River Trip

The weekend before labor day, we went to the River! B got his great Aun'ts river house in Parker, and we invited friends and family to join us for 4 days. Uncle Gary and Aunt Cathy brought my cousins, Scotty and Michael, and Michael's friend Carter


We also invited our besties Chris and Lo.





Uncle Gary brought his boat and we tubed all weekend. The boys went at it like they were all related. The 15 year olds attacked the 25 year olds with trash talking and the 25 year olds threw all of the 15 year olds off the tubes like rag dolls. To say the least, Lo and I had a great time watching the boys hurt each other. But Lo and I got on the tube and had a pretty good time!




Eating Gluten Free at the River was pretty easy. I made pancakes ahead of time from Pamelas mix, and stored them in the fridge until breakfast time. I made sure that I could indulge a little so I made chocolate chip cookies and two batches of rice crispy squares! I also brought starbursts and skittles, both gluten free!!!

Aunt Cathy made most of the dinners, I just adjusted it to be Gfree. 4 days of yummy comfort food, and I didn't get sick. We even ate out at 3 different places! Things are definitely looking good. Such a relief to have a 4 day vacation away from home, be able to eat, and not feel horrible. Gluten Free is my way to be.

August, Summer is almost gone

Working in a "corporate" job I haven't had a summer in a few years. Long gone are the days where I didn't have to work during my summer. I would love to be at the beach daily, or by the pool soaking up the rays, or even shopping at the mall with my girlfriends. But alas, those days are far and few in between. Yes, I am only 26 and I say long gone are the days when...; only because I haven't seen a summer since high school! Since my freshman year of high school I played water polo, where I worked out 5 hours a day Mon-Fri. Intense training, but a lot of fun. I couldn't sleep in every day and wake up thinking "What am I going to do today?". I was always busy!

When I graduated high school, realizing I needed some money, I got a summer job working for the City of Yorba Linda running summer programs. Three years later, I was offered a job coaching water polo at my Alma Mater, so yet again, I was coaching water polo 3 to 5 hours during the summer. It will be 3 years in October that I got hired for Whittier. Where Summer is our busiest time. We provide programs for the public and the public is most available in the summertime.... Therefore, I have had my summers occupied for many years now.

I am not regretting my choices, just wish that I could live the lives of some of my dear friends who are in the education system that get 2 months off each summer season to lay by the pool, go on week long vacations and not have to come back to the emails, messages, deadlines and quirky company of working in a office.

There are perks of working year round though, I can take off season vacations, I am becoming very successful in my work place, and I just got a promotion! New responsibilties, a little more change to add to the pocket book, and a wealth of knowledge I would not have gained laying by the pool! Weekends are spent with my new husband, and we even play softball with friends througout the year once a week. Each weekend my DH and I try to get out and get some fun in the sun. So this year, when I really look at my far and few in between days of the beach and pool time , with my new position and few extra dollars in the bank, summer coming to a close isn't looking so sad this year. Off to new adventures and more experience. Maybe I will get to the beach next year...

Here are a few pictures that I have taken in the last few days...

Lexy and I at our sotball game

pool side on a sunday

Happy Anniversary to B & Me!

So July 19th marked 1 year for B and me to be married. It is crazy to think that a year ago, we were planning a wedding, getting married and going on a fabulous Honeymoon to Mexico. We really had a wonderful wedding, it was everything we wanted, well everything I wanted, I think B enjoyed it though! Anyways, to celebrate, B gifted me with a Tiffany's Horseshoe Necklace that I have been wanting the whole year :0) So happy! For him, I wanted to take him shopping for a new mini wardrobe. He needed it! But before the shopping frenzy, we went to Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Corona!

Glen Ivy was wonderful. It was hot and the pools were refreshing. We had one hour massages under the Oak trees with misters and fans. Overall, we spent about 5 hours there. The best part was that I had called the cafe ahead of time and asked their Chef (Chef Bill) about Gluten free lunch. Chef Bill said to contact him when we arrived and he would be able to prepare something, no problem! So, just to be careful, I packed some goodies, just in case. But I didn't need them! Chef Bill was very polite and he suggestted the salads were the best option for me. He said I could have the BBQ chicken salad with blue corn chips, black beans, corn and cheese. Stick with the vinagrette dressing, he said, and you should be just fine. I said THANK YOU, and he said no problem, he used to work at a gluten free restaurant in Los Angeles so he understands my needs. Can a girl ask for a better day???

