We soon will be going on vacation so that means we will be on the road with 5 kids. So really have been thinking about how to make the ride some what fun and make time go by faster. I have been doing some searches and I am excited about this link I will mention. So many wonderful tips on what to do on the road. Free things to print, games to play, free audio stories to download, there are tips for all ages. I don't have the money to buy a bunch of stuff so this is going to be great!!! Well enough said here go ahead and check out the link if you will be traveling soon this will be so helpful!!


Welcome to Mom's Minivan.com ! Road Trip Fun! Car Games! Travel Games & Road TripTips for the family! Planning a road trip? Traveling with kids? Need some games to play in the car? Ideas to keep kids busy in the car? Here's a part of your travel planning that you can't leave without! MomsMinivan.com has over 101 ideas for fun things for kids to do in the car, kids travel games, printable car games and activities, and road-trip tips. They are organized by age group, so have a look around - there's something for everyone!

Do I tell my teen age daughter what a good job she is doing? Do I find every opportunity to catch those right choices? Not nearly enough so, just the other day I decided to tell my daughter what a hard worker she was and such an eager person to learn about everything and anything. I am so proud of you I said!! She told me thank you sometimes that is all I need to here, with a big smile. So my goals is to make sure that every day I hand her lots of positive words for it is from those words people are given a boost to keep running. When one is running a race do we not cheer them on, you can do it, you’re doing great, keep going!! From this day forth I pledge to be my family’s cheerleader as we travel this road we are living…..



Soon after I wrote this a FB friend shared this video Facing the Giants……..awesome!! Lets cheer our family's on like that....





And don't forget God too is cheering you on.....Yes life is tough but God is right by your side and with Him you can make it!!

When you see a person without a smile, give them yours. ~Zig Ziglar

I have learned that when you want to get something done and keep it that way you must form a habit which takes several days before it ever really becomes a habit. So many different goals to set. So hard to get there.....Here is a great motivator that I am using that a friend shared with me. It is called habbitforge...

It takes 21 days to form a habit.

Psalm 46

Yesterday We took my 15 year old to GI Dr. To discuss my sons possibilities of having celiac disease, "We won't know for sure, he says without the biopsy " Since my son has 3 other autoimmune diseases he has a even greater likelihood. So both my 2 year old (you can learn about 2yr olds appointment in earlier post) and 15 year old are scheduled for a small intestinal biopsy in August.

Small intestinal biopsy

"Small intestinal biopsy is considered the most accurate test for celiac disease. Small intestinal biopsies can be obtained by performing an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). During an EGD, the doctor inserts a long, flexible viewing endoscope through the mouth and into the duodenum. A long, flexible biopsy instrument then can be passed through a small channel in the endoscope to obtain samples of the intestinal lining of the duodenum. Multiple samples usually are obtained to increase the accuracy of diagnosis. A pathologist then can examine the biopsies (under a microscope) for loss of villi and other characteristics of celiac disease such as increased numbers of lymphocytes.

Small intestinal biopsy does however, have some limitations. For example, acute viral gastroenteritis and allergy to cow's milk or soy protein can cause abnormal small intestinal biopsies that are indistinguishable from celiac disease. However, acute viral gastroenteritis is not easily confused with celiac disease because of the difference in the acuteness of symptoms. (Acute viral gastroenteritis has a sudden onset of symptoms and last only a few days.) It is however, easier to confuse cow's milk and soy protein allergies with celiac disease, but these allergic conditions are rare and primarily occur in young children. Despite these limitations, small intestinal biopsies are recommended even for individuals who have abnormal antibody tests for celiac disease. (See discussion that follows.)"

I have mixed feelings about the whole procedure the all natural side of me says don't get the biopsy and give the diet a try without the biopsy. Then we would never "Know" and would we really stick to such a strict diet without "knowing"? I don't know I go back and forth for so many reasons. The side that says yes do have the procedure done is obviously weighing in since appointment has been made. So many professionals are saying this is the way to go. And I do trust their doctor. I am putting this in the doctors hands and more importantly Gods hands.

Thanks for stopping by Simply Living rroadwetravel

This coming Thursday we have another GI appointment coming up, this time for my 15 yr old. We will also be making plans for my 2 yr old on the biopsy to find if he has celiac disease. One question that has been running through my head is do we really need to have it done? Can't we just cut out the gluten now and see what happens? At first suspicion of possible celiac disease why not cut out gluten? Cutting out gluten can give false reading's on test. So this is why I have not cut it out before. Now my question is now that I know he is at high risk should i go ahead with the biopsy or just cut out the gluten? The link below has help me with some of my question though I still plan to have questions ready for doctor on Thursday. Thanks for stopping by Simply Living, rroadwetravel ....

