Monday, July 25, 2011

The Gluten Free Consumer

I have been busy, busy, busy! In the past, I have promoted a company called "Allergy Menu Specialists," here and here. and It is my brother in law's gluten-free based business and he has been trying to find his niche in the market for several months now. Now we think he has found it with his new publication, The Gluten Free Consumer. His wife has celiac disease and their focus is to connect the gluten free individual with resources such as articles from professionals, product reviews, and recipes. This makes me a busy mom because I am the designer for his publication. I got my associates in graphic design in 2002 and have never designed professionally, but I have faith that the program I went through was a good one and that my skills will increase with use. I am very excited about this opportunity. He is sending out his first issue in August, and you can have it sent to your home for $1.50. Here is a teaser for the tasty recipe that is included in this first issue...




















(it is unfortunately not casein free, but I will hint that there is another equally tasty recipe included that is both gluten and casein free!)

Here is how to order if any readers are interested:
Go to www.allergymenuspecialists.com. Click on the shopping cart. From there you will have the option of selecting subscriptions. If you would like to give it a trial run with the August issue, select "trial version." I have a feeling this publication is going to be great!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

The Diet for Little Bear's Gut

Little Orson is now 16 days old. At his two week appointment he proved that he is living up to his name, (which means "bear cub,") by weighing in at 9 lbs, 9 oz. Also at his two week, the subject of gut issues was discussed.

Our older son, Eli, has had horrible gut issues in the past which were related to his condition.(Now that we have found correct information and good medical help, Eli's gut has been much happier these last couple of years!) Naturally, we have been doing everything we can to help our newborn to not have to go through the pain our older son had to.

Imagine our distress when we brought home our well-adjusted newborn, to have him start randomly screaming at 12 days old. It was a pain cry to us, and so I talked to his doctor about it. (Orson's doctor is also Eli's DAN! doctor.) I felt that it had to do with gut issues, mainly because my doctor required me to be on an anti-biotic when I was in labor. So, even though I was determined to have an unmediated labor, I found myself on an IV and worrying about my baby's gut. Despite taking pro-biotics the following week after his birth, the sudden screaming cry has made it appear as though his gut was struggling.

The plan to help little bear's gut is this: yeast protocol diet for me, the breastfeeding mom, along with an anti-fungal, along with pro-biotics for both of us. Let me just say, this diet is extremely challenging for me, who already has many diet restrictions. Now in addition, no starches, limit vinegars, no sugar, no fruit, no fruit juices for the next two weeks. I am trying very hard to keep on top of all of this, and I am finding it very challenging as an exhausted mom of a newborn. My little bear seems to be happier already, though. His random cries have been smaller in quantity and volume.

A recent happy discovery is that I can now tolerate gluten-free oats! I could not resist a gluten free oatmeal raisin cookie that my sister-in-law offered me last weekend, and that is how I discovered I can now tolerate them. So now on my yeast protocol diet I very happily eat a bowl of gluten-free oatmeal with stevia, vanilla extract powder, and cinnamon. Pretty wild for someone who grew up hating hot cereals. :)

Monday, July 4, 2011

Our Baby is Here!

Orson was born on June 24th, weighing 8lbs, 6oz and 20.5 inches long. He is absolutely perfect, and is the most alert little newborn I have ever seen. He likes to study faces.

His 6 year old brother just loves him. Although Eli has had some behavioral regressions due to all the change, there is no jealousy at all. He likes to hold Orson and sing him songs.

Happy Fourth, from our family of 4!