So the salad was great, we relaxed a few more hours before cleaning up and heading to the Block of Orange for some sh0pping. B got a whole slew of new things to wear, and he was a happy camper. So after spending all that money and being wiped out, we ex-nayed the fancy dinner, picked up In-N-Out (gluten free fries and a protein wrapped burger!) and watched a movie. What a wonderful Anniversary, and gluten free the whole time. I can do this, with a little help from Chef Bill and In-N-Out and a Tiffany's necklace, I forgot all about being sick last week. Things are possible, just seem impossible.

Surviving July

The Big question... Erin...How is your diet going? How have you been feeling? To that I tell you this...

So, my first holiday went by... Independence Day. Hot Dogs, Burgers, Pasta salad... all un-eatable. But I did get to eat grilled chicken, corn on the cob, baked beans, and my sister was kind enough to make gluten free cupcakes! It was a GOOD dinner. My dad was great about grilling the chicken on separate piece of the grill, and my mom tried to keep most of the foods that I could eat, away from the gluten! My family is being very supportive. Then off to the field for fireworks. Who could ask for a better 4th?

So a week goes by, I am really tired and not feeling like doing anything but sleeping. What is going on with me? Is it low iron? Is it anemia? I know it is not my Thyroid, they tested that. So I started taking an Iron supplement. I think that is where I went wrong. Sunday night at midnight I was walking into the E.R. with horrible stomach pains. ;(

They ran the gauntlet on me. Urine, Blood, CT scans, pains pills, anti nausea pills, the works! I was in a bed and a gown by 3 am and I still had no answers!!! So Brad and I waited ( he was such a good sport to take me to the hospital knowing we would have to wait!) and waited and waited. Close to 4 a.m. a doctor came in and said you are........ constipated. GREAT, another thing to worry about. Drink Liquids, eat more fiber, take a supplement, do what you need to do because your body isn't getting enouth. So, 10 oz of laxitives and 12 hours later, my bowels felt better, but my stomach didn't. I had only eaten a few things that day because the laxitives took away my appetite, but as soon as my bowels started to move, my migraine kicked in, and so did my stomach. Up came dinner and any liquids I had drank the whole day, and following doctor's orders, I DRANK MY LIQUIDS. So by 10:30 p.m. I had gotten EVERYTHING out of my system.

Go into work the next morning? With what energy? I had none! So I stayed home to sleep and recover. All in all, liquids, fruits, and fiber supplements are really not that bad if it will keep me out of the E.R. After recovery, and being back at work, I am feeling good, but still tired. Will I touch the iron? Not after speaking with a nutritionist, which is next on my list of things to do. So, yes my diet is going ok, I have been very up and down with this process, but I am healthy and living.

Biscuts

So last night, (Wednesday) we didn't have a softball game so I decided to get creative and make a new recipe. B asked what we were having for dinner and I said something new! He didn't sound too enthused... But anyways I got a recipe online for a macaroni and ground beef skillet. kind of like a hamburger helper but healthier and gluten free. So I came home and thought, what could I have with the skillet... HOMEMADE BISCUTS! So started the skillet dish, and got out my new 500 GF recipe book and found a great corn based biscut recipe. I had all of the ingridients thanks to Henry's, Trader Joes and Herbie's! So off i went and made about 12 little patties of biscuts, put them in the oven for about 15 min, waited until they browned and then brushed them with a little butter... The were FABULOUS! Even B liked them. Which he is off and on with all of my GF products. He said the skillet was "different" but could be improved with more spices next time. =) Perfect, he didn't hate it and he even had a suggestion and a second helping!

So that was my experiment last night, and it made so much, I have leftovers for lunch today... What should I make tonight? I am still thinking but I am really getting into this GF cooking, now to make more leaps and bounds in the baking dept. Maybe I will let my sister try that for the 4th of July and I will follow in her footsteps....?! We will see what happens next...

