Reed Family Blog

Sydney and Katyana decided to have a friend birthday party this year and boy did we have fun!!!  We invited thirteen other girls to celebrate their 2009 birthdays with them and it was a celebration!!!  We had a mystery menu “On Broadway.”  The girls had to select menu options that had the theme “On Broadway.”  They had to order for five courses and had NO idea if they were ordering drinks, silverware, dessert, or the main dish!  It was fun.  After dinner, the girls divided into groups and were given a brown bag full of random props.  Each group had to come up with a skit using the items in the bag.  It was hilarious!  THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO CAME AND TO THOSE WHO HELPED!!!  Here are pictures from our fun night!  Click on the picture to see the whole picture.   

The Spring Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association Production of Cinderella came and went quickly!  But the children, as usual, had so much fun and learned along the way.  We are so thankful for our local associations that allow us to participate!!!

Here’s the pictures from the Spring Show, Cinderella!  Ethan was a skunk.  The girls were butterflies and clock elves.  They all had a good time!  Click on a photo to see it’s entirety. 

My children and I were able to have a most unexpected treat… we celebrated my birthday at the Smoky Mountain Wilderness Park (hotel/water park: http://www.wildernessatthesmokies.com/).

We had three days, two nights of endless fun, memories, and together-ness.  It was WONDERFUL!!!

Ethan has been under the care of a pediatric gastroenterologist since December due to extremely high cholesterol, severe abdominal attacks, and abnormal tummy.  He has had a lot of blood and other bodily functions lab work, a HIPA scan, an Ultra Sound, an Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and a Colonscopy.  Ethan’s diagnoses are as follows: Eosinophilic Esophagitis, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disorder), Low Gallbladder function (40%), Gluten-Intolerance, and a positive gene for Celiac Disease.

Initially, regarding Ethan’s gall bladder results, I thought the GI said NO functioning (he has a very strong middle east accent) but he has LOW gall bladder function (40%). So, no surgery yet (yea!). However, to save his gall bladder, Ethan he has to go on a very strict low fat diet.  The lab work showed that Ethan has a positive gene for Celiac Disease.  However, Ethan does NOT have Celiac Disease YET although he could develop it because he does have a POSITIVE gene for the disease. However, he is gluten-intolerant, which means we have to continue to avoid all gluten (which is really working because he has not had his 45 minute stomach attacks in the ten days since we started!). So, he doesn’t have the damage of the villi but if he were to be exposed to gluten, he could get the damage and develop Celiac, which is an autoimmune disorder that could lead to many other problems (for more information on Celiac, see:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coeliac_disease). Either way, he HAS to be gluten free and now VERY low fat. He also has damage to his esophagus and has to take Zantac (he’s never complained so this was a surprise).  We have an appointment with the nutritionist next week (the nutritionist will meet individual with ETHAN and explain all of this to him so he has answers for himself and when people ask him about his special diets - although Ethan is picking up terms and reasons quickly, most of all because he FEELS better being gluten-free). The girls had to get their blood tested for celiac antibodies, since it is hereditary.

Ehtan also has to go to the cardiologist in February for some of his heart issues (murmur, cholesterol, irregular heart ultrasound).  This poor guy needs a break, but there are SO many kids in much worse condition so I really cannot complain too much. But the GI doctor said although Ethan’s tummy is big, Ethan is a just a sturdy child and said that he’s NOT worried about his weight (he gets SO much grief for this). He’s just a future UT VOLS linebacker!!!

I bought a gluten-free cook book recommended by my cousin and another book written by my friend’s cousin and thanks to SO many responses, I went shopping and knew what I could and could not buy and I think I have four gluten-free and LOW fat meals! I’ve already done basic cooking today and froze some of the meat and I feel good about that!!!

I appreciate everyone’s feedback, notes, prayers, good thoughts, encouragement, recipes, hints, etc. It has been SO helpful to have so much support. I don’t know how I would have made it without all this support. I’m trying to look at this as a challenge because honestly, I work best when challenged, and it’s made my attitude a bit more positive.

Ethan has now been gluten-free for eight days (and NO cheating).  He has NOT complained of any stomach pain during this time either and has been so LESS irritable and has much more energy and good spirits!!!  It’s NOT easy being the parent of this gluten-free child but at least he seems to recognize how icky he felt before and doesn’t pitch a fit to eat food with gluten in it.  And THANKFULLY, he loves beans, veggies, and fruit!!!

We went to the Outback Steakhouse tonight for dinner.  They have a gluten-free menu.  It was NOT cheap but it was the first time we have eaten out since Ethan’s diagnosis of Celiac Disease.  We go to the doctor on Wednesday to learn more and I will post more at that time.  He couldn’t eat the wonderful bread they served so I bought him an appetizer of some type of raw tuna.  He LOVED it!!!  He had his gluten-free HEALTHY meal and didn’t complain at all.  I am so proud of him.  He got upset today when he figured out he couldn’t something (I can’t remember)… he goes through this every now and then but then said, “I have to eat gluten-free forever.  It’s okay, mom.”  He’s got a great attitude and I am so proud of him!!!  Thanks so much for all of the prayers!!!