I See a Trend

I'm starting to see a trend on this blog. Some of you might have noticed it, too: Baby O updates and food posts. Now the purpose of this blog is to share life with JLO, SVO and Baby O. Not just what we eat. But the problem is, what we eat is so much about our life....now. Yes, JLO has always been a "foodie" and I guess me, too. But now, now that I have Celiac disease and have to eat a gluten-free diet, we are obsessed with food.

Many of you know that I struggled for over five years with many, many health issues. I was finally given a diagnosis this February (thanks mostly in part to my amazing doctor cousin!) and our lives completely changed. Being gluten-free is so much more than, "just don't eat bread." Gluten can be in just about anything it seems. Soy Sauce. Lipstick. Toothpaste. Vitamins. Fruit Cups. So on a regular basis I have to watch every single thing that goes in my mouth. Everything. And while I have pretty amazing friends and family who are so gracious about trying to cook for me and thinking about me when we do things, it's still hard. A normal four hour trip to visit JLO's family can't include a stop at a fast-food place. Attending a friend's wedding requires extra work on the part of the bride if I want to eat that night. Happy Hour with friends (obviously when I'm not pregnant) is limited to gluten-free beer, if they have it.

But....I am healthy. Within two weeks of going gluten-free almost every symptom I had for the last five years (and some of you know how weird they were) went away. Gone. And as far as we know now, I have a healthy little baby boy in my belly. So even though the gluten-free life is challenging, for me it's worth it. And that is why Hollywood thinking it's the latest, new diet scares me a little. Yes, bring some attention to it, but don't ruin it for those of us that have to eat gluten-free to maintain a healthy and happy life.

So I apologize if On the Cusp of the O is a lot about gluten-free food, in addition to Baby O, but know that being able to write about it and celebrate my health really helps me when I'm staring down a glutenous pizza or pass a pretzel shop in the mall.