my blog, that is. Not our family.
Here is the new home of the Days' Dewings.
See ya all there!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
The real me
I got dressed in the semi-darkness this morning. I reached for what I thought was my tan button down shirt and proceeded to get dressed. I went along my merry way, coming down stairs and getting children dressed. At some point, I glanced at the cuff of my shirt and noticed a grease stain. "That's weird," I said to myself. "My lavender shirt has the same stain. I didn't know this one did too." But I went on with getting breakfast finished and the thought went out of my head.
It was while I was sitting down at breakfast, a good..I don't know... hour after getting dressed, that I noticed something. I was talking to Malachi, who sits right next to me at the table, when my brain finally registered what I was seeing. I was wearing my lavender shirt. The one with the grease stain on the cuff. Yeah, that one. It completely didn't go with my jumper. Not even close. It fact, it looked really, really bad.
I'm wondering how I could have gone for at least an hour in a good amount of light and not noticed what I was wearing. I could defiantly see my arms, but some how it still alluded my brain. So after breakfast, I went back upstairs and changed my shirt. I looks much better now.
So why did I post such a silly thing for all to read who want to? Well, I suppose it's because I want people to see and know that I'm real. I do stupid things (and trust me, I have a lot more that were far stupider than this!). I do silly things. I have moments where all you can do is roll your eyes and shake your head from side to side ( like the other day, when I know what that gluten poison stuff is going to do to me, but I give in anyway and eat the Oreo, the yogurt covered pretzel and the chocolate coated graham cracker. All I had was 1 each, yet I had a horrible head ache the next day, was very lethargic and quite tired. Yeah, I know. Dumb.).
*sigh* Yep, I real folks. Horribly, sinfully real. Oreos' and all.
It was while I was sitting down at breakfast, a good..I don't know... hour after getting dressed, that I noticed something. I was talking to Malachi, who sits right next to me at the table, when my brain finally registered what I was seeing. I was wearing my lavender shirt. The one with the grease stain on the cuff. Yeah, that one. It completely didn't go with my jumper. Not even close. It fact, it looked really, really bad.
I'm wondering how I could have gone for at least an hour in a good amount of light and not noticed what I was wearing. I could defiantly see my arms, but some how it still alluded my brain. So after breakfast, I went back upstairs and changed my shirt. I looks much better now.
So why did I post such a silly thing for all to read who want to? Well, I suppose it's because I want people to see and know that I'm real. I do stupid things (and trust me, I have a lot more that were far stupider than this!). I do silly things. I have moments where all you can do is roll your eyes and shake your head from side to side ( like the other day, when I know what that gluten poison stuff is going to do to me, but I give in anyway and eat the Oreo, the yogurt covered pretzel and the chocolate coated graham cracker. All I had was 1 each, yet I had a horrible head ache the next day, was very lethargic and quite tired. Yeah, I know. Dumb.).
*sigh* Yep, I real folks. Horribly, sinfully real. Oreos' and all.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
A dimes worth of something
"I payed a dime for a package of seeds;
The clerk tossed them out with a flip.
'We have them assorted to every man's needs.'
He said with a smile on his lip.
'Pansies, poppies, asters, peas,
Ten cents a package, now pick as you please.'
Now seeds are just dimes to a man in a store,
And dimes are the things he needs,
And I've been to buy them in stores before
And thought them merely as seeds,
But it flashed through my mind as I took them this time,
'You've purchased a miracle here for a dime.'
You've a dimes worth of power, which no man can create.
You've a dimes worth of life in your hands.
You've a dimes worth of mystery, destiny, fate,
Which the wisest cannot understand.
In this bright little package - now isn't that odd?
You've a dimes worth of something known only to God."
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Dear Jennifer,
I heard, through the grape vine, that you are in the process of trying to lose weight. Good for you! I know from personal experience that it is hard and I thought perhaps you are having some difficulty. I thought I would take the time and send you and little note, encouraging you to keep it up and to keep vigil of the things you do and eat.
Here are a few of my thoughts (the order is of no importance):
1. Exercise is not of the devil. Don't avoid it like the plague. Make it a point to do some kind of exercise every day. It will make a difference.
2. Don't think, that because the butter cream frosting is made with maple syrup or honey, that it's better for you than if it was made with powdered sugar. It does not mean that you can take a swipe with your finger every time you walk by. Or that you can lick the bowl clean. It's a lie.
3. I know you have switched over to eating gluten-free, naturally sweetened food. That's a great idea, esp. since you are defiantly seeing a difference. However, you should stop playing with different recipes. If you don't have the "sweets" and such around, the temptation to eat them will disappear.
4. I know you dislike throwing away food ~ as do I. But eating the last 2 pieces of cake because no one else likes it, is not a good reason at all, however noble it might sound.
5. Don't get discouraged! I know how frustrating it can be when you lose the same 2 pounds three times! But if you follow the advice above, you will get past this.
Please don't take offense and think that I'm meddling. I really do care about where you are and how you're dewing doing.
Here are a few of my thoughts (the order is of no importance):
1. Exercise is not of the devil. Don't avoid it like the plague. Make it a point to do some kind of exercise every day. It will make a difference.
