Some favorites

So, some of our new favorite meals are likely going to stay even as we add in more foods (which we are thankfully starting to do!).  Pray for us!

Cabbage, apples and bacon (cook bacon in pieces, pour off all but 1 T of grease, add chopped red cabbage (1 small head) and 5 chopped apples (any kind, organic, of course...these are on the dirty dozen list!)

Spaghetti squash and meatballs (3 pounds of ground beef or lamb or pork with 4 cloves diced garlic, zest of 1 large lemon, 1 T oregano, sea salt to taste).  Roast spaghetti squash, then scoop out into a pan to finish off.

Sweet potatoes, ground beef (or pork) and zucchini (we often add chopped cilantro and/or garlic)

Plantain and apple fritters (mash up ripe plantains, blend with a peeled, grated apple, pan-fry)

Do you have any favorite foods that follow the Autoimmune Paleo Approach?  Please do share!

Health Update

Last August, my kids and I took a big step in our health journey (begrudgingly by one of us) after being diagnosed in June with leaky gut syndrome, caused by heavy metal poisoning (from my amalgam fillings because it crossed the placenta).  My second son has been sick on and off ever since he stopped nursing at age 3 1/2 (with IBS symptoms); so, he was used to our attempts to help his body heal (with no sugar or starches for 3-week periods).  But, my oldest has had the least physical symptoms and the least reactions to foods; but, he has had an increase in his emotional outbursts and has become increasingly more sensitive to a growing number of foods (one of the early signs of leaky gut syndrome).

First, let me tell you we have been working under the guidance of our chiropractor, a naturopathic doctor, a holistic dentist, and our integrative health pediatrician and another integrative health practitioner (for me).  They advised us that because allergy screenings are not 100% accurate that the elimination diet and "trial and error" methods were most successful for the ages of my children.

So, our goal has been to stop eating what is harming us (causing inflammation) and flood our bodies with nutrient-dense foods and probiotics. In this journey, we have also discovered many answers to why we are sick.

I had been praying for healing and was searching for a recipe on Pinterest when a bunch of "Autoimmune Paleo" recipes lit up the screen.  I did some research and discovered it wasn't much different from what we were currently eating; but, we could not have nuts or seeds or eggs.  So, I prayed some more; and, the message I got was to proceed.  It also involves making sure we get enough sleep and enough sun (for Vitamin D production) and enough exercise.

So, since August, my kids and I have NOT had:  sugar, eggs, dairy, gluten or any grains (rice, etc.), nuts, seeds, chocolate, beans, or nightshade vegetables.

We HAVE had lots of pasture raised meat, bone broth, organic vegetables and fermented water kefir and fermented vegetables.  We also have discovered some new foods we love and enjoy, like plantains (which make great pancakes and blend great with canned salmon for salmon patties, in place of eggs) and liver pate.

We are starting to add foods back, carefully and prayerfully, so that our bodies can be healthy (and so we can maintain our health).  I have felt like we have been eating too much meat and a book I am reading right now confirmed that our bodies are likely on the acidic side of the pH scale, which is probably why it seems like we have "plateaued" in our progress.  We should have started adding foods before now; but, I got nervous when my oldest had a reaction to adding back ghee, which I thought would be totally safe.

I will share more of our NEW favorite recipes and some things that we will likely keep the same as we continue our journey and maintain our health in future posts.

But, for now I want to let you know a little bit of WHY we are sick.  First, if we weren't going through this, we would not be able to share what we have learned with you.  Second, our environment is increasingly more toxic (how many of you have a cell phone in your pocket right now?) and our soil has less and less nutrients.  So, every thing we breathe, every thing we put on our body and every thing we eat affects our health.  Over time, the toxins (that our bodies can't process) build up in our bodies in different places, causing health problems sooner or later, depending on each individual.  Leaky gut syndrome is just beginning to be studied; but, it has been suspected, by numerous sources, to be the precursor to EVERY autoimmune disease.  Literally, food particles leaked through my gut (and my children's) and started building up in our bodies, causing our immune system to fight them, causing them to reject a growing number of foods--a process we have hopefully halted.

Pray for us and I will pray for you.  I believe God is leading me to become a Holistic Nutrition Counselor.  I hope to share more soon.  Go eat some organic vegetables!

Words Always Matter

What we say, even in passing, matters.  We are either making people feel like they matter...or we are not.  My 6yo son had me in tears yesterday.  He recounted something I said to him in passing.  And, I realized how important ALL of my words are.

He told me, "Remember yesterday when I got the cart for you and you said, "What would I do without you?"-that made me feel really good and special."

I meant it.  But, I did not think it mattered.  Boy was I wrong!

We were in Chicago this week on Tuesday, visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art with my sister and her girls.  Then, we went to a special lunch at LYFE (Love Your Food Everyday) Kitchen nearby (thankfully, they can accommodate all of our allergies!).  Since we were so close, we fed the meter again and I took the boys to Water Tower Place.  We went to Macy's first to look for a replacement gift for their dad; and, after they endured that, we went to...the Lego store!  Not only did they get to see all of the latest and greatest Lego sets; but, they were also asked if they wanted to make a polar bear to take home (free Legos!) and then they were given the Lego magazine and a Lego keychain (all for free...we got to play and did not have to buy anything!).

