The Challenge

So, we got Netflix a few months ago.  I thought we would like the educational documentaries.  I do...but, I don't think anyone else has watched nary a one.

Other than one free day/week (considering making it 1-2x/month), my kids have to earn 1 hour of screen time after they have:  played outside, finished their chores and completed their schoolwork.  I feel like that is generous; but, I may be out in left field on that.

We don't have cable TV and we don't get any free TV channels.  We do have a tablet and a laptop and one TV for programs and movies we want to watch.  The only thing my husband misses is sports events; but, he often checks scores on his favorite teams and somehow doesn't seem like he is missing anything at all.

And still, I feel like our family needs to deepen our connection...

So, I proposed a challenge to my family last week:  1 month (31 days) of no screens (for entertainment).  I told them our reward would be a super family fun day (everyone voted for the beach...my husband voted for Hawaii...I WISH!).  But, I was surprised there were no complaints! 

We will see how we do for a MONTH; but, so far (day one), so good!

Health Update

Well, my youngest son has now started showing signs that he is ALSO having digestive distress.  He is having very similar symptoms as me and my other 6-year-old son.  If you need details, he has a lot of excess gas (no matter what I eat) and loose stool.

After our doctor visits last week (for each of us), we found out lots of good information; but, we are still left with the frustration of "trial and error" processes.

We had suspected I had IBS-D.  Now, they are saying we all have, "leaky gut syndrome" and it tends to be hereditary.  One of the most frustrating things about this diagnosis is that we are pretty healthy and we have always eaten really healthfully--mostly whole foods, made from scratch.  Nothing fake.  Not much processed.  So frustrating. 

Anyway, what I learned this time around is...

• Inflammation holds fat.  Ah!  So, that is why I have had such a hard time "whittling my middle".  Interesting.
• If I wasn't doing anything to repair the damage to my gut, my body would continue to attack more and more foods.  I feel like that has been happening over time...even before I saw major symptoms.
• Your food doesn't get chewed anymore after you swallow.  Yes, yes, yes.  I knew this.  I know this.  I need to chew better (because I have a harder time grinding my food with my cross bite).  I have been concentrating on chewing thoroughly these last few days.  It's hard with three kids; but, I know it is very important
• I am sustaining my digestive system by taking probiotics and enzymes; but, I am not accelerating healing of my gut.  So, for that, my doctor suggested a pure form (because of all our allergies) of L-Glutamine.  I will let you know how that goes.  She said it would likely take a few months to see results.
• My son's doctor mentioned the homeopathy method of desensitizing our bodies to foods.  I have to do some more research on this; but, basically, it is taking a tiny bit of the foods we are allergic to, over time and increasing the amounts as our reactions decrease.  Need prayers for this process!
• I was off of my probiotics and enzymes for a week for my 9-month-old nursling.  Ugh!  I had a heck of a time.  Now, I am trying to find the right balance for my body and I have to be conscious of any reactions my son might have.

I already knew how much your gut is connected to your emotions.  But, these past two weeks have been so hard...trying to get my body in balance has really wreaked havoc on my emotions.  On bad days (and not just recently), I find myself quick to anger, at times sad, at times elated and peaceful.  This crazy emotional roller coaster is directly caused by the "war" going on in my gut...most often an imbalance of bad bacteria to good bacteria and inflammation and me not getting enough nutrients.  Sigh. 

Dear Lord, please give me wisdom and patience for this process of bringing me and my family to complete health.  Amen.

We have become THAT family

There is this blog I like called, We are THAT family.  I love their posts.  And, I thought of THAT family the last few times we ate in restaurants.

My husband did not pray much.  I did not either.  We did not start praying as a family until a few years ago.  Honestly, I can't remember praying much in private either.  As we have grown in knowledge and understanding of God's word, we have grown in faith and we have prayed more.

I pray all the time now.  Sometimes to myself, sometimes out loud. 

But, recently, we went on vacation...and, in the middle of the restaurant, my husband reminded us that we had not yet prayed.  So, we held hands, bowed our heads and prayed (and, just now, I am remembering doing that as a child).  We have done this a few more times in public since...just last week in fact.  And, I AM SO GRATEFUL. 

I am grateful that we are becoming THAT family.  Because THAT is the family that I want to be.  The family that prays together in public.

I am also grateful that my husband is leading the effort!  That is a gift to me. 

Then, and Now

I used to wonder what the appeal was of a Christian book store.  I also used to wonder who shopped there...and, what they could find.  I feel low for saying so; but, I really thought LESS of the people who shopped in those stores.  How dare I.