2. Don't think, that because the butter cream frosting is made with maple syrup or honey, that it's better for you than if it was made with powdered sugar. It does not mean that you can take a swipe with your finger every time you walk by. Or that you can lick the bowl clean. It's a lie.
3. I know you have switched over to eating gluten-free, naturally sweetened food. That's a great idea, esp. since you are defiantly seeing a difference. However, you should stop playing with different recipes. If you don't have the "sweets" and such around, the temptation to eat them will disappear.
4. I know you dislike throwing away food ~ as do I. But eating the last 2 pieces of cake because no one else likes it, is not a good reason at all, however noble it might sound.
5. Don't get discouraged! I know how frustrating it can be when you lose the same 2 pounds three times! But if you follow the advice above, you will get past this.
Please don't take offense and think that I'm meddling. I really do care about where you are and how you're dewing doing.
Love,
Jennifer
Jennifer
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Children
* I felt it necessary, due to the nature of this post, to put a disclaimer at the beginning. I am in no way judging someone else for their different beliefs or thoughts on this matter. I am simply stating my opinions and how I view things. And perhaps my words will help someone think on these things, where not much thought has been put. *
I have been thinking about children lately. Not just my own, but children in general. Children are an obvious need in a society, something that many countries in Europe and in Asia are "discovering". When you don't repopulate yourself, you die out. But is that all children are good for? To keep a society going?
If asked, I think most people would say that the like/love children. Based on their actions, one would have to question that.
Lets say you have a young couple who just got married. It's understood, even if it's not talked about, that they will "wait" for an allotted amount of time (usually 2 years) to have children. The wife is on birth control and she is taught that she must take that faithfully. Never mind that no one ever told her, or her husband, that the birth control pill is, at least a percentage of the time, an abortive substance. And that any form of birth control that alters that hormones in ones body, and changes that way our body works, can have life time effects. For how could it not? If you took a medicine that changed that way your heart beat, would you be surprised that it effected you? But so many people are surprised to find out that by taking these synthetic hormones, a woman's body is changed and altered.
So our couple waits for a few years and then announces that they are expecting their first child. Everyone is excited and happy for our couple. A few years later, they add another child to their family. Again, everyone is excited and happy for them. This is the typical family of 4 in America. (And yes, 4 is the average number of a family in our country. Just go into any restaurant and see how many tables are set up for 4 people.) The husband and wife both like children and have always wanted them. And now, after 2 children, they are done. How many times have you heard that comment? And does that comment really portray a love for children? I have heard so many different reason for a couple being "done" having children: "I've never wanted more than 2", "This is all we can afford", "My children are getting (or are in) to the stage where they can do things for themselves and I like it".... and so on and so on. I'm not going to say that these are bad things to think or say, but upon reading them, what kind-of attitude do you get from them? Is that an attitude that we, as Christians, should have?
If our couple were indeed to "stop" at 2 children, no one would say anything. It would be accepted that they wouldn't have anymore children. However, lets say that they wanted more children and so they added a 3rd child to their family. People would still be happy for them and they would still find room at restaurants to sit down without having to push tables together. Now is the time some people would beginning to ask, "You're done, right?". To which our couple reply's...how?
If our couple has a 4th child, they will get the raised eyebrows and the question "are they all yours?"(If they continue to have children, they will hear this question for the next 20 years!) They will most likely hear the "you are not being responsible" talk from their parents and the "your breeding like rabbits!" comment from their friends. Not always, but these are usually things people in our society say. You know, the same people who stated above that they like/love children, but when someone has many children, that like/love for children seems to be forgotten.
As Christians, we should care what God has to say about things. So what does the Lord say about children? In Psalm 127, it states that " Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. " (I am not trying to promote the "quiver full" mentality with this one. Most people forget my "quiver full" of children is not the same number as yours. The Duggar family obviously has a quiver full of at least 19 children, while a couple I know has a quiver full of 0 children.)
In the Mosaic law, it states that if a pregnant woman is hurt by another person and the baby is born early, but is not harmed, than the woman's husband should be paid a certain amount. But if the baby should die, than the person who first harmed the pregnant woman should be stoned to death. (It tells you a lot about what He think about abortion, doesn't it? But that's another post.).
Again we find in Psalm 128, "Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel." (It was a sign of wealth for a man to have many olive plants and a fruitful vineyard. The Lord is clear here that what a man is blessed with from Him is not material wealth, but a wealth of a heritage with children.)
Most people already know how Jesus felt about children, when He rebuked his disciples for trying to "shoo" the children away form Him. So does our society, with it's "2 children is enough" mentality, really portray a love for children? Some of the most harshest criticisms that large families get, come for the Church itself.
If you thought that a million dollars was a blessing from the Lord, would you say "no thank you" if He came back and offered you another million after already giving you 2 million? I don't know anyone who would do this! Yet this is what people do with children. God created this world just by speaking. He didn't lift a finger, He didn't have to move anything. He just spoke. Don't you think He's also capable of providing for you, in every way (financially, emotionally, mentally, physically), if He chooses to bless you with another child?
