#FFL12 - Dr. Fasano. Onward.

"It doesn't matter how I answer that question.  No one can really ever know, and you can't go back.  You can only move forward.  She's healthy and happy.  With proper attention to her diabetes, along with correct management of celiac, she can live a long, fulfilled life.  Nothing I say will ever take that away."  Dr. Alessio Fasano

I nodded my head and looked down at my hands.  I tried to smile, but felt the familiar clutch in my chest, and swallowed hard to fight back tears.  Aside from one or two people, the room was almost empty now.  I looked up again, and thanked him for taking a few minutes to talk to me.  He smiled,  and I moved out of the way so the next person could have their turn.


When Celiac entered our world in 2008, I began searching high and low for as much information as I could find.  Along the way, I consistently came across the name of one prominent researcher:  Dr. Alessio Fasano.  For YEARS, I've kept up with the events happening inside the gluten-free (GF) community; and for years, I've valued his position on issues ranging from obtaining a confirmed Celiac diagnosis to using 20 ppm as the standard for a U.S. gluten-free labeling law.


So, when I learned that he would be presenting a session at the 2012 Children With Diabetes Friends For Life Conference, I could hardly contain my anticipation.  If I only had the opportunity to ask him one question, I already knew what it would be:

Had I known to eliminate gluten when she first began showing signs of celiac, could I have stopped the autoimmune process that ultimately led to the destruction of her pancreatic beta cells ?

And, while I wanted to hear a definitive yes or no, I've come to learn that nothing in life is ever definitive.  There are no do-overs.  You learn as you go, and do the best you can along the way. So, I suppose that, if a top-notch celiac researcher tells me not to look back, but instead to keep moving forward...then...ONWARD we must go!  He's right.  The "yes or no" answer I keep seeking is of little relevance to the life we're living.


His session was incredible.  I was completely absorbed by the information he was presenting, and couldn't seem to take notes fast enough.  Here's a list of a few things I remember:

• First of all, I'm not exactly sure where or how I thought the immune system functioned, but I was stunned by the HUGE role the intestines play through a process commonly known as "leaky gut".  When combined with an environmental trigger and genetic susceptibility, leaky gut sets the stage for a Celiac diagnosis.

• Just published in March 2012, THIS study demonstrates that delaying gluten exposure until after 12 months of age can reduce the immune response to gluten. All of my girls were exclusively breastfed for the 1st six months of their lives, and introduced to solid foods in the form of pureed fruits and veggies after that.  Their first gluten exposure was in the form of pick-up cereals and "puffs", along with teething biscuits around 7 months of age.  If I could go back (and I realize I can't), I would NEVER have introduced gluten before the age of 12 months.  I wish I had known then what I know now.

• Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease share many genetic variants, while others are distinct -- read more HERE.  Of note, I wanted to share this statement...

Our results support further evaluation of the hypothesis that cereal and gluten consumption might be an environmental factor in type 1 diabetes, leading to the alteration of the function of the gut immune system and its relationship with the pancreatic immune system.

Could that be the "yes or no" I'm looking for?  Onward.

• Finally, something I found incredibly intriguing is that cesarean delivery is associated with Celiac Disease.  It has something to do with the initial bacteria introduced into the gut...operating rooms are sterile environments...you'll have to read the rest, because I can't explain it as well as the study itself.  Anyway, none of my girls were born via cesarean.

When asked if he, himself, avoids gluten, Dr. Fasano gave a little chuckle.  "I'm Italian. Avoiding gluten would be quite difficult to say the least!"  He responded that he eats gluten in moderation, and he believes it's a good guideline for everyone to follow.  Isn't that what we hear for everything?  "All things in moderation."  For some reason, the idea of eating bagels for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, pasta at dinner, and cookies or crackers for snacks in between seems "normal" in the American diet...but, the truth is, it's too much!


There's so much more!  If you EVER have an opportunity to hear Dr. Fasano, I would highly recommend his session!


In closing, I wanted to share that both Tink and Tiara had endoscopies three days after we returned from the conference.

They've both been symptomatic for awhile, so I requested some bloodwork from our pediatrician.  The labs were negative, with the exception that they're both positive for the DQ8 genetic marker (which means they're genetically pre-disposed to the risk of developing Celiac).


