Gluten and Your Health

Since becoming gluten free in February my cholesterol has dropped over 100 points! My Thyroid T4 test has raised 2 points, after 4 years of being at 9 (the scale is 9-24). How can this be?

What is gluten? A protein found in wheat, barley and rye, (more comprehensive list). Gliadin is the substance in gluten that induces inflammation in individuals who are sensitive to it. Gluten sensitivity is a food trigger auto-immune/anti-body response, not a food allergy. IGG vs. IGE(histamine trigger)

Possible symptoms and conditions of gluten sensitivity

• Craving for wheat or inability to stop eating wheat
• Allergies, asthma
• Sinus congestion, post-nasal drip
• Joint and muscle aches
• Diarrhea and/or constipation
• Gas, bloating, abdominal pain
• Psoriasis, eczema or unexplained rash
• Depression, anxiety or mood-swings
• Hyperactivity
• Neurological disorders
• Unexplained chronic fatigue
• Frequent canker sores
• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Osteoporosis, dental enamel defects
• Short stature
• Ear-aches
• Headaches
• Gallbladder dysfunction/stones
• Kidney stones
• Cerebral and cerebellar atrophy (affects coordination)
• Delayed puberty
• Early menopause
• Febrile seizures
• Intestinal cancers
• Obesity
• Pica
• Single generalized seizures

(The above list is a partial list compiled from Dangerous Grains by James Braly, M.D., and Ron Hoggan, M.A. and The Gluten Effect, by Drs. Vikki & Richard Petersen, D.C., C.C.N.)

What happens in your intestines when you’re gluten sensitive and eating gluten?

Healthy Villi with proper absorbtion
There are microscopic finger-like villi along the walls of your intestines. The purpose of the villi is to absorb the food you’ve eaten and make it available to your body to use. The villi, the site of first contact, become red and inflamed from the attack of auto-immune cells, sent out to attack the gluten molecule, when the gluten sensitive person eats gluten. Unhealthy Villi have totally atrophied, wasted
The tips of the villi produce many enzymes including lactase (used to digest lactose), sucrose (used to digest sugars), and EFA (to process essential fatty acids). Starting with the tips of the villi, they begin to atrophy, disappear, leaving you lactose intolerant, dealing badly with sugars (hypoglycemia, yeast infections), and with dry skin.

70% of the human bodies immune cells are located in the small intestine. Wow! No wonder it affects the overall health and immune system of your entire body. 1% of the American population has Celiacs Disease, which is high, but, 40% of the American population is gluten intolerant. (The Gluten Effect by Drs. Vikki and Richard Peterson D.C., C.C.N.)

Cross reactivity/Cell mimicry happens because the gluten antibody looks similar to say a Thyroid cell. The gluten antibody then begins to attack the thyroid, causing hypo thyroid or Hashimoto’s. The thyroid then gets thyroid antibodies created; now the thyroid has no chance. The good news; when you stop eating gluten, the process does cease and desist. If you haven’t gone hypo thyroid yet, your numbers can creep back to normal as your body heals. My free T4 (thyroid test) has been sitting on the lowest number in the normal range, 9, for several years. The normal range is 9-24. After 4 months of a gluten free diet my T4 has risen to 11! My mom and grandmother both had hypothyroid. Once you go hypothyroid, at this point in science, you are on medication for the rest of your life.

Cell mimicry can happen to any system in your body. Gluten/gliadin antibodies are all over the gluten sensitive body, wreaking havoc in the system that is your weakest link. This is one of the reasons gluten intolerance is hard to diagnose when more typical symptoms do not present.

Adrenal Exhaustion

The adrenal system is responsible for handling all stresses on the body. Car accident, job, marriage, food sensitivities, gluten sensitivity are all processed the same way by the adrenals. Stress hits, Cortisol (stress hormone) is released. When stress is ongoing, so is the release of cortisol. Along with calming down your system after release of adrenaline, it can give symptoms of anxiety or lack of well being, as well as redistributing fat throughout the body, slowing down the metabolism. This often results in more fat deposits in the belly.

