Check-In November 2008

[aklap]

In WI we're having a great fall day today. Air is slightly crisp, it's sunny - a great day to be doing yard work [that assumes you like doing yard work]. I raked the front and the back yards, planted a mum for Peg in her flower garden out front, and I just put a turkey on the grill for dinner tonight and beyond.

I mentioned in another thread, that tomorrow is our anniversary. We're having our friends over for lunch - hang out and watch the Packer Game. "The guys" are my friends that I met in tech school 28 years ago - they also stood up in our wedding. When Peg married me, the guys were part of the package. Luckily Peg likes the guys [as well as their wives they've added over the years].

If you'd like a laugh, here's our wedding photo 17 years ago.

Nothing really new and exciting here.

How 'bout everybody else?

For those that may be new...Check-In is a place to introduce yourself, tell us how things have been going, whatever comes to mind. If you post your progress in the GF diet, you can use it as a gauge to see how you've progressed. You can check back over the months a get a snap shot of how things were...

The Check-In Time Tunnel

Here's what we were doing last year.
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Al

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

[isto]

Happy Anniversary, Al and Peg! Best wishes for many more!!

Well, I've been busy being a new mom. Benjamin is growing nicely and has started "talking" to people he is familiar with. He's not sleeping well at night, so that means a very tired Mama, but we are doing the best we can.

Our oldest turned 18 a few days ago. We had out of town company for a few days and a nice celebration for Sara. It was a lot of fun and very relaxed.

Our weather was really cold and we had snow last week. Now it is back in the high 50's and 60's and sunny. I'm glad for these last few gorgeous days before the dark, cold winter is upon us.

We are already beginning to make our Thanksgiving plans. I hope every one has a festive and enjoyable month!!

Danita

[caseygirl]

Happy Anniversary!!! I hope you're having a fantastic day!

So, I've been doing really good on the GF diet...no slip ups since my house warming party in August. No eating gluten willingly since then (I did get sick once since then but I really thought the food I was eating was gluten free - I'll know nex time). I will have been GF for 5 months on Nov 6th. It's crazy; time has flown by. I find this diet relatively easy (minus the times I need to eat out and haven't planned for it). I'm not as strict as some of you, probably most of you. I probably do ingest a minute amount of gluten due to CC, but what I'm doing now is definitely working for me. I feel amazing. I remember back to the 1st half of this year and think how horrible I felt. I was nervous about graduating and starting a job with a regular schedule - being somewhere for 8 hours scared me b/c I wouldn't have been able to make it through the day. I think my coworkers wouldn't appreciate my gas after eating!

Now, I can be at work for 8.5 hours without gas, diarrhea, bloating, pain, etc. I am still amazed everytime I have meetings after lunch. I can sit there and listen, without being afraid of what could happen (thoughts of running to the bathroom!!). Before, my stomach would not cooperate after eating lunch...I'd need to be alone for awhile. I would be so nervous that my stomach would make noises that I couldn't concentrate..and also, I'm sure my stress caused even more stomach issues. What a horrible cycle!!

I've also been cooking more! This is a big accomplishment for me. I've never really cooked before. I'm trying new things. Yesterday I made cream of buckwheat for breakfast with honey and cinnamon. I didn't have any almond/rice milk, otherwise I would've added that. It was really good though. My goal is to try all those recipes and ideas everyone gave me for GF, CF, SF breakfasts.

Lastly, I'm VERY excited for thanksgiving this year. Usually I go to my father's side (my aunt and uncle's house). This year, it will be at my house with my mother's side. My grandmother had a brain anuerism, which lead to a massive stroke in July. She is still in a rehab/nursing facility. She's currently still on a feeding tube but is able to eat small amounts of food. She's 79 y.o. and was in excellent health before this happened. It was a shock to everyone. Who knows what the future will hold, but for now, she's stable. My family is from Massachusetts (I live in Baltimore) so I don't get to see her often. She is able to come to our house for the day....so we're all excited. And I think my dad and I are going to make some GF things so it should be a good day Okay, sorry for the book..almost time to watch the pats game!! Have a good day all!

