Thomas the Tank Engine Strikes Again

What is it with this sneaky little train usurping my exercise space? I decided to start my New Years Resolution early and getting back into exercise is part of it. How can I exercise when the Misty Island has sprung up in my basement?



I'm terrified that I'm going to do one high kick and take out the entire island. I did accidentally kick Sir Topham Hat across the room. He's still MIA.

Why does Thomas get more room than I do? I'm starting to feel like he ranks higher than I do around here. I'd move the entire island but since it took my brother hours to assemble it, I'm afraid to touch it. Maybe next year Santa will have to remember to bring smaller gifts that don't interfere with Mama's power walking.

Until There's a Cure Featuring Dr. Oz - PSA 30 sec.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!!

Oat Allergies vs. Gluten Free: Houston We Have A Problem

Previously posted on WEGO Health:


Celiac Disease and an allergy to wheat, rye, barley, or oat are not the same. I touched on this topic in the post Wheat Allergies and Celiac Disease: These Two Diseases Keep Taking An Extra Hit By The Media. Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease, where as an allergic reaction to wheat, rye, barley or oat is an immune system response. It's confusing, believe me I know!

My son is ALLERGIC to wheat, rye, barley and oat (along with egg, peanut and tree nut). If he eats one of those grains his immune system will start attacking his body. The reaction can be anything from eczema to anaphylactic.

We've always felt pretty comfortable assuming that "gluten free" food items were safe for his grain allergies (but we still read all labels for his other allergies and just to be on the safe side for the grains) until now.

Today we were at the grocery store and our grocery has a hired a "gluten free" grocery liaison. She FANTASTIC! She's so sweet and so helpful and she set up a dedicated gluten free isle and a dedicated gluten free freezer section and has gone through the whole store and marked safe items "gluten free" with little signs. It's made shopping a lot easier. She always lets me know when she gets new items in stock and she's just a gem to have at our regular grocery store. Today she offered my boys some gluten free samples. They were starving so they took them eagerly. Of course I still always read the labels. The Enjoy Life products I knew would be safe. I never worry about Enjoy Life, even though I still read the label. But there was a product I hadn't seen before. It's called Food Should Taste Good, and our sample was a multigrain chip. It looked really good and all over the package it said "certified gluten free", "GF", "Gluten Free". But I read the label as I always do and the ingredients are:

Stone Ground Corn, High Oleic Sunflower Oil and/or Safflower Oil, Brown Rice Flour, Flax Seeds, Evaporated Cane Juice, Oat Fiber, Sesame Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Quinoa, Soy Flour, Sea Salt

Allergy Information: Contains Soy and Sesame

At first I was confused. How could these be gluten free is they contained Oats? But then I remembered that now there are certified gluten free oats in the market place. Those are wonderful for those with Celiac Disease. But if you have an Oat Allergy, you still can't have them.

AHA! This is so going to add a new dimension to "gluten free". My son isn't allergic to gluten. Even my husband gets that wrong. My son is allergic to oats.

So let this serve as a friendly reminder to those with allergies to read all labels all the time. And if you have grain allergies (especially oat), to remind anyone cooking for you, buying food for you, reading labels for you, that "gluten free" does not necessarily give you a free pass for an item. The label must be read. Allergies and Celiac Disease are not the same. And an allergy to oats is not the same as an intolerance. And although gluten free oats are a bonus for some, they are going to be a curse for others.

Tis The Season...

I really don't know whether I'm coming or going half the time. I've been shopping and planning and party coordinating (and still trying to fit in some work for WEGO Health). I've been under the weather (nothing major just not 100%) and I've been still trying to "remember the reason for the season". I can't believe Christmas is a week away. I still feel like there is so much to do. I have nothing profound to say or add on the blog right now. So I'll just leave you with our life in pictures:



The Tree is up! This is tree number 2. We put up our original tree but it only half lit. After 2 days of fussing with it, changing out lights, buying some "light gun" that was supposed to tell us what was wrong (but didn't), 2 phone calls and 3 visits to Litehouse Pools, we now have a new tree that is fully lit.

It snowed a little. Or A LOT! We got 2-3 feet. Want to grill out? Me neither. I do however want to move somewhere with less snow and cold. Maybe Alaska?


The view from the front yard. It's not any better. It is pretty though. OK, I'm ready for spring now.




The husbands company Christmas party is held at our house. I have caterers that cook the food (at least most of it... that's a whole other story). But I also have people who heat it up and serve it. I go over my kitchen with them before the party and let them know that we have food allergies in the house and that only certain utensils, pots, pans etc. can be used because I have separate things that are kept allergy free. Just to be on the safe side, I sticky noted all of my allergy safe kitchen utensils, pots, appliances, etc. Does that make me overly Type A or just a cautious food allergy mama? (P.S. Don't look at the messy drawer)


Christmas concert time at school. Here we have the Older Boy playing his sax. He did better than we expected for only having a few months of lessons. At home when he practiced, we were highly concerned about how he'd preform but as it turns out he's better with an audience.



Older Boy was a penguin in his school play.



The Little Man was a dove. He's in there somewhere. Forgive the pictures. I was working the video camera so I'll take no heat for the still shots. That should go to "someone who shall remain nameless".




The Little Man's class Christmas party. I wasn't supposed to be involved in this party but as room mom, you do what you have to do. I'm glad I was there if for nothing else than to make sure he was safe.

So today is wrapping, laundry, bill paying, cleaning, and whatever else comes up. I'm so behind on my blog reading. Maybe tomorrow.
Have a great weekend and I hope you aren't has busy as I feel.

Busy Holiday Season

Been really busy here! Quick update:
1. We got that snow last week! We ended up with 2-3 feet.
2. My birthday (Dec 5) was quiet but good. I spent it at home with my 3 men.
3. Last night was Hub's company Christmas party at our house. I think everyone had a good time. It's a ton of work, but it's worth it if everyone has fun. And I managed to keep the kitchen from being contaminated by allergens ( pics to follow).
4. This is the last week of school before Christmas break. That means it's a busy one.
5. We're supposed to get another 1-2 feet of snow by Wednesday. Can someone turn off the snow machine please???

Snow...she is a coming

My NOAA Weather Radio just went off. We have a "Winter Storm Watch". It said "possible accumulation for the area 10-20 inches" from Sunday evening to Tuesday evening. WOW! I had no idea. If you live North East Ohio be warned. Gas up your car, get your groceries, and hope that we only get a couple of inches.