See the relationship between adrenaline and cortisol.

The hormones produced by the adrenal glands (DHEA, pregnenelone and cortisol) are important for many normal functions in the body. When the adrenals are exhausted due to stress, many seemingly unrelated symptoms can arise because the adrenal hormones are not produced at proper levels. The following is a list of some of the major effects that occur in the body with adrenal exhaustion. A person with adrenal exhaustion may have symptoms in one or more of these areas.

• Fatigue
• Immune System Weakness
• Low Blood Sugar
• Sugar cravings
• Weight gain
• Thyroid problems
• Depression/ Mood swings
• Hormone imbalance

(The Gluten Effect, by Drs. Vikki & Richard Petersen, D.C., C.C.N.)

Recommended reading:

The Gluten Effect, by Drs. Vikki & Richard Petersen, D.C., C.C.N.)

Dangerous Grains by James Braly, M.D., and Ron Hoggan, M.A.

Gluten-Free Bible by Jax Peters Lowell

The Allergy Self-Help Cookbook by Marjorie Hurt Jones, R.N.

Grain Free Muffins

Recipe:

Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 c coconut flour
1c tapioca flour
1/2 c almond meal/flour
1/2 t salt
2t Xanthum Gum (guar gum or gelatin ok too)
2t Baking Soda
4t Baking Powder
1/2 c sunflower seeds any nut ok (optional)
2/3c spectrum shortening

Wet Ingredients:
2c wet fruit (mashed bananas, applesauce, defrosted frozen berries, stewed prunes/raisins)
1c flax egg replacer (equal to 4 eggs)
3/4 c honey

1. Combine all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix well.
2. Add shortning to dry ingredients cutting with a fork until shortening is well distributed.)
3. Mix wet ingredients together
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Fold together (makes lighter)
5. Consistancy - should stick to your hands, wetter and lighter than cookie dough, like wet, sticky bread dough.
6. Roll into balls, These muffins hold the shape they are set down as, no growing/changing.

Bake approx 25 mins, at 350 until toothpick comes out clean.

If you need to stir in more liquid once all ingredients are incorporated, good ideas are:
-Coconut milk, nut milk, mineral water

Variations- Change any of the flour combination's and keep the chemistry the same (baking soda, powder, xanthum gum, salt, shortening/butter/marg/coconut oil)
-poppy seed add 1T poppy seeds +/- and 1T almond extract (add to taste)
-add any kind of nut
-raisins, cinnamon
Basic grain free muffins. Tastes like a whole grain muffin.

Stewed Prunes in above muffin

Hives

Heard of hives before, never actually saw them in person. It was on my list of suspects for the polka-dotted kid, but I was really hoping for chicken pox. Bummer.

Received my call back from the pediatrician after 5p, regular doc wasn't in, but as I was trying to describe the rash, and that it had mysteriously faded, the bright idea hit me. The doc did indeed have access to the internet. Posted these pictures you see below for a diagnosis! Gotta love technology.

When you are very hot, our temps here have been 99*, and you have a sudden temperature drop and become cold, getting into a hose filled backyard pool, you can develop hives.

Malachi is a bit gun shy about going back in the pool, but I'm sure eventually he'll go in again.

U-Turn

There have been a few situations in my life that were my responsibility to get out of, but yet, try as I might, I always ended up back stuck. My marriage was one, my weight another. My experience is so intensely spiritual, physical and emotional. None can be separated from the other.

Making healthy choices with food has always been important to me, not that I always made healthy choices. There was stress every time we had drive through, whenever I shared 'junk food' with my kids. What I call junk food casts a wide net compared to the average populace. The kids were mostly fed healthfully, although my treat eating spilled over into indulgences I shared with them.

