Eating Healthy For Happy Bodies!

GF/DF Living!
We are approaching the end of our third week of healthy eating. All three kids have been eating gluten-free and dairy-free diet and I am very happy to report we are seeing results! After an entire year of tummy pain during and after meals, vomiting during or after meals and chronic diarrhea, JJ's stomach is FINALLY back to normal. The best part is he can tell a difference, too.

While eating his GF DF hot dog (bun included) for lunch the other day, JJ said to me, "Mom, my tummy does not hurt anymore because I am eating healthy to make my body happy!" This is truly a miracle. JJ has had a challenging year - filled with numerous tummy tests (colonoscopy, endoscopy and upper GI series) and appointments with the gastrointestinal doctor and the rheumatologist. Mealtime was always a challenge - he'd either not eat at all or would get sick immediately afterwards. Most of the time, he was requesting a warm rice sock after meals for his tummy and would not be able to get up off the couch. On really bad days, we would find him crying on the floor after he ate because the pain was just too much.

Now, he enjoys eating and is actually hungry! Such a wonderful change from the boy who was not putting on weight and was always lethargic and pale. It's such a horrible thing to see your child suffer because of food. And now, he does not want anything that has gluten or dairy in it because he can tell the difference in in his own body. We have our happy, healthy boy back! And, once he gets his tonsils and adenoids out (schedule for next Friday, May 11), he will really be able to eat!

We are slowly seeing results with Mia's joints, too. While her right knee will require a fourth drain and injection (scheduled for tomorrow), her physical therapist was very happy to report that her knee is smaller this week than last week (it was 2.5 cm bigger than the left knee and now it has gone down 0.5 cm):

Yes, there is obvious swelling, but there is no stiffness and she is completely mobile - her rheumatologist has noticed this, too. I know it may look big in this picture, but it is definitely smaller than what it was.

She also told us the fluid and swelling around her right collarbone joint is less than it was last week. Such great news! Of course, her all-too-fascinated doctors would like to schedule an MRI of her collarbone in the next few weeks, but we are believing it will go down before then. This rainy weather has definitely had an affect on both of our kids' joints.

Speaking of weather and seasons, Mia's physical therapist pointed out something interesting to me last week: Mia never flares in the summer, winter or fall; only in the spring (specifically the months of March/April). Interesting. And as I look back, I realize she is right.

• Mia's first flare occurred in March when she was 15 months old. 
• Her next big flare, which resulted in her needing to have her left knee and her right elbow drained and injected, happened in April (Easter morning) when she was three-years-old. 
• She flared again in March 2012 and had to have her left knee drained again (age six). 
• Which brings us to today - her right knee flared in April and she will being having her fourth drain and injection. (Interesting side note: the PT even told us the last time she saw Mia was April 18, 2011 and we went back to her April 18, 2012 because she was flaring again). 

Sorry, but I find this "seasonal connection" with her flares all too interesting. Yes, we've been told arthritis is not seasonal by her doctors and I know many would disagree with my theory, but come on! There has to be something said for the fact that our daughter only flares in the spring.

And, just like before when we increased her omega-3 intake, we are seeing results in her joints. JJ's, too. Both kids take 1 tsp of lemon-flavored cod liver oil every morning - with no fuss, I might add. Their pain is reduced and their immune systems boosted. We have also added 2oz of pomegranate juice to their morning routines. Mia is still taking Indocin (4.5 mls, 2x a day), but JJ is off all NSAIDs. Thank you, God!

So, despite the way things may look on the outside, we are seeing huge changes in our children's health. And, it is only going to get better!

"Everything you ask for in prayer will be yours, if you only have faith." Mark 11:24