Andy's Check Ups

Andy had his annual check up this week. He is finally over 40 lbs! He weighed in at 41.4 pounds and is 47.5 inches tall. He is about 50% for height and has gone up to almost 10% for weight. We are very happy.

He continues to be pretty healthy - he hasn't been to the doctor for anything in a year - no strep, no fevers. Nothing. We continue to hold off on any booster shots and the ped was OK with that - I am so fortunate that she doesn't give us any grief over that. None of Andy's shots had mercury in them - but there are so many other things in there - I just don't know.

But he continues to have GI problems. He had a series of rashes and tummy aches in early December. I thought I had figured it out - the only new thing he had to eat was bananas - so I was pretty sure that was it. We removed them from the diet and then last week (since he is off school) we introduced them again. No rashes and no tummy aches - nothing.

I have no idea now what is going on. Is it a new food allergy? Is he getting some hidden gluten? Was he getting something not on his diet at school? He has always had dark circles under his eyes. They are lighter now than they were when he was younger - but they never really went away and because of that I am pretty sure he has some other food issues.

Anyway, he is not being monitored by a gastroenterologist and he really should be for his celiac - so we are going to start there. And then if we don't get answers then we will go to an allergist. We made an appointment for the GI for February 21. It is such a long wait always to get in to any specialist - but this is a pediatric gastro, so hopefully it will be worth the wait.

He also went to the dentist this week for a check up (get all of the appointments out of the way while school is out). He was pretty scared - he has had a lot of traumatic experiences at the dentist in the past, but luckily the dental assistant was really patient with him. He did not want to do the X-rays - he was convinced they would hurt somehow - but eventually he cooperated. And the good news is - No cavaties this time! So we do not have to go back for 6 months. By his next visit, his molars should be all the way in and they will want to seal them - so I have to do my homework on sealants and if they are OK - always something to investigate - what ever happened to being able to trust the doctors and just let them do what they needed to do? My trust in the medical system has been totally eroded.....

GFCF Holiday Treats

I discovered these recently - they are GFCF, but are produced in a facility that also processes dairy - so if you are really sensitive to dairy, don't buy them. Baker's also makes them in a cup ready to microwave - the ones in the cup contain dairy - only the bag ones are GFCF.
Don't these look yummy?
Buckeyes
1½ cups peanut butter (I use all natural)
½ cup margarine (I use Crystal Farms Non Dairy)
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar
Baker’s Real Chocolate Melts in the bag (cup has dairy)

Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix everything except the chocolate – you may have to use your hands to mix well.

Shape dough into small balls and place on waxed paper.

Melt chocolate in microwave safe bowl according to package directions.

Insert a toothpick into a ball and dip into melted chocolate. Return to wax paper and remove toothpick. Repeat with remaining balls. Refrigerate to set.

Peanut Brittle is generally GFCF, unless it is made with real butter. Hard on your teeth, but a nice holiday treat.

Microwave Peanut Brittle
1½ cups raw peanuts
1 cup sugar
½ cup corn syrup
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon baking soda

Grease a cookie sheet and set aside. Mix peanuts, sugar, syrup, and salt in a large microwave safe bowl; cook 6 to 7 minutes on high stirring 2 or 3 times. Mixture should be bubbling and the peanuts browned. Quickly stir in butter and vanilla. Cook 2 to 3 minutes longer. Remove and add soda and stir quickly until mixture is foamy. Pour immediately onto greased cookie sheet and spread to desired thickness. Let cool and break into pieces.

Updates

I added a few links along the side. Check them out! I still have links to add - but this is a start. Check out the links to blogs.

A Successful GFCF Birthday Party

We had Andy's birthday party yesterday. He is turning 7 years old this week.

Recipe for a successful GFCF Birthday Party:
1. Hold it at a time when no one expects to be fed more than cake (1-3 pm)
2. Plan an activity like Stuff A Friend so you don't have to fill goody bags with junky candy and toys - and it keeps them busy the whole time so they don't have time to want more food.
3. Buy the cake from a gluten free bakery like the Bittersweet Bakery in Eagan, MN. It tasted so good no one knew that it was GFCF.

We held Andy's party at a local nature center. The first hour was led by a naturalist - they talked about Minnesota wildlife - went on a walk looking for wild life and then checked out some wild life in aquariums (snakes, turtles and frogs). Then we spent a half hour making stuffed animals - and then just had time to serve cake and open presents and it was time to go. Everyone had a blast and there were no meltdowns and no diet infractions.

If you are curious - Andy is in the back row in an orange shirt holding his stuffed pig.

GFCF Stuffed Bell Peppers

We had these for dinner tonight and they were a big hit. The cinnamon and brown sugar gave it a different flavor that was readily accepted by all.

Stuffed Bell Peppers
Ingredients:
6 large, well proportioned bell peppers
1 lb. ground turkey
1 medium to large onion, chopped
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 cup plain cooked rice (any type of long grain rice works well)
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup red cooking wine
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons dried oregano
Salt and pepper to your personal taste
1 can tomato sauce
1 can tomato paste

Preparation:
Slice stems and tops off green peppers. Remove seeds and white membranes. Rinse and set aside to dry.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Brown Turkey with onion and garlic in a non-stick skillet. Sauté over low heat until turkey is thoroughly cooked.
Mix in cooked rice, brown sugar, vinegar, all spices, 1/4 cup of the tomato sauce, and the tomato paste
Stuff peppers with the meat mixture.
Place upright in a 2-quart casserole dish that has been coated with cooking spray.
Place any remaining mixture around the peppers in the dish.
Pour remaining tomato sauce over peppers.
Bake for 1 hour

What happens when Andy and I eat things we shouldn't?

This is a rash on Andy's arm that he has been scratching at and I didn't catch right away.
These hives are just starting on his upper leg. They are super itchy.
This is a fungal rash from dairy products on my leg. The round appearance is a clue to it being fungal.
These are some itchy hives on my hand from eating gluten.

I am not really sure what is causing Andy's latest round of hives, but we have been fighting them for about 3 weeks now. I treat them with prescription ointment and they go away pretty quickly and the next morning a new crop pops up somewhere else. We are think we may have figured it out and that it is Bananas - but we are not really sure yet.

GFCF Waffles

There was a thread today on the autism board on babycenter about waffles and it made me hungry for waffles - so I had to make some. Unfortunately my digital camera is not working so I had to take pictures of the waffles with my regular camera. When I get the film developed, I will scan the picture and edit this post to show them. Andy like his cut into 4 long strips and then he dips them in the maple syrup.


GFCF Waffles
3 eggs
1 ½ cups milk substitute (I used Dari Free)
1 ¾ gf flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill GF Mix)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup shortening (I used crisco)

Heat waffle iron. Beat eggs. Beat in remaining ingredients until smooth.
Pour Batter into waffle iron. Bake about 5 minutes or until steaming stops.
Remove waffles carefully.
This made 14 waffles in my waffle maker.