I used to wonder why people listened to worship music in their free time, like, for enjoyment.  I used to wonder what made it enjoyable.

I felt like THEY must've been missing out on something...

Boy, was I wrong.

It feels so AMAZING to learn about God.  It feels like I am learning about true beauty, in all its forms.  I seek out His words.  I seek to witness His glory.  I wish I knew of a Christian bookstore that I could peruse RIGHT NOW.  Seriously.  Read "1000 Gifts", by Ann Voskamp, and maybe you will feel that way, too.

It is inspiring to listen to worship music.  It brings me so much joy.  I often have a worship song running through my head, if not playing on my iPhone.  Download a few songs from Hillsong and you might be inspired, too.

I know I have changed.  Part of it is me seeking Him.  Part of it is just the realization of what happened along the way.  I LOVE GOD.  I am so grateful that I understand Him more.  He is the only one that can bring us true joy.

No matter how many college degrees or accolades or cars or houses or jewelry or things and more things we get, it will never be enough.  We will never be full.  We will always want more.  But, God can fill us up.  He is enough.  There is no reason to ever want for more.

A perfectly messy day in my life

I don't mean to portray myself as "having it all together".  Because I don't.  But, I don't give up.  I don't want to stop trying to do better, to be better (but, that is a relative term).  Generally, I am just trying to focus on the positive.  But, I also really don't like looking like the total mess that I am.  For example...

Last Friday.  My husband was out of town for a conference, after having had evening commitments the previous 3 days.  So, our house was pretty messy and the boys were "out of sorts" (missing their dad) AND, my 6 month-old baby was having trouble sleeping (teething, tummy ache, growth milestone, stuffy nose, all of the above, I don't know); therefore, I had also not slept in 2 nights (by Sunday, it would be 4 nights and my immune system could no longer fight a nasty cold anymore; but, I digress).  I was CRANKY.

My mom and sister and niece were visiting (because my mom was going home Saturday)after having to cancel on Thursday.  So, the boys were helping me pick up all the itty bitty Legos and marbles from the floor in between doing our schoolwork that morning.  So, we have lunch and visit with them until they have to leave (all the while I am apologizing for being cranky).  Then, the baby, who has also had trouble napping today, finally goes down for a nap.  Ahhh.  For a minute.

Because then I realized I would have to prep dinner because I was on my own and I had to take son #2 to Tae Kwon Do (I tried to convince him that it might be best if we skip this one time; but, that didn't go well and he shouldn't miss honoring his commitment and he likes it...yadayadayada).  So, I told him we could only go if the baby wakes.  So, the baby woke up and OH! look at that, if we RUN, we can even get to the library before it closes (what was I thinking?).  So, we RAN to the freezing car (our next one will have remote start) and then I ran into the library to drop off our books and pick up some things on hold and I ran back to the car and we continued to Tae Kwon Do.  We took off our boots (phew, no holey socks today) and hung our coats and scarves (all the things covering my bedraggled self) and my son started his class while I and the other 2 boys sat and watched.

Then, the owner (and my son's Master/teacher) came to talk to me.  He asked about my husband and cooed with the baby and told me about his youngest.  A few more minutes went by and I finally looked down at myself (possibly for the first time all day).  I had BOTH breastfeeding pads sticking out of my shirt (they are supposed to be tucked away in my bra for those of you who may still be childless or don't breastfeed, etc.).  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  Then, I was SO TIRED/not thinking/I don't know, I just adjusted those puppies and put them back in place (I have no idea who could see me).  I also had no makeup on (probably making me look even more tired.  I am not sure if I brushed my hair that day.  My pants had a hole in the knee that wasn't there in the morning.  Sigh.

We just continued watching the class until it was finished and we RAN home to eat a late dinner and went to bed without playtime (they weren't being punished but that is hard to understand when you are 5...it's just because it was already late).  And, sigh again, everyone is asleep so then the baby woke up.  And, I rush to get myself ready for bed.  I think I spoke incoherently to my husband on the phone before falling asleep.  Sigh.

I could try again; but, I might not ever get a perfectly messy day like that again.  And, frankly, I would prefer it that way. 

Something, from nothing

I continue to try and to stretch our groceries and still optimize our healthful eating (I thought I always had, which is why it was a double bummer when my son and I got sick).  But, I often learn new ways to do both of these better.  We eat mostly organic, whole foods.  I cook "from scratch"...and, I keep narrowing the prepared foods we actually buy (I still want to learn to make cheese!).  Hidden ingredients (carrageenan, guar gum, sugar, onion powder, garlic) still affect me and cause my gut to react (literally!).

