Check-In January 2008

[aklap]

Happy Frosted New Year!

Today is lay around-in-sweats-and-do-absolutely-nothing-day. Peg, myself and our friend Maggie are sitting in the living room chatting, drinking mimosas. Recovering from our rowdy night last night [yeah right...]



I think 2008 will be an interesting year. We will see some changes in labeling laws, albeit voluntary and and we'll now have definite guidelines as to what GF is and isn't.

Here's to a happy, healthy 2008. Hopefully for those that are still seeking answers - you will obtain them. For those that are just trying to figure out this crazy GF lifestyle - this will be the year that it all falls in to place.

Hey - we made it a year with Check-In's. If you wanna see what you were doing last year, check this out.

For those of you just tuning in, Check-In is chance to introduce yourself, let everyone know how you're doing, what you're up to, to touch base...something, anything, just let us know you're still around

The Check-In Time Tunnel
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Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[Torrey]

Here's to a FABULOUS 2008!


It's already looking to be quite a year of change, as Al mentioned, with the labeling laws, etc. finally coming into play.
In line with a year of change (and travel!), I'm looking to get a job closer to home (most probably in NYC), my brother is getting married ( ) this summer (in San Francisco), and a childhood friend is getting married 4th of July weekend (out in Boise--any of you guys know much about Boise?).

It's a bit of a rainy and overcast day here in Jersey, so the cats and I are just taking it easy. Well, Kona and I are...Emmett got a TON of new toys for Xmas, and he's currently running around the house chasing fluorescent furry mice.
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~Torrey

August 24, 1975
GF BD July 12, 2004

[krisiw]

I can't believe it's January.
Health-wise I've been doing pretty well lately; I've been rotating my diet and that seems to be helping.
I get to see my hubby in February! And if if January goes by as fast as December did, it won't be long.

[nancw]

Happy New Year all. I'm starting it off with a bang as I go in for uterine fibroid surgery tomorrow. Yee-haw. I've screwed up my sciatic nerve too, so I'll really be enjoying the Percocet post-op.
Diet-wise I love my probiotics and have added Bromelein (pineapple) enzymes which are great for digestion of proteins. Still challenging to find supplements that are free of all my no-no foods. My 6yo son was a great help (and a hoot) at the HFS the other day - reading off ingredient and "does not contain" lists to help me find the right stuff.
My goal for 2008 is to be healthy. Good health to you all as well.
Cheers! *raises glass of non-alcoholic whatever*
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Nance

gluten, dairy, soy, rice, yeast and 99% grain-free

[NorthernElf]

Here comes 2008...

I guess my only resolution is to be more gluten diligent. My New Year's Eve supper was roast lamb with white sauce (thickened with cornstarch) and mint sauce, brussel sprouts, and roasted veggies with seasoning salt, chili powder & garlic...and some wine...and something got me. Not sure if the lamb was infused or if the spices were contaminated but ugh. No, I didn't over indulge, but I sure feel like I did...it's been a long day. My mom cooked it all - yes, in her pots too - and it wasn't long after that I started feeling out of it, headachy, tired...stomach cramps this morning with more headache.

Isn't the celiac life wonderful ?

Here's to packing food every where I go...and cooking it myself.

This year's big events include a 3 week trip to England in July (gotta research the food thing there, for sure!) and a continued learning of juggling my (fairly new) part time job with my 3 kids & hubby.

I too am looking forward to better gluten labelling, wouldn't it make life easier ? I'm really choked at my body today - talk about circumstances beyond one's control, no way to fix it but to be extremely careful what one eats.

Ok, pity party over...

[liltnana430]

Hi Everyone,

Hope all are well and looking forward to an informative 2008! hopefully label reading will become easier for all of us...and my eyesight can continue to read the ever growing smaller print.

dealing with another so-called medical mystery, but looks promising they'll get it figured out.