Where do you stand? Do you cherish children the way the Lord does? Do you view them as blessings given to you from the Lord? Or do you agree with the prevailing though in our society: that children are necessary for re-population, but nothing more. They are cute in their little Easter dresses and suites, but we must protect our planet and not introduce anymore "carbon footprints" then we have to. As I look at Damaris, I wonder how many children, like her, never get to be because they would have been born past the 2 child mark. How many children in our recent history, never got a chance at life.
It's hard. I takes much sacrifice to be a parent, whether it's a parent to 1 or 19. And it takes faith to trust the only One who really has the control anyway. And yes, this is faith that at 2 am in the morning, when you've been up for too long with a sick child, you question. But when you look into one of these precious, beautiful faces (faces, that if left to popular thinking, would never be here, smiling at you), God's way makes sense.
I have been thinking about children lately. Not just my own, but children in general. Children are an obvious need in a society, something that many countries in Europe and in Asia are "discovering". When you don't repopulate yourself, you die out. But is that all children are good for? To keep a society going?
If asked, I think most people would say that the like/love children. Based on their actions, one would have to question that.
Lets say you have a young couple who just got married. It's understood, even if it's not talked about, that they will "wait" for an allotted amount of time (usually 2 years) to have children. The wife is on birth control and she is taught that she must take that faithfully. Never mind that no one ever told her, or her husband, that the birth control pill is, at least a percentage of the time, an abortive substance. And that any form of birth control that alters that hormones in ones body, and changes that way our body works, can have life time effects. For how could it not? If you took a medicine that changed that way your heart beat, would you be surprised that it effected you? But so many people are surprised to find out that by taking these synthetic hormones, a woman's body is changed and altered.
So our couple waits for a few years and then announces that they are expecting their first child. Everyone is excited and happy for our couple. A few years later, they add another child to their family. Again, everyone is excited and happy for them. This is the typical family of 4 in America. (And yes, 4 is the average number of a family in our country. Just go into any restaurant and see how many tables are set up for 4 people.) The husband and wife both like children and have always wanted them. And now, after 2 children, they are done. How many times have you heard that comment? And does that comment really portray a love for children? I have heard so many different reason for a couple being "done" having children: "I've never wanted more than 2", "This is all we can afford", "My children are getting (or are in) to the stage where they can do things for themselves and I like it".... and so on and so on. I'm not going to say that these are bad things to think or say, but upon reading them, what kind-of attitude do you get from them? Is that an attitude that we, as Christians, should have?
If our couple were indeed to "stop" at 2 children, no one would say anything. It would be accepted that they wouldn't have anymore children. However, lets say that they wanted more children and so they added a 3rd child to their family. People would still be happy for them and they would still find room at restaurants to sit down without having to push tables together. Now is the time some people would beginning to ask, "You're done, right?". To which our couple reply's...how?
If our couple has a 4th child, they will get the raised eyebrows and the question "are they all yours?"(If they continue to have children, they will hear this question for the next 20 years!) They will most likely hear the "you are not being responsible" talk from their parents and the "your breeding like rabbits!" comment from their friends. Not always, but these are usually things people in our society say. You know, the same people who stated above that they like/love children, but when someone has many children, that like/love for children seems to be forgotten.
As Christians, we should care what God has to say about things. So what does the Lord say about children? In Psalm 127, it states that " Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. " (I am not trying to promote the "quiver full" mentality with this one. Most people forget my "quiver full" of children is not the same number as yours. The Duggar family obviously has a quiver full of at least 19 children, while a couple I know has a quiver full of 0 children.)
In the Mosaic law, it states that if a pregnant woman is hurt by another person and the baby is born early, but is not harmed, than the woman's husband should be paid a certain amount. But if the baby should die, than the person who first harmed the pregnant woman should be stoned to death. (It tells you a lot about what He think about abortion, doesn't it? But that's another post.).
Again we find in Psalm 128, "Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel." (It was a sign of wealth for a man to have many olive plants and a fruitful vineyard. The Lord is clear here that what a man is blessed with from Him is not material wealth, but a wealth of a heritage with children.)
Most people already know how Jesus felt about children, when He rebuked his disciples for trying to "shoo" the children away form Him. So does our society, with it's "2 children is enough" mentality, really portray a love for children? Some of the most harshest criticisms that large families get, come for the Church itself.
If you thought that a million dollars was a blessing from the Lord, would you say "no thank you" if He came back and offered you another million after already giving you 2 million? I don't know anyone who would do this! Yet this is what people do with children. God created this world just by speaking. He didn't lift a finger, He didn't have to move anything. He just spoke. Don't you think He's also capable of providing for you, in every way (financially, emotionally, mentally, physically), if He chooses to bless you with another child?
Where do you stand? Do you cherish children the way the Lord does? Do you view them as blessings given to you from the Lord? Or do you agree with the prevailing though in our society: that children are necessary for re-population, but nothing more. They are cute in their little Easter dresses and suites, but we must protect our planet and not introduce anymore "carbon footprints" then we have to. As I look at Damaris, I wonder how many children, like her, never get to be because they would have been born past the 2 child mark. How many children in our recent history, never got a chance at life.
