failure to stay on a gluten-free diet!!!?!!

Thursday is the Monday of my workweek. After a cold snowy day the sun was out and I was looking forward to a busy day at work. First I had trouble finding the right work shirt and was running late. Nothing unusual for me. I found a shirt that I was going to make do, even though it needed some lint removed from the back badly! The Head man walks in and begins to fuss about the shirt. I assured him that I had a plan to deal with the problem and continued to do my first chores of the day. He and his son left and the next thing I knew, his ex-wife was in my face about said shirt. Now she and I have a mutual dislike relationship. I try to stay out of her way and avoid her caustic tone of voice when possible. I finally asked her if she wanted be to stop what I was doing or was she going to get out of my face so I could concentrate. (First clue, I did not get). Before much longer I had my initial chores done and a new shirt on, supplied by the boss, but I was in tears. Emotions from one end of the spectrum to the next.(second clue) What was going on with me? What had I eaten that I shouldn't have?

Sunday night, Wes had brought me supper and as a surprise he had brought Chinese Food, but he forgot to look and see how much of it was breaded! All of it! oh no. Well not a problem I will just peel the bread off and eat the meat and vegetables. Which is what I did. Not a good solution!!! I even ate some of the chow mien noodles praying that they were rice noodles. Hey I was hungry and had 4 more hours of work.

Well it all came to a head today. I ache in my back and between my shoulder blades. My heels are on fire and walking is a misery. Stairs are agony.  That is when I finally put all of the above together in what was going on with me. I have been fighting constipation and flatulence all week. Cconcentration has become a bigger problem than usual.Sleeping has become anything but restful. Why? because I did not stay on my diet and got confident that a little wheat wouldn't hurt me. WRONG!
Now for the other wake up call. JW brought home a weekly report saying that he had had the worst week at school he had ever had. Missed the school bus everyday, unable to follow directions, problems with other students, unable to sit still, constipation each night on arrival home, inability to hear and understand what is being said to him. Worst of all, Demanding attention NOW! After I began to put all of my problems together and say his weekly report. I realized we both had a big problem that had to be dealt with.
Solution. DRINK WATER  until you float and then some. We have to flush the system. The books say that it takes a week to get it out of the system, they were very right but one has to quite adding more to the system. So now we drink water and pay attention to everything for the next few days. I hope none of you ever experience this discomfort. When I do it reminds me rather forcefully that I really need to remain gluten-free!

Celiac disease exploration

Today has been a day of excitement for me. The outside weather has been terrible with a spring blizzard making outside work impossible. So It was a good day to spend on the Internet doing research for English Class. What was neat about today was I found several books and articles that validated what I have experienced with this disease for the last 10 years. For instance I found out that a blood test is the first order of business for a diagnosis. The bad news is that I have been on a gluten free diet for that long so I positive diagnosis is probably impossible at this time. The interesting thing is the things I have always said were part of Celiacs was confirmed; like my pain and muscle cramps in my legs, my exacerbated PMS. Even the birth of my son was because I went on a gluten free diet. The problem is that he also has Celiacs. The articles I was reading also gave some interesting ideas that I had not gotten to with dealing and growing up with Celiacs. My husband is tired of hearing me scream "yes"

Puppies

The circus has new members this week. The only female dog, Sally Nina, that I have not gotten spaded yet decided to present us with Puppies! She just has not shown them to us yet. I think she had them in the same place as last time but will have to get my 7 year old to go under the building on his tummy and pull them out so we can see how many and what. That will be a job for the weekend when JW can stay filthy all weekend from crawling belly down in the dirt to bring them out and take them back.  The problelm will be once I let him do that he will want to do the crawling everyday about 3 or 4 times a day. That is a Boy for you!!!!

We also have a couple of new litters of rabbits and a set of 14 baby chicks. Moma hen is quite protective and has no trouble flogging you with beck, claws and wings. I was doing something with a set of baby rabbits and did not realize I was to close to her babies when suddenly my ear was being pecked and I had a face full of wings and feathers. It took a minute to realize why she was so upset. After she calmed down and moved the chicks I was able to finish transfering baby rabbits to a feeder cage.
All in the day in the life of our ongoing circus.

The Contract!?

The other night I went to get into bed after spending several hours on the computer. My husband, Wes, had been in bed for about an hour and had the bed all nice and warm.
He groaned and said something about freezalating him was not in the 'contract'.
 I gigled and said, "Oh yes it was!
His response, "Oh, I suppose in the small print"
"Yeah" and I proceeded to skoot over next to him to get warm.
Just some of those things that happen when you heat with wood. Jo Beth

The circus on Ventura Drive

The family joke is that there is always a circus going on at our House. Who would not think so with 2 cats, 6 dogs, 7 goats, numerous rabbits and chickens, Oh and lest we forget one farrot and a turkey. Yes, we live on almost 2 acres and there is always something happening. The animals keep us entertained. We have the welcoming committee of Flower and his mother Nina Sal, Two dogs that refuse to be restrained. Then everyone else must add their voice to the welcome home. All are eager for a petting and supper. Each also has their own way of saying hello. Matter a big black mongrel hates the cats and always raises a fuss when Chico the male calico decides to come in for the night and his supper. Chico will sit at the back door and meow until you let him in. His voice gets more strident the longer he has to wait. He also will give lessons in persistence as he will meow until he gets what he wants.

All of my animals serve several functions! The dogs are our doorbell and the security system. Even though most are chained to an area strategically placed around the yard, no one is going to drive into the driveway without a ruckus happening. Not many people are brave enough to get out of their cars when we are home. Not only do the dogs raise a ruckus, they start jumping and moving about. I'm not sure they would or would not bite someone but I do pay attention to how they respond to whoever is coming into the yard.

The cats are mousers and vermin killers. If you think living in the north high desert is good, then so do the mice and other reptiles, especially lizards and bull snakes. Jerry Girl who resides in the house 99% of the time, loves to present us with her headless catches. Her current favorite place is the middle of the bed. My husband has decided that is better than stepping on them with his bare feet in the middle of the night. If you want to know where the mice are just watch as she sits on the washing machine looking over the back, or under the kitchen sink. As you watch she will come out with a mouse and you will think it dead until she drops it and begins to play. So even if all she and Chico do is keep the mice under control and mostly out of the house they earn their keep.

The poultry and rabbits supply us with meat and eggs. As we eat a 1/2 dozen eggs a morning it is great to always have them on hand. The cost depends on how one looks at it. The chickens are great time keepers. If you are not on your way to the chicken yard to feed them by 5 o'clock they will filter out of the yard and toward the house to let you know it is supper time. They also like to let you know that they day is good by crowing and clucking at you. Lord do not get in the way of a hen and her chicks, That can be disastrous if not a little scary.

The rabbits also are time keepers. All are kept in a barn built for them. The manure is shoveled out to the 'want to be garden area', especially in the fall and right before monsoon season to help the ground. Add a few coffee grounds and water and here comes the worms. Great for growing things.

The goats are for meat and milk. These guys all have a higharchy that must be recognized and dealt with. Do not speak to them unless you speak in order of who is in charge. Another words one must speak and acknowledge Negra and Gris before talking or scratching Letche or Bounita or Little Mom. Negra who is Queen of the herd will butt her way to you and knock whoever sailing until she has her attention. Even the two young billies have one over the other. The Billy's are getting close to going into the freezer soon.

Now, you have been introduced to most of the circus players. I will tell you more of thier activities in the weeks to come.