The first day of the comprehensive elimination diet

AUnfortunately, the day didn't start out so well. DH and I were rudely woken by our dear Nugget who got sick in the bed. (Poor baby) He was better very quickly, and was way too awake to back to sleep. I couldn't go back to sleep for fear of him becoming sick again, so I watched the news as the minutes ticked to hours. 

Eventually, he did fall asleep...on me. So when breakfast time rolled around, I had to skip it because convenient foods like cereal are NOT a part of this diet. I didn't get smoothies made the night before, so without being able to go to the kitchen and fix myself something, I simply had to go without. After a while I remembered that my DH bought rice cakes and SuperBoy could bring me one of those. So that was breakfast and my late morning snack too. 

Nugget did wake up and was back to his two year old self (being a stinker) until about one. Of course, that's when it dawned on me that I hadn't eaten lunch yet and that Nugget had fallen asleep on me again! Salad with mushrooms to the rescue (and another two rice cakes). 

Soon things were back to normal and I worked on washing dishes so I could make dinner (salmon filets, quinoa pilaf (something new), grilled yellow bell pepper, and my DH's own creation, avomato salad). It's was super yummy!

After supper we normally would take the girls to Handmaidens, but since Nugget had been sick, we felt it was in everyone's best interest to stay home. So the girls and I made smoothies instead! They turned out pretty tasty! They're excited to make some more for everyone in the morning. 😊

I'm feeling pretty good this evening, but had very little energy this morning. Hopefully tonight we'll get a full night's sleep and be ready for day two. 

When choices become actions

Monday is the big day.  Monday I begin the comprehensive elimination diet. There has been quite a bit of preparation that has gone into this process and more preparation to come.

The first thing I decided to do was search for recipes on the internet and Pinterest . When I began, I could hardly find anything that would work without a lot of substitutions, but as I kept looking, I found more than I thought I would. I've compiled them onto a Pinterest board elimination-diet-recipes.

The second thing was to make a grocery list. Usually we make a menu before a shopping list, but as I tried to figure out what to buy and where to buy it (looking at local ads) the anxiety of what I was about to do started to overwhelm me. That's when my DH reminded me that it wouldn't be that complicated since I've been gluten and dairy free for more than 2.5 years. There would be some changes to my diet, but we could keep making some of the same recipes we already have ingredients for with just a few changes. So, going on the idea that what we really need are "staples" (free range chicken breasts, salmon, ground turkey, frozen fruit and veggies), my DH went shopping. I wanted to go with him (and he wanted me to go too), but with four kids who would not be amused to go shopping for hours, he went by himself. 

The shopping left me happy and a bit shocked. DH was able to get many items at our local Costco. He bought cold pressed olive oil, cases of coconut milk and rice milk, and even found canned tuna without soy! I was most surprised at what he couldn't find, free range chicken! Organic grain fed chicken was available, but since the idea is to be 100% gluten free, grain fed chicken isn't going to work; even if it is organic.) After spending hours at Costco (checking labels, lots of labels) we decided for him to come back home and possibly go to the grocery store tomorrow.

Since I have gluten and dairy free for so long, we figured that many of the "staples
 we've used for years would still work; unfortunately we were wrong. When looking through our own pantry, we found that some of our "staple" items (quinoa with brown rice, Food Should Taste Good Chips, gluten free pasta and flour mixes) won't work for this diet due to the oil that is added or nut and bean flours. On this diet, it is imperative to check labels. So many foods have soy and unhealthy oils in them. I had no idea! 

Tomorrow, I'm planning on cutting up a lot of the fresh produce we've purchased and putting it into quart size freezer bags so that when it comes time to making lunch and dinner, it won't be quite so time consuming and labor intensive. I'm also planning to make smoothies, pour about a cup into quart size freezer bags that can easily thaw overnight for a nice easy breakfast in the morning. 

I still need to work out the menu for the week so I know what I'm making when, but at least now I have many recipes to choose from and know what ingredients we have that I can put together. :-)

I'm pretty excited to start this new chapter. I've heard great things about this diet, and I'm really hoping that I can get my old self back.

