I'm still here...

It's been a long time... Much has happened...  The short version is that the house that we were living in had toxic mold which was making us sick so we had to move with out much notice.  We've been dealing with mold related stuff for almost a month and a half now, and yet the end is not quite in sight yet.  So while I am still alive and praising God, I'm still going to be gone from this blog for a while yet.  I hope everyone is doing well, and I promise to tell the whole story when I can.

Elimination Diet for Food Allergies

I wrote a while back about Buddy Bear's allergic symptoms.  Since then I have been doing a ton of research, both online and from the library.  We tried eliminating dairy at the suggestion of our Nurse Practitioner, but that didn't help.  We eliminated food preservatives and dyes and it made a difference for Ally, but not for Bear.  After about two months we finally realized that he's allergic to eggs.  But still even with treating his eczema with ointment it still wasn't improving.  In fact some spots kept getting worse, and he was breaking out in more places.  So, with no further help coming from out NP, we decided to do a full elimination diet.  We decided not only for Bear, but for the last five years I have struggled with eczema as well; and Matt has problems with arthritis (which can also be food related).

There are many Elimination Diets online.  Some of the more comprehensive and helpful sites are:
      Elimination Diet by Dr. Cranton 
      Comprehensive Elimination Diet from Functional Medicine.org
      28 day Elimination and Detox diet from Whole Life Nutrition 
         (also see their blog here)

We chose to go with the diet from Whole Life Nutrition because of the details and the "support" network (Facebook and their blog) and their cookbook that has more details and Elimination diet recipes.  The Whole Life Nutrition diet is also a good detox diet to flush your body of toxins and get your immune system working well. 

So far we are on day 12, and I am pleased with the results.  Our eczema is clearing up, and Matt's arthritis is much better (he used to be able to tell if it was going to rain, but even with all the heavy rain we've had this last week he hasn't complain of any stiffness)!  As an added bonus, and since this is a high nutrient, low fat diet, Matt has last over 10 lbs and I have lost 8 lbs! 

Soon we will enter Phase 2, when we begin to add back foods.  I will be glad to Finally know what our problem foods are!
     

Exercise? Who Me? - Free online Walk At Home video

I haven't been good at exercising since RaeRae was born.  Come on!  A new mom with a baby finding time to exercise plus take care of baby, home, and ministry?  Then and two babies, then three... well, you get the picture.  I know it's something that is important.  Over the last few years I have spent money on a couple of different programs, only to not be consistent and eventually give up.  Part of the problem is finding time to get out and do cardio.  When in my schedule can I find time to get out of the house to go walk, jog, or run, and it not be dark outside, or leave my kids unattended?  That's been pretty hard to do... almost impossible. 

Last month, we had our friends stay with us for a week, LeAnna from Written Windows.  While here, LeAnna forced me (ha, ha) to do her exercise walk with her.  It's a DVD of Leslie Sansone's Walk At Home, 5 Mile Fat Burning Walk.  Well, we didn't do all 5 miles... but we did do 3.  And it was great!  All 5 kids (hers and mine) were all resting/sleeping and we got an interval-cardio work out with out leaving my living room! 

Last week I saw some of Leslie Sansone's DVD's at Walmart, and that got me to thinking.  I hopped on the computer when we got home and found her website.  And would you believe it...There on the Walk At Home website is posted a 1 mile walk that you can do for FREE!  So, I can try it at home with out paying a penny!  Yeah!  This time I have nothing to lose.  Nothing but weight and flab.  15 minutes a day.  I think I can do that...  ☺

Fun Filled Friday - Time at the beach

 

From this far-in-the-middle-of-nowhere place, we have to travel almost an hour to do any major shopping.  In some cases we have to drive two or more hours.  Last week we had to take a shorter shopping trip.  Basically we just needed some groceries from the coop and some things from Walmart.  Then instead of rushing home we stopped by McDonalds for take out burgers and went to the beach for a picnic and play time.  The weather wasn't terribly warm, and Lake Superior is COLD!  But as you can see the kids had a blast!

 

Buddy Bear just loves water!  He screams every time every time we pull him out of the water when his bath is done.  LOL!  I wasn't going to let him sit in the water... but he just had to get closer to investigate the waves!  Good thing I thought ahead to bring extra clothes.  ☺ 

 

 

The girls too needed dry clothes after all their running and splashing.

 

We all had SO-O-O much fun!

 

Fun-Filled Friday

A reminder to slow down... to live, laugh, love... 

Life is short... enjoy it.

How did you enjoy life this week?

My Baby is ONE!

Ah, how fast this year went!  So much has happened!  Bear has grown so much.  Instead of being content on the sidelines to watch, he has to be right in the middle of what ever is going on.  Much to the chagrin of his sisters! ☺  He is walking  (rather quickly at times! ☺), stacking mega blocks, hitting balls with a hammer, loves to call for our dog Bell "B-eh, B-eh!" Sunday during greeting time at church he would lift out his hand to shake hands. 

Memorial Day weekend when we had the birthday party he was just cruising all over the place.  I just L.O.V.E. this little guy!

Happy Birthday, Buddy Bear!  I'm so glad that God gave you to us!

Our busy Memorial Day Weekend

A special thank you to all those currently serving, or who have served in our military!  Your sacrifice does not go unnoticed! 

This weekend we practiced our 2nd amendment right.  We shot, and shot, and shot some more!  

Oh yeah!  In fact there was so much target shooting going on that our neighbors had to come and see just what was going on!  ... Just a little bit of practice... ☺

We had a great time with family! And celebrating with a GREAT BIG birthday party!  We decided that instead of throwing 3 separate birthday parties, especially with two of them being so close, we would just have one BIG party.  

With lots of cake.

With lots of presents.

And with LOTS of FUN!

Matt's dad, Ally, and me on the swing set that Matt built as the kiddos birthday present.

It was a wonderful weekend!

Giveaway winner!

And the winner is......

Katie Olsen!

Congratulations Katie!  I'll be contacting you to make sure I have the right mailing address.