6 Months Gluten Free

First of all I want to say that I know having Celiac Disease is not the end of the world.  But, it does change things.  The world revolves around food and that's the challenge I face.  I would be lying if I said the last 6 months haven't been a challenge for me.  I would be lying if I said there wasn't a grieving period too.  I would also be lying if I said I still love to bake.  Everything I try just doesn't turn out right.  It takes so many ingredients to replace flour and it just doesn't have the same texture or taste.  It's very frustrating to take all the time to bake something that doesn't taste good.  But, cooking dinner has become more fun as I try new recipes that taste great.

I can honestly say that I haven't felt this great in years.  6 weeks after going gluten free the tingling symptoms were gone.  Even more though, I had a whole bunch of little things I didn't even realize were wrong that have gotten better.  The other great surprises of improvement have been my short term memory.  I was so hazy all the time.  I can now remember the small things that happen, lists, and best of all where I put things!  I also used to wake up with my hands dead asleep or one of my whole legs down to a foot asleep.  That no longer happens.  I also have more energy (well before I got pregnant that is).

Before I got pregnant it wasn't too hard to stay away from gluten, especially if we were at home.  The way I felt definitely made it all worth it.  But, since becoming pregnant it has been harder.  I have always used bread as my comfort food.  If I felt like I needed to eat something "right then or I'd throw up" I'd grab a slice of bread or a cracker.  I haven't found that comfort food this time around and that has been more difficult. I just want some pizza or a big juicy hamburger with a bun!  (I know many of you will say, you can still make that with gluten free flours.  But, it is nothing like regular bread.  I am still acquiring a taste for it. And being able to eat regular food in the first trimester has always been hard for me.)

This has been a life style change for everyone around me.  Especially for Bo and the kids, but more Bo.  We used to enjoy eating out and now it is more challenging and honestly not nearly as fun.  Fast food is impossible unless I bring something else.  I used to make bread, rolls, cinnamon rolls, and other treats for the Bo and the kids, and now they get the store bought bread and not very many treats.  (It's just too hard to be sure I get it all cleaned up and don't contaminate my kitchen, supplies, and other ingredients.)  When we get together with family it makes it more difficult for family too.  But, everybody has been great to be sure I have something to eat.  Thanks guys :)

This has definitely made me think about others and the challenges we all face.  I am a better person for it.  I have learned a lot about how much the Lord and our Heavenly Father love me and are there for me.  I am so grateful to have the gospel and knowledge I have to help me through this trial and others.  It really helped to read the scriptures when I was angry.  I am grateful for Bo.  He has been so supportive of me and never complains about the food I make or yummy foods I don't make anymore.  Even my kids say, oh mom I wish you could have "that food" again.  They want me to eat what they eat because they like it.  But, if I can eat what I am eating now and feel as great as I have been feeling, it is all worth it! I am just grateful I can fix the problem by changing my diet. Nobody can eat whatever they want, whenever they want without bad things happening to their body, right? :)