Once all the excitement of the hospital stay, the biopsy and those first few outings to find all these specialty foods were over, what now? We had a meeting with the hospital dietitian the week following her biopsy and she gave us the lo-down on the diet and the hidden sources of gluten. Alright. Cool. But now what?

We bought things left and right to replace staples she liked, Rice Krispies, Corn Puffs, oatmeal, all things she couldn’t have anymore. We found nice alternatives and she took to them without flinching. She really enjoyed every bite and started asking for seconds and thirds! My little girl that barely ate had finally found her appetite again. Come her 2 year birthday, she looked positively glowing and plump and had gained about 5 pounds in a few short months, going from her mini 23.5lbs (yes, at 21 months!) to somewhere around 28.5 lbs on her 2nd birthday. A clear case of “the proof is in the pudding” if I ever saw one.

By that time I made all the minimal efforts I needed to do. Bought what she needed only, none for us and made sure everything was kept separate and that we washed are hands and mouths thoroughly before handling her food, utensils and even her. We probably looked like complete basket cases when we visited other people. But, it worked, her follow-up tests came back clear, we were doing it right, she was growing both physically and mentally.

I mention this as well because she had sort of been “stuck” in her devellopment where she wasn’t learning things she out to. She had still a limited vocabulary, didn’t talk much and was just plain shy. You should meat her today, she’s still shy, but only to a point In the weeks and months after her change in diet, she became this spunky energetic 2 year old that simply blossomed more every day. She started learning more words, stringing them together, running constantly and best of all, I suddenly couldn’t keep up with her anymore. Yes. A good thing. The best thing.