Choices, choices, choices: We choose health

So my DH and I came to the decision that we're going to try the comprehensive elimination diet to see if that will ease my symptoms and possibly take away whatever the illness is that I have. We know that there are other diets (GAPS and BED to name two), and if this one doesn't work, I might try one of those.

So my kind and loving DH doesn't want me to go through this diet alone, so he's going to do it with me. :-) We'll probably make some of the meals for the entire family, so the kids will get to try some new foods and recipes. (At this point, they won't be doing the diet. If we find it helpful for me, we may try it with them too.)

This next week, the plan is to put together recipes and a menu. I'll be keeping my eyes out for specials on produce, fish, seafood and other diet options to help us stick to our budget. Then we'll go buy the necessary foods and start the diet in couple of weeks.

If that seems like a while to wait, let me explain how difficult it can be to find recipes on the exclusion diet. First of all, there are many exclusion diets out there; although they are similar, they simply aren't the same. Frequently, there are ingredients in those recipes that I can't have on this diet. Some of them are probably easy to modify, others not so much. There aren't a lot of recipes out there that fit this particular diet, so it could take some time and digging to find what I need. So I'll be going through different cookbooks and recipes online this next week to make a grocery list and menu. I'm also looking at trying to grow some vegetables and herbs at home to help make this diet more affordable for our family.

This is a daunting task, and because of that I thought I would take my readers through the process with us. If you're interested in the diet, new recipes, tips on making meals more affordable, or just want to see if it works for me; I'd love to have you join us on this journey.

I'm really hoping this diet works. It would be a huge blessing and relief to our family if I was healthy again.

Choices, choices, choices: Getting healthy vs. getting by

In case I haven't shared this before, I am a disabled mom to four terrific kids who each have a chronic illness and 3/4 have special needs. (The youngest is still very young and the special needs that run in our family tend to rear their heads when kids are a bit older.) I homeschool and have the priveledge to see the strides our kids make every day.

For the past four to five years my hubby and I have been in many doctors' offices, and I have had many tests run to figure out what is causing my disability; but no one has been able to figure it out. I even tried to be seen by the Mayo Clinic, but they refused to see me. So yesterday, my husband and I tried a new route; functional medicine. These doctors are medical doctors (MDs or DOs), but look at medicine from a different point of view. They look at the body as a whole instead of different parts, and they tend to work from a nutritional point instead of a pharmaceutical point.

After sharing my "story" with the doctor, she shared with us that my story is different than any other she has heard and my symptoms we quite different too. She gave us the names of supplements I should add to my diet (fish oil, a special kind of B vitamin, vitamin D (which I've been taking for a few years)) and wants me to start with the comprehensive elimination diet. Since I've already been gluten and dairy free for about three years, she's not sure how well the diet will work for me; but our decision was that I wasn't strict enough with the gluten free diet and that I need to be more vigilant.

The elimination diet is scary for me. Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, some lean meats, and absolutely NO gluten, dairy (which for me means cutting out the butter) and eggs. It is definitely healthier than I've ever eaten before, but it's also way more expensive. That's where my fear comes in, if we spend all this money on buying the supplements and produce, what if we can't pay our bills or buy the kids the clothes they need, or get the kids into activities they should/need to participate in!!!!! My momma heart is having trouble to thinking about all this, let alone actually giving it a try.

Granted, the elimination diet itself is only about four weeks, before you start adding food (one food at a time) back into the diet. The diet has been successful for many, including a friend of mine. The part that gets me is the whole, you are probably sensitive to some kind of gluten and need to be strictly gluten free for at least six months to know. No cheating at all, even accidentally, or the six months, starts over.

There are some tests she would like to run, but she's not sure if my insurance will pay for them. (Insurance makes way more money off of sick people than they do healthy!) She'll be calling me soon to let me know.

So my hubby and I are up in the air with this. We both want and need for me to get better, but is it going to be financially responsible to our family to spend even more money on food. I don't know, but I guess it's something we have to figure out.

What would you do?

(By the way, the elimination diet is because of the belief and research that has been done that shows many times our health starts in our gut. If we can get our gut healthy, we will be healthy. That goes for all body systems and even mental disorders.)

This is a copy of the comprehensive elimination diet that is identical to the one my doctor gave me. Comprehensive Elimination Diet

Want to know more about functional medicine.

