An unintentioned new beginning?

Perhaps. At least that is how I choose to look at it. Without giving too many details, because that just might be quite a bit "TMI" for you, let's just say that I have been getting sick very often for almost a year and a half. After making many many trips to the ER (2 of them in an ambulance), 4 of those trips in the last month, 3 of them within the last 10 days or so, and 2 of them in as many days last Tuesday and Wednesday, the hospital actually admitted me for 3 days to find out exactly what was going on and causing all of this.

Apparently, "Celiac Disease", which is just a fancy and scary way of saying, "You have developed an allergy to wheat." This is the one pain-in-the-ass thing about being adopted...I found out that this is congenital and hereditary. One of those things that would have been nice to know about ahead of time because maybe I wouldn't have been sick for so long if I knew someone else that I was biologically related to had already gone through all of this.

So now I am on a Gluten Free diet, and all I can say is that I REALLY HOPE that is the correct diagnosis because I feel REALLY GREAT after having NO solid food from last Monday through Friday, and not eating any wheat products since I started eating again! It's truly amazing how quick this turn around was! I have a doctor's appointment on Friday to confirm this diagnosis and/or get the results of all of the tests and biopsies that were done during my vacation, uh, I mean hospital stay. But, all 3 doctors I had pretty much believe this is it.

I feel so healthy that I feel like a different person. I just hope it lasts. The kids have even made comments about the way I look and the things I am doing...and I figure if a teenager, an almost teenager and an 8 year old are noticing and saying things it's gotta be true, right?

So...one of these days I WILL find my camera, and the Sun WILL come out again and I can take some decent pictures to post here. I was working on some embroidery this afternoon and it dawned on me that I couldn't remember the last time I threaded a needle. (I have been creeping around taking fabrics out of my stash and sitting on the floor and feeling them, though!)

Anyway, I don't want to get all mushy and philosophical but, I think I'm going to just consider this my "Starting Over". Of everything. And maybe, just maybe, as I post about new 'Gluten Free' recipies I find, and Gluten Free foods, I can help someone else. I've already found a lot more foods available at my local grocery store than I ever thought possible, and Betty Crocker has a whole bunch of Gluten free cookie and cake mixes and recipies on the website! I tried her Gluten Free Chocolate Chip cookie mix today and they were better than I expected, although the cookies were not very moist. I think I'll try adding some applesauce to the mix and see if that helps. Or hey...maybe some bananas! Bananas go with chocolate quite deliciously!

Now I'll just hold up my imaginary glass of Gluten Free Champagne and say, "Here's to new beginnings...cheers!"