I asked for it and I got it

Ok, I know I asked for it, but I'm going crazy. Now that we are going allergen-free for Megan she's asking to eat 24/7 and I SERIOUSLY mean 24/7. It's crazy! She just wants to eat, eat, eat!!!!! This is our 4 week (I think, lol) and she's eating better, acts happier, complains about her tummy less, stools are better, and really she's looking better. Ryan thinks she's gained a little, but I won't believe it until I see the scale say 30 pounds because she's teetered over the past 2 years between 26 and 29.5 pounds. When I see 30 I know this is working well for her. I am just so excited, but exhausted at trying to find her variety to eat 24/7.

Did this happen for your child? I'm sure this is normal. I guess it's their bodies finally waking up saying "hey, I feel better and I'm STARVING!!!".

We have decided to keep the elimination diet going for a few months before testing her against the allergens. Her body takes a lot longer to adjust to things than most and I don't think 4 weeks is enough time, really. I'll see what her allergist says next week.

Regardless of the scale, it sounds like she is doing great on this diet. I'm so happy for you all because I know how much you've struggle with this.

Oh, and there are times when Ashley will eat 24/7 -- when she's going through a growth spurt. So, it does sound like a really good sign.

We are too. Even if the scale doesn't "move" she is looking so much healthier. Her face looked someone sunk in at times before and now she's looking chubby.

Congrats, sounds like she is finally feeling good!

YAY Karen thats incredible!!!! How old is she now Karen?

Little Bit will be 4 on March 16.

thats wonderful. I am so happy for her and all of you.

Karen that is wonderful news...our allergist told us it can take up to 6 or more weeks to get certain allergens out of your system so she might have alittle bit to go, but it sounds like she is feeling so much better..that is when we noticed the SID almost fade away. I think once the initial pain is finally dealt with after so long, the kids really blossom!
I am so happy for you.

So did yours want to eat more? We can't keep up with her. The sitter can't, either. I haven't heard from the school so I'm not sure if she's asking for food all the time there or not.

Yeah, her therapist was sick last week and 2 weeks before that Megan was sick so we haven't seen Arina in a LONG time, unfortunately. I hope to start hearing good reports from her as well. We are still seeing some SID issues at this point.

Wow that's awesome Karen! She is going to eat you out of house and home. What did you find out she was allergic to?

She IS eating us out of house and home. I've been to the store last weekend which is supposed to last us 2 weeks and I ended up having to go again yesterday.

She's allergic to yellow dye, sesame seed, cottonseed, and chocolate.

Little Bit will be 4 on March 16.

goodness!!! I'm SO glad she is able to eat now!!!

That is great Karen!

She IS eating us out of house and home. I've been to the store last weekend which is supposed to last us 2 weeks and I ended up having to go again yesterday.

She's allergic to yellow dye, sesame seed, cottonseed, and chocolate.

Woah that's incredible. She must have a lot of catching up to do! I'll bet it's such a relief to have her eating!

So are those things hard to avoid? Other than the chocolate of course, which is AWFUL - poor girl! I can't imagine being allergic to chocolate!

She IS eating us out of house and home. I've been to the store last weekend which is supposed to last us 2 weeks and I ended up having to go again yesterday.

She's allergic to yellow dye, sesame seed, cottonseed, and chocolate.

Woah that's incredible. She must have a lot of catching up to do! I'll bet it's such a relief to have her eating!

So are those things hard to avoid? Other than the chocolate of course, which is AWFUL - poor girl! I can't imagine being allergic to chocolate!

Yeah, being allergic to chocolate is the end all to me. I'd die.

It actually is hard to avoid the allergens, but we've gotten used to it so far. You would be amazed at how many foods have cottonseed and yellow dye in it. There is only 1 restaurant in town that we can eat at - Pizza Hut - and there is only 1 type of pizza we can order that doesn't have the allergens in it. It's their hand tossed pizza, not sure why it's the only one without cottonseed oil in it, but it is. So we don't eat out at all anymore. I pack snacks any time we go out and we stay away from town at meal times so we don't have meltdowns. So we are limited as to when we can go out. I still haven't found a yummy tasting cake/icing recipe that she can have for her birthday cake. I hope I find something soon. So I pack her snacks for school, I send handsoap for the entire class to use because their soap has yellow dye in it. Vitamins are impossible to find without yellow dye. It's in meds, etc, etc. Not fun, but we have a list of foods we know that don't have the allergens and we stick to that pretty bland diet of things. She's so mature about it, too. My biggest goal (sadly enough) was to find any and all sweets/candy that didn't have the allergens in it so when she would go to parties, etc, etc that those things are at I can have her own little bag of goodies just for her. We are limited, though, but it's all worth it so far.

Cake

1 1/2 cup flour (see below for gf options)
3 Tbsp cocoa powder (optional)
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp vinegar
5 Tbsp oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup water

Preheat oven to 350F.
Combine all ingredients, mix until smooth (don't beat the batter, just mix it up.).
Grease and flour a pan, either 8" square or 9"round, or 12 cupcake tins.
Bake about 35 mintues for the cake, and about 20 mintues for the cupcakes.


Variations:
Vanilla: omit cocoa. Double amount of vanilla.
Spice: omit cocoa. Add 1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice.
Orange: omit cocoa & vinegar. Substitute orange juice for the water.
Lemon: omit cocoa. Substitute lemon juice for vinegar. Some lemon extract can be added.
Gluten Free: Substitute 1 3/4 cups GF Flour Mix for wheat flour. Add 1 tsp xantham gum

Awesome! I am so happy for you guys.