The stress I felt over the poor food choices weighed on me and I handled it with more indulgences to my taste buds, to the point where I often ate like a child, denying myself nothing, after the kids where in bed, or when I was alone. My body was paying the price. My cholesterol was high, over 300, however, my good cholesterol was also high, over 60. I was a slave to the party in my mouth. Hopeless. Against the values I hold, yet I couldn't stop.

I prayed God would save me from myself, that he'd fix me. He didn't. He did speak in that still, small voice, and I usually ignored him in the arena of food. In February of this year, at my Bible study, the theme was repentance, using the analogy of U-turns. I had been doing partial U-turns in my repentance for the way I was eating. So sorry, so disgusted by my behavior, I was saddened and sorry for the results of my behavior, but I'd continue. I didn't turn my back on the way I had been eating, because I just couldn't. After the Bible study, I told God, I want to turn my back on the way I've been eating, but I can't. Please help me.

Sounds hokey, but it was the next week I went on this elimination diet that was supposed to last 7 days before adding back foods, then growing the diet back to include the things that had been cut out. Every food that we tried to add back in, I had a reaction to! There are so many foods that I am sensitive to. My reactions included joint pain, extreme fatigue, inability to get up in the morning, stabbing pains in my abdomen. My eating has changed drastically since then. I miss mindlessly eating Oreos and seasonal candies, but really, they never satisfied.

This was just the prelude to what I learned about my body, the adrenal system, and food allergies/sensitivities. The adrenal system is the source for hormone production that handles stress. The body cannot discern internal/externals stressors, it reacts the same for both. When you are in an argument, car accident, or are eating foods you are sensitive to, your adrenals put out cortisol. Sometimes your other hormones have to take a back seat in order for your body to handle the amount of stress your adrenals are under. The regulatory hormones of DHEA, Pregnenalone, progesterone, your thyroid, they all take the hits so the adrenals can give the 'fight-or-flight' response you need for survival. However, once your adrenals have been called upon too long, they get exhausted. They are walnut shaped gland above your kidneys. They shrivel up to little peas and don't put out much anymore. Throughout this process your thyroid tries to keep up, some peoples thyroid slows, to match the adrenals (they dance together), once your adrenals shut down your thyroid may go so low it's considered hypothyroid. The bad news is once you go hypothyroid, it doesn't come back, but the good news, your adrenals can be brought back. Over time of healthy eating and exercise, not eating foods you have sensitivities to. I'm doing clinical nutrition to try to bring back my adrenals faster than they would otherwise come back.

The adrenal test is a saliva test, the thyroid is a blood test, the gluten sensitivity test is a blood test. That's just FYI, not that you need to run out and get them. I am going to a clinic that has free seminars each month on different health related topics. I learned more info than I could share in an email from there, and a book the directors of the clinic wrote: The Gluten Effect. It has chapters on other health things besides gluten sensitivity, but the primary purpose of the book is to inform about gluten sensitivity.

My journey with food has been wrought with difficulty. I was a slave to it, and now, the way I have to feed us is very challenging, requiring energy and attentiveness, however, I have a freedom I haven't known in a very long time. This has been intensely spiritual as well as physical. I cannot tell my story without sharing the spiritual component, or it wouldn't be true. I receive relief from the arthritic joints about a week after being clean from whichever food causes that problem. Citrus is a big one, vinegar. The moodiness, clears after 2 or so days of being clean of the problem food like corn. The challenge I had with yelling, wow, how it can be related to foods, seemingly 'healthy' foods. Wow! Once my intestines heal, I should be able to add back some or all of the foods I cannot eat now. Time and healing. I wasn't crazy! I thought I was beyond hopeless in some of these areas, and by avoiding some foods, I have such freedom!