[sa2asl]

Hello everyone! I haven't checked in for a while, but I am still reading when I have the time. As Al said, it is a beautiful time in Wisconsin right now. I'm loving the fall colors and hoping this wonderful weather will stick around a little longer.

I have been reading the Gluten Free Girl book and loving it. I know some people have had mixed reviews about her book, but I think she's great. Love her blog too. I can always use new recipes and her story with a Chef for a husband is inspiring. (plus that makes me less hesitant to try their recipes)

The Gluten Free Trading Co. in Milwaukee had a Sampling Day yesterday. I don't go in there often because it is packaged foods that I try to avoid anyway, but sometimes you just want to have an easy cake mix or some cookies out of a box, and that is just the place to find them. They had some ladies from Breads from Anna with samples of all of their breads. Their website is www.breadsfromanna.com and they were delicious! Great texture. She had made some in the bread machine and some in pans. The place was packed! They were also sampling stuffing with turkey gravy and green bean casserole, both were really good.

Having mixed feelings about heading into the holiday season, this will be my first GF Thanksgiving and Christmas and I am already craving some of my favorite foods. I am going to get creative in the kitchen and do some experimenting so I don't have to go without.

Happy Anniversary Al and hope everyone else is doing well!

Sarah

[Deb]

Al, you were so cute, nice dimples, and look at all that hair!!! Happy Anniversary to Al and Peg.

I miss summer! Yes, the trees look very pretty, but my flowers are all gone now. Gets cold at night, yet we are still having some nice, sunny says with highs in the 60's.

I'm still trying to deal with sleep apnea. The sleep doc says we have to retrain my brain. Man, that IS trying to teach an old dog new tricks. He prescribed Ambien CR for me, but they can't verify it's gluten free, so he will have to prescribe something else tomorrow. He says no long trips for me until I get this under control.

I can't believe it's Nov already, seems like we were just begging for summer!!!
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You can't discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore!

[windinthetrees]

I posted this as a separate thread, b/c I had a rough, twilight zone, kind of day....
to my inlaws: (just spent 4 hours with them today)

Although as indicated by the waitress at our restaurant today, there are many folks who are "choosing" to go gluten and or wheat free, but that is not the case with me. It does a bit of a dis-service to those with Celiac when there are "fads" out there that undermine a real disease. On the positive side, because of the apparent "fad " that may be going on, there are many more products on the market for the Celiac , much unlike even 5 years ago. I have been diagnosed with this autoimmune disease and it is real. Here is a Celiac Disease website http://www.celiac.org/ that may better help you to understand what I am dealing with. I have so many friends who are and have been so supportive , I feel blessed.

[ostrich]

Awww, baby Al and Peg! Congrats!

We're having record temperatures here. It was in the 70s all weekend, and today it's supposed to hit 77. I'm sure my lawn is hella confused.

November kicks off the OMGCRAZY-ness for the next two months. I have 4 birthdays (including my own), Thanksgiving (with the out-of-state relatives), and Christmas to worry about. This is the time of year I go poor, in money and time. Ah well.

Had a pretty nasty glutening in October, but otherwise I'm doing OK. I just made some GF cookies for a party at work today. I'm curious to see if they can tell the difference.
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Ostrich :>--O==={

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

[jeant]

Congratulations, Al and Peg!

Now that I am GF and can make it through an average day without a three-hour nap, I am spending November doing National Novel Writing Month. It's nice to spend some time focusing on something that is fun.

At some point I also need to figure out some GF side dishes for Thanksgiving and maybe a dessert too. I'm not hosting this year, but I'd like to contribute some things that I can eat so my relatives can feel free to make their old favorites.