Confirming a Diagnosis of Celiac Disease

As a celiac, I often encounter people who have read or heard of celiac disease, cut out gluten and felt better. Then they have diagnosed themselves as celiacs. My understanding is that anyone who thinks they are celiac should NOT go on a gluten free diet, since it interferes with correct diagnosis. Could you comment on this trend?
Kathleen in Ottawa

Dr. Crowe responds: Monica, you ask a very relevant question, since the trend of going gluten-free before celiac disease is confirmed is becoming more and more common. The simple answer to your question is no, there is no one test that can confirm celiac disease once you have been on a gluten-free diet for a long period of time. Kathleen in Ottawa (my hometown) aptly labeled this as a “trend,” and she is also correct in pointing out that eliminating gluten before a diagnosis is made can indeed interfere with making a proper diagnosis of celiac disease.

Going on a gluten-free diet for many months, and particularly for a year or more, can lead to the most commonly used diagnostic tests for celiac disease to no longer being helpful. Even intestinal biopsies can go back to a normal or near-normal appearance if you have been gluten-free for a long time. Without an intestinal biopsy that shows the abnormalities of celiac disease, you cannot be diagnosed with celiac disease. (I know I have said this already but it is a key point to hammer home.)

Even if you feel better on a gluten-free diet, this does not mean you have celiac disease. One study showed that only 36 percent of patients who felt better on a gluten-free diet actually had celiac disease. Often, feeling better without gluten in your diet is transient, and then you are left not knowing the true cause of your problem.

Another reason for not going on a gluten-free diet without a true diagnosis of celiac disease is that it may encourage family members to be screened for the disease, even though you may not really have it. As Lara Field, pediatric dietitian specializing in celiac disease at the University of Chicago (http://www.feedkids.com) points out, going gluten-free can also lead to certain nutritional deficiencies, so you should be certain of the diagnosis before committing you — and perhaps your entire family — to this diet. Studies in the United States, Canada and the U.K. also show that the cost of eating gluten-free products is two to three times greater than comparable gluten-containing products. So taking on this extra expense without being certain such treatment is necessary may not be a wise financial decision.

Of course, if a diagnosis of celiac disease is confirmed, treatment with a gluten-free diet is mandatory. In that case, I encourage working with a knowledgeable dietitian/nutritionist to help you in your quest to eat a balanced and nutritious gluten-free diet.

I started to thinking about going a different direction with this blog. At one point I wanted to give healthful advice. I look back on some of my post and find that I don't even always take my own advice. I have changed the title from Simply Healthful Steps to Simply Living rroadwetravel. Life can be hard at times and unexpected turns come about. You come to a stop sign and have to go either left or right. Storm come where you find you have no choice but slow down or maybe even pull over and sit for a while then gather up enough courage to get back on the road once the storm calms. Here I want to take you along on our journey in hopes that I may be encouragement to you as you continue in your journey. May we see the poem of our life through the ups and the downs, the joys and the sorrows.

"We are notes of a song of a cores of faith..."

This is a beautiful song may we be encouraged to sing with our days.....

Poem of Your Life

We may be on the road to a G-Free Diet. I have 2 children at risk of having celiac disease, my 2 yr olds lab results shows a higher risk than his brother. Tomorrow morning I take my 2 yr old to the GI doctor. I am so glad my husband a while back got a book "The G-Free Diet" by Elizabeth Hasselbeck I just recently re read it. I am sure it will be a book I go back to often as it is very helpful!! Mondays Mentions The G-Free Diet: Elizabeth Hasselbeck

Psalm 24:1-10

Psalm 138

The Big question right now is, does my 2yr old have celiac disease? He has T1 D and this has been my question for quit some time. First lab results did not show the possibilities. Just a few months ago when my DS went to endo appointment the doc said she wanted to do a newer and better test to see if there were chances he had celiac. Blood work does not diagnose just helps with on seeing the chances. Lab results came back and shows him to be at high risk. So he has an appointment to see a GI doctor.

My sons symptoms have been having lots of BM's some pasty or runny. Very strong odor some yellowish color some green and or dark. He has sick bouts wear he is very irritable and has fatigue. During this time he has little to no BM's and acts like he has discomfort and says his tummy hurts. As I right he is sleeping and has not felt well on and off. Also during this time he usually does not know what he wants to eat. Everything does not sound good to him. I am anxious to see if it is celiac that is causing all of this.

Some of you maybe asking, what is celiac disease?

Celiac disease is an inherited, autoimmune disease in which the lining of the small intestine is damaged from eating gluten and other proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats.
https://health.google.com/health/ref/Celiac+disease+-+sprue