This manuscript sure is growing! How many cups of coffee just to get to this point?! While I was typing this, my boys were on the trampoline in the backyard, where I sent them in hopes of peace to think and write. Malachi was making a beeline like a bat out of hell(that dramatic, it warrants that description!) towards the house. His nose was bleeding, some went into his mouth and he sputtered it out all over the place. Trying to keep the carpet clean and comfort him were nearly equal priorities! Caleb ran off to get some tissue to hold over the nose. Caleb had, on Malachi's request, thrown a broom(full sized) over the net onto the trampoline. Of course it hit Malachi on the nose and his 2 front loose teeth. Couldn't have hit the target better if he had aimed. AH, life. This stress, I can deal with:)

Whoa is We

The truth of where I live.... seems there is always something that is emergent, demanding my attention, keeping me from being on top of things. Cleaning, discipline, homeschooling have been taking a backseat to health. Silas and I both had parasites, went on a strong round of antibiotics to kill these buggers. Silas had a hard time with tummy aches, I had ringing in my ears, general exhaustion, hard to wake up in the morning....

Thankfully we finished, looking forward to the promise of no more tummy aches for Silas, and more energy for me. After only a day or 2 of probiotics, which also seem to give Silas tummy aches, Silas got a fever that lasted from Friday until Monday night.

Concern is exhausting. How can I help this little guy with these tummy aches? He had fevers ranging from 100 with Tylenol to 103 and change when it wore off. He had coughing which kept him from sleeping, vomiting with nausea, and was totally lethargic. I usually give ginger ale or 7up for vomiting, but, it all has corn syrup in it, which would likely open a whole different pot of worms and tummy aches. So we opted for fresh coconut water(the electrolyte balance is well matched to human body. In wars people have been given transfusions of coconut water, it's that good of a match.)

My kids don't get lethargic when sick. Just slow down, so this was also concerning. Finally, his breathing after coughing fits looked too labored and retracted, so we went to the ER at 2a on Monday morning(aka Sunday night).

It was of course a long night. They did see us pretty quickly for an ER, checked his oxygen saturation, it was 95, so I felt much better. They gave him a proper dose of Tylenol suppository, 250 mg vs the 190mg I was giving per the box. FYI, 15mg per pound is proper dosing for acetaminophen. After that, we waited. A woman gave birth in the parking lot. That was exciting to see the husband running through the ER wild eyed with poop on his pants. At that point, I think the baby's head was out.

Silas got an X-Ray, showed some bronchitis, they gave us a whole paper with prescriptions. The doc said we should do the anti-biotics just in case. I didn't feel heard by the doc, or willing to give anti-biotics, "Just in case", so didn't start the antibiotics right away. Went to our pediatrician the next morning anyway. She had a cool test she did in the office. She put a swab up his nose then put in a vial with liquid, then put a test strip in and we waited for 1 or 2 lines, like a pregnancy test. 1 line = not influenza = bacterial = antibiotics. Before rushing off to ask for this cool test from your pediatrician, we were told she is a something with the CDC, so she has these test strips, but everyone else has to send to the lab. Lucky us.

Anti-biotics. Silas is having terrible stomach pains from them. He was already having such pain. Now when he has either anti-biotic or probiotic(at different times), he has terrible stomach pains. My heart breaks when this happens. So hard to see him suffering, there is nothing I can do to help:(

I just want him to feel better. The big boys are fighting too much. I don't tolerate fighting, but it's exhausting to put the kibosh on it. Just want a respit. Today is not as hot as yesterday, that is good. I kicked the kids out for 1 hour, 2 or more hours ago. They keep coming back in for different reasons. The hour starts over. They've probably been outside for 15 minutes by now!

As I'm laying out a diatribe of whoa's, Caleb had a bloody nose 5x yesterday! The heat! Oh, yes, and Lawrence started having a gout attack this weekend as well, then Monday thought he was feeling better, so didn't call his doctor for meds?! Well Monday night he was in excruciating pain, didn't get meds until Tuesday, and it will take more days before he achieves true relief! I'm pretty sure there is a stress component to his gout attacks. Sure he ate lamb quite a few times over the last month, but seems every gout attack has been adding fuel to a fiery family situation. Hmmm. Life. We're in the growth part of James chapter 1.

