So far, 2013 has not been steller. I am glad January is OVER! I can only hope that the next month will lead to some improvements. Many , many, many things need to improve, but 1 thing in particular..... learning to live gluten free with Hayden.
A couple weeks ago, Hayden was diagnosed with Celiac disease. This is certainly not the worst thing that could happen to someone by any means, but when your 7 year old lives on pizza, mac & cheese, cereal and all things glutenful, it is certainly not the best news. I will admit that I cried when I realized this was actually going to happen. He has had absolutely none of the symptoms one would look for to make this diagnosis, but every year he has blood work done to check his thyroid function, and unbeknownst to me, anti-endomysium antibodies. (These conditions are more prevalent in people with trisomy 21) This test result was all out of whack, so we were sent to a pediatric gastroenterologist. This doctor was a very sweet man who tries to make all this sound like it is not a very big deal. " Yeah, right! We love cake!!!!" was what I was screaming in my head.
After an upper endoscopy, the result was final. No cure, only option is to stop completely eating everything with wheat, rye, barley and some lesser know grains in it. Oh yea, and no dairy for 6 weeks to speed the healing! What!! He never mentioned that tidbit at the first appointment. I guess in the scope of Hayden's life, what is 6 weeks.
I have been reading lots of stuff on line and have gotten some really good advice from some people living with celiac. I know I will figure out how to do this because I have no choice. I know that the rest of my family, including me, should be tested because it is inherited. So far I have learned that we like almond milk and that Hayden won't touch gluten free pizza. When the pizza was served to him, he said, " Yuck! This is gross.", and put it down. I said to him that maybe he just wasn't hungry and I would save it for later. He said, "Mama, I will never be that hungry.", and walked away from the table. Ouch. The rest of us were like, Hey! We are only eating this for you! I know this will take time, but how long can he live on Chex and Almond milk?
Last night, Glenn brought me home a gluten free and dairy free cookbook called Cooking for Isaiah. So far it looks very promising. :0) I am thinking of trying the chicken and waffle recipe for dinner tonight.