15 Ways to stretch your Christmas budget

Ways to stretch your Christmas budget

Many of us are struggling with how to make Christmas “work”. Money is tight, prices are high, and it seems like the Christmas we may want to have is far out of reach. With a little bit of financial finagling and a willingness to try new things, Christmas does not have to cause stress and heartache. There are many areas where you can stretch your budget this holiday season. Four of these areas are entertainment, gifts, activities, and food.

Entertainment

1. Go for a “sleigh ride” (in your family vehicle) around town and look at the Christmas lights. Many shopping centers have displays or you may live close to a city that has a residential contest. The lights are fun and pretty to see and often each display is unique. Even big kids can enjoy the creativity that goes into the different displays. Make it even more Christmas filled by listening to or singing carols while you enjoy the decorations. Or read a Christmas book while you drive around. (A few examples of Christmas books are: A Christmas Carol, The Gift of the Magi, Polar Express, The Night Before Christmas, Room for a Little One, and Christmas in the Big Woods.) Be sure to bring along snacks.
2. Borrow movies from the library or save them on your DVR. Christmas movie marathons are a tradition for many families, but purchasing or renting all those movies can rack up the dollars and easily push you over your entertainment budget. Instead of buying the movies (especially if you only watch them once a year) or spending the money to rent them, check out the movies from your local library. It’s important to get the movies on hold now, so you can hopefully watch them before Christmas as the waiting list for these movies can be long. Another option is to use a DVR. If you have a DVR, look up when different Christmas/holiday movies will be on air and record them. Then, when it’s time for the movie marathon, play the movies from your DVR.
   If you aren’t able to borrow movies from the library or you usually invite guests to your movie marathon, have everyone bring his/her favorite movie and snack/drink. That way you don’t have to provide all the movies or food, and you get to have your friends enjoy the movies with you!
3. Attend a Christmas tree lighting. Most cities and towns have a Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Some are small with just a few songs and speakers, others are large with a concert, celebrities, and are even televised. These activities are usually free and allow you to spend time with family and friends (if you wish). If you’re not sure when or where there are tree lightings in your area, be sure to look it up on the computer or check your local news station’s website.

Gifts

4. Have a “handmade” gift exchange. Instead of spending $100s on gifts for all the different family members, suggest a handmade gift exchange. With the help of Pinterest, finding crafts that are simple or intricate (and everything in between) is as easy as a few clicks. You may need to purchase some supplies, but there are plenty of ideas on how to repurpose items you may already have. If you don’t have a Pinterest account, it takes little time to create one. Go to Pinterest and click on create account. If you don’t want to create an account, a simple internet search for frugal handmade gifts, should give you some great ideas.
5. Make treats for gifts this year. Similar to making a handmade gift, foods and sweet treats that you make yourself are usually welcomed gifts also. Whether you make fudge and give everyone a dozen pieces, bake muffins or cupcakes, gingerbread cookies, chocolate covered peanut butter balls, or miniature loaves of pumpkin bread; food is a thoughtful gift. (If you do choose to give food as a gift, be sure to know of any dietary restrictions or allergies. It stinks to be given an edible gift that you can’t eat.)
6. Have a used gift exchange. This is a bit unusual, but it asks for more creativity in the giving. Each person finds something they own, that they think would make a nice gift. Something they don’t use or have a need for anymore. It should still be nice and in good condition, just not something they want anymore or something they think the receiver else would like even more. Some examples are unused candles, (my family happens to be allergic to most scents, so candles aren’t often burned at our house), books, cookbooks, DVDs, tools, extra cooking utensils and bakeware. The key to this is making sure it’s something the other person will use or enjoy. It’s not meant as a way to get rid of the junk around your house.
7. Purchase stocking stuffers from the dollar aisle or dollar store. It’s amazing how many items you can find for $1 if you have the time to look. Many large stores have a $1 aisle that offers all sorts of small items that are perfect for stuffing a stocking. Stores like the Dollar Tree, are filled with items are all $1 or less. Some items you may find are candles, dishware, coloring books, diaries and journals, board books and chapter books, art supplies, small toys, hairbands, cookware, stickers, and more. A good way to make sure you stay on budget in these situations is to give yourself a certain amount to spend and don’t spend more than that amount. It’s easy to go overboard in a $1 store or $1 aisle, and making a list isn’t always easy, because the merchandise can change frequently. This is the perfect place to take a friend or family member with you to help you stick to the amount you set and pick out what would really be the best choices for each persons’ stocking.
8. Stay away from Black Friday sales. Sometimes the offers on Black Friday aren’t really that much of a deal or the product isn’t a very good one. (Talking from experience, a Netbook purchase from a Black Friday sale has never worked well and has altogether been a waste of the money and time spent.) Another reason to stay away is because  of all the enticing deals that you didn’t plan on buying, but are just too good to pass. The stores are counting on you seeing these deals and spending more of your money. An easy solution, if you’re not there to see it, you’re not going to buy it.
9. If Black Friday is a tradition, or there is something you CAN’T pass up, make a list of what you’re going buy and stick to it. To make the shopping more fun and help you stick to your list, have a friend go along who will act as an accountability partner. You both can help each other stick to your budgets and have fun waiting together in the l-o-n-g lines.