Dinnertime Action

Blood streaming down his face, Silas screamed his way into the kitchen, the kind of scream that actually means something more serious. Grabbing 2 washcloths, I grabbed his head, aiming for the general area I thought the wound might be and held on. The screaming now changes to "I have to pee!" We begin towards the bathroom, too late. He is now more upset about the wet pants than anything else. I negotiate the pants off, while locating and examining the wound. It is rather small, no stitches required, thank you Lord! It stopped bleeding profusely almost immediately with the pressure. Caleb ran and got new underwear, Malachi put them on while Silas sat in my lap and I kept some pressure on. The Tribal Clan in action!

Paregrine Falcon

During the rain today, a paragrine falcon took a rest in a branch above the trampoline.

I was feeling very sleepy, wishing I could crawl into bed, which I can't do for many reasons, one of which is 2 linoleum guys are here installing new flooring in the bathroom. I looked out the kitchen window, and what a treat to see a falcon.

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/animals/images/primary/peregrine-falcon.jpg

The link above shows a much better picture of the peregrine falcon. What a treat!

Food

Chips by Lawrence. Russet and red potatoes dusted with a Gluten Free flower blend(GF Mama) then fried in Coconut oil.

Rice stick noodles with chicken and veggies Coated chicken breast with GF(gluten free) flour mixture
browned chicken in about 1/4 c coconut oil
after almost cooked through, added tons of minced garlic (then add some more)
added mushrooms, onions, shredded cabbage, carrots, and peas.
Salted the chicken while it cooked
Boiled water and added rice stick noodles. Keep an eye on them they cook quickly.
Rinsed the noodles with cold water then added them to the meat and veggies. Stir together and sprinkled fish sauce for salt and flavoring(careful not to add to much, it is potent stuff!)
poured some olive oil over the entire mixture (off heat) and mixed together.


That's all. It was quite flavorful. Would be better with other sauces, but everything has soy, citric acid, vinegar, sugar. Those are but a few of the things we are not eating on this elimination diet. Eating gluten free is looking much easier now after having so many other restrictions.

Rice Mush

On this elimination diet, there are more foods to avoid than I will bore you with, however, aside from rice, not any grains (quinoa is in the chard family and not a grain, thanks Stacy for the trivia!) As I am in the very steep learning curve of this eating style, I am spending way too much time thinking about food, preparing food, food, food, food,food.....

I added too much water to short grain rice and it came out very sticky, almost gooey. I added cashew milk, and ground flax seeds, and voila a hearty, comforting breakfast cereal! As oats are off the menu for a while, and when they do come back, they are way too expensive to eat for breakfast every day, I feel so blessed and taken care of by this simple meal. I feel more loved by God from discovering this easy food, than I have in a long time by many bigger miracles, go figure. Food is so hard right now, this is one easy creamy food. There are no sauces, adds that I have come across yet for this diet for cooking. So many things I make are enhanced by vinegar and soy products (both are temporary unless we have a reaction when we reintroduce).

The Elimination Diet........dun dun dun

Wow, I've got a lot on my plate right now. We're nearing the end of the bathroom shower re-do, praise God for that! Removing the mold, healthier, and much nicer looking too, solid surface, I really detest cleaning tiles.

The hot water has turned tepid. All showers and baths are luke-warm. Why? Probably the water heater, I hope it doesn't blow before the problem is fixed. Warm, not hot water happened yesterday, and today, a little leak has sprung under the kitchen sink! It's raining, it's pouring.

And the looming challenge, the kids and I are starting an elimination diet tomorrow. This is challenging! We have been progressing toward being a gluten free home, less stressful that way. I thought the elimination diet wouldn't be toooo difficult. It's short term, but we rely on eggs as fast food. Corn, tortillas, chips, popcorn, corn meal mush..... I need to whine before I have to buck up and be the mom. Sugar, maple syrup, gluten, dairy, peanut butter, vinegar, beef, pork, shellfish. I know we can do this, it just feels overwhelming right now.

