Wednesday, March 23, 2011

No guaranty on a baby

So the other day my mom told me that I can only have a second baby if I can guaranty the baby would be normal. I know she is joking. She can't wait for me to have another baby but at the same time I can hear the stress that having a wheat-free grandchild has been for both of my parents. On more than one occasion my dad has said that he wishes he could take Audrey out for chicken nuggets and French fries.

I do wonder about the next baby. Will all of my children have a wheat allergy? What was the likelihood that my first child would have DH's allergy? Even if all my future children are "normal," can you have a split house? Everyone but Audrey eating pizza; I don't think that would work. Honestly, I'm beginning to think that I need to think about being wheat-free for the rest of my life. In order for Audrey to be normal being wheat-free needs to be our normal.

DH's parents were also telling us to stop having children. But they were saying that in terms of looks. According to them, Audrey is so cute that any other kids/daughters would not be as cute. Not sure what to say about that one. Maybe Audrey will be the homely one. Maybe my other children won't be as cute.

No baby comes with a guaranty so God willing we'll roll the dice and have another child within the few years. Will the child be 'normal'? Will he/she be as cute? Will we be able to handle more than one child? So many unknowns but then that is what makes life worth living. If I knew all of the answers then there would be no point to living. We must live and learn.

3 comments:

  1. I know where you're coming from but I think you cannot let this stress you out!.. I Know you don't want to see her in pain and that you crave some foods that she cannot have, but let me just tell you.. It could be worse!!! She could've been like those people that cannot even breath we they get near peanuts.. I guess it's a matter of time to learn how to deal with it.. Remember that vegan people raise vegan children and that's normal to them..
    At the end of the day what the heck is normal???

    ReplyDelete
  2. There are a few of the celiac doctors that say that wheat is bad for everyone, our body just doesn't have the ability to break it down right. I do think that those doctors are the ones who have gone gluten-free. To the doctors that haven't gone wheat free, it is just too hard and so they don't want to admit it.

    I can't imagine anything sadder than Audrey watching her grandparents take a little brother or sister to McDs when she hasn't gotten to go do that. I am not saying that your parents would do that but as an oldest sibling who almost disappeared after younger twin sisters were born I just am really sensitive.

    And I can almost promise that any future children will have completely different problems because wheat-free won't be a problem anymore for you. My daughter had so many ear infections that she got tubes. Diagnosing those was easy for me. My son never had a single one, he got strep.

    ReplyDelete
  3. So true, I know every child is different. "Normal" is so relative. When did McD's become the normal instead of the special treat?
    I know that if being wheat-free is just life then it will be normal for Audrey. Ever since we found Udi's bread, bagels, and muffins, my craving for bread is all but gone. My parents love the wheat-free stuff we buy. My dad's complaint is that it cost so much but otherwise they love it. The problems come in the going out or budgeting for food area. Being gluten/wheat-free just cost more but being creative and cooking at home help out with the cost.
    I think for my parents is the whole idea of if Audrey gets wheat she'll be in pain. That is stressful to them. I am so glad that it's not a deadly allergy. Ezcema and gas aren't fun but I can handle that. Running to the ER, that would be awful.

    ReplyDelete