Week 3

Hello all!
So today is monday, June 29, 2009 and I am on week 3 of my Celiac/Gluten Free lifestlye. I read the Idiot's guide to Gluten Free Eating from front to back in 1 week. I have also read a million forums about Celiacs. The internet has saved my new life. Also a co-worker of mine has two 20 year old daughters who have Celiac Disease and they were diagnosed when they were babies, so his family has been cooking Gluten Free for 20 years! He is a such a wonderful resource. He has given me 15 of his family recipes, a shopping list for a nearby GFree store and his daughters are putting together a dining out guide. I am so blessed to know someone who has all of this information and is willing to share with me. =)

I have been doing a lot of shopping at Henry's until Sprouts in Brea opens up. I now shop at 2 or 3 differnet markets every week. It has been pretty intense, but it still gives me an answer to my craziness. I have been making a lot of meals at home, some really good, others ok. I even made some GFree Brownies. All of my friends and family are being really supportive of the process. My hubby is even eating some of my GFree foods on his own without me making it for him! My parents want to get the blood test to see if they may have Celiacs Disease. It is quite interesting that when one family member gets diagnosed with a disease, others are quick to think about their own symptoms. If this discovery helps me and my family and makes us a healthier longer living family, then, thank you GFree.

Eating out has been a small chore. Part of me doesn't want to go out at all because I am scared to feel sick afterwards, and I hate being a nusiance to the servers and cooks. But then again, their job is to serve the customer right? =) Well, I went out to lunch with some co-workers on Saturday. We went to Red Robin. They had a GFree list of things I could eat. Sweet. I ordered a salad with grilled chicken and honey mustard dressing on the side. The salad came out with Bread on it! AHHH. But my server knew I couldn't and send the salad back to be remade. It tasted great... but in about an hour, I felt sick. Upset stomach, cramps, yuckiness... Don't know what it was, dressing? Bread leftover? Chicken? Cross Contamination. I am not sure, but I am weary about going to the Bird again. ON a lighter note, B and I went to Outback on Friday night with some friends and they have a GFree MENU! Hooray. I got steak and baked potato with a glass of wine. I reminded the server about a clean grill and workspce, and she said no problem... they have a Gluten Free Button on their register!!! Love OUTBACK! I ate everything on my plate and didn't get sick! So refreshing.

Well as the days go by, somedays I don't feel well, gluten or not, and I am tired or have an upset stomach. So I really need to pay attention to what other foods I am intaking since my intestine isn't healed, I could react to a lot of other things. Dairy, Sugar, Soy... I am in a constant state of thinking about what I ate and what is in my food. But as everyone says, It could be worse. And that is so true, I am surviving and liking a good amount of GFree food. We will see what happens...

Day 2 of Celiac Disease

Ok, Now I have an answer to why I have been feeling soooo miserable. Tired, nauseated, migraines, weight loss, anxiety, depression, gas, bloating, to name a few! All of these things have gotten worse and worse over the last year or so. I was feeling miserable and couldn't lose any weight. And for women to feel that way....IT SUCKS! I will spare you more of those details, but I knew something was wrong with my body, it just didn't feel right. So I started writing down all of my symptoms and thought to myself, there has to be something going on. I started out with Lactose Intolerance due to upset stomach with milk products, i.e. my vice: Chai Tea Latte from Starbucks, ice cream, non-fat milk in cereal. All made me feel horrible after a Vegas trip that I didn't have any dairy for almost 4 days. So off to the Doc I went with a self diagnosis of lactose intolerance. Doc felt something was going on... took 7 viles of blood from me to test for Thyroid, Anemia, Celiac, some other things and Factor V Leiden (more on that later). A week later, not feeling too much better, I get a call from the nurse telling me I am positive for Facto V Leiden (my sis has it, and it is inherited, not too suprised about that one) and I am positive for Celiac Disease. I said say again, she said Celiac Disease, the Doc wants you to start a Gluten Free Diet and come back and see him in a couple of weeks.

I was on my way to work when this happened, so I am thinking, ok change my diet, feel better. But what is Celiac Disease and what new diet am I going on. Well come to find out Saturday morning when I had time to do some research online, I can not eat any food containing Gluten, which is in more than half of the foods I eat! No Wheat, Rye, Barley, Malt... cookies, cakes, bagels, bread, brownies, pizza, etc. Are you getting the idea, NOTHING with Wheat or flour in it. After my mini meltdown, I said ok... what CAN I eat? Fruit, Veggies, Meats (not seasoned with gluten) rice, corn tortillas, ice cream & other dairy (although I can't eat too much of that due to lactose intolerance being a result of celiac disease, but I could grow out of it... www.celiac.com if you want to read more about it) =)

So all is not lost, but it is going to be a long road ahead. But as the books say, it could be worse. and I can survive. More to come...