, and placing it in a very conspicuous location, and I continued shopping.

This morning I awoke and made gluten-free pancakes. They were good–not quite as good as my wheat based pancakes, but good enough. I smothered them with maple syrup and ate them until I felt full. And as I cleaned up the breakfast dishes I realized that I’m going to be ok. The pancakes were definitely good enough. I’ll find other foods like the pancakes that are good enough. My life is going to feel normal again, and maybe sooner than I had originally thought.

You see, I already feel better. I’m not 100% percent, FAR from it, but I’m better in ways that I never thought were related to my stomach issues. Allow me to explain–

As we got ready for Mass this morning I realized that I forgot to make my coffee, again. I just didn’t need it this morning, and I didn’t need it on Saturday or Friday. I then realized I didn’t have a headache on any of those days. Headaches normally motivate me to make coffee. I have not gone 3 days without a headache in at least a year. Maybe that’s a coincidence, but probably not. My doctor told me that regular headaches are a symptom of Celiac Disease and I can’t tell you how excited I am that mine seem to be gone!

And my allergies seem to have disappeared. A few months ago, I resorted to taking a daily allergy medication because my sneezing and wheezing were just that bad. But my seasonal allergies are now gone, and the change has happened almost overnight. Some of my joint pain is gone too. I had pain in my neck and back almost every day prior to my diagnosis. And it’s gone. Maybe this is a placebo effect, but I’m loving it!

My gut is going to take a bit longer to heal, likely several months, but I trust it will heal in time. I’m praying the fatigue goes away too, and my doctor said it probably will.

And so tonight, for the first time, I’m ending my day thanking God that the sacrifices of the past few days have yielded such obvious fruit. The way I feel is motivating me to keep going, and I’m really curious to see what other minor health issues might disappear. For the first time in a long while I feel full of hope about my health. Celiac Disease in a gluten-loving world stinks, but tonight I am starting to see the silver lining, and I’m loving it.

Well my friends, this is the first goodbye to a beloved stroller in the life of our young family. The narrow sidewalks and high curbs of France finally snapped the frame beyond repair. Goodbye, fair stroller.
(With a grin and a double wink : ))

ODE TO OUR STROLLER (sung to the tune of “Danny Boy“)

Peg Perego, your days with us were numbered.
Four years you’ve been our car, our guard, our friend.
The European cobblestone plus 75 pounds of children–
Your final triumph was your tragic end.

We’ll ne’er forget your lightweight sturdy chic-ness;
Italian leather, red upholstery.
But most of all, the many happy memories:
Three kids, 6 homes, 5 countries–joy of family.

Forced to move on, in dire straits without you;
An odd French pram now tries to take your place.
Overweight, bulky, impractical and frumpy.
None other e’er will match your style and grace.

It just ain’t right to send you to the village dump;
Your faithful frame, strewn down along the hill.
Your spirit soars, lives off beyond the rainbow,
In all my dreams and in my heart you’re with us still.

My Bed is a Boat

My bed is like a little boat;
Nurse helps me in when I embark;
She girds me in my sailor’s coat
And starts me in the dark.

All night across the dark we steer;
But when the day returns at last,
Safe in my room beside the pier,
I find my vessel fast.

Robert Louis Stevenson