Then, as we had planned, before visiting my sister at home (and to eat dinner and wait out traffic before hitting the road), we went to get some things we needed and can often only get from Whole Foods.  We parked in the parking garage and were told we could grab a cart inside.  Well, I never saw the carts and looked all over near the entrance and could not find any.  Then, my son spotted them and pointed me in the right direction (right next to the escalator we had just taken down!).  And, I said, in gratitude, "What would I do without you?".  Unknowingly, I had just made his day.

He made my day when he told me about it. 

The sad part is that he was reminded of that good feeling because I had been using my words in anger just a moment before, likely making him feel not so good.  We had had a rough day with relationship building (disrespectfulness, disobedience, ingratitude) and homeschooling; and, in that moment, with my son's words to me, I realized I was not helping.  I was making it worse.  God was giving me a chance to be redeemed.  He used my son.  He often speaks to me through my children.  When I am at the end of my rope, when I need Him most.  Thank you, Lord.

All Mixed Up

So, last week, my one-year-old pulled the cord on our only laptop and sent it crashing to the ground, smashing it in on the side by the power cord.

I thought it was working until the end of the day...when it wasn't.

So, my husband took it to the computer guy the next morning and they thought it was as simple as replacing a part.  But, they had to order it and it would be between 3-5 days.  Okay.

So, I waited.

Patiently. 

Sort of.

I had a mix of relief (having an excuse for not being able to reply to email for awhile) and dread (ironically, because of the aforementioned emails piling up).  I like "unplugging" every once in awhile; but, it has to be totally planned (half-kidding).

And, then...THEN...the part did not work.  And, THEN, a simple act of curiosity by my son ended in a search for a new computer (my husband did that job!).  Exhale.  Nothing more to do...other than think of an appropriate punishment for a one-year-old (kidding!).

So Be It

Amen means, "so be it."  Speaking it at the end of a prayer, have you ever thought about it more?  Uttering it when you agree with the words someone else is speaking, have you realized how much weight it carries?  Amen!

We are saying, essentially, "Hey God, I know you've got this."  Amen.  We are saying, "I will accept whatever You have planned."  Amen.  We are saying, "I trust you."  Amen.  We are saying, with that ONE word, "It is all in Your hands, now."

Amen.

Psalm 46:10

We finally got in our "Family Fun Day" at the beach (for completing our month-of-no-electronics challenge).  But, really, we need more excuses to take these; somehow, a day at the beach makes us feel like we have been gone for three, five if it's the ocean.  We went up to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, which is just 2 hours from us.  On the way home, we picked up some "clean" (freshly made, no allergens) carryout from a restaurant in Rockford.

So, while we were at the beach, my now 1-year-old fell asleep nursing (as he often does) and slept for a couple of hours in my arms, in the shade, with the wind blowing and sun, sky and sand all around.  While I was sitting there holding him (I really did try to put him down; but, I enjoy holding him when I can), I started to feel antsy, like I could not let this day go by.  I started feeling like I needed to "carpe diem" and have as much fun as possible and, and, and...

And, then I heard His voice, "Be still and know that I am God".

And, then I relaxed.  I felt better about just being still and watching my boys and husband enjoy the day.  And, I continued to enjoy holding my baby boy.

I had heard those words before.  The next day, I came across that very scripture (that I did not even know I knew) and knew that the Holy Spirit had been working on me that day.

Pee at the End of the Toilet Paper

Yes.  Sigh.  I was with a book group a few weeks ago, getting to know some ladies, reading the book, "Scary Close" together.  We had been talking about how everyone puts their best moments-their "highlight reel"-on social media.  So, I asked them if they wanted to hear how, that morning, as I went to the bathroom before coming to the host's home, I pondered that it (the bathroom) was the only room I had managed to get clean; but, for some reason, it was no longer clean.  There was, in fact a very messy sink and a puddle of toilet paper on the floor.  As I pulled up the toilet paper to use, I realized there was in fact, an ACTUAL puddle of pee at the end of the toilet paper.  Because we were on our way out the door, I just sighed. 

Everyone said, "YES!" those are the moments they wanted to hear about!

Such a moment is a perfect segue for a day like today, when I found myself still in my pajamas at, um, noon.  Not the relaxed, still in my jammies kind of day, either.  More like the frustrated-because- my-(almost)-1-year-old-is-NOT-sleeping-well-tried-to-take-a-shower-all-morning-or-at-least-put-on-my-contacts-not-sure-I-am-going-to-get-anything-done kind of day.  So, I cried.  Not a whimper.  A loud, ugly cry.  And, I called my husband with my loud ugly cry.  And, thankfully, he said, try to remember to pray first.  Exhale.  I love him.  I needed that for some reason.  I had been trying all morning to do the next right thing, because EVERYTHING was overwhelming!  But, I was NOT succeeding at all.  Did I pray?  I don't know.

But, prayer helps, if only because it gives me time to pause.  Give Him my worries, even for just seconds.  It helps.  Pray first.  Inhale.  Exhale.  The next right thing to do is apparently, to breathe.  To sigh is just to exhale.  I forgot to pray.  I forgot to breathe.