As I've explained before, Sugar's celiac screenings were negative for YEARS, despite obvious symptoms.  With this in mind, we proceeded with a GI consult, who agreed that an endoscopy was an appropriate next step.


Last week, we got the call that both girl's biopsies were negative for Celiac Disease. The recommendation by both our local GI doctor and Dr. Fasano (because I had a second chance to pick his brain at the conference!) is to have them tested again if their symptoms worsen.  Otherwise, they should be re-screened prior to puberty, because untreated Celiac during that critical time can lead to a host of problems.


And so, it brings us full circle to that "yes or no" question.


Do we eliminate gluten for both girls in hopes of preventing further autoimmune disorders, including another T1 diagnosis?  Or have the cards already been played since they were both introduced to gluten prior to 12 months of age, and they both have confirmed genetic susceptibility.  


Do I impose a LIFELONG expensive dietary restriction without any evidence to support the reason?  Is that something they would really appreciate later in life?  Or, would it be an example of their mother making a reactive decision based on their older sister's experience?


It's hard to know what to do…if one/both of them were to ever develop T1, and we don't eliminate gluten, the guilt would be overwhelming. At the same time, the idea of forcing a GF diet feels like it could potentially impose a lifelong burden. And what if we do eliminate gluten, but they decide not to continue being GF as an adult of their own free will…could that cause a worse autoimmune response later? So much still unknown. 


This is when I choose to rest the burden and pray that God's plan will be honored, no matter what. I will pray for an obvious answer, and keep pressing ONWARD in moderation for the time being.


Onward.  Thank you for sharing the journey.

December 19th: Timeline Reflections.

Three years ago, I was in the kitchen making Christmas cookies.  I was up to my elbows in cookie dough, and flour dusted every surface area around me.  The phone rang in the midst of this madness.


It was the news that my daughter's celiac biopsy was positive.


I remember hanging up, and staring and the floured fingerprints on the phone.


Even though I wasn't shocked, I felt shocked.

Numb.


We've come so far in the three years since we started our gluten-free journey.  At the time I was blogging under a different URL.  That blog has since been made private, but every now and then I like to dig out an old post to share over here.


If you've read Candy Hearts for awhile, you already know that I don't use my children's real names.  I'm making an exception with this post, because I want to leave the posts exactly as I wrote them in this timeline.


And so, without further ado, welcome to the blur that was the start of our gluten-free journey...but be sure to read to the end.


Because, really, everything is okay.



******November 21, 2008******

Lord, thank You for this beautiful day. Thank You for rescuing our family in the midst of crisis and planting us in AZ -- where I can be home to manage Addy, Jason has a secure job during this economic tornado, and our family has access to quality health insurance. Thank You for the abundant blessings You've poured down upon us.

It's been a very difficult week. Managing Adalyne's diabetes has been extremely challenging and we've been left grasping for answers when none can be found. If we ever needed a CGM, now would be the time. I got all the paperwork back from the hospital in today's mail and just faxed it to the CGM company. And we're off...

We got the "high blood sugar call" shortly before 9 am this morning. Not sure what to do, we just decided to pick her up and avoid the redundant school drama that we've been dealing with all week. She was fine. By lunch, she was a perfect 107. Thank You, Jesus!

But there was a different call this morning too. Addy had her yearly labs drawn on Monday. No news is good news -- but we got news today. Addy's celiac screening test was positive. It wasn't a little positive. It was nearly 11 times normal -- it was VERY positive. Now we're on the "urgent wait list" for a GI appt at PCH. She'll need an endoscopy to confirm the diagnosis.

A celiac diagnosis won't surprise me. She's had symptoms for YEARS...but her yearly screening has always come back negative, so I've tried not to dwell on it. Now it looks like I'll have to face it. I cannot tell you what an impact this will have on our already topsy turvey life. This is like finding out she has diabetes all over again.

She'll have to transition to a completely gluten free diet. If we don't abide by the dietary changes, it'll wreak havoc on her diabetes, ruin her small intestine, and leave her with a colostomy. She'll be at high risk for developing GI cancer on top of the myriad of things she's already at risk for due to diabetes.

I didn't expect this today. Now I have to figure out where to go from here...

