i not eat gooten

Those were the words of Samuel this morning.

He was wandering around the living room, carrying his lego guy and a board book with the letter c on the cover, and came up to me with his getting too long blond hair and told me i not eat gooten. Translated? I not eat gluten. I’m not sure what brought it up, really, but honestly, there isn’t a day where the subject of gluten free doesn’t come up.  Jut this morning we were reading that c boardbook, and on a page was a picture of a cupcake and Samuel points to it and tells me it’s gluten free.

I wonder how much he thinks about gluten free.

He certainly strives to make sure that his world is balanced and fair and that his gluten free reality doesn’t feel limiting. Even though I know that it actually is limiting – birthday cakes, church nursery and goldfish, playdough, sunscreen, potlucks, and more. Each of those things would be cause for me to pause, investigate, and devise a solution for Samuel. Bring his own cake, no nursery or I bring all the snacks, buy gluten free playdough and always tell nursery/preschool/friends no playdough, find gluten free sunscreen, bring food for potlucks — you see — it affects everyday facets of his life.

I not eat gooten.

That’s my boy. The one I love so dearly – the one I fight for and share my heart about Celiac Disease and living gluten free. And that’s why, once again, I am so blessed to be able to devote time to sharing our story, offering advice, gleaning advice, finding amazing recipes, finding support, and developing community on the Udi’s Gluten Free Board.  So today I’m asking you what you’re interested in learning more about – diagnosis? living everyday gluten free? some of our favorite gluten free resources? protecting Samuel’s gluten free heart? – so that I can begin to answer those questions and help and encourage. And, within the next several weeks I’m going to set up a live chat on the Udi’s site and I’d love to use that time to answer those questions even further.

Why do I do this? Why is this my heart? It is because of that i not eat gooten boy that is playing cars in his room and gets his hands blue with paint and my desire for his life to be as normal as possible. And that includes me fighting for awareness, sharing our story, and being encouraging to others walking this gluten free journey as well. Thanks for walking with us.

Here’s my latest forum topic and question on the Udi’s Gluten Free Board {not sure why it’s pulling my words twice – just ignore that}. Within the last week I’ve chatted about gluten free sunscreen, favorite foods, and more. I’d love to have you join the chat with me over there. And please do let me know of live chat options. Thank you! Feel free to answer the chat prompt about gluten free birthdays {or other food allergies how you handle birthdays} in the prompt box or in the comment section.

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