GI Drs. wants to look at my esophagus and stretch it and he wants to go and look at my villi...which I cant wait to find out just how much healing takes place after almost 3 years since diag.

last year was emotionally trying for me, I lost two of my dogs, and still miss them very much. I said no more animals, just keep the ones we've got and no more. That was short lived, as my husband bought me 2 new puppies (brothers) I couldnt decide which one I wanted most so I got them both.

On the lighter side, no serious glutenations, and am feeling very comfortable with gf flours and converted so many recipes its almost 2nd nature. though Im still looking for that elusive dumpling recipe...where the dumplings dont sink!

I am hoping for more *me* time this year and be able to participate here more often instead of lurking status...I've really missed everyone here.

At our Martial Arts school, we've gotten 2 students that also have gluten allergies, one of them is a little girl and she also has Autism and is high functioning but she is an absolute sweetheart! The other is an adult student and she is new to the GF lifestyle...boy do I remember being new to the GF lifestyle...I sure am glad Im past that point!

Oh, and I have found a pizza place that makes GF Pizza!!!!! I've eaten there twice and didn't get sick! It was sure nice to enjoy that pizza smell and actually get to eat it too!

take care everyone and hope all have a totally 100% Gluten free 2008!
Ann
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Today not possible, tomorrow possible

[Ghost_Hunter]

Hi all! My only resolution is to live healthier. More exercise, healthier food, no gluten, etc.

[Purrsnikitty]

Hi, all,
My resolution too is to participate more often instead of regular lurking. I was laid off from my job in April 2007 - the work was deadly boring, but the money was good and my co-workers absolutely awesome. These are the folks who celebrated my birthday with a big bowl of fruit with two candles stuck in it Since then I have been working very part time for the church where I serve as deacon. The work is great fun, but I can't make enough to live on. Unless they can fix that, I will be looking for work very soon.

No major glutenings that I'm aware of. My doc calls me his poster child. Latest bloodwork is excellent (he wrote that on my copy of the results). We have a new family in church and the little girl has CD. They are new to the Episcopal Church and were so thrilled to learn that gluten-free Communion wafers are available when it comes time for her first Communion.

A goal this year is to get into more GF baking. The few recipes I've converted to GF flours have turned out pretty well (except for my daughter's attempt at cornbread - bricks anyone? )

So, I guess it's find work and stay healthy.

Thank you to everyone here for all the great information.
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"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

[luvscowznh]

Happy 2008 everyone!!

Hopefully this year will be better for my parents than 2007 was. The first part of the year, my dad's company went out of business. After months of searching, he found a job in October. On December 14th, he was laid off again. Then, on the 22nd of December, his mom (my grandmother) died. She was 97 and had been in a nursing home for a number of years, so her passing wasn't totally unexpected, but still very sad for all of us.

Things are going well for my husband and me. We celebrated our first married holiday season and are looking to start a family in the near future. Our jobs are both stable at this point. And we have tickets to go see Spamalot in Boston later in the month.

My family seems to understand my gluten issues more every year. My mom actually made most of the food for Christmas gluten free. She has the food buffet style, so I still took my food first and took very few left overs. (Next year I will start working on the awareness of cross contamination issues..)

Over Christmas break, my husband and I finally tried a restaurant in Worcester that has gluten free pizza. It was great to be able to go and have pizza in a regular restaurant. They also offer take and bake pizzas. We may have to stock up next time we go. (It's a 45 minute drive, so we may not go that often. They also offer an expanded gluten free menu on Wednesday nights, so we might go on a Wednesday next time - Wed is our "date" night.)

I hope everyone has a happy, healthy and safe 2008!