Also baseball practice is starting next week, so my schedule is going from tight to jam packed. The benefits we will reap will be worth the sacrifice, but sacrifice is what it is, sacrifice.

I must add that I'm in a fabulous food coop, however, we get what we get. It is the surplus, expired things, misc. from Trader Joe's and other local places. Lots of produce, dairy, often marinated meat(usually has gluten). God knows what we need and has continued to be faithful to care for us, so I will share how he takes care of us over the next few weeks.

This diet is 7-10 days before we start adding back foods. Add 1 food, wait 3 days before adding the next. This will be an experience I will appreciate and look back at fondly after it's finished I'm sure, looking at the work aspect from this side of it is like waiting for a shot.

On the upside, Malachi is beginning to read short sentences after a year of speech therepy and working on phonics and blending. We hadn't actually began to read words yet, when he started doing a workbook, 'Explode the Code'. He has in 1 1/2 weeks gotten through 3/4ths of the book! He is so excited about being able to do this book. I am too. Caleb is reading early readers, and while not such an eager reader or writer, is moving at his own pace. His reading has moments of smoothness, where it is not halted and sounded out. As a home school mom, this is a big deal. The tangible evidence visible to the outside world.

Gluten exposure is a lot like cigarette exposure. Your first cigarette you may get a headache, cough, feel nauseated. But if you continue to smoke, these symptoms will be circumvented by your body, even though the damage to your body is really still happening. So it is with gluten exposures. Most of us have grown up eating gluten, so we don’t really know what life feels like without it. We ache because we’re getting older, we assume. When your body is free from gluten contamination, it reacts more strongly when you re-introduce or are inadvertently exposed (if your gluten sensitive or celiac only).

Silas has sure been a case in point. I had him tested for the celiac anti body because of a prolonged tummy ache, 1 ½ months. Noticed it was after toast and sandwiches. Now, when he has a reaction……WHOA! Misery! For all. Last Friday night’s episode was like watching someone in the transition stage of childbirth, seriously intense, and nothing I could do to help but be there.
According to current research, most MD’s not up on this, 1 out of 100 people have Celiacs Disease! 40 out of 100 are gluten sensitive. WHAT!!!! Sleep problems, arthritis, behavior challenges or any number of issues that could go away by removing gluten from your diet.

What is the difference between Celiacs and gluten sensitivity? Celiacs Disease is an auto-immune disease, gluten sensitivity can present in many ways similar to celiacs disease, but to my current understanding is not necessarily destroying your intestinal lining. Gluten sensitivity can be causing a wide range of symptoms, joint pain, seizures, depression, too numerous to name here! Inflammation though is big. Inflammation can cause many problems.

The good news about the havoc gluten can reign on a body, is the treatment is simple, no, I didn't say easy. Eliminate gluten. Wow! Gluten is in so many places, goes by so many names it takes much more front-end education than you'd expect. Soy sauce, Ricola cough drops, rice crispies to name a few unlikely places to find gluten. I got my BA in gluten detection in September, now I’m working on my doctorate! It really makes a difference for Silas.

I had already come to the conclusion for our home, cooking separately, keeping gluten in the home, and dealing with possible contaminations, causes more work and STRESS than going gluten free. I say this while still consuming, and serving gluten. My reason, your body must react to gluten for the test to be accurate. So with every bite of gluten, I see the end of my affair quickening.

The stereotypical Celiac, according to old information (which our medical system still uses): pale skin, Nordic descent, very thin, often red hair. Some very thin, melanin challenged person is probably popping into some of your minds. They tend to eat way more food than seems right for such a skinny person. It’s probably chalked up to a great metabolism. Well, this is old information. While this is one type of Celiac, there are others out there. Overweight, obese people, bad nutrient absorption, lack of satiation, compels the body to seek out the nutrients, but these people don’t have a problem with calorie absorption. Hmmmm.