It's hard. I takes much sacrifice to be a parent, whether it's a parent to 1 or 19. And it takes faith to trust the only One who really has the control anyway. And yes, this is faith that at 2 am in the morning, when you've been up for too long with a sick child, you question. But when you look into one of these precious, beautiful faces (faces, that if left to popular thinking, would never be here, smiling at you), God's way makes sense.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
The post I've been trying to write all week. Seriously.
It all started with an innocent fad diet. And then we made a discovery.
Adam got a diet from work and we were going to try it. I'm sure you've heard of this kind: you eat vegetable soup and fruit the 1st day. The second day, you eat the vegetable soup and veggies. The 3rd day you eat the vegetable soup with veggie and fruit.... You get the idea. The diet boasts that if you stick with it and you don't cheat, you will lose 10 -17 pounds. The night before we were going to start it, Adam was looking up on-line about the diet, just to see what people had to say about it (isn't it amazing the things you can look up and find, just at the tips of your fingers?).
One link led to another and Adam came across information about Leaky Gut Syndrome. (It sure has an awful name, doesn't it?) Out of the 15 symptoms, I have 11 of them. And I have had them for at least 15 years. We did the diet for the 1st day and eating only fruit, made everyone...lets just say we all used the bathroom more often that day. That was last Saturday, February 20. We were talking about this Leaky Gut condition and we're continuing to research things about it. I have been told, by medical doctors, that I am hypoglycemic and to control my blood sugars, I need to eat a protein dense diet. This diet that we were on doesn't include any protein until day 5 and I didn't think I could last that long without it. So on Sunday, we decided to "cheat" a bit and we had eggs for breakfast.
By Sunday night, we were off the diet. However, we came to the conclusion, based on the research we had done, that keeping gluten and processed sugar out of our diet would be a good thing. And perhaps it would help, if I do indeed have Leaky Gut Syndrome.
We didn't eat any gluten or processed sugar (meaning white and brown sugar) for the whole weekend. Then on Monday, February 22, Maacah had a doctor's appointment and we went out to eat at the Chinese buffet restaurant. Well, before we even left the building, both Maacah and I had a headache and Grace complained of a stomach ache (although I suspect her tummy ache was due to overeating). With hypoglycemia, I have to eat at regular times or I get a headache. When we ate lunch, we were done by 12:20 or so, so we ate at a good time. I had a good breakfast of eggs and veggies, so I concluded that the headaches were possibly due to the gluten and/or sugars found in sauces and various dishes.
The headache was gone by Tuesday morning and I felt wonderful for the remainder of the week. Tuesday found me cleaning out our pantry, getting ride of everything that had an ingredient of wheat and/or sugar. We bought gluten free baking ingredients; such as tapioca starch, potato starch, sorghum flour, oat flour, brown rice (which we grind into flour), zanthan gum, and Agave Nectar (this is a natural sweeter). I have done lots of baking this week, having fun experimenting with the non-gluten flours and natural sweeteners (I have used honey and real maple syrup*, along with the Agave Nectar).
I had energy this week and I really felt good. Better than I have in a long time, longer than I can remember. Adam said he felt good this week as well, except he's been tired. But his schedule has changed and he has one less day off than he did before. He also said that when he's gotten tired in the past few months, he has gotten a headache as well. That's not normal for him. And all his life, he has had to have something to drink when he eats anything with flour in it; from a muffin to a sand which. If he doesn't have something to drink, or there's not a lot of fat in the dough (such as a danish or croissant), he can't swallow. It feels like the food gets stuck in his throat. Upon talking with a friend today who has a known allergy to the germ and bran from wheat, he learned that his not being able to swallow could be a reaction to wheat.
I was excited to be feeling better this week. Until today. Every other Saturday, we have the Lords' Supper and a fellowship meal at church. That was last night. I ate about a cup of pasta (maybe 1 1/2 cups) and 2 slices of a pinwheel (where a pickle with meat and cream cheese is wrapped in a tortilla, then sliced). How I wish I had never eaten those things! It doesn't sound like a lot, because it's not. But if you stop ingesting something that is irritating your system for a period of time, then reintroduce just a small portion of it, the reaction in your body is magnified. While you are daily eating that irritant, your body is accustomed to the irritation and the reaction that happens becomes normal. When you remove that irritant from your diet, when your body comes into contact with it again, the reaction is far greater than when you stopped.
This morning, Adam, Maacah and myself woke up with headaches, most of us were quite lethargic and quite tired. All are symptoms of a reaction to gluten. So, that pretty much confirms it in my mind. There are testing we could have, but we're not going to to them. We don't think they are necessary. All we are doing right now is changing our diet and I'm taking a probiotic to help replace the good flora that should be in your system. Even if we are not having a reaction to gluten and/or processed sugar, making these changes are not going to harm us, they will be for our good. Eating out could be problematic, but for a family of our size, the bill is more problematic then what's on the menu. Besides, I live with the best chef in the area, so what do I need a restaurant for! (Not that I'm biased or anything.) And, I'm surprised to see, Grace's eczema is starting to look better. There is belief that eczema is connected to gluten. If that's true, I hope we see it get much better, if not totally go away, for she has it bad on her legs.