******December 2, 2008******

I'm making chicken tacos tonight. Actually I made the chicken filling in the crock pot yesterday, but realized that we didn't have any tortillas at the last minute. So we had pancakes last night. Gotta love breakfast for dinner.

This afternoon, I was making cornbread while Addy was working on her homework. After asking what we're having for dinner, she made an ugly face and announced that she doesn't like tacos. In our house, we have a rule...if you don't like what Mom is making for dinner, you get oatmeal. Guess Addy is having oatmeal for dinner. Easy as pie :)

Or is it? Then my mind started wandering...what will I do if her endoscopy does actually show that she has celiac? From what I've read, oatmeal is out...as are the chicken nuggets she had for lunch and the NutriGrain bar she had for breakfast. Same goes for the cookie she had before starting her homework. Sighing heavily, I looked down and realized the cornbread I was making wouldn't work either - I had just poured in a cup of white flour.

No birthday cake. No pizza. No "normal" bread products at all. Certain shampoos and body washes even contain gluten. She'll need her own toaster, set of pans, utensils...cross-contamination can have devastating effects. Will I be making 2 dinners every night? Most of the time I struggle to come up with one. Gluten free food is extremely expensive and we have very little options for places to shop anywhere near us. Looks like we'll be doing alot of mail-order groceries. I applied for a part-time job back at the bedside this morning. We can't let her starve to death.

She saw the GI doc today and now we're waiting for the hospital to call us with her endoscopy appointment. Wait, wait, wait. Hurry up and wait. The doc wasn't warm and fuzzy at all. Very blunt and to the point. No room for emotion -- thank goodness only half my brain was in the room. The other half was trying to keep my 3 little girls from destroying the office. Distraction is a good thing.

How exactly are we going to make life with celiac normal around here -- as if already living with diabetes isn't hard enough??? Oh, my little Addy. You're only 5 years old and have already faced so much.

But, God has a plan. And, if celiac is part of our plan, we'll do whatever we have to do. No doubt celiac will introduce us to many new faces that we wouldn't otherwise meet...faces that might need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ and it'll be up to us to carry on His message of love, hope, and peace. There is love, hope, and peace today...and, if her endoscopy is positive, there will be love, hope, and peace in that moment and all the moments that follow too. God does not change.

We'll be able to figure it out. I have faith in that. Even still, selfishly, I have to admit that I'm praying for Addy's endoscopy to be negative. And, selfishly, I would ask for all of my blog readers to pray too -- and also to get as many people as possible praying for a negative endoscopy result as well.

I know the picture is bleak: She has Type 1 Diabetes (10% of people with T1D will develop celiac -- that's why they screen for it routinely once a year.), she's had unexplained belly pain and bowel issues since she was 18 months old, and now she has a positive blood test. The odds are against us. But does that mean I should give up hope? Does that mean I shouldn't lay it at the cross and pray for God to spare her from living the rest of her life with celiac too? As her mother, I have to do whatever I can...so I'm pleading with you to find it in your heart to be vigilant in prayer for her. If you're faith is on the fence, find it, and hit your knees.

Addy needs your prayers...and, quite frankly, so do I...

******December 19, 2008******

First of all, I'd like to take a moment to give thanks for the many blessings God has bestowed upon our family. He has always provided for our family's needs and we are extremely grateful for his mercy and grace. We know that God does not change...He has a plan and His love for us does not waiver.

Adalyne has celiac disease. I can't say that I'm surprised. I've known for many years that she has shown symptoms. Every year that passed with a negative celiac test was a relief. But those days are over...her biopsy was positive and now we need to figure out where to go from here.

The implications are huge. I cannot even begin to describe the many, many, many changes that we need to implement around here in order to assure her well being.

I was in the middle of making cookies when the phone rang. Ironically, my kitchen is covered in white flour and cookie dough. Cookies that she'll never be able to eat again...

******December 20, 2008******

Life is too short. So, we got the news...time to enter the GLUTEN FREE (GF)WORLD! But first...

THURSDAY:

Jason took the day off on Thursday for Addy's kindergarten musical. Afterwards, we kept Ava (Kaelyn's BFF) with us and headed to The Good Egg for breakfast. I wouldn't say it was a GF meal, but we hadn't gotten the call yet and were still proceeding as normal. That being said, breakfast was very yummy!!!

