Gluten Free

Every where I turn lately there are articles lately on how women should be gluten free. Gluten is a protein found in many grains, such as wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut, and triticale. Gluten is often associated with oats due to wheat and oats being grown on the same fields. According to a 2008, USA Today article, “In 2003, just 40,000 Americans had been diagnosed with celiac disease; today, it's 110,000 — and, if everyone with the disease were diagnosed, it would be 3 million, says Alessio Fasano, medical director of the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research in Baltimore”.

I am thinking about going Gluten Free myself and have a friend that is trying it right now.

Which leads me back to my new favorite things…

Imagine Natural Creations Creamy Portobello Mushroom Soup is absolutely amazing.
At Christmas & Easter I used it to recreate French’s Green Bean Casserole minus the French Fried Onions. If anyone has found Gluten free Casein Free fried onions please send it my way.
I am going to using the soup to try and recreate the Coke Pot Roast Recipe, well I will if I can find a high corn fructose syrup free cola (oh and do not suggest Pepsi Natural because it has Apple Juice in it).

My most favorite item I have found recently is something my child can’t have, because he can not have eggs, but it is by far my most favorite thing I have ever tasted that was Gluten free Honestly if I can find a good tasting Gluten free beer I will be Gluten free immediately, because I think I could do it with this product and beer and that says a lot!!!

Udi’s Gluten free Foods White Sandwich bread tastes wonderful, it is also casein free, soy free, and nut free. It is soft and flavorful; to me it tastes like Italian bread. I am eating it right now will oil and vinegar like you would at an Italian restaurant. It is simply divine and only 140 calories for 2 slices!!! I can’t wait to try their whole grain bread, muffins, pizza crusts, and granola.

If you the readers have any new gluten free products to suggest please send them my way.

Until next time PITA up and have a great Monday evening.

Hope

When you have a child with autism the littlest things can become the most amazing things. Yesterdays amazing event was Austin made himself a sandwich. May not sound like much to most, but as a parent of a child with Autism it means hope! Hope that some day Austin will be able to live on his own and make his own dinner.

Hope is a wonderful thing. I sometimes think sometimes people forget how important it to keep the hope and faith alive. When you get the diagnose there are a lot of people out there, especially the medical community who will tell you to go home and learn to deal with it, because this is the rest of your life. For me that statement was given to us by a neurologist. My first thought was a curse word and “no this is not my life”. I am so glad I had that thought because my life is so much better today because of my attitude.

Ok, I am not going to lie to you Autism is far from fun. It has some really bad days. Like one day last summer where I woke up and Austin had dropped all of the food out of the pantry and the fridge and pretty much ruined about $500 worth of food. Or the days where he cries for no reason and I can’t figure out where he hurts or what is wrong. All those poop smears we have cleaned over the years. I could go on and on about those not so fun days!!!

Then there are those exceptional days like yesterday he made the sandwich, the day continued to get better. We went to a friend’s house for dinner and there he actually played with a toy appropriately. Ok it might have helped that it was a little claw game that had nerds in it and he really wanted the candy, but I’ll take it. He also played with his iTouch and watched TV with the other kids and we got to enjoy the other adults company. It’s nice to be able to enjoy a normal family day.

Austin amazes me everyday, not just because he can make a sandwich, but because we didn’t listen to that neurologist. If we had, my beautiful, amazing young son would not be where he is today. Each day he amazes me with the “little” things he does. Most would not even notice these small accomplishments, but I certainly do! The hope for the future is so bright for him it’s nearly blinding for me and all who support our family.

I hope through this blog that I can spread some hope to parents who are new to the diagnoses and to let them know things do get better you just have to keep and open mind look for the opportunities this journey will bring you.

Here’s to hoping today and tomorrow are as amazing as yesterday.

PITA up and do something to show someone around you a little hope.