Let me just brag on this guy! He is awesome and a wonderful example of manhood for my sons!  |
| making fried chicken for the first time! (btw-it was GLUTEN FREE -he's a keeper!) |
Showing posts with label Adventures in Celiac. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adventures in Celiac. Show all posts
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Let me brag...
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Thankful for pain.
Today at lunch Luke was telling me about how his finger hurt, for the 37th time this morning. He has a small scrape that wasn't bleeding so didn't warrant a band aid and to these guys the band aid is what makes it feel all better! (What do we do without the band aid?? It must still hurt!)
Now, my responses to hurts-that-are-fine can range anywhere from, "Do you need a hug?" to "You're gonna have to suck it up."(said with love) but today I was sitting next to him at the table and undistracted (but for the food and the chewing) and it occurred to me that I was in a "lesson moment", if I would choose to take it. And I did. I'll share some of what we talked about and my thoughts with YOU, lucky you.
I was telling Luke how God has designed our bodies to feel pain, that sometimes that pain protects us. We used the woodstove as an illustration: if I touch it real real quick I can get away without being hurt or burned, but leave that hand there and I'll get burned and it will hurt! How do I know when to lift my hand off the hot stove? Because I can feel the heat too much and I take my hand away before it hurts, if I can't feel the hurt, then I would leave my hand there and unknowingly damage myself.
Okay, understanding but not in a personal way so next illustration: his friend broke his arm last year, and even though they went to the doctor and he wore a cast, he had to heal. I explained that if Charlie had tried to wrestle, even with his cast on, it would have hurt-his body would have let him know to be careful with the arm, because it needs to heal.
Luke asks some questions, which was great and then I realized another example. Myself. The pain I felt as a person with undiagnosed Celiac Disease was immense at times. That pain sent me to the doctor even though my last doctor could not answer the questions, that pain saved me. Some people who have Celiac Disease don't feel pain, their body may be feeling the effects of the disease but they can't see the symptoms or feel the pain, but I did, and I can truly say that I am thankful for the pain. It helped me to my diagnosis, it's reminder is what takes away ANY desire I have to eat food with gluten in it. This amazes me.
We even wondered together if Adam and Eve could feel pain, surely if Adam stubbed his toe on a tree root he felt it! This would mean that pain was created! Part of God's plan, corrupted by sin.
At this moment I think of the people in my life, and especially the men who have come through F.O.A. over the many years, and so very many of them are caught in a lifestyle that originated in attempts to ease, run away from, or avoid PAIN in their life, whether physical or emotional.
I realized how very dangerous this could be, the mentality to avoid pain at costs. I want my children, my sons to know what pain is, and where it belongs. Sometimes the headache is to show you that you are dehydrated, don't take a Tylenol with a coke. Sometimes that back pain isn't from wrenching your back raking leaves months ago, sometimes it's cancer. You don't have to just get used to a life of pain, maybe you just need to find the doctor who has the answers.
Pain can show you when you are pushing too far, or when you need to use caution because you are healing yet. Maybe the pain is just yet another reminder that that piece of furniture is occupying that part of the floor. Or that pain can reveal a need you have for a Savior, or show you where you've tried to do it your own way much too long. Sometimes our pain isn't for ourselves, but so that we can recognize it in others, having known it so well ourselves.
After remembering God who became Man for me this past Christmas, I am thankful for today when I am to remember a Savior who CHOOSE pain for us.
Now, my responses to hurts-that-are-fine can range anywhere from, "Do you need a hug?" to "You're gonna have to suck it up."(said with love) but today I was sitting next to him at the table and undistracted (but for the food and the chewing) and it occurred to me that I was in a "lesson moment", if I would choose to take it. And I did. I'll share some of what we talked about and my thoughts with YOU, lucky you.
I was telling Luke how God has designed our bodies to feel pain, that sometimes that pain protects us. We used the woodstove as an illustration: if I touch it real real quick I can get away without being hurt or burned, but leave that hand there and I'll get burned and it will hurt! How do I know when to lift my hand off the hot stove? Because I can feel the heat too much and I take my hand away before it hurts, if I can't feel the hurt, then I would leave my hand there and unknowingly damage myself.
Okay, understanding but not in a personal way so next illustration: his friend broke his arm last year, and even though they went to the doctor and he wore a cast, he had to heal. I explained that if Charlie had tried to wrestle, even with his cast on, it would have hurt-his body would have let him know to be careful with the arm, because it needs to heal.
Luke asks some questions, which was great and then I realized another example. Myself. The pain I felt as a person with undiagnosed Celiac Disease was immense at times. That pain sent me to the doctor even though my last doctor could not answer the questions, that pain saved me. Some people who have Celiac Disease don't feel pain, their body may be feeling the effects of the disease but they can't see the symptoms or feel the pain, but I did, and I can truly say that I am thankful for the pain. It helped me to my diagnosis, it's reminder is what takes away ANY desire I have to eat food with gluten in it. This amazes me.
We even wondered together if Adam and Eve could feel pain, surely if Adam stubbed his toe on a tree root he felt it! This would mean that pain was created! Part of God's plan, corrupted by sin.