[WestWalker]

Hi, thought I'd check in..its been awhile. Happy Anniv Al and the beautiful wife! Many more....

It's Nov and it will be the first year, if I make to Jan 1 of course, that I will not have been to the emergency room. That's a great thing! I'm finding I may just have to live with the continuing health decline and constant exhuastion. It is so hard to get anything done anymore. I am trying to hold down a job that I make 1/10 of what I used to make. But with all the brain and fatique / pain issues I can not do the type of work I used to. That certainly has put a krimp on the budget the past 4 years since I had to leave my dream job I'd been doing for a decade. I was just about set for life at the time and to spiral financially through all the medical costs and loss of work gave me a big adjustment to get through. I keep going with head up trying to stay independent as long as possible. And I keep hoping that the longer I'm GF that I will wake up one day and feel good all over once again. I enjoy watching the kids grow up and I had my first grand nephew who was born in Sep. A whole new generation is starting in the family. I think kids are wonderful.

The weather is unseasonably warm out here on the west coast and though we need rain desparately it is nice to have warm weather. Especially for me because the pain meter rises in cool, cold, damp weather. So I am rejoicing while I have this reprieve.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!

[KateEIU11]

happy anniversary!

Just wanted to introduce myself cause apparently thats what I'm supposed to do on check-ins! haha. I'm still getting used to this! It's like a giant facebook or myspace all about CD! I was diagnosed by biopsy and confirmed by bloodwork in Aug 2008 so this is all new to me. I am a Sophomore at Eastern Illinois University majoring in elementary education. I currently live in a dorm and it is indeed tricky preparing meals for myself but I am so thankful that my mom is so supportive. I live 4 hours from my school and head home about every 3 weeks so she can stock a large cooler of gluten free homecooked meals for me to bring back! I have a mini freezer in my dorm along with a mini fridge so I am able to keep things to last me a while. I have been eating a lot more fruits and veggies than ever before and its great! Many say they have gained weight with CD but I have lost 4 pounds that I was not sad to say goodbye to! My symptoms are still lurking but hopefully not for long! I posted some questions under "Newly diagnosed and still having symptoms." My former high school math teacher actually started the post because I didnt have a "membership" yet but I did list my questions towards the bottom once I registered and I would greatly appreciate any feedback! I think this is such a wonderful support group! I don't feel so alone!
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~ Kate

[zip2play]

Hello all, Happy Anniversary Al and Peg! Great picture! I love it!

I am a huge fan of fall and the holidays! I just love love love this time of year! Yesterday was beautiful, sunny and 60 so we spent 2 1/2 hours at our "in town Grandma's" house raking her leaves. Well, 20 yard waste bags later, we got it done for the moment! As I indicated in the Thanksgiving thread, we are heading to CO next week for the holiday! We just love it there. My 9 year old son will head out hiking and we may not see him for HOURS! **aw** my fear is we will loose him to that wonderful state once he is older and out of college....but Mom's can't think like that, it just makes us sad! Hubby is in charge of the food/drink for the weekend and I am not the only Gluten free person going, so it will be clean eating with no worries! There will be 12 of us out there together!

That sums it up for us!

Monica

Football season is done for my son but basketball has started for my daughter. But that is minor in comparison to football! So we are all just loving life. I recently started making the knotted fleece blankets and my hubby liked them so much, I am making 9 to give to family/friends for Christmas. I only have 2 more to make! YEAH!!! Hopefully everyone enjoys them as much as we do!

[aklap]

Thanks for all the well-wishes gang!!

Hey Kate, I think that's pretty cool Woodyz is helping you out! Kudos to both of you! It sounds like you've a good start on the GF diet. Keep at it!! It'll get easier.
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Al

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

[KateEIU11]

I think I am off to a great start! Its tough emotionally but I have had so much support from everyone! Woodyz was actually my high school math teacher so it is nice to have someone that I already now and nearby to home!
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~ Kate