At Silas' appointment yesterday, we found out, if a child has celiacs, in this guys experience, there is one or both parents with celiacs or gluten sensitivity as well.

As we move along this path we’re on, I’ll keep you posted.

Cigarettes and Gluten?

Gluten exposure is a lot like cigarette exposure. Your first cigarette you may get a headache, cough, feel nauseated. But if you continue to smoke, these symptoms will be circumvented by your body, even though the damage to your body is really still happening. So it is with gluten exposures. Most of us have grown up eating gluten, so we don’t really know what life feels like without it. We ache because we’re getting older, we assume. When your body is free from gluten contamination, it reacts more strongly when you re-introduce or are inadvertently exposed (if your gluten sensitive or celiac only).

Silas has sure been a case in point. I had him tested for the celiac anti body because of a prolonged tummy ache, 1 ½ months. Noticed it was after toast and sandwiches. Now, when he has a reaction……WHOA! Misery! For all. Last Friday night’s episode was like watching someone in the transition stage of childbirth, seriously intense, and nothing I could do to help but be there.


According to current research, most MD’s not up on this, 1 out of 100 people have Celiacs Disease! 40 out of 100 are gluten sensitive. WHAT!!!! Sleep problems, arthritis, behavior challenges or any number of issues that could go away by removing gluten from your diet.

What is the difference between Celiacs and gluten sensitivity? Celiacs Disease is an auto-immune disease, gluten sensitivity can present in many ways similar to celiacs disease, but to my current understanding is not necessarily destroying your intestinal lining. Gluten sensitivity can be causing a wide range of symptoms, joint pain, seizures, depression, too numerous to name here! Inflammation though is big. Inflammation can cause many problems.

The good news about the havoc gluten can reign on a body, is the treatment is simple, no, I didn't say easy. Eliminate gluten. Wow! Gluten is in so many places, goes by so many names it takes much more front-end education than you'd expect. Soy sauce, Ricola cough drops, rice crispies to name a few unlikely places to find gluten. I got my BA in gluten detection in September, now I’m working on my doctorate! It really makes a difference for Silas.

I had already come to the conclusion for our home, cooking separately, keeping gluten in the home, and dealing with possible contaminations, causes more work and STRESS than going gluten free. I say this while still consuming, and serving gluten. My reason, your body must react to gluten for the test to be accurate. So with every bite of gluten, I see the end of my affair quickening.

The stereotypical Celiac, according to old information (which our medical system still uses): pale skin, Nordic descent, very thin, often red hair. Some very thin, melanin challenged person is probably popping into some of your minds. They tend to eat way more food than seems right for such a skinny person. It’s probably chalked up to a great metabolism. Well, this is old information. While this is one type of Celiac, there are others out there. Overweight, obese people, bad nutrient absorption, lack of satiation, compels the body to seek out the nutrients, but these people don’t have a problem with calorie absorption. Hmmmm.

At Silas' appointment yesterday, we found out, if a child has celiacs, in this guys experience, there is one or both parents with celiacs or gluten sensitivity as well.

As we move along this path we’re on, I’ll keep you posted.

Bikes and Hair

Used to be able to reorder the pictures. Fun pics, but days mixed together.


Trampoline Hockey


Shaken, not stirred.
Patch of blue sky over Mission Peak.
Not telling.
Man down! Man down!




Oy vey. What a headache all this playings giving me!




Racing by.

Roses

Today while I was sweating, cutting, pruning, and otherwise whipping 10 of the 20+ rosebushes in my yard into shape I had a keen sense of how they don't belong to me. Renting this house, working in the yard is so different from owning a home. I am working hard this season, to reap a reward in a future season, or even a year or two out, while knowing,as a renter, I may not be here for the reward.

It has given me an idea of what stewardship means. Everything we have, we don't own, God does. As a homeowner it is easier to forget we are stewards, managers for God. Things change so quickly, we get a false sense of security in our things.

Here's to hoping I'll see some beautiful roses.