In conclusion, we have officially become a gluten free, processed sugar free home (I say processed sugar free because we still use honey, maple syrup, and agave nectar as sweeteners. We are not sugar free.). I sincerely never thought I would say those words, but it's true. After 15 years of not feeling well and suffering from so many different things, if eating no gluten and no processed sugar helps me to get my health back, then so be it. Esp. since I can see that my eldest daughter is showing the same symptoms that I have. I don't want that suffering for her. My suspicion is that the gluten is the culprit, but the processed sugars aren't good for us anyway.
* Real maple syrup is expensive, but we make our own. Each March, we collect the sap from the Sugar Maples in Adams' parents yard (about 12 of them) and we boil it down to syrup. Last year was a low year and we only got about 4-5 gallons of it. But we only tapped 7 trees, I think. This year I think we'll tap more and hopefully this year will be better. Esp. now that I'm using it way more than just on pancakes and waffles.
Adam got a diet from work and we were going to try it. I'm sure you've heard of this kind: you eat vegetable soup and fruit the 1st day. The second day, you eat the vegetable soup and veggies. The 3rd day you eat the vegetable soup with veggie and fruit.... You get the idea. The diet boasts that if you stick with it and you don't cheat, you will lose 10 -17 pounds. The night before we were going to start it, Adam was looking up on-line about the diet, just to see what people had to say about it (isn't it amazing the things you can look up and find, just at the tips of your fingers?).
One link led to another and Adam came across information about Leaky Gut Syndrome. (It sure has an awful name, doesn't it?) Out of the 15 symptoms, I have 11 of them. And I have had them for at least 15 years. We did the diet for the 1st day and eating only fruit, made everyone...lets just say we all used the bathroom more often that day. That was last Saturday, February 20. We were talking about this Leaky Gut condition and we're continuing to research things about it. I have been told, by medical doctors, that I am hypoglycemic and to control my blood sugars, I need to eat a protein dense diet. This diet that we were on doesn't include any protein until day 5 and I didn't think I could last that long without it. So on Sunday, we decided to "cheat" a bit and we had eggs for breakfast.
By Sunday night, we were off the diet. However, we came to the conclusion, based on the research we had done, that keeping gluten and processed sugar out of our diet would be a good thing. And perhaps it would help, if I do indeed have Leaky Gut Syndrome.
We didn't eat any gluten or processed sugar (meaning white and brown sugar) for the whole weekend. Then on Monday, February 22, Maacah had a doctor's appointment and we went out to eat at the Chinese buffet restaurant. Well, before we even left the building, both Maacah and I had a headache and Grace complained of a stomach ache (although I suspect her tummy ache was due to overeating). With hypoglycemia, I have to eat at regular times or I get a headache. When we ate lunch, we were done by 12:20 or so, so we ate at a good time. I had a good breakfast of eggs and veggies, so I concluded that the headaches were possibly due to the gluten and/or sugars found in sauces and various dishes.
The headache was gone by Tuesday morning and I felt wonderful for the remainder of the week. Tuesday found me cleaning out our pantry, getting ride of everything that had an ingredient of wheat and/or sugar. We bought gluten free baking ingredients; such as tapioca starch, potato starch, sorghum flour, oat flour, brown rice (which we grind into flour), zanthan gum, and Agave Nectar (this is a natural sweeter). I have done lots of baking this week, having fun experimenting with the non-gluten flours and natural sweeteners (I have used honey and real maple syrup*, along with the Agave Nectar).
I had energy this week and I really felt good. Better than I have in a long time, longer than I can remember. Adam said he felt good this week as well, except he's been tired. But his schedule has changed and he has one less day off than he did before. He also said that when he's gotten tired in the past few months, he has gotten a headache as well. That's not normal for him. And all his life, he has had to have something to drink when he eats anything with flour in it; from a muffin to a sand which. If he doesn't have something to drink, or there's not a lot of fat in the dough (such as a danish or croissant), he can't swallow. It feels like the food gets stuck in his throat. Upon talking with a friend today who has a known allergy to the germ and bran from wheat, he learned that his not being able to swallow could be a reaction to wheat.
I was excited to be feeling better this week. Until today. Every other Saturday, we have the Lords' Supper and a fellowship meal at church. That was last night. I ate about a cup of pasta (maybe 1 1/2 cups) and 2 slices of a pinwheel (where a pickle with meat and cream cheese is wrapped in a tortilla, then sliced). How I wish I had never eaten those things! It doesn't sound like a lot, because it's not. But if you stop ingesting something that is irritating your system for a period of time, then reintroduce just a small portion of it, the reaction in your body is magnified. While you are daily eating that irritant, your body is accustomed to the irritation and the reaction that happens becomes normal. When you remove that irritant from your diet, when your body comes into contact with it again, the reaction is far greater than when you stopped.
