Funkytown..

I'm in a funk. So much is swirling right now - The Girl is super-sick, and I'm finding some of the info I'm reading a bit overwhelming right now.

I have this little pocket dictionary with ingredients in it that tell you if something is safe or unsafe (genius I tell you). I also have this other book with safe products. So you can look up "preserves" and it'll tell you which jams are gluten-free. Of course, you need to read the labels to make sure the ingredients haven't changed, but it certainly helps with things.

All that aside, there is a lot of information coming out that things that were labelled safe are in fact, not safe. Companies are taking advantage of the booming gluten-free industry and are causing those of us with celiac-disease to be eating foods that could be compromised (I think in translation, this means my doritos are out..). I have felt safer making my own food anyway as opposed to buying pre-made foods, but where does this leave any sort of convenience? Or indulgence? What's a celiac to do?

Then I'm back to my whole cross-contamination issues. The husband pointed out today that when I do play with the kids I don't seem to have a reaction (unlike NYE when I did react to the soy sauce), but does that guarantee that I'm not getting gluten? How much is too much? Will my gut heal if I'm around so much wheat still? Right now the Husband is home on holidays, but what happens when he goes back to work? Should I really be feeding The Boy soy-butter sandwiches on whole-wheat bread? I feel like I'm scrubbing him down after chemical exposure when I'm cleaning his hands. And the backs of my hands now have eczema from so much scrubbing on my part. And let's not even talk about trying to clean up the playdough (which is labelled: Contains wheat). Again, what's a celiac to do?

This is such a huge learning curve. Please tell me that one day I'll figure it all out.

It's a New Year and I screwed up already..

Seriously, how does that happen? I guess technically I screwed up LAST year since I accidentally ingested gluten last night and not today, but I'm certainly feeling the effects today.

We went to a neighbour's house for new year's and I had been reminded many times to ask about ingredients. Well, I guess I forgot one dish and after 30 minutes of feeling rather terrible and in pain, I found out there had been soy sauce in the sauce. Soy sauce. My former favourite sauce is laden with wheat. Good thing there's the alternative tamarin sauce but still. I'm feeling it today with a bit of a sour stomach - and this was after starting to feel better on a regular basis.

For some reason, it got me down a bit too. I was doing so well! I know it's going to happen, but I still feel like a shmuck for having it happen so soon.

I'm quite concerned right now about cross contamination. My kids are still eating whole wheat bread and playing with wheat playdough and my hands are getting insanely dry from scrubbing them so much after feeding them, cleaning them up, or cleaning the table. I'm not sure yet how to avoid this other than stop feeding them bread.. if tonight's ciabatta bread is any indication though, I certainly won't mind not having wheat bread - man that ciabatta bread was good! Oregano and basil and parmesean all in a lovely loaf that has pea flour in it for some protein and fibre! It was excellent!

It's a new year and I have 2 goals: 1 - I want my son to be using the potty sometime this year. 2 - I want to be healthy by summer. Exercising again and feeling great and having this diet down pat!