So, I LOVE that I can buy a whole organic free-range chicken, roast it and use the chicken for (at least) 2 meals for us.  And THEN, put the bones (and all the drippings), some carrot peels, the middle of the celery and other parts I discard, 1 T. apple cider vinegar, some kosher salt, and some black peppercorns in my crock pot for 24 hours and get bone broth!  Bone broth!  It is super healthy, has loads of vitamins (especially for those of you that can add onion and garlic) and has those all-important probiotics!  I usually get at least 3 quarts from 1 chicken (bones), which I can then use in soups, in quinoa, and with mashed cauliflower for MORE MEALS!  That's SOME something from NOTHING (what I would have composted/discarded). 

When time is up for the bone broth, I just spread a cheesecloth in my colander and ladle everything from the crock pot over it.  I then pour the broth into Mason jars and store it in the fridge (I almost always use it within a week, especially since it is soup season!).  But, if I were freezing it, I would likely just leave extra room at the top for the contents to expand and use it within a month.

I also just started making almond milk.  I put 1 cup of raw almonds in 4 cups of filtered water (we have a Berkey) overnight.  In the morning, I discard the water, dump the almonds in my Cuisinart food processor, add 2 pitted Medjool dates (for sweetness), and pour in 4 more cups of fresh filtered water.  I dump everything out over my handy-dandy colander, covered in cheesecloth, squeeze out the excess and "voila"--almond milk!  I always reuse the almond "pulp"; and, I have found more and more recipes to use it best.  Many people just recommend drying it out in the oven at 200 degrees.  I don't like things to take long or are too hard; so, I am still experimenting with the best recipes and ways to reuse it.  I have previously just made some paleo granola bars with it.  I have also tried drying it out (but, again, that takes time and tending...and, sometimes my timing could be off, so...).

The frugal and healthy sides of me find these two recipes easy and VERY satisfying!
 
How about that?  Anyone have any whole food ideas to share?  I would LOVE to make my own water kefir for more of those healthy, food-based probiotics! 

"When you know better, do better"

This is a quote from one of my favorite people, Maya Angelou.  This has been my journey for healthy eating, for developing my spirituality and my relationship with God and for parenting (and likely, many other things). 

If "it worked for your parents", it likely isn't meant to work for you (no disrespect intended).  Truly, I believe, we are intended to continue to grow and evolve (which means, my children will be smarter than I am).  And, there are numerous other factors:  Number one, food is made differently (more preservatives, more chemicals), even in the last 10 years (especially?).  Number two, even though we have less crime today (per capita), we hear about so much more via media; so, the world seems like a scarier place.  Number three, you have likely learned something, whether its how to trust your instincts better or trusting the results of countless research experiments.

With my third child, I feel I have finally "succeeded" (whatever that means!) at cloth-diapering.  I finally have a great, knowledgeable pediatrician that deduced that the diaper rashes were actually from his urine (which was from me eating eggs-specifically yolks, which I figured out with an elimination diet, which is basically trial and error).  I thought it had been the cloth diapers and could not stand putting them on my 2nd son and having him break out, never knowing that the disposables were just keeping the urine off his skin; and, I therefore never found out about his allergy to eggs (and now he is allergic to much more).

I also feel that all of these things I have learned more about and am trying to do better are interrelated. 

I thought I was eating really healthy all along because I have always tried to eat healthy, whole foods, made from scratch (like my mom!).  But, I realized I have actually been making minute changes (for the better) as I learn new things (or notice a sensitivity to a certain food/ingredient for me or my children).  I was inspired by a friend to make my own bone broth (if she can do it, so can I!).  And, I kept reading about how simple it is to make almond milk (sans preservatives to which I am sensitive!); so, I finally tried and I love it!  I have been tinkering with the thought of making my own cheese, too! 

As I have learned about the foods that affect our bodies (and our emotions!), we are a less reactive family (in many ways).  Less emotional outbursts (when our guts are out of whack, so are our emotions).  Less allergic reactions.  And, of course, eating healthy puts us on the preventative side of good health; so, we have less doctor visits (something to pray about!).

Likewise, as I have deepened my relationship with God and felt more strongly the presence of the Holy Spirit (which is awesome and wonderful), I have also tried to become a better parent, relying more on Him than on myself.

I am really grateful to be learning more and hopefully, doing better.  Do you have any stories to share about your journey?