Gluten Free - Day 6

That face says it all...
Today was a big day.  We went to have Carter's blood drawn for an allergy panel.  Not only will it test for the suspected wheat allergy, but also for possible other allergies like pet dander, mold, milk, eggs, etc.  We should get the results back in a few days.
He did very good during the procedure.  No tears or big fits.  He was more mad that he was made to sit still and have his arm held so tightly.  But he got through it and did a great job!

As far as our diet goes.  It's going well!!  It's been difficult to change the way I think, more so then the way I eat.  I don't mind eating gluten free, it's just hard to train your brain to choose fruits and veggies for snacks instead of crackers or bread.

Dinners are going well.  I used a gluten free pasta for dinner last night and made spinach and artichoke pasta and used some gluten free bread to make garlic bread.  The crock pot is my best friend.  Tonight on the menu - pesto chicken (in the slow cooker) with mashed potatoes and a salad.

Lunches have been pretty easy.  Mainly I have been having left overs.  Today - I added tuna to my left over gluten free mac n cheese.  I filled in with some fruit and a string cheese.  YUM!

This is kind of my version of the Bento box lunch.  Trying to have balanced meal.  Veggies will be a snack later in the day too.

Another great thing that we had already gotten back into before this all came about is getting back into our Co-Op.  Every other week we buy a "bag" of mixed fruits and veggies.  I LOVE to see all that colorful healthy goodness filling up our fridge!!!

I usually plan our dinner menu around what types of produce we have.  So tomorrow night - an eggplant casserole!  I LOVE asparagus and summer squash - the rest of my family - not so much.  So those will probably become part of my lunches instead of dinners.  We also have a pineapple and red potatoes not photographed.  I found a recipe for pineapple chicken wraps I want to try - but need to find a gluten free tortilla wrap option for that. 

OHHHH - and my favorite find, I forgot all about!  Under that container of strawberries is a little tub... of.... GLUTEN FREE COOKIE DOUGH! 

Clothing Diapering Update

We've been cloth diapering for about 7 months now.

Of course it changes a little here and there when the baby gets old and older, so we've made adjustments as we've gone along.

Lately we have been using pocket diapers with a MF insert and a bamboo/MF blend insert during the day.  I just can't bring myself to pay for a diaper sprayer so we have been using flushable liners as well.  Then in the evening we do disposable diapers.

However, recently I have been just getting tired of stuffing diapers...

On top of that, my wetbag will only hold 12 diapers at a time since starting to use 2 inserts (it just fills up twice as fast).  That means laundry more often.

Luckily I do have prefolds and Flip covers on hand and started using those this week.  So far they are absorbing just fine, no major leaks as of yet.  The only thing is, I'm going to have to adjust my routine with diaper changes.

Some how I need to get the prefold and liner to the toilet to take care of it so I can reuse the cover... but Carter will then have to come off the changing table and be bare butt till I get back... I don't know about that.

My FAVORITE cloth diaper - GRINCH
Carter in November 2013
7 months old

Another BIG change that is coming - will be out laundry routine.  We have our first front load LG washer and dryer on their way and I'm not sure how that all works yet.  We shall see!!

Valentine's Day - Carter at 9.5 Months

My little "Love Muffin"

Wheat Allergy - First 3 Days of Gluten Free

Our little Carter is now a whopping 9.5 months old.  30 1/4" long and 20 lbs. 8oz.

9.5 Months Old

He's a happy baby... during the day.  He's not such a happy baby most nights.  

We thought we had it figured out when he started reflux medicine about 2 months ago.  He slept better and the spit up had stopped 90% of the way.  

Then he got a low grade fever, started cutting his first teeth, and we started all over again.

We blamed a lot on the teething.  Then he spiked a HUGE fever of 102.4 and off to the doctor we went.  A virus.  No big deal, just keep him hydrated (as we had very few wet diapers that day as well).  

The thing that just kept me bothered about him were - his bright red cheeks.  They would come and go.  He'd take a nap and wake up and be fine.  On and off most days.  I figured a food allergy, and thought it was blueberries (from the baby yogurt).  So talked to the doctor about that.  She said, yeah, probably a food allergy - just keep a watch out for things that might be causing a reaction.

Finally, one night, his cheeks were so bad...

At the height of his allergy reaction

The next day, I told myself, I'm writing down EVERYTHING he eats and noting when he got the reaction.

I fed him his usual oatmeal and fruit breakfast - red cheeks, right away...

I jumped on the computer - oatmeal?  Is there a chance he could be allergic to his cereal.  

Yep, sure enough, there was a huge chance he could be allergic to his oatmeal - WHEAT - in particular.

I researched the day away.  Reactions lined right up with him.  What do I do?  What can he NOT have?  What CAN he have?  I got on the phone and called people I thought could help.  I got lots of support and advice, guidance.  

The even bigger thing - I'm still nursing this little guy and therefore, momma has to watch it too.  So not only was I researching everything I could for him, I was trying to come to terms with the huge change in diet I myself was going to have to under go as well.

Day one - I ate things around the house I knew were safe.  Carter's cabinet was cleaned out of all his oatmeal, puffs, cheerios, and snacks that were not gluten free.  We both went on a cold turkey gluten free day of eating.

I ran to Babies R Us to get him a gluten free cereal (quinoa and brown rice) and a couple snacks that were safe for him. (Mum-Mums and dehydrated fruits)

Carter the end of Day 1 

Day 2
The next day - he had slept ALL NIGHT.  10 straight hours.  That compared to the 3-4 hour (at best) stretches he had been sleeping at night.  SUCH A HUGE THING WAS STARTING TO HAPPEN!

We hit Target and checked out their gluten free options.  I appreciate that they had an entire end cap of all gluten free options.  It was wonderful, since I wasn't even sure where to start!  I also found gluten free "Happy Puffs" for Carter in the baby section!

Then it was off to Schnucks.  I'd never have paid attention before, but they have shelf flags that indicate that a product is gluten free.  Another great thing for this beginner.  My husband was wonderful at checking labels and being patient as we went down every aisle.  

All in all I bought bread, pastas, crackers, popcorn, and snacks for Carter to get me started.

Pasta
(I can't live without pasta)

Broths, Quinoa, oatmeal, "bread crumbs", bread, cream of chicken soup, coconut oil

Crochers and popcorn
(SO YUMMY!)

At this point I also realized that his lotion AND baby wash has oatmeal in it - so now that is also something we are replacing with a more natural option.

Day 3:

We are now on Day 3.  Carter slept 8 hours last night, still a great stretch for him.  His cheeks are clearing up.  He still has a little congestion, but we are all dealing with colds right now (never ending winter).  But his nose is much better then it has been.

Cheeks on day 3
He has the orange nose going from all his veggies - that's not unusual for him

More updates to come :)