Activities

10. Volunteer at a local homeless shelter or soup kitchen. A great way to spend less is to serve others who have less than you. It helps us feel better, takes time away from thinking of what we want to focus on others’ needs, and reminds us to appreciate what we do have. Suddenly our “want for Christmas” lists become shorter, and hopefully our kids’ lists do too.
11. Participate in a Christmas program. Many times, participating in a program reminds participants of what the holidays are really about, and participants can see the program for free. Whether you act, sing, help build the set, make costumes, run the lights or sound, work the ticket booth or usher; participating in a holiday program brings feelings of good will and gives the family something to do together. Programs are customarily free to participate in and are well worth the time spent in preparation. And the memories are priceless.
12. Attend a free program celebrating Christmas. Some churches and communities have free Christmas programs that may include a play, music, dancing, reading, etc. As with other activities mentioned, programs like these can help us remember why we celebrate Christmas and spend time together with family without spending more money.

Food

13. Have a potluck meal for Christmas. Instead of putting all the food on someone else’s plate to prepare for Christmas, have a potluck dinner instead. Have everyone who is coming bring something (the host can determine who brings what or offer a sign-up for guests). This gives everyone a chance to make something and share in the work. It also lets the person bringing the item decide how he/she wants to make the mashed potatoes or green bean casserole. Keep in mind, different can be good!
14. Buy food from a discount store. Even though it can seem that the big retail grocery stores have the best prices for turkeys, rolls, and produce; that’s not always the case. Some discount stores such as Save-A-Lot and Aldi, have much better prices without the brand name.
    There are other discount stores that carry groceries and other goods that have been rejected from retail stores. These “damaged goods” stores can be a good place to look for unusual items or food. The problem with this kind of discount store, is that they don’t always carry particular items. So it may save the moolah, but may not save on the time.
15. Have a cookie exchange with friends. Each friend signs up to bring  three dozen cookies  (or more depending on how many people come and how many cookies you want to take home) of a different type. This is a fun way for your family to enjoy Christmas cookies without having to make them all yourself. And you get to have different kinds of cookies instead of three dozen gingerbread everyone tires of within a few days.

how to deal with too much stress

It's been a while since I've posted a blog. We had summer and all that goes into that, and then preparing to move, now we're prepping the house we're moving into while trying to pack, and then there's homeschooling, daily chores, doctors' appointments, and the list goes on... So I've been a little stressed and not the easiest wife or mother to get along with. Sometimes when I'm stressed I revert back to bad habits I picked up as a child or I find myself yelling for no real reason. So I took the plunge, I started counseling.

This isn't my first time in counseling. I struggled a lot as a teenager and young adult with issues that were out of my control. During those very difficult times, I learned to do things that were not really healthy as a way to live day by day. Little things that make no sense to me looking back at them, but somehow it made me feel better as a kid (even though they really didn't make me feel better). I know as an adult those habits were unhealthy and should never happen again, but occasionally they still do. Even though I'm much, much healthier than I used to be, I still have a lot of work to do to become the person I want to be. 

