We're going gluten free

So it is official our little family of 2, is going gluten free! After several test and plenty of lab work, Joel has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease. For those of you who don't know much about it, "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." (MayoClinic 2011). After several months of feeling progressively worse and worse Joel decided to find out what was going on. He visited dozens of doctors, all of whom told him he was completely fine. One even referred him to a psychologist, basically claiming that Joel was crazy and all the symptoms he claimed to be experiencing were only "in his head". Reassuring right? Joel wouldn't give up and eventually he saw one doctor who said she "just felt like she should test for celiac." Boy are we are sure grateful she did. Now that we have a diagnose we have a place to start and hopefully Joel will begin to feel healthy again soon.

Here's a picture of my handsome man, we found a recipe for gluten free fruit pizza... his favorite!!