Elimination

I am on an elimination diet.  No dairy, wheat, gluten, sugar, or eggs, very limited fruits and no bananas or grapes for the next 1-3 months.

The first day I was an emotional wreck.  This diet is a big deal - and it isn't.  It affects everything.

Socially:  all the sudden I can't eat out on dates with Tyler, the occasional and much-anticipated lunches with friends, and treats at every gathering I attend.  Treats I can say no to, but meals out have been a highlight of my life these last several months.  That is hard to replace.

The good news?  There is ice water wherever you go.  I can go sit with people and sip water and still visit.

Logistically:  I still have 7 other mouths to feed.  Hungry ones.  People who like their sweeteners and dairy and bread.  So I get to make the food that they are used to and then also make separate food for myself, as if feeding a family already did not take up enough of my time.  And the cost?!? Wow the grocery budget gets blown FAST just for basics like almond milk and tons of veggies.

I have found 2 meals so far in my current repertoire that we all like pretty well that are Suzy-friendly. We may be having those on a weekly basis for the next few months.

Emotionally:  I am a foodie.  I like to eat food.  I like to make food.  I like to watch TV shows about food.  We have food tied to just about every family tradition that we have, and most of it is on my current naughty list.  When the weather is cold outside, something inside of me wants to bake. Some of my favorite times with my children are when we bake together.  Lately when I have had a bored child and they want to know what to do, I have suggested baking cookies and those have been memorable times and teaching moments.  Talk about a lifestyle change!

There is still lots of good food to eat and enjoy.  I can build new traditions.  As I have begun to make the emotional break from food, I am finding that I feel more FREE emotionally - so unanticipated but emancipating.

As an aside, I even found vegan healthy cookies that allow me to enjoy something baked and time with the kids.

Everything has changed and nothing has.
I read labels before, I read labels now.  It's just that most labels have ingredients on the naughty list.
I loved vegetables before, I love vegetables now.  It's just that I am doubling my already pretty heavy intake.
I ate quinoa and beans and rice before, now I eat them every day.
I drank green smoothies, and I continue to drink green smoothies.  I am getting accustomed to chalky protein powder and them being less sweet without bananas and juice in them.
I used flax seed as a partial egg substitute before, now it is all I use.

My body could have used this diet several years ago.  Maybe if I had done it then, I wouldn't have gotten so out-of-whack.  I wasn't ready for it.  But I am today.   And over the last few days as I have been transitioning into this new way of thinking and eating, I continue to marvel at how the Lord prepared me for this.

Little thoughts in my mind.

Incorporating new kinds of food into our regime.

Cutting back on sugar.

Picking up ingredients as they were on sale or available over the last few months.

I have been prepared.  My husband has been prepared to support me.  A beautiful tender mercy that occurred this morning was finding out that my friend and neighbor just began the same diet this very week.  It amazes me how the Lord helps us in every detail of our lives when we invite him in.  I feel so blessed and I haven't even touched on all of the physical ailments that we are hoping to alleviate!
Nothing has changed and everything has - for the better.

January Dump

We had a sacred Sunday afternoon with this wonderful girl of ours.

 Patriach LeBaron and his wife make a beautiful occasion even more special.  Hannah is a gem of a girl - she has eagerly awaited and prepared for this for many years.

 The problem with back-blogging?  I can't remember why I took these pictures of Drew's scabbed face.  It could be from sledding, it could be from a tussle with a brother, it may just be proof that nothing stops this kid.

Hannah's ipod can tell a few stories of its own:

Sometimes Mom gets ahold of it,

 Hannah has taken some really cute pics with it (pictured here are great-Grandpa R's typewriter with vintage novels from Grandma R

 We got a small taste of winter

 These two have a sweet bond.

Hannah prepares as much as she can the night before every school morning.  Often there are beginnings of breakfast or lunch set out on the counter.  One day I found this:

Skyping with Grandma and Grandpa R while they opened up their mission call.  So exciting!  Mendoza, Argentina - here they come.

Once upon a time this little rocker was mine, made by my Grandpa S.  Emmie loves it and uses it well.

Camden thinks it is pretty fun to brush Hannah's hair. 

Some R&R for a busy little girl.

Top tooth #2 came out a little prematurely when Drew unbuckled his seat belt before our kind neighbor stopped at our house.  His tooth met up with the dashboard and Jacob was the hero that found where the tooth was missing, because all Drew cared about was having the tooth to leave out for the tooth fairy.  Only later did he comment that he was a little sore.

 I have this super model that comes to have a snack in my kitchen every day after school.

 Mandi went to Arizona and brought us back some produce.  Yes, we really do eat that much fruit and no, it didn't take very long at all.

The brothers are good to make sure that Emmie is good and cozy.  

A pinewood derby car in the making.  I read today on another blog that a mother didn't know who was more excited - the cub scouts or the younger siblings.  That is true here as well, except at our house we throw Dad into that mix, too.  Poor Jacob was sick the day of the derby and Drew raced his car for him.

Setting the record straight

Just so we document that Emmie is not a perfect little angel every minute of every day...here is a post that shows just a teensy resemblance to ones about her brothers from a couple of years ago.

 During what is supposed to be naptimes, Emmie plays dress-up.  The things that you see strewn over the floor are usually in her closet.

And here we have the little sprite IN her closet trying on clothing.  The clothing that used to be folded and in the above containers.  This was repeated almost every day for weeks until we had a very cranky, tired bunny that wasn't napping and a cranky, tired mother that was cleaning it all up.  Grandpa came over, installed a hook and latch at the top of her closet, and voila - naps and happiness have returned.

Another nap time gone creative - she created this nest for herself and was snuggled into it.  The camera got there too late.

Somebody likes to get into "Cattie's" lotion

One day I set bread out to mass-produce sandwiches for the school kids.  I turned around and when I looked back...

There's the culprit.  She wakes up HUNGRY.  Two breakfasts are common, the little hobbit.

She loves to do the dishes and goodness knows I could use the help, but usually it involves water in the wrong places.  She does do a GREAT job at unloading the dishwasher.

Having phones + being 2 years old means that there is a magnetic reaction and these two get together a lot.  A couple weeks ago she walked into the kitchen with my cell phone and said excitedly, "Mom, I'm talking!"  I could hear a woman speaking so I took it to see who she was speaking with - turns out it was dispatch.  She had called 911.  This was only a couple weeks after our other 2 incidents with 911 and if it happens again I am afraid that they might take either Tyler or I away!

BUT she's the prettiest, smiliest, happiest little thing we've had at our house for some time now and we plan to keep her.