After breakfast, I decided to embark on the task of CHRISTMAS COOKIES. I had looked through my cookbook the night before and assembled a list of things I'd need...Jason headed to the grocery store while the girls and I headed home.

I figured that, if this was the last time our family would enjoy traditional Christmas cookies, I'd better get with the program. Sooooo....I started with these cute little stocking shaped sugar cookies filled with chocolate chips and pecans. Here's a picture of what they're were supposed to look like...

Cute, huh? Yeah, well...mine -- not so cute...


If you look at them from the right angle they kind of resemble a "plumbers crack". Yum. They're overly crunchy and, quite frankly, I would rather just toss them out. Jason says he likes them....even though they haven't been touched since I made them -- thanks for trying to make me feel better, Honey :)

My next batch didn't turn out very well either. Cute little wreaths that were supposed to "melt in your mouth". Instead they just seem to dry your mouth out!!! I'm talking DESERT DRY -- 120 degrees dry...you get the point. Jason didn't hold back with the faces and drama to let me know they wouldn't make the cut.

As they say, the THIRD TIME'S A CHARM!!! My mom used to make these things called "Snowballs" every year. They were my absolute FAV growing up. Must admit that my batch came in a close second to hers :)

Thursday evening, we went to look at Christmas lights. We found a really cool house last year...an elderly gentleman puts together this AMAZING display of hand made wood carvings and opens his home for tours. I'm telling you his place is Christmas Headquarters!!! Last year we went while my mom and grandmother were in town....the theme was "Santas". This year, the theme is "Angels".

There's a really funny story about his swimming pool. He raised 4 kids (or was it 6?). Anyway, he kept them in line -- especially during the teen years -- by making them dig the hole for the backyard pool! He said it took a long time...but they managed to stay out of trouble...and he ended up with a nice backyard when they were all grown and gone ;)


FRIDAY:


Well, Friday, I technically made that 3rd batch of cookies I mentioned earlier -- the yummy snowballs. In fact, I was in the middle of making them when the call came in announcing that Addy has celiac disease.
Friday evening, Jason and I went to the Michael W. Smith concert at CCV. This was our first date in quite awhile. Aside from the marriage conference we attended in February, our last date was in November 2007 for our anniversary.

While it was nice to have an evening out, we were both pretty pre-occupied thinking about the new turns life would take now that we have to live with diabetes AND celiac. One of the songs really hit me hard and I couldn't help it when I started crying. Part of me is so sad. I remember grieving over losing our "normal" life when she was diagnosed with diabetes 3 years ago. It feels like we had finally achieved our new "normal" and now everything is about to change again...

SATURDAY:


Well, I guess the call came just in time. We headed downtown with a HUGE church group to deliver food and clothing to the homeless. What better way to rid ourselves of gluten!! We dug through our pantry and cooked up everything we could find in our freezer...chicken nuggets, chicken patties, pancakes, taquitos... They were pleased to have something aside from a PB sandwich!

This is the 4th time our family has participated and, each time, it makes an incredible impression. This time, however, there was something much bigger that uncovered a difficult reality to accept.

There were children. Never before had we encountered children on the streets. Families walking around trying to collect as much as they could carry -- families with children. On the corner, there was a family with 7 kids living in a box. A BOX, PEOPLE!!!! THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!! Our government has bailed out all of these big corporations while families are losing their homes and CHILDREN ARE BEING LEFT TO LIVE ON THE STREETS!!!! I can only imagine how overwhelmed social services must be. It seems that kids are usually intercepted before they get to the street...but, they were everywhere. Little innocent children.

We didn't come prepared to deliver stuff to kids. There wasn't much to offer them. I dug through my purse and came up with 2 diapers and some wipes. When I walked them down to the corner, there was a little 10 month old girl -- in a pink jacket with a pink barrette in her hair -- sitting in A BOX.

And I cried over Addy's celiac diagnosis? Let me tell you...this experience really put things into perspective. I can't get that baby girl's face out of my mind.

