January! Is it over, yet!

I am so ready for this month to be over and if this is how the New Year is going to be No Thanks! Kevin woke up this morning sounding like a small engine plane ready for takeoff and he’s been pretty much like that all weekend. His teacher said in his notebook that he had a great day Friday, but I’m wondering if he had a little of something at the Bowling Tournament that she didn’t see. It is so easy for that to happen at those kinds of things. Well, if he did it was a small amount thankfully and he should be fine in a day or two.

His brother on the other hand is out of school until Tuesday. He had appendicitis last Tuesday and had to have surgery. He and I stayed at the hospital that night and went home the next afternoon. He’s doing great. Even listened to me explain how to get up out of bed after you get home from surgery. Did it all on his own the next day. Thanks Dad for teaching us all that one and Thank You to my brother for being there for Kevin and me.

Needless to say I’m a bit worn out from it all and on top of that I’ve had to deal with the government on some financial help that I had been getting, but was up for renewal. I’m still trying to get things worked out with them. They can’t seem to read my bosses letter on my wages. Thankfully SSI has been helpful on answering question about Kevin turning 18 this year and what I need to do when that happens. They’ll setup an appointment for me to bring him in for an interview, but nothing should change in that department.

Next month is coming! New Doctor! New Month! Can’t wait! In the mean time I’ve gotten some great help from one of my sisters regarding cooking with Coconut Oil for our health. Even helps with Dementia! I also learned from my recipe group that you use ½ cup coconut oil to 1 cup of butter, unless it’s pastries or cookies. I don’t think I’d change those recipes myself, but I’m thinking more about cooking other things with it. I’m just worried about the taste. I’m not a fan of coconut itself, but I think it has more to do with the texture than the taste. Wish me luck!

Cooking from Scratch

For those of you that are new to Gluten Free cooking think of it as cooking from scratch just like your Grandmother did years ago. Ok, well maybe like my Grandmother. Some of you are much younger than I am. Last night I had a hard time going to sleep, so when I went out to the kitchen for a drink of water I saw my Grandmother’s cookbook. I enjoy picking it up once in awhile and browsing through it. It just reminds me of how to really cook. People today don’t truly cook at all. Everything can be bought in the stores pre-made or pre-measured. I personally know of one woman who truly cooks from scratch that is not on any diets. That’s just how she likes to cook and she learned it all from her husband’s grandmother. She will admit to this day that she had no clue as to how to cook until his grandmother taught her how.

The breads we make are a totally different bird from wheat bread. It’s like comparing a turkey to an ostrich both are birds, but very different. Gluten Free bread is heavier than wheat bread. Cakes are also heavier, but can be just as delicious as a cake made with wheat flour. Don’t give up on trying. What doesn’t come out right can be used for bread crumbs and croutons. Just throw them in the freezer until you’re ready to use it for that. I have no intentions of giving up myself. At least we can say we are trying to help ourselves or our children live a healthier life. There are going to be critics of your breads and cakes. So what! If they haven’t tried to make it themselves then the comments are not worth my time. I only prefer advice from those who have been there and done that. Last piece of advice is this; don’t criticize those that don’t cook from scratch. It takes a lot of time in the day to cook from scratch and most people don’t have the time to do it.

Tom Van Deman's bread made with Sorghum Flour

This is a new Gluten Free Bread I made today from Tom Van Deman's recipe. What huge a difference. I can't wait to try it again. The small piece of bread next to the loaf is what I buy at the store for $4.99 when I don't have time to make Kevin's bread. Can I say it again what a difference.

Backwards Again

What in the world happened! This week has been a very difficult week for Kevin. He hasn’t been able to focus and he’s been wound up throwing his arms around again with outburst. I’d say he had some gluten somewhere, but I don’t think he has had any. So, it must be his pills again. It’s sad because he did so good during the winter break and during the 1^st week back at school. I had two of his teachers tell me how good he was doing in classes. One said he was the most participating student in her class and the other said when she moved him to the front of the room she could see that he was following along with her and was answering questions. This past week he’s been bent over like an old man and not focusing at all. His teacher called me yesterday to ask me if I had noticed the changes in him. It’s frustrating, because I have no doctor to turn to until mid February for help. I’m on my own with this one. I just hope & pray I can figure out which direction to take to help him. It’s not a comfortable feeling, and the only thing I can do is follow what his pediatric neurologist has done in the past.

Wheat in McDonald’s Fries? Yes!

I haven’t taken the boys out to McDonald’s since Kevin was put on the Gluten Free diet and now I’m really glad I haven’t. To my surprise their French Fries, Hash Browns and Ranch Dressing have wheat in them. Don’t believe me here’s the web site.

http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/getnutrition/ingredientslist.pdf

It’s scary taking your kids out to eat when you have to watch out for things like gluten. I know how it is and maybe that’s one reason I’ve stopped trying to take Kevin out to eat in the afternoons or evenings. The places we go to for breakfast, so far have been safe for him to eat at. But, on a good note there are places listed that have gluten free food and if you’re not sure call ahead to make sure. It’s safer in the long run. There are several places around here that serve Gluten Free pizza, such as Fuel Pizza, Mellow Mushroom, Rotelli and more.

http://www.charlotte-celiac-connection.org/Restaurants.html

http://www.urbanspoon.com/t/230/1/North-Carolina/Gluten-Free-Friendly-restaurants

http://www.glutenfreeregistry.com/gluten-free-state-search.do?state=NC&page=3

You can usually find a list of Restaurants in your area just by searching Gluten Free Restaurants with your location. You may be surprised what you find.

Happy New Year Everyone!

We had the most wonderful time visiting with my sisters and their family on New Year’s Day! The best present I received (other than the e-reader lol) was Kevin relaxed during the whole winter break. NOTHING like Thanksgiving Day! The other gift was the call from the new doctor’s office. We go in February for our 1st visit and I can’t wait. I just hope he listens with an open mind. It’s so hard to explain to people about the difficulties Kevin goes through unless they see it firsthand. These past few weeks you would have thought I was crazy if I tried to explain the problems he was having with his meds. For the 1^st time on Friday evening after I got home from work he told me what he did that day. I always ask him about his day and usually he tells me what he had for lunch, but not this time he said the two places he and my brother went to that day. I was like high five kid and he was all smiles. You have to love moments like that. So, the kids are back in school and I’m getting ready to get to work here. Hope everyone has a wonderful new year.