<<Disclaimer:  Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
 
Our daughter Molly, now 6-1/2 years old, was also diagnosed at 16 months.  At
the time they didn't have the very specialized blood tests now available, so
she had the biopsy performed.  Her pediatrician, after about 8 weeks of not
being able to diagnose her, finally sent us to a pediatric gastroenterologist
who could tell she had Celiac Disease just by looking at her and from hearing
us describe her symptoms.  But because she was so ill, he did perform the
biopsy pretty quickly.  Now, keep in mind that we live in Los Angeles (a
major city) and the biopsy was performed at an excellent hospital (Cedars
Sinai Medical Center) so despite the fact that the biopsy was emotionally
traumatic (probably more for us than Molly) we felt like we were in the hands
of top people in their field (from the pediatric anesthesiologist to the
pediatric gastroenterologist whose job it was to work in conjunction with her
specialist in performing the actual procedure).  The bottom line is that when
we were told that her villi was completely flattened we were relieved to find
out that she did indeed have Celiac Disease and we could make her well by
controlling her diet...so it was very worthwhile having the biopsy...because
you have a definitive answer.  At 6-1/2 she has absolutely no memory of being
in the hospital (I just asked her!).  Her diet is so easy that I often wonder
why people on this list have problems with it.  Infact, we just came back
from a vacation in Carmel (in Northern California) and apart from taking a
couple of homemade gluten free Cinnamon rolls and a box of cereal we were
absolutely fine and ate out all the time.  Now the other side of it is that
I'm a gourmet cook and I bake all of the time, so even if I haven't made
something myself, I often know what ingredients are used in a recipe.  As for
"palatable" gluten free recipes....I have tons.  You should buy Bette
Hagman's Gluten Free Gourmet Cookbooks for starters.  I make everything from
Pizza to Berry Cobbler to Macaroni & Cheese.  It also helps that I have a
child with a very sophisticated palette!  If she could eat steamed clams,
spinach with garlic & olive oil, caviar, veal picatta (which I make with rice
flour, by the way!) and creme caramel and be able to take sushi in her lunch
box to school every day she would be very happy!    If you have any specific
questions, feel free to E-Mail me directly on AOL - SCOUT338.  Good luck!
 Jane Oswaks (...and Molly!)