After experiencing the sobering reality of children on the streets, we went out to lunch. Addy had a yucky low blood sugar and she needed to get some grub. The Old Spaghetti Factory even had a GF menu :) The girls and I shared our first GF meal. Jason had some too, but there wasn't enough for all 5 of us, so he got his own plate -- of "normal" pasta. Actually, our GF dish was quite tasty. Addy hardly noticed and gobbled it up!

After getting home and letting the girls ride bikes for a bit (Addy is a TWO WHEELING FOOL!!!), we took showers and headed to church. The service was great. Pastor Don talked about the importance of praying for your children and physically laying your hands on them during the prayer. Taking his message to heart, Jason and I had a special prayer with Addy before bed. We talked to her about what was happening and told her about how she'd begin to notice some changes in her food. She took it well...had a few questions...and we assured her that we'd take care of her. With that, she fell asleep in my arms.
I stayed on the couch all night holding her...feeling thankful that we weren't on a cold corner in a box.

SUNDAY:


Well, today Jason took Addy to breakfast and then grocery shopping. Armed with a list of GF foods, they hit Trader Joe's and Safeway. It took several hours to read all the labels...they both came home happy and Addy seemed excited to try some new things. Jason said the staff at Trader Joe's was EXTREMELY helpful...even told him that we could return anything she doesn't like. With the price of this food, that's something to be grateful for.

I tidied up the house and finished cleaning out the pantry. I created a GF shelf for her stuff...and I guess that's that.

Gluten Free Addy has arrived.

Baby Steps

We're going to a potluck tonight.

I'm bringing some home made gluten-free baked macaroni and cheese.

What?

Oh.

That.

Yeah...umm...let me rephrase:  I'm bringing along a pan of home made gluten-free mac-n-cheese, minus one corner.

You see, I prepared it yesterday so all I would need to do is pop it in the oven before the party starts this evening.

Then I went to pick up the girls from school.

As we were leaving, I noticed a friend of Sugar's flagging us down, so I pulled over.  Her grandmother walked up to my window and asked if Sugar could come play for the afternoon. Sugar, of course, IMMEDIATELY perked up and began nodding her head while excitedly stomping her feet.

Smile, Wendy.  You've been caught off guard, but don't let your fear show.  Just keep smiling.

"Oh.  Ummm.  Well.  I suppose that would be fine.  Can you follow us back to the house so I can check her blood sugar first?"

"Sure.  And I'll only be about 20 minutes away, so it's not too far."

Is it me, or is the world moving in slow motion?  Did I just agree to let my daughter go to this kind grandmother's home, whom I've only met once before...20 minutes away?  Just keep smiling.  Plaster. the. smile.  And stop ringing your hands like that.


"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh....kaaaaaaaaaaay.  Yeah.  It will be fine."

Driving back to the house my mind was racing, my heart was pounding, and I had a pit in my stomach.  I was trying to condense a million things she should know into a quick conversation.  

BG = 115.  8 carbs / no insulin...because.  That's all.  Just because.

"Soooooo, here's her bag.  She knows how to use everything.  If she says she's feeling low, she'll need to test her blood sugar and drink a juice.  If she's acting confused or seems too shaky to test, don't worry about the blood sugar part.  Just help her with the juice, and call me."

I proceed to write down my phone numbers, and contemplate if I should include her insurance information, along with my social security number.

"Ok.  Got it.  And we'll be having dinner before she comes home, so don't worry about feeding her later."

I need to sit down.  I'm feeling lightheaded.  Did I hear that correct?  Dinner?  As in...a full meal?  Who is going to count those carbs?

"I'll just make them some macaroni and cheese.  And I have watermelon, and apples, and carrots, and...."

What is she saying?  I'm stuck on "we'll be having dinner".  


She seems like a nice grandmother.  What a pleasant lady.  Blue is a great color for her.  How nice of her to stop by.  


I saw a butterfly once that was the blue color of her sweater.


Nothing that starts with a "D" is on my radar.


Diabetes.


Dinner?  What dinner?  

"Um.  Yeah.  So, there's another thing."

Reaching into the pantry to grab a gluten-free snack for her bag...


"She also has celiac disease.  It means she can't eat anything that contains wheat and a few other things.  She won't be able to have the macaroni you make.  But....  Hmmm....  Well, I just so happen to have this big pan of gluten-free macaroni and cheese already cooked up in my fridge. It's for a party we're going to tomorrow, but I'm sure no one will care if a little corner is missing."