This morning, Adam, Maacah and myself woke up with headaches, most of us were quite lethargic and quite tired. All are symptoms of a reaction to gluten. So, that pretty much confirms it in my mind. There are testing we could have, but we're not going to to them. We don't think they are necessary. All we are doing right now is changing our diet and I'm taking a probiotic to help replace the good flora that should be in your system. Even if we are not having a reaction to gluten and/or processed sugar, making these changes are not going to harm us, they will be for our good. Eating out could be problematic, but for a family of our size, the bill is more problematic then what's on the menu. Besides, I live with the best chef in the area, so what do I need a restaurant for! (Not that I'm biased or anything.) And, I'm surprised to see, Grace's eczema is starting to look better. There is belief that eczema is connected to gluten. If that's true, I hope we see it get much better, if not totally go away, for she has it bad on her legs.
In conclusion, we have officially become a gluten free, processed sugar free home (I say processed sugar free because we still use honey, maple syrup, and agave nectar as sweeteners. We are not sugar free.). I sincerely never thought I would say those words, but it's true. After 15 years of not feeling well and suffering from so many different things, if eating no gluten and no processed sugar helps me to get my health back, then so be it. Esp. since I can see that my eldest daughter is showing the same symptoms that I have. I don't want that suffering for her. My suspicion is that the gluten is the culprit, but the processed sugars aren't good for us anyway.
* Real maple syrup is expensive, but we make our own. Each March, we collect the sap from the Sugar Maples in Adams' parents yard (about 12 of them) and we boil it down to syrup. Last year was a low year and we only got about 4-5 gallons of it. But we only tapped 7 trees, I think. This year I think we'll tap more and hopefully this year will be better. Esp. now that I'm using it way more than just on pancakes and waffles.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
A short, belated, weigh in
My stats:
February 27, 2010
270.2 lbs
short term goal: lose 10 lbs.
Success: 2 lbs 2 oz *
Next "weigh in": March 8, 2010
* If any of you are paying attention, you'd notice that at my last "weigh in" I weighed 268. Which, in turn, would make a loss of 2 lbs impossible with my current weight. However, enough time has elapsed for me to gain 4 lbs, then lose 2 of those. Hence, I've lost 2 lbs and I'm still at my starting weight. *
This will be a short post since I'm working with Adam today on the walk- in cooler. We are almost finished and he told me that if we get it done in enough time before we go to church tonight, he would get down into the crawl space and install the dishwasher into the commercial kitchen. And I would really like that to happen. So I don't have time to sit here and type, type, type. But I do have things to say. Perhaps tomorrow, I'll have the time to sit here. We'll see.
Bye for now.
February 27, 2010
270.2 lbs
short term goal: lose 10 lbs.
Success: 2 lbs 2 oz *
Next "weigh in": March 8, 2010
* If any of you are paying attention, you'd notice that at my last "weigh in" I weighed 268. Which, in turn, would make a loss of 2 lbs impossible with my current weight. However, enough time has elapsed for me to gain 4 lbs, then lose 2 of those. Hence, I've lost 2 lbs and I'm still at my starting weight. *
This will be a short post since I'm working with Adam today on the walk- in cooler. We are almost finished and he told me that if we get it done in enough time before we go to church tonight, he would get down into the crawl space and install the dishwasher into the commercial kitchen. And I would really like that to happen. So I don't have time to sit here and type, type, type. But I do have things to say. Perhaps tomorrow, I'll have the time to sit here. We'll see.
Bye for now.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
The swimming pool
We went swimming yesterday in honor of Maacah's birthday. The children had such fun! But, of course, we forgot the camera. Boo!! Their cousin Hope came over to swim with us and to spend the night. Maacah's birthday part will be next Saturday (due to the grandparents not being here and others being sick) and Hope will be with her mother, so she will probably not be able to come to the party. We invited her last night to make up for that.
We then came home and had Maacah's birthday meal: BBQ ribs, twice baked potatoes, and cheesy broccoli. Apple crisp and Peanut Butter Cookie ice cream for dessert. It was a hit day for everyone!
I must add that Nathaniel dried to drown himself several time while we were at the pool. Well, maybe he didn't try to drown himself, but he had absolutely no fear of the water. None. Nada. He had a floaty suit on, so that did make him float. But unfortunately, it usually kept him on his tummy, not on his back. He jumped in at least twice with no one there to catch him and the floaty suit brought him back to the surface (and Adam or I was always near enough to get to him soon, he just wouldn't wait for us to get there!). I told a little bit of fear is a good thing. But he didn't seem to listen.
I love the water and it seems that that love has been passed down to my children. They all wanted to "swim" with me. Even Adam got in! I thought it was quite funny that yesterday was the 1st time ever for the children to see him in shorts. I teased him that it was the 1st time they had even seen his knees! He didn't think it was that funny. :0)
During the summer, I usually take the children to the lake during the day, since Adam doesn't really like to go. It's going to be very interesting this time with everyone to look after. If I can't work it out for someone to come with me, I think Damaris is going to be in the play pen quite a bit at the beach and I'm going to be in the water. Fishing children out! Oh boy!