The thirteen years of counseling I went through as a young person made a huge, positive impact on my life. Even with that, I still find myself needing someone to talk to; someone I can trust who is not part of my family. (Family is often too close to the situation or the person which skews their perspective and ability to be neutral. Plus, all this stress (even good stress) tends to cause trouble in relationships with loved ones.) I'm blessed in my church with Priesthood members who are willing to counsel during the day when I'm available and are willing to have my kids in the next room playing. The insight I receive about how to curb my bad habits and start new, good habits, the way I think about myself and my relationships,  as well as the love they show my kids, is immeasurable.

So why I am so stressed? Because life is stressful. Even good things in life can be stressful. Having a baby, having a bigger house to move into, getting a promotion, having surgery to remove cancerous tumors; all good things, yet stressful. Learning how to deal with the stress of every day life, doesn't come easy to everyone. Some kids spend so much of their childhood dealing with abuse, hunger, bullies, learning difficulites, disabilities, health issues, etc; that they can't learn how to truly deal with the stress of every day life. Their job is to survive! So when they become adults, the everyday stressors can get to be too much. And the coping mechanisms they used in childhood, blow-up in their adult life.

Why I am telling you all this? Why am I opening up the deepest, darkest, parts of me that make me feel so ashamed? Because I need to. Because October is National Mental Illness Awareness month. I may not be mentally ill, but I do understand what mental illness is and the stigma that follows it. So today, I am standing up, and telling the world that I don't have it all together, that my habits and ways of dealing with stress are affecting my relationships, and so I'm getting help.

If we are to end the stigma of receiving therapy and counseling, we must look at getting help as sign of STRENGTH and not weakness. We must embrace those that are struggling, instead of turning away because we don't want to see or want to be bothered. Let them know that we stand together to break that stigma! I challenge my readers to stand with me in strength to share if you have ever been in therapy or counseling or you are currently in therapy and counseling. It is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, but a choice of strength. It shows that you care enough about yourself and your relationships to ask for help, because you want to be a better spouse, parent, son/daughter, brother/sister, friend. Let's end the stigma, and show the world that we are not weak, but STRONG!

What you can do with $13

With $13, you can buy1 1/2 - 2 extra value meals from McDonald's.
With $13, you can buy 4 bacon wrapped sirloin filets from Hy-vee.
With $13, you can buy 5 pounds of strawberries from Price Chopper.
With $13, you can buy one pair of toddler girls' crochet slip-ons from Payless.
OR with $13, you can help a kiddo with neurological disorders go to camp.

Michael Buttgen is a barefoot runner who is running 13.1 miles (a half marathon) for kids with neurological disorders that are supported by the Joshua Center. Michael is my dear husband. He and I love our oldest son to the "moon and back". SuperBoy is a gifted kiddo and is always creating new stories, new games, and trying to find ways to make this world a better place. Not everyone sees in him what we see. Some people are taken aback by his tics, his compulsions, and/or his impulsiveness. SuperBoy has Tourette Syndrome Plus. His plus is ADHD, OCD, Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). These barriers stand in the way of him making friends with his same aged peers, finishing school work on time, moving on from one activity to another, walking in straight line, following multi-step directions, becoming angry or anxious without crying, and so much more. Kids tend to make fun of him for his differences and often adults think he's behaving badly. But not at the Joshua Center.

At the Joshua Center the kids understand each other, because they all have at least one neurological disorder. The adults, understand that the kids aren't trying to be distractions and look beyond the tics, the compulsions, the impulsiveness, to see the creativity. The Joshua Center is the only center of its kind in the US.

Every year the Joshua Center provides two camps that support kids all across the nation with Tourette Syndrome. Joshua Camp allows our kids to forget for a few days that in the eyes of the world, they're different. It allows them to make new friends and relax knowing they won't get in trouble for making faces at the teacher, making noises during quiet time, playing with their food, or fixing things so they're "just right". At Joshua Camp the kids can truly be themselves.

So what's with the $13? It's all Michael (my husband) and I are asking you to donate for our son and other kids like him. The money goes directly to the Joshua Center. It helps provide the camps, parental and family support, social skills clubs, and so much more. If you can give, just $13; it will make a world of difference.

This link will take you to the donation page. Thank you for your donation.