"Okay.  And ribs should be okay, right?  And I have some watermelon and grapes and some other fruit in there too.  I'm so glad she can come play.  L has been asking me to talk to you about it for weeks!  She'll do great."

Turning to look my daughter in the eye...

"You're in charge of diabetes this afternoon.  If you have ANY questions, make sure you call me. Please don't forget to give your insulin, and I need to know if you're going to have fruit with your dinner so we can figure out the carbs.  You should have plenty of juice boxes...and don't try to guess the carbs for anything.  Just call me, and..."

"MOM."

Takes bag.

"I'll be fine."

And then she was gone.

Skipping out to the car, laughing, and smiling with her friend...while I stood in the doorway wondering if I had lost my mind.

A couple hours went by, so I called.

Turns out she was 59 before dinner.

And she was eating fruit, but didn't know how much.

And she needed a reminder to give herself insulin.

And she was 328 two hours after she got home.

But she had a great time.

Baby steps.

GF French Toast Casserole

A little something yummy from my archives.....

 GF French Toast Casserole

Sorry I didn't save you any.  This is all there was left...I was hoping to get a scrumptious picture for the old blog here, but I was blow drying my hair when the oven timer went off.  Jason took it out and the bowls were full before I made it back to the kitchen...but I must say...this Gluten Free French Toast Casserole was quite a hit for breakfast Saturday morning.

Ingredients

• 2 loaves gluten free bread
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1/3 ounce cream cheese
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• top with whatever you like-raisins, nuts, peaches, berries, apple chunks
• sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon

Directions

1. Spray 9 x 13 pan with nonstick spray
2. Cut bread into cubes and put in bottom of pan (i like to cut off the crusts, but include them if you like)
3. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over top. Top with raisins, nuts or other fruit. Then sprinkle with sugar and additional cinnamon.
4. Bake at 350 for about 45 min. or until no longer gooey in center.
5. Serve with maple syrup.

NOTES:

I used half a loaf of Udi's White bread and a full loaf of Glutino's Cinnamon Bread that was stuffed somewhere in the abyss of our freezer out in the garage.

I topped it with a mixture of chopped apples, raisins, shredded coconut, sliced almonds, pecans, and brown sugar (hey, I was cleaning out the cupboards!)....YUM.O. 

Our Gluten-Free Life: The Stuff We Eat!!

I got an e-mail the other day from a D Mama who had just received the news of her T1 child's celiac diagnosis.  The truth is that I get e-mails like these several times a week.  I remember how hazy it felt in the beginning of our gluten-free journey.  I remember staring at one label after another and feeling like I would never be able to figure out how to feed my child.  So, I decided to copy my reply to her, and turn it into a blog post...as I think of stuff I may have missed or run across new things to add, I'll update this list and let you know!    

First the basics:  A gluten free diet must avoid wheat, barley (this includes malt and malt flavoring as it is derived from barley), rye, and regular oats (there is such a thing as gluten free oats).

Keep in mind that I'm not one to offer my children an extreme diet...meaning I don't force low carbs and I do allow sugar (*gasp* I know!).  I would consider our diet to be healthy and well rounded, but some parents prefer less carbs/organic choices/sugar free, and that's fine.  At first glance, this list may appear carb heavy, but that's because it's the grain we need to replace in a gluten-free diet. 

(Read:  Please don't start lecturing me.  Thank you.)

With that, here goes...

Fruits and Veggies -- We love them!  I use this Salter scale to weigh them out.  It's pre-programmed with a huge database, so I just plop the amount of fruit I think she'll eat, push a few buttons, and it tells me the carbs according to the the weight.  We also participate in a produce co-op.

Milk, Eggs, Yogurt, and Cheese -- We love them all!  (PS -- Velveeta is GF...that's how I make mac-n-cheese, and you'll find the pasta info below.)

Meats -- We eat a lot of chicken, ground turkey, and pork chops.  I haven't ever found gluten in meats, but I do know we're supposed to be on the lookout for HVP/HPP on meat labels.