We then came home and had Maacah's birthday meal: BBQ ribs, twice baked potatoes, and cheesy broccoli. Apple crisp and Peanut Butter Cookie ice cream for dessert. It was a hit day for everyone!
I must add that Nathaniel dried to drown himself several time while we were at the pool. Well, maybe he didn't try to drown himself, but he had absolutely no fear of the water. None. Nada. He had a floaty suit on, so that did make him float. But unfortunately, it usually kept him on his tummy, not on his back. He jumped in at least twice with no one there to catch him and the floaty suit brought him back to the surface (and Adam or I was always near enough to get to him soon, he just wouldn't wait for us to get there!). I told a little bit of fear is a good thing. But he didn't seem to listen.
I love the water and it seems that that love has been passed down to my children. They all wanted to "swim" with me. Even Adam got in! I thought it was quite funny that yesterday was the 1st time ever for the children to see him in shorts. I teased him that it was the 1st time they had even seen his knees! He didn't think it was that funny. :0)
During the summer, I usually take the children to the lake during the day, since Adam doesn't really like to go. It's going to be very interesting this time with everyone to look after. If I can't work it out for someone to come with me, I think Damaris is going to be in the play pen quite a bit at the beach and I'm going to be in the water. Fishing children out! Oh boy!
Friday, February 19, 2010
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MAACAH!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR MAACAH!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!
She's 9. How is she 9 already?
Maacah, 4 months
Maacah, 2 1/2 yrs
Maacah, 4 yrs
(back row) Me (7 1/2 mths pregnant with Malachi), my mother, my sister (5 mths pregnant with her 4th child)
(front row) Grace, 3 yrs., Isaac, 17 mths., my grandmother, Maacah, 5 yrs.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR MAACAH!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!
She's 9. How is she 9 already?
Maacah, 4 months
Maacah, 2 1/2 yrs
Maacah, 4 yrs
(back row) Me (7 1/2 mths pregnant with Malachi), my mother, my sister (5 mths pregnant with her 4th child)
(front row) Grace, 3 yrs., Isaac, 17 mths., my grandmother, Maacah, 5 yrs.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
My children's survey about me
This is a "survey" that I saw on someone elses blog and I thought it was cute. So I tailored it to suite us and asked our children the questions. Here are their answers, unchanged from their mouths (my commentary is in green):
1.What is something Mom always says to you?
Maacah: Don't do that!
Grace: No Highlights on the computer.
Isaac: Obey.
Malachi: Please stop.
2.What makes Mom happy?
Maacah: When I obey.
Grace: When I help her.
Isaac: Obeying
Malachi: When I'm quiet.
3. What makes Mom sad?
Maacah: When I disobey.
Grace: Not obeying.
Isaac: Disobey.
Malachi: When I don't be quiet. (HA!)
4. How does your Mom make you laugh?
Maacah: She says funny things.
Grace: By tickling me.
Isaac: Doing funny things.
Malachi: Asks me questions.
5. What was your Mom like as a child?
Maacah: I have no idea.
Grace: I don't know.
Isaac: Little.
Malachi: Just like Nathaniel.
6. How old is your Mom?
Maacah: 30
Grace: 30
Isaac: I don't know.
Malachi: 3.
7. How tall is your Mom?
Maacah: 5' 2”
Grace: 2 feet? I don't know.
Isaac Really tall. Taller than me.
Malachi: 5 inches. (Yep, that's me. The smallest Mom ever!)
8. What is Mom's favorite thing to do?
Maacah: Laundry. (? I'm not sure where she gets that from.)
Grace: Do puzzles.
Isaac: School.
Malachi: Not going into the kitchen.
9. What does your Mom do when you're not around?
Maacah: Sewing, on the computer, or going to the doctors. (The doctors?)
Grace: That's a hard question.
Isaac: Nothing. (I wish!)
Malachi: Do something.
10. If your Mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Maacah: Being a queen.
Grace: I don't know what that means.
Isaac: I don't know.
Malachi: Builds a house.
11. What is your Mom really good at?
Maacah: Sewing and laundry.
Grace: Being a Mom.
Isaac: Cooking.
Malachi: Cleaning.
12. What is your Mom not very good at?
Maacah: Working with wood.
Grace: Working. Daddy's good at working, but you're not.
Isaac: Working.
Malachi: I don't know.
(Hmm, is there a pattern here or is it just me?)
13. What does your Mom do for a job?
Maacah: Work with children.
Grace: Work at home.
Isaac: Stay home and watch the kids.
Malachi: Take care of me.
14.What is your Mom's favorite food?
Maacah: Chile Renos.
Grace: Grapefruit. (Huh?)
Isaac: Mushrooms.
Malachi: Eggs.
15. What makes you proud of your Mom?
Maacah: Her cooking.
Grace: That God gave you to be my Mom.
Isaac: She lets us play games.
Malachi: Talks about everything.
16. What is your Mom's favorite thing about being a Mom?
Maacah: Having children.
Grace: Taking are of us.
Isaac: Growing up.
Malachi: Taking care of me.
17. What do you and your Mom do together?
Maacah: Talk and sew.
