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? :)

New Batting Cage Room

At work we are in the process of launching a baseball and softball bat website and while we were setting up to become dealers for some of the big brands like Easton and Dimarini we ran into a problem. We had to setup a retail space to sell the bats locally. So we begrudgingly fixed up the batting cage room and made it super awesome.  I think if there was a shower in the warehouse, i would seriously consider living in the warehouse.  Who am i kidding, I don't need to shower ever again I would move me and the family in right now if Celeste would let me. Here are some pics of the batting cage room.

11 weeks and counting!!

We were very excited to go to the Dr. today to confirm and check out our growin' baby!  Baby is looking great with a very strong heartbeat.  To our surprise the Dr. moved the due date up a week.  I was very excited to hear the news since now I am one week closer to getting through the first trimester!  The due date is September 27, 2010.

Hailey and Conrad are very excited have a new baby in our family.  Hailey says it's a girl.  Conrad says it's a boy.  I just want a healthy, happy baby (but I guess that's really what everyone wants).  We've got about 11 more weeks to go to see what it will be.

Bowling Night

About a month ago we had family in town for Sam's baby shower (Barry's wife).  The night before we went bowling with those that were in town already.  It was really fun and the kids keep talking about it, so I thought I'd better post about it so they can look at pictures from it and remember how much fun they had.  I took a bunch of pictures and the ones that turned out I uploaded to my picasa page if anyone wants to download them, sorry I didn't get a clear pic of everyone actually bowling http://picasaweb.google.com/celesteporter7/20100129#.

I thought I'd post a group pic and one of each of the cousins that were there.

Here's everyone that was there.

Hailey and Grandma

Conrad and Bo

Jack never slows down :)

Lucy and Trent

BraxtonAbbey

Landen

Hailey's 5 year old pictures

Okay, so I'm a little behind.  Her birthday was in October.  How much does a 5 year old change in 3 months, right?  I took her to JC Penney.  I am really pleased with the pictures.  Plus, the total cost was $12 and some change.  Can't get much better than that with 3 poses :)

On another note:  I am very behind on other posts.  For my family, I will be posting from our bowling night.  I just need to go through the pics and upload them.  I think that will be a job for this weekend while the guys are motorbiking :)