--Manda
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[forinajoy]

Happy New Year to all! Ina has been doing well lately, her meds are finally "tweaked" and she is feeling so much better than she has in a long time She had no glutenings over the holidays and really enjoyed the assortment of cookies that I made her for Christmas. She can't handle much sugar, so she was only able to eat a few cookies a day, but she relished them! On the horizon for her this year is braces.....and she turns into a teenager in March.....my youngest is going to be a teenager, (in age anyway...b/c of the moderate functioning autism she comes across as about a 6 year old)...I will lose my job by the end of this month, the company I work for is going out of business...I only work about 6-8 hours a week, but the pay is really good and I will definitely miss it...I hate the thought of looking for something else and don't know if I can find a replacement of what I currently have....My oldest son has moved back in. He will be here for 7 months before he goes off to Pharmacy school in August...we are all really enjoying having him back... I was afraid that he might have forgotten about the importance of preventing CC issues, but he has not forgotten and he has been very careful...I sure do enjoy this forum and appreciate all of you....
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Connie, mom to Ina, 14 y/o with CD

[Linda]

Happy 2008!

Not much happening around here...work, hockey, etc. School for the boys starts back on Monday, so it'll be me and the dog hanging out at home. I'm going to try to learn Photoshop while the boys are at school. (In between baking, volunteering, work and all the humdrum household chores.)
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Mom of Ty (he's ten) who was diagnosed by bloodwork June 2005, biopsy August 11, 2005, notified on & started GF August 18, 2005

[cruelshoes]

For us, 2008 has not started with a bang, but a break! First, the brakes went out on my husband's car. $700 later, it is working again. Then, both my dishwasher and refrigerator died in the same week. Luckily, Sears was having a good sale along with 0 payments and interest for a year, so that will hold us over until tax time. With a little luck I will have clean dishes and cold food again by the end of the day tomorrow.

All this cold weather has really put me in the mood to knit. I am starting a new pair of socks and scouting around for the perfect sweater pattern. I have a bunch of white wool that I got for a great price last year. I think I am going to try my hand at dyeing it. Guess what works great for dyeing wool? KOOLAID!!! I can't wait to try it.

Later in the month, I get to attend my first ever celiac support group. A new one is starting up here in town, and it is in the planning stages. I am pretty excited, but a little aprehensive, too. I like internet support groups a lot because you can do research and cite your sources for things. I won't have that luxury in the real time of an in-person group. I am a stickler for accurate facts and figures, but maybe I will need to loosen up a little.

On Wednesday, it's my turn to host the bunco group. Thanks to everyone that helped me hammer out a menu. If I don't have a nervous breakdown getting the house and food ready, it should be a fun time.
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-Colleen

Where are we going, and what am I doing in this handcart?

[bud7-10]

Happy New Year, everyone!!

My resolutions are to be healthier and to deal with stress better. I know that stress affects health, but I hadn't realized how much it was affecting me.

So far, I've tested candy canes, ham, raspberry flavored jello and oregano with no reactions. (not all tested at once ) I was thrilled that I did well with candy canes. With all of the food allergies I was dx'ed with in 2007, most of our regular GF Christmas treats weren't safe for me.

I hope to get more snow. We haven't had much yet.
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Wheat-free and egg-free since 10/1999.
GF since CD dx 5/2005.
Many food alleriges

[ostrich]

Happy New Year everybody! Well, this January is starting off with a bang. I just got back from a week in Florida. I tried to watch the ball drop on New Years, but I fell asleep around 11. DH and I have a week-ish worth of down time. Then we move into our new house! Sooo excited. A week after that DH finally graduates with his Masters degree. So January is pretty booked.

I don't do New Years resolutions because I always end up breaking them. I think I'll just continue to live life and avoid gluten.
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Ostrich :>--O==={

Time falls away, but these small hours
These little wonders still remain

[NickisDragon]

Hi Guys! I can't believe it's January and 54 degrees in Michigan! Oh well, being Michigan, I'm sure it won't stay that way for very long. My new year is starting out with me trying to exorcise the clutter. That's not a resolution--it's survival!! My volunteer work is starting up again after our exhausting holiday season at the Octagon House and I have a class on Monday nights so everyone has already planned out my year. I haven't been glutened in quite awhile so that's a good thing, (and I'm LOVING the new labeling!)
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The opportunity to find happiness dances within every moment, beats within every heart, and grooves within every occurrence, situation, and event----Let's dance!.

Nicki

B-Day: January 18
DX: October 2005