Rudi's GF Bread  and/or  Udi's GF Bread   Yes they sound similar, but they aren't the same product. We've tried A LOT of GF breads.  These are the best (IMHO!).  I store them in the freezer and take out one slice at a time.  At first glance you might be surprised by the small size, but that's the norm for all GF breads.  My daughter eats half a sandwich for lunch at school -- I usually just take it out frozen, cut it in half, make her sandwich, and it's soft by the time she eats it.  I posted blogs with pictures HERE for Rudi's and HERE for Udi's.

Jules Gluten Free Flour -- This GF flour blend can be used cup for cup as a replacement with great results in most recipes.  It works especially well in baked goods, and I use it all the time as a thickening agent (especially when making cream of chicken soup for casseroles).  It eliminates the need for a million different bags of flour, and allows you to keep one GF flour on your shelf that already contains binding agents.  If you find a GF recipe you'd like to try, you just add up the total amount of flours and replace that amount with Jules GF plus eliminate the xanthan gum (the most common binding agent found in GF food).  This flour has made our journey MUCH easier!

Bakery On Main -- We really like this collection of granola bars and granola products. 

Chex Cereals -- Love them all!  FYI -- You can use Rice Chex to replicate gooey homemade marshmallow treats.  Yum.

Pamela's -- You can count on pretty much anything from this product line to be VERY YUMMY!!!  In addition to the Jules Flour, I also keep a bag of Pamela's Baking and Pancake Mix on hand.

Schar -- This is one of my newest favorite brands.  I haven't tried a thing from this brand that I wouldn't want to buy again.  From crackers to pasta to breadcrumbs.  I love everything about these products!!!

GoGo Squeeze -- These are little portable applesauce packets...depending on the flavor, they're perfectly portioned between 10-15 carbs each.  No spoon required!  I toss them in my purse when I know we'll need a snack while we're out an about.  (Thanks for the tip, Lexi!)

Quinoa -- Quinoa is a protein packed GF grain.  We love these pastas!

Blue Diamond -- We love nuts....and these Nut Thin crackers are FANTASTIC!

Kinnikinnick -- They make some great animal crackers and great graham crackers too :)

Glutino -- This is another tried and true line of products.  We especially like their pretzels and crackers.

Emerald -- LOVE these chocolate dusted almonds...and only 4 carbs per serving!

Bob's Gluten-Free Rolled Oats -- Talk to your doctor before incorporating GF oats into your diet.  We began using oats about 6 months after Sugar's dx, and have never had a problem.  I haven't ever had an issue either, but I also didn't have any symptoms prior to my own celiac diagnosis in 2009.

Tortilla Land Corn Tortillas -- HELLO CORN TORTILLA THAT FOLDS LIKE A FLOUR TORTILLA!!!!!!  We love these (and can get them at our Costco!)...here's a review with some pictures to prove they fold up nice and pretty!!

For classroom celebrations, I make a batch of THESE CUPCAKES, frost them, freeze in a single layer, then put them in a freezer bag, and store them in the freezer.  I keep half in the freezer at school and half at home.  Wala! One perfectly carb counted, gluten free cupcake ready at a moment's notice :)  I also take these along to birthday parties.

I also refer to THIS INGREDIENT LIST regularly if I'm not sure.  (And I subscribe to the magazine, which I love!)

I wrote this guest post awhile back about how we manage celiac in some common social settings.

My good friend, Kris, also has a T1/Celiac child, and she wrote a great post about some of their favorite things HERE.  Don't miss it!

I've also found a great deal of information from The Gluten Free Homemaker, and some of my other favorite GF/T1 blogs can be found on my blogroll HERE.

We do most of our GF shopping at Sprout's, but have been finding lots of GF shelves popping up at Safeway, Fry's, Walmart, and even Costco!

What else?

(Gluten Free) EASTER COOKIES!

A repost...

Last Easter, we started a family tradition.  (Gluten Free) Easter cookies!  With all the excitement of egg decorating, pretty dresses, and chocolate bunnies, this activity really helps to keep us grounded.  It brings us together to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ while we read the Bible as a family...

Ingredients:

1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

1)  Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important to do before you start the mixing)

2)  Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Romans soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

3)  Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

4)  Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

5)  Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

6)  So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

7)  Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

8)  Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

9)  Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.

10)  GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

11)  On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9.

Happy Easter from My Candy Heart to Yours!