Grace: Read a story.
Isaac: Play and read and do school with me.
Malachi: Go at the play ground.
18. How are you and your Mom the same?
Maacah: We are in the same family.
Grace: Same color hair.
Isaac: We are both light skinned.
Malachi: Because we both talk.
19. How are you and your Mom different?
Maacah: Different personalities.
Grace:.I don't wear glasses.
Isaac: Because I wear pants and shirt and you wear dresses. And you have babies, I don't. (Too funny!!)
Malachi: I don't know.
20. How do you know your Mom loves you?
Maacah: Because she acts like she loves me and she feeds me and she does stuff that shows me she love me.
Grace: Because she smiles at me.
Isaac: By your kindness.
Malachi: Because you spank me. (Oh boy!)
23. What does your Mom like most about your Dad?
Maacah: You tell me.
Grace: When he tickles your feet.
Isaac: I don't know.
Malachi: I don't know.
22. Where is your Mom's favorite place to go?
Maacah: In Wausau, that Mexican place and the Chinese place.
Grace: Out to eat.
Isaac: Chinese.
Malachi: To a restaurant.
(My children certainly know me here!)
1.What is something Mom always says to you?
Maacah: Don't do that!
Grace: No Highlights on the computer.
Isaac: Obey.
Malachi: Please stop.
2.What makes Mom happy?
Maacah: When I obey.
Grace: When I help her.
Isaac: Obeying
Malachi: When I'm quiet.
3. What makes Mom sad?
Maacah: When I disobey.
Grace: Not obeying.
Isaac: Disobey.
Malachi: When I don't be quiet. (HA!)
4. How does your Mom make you laugh?
Maacah: She says funny things.
Grace: By tickling me.
Isaac: Doing funny things.
Malachi: Asks me questions.
5. What was your Mom like as a child?
Maacah: I have no idea.
Grace: I don't know.
Isaac: Little.
Malachi: Just like Nathaniel.
6. How old is your Mom?
Maacah: 30
Grace: 30
Isaac: I don't know.
Malachi: 3.
7. How tall is your Mom?
Maacah: 5' 2”
Grace: 2 feet? I don't know.
Isaac Really tall. Taller than me.
Malachi: 5 inches. (Yep, that's me. The smallest Mom ever!)
8. What is Mom's favorite thing to do?
Maacah: Laundry. (? I'm not sure where she gets that from.)
Grace: Do puzzles.
Isaac: School.
Malachi: Not going into the kitchen.
9. What does your Mom do when you're not around?
Maacah: Sewing, on the computer, or going to the doctors. (The doctors?)
Grace: That's a hard question.
Isaac: Nothing. (I wish!)
Malachi: Do something.
10. If your Mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Maacah: Being a queen.
Grace: I don't know what that means.
Isaac: I don't know.
Malachi: Builds a house.
11. What is your Mom really good at?
Maacah: Sewing and laundry.
Grace: Being a Mom.
Isaac: Cooking.
Malachi: Cleaning.
12. What is your Mom not very good at?
Maacah: Working with wood.
Grace: Working. Daddy's good at working, but you're not.
Isaac: Working.
Malachi: I don't know.
(Hmm, is there a pattern here or is it just me?)
13. What does your Mom do for a job?
Maacah: Work with children.
Grace: Work at home.
Isaac: Stay home and watch the kids.
Malachi: Take care of me.
14.What is your Mom's favorite food?
Maacah: Chile Renos.
Grace: Grapefruit. (Huh?)
Isaac: Mushrooms.
Malachi: Eggs.
15. What makes you proud of your Mom?
Maacah: Her cooking.
Grace: That God gave you to be my Mom.
Isaac: She lets us play games.
Malachi: Talks about everything.
16. What is your Mom's favorite thing about being a Mom?
Maacah: Having children.
Grace: Taking are of us.
Isaac: Growing up.
Malachi: Taking care of me.
17. What do you and your Mom do together?
Maacah: Talk and sew.
Grace: Read a story.
Isaac: Play and read and do school with me.
Malachi: Go at the play ground.
18. How are you and your Mom the same?
Maacah: We are in the same family.
Grace: Same color hair.
Isaac: We are both light skinned.
Malachi: Because we both talk.
19. How are you and your Mom different?
Maacah: Different personalities.
Grace:.I don't wear glasses.
Isaac: Because I wear pants and shirt and you wear dresses. And you have babies, I don't. (Too funny!!)
Malachi: I don't know.
20. How do you know your Mom loves you?
Maacah: Because she acts like she loves me and she feeds me and she does stuff that shows me she love me.
Grace: Because she smiles at me.
Isaac: By your kindness.
Malachi: Because you spank me. (Oh boy!)
23. What does your Mom like most about your Dad?
Maacah: You tell me.
Grace: When he tickles your feet.
Isaac: I don't know.
Malachi: I don't know.
22. Where is your Mom's favorite place to go?
Maacah: In Wausau, that Mexican place and the Chinese place.
Grace: Out to eat.
Isaac: Chinese.
Malachi: To a restaurant.
(My children certainly know me here!)
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