At this moment I think of the people in my life, and especially the men who have come through F.O.A. over the many years, and so very many of them are caught in a lifestyle that originated in attempts to ease, run away from, or avoid PAIN in their life, whether physical or emotional.
I realized how very dangerous this could be, the mentality to avoid pain at costs. I want my children, my sons to know what pain is, and where it belongs. Sometimes the headache is to show you that you are dehydrated, don't take a Tylenol with a coke. Sometimes that back pain isn't from wrenching your back raking leaves months ago, sometimes it's cancer. You don't have to just get used to a life of pain, maybe you just need to find the doctor who has the answers.
Pain can show you when you are pushing too far, or when you need to use caution because you are healing yet. Maybe the pain is just yet another reminder that that piece of furniture is occupying that part of the floor. Or that pain can reveal a need you have for a Savior, or show you where you've tried to do it your own way much too long. Sometimes our pain isn't for ourselves, but so that we can recognize it in others, having known it so well ourselves.
After remembering God who became Man for me this past Christmas, I am thankful for today when I am to remember a Savior who CHOOSE pain for us.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
GF Brownies
Almond Flour Brownies
See original recipe here.
Ingredients:
See original recipe here.
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup almond flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips
- Preheat your oven to 350ºF.
- Mix together the almond flour, salt, cocoa powder, and baking powder and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, melt together 1/2 cup chocolate chips with the butter (I used the microwave for this).
- While the chocolate is melting, beat together the eggs, sugar, vanilla.
- Slowly pour the melted chocolate and butter into the egg/sugar mixture while whisking until fully incorporated.
- Pour the chocolate mixture in with the dry ingredients and mix completely.
- Pour the batter in a greased 8 x 8 pan.
- Sprinkle the top with the remaining chocolate.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick poked into the center comes out clean.
SOO yummy and child approved! Both of my nieces and both of my sons are huge fans! My 13 year-old niece Madison even reviewed it as "better than regular brownies!" There you have folks!
Brownies
Diagnosis
After several years of struggling to ascertain what was "wrong" with me I was able, with the help of two amazing doctors (my General and my GI) I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Believe you me, this is exciting news! I will be making some changes in my life and in the life of our family but this is very good news.
What is Celiac Disease?
The Mayo Clinic answers that with the following:
Celiac (SEE-lee-ak) disease is a digestive condition triggered by consumption of the protein gluten, which is primarily found in bread, pasta, cookies, pizza crust and many other foods containing wheat, barley or rye. People with celiac disease who eat foods containing gluten experience an immune reaction in their small intestines, causing damage to the inner surface of the small intestine and an inability to absorb certain nutrients.
Celiac disease can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. Eventually, the decreased absorption of nutrients (malabsorption) that occurs with celiac disease can cause vitamin deficiencies that deprive your brain, peripheral nervous system, bones, liver and other organs of vital nourishment.
No treatment can cure celiac disease. However, you can effectively manage celiac disease by changing your diet.
Having Celiac Disease is not the same as having a wheat allergy (which acts like all allergies causing itchiness, breathing problems and sometimes even anaphylactic shock). And its not just about wheat! The problem is a protein called "Gluten" which can be found in wheat, rye and barley. And what it practically does is in people who have Celiac Disease it causes damage the small intestines and that causes problems (go figure, right?).
The bit that most people seem to get confused on is what that means! Sure, it means gastrointestinal "issues" as the small intestine is atrophying, but it also involves the immune system, when gluten enters the body the immune system starts attacking it and the body! So basically, its an autoimmune disease too!
Just -some- of the possible symptoms a person with Celiac Disease could suffer are:
-fatigue
-migraine headaches
-anemia
-sinusitis
-acne
-anxiety
-depression
-irritability
-eczema
-dermatitis
-hair loss
-inability to concentrate
-lactose intolerance
-muscle cramps
-joint pain
-nosebleeds
-respiratory problems
-vitamin deficiencies
-vomiting
-nausea
-irritable bowel syndrome
-heartburn
-diarrhea
-constipation
-acid reflux (GERD)
-abdominal pain
-bloating
-infertility
(whew) And some people don't have any symptoms at all! Its defined not by what is evidenced outwardly but by what is happening inside the body as a response to gluten, by damage to the intestinal villi to be specific.
So what does treatment look like?
Simply not eating gluten! And how great is that?! Not surgery, not pills. Cut out breads and whatnot: Easy-peasy.
.......well, okay, not so easy... turns out that gluten is is E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. It gets used in a LOT of stuff! Easy to see is anything made with wheat flour (bread, bagels, cookies, flour tortillas, pizza, pasta, etc), hard to see is the not so obvious stuff that has it as an ingredient (soy sauce, some packaged meats, chicken broth, cream of mushroom soup, and the list goes on for a very long time).
<Insert sad face here.>
After I got over the pity-party right about here I realized what a gift it was to be diagnosed with a disease that can be completely controlled by what I eat! So, making some changes around here in the Bonner Household. Keep checking in with us to see how we are doing!
1 Mayo Clinic Website
2 The Gluten-Free Bible
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